STM 157

The party started in the early evening and continued even into the late night without losing its heat. There were enough topics to gossip about for hours.

Grand Duke Sarne suddenly executed a traitor and left the party, which made the atmosphere terrifying, but that was a separate matter. People talked more about Adeye Lu, who broke a wine bottle afterward.

Endless mockery always followed his name. Jeering laughter especially echoed around Hoiga.

Montaine could hold banquets in the old imperial palace, and Hoiga was called Salvation. It was obvious who would become Tubain’s master, so people naturally huddled together around Hoiga.

Those who noticed Hoiga’s dislike for Adeye Lu were busy badmouthing him to shame him on purpose. Hoiga’s stiff expression didn’t soften despite their efforts to please him.

He just checked his watch as if he felt anxious. He finally let out a long sigh of relief when Kilu approached and whispered to him.

“A blue flame?”

“I received word from Adeye’s watcher. A fire is rising from the Adeye residence, and you can see it from far away. He said it was definitely a blue flame.”

Hoiga’s face finally relaxed, but he soon nervously whispered.

“Make sure they confirm the Adeye siblings’ life or death.”

“Don’t worry. A fire as big as a mountain covered the mansion in an instant. He said the flames trapped the mansion like a fence, so nobody can come out.”

Nobody. That meant there would be many victims. He wanted to get rid of the Adeye siblings, but it was a shame that unnecessary sacrifice would be made. However, Hoiga steeled his heart. He couldn’t help it.

“Yes, nobody can come out. The Eternal Flame never goes out until it burns everything. That’s why it could protect people from monsters long ago.”

“But nobody knew the brazier had such power.”

Kilu handed a glass to him as if he was proud of Hoiga for figuring that out.

“Now, have a drink to feel good.”

It wasn’t time to toast yet. He wanted to refuse, but it was hard to decline because people were watching. On the other hand, he felt like he could enjoy this much. He wanted to reward himself.

“Yes, it’s a pleasant evening.”

He smiled and took the glass, but Hoiga couldn’t drink a single sip. A sudden commotion broke out at the entrance right before the glass reached his lips. A servant’s voice echoed into the party hall as he tried to stop someone.

“You can’t! You can’t enter like this.”

The guest stepped into the hall’s entrance despite the servant’s panicked voice. Those who recognized him stopped and frowned at once.

Some people covered their mouths in horror at the guest’s appearance. The guest was soaking wet from head to toe as if he had fallen into water, and he dripped everywhere.

However, the man didn’t care about his appearance. He ran his hand through his hair despite the attention. He shook the moisture off his hands onto the floor and turned his gaze. His gray eyes, which were as calm as a still lake, looked around and stopped at one spot.

A shocked gasp echoed through the hall.

Hoiga’s eyes met his. Hoiga gasped and tried not to scream. How on earth was he here? Kilu called aloud the name Hoiga couldn’t say.

“Adeye Lu?”

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‎

The blue flames covered the mansion in an instant. Black smoke rose as if it would swallow the world, and the building fell without a fight.

The roof gave way, then the window frames, then the walls. Each crash sounded like a scream as the fire devoured the building.

The blue flames didn’t fade even though they used water and tried to push them back with magic. Instead, the fire attacked those people as if it considered them enemies.

Even Kun’s elite mage, who had followed Lu, suffered a backlash when he recklessly touched the fire. He barely escaped with his life and could only sit there, shivering.

Everyone despaired and thought the Adeye residence would collapse. Right then, a stream of water suddenly burst from inside the mansion. It soared into the sky and covered the flames.

Water thundered down like a waterfall, drowning out everything else.

Crash!

The stream covered the people too. Everyone got wet instantly as if they were standing in a downpour, and those who couldn’t handle the force had to sit on the ground.

However, nobody complained about getting wet. There was no cheer for the fire that went out so quickly either. Everyone was just too shocked by this situation to move.

They still feared the flames might come back to life if they stepped forward even a little.

People appeared from inside the mansion during that moment of shock.

Only then did the crowd believe the blue flames wouldn’t attack them anymore.

The fire really went out!

People started to run to save those who were inside. However, they witnessed another unbelievable sight a moment later.

Another amazing thing happened before their eyes, leaving them stunned. It started with Lu, who carried Adeye Lantuya out.

The disaster’s proof remained even though the flames disappeared around the mansion. The whole area turned into a swamp because so much water had poured down. It reached their ankles.

However, Lu knelt on that muddy ground and put his hand into the water. He whispered something.

The amount of water on the ground was sucked into Lu’s hand in an instant. The earth returned to dry soil and green grass, and the smooth stone floor shined like usual.

It felt like the water was an illusion, but nobody thought it was a dream. They were still soaked as if they had fallen into the sea.

Only one thing was certain. This was Lu’s miracle. They watched him stand up without even breathing.

“Haas.”

He gave an order with a cold voice.

“Open the portal.”

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‎

I didn’t want to use Haas since he hurt his ankle, but there was a face I had to see right now. Fortunately, the party at the old palace hadn’t ended yet, and the person I was searching for was there.

I didn’t look very impressive since he ran out and came back like this, but mu clothes were still proper, so it didn’t matter. I looked like a mess because water dripped with every step.

The expression of the person I came to meet was quite a sight. Hoiga turned pale and his eyes shook as if he saw a ghost when he saw me.

Clack, clack.

My footsteps echoed in the spacious hall as if I was the only one there. It was also because people automatically made a path for me.

I reached Hoiga quickly as soon as I broke into the party. I didn’t plan to say anything special. My business was simple.

“Lu, how— you… Ack!”

The surprised Hoiga called my name when I didn’t stop, but I grabbed his collar. I threw a punch at his face before anyone could stop me.

Thud!

A loud sound echoed. Hoiga stumbled, but I held him, and hit him in the face again.

“Adeye Lu! What are you doing?!”

“Stop him!”

“Protect Hoiga!”

People realized what I did too late and rushed to pull me away from Hoiga. Hands reached out from everywhere to pull me, but I only backed away after I turned his face into a bloody mess. I caused a bit of a scene.

“Let go! Take your hands off me!”

Don’t touch me, it feels disgusting. Piece of shit.

Perhaps because I’d lost my temper, those who’d caught me all backed away. I tugged at my wet clothes, which had been wrinkled by them, and smoothed them out.

Then he pushed back my wet bangs and looked down at the man who sat on the floor. I only hit him a few times, but the guy’s face was covered in blood because I hit the bridge of his nose.

Ah, if it were my original body, a few teeth would have been blown off there. I’m just disappointed at Lu’s weak fist.

But Hoiga, unaware of my feelings, remained frozen in shock, unable to say a word. It seemed he was quite shocked that I was alive. Instead, Kilu supported Hoiga and called my name in a furious voice.

“Adeye Lu!”

Even if someone were hurling abuse at me now, I only saw Hoiga. Because of that bastard, Doctor Kim, my aunt, almost died again. The last scroll the informant sent read:

‘This is the last piece of information I wrote from prison.

The traitor who imprisoned me here came to visit. He told me about home and made up some lame excuses.

Then he handed me a drug so I could die at once, as if it were a final mercy.

But I have no intention of drinking it. It’s not because I’m offended by cheap sympathy. I failed my mission, and I don’t deserve to die a peaceful death from poison.

But my life force is exhausted, and I won’t survive this night. I just feel guilty about not being punished.’