Episode 577
Chapter 149: Hailan’s Light, or (2)

He must have cried for at least an hour.

If it were up to him, Dante wanted to weep here until the very end of his life. He longed to disappear wrapped in that light—the same light that once felt like his grandfather’s smile, like his warm embrace.

If he truly had nothing left.

No family, no comrades who fought for the clan, no friends who had rushed to his side, no people to protect, no land to defend, and not even himself.

If all of that had truly vanished, Dante probably wouldn’t have gotten back up.

But some part of it remained.

And that part remained because his grandfather had sacrificed his life for it. He had given everything… everything.

“I can’t just collapse, even if I want to.”

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Dante turned to Jin.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting so long.”

It had been a month since they last met. Dante needed time, and Jin had been unconscious for over two weeks, receiving intensive healing.

Thanks to Ron’s protection during their escape, Jin hadn’t sustained further injuries, but the accumulated trauma was immense.

Today, Dante finally steeled his resolve. He would no longer drown in sorrow. That was why he had come here.

To say farewell to his grandfather—together with Jin. As Ron had said, it wasn’t a final goodbye, but a parting to move forward.

Now, Dante had to inherit the duty of protection that Ron had carried.

But Jin, in truth, was still unable to take that step. The heavy guilt, like a rusted iron weight, still pressed down on his heart.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Before Jin could speak, Dante interrupted.

At the war’s end, when Ron sent them both beyond the path of light, Dante had sensed a will in Ron that Jin hadn’t noticed.

“You bear no fault,” Ron had told them both. “Neither you nor I are to blame.”

Jin wasn’t the only one tormented by guilt. Dante himself struggled with the thought that he hadn’t protected a single thing, and that he had lost his grandfather because of it.

How many had died to save him? How much had been shattered?

“We did well enough. Maybe even as well as we possibly could.”

Like dry leaves catching fire, tears welled in Jin’s eyes. This time, Dante turned his head away, sparing Jin from seeing his tears.

“There’s only sorrow that can’t be helped. So it’s best to forget what never happened.”

Dante spoke as if he knew about Jin’s secret.

He had glimpsed it faintly through Ron’s will, just before Ron became light. Though he didn’t fully understand, he knew Jin’s guilt was tied to that secret.

And Ron, in his final moments, had conveyed this truth: neither Dante nor Jin bore any blame. Truly.

“When the time is right, reveal your secret. Just as Lord Veradin did.”

Another friend, absent from this place.

Both Jin and Dante felt gratitude toward him. They now knew that Veradin had sacrificed himself for his friends.

Thanks to a secret letter from Sandra.

(Dear Jin! Hello! I’m writing this letter to set up our next date! And also because I think you should know something.

You know how our entire clan stopped the Black Emperor’s assault? Our Radin played a big part in that.

I can’t say much, but he risked his life to help himself and his friends. Isn’t that admirable? He’s so amazing, I’m just bursting with pride!

Anyway, without Radin, this fight would have been much harder.

Congratulations on the victory. Our clan’s in mourning, but honestly, your happiness is what matters most.

Even though my brother almost died, and I nearly got beaten to death by Kadun for insisting we help Jin instead of just quelling the chaos, and Hedohan lectured me for days, and now I’m about to lose my mind over the restoration efforts.

Haha, don’t stress too much. It’s just a date, after all. You know what I mean, right? I’ll be waiting. — Your one and only, Sandra Ziphl)

Though the letter was a bit chaotic, it was enough to confirm their suspicions that Veradin was helping them.

“…By the way, are you really dating Sandra Ziphl? What about the Lady of the Secret Palace?”

“Only one of them needs to be talking nonsense, and that’s Sandra Ziphl, Dante.”

They both chuckled.

“I wish Lord Veradin were here too. People think I’d resent him for attacking the Black Emperor’s fortress, but that’s not true at all. He’s my friend, no matter where or when.”

Even if Veradin someday lost himself to mind control and became a monster who attacked him, Dante was ready not to hate him.

That was the kind of trust and loyalty he believed in. Despite all the pain and sorrow, he hadn’t become a vengeful spirit or lost his mind like in the first battle.

Dante Hailan’s strong, shining heart remained intact. Just as his grandfather had ultimately overcome the demon’s curse.

“Let’s find a chance to meet him soon.”

“You sound like you’re about to set off on a journey.”

“Yes, I will. To train.”

“When?”

“Not immediately. After I sort things out and take care of a few matters.”

Going to Lafrarosa to reach the 10th star was already planned, but the weakening of Ziphl and Runcandel worked especially in Jin’s favor.

‘There will surely be a truce, so the chances of my comrades being threatened while I’m away have greatly diminished.’

Even if the truce broke while he trained, the Balmur Alliance was now a force Runcandel couldn’t ignore.

It wasn’t entirely Runcandel’s power, but they were Jin’s people.

Jin had solidified his position as the next clan head through this ordeal, and once he became leader, the Balmur Alliance would become Runcandel’s strength.

Above all, with the great clans weakened, people were more precious than ever.

There was no reason not to maintain friendly relations with the Balmur Alliance, the Kingdom of Tikan, and the rising fifth power after Ziphl, Runcandel, the Empire, and Kinzello.

“How long do you think it will take?”

“Lord Thalaris said it wouldn’t be a long training, but we’ll see.”

“You’ll get stronger again.”

“Now it’s my turn to catch up to you.”

Dante shook his head.

“Not quite. Though my grandfather passed on his energy, it will take a long time before it becomes fully mine.”

“More importantly, what will you do?”

Jin asked about the Empire.

The imperial throne was vacant. The emperor hadn’t officially abdicated, but there was no chance he would rule again.

With the full truth revealed, public sentiment had plummeted. Ziphl hadn’t received the promised rewards, and both Runcandel and the Secret Palace had suffered serious damage from the emperor’s and Ziphl’s decisions.

Thus, despite the scarcity of talent, the great powers had little interest in the now-ruined Empire.

The Empire’s strongest warriors, including the legendary swordsman John Sina Peral, had mostly died in the war.

Moreover, taking control of the Empire was more trouble than it was worth. Which land had Gliek’s chaos contaminated the most? The one who swallowed the Empire had to bear the burden of purifying that tainted land.

“The emperor cannot be spared. Setting aside personal grudges and revenge, he inflicted irreparable damage on the Empire. And the throne—I will take it for now. I’ll place a puppet on it and act as regent.”

“Have you never considered just taking the throne yourself? If legitimacy is the issue…”

“Since the Empire’s founding, the royal family has never been loved more than the Hailans. Legitimacy and justification are more than enough.”

“Then why?”

Slowly, Dante drew his sword, Rashid.

“This sword was not made to rule. Rashid was forged to protect this land. Like my grandfather and ancestors before me, I will not forget my duty. Instead…”

He turned to Jin.

“When the Empire is back on track, I want you to ask Lord Casimir, king of the Balmur Alliance and the Kingdom of Tikan, to take the throne. When that time comes, I will step down as regent and return to being the Lord of the Black Emperor’s Fortress. This is the conclusion I have reached.”

“You mean that if Lord Casimir takes over the Empire you rebuilt, it’s basically my land now, Dante.”

“All the Empire’s people know you fought for us until the very end. And they know the Empire will need your strength going forward.”

Dante was sincere. He believed he couldn’t protect the Empire alone in the future.

“Amir Biment is already a lost cause, but the royal family still has other factions. We might negotiate with Ziphl again, or maybe Kinzello or Runcandel will take over. Even if not, once the contaminated lands are restored, the great powers will eye the Empire again. In this situation, who can I trust?”

Though it was emotionally difficult to imagine Jin taking what was rightfully his, Jin had no argument.

“You’re the only one. Veradin is around, but he’s always exposed to danger. So, though it’s shameless, I ask for your continued support.”

Jin clasped the hand Dante extended.

They were allies bound by shared pain and hope.

Then Dante pulled a bottle of liquor and three cups from his cloak. The bottle was intact, but all the cups were cracked or shattered.

Those cups had been Ron’s treasured ceramics.

They had been found by Dante himself, in the ruins of a broken shack beyond the Black Emperor Plains.

“As a child, my grandfather used to play with me in that shack. Miraculously, a few of the cups survived among the debris. I picked the ones in the best shape, repaired them, and brought them along. Along with the medicinal wine my grandfather loved.”

Pop…

Dante opened the bottle and gazed down at the earth beneath them.

The blackened soil where they sat was slowly regaining its original color.

Ron’s light was purifying the tainted lands of the Black Emperor’s domain.

Very slowly, painstakingly so.

But just like any path of righteousness, it would surely be cleansed completely one day.

One cup was placed before Ron’s light, one in Dante’s hand, and one for Jin.

Dante and Jin raised their cups toward Ron’s light.

“When this battle is over, I’ll share a drink with my dear grandson,” Jin recalled the words Ron had once said.

After slowly emptying their cups, the two rose from their seats. Before leaving, each drew their sword and etched these words beneath Ron’s light:

Black Emperor Ron Hiran.

Here, Hiran’s light—or the light of the world—was born.

“Goodbye, Grandfather.”

As Dante stepped away from the domain, a gentle smile, as soft as that light, graced his face.