This Bastard is Too Competent Chapter 248 - The Hero's Rest

 

 

The Imperial City of Cantum was shrouded in darkness. Within its walls, people lay collapsed on the ground, groaning.

 

“Mother… That wasn’t meant for me…”

 

“Please come back. It was my fault…”

 

“I didn’t do it. I swear I didn’t…”

 

Each person was lost in a vision—fragments of painful memories, regrets, or despair they had long tried to forget. Tormented expressions twisted their faces.

 

And then—

 

Woooong! Flash!

 

At the heart of the Imperial City, where the Emperor resided, a massive light erupted, beginning to drive away the darkness. Bathed in its glow, the people slowly began to recover their senses. Then, they saw—

 

“That man… is that Prince Ian of Kaistein?”

 

“Yes, I’ve heard of him. Truly… he’s the one.”

 

It was Ian, holding aloft the royal sword, which shone with a radiant brilliance. The people stood speechless. He looked like a hero torn from the pages of legend—no, he was that hero.

 

Fwoooosh!

 

The dazzling light pouring from the sword cleansed the darkness from their hearts. Just witnessing it filled them with a warm, uplifting sensation. But that wasn’t the only miracle.

 

“Kyaaaagh!”

 

“Kieeeek!”

 

While the people felt relief, the grotesque monsters that had been reveling in their suffering let out screams—not merely of pain, but something more.

 

Fssshhh.

 

As the darkness receded, the monsters began to disintegrate into dust. The sword’s light rejected their very existence. One by one, all eyes turned to Ian, awe swelling in their hearts.

 

“Hahh… we’re a step too late.”

 

An old man stood at a distant vantage point, the Imperial City visible beyond. Behind him stood dozens of figures clad in black robes—these were the mages from the Magic Continent, summoned here with all his remaining strength. Yet, his expression was grim.

 

“The grand plan we spent hundreds of years building… has all come to nothing.”

 

Seeing his somber face, one of the robed men hurried toward him and bowed.

 

“Great Master… what’s happening?”

 

“It’s the Seven Virtues. They’re dispelling the power of the Seven Sins.”

 

“!”

 

The light surrounding Ian wasn’t merely the light of Faith. The old man raised a finger, pointing at the blinding pillar of light.

 

“Look. See those colors within the blinding pillar…?”

 

Within the radiant pillar that shone like the sun, other hues flickered—each representing a different Virtue Ian possessed

 

“Patience, of course. But even Humility and Compassion… He’s truly earned their trust.”

 

The old man clearly recognized the meaning of those lights. Yet, it wasn’t over.

 

Woooong! Flash!

 

Although others couldn’t sense it, only the old man felt it.

 

‘The other Virtues… they’ve awakened as well? Then… could he truly be the incarnation of him?’

 

The Seven Virtues, once scattered across the land, had now awakened—blazing with light, as if standing watch over the continent, protecting it. Yet, at the Great Master’s words, the faces of the black-robed men twisted with frustration.

 

“Then shouldn’t we move to assist Lord Leon?”

 

“Lord Leon? Since when was Leon above me in rank?”

 

“F-Forgive me! I didn’t mean to—”

 

“It’s fine. I’ve known all along that he was gathering forces behind my back. I simply chose to ignore it.”

 

“…”

 

In truth, he had been temporarily restrained by subordinates Leon had turned. Yet that betrayal alone wasn’t what filled the Great Master with disappointment.

 

“Leon’s reckless ambition might’ve meant something back when the Seven Sins could be united to merge the continents. But now… it’s all meaningless.”

 

“Why? If we eliminate the light—or rather, the one emitting it—wouldn’t that solve everything?”

 

“We can’t.”

 

“…What?”

 

The Great Master’s expression turned bitter.

 

“That may have worked before all Seven Virtues awakened. But now… it’s too late.”

 

“He’s just a brat. With our forces, we could take down not just him, but the entire Kingdom of Cantum.”

 

“Could we really?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

“Remember, the constraints of the First King aren’t just the Seven Virtues and the Seven Sins.”

 

There was an even greater guardian.

 

And at that very moment—

 

Wooooosh!

 

A massive shadow swept over the Great Master and the black-robed figures. No—so enormous that it blanketed the entire meadow where they stood. It was a dragon. The Great Master, who was no stranger to it, recognized it immediately.

 

“So… you came after all, Kanhelna.”

 

Woooosh!

 

Following her, several more dragons soared across the sky behind her. There was no doubt—they had come to fulfill the pact of the First King. The black-robed mages instantly recognized what this meant.

 

“Could it be… the legend? When all Seven Sins awaken to unite the two continents—there would be a being that watches over it all, burning everything in its path. Was that referring to that dragon?”

 

Long ago, a legend—almost like a prophecy—hovered over the Magic Continent. It seemed an absurd tale now, nearly delusional, but witnessing it before their eyes made it feel all the more real. 

 

The Great Master gave a slow nod.

 

“Exactly. She is the final guardian who maintains the constraints of the First King. She is the current Dragon Lord.”

 

“!”

 

The robed men trembled. Even from a distance, the dragons’ power was overwhelming, enough to instill fear deep in their bones. Still, some, driven by arrogance and malice, raised their voices in defiance.

 

“Even if it’s a dragon, it can’t withstand our combined power!”

 

“That’s right! We’ve even subjugated the Eastern Dragons. We’ve turned their kind into slaves. A few lizards like them won’t stop us—”

 

But then—

 

The Great Master instinctively raised his hand above his head.

 

Whooom!

 

A huge semi-circle materialized above them in an instant.

 

Crash!

 

An inferno of flames descended upon the man who had dared utter “lizard.” The firepower was so intense it seemed capable of melting the ground.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

With a single scream, the man was consumed. Even his bones were reduced to ash in an instant. Hovering above, the red dragon Kanhelna cast a piercing gaze at the Great Master.

 

[I am the one who upholds the constraints. This will be the only time I tolerate such insolence.]

 

The Great Master spoke, his voice hollow, heavy with resignation.

 

“You remained silent all this time… Why intervene now?”

 

Indeed, she had done nothing during the dragon hunts carried out by the mages. She had let her kin die without lifting a claw. It was clear she wouldn’t have acted unless it was Rio Banzaim—the only one capable of moving her. But the red dragon, Kanhelna, rebuked him with a firm voice.

 

[The only reason I remained silent was because I believed the release of the constraints would come by his will. But now that his successor has appeared—no more leniency will be granted.]

 

“Khmm…”

 

The Great Master clutched his head. He had never imagined Ian would even qualify as a successor to the First King.

 

‘Not just the First King’s helmet… he truly bears the qualifications as his heir. As expected… I should have captured him then.’

 

Just as he had foreseen in his visions—if he didn’t side with Ian over Leon, this was inevitable. But now, it was too late. As he stood in silent regret, other robed mages approached him.

 

“What should we do now?”

 

“Withdraw. Return to the shadows and wait for the right moment. We will rise again… when the time is right.”

 

“When will that be?”

 

“Not while that one is alive.”

 

“…”

 

He pointed toward the radiant figure in the distance—Ian. The black-robed mages gave the Great Master a silent bow and vanished into the dark, waiting for the day the continents might again be joined.

 

As the masked ones disappeared, others arrived—this time in bright robes, hurrying toward the Great Master.

 

“Your Holiness the Pope! Where are you?! Your Holiness!”

 

“You vanished without a word! Why did you come to Cantum?”

 

“Who were those people just now? Were you… kidnapped?!”

 

The Great Master—no, the man known as the Pope of the Holy Empire—chuckled and responded warmly,

 

“Hohoho… All is well. The darkness that once shrouded Cantum has been lifted. There will be no more trouble here.”

 

“Pardon? We’re just leaving like this?”

 

“We rushed here without rest, by your command!”

 

The paladins assigned to protect him couldn’t hide their confusion. Not only had he vanished without a word from the Holy Empire, he had left behind only a note instructing them to come to Cantum. No one understood his true intentions. But the Great Master—or, rather, the Pope of the Holy Empire—turned away without hesitation.

 

“There is no longer any need for our aid. Everything will unfold… according to His will.”

 

“Y-Your Holiness! Where are you going? Please wait!”

 

“Holy Knights! Escort His Holiness!”

 

As the desperate cries of the Holy Empire’s knights echoed behind him, the Pope slowly turned his head back. Those men had been meant to die here for the grand plan. But they would never know the truth in this lifetime. But the Pope didn’t turn back because of them.

 

In Cantum’s Imperial City, he cast a lingering, regretful look at Ian, still shining brightly.

 

“…Even now, I thought I had reached the end. And yet… I still haven’t been forgiven.”

 

With that, the Pope left Cantum and vanished from sight. All that remained in the city was the light.

 

*** 

 

Ian’s light continued to stretch endlessly—until it finally reached its limit.

 

Srrrk—

 

The glow slowly faded from the royal sword, and at the same time, Ian’s body began to sway forward.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

“My lord!”

 

Nathan and Galon rushed to his side. It was only natural—everyone instinctively gathered around Ian. His face was pale as he opened his mouth to speak.

 

“…The Emperor. What happened to His Majesty?”

 

“…”

 

Galon couldn’t bring himself to answer. The Emperor had exhausted all his strength fighting Leon and had ultimately met his end. The Sloth that had risen from his body had vanished somewhere. Ian, perhaps already sensing the truth, gave a faint, bitter smile.

 

“So… that’s how it ended.”

 

He had thought he had finally found an adult worthy of respect. Yet, Ian showed no visible grief.

 

“What was his end like?”

 

“He… remained the Emperor until the very end.”

 

Galon told the truth. The Emperor had died standing—his spirit burning with resolve until his final breath. Many in Cantum had wept at the sight. Even the Chief Eunuch and Sang, who had long held resentment toward him, were personally laying his body to rest. Ian nodded and spoke.

 

“If the Emperor fulfilled his duty… then I should do the same.”

 

He turned his gaze to Leon. Though Leon was on the verge of death—so far gone that he couldn’t be saved—Ian showed no mercy.

 

“Execute Leon. Display his head atop the imperial city. Announce that the Emperor himself carried out the sentence.”

 

“But that was your achievement, my lord—”

 

“No. This is enough. And after a week, retrieve Leon’s head and place it in a coffin. As a prince of Kaistein, he will be buried in his homeland. I trust Cantum will grant at least that much.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Now that Leon’s fate had been decided, only one matter remained. Ian cast a cold look at Leonic, who had done nothing as a prisoner.

 

“In the end, you chose to run until the very last moment, Leonic.”

 

“I… I just…”

 

“If you truly sought the throne, you should have accepted the responsibility that came with it. But now—you’ve forfeited your right.”

 

“…”

 

Leonic bit his lip. He had believed that staying silent and uninvolved would secure him the crown. But now, he was faced with the consequences of his cowardice. He shouted desperately,

 

“How was I supposed to know things would end like this?! I never imagined that you and Father would actually defeat them—”

 

“Silence! That is not a name you are worthy to speak! And that, more than anything, proves your unworthiness for the throne. Be ashamed—ashamed before your father and your people!”

 

“But I… I only…”

 

Leonic tried to argue, but he couldn’t finish. A woman approached him.

 

“Do not let this traitor speak another word. Imprison him immediately.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

 

It was the First Imperial Princess. Without hesitation, she gave the order, and the guards dragged Leonic away. Then, slowly, she knelt before Ian.

 

“Please, say no more. You look… utterly exhausted.”

 

“Will that be all right?”

 

“I, along with Lyn—no, the First Royal Princess—will handle everything from here. So now… you may rest.”

 

At her words, Ian offered a faint, weary smile. Then he closed his eyes.

 

“Then… just for a little while… I’ll rest. Just a little.”

 

He spoke no more. The aftermath of using such immense power had finally caught up with him. With his strength spent, Ian quietly slipped into unconsciousness.

 

Rustle.

 

Galon, Nathan, and several imperial soldiers carefully lifted his body. They raised his arms and legs with reverent care, ensuring they didn’t disturb him.

 

And then—

 

…

 

The Imperial City, after all the chaos and bloodshed, fell into a silence deeper than ever before. The Imperial Guards, soldiers, citizens—even the eunuchs—stood in stillness.

 

It was as if no one dared to disturb the hero’s rest.

 

Every gaze remained fixed on Ian, filled with awe, admiration, and gratitude.