STM 186

“Your Grace.”

A soldier bowed before approaching her, but she paid him no mind as she looked at the crowd.

“Anyone else willing to go?”

An emotionless question slipped from her lips, but no one dared to step forward. Even the soldiers were casting fearful glances her way.

All I knew about Grand Duke Montaine was that she wielded the power of fire and bore the red mark of the divine beast in one eye. I had no idea she was this arrogant.

“Have you all forgotten that it is I, not that gate, whom you must trust? Making such a fuss over some monster that hasn’t even appeared yet. I have no use for cowards on my land. Anyone who wants to leave, step forward now.”

No one stepped forward to say they wanted to leave. After all, right beside her, the flames were still engulfing a person. How could the ruler of this place be so cruel?

People looked away from the scene out of fear, but I watched her back and the flames for a different reason. The fact that she was still using her power was proof that the Montaine divine beast had not yet perished.

But if this is similar to the case of Borhumi Zav, her power must have weakened? Yet she’s still blocking the gate and preventing people from leaving?

“Guard the gate thoroughly. Not a single person is to leave the castle.”

She issued this order to the soldiers and took a step forward. Just then, someone called out to her urgently.

“Your Grace!! I have something to tell you!”

I was startled first by Hoiga’s voice, then terrified by the sight of him suddenly running to her. I didn’t even have time to grab him. I thought he couldn’t properly walk and had let my guard down. Damn it.

I cursed and quickly hid myself among the crowd. Meanwhile, Hoiga reached her in an instant and knelt before her.

“Your Grace, Montaine is in danger. Please listen to me.”

When Grand Duke Montaine turned to look at Hoiga, I hesitated as I tried to hide further among the crowd. It was because I could now clearly see the face of the divine beast contractor.

…Huh?!

“Hoiga. How did you end up here?”

“Your Grace, I have something else to tell you. It concerns the truth about Duke Kilu.”

I could hear Hoiga’s trembling voice, but my mind couldn’t process it properly. Instead, I was overcome with shock.

What… is that?

I stared at Grand Duke Montaine with disbelief. The person standing before me was a divine beast contractor, but her appearance made no sense.

Her eyes. I had heard that one of her eyes was red, but it was a completely different color. A black that wasn’t human. It was exactly like Dorgo’s eyes.

‎

‎

‎

Grand Duke Sarne was certain that he would never be captured. The Mungkun Valley where he had hidden was a vast expanse of deep, rugged terrain, so once someone hid there, they could never be found easily.

Furthermore, the place where Grand Duke Sarne stayed was a hideout blocked on all sides, with only a narrow crevice in the rocks serving as the entrance. But once you passed through this hidden entrance, a completely different new world lay ahead.

Fruit trees grew in green fields, bathed in warm sunlight. This was where the search for the door of the divine beast began. A clue from the ancient texts.

And just before Tairok attacked, Grand Duke Sarne had finally found the door. It was as if he had received a revelation that he could seize the power of the divine beast.

All that remained was to awaken the divine beast. He believed it would be possible if Bayan brought Adeye Lu, who could communicate with divine beasts. He had planned to wait here in until then, but an unexpected visitor arrived.

“To think such a paradise on earth is hidden in this rugged valley.”

As Kilu surveyed his surroundings with a relaxed air, Grand Duke Sarne’s eyes widened in shock.

“Duke Kilu. How did you find this place…?”

But his jaw dropped upon realizing the answer.

“Ma Hoiga must have been running his mouth.”

“Isn’t that beside the point right now? You’ve just lost Sarne to Kun Tairok. Ah, but since you fled before the battle even began, does that mean you handed it over willingly?”

Grand Duke Sarne’s face twisted with rage, but instead of lashing out, he lowered his voice.

“You didn’t come here to mock me. Get to the point.”

“So, have you found the door of the Sarne divine beast? Seeing as you’re living here so peacefully, I’d assume so.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“No. I need to know. That’s the only way I can help you, Your Grace.”

Ha, Grand Duke Sarne scoffed, but his expression changed completely upon hearing Kilu’s next question.

“Don’t you want to drive Kun Tairok out of Sarne?”

“If this is some scheme by Montaine to take over Sarne…”

“Scheme? Not at all. We have no interest in Sarne Castle.”

But the Duke of Sarne stared at Kilu with a look of distrust.

“Then what are you interested in?”

“For now, let’s just say it’s about Tairok’s death. After all, once he’s gone, there will be no one left to wield the power of the divine beast.”

“Ha, so even Grand Duke Montaine fears Kun Tairok?”

“Of course not. But it’s true that Tairok is a truly troublesome figure. However, to you, Grand Duke, Tairok must be the person you fear most right now.”

“I didn’t give up the castle because I’m afraid of him!”

Grand Duke Sarne finally raised his voice, but Kilu did not back down.

“No, you should be afraid. Tairok has already accepted the power of the Borhumi divine beast. He will undoubtedly try to take the power of the Sarne divine beast as well.”

Grand Duke Sarne’s eyes widened, he hadn’t considered this possibility. Kilu smiled slowly and made a suggestion.

“In that case, you might as well destroy the divine beast. I’ll help you.”

‎

‎

‎

How could someone possessing the power of a divine beast become a dark mage? I was confused because I couldn’t understand this contradiction. No matter how much a divine beast favored its contractor, it would never tolerate the use of black magic.

And since the power of a black magic stone was the exact opposite of a divine beast’s power, the two couldn’t coexist. That left only one conclusion: Grand Duke Montaine had abandoned the power of the divine beast and absorbed the power of a black magic stone.

“Who got you out of prison?”

Grand Duke Montaine’s cold voice pulled me out of my daze. Hoiga, who had been asked the question, flinched, but clinging hope, he spoke again.

“Your Grace, there’s something more important to discuss… Ugh!”

Grand Duke Montaine suddenly grabbed Hoiga’s shoulder and leaned in close. I couldn’t make out what she was saying to Hoiga, but I could tell from the movement of her lips.

‘Who is it?’

She was asking again who had helped Hoiga. I took a step back. Don’t tell me Hoiga will point the finger at me… Before I could even finish the thought, my ominous premonition came true. Hoiga’s panicked gaze turned toward me.

That damn bastard.

I cursed inwardly, but the words vanished along with my breath, which had suddenly stopped. Grand Duke Montaine was slowly turning her head in my direction. A shiver ran down my spine. Shit, if I get caught, I’m done for.

Just as despair was about to engulf me, she suddenly turned her head in another direction, to be precise, to the empty space above.

Her eyes squinted as she surveyed the situation in the distance, then emitted a murderous glare.

“Who dares to interfere…?”

In that instant, she looked down at Hoiga as if she were about to devour him.

“Could it be Kun?”

However, Hoiga couldn’t answer. Instead, screams burst from his mouth. The shoulder where Grand Duke Montaine’s hand had touched was charred black and smoking.

“Guh! Aaah!”

Grand Duke Montaine pushed Hoiga away, then jumped into the air just as she had appeared and vanished.

Thanks to that, I barely escaped the crisis, but this was no time to rejoice that my life had been spared. Someone who wielded the power of a divine beast has become a dark mage? Then how strong is she?

I have to tell Tairok about this. But how? Realistically, there was no way. The helplessness made me feel nauseated.

“As the Grand Duke ordered, everyone, return to your posts! Hurry!”

The soldier’s shout broke my train of thought. The people hesitated, they were resigned and anxious, but they couldn’t bring themselves to turn away. I walked quickly through the gap. Fuck, what a load of bullshit.

“Who are you? Didn’t you hear the order to go back?”

The soldier blocking my path raised his sword. But my goal was the gate.

“I understand why you’re blocking the gate. If you don’t follow orders, your body will rot and you’ll die.”

He flinched. The soldier frowned in confusion, but I didn’t have time for a long explanation.

“So just pretend to block me for a bit and then step aside.”

“What are you talking about…….”

“Club.”

“Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden…… Ugh!”

Whoosh~ With the sound of the wind, the soldier hit by the club fell to the ground, causing the other soldiers to flinch in surprise. I didn’t miss the opportunity and ran toward the gate. Then, holding the club with both hands, I swung it like a baseball bat.