Epilogue

From her hands condensed a small pure black orb, [Void Artillery]. Static shook the air, deep purple lightning danced around it. The air was stiff, and from within the orb came forth a black beam ten times the size of itself– It tore through the venue.

Moirae and Laura, alarm bells ringing in their head, rushed towards Jiwon in a flickering motion. Laura casted an array of barriers, Moirae broke an S-grade talisman of warding.

The beam tore through it like paper– their only saving grace was Jiwon's last minute prototype [Omnidirectional Aegis] spell that was still in development. Their bodies slammed against the side rails, and by the immense force, forcefully ejected out into the sky.

Correction: they were blasted to the sky.

In an instant, they were sent off a few hundred meters, following the continued trajectory of the beam as [Omnidirectional Aegis] began to crack.

"WWHHHAAATT TTHHEEE HEEELLLL!!!" Moirae shouted in panic.

Jiwon paled, casting multiple shield spells to reinforce the Aegis. His arms were sore from mana overuse, screaming at the pain.

Even though they had already been thrown this far into the sky, the black beam was still going strong.

"Jump away now!"

"ROger!"

"HIKH!?"

Jiwon abandoned the shield and used [Air Step], moving away from the line of fire, carrying Moirae in his arms.

The beam, along with the [Omnidirectional Aegis] tore through the clouds and left a hole in the sky. How far off would it continue before losing momentum, Jiwon didn't dare to imagine.

A Monster..

It was exactly the same as the Liliath he knew from his first attempt.. no. It's worse. Back then, the her that faced Ishida-san was that emaciated version of her. This time around..

"Damn it."

Weak.

He was WEAK.

TOO WEAK.

"Why the hell did you do that!?" Laura yelled.

He and Laura both had [Air Step] so they were safe. They both maintained a slow descent towards the ground. As for Moirae.. Jiwon had no choice but to carry her in a princess style.

"What.. do you mean..?" Jiwon stuttered in shock.

He had not seen that expression from Laura in forever. Her brows creased in anger and vex, tears overflowing from her eyes, her face red all the way to the tip of her ears.

"Have you no conscience?! They're the Gods of this world! Gods! Making enemies out of them will.. will.." Laura suddenly couldn't find the words to say..

Jiwon killed someone.. in front of the gracious beings that she respected from the bottom of her heart..

Jiwon wanted to comfort her.. but she swiped away his hands with her staff.

"Murderer.. you murderer.." Laura turned her back on him, tears fell from her eyes like diamonds glitter under the moonlight.

With a hop, she flew through the air.

"W-Wait, Laura!"

Laura bounced from one invisible platform to the next, complex feelings bubbling in her heart. Jiwon chased after her with Moirae in his arms.

"That was a demon lord.. what wrong was it to kill the threat.."

"You don't know." Moirae bit her teeth.

"Don't know what?"

"The ones you just messed with... they had already pledged alliance with our cause.."

"Demon lords? Those demon lords pledge alliance? You think those bastards would keep their word?!"

Moirae was frustrated and angry just like Laura, but she knew her life would be in jeopardy if she tried anything stupid a few hundred meters in the air.

"Where.. she.."

He lost Laura in the clouds. Jiwon closed his eyes and focused his senses.. he couldn't feel anything, as if the spirits were disrupting the flow of mana.

"Ridiculous." Jiwon spat.

Realizing Laura couldn't be found, he decided to first land on the ground to guarantee Moirae's safety. And once they had established a touchdown..

"Don't tell me you too," Jiwon asked in an irked voice.

The grass was forming ripples on the ground to the breeze of the night.

"Sorry. Give me some time to sort through my feelings," Moirae didn't dare look at him. Her fist was clenched, something in her heart was astir.

Jiwon had killed a demon lord, that was great.. but.. if said demon lord was among the Creator's companion? She was confused.. she didn't understand. What was going on with the world's fate? Why was the Creator a demon lord? Were the people simply toys to the Great Creator?

Moirae didn't know.. she knew too little..

Why did the Creator come here? Why did the Creator descend with a mortal body? What did the Creator do in the previous life?

Moirae didn't know.. she didn't know that this 'Creator' was the external factor, the additional cog in the wheel of fate never once existed, the cog that would change everything. Laura hadn't told her, Moirae hadn't asked about it.

"You'll regret this.."

Moirae peeked behind, seeing as Jiwon declaring so as he stared up at the moon

Swearing revenge against the Creator..

Moirae didn't know which side was correct, she didn't know what side she was on

.. She didn't know which side to choose.

===

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.." Laura muttered in reply as she hopped through the air.

At some point in time, Jiwon had lost her tail. Laura, now alone, just ran.

Anywhere.. somewhere.

They did have a conflict. They did argue. Laura brushed off the moment, but deep down inside, she knew it hurt. Ever since that first meeting between Noel and Jiwon, a sort of rift had been formed in their relationship.

Laura understood as much. She knew it wasn't easy to change someone like Jiwon's mind. Though she was against most of his principles, she put up with it.

She put up with it because she loved him.

And it's because of this love she held which made it hurt so much.

"Idiot, idiot, idiot!"

The ground became visible, a thin forest with white barked trees scarcely interspersed.

"Whhy.." Laura descended to the ground on her knees, she punched the dirt. "Why did he have to kill.. why.. is this so unfair.."

Rustle. Red eyes glinted in the shadows of dark.

"Grr–"

"GRR–"

A pack of a dozen or so Saber Wolves closed in on her.

Laura, who was dazzling under the light of the moon, looked like a tasty prey in the eyes of these monsters.

"I have to do something.. I can't just sit around.." Laura held her staff in her hand and stood up unsteady.

The silhouette of the wolves became visible, stepping out into the light..

"I'm sorry.. Oppa.."

She swung her staff, a breeze blew.

Rubbing her sore back, she took a step forward, slowly stepping higher into the air. In her sights, Erudite Kingdom..

It was unreal how far they were thrown by a single spell.. she couldn't help shudder at the destructive strength of the Creator's companions.. possessed. If Jiwon's barrier didn't hold.. Laura couldn't imagine what would've been of them.

She made up her mind..

She wouldn't compromise this.. even if it meant leaving someone she loved.

As she moved towards the direction of the kingdom, left behind here were corpses and blood smeared across the ground.

===

"That.." Kyoshi took in deep heavy breaths to calm his racing heart.

"Demon.. they were.. demons.." Siesta kept shuddering.

The two had run from the ballroom. They were out in a hall with the other nobles that evacuated by the knights.

It was absolute chaos. Nobles screaming and panicking absolutely everywhere without knowing where to run.

"Your Highness you said.. the person that wanted to meet me was.."

"I'm sorry.. I didn't know she was.."

"I knew. There's no need to apologize," Kyoshi placed his hand on her shoulder, she stiffened.

"W-What is your meaning.."

"She's a demon.. I suppose what happened was to be expected. I.. failed her as her brother," Kyoshi said without a smile.

"W-What are you going to do now?"

"I need to go back and talk to her, we need to find her."

"That.. shouldn't be an issue.."

"Your Highness!" Her maid El appeared.

"Your Highness," a butler, Kyoshi's butler, called out.

"Sir Wick, my sister's whereabouts. "

"Your Highness, they disappeared behind a door that appeared in the air. It must be some Unique skill. Though I may not fully understand the effects, my belief is that they are recuperating. It most probably serves as a rest area."

"Is there any way to reach her?'

"I will have to voice my thoughts on the uncertainty in this endeavor. Do you wish for me to bring her to you?"

"No. Just pay attention to her whereabouts. If the chance presents itself, I will talk to her personally."

"Your Highness." Miss El held Siesta by the shoulder.. she looked like she was about to faint.

She had witnessed the shock of her life. Siesta still remembered the blood splattered into the air.. some of it even soiled her dress..

What exactly had happened?

She didn't know. It happened too suddenly.

The most shocking news was.. the fact that..

It was as Jiwon had said.

She sided with the demons.

How?

Was she going to repeat the same mistake?

Was this what Jiwon was afraid of?

Was it inevitable?

Siesta couldn't help but shudder. She had to prevent herself from doing anything that would lead her to the path of the kingdom's ruin.

"You Highness. We're safe here, I'll make sure nothing happens to you."

"Thank you.." Siesta broke down into tears.

She committed a sin she didn't even know. What would Jiwon think of her now?

===

The tumult in the castle had calmed down the following day. No traces of the demons could be found. Two heroes, Aoki Kaito and Takata Sayu, had been taken away.

Kyoshi heard the summary from his butler. He was sitting on a posh couch, legs outstretched.

"Just as I was about to announce his plans.. that good for nothing sister of mine," a slight irk could be heard from his voice, but he hung a calm smile on her face.

"It is my failure, Your Highness. I should have noticed her movements."

"No matter. At least we know that she's still alive. I'm sure he would be pleased with the news. What I don't get is where did she escape to all this time? What methods did she use? Do you have a clue about that man?"

"I'm still investigating the matter, Your Highness."

"They've probably been in this kingdom for quite some time. He should've left traces around. Find it. Any traces would be fine."

"Your Highness. I heard a passing rumor that among their group is a proficient Weapons Master. The two heroes that have gone missing were among the two that had been saved during the previous dungeon accident incident."

"Oh. That's quite something. Ask around, perhaps the other heroes have a hint."

"Understood."

"And. As for that knight's family? The one thought to have assisted the demon in their foolhardy?"

The butler turned his back to the Prince.

"It's execution," he thought: what a pity; then left out the front door.

In the quiet room, Prince Kyoshi took out a talisman of communication from the inner pocket of his coat.

His throat moved as if swallowing something, sweat formed on his face. He calmed his breath, his mind, his wild thoughts–

Pouring mana into the central point– the circuits on the conducting parchment rippled out like tree roots, the paper started burning away in a beautiful azure flame.

"What is it, Your Highness," in a lazy voice, 'his' voice resounded.

"Your bride... I found her."

===

Unaware of it all, there was a pair of Olive coloured eyes observing their every exchange.