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Chapter 83

5.

An absolute palace, impervious to any intrusion, untouched by any external hand throughout history.

The Over Palace.

The somber, massive fortress remained still within its gloomy, black veil.

Within this place, where only a quiet, lonesome air lingered, an old man knelt before the throne, sensing the loosening of the world''s suppression that enveloped the Over Palace.

The old man, constrained by the world''s limitations due to his overwhelming strength, finally realized that the moment had arrived.

"Ah, finally."

Yet, he did not relax.

The world''s will was ever capricious.

It could change again at a moment''s notice.

He already knew the reason.

It was likely due to the movement of the foolish hero''s descendant.

All information flowed through the old man''s grasp.

Perhaps it was because he was too powerful?

Too thorough?

He had to live under the world''s surveillance.

The world''s will, as meticulous as he was, did not allow even the smallest gap.

He had barely managed to pass a clumsy piece of magic to his successor, evading the world''s eyes.

But now.

The world''s will, which had been binding them, had loosened.

For the first time, he felt gratitude toward the foolish hero''s descendant.

Where else could such an opportunity arise?

Thus, the old man, or rather, the Black Star, commanded.

"Three Calamities, attend."

He did not specify whom to attend.

Nor where to go.

Only the command to attend.

Behind the Black Star''s back, the shadows of a raven, a doll, and a fragmented corpse flickered.

They wavered like flickering candlelight, then vanished quickly.

Watching them disappear, the Black Star raised his head with a hint of regret.

The empty throne, left alone, caught his eye.

The Black Star recalled the glorious days of the distant past and looked at the throne with a sense of loneliness.

He could feel the presence of one who was once a comrade.

But now, they had walked different paths.

Sensing the presence of his old friend, who had diverged from his path, the Black Star moved his lips with a forlorn expression.

"Nocturnium, did it truly have to be so?"

His voice, tinged with a hint of blame yet also a sense of self-reproach for failing to care for him, echoed through the empty audience chamber with a feeling of futility, and no one answered.

What would have happened if his former master and teacher, a woman from a long time ago, were here?

What would she have said?

Would she have scolded him?

Or would she have praised his efforts despite everything?

He could not know.

Too much time had passed.

At the same time, he missed her.

Even if he were to be scolded.

Even if he were to be criticized for failing to care for his comrades.

He wished to see her once more.

His master, whom he could never see again.

Thus, he could understand his friend, now distant.

The Black Star, he too, felt longing.

Merely,

"I will remain here, assisting the successor."

He would only carry on her legacy, his master, his teacher, his mother.

He would blindly follow her will.

That was all.

The tear stains, now shriveled, leaving no trace,

Were etched into his soul, remaining forever in his memory.

Cherishing the longing ingrained in his soul.

He would assist his new master.

This time, he would become the teacher, guiding him.

He would serve the new king, the new monarch, the new master.

All that he, a foolish disciple and a slave, could do

Was to remember the warm hand that had reached out to him in the distant past and repay that kindness.

That was all.

6.

The Chasm of Despair had become quite pleasant.

After sweeping through the surroundings once.

It had become considerably easier to move.

Could this still be called despair?

He did not think for a moment that he had gone too far.

Following the paper bird to this rather comfortable place, Seonghyun was able to approach the cliff on one side of the chasm.

"Is this the entrance, I guess?"

-Yep, it seems so

When Seonghyun said that,

Fiora agreed.

And the paper bird was nodding its head vigorously, as if in agreement.

Its politeness was pleasing to see.

Anyway, since they had arrived,

There was no need to worry about how to open the door.

As the paper bird approached,

[The door opens upon fulfilling the conditions.]

As always, a message appeared, and

Kugugugu——!

What was clearly a cliff split open like doors to the left and right, allowing entry inside.

The paper bird, or rather, the note, was the key.

Once the door opened,

The paper bird, having fulfilled its role, turned back into a note and fluttered to the ground.

Seonghyun carefully retrieved the note, placed it back into his inventory, and entered the cliff''s interior.

As Seonghyun entered,

The door quickly closed, leaving only deep darkness.

For Seonghyun, the Overlord, the pinnacle of black magic, it was not particularly bothersome, but...

Looking around,

There weren''t any torches to speak of.

But it wasn''t as if he couldn''t see in the dark.

He paid it no mind and walked down the long corridor.

''Quite spacious.''

A huge passage where even if he were to summon Barpur, he could walk comfortably.

As he walked along that passage.

Arctura sneered as he saw Seonghyun drawing his sword.

''Foolish caster. Heh heh heh.''

He should have used magic or defended himself, but he drew a sword?

A caster who had lost his mind.

As Arctura mocked Seonghyun inwardly,

''Hmm, shall I try it?''

Watching Arctura, who was slightly smaller than a human and slightly larger than a goblin, he recalled a memory.

Facing Arctura, who was charging with his sharpened arms forward, Seonghyun held the Apprentice Hero Hindel''s sword and lightly stepped forward, touching the ground.

His foot, gliding across the ground as if slipping, drew a graceful circle and rotated his body, naturally moving to the side of Arctura, who was charging towards his front.

The movement was so fluid that even Arctura, who was right in front of him, felt like Seonghyun had teleported.

As Seonghyun moved the sword upward in a sweeping motion,

Arctura was startled and crossed his arms in an X to block the sword.

If he stood still, his torso and chest would be sliced open.

But why was it?

The sword swayed as if dancing, transforming into two, then three strands, deceiving Arctura''s eyes like phantoms.

Due to Seonghyun''s simultaneous and fluid footwork, he was genuinely confused as to what was real, and a gap opened between Arctura and Seonghyun.

Swish——!

[Critical Hit!]

[The effect of 『One Strike!』 is activated!]

Swooosh—!

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

Black blood gushed out from a long slash that extended from his shoulder to his abdomen.

As if spilling blood once wasn''t enough, blood continued to gush out.

It didn''t seem like natural healing could stop the bleeding.

There wasn''t even a hint of it stopping.

What kind of sorcery was used?

It was incomprehensible.

He flapped his wings and retreated the moment his body was cut, so he avoided the follow-up attack, but Seonghyun was still a threat.

''Amazing.''

The memories and experiences of the knight absorbed from the Crystal Palace were superior to any other ghosts he had absorbed, except for Helena.

The swordsmanship of one who had risen to the commander of the royal knights in the distant past

was now being displayed in the present.

Was he intimidated by the momentum?

Arctura shuddered, trembling as he saw Seonghyun take his stance.

Wasn''t he a caster?

How could he use such high-level swordsmanship?

It was incomprehensible.

And from behind the unguarded Arctura,

Thwunk——!

"Kuh-ugh."

An arm like a black shadow spear pierced through Arctura''s heart.

As Fiora''s arm pierced Arctura''s heart,

Seonghyun also rushed toward Arctura and swung his sword.

The sword, swung with the swordsmanship in mind, drew a graceful curve and severed Arctura''s neck.

Arctura''s severed head fell limply to the floor.

Swish——!

Thump, roll.

[Critical Hit!]

[You have defeated the gatekeeper, low-ranking demon Arctura.]

[You have gained experience.]

''The memory of swordsmanship is incredible.''

He had realized that his swordsmanship was quite excellent by now and also grasped Fiora''s versatile fighting style.

It hadn''t been a meaningless time.

Still.

''Is it because I don''t have a swordsmanship skill? The damage is extremely weak.''

The damage was too weak, so he felt a bit of regret.

If it hadn''t been for Fiora''s attack, he wouldn''t have been able to cut down Arctura so easily.

Until he obtained a swordsmanship skill, he should refrain from using swordsmanship for a while.

As Seonghyun thought so to himself,

-H-hee! You, you were really amazing!

"Hmm? Really?"

-Yes, yes! I-it was different from Lord Baltar''s swordsmanship, but it felt like it contained extremely profound mysteries!!

Fiora, who was quite excited, said so.

Seonghyun, feeling a bit embarrassed and shy, smiled and stroked Fiora''s head.

And then he silently moved forward.

As Seonghyun, satisfied, went further ahead,

He soon found a massive door.

It resembled the door of the stone chamber that Seonghyun had seen during his second class advancement.

However, unlike then, the eyes of the undead or demons were not glowing, and he could only see an ominous aura swirling around.

-I-I think this is it.

"Hmm."

Seonghyun nodded at Fiora''s words.

Could he complete the quest by entering here?

As Seonghyun placed his hand on the door, thinking that,

[Conditions have been met.]

[The door to the past opens.]

[Checking the 『Overlord』 main quest.]

[Entering the time of the past.]

[Fiora returns to the Netherworld.]

[While in the past, the gate to the Netherworld cannot be opened.]

[All levels in the past are adjusted to the current level of user 『Seonghyun』.]

Before he could even question the incomprehensible messages that flashed before his eyes,

Seonghyun''s body was absorbed into the door as if being sucked in.

Fiora, who had been there just a moment ago, had disappeared, and Seonghyun felt a brief sense of floating, watching the scenery change around him.

Although it was originally inside a cave within the cliff,

The new scenery was a forest under a bright sky.

Although it was broad daylight, he could hear the sound of firewood crackling in front of him, as if they were sitting by a campfire.

Crack, snap! Crackle.

He could feel the warm heat, indicating that the campfire was some distance away, and quite a few people were gathered around it.

Seonghyun was one of them.

And in the middle of them, a man with a somehow familiar aura.

Yet, it was someone he had never seen before in his life.

He was surrounded by a dazzling, cosmic aura, exuding a mysterious atmosphere.

He had a benevolent and warm expression, as if he could embrace everything, yet also exuded an aura that could overwhelm everything.

That mysterious and powerful man looked at Seonghyun and said,

"Welcome, Seonghyun. I have already heard of your reputation and came to find you, so let me introduce myself first. I am Hindel, who is being called a hero, though I am still inexperienced."

"......???"

Hindel?

Hero Hindel?

Why was he here?

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