Ruel gripped the cane that Cassion offered, steadying himself.

The First Setiria, in a sense, was a variant. The Devotee of Darkness had only ever been a sacrifice to the black water, not directly corrupted and manipulated like this. 

‘This is the worst.’

“Ruel-nim, earlier you mentioned that the Great Man could control death. I initially thought it was impossible, but your hypothesis seems correct. There are no corrupted warlocks near us right now.”

Ruel recalled Hikars’ words before he took control of the monster. It was commonly believed that when manipulating a corpse, a mad warlock must be nearby. However, Hikars had explicitly stated there was no one around. This suggested that some aspect of the Great Man’s power was involved. 

‘It’s unbelievable,’ Ruel thought, finding himself chuckling at the sheer absurdity of the situation. The idea of a devotee of darkness, a wielder of darkness, turning into a corrupted corpse was terrifying. Yet, Ruel also recognized a clear limitation. If the Great Man could manipulate numerous corrupted devotees of darkness, there would have been no need to create the black water in the first place. 

‘…hah.’

Putting his thoughts aside, Ruel understood the simple task at hand: he had to defeat the enemy. This was all part of the Great Man’s plan. With a smile on his face, Ruel declared, “I am here.”

As the First Setiria’s gaze briefly met Ruel’s, the shadows beneath Ruel’s feet stirred. 

“Stop. Wait. Everything will freeze at your breath,” Aris warned.

Instantly, ice flowers sprouted from beneath Aris’s feet, extending towards the First Setiria. The multiplying ice flowers began to freeze the enemy’s feet. 

“I’ve got you,” Aris announced, preparing another spell.

“I will handle the shadows,” Ganien stated, exhaling as steam rose from his body. 

“I’ll keep pace with you, Ruel-nim, and you may cast your shadow to your heart’s content,” Cassion added, taking a step back.

Surprised, Ruel looked at Cassion. “Are you not going to stop me?” he asked.

“I am not in a position to stop you, so focus on the task at hand,” Cassion reassured him.

“Right, that’s reassuring.”

Ruel inhaled Breath, ready to command his shadows into action. It had been a while since he had been in a real battle, but he had not forgotten that feeling. 

‘I haven’t been idle all this time.’ 

Ruel’s shadow slithered across the floor like a snake. Sensing his shadow, the First Setiria’s shadow also began to move. Like encountering a delicious meal, his shadow whispered to him to devour the First Setiria’s shadow.

“I will strike at the shadows. Pay no attention to anything else!” 

Trusting in Ganien, Ruel focused solely on moving his own shadow, ignoring the enemy’s. A precise blue aura severed the enemy’s shadow with a crack.

Crack!

The ground cracked, sending up a cloud of dust. A wind blew through. As the dust cleared, several shields appeared before Ruel. It was Aris’s magic.

“Don’t worry, Ruel-nim. I’ll block everything,” Aris assured him, standing protectively in front.

Suddenly, the First Setiria moved a shadow from a tree behind Ruel, but Cassion’s dagger swiftly intercepted it. “Do not concern yourself with anything else. I will eliminate them all,” Cassion declared. Ṟ𝔞ＮꝊ𝔟Ě𝓢

‘I really feel reassured.’

Ruel smirked, steadying himself with the cane as a wave of dizziness briefly washed over him.

Night. This was the hour when shadows enveloped everything. The world lay beneath his feet as Ruel wiped his running nose, twirling his staff.

Ttak!

The initial shadow he dispatched was to precisely pinpoint the First Setiria. Ruel’s eyes gleamed as shadows began to congregate around the First Setiria.

As the first shadow reached the First Setiria’s legs, Ruel directed all the shadows around him to ensnare the target completely. It was as if thousands of black lights were shooting towards the First Setiria.

“Cough!” Ruel groaned. 

The First Setiria was also a devotee of darkness. As the First Setiria’s shadow started to consume his own, a searing pain akin to being torn apart surged through him. Despite the agony, Ruel persisted and commanded his shadow, urging it to consume the corrupted shadow.

‘Devour it.’

His shadow, drooling with anticipation, instantaneously lunged at the enemy’s shadow.

‘Consume the corrupted shadow!’

It sounded as though something with teeth was crunching as it devoured.

“Cough!”

As the corruption washed over him, Ruel spat out a mouthful of blood. His legs weakened, but he clung to the cane, managing to remain upright. Nevertheless, the relentless corruption continued to surge, inflicting a pain that felt like his entire body was being engulfed in flames.

“Cough!”

With another gush of blood, Ruel’s body collapsed as if melting down. Cassion swiftly sliced through the enemy’s shadow and caught Ruel urgently.

Ha.

As Ruel exhaled, the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. His entire body trembled.

“Stay conscious, Ruel-nim.”

Ruel nodded at Cassion’s words while wiping his mouth. The corruption ran deep. He needed to consume more. However, the excruciating pain threatened to overwhelm him, pushing his consciousness to the brink.

‘I can endure this much…’ Ruel glanced back anxiously. He heard faint footsteps approaching. That couldn’t be. “Le… Cough!”

Ruel couldn’t finish his sentence and coughed up blood again. Leo’s footsteps paused briefly due to the blood Ruel spilled, but he soon regained his focus and sprinted forward with determination. 

—This body shall purify it! Ruel shall not suffer!

“Stop… Hah…!” Ruel struggled to speak clearly, his breath growing short as his consciousness waned.

—This body is a Great Purifier!

Leo approached the First Setiria, who was covered in Ruel’ shadow. 

—Don’t let Ruel suffer anymore!

Staring at the enemy, Leo created a silver orb. He carefully held out the orb, then perked up his ears and looked around. He smelled something. A very strong scent of another Great Purifier but purification came first.

Leo extended the orb towards the shadow once more, stepping back and observing as the silver orb dispersed like countless stars across the shadow. Leo’s eyes sparkled as the unnatural scent gradually dissipated.

—…? 

Leo tilted his head in confusion. The silver light that had ascended into the sky now spread through the shadows into the forest. As the silver light touched them, the forest abruptly transformed, as if summer had arrived, exchanging purple leaves for green. The fresh, changing leaves and the silver light spreading throughout the entire forest made it seem as if there were stars floating in a lake.

—Whoa!

Leo marveled at the purification spreading throughout the forest but quickly refocused on reaching Ruel, running joyfully.

—Ruel. This body—… huh?

Leo suddenly halted at the silver light gathering around him. The light began to coalesce, taking on the form of foxes—just like him. As the number of silver-shaped foxes increased, Leo flattened his ears and felt his legs trembling.

—Ruel, Ruel!

But as the silver light descended to gently stroke him, Leo’s eyes widened in surprise. It was not frightening at all. It was just endlessly affectionate.

—Why do you apologize to this body?

The silver light was reflected in Leo’s eyes. The foxes danced around him, and his head moved back and forth before he broke into a broad smile.

—How beautiful.

The foxes seemed to rush toward him as if to embrace him all at once. Leo’s gaze wavered. Suddenly, his chest throbbed and itched.

—Why this body…

The foxes made sounds, but Leo couldn’t comprehend their words. Then the silver light swayed with the wind and vanished. Leo urgently searched for the disappeared light.

—Ah.

Tears slowly welled up in his big eyes. The wind carried their words to him. They were sorry for leaving him alone. With blurred vision, Leo ran toward Ruel. He sought warmth. He longed to smell Ruel’s scent immediately.

—This body… 

Overwhelmed by rising emotions, Leo struggled to find the words. He recognized who they were. He sensed their endlessly affectionate emotions directed toward him. He was not abandoned. He was not brought here due to inexperience. He had not been able to use the purification.

—Ruel! Ruel!

Leo buried himself in Ruel’s arms, who was barely conscious. The scent of blood was strong. Ruel seemed to be in great pain. But Leo, tears streaming down his face, shook his head in Ruel’s embrace and cried out loudly,

—This body, this body was not abandoned! This body was not abandoned! This body…

Ruel, unable to respond properly, struggled to find words as tears streamed down Leo’s face. “I’m… sorry.” Sorry for not being able to say it. Ruel tried to stroke Leo’s head, but he had no strength left in his arms. Gathering the little mana he could muster, Ruel fought to hold onto his fading consciousness and said, “Jan.”

-I’m sorry.

It wasn’t Jan’s voice; it was the voice of the First Setiria.

He had wanted to hurl insults at it upon meeting, but his mouth wouldn’t cooperate anymore.

-I’m so sorry for the burden I’ve put on you.

Filled with an annoyance caused by the deeply sincere apology, Ruel turned his eyes toward the source of the voice. He felt something made of silver touch his forehead.

Hearing the First Setiria’s apology, Ruel could no longer hold onto his fading consciousness and closed his eyes.

***

“Your Majesty. Your Majesty.” 

The cheerful voice came from his own mouth. Ruel realized his hands looked small, as if he were around five or six years old. 

‘Is this a dream?’

His gaze fell upon a white dragon. It looked just like an oriental dragon if it had a pearl in its mouth.

“Speak, Setiria.” The king’s eyes closed benevolently.

“Where should I go to meet Your Majesty?”

“Will you come to see me?”

“Yes! I want to see you, Your Majesty! I want to play with you for a long time!” Tiny hands drew a circle in the air.

“Alright. Be sure to come see me.”

The king looked at him with sad eyes for a moment. He then raised his hand and pointed to the sky. “Come to the place where the stars are closest. I’ll be there.”

“The place where the stars are closest?”

His head tilted to the side. The king smiled again. “That’s right.”

‘If the place where the stars are closest…’ As Ruel pondered this, a sudden obscuring of light made him lift his gaze.

“Remember this, Setiria,” the king looked at him with pity once more. “No matter what happens, don’t give up and blame me. All of this is a result that came from my foolish mercy.”

At that moment, everything around—flowing winds, rustling leaves—came to a halt.

Ruel blinked, and a younger version of himself appeared before him.

‘What is this?’

He was taken aback and looked at his hands. It was back in his hand again.

The king gazed not at the young Ruel but directly at him. “You’ve come this far, Setiria, no, Kim Han.”

Suddenly, Ruel’s heart sank. 

“Just as I thought… it was you.” Ruel’s lips trembled. “It was you who called me here!” It was that king who had put him in this wretched body. “Why did you call me here? Why did you make me Setiria?” 

At Ruel’s questions, the king gave a bitter smile. “I will be waiting for you there.”

Then, the king closed his eyes. At the same time, Ruel was forced to close his eyes.

***

“…I apologize. I’m afraid Ruel-nim hasn’t woken up yet.” Despite his words, Cassion’s voice held no hint of distress.

Ruel opened his eyes to the noisy sounds around him. His eyelids felt heavy, as if his entire body was weighed down. He checked the IV drip and opened and closed his eyes again. ‘My whole body hurts.’ He realized he was back in reality due to the throbbing pain.

“Get out of the way. I told you I just wanted to see his face.”

‘Is that Jayel?’

Hearing her annoyed voice, he realized she had several arguments with Cassion. It was funny to see Cassion trying to stop royalty, but it was also amusing that Jayel would try to enter without permission.

Ruel rolled his eyes and saw Leo, deep in sleep. It was clear he had cried a lot, as tears were still gathered at the corners of his eyes. Ruel wiped away Leo’s tears with a sorry expression and inhaled his Breath. Even holding Breath was difficult, and his hand trembled uncontrollably.

“Cassion,” Ruel called weakly. He didn’t know why Jayel was here, but he had to greet her.

Cassion swallowed a sigh at Ruel’s call. He knew Ruel had woken up, but he hadn’t expected him to want to meet Jayel in his current condition. There was nothing to be done. Cassion took a step back and bowed. “Please wait a moment. It seems that Ruel-nim has woken up.”

Jayel frowned, letting out a long sigh. “I’ve never met anyone as dense as you. They say servants usually resemble their masters.” A sneer appeared at the corner of Jayel’s mouth.

“Please forgive my rudeness,” Cassion said, maintaining a composed expression as he straightened up.

Suddenly, Jayel felt an inexplicable pressure and held her breath. Feeling the weight of his stare, she reluctantly replied, “…Fine. I’ll wait here.”

“Thank you for your graciousness, Your Highness.” Cassion walked over to Ruel. It hadn’t been difficult to return to the palace after he had contacted Jan. In fact, it was Jan who had become frantic at the sight of Ruel covered in blood, and Cassion had had a hard time calming him down. It had been a close call. 

Eventually, Leo, whose eyes were swollen from crying, had threatened to tell everything to Ruel if Jan didn’t stop, and the situation had been quickly resolved. Remembering that situation, Cassion sighed.

“How are you feeling?”

“How long has it been?” Ruel’s eyes looked like they could close at any moment. He needed more rest. It seemed that he had woken up due to the squabble with Jayel.

“It’s been just a few hours…” Cassion quickly offered him a handkerchief.

“Cough!” It was stained with dark red blood. The color was ambiguous. Ruel’s expression turned similarly vague, as he seemed confused about what to make of it.

“Tell her to come in.”

“You still need more rest.”

“Cassion.”

“Understood.”

With a sigh at Ruel’s stubbornness, Cassion walked back to Jayel. Ruel closed his eyes for a moment. After having said a few words, he was already growing weary. Sleepiness washed over him again.

-Come to where the stars can be seen the closest. I will be there.

Ruel recalled the king’s words from his dream.

‘The place where the stars can be seen the closest.’

Ruel knew where that was. Hadn’t Cassion mentioned it?

“This place is the closest to the sky, so at night, the stars are so close you can almost touch them.” 

The Ice Castle was indeed the closest place to the sky.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read