Even the barren Cramel Wastelands, already empty, now truly had nothing left. Only the remnants of annihilation remained.
It was only natural, having been caught in the explosion of Heavenly Destruction.
Emission, absorption, and spatial distortion were mixed together, becoming a force of nothingness that erased existence itself.
‘Because of that, I’m sprawled out like this.’
He was sprawled out on the ground in a starfish shape. He was alive. Yet, his entire body felt strangely unfamiliar. Fatigue weighed him down so heavily that he couldn’t even twitch a finger.
Even breathing was a struggle. When he tried to draw up mana to heal himself as usual, a pain struck him as if gripping his empty heart.
‘Ha, completely depleted.’
He let out a weak, hollow laugh.
It was inevitable.
Even if it was his own Magical Power, it was firepower enough to shatter a Simyeong from the inside. Expecting to be unscathed after taking that head-on was greedy.
It was practically a suicide mission.
‘Still, it was the best, the greatest decision.’
It was a reckless choice, but he had no intention of regretting it. Otherwise, the battle would have continued steadily, and he, with his high Simryeok consumption, would have eventually lost.
Rain Adriche was a transcendent mage who had reigned as Tower Master of the Magic Tower for many years. He had lived more lives than Yohan and, unlike Yohan who had only honed one thing, he also had deep knowledge of magic.
It didn’t make sense to engage in a long, drawn-out battle with such a guy. Only after he had suffered a fatal wound could they fight on somewhat equal terms.
Besides, he would have been familiar with opening a Simyeong, so if they had gone for a war of attrition, he would have lost.
“This is it.’
Yohan closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. The only thing he felt from his entire body, which had been surrounded by tension and anxiety until just now, was relief.
Thud, thud, thud!
In the meantime. Perhaps those who had been watching with detection magic from outside the barrier had arrived, as the ground against his back began to rumble. The sound of hooves was heard from far away.
Special Forces, Public Officials, Guardian Knights…
The flags of various institutions, painted in various colors, fluttered. But their affiliation was one.
The Rogino Empire.
“Minister Rahardt!”
The Special Forces Commander rushed over in one stride. He was also a Special-class knight, so his physical abilities were considerable.
“Are you alright!”
“…I don’t have much strength left to speak.”
“I will gather the healers immediately!”
While several military officials and healers moved under the Special Forces Commander’s command, Yohan relaxed, relieved.
We won.
“Yohan…?”
As he lay there with a faint smile, he heard a familiar voice. When he opened his eyes, Francia was staring at him, blinking her large eyes.
“Francia.”
Yohan smiled faintly.
“Yohan…!”
Francia swallowed the tears that seemed about to burst out and rushed over in one step. And she collapsed into his arms.
“Hic, Yohan…!”
She wrapped her arms around him with all her might, bursting out with the emotions she had been holding back.
“Thank you, really. Thank you so much…”
“It was something I had to do.”
“Hic, still. I’m sorry for asking you for such a dangerous favor…”
“Haha.”
She seemed to be trying hard to hold back her tears, but in the end, they burst out. Yohan slowly stroked Francia’s hair. Gently and warmly.
Only then did Francia realize that Yohan was alive.
“It’ll be alright now. There won’t be any more stupid people messing with us.”
Four of the main male leads were dead. It was quite encouraging. There were no more enemies to be wary of.
“So, let’s stop crying and get ready to go back. We have to see the Duke who will awaken, right?”
“…That’s right.”
Francia looked at Yohan with a tearful smile.
“Thank you, really.”
Under the sunlit sky.
She made an even brighter smile.
* * *
On the way back to the Empire.
Yohan, who was riding in a private carriage, was leisurely enjoying his rest. Of course, that didn’t mean he was doing anything that violated etiquette. Like stretching out his legs and lying down.
So, his tattered body and mind had recovered enough to stand up. But it was still just as difficult.
“…Are you alright? Minister Rahardt.”
A woman asked from outside the window. It was natural that he didn’t recognize her face, but he felt a strange sense of incongruity. He wondered if her face was too youthful for her age. Yohan tilted his head.
“I’m fine… What’s your name?”
“Astrea Rihaind. I am the commander of the 1st Public Official Unit.”
Yohan’s eyes widened for a moment. She was in her early to mid-twenties, had taken on the position of commander of the 1st Public Official Unit, and was said to be a promising star recently attracting attention in the Empire. But he never imagined she would be a woman.
“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, Commander Astrea.”
“You can treat me comfortably. You are the Minister, after all. And a hero of the continent.”
She told him to treat her comfortably, but it wasn’t as easy as she said. Astrea was older than him.
….Come to think of it, I’m really ridiculous.’
He was just about to turn twenty-two, had reached the realm of transcendence, was the only one who could close the Demon Nest, and had won against the strongest mage on the continent, the Tower Master of the Magic Tower.
Maybe the protagonist in a novel would be like this?
As he continued to think like that, Yohan blinked.
‘Ah, I guess I’m the protagonist now.’
Considering the actions he had shown so far and the fact that he was connected to Francia, who was at the center of the events happening in this world, the male protagonist must have been replaced. The existing male leads had returned as pure villains.
“…Are you still not feeling well?”
When Yohan was staring blankly, Astrea asked with a worried voice.
“No, I’m just a little out of it.”
“Are you not in pain?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
Clatter…
Inside the carriage, which was slowly moving for rest, Astrea continued to show interest and continued the conversation.
“Do you perhaps have a secret?”
“A secret?”
Astrea cleared her throat and looked around, and then whispered softly when she realized there was no one listening.
“That is, a secret to becoming as strong as you, Minister.”
“…”
That was something he didn’t know either. There was no way he would know. He only knew that he had a large amount of Magical Power from birth and had a talent for magic, but who knew it would turn out like this.
The reason why the purity of his Magical Power was high might be because of Francia. She had the property of purification. Something must have influenced him.
However, there was no reason to answer that directly. Because Francia was involved. In the first place, there was no need to do so.
“Well… To be honest, I don’t really know either. It just happened to turn out this way.”
“It just happened…?”
“Yes. Don’t you know? That I was able to repair the cracks in the Demon Nest was also discovered by chance.”
If there hadn’t been a war with Sanburg, wouldn’t he have never known for the rest of his life? There’s no such thing as ‘what if’ in history, but that’s probably the case.
“I, I see…”
Astrea lowered her head. Her disappointment was evident. Was she trying to find a clue to become stronger?
Yohan didn’t bother to open his mouth any further here. Even if they exchanged pleasantries, nothing would change.
He didn’t want to presumptuously try to teach her.
“I’m sorry, I asked you something strange when you must be uncomfortable.”
“No, I would have been curious too.”
“Haha…”
Astrea smiled awkwardly and bowed politely.
“Then please rest comfortably.”
“Yes.”
The wheels of the carriage rolled on.
“…”
Although the distance was getting farther and they could no longer talk, Astrea continued to glance at the carriage Yohan was riding in.
Interest was pouring out. It wasn’t the kind of emotion that existed between a man and a woman. It was curiosity. She couldn’t help but be curious about him. She was curious about how he could show such actions.
When such curiosity continued, she would naturally become curious about that person. Astrea was no different. She was curious about the person named Yohan Rahardt.
What is he thinking?
What does he usually do?
Then suddenly, Astrea’s expression hardened.
‘… Is it impure?’
She should never have feelings between a man and a woman. He was about to marry the Princess of Perbache. But even if she didn’t, she didn’t know how others would see it.
‘I have to be careful.’
Astrea forcibly averted her gaze. She wanted to talk to Yohan Rahardt a little more, but she had to turn off her interest. If she dug deeper, she might look suspicious.
* * *
Yohan Rahardt had won and returned.
The Empire, having received that news, was in a festive mood.
The Imperial Palace was seething with the heat of victory. Lanterns twinkled on the main streets, and the shouts of merchants and the performances of musicians echoed.
Dancers danced in the square, and parades passed by, with cheers and flower petals scattering. Magic fireworks bloomed in the night sky, and glasses and laughter overflowed.
“Waaaaaah-!”
“Long live Duke Rahardt!!”
“Long live!!”
People cheered for Yohan, who had won and returned. Everyone had a refreshing and cool smile, with no trace of worry.
Yohan, who was riding in the carriage, crossed through the center of it and chuckled.
“They’re too happy.’
He had attacked the Imperial Palace, amplifying anxiety, and later implied the possibility of war through an official statement. Such fear and worry must have been deeply rooted in their hearts.
That’s why they’re so enthusiastic now.
Yohan waved his hand towards the window appropriately.
“Waaaaaah!!”
“Duke Rahardt!!”
“You’re so handsome!”
“Hero!!”
Hero.
That word was stuck in his ear.
Cheers, gestures, welcomes. Everything poured out.
Being recognized and welcomed by someone was always a pleasant thing. Of course, he wasn’t particularly aiming for this. The Tower Master was a guy who deserved to die, and a guy who had to die.
In the meantime. He arrived at the entrance to the Imperial Palace. Yohan raised his stiff body and got out of the carriage.
As his figure was revealed, knights in golden armor and representatives of the institutions protecting the Empire came out to welcome him.
“Towards Minister Rahardt, salute!”
-Salute!
A thousand swords flashed at the same time. The silver longswords pointed towards the sky, and then were thrust into the ground all at once.
Bang-!
The ground shook.
At the entrance to the Imperial Palace stood the Crown Prince, Descartes Rogino, and the ministers, as well as the Prime Minister and the Ministers. All of them had come to celebrate Yohan’s victory.
What they were looking at was only one person, Yohan.
“His Majesty is waiting, Minister Rahardt.”
Descartes smiled and stood in front of him. Yohan nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Now it was time to meet the Emperor as the strongest person on the continent and the hero of the Empire who had once again made a great contribution.