Chapter 346: A New Era Dawns

“Those words…”

It’s a given that someone who embodies death wouldn’t be in their right mind, hardly surprising. But this human… he seems crazy in a truly unique way.

Death blinked, momentarily taken aback by the completely unexpected answer, then his gaze darkened.

“…Someone you really shouldn’t mess with in the face of death.”

“If I were going to stop just because I listened to your words, I would have stopped a long time ago. Didn’t you say that knowing I wouldn’t quit in the first place?”

Indeed.” Death nodded.

He had expected as much. Even if he had taken the advice and stopped, he’d been cursing for so long that it wouldn’t have changed anything except perhaps ease the person’s mind.

That’s why he could say such things.

“It was meant to be a mercy, a consideration, of sorts.”

“I don’t need it, so just take my eyes.”

Let’s just finish this deal quickly.

A premonition flashed through him that this was what the sorcerer had meant when warning him to be careful of eyes, but realizing it now was pointless.

Focused on the present, Deon tilted his head up, offering his eyes as if to say ‘take them’. His red pupils, like blood or perhaps gemstones, instantly captivated Death’s gaze, yet he didn’t reach out.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t mentioned this. It’s not that I take them, you have to do it yourself.”

A pause.

Those docile eyes blinked, filled with an unreadable emotion.

“If you’re afraid, you can give up…“

“No, not that. It just suddenly occurred to me that hyung might still interfere in the mortal realm in the future.”

……Huh.”

Now that he’d decided to go through with the deal, wouldn’t it be better to squeeze out as much benefit as possible? Deon smirked at Death’s weary expression.

“Not just for now, but I’d like all the karma he accumulates in the future to be transferred to me as well. Is that possible?”

So he can interfere in the mortal realm whenever he wants.

He never did anything right while alive, only caused trouble. I should at least do this much for him, right? Deon looked at Death with a confident face.

“……Relentless.”

Death finally exclaimed in admiration.

Truly relentless. Even if it’s to repay a debt of gratitude, how can a human go this far for another? Aren’t humans the kind of beings who easily forget what they’ve received?

Even Cruel Hart only sacrificed himself without receiving anything in return. Even in death, he only thought of his brother.

‘Is it an environmental thing, or bloodline…?’

Or perhaps there was something in the essence of their souls themselves. Clicked his tongue, thinking of the brothers, both so stubborn. Deon Hart glanced at the sky, then asked with a hint of impatience.

“So, is it possible or not? Do I need to give you something else besides my eyes?”

“……If we divert the merit of severing the Hero and Demon King’s cycle to this instead of sin debt cancellation, it’s possible as is. I’ll do as you wish.”

Cruel Hart won’t recklessly interfere in the mortal realm ignoring the karma his brother will accumulate, and at most, he’d only intervene when his reincarnated brother is in danger, so there’s no problem. There’s also the possibility he himself might choose reincarnation, but that’s his loss and our gain. Besides, he’s not likely to throw away the freedom his brother gave him by going this far.

Hearing the affirmation, Deon finally smiled brightly.

“Thanks.”

Then he raised the dagger.

“Do I have to gouge them out completely?”

“No, you can just stab them. The main purpose of this exchange isn’t ‘Death acquiring the other party’s eyes,’ but ‘the other party losing their eyes.'”

“Really?”

The sharpened blade gleamed, reflecting the moonlight, radiating an ominous aura. Deon stared at it for a moment, then paused, turned to Death, and parted his lips.

“But…“

He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth as if struggling to speak. But after the question about Cruel was resolved, another question that had slowly begun to surface finally escaped his lips after much hesitation.

“……What happened to Sir Lien?”

If Cruel is reincarnated, then other humans I know must also be reincarnated, no need to ask. It was said that karma ‘average’ is calculated considering the era, so my parents and the people of Hart Count Estate back then, who had never even committed manslaughter, let alone murder, in this era of war, must have gained ‘freedom’.

If so, the only ambiguous case left is Sir Lien.

‘Should I just not ask…?’

Anyway, I’m already overwhelmed just repaying hyung’s sin debt. Even if she were to take the path of reincarnation, there’s nothing I can do, but still…

Death’s voice fell upon his shoulders, stiff with inexplicable tension.

“What do you think a righteous knight who stood alone against an opponent, leading an ordinary body, not even a Hero, to stop a disaster that was going astray, would get in the afterlife?”

“……Haha, well, that’s…“

……

“……That’s a relief.”

Now, there really are no regrets left. Deon, having finally unloaded the last of his burdens, smiled brightly with sincerity. A smile so beautiful it was almost mesmerizing spread across his face.

“I told you, I’m always lucky.”

That was it.

Without hesitation, Deon brought the dagger down.

Red blood splashed under the white moonlight. Death, who had been watching him in silence for a moment, then spoke softly, as if whispering.

“That was a satisfying conversation.”

As expected of someone who embodies death, he didn’t disappoint me.

“It seems I’ll never forget you. If you come to me in your next life and ask for a deal like this again, I might just accept.”

“Really? Then wait for me.”

Seeming not to care about the pain, Deon repositioned the dagger, and playfully replied, his bright smile still on his face.

“Next time, I’ll ask for ‘immortality’.“

……Huh.”

“Isn’t it better to just bear the brunt of the sin in one lifetime rather than dragging it out through countless reincarnations? Don’t you think?”

“It’s not like that’s up to you, but well, alright. I’ll look forward to it.”

Another statement that doesn’t disappoint. Death chuckled softly.

As if echoing his laughter, Deon chuckled too. Perhaps it was the unexpected gift of a deal with Death, or maybe it was the feeling of putting down a heavy burden, but he felt light as air.

Anyone watching would think he was crazy, but who cares?

Before the world turned dark, Deon watched the moons align into one, and then brought the dagger down again, a supremely satisfied expression on his face.

“A perfect ending.”

He’d finished his revenge on hyung’s death anniversary, and given him complete freedom. Whether it’s interfering in the mortal realm or whatever, he can now enjoy his afterlife without worrying about being forcibly reincarnated.

It might be a bit selfish to say, but this perfect ending also eased my own heart to some extent.

‘This time for sure, rest in peace, hyung.’

In this brief moment before my breath ends, I’ll rest a little too.

In his fading consciousness, he steadfastly plunged the dagger into his heart, then collapsed backward. Against the backdrop of darkness, he could feel the strength rapidly draining from his body, but Deon just smiled.

‘Honestly, it was tough.’

It was a tough life.

If someone heard this, they might scoff, saying how many people in the world have it tough, and what nerve does a sinner like you have, acting like you’re carrying all the misfortune alone. But pain and misfortune are subjective. Selfish as I am, I can’t bring myself to say it wasn’t tough.

‘Still, it wasn’t the worst.’

The reason I don’t call it the worst life, despite everything, must be because there were many who gave for me.

Those who willingly sacrificed themselves, becoming small stepping stones for me as I pushed through the increasingly fierce currents, trying to cross a river that shouldn’t be crossed, as if I was something precious. Thinking of them, who gave for me knowing they’d soon be submerged and swept away without a trace by the quickly rising currents, I can’t bring myself to say it was the worst.

‘I have no regrets.’

From the same perspective, I won’t regret it either.

Even considering the countless corpses lining the path I’ve walked. No, in fact, I couldn’t regret it even for my own sake.

Was this the feeling Emperor Eudoard had when he said he had no regrets? He chuckled to himself, indulging in meaningless thoughts.

‘So, hyung, don’t scold me. I kept my promise, didn’t I?’

I may not have lived my best, but I died my best. I may not have moved towards the future, but I diligently retraced the past.

I walked the path without regret, and at the end, I made a choice without regret.

Therefore, I honestly think this kind of death is too good for me. I thought I was lucky.

[Be happy.]

……Yeah, I was happy.

The voice that had been constantly shouting like a curse in a corner of my mind finally felt peaceful.

It was a somewhat unilateral and uncertain promise made unintentionally, but I’m so glad I could still fulfill it properly. Now I can face Lirinel with some dignity.

‘……Did Death leave?’

The flow of thought returned to reality, raising a pointless question. No, actually, I don’t even know if this is reality. Maybe I’m already dead.

Wandering in the darkness beyond his fading consciousness, a faint floral scent brushed his nose. Deon dimly smiled, realizing its identity was ‘the Demon King’s consideration’.

The greenhouse was broken, and the flowers that had filled it were swept around and trampled in the battle, becoming a mess, but the fragrance still lingered.

‘I hated winter.’

Thanks to this, I’m dying in spring.

……

“……Hey.”

……

Deon Hart.

……

Consciousness snapped.

He thought he heard Death’s voice, which he thought had left for good, for the last time, but any further thought was impossible.

I think I answered, anyway…

“……The world asks me to tell you this: ‘Human burdened with unbearable karma, karma is a cycle. The things you have done will someday strangle you again, so you will not be at peace even in death.'”

What did I answer again?

***

The soul laughed. Even at words that were no different from a curse, it just laughed. Far from being crushed by Death’s aura, it burst into laughter several times, then smirked. A truly relieved laugh, as if having put down a burden, returned as an answer.

‘Fuck off.’

……

Death wordlessly collected the soul.

A suffocating silence fell. In the chillingly quiet space, he turned his head and finally took in the surrounding scenery.

Confirming the flower petals scattered here and there, and the flowers crushed and trampled, yet still strongly exuding their fragrance, he finally became certain.

“It really was… a perfect ending.”

It was winter that took away Cruel Hart and all those connected to Deon Hart, and it was spring that returned Cruel Hart’s intact body and delivered his message.

Dying surrounded by the scent of spring, for Deon Hart, this ending would have been perfect not just in situation, but even in setting.

“……Anyway.”

He lifted the curtain of crows that had been blocking approach all along.

“Sir Deon!”

“Get away from there, now!”

As if they had been waiting, Ben and Ed rushed over.

They looked ready to tear him apart using their unique abilities at maximum output, but Ed, glancing at the corpses of the Demon King and Hero, gritted his teeth and threw a punch. Death dodged his attack, and after a quick glance at Ben kneeling before Deon Hart’s body, he immediately left the scene.

After briefly looking around for him who had vanished, Ed staggered towards the fallen Hero and Demon King. His sky-blue eyes, filled with confusion, darted between the two corpses, then soon began to shed tears.

“Why… why…“

……

“This isn’t the result I wanted at all…“

Death, who had been watching this scene from afar, turned away.

Now that the cycle of Hero and Demon King is broken, many things will change. For the world that had intervened in the past to break the cycle, it will have to put its hand in the aftermath again. Considering that Deon Hart stirred up so much, the changes that will occur afterward will be at a level that could be called the world’s shedding of its skin.

So, checking on this side is a priority over their melodrama.

……And as expected.

‘It’s already started.’

He could see almost all the passages connecting the Human Realm and the Abyss slowly starting to close. Abyss races moving into the Human Realm beyond the border also came into view.

‘Fairy race, merfolk, dwarf race… Vampire race is missing.’

After coveting the sun so much, it seems they’re taking advantage of this moment, when the Human Realm is busy recovering and the world has no time to spare for anything else while cleaning up, to migrate.

Well… they don’t have dangerous ideologies or purposes, and they’re not a race threatening enough to exterminate humans, so it won’t be a big problem.

‘Many things will change.’

Humans, who will replay history, starting again from scratch, building power, establishing countries, integrating or dividing, and seeking stability. And the Abyss races, trying to infiltrate and settle in the Human Realm, taking advantage of that chaos.

The cycle of Hero and Demon King had ended. Even though the Human Realm and the Abyss were ‘one world’ and couldn’t be completely severed, most of the borders that once facilitated easy travel between them would close.

A completely different world would unfold from now on.

Death smirked, muttering to the survivors.

“Congratulations on witnessing the dawn of a new era.”