The Greatest Warrior of All Time Returns-Chapter 395

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Chapter 395

The Rift of Despair had been open ever since the gatekeeper was subdued and the door itself melted away.

As I walked alongside them—forcing down my exhaustion and maintaining a dignified stride—I spoke to Isna.

“Are you going to keep hiding it from your grandfather too?”

“Yes. That’s what’s right, grandfather prefers seeing me as a reckless child. I don’t want to worry him by showing him who I am now.”

Her voice was low and heavy.

I said nothing more.

“More importantly, what did you see in there? How are you still fine?”

Isna looked at me suspiciously.

“At the very least, I avoided anything that seemed like a bad idea—based on the conclusions I reached in the Closed World.”

“……”

“Hey. How much do you know about archangels?”

She stopped walking and looked at me.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious how much you know.”

“Not much. I’ve never been interested in theology.”

So her knowledge of archangels was probably limited to common lore.

Then what exactly was that thing?

Without a word, I fiddled with the necklace hidden in my pocket.

The necklace—emanating power similar to the Primordial Dragon I’d sensed in R’lyeh’s hidden space—was clearly no ordinary object at a glance.

“O—Ooooh! The Stars have returned!”

The moment we emerged from the rift, cheers erupted from all directions.

Since the Rift of Despair closed and vanished immediately after our exit, it looked to everyone else as though the Stars had completely eradicated it.

Of course, Isna and I had entered secretly, so there was no need to reveal ourselves.

Beforehand, we had asked the Stars not to speak of us.

Letting slip that I had a connection with the head of the Moon Watchers—or that we had infiltrated the place suddenly—would bring nothing but trouble.

We didn’t even have the authority to be there.

If anyone started digging, it would become incredibly annoying—and would also put the Bata royal family in an awkward position.

Though the Stars looked reluctant, they still encouraged the crowd and began cleanup operations.

—Leon. I’ll be heading to Cascadia soon with these people. Be ready.

Osberg’s voice transmission reached me.

That technique should belong to Lord Catsey.

Apparently, Osberg could use it as well.

Judging by things, he hadn’t told his daughter-in-law about it.

“Let’s leave. I’ve got a lot to investigate too.”

That was when I noticed Osberg silently watching Isna.

A mask, a robe, a distorted voice.

Even her presence was completely concealed—so even Sword Saint Osberg Mielephon shouldn’t be able to see through her identity.

And yet… his gaze felt oddly intent.

“Hey. Were you found out?”

“No. Impossible.”

If she said so, that was enough.

* * *

Including Isna, the remaining three members of the Moon Watchers decided to stay in R’lyeh for the time being.

They wouldn’t act as openly as before, but since they intended to focus all their efforts on finding Garlan—the one abusing the Corps’ authority—I had nothing to lose.

After all, Garlan was targeting me no matter what.

I returned to Cascadia with Grivy on my back, wounded and sniffling.

The brave Sur and the eccentric Serqet yawned lazily and returned themselves through reverse summoning—but Grivy clung tightly to my back, sniffling.

“Grivy.”

“Mmnh……”

“Did it hurt a lot?”

“Yeah……”

As a spirit, she possessed near-immunity to most attacks.

Among spirits, Grivy was especially durable.

But the opponent had been my doppelgänger.

Even without reaching the Ninth Circle, the danger level was immense.

The fact that no one died was practically a miracle.

Even without Ninth Circle power, my doppelgänger should have been capable of completely annihilating the Stars, my undead, and even the spirits.

The fact that it didn’t felt like the result of some limiting condition.

Was it because the Stars fought desperately?

Because the spirits and undead resisted bravely?

That was part of it—but it still didn’t fully explain things unless my doppelgänger had spent a great deal of time before being able to fight at full power.

Either way, it was fortunate.

“I’m glad you’re not badly hurt. If things look dangerous next time, just run away. Got it?”

Instead of answering, Grivy buried her face into my back.

She might be a spirit—but she was born from me.

Blood aside, she was no different from my child.

Once she fell fully asleep, I walked silently through the forest with her on my back.

I wanted to calm her down and check her condition before returning to Cascadia.

The undead I had summoned were badly damaged by the doppelgänger and were undergoing recovery within the shadows.

Only after Grivy was completely asleep did I open space and return to Cascadia.

“Leon!”

The first to greet me was Luna.

The moment she sensed my presence, she flew over at high speed—then widened her eyes when she saw Grivy on my back.

“She’s hurt?”

“Yeah. Please heal her.”

“Mmnh… Mother…”

Murmuring in her sleep, Grivy was gently taken into Luna’s arms.

Luna silently created a swirl of iridescent light and completely healed her wounds.

She then handed Grivy to an approaching maid.

“Make sure she rests well.”

“Yes, Lady Luna.”

As soon as the maid left, Luna grabbed my collar and lifted the thin garment hidden beneath my clothes.

The outfit—on the verge of tearing—was made from phoenix silkworm thread by Lispa Elde.

I hadn’t even realized it.

No wonder the damage I’d taken felt oddly minimal.

Lispa’s gift had clearly done its job.

“That garment will repair itself over time. No need to worry about fixing it.”

Lispa’s voice came from behind.

“Who said you could come in?”

“Oh my. I hear the voice of some idiot who can’t even give clothes as a gift—but I don’t listen to it.”

“……”

Luna clenched her fist with a crunching sound.

I quietly held her hand and made her relax.

“Luna. Don’t be angry. In the end, you’re my wife—and I’m your husband.”

“……Hah.”

A smile formed on Luna’s lips.

She sneered at Lispa.

“I’ll generously let it go.”

“…Bitch.”

Lispa shot Luna a venomous glare before turning away.

“Lispa Elde.”

“What now? I’ll just leave like the outsider I am.”

Her tone was sharp—but the hurt in her voice was unmistakable.

“Both Luna and you—I have something to ask. Please spare some time.”

At my words, Lispa turned back with a bright smile as if nothing had happened.

“You need my help, don’t you? That’s it, right?”

“Uh… yes. You too.”

On the way back, I’d thought about it.

But in the end, I figured it was best if those who needed to know… knew.

[Translator - Night]

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* * *

Luna, Lispa—and Isna, the head of the Moon Watchers—gathered in one place.

“You said you wouldn’t tell,”

Isna said, removing her mask with a tired sigh.

“Just in case. I wanted to mention it.”

I gave them a measured explanation of what happened inside the rift.

The gatekeeper.

What lay beyond.

Then—

I described the scene beyond the door.

Isna’s eyes widened in shock.

The reactions of the two archangels were—

“That’s impossible.”

“A primordial archangel… such a thing shouldn’t exist…”

That confirmed it.

Lucifer’s existence had been completely erased by the will of the Chief God.

This response was nothing like the treatment of other archangels.

If Lispa and Luna felt like rebellious adolescents being disciplined, Lucifer felt like an utterly severed relationship—an irreconcilable enemy.

And yet, Lucifer hadn’t been destroyed.

Was it mercy?

Or—

[There’s also the possibility that destruction was impossible.]

The Librarian’s words rang true.

“If someone like that truly existed… then it makes sense you came back in that state.”

“Conversely, if that’s true, it doesn’t make sense that you came back alive.”

“Strictly speaking, I didn’t fight him directly.”

Lucifer had been sealed.

In the Closed World, I must have trusted him—judged him useful—and partially released his seal.

And just that alone had left me like that.

Had I fully released him, I likely wouldn’t have made it out alive.

I may stand among the strong—but there are still beings beyond what my current power can handle.

Thinking back to the final enemies of the Labyrinthos—defeated only after reaching ultimate mastery—that outcome was only natural.

Unlike Luna, Lispa looked deeply confused.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah… yes. I’m fine.”

She didn’t dig deeper—probably to avoid complicating things.

“Still, your judgment was correct. If the Chief God sealed him that thoroughly, he’s extremely dangerous.”

“And based on what you’ve said,”

Lispa added coldly,

“Lucifer may be stronger than all seven archangels combined.”

A chilling analysis.

“Why not destroy that necklace?”

“I sealed it. He can’t do anything through it. And… it can’t be destroyed.”

I showed them the necklace radiating Primordial Dragon power.

Traces of the Primordial Dragon also existed in R’lyeh.

Beyond the still-sealed space where the Dragon Tooth slept.

Aside from that, no Primordial Dragon-level remnants existed in this world. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Lispa examined the necklace and nodded.

“No good. The only way to destroy this would be to throw it directly into the Heavenly Dragon Forge.”

A clean surrender.

“I’ll investigate on my end too. Even in the Closed World, I never encountered a being called Lucifer.”

It was strange—he hadn’t appeared even at the world’s end.

But oddly, that brought a sense of relief.

I’d considered contacting archangels like Uriel or Gabriel—but aside from Luna and Lispa, I didn’t yet trust the others.

“Then the only one who might know is… him.”

“Him?”

“…Diablo.”

I let out a short exclamation.

Right.

That guy.

“He’s busy with events in the Holy Kingdom right now. Want me to go ask?”

“I’m going too.”

“Why are you coming, bitch?”

“It’s my job. Not yours, outsider.”

“You’ve got some nerve.”

Watching the two immediately grab each other’s hair, I quietly turned away.

No matter how bad their relationship looked, to each other they were beings they could hate freely—and understand completely.

“Can we take the necklace?”

“For now, it’s safer if we confirm the seal in person.”

Leaving Lucifer’s investigation to Luna and Isna, I still had another pressing issue to resolve.

That issue was—

“Welcome, Sir Leon. We’ve discreetly confirmed information on the man currently meeting with Duke Cascadia.”

“Thank you, Viscount.”

“It’s an honor to assist the Royal Guardian.”

Despite being a viscount, his attitude toward me was exceedingly respectful.

That was typical of intelligence officials.

It might look amusing—the way I effectively used a nation’s intelligence bureau at will.

But royal intelligence would always surpass ordinary information guilds.

With that level of capability, it was only natural people wanted to serve royalty.

“However… there are many suspicious aspects. No—this is something you should judge yourself.”

He handed me the report on the man Melissa was meeting.

As expected, a foreigner.

Since Melissa was a ruling duke, her partner would inevitably enter as a consort.

So whether he was from Bata or abroad didn’t really matter.

Melissa had good judgment.

She must have chosen carefully.

But the moment I read the file—

I was genuinely surprised.

He looked remarkably similar to me.

Same age, too.

The youngest prince of the Uldian Kingdom.

Uldian…

A small border kingdom, even compared to Bata.

No glaring personality flaws.

No obvious problems.

Whatever her tastes, it felt like Melissa had accepted him after serious consideration.

“Still… I debated whether I should tell you this.”

“What is it?”

“The Uldian prince… there’s something strange about him.”

Strange?

—Heh heh heh… I don’t know what it is, but that soul is very interesting. Absolutely the kind you should never get close to.

‘Shut up, Lucifer—wait.’

I froze, cutting off my will like I would with the Librarian.

‘What are you?’

—The seal is impressive, but did you really think I’d give you that necklace without precautions? Well? With this level of power… doesn’t it tempt you?

I stared at the necklace Lucifer had given me—then shoved it deep into subspace.

If Lucifer truly possessed power rivaling all archangels combined…

Then this possibility should have been anticipated.

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