A Betrayed Master Will Not Return

23 – The Greatest Leader (18)

Thanks to the central Devil Hunters’ efforts, the demon crisis was barely resolved.

However,

The events that unfolded in Insomus left immense scars on many people.

Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of the Devil Hunters and the struggle of the choir, most of those who sought shelter in the church during the final moments were able to survive.

But even before the central Devil Hunters arrived, nearly half of the people in Insomus had already turned into demons or were killed by them.

The city was destroyed to the point where it could no longer function, and it would take at least several years to rebuild.

Although the Devil Hunters and the choir managed to defeat most of the fish demons, it was still equivalent to ending the lives of the original residents.

In the end, amidst the results that were too dismal to be called a victory,

The only thing the residents could do was to somehow take care of the corpses of the deceased and hold funerals.

“Sniff…Sniff….”

“Mother…”

“Sniff…Uhhhhh… My child… my child…”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Susan… I couldn’t protect you in the end… I’m truly sorry…”

The residents shed tears in sorrow for their lost loved ones.

Among them, the Devil Hunters, who were responsible for dealing with this incident, silently prayed for the deceased with a solemn expression on their faces.

And in front of them stood the girl…

Leona, shedding tears, looked down at the gravestone.

The gravestone of her deceased mother that came before,

And beside it, the only family she had left.

The gravestone of her father, Carlo.

Although he had betrayed them under the influence of demon blood,

Thanks to Gellert’s consideration, Carlo was officially known as a “Devil Hunter who bravely fought demons and died an honorable death.”

As he had shown his strength in defeating Dagon in his final moments, this was not an untrue story,

And since it was the inevitable result of the situation of being turned into a demon, there was no significant issue in upholding his honor.

Leona, an innocent child, only knew that her father had fought demons and died.

However,

For the current Leona, it didn’t really matter how her father died.

What was important was that she would never be able to see her father’s face again.

With this, she was completely left alone in this world.

“We made a promise… to go on a picnic together… we promised… but… how could you just leave like this…”

Leona, tears streaming down her face, sobbed in front of the tombstone.

Feeling the loneliness, despair, and even more intense sadness contained within her,

Jeanne, who was watching over her, quietly placed her hand on the child’s shoulder.

“Sob…sob… snivel… Dad… Dad…”

As the last barrier of remaining emotions crumbled, Leona burst into tears.

She clung to Jeanne’s embrace and started crying.

Jeanne, also shedding tears without saying a word, held her tightly,

In order to soothe her heart, which had experienced the same pain as hers.

Unlike herself, who had been left alone in the past to cry,

She hoped that this child could, even in the slightest way, alleviate the pain of this moment through her…

*

“Oh merciful Lady… please grant peace and rest to these unfortunate souls in the name of our Lord…”

The funeral service, led by the choir and Emily, stretched on longer than expected.

Gabriel, who had been watching from a step away, temporarily left the scene and headed towards the sea located west of the village.

The sea, unlike the tragedy that had just unfolded, was unbelievably peaceful.

It was a breathtaking landscape, illuminated by the warm morning sunlight.

And in front of him,

Gallad’s figure sitting alone on the breakwater could be seen.

“Is the funeral over?”

“Not yet. That child, Leone, has already fallen asleep, but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to end anytime soon.”

“Is that so…”

With those words, Gallad continued to gaze at the sea with a bitter expression.

Quietly sitting next to him,

Gabriel cautiously asked in a soft voice.

“Speaking of which, leader… what are your thoughts on that matter? Carlo’s last will… I mean.”

“Well… I’m not sure…”

Carlo entrusted Leone with his dying wish in his final moments.

Feeling sympathetic towards Gallad, who seemed to be contemplating about it, Gabriel spoke.

“If you’re thinking of finding a guardian for the child, I could help. Despite appearances, I have quite a few connections. If it’s the leader’s request, I can search for a suitable noble who meets the criteria.”

Though she was merely a low-ranking noble by name, Leone was undeniably of noble birth.

If one were to take her in as the daughter of a childless high-ranking noble, she could live a fairly comfortable life.

Thinking that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to incur a debt to the man before her through this matter,

Gabriel smiled lightly and showed a slightly restored expression.

However,

Instead of accepting it, Gallad began to contemplate even more seriously.

“Well… It’s not a bad choice either… But personally, I’m considering another method.”

“What… other way? What is that?”

Gabriel, who had determined that sending the child to a good home was the best option at this point.

However, at the words of the connected Gerald.

Unbeknownst to herself, her expression began to harden slightly.

*

“I’ll do it.”

Leone responded firmly to my question.

Seeing her unwavering determination, I asked once again with some concern.

“Are you really going to be okay? I’ve heard stories that you have quite a talent as a hunter, but the profession of Devil Hunter is…”

“I know it’s very dangerous. But it’s a profession that fights against the demons who killed my mom and dad, right? I want to do it to revenge both of them.”

“Hmm…”

Although I was in a position to advise, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat bewildered at her lack of hesitation.

“Indeed, at this point, it’s true that we need at least one more person with talent. And there’s also the promise with Carlo…”

Even though I couldn’t refuse the request of someone who was dying, it didn’t mean that I would handle it carelessly.

Of course, adoption was also a good option, but there was a slight discomfort in the fact that it would mean passing on my responsibility to someone else.

Moreover, on a personal level. It was also an undeniable fact that I had developed some affection for this child during the short time.

“Well… since Gerald also appeared as a mentor in the original work… it wouldn’t be bad to have one more disciple.”

Deciding like that,

As if captivated by intense vengeance,

I looked at Leone, who was shining with anticipation, with sparkling eyes and said.

“I understand. If you are prepared, accepting it would be the right answer. From today, you are my disciple.”

“Ah!”

Leo-ne, who had a bright smile on his lips in response to my words.

Seeing the ‘official disciple’ that I welcomed as the first after coming to this world,

I thought it would be good to simultaneously proceed with the plan I had already been considering.

‘Based on part 1, it is impossible to progress with a skill level of only 3 at this point. In this case, a short-term attribute course…’

As we had shown many regrets in the previous battle, the possibility of the Hell Gate opening for them was very high.

To fill that void,

I decided to immediately start working as soon as I returned to Eli’s mansion…

As a master and a leader, I decided to proceed with the ‘training’.

*

“Ah… Ahh…”

“Th-this… can’t be…”

The truth that is unfolding before our eyes.

At this very moment when we are confirming it.

Regret and desperation, emotions named after them, are erupting all at once in their hearts.

A feeling of despair so bleak that one would want to gouge their eyes deceived by lies,

And such a dismal feeling that one would want to rip off their arms that made the worst mistake.

Despite the fact that it is an indisputably clear fact,

It is such a horrifying fact that one would want to consider it as fake.

However,

At this moment of realization,

Everything had already become too late.

All situations were already over and done with.

The person, as a result of their heinous betrayal, was already dead.

And,

A dead person cannot come back.

Like that,

Caught in a belated despair and emotions of regret beyond that,

They…

Once the leaders of the northern Devil Hunters,

But due to consecutive failures, they had fallen to the status of ordinary Devil Hunters,

Fiona and Charlotte.

They started shedding tears mixed with repentance, looking at the documents in their hands.

“What… what have we done…”

“Sniff… sniff… Master… Gerard, Master…”