Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods
Chapter 105: Tears and Titans

Chapter 105: Tears and Titans

The group stood still after Crest left. Elysia called softly after him, but he didn’t turn.

Ronan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Was that really necessary?" he asked, glancing at Airi.

Airi clicked her tongue.

"What I hate more than a weakling is a weakling pretending he’s the victim."

She crossed her arms.

"He acted like a child. Whining, sulking, like the world owed him something."

Arkel stepped forward, uncertain.

"Maybe... maybe we treated him unfairly. I mean, he was trying."

Airi rolled her eyes.

"That’s on you," she snapped. "You want to show your ass to every fucker who pounds fake respect into your guts, be my guest. But don’t make it my problem."

She waved a hand toward the palace.

"Seeing you I realize that the Hero got it wrong," she went on. "Demons aren’t getting smarter. We’re just getting dumber."

She crossed her arms.

"Look. I hate saying it. But those two," she pointed at Selith and Bel, "they can solo low-rank dungeons all day long. Just like me. A category D dungeon is hell for the average adventurer. For us, it’s 12:30 to 12:45. And that’s only cause we have to walk... Well, I can fly."

She turned to them.

"That’s the gap. That’s the difference that needs to be knocked into people’s heads. We’re not the same. It’s not insulting. It’s truth. Some people are built different. They should be treated different."

Arkel clenched his fists.

"And you enjoy that, don’t you?"

Airi grinned.

"Damn right. Because when it will be time to face one of those monsters who can toy with a legend, you’re not the ones people send to die. They’ll call us."

The group fell quiet, and for once, she wasn’t wrong. It was bitter, but true.

Everyone wanted to be a hero. But when a real monster to the eye of a legend would come, the world wouldn’t expect Ronan or Arkel or Crest to stop the end.

They expected the Sacred.

And now, with rumors of Darwin’s death, a painful, humiliating death, everyone knew what that meant. A slow, brutal death.

Selith closed her book gently.

"We should go," she said. "Our party won’t be formed for a while."

She looked to Ilya and Lena.

"Time for a change of plans."

Lena blinked, surprised. Then her smile turned sad.

"Ah... yeah... You’re... leaving, right? I get it. We’re not strong enough to keep up. I’m sorry."

Selith tilted her head.

"You misunderstand. I meant we should find others you can trust. To keep the team stable."

Ilya frowned.

"But isn’t that a waste of time? Shouldn’t you be looking for a stronger teammates now?"

Selith looked to Bel. He just shrugged.

"I don’t plan on joining a team anytime soon," Selith said. "If this is about bonding and growing together, then they should have asked some orichalcum ranker to learn how to coordinate. I’ll do my part when the time comes."

Airi groaned.

"Great. A vegetable. Gonna be fun teaming up."

She looked at Bel.

"And what about you, solo-boy? You got a charity project too, or are you still playing the lone wolf who uses people?"

Bel glanced at her.

"Your funeral."

Everyone froze.

Selith blinked softly. Ilya raised an eyebrow. Airi looked stunned.

"Excuse me?"

Bel turned away.

"The murder of one or a thousand."

He started walking.

"I’m going."

Airi rolled her eyes.

"What a joy. I get to save the world with that bundle of sunshine."

She turned, following after him. Ronan and Arkel trailed after, silent. Cassandra paused and looked back at Bel.

"See you around," she said.

Bel nodded. Selith turned to him.

"We’ll leave too. I hope we meet again. I’m curious to see what you can really do."

Bel didn’t turn.

"The later, the better. For everyone."

"Still," Selith said, smiling slightly. "Good luck, Bel."

"Same to you," he replied. "It’s reassuring to see you three going so well."

Ilya rubbed her nose, smirking.

"You too. And keep growing. We’re still rivals, technically. I’ll do everything to make Selith the one who sits on the Diamond Throne."

Bel smiled.

"Looking forward to it."

They left.

Bel shoved his hands into his pockets and wandered away from the courtyard. The sky was melting into warm colors, the sun slowly vanishing.

He stared at the horizon.

A night black like silence, black like regret, black like the secrets he didn’t want to share.

Black like the key inside his inventory.

Tonight, there would be no Elysia.

Later, the carriage rocked gently under the night sky.

Inside, Crest sat by the window, chin in hand, eyes lost in the trees passing by.

Elysia sat across from him. Neither of them had spoken since they left the castle.

She sighed. Loudly.

Crest didn’t turn.

"Go on," he said. "You want to say something, say it. I’m already on the ground, a few more kicks won’t matter."

Elysia rolled her eyes.

"It’s not about you. It’s about that little bastard that really annoys me."

Crest blinked and finally looked at her.

She stared at him. Then after a beat, she softened.

"Crest... reconsider. Please."

She leaned back, folding her hands in her lap.

"I know it feels like everything just turned on you. That it’s unfair. Maybe it is. Some people are faster, stronger, flashier. And yeah, maybe to Airi you look like a weakling. But to someone else? You could be a hero."

She glanced out the window.

"You started this with a dream, didn’t you? I remember. You wanted to save the world. Make your family proud. Become someone your parents could brag about. They believe in you. They still do. So even if you can’t do this for yourself right now... do it for them."

Crest looked down, his fists trembling.

"Why do you even trust me so much? I’m not special. I wasn’t supposed to be an adventurer forever. I was just going to try it. Then leave."

Elysia placed a hand on her chest.

"Because when you snapped today, when you finally let it all out, that wasn’t weakness. That was passion. That was someone who cared too much for too long and never got the chance to scream."

She smiled.

"And I love passion. I’m a big fan of it. So if you love this job, even just a bit... then do it. Forget the rankings. Forget the mockery. Someone out there will see what you can do and think you’re amazing."

She leaned forward, voice softer.

"And if you can’t believe that right now... then believe this: I’m already your first fan."

Crest stared at her. His lips parted. But no words came.

His throat tightened.

The tension that had held him upright began to break.

His shoulders fell. His hands trembled.

A choked breath escaped him.

And then, slowly, quietly, Crest began to cry.

It wasn’t loud or dramatic, but it was real.

Tears slid down his cheeks. His breath hitched. His fingers curled over his knees as his chest rose and fell, trying to hold it all back, failing with every breath.

Elysia didn’t say a word.

She reached forward, took his hand, and held it.

On this side of the world, it was the time for silence and consideration.

But on another side of the world, things were tender.

In a quiet room filled with soft candlelight, Darwin’s body rested in a coffin covered with flowers.

Fresh flowers surrounded him, white lilies and blue roses, placed carefully around and over him.

The old wizard stood beside the coffin.

He held a simple wooden staff in one hand, his other placed softly on the edge of the coffin.

He gazed down, his eyes full of melancholy.

"You were always too hungry to be invited to restaurants," he murmured with a faint smile. "Too loud to be trusted with a secret. And too stupid to make a decision."

His voice trembled.

"But, Darwin... you were a beast of a warrior. I would’ve never wanted you as my enemy."

He lowered his head, lips moving in a silent prayer.

The behind door creaked. A young royal guard stepped in, pausing at the sight.

"Who’s there?"

The wizard didn’t turn around. He exhaled slowly.

"Just an old man," he said. "Give me a minute."

The guard squinted, then recognized one of the most famous faces in the world.

"Wait... Sir Lloyd? The Sage?"

Lloyd finally turned to him, his face tired with age and sorrow.

Lloyd, one of the last surviving members of the former Hero’s Party. A monster of magic, the Arcane Star, the Sage of one thousand spells, the man who vanished after the last war.

He gave the guard a sad smile.

"One minute, boy. I just wanted to say goodbye."

The guard hesitated. He opened his mouth to reply, but Lloyd raised a hand gently.

"I know I shouldn’t be here," he said. "I came in secret to see an old friend."

The guard took a step back, still stunned.

"But... you... you’re not supposed to be here. They said no one was allowed near the body tonight... You were..."

Lloyd sighed, louder this time.

"I know," he said. "I came in secret. I just wanted to see him before I joined him. Do me a favor and wait till I finish."

Then he raised his voice slightly.

"Just one minute, it shouldn’t be a problem for you... you, the one outside."

The guard trembled.

Slowly, he turned toward the doorway.

And there, just at the door, stood another man. Identical robes. Identical staff. Identical face.

Another Lloyd.