Chapter 1: The Absolute
“This concludes the final class.”
The book held in my hand closed.
[Love and Peace]
The author and the owner of this podium.
As soon as my voice ended, applause followed.
Clap clap clap―.
Standing on the podium carved from diamond, my gaze headed toward the source of the applause.
Balrog.
Dragon.
Mephisto.
Beings who possessed the strongest power on this vast continent called Alkarthus.
“The punishment given to you ends with this. You’ve suffered much for 10 years.”
Humans, Elves, and Demons.
The ringleaders who caused the endless war between the three races.
However, because they possessed power enough to be called gods, no one could disobey and had no choice but to worship them.
That is.
100 years ago.
Until I was summoned to this otherworld.
“Um, Master.”
One of the students sitting side by side raised a hand.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing else, but that promise…… You haven’t forgotten, right?”
At Balrog’s voice, the eyes of the Dragon and Mephisto sitting on both sides shook violently.
“What was it? Since 10 years have passed, my memory is hazy.”
As I asked back, a small scuffle broke out among the students.
“Hey, you crazy bastard!”
“Let’s definitely not mention that…….”
The Dragon hit Balrog’s side with an elbow, and Mephisto tried to cover Balrog’s mouth.
But despite their efforts…….
“You said you would give us a chance to fight when the last class ended!”
Balrog’s voice was conveyed to me.
“Master said handicap of using only one hand, or something like that.”
The promise that allowed them to endure 10 years.
In fact, not only Balrog but also the Dragon and Mephisto remembered this promise.
Because it was true that for the first few years, they endured while thinking only of this day.
The gazes of the Dragon and the Demon King, who couldn't stop Balrog, reached their master.
I stroked my chin and, perhaps recalling the memory, clapped my hands.
“Advantage……. Right, I did make such a promise?”
“Will you grant it?”
Balrog’s eyes sparkled.
“Of course.”
At my voice, Balrog raised both hands high into the sky.
“Woooo!”
How long had he waited for this moment.
The memories of 10 years were flashing by like a kaleidoscope.
From duck-walking the entire mountain range for being late, to being beaten with a switch made of Adamantium taking responsibility for the subordinates' fights.
Besides that, countless times of patience flashed through Balrog’s mind.
“You’re using only one hand?! N, no demonic energy either! No magic, no switch, uh, and also…….”
Perhaps finding Balrog, who was speaking ceaselessly as if excited, cute, I just smiled and nodded my head.
“Ah, seriously…… did he eat crow meat or something? Balrog, that idiot.”
Unlike Balrog, the Dragon was holding her throbbing head.
“But if he doesn't use demonic energy and uses only one hand, wouldn't it be worth a try?”
At Mephisto’s voice, the Dragon shook her head from side to side.
They are crazy bastards.
What on earth did they learn for 10 years.
Even if their brains are made only of muscles and war.
While sticking together like this every day.
Do they still not know?
The Dragon turned her head and looked at the master.
I came out of the podium to the clearing and snapped my fingers.
Snap!
Chains wrapped around my body behind the clear sound.
Chains that bound the whole body tightly leaving only the right arm out.
At the appearance tightened even to the legs, even the Dragon who was shaking her head made a surprised expression.
“Now, promises must be kept, right?”
Even though my whole body was bound, I was making a bright expression.
And Balrog, who was making a bright expression with a completely different meaning from mine, began to move.
“No going back on your words! Master!!”
A black spear that appeared tearing through the air.
Balrog grabbed it and stabbed me, his human master, just like that.
Boom!!
The clouds that were touching the mountain peak were being sliced away by the erupted demonic energy.
***
“…….”
The darkness that had settled gradually lifted.
And what was seen was.
“Do you have your senses now? You crazy muscle monster.”
The appearance of the Dragon was captured in Balrog’s eyes.
Not in her true form, but in the form of a human with blonde hair.
“What on earth is this…….”
It was strange.
If it’s a human form, isn’t it a face that should be below his knees?
But strangely, it was Balrog who was looking up at the Dragon’s face.
In an instant, the Dragon’s brow crumpled.
“Can’t you tell by looking? Wake up and get up, you stupid guy!”
The Dragon’s fist accurately hit Balrog’s glabella.
And with a short scream, Balrog raised his upper body.
“Why did you hit me! Old hag!”
“I hit you because you did something to deserve being hit. Augh! It’s frustrating.”
“What did I…….”
Balrog’s mouth, which was spitting out words, shut tight.
Because of the scene seen over the Dragon’s shoulder.
Mephisto bowing his head deeply.
And the appearance of the Master tapping the shoulder of such a Mephisto.
“…….”
Balrog recalled why he had closed his eyes.
And how he came to faint.
“M, Master!!”
Balrog pushed the Dragon away and ran to me.
“Oh, you woke up?”
“Yes, Master! Hahaha! Is Master’s body okay…….”
“Of course it’s okay.”
“That, that’s a relief. Hahaha! Kuh. It’s been a long time since we sparred together like this, as expected of our Master! I can’t handle you. Hahaha!”
Next to Balrog who was laughing awkwardly and twisting his body, the Dragon approached.
“Sparring my foot? You tried to kill him sincerely. Even taking out the Spear of Longinus.”
“What is this old hag saying? Kill, who kills? The Master? Me? Ey, is there any way Master would be defeated by a mere Spear of Longinus?”
“If you or I get stabbed properly by the Spear of Longinus, we die too, you know?”
“That’s true for you and me. Master is different! Master is a human!”
“…….”
“…….”
The Dragon’s eyes became a straight line.
Balrog avoided such a gaze from the Dragon and stared into the empty air.
The strongest spear.
Longinus.
A weapon that can even kill a god.
Of course, it could also kill a human.
“What are you saying, you stupid guy! It’s not because he’s human, but because he’s the Master that he didn't die! And Master is not just a human now…….”
“I know too! You old hag! Stop picking a fight!”
“What do you mean picking a fight! We almost all died because of you.”
“You also said until a few years ago that you were waiting only for this day!”
“Wh, when are you talking about! That is in the past! I told you last time too, even if he uses only one arm, we can absolutely never win!”
“I didn't even think about winning! Just one hit! I wanted to hit him with just one knuckle rap!”
As Balrog and the Dragon bickered.
Mephisto entered the middle and stopped the two.
They were fighting while revealing their emotions.
But a smile was formed on my lips as I contained that sight.
Balrog.
Dragon.
Mephisto.
Beings who had killed countless lives while being called Evil Gods for a long time that one couldn't even tell when it started.
Such beings were having a verbal argument.
They, who felt no emotion even if blood ran rampant just by passing by and a life disappeared.
Now.
“Has it taken 10 years…….”
My expression sank.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
At my small change of heart, a crack occurred in the loudly ringing verbal argument.
The students looked at the master’s mood and made awkward smiles.
Even so, when my expression didn't move…….
‘Master seems angry? Did we do something wrong again?’
‘We, implies us, but the fault is yours, idiot. What do we do if you even take out the Spear of Longinus!’
‘He didn't seem angry when he spoke to me. Is it because we argued amongst ourselves?’
The students were gauging the mood using telepathy.
He was a master whose insides they didn't know even normally, but the disciples thought they especially didn't know right now.
Even conversing via telepathy and thinking about it no matter how much, they couldn't understand the expression the master was making with his mouth closed.
“Um, Master…….”
As if pushed, Balrog opened his mouth representing the students.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to kill you sincerely. I really just wanted to try hitting you with one knuckle rap…….”
Pupils and voice trembling with anxiety.
It was an appearance that did not match at all with the past reputation of being called an Evil God.
“Master, I will educate Balrog well regarding this. Please calm your anger.”
“We won’t fight among ourselves either.”
The Dragon and Mephisto also chipped in and bowed their heads to me.
Even at such appearance of the disciples, I did not give any answer.
“…….”
In fact, it wasn't that I didn't speak, but it was correct that I couldn't.
Contrary to the disciples' worries, it wasn't because I felt bad, but rather the opposite.
I was unable to show any reaction because of the overwhelming heart.
Because if I opened my mouth, it felt like that overwhelming emotion would flow out and swallow me up.
Therefore, I maintained the silence for just a moment, just a moment more.
After a little time passed.
Eventually, a smile spread across the master’s face.
Many things that happened in the meantime flashed through my mind.
My black-brown eyes moved toward the disciples.
There were words I definitely had to say.
First, Balrog, who had reigned as the king of the volcanic zone.
“Balrog, don’t you ever act up saying you’ll explode a volcano again.”
“Don’t worry, Master. I will not go near a volcano ever again.”
The peerless beauty who toyed with kingdoms in human form, Dragon.
“Dragon, if you eat people of the kingdom one more time…….”
“I quit humans.”
The king of the underworld and the Lord of Hatred, Mephisto.
“You, don’t fight. If you fight, handle it yourself.”
“I will absolutely never fight again. If I fight, I’ll bite my tongue on the spot.”
As Balrog, Dragon, and Mephisto, called the Evil Gods of the otherworld, deeply engraved the teachings of one human.
They were rubbing their two hands together like flies.
Perhaps if people here saw the current spectacle, they wouldn't be able to close their mouths for about a day.
To think a human scolds a Dragon, presses Balrog, and rebukes a Devil.
“Right, although there were many things with you guys. As expected, the best thing I did after meeting you is…….”
Grin.
I held a smile full on my face looking at the disciples.
“Not killing you guys.”
Wind blew.
Light wind.
At the peak of the highest mountain in Alkarthus.
The wind named graduation blew at the ‘Nameless School’ I had set up.
Thud!!
Balrog, Dragon, and Mephisto’s knees touched the ground.
And then, they banged their foreheads on the cold floor.
They were those called the Gods of the otherworld since ancient times.
Perhaps they also didn't know.
That such a day would come.
“Thank you very much, Master!”
A smile different from before was formed on the face of Yoo jin receiving the disciples' bows.
An overly bright expression.
However, an emotion that couldn't be hidden was blooming in his eyes.
And just in time.
“Preparation is finished.”
With the appearance of the Archmage who was preparing the return, I could keep that emotion, which felt like it would burst, from being caught by the disciples.
“Then take care, kids.”
Behind the receding steps.
“We will miss you!”
“We won’t do bad things ever again!”
“This grace! We won’t forget it!”
Like that, I finished the last guidance in the otherworld.
And I, having achieved everything a human could achieve in the otherworld.
Now, it was time to go back.
Regret was full on the face of the Archmage sweeping up her long silver hair.
“Are you really going back?”
“I have to go back. Since I’ve been here for 100 years already. And I am not needed here anymore.”
That is right.
It is already 100 years.
Since she met this human named Yoo jin.
The human who appeared like a lie and saved her at the moment she was driven as a witch and being burned at the stake.
Even when they first met, he looked naive.
And his body was slender.
But now he had become a completely different person.
Is it unavoidable?
Because the 100 years he walked.
Was a hell that no human could survive.
The Archmage, who was recalling the past, asked me.
“Do you really have to go back?”
She tried not to hold on.
But the human heart really doesn't go as one thinks.
“I have to go back.”
An answer without even a worry returned.
“There is a promise. It was delayed for 100 years because I came here, but now I must keep it.”
“You mean the promise made in that place called Earth?”
“Exactly, it is a promise I made to myself when crossing over to here from Earth.”
It is an upright expression until the last moment.
It was like that from the start.
He was looking at another place.
A distant place that is not here.
That place where someone is.
That promise he couldn't keep, made in the place called Earth where he came from.
He never once turned his eyes away from there.
Therefore, the Archmage couldn't spit out the last words.
The heart adoring him.
She had pledged to confess at the last moment.
As expected.
She thought this man was too big of a man for her to hold onto.
Therefore, she wanted to confirm just this one thing lastly.
“What on earth is that promise? Is it that important? Enough to give up the gold, silver, treasures obtained here and the life of eternal youth obtained with Dragon’s blood?”
I threw my body onto the dimension transfer portal the Archmage made without hesitation.
And.
Grin.
“Of course. It is much more important than those things. This time, never from the student…….”
Pa-pat!
He left without leaving the most important words, nor the words of goodbye.
To Earth.