Of course, handling the Ark faculty alone wouldn’t solve everything.
The people involved in the preliminary investigation, even if they were instructors teaching cadets, were just a fraction of the whole. Taking care of them wouldn’t erase all the powerhouses within the Empire.
Hadn’t troublesome figures like the Master-class Duke Bernogia, the “King of Fists”, and the Dragon Slayer, Lord Wignoron, remained?
“Isn’t it a bit overzealous of you to step up to handle the Ark’s leaders alone?”
Lucifer expressed some concern over Satan’s passionate ambition.
“Overzealous… One might see it that way. But the ones dispatched here are significant forces of the Empire. I understand worrying about the remaining Masters, but… they’re past their prime.”
Satan knew this as well.
If the continent’s Masters gathered, it would certainly be troublesome.
‘Yes… troublesome… But just that much.’
But who was he, after all?
As the Demon King of Wrath, one who had no equals except for Lucifer or Belphegor among the Demon Kings of Astelgia, he was undaunted.
Even if the current Masters were in their prime, he doubted he’d lose. At this point, was there any need for further words?
His plan to eliminate those who might hinder the future—yes, it could be called ambition.
However, Satan was confident in the plan’s success.
And that was why.
“As expected.”
He smiled as he looked upon the fallen, gravely wounded faculty members.
For those who had mastered mana, falling from a height was trivial, but being caught in a blast of dark magic as they fell was something else entirely.
The majority, who suffered directly from the pain of the fall, struggled to regain control over their bodies.
‘Though it’s a shame I couldn’t get rid of them all…’
Some had managed to minimize damage by setting up mana barriers even in that urgent situation.
But that didn’t warrant attention.
‘An old man and a red-haired woman. Apart from them, there’s nothing noteworthy.’
No need to fear a few more ants.
Those who would perish underfoot were nothing to Satan.
With that thought, Satan scanned the people before him with a mocking gaze, while Kyan grimaced.
‘Damn, why is he here…?’
He’d glimpsed the figure while falling off the cliff, hoping he was mistaken.
As much as having a Demon King appear suddenly was a problem, if this was truly Satan, then the ones here might as well be dead already.
‘There’s a grudge I haven’t yet resolved with him… But now isn’t the time for such thoughts.’
Although he harbored a grudge against Satan’s minions for killing his comrades and subordinates, he decided to focus on the present.
He wasn’t alone here, and he was at least in a stable condition. With experience in such chaotic situations, he felt responsible for guiding the others.
‘Yes… There’s only one thing I should do now.’
That was why he said:
“Haley… listen carefully.”
“Third Platoon Commander?”
“I’ll hold him off… You retreat with the injured faculty to the rear.”
He was ready to sacrifice himself to minimize losses. His words to Haley were almost self-sacrificial.
“W-what are you saying?!”
***
‘To stall for time while we move the wounded back…’
Haley couldn’t comprehend Kyan’s words. It was no different from saying he’d face a Demon King alone.
‘I know the Third Platoon Commander is strong… It’s no wonder that he’s not only entered the Royal Guard as a commoner but also achieved such merit there.’
Kyan was famous for clearing out a den of demons alone and had accomplished other remarkable feats. Even Duke Bernogia, whom she considered her mentor, never hesitated to praise Kyan.
‘If he had focused on swordsmanship, people would have ranked him as the Empire’s finest swordsman over Killain.’
Kyan, now the Third Platoon Commander, possessed a skill that even the Empire’s Masters recognized, and many believed he could have reached the level of a Master had he not ceased his training.
He was undoubtedly the strongest among those present.
Yes… Perhaps the best option was to let the strongest one hold off Satan and save as many as possible.
But… humans aren’t creatures who always follow logic alone.
Knowing what the outcome would be, Haley hesitated.
‘Not ‘might’ die… He will definitely die…’
In exchange for saving the professors, Kyan would surely lose his life.
No, at worst, they might all perish if he couldn’t save the faculty.
‘In that case…’
She began to think it would be better to join him and fight Satan together, looking for a chance to escape.
“Are you contemplating the worst-case scenario out of fear?”
“Third Platoon Commander…”
Kyan forced a smile as he looked at the hesitant Haley.
Facing Satan, he murmured without looking back.
“You might be afraid. You could be worried that trusting me—who makes grand promises I can’t keep—might lead to a plan gone awry.”
“No, I—”
“Don’t deny it. It’s been over two years since we served in the same platoon, even if only briefly.”
Kyan knew Haley well.
He wasn’t sure what exactly was in her mind, but she always tended to think negatively and was quick to give up.
Given her nature, it wasn’t surprising that she hesitated.
But there was a reason he entrusted her with this task.
“Apologizing… have you not done that yet?”
“What do you mean…?”
“You haven’t properly apologized to Ian yet. You haven’t even picked up the shattered relationship. Are you really going to end your life so empty?”
Kyan was the elder.
Though he hadn’t married, if he had at the right time and had children, he might have had a child around Ian’s age by now.
Had he married young like many commoners, he might have even had a daughter of Haley’s age.
With all the years he had lived and the experiences he gained, he understood the struggles buried in her heart.
“I saw you pondering even in the carriage. How should I apologize to Ian? As a mentor, is it right to approach him after misunderstanding him and committing a wrongdoing?”
The shattered bond between mentor and disciple—this unresolved issue loomed large.
Of course, he didn’t mean to pressure her into apologizing to Ian.
He knew he had no right to demand that of her.
But Kyan viewed it as a lingering regret.
An unfinished assignment. If that remained… wouldn’t it be too regretful to end your life?
That was the reason.
“If you truly want to die… at least make a proper atonement to that child before you go. It’s the duty of a mentor, no, of a human being.”
Kyan was convinced that Haley must not die.
He felt justified in sacrificing himself, as he was left with no family and only the desire to finish the fight against Satan.
Kyan slightly turned his head and spoke as he saw her flustered expression.
“Even if things go wrong, don’t be afraid. If the bond is already broken, it can be repaired. Hurry, go! I won’t last long against him.”
Having said all he could as an elder, Kyan shifted his gaze to Satan.
“… I will definitely come back.”
With the sound of her departing to carry the fallen away, he could finally smile.
Now, it would be just him and Satan.
“As a Demon King, it may be a consideration… but I’ll graciously accept it.”
“Think what you will. Even if you run away, I can just kill you and chase after you.”
“Is that so…? Well, I understand.”
In that moment, Kyan’s expression shifted.
The instructor, who had once appeared dejected, was long gone.
Only a knight emanating fierce killing intent remained.
Instinctively sensing the battle that was about to unfold, Kyan immediately infused his mana.
The mana surged rapidly, beginning to dominate the surroundings.
Boom!
Before long, a two-meter-tall pillar of earth began to rise beside Kyan.
“Even if I’m just an old man… it’s best not to underestimate me.”
The earthen pillar began to compress and soon morphed into a spear.
Earth Spear, Terralus.
He could manifest any weapon using the materials around him, and this was no exception.
As the spear, infused with the power of the earth, radiated light, Kyan readied his stance.
“I won’t fall easily.”
After losing all his subordinates to the demons and laying down all his honors, he had vowed never to use his full strength again.
But now, he was about to unleash everything he had once more.
