One by one, the gathered light was smaller than a fist, gentle and soft, warm like the light of Troy.
The light hesitated, afraid it might harm Lucion, and instead, it rely spun in place.
“It was grateful. If its light had caused any pain, it was sorry.”
Darkness conveyed the divine beast’s sentints.
—It didn’t hurt! Ratta didn’t feel any pain at all!
Unable to restrain herself any longer, Ratta peeked out from Lucion’s shadow, her eyes brimming with tears.
At the sight, the light withdrew further, then stopped moving altogether.
“I have received such grace. Your gentle touch has shown where I must go. If fate allows, when I am reborn, I shall properly express my gratitude to you.”
Darkness delivered the divine beast’s final words, and Lucion lowered his head, silently witnessing its last monts as it faded away like lting snow.
“Yes. I hope we et again. I promise.”
Lucion fiddled with his mask, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to remove it.
* * *
“Please hurry and leave this place.”
Lucion appeared before J.L. and the rchants waiting outside Nevast, bringing along both the purified warlocks and the one they had rescued.
As his darkness suddenly dissipated, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, making him feel as if his very blood was draining away. Still, he held firm.
There was more work to be done.
[Lord Lucion… perhaps you should take a mont to catch your breath. Just for a little while.]
Sensing his pain, Bethel urged him to rest.
Though hidden behind his mask, blood was already trickling from his nose again. His darkness still remained, but perhaps it had been overloaded. It was the first ti he had transported so many people at once.
—Hop! There’s a sll of blood!
Ratta spun around in alarm.
‘There are still two divine beasts left.’
Lucion exhaled slowly, attempting to steady his heaving breath.
“Before sunset, they pour darkness into the divine beasts. That way, the divine beasts are engulfed in darkness and rendered nearly powerless at night. Day after day, they endure… unbearable pain.”
The words of Florence, a high-ranking priest of Nevast, echoed in his mind.
How could he hesitate after hearing that? Hadn’t he just witnessed the final monts of a divine beast?
[Just take a minute. No, even just five seconds to breathe, then we’ll move.]
Bethel’s voice pushed through his thoughts, laced with concern.
“Um, Mr. Hal?”
J.L. spoke up hesitantly.
“Are you… alright?”
Having just witnessed Hal stumble, J.L. couldn’t help but ask.
He didn’t know anyone capable of moving so many people at once without a portal. How much strain must that put on his body?
“I’m fine. Please hurry.”
“I will take full responsibility for getting them to the Empire. But… why not rest for a mont while they board the carriages?”
J.L. wanted to at least offer him so water.
“I’m fine.”
Lucion shook his head before glancing at Ratta.
—Ratta… doesn’t want to use Shadow Movent right now. It feels like Lucion might collapse. Ratta doesn’t like it when Lucion is in pain.
Ratta pouted slightly and turned away.
[Lucion.]
Russell placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
[I understand why you’re pushing yourself, but we still haven’t heard from Heint. Relax a little.]
Lucion t Russell’s gaze and, at last, took a deep breath.
“Do you have any water?” Lucion asked J.L., who had remained rooted in place.
“Yes! I’ll get it right away! Please wait a mont!”
Watching J.L. hurry off, Lucion admitted to himself that he had been too impatient.
[‘It seems that the only person who can truly calm the Lord is Russell.’]
Bethel felt relieved.
‘No, it’s the sa as with Kran. The debt I owe my teacher is too great. He has given … both my future and my present.’
Even as he thought this, Lucion hesitated.
Would Bethel feel left out?
[‘I know how much you respect Russell, so it’s fine. If you want, I could listen to you talk about him all day. After all, I have a master too.’]
Rather than feeling left out, Bethel found Lucion comndable.
‘Just don’t ntion it to my teacher.’
[‘I know. The Lord tends to be shy.’]
Bethel stifled her laughter, but it had already reached Russell’s ears.
[I don’t know what’s so funny, but don’t talk behind my back.]
[It’s nothing of the sort. I swear.]
[Swearing, huh… Well, whatever. I know that whatever you’re discussing, it must be about my greatness. Just putting it out there.]
Russell smirked confidently, glancing at the shadow where Ratta was hiding.
—Russell is the unfortunate genius warlock! Ratta knows!
[See?]
Russell puffed out his chest at Ratta’s enthusiastic support.
[You really do love yourself.]
[Of course. Why wouldn’t I? I’m amazing.]
[Well… I suppose that’s nice to see.]
Though slightly exasperated, Bethel soon burst into laughter.
Even such trivial conversations felt joyful.
—Hehehe!
Ratta giggled as well.
Seeing them so happy, Lucion felt the tension in his shoulders ease.
That happiness was one of the reasons he worked so hard.
‘I wish Hu could have co along too.’
“Mr. Hal.”
At J.L.’s call, Lucion turned.
The atmosphere around him felt noticeably softer than before.
“Have you relaxed a bit?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I have.”
“Mr. Hal.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Don’t try to shoulder everything alone. I once tried to bear the weight of everything myself, and in doing so, I nearly lost sight of those around . You were the one who pointed that out to , weren’t you?”
J.L. had once been the Empire’s shadow, a loyal dog of the royal family. Yet, due to the betrayal of nobles swayed by the Neubra Kingdom, he had been branded a traitor overnight. For over ten years, he carried that false accusation, sacrificing his na and family just to survive.
His words weren’t re platitudes—they ca from experience.
For years, he had done whatever it took to endure, driven by a relentless desire to restore his family’s honor.
When Lucion had first t him, J.L. had been a hollowed-out man, burdened by the weight of everything he had lost, unable to see what still remained.
Lucion let out a small chuckle. “Did I seem impatient?”
“Yes. It was the most impatient I’ve ever seen you.”
“Thank you for your advice.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
Taking the cup J.L. offered, Lucion drank the cool water. It trickled down his throat, soothing the heat clouding his mind.
“That was refreshing.”
“Once everything is over, I’ll prepare even colder water for you.”
J.L. hesitated, holding back the words he truly wanted to say.
Lucion noticed. “Don’t hold back. Say what’s on your mind. There’s still half a cup left.”
He swirled the remaining water gently, giving J.L. permission to speak freely.
J.L. didn’t hesitate this ti.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with how others perceive you. You are at your best when you focus on yourself, Mr. Hal.”
Lucion’s mask took on a faint blue hue.
“Understood.” Then, with renewed determination, he declared, “Tonight, let’s be the thieves of justice.”
A smile broke across J.L.’s face.
“I will play my part as well.”
* * *
“There are two ways into the secret passage where the divine beasts are kept. One leads to the First Servant’s chamber, so I’ll tell you the other route instead.”
Recalling Florence’s instructions, Lucion worked swiftly to unravel the intricate locking spells, his fingers moving deftly.
—A secret passage! Ratta loves secret passages! A thrilling, hidden place just for Ratta!
As Ratta humd happily, Lucion double-tapped the enchanted area as if he were pressing a touchscreen.
‘As long as you know the code, it’s simple.’
With every successfully bypassed lock, a thrill of satisfaction coursed through him.
Pow!
Every now and then, he made sure to land a darkness-infused punch on any priests loitering nearby.
After all, their purpose wasn’t to guard but to serve as ssengers, and they were ant to stop the divine beasts from escaping while being nearly powerless during the day, consud by darkness.
Lucion felt the relics within his magic pouch stir restlessly.
It was a welco sensation.
Unlike darkness, the relic had no emotions, no voice, yet sohow, it still felt as though it were speaking to him in its own way.
Creak.
He opened the last door.
The first thing that hit him was the stale air, thick with dust, untouched for what seed like an eternity.
Lying motionless on the floor was the divine beast.
Once adorned with magnificent feathers, it now looked worn and fragile, its luster lost. Only the burning intensity of its gaze remained, filled with unwavering determination.
In those fierce eyes was a vow—an unyielding promise to never surrender its will.
[The divine beast…]
Bethel’s voice wavered with sorrow.
Seeing the divine beast in such a state stirred painful mories—mories of dying as a test subject for a curse.
Ratta erged from the shadows and approached the bird-like divine beast.
—Divine beast uncle, are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?
At her gentle question, the divine beast’s eyes widened slightly. Struggling, it attempted to lift itself.
—No, don’t move! It’ll hurt more. Ratta is fine just looking at you like this. Right, Lucion?
Ratta turned to Lucion for confirmation.
“That’s right. We ca to rescue you.”
Unlike Ratta, Lucion remained where he was, his voice calm and asured. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel✶fire
No matter how noble the divine beast was, it had surely grown weary of warlocks by now.
-Oh… You’re the lovely child everyone has been waiting for.
Contrary to Lucion’s expectations, the divine beast greeted him and Ratta with a warm smile.
-I never imagined I would welco you in this way, but it brings great joy to see you again.
Lucion’s brow furrowed slightly. “I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m just a vessel.”
He cautiously stepped closer, preparing to move the divine beast.
-Dear child, anyone who has not yet manifested but has received the blessings of darkness can indeed beco a vessel.
Lucion froze mid-step. “What do you an by that?”
-What matters more than being a vessel is the soul itself. Darkness searches for that soul, and only then does it choose a vessel. So, please, do not speak of yourself with such sorrow.
Lucion forced his growing questions aside.
“Let’s save this conversation for later. We need to get out of here first.”
The situation wasn’t good. Otherwise, he would have asked just what kind of soul the divine beast was referring to.
The divine beast exhaled slowly.
-Little one.
“My na is Lucion.”
Lucion carefully placed his hand on the divine beast’s body. It wasn’t cold, nor was it warm—it simply was.
-Yes, Lucion. May I ask you to wait just a mont?
The divine beast turned to Ratta, unfurling its wings slightly and nudging her gently.
Ratta tilted her head before reaching out, grasping a feather in her small paws. Her eyes sparkled at the unfamiliar texture.
—I’m Ratta! What’s your na, uncle?
-I have no na.
—Then ask Lucion to na you! Uncle Troy didn’t have a na either, but Lucion gave him one! And he nad too! Heehee!
Ratta giggled excitedly.
“A divine beast has also been born in the Empire, and it has co here now. Its na is Troy.”
Lucion briefly explained the situation.
-Yes, I felt it too. Soone was calling .
The divine beast turned its gaze toward Lucion.
-Can you take out the relics so I can move?
Lucion hesitated. “We need to leave Nevast before Ravid notices us.”
-I cannot go.
Lucion paused. He didn’t sense any trace of black magic from the divine beast.
[There’s no black magic on it. You saw it correctly.] Russell confird.
‘So, is it just being stubborn?’
Lucion considered this for a mont, but with another divine beast still left to rescue, he couldn’t afford to hesitate.
“I apologize in advance. Ratta.”
—R-Ratta… um… um…
Ratta folded her ears back and lowered her body, pressing herself against the ground.
-Do you know about the Usurper?
The divine beast’s sudden ntion of the Usurper made Lucion freeze, a na surfacing in his mind.
‘Veronia…?’
-The servant of darkness killed the darkness to survive and wore its mask.
Wasn’t that exactly what the black figure had said?
A servant of darkness born from darkness that killed darkness, it certainly fit the description of a usurper.
-Here in Nevast, they are trying to summon back the Usurper, the one who was rejected and cast out from this world.
The divine beast spoke, its expression twisting with deep unease.
Author's Thoughts
📚 Discover My Latest Series!
– The F‑Rank Guild Master Has Too Much Money
🔗 sreadhive/series/122683/
– The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees
🔗 sreadhive/series/122689/Table of Contents
Chapter 294.2 - Side Story – Teacher and Disciple (5)Chapter 294.1 - Side Story – Teacher and Disciple (5)Chapter 293 - Side Story – Teacher and Disciple (4)Chapter 292 - Side Story – Teacher and Disciple (3)Chapter 291 - Side Story – Teacher and Disciple (2)Chapter 290 - Side Story – Teacher and DiscipleChapter 289 - Epilogue (2)Chapter 288 - Epilogue - The Count's Youngest Son is a WarlockChapter 287.2 - It’s Snowing (7.2)Chapter 287.1 - It's Snowing (7)Chapter 286 - It's Snowing (6)Chapter 285 - It's Snowing (5)Chapter 284 - It's Snowing (4)Chapter 283 - It's Snowing (3)Chapter 282 - It's Snowing (2)Chapter 281 - It's SnowingChapter 280 - So… (3)Chapter 279 - So… (2)Chapter 278 - So…Chapter 277 - Final Preparations (3)Chapter 276 - Final Preparations (2)Chapter 275 - Final PreparationsChapter 274 - I've Been Waiting For You (3)Chapter 273 - I've Been Waiting For You (2)Chapter 272 - I've Been Waiting For YouChapter 271 - The Fifth Story (3)Chapter 270 - The Fifth Story (2)Chapter 269 - The Fifth StoryChapter 268 - Russell Paul (3)Chapter 267 - Russell Paul (2)Chapter 266 - Russell PaulChapter 265 - Make Do With What You Have (3)Chapter 264 - Make Do With What You Have (2)Chapter 263 - Make Do With What You HaveChapter 262 - This Can't Be Happening (3)Chapter 261 - This Can't Be Happening (2)Chapter 260 - This Can't Be HappeningChapter 259 - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (3)Chapter 258 - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (2)Chapter 257 - A Wolf in Sheep's ClothingChapter 256 - Three-Way Battle (3)Chapter 255 - The Three-Way Battle (2)Chapter 254 - The Three-Way BattleChapter 253 - One Step Closer (3)Chapter 252 - One Step Closer (2)Chapter 251 - One Step CloserChapter 250 - I am a Saint (3)Chapter 249 - I am a Saint (2)Chapter 248 - I am a Saint.Chapter 247 - Take Part (3)Chapter 246 - Take Part (2)Chapter 245 - Take PartChapter 244 - The Na is (3)Chapter 243 - The Na is (2)Chapter 242 - The Na isChapter 241 - One More (3)Chapter 240 - One More (2)Chapter 239 - One MoreChapter 238 - Roar, and the Fourth Story (3)Chapter 237 - Roar, and the Fourth Story (2)Chapter 236 - Roar, and the Fourth StoryChapter 235 - Sothing Big Happened (3)Chapter 234 - Sothing Big Happened (2)Chapter 233 - Sothing Big HappenedChapter 232 - I'm looking at it (3)Chapter 231 - I'm looking at it (2)Chapter 230 - I'm looking at itChapter 229 - The Cheers are Back (3)Chapter 228 - The Cheers are Back (2)Chapter 227 - The Cheers are BackChapter 226 - To the Magic Tower (3)Chapter 225 - To the Magic Tower (2)Chapter 224 - To the Magic TowerChapter 223 - Words to Share (3)Chapter 222 - Words to Share (2)Chapter 221 - Words to ShareChapter 220 - Overflow (3)Chapter 219 - Overflow (2)Chapter 218 - OverflowChapter 217 - The third story (3)Chapter 216 - The third story (2)Chapter 215 - The third storyChapter 214 - I'm pissed (3)Chapter 213 - I'm pissed (2)Chapter 212 - I'm pissedChapter 211 - I've co to catch you (3)Chapter 210 - I've co to catch you (2)Chapter 209 - I've co to catch you Chapter 208 - I ca to collect the debt (3)Chapter 207 - I ca to collect the debt (2)Chapter 206 - I ca to collect the debtChapter 205 - Second story (3)Chapter 204 - Second story (2)Chapter 203 - Second storyChapter 202 - To the Kingdom of Keortia (3)Chapter 201 - To the Kingdom of Keortia (2)Chapter 200 - To the Kingdom of KeortiaChapter 199 - He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself (3)Chapter 198 - He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself (2)Chapter 197 - He who digs a pit for others falls into it himselfChapter 196 - The Emperor, Ketlan Tesla (3)Chapter 195 - The Emperor, Ketlan Tesla (2)Chapter 194 - The Emperor, Ketlan TeslaChapter 193 - Prince of Ruin, Kran (3)Chapter 192 - Prince of Ruin, Kran (2)Chapter 191 - Prince of Ruin, KranChapter 190 - Shh. It's a secret (3)Chapter 189 - Shh. It's a secret (2)Chapter 188 - Shh. It's a secretChapter 187 - Got caught (3)Chapter 186 - Got caught (2)Chapter 185 - Got caughtChapter 184 - Shaela (3)Chapter 183 - Shaela (2)Chapter 182 - ShaelaChapter 181 - The owl laughs (3)Chapter 180 - The owl laughs (2)Chapter 179 - The owl laughsChapter 178 - Change (3)Chapter 177 - Change (2)Chapter 176 - ChangeChapter 175 - Great Light Temple, Again? (3)Chapter 174 - Great Light Temple, Again? (2)Chapter 173 - Great Light Temple, Again?Chapter 172 - Listen To The Story (3)Chapter 171 - Listen To The Story (2)Chapter 170 - Listen To The StoryChapter 169 - I Repay The Favor (3)Chapter 168 - I Repay The Favor (2)Chapter 167 - I Repay The FavorChapter 166 - Entangled and connected (3)Chapter 165 - Entangled and connected (2)Chapter 164 - Entangled and connectedChapter 163 - Frugally (3)Chapter 162 - Frugally (2)Chapter 161 - FrugallyChapter 160 - Pilgrimage Route (3)Chapter 159 - Pilgrimage Route (2)Chapter 158 - Pilgrimage RouteChapter 157 - To the North (3)Chapter 156 - To the North (2)Chapter 155 - To the NorthChapter 154 - Teasing with Tongue (3)Chapter 153 - Teasing with Tongue (2)Chapter 152 - Teasing with TongueChapter 151 - The Pursuer is the Sa (3)Chapter 150 - The Pursuer is the Sa (2)Chapter 149 - The Pursuer is the Sa (1) Chapter 148 - Hu is Hu (3)Chapter 147 - Hu is Hu (2)Chapter 146 - Hu is Hu (1)Chapter 145 - Remove The Silent Mask (3)Chapter 144 - Remove the Silent Mask (2)Chapter 143 - Remove the Silent Mask (1)Chapter 142 - How dare you aim at my stuff? (3)Chapter 141 - How dare you aim at my stuff? (2)Chapter 140 - How dare you aim at my stuff?Chapter 139 - It's very tempting (3)Chapter 138 - It's very tempting (2)Chapter 137 - I want itChapter 136 - Have you forgotten who I am? (3)Chapter 135 - Have you forgotten who I am? (2)Chapter 134 - Have you forgotten who I am?Chapter 133 - To the Auction house (3)Chapter 132 - To the Auction House (2)Chapter 131 - To the Auction HouseChapter 130 - Too Much to Refuse (3)Chapter 129 - Too Much to Refuse (2)Chapter 128 - Too Much to RefuseChapter 127 - Let's Take Care of This (3)Chapter 126 - Let's Take Care of This (2)Chapter 125 - Let's Take Care of ThisChapter 124 - Departure to the South (3)Chapter 123 - Departure to the South (2)Chapter 122 - Departure to the SouthChapter 121 - Get the Black Bead (3)Chapter 120 - Get the Black Bead (2)Chapter 119 - Get the Black BeadChapter 118 - To Find the Notebook (3)Chapter 117 - To Find the Notebook (2)Chapter 116 - To Find the NotebookChapter 115 - The Invitation is Here (3)Chapter 114 - The Invitation is Here (2)Chapter 113 - The Invitation is HereChapter 112 - The Reint rcenary Corps (3)Chapter 111 - The Reint rcenary Corps (2)Chapter 110 - The Reint rcenary CorpsChapter 109 - We don't seem to be in sync (3)Chapter 108 - We don't seem to be in sync (2)Chapter 107 - We don't seem to be in syncChapter 106 - Step by Step (4)Chapter 105 - Step by Step (3)Chapter 104 - Step by Step (2)Chapter 103 - Step by StepChapter 102 - Assassins (3)Chapter 101 - Assassins (2)Chapter 100 - AssassinsChapter 99 - Necromancy (3)Chapter 98 - Necromancy (2)Chapter 97 - NecromancyChapter 96 - Step on the enemy's foot while stepping backward (3)Chapter 95 - Step on the enemy's foot while stepping backward (2)Chapter 94 - Step on the enemy's foot while stepping backwardChapter 93 - Chasing (3)Chapter 92 - Chasing (2)Chapter 91 - ChasingChapter 90 - Organization, the Beginning of Ale (3)Chapter 89 - Organization, the Beginning of Ale (2)Chapter 88 - Organization, the Beginning of AleChapter 87 - Viscount Chefran (3)Chapter 86 - Viscount Chefran (2)Chapter 85 - Viscount ChefranChapter 84 - Loyalty to You (3)Chapter 83 - Loyalty to You (2)Chapter 82 - Loyalty to YouChapter 81 - Convince the Craftsn (3)Chapter 80 - Convince the Craftsn (2)Chapter 79 - Convince the CraftsnChapter 78 - Take Over (3)Chapter 77 - Take Over (2)Chapter 76 - Take OverChapter 75 - Housework (3)Chapter 74 - Housework (2)Chapter 73 - HouseworkChapter 72 - Return to the Frontier (3)Chapter 71 - Return to the Frontier (2)Chapter 70 - Return to the FrontierChapter 69 - Let's Catch the Rat (3)Chapter 68 - Let's Catch the Rat (2)Chapter 67 - Let's Catch the Rat!Chapter 66 - Moving (3)Chapter 65 - Moving (2)Chapter 64 - MovingChapter 63 - Ti Has Stopped (3)Chapter 62 - Ti Has Stopped (2)Chapter 61 - Ti Has Stopped?Chapter 60 - Secret Safe, Fallen Ghost (3)Chapter 59 - Secret Safe, Fallen Ghost (2)Chapter 58 - Secret Safe, Fallen GhostChapter 57 - Death Knights Follow (3)Chapter 56 - The Death Knight Follows (2)Chapter 55 - Death Knights FollowChapter 54 - This Cheer is Just For (3)Chapter 53 - This Cheer is Just For (2)Chapter 52 - This Cheer is Just For Chapter 51 - Am I the Main Character Today (3)Chapter 50 - Am I the Main Character Today (2)Chapter 49 - Am I the Main Character Today?Chapter 48 - Hold on (3)Chapter 47 - Hold On (2)Chapter 46 - Hold on!Chapter 45 - Who is it? (3)Chapter 44 - Who is it? (2)Chapter 43 - Who is it?Chapter 42 - It Changed (2)Chapter 41 - It changed (2)Chapter 40 - It changedChapter 39 - Refreshing and sweet scent! (3)Chapter 38 - Refreshing and sweet scent! (2)Chapter 37 - Refreshing and sweet scent!Chapter 36 - Rewards are Sweet (3)Chapter 35 - Rewards are Sweet (2)Chapter 34 - Rewards are SweetChapter 33 - Divine Beast Birth Banquet (3)Chapter 32 - Divine Beast Birth Banquet? (2)Chapter 31 - Divine Beast Birthday Banquet?Chapter 30 - There's a Sign (3)Chapter 29 - There's a Sign (2)Chapter 28 - There's a SignChapter 27 - And Run Into (3)Chapter 26 - And Run Into (2)Chapter 25 - And Run IntoChapter 24 - et (3)Chapter 23 - et (2)Chapter 22 - etChapter 21 - Is this how it goes? (3)Chapter 20 - Is this how it goes? (2)Chapter 19 - Is this how it goes?Chapter 18 - Ghost Domination (3)Chapter 17 - Ghost Domination (2)Chapter 16 - Ghost DominationChapter 15 - Fate is so… (3)Chapter 14 - Fate is so... (2)Chapter 13 - Fate is so...Chapter 12 - Training (3)Chapter 11 - Training (2)Chapter 10 - TrainingChapter 9 - I Knew This Would Happen (3)Chapter 8 - I Knew This Would Happen (2)Chapter 7 - I Knew This Would HappenChapter 6 - One Step (3)Chapter 5 - One Step (2)Chapter 4 - One StepChapter 3 - I Rembered (3)Chapter 2 - I Rembered (2)Chapter 1 - I Rembered
Reviews
All reviews (0)