# Boom, kwang. Even with my body fully reinforced by magic, the impact feels like it's piercing through my skull.
Alexander barely swallows the blood welling up inside him and reaches out with trembling vision.
Eujik—magic gathers at his fingertips. He completes the spell as quickly as breathing.
"Hwoook, kwang!!"
He swings his fist, driving it into Ivan's abdomen. Kwang—with the explosive sound, Ivan's body jerks upward.
But.
"Kwajik!"
Before the explosion's aftermath ends, Ivan's hand moves again, slamming Alexander's head against the deck.
"Don't you understand this world's structure is wrong!! I have seen and heard of your world!! Major Petrovich, don't you come from that world too?!"
—Kwang!!
There was no answer. Alexander spat blood and shouted.
"Even if hundreds of thousands die, history must move in the right direction!! The oppression of the masses by a minority of the powerful—!!"
—Kwaang—!!
Another blow turned Alexander's vision black. Only his survival instinct was barely keeping his head intact.
"Even Beolgrin agreed to cut off the gods' interference! Now that the day of mankind has dawned, the light of this world must be for the absolute majority—!!"
—Kwang!!
Ivan still didn't answer. Like a machine, he simply grabbed Alexander's head and slammed it against the floor. The fact that Alexander was enduring at all was a testament to his training.
Under impacts that would crush ordinary steel armor, Alexander gritted his teeth and unleashed a spell with both hands.
—Kwaaang—!!
Ivan's body jerked again. This impact was too much even for him to ignore, forcing him to step back a couple of paces.
Finally free from Ivan's grasp, Alexander staggered from the impact and gripped his sword again.
His brain felt rattled. In fact, his sense of balance was completely off. Gritting his teeth while holding his sword, he said:
"I'll send you back. I'll tell you how to return to your homeland, to where you came from, Ivan Petrovich. Don't you miss your homeland? Surely you have family and friends there."
"..."
Ivan was silently checking his physical condition. Despite Alexander's words, the killing intent remained so thick that the frozen sailors around them couldn't move a single step.
"This isn't your world. Your devotion is misplaced. Leave the affairs of this world to its people, and return to your own world."
Crack—Ivan casually flexed his hands. Seeing this, Alexander closed his mouth. There was no will for dialogue at all. It would be easier to persuade a golem than this man.
This was someone who had returned alive from battlefields where survival seemed impossible. Someone who had returned perfectly fine even when he should have been dead.
He should never have left loose ends.
Alexander reached out toward the charging Ivan and lightly flicked his fingertips.
"Neither the Demon King, nor the Hero, nor you should have existed in this world. The caged life created for the gods' amusement ends now, and our world needs no new gods to reign over it!!"
A world manipulated for the amusement of godlike beings must end.
And at this point where the end is in sight, the social structure where a tiny minority of the powerful rule over the majority like gods must also collapse.
At this moment when the total population has hit rock bottom due to the great war with the demon race, when individual rights are higher than at any point in history.
Through one more war, the entire social structure can be reorganized to build a nation by the people—.
"You should have understood! Your world was my ideal! A world without superhumans... where individuals can achieve honor and position through their own strength and ability..."
It happened long ago. Before the war with the demon race came to the fore. The young Crown Prince Alexander had read a memoir designated as forbidden by the church.
That's when he obtained information about "another world." He gained conviction by meeting and speaking directly with Maximillian. He acquired knowledge by exploring ancient ruins and interpreting artifacts from the lost mythical age.
This world is wrong.
It's a cage created for the gods' amusement.
But, even if the gods' influence is removed, what about magic?
Magic is an omnipotent substance that turns individuals into superhumans. As one develops magical power, a person can single-handedly face thousands of their own kind.
As long as such asymmetric power is in the hands of individuals, the very structure of the state would collapse like a castle built on sand.
The demon race united simply because the Demon King appeared. It might have been easier since they were a race that worshipped strength.
But what if Maximillian, that great man, had been more cunning and selfish? What form would the world have taken?
A society that must entrust its safety to the mercy and morality of transcendent individuals is deformed.
Therefore, no one should stand above anyone else. Alexander sincerely believed this, acted for it, and finally stands here now.
"The war with the demon race, the countless heroes sacrificed... yes, they were valuable sacrifices. But they were sacrifices for hundreds of millions of people... for the future children who will number in the hundreds of millions! Ivan Petrovich, having lived in such a world, you must understand me!"
Ivan didn't stop. In an instant, he leaped forward, reaching for Alexander who was preparing his magic.
"If not, do you have a better alternative? I want to make this world better—!!"
Alexander continued speaking while extending his hand. The spell completed, and a purple flash erupted before Ivan's eyes.
It was his most confident spell. Illusion. Mind sorcery built so meticulously it could work even on elves.
Something that could deceive the eyes even of a Hero Party member.
"..."
As soon as Ivan recognized the illusion, he stopped on the deck.
And then.
—Tsk.
He clicked his tongue.
—Tsk, tsk.
With his eyes closed, he turned his head.
Toward Alexander.
"Sasha liked chocolate cake."
"...What?"
"Polina started saving to buy a silk hanger clip for her fiancé, and Nikolai liked the smell of musk perfume. Anna used to knit socks for her daughter."
Tsk, tsk. Making tongue-clicking sounds, Ivan walked toward Alexander.
Even if his eyes were covered, showing him illusions of all kinds of magical beasts, surrounding him with flames, spreading darkness before his eyes, deceiving his eyes with terrain like cliffs and mazes.
It was an illusion that employed even substantial pain. If cut by a sword inside it, the pain would be reproduced, and if burned, searing pain would follow.
Even in this elaborate illusion that distorted both sight and touch, Ivan walked toward Alexander with his eyes closed, as precisely as if measured with a ruler.
"Cherenovika liked roses."
Ivan, who had approached without notice, reached out and grabbed Alexander's collar.
An illusion magic that could deceive even the Hero Party's eyes.
He had received the best education in the country, learned magic from the most excellent scholars, and added experience gained from operating around the world.
So he had perfected mind sorcery that could deceive even the Hero Party, but.
Ivan slowly opened his closed eyes. Numerous illusions rippled, hostile environments rushed from all directions, and sometimes it was impossible to distinguish between reality and fiction in the flying black shadows.
The flames that touched him seemed to actually scorch his skin, and the sensation of being cut and stabbed by swords felt no different from reality.
Right beneath his feet was a cliff, and in his grasp appeared to be nothing but empty sky.
But.
In environments like the demon realm transformed into a magical landscape, or the Dragon King's lair. In such environments, the man who had to scout ahead of the Hero Party could pride himself on one skill that surpassed even the Hero Party.
Walking toward his target. Finding the way accurately in any environment.
That, at least, was his unique role that the Hero Party couldn't fulfill.
"...Spare me. I cannot die like this. I am the last chance for this world..."
"I remember everyone I've killed."
Ivan's ice-blue eyes glared grimly at the empty space.
"But you alone. You alone I will not remember."
Edel said that even if all mortals eventually die, in memories at least. At least there, even the dead are eternal.
Ivan had no intention of giving this man any more time than today.
The wearisome grudge, the old revenge, the nightmares every night, and the mourning for those who had gone.
For all those things, finally.
The man of Krasilov silently reached out his hand.
His hand stopped somewhere in the empty space. A violently shaking hand was trying to throw off his arm.
He ignored it. He moved his hand.
He squeezed what he had grasped with all his might.
Eujik—a small sound was heard.
"No! Stop!! Not like this... I can't...!!"
Suppressed groans and screams pierced his ears.
In his vision contaminated by illusions, he could vaguely see silhouettes.
The faces of those who had left, dead comrades, were looking at him. Just like the gazes that watched him every night from beyond the dim windowpane.
Silently, faint forms were watching him.
"Ivan Petrovich!! You will never return to your homeland! Unwelcome visitor from another world. You will ruin this world!! Even if I die, my work is not finished, I am—!!"
Eujik, eujik.
Dry crushing sounds continued in his grip. He could feel the strength gradually leaving the hand that had been striking his arm and writhing.
The illusion breaks.
The faces of his comrades watching him cracked and slowly began to crumble.
In the empty space, a man's form gradually appeared. Ivan didn't release his grip, but instead pressed down harder.
—Eujik.
Finally.
After shaking off the wet fragments flowing between his fingers.
Ivan looked at his companions with an expressionless face.
"Lord... Lord Yeremov...?"
"Elfihera, check for magical reactions on this corpse. We need to confirm if any tricks like revival, transfer, or illusion remain."
Because leaving loose ends would be stupid.
"Dmitri."
"Yes, senior."
"Cut off its wrist. We're returning to our country."
"Yes, senior."
Revenge is meaningless, but Alexander's death itself will help establish the legitimacy of Krasilov's royal authority.
"Oswald."
"Yes, Ivan."
"You must remain here as the ears of the Privy Council. Whatever the Elf Privy Council does in the future, we need to know first."
"Yes..."
With the queen dead and the milestone gone, the elves are like a time bomb. It's impossible to predict which way they'll go, and calculating the aftermath is overwhelming.
Since Alexander was hiding behind the Elf Privy Council, the council's future moves are unpredictable.
"Lundis."
"Yes... sir..."
"Contact the homeland. We need to complete anti-aircraft batteries capable of sinking airships. Krasilov will support you, so make sure there are no issues with the preparations."
"Yes."
We must move assuming the entire elven race has become hostile. It will take a lot of effort to arm Tilles as well.
And finally.
"Lucia."
"Yes, sir."
"Do you remember what I said before we departed?"
"...Yes?"
"That you should be able to take my place when I'm absent. Do you remember?"
"...Yes. I remember."
"Now is the time. Take charge until we return to the homeland."
With those words, Ivan collapsed.
When Lucia, who had been quietly listening, rushed over, Ivan closed his eyes weakly in her arms.
"He's exhausted. He's been through a lot."
Dmitri nodded with a slight smile.
"I told you to live long, did you forget?"
"No."
Ivan answered carefully.
"You should have not just lived long, but lived well too, Major."
"I did."
The grumbling voice was gently scolding him.
Because it was a voice he hadn't heard for so long, he trembled a little.
Even though he knew it was a dream, he was glad even for a dream.
"Will you make me one promise?"
"...Anything."
Kim Seon-woo, sobbing, reached out his hand, waved it through the empty air several times.
Then lowered his hand weakly, grasped the ground, and answered.
"One more thing besides living long and well."
"Yes... yes."
"Live happily."
"...I will, for sure."
"For my share too. For all our shares. A hundred times... no, a thousand times more."
"Cherenovika."
Kim Seon-woo waited for a moment. He never heard the same voice again. He decided to wait a little longer.
Even after a long time passed, no voice called to him.
Alone in the dark space, clutching the dirt floor tightly and sobbing.
Kim Seon-woo answered with a cracked voice.
"I will. Definitely, absolutely... and one more thing. I'll add just one more promise to your request."
No matter what happens. No matter when.
Even if I slaughter all seven dragon lords of this world, and finally, like Maximillian. Even if I find myself in a situation where I must confine myself because I cannot control myself.
Nevertheless, even then. Even at that moment. Without fail.
"I remember."
All of you.
No mortal can live forever, but.
Yes, in memories. We can be together forever.
"Without fail."
Kim Seon-woo got up and wiped his ruined face.
Ivan Petrovich quietly opened his eyes.
"Without fail."
Ep31. I Remember.