Chapter 846

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Day after day, Murakan would lose consciousness and wake up again. Such days continued endlessly. Sometimes, his comrades, including Diana, came to visit him, but Murakan could hardly communicate with them.

On January 1st, 800, Runcandel and Zipfel officially announced an end to the war. People speculated that Zipfel, overwhelmingly superior, ended the war unexpectedly because of Temar's return. It was said that the war ended because he sacrificed himself to kill Elona Zipfel.

However, in the memories of the world, Temar and Elona's names quickly faded away. The Tower of Stories easily manipulated the perception of ordinary people, who had no power of existence and resistance to manipulation.

However, Runcandel and Zipfel's members still remembered the two.

"It's just a fake ending of the war. Murakan, Zipfel is still obsessed with finding the patriarch's body. It is like when they taunted us by offering pathetic terms of surrender, and they are strangely obsessed with the patriarch's body."

When Lokia said that, Murakan barely opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Lokia...?"

"They keep attacking areas that are supposed to be the tomb of the patriarch. The problem is, we don't even know where the patriarch is buried. We are always moving slower than them."

The reality Murakan had to accept was not just the fact that Temar was dead.

"Diana... Diana..."

"She's dead. Yesterday, while trying to protect the patriarch's tomb. Well, not exactly trying to protect the tomb, because as I said, we don't even know where it is. She just found Zipfel's troops and got into a fight. Even though she was not in a good condition, she still fought like a demon."

Lokia spoke calmly. Now that Murakan looked at her more closely, he could see that she was also covered in various injuries.

"Who else survived... besides you?"

"It's hard to confirm who survived. The most likely one is Lucy."

"Ugh."

Lokia conjured mana in her palm and wiped away the dried blood on Murakan's lips.

"...It's getting harder and harder to use mana. Zipfel and their gods have cursed Runcandel. We can't use mana anymore."

"Dame Lokia, I'm worried that this could be too much of a shock for Lord Murakan. Perhaps we should tell him later."

"Is that so? Kean. He is in shock... not bad. Murakan has to pay the price."

"Dame Lokia!"

"If only this guy had regained his senses and fought alongside us during the final battle of the patriarch, we wouldn't be in this state now. The facade of the end of the war, a curse in the name of an oath, and those defeated knights fighting to protect the body of the patriarch. It's sickening."

"Lord Murakan is not at fault. We were defeated because of the manipulation of history, not someone's fault."

"Even if you, blinded by your beliefs, can't see it, I don't think that way."

"With the whereabouts of the Head butler and other ten great knights uncertain, it is Dame Lokia's duty to lead the clan."

"Yes, for now, it's my responsibility. However, once Lucy or any other survivor returns, I will leave the clan and retire."

"What do you mean? You're going to abandon the clan...?"

"I have no attachment left to this clan. Look, Kean, we fought for Runcandel and lost so much. Yet, you expect me to keep fighting? What right do you have to demand that?"

Kean couldn't respond.

"For now, be grateful that I'm not leaving immediately. I'm postponing my retirement because I don't want to see the clan disappear completely without a trace."

Lokia left the room. Murakan was enveloped in a new layer of sadness and fell back into sleep.

But no matter how many times he escaped into slumber, he still remembers the moment when he had to kill his comrades vividly. Despite Temar's miracle, Runcandel's miserable reality did not vanish.

Eventually, Murakan started to exhibit strange behavior.

One day, seemingly afflicted with a sudden sleepwalking illness, he got up from his bed and started wandering around the Storm Castle. Sometimes he would walk through the corridors in human form, and other times he would fly in his true form.

No one could stop him. When they tried to restrain him, he exhibited violent reactions.

This continued for half a year. Lokia had left the clan, and the invisible war between Runcandel and Zipfel was ongoing.

Murakan's strange behavior continued as well.

He kept going further and further away from the castle, only to return after a short while. Sometimes he would be gone for a few hours, and other times for several days.

"I'm not sure if Lord Murakan is really okay. I'm worried that if he continues like this, he might be attacked by Zipfel's assassins. It's driving me crazy."

"Mr. Kean, we share your concerns. There's no reason for Zipfel to leave Lord Murakan alone. On the day he gets caught in their assassination trap... Currently, he can only fly, and his combat abilities are practically nonexistent."

"I can't even ask the Hidden Palace for help because they won't be able to afford it anymore. All we can do is wait like this."

As Kean and the clan members became more concerned, Murakan's absence exceeded a month for the first time.

"He still hasn't returned today? Huh, what's the situation with Zipfel's side?"

"There's still no news of anyone spotting Lord Murakan in the Lutero Magic Federation."

"Has anyone from our side or the Empire seen him?"

"No... There have been no reports from anywhere."

No one had seen Murakan anywhere in the world.

The Black Sea.

At that moment, Murakan was walking in the Black Sea. Since he first left his bed and started moving, his unconscious mind had been solely fixated on the Black Sea.

And finally, Murakan found himself facing someone on the Black Sea.

[Murakan... You managed to survive and make it all the way here.]

It was the witch, Helluram.

She looked down at Murakan from a tower rising from the Black Sea.

[With your current condition, you can't possibly handle the monsters and remnants in this place.]

Helluram seemed genuinely amazed, as she alternated her gaze between Murakan and the depths of the Black Sea. She pondered how unlikely it was for Murakan to enter the Black Sea unharmed with a destroyed heart.

It was a seemingly impossible feat.

[Whether it was someone's blessing, or whether your will was truly transcendent... It is something worth paying for. So, tell me, what brought you here so desperately?]

"Memories..."

[Memories?]

"Please... erase my memories..."

So that I won't give up.

As Murakan continued his words, Helluram's eyes widened in surprise before she broke into a sly smile.

[You're asking me to erase the memories you're already forgetting. Wouldn't it be a waste to ask me that?]

Without hesitation, Murakan nodded.

[Alright, listen.]

As Murakan heard Helluram's voice and opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the Storm Castle, lying in his hospital bed.

He quickly remembered the task he had to accomplish when he saw Kean and the clan members entering his room.

Until the contractor from a thousand years ago appeared, he needed to recover his heart as much as possible. That was his determination.

Whao...

As if ashes were scattered, the scene from a thousand years ago was fading away.

Jin remained speechless, gazing at Murakan and the ten great knights for a while. Murakan was sobbing and reaching out into the air.

What he was trying to grasp were the ten great knights he had killed back then. Murakan was seeing Dranax, Vyollo, and Frey from a thousand years ago.

But he couldn't hold onto the illusion caused by torment. His two arms were just flailing in the air.

"I was wrong, please forgive me..."

At Murakan's feeble voice, the ten great knights who were formed as Guardian, momentarily shook their heads. The time of death was imminent. Their bodies were also gradually fading away as shadow force particles scattered.

"Ah, man, why does this bastard make people cry like this, damn it, damn it! Should I start crying too when we are disappearing? Ugh, sniff!"

"Yeah, I don't like this either. Huhuhu! Huhuhuhu!"

As Dranax and Vyollo spoke, Frey hugged Murakan from behind. Dranax and Vyollo also hugged Frey and Murakan, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Murakan."

"Frey...? Is it you, Frey?"

"Yes, it's me. Frey."

"Frey, please forgive me."

"We should be the ones asking for forgiveness. We didn't know and blamed you, even though you protected us like that."

"What forgiveness, you bastard!"

"Yeah!"

"Dranax... Vyollo."

As Murakan turned around, he could see the crying faces of his two friends and the smiling Frey.

He almost forgot his headache because of Frey's bright smile. Murakan blinked his eyes repeatedly; seeing them crying felt like a mere dream.

Murakan also hugged them. Their voices, trembling, heartbeat, and warmth overwhelmed his entire body. One by one, the chains that tormented Murakan for a thousand years were breaking. He could finally confront them directly.

However, he couldn't just indulge in joy.

"Don't go. Where are you going?"

The disappearance of the Guardians was accelerating. With every particle of shadow force leaving, their bodies became increasingly transparent.

"We're not disappearing; we're going into your memories."

Please don't do that, just stay.

Murakan tried to answer, but his throat was choked up, and he couldn't speak.

"Murakan, that's a bit awkward to say. From now on, we'll be together in your memories, watching and fighting together."

"It was us who lost back then, not you and the current Runcandel. Listen, Jin! I'm entrusting him to you. I don't really understand this thousand-year contractor stuff, but I really like you. If it's you, I can rest assured."

Murakan felt the presence of his friends touching him fading away.

Then, Frey brushed the hair of Murakan, who was trying to deny their parting, and lightly kissed him.

"I'm proud that I loved you. Murakan, you have had a difficult time protecting and finding us. So please, live without falling into sadness again. Please nod once. It will help me find peace in becoming your memories."

Murakan nodded.

If he didn't nod now, he would never be able to do so in the future.

He also smiled. If he didn't show his smiling face now, he would never be able to show it in the future.

"Goodbye, Murakan."

With Frey's final words, Kaytam's painting came to an end.

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