Gozine

[…Fatal error! The main story is severely damaged!]

[Main’s story script is destroyed!]

[Please create your own new destiny and narrative.]

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**********

[You have successfully slain the Archduke Baal!]

[Player’s lifespan has increased by 1090 days!]

[……Player’s mental state is unstable. Impulses are maximized!]

[The negative trait ‘Devilization’ begins to take hold of you.]

After Baal’s death.
Nox still stood motionless like a dead knight with his sword planted in the ground. He had already decided the life and death of his father Theo with his own hands.
Nox muttered, his spirit gone.

“For what did I……”

“Young… master.”

A voice came from behind.

It was a familiar voice.
Nox quickly turned around.
There stood a child holding her arm, injured, embracing him from behind.

Zitri von Rovelia.
She was his maid, the one who had always watched over Nox by his side.
She was accepting this situation as if it were something she herself had experienced. Although her initial memories of Theo were not good, even she understood that it was for his son, for Nox, and now, it was possible because she respected him.

“I… don’t know.”

Nox spoke as if he had let go of his heart.
Zitri quickly denied it.

“Young master, you did your best.”

“I cut down my only family.”

“……Yes.”

Even as she said that, Zitri just held him tightly.
Nox placed his hands gently on top of Zitri’s embracing hands.
Even as the rain gradually ceased, streams of water were still running down his cheeks.

Watching the streaks mixed with blood slowly trickle down, Zitri became convinced that her master was breaking.

This won’t do.
No matter what, he must return to the young master she knew.
Kind, a bit willful, but even when grumbling, always considered others first.
She wished for Nox to return to that young master she loved endlessly.

Meanwhile, at that time, Luna also approached Nox, staunching her wounds, and said.

“She is right. Newcomer. You did the best you could. I hope you wouldn’t blame yourself.”

“If the best I could do was kill my father, then perhaps so.”

It wasn’t a sarcastic remark. It was a voice blaming himself.
Nox kept turning over the decision he had made. Thoughts continued to eat away at him like a spiderweb. There was no other way.
Nothing could be a solution except resolving this himself.

“He said it rained.”

“…..”

“…..”

The two women couldn’t answer, and Nox continued with his head deeply bowed.

“The day we lost mother, he said it rained just like today, didn’t he? The night the storm raged. The night of slaughter began, and the continent’s Great Anti-Demon War started.”

“Theo von Reinhaver… he became the savior of countless people, but because he couldn’t protect his own family, he had to live his whole life like that. Besides receiving my hateful gaze, the imperial family also shunned us, while calling us Dark family.”

“Why did it have to be that way? If anyone knows, I wish they would at least answer. And, I don’t know. Why did father… awkwardly say such things to me at the end?”

I love you.

Nox said that Theo had said that.
Even Luna couldn’t help but be surprised that such words came from the mouth of the Reinhaver family head, but she didn’t think it was a big deal for a parent to say such things to their child when conveying final words before death.

After all, Theo was also an ordinary father who loved his son.
What prevented him from showing it was the fault of the continent and the demons.

But for Nox, this would be no comfort.
Nox von Reinhaver had been worn down by excessive regression and memories. Despite his efforts, ultimately had to end up with this ending.

Because this was truly the end.

Because in the final battle, he made a choice, and he slashed.

‘If it were Theo, would he have cut me down, his son? In the same situation… if I had been possessed by a demon, would he have made that choice?’

Only now did he learn of his denial.
It might just be Nox’s thought, but Theo would not have been able to cut him down.
In a situation where he could have lifted the curse just by staying still, if asked if this was truly the best, no one would have answered yes.
Some nobles even sell their children. And then they say nonchalantly.

Anyway, you can always have another child, right?

But Theo tried to take responsibility for Nox.
His foolish father sacrificed himself to save Nox.
But, if the same situation came again, he would have to cut down his father.
This was Nox’s greatest sin.

Tap, tap.

It was then.
The sound of footsteps running from behind as other companions also rushed to join them.
They had barely overcome it after the fog cleared and managed to reach the vicinity.

Nox remained exactly as he was.

“Theo……”

“So it ended like this after all.”

Noah and Astrid muttered like that.
Theo with his neck cut and his body covered in wounds. The rainwater not yet washed away from Nox entered their sight.
Nox’s pupils were still unfocused.
But he asked without moving.

“Did you already know?”

At those words, the expressions of everyone behind him froze coldly.
Precisely, those who attended that final meeting with Theo. The Sages, the Sword Emperors, and even companions who had just successfully learned of this fact all hesitated.
Because they dared not even imagine how difficult this situation was for Nox.

Nox continued in an agitated voice.

“If you knew he was trying to sacrifice himself for me…… did you truly think that was best? Hiding behind and watching us father and son cross blades, did you enjoy it that much?”

“Nox. It’s not like that. Theo chose you. To save his son, even if he had to die……”

“That’s exactly why I ask, did it have to be someone within my circle?”

Ha, Nox let out a bitter laugh.
The white-haired knight, holding his sword, staggered to his feet.
It’s dizzying.
But, it seemed that if he didn’t spit this out, it would only get worse.
Nox was gradually losing his self-control.
Though he couldn’t use it, Ifrit was inherent. The power of the Flame Spirit King began to seep into Nox as black flames, changing color. This had a pattern so complex that even a mage couldn’t easily read it.

“And, the fact that the people who agreed to kill that person within my circle were also… people who were within my circle is something I… simply cannot.”

For what.
Have I fought until now?

For what.
Was the current situation created?

Baal.
Even if the Demon King had conquered the continent, the Reinhaver family would not have been destroyed.

Rather, since they could use Dark mana, they might have been able to negotiate with them. In the end, this was nothing more than Nox fulfilling the desires of the angels and Arden, and everyone else here, on their behalf.

At that moment, Nox ultimately made a twisted judgment.

‘They are betrayers who abandoned me.’

The timely Demon’s whisper.

— Aren’t they the ones who got your father killed?
— You already knew. Yet you let them be. Do you want to know the reason?

— Because after you father and son put on this pathetic tragicomedy, everything will be settled. They don’t even need to lift a finger.

Nox sneers.
The demon’s whisper ringing in his ears. It began to break Nox, who was as weak as he could be.

“Yeah. I get it now. You were just using me from the start?”

“Nox!”

“Shut up.”

“Young… master.”

Zitri falls away from him, surprised.
A deeper darkness began to swallow Nox’s body. It was because Baal’s soul fragments began to be absorbed into him as he killed him.
This could only add further shock to Nox’s unstable emotional state.
Because great power always comes with great responsibility.

Zzzzzzz!

An unbelievably powerful force began to bore into Nox’s inside. Then, vine-like blood vessels rising through his body gradually began to erode Nox.

It was a clear example of the state Nox’s body was in.
The limit of limits. But a massive amount of mana was flowing into it.
This was deforming Nox’s physical form. Voices were still reaching his ears at that moment.
Endlessly, as if it would continue forever, just so it never stops……

— Just admit it now. Accept it.
— Isn’t killing people fun? You can’t go back now.
— Aren’t humans evil?
— If you define evil ones as demons, then everyone before you is a demon.

Fzzzzzt——!

With the noise of exploding mana, I was trapped inside a black semicircle.
It dragged me down into another mud.

**********

A black semicircle envelops the surroundings.

Inside it, I heard a voice.
A memory being replayed.

My father. Theo von Reinhaver’s.

— I love you. Nox.

Father said that, but I in the memory was too young.
I, little more than an infant, could not hear that voice.
But I can feel his benevolent smile and the love and trust of a father.
This is one of the unmet emotional fragments of my past.

Next came another memory from the past.
It was nothing less than the definition of love I had so craved since the past.
I saw my father doing his best to persuade the family’s Elders’ council.

To save me, for the sake of the ruffian with a shattered reputation, he repeated that I wasn’t such a child like a parrot.
I thought he just sat in a black chair flaunting his authority. But here, my father even bowed his head.
Uncles and those aiming for the family head’s seat threatened and slandered me, but he tried his best to protect me, and I barely survived. Even when strong public opinion emerged that a disgrace to the family like me should be killed, father protected me.

Even though he was so cold in front of me.

Why are you showing such weakness here?

It seems this was father’s way of expressing love.
I of course couldn’t know.
At least, Theo never showed this side of himself in front of me.
Now that I see it, I understand clearly.
I was a child who lost my mother and only threw tantrums.
I acted no better than a ruffian. Even if it was to survive, what if I had tried to talk to father just a little sooner?
Then our relationship wouldn’t have broken like this.

It’s my fault.
Everything is because I didn’t try to improve the relationship……
That’s why I had to send him away like this.

But just as that thought was about to drive me mad, the scene shifts again.
This time, it’s the family conference room.
A relatively recent memory.

There, father says.

“I will let Baal possess my body. Doing so will allow us to kill him completely. We can shatter even his soul. Then such things won’t happen on the continent again, and we can achieve our long-cherished wish.”

“But……”

“That method is too dangerous. Theo, this is……”

Luna, Noah, and several others object. Among them, one person sits.

Echidna’s father, Kiril von Zenos. That guy and several other vested interests.
Among them were also forces of the Emperor. Their reaction was slightly different from the previous group.

“I agree. If you make that choice, we will do our best to annihilate Baal.”

“That’s right. To protect the Emperor, it’s only natural. The current Emperor’s support base is still weak. We must use this situation.”

“What are you….!”

Luna said that, but the gazes of the others were sharp.

“A Sword Emperor, but still a brat. Does the head of a criminal organization have any place to interfere? I think not.”

“If necessary, shall we kill her here?”

“How vulgar. Tsk. This is why the uneducated are like this.”

As Luna retorted, others clicked their tongues and spoke.
Theo stopped Luna, as if telling her to calm down, and continued.

“Everyone, think of one thing. I will give anything if you want it. But what is certain is that Nox must not know of this plan. And that you must kill me completely. That is what you must do.”

“Hmm. Good.”

The others eventually fell silent.

Is this… the truth of the incident?

Why.

I trusted them.

Instantly, the demon’s voice continued to bore into Nox.

— Do you think they moved for your sake?
— What a joke.
— They are just mindful of the Emperor. They want to maintain the power they hold.
— You were used.
— For the power maintenance of all the others.

No.
Stop.

This isn’t the truth.

But as it switched to the next scene, and I heard the conversation between Kiril and the imperial family members, this time I couldn’t deny the demon’s words.
The fact that they were using me.
To be precise, both father and me.

— Removing the dirty dark family will make the imperial family cleaner.
— That’s a good thing.
— The three great noble families? What nonsense. A dark family dares to call itself a great family? Didn’t the first family heads make contracts with demons to gain unclean power?

— They are filthy beings who wouldn’t be surprising if they revealed their true colors again anytime.
— Existences worse than beastfolk.
— Anyway, let’s use this chance to get rid of Theo and the rest.
— By the way, it’s fortunate. They don’t know the news that we are moving with the demons.

Kiril said that and looked to one side. There was a familiar and frown-inducing human there.

Priscilla.
Theo’s second wife.
She spoke, covering her mouth with a fan.

— I have already subjugated the other families. So don’t worry. Anyway, once Theo, that person dies, it’s all over. We can pull down the Reinhaver family and the current Emperor and seize all the power for ourselves.

— Haha, what does it matter if it’s demons or humans? In the end, we will be the ones to hold the continent!

Hahaha, laughing sounds.
Disgust washes over me, but I barely endure it.

Fwoosh.

Father’s memory cuts off there, and my vision begins to return to my eyes.

Huff, I steady my breath, look forward, then glance behind.
Now, eight wings are spread from my back.
Matching the number of Baal’s.
It seems I inherited a part of Baal’s soul fragments and the power of the Philosopher’s Stone.
It was from that moment.

A powerful impulse swept over me……
And an indescribable anger towards them boiled up from the depths of my heart. The demon’s voice continued to assault my ears at that moment.

— Express your despair.
— Show them the misfortune and pain you felt to your heart’s content!

I was now ready to move as that voice commanded.