Chapter 396: The Birth of Evil (13)

The largest hall in the Cotton Candy Castle. 

That place was in chaos.

“Quick! Stop the Seventh Evil's inhabitants from entering here!”

“Yes, Sir Dark Bear!”

The fearsome Dark Bear was the busiest of them all. At that moment, he was excelling in his role as the deputy leader of the Seventh Evil.

“Light torches everywhere to prevent those damned Shadows from the Sixth Evil from entering the castle! Nobody can interfere with the boss's birth!”

With his two enormous front paws waving all over the place, he gave the orders.

“We have to make it clear that the Seventh Evil is the most powerful among the Eight Evils!”

Faced with such determination, all the mobs belonging to the Cotton Candy Castle quickly sprang into action. They, unlike Dark Bear, were not mutants and faithfully obeyed his orders. They even understood, in their own way, how to handle the situation as Dark Bear directed.

“If you simply follow my orders, you will see new evils! You will achieve the worst!”

That was what Dark Bear said.

“Hehehe.”

And behind Dark Bear, Clopeh Sekka let out a low chuckle. He had been in a remarkably cheerful mood for several days.

“Hehehe!”

The more his laughter intensified—

“Hey, human! Who told you to act so foolishly?! You're going to ruin the birth ceremony of our boss!”

Dark Bear’s voice rose, and the bear's back was drenched in sweat.

…

As everyone watched, Cale discreetly rose from his seat.

“Cale-nim, there is not much time left.”

At these words, Cale nodded slightly and took the egg. 

The egg, motionless as if in a state of enlightenment, was warm as ever.

“You must return on time.”

“Yes.”

He responded with a slight wave of his hand to Clopeh Sekka's request and set off.

…

Neither Cale nor the egg uttered a word.

“We have detected spies attempting to jump the wall!”

“Capture and kill them!”

“Sir Dark Bear, they have surpassed 120,000! Shouldn't we at least give them some warning?”

“Shut up! C-Clopeh Sekka said we shouldn't say anything, or let it be noticed, and that staying silent is the coolest thing!”

“Bu-but...”

“We won't say anything, we'll just demonstrate! That's how legends are!”

“Legends??”

“Do you know what a Legend is? Have you studied legends day and night for three days like I have? You idiots, just do as I say!”

“Yes, understood!”

Without paying attention to the noisy conversation, Cale carried Eden Miru with him to a quiet place.

Choi Han, Rosalyn, Eruhaben, and the others were not there. Each of his companions was waiting inside or outside the Cotton Candy Castle, carrying out their role in the birth ceremony.

<No Entry>

Before turning the corner of the hallway, Cale chuckled at the sign placed by Dark Bear. The hallway he was going to walk through had become a no-entry zone at some point. The reason was obvious.

Tap, tap.

He passed by the sign and, with light steps, turned the corner.

“Human!”

“I was waiting for you!”

“Come quickly!”

The children—about ten years old on average—greeted him.

“Eden Miru!”

“Today, at last, the youngest will be born!”

“Although it seems like he won't be the smallest.”

They gave Eden Miru a grand welcome. And then...

“Sheritt-nim.”

Cale walked towards Sheritt, who was looking at him from Aipotu (beyond the portal, and not from New World).

Dragon Lord Neo.

A portal leading to the New World, created in the exclusive underground; when the entrance door of the Black Castle was opened, the portal immediately appeared before their eyes, as close as to touch it.

“You've arrived.”

In front of the entrance, Sheritt stopped and greeted Cale.

“Human! Give me Eden Miru!”

Raon, who had received the egg from Cale, placed the egg on a fluffy cushion right in front of the portal.

…

Sheritt’s gaze remained on the egg.

“Hehehe!”

“I'm excited!”

“It's almost here.”

Hong, Raon and others crowded around the cushion.

…

Neither Sheritt nor Eden Miru showed any reaction. 

Cale looked around.

In front of the portal stood about ten video conferencing terminals, each showing a different part of the Cotton Candy Castle in real time. It was a courtesy arranged by Eruhaben, allowing Sheritt—who otherwise would not be able to witness the birth ceremony of Eden Miru in its entirety—to see it unfold. At the very least, she could witness the birth with her own eyes.

At that moment, Sheritt’s gaze met Cale’s.

“Sheritt-nim.”
“Yes?”
“Couldn’t he be born right here?”

As soon as Cale confirmed that the progress had surpassed 100%, he thought it might be better for Eden Miru to be born beside Sheritt.

Of course, the mission was important as well.
But the birth—

Just the thought of it made Cale feel that being with Sheritt would be ideal. And if Raon Miru were there too, then for Eden Miru, that birth would truly be a meaningful one—with family by his side.

“No.”

But Sheritt was firm.

“We will proceed as planned.”

It was a surprisingly cold response.

…

Eden Miru remained motionless on the fluffy cushion, showing no reaction.

Cale, glancing back and forth between the egg and Sheritt, finally spoke in an indifferent voice.
“Then, please explain the reason.”

“Huh?”
Sheritt looked perplexed.

Cale shifted his gaze back to the egg.

Dragon Half-Blood, you damn thing!

In front of Sheritt, he still acted cautiously—freezing under her presence. He had never made a sound before her, simply remaining still. Perhaps because that silence felt comfortable, but…

Cale wondered if the Dragon Half-Blood still carried guilt toward Sheritt.
And so, she had to explain; why didn’t she want to witness Eden Miru’s birth up close?

“Why did you let Clopeh Sekka get so out of control?”

At Cale's indifferent question, Sheritt remained silent for a moment.

Raon, On and Hong discreetly closed their mouths and looked at her.

…

The egg remained calm.

…

…

Then, Cale and Sheritt stared at each other in silence.

Stop getting so nervous.
Cale thought as he looked at her.

Sheritt, with her youthful appearance, frowned, and her freckles seemed to come alive.

Phew!
She let out a sigh.

At that moment…

Ding~

A soft chime rang out.
It was the signal that the birth ceremony was about to begin.

[Hatching rate 99.98% (Time remaining: 0:15)]

[Birth Ceremony Progress: 197%]

[Reward Rank: undetermined]

There were fifteen minutes left until the birth.

“We have to go…”

As On said, it was time for Eden Miru and Cale to leave. Raon, Hong, and On as well.

“Yes. We must go.”

Cale picked up Eden Miru’s egg once more and bid farewell to Sheritt.

“I’ll be back.”

Then, without hesitation, he turned around.

Raon and Hong looked at him, as if questioning his departure, but Cale’s impassive face revealed nothing. Sheritt, too, simply remained still.

“I’m leaving as well…!”

“Well. For now, I'm leaving.”

Finally, Raon and Hong said goodbye to Sheritt, but she didn't look at them; her gaze discreetly went towards the egg sticking out from the side of Cale, who had left.

“Eden Miru.”

Cale stopped in his tracks at Sheritt’s call.

…

The egg showed no reaction. 

Sheritt did not reveal any emotion on her face. 

In those moments, despite her childish appearance, her maturity was noticeable.

“You...”

At that moment, Cale noticed the figure who had come to escort him and Eden Miru. It was Casillia—the former Pope and Dragon Half-Blood.

“……!”

She halted when she saw Cale lift his hand, signaling her to stop.

At that moment, Sheritt’s words to Eden Miru reached everyone’s ears—spoken in a voice so calm and indifferent it seemed devoid of emotion:

“Eden Miru, you have the right to be born with the blessings of many.”

Cale averted his gaze from Dragon Half-Blood Casillia, whose face was clouded with complicated emotions, and looked back at Eden Miru’s egg.

The egg showed no reaction.
Cale turned around; there, Sheritt was staring at him, her gaze always fixed on Eden Miru.

…

After hesitating and remaining silent for a moment, she spoke again.

“I built a castle for my children.”

Mmm.

Cale understood that she had hesitated because of stories from the past.

For the Dragon Half-Blood, for Sheritt, for Raon—the past was a wound, a curse too painful to touch.

Yet, despite that hesitation, Sheritt’s voice was calm:

“I prepared everything so that those children could grow up without lacking anything. I built a castle for them, decorated it, and even created my own existence. However…”

“There was one thing I regretted.”

Sheritt lifted her head and looked at the ceiling. Despite all her preparations, the thought that her children would be born in that silent, desolate castle filled her with regret. Because she herself—this body—was not truly alive. In the end, no living being would be there to welcome her children; they would have to be born in solitude.

“That’s why I always imagined it.”

“Perhaps because of that regret, I had fantasies—or rather, longings. I thought, what could be better than for my children to be born amid cheers, joy, and blessings?”

Even so, the egg remained motionless.

Sheritt couldn’t see Eden Miru; she simply continued speaking:

“I am the great Dragon Lord. If my children have inherited my blood, I have no doubt they will be great. And that is a fact.”

Dragon Half-Blood Casillia, upon hearing the story of the Fromer Dragon Lord Sheritt, reflected:

Do dragons really give so much importance to their own greatness?

Humans and dragons… once they had mixed, for her—who was so important to Eden Miru’s birth—dragon blood was no longer something great, but almost a curse.

Just as a dark shadow threatened to cloud Casillia’s expression, Sheritt continued:

“However, I did not wish to receive the blessings of many solely because of being great. Well, how great can a dragon be? There are many who have done more remarkable things than I have.”

…!

Casillia's eyes filled with tears. 

Then, Cale watched as Sheritt turned her gaze back to that place.

Looking at Eden Miru, she said:
“Simply, I…”

After a brief hesitation, she added:
“Because I am a mother.”

Wiggle.
The egg stirred. Eden Miru reacted.

“Therefore, I wish for my children to be loved by all.”

Cale felt the egg tremble intensely. It wasn’t out of fear, but because an uncontainable passion was surging from within, spilling past the shell. The egg grew hotter and hotter.

“For this birth, I wish not for silence and solitude, but for joy and cheers.”

Sheritt’s expression remained composed, yet a faint smile touched her lips. Turning to Eden Miru, she said:

“Today I have made that wish come true.”

My children have longed to be loved by all; at least in their birth, she hoped there would be joy and cheers instead of silence and solitude. And today, that wish has been fulfilled.

Everyone present understood the meaning of those words.

Wiggle.
The egg trembled and shook without pause, as if the creature inside were struggling to break free.

Cale stepped forward.
Dragon Half-Blood Casillia watched the scene, absorbed.

Standing before the portal, Cale held the egg out toward Sheritt.
She reached out her hand, but it stopped just short of the barrier.

Leaning slightly closer, she whispered to the egg:
“I will wait for you to be born without any problems.”

Sheritt drew in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Her voice trembled, and Cale could feel the sincerity within it.

Sheritt whispered to Eden Miru:
“I will wait for you to be born without any problems. When it’s all over…”
“Come find me, your mom.”

Sheritt lifted her hand in a gentle gesture.
Raon stepped closer and stroked Eden Miru’s egg.

With a loving gaze, Sheritt spoke to them both.
“I will always be waiting for you. Come see your mom anytime; I’ll always be here.”

“Understood, Mom! I’ll be back soon!”

Raon carefully lifted the egg with his chubby front paws.
“Eden Miru! You will too, right?”

Wiggle.

The egg moved excitedly.

At that moment, the corners of Cale's lips involuntarily curved upwards.

– Oh! How touching! I'm going to dedicate all my strength...

But at the eerie sound emanating from his Dominating Aura, Cale’s smile vanished in an instant.
Even so, he felt satisfied.

Now… this coward will be born properly, won’t he?

Eden Miru…
He could finally be at peace about the birth of this being so dear to him.

A faint smile of contentment returned to Cale’s face.

“Huh?”

At that moment—

[Hatching Rate: 99.98% (Time remaining: 0:12)]

[Birth Ceremony Progress: 197%]

[Reward Rank: undetermined]

The mission window suddenly became strange.

[Change detected!]

“Huh?”

[Hatching Rate: 99.985% (Time remaining: 0:09)]

“Huh?”

Suddenly, the time was drastically reduced. In just 1 second, 3 minutes were deducted.

“What the hell?”

[Hatching Rate: 99.99% (Time remaining: 0:06)]

“Huh?”

[The target's birth will has reached its peak, causing a variation in the mission!]

“What?”

[Hatching Rate: 99.993% (Time remaining: 0:05)]

Cale, staring at the status screen, let out an involuntary exclaimed.
“It’s… it’s crazy!”

Five minutes!

The time was shrinking at an alarming pace.
Four minutes, thirty seconds.
Four minutes.
It was vanishing before his eyes, slipping away in the blink of an instant.

“Human?”

Raon looked at him, utterly perplexed.

Snatch!

Cale snatched the egg from Raon’s front paw and bolted.

“Human!”

“Cale!”

“What's going on?”

“Nyaa!”

“Nyaaa…”

Faced with the bewilderment of his companions, Cale shouted,
“He’ll be born in four minutes—no, in three minutes!”

“Ah!”
“Oh!”

Gasps echoed around him, but Cale had no time to pay attention. Turning toward the egg, he exclaimed,
“Hey! Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

Wiggle, wiggle…!
The egg shook frantically, as though just as bewildered.

But that wasn’t what mattered now.

Whoooosh—!
Cale dashed forward at breakneck speed, as if the wind itself were carrying him along.

[Hatching Rate: 99.996% (Time remaining: 0:02:47)]

For the first time, Cale…

“Clopeh Sekka!”

He fervently called out Clopeh Sekka's name, because the schedule had to be pushed forward.

“C-Cale-nim?”

Cale ignored the bewilderment around him and shouted,
“Help me!”

Then he froze.

Clopeh Sekka’s eyes trembled before lighting up with joy; tears welled up as he stared at Cale.

This damn thing…!

Cale was bewildered, but there was no time to waste. He was in a hurry.

“Two minutes!”

He grabbed Clopeh Sekka's shoulder and shouted,
“He’ll be born in two minutes!”

A birth—eleven minutes earlier than expected. Every plan had to change.

His gaze shot to the mission window.

[Hatching Rate: 99.9965% (Time remaining: 0:02:01)]

“Huh?”

And then, he noticed—

[Birth Ceremony Progress: 197%]

The progress that was clearly at that level...

[Birth Ceremony Progress: 251%]

...went up considerably, as if Eden Miru's will to be born had been reflected.

“Ah—hot!”

Cale was forced to release the egg.

The egg, burning with heat, slowly began to rise into the air.

And that reliable, infuriating nuisance…

“Cale-nim, don’t worry.”

Clopeh Sekka, who had already regained his serene composure, spoke with a calm smile.
“Variables are the very essence of legends, aren’t they?”

“Hehehe.”

Chuckling, he stretched out his hand.
“Everyone to your posts!”

That sight was reminiscent of Clopeh Sekka—the protective knight leading a vast army in war across the continent.

Rumble—!

Inside the Cotton Candy Castle, the 120,000 who had gathered to witness the birth of their new lord all lifted their heads.

Above them, dark crimson clouds swallowed the sky, draping the plains in shadow. These were nothing like the clouds that had come before. The heavens turned black, while a red glow bled across the land.

“…Finally!”
“…Ah, ah—!”

At that moment, everyone felt it—the birth of something grand.

– Cale, let’s go.

At the top of the Cotton Candy Castle, Cale closed his eyes as he gazed outward.

His Dominating Aura began to stir.

Whoooosh—!
The wind howled.

“…!”
The vast plains fell silent. Even the faintest whisper of the wind could be heard, before vanishing altogether.

There was no other way to describe it: a crushing oppression radiated from the castle, as if one stood before the absolute sovereign of this world.

“…!”

And then, from the sky—through the crimson clouds—a small egg descended.

 -----

P/R Thoughts: Eden Miru’s hatching accelerates into chaos, Sheritt’s wish echoes with love, and the skies darken as a new legend shakes the world.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]