# Enhanced Translation
"What—, wha-wha-what?!"
"My goodness, how rude. Are you spitting on the food?"
"What—!! What is this madness?!"
Isabelle pointed frantically at Elfihera and Ivan with trembling hands.
"What is th-th-this? Yes, yes, it must be a hallucination. A-A-Asidis, slap me once!"
"Calm yourself."
"Do I look calm right now?! Have you lost your mind? This isn't the character you were supposed to be, mister! What is this? What's going on?"
"There are circumstances."
He was simply providing meals to a girl with anorexia at the request of an old friend's dying wish, and to a poor elven war refugee (Elfihera is technically a refugee since war broke out in Kalion, and she fled here).
What else could he do when she declared she wouldn't eat anything but water unless he fed her himself?
"Regrettable. This is regrettable! Re-gret-table! Ahaha!"
Elfihera pulled out a fan from somewhere, snapped it open, and laughed haughtily. She was the perfect example of a villainous young lady straight out of a painting, making Yu-jin inadvertently admire her.
"You, you, youuu—"
"You're experiencing regression, Isabelle. Try to calm down—"
"How! Can! I! Be! Calm!"
The good Isabelle inside was having a panic attack, while Dark Isabelle was regressing to childhood. In other words, the coalition-Isabelle government had declared a state of emergency.
After boasting about being a dark chef, all she did was "capture hearts with gochujang sauce prepared diligently during vacation." In other words, she just cooked very hard, very much, and for a very long time.
Was this the price? Mediocre schemes that don't cross the line always crumble aimlessly.
Ah, was my resolve insufficient?
Indeed, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
First, I think I need to feed that pointy-eared one some emergency rations.
"Brother, Isabelle's eyes are rolling back!"
"Goddess, sing of your wrath."
"Asidis's eyes are rolling back too!"
Ivan sighed deeply as he surveyed the Hero Party consumed by madness.
"Are you all done eating?"
"Huh? Well, the atmosphere isn't exactly conducive to more eating, is it?"
"Then let's clear this up and have our meeting. This isn't a suitable conversation to have during a meal, so this works out better."
"Let me have one more bite! Aah!"
"You can replenish your nutrition with magic. Elfihera."
Ivan pressed Elfihera's mouth shut again and stood up. Elfihera clicked her tongue with an "mmph."
"Follow me."
"Let's talk about history for a moment."
Ivan spoke while scribbling on a large sheet of paper spread across the table.
Isabelle and Asidis, sitting haphazardly around the table, still had dazed expressions as they kept glancing between Ivan and Elfihera.
It was a story they couldn't help but focus on. Ivan continued his notes without concern.
-Tumor of the Great Mountain
-Aviditas of the Four Dragons
-Pernicie of Destruction
"Ten years ago, the Hero Party killed two of the Seven Dragon Generals, and Aviditas died four years ago. That makes three dead Dragon Generals in total."
Despite their mental state, they couldn't help but regain their senses at this story. It was about their fathers, a history too significant to dismiss casually.
In the now-calm atmosphere, Ivan continued.
"So four Dragon Generals remain."
-The Ruler, Tanasimor
-Lamerix of the Veil
-Olega of the Great Rift
-Nekinon of Gold
"Among them, only Olega's location is known for certain—beyond the northern demon territory, where he hasn't moved once since the war."
This information was classified military intelligence, inaccessible to civilians. The public believed most of the Seven Dragon Generals were dead or had self-destructed.
In the past, a single Dragon General trampled two countries. Until the Hero Party appeared, no one dared to stand against the Dragon Generals.
Even after defeating the Demon King, if information that most Dragon Generals were still alive became public, civilian panic would be uncontrollable.
All leaders of the United Kingdoms willingly concealed information about the Dragon Generals. As long as the Hero Party lived, those beings would never invade below the demon territory.
Those who believe themselves gods never gamble with their immortality. As long as beings capable of killing gods exist in the United Kingdoms, the Dragon Generals, without the Demon King as their focal point, would never join forces.
In reverse, this means:
"Now they have no reason to hold back anymore."
The group swallowed hard at Ivan's gaze. A harsh, dry premonitory stench, like iron and gunpowder, wafted heavily between his words.
The current peace is like walking on thin ice.
"Maximillian has disappeared, Gil Ber and Beolgreen are dead, and Einar cannot leave Droan. Since Patricia has lost her divine power, except for Enrique, there are no immediate former Hero Party members available."
And even Enrique cannot face a Dragon General alone. Direct combat was never her specialty.
This means the United Kingdoms no longer have anyone who can directly confront and stop the Dragon Generals.
And.
"Yu-jin. Continue the explanation."
"Just before the divine power disappeared, the Lord gave a final revelation."
Can I really call it a revelation? Yu-jin still didn't want to hastily call his status window "God."
Only malice, madness, or amusement came through clearly, with a mocking tone suggesting this whole situation was merely a game.
What nonsense about "service termination" and quests?
It meant they were pawns in a massive game created by someone else. Like a classic tabletop game where dice are rolled and pieces moved.
But he couldn't think of a more appropriate explanation than calling them gods, so...
"A few weeks ago, I consulted with the Saintess about the revelation I received. This was when Ivan was still unconscious. The Saintess interpreted the revelation as..."
A doctrinal war would occur, putting Patricia in danger.
In a revelation about warriors becoming stars, Einar would face crisis.
In the prelude to the great collapse, Enrique would.
In the revelation about the incarnation of the morning star, Maximillian would.
"In other words, the Lord was hinting at the death—or equivalent crisis—of all the former members. With all due respect, similar premonitions came before Duke Etakrihi and Lord Grikenkos fell in battle..."
"Does this mean these are inevitable events that will happen in the future?"
"Yes, that's one way to interpret it."
Asidis bowed her head solemnly. These were the parents of everyone present. This wasn't just about "deterrents against Dragon Generals" but about their parents' deaths.
So the party could only bite their lips, mired in a sticky mixture of fear and despair. The prophecies had never been wrong before.
"Raise your heads."
Ivan thumped the table heavily. After gathering everyone's attention, he continued slowly.
"I disagree with Patricia. It's too early for despair."
"Huh? B-Brother. But...?"
"Just as the Saintess has her methods, I have mine. Yu-jin, must prophecies—or quests—necessarily be self-fulfilling?"
At Ivan's words, Yu-jin flinched and closed his mouth.
That's right. Quests didn't just present outcomes and objectives. They simultaneously suggested numerous additional and auxiliary goals, merely indicating the direction of the quest.
Strictly speaking, quests aren't prophecies. They're more like "achievable scenarios."
Not futures that must inevitably occur... but merely naming the possibility of impending disasters.
In fact, when he first encountered Ivan, he received a quest to kill Ivan and survive. And even then, the quest was canceled on its own despite him doing nothing.
This means it's independent of the subject's actions or judgments... and the outcome isn't predetermined.
Struck by this powerful realization, Yu-jin looked at Ivan with wide eyes. Ivan nodded in agreement.
"Yes. Most problems are solved by removing their causes. Before problems develop into crises, we will preemptively eliminate potential causes."
Ivan placed his hand on the memo on the table again.
"In the United Kingdoms, what could pose a life-threatening crisis to the former Hero Party?"
Nothing except the Dragon Generals. At least a threat comparable to the Dragon Generals would have to appear.
A large-scale surprise attack like what happened to Gil Ber was possible. But unlike Gil Ber, who was pushed out of politics without any power in Tilles, the remaining members are central to their respective countries.
They would never have to face an army alone. Therefore, the approach of this "certain crisis" is predictable.
The way the Hero Party dealt with the Demon King. Assassination.
A deep strike by a small number of powerful individuals. To assassinate the Hero Party, opponents of at least that caliber would have to appear.
There's nothing else besides the Dragon Generals.
"The whereabouts of the remaining three, except Olega, are unknown. And..."
"There are exactly three former Hero Party members left...?"
"Yes. I don't consider this a coincidence."
Einar, Enrique, Patricia. Three remaining Hero Party members.
Tanasimor, Lamerix, Nekinon. Three remaining Dragon Generals.
As if the world had maliciously coordinated it, like perfectly matching decalcomania.
Light gleamed in the eyes of the Hero Party as they looked at the memo with Ivan.
"From now on, we will preemptively strike and eliminate these three."
After all the Dragon Generals are dead, who would dare threaten the Hero Party?
No one in the United Kingdoms could, and the demons in the demon territory would lose the minimum drive needed to wage war.
Yes, this is the only strategy that can promise lasting peace.
Regardless of ability's inadequacy or sufficiency, without discussing possibility or impossibility.
All that's needed is... yes, resolve alone.
As always.
"From now on, I will prepare to locate the Dragon Generals. Yu-jin, stick with the Saintess's plan and help her. We may need a multi-faceted approach."
"Yes, brother."
"Asidis. Contact your home country and assess the situation."
"Yes, uncle."
"Isabelle."
"Yes."
Ivan carefully chose his words. After a moment, he continued gravely.
"Steel your heart. We cannot be certain about Maximillian's... your father's condition."
"I've already prepared myself... at Duke Etakrihi's funeral."
Maximillian killed Gil Ber. While his current state is uncertain, it's clear he at least didn't help Gil Ber.
So Isabelle quietly closed her eyes.
"Father would want this too."
"Yes. He would. If it were Max."
If it were that man like the morning star...
If it were that man who endured alone, bearing the curse of the Demon King and Dragon Generals. If it were that man who had endured ceaselessly for these past ten years.
He would smile even in the face of death. As always, with a bright smile, he would say this.
Fortunate.
Even in a peace built upon countless righteous corpses, he was a man who said "fortunate to be alive" to the survivors rather than the dead.
Even while bearing all curses alone, even as his soul was being defiled moment by moment.
It's fortunate that I alone suffer this pain.
He was a man who said such things with a smile. So if they were to face each other again someday, that man would surely say:
It's fortunate that it stops here.
Without anger or despair at his own death and corruption. Just like that, with only hope.
He had prepared to bid farewell to an old friend. As always.
Ivan nodded silently, then pressed his hand on Isabelle's head, stroking it as he whispered.
"Well done."
Even if he was used to it, she wasn't. How many painful days must she have endured to reach this resolve? To kill her own parent. To have to kill the man everyone admired, whom she herself respected.
So Ivan closed his eyes as he patted the sniffling Isabelle.
"Well done indeed."
At least in the realm of spirit, the Hero Party is no less than they were back then.
On the way back to the orphanage, Elfihera followed Ivan in silence for a long time.
They had reached the outskirts of Pritzenkaya. When the familiar path led to the orphanage walls in the distance, she suddenly stopped.
Facing Ivan, who walked silently ahead, she carefully opened her mouth.
"Ivan."
Stopping in the dim shadow past a faint streetlight, Ivan slowly turned his head.
"I... I starved for ten days because the food tasted terrible."
"Hmm."
Under the streetlight, Elfihera kicked at the ground as she continued.
"I was hungry, but whenever I put anything in my mouth, it was disgusting. I couldn't eat anything at all. It felt worse than chewing on fodder... more like eating a mixture of sand and excrement."
"I see."
"Yes. So... at that time. I thought."
Elfihera's eyes turned to Ivan. Looking into his blue eyes dimly shining under the shadows, she said:
"If I'm like this just from touching a Milestone a little bit..."
What about that man who stabbed the being directly and cut off its breath?
When that man wakes up, how will the world look to him?
That made me so sad. The result of Kalion's destruction... the victory obtained by a mere human, not even an elf, who jumped in alone, sacrificing his life, tearing his body to pieces in a desperate fight.
If this is all that comes of it. If there's no reward, only curses to bear.
That absurdity made me so sorrowful. Elfihera spent time weeping endlessly until Ivan woke up.
It was too harsh a time for a starving elf. Fainting, waking to take a sip of water, trying to eat soup only to vomit it all back up, sobbing again and fainting—weeks of this.
"Don't try to do everything alone. We... gathered to fight together. We gathered to try to save the world together."
"Elfihera."
If everyone shared the curse, yes, the burden might be lightened a bit.
But that would only result in four more people falling into despair.
Despair has a threshold. There is a concept of marginal utility. No tragedy can be more terrible than death. In other words, there is a clear limit to the suffering one person can endure.
So this means it's clearly more rational for one person to bear many curses than for everyone to share in the suffering.
If a soul is already defiled from killing Dragon Generals, what difference would adding more filth make?
Even Maximillian killed Dragon Generals with that mindset. And if anyone in the Hero Party had been the first to kill a Dragon General and recognize the curse, they would have done the same.
Because it's the most rational approach.
And he killed Aviditas. His soul was already defiled, and he had been fundamentally broken since that day. So.
"It's getting late."
Without explaining such things, he smiled and pushed her toward the orphanage entrance.
"Let's have breakfast together tomorrow."
Elfihera stared at his dry smile for a long time, then quietly nodded and turned away.
A moist sob was heard from behind.