I Stayed Loyal When My Teacher Was Betrayed

55 – Epilogue (Complete)

Despite various incidents that had occurred, the situation afterward surprisingly returned to normal.

The negotiation plan discussed between the Demon King and Rosetta was successfully conveyed to the representatives of the Free Tribe, who didn’t show much resistance.

Just as Rosetta had anticipated, they were already exhausted by the recent events.

Though the future remained uncertain, they agreed that rest was necessary to recover from the losses they had endured so far.

Of course, this was separate from the overall direction in which things were progressing. Internally, they needed time to heal their wounds.

However, one thing was clear—the winds of change, initiated by Rosetta and her efforts, were greatly transforming the world.

Not in terms of how to defeat their enemies,

But how to reconcile with them and bring about peace.

Even the arrogant elves,

The prickly dwarves,

And the simple-minded orcs.

And the humans, who mediated between them and carried out dialogues.

They made efforts to establish negotiations and peace, depending on the circumstances within their own territory, slowly but surely making progress towards a conclusion.

They knew it too.

Merely having a righteous cause wasn’t enough to continue this futile battle—they were already too exhausted.

Yet, they couldn’t stop, and now that the opportunity to halt it had arisen, they were doing their best to seize it.

However…

Despite the changing atmosphere in the world.

There weren’t many significant changes in our lives.

“Pass me that cylinder. I need to observe the reaction.”

“This time, we’ll surely achieve 140cc…”

“Master, I have finished organizing the reference materials we discussed last time.”

“Good job, indeed.”

As always, we were dedicated to our research, including experiments and organizing books.

Even if the world were to perish tomorrow, the laboratory continued to operate as usual, as if determined to write yet another paper.

And among us, unexpectedly, there sat the nonchalant demon lord, whose identity had been revealed.

“Um… Loki, right?”

“Didn’t I ask you to call me Verniera?”

“Well… Vernie, I’m genuinely curious. Are you not needed back in the Demon Kingdom? There must be fine-tuning required internally, and as the representative, if you’re idle like this…”

“We don’t need such things. The demon lord’s words are absolute from the start. Besides, Torukan, who is another demon lord, agreed to it, so the matter is already settled for us.”

“Well… true, from that perspective, it makes things easier… a complete central authority system…”

“Isn’t that right? So hurry up and marry me too. If that happens, practically half of the Demon Kingdom will be yours since you’re also a demon.”

“Hahaha…”

The demon lord, cracking serious jokes. I could do nothing but let out laughter about this situation.

However, there were matters that I needed to resolve before thinking about her.

“By the way, time is running out. Are the preparations going well?”

“Of course, with the enormous wealth I possess, this is nothing. Plus, Ovelin has agreed to help, so there’s no need to worry about anything.”

“Good, I’m counting on you.”

“Hehehe.”

Loki displayed his characteristic ominous smile.

While he wasn’t plotting any evil conspiracy, his laughter seemed to give off that feeling. Hearing it, I quietly sighed inwardly.

“Even though the future has already been determined… it seems my fate is still tied to women, and I can’t escape it…”

*

There are things that people must protect.

To some, clinging to those things may seem foolish,

and indeed, many choose to abandon them in favor of what seems like a better path.

However, through the situation right in front of me, I came to realize once again.

In the end…

There comes a time when people must take responsibility for their choices.

The price paid for abandoning what should be protected.

And how it turns their lives into a living hell, no matter the method…

“…ㄲ….ㅎ….ㅎㅎ….”

“ㅎ….”

A presence rolling on the ground, unable to even utter a word while being whipped mercilessly.

Limbs severed and flesh torn apart,

Tongues and eyeballs gouged out,

Two individuals writhing like worms, clinging on to just their breath.

Although they had lost their former elegance and beauty, I immediately recognized who they were.

“…Beolf… and Judia…”

“Yes, that’s correct. Those who betrayed their own master, a woman named Rosemary… and took the position of the Grand Mage. Honestly, we are considering disposing of them soon… Why did Edmund want to see them?”

“Just… out of curiosity, really. I have met them personally a few times when I was at Matop. Moreover, I was somewhat curious about what happened to those who were once hailed as heroes of the continent.”

“Well, as I mentioned, they are nothing more than trash, not heroes or anything.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I nodded slowly in response to Lorquin’s words.

The disciples of the master who was believed to have died in the previous war.

However, I accidentally discovered that they were still alive during a conversation with Lorquin in bed.

While the remaining one, Brutal, had truly perished, these two were still alive, enduring ruthless torture because they were the leaders of the enemy and also severely agitated Thorcan and Lorquin.

Upon my request to see them, Lorquin agreed to it.

And this was the result.

These two individuals, whose bodies were mutilated and burned all over, prevented from reaching death using magic.

Quietly observing them, I secretly thought that it was fortunate that I had kept this fact a secret from Rosetta.

Given her kind-hearted nature, she might have felt more pain than pleasure seeing this scene.

As someone who had the heart to care for her disciples as a master, she might have even asked for their release.

However, unlike such a gentle master, I was not that weak-hearted.

I believed that if you had committed a crime, you should receive the appropriate punishment,

And I saw it only natural for them to endure this suffering.

Above all, since I was no longer human but a demon, I felt no sympathy towards them.

Experiencing only joy while witnessing the torment of these sinners before my eyes.

I left this place with Lorquin unchanged.

While wishing that those filthy betrayers, who would soon meet their end, would continue to fall into hell.

*

She had never once thought about such a future.

What she needed as a witch walking the path of magic was only knowledge.

And disciples to transmit and share that with.

Love and men were deemed unnecessary in her life.

But now…

The witch named Rosetta understood.

In her life, it was not that love was unnecessary, but rather that she had simply failed to realize its existence.

She, too, was just a woman who desired someone’s love.

And now,

In front of her eyes, she could see his figure.

The presence that showed her love.

The presence that brought new happiness to her life.

The presence that made her realize there was something more important than knowledge and magic in this world.

As she cautiously took his hand,

Rosetta, dressed in pure white, calmly smiled.

Today,

It was the biggest turning point in her life.

The moment when the greatest happiness existed.

A splendid wedding ceremony organized by her former apprentice, Guildmaster Ovelin, and her current disciple, Demon Lord Lorquine.

Rosetta stood as the protagonist of this occasion alongside that man.

The man who always stood by her side.

Her disciple.

The person she loved as a man for the first time.

And… the most precious existence to her above all else.

Gazing into his face, Rosetta spoke.

“I love you, Edmund…”

“I love you, Rosetta.”

With those words, the two gradually kissed.

At the same time, thunderous applause flowed from all directions.

Humans, demons, elves, dwarves, orcs.

The races of the continent gathered in one place to discern the outlines of an alliance.

Receiving congratulations from all of them, Rosetta savored the man’s lips.

Incredibly sweet and ecstatic.

A happiness that cannot be made by any magic in this world.

Savoring the emotion called happiness.

-END-