I Want To Save the Academy Time-Limited Madman

120 – 9. How to Win Against the Monster (48) – The Living and the Dead.

There was a person known as Seol-gwi.

No one knew his true identity, hidden behind a snow-white robe, but people feared and despised his power. The more people avoided him, the more rumors about him spread.

He was a crazy wizard who had lived for hundreds of years, a demon wearing a human mask. He was a demon king who controlled all creatures in the world with ease.

Most of what people said about him was nonsense.

But it wasn’t entirely nonsense.

A great war broke out.

As the war began, Seol-g Tartar started killing human strongmen one by one. The war situation quickly tilted to one side.

To kill him, the strongest warriors formed a team and challenged him several times, and finally, a knight was able to seal him away in a dungeon.

The name of the human hero who became a legend was engraved on a monument, and people were overjoyed. But the face of the person who achieved the feat was filled with deep despair.

If you read the name engraved on the monument, it was the eldest daughter of the Ludwig Persia family and the current captain of the Knights.

Hero Faberda.

She, who had lost all her comrades in the great battle, took her own life soon after.

Her last words, “Justice is just a worthless hypocrisy,” were not passed down. They were intentionally concealed.

After her death was known, the war ended.

The great human race regained peace.

.

Before departing on an expedition to rescue Vivian, Diarez met with the head of the Ludwig Persia family.

The man had a thick beard, brown hair styled with pomade, and was a typical middle-aged man.

“Long time no see. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Diarez, who was about to embark on an expedition to the 13th floor again, moved his heavy footsteps.

He sat down, ready to take a hit. From the Ludwig family head’s perspective, Diarez was the enemy who had killed his daughter. He was a man who deserved to be torn apart.

“Long time no see.”

He politely greeted Diarez, trying to recall his scarce memories. Finally, he remembered something about the family head.

“I heard rumors that you’re going to challenge the 13th floor again.”

He didn’t resent Diarez.

He didn’t hate Diarez either.

“I suppose it’s enough.”

He just looked at Diarez with a pitiful expression, his white hair fluttering, and continued to speak calmly.

Diarez was taken aback by the unexpected words.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“It’s exactly as I said. How many times have I said it? Vivian’s death wasn’t because of you, but… because of me.”

“…..”

The family head’s hand, which was holding a cup, trembled.

“I forced that little child to act and controlled her from a young age. I don’t dare say that I did it because I wanted her to be happy. I was a human being without parental qualifications.”

A high-quality teacup shook violently, and water droplets fell. Diarez wiped the table with a handkerchief.

“Such words… would sadden Chairman Vivian.”

No matter how hard he wiped, the water continued to fall.

“Yes. Vivian was a more delicate and kind child than anyone. This wretched person’s lamentations would also sadden her. But do you know?”

“…Yes?”

“I haven’t seen Vivian cry since she was a child.”

“…..”

“Can’t even show one desired expression, one emotion properly… Later, I’ll skillfully hide it. The author, Abi, controlled even that. It’s the same with the 13th floor.”

Gazhu clenched his fists so tightly that his blood vessels were visible, and continued speaking.

“I forced it. I told him to challenge himself. If he couldn’t, I told him to die there and come back. It really turned out that way.”

“….”

Dias didn’t say a word, just bowed his head.

“I’ll say it again. Bibi’s death was an unexpected accident. But the cause isn’t on you. It’s on me, who forced the challenge. So, please stop now. How many times do you want to repeat this futile cycle?”

The head of the Ludwig family, Gazhu, knelt down in front of the eldest son of the Haulan family.

“Do you know when my daughter was truly happy? It was when she was talking to you. If you die too, I… I won’t be able to face my daughter even in the afterlife.”

“….”

“It’s sad, but I can’t accept it, but Bibi is already dead. Don’t you know how meaningless it is for the living to cling to the dead? My daughter would want you to start a new life.”

“….”

The strong-willed Gazhu shed tears, pleading with Dias.

“As a man, I promise you. Don’t hold onto guilt towards my daughter, don’t be tied down, and live your own life.”

Gazhu was asking Dias.

To forget Bibian.

To not resent him.

To live a new life.

“Lord Gazhu.”

Dias responded to Gazhu’s request.

“As a man, I promise. This time, I will definitely save Bibian’s chairman.”

“…What did you hear my words as?! I’m not asking you to do this! Please…!”

Dias’s stubborn attitude annoyed Gazhu, who raised his voice.

He simply ignored it and opened his mouth.

“Then, please watch over me from the top of the Verdiya Mountains.”

After finishing his words, he added one more thing.

“And, please take good care of Luna. Luna is not a ‘dead person’, is she?”

“…..”

“Grieving for the dead is understandable, but if you prioritize that grief and neglect the living, who should be taken care of first, that’s truly absurd.”

Dias gazed at him strongly, as if pleading.

It meant that he shouldn’t grieve after death, but rather take care of things while he’s still alive.

“…I understand.”

“And, I don’t think Bibian senior is dead.”

“….”

Dias looked at Gazhu, who was gazing at him in wonder, and spoke with conviction.

“I will definitely wait. I won’t forget that I’m going to save her.”

After finishing his words, Dias bowed and left.

The remaining Gazhu looked at the empty space with a sense of despair.

The secret meeting had ended just like that.

Some time later, Dias’s final expedition began.

.

Those who watched the “monster” that appeared at the final stage were stunned.

“What is that red monster?! The expedition members were all knocked out in an instant!”

“No way… my stock, my livelihood for the past year…”

“If this continues… we’ll all be wiped out.”

[Diarse collapsed… bleeding profusely…]

[Ah…]

[It can’t end like this, really.]

[ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[I fought too desperately, and my heart hurts even more…]

[It can’t end with me dying, really.]

Rudolf Gajun watched the whole scene unfold.

He couldn’t hear what others were saying. It wasn’t a situation where he could listen.

The Dark Knight’s sword struck down Latina, Jena, and Kirsen in succession.

Diarse lost all consciousness after being stabbed in the abdomen from the very beginning.

The Dark Knight slowly approached the black-haired girl.

The girl stretched out her hand, calling out a familiar name in disbelief.

“…Vivian unnie?”

Rudolf Gajun trembled all over, calling out his child’s name in disbelief.

“Vivian…?”

The sister he thought was dead had become a monster, trying to kill him.

The child he longed for had become a monster, trying to kill his last remaining daughter.

Rudolf Gajun clasped his hands together, begging again and again.

Please save his daughter.

.

“What’s going on?”

I, who had lost consciousness after being stabbed by a sword, regained my senses, feeling someone poking at me.

[Finally, I’ve woken up. You stupid guy.]

The person wearing a snowy white robe continued to hit me.

“Who are you, hitting people like that?”

Before I could even finish speaking, a slap flew in.

It hurts so much. The slap is almost as strong as Pavelda’s or even stronger.

[You’re talking about safety? You’re the one who’s going to get me killed because of your carelessness.]

“Let’s talk, let’s talk. Like civilized people.”

The person wearing the robe let out a sigh, looking relieved.

[There’s no time, so I’ll hurry. You probably expected it, but this is your body, and you’re going to die soon.]

“That’s right.”

[That’s not right!! You’re going to die soon, you stupid kid!! I, who have been parasitizing your body, will also die with you!]

“I see.”

Another slap flew in.

It’s not a joke, it hurts.

[You can’t die until you take revenge on that b*stard. You absolutely can’t die. So, I’ll help you.]

“That sounds pleasant to my ears.”

The one wearing a robe was holding my hand without me noticing.

[Lend me your power for a moment. The monster in front of you is Behemoth, an ancient parasitic creature.]

“Go ahead.”

[Until we kill that parasite, I’ll make sure you can regenerate from any attack. Behemoth is also skilled at regenerating, but it’s no match for me.]

The one wearing a robe looked up with a smirk.

[Not only that, but I’ll also give you the power to counterattack against that monster. Although it’s a power that was originally stolen from you.]

“Good.”

A dramatic deal was made.

I asked the one wearing a robe, regaining my composure.

“What’s your name?”

He replied in a very small voice.

-Seolhwi.

I stood up again.

.

“Unnie…”

A black-haired girl sat down, her legs trembling.

The Red Knight slowly approached her.

Runa, who had been driven into a corner, sensed her final moment.

“…I’m sorry for being too late.”

The Red Knight swung his sword towards her neck.

The cold ice particles froze the Red Knight’s sword.

“It’s fortunate that you’re not late.”

Runa carefully opened her eyes.

The man who had been the subject of her resentment, the one she had wanted to kill, was now in front of her.

Now that she knew the whole truth, he just looked pitiful.

“Di…erus..?”

Her mentor stood up.

Diurus’s sword clashed with the Red Knight’s.

“Let’s go back now, Vivian.”

“No…way.”

The final battle to determine the true owner of the 13th floor had begun.