The Man’s 101st Bad Ending

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Time flows.

Time, something intangible, once set in motion, moves at an unstoppable pace. It was overwhelming just trying to keep up. The sun rises and sets with the blink of an eye. He could never get used to this constant change.

With each gust of wind, the heat intensified. The sun, high in the sky, beat down on him, its cursed light illuminating the world.

Despite being an empire that worshipped the moon, ironically, they couldn’t do anything without the sun. Some called it coexistence.

But was that right?

Perhaps even Kaitel had realized that things were twisted far beyond simple coexistence. But if he wanted to be understood, he could have chosen a different method. Ultimately, the reason he was making plans and desperately clinging to his sword was to kill Kaitel.

It would be best to kill him before the Four Dragons were resurrected, but it was always wise to assume the worst.

The Four Dragons… would surely be resurrected.

Only the first Emperor would know whether it referred to an eclipse of the moon or the sun. But it was unsettling. It meant it was best to eliminate the possibility, and he had no choice but to believe that what he was doing was right.

So, he erased his hesitation. He was doing the right thing, saving everyone.

It was better to believe that everything he was doing, including killing Kaitel and resealing the Four Dragons, was right.

He had taken up the sword to save Adele. And to save Adele, he had to be prepared to face all the demons.

It would have been difficult without Adriana’s help. He was so preoccupied with his sword training that he could hardly focus on anything else.

If Adriana hadn’t taken care of him, his efficiency would have been halved.

He kept thinking about the clue he had grasped while fighting the Minotaur. The reason he had been able to use the power of his true form even while not in his true form.

What exactly had he realized during that fight that allowed him to improve his skills?

“Willpower.”

The driving force behind a person’s ability to use power. Perhaps his mana had been drawn to his will to protect someone.

So, he tried focusing his mind, but nothing changed, so he gave up. Simply wanting to save Adele wasn’t enough.

Naturally, it was because he had already harbored such intense feelings.

He had died dozens of times to protect one person. And hadn’t those burning feelings turned him into the Sword Saint? Mere willpower wasn’t enough to reach the next level.

The realm beyond this was one that no one had ever reached. He could become the wind with his sword in hand, become a rock, sometimes even the sky.

He could cut anything he desired.

It was a vague concept, but he realized he would reach the next level when he could cut what he couldn’t cut before.

Then, what should this level be called?

He chuckled, realizing he didn’t know.

After that, he emptied his mind and swung his sword. He felt that nothing would change even if he swung his sword while thinking about the next level.

He would meet Miragen, and when he returned to the Moon Tower, he would meet Adriana.

But he didn’t contact Adele. He couldn’t, even if she was worried.

He wanted her to believe he had betrayed her. He wanted her to be furious when he arrived. It would be better if she was angry at him, leading all her troops to attack him.

That way, there would be a moment of hesitation.

He didn’t think Kaitel would personally come to the North. He wished he would, but he was certain that Cain would be the one to come.

He would kill Cain there. He would take advantage of any hesitation, kill Cain, and deal with the demons that would appear afterward.

After that, he would reveal what Kaitel had done and immediately march on the capital.

Adele would probably have guessed Kaitel’s plan.

Knowing Adele, she wouldn’t just sit back and take it. She would lead the troops she had gathered for a counterattack and march on the capital, reaching it in less than a week.

That’s where it would begin. The plan to overthrow Kaitel and deal with the Four Dragons.

“It should be alright to ask Arwen for help, right?”

“If you’re talking about Arwen… the alchemist?”

It was comfortable to be able to talk to Adriana, who knew everything about his regressions, without hesitation.

Since she already knew Arwen’s real name, she immediately understood who he was talking about, and her eyes turned slightly cold.

He had no intention of developing romantic feelings for Arwen.

There was no room for that, and she was too young, anyway. It wouldn’t be convincing to make excuses now, after having formed connections with three women.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly, and Adriana sighed and nodded, as if urging him to continue.

“If we open a gate there and pass through with the troops, we can gather all the soldiers in the capital in less than half a day.”

The success of this plan depended on how many troops Adele had prepared. But he wasn’t too worried about that.

Knowing Adele, she would have prepared almost all her forces, no matter what.

Now, all that remained was to grasp the light he had seen. Grasping that light was something he had to do himself. It wasn’t an opportunity that came often.

He had a clue.

He had touched the wall, the wall he could break through with his own hands, the wall that showed him he could move forward.

“I probably won’t be able to see you for a while.”

When he said that to Adriana, who had brought him his last meal for a while, she looked at him with a calm expression, though her eyes seemed to hold many unspoken words.

Unlike before, her eyes were open, and her clear gaze met his.

He didn’t know exactly what emotions those eyes held.

But he could clearly sense her worry for him, and her sulking at the fact that he was thinking more about Adele than her, even though she was right beside him. He knew he couldn’t feel the same way about everyone.

Miragen had her special qualities, and so did Adele.

But that meant Adriana also held a special place in his heart. It seemed too early to express those feelings, but he had enough time to gently place his hand on her head.

“I know you have a lot to say.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“Even if you deny it, it’s obvious. I’m not that insensitive, I know what you’re trying to say. I’m sorry for pretending not to know, but someday, we’ll have time to talk.”

It couldn’t be helped if she resented the fact that now wasn’t that time.

He didn’t know how she would interpret his words, but he hoped Adriana would wait a little longer. If everything ended well, they would surely be able to talk about their feelings for each other.

Adriana, after listening to his words, moved her lips slightly, then shook her head with a faint smile.

She looked a little relieved, but her dissatisfaction was still evident.

“I wasn’t trying to pressure you. I’m just… a little impatient.”

“…I understand. How you feel.”

He would be a fool or an idiot if he didn’t think anything while being by her side. She had never complained about him visiting Miragen at the palace.

He felt sorry for stopping her from saying what she wanted to say and looked at her quietly, and Adriana smiled bitterly, put down the food, and spoke softly.

“Then when will I be able to see you again?”

“Well.”

He didn’t have much time left.

He wouldn’t be able to fully grasp the clue he had barely managed to reach if he just stayed up all night.

Then… he had to invest more time, even if it meant pushing his body to its limits.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to see you for about a week.”

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He felt the changing of seasons when the wind began to blow cold.

The lush greenery remained.

The vitality of the forest, which had painted the world green, showed no signs of fading, and the moss that had briefly covered the North was still there. But the red color that slowly began to appear from the western edge was surely a herald of autumn.

Adele, as always, climbed the highest mountain in the North and looked out at the horizon. It was a habit she had started at the end of spring.

From here, she could faintly see the distant landscape of the capital, and she would calm the burning anger within her by looking at it.

“…I always thought you’d go crazy someday.”

She had never actually thought that. She was just saying it because she couldn’t contain her anger.

What, he said he wouldn’t be able to contact her for a while? She had been mistaken in thinking it would be about a week.

She had thought he would contact her within two or three months at the latest.

But it had already been five months without a single word, and her deeply furrowed brows reflected her anger. It was ridiculous.

It wasn’t like he had found another lover, and she had checked, just in case, but he hadn’t found a partner.

Was he avoiding her on purpose? She had thought that too, but as time passed, she only grew more irritated.

She wondered if he had betrayed her, but Lotus had reassured her, saying that Robert wasn’t that kind of person.

She had sensed early on that he had sided with the Crown Prince to kill her. But she had trusted Robert.

Even if that was the case, he must have had a reason for acting that way. She didn’t know everything about Robert’s lives, but she knew that his feelings for her were genuine.

…And her feelings for him were just as genuine.

“When I see him this time, I’ll make sure to hold onto him tight. Should I tie him up so he can’t go anywhere?”

Adele wasn’t a fool.

So, she thought that Robert must have some kind of plan for this situation.

The order Adele gave immediately afterward was simple. If the imperial army arrived to subjugate her, even if Robert was leading them, she was to fight back with all her might.

‘Robert wouldn’t die, would he?’

What if he was struck by a stray arrow and died?

Adele pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly and turned her head. In that case, she would die with him.

What fun would a world without Robert be? There would be no meaning, and she didn’t want to waste her time on pointless regrets.

She could think that way now because she had finally realized how she truly felt about Robert.

She was doing this because she liked him.

She liked him quite a lot.

Perhaps she was the one clinging to him.

The fact that she couldn’t even be truly angry at him in this situation, where she might die for treason… Was she pathetic, or just foolish?

Adele pressed her hand to her forehead, shook her head, and chuckled softly.

The wind blew.

It was the sound of autumn arriving, and at the same time, it meant Kaitel was coming.

Adele, seeing the dust cloud in the distance, slowly gripped the sword at her waist.

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[Translator Notes]

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