My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 260

Crunch, crack—!

The power of Gluttony devoured the void.

“H-How can this be…?”

“No way…”

Faces registered astonishment at the bizarre spectacle.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

Sian gasped, chest heaving.

Asura, unleashed with his evolved body, felt different.

The backlash, a constant issue, was absent.

However, that didn’t mean it was easily deployed.

Asura represented Sian’s most potent attack.

It couldn’t be used carelessly.

Therefore, it was a desperate gamble.

But it proved futile.

The unleashed power of Gluttony, the restored Demon Lord’s authority, exceeded Sian’s estimations.

Even the Arnize [ancient beings with immense power] couldn’t manage this force.

He now understood why the Arnize had to seal their abilities.

But he struggled.

The unleashed power and Asura were strikes imbued with Kyle’s very essence.

Even though Sian, not Kyle, delivered the blow.

Absorbing the power of that distant heart proved difficult.

Crack—!

Gulnheria continued to consume the nothingness.

And in doing so, seemed to lack the capacity to focus on anything else.

This created an ideal opportunity.

He had to eliminate her now.

Sian gripped the Sword of Annihilation tightly.

Channeling his remaining mana, he surged toward Gulnheria.

【Where do you think you’re going!】

Nurvia intercepted him.

The blooming, deep red magic saturated Sian’s vision crimson.

Sian poured mana into the Sword of Annihilation and unleashed it.

However, it detonated before reaching its target.

Again, Nurvia’s magic spread.

The expansive magic enveloped Sian.

“I’ll help!”

Aria’s cry echoed, and brilliant divine power dispersed Nurvia’s magic.

The absolute power to banish evil.

Aria had nearly died and returned, but her power remained significant.

【How annoying!】

Nurvia waved her hands rapidly.

Dozens of magic circles appeared in the air, unleashing tremendous magical energy.

He had to break through.

Sian gritted his teeth.

Now that Gulnheria was vulnerable.

He had to inflict meaningful damage before Gluttony’s power dissipated.

He wouldn’t dwell on the consequences.

Sian squeezed out every last drop of mana.

“All troops! Aid the Lord and attack!”

As if anticipating Sian’s thoughts, Lucas’s cry resonated across the battlefield.

And as expected, the soldiers charged without hesitation, even without a full explanation.

Kieeeeeeeek—!!

The hideous monsters blocked their path, endlessly multiplying.

Those who sought to break through clashed with those who sought to stop them.

The fighting intensified.

The beastmen watched the brutal scene, eyes wide with fear.

“T-This is… How can this be…?”

“Ah…”

The beastmen despaired.

A world of crimson magic allowed no escape.

Madness threatened to shatter their minds if they faltered for even a moment.

And then there was Karis.

The great chieftain of the beastmen, their most trusted leader.

But now… he was lost.

The proud chieftain had become a vessel of evil.

Even Karis couldn’t overcome that darkness.

The beastmen trembled with fear and despair.

And now.

“Keuhahaha…!”

The human, Sian, fared no better.

The raging red magic tore through the encroaching darkness.

Clang!

A deafening roar erupted as the Armor of Immortality shattered once more.

Nurvia’s magic seeped through the cracks.

Poohak!

With a sickening tear, bright red blood sprayed.

Fortunately, the Armor of Immortality had absorbed some of the blow.

Otherwise, it would have been fatal.

Sian scattered the Sword of Annihilation, shaking off Nurvia.

And as he prepared to launch himself at Gulnheria again.

【That was close.】

Gulnheria’s Gluttony finally subsided.

Smirk.

Gulnheria’s mouth twisted grotesquely.

The insatiable hunger from the abyss revealed itself.

…It’s over.

The same thought flashed through the minds of the watching beastmen.

The opponent was on a different level.

They lacked the confidence to confront her.

They had lost the will to fight.

They couldn’t even imagine victory.

The dimension of the Abyss fractured.

Fear warped reality.

Crack—!

Corruption stained the earth.

The sky’s purity was gradually consumed.

The magic of madness exploded.

There was no end to this chaotic madness.

Only pure, unadulterated evil.

Therefore, it was impossible to defeat that absolute evil.

However.

“Uwaaaaaaa!!”

Sian continued his charge towards Gulnheria.

Behind him, Aria unleashed divine power in support.

Lucas and Ruben’s soldiers and knights fought the monsters relentlessly.

No one lowered their weapon.

No one surrendered.

Why…?

The beastmen couldn’t comprehend it.

It was pointless. The battle was already lost.

But why didn’t they give up?

“The Lord hasn’t fallen! Everyone, don’t give up!!”

“Uwaaaaaaa!”

What was it about this human, Sian?

They couldn’t understand—.

Kieeeeeeeek—!!

A terrible scream pierced the air.

The monsters empowered by Gluttony attacked the beastmen.

None of the beastmen resisted.

Just then.

A woman with flowing silver hair blocked the monsters’ path.

“Luna…?”

The Dragonkin [humanoids with dragon-like features] lineage, now known as Diana.

Diana threw herself at the monsters threatening the beastmen.

Diana, Luna, didn’t hesitate to protect them.

She drew upon the power of the Dragonkin, panting.

“Why…? Why are you…?”

Her mind remained confused.

Diana had no reason to protect the beastmen.

They were the ones who had rejected and abandoned her.

The beastmen had committed an unforgivable sin against Diana.

They had remained bystanders.

So, even if they were left to die.

Even if they perished here.

No one would object, and there would be no justification for complaint.

It could be argued that this was the beastmen’s deserved fate.

But now…

“Leaving the beastmen was my choice.”

Diana’s voice echoed.

“Besides, I don’t only have bad memories here.”

Diana said nothing more.

Diana herself didn’t fully understand.

She didn’t know why she was protecting the beastmen now.

“……”

“……”

Therefore, the beastmen didn’t know either.

A battlefield filled with despair.

But a fight that continued.

They didn’t know the reason.

Perhaps that was why.

“Krrr…!”

One of the beastmen began to growl.

Starting with that growl, the beastmen began to act.

They bared their sharp teeth and claws.

They didn’t know why.

However, their bystander attitude transformed into fighting spirit, and an unstoppable momentum erupted.

“Fight! Don’t leave our fate in the hands of others anymore!!”

“Help the humans! Fight with them!”

Numerous beastmen with diverse characteristics charged forward like a wave.

#

[……]

Karze, observing the situation, was speechless.

It would be more accurate to say that he still couldn’t understand.

It was undeniable that everything was over.

There was no way to overcome this situation.

Two lords had unleashed their power.

Everyone would die here.

That was the only possible outcome.

An unchangeable future and a predetermined fate.

Therefore, this struggle only delayed death.

It only postponed the inevitable.

A result that wouldn’t change, no matter how hard they fought.

What meaning could there be in the process?

It’s meaningless.

But why?

Beyond his contemplation.

As if answering Karze’s question.

-It’s not meaningless.

Sian’s voice echoed.

#

Kwaaang!

The shockwave rattled his mind.

“Cough…!”

Finally, red blood splattered from Sian’s mouth.

The blood that rose to his throat continued to rise, no matter how hard he tried to swallow it.

“Keuhahaha…!”

His body lost balance and staggered.

Thud.

【Thousands of years ago, there were those who struggled to stop us.】

Gulnheria’s voice echoed.

【They were beings called the Arnize. Surprisingly, they succeeded in driving us out once.】

Gulnheria slowly stepped towards Sian.

With each step, a terrible evil pressed down on Sian.

【But, look at the scene now.】

Gulnheria stopped and surveyed the surroundings.

The world of madness loomed.

Within it, a desperate battle raged.

The beastmen had joined, but it made little difference.

【In the end, it was a meaningless endeavor.】

It was nothing more than a slight stalling tactic.

Gulnheria looked at Sian once more.

Demons are immortal beings who cannot die.

On the other hand, the Arnize [an ancient order dedicated to fighting demons] were mortal beings.

Mortal and immortal.

In the eternal battle, the outcome was obvious.

【Their faith crumbled into ashes over time, and the will they left behind was corrupted and faded.】

Gulnheria spread her hand as if to show off.

Noemi, the Arnize who was more noble than anyone else.

Karis, a descendant of such Noemi.

However, Karis was now nothing more than a terrible demon.

【In the end, the Arnize could not stop us.】

The Arnize were the ones who were defeated.

【Their will was futile and meaningless.】

Gulnheria grinned, tearing at both corners of her mouth.

Following her, Nurubia sneered.

Sian couldn’t say anything in response to their expressions.

Meaningless.

The word that signifies the absence of meaning.

Sian, too, had once been consumed by such thoughts.

In the past, Sian’s talent was truly terrible.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his talent was shattered beyond repair.

Therefore, effort was truly a painful thing for Sian.

Having never achieved anything, it was difficult to endure the painful process.

Others achieve something when they put in effort.

But Sian didn’t achieve anything even when he tried.

Even after enduring the painful time, he achieved nothing.

So effort was truly painful and agonizing for Sian.

Meaningless.

Effort was truly meaningless to Sian.

So, from some point on.

Sian didn’t even attempt or challenge anything.

Thinking that it wouldn’t work out anyway.

Thinking that he would be disappointed anyway.

Because he felt so pathetic and worthless at the end.

Sian finally gave up on effort.

He just breathed and lived like a doll.

The current situation was similar to Sian at that time.

Demons are immortal beings who do not die.

Therefore, the effort in this process is ultimately meaningless.

Let’s say we can stop it this time.

But it was only ‘this time’.

Demons will appear again over time.

If not in a hundred years, then in a thousand years.

If not in a thousand years, then in thousands of years.

They will continue to reappear repeatedly.

The end of that battle could be said to be decided.

It won’t work out anyway.

You’ll be disappointed anyway.

The current effort, the process, the will, is still meaningless.

Just as Sian was frustrated with his terrible talent.

A thousand years ago, the efforts of the Arnize were meaningless.

But why?

The Arnize didn’t give up.

They clearly knew that demons were immortal beings who did not die.

They knew that demons would reappear someday.

And they didn’t give up.

Rather, they created holy objects to prepare for it.

Sian gave up on things that wouldn’t work out even if he tried.

But the Arnize didn’t give up despite that.

They left their legacy for their descendants and prepared for the future.

After a thousand years, the Arnize all died and disappeared.

Only the will they left behind remains.

I may have failed.

It was what Kyle had said as if it were a hallucination.

Kyle also fails at things.

At first, it was an incomprehensible statement.

But now, facing an unchangeable fate.

Sian seemed to understand the meaning of those words.

Kyle had tried.

He found a way to change the unchanging fate and tried it.

And he failed in the end.

Even Kyle, the strongest Arnize, could not change this fate.

But it wasn’t meaningless.

I may have failed.

Kyle didn’t make it.

But the will he left behind still remains.

Kyle failed, but he didn’t give up.

He didn’t give up on this meaningless effort without certainty.

And that effort has continued to this day.

Kyle died and disappeared, but his efforts did not end.

The Scion of the Marquis family.

Sian, who was the dullest person in the world.

Sian, who lived like a doll, just breathing day by day.

A good-for-nothing who everyone shook their heads at, saying he would never change.

“It’s not meaningless.”

That Sian is now.

Standing in this place.

“I am the proof.”

【Nonsense.】

Gulnheria dismissed Sian’s words.

【Do you think you can create a different outcome?】

At the same time, the distant malice emanating from the two lords consumed Sian’s entire body.

Can I do it?

Well, it’ll probably be difficult.

The thoughts lead to negativity.

Nevertheless, Sian did not let go of the Sword of Annihilation.

#

[······!!!!!]

A great shock was etched on Karze’s face.

Sian seen beyond the space of contemplation.

But the being that Karze’s two eyes see now was somehow not Sian.

Over a thousand years.

Karze had watched countless beings, regardless of race.

And as always, beings strive to achieve their goals.

More wealth. A higher realm.

Or a slightly better world.

So many people strive to reach their goals.

And only a very small number of them reach that goal.

So-called talent.

Only those with innate talent reach their goals.

Everyone else experiences failure.

They quickly realize that it is meaningless and quickly compromise with themselves and give up.

But sometimes. Really sometimes.

About once every few hundred years, there was occasionally one person.

Someone who doesn’t compromise with their goals.

They didn’t give up.

It was something that couldn’t be done, and the fact that they couldn’t do it didn’t change.

But they devoted their lives and lifetimes to meaninglessness.

They were truly foolish and stupid people.

Life was a fleeting moment, and there were many things they could do.

There was no need to risk their lives on something that couldn’t be done.

In Karze’s eyes, it was a truly foolish thing.

Karze had seen such beings for a thousand years.

And at some point, suddenly.

A truly strange thought came to mind.

Ironically.

For some reason, it was those fools who changed the world.

The person who was thought to be nothing.

When he looked at it one day.

He was doing something that no one else could do.

In the end, he reaches that goal and changes the world.

And now, a foolish being was reflected in Karze’s memory.

Long ago, an absolute being who overwhelmed the world.

But in the end, he succumbed to the fate of mortality.

That being eventually met his death.

Also, after a long thousand years.

The Arnize disappeared at the end.

And those who would replace them did not appear.

So I thought they had succumbed.

Because the death of a being was like the end.

I thought they had succumbed to the fate of mortality.

But··· but···.

No.

-I am the proof.

He is here now.

What he saw was a completely different being.

Compared to then, he was an infinitely shabby and miserable descendant.

But Karze didn’t think so.

It didn’t look that way.

He is now fighting the demons again, transcending a thousand years.

The will and faith he left behind did not die and are alive here.

In the fate of mortality, a mortal continues the immortal legacy.

That legacy was passed down from generation to generation.

[They didn’t··· succumb.]

He didn’t succumb.

Kyle didn’t··· succumb.

One fact that Karze had is denied.

Everything derived from it is denied.

The Arnize did not succumb. The fight is not over.

They did not lose. Effort is not meaningless. Death is also not without meaning.

There is a valuable death.

The death that the Arnize created in pain.

Even if that death was meaningless, it didn’t matter.

Right here, right now.

There was someone fighting to make that death not meaningless.

This is how a mortal fights against an immortal fate.

Death is not the end.

Therefore, life is··· not meaningless.

‘I will break the chain of broken fate.’

A thousand years.

The values that have shaped Karze’s inertia.

‘Even if I can’t.’

Those values are all denied.

The long battle that began a thousand years ago.

And the battle that ended in defeat a thousand years ago.

No, that battle that I thought was a defeat.

That battle is still not over.

Even so, I’m still not sure.

The thought that it is impossible remains unchanged.

Mortal and immortal.

A battle to reverse fate.

‘The fate of cause and effect. It has always been an object of fear and awe. But if you understand the process, you can create the result.’

It’s impossible.

That is something only God can do.

But··· but···.

Why do I want to try it once?

The hope I see now.

A very faint hope.

A hope that I thought was meaningless, but maybe it has meaning.

I wanted to bet everything on that.

Karze is standing in front of the fate of death that will soon return to nature.

He was swallowed up by meaninglessness at the end of his life.

But if death is not the end of existence.

If all those things are not meaningless.

In the endless years.

The thousand-year-old dragon, soaked in inertia.

Kwareeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee─!!!

Finally, he raised his body.