Chapter 203: A Century in a Snap

Chapter 203: A Century in a Snap

Luk had imagined many ways for their final farewell.

But in the end, it turned out to be so simple.

Even though it was the last moment, he didn't wake Trella to share their feelings or say goodbye.

Because Trella looked so peaceful.

She lay on the bed, a portrait from Anri standing beside it. Her body was relaxed, her face rosy, and a smile lingered on her lips. Her breathing was weak but steady, showing no signs of pain.

Luk felt it was unnecessary to disturb her.

So he quietly watched her breathing grow weaker, her face gradually pale, and her life force slowly fade until he could no longer sense it at all.

Knowing he was an elf, Luk had already prepared himself mentally. From the Campbell Estate, he had deliberately avoided remembering the names of irrelevant people.

He ignored the maids, servants, and guests, trying not to form emotional connections with them.

He did a good job of it. Even for those whose names he remembered, he restrained himself from caring too much.

Lady Roine was an elder; he respected her but kept his distance. Uncle Arno was the butler, busy with daily chores. Lainis was his mother, but she was always carefree and oblivious.

His first connection to this world was Amir, his playmate, brother, and little frog. He had been a nuisance since Luk's infancy.

After Amir left, Luk immersed himself in magic, perhaps because this solitude made him yearn for someone by his side.

Trella was that someone, his lover, wife, and partner, his second connection to the world.

Just as annoying as Amir, but with higher efficiency, she knew his preferences and used every means to win him over, binding him for half a century.

Over the years, the people he knew passed away one by one, including these two connections, making Luk feel disconnected from the world.

A profound sense of emptiness overwhelmed him, causing an inexplicable weariness.

Perhaps elves were meant to be alone.

He thought to himself.

...

Three days later, Trella's funeral began.

Luk didn't invite anyone. He carried a suitcase and went alone to the site of their wedding.

The place was overgrown with weeds and had been abandoned for a long time, giving it a somewhat eerie feel. This was normal, after all, it had been over fifty years.

Luk took out his sandalwood wand and aimed it at the ground. With a surge of magic, the earth churned, and plants sprouted. In a few breaths, the place was completely renewed.

He didn't want to leave her body to decay, so he used fire magic to cremate her. He scattered most of the ashes in the flower fields and kept a small portion in a vial as a pendant.

After setting up a stone marker with her name, Luk cast a protective barrier around the site.

"I'll come back to see you."

After bidding farewell to Trella, Luk turned and left.

He pulled his cloak over his head, hiding his face in the shadows, and walked into Barum, weaving through the crowd until he stopped at the Campbell Estate's gate.

The place had changed so much he could barely recognize it. After a moment of contemplation, Luk gently knocked on the door.

The person who opened it was new and didn't recognize him.

"Who are you?"

"Give this letter to your master."

Luk handed over the envelope and took one last look at the estate before leaving without a backward glance.

The new butler gave the unknown visitor a curious glance, then closed the door. He cautiously inspected the envelope, confirming it was safe, before knocking on Anri's door.

"Come in."

"Master, there's a letter for you."

Anri, who was reviewing the city's recent activities, took the letter and opened it.

「All assets in the estate are gifted to you. No need to refuse.」

「The two statues in the master bedroom are the controls for the barrier magic, used to turn it on and off.」

「I'm leaving on business. Do not worry or try to contact me.」

Anri's expression grew complicated as he read the letter.

"Did the person who delivered the letter leave any other message?"

"No, he just said to give the letter to you and left."

Hearing this, Anri's eyes gradually moistened, and after a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh.

He understood that the uncle he had respected since childhood had left and would likely never return in his lifetime.

...

Time didn't stop for anyone's departure, and the world continued to function as usual.

Three years later, the guards at the Demon King's Castle found the gates wide open. Upon entering, they discovered the castle was empty, confirming the extinction of the demon race. This shocking news sent waves of shock through the world.

With the threat of external invasions gone and rapid development, the leaders of various nations began to grow restless. Friction arose between the Central Nations and the Southern Nations over border disputes.

Initially, everyone assumed it would be a minor conflict that would quickly dissipate.

However, as time passed, the friction rapidly escalated into conflict and then into full-scale war, with the scale of the conflict growing larger and larger.

Ten years later, the Southern Nations began to show signs of decline but refused to cease hostilities. Instead, they increased their military efforts, extending the war to Balum. Led by the Campbell family, all of Balum's forces joined the conflict.

To turn the tide, the Southern Nations were the first to recruit adventurers into the battle.

Adventurer teams, which had gradually faded into obscurity due to the peace treaty and the fall of the demon race, were reinvigorated. A significant number joined the military, becoming elite soldiers, using weapons originally meant for demons against their own kind.

The formidable strength of the adventurers far outmatched that of the regular army. Their powerful combat skills quickly closed the gap and even began to push back the enemy.

Twenty years later, with the Central Nations suffering continuous defeats, they were forced to make the same choice and began recruiting adventurers as well.

As the capital of the Central Nations, the royal city was the starting point for all adventurers. This move instantly turned the tide, and the Southern Nations were swiftly defeated, forced to sign a treaty and pay reparations.

Taking advantage of the weakened state of both the Central and Southern Nations, the Northern Nations launched a new war, striking suddenly. The Central and Southern Nations united to counter the Northern threat, and the three sides were locked in a prolonged stalemate.

Thirty years later, a dwarven warrior named Aze, whose village had been destroyed by the war, became a prominent figure on the battlefield. His body, impervious to sword cuts, axe blows, and even falls from great heights, and his strength to lift massive boulders with ease, earned him the title of "Strongest Warrior" among the adventurers.

Fifty years later, the war began to subside, but countless villages and towns were destroyed, leaving the populace in dire straits. Each nation began to rebuild and enter a period of rapid stabilization and development.

Eighty years later, the gates of the Demon King's Castle in the Eder region suddenly closed, and no one knew what was happening inside. With no demons appearing, the event caused a brief stir but then subsided.

One hundred and twenty-eight years later, the war erupted again, on a scale even larger than before. The three-way conflict intensified, resulting in countless deaths and a land drenched in blood and piled with corpses. Society was on the brink of collapse.

In a critical moment, an adventurer from the Southern Nations emerged, turning the tide and suppressing the armies of all nations. He mediated the conflicts, prohibiting meaningless struggles, and brought peace to the world, earning the title of "Hero of the South" among the adventurers.

At the same time, the Northern Nations discovered traces of the demon race, which they believed had been extinct. Although not fully revived, high-ranking demons had begun to appear.

This news united humanity once again, and a new era of peace began.

The old Magic Association, which had suffered heavy losses during the war, was forced to dissolve after a few years. A new Magic Association, named after "Luk, the Father of Classical Magic," was born.

They embraced the philosophy of "bold hypotheses and careful verification," dedicated to creating new spells and improving outdated ones, bringing magic to every household.

Due to the war, a large number of orphans were left homeless. Orphanages were established in various regions to care for the abandoned and war-orphans.

In one such orphanage, a caregiver lovingly picked up a newborn baby.

"Poor thing, it seems both of the child's parents died in the war."

Another caregiver, hearing this, placed the baby she was holding on the bed and began to pray to the goddess for the newborn.

"Poor child, may the goddess protect you."

After finishing the prayer, the caregiver, who was a follower of the goddess, asked, "Does this child have a name?"

"Not yet."

The caregiver looked at the baby's blue hair and bright blue eyes. "How about we name him Simmel (Sky)?"

"That's a wonderful name."

The goddess-follower caregiver looked a bit puzzled, "I haven't decided on a name for this one yet. The holy scriptures say we shouldn't name children without their consent."

"Ah, let me name this one too. But does the holy scripture really say that? My family's version doesn't mention it."

The goddess-follower caregiver looked at him strangely, "Yours must be an ancient version from two hundred years ago. That rule has been around for a very long time."

"Since I'm not a devoted follower of the goddess..." the caregiver laughed awkwardly, "let's think of a name for this child. How about Heta (Cheerful)?"

"I heard Baruk is a nice name too." The goddess-follower caregiver clasped her hands in prayer again, "I hope this child isn't too gloomy in the future."

"He probably won't be."

The caregiver looked at the babies being placed in their cribs, remembering the war and the countless lives lost, and answered firmly.

"They are the new hope."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end