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It was dark.

That was Edgar’s first thought as he set foot in the colossal Bertus Family castle.

Even standing before this massive structure, all he could feel was that unsettling emotion, likely due to the atmosphere that seemed utterly alien to him.

Especially with the extravagant and beautiful garden outside, it only heightened that feeling.

Edgar suddenly thought it felt like he wasn’t just inside the castle, but rather entering the inner sanctum of Albrecht.

A dark and eerie interior, in stark contrast to the facade. Was that not the man’s true nature?

He absentmindedly recalled the feelings he had during his first encounter with Albrecht.

The first impression was “a man whose insides are a mystery.”

However, as the conversation dragged on, that discomfort only grew.

At the time, he had told Ariel that Albrecht was someone devoid of any feelings, but the emotions he had sensed were far more detailed than that.

To him, it seemed like nothing in the world reflected in Albrecht’s eyes.

Not stones, not ants, not even people. His gaze appeared to view everything in the world merely as equal entities.

That was what made Edgar feel the most wary.

“Maybe Minette’s words fit well in this context.”

Minette had given an evaluation on Albrecht, or rather, that man known as Mephisto, whom she had seen in the Mage Tower.

He neither hated nor cherished anything. A man who seemed devoid of affection, anger, sadness, or joy.

That sentiment was somewhat similar to how Edgar felt about Albrecht.

He appeared to regard everything in the world as insignificant.

Thus, he neither made an effort to show interest nor intentionally kept his distance.

Perhaps that was a kind of folly that could only exist due to his position as a watcher of the world.

Click clack. Click clack.

As Edgar mulled over his brief impressions of Albrecht, he moved towards his destination.

The sound of his footsteps echoed in the castle, which felt devoid of any presence, only fueling Edgar’s sense of tension.

It was like the calm before a storm.

“Has everyone really abandoned this place?”

Edgar extended his senses as much as possible, preparing for any potential ambush, but the castle was alarmingly still.

Or rather, it was as if there had never been anyone here at all, with not even a trace of someone having slipped away.

It felt as though he had stepped into a lonely, abandoned fortress on his own.

But just as if to tell him this was merely an illusion, something at the edge of his perception undeniably asserted its presence.

A massive surge of magical power emitted from the castle’s topmost level, signaling that his goal was up there.

“Is it calling me?”

Edgar smirked at the strange magical sensation he had felt multiple times before, slowly making his way forward.

In a situation where the enemy’s leader might vanish at any moment, his legs felt unusually slow to move.

Not because he wanted to hide or escape any longer, but because a dark figure was sending an invitation with blank words toward him.

Of course, Edgar was unaware of that reason.

At least, he believed that if Albrecht were truly the person he envisioned, he would try to preserve his life and engage in some form of scheming.

But why wasn’t he doing so? That was something he would have to ask the man himself to find out the truth.

“Hmm?”

As he climbed up the endlessly long castle staircase, before reaching the top level, a spiral staircase welcomed him anew.

He hadn’t expected there to be a room or a spacious area above, but Edgar decided to ascend, relying on the magical power of Albrecht that he could sense.

Unlike the plush carpet he had been stepping on until now, the cold metallic steps felt different.

With each careful step, he finally felt like he was arriving at the Bertus Family castle.

This sensation. The tension that only those who bet everything and faced off in battle could feel.

Edgar had first experienced something akin to this during his fight with Kelrag.

While what he felt from Kelrag at the time was pure bravado, the energy causing the hair on his skin to stand was the dense magical power that only the empire’s top magicians could emit. Just a difference of intensity.

Clank. Clank.

As he carefully stepped onto the iron platform, nearing the summit, his vision brightened with each step.

The dim light from the exit shone upon him like moonlight.

As he lifted his head to confront the scene before him, Edgar plunged into the deep sea that resided deep within his heart.

Thump. Thump.

The fast heartbeat slowed a bit, and his gaze sharpened.

It was his unique way of focusing.

Even Creed had praised how when he truly concentrated, it felt like his body became one with his sword, making him hesitant to approach.

“…….”

At last, a beam of light streaming from the exit dispersed in all directions.

His two feet had finally reached their destination.

As light reached his eyes, which had been wandering in darkness, he instinctively frowned.

In the space visible between the light, a massive hemispherical object stood.

It seemed to resemble a broken clock, or perhaps it felt like a depiction that cleaved the world in two.

“You’ve come.”

Below the mysterious hemisphere, Albrecht awaited Edgar, emitting a violet glow from his eyes.

The ominous magical power that had seemed a bit faint before now radiated clearly without hiding anything.

In that moment, Edgar truly felt he was finally facing the man named Albrecht.

Snap.

Edgar clenched his fist and concentrated to keep the enemy in sight, aware of the pressure on his skin revealing how powerful his opponent was.

He believed that losing sight of that existence for even a moment would lead to his defeat.

“Indeed, not being able to kill you will remain a thorn in my side. Regardless of how this battle unfolds.”

“Doesn’t that sound oddly accepting?”

“Interpretation is up to you. If that’s what makes it sound pleasant, feel free to take it as you will.”

Even in such a dire situation, Albrecht spoke with remarkable calmness.

Edgar had anticipated that he would either shout or unleash a growl upon seeing him, but he lowered his eyes in surprise and posed a question.

“Why didn’t you run away?”

“That’s a foolish question to ask an enemy. Shouldn’t you put your sword away?”

Albrecht’s hand moved slightly, as if to warn him, but Edgar remained silent and did not draw his sword.

Seeing his indifferent reaction, Albrecht clicked his tongue lightly and picked up a sphere from the table in front of him.

“…There was a prophecy that led me this far. I simply followed its meaning; it’s not particularly compelling.”

“Prophecy?”

“Yes. The affairs of the world are not merely observed by humans. There exists a destined future. I was the one chosen within it.”

Upon realizing that the prophecy was contained within the sphere, Edgar casually cast his eyes towards it.

He found some degree of acknowledgment there. Among the words he remembered from that distant world was ‘the celestial decree of the beastman.’

In other words, it meant to perform one’s duties as a human and wait for the will of the heavens.

While it seemed like a good phrase at first glance, interpreted differently, it also meant that whatever one did, the outcome was determined by the future decided by the heavens.

Yet, Albrecht was able to know the results in advance through that obvious cause-and-effect relationship.

To put it metaphorically, it was as if he could read the ending notes penned at the end of a book that he was supposed to read.

Thus, Albrecht had lived according to that prophecy and now, at the climax, was facing Edgar based on it.

“Then, did your life have no will of its own?”

“That’s a foolish thing to say. A prophecy is just a prophecy. It simply serves as a tool to remove obstacles on the path I must take, allowing me to walk freely. A wonderful tool I’ve used to discern the truths of magic.”

His answer seemed to imply how could one even ask such an obvious question, and Edgar narrowed his eyes.

“…So, what you’ve done until now is entirely your intent. Is that it?”

“Indeed. Why do you ask? Did you expect me to be some kind of foolish victim swept along by the prophecy, acting against my will?”

“I didn’t particularly expect that. I was just curious.”

Even if that were the case, he could not be a victim.

Bartheus, too, would be a victim while acting as a perpetrator, for no matter what reason one gave to the world, there would be no way to completely wash away the committed sins.

This was merely a process for Edgar to solidify his will to wield the sword.

To cut down those who remain human, and to slice away the monsters who have long since forsaken their humanity.

Among the two, the latter would feel overwhelmingly more comfortable.

Swish.

As the sword that emerged from the sheath made a clear sound in his hand, Albrecht voiced a low gasp and stood up.

A pure intent to fight. In his gaze, there wasn’t a hint of hesitation.

No matter how much one detests an enemy, it’s human nature to hesitate in striking someone.

In that regard, the man before him should be seen not just as a swordsman, but as a splendid sword itself.

“To understand the truth of magic, you sought to take the Symbol of Dominion as well?”

“Yes, everything was as per the prophecy. Although your existence made everything turn to dust. An outsider.”

“…As expected. I thought you’d notice.”

The truth that even Ariel, who had been with him almost his entire life, failed to grasp.

Even having uncovered that, Edgar remained largely unaffected.

After all, such a fact was futile at this point. He was Edgar Billhark, nothing more and nothing less.

“Having answered your question, allow me to ask you one final thing.”

“…Go ahead.”

“How did you persuade the Helbenior Family… or rather, in this case, Bartheus?”

It was a rather unexpected question that raised Edgar’s eyebrows.

He had anticipated Albrecht would inquire about how he had perceived his machinations.

Why was he curious about that at this point?

But he refrained from questioning.

It would be foolish to answer a question with another question.

Right now, just as he answered his words, he would merely convey the truth in exchange.

“I didn’t persuade him. That was entirely the will of His Majesty.”

“What a curious answer. That man must have wholly surrendered, yielding to the flow.”

At least that was Albrecht’s viewpoint.

Though Bartheus was indeed more rebellious compared to his predecessor, it was merely an action lacking even a struggle.

Rather, that rebellious demeanor seemed to strongly signify the feelings of surrender in Albrecht’s eyes.

A sort of self-hypnosis to tell oneself that they had not given up.

Hence, Edgar’s response would have been quite surprising to him.

“Foolishly. This is why you’ve ended up in this predicament.”

With that, Edgar boldly pointed his sword at Albrecht, snorting in defiance.

Then, he quietly gathered the magical power swirling around him, focusing it into one spot.

As the blue Aura Blade enveloped his sword and clear mana began swirling around him, the pressure he exuded matched that of Albrecht’s.

“Those you thought you had subdued have, in fact, not extinguished their will, which is why I’m here now.”

The chief of the Carvita Tribe, who had sought help while refusing to give up even in the depths of a curse. Kelrag.

The sage of the Mage Tower, who first tried to uncover Albrecht’s existence, and who was Minette’s lover—Karun.

The woman who found the clues, inheriting Karun’s will—Minette.

The man who wanted to meet his end as emperor, even if it meant losing his family—Bartheus.

Compared to them, Edgar’s will was insignificant, a mere flicker of a spark.

He was merely the firewood that had ignited their fading spirits.

And ultimately, he had become the being wielding the sword, inheriting that will.

“How dare you speak confidently in front of me.”

“I’m not so timid as to be scared of a ghost that is merely living out a miserable existence.”

Even as Albrecht’s magical power deepened, Edgar smiled.

He was likely a formidable foe unlike any he had faced before.

Yet for some reason, he felt no anxiety. Instead, what he envisioned was himself cutting down the enemy.

Was this what Albrecht had seen as prophecy? That thought suddenly flickered through his mind.