Chapter 316: Awakening
YXRYuri, clutching his abdomen, stabbed Laurent with Guilty.iBnKWbG
ob0xCedric, who was occupying Laurent’s body, did not dodge. From the start, since it wasn’t his body, instead of defending himself, he focused on driving the sword in deeper to injure Yuri’s body more severely.rJC
fgujw“¡Kugh!”NoY
AS2XYuri let out a groan.TxGEev
Cjm3An unbearable pain overwhelmed him, and unable to resist any longer, he collapsed to his knees. A voice sounded from behind him.5XmE0Cu
pRq“Yuri!”idU
T2y7jau“Your Highness!”IQP
p9xHis consciousness began to fade. Without the strength to stay on his feet, Yuri knelt down.gvg8XvC
oNRCedric smiled, lifting one corner of his lips.LXp
uT6p“I knew Laurent would be useful one day.”E06Gz89
vPo“You bastard…”Q6C
EXm“Did you think I did it just to bother Laurent without any plan? Well, maybe partly.”kBfqde
bRbRkvWhen he distorted Laurent’s body with black magic, it seemed he had left a measure in place to seize control whenever he wished.ZpmsC
hf2AOFrom Laurent’s mouth came Cedric’s voice.s9arMz
d8N0[Your friend is resisting a lot. Even now he is going mad.]9nHp
a60oA“What did you do to Laurent…?”Pjtm
EYATD[Don’t worry, I just set him aside for a moment.]g39B9Yo
pHuCedric grabbed Yuri’s shoulder, lifted him slightly, and yanked out the sword that was embedded.XFFFtl
F9N38GNThe inside of Yuri tore apart again.JR6
gEmVLHe coughed up blood.veEsob
QrHMIm“¡Keugh…!”zRL
550asHe tried not to lose consciousness, but it was useless. The blow had been too precise. He needed to find a way to reverse the situation, but his mind was scattering.vmo2H
gUbq5SEverything was blurry.YYu
xmhXDHis mind and body felt like they were melting.CSRfoe
HFSubkd[When you wake up, everything will be calm.]f6rWA1F
TJw1Yuri forced his eyelids to stay open. But he couldn’t endure.LbnMJ
yXQtpEverything sank downward—his eyelids, his body, and his consciousness.bWz
OXSr9XHis vision turned black.xl3l
bsPNIn the distance, he faintly felt the vibration of the surrounding air.c8W3Ln
o6kIkCedric, in Laurent’s body, seemed to be fighting the others. Jose’s excited voice, Moyongchan’s roar, an incomprehensible Eastern language, and confused screams passed by his ears.XDJLe
2kpDarkness enveloped him.avtMbRL
xrcNHHCalm arrived.CokFVT
NekeNHe heard nothing, felt nothing. Far from the outer chaos, his body and mind sank into a sensation close to peace.CB3zn8
rYMoHe had always been on guard.3wvoi
RHivlOSFor a long time.jAtp
XFHvSince when?gUT
ZSJBefore restarting his life.ZXd3
j9fE0YkNo—even before wandering as a mercenary.eyXAB7i
SGcEven before the Empire attacked Briol.t2CzsV
ZtlNeSince the day he met that woman, when it seemed the world had taken on a different color.RBRuCCr
V21rAlthough he was a prince, Yekaterina was an imperial princess, and so uncertainty about the future always nested in his heart.gGZ7
wzAdHe always tried to do something. His body and mind never stopped.qetZ3Bh
GAP3Then war broke out, and from then on it was an exhausting race without rest.iCmbW
9GzHe fought against the Empire, and after Briol’s fall, he became a mercenary, sank into pain, and after being killed by Laurent, he struggled to prevent the tragedy.DY5k
SUn“And now I ended up getting stabbed.”ii0m
JqZxs8Yuri felt his abdomen. It was intact. That meant this wasn’t reality.Ehwspd
Cb20UbHe saw nothing.WjnbJt
WL2lu8IMaybe it would be good to stay like this for a while longer.6Y7
LcEW“Haa…”qpOgcoo
eCOHe sighed deeply.59ut8S
2eAPe7Even though it was a critical moment, he felt a strange calm. He knew it was Cedric’s trick, but he couldn’t help it.8nZq
MNuUrLying still, many things went through his mind. Only by letting go of everything could he understand certain things.oCsb
z9erhZForgotten memories returned one by one.Dtr967
riHAMwVThings he hadn’t understood before now began to make sense.HYoB0
prka5k“Right… that happened too.”2jM0L0
rlwrqYuri remembered the days with Yekaterina. There were good and bad moments.gYxB
cSp7DwGThey even argued over silly reasons. Back then, he hadn’t understood why she got so angry.UotNb
eH0sVoRThere were his mistakes and hers. Times when they were both inexperienced.S2FB
uy4WXGMSuddenly, Yuri sat up abruptly.twgz6w
c1V“…”OYHaSo
XRNI0He fixed his gaze on a point in the darkness. In his hazy memories, something was slowly emerging.PFoEL0
yDXLHe stayed still, silent, for a long while.dhs
GPmRThen, slowly, he touched his chest.9LCPgL
p6KoIBefore, he had always naturally worn a necklace—a relic his mother had left him. He had given it to Yekaterina as a symbol that he was giving her his all.7ljG
M2Efvxy“…”IDb5qSA
33UlRgYuri blinked.x4WmDD
m0WAnd now he stood up completely.jaVnMVk
tkRY6DHe rose firmly.a9Fq6Zm
9JQfJRThe tranquil darkness surrounded him. As he took a step, his body began to rise.P6Abc
zASj94As if inviting him to remain there forever, the darkness kept him suspended.5K3Sh
YDmZQjwIt was like being underwater.KV9S0e
wTJbWhile floating, he reflected again.1gi4
fykAnd murmured.NTev
NMO“I will get out of here.”IpkhZI
qCKWAt some point, Guilty was back in his hand. It was always there when he needed it.Mw4f8TY
jgBThen, suddenly, the darkness around him grew heavy. It let him fall, and the pressure crushed him completely.1cFZ
sRlaHe couldn’t move a single finger.Gcve0g
tPMOlKVIf he tried to move, the darkness grew heavier and more solid. If he stayed still, the darkness softened and caressed his skin.xJP
GkvAnyone else would have given up. But Yuri gripped Guilty tightly.AT5gf
YV6AHe invoked the power of Chaos.1GJlDMs
uwuESLYThe extreme of Chaos he had reached while fighting a god from another world had elevated him to an even greater level.j7wgxu2
CQCEven while lying down, he slashed with his sword.slKuN8
GXgIt was enough.MIu1Wh
zbHAWJPThe darkness split, and dense Chaos flowed outward.o5rn
4UtCovered by it, Yuri stood up firmly.pKzXyX2
ZJhoE6***7hY5E
mY4nvCedric had created a darkness that was easily torn apart.swpzw
0WWcVxYuri passed through it and emerged outside.C26yt
rZAQibIn one corner of the battlefield, Laurent lay on the ground. It seemed Cedric had abandoned his body.0sIq
Q4cMeIhYuri looked away.jyS
LCFsR0“Cedric.”DsMBK
snR7zHe was still darting about, sowing chaos in the Anti-Imperial Union. Some, mentally dominated by tentacles, were fighting their own allies; others were flying to try to capture him; and Cedric, scattering black magic and tentacles.ldRNV0
vy4All of them, under a black sky, created a blood-soaked hell.W9Y
HsDn2LYuri gripped Guilty.xky
OIJsWoVThe chaos in his hand adjusted and harmonized countless possibilities. And, in an instant, Yuri detected Cedric’s location.kdRnW8
bLIoHis entire body transformed into chaos.7kLHq
5PgMoments later, he appeared right at his side.kMZ6lNG
dMA2[Huh?]9Vd03v
KrupCedric let out a stupid-sounding voice.IsfddK
xcHhSYuri thrust Guilty in without hesitation and, twisting the blade, pulled it out. Cedric’s chest split open and, instead of blood, a black liquid like darkness gushed out in torrents.07m
kJJIGh5[How…?]RTPO9F
wrfq4Cedric kept making foolish sounds. Yuri swung Guilty and severed his neck. His head and body separated.NmUa
sgaYuri’s sword split his head in two, his body in two, making a total of four pieces.38hwzA
GaZbqDarkness poured out like dense smoke. The amount was so vast it was hard to believe it came from a human body, and it spread instantly.UQz6
nvgwU4xYuri raised Guilty.zf3Lh
cnoaGThe energy of the Cut of the soul and the heart that resided in it transformed into light under the blessing of chaos.x2PK
ul0KYuri’s sword, capable of cutting and killing even the formless, annihilated Cedric’s remnants.kRF
8HOThe darkness was torn apart.8d9
slqROt4Then it happened.NtAj
s1uaI[Dragon Voice Authority — Kill.]qmxnh
R1lQSuddenly, a colossal power struck Yuri’s back. He felt death envelop him without warning.92T
PioDrOvThe cause was unknown.dKVZQGZ
XbtpkIt was only a command pushing toward the inevitable end everyone must face someday.6EN3
DZXGLPDYuri raised his blade and, spinning on his heel, slashed in all directions.Vncg4HT
UD8OVThe Cut of the soul and the heart roared fiercely.vOE
lMtyjEmpowered by chaos, that force erased even the very concept contained in the words.jAk
5X1nBeAfter executing several sword dances, Yuri saw before him a small figure with its hood pulled low, watching him with a vacant expression.mlX
TLyOL“Cory.”23zt
F87“Di… die.”AvTo
7JSyHCory opened his mouth again.rzso
3pd6SgQThis time, death struck with greater force. But the chaos coursing through Yuri’s body awaited his decision, postponing the sentence.vEV
OMlWhen Yuri refused, the Dragon Voice Organ dissolved into an empty language.o4i
2Bk1q“Your Highness!”xW0
xipJose lunged forward and decapitated Cory, who was standing in front of Yuri.mgZZ
TWluzThe hood slid off, revealing a grotesquely deformed face that spun through the air before hitting the ground heavily.wjiix
KupsThe world fell silent.9zdx9
DjnEveryone on the battlefield looked at Yuri.iMPPL3
0oSRxFinally, someone murmured.uKri
27R“We’ve won.”rNJYA
UHuRaHe raised his arms and shouted.YR3A
7m0lX“We’ve won!”FCyL
UHuO“Victory is ours!”a8XQ
NLwN“Long live His Highness Yuri!”mwjt
4LOpd“Long live!”DzrLdFg
4Ql01t“Long live Yuri Briol!”wGh
jLwThe battlefield, which moments ago had been full of screams and wails, now erupted in shouts of hope and joy.ShxCYvO
NyepruEEveryone chanted the name of Yuri Briol. Some prostrated themselves in tears, others ran to kiss his feet.SLe
otzBxTxIt was the victory of the Anti-Imperial Union.a4wIVe
M4YuCedric had died by Yuri’s hand, and the wicked black mages who followed him had also been wiped out.E5gMS
l3odkabIt was all over.eW5O5
JJ3X***huQ2
1mWRLYuri stood on the balcony railing, looking at the crowd.aGG
gv2Everyone reached out their hands toward him.5DyEtyl
v2c4GB“Phew…”VwQQHu
thVY“Your Highness.”FVDt
NJhJared approached from behind as Yuri sighed.bIigow
PihiA5Jared, who had been possessed by Cedric, now bore a scar on his cheek, but he had recovered and walked as before.8EV38g8
llLJSb“I never thought I’d see this day. Me, I mean. Phew…”IZE
OssRze“Shut up.”Rm56a
HVYWAfter killing Cedric, many things had happened. The Empire had plunged into chaos.n4AF8J
dmzRThe citizens, once bewitched by black magic, regained their senses and finally realized the deplorable state of their nation.l5hu7qC
3ppThe only remaining member of the imperial family was Yekaterina, who took leadership and handled the postwar recovery.F9xcD7M
tAnEneAs punishment for the war, the Empire lost vast territories and privileges.YDx
61iBut even so, it remained the Empire.lbKH
xLp47That it did not collapse entirely was, after all, thanks to Yuri.4jqrl
dXlGfPz“Your Highness.”ERvfS
1RZoV“What?”mviRV
4Ca“Congratulations on your wedding.”QIV
ZoqAs the sole imperial noble, Yekaterina became Empress.T47
3ibSMAnd her husband was none other than Yuri Briol, leader of the Anti-Imperial Union and the hero responsible for both the beginning and the end of the war.Gl5
2B4No one on the continent wished to challenge his will.x6Q
jEiRCQ4“Thank you.”lGl5W
kDPKQ6tThe wedding was about to take place.ej94
GBEw“I just saw Lady Yekaterina a moment ago.”aWP
HcY1“Oh?”V9N7q5
YUFYc“I thought I’d go blind. Seriously, congratulations.”GqfuAy2
ApjYuri smiled.s6Gt
JTeUIHe leaned against the railing, looking at the crowd shouting his name.SOxjj
aXYvVSSince killing Cedric, everything had flowed without setbacks. There was only happiness.sxBJvj9
N0MdwHad there ever been another time like this?jyVU
31qQSoon, the orchestra began to play, and the master of ceremonies, with a magically amplified staff, began his speech.sPH
CwJ2Xlz[The bride of this blessed wedding is about to enter…]e6J
gobYuri felt around his waist.EcV2GIx
iYGcP2He was in formal attire, so Guilty shouldn’t have been there.z5Te
ijjbE9X“Your Highness, what are you doing?”OtSWirj
HfSlq“Wait.”zI0rGL
uT23“Lady Yekaterina is entering right now. Look, so beautiful…”WmX5
grfoJared didn’t finish the sentence.48QaJ
OkB2El“Your Highness?”X8ibV
soXjmAt some point, Guilty had appeared in Yuri’s hand.FffJ
Xjsl“What…?”yoxwhKx
RUUEB“Thanks for the break.”2w3
X18eRrKYuri plunged the sword into Jared’s chest.UAFsWw
IcVEaQHe stared silently, mouth agape, before collapsing, bleeding a black liquid.TGsDpT
fnk“Why now?”dvF
tiMcpF2“I was going to leave later. But this isn’t right.”Jytf
ejDYuri shook his head, back to the railing.LeWs
GLxhRn“It’s not proper to see the bride in her dress before the wedding.”YcP1j
Vqj6wJared smiled.rlk5
qpy1z“Oh, really?”fRZ
YC1g2j“Yes.”y90
8giYuri raised Guilty.iNFaVK
m27“So let’s end this.”WOaC
ESj[When did you know?]msSs
hlcNow Jared spoke in Cedric’s voice.vuvw
j0Lo“From the beginning.”yG9d
wOZbmUU[From the beginning?]7yhSd
475“There’s something you don’t know. And that’s why you lose.”ZXm
6Pm0nv[I see…]qQ6X
uSlQL7dJared chuckled low, then suddenly stood. The wound in his chest had regenerated.fxU6
aOOGzLooking intact, he spoke to Yuri.RBo8
xO2CS[Know that even if this is false, it doesn’t mean you can wake up.]dquW
Qk4z“Oh, no?”Kcg
B1NI[Destroying a life is not the same as breaking an existence. Could you destroy this happiness, Yuri? Why not stay here and be happy?]p3rc2
q3g“Happy?”nQ2Th
b9oqkJa[Look behind you. There’s your wife, the most beautiful in the world. I won’t touch anything. Live this happy life with her…]kShSRU
NW4aRxCedric trailed off. He stared straight into Yuri’s eyes.LCsEaBf
hQiAfter a long silence, he spoke again.flmxtL
ME703Al[How…?]RwJM1rp
ZeZuQNow he had his true appearance.My2
oVod[How has your soul…?]hvOX
mZ7“My soul?”x7u
4ga9[…Lasted this long?]jzKns6R
S02oib“This long?”Hp8OkJ
3ec[Much longer than a human life.]N7EQlc
d4ZqYkw“It’s because I dream every day.”ure
9iEtLThe world began to crumble. The blessed wedding, the castle balcony, all vanished.Jam5cp
9xAeVYuri smiled broadly and stabbed Cedric in the chest.yhPITqy
xNGk7T“Thanks to that, I’m already sick of waking up in the middle of false happiness.”6mJ
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!