Chapter 204: Second story (2)

There was an option to retreat and come back, but the limit on how many he could bring with him through Shadow Movement meant that they would inevitably attract Cronia’s attention.

Lucion didn’t want the Chefran family’s hideout to be discovered just yet.

“The more we move, the more traces we leave behind. We need to be prepared in case we miss something. Above all, those movements can alert the enemies to our presence.”

Kran continued to voice his concerns.

Until now, they had acted stealthily. Revealing themselves so suddenly would undo all their previous efforts.

“Besides, I don’t feel like we’re going to lose at all.”

Kran immediately took out his favorite bow.

“I’ll handle the priests. I’ll bring them down in one fell swoop, so you don’t have to worry.”

Hume drew the greatsword he had received from Zamad.

Thud.

Even a light placement on the ground resonated heavily.

“Shouldn’t Mr. Hamel keep his distance from the priests? Or shall I eliminate them?”

Reint didn’t know why he was here.

He had met Peter, who asked if he was free, and he had ended up being dragged along.

According to what Kran had said yesterday, Hamel had negotiated with the Emperor and promised the organization’s independence.

It was hard to believe, but since it was Hamel who had taken action, there was reason to trust it.

“You can kill them.” Lucion replied.

“Are those guys enemies of the Empire?” Reint asked again.

Although he wasn’t sure exactly how Hamel had met with the Emperor and what had been said to secure such a promise, he had heard that there were terms that kept them from becoming enemies of the Empire.

If that was the case, then the Empire’s enemies would naturally be the enemies of the Ale 

organization as well. Since Hamel had given the go-ahead to kill them, weren’t they enemies of the Empire?

“They’re probably the priests of Nevast or some low-ranking members,” Lucion nodded.

“In that case, I can rest easy. Despite my mercenary life, my loyalty lies with the Empire. While I may have taken Imperial lives before, it doesn’t sit… well with me.”

Reint managed a smile at last.

[I’ll go ahead and try to initiate a conversation first.]

Russell informed Lucion before proceeding in the direction indicated by Bethel.

“I’ll leave the talking to you.”

Reint raised his mana lightly as he spoke.

“I’ll watch our backs, so you don’t need to worry.”

Peter retrieved several rings from his pocket, sliding them onto his fingers.

Under Lucion’s gaze, Peter offered an awkward smile.

“It’s a defensive magic item Miella made for me. When dispersed like this, they sometimes struggle to shield me due to their confusing placements.”

His words carried the weight of his experience.

[Well then, Lord Lucion.]

Bethel smiled at Lucion.

As soon as Lucion merged with Bethel, he cast a shadow over the highest tree, sticking it there.

It was one of the black magic spells that allowed him to share his vision.

Asking Russell to teach him a simple black magic spell before going to bed last night was a wise decision.

―Woohoo! I can see everything!

With Bethel’s aid, Lucion extended his sight even higher.

“Everyone, take your positions. I’ll bind their legs.”

The priests would likely be the most alert, but if they attacked all at once, it shouldn’t be a problem.

They were in the mountains, after all.

As shadows, they could be anywhere.

“Is that the signal?” Reint asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Truth be told, Reint still couldn’t get over the sensation of being enveloped in black magic when he came here from the mansion.

It was fantastic.

It felt like warming your hands in front of a cozy fireplace.

“Yes. It’s the signal.”

Lucion had little experience fighting alongside his group; he had never really been sure who should coordinate with whom.

‘Well, they’ll fight well on their own.’

He cast a sidelong glance at Kran.

He was already up in the tree, in the position where the enemies were most visible.

Reint readied himself to leap into action, while Peter muttered something to himself.

And then he locked eyes with Hume.

“I’ll ensure that nothing stands before Mr. Hamel.”

Lucion couldn’t help but chuckle at the serious look in Hume’s eyes.

“Alright.”

―Ratta is ready! Ratta had a lot of delicious meat today and is full of energy!

“That’s a relief.”

Lucion released the darkness, reopening his eyes.

He could see the positions of the enemies through another eye he had set atop the tree.

One.

Three.

Ten.

The darkness, entwined with shadows that could never be severed, pulsated in sync with his heartbeat.

‘I’ve caught them all!’

A total of forty-one.

Let’s go!

As he heard the gleeful laughter of his own darkness, Lucion activated his debuff.

‘Darkness, bind their legs!’

The darkness surged simultaneously from forty-one shadows, wrapping around the enemies’ legs, leaving behind black stars as proof of the debuff.

He felt as if the darkness he controlled was pulling back all at once, but Lucion remained calm and composed.

“It’s an ambush!”

Someone finally shouted out the alarm, but it came seconds too late.

There was enough time for a single arrow to be shot.

Whizz!

The arrow loaded with aura accurately hit the priest’s head.

Kran wore a slightly disappointed expression.

“Got one,” he remarked, smoothly drawing back his bowstring once more.

Lucion effortlessly immobilized the enemies’ legs and Kran picked off his targets.

“Got another one.”

Lucion couldn’t help but ponder what would have happened if that black magic had been an attack.

‘They would have all definitely been dead.’

The memory of darkness emanating from the shadows was enough to send a chill down his spine.

Bam!

As two priests fell dead, the remaining priests unleashed a burst of light simultaneously.

‘Ah, they’re trying to obscure our vision?’

Lucion found it amusing.

While such a tactic might have worked on others, Hume was already in motion.

‘That won’t hinder Hume in the least.’

Hume maintained a certain distance and planted his feet firmly on the ground to stabilize his stance.

Thwack!

With his legs firmly planted and imbued with the power of ice, Hume swung his greatsword fiercely.

It didn’t matter where the enemies were.

The target was clear before him.

Whoosh!

With an ear-piercing sound as if it were cutting through space, a huge block of ice flew faster than the speed at which he swung his greatsword.

Bang!

The sound of something hitting a wall echoed, followed by a thick scent of blood wafting through the air.

“I’ll take it from here.”

A golden glint flickered in Reint’s eyes.

Swish, swish, swish.

The sky was filled with countless swords.

It wasn’t their vision that was obscured but rather their enemies.

With a gesture from Reint, swords descended upon the spot where the enemies had stood.

Thud!

Simultaneously, Reint snapped his fingers.

Fwoooosh!

From where the swords landed, flames erupted.

‘Let’s move, Bethel.’

Lucion drew his sword, darkness swirling around it.

He couldn’t let this perfect opportunity to confront the priests slip away.

Lucion laughed softly as he heard Bethel let out an exasperated sigh. 

Just as the light began to fade, Lucion used his shadow movement to appear in front of the enemies.

“Ha, Hamel-nim!” Kran gasped in shock.

Why was he moving amidst the chaos when someone injured would normally stay put?

[Even though my heart is reluctant in your state, it’s undoubtedly a good opportunity.]

Bethel took a deep breath.

The enemies were half-dead from the previous attack, but the priests were still alive. The knight was still standing, too.

Now was the moment to unleash the darkness that had grown nearly fivefold since Lucion had met him.

But it was Lucion who sensed the light.

Only two priests remained.

Perfect.

Lucion steadied his breath.

In his right hand, he held the sword.

The left hand was surrounded by darkness.

The moment Lucion detected the light, he had already locked onto the priests’ positions.

What happens when darkness turns aggressive?

He had always been curious, but he had held back that aggression out of concern for Russell. 

Now, he allowed that pent-up darkness to surge forth.

As Lucion spread his fingers, the darkness that had been lurking in the priests’ shadows erupted into sharp spikes, piercing through their legs.

“Gaaah!”

The screams came in unison.

—Uurgh.

Ratta was startled.

Quickly refocusing, Ratta employed shadow movement to position Lucion directly in front of the priests.

Lucion swung his sword quickly, stopping that blinding light from arising once more.

The priest’s wrist fell to the ground.

A scream echoed out, and Lucion was already turning his attention to the other priest.

Before the priest could unleash his light, Lucion struck with darkness, impaling his shoulder.

Whack.

Blood spurted, splattering on his mask.

What had been intended as a mere pierce through the shoulder ended with the darkness severing the priest’s arm entirely.

‘It’s a bit… feral, isn’t it?’

Lucion gently calmed the darkness that had turned into a wild beast as if unjustly aggrieved.

—No! Listen to Lucion! Ratta will be angry!

[Had the darkness within the lord always been this vicious?]

Bethel was surprised by the somewhat unfamiliar darkness of Lucion.

‘Indeed. It surprised me as well.’

Lucion was once again scared as he watched his darkness continue to rage as if growling.

“Are you okay?”

Hume rushed over, beheading the remaining priest in one swift motion as he asked.

Hadn’t Lucion been deliberately avoiding killing anyone to prevent his own corruption?

“I’m fine. As long as I don’t kill them.”

Lucion turned his back and swung his sword.

The darkness in the sword cut down the shield wielded by the enemy.

‘Burst!’

Boom!

Lucion detonated the darkness just short of hitting the enemy, taking advantage of the knight’s stumble to allow Hume to cut through the enemy’s body.

Swish.

‘Hmm.’

Lucion summoned the darkness.

―Ah! Ratta knows what Lucion is up to. It’s like dingle-dangle, right?

“Exactly.”

“No. Anything more than this is not good for your body. I will do it.”

Hume spoke while blocking the knight’s sword running towards Lucion.

With a hint of annoyance, he pressed down against the aura the knight had summoned, taking the blunt end of his sword instead of the blade to slam it onto the knight’s head.

Thud.

“No. Since Teacher isn’t here, let me try it once.”

[Lord Lucion?]

“When else will I get the chance, Bethel?”

Lucion’s eagerness made Bethel reluctant to give in, but her mind quickly gave in.

She realized just how well Russell had functioned as a watcher.

At this moment, Lucion felt like a wild stallion that had broken free from its reins.

[‘Russell, when will you arrive?’]

Bethel prayed earnestly.

The last thing she saw was Russell grabbing two death knights by the collars and dragging them away so that Lucion would not be harmed.

Lucion identified them all as if he had tied the legs of the 41 people.

—It’s dingle-dangle!

With Ratta’s shout, Lucion not only pierced through their shoulders with the darkness but also lifted them all up to the sky.

‘…!’

Lucion hesitated as he unleashed the black magic.

The sight of them spurting blood and rising as if being crucified in the sky felt strange.

He had suppressed the darkness’s aggression, now understanding Russell’s insistence on restraint.

The warlock was strong.

And the darkness, no matter how much he tried to control it, was fiercely rebellious.

“I’ll finish them off.”

Hume grew anxious, fearing the enemies might die before he could act.

“This is the most comfortable fight I’ve ever had.”

Reint multiplied the magical swords he had conjured behind him to match the number of enemies, except for just one person.

Swoosh.

Bang!

As he pointed with his finger, all the magical swords pierced through the enemies’ heads.

Lucion hurriedly withdrew the darkness before they died.

It was because Russell was approaching him with an angry expression.

[Lucion…!]

Hiccup.

Startled, Lucion involuntarily hiccupped.

[You didn’t… kill them, did you?]

Lucion quickly shook his head in response to Russell’s fierce question.

Only then did Russell sigh.

But Russell’s eyes were still narrowed, staring at Lucion with intensity.

[Yes. As long as you didn’t kill them, that’s what matters. I understand, Lucion. You must have been curious, considering you’ve suppressed your darkness’s aggression while using black magic.]

“I’m skilled at extracting confessions, so please wait here,” Reint said as he gripped the last surviving enemy by the nape and walked towards somewhere.

Hume watched Lucion with an anxious gaze, feeling that if he had just intervened sooner, Russell wouldn’t be scolding Lucion like this.

[You must have already learned your lesson, right? Unleashing that aggression amplifies black magic’s potency. Even someone with a strong mind like you can be shaken when the darkness goes wild. I assume you have a bit of understanding about why I instructed you not to unleash it.]

Lucion nodded slightly.

[“I understand. My curiosity got the better of me. I apologize, teacher. I hope you’re not too upset.”] Bethel relayed Lucion’s message.

Russell, somewhat taken aback by the apology, took a breath to suppress his anger.

[Releasing that aggression and letting your emotions run wild would have been difficult to rein in. Consider it a precautionary measure and keep it in check.]

[“I will definitely keep that in mind, Teacher.”] Bethel conveyed Lucion’s assurance.

As Russell pardoned Lucion, Bethel beamed with relief.

Simultaneously, Lucion eased his previously tense shoulders.

[So, Russell. What happened with the Death Knight? Did you send them away?] Bethel asked, pointing toward the sky.

[No. I just had a conversation with them. Turns out, they were people from the Keortia Kingdom. They knew Kran survived and have been waiting all this time.]

Russell pointed to where they had been guarding.

[The barrier is going to dissolve now. It was being maintained by their mana.]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read