The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate-Chapter 367. The End of A World (2)

Caron's eyes gleamed as he stared at the Dragon Lord.

The blood-soaked man, Iter, though impaled through his entire body, didn't let out so much as a single scream. His face looked almost serene.

"So this... is what it feels like," Iter muttered quietly.

Blood poured endlessly from his lips. His organs had been shredded beyond recognition, and his Dragon Heart had already been devoured by Caron's power.

Halo, along with the elders of the Ducal Family of Leston and the high-ranking knights, all drove their blades deep into the Dragon Lord's body.

It was over.

It was a hollow end for one who bore the name of Dragon Lord. And yet, his expression was filled with peace, almost joy.

"I feel as if I can finally rest, Caron Leston. Thank you... for your consideration," Iter said.

"Consideration? I just stabbed your whole body full of holes," Caron replied.

"A life merely postponed from death is nothing but hell itself. You have brought an end to my torment," Iter explained.

"Why are there so many suicidal idiots around here? That damned Havoc bastard, and now the Dragon Lord too. Seriously, old folks really are the problem," Caron said.

The words were crude and mocking, yet his voice was gentle.

Caron didn't know what kind of life the Dragon Lord had lived. He was a Dragon Lord from another world, someone Gratia knew, yet still a different being.

That was why there was no sentiment attached; this was just another enemy in his path.

"Even if malice consumes you, I pray you keep your mind. You are strong enough to overcome it," Iter, the Dragon Lord, said, then reached toward Caron with a bloodstained hand. His hand was covered in countless wounds, trembling as it touched Caron's chest.

Thud.

His thin fingers brushed weakly against Caron's armor.

Moments later, the Dragon Lord's head fell limp.

And then...

Boooom!

The mana that had been holding the Dragon Lord's body together began to scatter, revealing the enormous corpse of the dragon.

Caron and his comrades stepped back to avoid being crushed by the collapsing carcass.

"...Well, that wasn't much," Caron said flatly. For a guardian of the Core of Sin, the resistance had been weak. Aside from the breath attack at the start, casualties had been minimal. A few, including some elders, had suffered injuries during the melee, but none were fatally wounded. Seria tended to the wounded, so losses were light.

Whoosh.

Guillotine thrummed low.

Caron walked to the dragon's corpse without a word and moved slowly toward the neck. He asked, "Gratia, it's this way, right?"

Gratia shifted into human form and nodded with a bitter expression, then answered, "Yes."

"Seria, would you offer the deceased—no, offer the great wyrm—a prayer?" Caron requested.

Seria nodded without a word, then she stepped to the corpse, clasped her hands, and intoned a short prayer. "Though ages may have worn you away, your traces shall remain beyond time. May the Light bless the path you walk."

Along with the short prayer, holy power seeped briefly into the Dragon Lord's body.

Whoosh.

The Void's residue within the Dragon Lord withered where it met Seria's holy power. When the small memorial was done, Caron plunged his sword into the Dragon Lord's neck.

Slice!

Guillotine, brimming with mana, sliced through the thick hide and revealed a massive jewel that shone with golden radiance.

"Ahhh."

"Ohhh."

Those who had been resting nearby emitted soft exclamations when Caron drew out the jewel; it gleamed brightly, larger than the body of a giant.

Caron levitated the jewel into the air with mana and let out a small sigh, remarking, "I've never seen one up close."

"...Most of my kin are dead. The few who survived now hide deep within the continent, terrified of the Demon King. It's only natural that this would be your first time seeing a real Dragon Heart," Gratia replied.

"It's similar to a mana stone, but also different," Caron observed.

"Are you comparing a Dragon Heart to a mere mana stone, oath-bearer?" Gratia snapped.

"Not exactly. It just feels like it," Caron corrected himself.

A Dragon Heart was the rarest, most powerful object on the continent.

The Imperial Magic Tower Master stepped forward slowly and said, "It's my first time to see a Dragon Heart in person as well."

"Oh right, but doesn't dragon blood run through your veins, Imperial Magic Tower Master?" Caron asked.

"That doesn't mean my heart is a Dragon Heart. Besides, even if it was, I can't exactly take out my own heart and examine it, can I?" Cor replied.

His eyes flashed briefly with greed, but he shrugged and sighed, then said, "You should take this."

"I thought you might demand a share," Caron said.

"Keep it for emergencies. If a Dragon Heart is ground into powder and consumed, it might revive a failing life. Its compressed mana offers endless uses," Cor explained.

"What do you mean by that?" Caron asked.

"It's possible to detonate a Dragon Heart artificially. Everything nearby would be reduced to dust. Isn't that right, Lady Gratia?" Cor replied.

Gratia nodded gravely and explained, "If you mean self-destruction, then Cor is correct. During the ancient wars, some of my kin used their hearts to self-detonate and wound the Demon Kings. If it were a Dragon Lord's heart... It could even inflict great damage on the other you—the one from another world."

Which meant, conversely, that the Dragon Lord could have destroyed himself, yet chose not to.

Caron slipped the Dragon Heart into his pouch of dimensional space and let out a bitter smile. He said, "I can't say that feels great. This corpse won't even fit in my pouch of dimensional space. Lady Gratia, do you mind if we take it?"

"Why are you asking me, oath-bearer? You were so quick to claim ownership of it earlier," Gratia asked.

"Well, I do know how to read the room," Caron said with a teasing grin. "Besides, it seemed like you had some kind of connection with him."

Gratia sighed deeply and answered, "He was a Lord, yes, but not the same Lord I knew. And even if he were, he would have told me to give his carcass to you."

"Then I'll make sure to hold a proper funeral once we return," Caron said.

"That would be... appreciated," Gratia said softly. "Until then, I'll keep his carcass in my dimensional space."

She clapped her hands once. A faint light spread across the Dragon Lord's carcass, and in the blink of an eye, it vanished.

The guardian of the Core of Sin had met his end just like that.

By then, all the wounded had been treated, and Caron began walking forward slowly. His eyes caught on the enormous dome-shaped barrier surrounding the central district. It was half violet, half ashen, an unsettling mix that shimmered like oil over water.

Caron reached out and touched the surface. At that moment, a voice echoed directly inside his mind.

"Prove. Your. Worth."

It was a voice he had heard before. It was deep, resonant, and ancient. It didn't take Caron long to realize it belonged to the Demon King of Void.

Whoosh. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Caron narrowed his eyes and sent a pulse of Void's power through his hand.

Whoosh.

The barrier rippled and shifted, then a small passageway opened, just wide enough for two people to walk through. Then the voice came again, heavier and clearer this time.

"Only. Two. Shall. Face. Sin.

"Choose. Your. Companion."

Caron clicked his tongue, then muttered, "Man, this guy just has to make everything difficult."

Only one person could go with him.

He turned his head slightly and looked at Halo. In a situation like this, there was no question who he'd choose. Aside from himself, Halo was the strongest among them.

"He said it's limited to two people, including me," Caron said, his tone casual. "So... shall we go, Grandfather?"

It had been a while since he called Halo that in front of everyone. Halo smiled faintly and nodded, then said, "Let's go. The rest of you, hold your formation here and prepare a defensive line."

It wouldn't be easy for those left behind either. The city's survivors would likely charge at them, ready to die. Everything had to be finished before the other Caron, Void's monstrous version, could awaken.

Halo stepped up beside him and murmured, "I thought you were going to take Leo with you."

Caron snorted and replied, "Why would I drag him into that when I don't even know what's waiting inside? I'm barely keeping myself together as it is. I don't have the luxury of looking after anyone else."

Inside that dome, there was a high chance that the power of Void was lurking. Unless it was Halo, who had reached 9-Star, it would be nearly impossible to withstand it.

Caron's gaze softened slightly as he turned to Seria and said, "I guess I'm leaving you behind again. I'm sorry."

Seria shook her head gently and replied, "We all have our roles. Warrior, before you go, please, come here for a moment."

"Hm?" Caron stepped toward her with a small smile.

Then, to his surprise...

Seria rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek.

Smooch.

Caron froze, bewildered. Then Seria met his gaze with a bold expression and said, "It's the greatest blessing a Grand Saintess can bestow."

"Ah... It was a blessing," Caron muttered, scratching his neck.

He could definitely feel a stronger blessing than usual.

While Caron gave an awkward smile, Seria let out a sigh and shook her head, then said, "I may have added a little personal touch."

"Huh?"

"Just don't you dare get killed in there. Come back alive, Warrior. I'll be waiting for you right here," Seria added.

That was their farewell.

Next came Leo. He looked a little weary, but smiled as he lifted a hand in a wave. "I told you I'd watch your back, didn't I? Go on and do your thing."

"Hey, Leo, did you know?" Caron began.

"Know what?" Leo asked.

"You grew up pretty well. You're not my supporting character; you're a protagonist all on your own," Caron said.

"...Don't say stuff like that. That sounds way too much like a death flag," Leo complained.

"It's just a figure of speech," Caron said lightly. "I'll be back soon, so don't get yourself killed, yeah? ...Ah, come on, what's with that face now—"

Leo suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. Caron sighed and patted his back, thinking, Come to think of it, it was Leo who helped me keep going.

When revenge had nearly eaten him alive, teasing Leo had been his one escape. Watching that not-so-talented kid push himself day after day, refusing to give up, had reminded Caron what it meant to keep living.

It was family. Like his parents, Leo was one of the few Caron truly considered family.

"Don't you dare die, you hear me?" Leo said quietly.

Caron grinned and asked mockingly, "You cryin'?"

"That's just disrespectful, you bastard," Leo said with a chuckle.

That was enough. Their farewell was done as well.

Caron exchanged a few last words with Cor, the Imperial Magic Tower Master, and Libre, the Dark Magic Tower Master[1]. Then he turned to Gratia and asked her to hold this place together.

His former subordinates were all fighting hard in their respective positions, leaving no time for greetings.

"I'll say it when I come back," Caron said simply.

With that, Caron turned back toward the barrier. Halo joined him, and Caron said quietly, "Let's go, Grandfather."

Halo smiled faintly and said, "It's good to see you remembering your manners."

"Shall I show you what proper manners look like? Among the beastkin, there's a custom called massage, and I'd be happy to demonstrate it with my fists..." Caron began.

"Ha! Shut up," Halo chuckled.

And so, trading jabs and laughter, the two stepped forward into their final destination.

***

Whoosh.

The air trembled with a low hum.

As soon as Caron and Halo stepped into the Core of Sin, the entrance behind them vanished without a trace.

Caron glanced over his shoulder at where the doorway had been and shrugged. He said casually, "Just as I expected."

His tone had already shifted into the familiar ease of banter, and Halo let out a quiet sigh.

"...What in the world is this place?" Halo asked.

"Quite the sight, isn't it?" Caron said.

Above them stretched a sky dyed entirely in violet. Outside, at least there had been fragments of ruined structures, but here, there was nothing—nothing except for a single, colossal temple standing in lonely grandeur.

And from that temple, the power of Void swirled outward like a violent maelstrom, twisting and warping the very air.

It was the place where all sin began.

"The Core of Sin," Caron murmured under his breath.

He wondered if there could possibly be a name more fitting than that.

Whoosh.

The air trembled again.

A ripple of violet light shimmered, and soon something—no, some things—began to take form before the temple.

Upon recognizing what they were, Caron let out a quiet sigh. He said softly, "So this is what 'sin' means?"

One by one, figures emerged from the mist.

There was the Demon King of Havoc, the Demon King of Sloth, the Demon Queen of Lust, and the Demon King of Slaughter. Those who had all met their end by Caron's own hand. But they weren't alone. Behind them stood countless others, including dark elves, pirates, humans, and more.

It didn't take Caron long to realize what they all had in common.

"Face. Your. Karma."

A voice boomed through the void.

Those who had once met their deaths at Caron's hands now stood before him, filled with hatred and bloodlust.

A suffocating malice began to take hold of the space around them.

1. It seems the stab in C360 didn't kill Libre. ☜