I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 190. The Demon King’s Castle (3)

Seeing Segyung suddenly become sullen, Yuri was slightly taken aback and rolled his eyes.

‘…Is he sulking?’

Unlike other members of the Bone Clan, Segyung had been exiled, not dispatched.

He desperately wished to return to his clan.

That’s why he had sought the Redner family emblem in his bet with Yuri, hadn’t he?

Feeling slightly guilty for possibly picking at his wounds too much, Yuri scratched his cheek.

At that moment, Segyung spoke with a distant look in his eyes.

“I have an unfulfilled dream I must achieve…”

“Suddenly, what dream… huh?”

Yuri was left speechless at Segyung’s sudden talk of dreams.

For a moment, Johan’s words crossed his mind.

[That guy told me back then. He said he’d cause a great explosion that would blow the continent away within the next 30 years.]

Yuri asked in disbelief.

“The, the dream about causing an explosion that blows the continent away? Are you still clinging to that crazy dream?”

“How do you…?”

It didn’t matter how Yuri knew; obviously, Johan had told him.

“That damned bastard must have blabbered about it like a noisy bird!”

Segyung’s eyes, which had widened in surprise, now narrowed in anger as he ground his teeth.

Then, recalling what Yuri had said, Segyung glared at him.

“You bastard! How dare you call my dream crazy!”

“What else would you call it if not crazy? Blowing away the continent is a delusional dream.”

“You fool! My dream was on the verge of success! It wasn’t some delusional, crazy talk!”

“No, attempting something like that is already crazy! Whether you succeeded or not… wait, what?”

For a moment, Yuri thought he might have misheard and rubbed his ear.

After flicking off the earwax that came out, he asked again.

“…What did you say?”

“What?”

“So… you were close to succeeding? That crazy endeavor?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? If I had succeeded, would you and I still be here like this?”

“R-right?”

“I stopped at about 90% completion. To be precise, I was interrupted.”

“…….”

“Those damned old folks! They ruined my great achievement! I was just one step away from the final research!”

Segyung spoke as if he were genuinely resentful.

Seeing Segyung without even a hint of jest, Yuri’s face turned pale.

“If you were about 90% done… just how powerful was it?”

“According to my calculations, it could easily obliterate an entire administrative district.”

“…….”

“Ah, to have made it and never even set it off… I wish I could have triggered it just once.”

“Just out of curiosity, you didn’t get exiled from the Bone Clan because of that, did you?”

“What else could it be? Those old Masters saw my masterpiece and called it a device that would bring ruin to the clan! Then they kicked me out! Those bastards!”

“…….”

“Does it make sense to fuss over something like that?”

…Um, excuse me? It doesn’t seem like fussing.

If it had the power to wipe out an administrative district… wouldn’t it be capable of destroying the Bone Clan’s territory in an instant?!

Moreover, Segyung was someone who could have set it off anytime.

Of course the Bone Clan had no choice but to exile him.

As that thought dawned on him, Yuri stared at Segyung with an exasperated expression.

“…Is your obsession with returning to the Bone Clan’s territory also because of that?”

“What are you asking for? Of course, I wanted to finish my incomplete research.”

Cold sweat trickled down Yuri’s back.

Suddenly, he felt an urge to see Johan’s face.

‘Old man… you were right. This guy really is a lunatic!’

Among all the lunatics in the world, this guy was undoubtedly the craziest.

‘Wow, this was a close call.’

If he had lost the bet with Segyung, the world might have faced a serious crisis.

Unknowingly, Yuri had pushed the world to the brink of disaster.

And unknowingly, he had also saved it.

With a sudden thought, Yuri asked with trembling eyes.

“B-by any chance, can’t you… continue that research here?”

“What a fool! Do you think that kind of research can be done with ordinary equipment? Plus, it would take at least decades just to build the level of research facilities needed!”

“Ah…”

“Tsk, as if I would have been trying so hard to return to my lab for no reason.”

Seeing Segyung click his tongue in annoyance, Yuri let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed the world was safe after all.

As Yuri, having learned the secret behind Segyung’s exile, let out a breath of relief, Segyung suddenly asked.

“By the way, where’s that Johan lately?”

“How should I know? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“He hasn’t contacted you?”

“When did that old man ever call ahead? He just always popped up out of nowhere.”

“True, that guy’s always been like that. So, he could show up anytime?”

“Yeah. He might even show up tomorrow for all I know.”

“Hmm… then let’s try speeding up the construction a bit. Squeeze your slaves a little more.”

“Should I?”

“Do it.”

Yuri and Segyung’s eyes met for a moment.

Then, low laughter escaped both of their mouths.

“Puhuhuhu.”

“Hehehehe.”

Without a lengthy conversation, the two seemed to be on the same page, and they laughed sinisterly for a while.

Meanwhile, outside, the four people felt an inexplicable sense of unease and couldn’t help but shiver.

Going back in time to a day in June.

Bang– bang– bang–!

Ralph Schnell swung his hammer with precision as his massive muscles rippled.

Bang–!

With each cheerful sound, small sparks scattered everywhere.

Sssshhhh–.

The red-hot iron dipped in and out of the water, turning a sooty color.

After staring at the piece of metal he had hammered for a long time, Ralph finally set it down carefully.

“…A guest, huh?”

The visitor approached, brazenly emanating an unmistakable presence.

Recognizing the all-too-familiar aura, Ralph lightly washed his hands and stepped outside.

Then, he looked up slightly and gazed at the sky.

‘He’s coming.’

In Ralph’s sight, far away, a tiny dot appeared.

That dot grew steadily until it eventually took the shape of a person.

Hwoong–.

An old man descended from the empty sky, stepping as if on invisible stairs.

Tak–.

Ralph, spotting Johan who had shown up unannounced, spoke in a gruff voice.

“What brings you here, senior?”

Johan seemed unfazed by Ralph’s unwelcoming tone.

“Hey, shouldn’t you at least offer something when a guest arrives?”

“If it were an invited guest, of course, I would have.”

Johan glared at Ralph, who was grumbling.

“What’s that?”

“…Would you like a glass of water?”

“Water? No way, got any alcohol?”

“So, that’s what you were after.”

Though Ralph grumbled, he left Johan outside for a moment and returned with two bottles of liquor.

Seeing this, Johan smiled brightly and asked with a puzzled look.

“But why did you bring them out? Let’s go inside and drink.”

“I’ve got business to attend to.”

With that, Ralph started walking.

Not wanting to enter the house alone without the host, Johan quickly caught up with Ralph.

He casually opened a bottle and took a swig.

Pop-!

“Ah! Now that’s refreshing.”

Ralph, seeing how pleased Johan was, cautiously asked a question.

“By the way, what really brings you here?”

“Oh come on, do we only meet when there’s something going on between us?”

“…If you say that, then how about you start by opening that suspicious box you’re carrying on your back?”

Ralph’s gaze landed on the sturdy wooden box strapped to Johan’s back.

It radiated an unusual aura.

Feeling Ralph’s stare, Johan grinned slyly.

“Getting old has only made you more perceptive, huh?”

“It seems suspicious. So what’s your business?”

Under Ralph’s continued questioning, Johan took another sip of liquor before speaking.

“Since you’re asking so directly, I won’t beat around the bush.”

“……?”

“Do you have any elixirs? If you do, hand them over.”

“…….”

…So that’s why he came—to shake him down for some elixirs.

Ralph’s eyes narrowed.

Realizing the truth, Ralph immediately exuded a cold demeanor.

“Elixirs? If I had any, I’d have already used them myself for some health benefits.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame. I was thinking of making some ‘stew’ this time… I was going to give you a ladleful if it turned out well, but oh well, no elixirs, no stew.”

No sooner had those words left Johan’s mouth than Ralph abruptly stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Johan with wide eyes.

“Just now… did you say stew?”

Only then did Ralph realize what was in Johan’s box.

Simultaneously, an angry shout burst out of his mouth.

“You said it was all gone! When I asked to see it, you told me you’d used it all up!”

“Haha, this is really the last one. I didn’t know either, but lo and behold—one was left.”

“You think I’ll believe that?”

“I’m telling the truth.”

Johan gave Ralph a cheeky wink as Ralph trembled with anger.

“So, do you really not have any elixirs?”

Ralph stopped shaking.

Instead, his eyes began to tremble.

He swallowed nervously and asked.

“You said making stew requires more elixirs than expected, didn’t you…?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve been scrounging around everywhere, pulling all my connections.”

“…Scrounging? More like shaking people down wherever you go.”

Just like you did by coming here, it seems.

Ralph grumbled, and Johan glared at him.

“Yeah, I shook people down! So what?!”

“…….”

“I’ve been extorting from everyone else, but I was planning to at least give you a ladleful… but forget it!”

When Johan looked visibly peeved, Ralph cautiously responded.

“…Two ladles.”

At that, Johan’s expression shifted to one of knowing satisfaction, as if to say, “I knew it.”

A sly grin spread across his face.

“No way, one ladle!”

“One ladle and half!”

“One ladle and a quarter!”

Like haggling in a market, Johan and Ralph argued over the stew.

Eventually, they settled on ‘one ladle, plus a half with five extra drops,’ and shook hands.

After reaching an amicable agreement, Ralph voiced his curiosity.

“But why stew all of a sudden? Is it for the kid?”

“The kid? Yuri?”

“Who else would you look after if not that rascal?”

Johan chuckled at Ralph’s remark.

“Take care of him? As if. Why would I give this precious stuff to him? I’m going to eat it.”

“You are?”

“My body’s worn out thanks to some leech-like bastard. I need a bit of a health boost myself.”

“……?”

Johan tapped his waist lightly, and Ralph gave him a look as if thinking, ‘What kind of nonsense is this old man up to now?’

Finally, the two reached their destination.

It was the same clearing where Yuri and Mucci had once sparred.

In that vast space, a towering figure was swinging a spear.

Whoosh—whoosh—

Each time the massive axe spear sliced through the air, fierce winds blew.

Creaaak—creeeak—

Muscles as large as a child’s head, bare-chested and glistening with sweat, flexed with each movement.

Seeing the figure intensely training and drenched in sweat, Johan admired him.

“Wow, he’s grown a lot since I last saw him. He’s definitely a spitting image of you.”

Mucci, now just fourteen years old, already stood well over 2 meters tall.

Pleased with Johan’s assessment, Ralph beamed with pride.

“Of course, he takes after me—he’s my boy!”

Ralph looked at his grandson with affectionate eyes.

Johan chuckled at Ralph’s doting expression.

“Seems like it’s not just his body that’s changed. His aura… it’s become quite sharp.”

Gone was the reluctance from their previous sparring sessions; Mucci now exuded the fierce aura of a butcher, much like his grandfather.

This transformation had accelerated significantly after his encounter with Yuri.

“Since Yuri left, he’s been working hard, vowing never to show a shameful side the next time they meet.”

“Hmm… Is he really planning to enter the Cradle?”

“The kid wants it that badly, and he’s already received the White Dragon Plaque.”

Ralph spoke, casually probing.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“That kid… hasn’t he grown a lot?”

Johan knew that Ralph’s question wasn’t just about physical growth.

It was subtly asking, ‘My grandson’s at this level, so how’s Yuri doing?’

Johan couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

‘Thanks to inheriting Ralph’s talent, Mucci’s already beyond first grade, approaching second grade.’

Having inherited the talent of his Master grandfather, and receiving one-on-one focused training, Mucci’s rapid growth was a given.

Still, achieving such growth from an unofficial first grade to this level in less than a year was truly remarkable… but.

“…He’s going to cry again.”

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing.”

Johan tried to erase the image of Mucci losing and crying against Yuri from his mind and changed the subject.

“By the way, with the initiation coming up next year, shouldn’t you start moving soon? Need a ride?”

“…No thanks. We’ll set off soon ourselves. If we run, we’ll get there in no time.”

With the initiation approaching, they needed to arrive by November 20th.

Johan smirked at Ralph’s declaration that they would cover the eight-month journey in five months by running.

“Come on, let me take you. You’ll be there in two days.”

“No way.”

“Why not?”

“Why do you think? I wouldn’t get on that thing again even if I were out of my mind!”

Ralph, who had already had his fair share of bad experiences, winced at the thought of boarding ‘Cloud Bung Bung’ again.

Johan smacked his lips in disappointment.

After some idle chatter, Johan left quickly to extort his next target, having gotten the elixir from Ralph.

A few days after the uninvited guest departed.

“Let’s go. We have to run diligently if we want to get there on time.”

“Yes, sir!”

The large-framed grandfather and grandson locked up their home and set off.

Even though the owners had left, their home quietly stood, enduring the forest and the passage of time.

Swooosh—

A late-season monsoon rain pelted the green leaves, marking the end of summer.

Tap—tap—tap—

Brightly colored autumn leaves naturally fell, signaling the passing of a brief fall.

And finally.

Through the bare branches, the first white snowflakes began to fall…

Winter had arrived.