After Mogu and Zuwa's defeat, Zarabis alias Reiji, Mijarun, and Ashia were about to leave to contemplate their next move when Mogu suddenly approached:
Mogu: I still can't accept this!
"Why?" all three replied in unison.
Reiji: Oh! I understand. š
Mijarun: Brother, you're being suspicious. š Do you have a secret plan?
Reiji: Yeah, something like that.
Ashia: What were you two talking about? Sorry, I didn't hear.
Reiji: Ah, nothing. I just said I got lucky beating him.
Ashia: Lucky?
Reiji: Hey, let's duel again if you want.
Mogu: My true name is ******.
(Mijarun thought to himself: Hmph. If my brother hadn't told me to seal all my power, I'd have killed you already.)
Ashia: Reiji, you'll definitely win, right? š
Reiji: Ummā¦
Then, Reiji faced Mogu for the second time, and the fight was about to beginā¦
Dust slowly settled in the Mushaf Guild Arena, signaling the duel was nearing its end. The crowd's cheers still echoed, but they feltā¦ hollow.
Zarabis stood in the center, facing Mogu the arrogant, stubborn party leader. Earlier, with one move, Zarabis could have erased him from existence. Butā¦ he chose not to.
"Why are you holding back?" Mijarun whispered from the arena's edge.
"Because the final outcome isn't about winning or losing," Zarabis replied softly. "It's about who can still stand with a pure heart."
Mijarun bit her lip, knowing her brother was hiding something.
The Final Clash
Mogu unleashed his ultimate attack high-level explosion magic.
Zarabis didn't move.
The strike hit his body, creating a blinding flash of light and dust.
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When the smoke cleared, Zarabis was on one knee, slightly scratched.
Not because he couldn't dodgeā¦ but because he chose to take the hit.
"Hah, that's all? They said you were strong!" Mogu yelled with a coarse laugh.
The Guild Master raised his hand:
"Winner: Mogu's Party!"
The crowd cheered again. But among the shouts, Ashia hung her head.
"Reijiā¦ you let yourself lose on purpose, didn't you?" she whispered, but got no reply.
After the Fight
A few minutes later, the guild's atmosphere turned cold.
Liya the naive girl who had been a quiet healer stood trembling. Mogu roughly shoved her, smiling.
Mogu: You're useless! Get out of my party!
Liya: B-butā¦ I tried my best-
Mogu: Be quiet!
Liya fell, her hands covered in arena dust. Tears welled in her eyes.
Ashia stared in anger.
Ashia: Enough, Mogu! Why do this!?
Mogu: If you don't like it, join my party. At least you're useful.
Ashia looked at weeping Liya, then at Reiji, who stood silently in the distance. Her heart was a mess of anger, disappointment, and confusion. Finally, in a low voice:
"Fineā¦ I'll joinā¦"
Zarabis just closed his eyes, not stopping her. He knew this world wasn't ready for the truth he carried.
Zarabis's Decision
As everyone left the arena, Liya sat hugging her knees, crying silently. Zarabis walked slowly toward her.
"You're not wrong, little one," he said softly. "You were just born into a world that doesn't yet understand true 'goodness'."
Liya looked up, sobbing.
"W-whyā¦ are you helping me?"
"Because I know what it feels like to be abandoned."
He held out his hand.
"Would you like to come with me?"
Liya paused, then nodded slowly.
Mijarun approached from behind, confused.
"Brotherā¦ are we really leaving them?"
"Yes," he replied calmly. "Let them drown in their own choices."
He gently took Liya's hand and walked away. The sky above the Mushaf Guild turned a bitter orange at dusk.
"Goodbye, Ashia," he whispered, though no one heard. "Maybe somedayā¦ you'll understand why I lost."
After thatā¦
A gentle breeze greeted them as they arrived at a vast green meadow. Grass swayed slowly, as if dancing to welcome them. In the center stood a large wooden house, majestic as if it had been there for centuries.
Liya stared, her eyes sparkling with wonder. Mijarun looked at her brother in surprise.
"Brotherā¦ when did you build such a big house?"
Zarabis or rather, Reiji in his human form stared at the sky with a faint smile. "When we started our journey to the Mushaf Kingdom," he said softly. "I saw this place. The grass is beautiful, the air is calmā¦ so I thought, 'this is perfect for a home that calms the mind'."
Mijarun snorted, looking at him in disbelief.
"And you built itā¦ just for that?"
"No," Reiji said flatly. "I created it with Infinite OmniDream Mind."
Suddenly, a soft voice flowed into Mijarun's mind a direct connection between their consciousness.
I created it in my thoughts. In my mind, this house is a perfect place in a world like this.
Mijarun looked at the house again and chuckled.
"Brother, sometimes you make the impossible sound ordinary."
Reiji just lifted his chin.
"I'm just used to it."
The New Home
They entered the large wooden house. The walls were warm, sunlight streamed through big windows, and the scent of fresh wood filled the air. Reiji looked at Liya, still standing at the door.
"From now on, this is your new home," he said gently.
Reiji raised his hand a soft, silvery-white aura wrapped around Liya.
"I grant you unlimited mana. Use it wisely."
Mijarun turned quickly, half annoyed.
"Brother! That's too much, you know!"
"Let it be," Reiji replied calmly. "I know she'll take good care of it."
Liya stared at her glowing hands, then cried.
"Reiji-sanā¦ Iā¦ I don't know what to sayā¦"
She bowed, blushing.
"C-can Iā¦ hug you?"
Mijarun laughed softly, patting her shoulder.
"Sure, hug him! My brother won't get mad."
Reiji glanced at Mijarun, then gave a thumbs-up with a blank face.
"Go ahead."
Liya smiled through her tears, then gently hugged Reiji. Her embrace was warm, filled with gratitude.
"I'll never forget you, Reiji-sanā¦" she whispered.
Mijarun grinned widely.
"Hehe~ finally, someone dares to hug the Hell Demon King."
Meanwhile, Reiji thought quickly What to do when huggedā¦ ah, right, must hug back. He calmly returned her embrace. For the first time, time seemed to stop not because of power, but because of sincerity.
A Conversation That Reveals the Secret
A while later, they sat in the living room. Liya finally gathered the courage to ask:
"Reiji-sanā¦ back in the arenaā¦ why did you lose to Mogu and let Ashia join his party?"
Reiji stared at the small fire in the fireplace, his eyes calm yet deep.
"Because the Ashia with me thenā¦ wasn't the real Ashia."
Liya's eyes widened. Mijarun gently kicked her brother's foot.
"You knew that from the start, didn't you?!"
Reiji nodded.
"Since the inn. While everyone slept, I stayed awake. I saw through OmniFuture an ability that pierces both past and future. And through my eyesā¦ I saw everything."
Liya held her breath.
"Soā¦ the Ashia with you-"
"-was an imposter," Reiji cut in. "A demon general named Heimon. She replaced Ashia that night."
The room fell silent. Liya covered her mouth in shock. Mijarun raised her eyebrows high.
"And Moguā¦ recruited that demon?"
"Exactly," Reiji replied. "That's why I let it happen. I wanted to know their plan."
Farewell
Reiji stood, looking at the still-shocked Liya.
"Goodbye, Liya. If you ever have questionsā¦ ask anytime."
He walked outside, paused briefly, then turned back.
"Oh, by the wayā¦ do you want a pet?"
Liya immediately smiled, her eyes shining.
"Yes!!"
Reiji held out his hand, revealing a large, glowing pale blue egg.
"This is a dragon egg. Take good care of it. It will be your friendā¦ forever."
Liya was stunned, tears streaming again. Before she could thank him, Mijarun pulled her brother's hand.
"Come on, Brother. Enough drama."
"Hmph, fine."
Mijarun looked at Liya cheerfully:
"Remember, this isn't just a gift. It's a sign that you have a future as the ruler of this world!"
"Eh!? W-what!?"
Before Liya could ask more, they vanished in a flash of red light, heading toward the demon territories.
The evening sky fell silent. Liya stared at the dragon egg in her hands and smiled.
"Reiji-sanā¦ thank you."