At first, Lorian believed his brother had been bewitched. Otherwise he would never say something like linking the fire—he had been the first to refuse it.
Yet after Lorian woke from unconsciousness, Lothric said he would link the fire?
Unless Lorian's brain had rotted, he couldn't believe it.
He demanded to know what Yu Jin had done.
Yu Jin calmly pointed toward the throne. "If you talk to me, you won't believe a word. Go talk to your brother."
Lorian suspected another trap. Why would Yu Jin let him move freely?
But when he approached the throne, no one stopped him.
He tried to take Lothric away—only to be refused again.
He demanded the reason.
In the end, he received the same blueprint.
A hope he had never dared to imagine.
Lorian understood why Lothric—who had refused the fire—now sat there willingly.
He had seen hope laid bare.
Linking the fire had no end. No matter how long you delayed it, the flame would still die. Knowing that, Lorian and Lothric had refused it, choosing to wait for the Age of Dark.
It looked like a choice… but it was only a two-option prison:
Link the fire in hopeless despair.
Step into an unknown dark age.
But if there truly was another way to save the world—
Then Lorian would give everything for it.
He loved this kingdom. He loved its people. His refusal was rooted in despair and the love for his brother.
Now hope stood before him.
Maybe the only chance he would ever get.
Then I'll link the fire too.
"Good! I support you!" Yu Jin gave a thumbs up, inwardly marveling, Huh, I'm pretty good at talking after all.
Lorian returned the phone to Kevin. "Thank you."
"No problem." Kevin nodded and walked to Yu Jin, curiosity on his face. "So… you just sit on those thrones and the fire happens?"
He'd heard Yu Jin say linking the fire sustained the world, but seeing it directly was different.
"More precisely, only someone with a strong soul can sit there and link it. Right?" Yu Jin looked to Ludleth.
Ludleth nodded.
"Then I should take Lothric's place," Lorian said seriously.
His little brother was frail. How could he endure being burned? Of course the elder brother should take it.
Ignoring Lothric's protests, Lorian lifted him up and sat down himself.
Mm… not bad.
Painful? Yes. Painful enough to make a normal man kneel and beg. The flame gnawed at bone, flesh, soul.
But that was all.
Lorian had fought countless wars, bled countless times.
If pain made him retreat, he would never have become the hero prince everyone believed in.
"Brother! Stop! I'm the chosen Lord of Cinder—I should do it!" Lothric pleaded.
"No more of that. Your body is so weak—how long could you last?"
"But—"
"No buts! I am the First Prince of Lothric, the hero of this kingdom. I will not watch you burn here. Don't let me live in shame, Lothric."
Lothric stared at the seriousness he had never seen on his brother's face before.
"…Yes."
He lowered his head like a scolded bride.
Yu Jin: "…They're making me look like the villain here."
"That's hard to say," Kevin replied, then glanced around Firelink. "So you're living here from now on?"
"Where else would I live?" Yu Jin shot back.
Kevin took a slow walk around the shrine, then smiled.
"Want to renovate it?"
Yu Jin: "???"
Hope gave people a reason to endure suffering. A comfortable environment could also steady the heart.
(Depending on the person, anyway.)
Kevin, as a modern human—and a programmer who knew how to enjoy life—understood that well.
Under Yu Jin's, Ludleth's, Lothric's, and Lorian's stares, huge piles of goods were shipped in batch by batch.
Yu Jin stood in front of a large machine, circling it and frowning. "What's this?"
"A generator," Kevin said matter-of-factly.
Yu Jin gaped at the mountain of supplies. "Bro, did you sell a kidney for me? How does a programmer have this kind of money?"
"You sold a kidney!" Kevin snapped, then grinned. "Not afraid to tell you—I'm financially free."
"No way! You said you were a wage slave last time!" Yu Jin couldn't believe it.
"I am a wage slave. Never said wage slaves can't be financially free."
"WAAH! No! You sold your body, didn't you?! Come back, Kevin! Turn around!" Yu Jin wailed.
"Die."
Seeing Yu Jin about to spiral into nonsense, Kevin explained fast: "The chat group. Group points."
"Our world's money is dirt cheap in the shop. One point gets you twenty pounds of hundred-yuan bills."
"Ohhh. That explains it. I was wondering how you got rich so easily." Yu Jin nodded solemnly. "So it's the group."
"You bastard! That's what you cared about?"
"What else would I care about?" Yu Jin said righteously. "When a brother is too excellent, I feel sick."
Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Still, that's ridiculous." Yu Jin stroked his chin. "One point for that much cash… why so cheap?"
Kevin recalled the shop description.
"Paper with labels. If it isn't recognized as currency, it's worthless. The shop probably judges value by its own standards."
Yu Jin gave him a thumbs up. "Didn't know you were that smart. Impressive!"
"Why do I feel like you usually think I'm dumb? I'm a 985 grad, you know."
Kevin's words hit Yu Jin like a bolt of lightning.
"Y-you… you're 985?!"
"Yeah. Didn't I say?"
Say what, you liar!
Yu Jin felt his status in the group plummeting.
Doctor: high-IQ monster.
Star: Herta Space Station staff.
Kevin: 985 graduate.
Yu Jin: …let's not talk about it.
Not bothering with a stunned Yu Jin, Kevin's smile widened.
Back when he read Dragon King's Return, he thought it was childish.
Now he wanted to say: so damn satisfying.
After the flex, Kevin got to work.
His world had no "Honkai," but its tech was still advanced.
As he bustled around, he saw Yu Jin poking at the piles of equipment.
"Get over here and help!" Kevin barked.
"I'm coming! But how do I do any of this?" Yu Jin asked.
Kevin tossed him a strip of lights. "You know how to hang lights, right? Put them wherever you want."
"Yes sir!" Yu Jin saluted and immediately dragged the light strip around the shrine.
The three on the thrones watched in confusion and curiosity.
When Yu Jin finished stringing the lights, Kevin installed a projector and had Yu Jin help hang a screen.
"All set," Yu Jin hopped down. "Good?"
"Good enough for now." Kevin nodded, then turned on the generator.
A steady hum filled the air.
A moment later, the lights began to glow. One by one, they lit up—until Firelink Shrine, once dim and ancient, became bright.
The three on the thrones followed the glowing strips with their eyes.
"Prince Lothric, could you come here for a moment?" Kevin beckoned.
Lothric clasped his hands; a flash of light took him—and another flash returned him at Kevin's side.
"So that's magic," Kevin murmured, amazed. "Kind of enviable."
"Why have you summoned me?" Lothric asked.
"I'll teach you how to use this projector." Kevin pointed to a button. "Power."
He pressed it. Light cast onto the screen.
"This selects what you want to play. Try it."
Kevin stepped aside.
Lothric hesitated… then tried to crawl over. A pair of hands lifted him, set him into a wheelchair, and rolled him along.
"Your legs are bad, so sit. Damn, you're actually considerate." Yu Jin looked at Kevin in surprise.
"You don't know half of it."
Yu Jin wheeled Lothric to the projector. "Try it. For entertainment later—movies like what you just saw."
Lothric reached out and tapped.
The screen burst alive.
A popular movie from Kevin's world.
"…This is… sorcery," Lothric whispered, unable to believe himself.
"This is technology. Now come on—your first movie night!" Yu Jin snapped his fingers.
Besides Yu Jin and Kevin, all three Lords fixed their eyes on the screen.
As Lothric stared, a bag of chips blocked his view.
He looked up to see Yu Jin.
"Rip it open like this, then eat."
Yu Jin demonstrated, crunching loudly, then handed the bag to Lothric.
He jogged to the other thrones, distributing snacks and drinks.
"Here, Ludleth—yours."
"Thank you."
"First Prince—yours."
"Thank you."
To every thanks, Yu Jin replied the same way:
"Don't mention it. We're all on the same side."
Watching them eat, drink, and slowly brighten, Yu Jin felt it was enough.
Everything he'd done was meant to anchor them—to make them believe him, believe in other worlds.
Saving this place couldn't be done by one person alone.
At least Yu Jin wasn't there yet.
He had said it plainly: he would seek salvation, while they maintained order until he returned with it.
Once he did… they'd still have a lot of work ahead.
"I'm heading back. It's late." Kevin brushed crumbs off his hands.
"Thanks a ton today!" Yu Jin pressed his palms together.
"Next time I need help, don't refuse me."
"Don't worry, my integrity is rock solid!" Yu Jin patted his chest.
"Alright. Come visit my world sometime. I'll visit yours again on vacation." Kevin waved, then vanished.
Ludleth kept watching the movie, then asked quietly, "He returned to his own world?"
"Yeah."
"…Power is always needed. If you can find strong souls, I may be able to help you."
He paused.
"Though I'm unsure whether I can forge souls from another world. If you ever bring one back, I will try."
Yu Jin scratched his head. "Even if you say that, souls from another world aren't as easy to collect."
Ludleth thought a moment. "Then give me time. I'll prepare something."
"What kind of something?"
"A vessel… to collect souls."
"That'd be a huge help." Yu Jin nodded in thanks.
He knew what Ludleth wanted the souls for: forging them into power, into items.
Then Lorian spoke from above.
"Your swordsmanship is terrible. You rely purely on instinct. If you wish, I will teach you."
He glanced at Yu Jin's weapon.
"And the Coiled Sword isn't for combat. Take my blade instead."
Yu Jin: "..."
Lothric added softly, "I know miracles best. If you wish to learn, come to me."
"…Heh. Thanks," Yu Jin said at last.
-------
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