Level 0 Master

"What are you saying that you know?"

"What I want is victory. What I enjoy is victory."

The "I" he was talking about was himself and therefore Sungjin.

"I'll try to make myself the best. That's my life." He spoke as if Sungjin himself was speaking.

"That thirst won't go away even if you earn a country or a continent. Rather, it wouldn't have been enough."

"…" Sungjin didn't reply to the dark Sungjin. That was truly "himself."

"Your teammates' power? Can they use it better than you can? No way."

That was also what Sungjin had thought. That was what his brain had already analyzed. Even if they had the same power, the truth was that he could use his "teammates'" power better than they could.

That was why he earned the title of a commander of exchanging 'power' and 'skill'.

And the ascendance of his defeated allies' powers.

Even if they had the same power, it was a skill that suited him the most.

"So why did you abandon the chance to become stronger by taking care of those weak beings?"

"Don't look down on my teammates."

"Humiliation? That's only an analysis."

"Kuk."

"If you chose 'women' before 'strength,' I would have accepted that. It's a part of celebrating, taking women as your pleasure."

"My teammates are not the prize of my victories. Don't mock them!"

"Ha, things like women? What I really can't understand is…" The dark Sungjin aimed at Sungjin's throat. "That your actions are not truly your 'desire.' You have the same greed as I do. If you have the same greed, then why don't you get strength for the better good?"

"This isn't an act of a samaritan."

"Are you saying that you aren't lying when you say your true desire is not what you earn? You are me. I know what you really want."

"Don't talk without knowing anything!"

At his strong words, the dark Sungjin laughed. "To think you would lose your rationality at this kind of provocation. Seems like I was right."

"Kuk."

"If you were honest, we would have become one already. But you, who cannot be honest to yourself, cannot possibly be my opponent."

With that, the dark Sungjin pierced Sungjin's heart with his sword.

Kuk, d*mn it…

He didn't even have two swords.

Speed. Strength. Even the level was different. With those things, he could have fought even the most difficult of opponents. He could defeat others with his special brain and difference in specs, but against a person who had the same ability as him… the sword in his chest told him everything.

"Realize your place. Then I'll absorb you."

Sungjin hadn't attained the powers he could have gained. He did not sacrifice Ereka. He denied all opportunities to gain power. He protected his special ones. He protected others than himself.

That was why… the result was…

"You're weaker than I, who chose to be stronger."

The Dusk Bringer cut off Sungjin's head.

"The second fight has also ended in the victory of the Valhalla of darkness," the two crows of Odin announced.

"What is left is the last true fight. Everything begins from hereon."

"But the result has already been decided."

"The strong will win."

"The weak will fall."

"May a new god emerge from the merging of two souls."

And the two vanished into the skies.

Chapter 9

A second defeat. In such a situation, Sungjin gathered everyone for a meeting.

"Sungjin, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry I couldn't beat the enemy."

"Uu, Oppa."

"I was so scared."

"The enemy was… stronger than me."

"I'm sorry, Oppa. I was weak."

"No, don't apologize. This failure is my responsibility as your leader."

Sungjin drew the line. He made the choices. He led everyone. This was no one's fault but his. And that responsibility could only be fulfilled by his victory.

But how was he going to win? He had to become colder as the tasks became harder.

"As we are, we cannot beat the six devil lords, and I can't make you guys win, either."

If the enemy had been someone different, he could have come up with something, but the enemy was himself. If the opponent was himself who could read his movements, then he couldn't hope for such a miracle.

"Then how…" At Sungjin's analysis, everyone's face turned a shade darker, and they waited for Sungjin's next words.

The Sungjin they knew wasn't the type of person who would give up due to an obstacle. He would definitely have something to say about a possible solution.

And the answer Sungjin gave the excited girls was…

"Let's take a break."

"What?"

"We don't have to throw ourselves immediately into the next battle, do we?"

"That's true."

"We did make a capital, which we can enjoy after all."

Dining, sleeping, training. Their capital had everything necessary to fulfill those conditions, but telling them to rest was unexpected.

But Ereka soon nodded. "You're right. Sometimes resting is also necessary."

There was still time until their match.

Although a difficult question was left unsolved, resting their brains was a method to arrive at an answer.

* * *

Before their last chance, Sungjin's crew returned to their capital.

"Now, forget all about that battle and rest. That's the first thing you should do. Rest properly when it is time to be resting."

"Yes."

And Sungjin's teammates entered their resting phase.

Break.

Sungjin had said as such, but Ereka wondered what she should be doing.

What should I do? I thought there would only be fighting once we entered that realm.

She didn't know they would be taking a break.

What should she be doing?

A special training for Sungjin? No, then Sungjin wouldn't be able to take a break. Sungjin needs time to cool down and think again.

Then what she had to do was…

Fine. I'll try to make an appropriate dish for Sungjin to regain his calmness.

Ereka hummed as she made a feast for Sungjin. Although food could be made by simply asking for some, making it with her own hands was much more enjoyable.

Baking, steaming, frying, mixing. Several dishes began to come together by her hands.

Standing in the kitchen is definitely the best.

If she had not been born as royalty, she would have been a cook at this point, or, more realistically, she would have been receiving bride training.

What she wanted wasn't to be a successful restaurant owner but a cook for someone she loved.

Bride… training, ahh!

At the thought, Ereka's face turned red.

She had dreamed of it once. She was still dreaming of it. But could she achieve it? Or not?

Right now, they were before the greatest fight of all time.

If only the remaining year had been… But Sungjin won't consider that until he becomes an Arc Master, so never mind.

Would they win or not?

How would it be for this kind of day to continue until next year.

"The smell is good. Seems like you're cooking."

"Ah, Sungjin." Ereka was happy Sungjin had visited her room.

"You always liked cooking."

"Yes."

"You were deep in thought. What were you thinking about?"

"Were you watching since the beginning?"

"I was waiting for the right time to talk to you." Sungjin smiled.

"Oh, my…"

"Haha. Is there something you can't talk about?"

"No, just… I was hoping this kind of day would happen for the rest of the year."

"Even after several years?"

"Yes."

"That's nice."

"Hm? What?"

Sungjin smiled warmly at her. "This time you didn't think about sacrificing yourself."

"That…"

"Your heart for sacrificing yourself for everyone is admirable, but Ereka, if you're gone, everyone will be sad."

"Sungjin."

"Me, too."

"…"

"He said this: that I'm pretending to be nice. Ha, fine. I do have such a darkness inside me," Sungjin accepted cooly.

He liked fighting. He wanted competition. He admired strength. He was himself. But…

"But I could deny his words because my desire to save you was honest."

It was a really small difference. A small enough difference to separate the fate of the parallel worlds.

But his decision was to save others. That was why he could face Ereka.

"That's why you shouldn't think about victory through sacrifice. You should protect yourself."

"Okay."

"That's how you'll protect the people around you."

"Okay."

"Then should we eat?"

"Yes, I'll prepare it now." Ereka smiled brightly.

Cooking for Sungjin, eating with him—that was her best happiness.

* * *

Jenna placed a bunch of ingredients in her basket for Ereka. Sungjin helped carry it, since she was struggling.

"Are you trying to give it to her?"

"Ah! Yes, Oppa. Hehe." Jenna waved her tail as she twisted her body.

"You're trying really hard."

"Yes, I want to help Her Majesty."

"You really do like Ereka."

"Hehe. I don't wish for anything else but… I just want her to be happy."

"Yes. That is your greatest wish. Didn't you want to stop me?"

Jenna shook her tail as she opened her eyes wide. "No, how could I…"

"Just speak honestly."

Jenna finally released her innocent expression, and sighed like an old woman. "To be honest, it's too late now, but I wanted you to remain a Kaiser and live with her majesty for the rest of your life." Because Ereka would have been satisfied with that.

"I understand that you have a bigger dream, and that Her Majesty wishes to help you through it… But I simply want Her Majesty to be happy without such a grand purpose."

She lowered her head. "But I couldn't stop you because everyone was all for it, because everyone seemed to be talking about the greater world out there, while I wanted to be stuck in a small world."

But really, she just wanted everyone to be happy.

"I feel like I don't belong on this team. That's why I couldn't use my full strength against the demon lord and lost."

Sungjin patted her head. "There's no need to feel guilty about that."

"But…"

"Ruling the world. Well, that's my dream, but I don't think a person's wish to protect another person is any less greater."

"Really?" Jenna's eyes widened.

"Yes. I believe there are people who want to conquer the world all because of a precious other."

There were people who wanted to save the world just to save one person.

"I'd be really satisfied if Oppa and Her Majesty were happy. But do you think that's enough?"

"Of course. So let's help Ereka so that she can cook."

"Yes!" Jenna answered readily.

Sungjin smiled..