As always, a radiant sunset filled the basement.


    The beautiful orange light pervaded the basement in a way that made everything look surreal.


    Bahamut''s body had been split into two, but it had yet to fall to the ground. Unbelievably, he was still resisting. He grabbed Kim Hyun-Sung''s sword with both hands and was about to unleash his nauseating Breath when the orange Sword God thrust his sword forward, piercing him.


    Rather than saying that Bahamut''s body was severed cleanly, it would be better to say that Kim Hyun-Sung had used his special power to sever Bahamut''s body into two.


    In an instant, a shockwave swept across everything, kicking up dust and debris. I was puzzled for a moment because the shockwave felt like a meteor had struck the ground, but I could not really say for sure.


    Kim Hyun-Sung’s sword didn’t just sever Bahamut''s body.


    It would be more fitting to say that it overcame the disgusting pitch-black power that was resisting the sunset.


    The resistance was so strong, so it was natural for the two powers to clash. The winner of the tug of war was none other than our lovely regressor, Kim Hyun-Sung.


    [Shit! This is what I’m talking about! Hyun-Suuung! Hyun-Suuuuung!]


    [That was really cool! So cool, man!]


    [The hero! The Sunset Swordsman! I believed in you, man!]


    [This is the Kim Hyun-Sung I know!]


    [Hyun-Suuuuung!]


    In the end, the monster’s body was cut in half, but it had been a difficult fight.


    [Come here! Come here, Hyun-Sung!]


    I felt like a brand-new world had just opened its doors for me, but I felt like going crazy upon realizing the difficulty of this fight. I couldn''t help but think about launching a sports competition on the continent using mock battles to increase the overall strength level of the people throughout the continent.


    Of course, I also thought it''d be really popular.


    I was in a good mood, and I felt like dancing around.


    Based on just the results alone, all we had done was take down the monster, but it was extremely difficult to get here. It all worked out because Draktaris and Templar Genny had been waiting for me. R?


    The mission that I carried out with Ji-Hye noona and Commander Jin told me that even if we were to avoid factoring in Bahamut''s increased HP and Endurance due to the demon''s seed, we''d still struggle to defeat him.


    The fight was close, and the small opening that the monster showed at the end was what helped us achieve this feat.


    Kim Hyun-Sung was panting, and he was struggling to move. Those were enough proof to show that this fight was a grueling one. The orange giant disappeared, and Kim Hyun-Sung collapsed to the ground immediately afterward.


    The sight told me that Kim Hyun-Sung had truly reached his limits.


    He sprawled out on the ground, breathing heavily.


    He forced himself to get up in order to carry out the order that I gave him just now, but he seemed to be having a hard time maintaining his balance as if he were a newborn fawn. I ran up to him and hugged him as he collapsed.


    I patted his head and told him that he did a good job.


    [Shit! Shit! You did well, Hyun-Sung! Man!]


    “ T-Thank you,” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.


    Of course, I didn’t forget to criticize him for making me nervous with his silent treatment.


    [You disgraceful bastard! You nauseating jerk! How dare you suddenly appear here and put me in a frustrating situation!]


    “Haa… haa


    [Are you tired, Hyun-Sung?]


    “No… I’m not. I can still…”


    [No, no. You can rest if you’re tired. Our Hyun-Sung, rest all you want. Should I set up a bed for you?]


    “I-


    [Lie comfortably and rest.]


    “Is he… dead?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.


    [Hey! Just rest and stop asking questions like that.]


    Kim Hyun-Sung sprawled out on the ground as if I had ordered him to do it. It made sense. I was sure that the act of standing up alone was taking a toll on him.


    “”


    Just as I thought, he looked like he was still having a hard time breathing. I said comforting words rather than scolding him, as he was at his limits both physically and mentally.


    [You did really well today.]


    “T-Thank…”


    [So, just rest.]


    “Okay. T-Thank… you,” Kim Hyun-Sung mumbled.


    I still couldn’t believe that he was rolling on the ground despite getting cut in half.


    [This bastard is really persist—]


    The end of hardship meant the beginning of happiness.


    The one and only threat to the continent was already dead—


    “...”


    ""


    [ Hyun-Sung?]


    “...”


    [Are you sleeping?]


    Just then, the monster’s finger twitched.


    Just then, many different thoughts popped into my head.


    I looked over at the lower half of Bahamut''s body and saw a wriggling clump of pitch-black blood. It seemed like it had a will of its own as it was slowly making its way to the upper half of Bahamut''s body.


    I felt a shiver down my spine, and I blanked out at the sight.


    ""


    [Hyun-Sung?]


    His fingers moved once more.


    I knew that his regeneration rate was extremely high.


    I looked at Kim Hyun-Sung, but he had completely lost consciousness after I told him that he could rest. I also knew better than anyone that he wasn’t in the condition to fight.


    Kim Hyun-Sung had nothing left, as he had exhausted everything he had in the battle just now. If he were to fight in his current condition, he''d suffer from the side effects of such strenuous exertion.


    Was she watching us right now?


    Unfortunately, she was probably far away along with Jung Ha-Yan, and the other expedition members.


    While I was having other thoughts, Bahamut''s lower body was finally reattached to his upper body. I was sure Bahamut was exhausted as well, but I couldn’t help but frown at the sight.


    This was all his fault. Sёarch* The ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I grabbed my head, feeling like I was having a headache.


    And that was when something miraculous happened….


    "Priest… of Prophecy…" I heard a faint voice coming from the monster.


    [...]


    "Fa… ther…"


    It was such a sad voice.


    He came back to his senses.


    "This time… This…. Time…"


    [Bahamut…?]


    "Father…"


    [Bahamut… Bahamut! You’ve… come back to your senses… ]


    "The… orange… demon…"


    I realized just then that Bahamut wasn’t in his right mind. He seemed to be in a daze.


    I wasn’t sure how many memories he had recovered, but he was probably recalling that battle. Perhaps he could remember reacting to my voice, and there was a chance that he was recalling the scene when Kim Hyun-Sung had split him into two.


    A powerful shockwave burst out of Bahamut, but he was saying a bunch of nonsense without looking around. I wasn''t sure whether he was even aware of the fact that he had been split into two.


    Actually, I couldn''t even see his eyes anymore.


    "You… You…"


    "Father… how…"


    [...]


    "How long… h-have I… been asleep…"


    [Bahamut… … Bahamut… ]


    I hugged the monster’s large and disgusting head—no, I hugged the head of the demon who had no choice but to accept the demon’s seed. I hugged him tightly while crying. I hugged with sincerity as if I were telling him not to die and that he couldn''t die here.


    Pitch-black tears flowed down nonstop, and I was being careful so that my tears wouldn''t accidentally end up in his mouth. I wasn''t sure how many of his senses were still working, but he had to be aware of the fact that I was near him.


    It was over.


    The orange demon was dead; the Angel of Sacrifice had been freed from the demon’s grasp. Of course, some sacrifices had to be made. Templar Bahamut was dying, and it was highly likely that this fact was being written in his head at the moment.


    [More importantly Bahamut… Bahamut…]


    Bahamut probably thought that he protected me and that he actually did something.


    As expected, he started trembling due to the tumultuous emotions in his heart. He raised his hand slowly. I thought he couldn''t do that anymore, but he managed to raise his hand. The sight made me feel nervous and worried. I felt like he was trying to pat my head, so I grabbed his hand first.


    "Don’t… Don’t cry… Father."


    []


    "I’m… I’m okay…"


    [Please don’t die, Bahamut… Please…]


    "I’m… okay… Fa… ther…"


    Was it because he couldn’t forgive himself for being a monster? His voice… he clearly sounded like he was ready to die.


    "Now… everything… It’s time to end everything… It’s finally that time…"


    That remark was a bolt from the blue, and it was a remark that tore my heart apart.


    []


    "I think it’s time… to end it."


    []