"I refuse."
Behind Leonhardt, an illusory crowd appeared, their shouting gestures frozen in place.
The people, whose faces they could not see, silently watched the god-slaying king.
I don't understand the decision he made.
Why give up such an opportunity?
Why are you unwilling to become a new god?
The world needs you!
We were all waiting for you!
Why?
The silent cry pierced the soul and resounded in the ears of everyone in this world.
【Why!
?
The heart-wrenching cries brought tears to the eyes of everyone who heard them, making them feel the pain of being abandoned.
Even you, are you now abandoning us?
But Ennhart's expression remained unchanged. He turned around and coldly looked at the soul behind him.
Looking at the people who had always stood behind him, he slowly spoke:
“I, Leinhard II, the last king of the Kingdom of Rhine… do not wish to become a god.”
Even though the throne of the gods was within his grasp, he still chose to refuse.
The world fell silent in the face of this answer.
Its illusory will cannot understand why anyone would reject such power, nor why anyone would give up such glory.
That's a god!
Countless people yearn for their path, dreaming of becoming one of them.
Now, if Leonhardt nods, he will easily replace the former god and become a false god.
Why?
Why did you choose to give up?
The world didn't understand. Although Ning Feng had guessed some of the possibilities, he still felt somewhat bewildered.
"Is this your decision? Really..."
To be honest, this is very much in line with Lai Enhart's style, and it is indeed a choice that the Hero King would make.
Straightening his spine, Lai Enhart held his head high, his gaze sweeping over the phantom souls surrounding him.
He carefully and attentively observed each person, trying to recall his experiences with them.
In the end, however, he did not find the people he most wanted to see.
Suddenly, Leonhardt felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He turned his head and saw a woman exuding a gentle aura.
From her eyes, Lai Enhart saw not a trace of urging, only tenderness.
Mary.
On the other side, he saw his knight, who always had a gloomy expression, reveal the signature smile of his youth and nod vigorously at him.
Carl.
Slowly closing his eyes, even without speaking, Lai Enhart understood what they meant.
They left all the choices to themselves.
Just like back then.
"call……"
With a long exhale, Lai Enhart was no longer confused.
He turned back, facing the countless puzzled gazes fixed on him, and slowly said:
"To all of you who have been watching me all along."
The people who have silently accompanied me throughout these thousand years.
"Our world was destroyed long ago, don't you understand?"
There was a faint sadness and bitterness in his words, but even more so, a sense of relief after liberation.
"We are now simply facing our end."
Everything eventually perishes.
Now, it's just that the day that was postponed for a thousand years has finally arrived.
"We shouldn't continue like this."
"My duty is over."
"We have finally found our true rest!"
Gradually, his voice rose, and his imposing aura became blurred.
He transformed back into the wise king, the autocratic yet never-failing ruler.
To the bewildered soul, he asked in return:
"Do you expect another god to be born, and for the tragedy that has already occurred to repeat itself?"
"Aren't you tired of suffering at the hands of the gods?"
No one answered; they were all lost in confusion.
Over a thousand years, with each cycle lasting seven days, the remaining will of these souls had long since been worn away.
Even what propelled Lai Enhart forward was merely the lingering obsession in his heart.
But at this moment, they lack the ability to actually provide an answer.
They were never truly whole again.
What remains to this day is less a soul and more a composite entity dominated by the will of the world, a collection of everyone's obsessions.
After a moment of silence, a series of intermittent soul fluctuations finally responded.
If we don't turn to the embrace of the gods...where should we go?
The Kingdom of Laien is a religious kingdom, and every citizen is a devout believer in the gods.
From birth, they are under the watchful eye of the gods, enjoying their blessings, and in death, they will return to their divine embrace.
Everyone receives this kind of education, and they have no idea what a world without gods would be like.
Now, where should they go from here?
This question also silenced Reinhardt, but just before Ning Feng could speak, the king slowly spoke:
"Gentlemen, we were not born for the gods, nor do we need to die for them."
The anger and sorrow in his eyes vanished, and he looked tenderly at all the lost souls, as if he were looking at his former self:
"Here I come to Enhart to issue the final royal decree..."
"I declare that the souls of each of you no longer belong to the gods."
“I declare that you do not have to give everything for the gods.”
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