Chapter 28: Epilogue– In the Black Cage

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Translator: Soafp

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“Well now, I really messed that up. A total failure—hahaha.”

In a place where lies were not permitted, the man who called himself “Kuro” muttered to himself.

Because the Demon King had been defeated earlier than expected, fate had changed drastically.

How exactly it would change… he could grasp it to a certain extent.

A man who would appear before him, having received direct training from a father who was supposed to have died, gaining strength beyond what he once had—

the “Sword God,” Erius.

Likewise, a girl who was meant to lose her parents to the Demon King's army instead grew up bathed in their love. Her innate kindness and purity never tainted, she matured from a young age into someone worthy of her skill—

the “Saint,” Lena.

Pulled along by the growth of those two, surpassing even his former self, and catching the attention of a man who stood outside the laws of the world, thus honing himself further—

the “Spear King,” Phalan.

A village of dragon worship that was meant to be lost.

With fate altered, and by overcoming the trial given by an ancient dragon, he would gain even greater power—
Nick of the “True Dragon Eye.”

And then—

“Hmmm. That really backfired completely.”

Even so, he felt not the slightest regret.

“Shiro… you misunderstand me just a little.”

Yes. Just a little.

It was true that Kuro enjoyed deceiving people, leading them astray, and setting them against one another.

But he liked it even more to see the strength of people who overcame those trials.

“That's why, Shiro, in a way, you and I are the same.”

Human potential.

Just how far does it go?

He wanted to see that.

Shiro's method was to make people aware of “skills,” symbols of their potential.

Kuro's method was to give people “trials” that they had the potential to overcome.

If things continued as they were, Kuro would certainly lose.

And it would be a decisive defeat unlike any before.

At this rate, Lena would raise her skill to a realm the saints of the past had never reached.

If she were to “seal” him, that effect would last until the end of the world itself.

“Ahh… that's why I have to think. I can't give up—I was taught that, after all.”

That's right.

To Kuro, standing alongside Lena as an arch-enemy, there was Erius.

This time, he had taught him something.

The importance of seeing things through to the very end.

“Alright then. I'll take a page from his book… and think, shall I? About how to turn things around from here.”

If things stayed this way, he would lose.

But even that despair was, to Kuro, a form of delight.

Footsteps echoing from a distant future.

They were the footsteps of five people who would one day bring him defeat.

As he listened to those approaching sounds, in that place where lies were forbidden,

Kuro once again remained alone, continuing to think about his next move.