Zich soon reached the Clowon Empire’s ruins. People from the Steelwall residence were stunned to see his return. Although they received news that the battle was turning in their favor, they hadn’t heard any crazy news such as a legendary dragon suddenly ransacking the battlefield, not to mention Zich leisurely coming back to the residence to check up on personal business matters after slaying it. That sort of information was what people would call the newsreader crazy for even saying.
Some were even worried that Zich had come back to relay the news of Steelwall’s loss. Yet, Zich shut them all up by showing them the permits he received from the Count and continued on his way. Although the Count also questioned Zich’s unexpected behavior, he didn’t have the heart to ask his son the reason for his actions right after he had slain a dragon.
Several soldiers were protecting the hole connected to the Clowon ruins. Zich passed them and went inside. He reached for the door that only opened if the person had Windur. Yet, this door slid open right in front of him this time. Perhaps, it was the key inside his finger, but Zich believed there could be another reason. It seemed as if somebody else had opened the door for him. When Zich entered the ruins, the door closed again and the ruins from the outside.
Since he had been to this place many times now, he moved quickly. Soon, he arrived at the location of the large crystal and ring surrounding it. The crystal was broken, and of course the dragon that used to be there wasn’t inside it. As he thought, the dragon was from this place. Zich stepped into the ring.
“You are here.” She had the same appearance as Lyla, but her attitude, aura, expression, and everything else were different. Zich pulled out his sword and placed it next to her neck.
“Is the dragon your doing?”
“Yes,” Serpina answered indifferently. Zich stared at Serpina for a bit and pulled back his sword. “Too bad for you. We crushed your final plan.”
“I thought so.” Serpina had already expected her loss when she saw that Zich had arrived in the ruins. Zich’s words only confirmed her thoughts.
“You guys won. Congratulations.”
“Surprisingly, you don’t seem to have any lingering sense of regret.”
“The dragon was my remaining sense of regret. I was planning to drag it on with the feeling if it won but I lost.”
“I suppose that means you won’t be doing anything useless from now on.”
“There is no ‘from now on’ for me,” Serpina said a bit bitterly. Yet, Zich didn’t care for her emotions at all.
“How surprising. I thought I would have to fight you as soon as I saw you.”
Serpina then said, “Zich Brave.”
Zich scowled. The being who Zich hated the most, even more than Glen, appeared in front of him. Brave raised his sword. It wasn’t because he felt hostile toward Zich; it was actually the opposite. He was sure that Zich would swing his sword at him as soon as they saw each other. Furthermore, Zich Brave wanted some revenge. Although the amount of mana they had was the same and their skills were equal, their previous battle outcome had been decided by the quality of their swords. Now, Lyla had Windur and Zich was holding an ordinary sword. In comparison, Zich Brave had Estellade. He could win this time for sure.
Of course, Zich Brave had no intention of fighting to the death. He just wanted to show Zich that he wasn’t weaker than him. However, unlike his usual self, Zich threw his head back and turned away from Serpina.
“Where is Lyla?” Zich asked.
“Follow me.” Serpina gestured to him with her finger.
“Huh?” As the two left, Zich Brave, who had been prepared to gain a bit of his pride back, was left alone.
“Hey, hey! Wait for me!” He quickly rushed to follow them. Then, he asked Zich, “What! Why are you acting so calm? Shouldn’t you be rushing at me to kill me like last time?”
“Why would I fight someone as soon as I see them? Do you think I’m some street thug?” Zich scoffed and Zich Brave wondered if he should be the one to try to kill Zich. Yet, unlike Glen, Zich Brave truly had the mind of a hero and fell into deep contemplation.
“…Damn it!” In the end, Zich Brave thought Zich was making a fool out of him and followed the two.
Serpina took Zich to Lyla. Inside the glass container, Lyla was sleeping with her eyes closed and gripping Windur. The edges of Zich’s eyebrows rose.
“Explain.”
As Zich requested, Serpina calmly explained everything that happened to Zich. He glanced at Brave from time to time while listening to her explanation to check the truthfulness of her words. Although he still looked peeved, Zich Brave nodded and confirmed that Serpina wasn’t lying.
“So that is what happened.” Serpina finished recounting what happened.
“Then why isn’t Lyla coming out of that stuffy container when everything is over?”
“In order to send the Key That Distorts Destiny to you and awaken all your dormant powers with the World Tree’s mana, she needed to do more than just approach the system normally. Thus, she went deeper into the system and fell asleep to the point that she became its core.”
“…Are you saying that she became the system’s core?”
“Yes.”
“Is she going to wake up by herself?”
“It’s impossible.”
Zich immediately pulled out his sword. If it was impossible for her to wake up on her own, he thought he could break the container from the outside. Yet, Brave stopped him.
“What are you doing?” Zich asked.
“I know what you are thinking, but don’t.”
“Why? Will I hurt her if I break this container?” Zich asked.
“Her physical body will be fine, but that’s it,” Brave said. In other words, Lyla would be affected in other ways besides physically. Zich looked at him, telling him to go on. Instead, Serpina explained this time.
“You must be aware that there’s a tremendous number of memories stored inside my body. Those memories play a very important role in the prosperity of the Clowon Empire, and naturally, the empire was aware of how dangerous it would be if those memories landed to the wrong hands. This was why even the rebels aimed for my memories too.”
Zich recalled the rebel experiment he had seen before.
“Thus, the empire placed an extra precaution on the system. If someone tries to take my body out of the system by force, my memories will be sealed. I won’t be able to remember them without the Brushel System. As a side effect, I will lose my self-identity.” Serpina stared at Lyla. “That’s how I became her. Due to the paradoxical nature of endless regressions, the World Tree was able to accumulate enough power to forcibly awaken her. As a result, her memories were sealed, and my character was completely erased from her body and was replaced by Lyla as you know her now. Of course, since she woke up due to the World Tree’s power, it seems like her memories haven’t been properly sealed.”
“…Then, that means if I destroy this glass…”
Serpina replied, “You’ll see the third version of me.”
The strength drained from Zich’s hands. “…Did Lyla know about this?”
“I roughly told her everything about the system. She must have had an inkling about it while she still had time to change her mind.” In other words, Lyla chose to be in that state on her own will.
Serpina said, “The body is still the same anyway, but all the memories are gone. If you guide her well, she may have a similar personality to Lyla.”
Zich said flatly, “That won’t be Lyla then.” Zich had thoroughly distinguished himself from Brave and he thought of Lyla and Serpina as completely different people. He could not claim that Lyla without her memories and self-identity was still the same person he used to know.
“What’s the solution?” Zich asked. “Don’t tell me there isn’t a way. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to fight with Zich Brave as a Demon Lord.”
Serpina had woken up after a long time and moved to rebuild the Clowon Empire. During this time, she had maintained her self-identity and acted as Serpina, not Lyla.
Serpina said, “As expected, you’re quick to catch on. Even though I wanted to see you troubled for a little longer.”
“I’m not in the mood to joke around, so spit it out quickly.”
“You must have grown very attached to her. You’re usually not so impatient.” It was only when Zich sharply glared at her that Serpina began to explain. “It’s simple. I told you that the memories automatically get sealed when I’m forced to awaken, right? Then it’s fine as long as no one forces her to wake up. In other words, if you wake her up through the formal procedures, it’ll be fine.”
“And how do you do that?”
“You can’t do it here. It’s only possible from the center of the Brushel System, where the World Tree is.”
Brave added, “It’s also where the mastermind stays most of the time.”
“That’s good. I was going to stick my sword into that bastard’s face anyway, so I can do that at the same time.”
Brave asked, “And also free the World Tree?”
“That’s a bonus.”
Of course, regardless of Zich’s priorities, the World Tree would collaborate with Zich as long as he could free it.
Serpina said, “You know where it is even without me telling you the location, right?”
“Of course.” A location appeared in Zich’s mind; it wasn't information that he already had in his head. “Is this Lyla’s knowledge?”
Serpina answered, “Since she became part of the Brushel System’s core again, she recovered all her sealed memories.” The vast knowledge and information from Clowon had all returned to Lyla. “Even though it’s only possible to see the memories through a special device inside the Brushel System’s main body, you are now connected to her through Windur and the Key That Distorts Destiny. So it’ll be possible for you two to exchange information.”
Zich placed his hand on the container that Lyla was in; she still had her eyes tightly shut. However, she definitely had sent the information that popped into his head Zich’s next goal was now set—he was going to crush the mastermind and secure the main body of the Brushel System. He’d also secure the World Tree.
“What are you two going to do now?” Zich said while looking at Serpina and Brave.
Brave answered, “Since my role is over, I should go.” The reason why Brave had appeared was to watch over Serpina; if she disappeared, there was no reason for him to stay any longer.
Zich asked Serpina, “What about you?”
“It’s the same for me.”
“Good to hear. I was worried that you might want to remain here and argue again for Clowon’s reconstruction.”
“My last desperate attempt failed. Staying any longer would be meaningless.” Serpina stared at the container that Lyla was in and turned her gaze back to Zich. “Pass this off to her. Try living your own life. I’ll be watching to see how well you live for someone who abandoned the great task of rebuilding the Clowon Empire.”
Since Serpina had been tying her body to this ruin with her unique mana control ability, as soon as she released her hold, her body returned to the mass consolation of mana.
Brave grumbled, “She really does whatever she wants.”
“What are you doing? You should quickly go too.”
“…You’re a really annoying guy too.”
“…You should be grateful that I’m not cracking your skull.”
“You want to have a rematch?” Brave had not given up his dream of revenge, but Zich waved his hand.
“I’m not in the mood so just go.”
“…Your affection for Lyla has really deepened.”
Zich didn’t answer. Brave smirked and said, “Well, it’s not surprising. When I also first got kicked out, I hated the whole world. I was able to heal thanks to my comrades, but that’s not the case for you, right?”
Rather than healing his pain, Zich had experienced all kinds of strenuous and treacherous events. “No one must have cared for you with such pure intentions like her or was willing to sacrifice themselves for you. If there was such a person, then I wouldn’t have become a Demon Lord.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Fine, I got it. I’ll leave. But one more thing.” Brave smiled and said, “As you are now, Estellade will also fit you well.”
Then he disappeared.