“Modeleine!”

“Sir Modeleine!”

Like a knot unraveling, Garuel’s demonic energy easily flowed into Modeleine’s body, swiftly circulating through him. As the healing magic progressed, the soul that had almost completely left his body began to return, and Garuel quickly withdrew his demonic energy as he noticed Modeleine’s eyelids twitching.

Modeleine, who had been on the brink of death, regained consciousness. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and rejoiced in his recovery, but one person, who had been looking not at Modeleine but at the air, wore a stiff expression.

‘What is this?’

Cadel. As Modeleine’s recovery unfolded, his attention remained fixated on a system window that had appeared before him.

「Warning! Unauthorized power is attempting excessive intervention.」

「Minimizing variables.」

「Time until removal: 4 hours 59 minutes 12 seconds.」

Unauthorized power. If it wasn’t referring to Kunra, then it was strange. Since Kunra had been conspicuously absent after breaking the magic circle for the first time. If not him, then who else would the system be concerned about?

‘……Lord Hyron?’

There was no one else. Among the knights that could be recruited in the game, there was no such thing as the Fairy King, Hyron. But Kunra, with similar conditions, had been allowed to use his powers to some extent. The system’s criteria were hard to gauge.

‘Was the system only turning a blind eye until entry into the Demon Realm? And this word, ‘removal’…… does it mean expulsion from the Demon Realm? If it means exactly what it sounds like……’

A chilling premonition ran through Cadel’s mind, and his body tensed. The involvement of Hyron and the fairy race had been entirely his doing. Even though Lydon had summoned them, without Cadel’s request, they wouldn’t have been involved at all. If the outcome was disastrous, it would mean terrible despair.

“Not good……”

“Commander?”

The terrifying thought persisted in Cadel’s mind, and he barely responded to Van’s touch, which had caught his arm.

“I need to find Lord Hyron.”

“Huh? But……”

“It might be dangerous. I’ll go alone.”

“Calm down, Commander. He’s already back. Look over there.”

Following Van’s words, Cadel turned his head. In the distance, he saw the two of them—Lydon and Hyron—approaching leisurely. As soon as Lydon saw Cadel, he accelerated his flight and reached him in no time, pulling him into a familiar embrace. Van’s irritation could be heard from the side.

“Hey, I saw an awesome demon earlier! I didn’t get a chance to fight properly, but—”

Naturally, Lydon placed his hand on Cadel’s back, his eyes, however, wandering over to Hyron, who stood nearby, quietly observing them both with a subtle smile.

‘If the ‘removal’ just means being kicked out of the Demon Realm, then I have to keep Lord Hyron with me until the timer runs out. The longer I hold on to him, the better the chances. But if it really means being……‘

“Wait, Lydon. I need to talk to Lord Hyron. Wait here.”

“Huh? You need to talk again? If you’re asking for permission to marry, don’t bother. You can do whatever you want, no need for any approval!”

“……Just for a moment.”

With Van’s help, Cadel reluctantly freed himself from Lydon and walked towards Hyron. Hyron, who had been watching them with a mild expression, noticed the seriousness on Cadel’s face and led him to a quieter spot, away from the humans.

“Has something bad happened? You seem troubled.”

“……Lord Hyron.”

“Yes, Cadel?”

How should he begin? How could he explain to Hyron to leave the Demon Realm and return to the forest willingly?

Only five hours left. The time to decide Hyron’s fate was quickly running out. Cadel hesitated for a moment, then, with a short breath, spoke.

“Please return to the forest right now.”

“……What?”

“Lord Hyron, you have to leave now if you want to survive. Otherwise…… something very bad will happen soon.”

“Cadel……”

In such a short amount of time, it was nearly impossible to come up with a convincing excuse to send Hyron away from the Demon Realm. No matter what excuse Cadel used, Hyron wouldn’t believe him. It was better to get straight to the point.

Hyron, staring at Cadel’s pale, frightened face, smiled softly.

“Very bad things…… I’m already prepared for that. The moment I chose to descend into the Demon Realm, I accepted the worst possible scenario.”

“This isn’t just me worrying about the possibility that the worst could happen. I’m asking you to prepare for what’s going to happen. There’s a great power here that will harm Lord Hyron.”

“……”

“You’ll die. So please, leave now.”

Cadel’s voice carried an undeniable urgency, his anxiety and fear impossible to conceal. His expression and eyes made it clear that it wasn’t an act. Hyron could not accept the warning, but even if his words were true.

“Then all the more reason I should stay.”

“Why?”

“What I want to see in my final moments isn’t the sky of the forest I looked up at so often, nor the faces of my sorrowful kin, or even the simple ceiling of my room.”

“……”

“If I can die beside my beloved son, fighting for him, then…… if my death can at least make up for the countless wounds and burdens I placed on him, I’ll die happy.”

In the end, Hyron chose to remain in the Demon Realm and fight. The instant Cadel looked into his quiet, resolute eyes, he realized that no persuasion would change Hyron’s mind.

Hyron showed no fear of death. He was calm as if he had been preparing for this moment for a long time, and in some way, even seemed to welcome it.

Seeing Cadel’s face twist in sorrow, Hyron lightly patted his shoulder.

“Please keep this secret from Lydon. I promised to give freedom to the fairy race, but then I called them into this war…… I can at least do this much for him.”

“……Lydon will mourn Lord Hyron’s death.”

“As long as you are there, it will be alright.”

Even if I die, as long as Cadel is by his side, Lydon will never lose his laughter or happiness. Hyron smiled faintly, feeling both a little sad and relieved, as he passed by him.