Chapter 49: When the Past Returns

Within the Mond Kingdom Dungeon

Inside the hidden corridor overlooking the deep pit—

Margaret stood at the edge, staring down into the abyss.

Her posture was steady, but the tension in her eyes was impossible to miss.

Margaret:

“Did Y fall?”

Mia:

“Yes…

He did. Along with a team of hunters.”

Liz:

“And I saw something else fall as well.”

Talia:

“The monster…

The one that killed the hunters here.”

Mia clenched her fist without realizing it.

Mia:

“We have to help him. Now.”

Margaret turned sharply toward them.

Margaret:

“Girls. You need to leave this place immediately.”

Liz:

“What about Y?

Are we supposed to abandon him?”

Mia:

“Of course not.”

Margaret studied them both, weighing their resolve.

Margaret:

“Do you remember the first thing I ever taught you?”

Liz:

“The Mana Shield…?”

Margaret:

“Yes.

Can you use it?”

Mia & Liz:

“Yes.

You made sure we mastered it.”

Margaret exhaled slowly, then shifted her gaze to Talia.

Margaret:

“The problem now… is her.”

Mia:

“Talia?”

Margaret:

“Descending into that pit would be suicide.

She wouldn’t survive.”

Talia clenched her teeth, but didn’t retreat.

Talia:

“I’m sorry…

but I don’t believe I’m that weak.

I can support you.”

Margaret:

“This isn’t about strength.

The air down there is toxic—it causes paralysis over time.”

Mia:

“And leaving her behind isn’t an option.”

Liz:

“They were on the fifteenth floor…

They’ve already crossed into the eighteenth.”

Mia:

“We can reach the twentieth.

It’s a safe floor.”

Margaret shook her head immediately.

Margaret:

“No.

Those worms will reach the twentieth floor soon.

We don’t have time.”

Liz:

“Then teach her the technique.”

Margaret stepped forward and stopped directly in front of Talia, her expression unyielding.

Margaret:

“If you don’t learn it quickly…

we leave you behind.”

Talia swallowed, then lifted her head.

Talia:

“I’m ready.”

Deep within the pit

Inside an underground labyrinth resembling a colossal ant kingdom—

Y stood still, surveying the countless branching tunnels.

Y:

“Leaving the worms alone for this long was a mistake.

These passages exist to divert attention from the main route.”

He exhaled sharply.

Y (muttering):

“I should’ve learned Scarlet’s sensing technique…”

A coarse voice echoed behind him.

Dungeon Guardian:

“You’re remarkably calm… human.”

Y turned instantly.

Y:

“You again.

Are you hunting the worms?”

Dungeon Guardian:

“Yes.

Their nest lies ahead.”

Y:

“Do you know the path?”

The guardian shook its head.

Dungeon Guardian:

“No.

But I can sense them.

I’ll kill them all.”

Y’s eyes narrowed.

Y:

“I wouldn’t advise that.”

He glanced at the decaying worm corpse nearby.

Y:

“Each dead worm makes this labyrinth more lethal.

Terrible timing…

I need to move fast—and avoid killing any more.”

The guardian’s voice grew heavier.

Dungeon Guardian:

“The monster that fell with us…

It doesn’t belong to this dungeon.”

Y:

“I heard its habitat was a nearby mine.

Didn’t expect it here.”

Suddenly—

An explosion shook the labyrinth.

Y lifted his head.

Y:

“Time to move.”

He sprinted toward the sound.

The Dungeon Guardian moved the opposite way.

Elsewhere in the labyrinth

Three hunters faced another wave of worms.

The frontliner surged forward, cutting through them with precise strikes.

Suddenly—

A worm burst from the wall.

The man behind him intercepted the attack instantly.

In the next moment—

Fire magic detonated, tearing through the corridor.

The walls trembled.

Hunter:

“That was the last wave…”

Another:

“I’ve never seen worms like these.”

Silence.

Then—

“Let’s rest. Briefly.”

Above the pit

Margaret trained Talia.

Margaret:

“The technique is simple.

The execution is not.

Magic and aura—together.”

Talia:

“I know magic.

But aura?”

Margaret:

“No time. Watch.”

Magic surged outward—then changed.

It withdrew.

Condensed.

Calm. Dense.

Margaret:

“Give me your hand.”

A blue energy flowed into Talia.

Talia:

“There’s… something blue.”

Margaret:

“My aura. Focus.”

Ten minutes passed.

Talia:

“I can’t. It’s too difficult.”

Margaret:

“No one masters aura quickly.

But we don’t have time.”

She paused.

Margaret:

“Find your own way.”

Mia stepped forward.

Mia:

“What if I share mine?”

Margaret hesitated, then nodded.

Aura flared.

A barrier formed.

Liz:

“It worked!”

Margaret:

“Yes.

And it’s dangerous.”

Mia:

“If our hands separate, the shield collapses.”

Liz:

“And the poison takes effect.”

Margaret looked straight at Talia.

Margaret:

“Decide.”

Talia:

“I’m coming.”

Minutes later

Mia:

“What’s Y like on missions?”

Liz:

“I don’t know.

I’ve never gone with him.”

Margaret noticed Mia’s tone.

Margaret:

“Something happened?”

Mia explained.

Margaret’s eyes hardened.

Margaret:

“Betrayal.

Killing his own team.

Despicable.”

Talia:

“We trusted the wrong person.”

Liz:

“You survived.”

Talia:

“I only pretended to be strong.”

She looked down.

Talia:

“When Y killed him…

his aura was calm.”

Margaret:

“As it should be.”

Somewhere deeper within the tunnels

Hunters rested.

Leader:

“Move.”

A presence emerged.

Y:

“I’m an ally.”

Negotiation failed.

Y vanished—

Steel at the leader’s throat.

Y:

“Follow me.

Everyone survives.”

Silence.

Then—

Leader:

“…We follow.”

Y and the Hunters

Y:

“Can the settlement’s hunters handle the worms?”

Leader:

“To a certain extent… yes.

But the poison is another matter.

If this isn’t resolved quickly, it could wipe them out.”

Y:

“I’ve given it careful thought.

The only truly effective solution

is to exterminate all the worms—

without letting even one escape.”

Leader:

“But their numbers are enormous.

One or two could slip away…

and there’s also the poison and paralysis.”

Y:

“Not for long.

It appears the Dungeon Guardian has begun killing them.

And soon…

the poison will reach us as well.”

The leader’s expression darkened.

Leader:

“You mean that monster?

Why is it targeting the worms instead of us?”

Y:

“Its name is the Dungeon Guardian.

It targets anything

that threatens the dungeon’s stability.”

Leader:

“And what do you mean by ‘stability’?”

Y:

“Severe damage to the dungeon itself—

not simply fighting monsters.”

Leader:

“Like destroying the walls?”

Y:

“Yes.

As long as you don’t do that,

it won’t attack you.”

He gestured calmly ahead.

Y:

“Right passage…

then left.”

Leader:

“Do you know the route?”

Y:

“Not exactly.

I’m simply… avoiding the worms.”

The leader studied him, a trace of restrained admiration in his eyes.

Leader:

“Your senses are sharp.

I can barely feel them myself.”

Y:

“They’ll improve with time.

Don’t rush your growth.”

Amid the Ruins of a Lost Kingdom

Amid the ruins of a destroyed kingdom—

a kingdom erased by history not because someone won,

but because no one did.

A battle that ended without resolution.

Bodies lay scattered without order.

Swords were driven into the earth like grave markers.

Buildings lay collapsed.

And a dense fog devoured everything—

even memory itself.

Albedo led the way.

Garb followed behind him, with Kyojiro bringing up the rear.

Their steps were cautious,

as though the land itself still breathed the remnants of war.

Kyojiro broke the silence first.

Kyojiro:

“What happened to this kingdom?”

Albedo slowed slightly, answering without turning back.

Albedo:

“A great battle…

between the Hero of Humanity and the Demon Lord.

This kingdom was once considered the second royal capital.

But the war… erased it from existence.”

Garb said nothing.

His gaze lingered on shattered blades,

on bones that had never known burial.

…

Albedo stopped suddenly and gestured ahead.

Albedo:

“We’ve arrived.

That… is your objective.”

They stood at the heart of the ruined kingdom.

The fog was thinner here,

as though the place itself refused to be completely forgotten.

Kyojiro stepped forward.

Kyojiro:

“So this is it…

What are you looking for, Garb?”

Garb lifted his head slowly, staring ahead.

Garb:

“That sword… over there.”

Kyojiro:

“A sword?”

Albedo moved toward the center,

where a blade stood embedded in the ground—

upright, silent,

as though it had been waiting for centuries.

He placed his hand upon it.

Albedo:

“This is the Sword of the Broken Oath.

At the heart of the kingdom.

The sword of the Human Hero.”

Kyojiro stiffened.

Kyojiro:

“Does that mean… he’s dead?”

Albedo shook his head.

Albedo:

“No.

This battle never ended.

It merely… stopped.

They are sealed within the sword.”

Garb looked at him directly.

Garb:

“Can you free them, Albedo?”

Albedo slowly withdrew his hand.

Albedo:

“Our agreement was only that I guide you here.

Wasn’t it?”

Garb:

“That’s correct.

And I’m grateful for your guidance.”

Silence followed.

Then a faint, cold smile curved Albedo’s lips.

Albedo:

“Then…

what will you offer me to break the seal?”

Garb clenched his fist.

Garb:

“What do you want in return?”

Kyojiro spoke cautiously.

Kyojiro:

“I’ve heard you’re a mad scientist.”

Albedo chuckled softly.

Albedo:

“I was a scientist.

Now…

I’m merely the curator of a very ancient library.”

Garb took a deep breath, then removed his weapon—

a massive war hammer, heavy and imposing—

and placed it before Albedo without hesitation.

Garb:

“I’ll give you my weapon.”

Albedo paused, his gaze shifting from the hammer to Garb.

Albedo:

“They say a warrior’s weapon

is no different from his soul.

I accept.”

Kyojiro’s eyes widened.

Kyojiro:

“I didn’t expect you to give up your weapon.”

Garb did not reply.

Albedo traced magical circles through the air.

Albedo:

“Stand here.

I’ll need your magic as well.”

The three stepped into the circle.

Albedo approached the sword and placed his hand upon it.

In that instant—

golden lines spread across the ground,

intersecting, forming patterns—

triangles, circles, ancient sigils.

A grand spell took shape.

Golden light erupted, splitting the sky,

and the fog vanished at once.

From the heart of the spell—

Two figures emerged.

The first was a human man

with short golden hair,

simple clothing, no armor—

utterly ordinary in appearance.

Yet behind him flowed a blue cloak

bearing the emblem of a shield.

…

Beside him stood another figure.

A towering mass of bone,

a body carved more from skeleton than flesh.

Curved, heavy horns bore the scars of countless battles,

and a glowing mark shone upon his hand.

He was neither human

nor a common creature.

His mere presence

made the air feel heavy.

Kyojiro whispered, realization dawning.

Kyojiro:

“Now I understand…

why you trusted them, Garb.”

Garb stepped forward slightly, then stood behind them.

The land that had witnessed the battle centuries ago

seemed to remember at last.

The massive figure shifted,

bones creaking softly,

as if awakening from a long slumber.

The human hero remained calm.

He opened his eyes slowly.

A single glance was enough

to make the embedded sword tremble.

He turned slightly toward the figure beside him.

No hostility.

No tension.

Not even a smile.

As though they had never been enemies.

The former Demon Lord exhaled deeply,

his voice hoarse yet steady.

Tharok:

“How long has it been… since our sealing?”

Garb:

“Tharok…

we’re nothing more than old legends now.”

The hero spoke calmly.

Kyle:

“Is that you, Garb?”

Garb:

“Yes, Kyle.

It’s me.”

Kyle:

“I heard you disappeared.”

Garb:

“It’s a long story.”

Tharok nodded.

Tharok:

“We’ll hear it later.

For now…

we finish this ancient war.”

Kyle grasped the sword.

The last trace of the spell faded.

One step forward—

And suddenly—

the air split apart.

A colossal monster emerged.

A single eye stared down from above.

A body so vast it blotted out the light itself,

as though the world recoiled.

Kyojiro stepped forward,

but Tharok stopped him with one hand.

Tharok:

“This is our battle.

I know you’re watching, Lucarion…

I hope my wife and daughter are safe.”

Kyojiro stepped back.

Kyle:

“This is the first time we fight

on the same side.”

Tharok growled, a smile in his voice.

Tharok:

“And it won’t be the last.”

They stood side by side.

The monster began charging a massive spell.

The air compressed.

Light gathered in its eye.

Tharok stepped forward.

Tharok:

“It’s time for revenge.”

Kyle tightened his grip.

A calm magic circle formed beneath his feet.

And in the same instant—

magic erupted from both of them.

A demonic fist.

A human blade.

Two strikes—

in a single moment.

The world was not ready.

The attack collapsed.

The eye trembled.

Then—

The body shattered.

The monster fell without a scream.

Dust settled.

Tharok lowered his hand.

Tharok:

“…It’s over.”

Kyle sheathed his sword.

The ruined kingdom fell silent once more—

this time because an ancient war

had finally been laid to rest.

Yet that silence was not absolute.

Far away, beyond the kingdom’s borders,

the Demon King sat upon his throne.

He did not move.

He did not shift.

Only his gaze narrowed slightly.

He had seen everything.

And he spoke, in a voice heard by no one:

“So…

the legends are not over yet.”