The war did not end in a single night.
Even after the fall of the Earth Dragon, flames continued to devour the Dwarven Kingdom for days. Wyverns scattered, resistance lingered, and the cost of victory revealed itself slowly—through silence, through ruins, through loss.
Now—
In a quiet corner far from the battlefield, Lucifer sat alone.
His gaze rested on the translucent glow of his system window, reflecting in his crimson eyes. Numbers had risen. Titles had changed. Power had grown.
But his expression remained... unchanged.
Footsteps approached.
He didn't need to look.
"Why didn't you attend my father's funeral?"
Emily's voice was steady—but fragile beneath the surface.
Lucifer blinked.
"...Wait. He died?"
Emily lowered her gaze.
"The machine he used... it consumed his life force. It was never meant for prolonged combat."
A pause.
"But... I'm glad."
Lucifer finally turned toward her.
"He died protecting his people."
Lucifer exhaled quietly.
"Well... if that's how you see it, then it's not a bad ending."
Emily's eyes flickered.
"That's all you have to say?"
Lucifer stared at her for a moment.
Then spoke—calm, blunt, but not unkind.
"You don't have to pretend to be strong."
She froze.
"You can always cry... just don't lie to yourself while doing it."
Silence.
Then—
Emily's composure broke.
Tears fell freely as she stepped closer, her voice trembling.
"...He was still my father."
Lucifer didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He simply stood there—
Until she calmed down.
Later—
They walked back toward the Academy grounds together.
The war was over.
But its aftermath had only just begun.
Emily spoke again, softer this time.
"I'll be crowned queen soon."
Lucifer glanced sideways.
"Nervous?"
"...A little."
Lucifer smirked faintly.
"You survived this. Ruling people is easier than surviving dragons."
She let out a small laugh.
"...Thank you."
Then she handed him something.
Wrapped carefully.
"Your armor."
Lucifer raised a brow.
"Already?"
"The blacksmith insisted I deliver it personally."
Lucifer unwrapped it.
Mithril.
Refined.
Perfect.
Lightweight, yet radiating an overwhelming presence.
When he wore it—it reshaped itself seamlessly, merging with his uniform.
Elegant.
Deadly.
Perfect.
Lucifer looked at his reflection briefly.
"...Not bad."
His system window flickered again.
Rewards updated.
Title Acquired: Dragon Slayer
Effect: +20% critical chance against dragon-type enemies
New skill acquired.
Massive increase in points.
And—
A quiet realization.
He was no longer the same person who entered the mines.
"Hey."
A rough voice interrupted the moment.
Lucifer didn't even bother turning.
A group of upperclassmen approached.
Delinquents.
Noble-born.
Arrogant.
"So you're the 'hero' who killed the dragon?"
Silence.
Lucifer didn't respond.
"...Why isn't he talking?"
"Scared, maybe."
Laughter.
Still—
Silence.
One of them stepped forward, irritated.
"Oi. Ignoring me makes me angry."
Lucifer finally spoke.
"The best answer to a fool... is silence."
That was enough.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Doors closed.
Windows sealed.
The room emptied.
Only them—and Lucifer.
One of them lit a cigarette.
"Let me show you your place."
He pressed the burning tip against Lucifer's arm.
The smell of burnt cloth filled the air.
Lucifer didn't flinch.
Didn't react.
Didn't move.
Minutes later—
The student council arrived.
And with them—
The Student President.
But what she saw—
Was not what she expected.
The room was destroyed.
Walls cracked.
Furniture shattered.
Bodies—
Broken.
Every delinquent lay on the ground, unconscious... or worse.
And in the center—
Lucifer.
Walking out.
Calm.
Lighting a cigarette with his blue flame.
"Stop."
Her voice cut through the silence.
Lucifer paused.
Then turned slightly.
"...What?"
She stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"Why did you do this?"
Lucifer exhaled smoke slowly.
"I defended myself."
Her expression hardened.
"Defended? You shattered their mana hearts. Broke every bone in their bodies."
Lucifer shrugged.
"Should I have let them win?"
Her aura surged—pressing down on him.
"You had no right to punish them."
Lucifer didn't move.
Didn't bend.
Didn't react.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Unaffected.
"You only care about 'rights' when it involves commoners."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"But when nobles do worse? You call it discipline."
Silence.
"Don't lecture me about justice... when your system is rotten."
Her aura flared stronger—
But Lucifer remained standing.
Unshaken.
Unmoved.
"You—!"
She raised her hand—
But before anything could happen—
"Enough."
The Principal arrived.
Her presence silenced everything.
"Lucifer is not at fault."
The President turned.
"But—"
"That's an order."
Silence.
Tension.
Then—
Acceptance.
Lucifer walked past her.
But just as he did—
She spoke again.
"...You haven't changed."
He stopped.
"Because of that... our engagement was broken."
Lucifer didn't turn.
"Correction."
His voice was cold.
"You broke it."
"And I don't owe you anything."
Later—
Chirin floated beside him.
"...She was your fiancée?"
Lucifer scoffed.
"Not mine. The body's."
"Then what happened?"
Lucifer's eyes darkened slightly.
"A political deal."
"Duke family and the imperial family."
"Peace through marriage."
He paused.
"Then they found out I was 'useless.'"
"So they replaced me—with my younger brother."
Chirin went quiet.
"And I tried to kill him."
Lucifer smiled faintly.
"Didn't work."
"And that's how I got disowned."
They walked forward.
Leaving the ruins of the past behind.
Chirin spoke softly.
"...Nobles are brutal."
Lucifer shrugged.
"They're just honest about their greed."
A bell rang in the distance.
A new beginning.
A new stage.
Lucifer smirked.
"Second year already..."
His eyes gleamed.
"Let's see what breaks next."