STM 195

Could it really be a divine beast? I looked down at the stone, or rather, the egg, that had suddenly become mine.

Since Tairok said he could faintly sense the familiar power of the divine beast from this stone, it must be true, but the problem was how the divine beast would awaken.

Originally, since Tairok was connected to the divine beast, it was thought that the best way was to carry it in his arms, but Erdette objected.

It was because he had dared to call the divine beast a slacker. Erdette was furious and even kicked him. That scene was shocking in many ways.

To think that someone in this world could hit Tairok so unhesitatingly. I must never rebel. However, Tairok only frowned and once again fueled his aunt’s anger with his mocking sneer.

‘It’s useless anyway, so let’s just leave it rolling around here as a stone.’

And so, the divine beast’s egg became mine. Tairok went back to hunting monsters, and I had no choice but to remain in the castle thinking about how to break the egg.

At the very least, it needed to wake up before Grand Duke Montaine awakened a greater power. I tried holding it, I even warmed it up in the sunlight, but it remained completely unmoved. I wanted to say the same thing as Tairok. Is it really a slacker?

It was already overwhelming for Tairok alone to fend off the swarming monsters. However, a truly unexpected variable came to mind that could solve all the difficult problems before me at once.

“A figure appeared who defeated the monsters that had attacked the civilian houses. According to testimonies, the ground suddenly shook, a mound of earth rose, and the monsters were buried alive.”

Haas delivered the news in an excited voice.

“That is definitely the power of a divine beast. The contractor of the Sarne divine beast has appeared!”

Black Bear!! I knew you could do it!! Although Tairok said she would eventually die without being able to accept the power, Black Bear had a talent that others did not.

A spirit of never giving up. No matter how many times she failed, she did not get discouraged and kept challenging herself. More importantly, wasn’t the greatest villain in Tubain right by her side cheering her on? I jumped up from my seat and asked urgently.

“Where did she appear?!”

“It is a village not far from Montaine Castle!”

“Haas, open a portal right now!”

“Yes! The portal…… I cannot.”

He, who had been livening up the atmosphere with me, suddenly looked serious and refused.

“It is a place swarming with monsters. You absolutely cannot go to such a dangerous place, Lord Salvation.”

“You said they were all buried alive by the power of the divine beast?”

“There might be one or two monsters left. If they happen to run into you, Lord Salvation… Haa, no. It’s too dangerous.”

As someone who had already endured and survived in that danger for years, my pride was truly hurt.

“I can take care of a monster or two.”

“There could be three.”

“No, I mean…….”

“So please stay here in a safe place.”

I realized belatedly that Haas’s reaction was excessive. If I, Salvation, wanted it, he would normally fidget and try to find a way, so something was wrong.

“Did something happen? Did Grand Duke Montaine appear?”

“No. Grand Duke Montaine’s whereabouts have not been revealed yet.”

But she would appear soon. Although I had no concrete information, I had a hunch that she would soon emerge as a disaster. It was just a relief that it wasn’t right now.

“Hmm…….”

Haas’s answer was news of someone else I had forgotten.

“Duke Kilu was attacked.”

“With black magic?”

“Yes,” Haas replied as he looked around and lowered his voice.

“It was such a horrific sight that I couldn’t bear to look at it.”

“Weren’t you keeping an eye on him to see if anyone was approaching?”

But they let it happen…Ah, they did it on purpose. Haas nodded; my guess was not wrong.

“That is correct. Duke Kilu played the role of bait perfectly. Thanks to him, we were able to apprehend all the suspected culprits…”

“Is there anyone who has worked in Kun for a long time?”

Haas’s expression darkened.

“After the curse was placed on Kun Castle, we thought that all the dark mages within the castle had been eradicated. Of course, Kun Castle is safe. Grand Duke Erdette is aware of this fact and is thoroughly re-investigating and verifying everyone.”

Erdette was freed from the curse and returned to her original place, commanding Kun. She displayed remarkable leadership skills despite having only recently awakened from the curse.

“However, we do not know how many dark mages are hiding elsewhere. Since you are likely their target right now, it is very dangerous outside the castle.”

“I have to go meet Mrs. Black Bear.”

I understood the situation, yet I remained stubborn. As I repeatedly and firmly insisted, Haas did not stop me any further. Instead, he passed me on to someone else.

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“Lord Salvation, is there a reason why you absolutely must meet this Black Bear?”

Erdette asked me politely, but her tone was so stiff that I couldn’t help but feel nervous, like a student standing before a teacher. Haas, just you wait.

“Because of this.”

I immediately explained the reason and held out the stone in my hand. No, the divine beast egg that looked like a stone.

“There is no way to break it.”

Because I thought I might need to incubate it like a chicken, I kept carrying it inside my clothes, but there was no change, and I couldn’t feel any movement. And there was no one to ask either.

But Black Bear appeared just in time. Unlike the serpent divine beast, who was nowhere to be seen, the bear divine beast was stuck right by Black Bear’s side.

“I’m going to ask the Sarne divine beast.”

I thought it was a reasonable reason, but Erdette remained silent for some reason. Instead, she just stared at the divine beast egg. Does she know something? I waited for her to speak, and after a while, she spoke in a calm voice.

“Please don’t try too hard. Perhaps it is just that the time isn’t right yet.”

What she said was nothing of what I had expected. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but open my eyes wide in surprise.

“…….”

“Lord Salvation, what is wrong?”

Even when she asked, I couldn’t open my mouth. To think I would hear the forgotten word ‘time’ from a person rather than a divine beast. And surprisingly, as soon as I heard the word ‘time,’ my anxiety subsided.

I didn’t even know if the Kun divine beast would awaken at its proper ‘time’ and give power to Tairok. I looked down at the egg in my hand calmly, just like Erdette.

“I suppose only the divine beast inside this egg knows the time. However, I hope it comes out into the world before Grand Duke Montaine appears. After all, we don’t know Grand Duke Montaine’s purpose yet.”

The short conversation I had with her at Montaine’s volcano lingered uncomfortably in my mind.

‘The rift to the monsters will close soon with the power of the divine beast. You failed.’

I was flustered and tried to bluff to buy time, but it didn’t work.

‘It doesn’t matter if it closes. I already obtained the power I needed.’

What did she mean by what she needed? However, the answer to this question came right from the person in front of me.

“Since she is a dark mage, her goal must ultimately be the same. Every dark mage I have met wanted something.”

“What is that?”

“This world being overrun by monsters. They say that the moment must come when pure power fills the world. Grand Duke Montaine will likely feel the same way. So, once she awakens a greater power, she will eventually head toward the greatest rift of monsters. And.”

Erdette’s voice was calm, but the words that followed were a storm that blew me away.

“First of all, she will close the monster passage created by the Kun divine beast.”

“……That rift leading to another dimension?”

“Yes,” she nodded and announced emphatically.

“Before that, we must all join forces to stop her.”

After that, she waited for my reaction but I could not open my mouth. Even though I knew she found it strange, not a single word of agreement came out. Confusion shook me to my core.

So…Grand Duke Montaine is doing what I want to do?

“Lord Salvation, are you alright?”

I wasn’t alright at all. My situation couldn’t have been more ridiculous. From the start, I had arrived in Tubain with the mindset that I didn’t care about being hated by everyone or becoming a villain. I laughed at the traitor who failed to do so, and vowed never to become like him.

“Lord Salvation.”

Worry filled Erdette’s eyes as she began to approach me. I subconsciously stepped back, but I couldn’t take even a single step before being blocked. Someone standing behind me grabbed my shoulder and stopped me in my tracks.

“Yes, we have to stop her.”

Tairok’s voice pierced my ears like a cold shard of ice. The moment I heard it, it became irrelevant when he had arrived to listen to this conversation.

No, you mustn’t stop her.

A resistance I didn’t know I had surged up amidst the confusion. Just then, the hand holding my shoulder tightened. And then, Tairok’s humorless voice followed.

“It is my duty to close the passage created by the divine beast. I will not let Montaine Shula do it. Never.”