Chapter 267

From a distance, dawn broke.

However, the city square in the center was even brighter than the approaching dawn.

Torches were densely lit.

And the citizens who had gathered, weapons in hand.

They had hastily set up barricades at the main intersections of the square, holding their weapons awkwardly, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

Seeing this, I was at a loss for words.

They were not soldiers.

Just ordinary people who lived here.

"If one doesn't defend themselves when necessary, if they don't step forward and fight for their own lives,"

A deep, elderly voice reached my ears as I gazed blankly at the scene.

"No one will protect you if you don't show the strength and will to do so."

Turning around, it was the familiar Elder Dwarf, Kellibey.

"When I said something to that effect, everyone followed suit."

"...Kellibey."

"I distributed the weapons left in the forge to the citizens. We lit fires as bright as possible, and everyone gathered, watching each other's backs."

Holding a massive warhammer in his hand, Kellibey stroked his beard and grinned.

"We successfully repelled a few werewolves that came this way. The citizens are safe."

"..."

"Hey, why the long face? It's not all bad."

I looked away.

If only I had done a bit more.

Then the citizens wouldn't have had to fight at all.

"This is a frontline city against monsters. Soldiers die fighting monsters every day."

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Kellibey slowly spoke.

"If one hopes for peace while living in such a city, then that citizen might as well have the heart of a thief."

"..."

"If one lives under the protection of someone else's life, they should be prepared to give up their own. That was the way of my homeland."

Perhaps that was the way of the Dwarf Kingdom.

But...

"I've lived in this fortress city for decades, my Lord!"

An old woman gripping a pickaxe said with a chuckle.

"Even during the time of our ancestors, monsters broke in multiple times! Each time, the citizens united to beat them back!"

"..."

"We've even defeated tougher monsters! Do you think we'd be afraid of mere wolves?"

"...Thank you."

I smiled gently at the boisterous old woman.

"Thank you for surviving."

The citizens, holding their torches high, guarding each other's backs.

Men and women, young and old, gripping weapons to defend their lives.

The sight was grand, grateful, and even noble.

Yet, as the commander of the front lines... it was a sight I never wanted to see.

"I'm sorry."

My fists clenched tight, nails digging into the flesh of my palm.

"I'll do my best to ensure this never happens again."

Children with small slingshots ran across the square, laughing.

Did this situation feel like a game to them?

Leading the children was Hannibal, Kellibey's assistant. The young N-grade hero led the children through an alleyway and out of sight.

In the brightening square, the laughter of children echoed.

Watching them, I murmured,

"I'll do everything I can to ensure you never have to take up arms."

Yes.

To create such a world, I would...

***

As the morning sunlight began to illuminate the sky in a soft blue hue,

In front of the northern wall,

Lunared was dead.

The werewolf with silver-red fur lay motionless, a large fist mark evident in the center of his chest.

I quietly observed the monster's corpse.

The creature that once boasted of destroying the world met such a silent and void end.

Kureha too, had drawn his last breath.

Although the curse had dissipated, he still retained the form of a wolf monster. He lay there, smaller in stature, with his eyes serenely closed.

And in front of him stood the Penal Squad, five in total, including Kuilan.

"..."

The curse that Kureha held had returned to each member of the Penal Squad.

All five had grown taller, their muscles more pronounced, and red fur sprouted across their bodies.

They didn't exactly resemble werewolves. They looked more human than beast.

Perhaps through generations of mingling with humans, the wolf blood within them had diluted.

Yet, there was an undeniable mix of beast in their appearance.

Beastmen.

It was precisely the Werebeast race I had encountered in the game.

"This is our tribe's true form," Kuilan slowly began, his voice noticeably deeper. 

"Wolf Beastmen. The inherent form of the Leaf Tribe."

"..."

"On a full moon, we transform into wolves, and when the moon wanes, we revert to humans; half-human, half-beast…"

Gazing at his furry fist, Kuilan murmured sorrowfully,

"It seems we can't remain on this front line any longer, my lord."

"Why is that?"

"Look at us. We are half-wolf."

Kuilan shook his head vigorously.

"I doubt we can be considered human anymore."

"What determines who you are is not your birth, race, or appearance."

I repeated to them the same words I'd told the monsters moments before.

"What determines who you are is the thoughts you harbor and the actions you take."

"..."

"You are human."

I nodded firmly.

"If you wish to be human, then undoubtedly, you are human."

What makes a person human?

And what turns a creature into a monster?

The criteria differ for everyone. But on this frontline, I am the one who defines it.

To me, the five members of the Penal Squad are 'people' worth protecting.

If they so wish.

"...In that case, my lord, I have a request."

Kuilan gently picked up the corpse of Kureha from the ground.

"May we... bury my brother, Kureha, in this city's cemetery?"

"..."

"Someday, when we reclaim our homeland, we will move him there. But until then... I wish to lay him to rest here. This burial ground is a place of honor."

"Of course."

I looked down at the small wolf monster in Kuilan's arms.

Though no trace of his human form remained, somehow, he still seemed to wear a gentle, peaceful smile.

"He was a warrior who sacrificed his life to defend this frontline. Ensure he is given the highest honors during his funeral."

"Thank you."

With a bow, Kuilan slowly made his way towards the cemetery in the western part of the city.

"I'll be back after burying my brother."

Kuilan, cradling Kureha in his arms, took the lead while the rest of the Penal Squad members trailed slowly behind.

As the subtle morning sun rose from the east, the red-furred humanoid creatures quietly faded into the distance.

They looked like ordinary people, cloaked in sorrow, having lost a brother.

At least, that's how they appeared to me.

***

Crossroad. A back alley.

The morning sunlight gradually drove away the darkness that blanketed the city.

"..."

"..."

Junior, Reina, and Camus stood tense, still safeguarding the civilians.

What was initially a group of four civilians had now swelled to dozens.

Having successfully repelled the continuous werewolf assaults throughout the night, the number of civilians seeking their protection rapidly increased.

Soldiers who had joined along the way swallowed hard, scanning their surroundings.

Everyone was on edge, wary of further attacks.

And then, with the break of dawn,

Dong-! Dong-! Dong-!

A slow bell toll echoed from the city center.

It signaled the all-clear. The monsters had been vanquished. Cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Hooray!"

"We're alive!"

"Thank you, mercenaries! We're truly grateful!"

"You saved our lives!"

The civilians rushed to show their appreciation to the heroes and soldiers.

Junior accepted their gratitude with a bitter smile, unable to shake off the guilt she felt for the breach at the western gate.

'At least, in this area, it seems no further harm was done.'

Thanks to the desperate protection by the trio—Junior, Reina, and Camus—the civilians were all safe.

Under the soldiers' guidance, the citizens began to head home.

Relief brightened their faces at having survived, and watching them, Junior bit her lip.

Then,

Swish...

The sound of a blade cutting through the air.

Whoooosh-

The dry north wind resonated with magical energy, whirling fiercely.

And an icy, murderous intent settled like frost...

Sensing this, Junior turned around in alarm.

"?!"

What she saw stunned her.

In the alley, from which all civilians had departed and where morning light had yet to dispel the deep shadows, Reina and Camus stood, silently pointing their sword and magic at each other.

A flustered Junior quickly intervened.

"What the hell are you two doing?!"

"..."

"..."

"The fight's over! The monsters are gone! There's no need for this!"

But Junior's words fell on deaf ears. Both Reina and Camus kept their focus locked onto one another, coldly sharpening their intent to kill.

Junior couldn't comprehend it.

"We're humans! We faced monsters as a common enemy, as fellow humans!"

Only moments before, they had stood shoulder to shoulder, fighting off the monsters.

"We're on the same side! We understand each other!"

For the sake of the people, they had set aside past grudges and watched each other's backs.

"We are both human! Why are you trying to kill each other?! Why?!"

Yet now, they were back to trying to end each other's lives as if nothing had transpired.

Junior couldn't understand it. She tried to stop them, but then,

"Don't ask the obvious, kid."

Both had no intention of backing down.

Camus tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. Through his disheveled hair, vengeful eyes shimmered eerily.

"Why are we trying to kill each other?"

Aiming magic from her fingertips at Camus, Reina coldly spat, "Because we are human."

Whish!

In a flash, Camus charged. Reina calmly unleashed a wind bullet from her fingertips.

Camus grabbed Junior, who was trying to block the bullet with her body, and pushed her aside. Simultaneously, he cleaved through the incoming bullet with his sword and advanced.

Swish! Swish!

Slicing through the wind bullets with the edge of his blade, Camus reached right in front of Reina.

However, his current sword wasn't the Spell Cleaver he usually used. It was a regular sword, incapable of absorbing magic.

Clang!

As he arrived in front of Reina, the long sword that blocked the last wind bullet shattered into pieces, sending metal shards in all directions.

With empty hands extended, Camus smirked weakly, "...Always one step short at the end."

Bang!

A wind bullet shot from Reina's fingertips pierced through Camus's chest.

Coughing up blood as he fell, Camus took three more magic bullets from Reina without any mercy.

Without even a scream, Camus was thrown backward.

"Camus!"

Junior rushed over in panic.

With holes in his chest and stomach, and his eyes blankly staring into space, Camus whispered to Junior, "Don't forget."

"...?"

"Don't forget me."

With his bloody hand, Camus weakly grasped Junior's and with his last breath said, "Don't forget the Camila Kingdom."

Eyes glazed over, Camus breathed his last.

Amid the pool of blood, Junior stood in shock.

"..."

Quietly watching the scene, Reina slowly turned away.

She took out a cigarette and placed it in her mouth. However, she couldn't find her lighter.

"Damn."

Blood seeped through the bandage wrapped around her abdomen. The injury inflicted by Camus in their previous encounter hadn't fully healed.

"Hurts like hell..." 

With a dejected chuckle and chewing on the unlit cigarette, Reina staggered into the shadowy alley and vanished.

***

[STAGE 10 - CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP - Lucas(SSR)]

[Leveled-up Characters]

>Main Party

- Ash(EX) Lv.48 (↑1)

- Lucas(SSR) Lv.51 (↑1)

- Evangeline(SSR) Lv.51 (↑1)

- Jupiter Junior(SSR) Lv.57 (↑1)

- Damien(EX) Lv.51 (↑1)

>Sub Party 1

- Kuilan(SR) Lv.50 (↑1) (Eligible for 3rd class change!)

- Tuesday(R) Lv.43 (↑1)

- Wednesday(R) Lv.43 (↑1)

- Becky(R) Lv.43 (↑2)

- OnTheRock(R) Lv.41 (↑2)

>Sub Party 2

- GodHand(SR) Lv.45 (↑1)

- Bodybag(R) Lv.40 (↑1)

- Burnout(SR) Lv.39 (↑1)

>Others

- Lilly(R) Lv.32 (↑2)

- Margarita(R) Lv.36 (↑1)

[Deceased & Injured Characters]

- Camus(SR) : Deceased

- Evangeline(SSR) : Seriously Injured

- Damien(EX) : Minor Injury

[Deceased & Injured Captured Monsters]

- Kureha(SSR) : Deceased

- Tri-Colored Slime(R) : Deceased

[Aquired Items]

- Werewolf Legion Magic Stone: 274

- White Werewolf Magic Core(SR): 4

- Werewolf Legion Commander Magic Core(SSR): 1

[Stage clear rewards have been given. Please check your inventory.]

- SR Grade Reward Box: 2

- SSR Grade Reward Box: 1

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [STAGE 11: The Enemy of My Enemy]