Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
With the departure of the ten Holy Knights of Light, only Clemon and the maids like Loli remained in the Conference Hall.
They quietly watched Xi Wei, awaiting his command.
“Clemon.” Xi Wei’s gaze shifted to the old butler’s face.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The Old Knight clasped his fist in a bow, a few strands of white hair falling onto his cheeks as his head drooped.
The young King’s voice sounded somewhat wistful as he spoke:
“You have been by my side the longest, and you are one of the people closest to me.
I am well aware of your loyalty to me and to the Wintery Empire. It is precisely because I know this that I do not wish for you to participate in the decisive battle ahead!”
“Why?!” The Old Knight looked up, astonished.
“Clemon, you have dedicated your entire life to the Jinshi Family, without a wife or children. I wish for you to spend your remaining time in peace, rather than following me into the dangerous battlefield to fight desperately.”
Xi Wei’s gaze was stern, and his tone was sincere.
He truly wished for the aged Clemon not to be involved.
Clemon was different from the system soldiers; he was the only person who had accompanied him for over twenty years in this world.
He was even closer than Xi Wei’s own father.
“Your Majesty, do… do you think this old servant is too old and no longer worthy of accompanying you onto the battlefield?”
Clemon suddenly knelt on the ground, his eyes dim, tears streaming down his aged face.
Xi Wei immediately helped the Old Knight up, saying helplessly, “That’s not what I meant, I…”
“Then let this old servant go to the battlefield!” For the first time, Clemon rudely interrupted Xi Wei.
“As a servant of the Jinshi Family, protecting my Master is my duty.
As a soldier, dying on the battlefield is my end.
As a general, evading war is my disgrace.
As a subject of Your Majesty, hiding behind you to eke out an existence and seek peace would be disloyal, unfilial, and unjust!
Are you suggesting I become such a petty man?!”
“I…” Xi Wei looked at the enraged Clemon, speechless.
In his memory, this old man rarely got so angry. The last time he was this angry seemed to be when he was a child.
At that time, he had run beyond the designated safe zone while hunting. Clemon and his father, Duke Manhattan, had searched for him in the wilderness all night, finally finding him asleep in a tree. Then, pulling him down from the tree, they had proceeded to beat and scold him. Even then, the younger Old Knight had turned red in the face and neck, his whole body trembling with anger.
“Fine, I understand.”
Facing such a stubborn old man, Xi Wei could only offer a helpless wry smile.
“Since that is the case, old mister, please accept this.”
He redeemed the [Legendary Promotion Potion] with his remaining Villain Points.
This potion was very expensive, and there was only one dose, capable of instantly elevating a Champion Level to Legendary-grade.
Clemon possessed exceptional talent, but due to his aging body and numerous hidden injuries, his strength had not significantly improved since reaching the Champion Level.
Without the potion’s help, he would never become Legendary in this lifetime.
Of course, Xi Wei could also use divinity to help Clemon become Legendary.
However, such a Legendary would merely be a Legendary, not Clemon’s own path.
He would struggle to touch upon the realm of rules and completely lose the hope of becoming a god.
“Your Majesty, this is…”
Clemon looked at the small vial in Xi Wei’s hand.
He could already feel a vast energy within it.
“This is a Legendary Promotion Potion. It will help you start a second life, and all your hidden ailments will be eliminated by it.”
“Your Majesty, this old servant cannot accept it. This is too valuable.”
Xi Wei had anticipated the Old Knight’s refusal and had prepared his response.
“Clemon, are you not going to fulfill your loyalty to me and the Empire?
With your current strength, it’s not enough. If you want to keep pace with me, you must become stronger!”
Clemon stared blankly at the vial.
He knew this was Xi Wei’s attempt to provoke him, but he couldn’t refuse, because Xi Wei was right.
Now, Xi Wei was at the peak of the Legendary-grade, surrounded by maids who were demigods, capable of becoming gods at any moment.
By Xi Wei’s side, he had gradually transitioned from being a primary combatant to a butler managing logistics.
However, he had never regretted this before, because his greatest wish was for Xi Wei and the Wintery Empire to prosper. Even if he went to the countryside to farm, he would be happy.
But now, the Empire was facing an unprecedented crisis.
Standing on the tower of Winter City, facing the biting north wind, and watching the Old Ones’ Retainers pounce from all directions, he felt a sense of powerlessness for the first time.
His once passable strength felt so weak and insignificant against the tide of the Old Ones’ legions!
Xi Wei’s words made him feel ashamed, ignited a burning passion in his heart, and made it difficult for him to refuse the potion that shimmered with golden light.
“Then, this old servant will shamelessly accept it.”
Clemon received the potion from Xi Wei with both hands.
“That’s good. Advancing to Legendary is a major event. You should prepare yourself first and adjust your mental and physical state to the best before taking the potion.”
Xi Wei smiled with relief.
He eagerly anticipated the sight of the Old Knight reveling in battle after advancing to Legendary.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
…
Clemon also departed.
Only Xi Wei and the maids remained in the Conference Hall.
Just as he was about to speak,
A Grand Will descended into his mind.
This Will gradually coalesced into the appearance of a starry Giant Dragon within Xi Wei’s mind, with the sun as its eyes, nebulae as its heart, and the dark universe as its vast Dragon Wing.
It was the Holy Dragon—Ouranos.
“Person of Origin, we meet again.”
Ouranos’s voice was slow and weak, its gaze fixed on Xi Wei.
“Again?”
Xi Wei knew that the Starlight Dragon before him was Cain’s creator, but he was certain he had never met the Holy Dragon before.
“Yes.”
The Holy Dragon seemed to recall something amusing, and a hint of a smile entered its voice. “We have met many times. If you don’t believe me, listen…”
*Ding—!*
This was the System’s voice.
However, this time, it came from the Holy Dragon.
“You… you are the Villain System?!”
Xi Wei stared at the Holy Dragon, utterly dumbfounded.
He had not known what the System was before.
Later, as time went by, he gradually inferred that the System was likely a tool created by Cain’s Will. Now, the Holy Dragon’s actions undeniably overturned all previous speculations.
He could never have imagined that the System would have any connection to this great being.
“I am neither the System nor the System; the System is a partial extension of my Will, centered around Cain’s rules~”
Ouranos gave an ambiguous answer.
Its star-like eyes seemed to hold a hint of triumphant amusement at the unveiling of a playful secret, but these fleeting, lively emotions could not mask the endless fatigue and pain within its gaze.
