Eugene took a few steps forward but made sure not to get too close to the figure. Instead, he stopped himself only a moment after he started walking. He could feel his startled heart thumping rapidly. He felt as if the world was swirling around him, and only a single phrase managed to find its way out of his lips.
“Hey, you little bastard.”
Eugene didn’t hold himself back. In fact, he had no reason to do so. Vermouth deserved much worse, and not just curses either. Even if Eugene decided to slap and strike him, Vermouth only deserved to accept whatever he was given. But Eugene couldn’t grab him by the collar. It wasn’t that he had grown a soft spot for Vermouth after parting for three hundred years but because what appeared in front of him was only a vision of Vermouth.
“…You, who stand before me now,” said Vermouth. It was unmistakably only a vision, but he looked vivid as if Vermouth really was sitting before Eugene’s eyes. However, Eugene couldn’t sense Vermouth’s presence.
Eugene wondered which time period the vision belonged to. His hair looked tidier, and his attire was cleaner than when they had entered the Castle of the Demon King of Incarceration. Was it when he became known as the Great Vermouth, or during the time he served as the Grand Duke of Kiehl? Or… was it after he faked his own death?
“Is it you, Hamel?” It was a simple question.
Eugene clenched his fists and glared at Vermouth.
“It must be so since this vision won’t make an appearance unless it’s you. How long has it been? It’s impossible for me to get it exactly right, but I presume about three hundred years would have passed,” Vermouth continued.
Vermouth had rarely donned a smile since three hundred years ago. He wasn’t always as apathetic as a wooden doll, but he was expressionless during most situations, just like he was now. Vermouth sat in an upright position, and he looked calm without any other expressions.
Vermouth looked exactly as Eugene remembered, which aroused complicated emotions in Eugene’s heart. Like the portrait from three hundred years ago, the vision in front of him wasn’t actually Vermouth, but Eugene could feel Vermouth deeply from this vision.
“Hamel, you must be throwing some awful curses at me right now. I’ve never thought it pleasant to hear you curse, but now…. I miss it. That’s why I feel slightly regretful. I’m curious as to what kinds of curses you’re throwing at me right now,” continued Vermouth.
“Motherfucker.”
“You must have noticed by now. The one in front of you now is me from hundreds of years ago. I cannot see you, and I cannot hear you. I can only speak to you unilaterally. But don’t be so angry.”
‘Don’t be so angry?’ Eugene felt absolutely flabbergasted. He couldn’t help but scoff. ‘At least you recognize that I should be angry at you, right?’ He knew it would do no good, but Eugene flipped his middle finger at Vermouth’s vision anyways.
“What should I talk about? Where should I start? Knowing how impatient you are, I’m a little afraid that you might just walk away without listening to what I have to say,” said Vermouth in a quiet voice before clasping his hands and placing them on his knees. He closed his eyes, then took a moment before continuing. “I have… many secrets, Hamel. And I cannot confide you with everything. I have no intention of doing so, and I shouldn’t either. So this conversation won’t answer all of your questions.”
“Everyone but you knew how suspicious you were,” grumbled Eugene before flopping to the ground.
“Right. Let’s talk about your reincarnation first. Hamel, I’m sure this is the biggest question you have.”
“Shoot,” said Eugene while nodding, knowing well that there was actually no need for him to engage.
“You should not have died in that place,” said Vermouth. His answer annoyed Eugene, which caused his eyebrows to wriggle. But Eugene held back the spewing curses and kept his emotions under control. Vermouth continued, “But it’s impossible to reverse it. Hamel, you… probably thought it was better for you to die in that place. In fact, your body was being destroyed each moment you were climbing the Demon King’s castle. You probably blamed it on your recklessness.”
“Why are you saying such obvious things?” grumbled Eugene, clicking his tongue. He had already contemplated it more than a dozen times, but his conclusion never changed. Hamel had died in the castle of the Demon King of Incarceration because he had been reckless and weak. Sienna and Anise had warned him about the dangers of Ignition, but it had been impossible to clear the way in the hellish castle without using Ignition.
“And I know you’re not going to like my next words, but I’m just going to tell you what I think. Hamel, you died because I failed to protect you,” said Vermouth without a single change in his expression.
Unwilling to let his comment pass, Eugene jumped up and glared at Vermouth. “You son of a bitch, what are you saying?”
Eugene’s expression distorted, and anger flared from deep within his heart. It was a different type of anger than what he experienced at the Fount of Light. This was the feeling of humiliation. He died because Vermouth failed to protect him?
‘Who are you to say you had to protect me?’
They had not shared such a relationship, and Eugene had not wanted such a relationship either. It wasn’t just Eugene, either. Everyone who fought alongside Vermouth three hundred years ago would have been the same.
Indeed, Vermouth had been strong. He had been so incredibly strong that it was hard to believe he was human, just like everyone else. However, none of the four who fought alongside Vermouth would have ever wanted protection from Vermouth. No one wanted to be a burden to Vermouth, and on the battlefield, all five of them were equal. Everyone stood at the forefront, and if someone took the lead, the others took their sides and back.
“Hamel, are you angry?” asked Vermouth. Eugene glared at him in return. He knew that Vermouth wasn’t actually there and that the vision was simply a recording from a long time ago. Even so, Vermouth was staring directly at Eugene after raising his head. Eugene could tell from his eyes that Vermouth had been completely convinced that his comment would have made Eugene jump out of his seat in anger.
“I was also angry at that time,” continued Vermouth. His mouth curled up into a smile. “Knowing how proud you are, you must be angry that I said I had to protect you. But do you remember how you died, Hamel? You died to protect me, even though there was no need to do so at all.”
Eugene was struck dumb.
“You must have known at that moment. You didn’t have to throw yourself away for me, Hamel. You just… needed a place to fall. You threw yourself away because you thought you would only be a burden for the rest of us if you carried on. So you tried to save me when I wasn’t in any danger. Was that a satisfactory reason for your death?”
Eugene couldn’t respond. He knew that Vermouth was speaking an undeniable fact.
“You were selfish, Hamel. You used me as an excuse to fall, even though you didn’t have to protect me. You only needed to protect yourself, but you chose not to. You died instead. So it can’t be helped that I have regrets, regrets that I couldn’t protect you,” continued Vermouth.
“…Bitch,” grunted Eugene before settling back into his seat.
After a brief silence, Vermouth shook his head before lowering his gaze and staring straight ahead. Although his gaze wasn’t completely in line with where Eugene was, neither of them cared very much.
“Let’s continue. Hamel, you ended up dead, and our journey came to an end at that point. I’m sure you are familiar with the state of matters in your current era. I made an Oath with the Demon King of Incarceration, and the war came to an end.”
“What was the Oath?” Eugene asked.
“For the battle itself…. It was hard. It was impossible to win.”
“Would it have changed anything even if I were there? I was completely broken. You know that it was impossible for me to fight properly. It wouldn’t have changed anything even if I were there. I wouldn’t have been any help in the battle against the Demon King of Incarceration,” Eugene tried to justify his actions.
“I can’t tell you anything regarding the contents of the Oath, but at that time, it was the best I could do.” Vermouth paused, then stared into the air with empty eyes before chuckling. “If you were there with us, there would have been no need for us to fight the Demon King of Incarceration after we reached the top.”
“What?” Eugene was flabbergasted.
“That was the most important thing for me — to climb to the top of Babel, the Castle of the Demon King of Incarceration. If we came to face the true body of the Demon King of Incarceration, that would have done it. It would have significantly changed the contents of the Oath as well.”
“What… are you saying?” Eugene truly couldn’t understand. His gaze started to quiver as he stared at Vermouth. He knew who the Demon King of Incarceration was. The Demon King of Incarceration was the sound of chains slithering across the ground and the bright crimson eyes peering through the darkness. At least, that’s the Demon King of Incarceration that Eugene knew of since his previous life.
Had he ever encountered the Demon Kings? Yes, several times. The Demon King of Destruction had struck despair into the hearts of everyone by simply moving across a field from a far distance. He had seen the Demon King of Incarceration as well. When the five of them first entered Babel, the Demon King of Incarceration had personally greeted them as the clatter of chains and crimson eyes within a storm of darkness.
‘I will be waiting at the top.’
Though they had not battled against the Demon King of Incarceration at the time, Eugene came to realize that the second Demon King was on a different level from the Demon Kings they had faced and killed previously.
So what was he talking about? They didn’t have to fight against the horrible monster? If all five of them climbed to the top of Babel without dying and came to face the true body of the Demon King of Incarceration, then that would have been… enough?
“It was impossible to turn back what had already happened,” said Vermouth. “So I had no choice but to search for a different way. I bought some time with the Oath, and I received your soul. The necklace containing your soul is still with Sienna, but… one day, I intend to convince her and get it from her.”
Convince her? Is that how he defined overturning someone’s grave and drilling a hole through Sienna’s heart after she came there in shock?
“Hamel. You are here now, which means everything went according to my plan. You were born as my descendant and learned the White Flame Formula. You may not be pleased, but I had you reincarnated.”
“I know, you bastard.”
“And I had no option but to make this choice because you… are most like the Hero out of everyone I know.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The best I could do was to climb the Demon King of Incarceration’s castle, Babel, but you should be able to go further. Hamel, if it’s you, you should be able to achieve what I couldn’t.”
“Vermouth, you little bitch. Say it in a way I can understand. What? I’m most like the Hero out of everyone you know? You crazy little bastard. Have you finally gone mad?”
“You won’t want to admit it, but my mind won’t change. The fact that you are here now proves that I didn’t change my mind,” said Vermouth with a faint smile. “In the end, I wasn’t enough.”
“If you’re not good enough, then who…!” Eugene shouted, no longer able to hold himself back.
The only reason they could defeat three of the Demon Kings — the Demon King of Carnage, the Demon King of Cruelty, and the Demon King of Fury — was that Vermouth had been there. Similarly, the only reason the Demon King of Incarnation agreed to the Oath and stepped down was that Vermouth had been there. That was who Vermouth was, someone who turned an impossible situation into a victory, someone whose very presence acted as a beacon of light to boost the morale of any allies. He was the shining Hero. It was only because he managed to draw the Holy Sword that the Demon Kings had been defeated. It was only because he wielded the Moonlight Sword that the Demon Kings had been killed.
“Hamel, you are strong.” .
Eugene could no longer find words to say. Instead, he clutched his chest as Vermouth continued.
“You were strong in your previous life, but I’m sure you are stronger now. Of course, it should be inevitable. I don’t know exactly when you will be reborn to which family, but in order for your reincarnation to be as fast as possible, I had to have as many descendants as possible. To make sure that my descendants don’t fight, I created an inviolable rule.”
“Crazy bastard.”
“I don’t care if you agree with this or not. But, Hamel, just like how you died doing whatever you wanted, I’m going to do whatever I want. Anyways, the families that take my last name will continue to prosper in the future, and the main branch of the family will look down on the other branches from a high place. Although I won’t be able to see it happen with my own eyes, I’m certain that’s how things will turn out.”
Vermouth was right. The Lionheart family continued strong for three hundred years, and the Black Lion, the watchdog of the family, made sure that the branches of the family did not enter into struggles. The Bloodline Continuation Ceremony, the Leyline, and the White Flame Formula ensured that the collateral lines could not rise up against the main branch of the family.
“And one day, you will be born as one of the countless Lionheart descendants. The body you will come to possess will be incomparably better than the body of your previous life. It’s inevitable since I intended for the body to be thoroughly designed for the soul.”
Eugene Lionheart’s body truly was great. It moved exceptionally well even since he was a child before he learned how to use mana. It never broke, regardless of how hard Eugene trained. Was that all? The talents Eugene had in his previous life blossomed even more splendidly in his new body.
“There will be an enormous difference between what you were given in your previous life and what you have now, Hamel. You will definitely stand out in the Bloodline Continuation Ceremony, and it’s possible that my descendants will envy you. Even so, I’m certain that you will rise to the challenge. In fact, that’s probably how you are here in this place.”
Eugene was speechless.
“How old are you now? The White Flame Formula might be tricky to learn, but with your talents… you shouldn’t be over your mid-twenties at the most. Have you seen the weapons in the treasure room? Some of them are probably already in your hands. But the Holy Sword…. To be honest, I’m not sure. Would you have been recognized by the Light?” Vermouth chuckled. “You might be disappointed that the Moonlight Sword is not in the treasure room. But it’s simply too dangerous. It’s dangerous in many ways.”
“That’s true. It’s an ignorant, strong, horrible weapon,” Eugene sympathized.
“I intend to destroy the Moonlight Sword and rid the world of its existence. However, I probably will fail. This sword isn’t something you can destroy just because you want to. If I…. If I can manage this sword somehow, and arrange it for you, and Hamel, if you have a lingering attachment to the Moonlight Sword….” Vermouth drew his hand across the air, and a few shining letters appeared in the air. It was a unique formulation of magic.
“I’ve made your grave somewhere underground in the Kazitan Desert in Nahama. If you draw a spell according to this formula, you should be able to locate your grave. It might be that you can’t use magic, but… if that’s the case, take this opportunity to learn it. Sienna recently established a new branch of magic in Aroth. With your talent, it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“I already learned it, ” Eugene muttered.
“Of course, the Moonlight Sword might not be there even if you visit your tomb. But don’t be too disappointed. If the Moonlight Sword is there and I still have the Moonlight Sword, then it would mean I couldn’t destroy it. Still, I hope you don’t laugh at me since I’m sure I’ve succeeded in getting it under control somehow.” Vermouth raised himself out of his chair. “Hamel, I don’t think you would be convinced by the reason I had you reincarnated. However, I am convinced. I’m convinced you will be able to do what I couldn’t.”
“What can I say? I’ve already fucking reincarnated. And even if I want to complain, you’re not here, Vermouth.”
“I can’t force you to live your life a certain way after you reincarnate. Perhaps… you’ve changed. Maybe your hatred towards the demonfolks and the Demon Kings has faded. Maybe you no longer have the thought of saving the world like before.”
“But you know me.”
“However, I don’t think that will be the case. Hamel, you’re not one to be like that. Regardless of who you are reborn as, as long as you keep the memories of your life as Hamel, there’s no way your convictions from your past life will change.”
Eugene laughed instead of answering.
“So you will come to resent me. You might feel like I betrayed you.”
“I’m not that narrow-minded.”
“Hamel, if you are the same as before and want to rid the world of demonfolks and Demon Kings, if you want to save the world,” Vermouth paused, then closed his eyes. “Don’t fight… with the Demon King of Destruction. Keep away from him. I’m sure you know since you saw it too, but… it’s bizarre. It’s not an existence you can fight.”
Eugene had seen the Demon King of Destruction moving from afar. But both then and now, he couldn’t say for sure what exactly he had seen. Something had been moving across the vast plain, and if what he saw wasn’t destruction, then what in the world was qualified to be called so? If what he saw had not been the strongest Demon King, then what else could be called the Demon King? Such thoughts convinced him that what he had seen then had been the Demon King of Destruction. No one who had been there with him talked about fighting against the Demon King of Destruction. The best they could do was to hold onto their quivering bodies and hold themselves together.
“…But the Demon King of Destruction must die one day,” Eugene whispered.
Vermouth didn’t hear Eugene’s answer. “But one day, the Demon King of Destruction must be slain.” Even so, he gave the same answer as Eugene.
“Before that, try to reach the top of Babel.” Vermouth opened his eyes. “Just as I did, stand before the Demon King of Incarceration and meet with his true body. The Demon King of Incarceration will not let you climb Babel in peace since that’s the kind of being he is.”
“Of course, I have to climb Babel. I’ve never been up there in any case,” Eugene declared.
“What will happen after that are things you will have to experience yourself.” Vermouth did not sit back again. Instead, he stood in place for a moment while caressing the armrest of his chair.
After a moment, he murmured with a bitter smile, “This is it.”
He looked straight ahead at Eugene.
“It has to be you.”
Three hundred years ago, Vermouth had found and chosen Eugene as his colleague despite the disapproval of his comrades.
It has to be you.
He had reached out his hand to Hamel while speaking these very words. He spoke the same words once again while reaching forward.
“I miss saying this too,” muttered Vermouth before lowering his outstretched hand. However, before his hand fell completely, Eugene reached out with his own hand while clicking his tongue.
Eugene’s hand passed straight through the air, but that was still enough for Eugene.
“That’s still bullshit,” grumbled Eugene.𝘪𝘦.𝘤𝑜
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