Chapter 845
Episode 210: Memories of the Past – Murakan (4)
“The Lord has given an order!?”
“Yes. He said we’re to strike Elona Ziphl.”
Silderei’s eyes widened.
Ziphl was currently in turmoil, having rejected Elona and sparked internal conflict. Meanwhile, Runkandel had lost many of its forces, including the Ten Knights, but still maintained a strong unity.
Because of Ziphl’s recent refusal to surrender, the allied forces were burning with even greater resolve than before.
If Temar, with his former strength and presence, were to join the battle now, the tide could be turned in an instant.
“Diana, is it true? Has the Lord really gotten that much better?”
“Just three days… He said he can fight for three days. He plans to capture Elona within that time and end the war.”
It was Solderet who had granted Temar those three days—a precious gift forged through the combined power of himself, Olta the god of time, and Az Mil the god of eyes.
“…And after those three days?”
“The Lord will enter eternal rest. That’s why he hasn’t been in contact with the steward all this time. He’s with Solderet, preparing the Lord’s tomb.”
Temar’s death was still inevitable. Silderei felt the weight of that truth deeply, but even so, the situation was better than before—for both Runkandel and Temar.
“Murakan, did you hear? Even if it’s only for three days, the Lord will return to the man we once knew.”
“Ah.”
“So gather your strength while you can. It may be difficult to fight alongside him because of your heart, but we must witness the Lord’s final blaze.”
Murakan didn’t respond, only blinking his eyes.
From that day on, Temar’s last command spread throughout the Hupester front. Every knight prepared themselves for the final battle.
And then, something astonishing happened.
“Ho, the heart is really beating again? It can’t be the Holy King’s prayer… Looks like Solderet did something.”
The words came from the Witch of Eyes, the second Lady of the Secret Palace, who had come to check on Murakan.
“Is that true?”
“Probably. But unless you hear it directly from Solderet or Murakan, Diana, no one can say for sure. Or maybe Temar’s brief return to fight has triggered some self-regeneration. Either way, it’s good news. If he keeps recovering at this rate, he might even join the final battle.”
“Miracles have been happening one after another since the Lord began to move. Thank you for coming to check on us, Lady of the Secret Palace.”
“No need to thank me. I’m just as desperate as you to see Murakan fight. This is the only chance to capture Elona while Temar can still fight… If Murakan can join too, all the better.”
Since issuing the order, Temar had never appeared outside the Storm Fortress. Occasionally, the roars of a monstrous Temar breaking through barriers could be heard.
But Runkandel and the allies firmly believed he would appear on the day of the decisive battle.
That belief soon became reality.
November 20, 799.
The final battle between the Hupester Alliance and the Lutero Magic Federation began. Hupester deployed forces to every major magic tower, led by the Ten Knights, while Lutero countered with mages and dragons.
Naturally, the battlefield assigned to Temar was the Tower of Stories—the heart of Ziphl.
He looked up at the tower, completely intact, showing no trace of demonic or spectral corruption.
Only three from Hupester were stationed at the Tower of Stories: Temar, Diana, and Silderei. On Lutero’s side, only Elona Ziphl guarded the tower.
“Where is Murakan?”
“He couldn’t come, my Lord. The Lady of the Secret Palace said his heart has recovered enough to fight, but his mind is still troubled.”
“That’s to be expected. It would have been reassuring to have him here. Then all we can hope for is that he appears like a hero when we start to falter.”
“…Do you think we’ll lose? You’re stronger now than I’ve ever seen you, my Lord. But Elona is worn down from long torture and manipulation.”
“Still, Elona came alone to the Tower of Stories to fight for Ziphl. She’s not just a monster with raw power—she’s fueled by will and determination. It would be less worrying if she were stronger, honestly.”
“Hmph. I don’t understand. From Ziphl’s perspective, Elona is their greatest war hero. Why would she keep fighting us after all she’s been through?”
“That’s blind devotion for you. Aren’t you the same? You’ve lost more than you’ve gained since coming to Runkandel, yet here you are, standing with me against the enemy.”
“That’s true.”
“Before I go to the tomb, this is the only thing I can do for my family. Let’s settle this within three days.”
As Temar and the Ten Knights began their battle with Elona, other knights stationed in Lutero also launched their final fights.
It was a close match.
The early hours of the battle were neck and neck. Every magic tower, including the Tower of Stories, was locked in fierce combat.
For a full 24 hours, the battlefield never paused. Everyone fought with bloodshot eyes, desperate to kill.
Elona no longer displayed the same destructive power as before. Though her firepower still surpassed Temar and the Ten Knights, she was clearly weaker than before the internal strife.
The Tower of Stories also seemed unable to unleash the overwhelming power it once had when Temar and the knights were turned into phantoms. Ziphl’s forces, fearing Elona, had severed several connections between her and the tower.
“I’ve never seen that monster so exhausted. Maybe because she can’t fully draw on the tower’s power, she’s not like before.”
On the second day, Temar and the Ten Knights noticed Elona’s labored breathing.
The knights thought victory was within reach, but Temar saw something they couldn’t.
“The tower will activate soon…”
“Huh?”
“The Tower of Stories is slowly merging with Elona. This is unexpected. Murakan must be here. Silderei, tell the Lady of the Secret Palace to bring Murakan.”
“Understood!”
The Secret Palace had erected a barrier around the magic tower. The moment Temar and the Ten Knights dealt a fatal blow to Elona, the entire palace would enter a great sealing ritual.
Temar’s final role was to finish off the sealed Elona. Only Temar and Murakan could kill her once she was sealed.
“Now? If I go get Murakan now, the barrier will have a gap. And there’s no guarantee Murakan is even fit to fight.”
“The Lord is certain that without Murakan’s help, we will soon begin to lose.”
“Then there’s no choice. If we can’t end this here, our Secret Palace will be doomed too. I’ll call Mort. Let’s go.”
Murakan stared blankly out the window.
Even after Silderei and the Lady of the Secret Palace arrived at the Garden of Swords, Murakan didn’t even glance at them.
“Murakan, the Lord needs you.”
In truth, Murakan was completely unaware that Silderei and the Lady of the Secret Palace were beside him. He was awake but utterly disconnected from both his inner self and reality.
“Murakan, please. Snap out of it…!”
Seeing no response, Silderei recalled Temar’s words before they came to find him.
Even if Murakan can’t come, don’t blame or resent him. He’s already carried more than his share.
But Silderei couldn’t accept it.
What meaning did a miraculously recovered heart have if this was the result? Grabbing Murakan by the collar, he shouted.
“Get up! Are you really going to let the Lord’s final moments end so tragically? If you come with us, we can win. We can end this terrible war and return to peace…!”
“Stop it, Silderei. I think this is a dead end. The heart that’s attached isn’t enough to restore his old strength. Temar told me this himself. Maybe he just wanted to lean on Murakan. After all, he’s human too.”
“Murakan!”
“I… can’t… kill Temar.”
“You’re supposed to kill Elona, not the Lord!”
When Murakan finally spoke, he only repeated the same words.
In the end, they had no choice but to leave Murakan behind and return to the battlefield. Even after they left, Murakan kept muttering that he couldn’t kill Temar or their comrades anymore.
The promised three days passed.
The war ended in Runkandel’s defeat. Murakan remained abandoned in the Storm Fortress, unaware of the outcome. Lost in a long, dark isolation, he was utterly alone.
In December, on a day when a sharp, icy storm lashed the Storm Fortress, Murakan collapsed unconscious. The heart that had briefly beat again shattered inside his chest.
Those who had desperately hoped for Murakan’s participation in the final battle never knew.
In truth, Murakan had been struggling all along to break free from his inner turmoil.
He just needed more time—the time to overcome his grief, to return to reality, and to start again for those who had gone before.
The heart’s brief revival was, in fact, a sign that he had been consumed even deeper within himself.
The heart that had been forcibly attached was only hastening Murakan’s complete disappearance. Inside him, the desire to vanish clashed relentlessly with the will to rise again.
The fact that his heart had scattered once more meant his determination to return to his remaining comrades was stronger. Even if he couldn’t stand with them in their most desperate moments, even if he couldn’t fight right now.
“Hah… hah…”
Murakan opened his eyes again and stared up at the dark ceiling. Blurred by fever, he sensed someone approaching his bedside.
“Diana…?”
“Murakan, it’s all over now…”
She didn’t blame him—not because of Temar’s orders, but because she understood the situation he was in.
She and the others left behind would soon vanish from the world.
But Murakan knew he had to drag his battered body and spirit forward, to continue a lonely battle with no clear end in sight.
Because he was the kind of person who could do that.
“Fortunately, the lord’s final battle worked a miracle. It means we managed to avoid total destruction. We’ve decided to form an alliance with Ziphl.”
“Gasp, gasp.”
“Murakan, please forgive us for having no choice but to entrust all the future to you.”
“Don’t go, Diana…”
“I’ll come back. Soon, there will be talks with Ziphl. Rest now, Murakan.”