Chapter 64 – After the Seal

Snow still fell gently, covering the battlefield on the mountain peak. But the air felt different now—no longer suffocating, no longer filled with the oppressive darkness that had weighed down every breath.

At the center of the massive sealing circle stood a colossal crystal of pure white. Its surface glimmered faintly, reflecting a soft glow that warmed the peak despite the biting cold. Inside it lay the Ice Dragon—silent, no longer roaring to shatter the sky, its body now at rest.

No one spoke at first. They simply stood there, battered and bleeding, their clothes scorched with magic burns, their weapons nicked and dulled.

It was Doni who finally broke the silence. His voice trembled between disbelief and exhaustion. “We… we actually did it?”

Sari collapsed onto the snow, her breath visible in the frigid air. Her face was pale and her hands were shaking, but there was a small, tired smile on her lips. “Yes… it’s over. The dragon isn’t moving. The seal held.”

Yuna slid her sword back into its sheath and lowered her head slightly. Her usually sharp eyes stayed fixed on the crystal. “At last,” she said in a low voice. “What dozens of elite raid parties failed to do for two whole years… we finally accomplished.”

Zareen remained standing where he was, his gaze locked on the glowing crystal. The image of the hero’s face was still fresh in his mind—the quiet smile, the haunted eyes, and the last words that had echoed in his heart.

*Rest now…* Zareen thought. *You’ve carried this burden long enough.*

---

### Friends’ Reactions

Doni trudged over and clapped Zareen’s shoulder hard enough to nearly knock him forward. “Hey! What was that just now? You froze up for so long I thought you’d turned into an ice statue too.”

Zareen blinked, realizing only now that he hadn’t moved since the sealing was complete. “I… I saw something. It felt like years passed before my eyes.”

Sari’s brows drew together as she studied him. “You… saw something in the dragon, didn’t you?”

Zareen hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Yes. He wasn’t just a dragon. He was a hero—a fallen one.”

“Hero?” Yuna repeated quietly, stepping closer.

Zareen didn’t elaborate. The truth felt too heavy to explain, and perhaps they weren’t ready to hear it yet. “He wasn’t evil,” Zareen said softly. “He just carried too much on his own.”

Silence followed, filled only by the sound of the wind sweeping across the mountain peak. For a moment, it felt as though even the world was listening.

---

### World Announcement

Suddenly, the sky flared. Blue light streaked across the clouds, and a deep, resonant voice echoed across every corner of the world:

> **[World Announcement] – Raid Quest ‘Seal of the Ice Hero’ has been cleared.**

> **[Contributors: Party of 4] – Status: Success.**

Everyone on the peak looked up. Players far away—in distant towns, training grounds, and guild halls—would be hearing the exact same words.

Sari’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. “We… we’re the first ones?”

Doni burst into wild laughter despite nearly collapsing. “HAHAHA! Just the four of us! We beat every top-tier raid party that’s failed for years! This is insane!”

Even Yuna, usually so stoic, allowed the faintest trace of a smile to appear at the corner of her lips.

But Zareen didn’t cheer. His face stayed solemn as he looked up at the fading glow. Victory felt hollow. He knew the truth: the dragon had not been their enemy—only a hero who had been consumed by hatred.

*If one hero could fall like that… how many more are still waiting?*

---

### Return to the Guild

Days later, when they finally descended the mountain and returned to the guild, the entire hall erupted the moment they walked in. Dozens of heads turned at once.

“Look, that’s them…”

“The team that sealed the Ice Dragon?”

“No way—just four of them?”

“But the world announcement listed their names!”

The stares that met them were a mix of awe, envy, and disbelief.

Doni soaked in the attention like sunlight. He strutted forward with his chest puffed out, waving as if he were in a parade. “Autographs are free today! Tomorrow I’ll start charging!”

Sari promptly smacked him on the back of the head. “Quit acting like an idiot. You’re making us look bad.”

Yuna ignored the chatter entirely and walked straight toward the registration desk. Zareen followed quietly, still uneasy with so many eyes on him.

The guild master was waiting for them. The old man’s face split into a broad smile. “Congratulations. You accomplished what dozens of the best guild parties could not. The world will remember your names.”

Zareen nodded, but inside he knew: he hadn’t done this for recognition. This victory wasn’t for glory—it was for the hero who had been trapped for so long.

---

### A Quiet Night

That night, they stayed at an inn in the city. Doni collapsed on the bed and started snoring within minutes. Sari sat cross-legged by the window, sharpening her blades in silence.

Zareen sat on the windowsill, staring up at the moon. His thoughts drifted back to the vision he had seen within the seal.

“Zareen.”

He turned. Yuna stood at the doorway, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the lantern light.

“I don’t know what you saw back there,” she said quietly. “But I know one thing—you’re not like the other players. You’re… different.”

Zareen’s chest tightened. “Different?”

Yuna didn’t answer right away. She simply held his gaze for a moment longer before turning and walking away.

Zareen sat frozen, heart pounding. He touched the small pendant that now hung around his neck—he didn’t even remember putting it on, yet it felt as though it had been with him forever. Perhaps it was a gift from the sealed hero himself, a reminder of the burden he had carried.

*If there was one fallen hero… there may be others still waiting. And when the time comes, I must be ready to face them too.*

---

# Epilogue – A World at Peace

The massive white crystal stood proudly on the mountain peak, a silent monument to the battle that had ended an era.

And then something miraculous happened.

Across the entire continent, monsters vanished as though swept away by an invisible wind. Their cries faded, their tracks erased. The world fell silent.

“They’re gone?” Doni said in disbelief.

“Not just here,” Sari murmured, staring at the distant horizon. “The whole world feels… quiet.”

Zareen gazed at the crystal, his expression soft. *Finally… peace.*

---

### Gino’s Awakening

A movement behind them made him turn.

Gino—who had been unconscious ever since the dragon’s aura consumed him—was stirring. His eyes slowly fluttered open.

“Ugh…” He sat up, looking around in confusion. “I… I’m back?”

Zareen ran to him, relief flooding his chest. “Gino! You’re awake!”

Gino smiled faintly. “Yes. It feels like the darkness is gone. Thank you, Zareen. Without you, I might never have returned.”

Zareen nodded silently, unable to speak past the lump in his throat.

---

### The Final Announcement

The sky trembled once more. A mechanical voice resonated across the entire world:

> **[World Announcement] – Main Quest ‘Seal of the Fallen Hero’ has been completed. The world has been saved. Server shutdown will proceed in 48 hours.**

Doni froze. “S-server shutdown?”

“So this really is the end,” Yuna said softly, her eyes turned toward the sky.

The voice continued:

> “The past two years have been a trial. This world was placed in the hands of its players. Had the dragon not been sealed, the world would have fallen into darkness. But because of your success, this world will end in peace.”

---

### Rewards

> **[All players will receive: Memorial Bonus – Title ‘Witness of the Last Quest.’ Special rewards will be granted to those who participated in the sealing ritual.]**

A brilliant white light enveloped the four of them.

Sari stared at the new weapon that appeared in her hands. “A unique weapon… it’s beautiful.”

Doni nearly jumped for joy. “A rare title! I’ll be famous on the forums after this!”

Yuna looked down at a black pendant in her palm, her eyes glinting with some unreadable emotion.

Zareen glanced at the simple charm in his own hand. It didn’t look special, but it pulsed faintly with warmth, and he somehow knew it was important.

---

### Farewell

The final days were filled with celebration. Players gathered in the capital city, singing, drinking, dancing under the glow of lanterns.

Amid the festivities, Yuna approached Zareen. “You’re different,” she said again, more firmly this time. “If we meet again—out there, in the real world—I’ll make sure to ask you what you really saw.”

Sari waved cheerfully. “Don’t you dare forget us!”

Doni grinned and gave a thumbs-up. “Best support ever! You’re a legend now.”

One by one, their bodies were wrapped in the glow of logout.

But when Zareen waited for his own, nothing happened.

“…So it’s true. I really am not like them.”

He stood alone in the emptying city. Only Gino remained at his side.

The world was silent, peaceful—its dangers gone. For the first time, Zareen felt no need to rush, no need to fight.

For a moment, it almost felt like home.

---

✨ **The End – Final Quest, First Love (Book One)** ✨