"I can't believe it. He annihilated our entire battle unit. Does the Empire breed monsters in human form?"

This might have been said in a friendly way to taunt a former Empire resident, but the effects of Decimus might and valor and its overwhelming tenacity affected Keith's life quite fiercely.

After a succession of massive victories in the first Geneva border war against the Empire, just because Decimus alone entered the battlefield changed the course of victory, causing the Kingdom to lose a large amount of resources and huge damage to their military.

"No, that thing was someone I was friends with, but that ended up with me running for my dear life."

However, the monster Stella referred to as a monster in a human mask was not someone who would have any reason to bear hostility towards her except a raging urge to kill and destroy, which is a common trait in something known as a monster.

Decimus and Keith had a reasonable intent to clash with one another; the very might of their nations was on the line.

Fighting and killing there had a reason for protection. Fighting and killing there had a reason for conviction. Fighting and killing there had a reason for provision.

"Argh, I told you I would rather avoid this topic."

"Say, can you kill that monster as of now? If you were to meet it,"

"I can't tell, but she might lose an arm or a limb at the very least, but I would die in conclusion."

As Stella would recall her memories about

During her days in the Empire, a nauseating feeling started to churn up acidic liquids inside her stomach, as her breathing would lose its initial cadence.

"Please, can you talk about something else, like what about the Dara-gun or something you were saying before?"

Realizing the difference in her tone

"Sorry, sorry, then."

Even after Stella's consistent denial of mentioning her past, Keith, though his intentions didn't bear such malice towards her, unknowingly stirred up this topic, which caused Stella to feel uncomfortable. Keith retracted his intent to know about her circumstances.

Since it was due to his actions that unintentional harm was done, to distract her, Keith recalls the story that he was initially about to mention.

Putting the big Compass device inside his Dimension ring, which had a plain metal coating without a gem or gold adorning it,

But from its center, a small orb of purple hue would glow dimly, and the hole of the ring would then shrink the object being thrust inside it.

Its functionality is similar to that of a bag, except for the size of the ring and its ability to shrink and suck larger objects as they get engulfed in the dark purple small orb.

This device held an important role in this journey, with consistent changes in the topography of the labyrinthine forest, as carrying the luggage and necessary resources would surely be difficult without the use of a small ring that could hide a large number of resources without causing the need to carry them by hand or by other conventional means.

A person can put about half a tonne of kilos worth of objects inside this other-dimensional storage ring.

Keith continues-

"It's a saying from the historical period when people had more leeway and more brutal use of magic. In those times, many races used to fight one another to be at the pinnacle of magical advancement.

"Calling that period a historical era is only because this is supposed to have happened around six hundred years ago, as the magical advancement at that time was more developed than ours."

"Among all those races and creatures, one creature prevails over all; its might and magical prowess transcend even those of humans or similar races."

"That being named Black World Dragon, general people would refer to it as the Great Dragon of Dark. One day the Great Dragon presented himself to the world, though this part confuses me as to how one dragon can make himself appear to the whole world."

"Because the narration uses specific words that indicate that:

This being was capable of appearing before everyone and everywhere at the same time, just as the sun or moon can do so."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Hmm, interesting. Maybe it can use some sort of magical skill to do so; as mentioned, 'he prevails all'."

Said Stella as Keith continued his narration.

"That might be the case; thinking does help, doesn't it?"

"Please continue; don't hang me on this. We are about to reach the end of Thanato Garden or whatnot."

In front of Keith and Stella, the change in topography became evident. The lush flower bed met its end, and the thick forest of gigantic towering trees came into view.

"So impatient, the Black Dragon cursed whole the world as he made his appearance; the effects of his curse were ever so serious that it made several races go extinct; it brought droughts; it brought floods; in conclusion, it brought the wrath of nature."

"The tyranny of this curse made a huge impact on the lives of people, and they had no way of finding any solution to this affliction."

"Calls for solutions and prayers went unheard until someone appeared. A ray of light appeared in the world that was consumed by the darkness afflicted by the tyrannical dragon."

"This person was hailed as the hero of that time; after years of struggle, the hero finally defeated the evil dragon by his own hands, but as a result of his victory against the tyrant World Dragon, he sacrificed his own life for the sake of mankind."

"---How was it?"

"That was an amazing story; it fills me with admiration for the hero," Stella responded.

"Do you know the name of that hero?"

Keith questions as if expecting the magic sentences that follow after this category of question.

"What was his name?"

Said Stella the follow-up magic sentence.

"His name was Aether."

"-----??"

As the realization dawned upon her, her eyes widened at the realization of those words.

"Yes, that's what His Majesty mentioned."

Keith conforms to her understanding.

"But didn't you say you were not interested in history and all that?"

When a similar story was brought up by the very king of the kingdom, Keith denied learning about the incident at the time; his understanding of the story of the dragon and the hero contradicts his rude reply to his majesty.

"No, you are wrong here. What that fat bastard was yapping about was completely different than this one, and it was boring."

"Didn't his majesty mention the history of Hero Aether and all? How is that any different?"

Keith's saying of 'not interested in all that history' was something that did not make sense to Stella, so she inquired.

"The difference is in narration or more, and I made that statement only to make that fat bastard feel some pressure this was not the first time the king tolerated my behavior,"

It could be that Keith's dislike for the king made him rude or ill-mannered so much so that he would deny his liking for hobbies in the same subject if that fat bastard were to be found to be similar to or the same as him.

"That's ---- correct, but maybe you are a rude person."

"I'm not, but I'm interested in the reality of things, not some made-up shit by that fat bastard."

"Master Aether's sanctuary, the Lord's labyrinth—hmm."

Stella would recall similar words that bounced in her mind. Connecting the dots of the pieces she gained from her exchange with his majesty, the King, and Keith's version of the story

"Did you get it? You do get it, right?"

Expecting something from Stella, Keith nudges Stella.

"Are we heading towards his grave?"

As the realization dawned on her, Stella's understanding and aim of this exchange became more evident to her.

"Bingo."

Keith, as if announcing a victory declaration, spread his arms open, pointing his index fingers towards the yonder above.

"Yikes, this is giving me a bad feeling."

"Hahaha," Keith said, laughing half-heartedly.

"I hope we don't have to dig his grave out."

Their horses made their way inside the forest with gigantic towering trees that covered most parts of the vast expanse of blue sky above.

"There are more important things than Master Aether's body," Keith added

"What do you mean?"

"It's all messed up, is all I can say."

"Blech--- thinking about it is disturbing."

With a sound, her face contorted in discomfort.

"Hahaha—thinking can be misunderstood as grieving, you know?"

Suddenly out of the blue, Keith said.

After they served the people of the kingdom and the ruler of the nation, they learned many things as they grew out of the cocoon of their comfort zone.

For a normal person Killing Or to say normal killers, murderers, their intent to kill is they would fulfill their needs or demands, they would kill.

But for someone who has rightfully achieved the freedom to kill and, even so, been praised for it, understanding this kind of mentality is not far off from what Keith and Stella have been through.

But to defile people after their honorable death, especially someone as highly esteemed as the hero who saved the world, made Stella feel chills of disgust down her spine.

But if the situation would put them in the need to do so, they would do so. Following the command was easy, and being praised was liked.

However, what had struck in this exchange was-

"Oh, so do you know what separates thinking from grieving?" Her eyes glinted with curiosity.

Putting a hand on his chin, thoughtfully Keith replied-

"Hmm—interesting question—I would say the urge to find an object worthy of blame."

"How so?" Cocking her head Stella said.