STM 161

Haas opened a portal some distance away from Crystal Lake on purpose. He thought he might face a dog’s death if he encountered monsters immediately after he stepped through the portal.

He was incredibly nervous when he arrived, but everything was quiet. He wondered if he’d come to the wrong place at first. But that couldn’t be right. He trusted his own skills.

He regained his senses and checked his surroundings. He was definitely near Crystal Lake. But why wasn’t anyone there? He couldn’t hear any noise except for the sound of a stream of water in the distance.

Haas cautiously moved toward Crystal Lake. Soon, he saw monsters’ carcasses scattered everywhere. However, there were no people.

He wondered where they’d gone since they even left the black magic stones behind. He checked to see if any dead bodies were nearby, but he didn’t see any human corpses. Then where was everyone?

He found the answer when he entered the wooden fence that surrounded the lake, which had almost collapsed. Everyone was inside. They were surrounded by piles of monsters’ corpses that were so high they blocked his view.

Thet looked like they’d fought a difficult battle against the monsters. They were covered in blood and wounds, but they absentmindedly stared at one spot for some reason. It was the direction where the water sound came from.

Haas looked over and froze just like the others. A pillar that reached the sky stood in the distance. He hadn’t noticed it at first because it was dark.

The pillar wriggled as if it were alive and approached the lake at a rapid pace. Goosebumps rose on his skin from fear.

He wondered what that thing was. He stepped back to run away, but someone grabbed his shoulder from behind.

“Ag… Enya?”

“Don’t be scared. The monsters are being destroyed.”

Enya pointed toward the water pillar with her chin. Haas finally saw the monsters that were trapped inside the fast whirlwind. Giant monsters flailed their long legs in the air and resisted, but they were caught in the fast whirlwind. They collided with each other and were crumpled and shredded like paper.

“How is that even…”

“It’s the Grand Duke’s power.”

A human shouldn’t possess such power. There was only one way to explain it. It was a divine beast’s power. But this wasn’t Kun divine beast’s power. Haas’s eyes widened when he realized something.

“Water… He’s using Borhumi divine beast’s power?”

Enya didn’t answer and looked ahead again. Tairok walked beside the giant whirlwind as it approached the lake. The water pillar moved along with him.

The whirlwind stopped in its tracks when he stopped and raised his hand. Tairok moved forward and waved his hand lightly. He didn’t even look back at the whirlwind.

The whirlwind dissipated in an instant. A rain of demonic beasts fell into the wide lake immediately. The ground quaked from the impact. Water splashed everywhere and soaked the people like a downpour. However, no one could move. They could only stare at the human who stood next to the mountain of monsters.

Tairok looked terrible from the fight just like the others, but he was completely different to the people. He looked like a god. Everyone there was left breathless from a sense of awe.

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‎ “It seems she had difficulty breathing due to the smoke and has not regained consciousness.”

I looked down at Doctor Kim on the bed as I listened to Solongo’s voice. She wore the respirator that she usually kept around her neck. I wondered if she was still breathing because her face was so pale.

“Lord Lu.”

I turned my head when she called my name. I saw her trembling eyes. “The healer said she might not wake up.”

I looked at her for a moment and then turned my gaze back to Doctor Kim without a word. I confirmed that her chest moved slightly. It was the only proof that she was still alive. I checked it again and then I spoke.

“What about those bastards?”

Solongo answered immediately even though I didn’t face her. “I locked them in the guardhouse’s detention center. Do you want to go and see them?”

“Why should I bother with small fry?”

That’s what I said, but I was actually holding back. I was afraid that I’d just kill them in a fit of rage if I went there. I shouldn’t kill them so easily. I couldn’t give them a gift as easy as death. I gritted my teeth and ordered.

“Handle it yourself.”

“Of course. I’ll keep them alive until they think it’s better to die.”

“Yes, but don’t touch their faces.”

I looked up at Solongo.

“We have to use those two as billboards in front of the people from now on. That’s the only way we can shake Hoiga, who’s behind them. Ariona and Hoiga are connected through High Priest Cheki. I’ll take this chance to deal with the stupid Temple as well.”

Solongo’s expression turned rigid. She had always hated the Temple. “A stupid group that doesn’t even know when a dangerous treasure goes missing deserves to be scattered. Hoiga’s reputation will be ruined even by a small flaw since people worship him as Salvation now. Then it’ll be difficult for Montaine to take the Emperor’s throne.”

Solongo bowed her head and walked out quickly as soon as her goals were set. Then I did my part. It wasn’t much. I just stayed by Doctor Kim’s side and watched her. Her body didn’t move. But there was a faint sign that she was still breathing.

Her heart still beat. That small pulse was the only evidence, and I had to focus to see it. I couldn’t feel any life in her pale skin otherwise.

I watched that movement tenaciously, as if it were the last thread. I continued to look at one place, constantly checking that my aunt was still alive.

‎

‎

“…Adeye Lantuya?”

Haas reported Lu’s situation to Tairok after the situation at Crystal Lake was resolved. There were so many surprising things for Tairok to hear. Haas excitedly explained the events at the party, but Tairok only cared about one thing.

“Did Lu stay by the Adeye family’s head’s side?”

“Oh, yes. They seem like very close siblings. People say Lord Lu ran through the flames and saved Adeye Lantuya. And I told you, right? Those blue flames covered the Adeye family’s house and they wouldn’t go out. But then, a wave suddenly rushed from inside the mansion…”

“He saved her through the flames?”

“Yes. No one else could step forward, but Lord Lu risked his life and ran through the burning hallway. He wouldn’t listen even when people tried to stop him. When he came out carrying the Adeye matriarch, his expression was no joke. Seeing that, I thought that she truly meant a lot to Lord Lu… Ah!”

Haas flinched and stepped back in surprise. Tairok had suddenly driven his sword into the ground while he listened with a blank face. He did it so hard that a third of the blade disappeared into the earth.

“What’s the Adeye family’s head’s condition?”

He asked expressionlessly, unlike the sudden movement of his sword. However, Haas thought he looked like a sharp blade that could cut through anything. Why was the Grand Duke in a bad mood?

“I couldn’t check myself, but I heard she couldn’t breathe properly right after the rescue. Everyone’s worried because her body is so weak.”

Tairok looked into the air and asked a short question. “And?”

“What? Oh, Lord Lu told the healers to save her at any cost. He looked really scary when he said it, so I think everyone will work hard to save her.”

Haas felt like he’d committed a crime because Tairok didn’t respond. He spoke up because he felt flustered.

“By the way, Lord Lu insisted that he wanted to go to Crystal Lake first when he came back from the party. But I stopped him.”

Tairok stayed still for a moment as if he were lost in thought. Then he asked slowly. “He insisted?”

“Yes, he must’ve been worried about the Grand Duke.”

Tairok looked away without a word. He asked again after a long time. “Is that so?”

“Yes, it can’t be helped since Lord Lu cherishes the Grand Duke so much that he regards him as his hope.”

Tairok looked at him, asking what he meant. Haas explained when he heard those words.

“I can’t tell you how desperately Lord Salvation shouted.”

But contrary to Haas’s expectations, Tairok didn’t look impressed. Instead, his eyes sparkled sharply.

“…Hope?”

Haas nodded quickly when he saw Tairok muttering to himself.

“Yes, he definitely called the Grand Duke his hope. The Grand Duke is obviously the only person in the his heart.

Tairok didn’t look happy. He seemed lost in thought. Then he looked at Haas as if he just remembered something.

“You call Lu ‘Salvation’.”

“Yes, because he is Salvation.”

Haas puffed out his chest and proudly answered. He showed his will to serve Lu for the rest of his life. Tairok’s eyes turned cold when he saw that. Haas felt confused. He wondered why Tairok looked displeased. Then he heard him command.

“Open a portal.”

“Where should we go?”

Tairok turned his golden eyes toward him. “To my Salvation.”