One by one, the gathered light was smaller than a fist, gentle and soft, warm like the light of Troy.
The light hesitated, afraid it might harm Lucion, and instead, it merely spun in place.
“It was grateful. If its light had caused any pain, it was sorry.”
Darkness conveyed the divine beast’s sentiments.
—It didn’t hurt! Ratta didn’t feel any pain at all!
Unable to restrain herself any longer, Ratta peeked out from Lucion’s shadow, her eyes brimming with tears.
At the sight, the light withdrew further, then stopped moving altogether.
“I have received such grace. Your gentle touch has shown me where I must go. If fate allows, when I am reborn, I shall properly express my gratitude to you.”
Darkness delivered the divine beast’s final words, and Lucion lowered his head, silently witnessing its last moments as it faded away like melting snow.
“Yes. I hope we meet again. I promise.”Lucion fiddled with his mask, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to remove it.
* * *
“Please hurry and leave this place.”
Lucion appeared before J.L. and the merchants waiting outside Nevast, bringing along both the purified warlocks and the one they had rescued.
As his darkness suddenly dissipated, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, making him feel as if his very blood was draining away. Still, he held firm.
There was more work to be done.
[Lord Lucion… perhaps you should take a moment to catch your breath. Just for a little while.]
Sensing his pain, Bethel urged him to rest.
Though hidden behind his mask, blood was already trickling from his nose again. His darkness still remained, but perhaps it had been overloaded. It was the first time he had transported so many people at once.
—Hop! There’s a smell of blood!
Ratta spun around in alarm.
‘There are still two divine beasts left.’
Lucion exhaled slowly, attempting to steady his heaving breath.
“Before sunset, they pour darkness into the divine beasts. That way, the divine beasts are engulfed in darkness and rendered nearly powerless at night. Day after day, they endure… unbearable pain.”
The words of Florence, a high-ranking priest of Nevast, echoed in his mind.
How could he hesitate after hearing that? Hadn’t he just witnessed the final moments of a divine beast?
[Just take a minute. No, even just five seconds to breathe, then we’ll move.]
Bethel’s voice pushed through his thoughts, laced with concern.
“Um, Mr. Hamel?”
J.L. spoke up hesitantly.
“Are you… alright?”
Having just witnessed Hamel stumble, J.L. couldn’t help but ask.
He didn’t know anyone capable of moving so many people at once without a portal. How much strain must that put on his body?
“I’m fine. Please hurry.”
“I will take full responsibility for getting them to the Empire. But… why not rest for a moment while they board the carriages?”
J.L. wanted to at least offer him some water.
“I’m fine.”
Lucion shook his head before glancing at Ratta.
—Ratta… doesn’t want to use Shadow Movement right now. It feels like Lucion might collapse. Ratta doesn’t like it when Lucion is in pain.
Ratta pouted slightly and turned away.
[Lucion.]
Russell placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
[I understand why you’re pushing yourself, but we still haven’t heard from Heint. Relax a little.]
Lucion met Russell’s gaze and, at last, took a deep breath.
“Do you have any water?” Lucion asked J.L., who had remained rooted in place.
“Yes! I’ll get it right away! Please wait a moment!”
Watching J.L. hurry off, Lucion admitted to himself that he had been too impatient.
[‘It seems that the only person who can truly calm the Lord is Russell.’]
Bethel felt relieved.
‘No, it’s the same as with Kran. The debt I owe my teacher is too great. He has given me… both my future and my present.’
Even as he thought this, Lucion hesitated.
Would Bethel feel left out?
[‘I know how much you respect Russell, so it’s fine. If you want, I could listen to you talk about him all day. After all, I have a master too.’]
Rather than feeling left out, Bethel found Lucion commendable.
‘Just don’t mention it to my teacher.’
[‘I know. The Lord tends to be shy.’]
Bethel stifled her laughter, but it had already reached Russell’s ears.
[I don’t know what’s so funny, but don’t talk behind my back.]
[It’s nothing of the sort. I swear.]
[Swearing, huh… Well, whatever. I know that whatever you’re discussing, it must be about my greatness. Just putting it out there.]
Russell smirked confidently, glancing at the shadow where Ratta was hiding.
—Russell is the unfortunate genius warlock! Ratta knows!
[See?]
Russell puffed out his chest at Ratta’s enthusiastic support.
[You really do love yourself.]
[Of course. Why wouldn’t I? I’m amazing.]
[Well… I suppose that’s nice to see.]
Though slightly exasperated, Bethel soon burst into laughter.
Even such trivial conversations felt joyful.
—Hehehe!
Ratta giggled as well.
Seeing them so happy, Lucion felt the tension in his shoulders ease.
That happiness was one of the reasons he worked so hard.
‘I wish Hume could have come along too.’
“Mr. Hamel.”
At J.L.’s call, Lucion turned.
The atmosphere around him felt noticeably softer than before.
“Have you relaxed a bit?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I have.”
“Mr. Hamel.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Don’t try to shoulder everything alone. I once tried to bear the weight of everything myself, and in doing so, I nearly lost sight of those around me. You were the one who pointed that out to me, weren’t you?”
J.L. had once been the Empire’s shadow, a loyal dog of the royal family. Yet, due to the betrayal of nobles swayed by the Neubra Kingdom, he had been branded a traitor overnight. For over ten years, he carried that false accusation, sacrificing his name and family just to survive.
His words weren’t mere platitudes—they came from experience.
For years, he had done whatever it took to endure, driven by a relentless desire to restore his family’s honor.
When Lucion had first met him, J.L. had been a hollowed-out man, burdened by the weight of everything he had lost, unable to see what still remained.
Lucion let out a small chuckle. “Did I seem impatient?”
“Yes. It was the most impatient I’ve ever seen you.”
“Thank you for your advice.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
Taking the cup J.L. offered, Lucion drank the cool water. It trickled down his throat, soothing the heat clouding his mind.
“That was refreshing.”
“Once everything is over, I’ll prepare even colder water for you.”
J.L. hesitated, holding back the words he truly wanted to say.
Lucion noticed. “Don’t hold back. Say what’s on your mind. There’s still half a cup left.”
He swirled the remaining water gently, giving J.L. permission to speak freely.
J.L. didn’t hesitate this time.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with how others perceive you. You are at your best when you focus on yourself, Mr. Hamel.”
Lucion’s mask took on a faint blue hue.
“Understood.” Then, with renewed determination, he declared, “Tonight, let’s be the thieves of justice.”
A smile broke across J.L.’s face.
“I will play my part as well.”
* * *
“There are two ways into the secret passage where the divine beasts are kept. One leads to the First Servant’s chamber, so I’ll tell you the other route instead.”
Recalling Florence’s instructions, Lucion worked swiftly to unravel the intricate locking spells, his fingers moving deftly.
—A secret passage! Ratta loves secret passages! A thrilling, hidden place just for Ratta!
As Ratta hummed happily, Lucion double-tapped the enchanted area as if he were pressing a touchscreen.
‘As long as you know the code, it’s simple.’
With every successfully bypassed lock, a thrill of satisfaction coursed through him.
Pow!
Every now and then, he made sure to land a darkness-infused punch on any priests loitering nearby.
After all, their purpose wasn’t to guard but to serve as messengers, and they were meant to stop the divine beasts from escaping while being nearly powerless during the day, consumed by darkness.
Lucion felt the relics within his magic pouch stir restlessly.
It was a welcome sensation.
Unlike darkness, the relic had no emotions, no voice, yet somehow, it still felt as though it were speaking to him in its own way.
Creak.
He opened the last door.
The first thing that hit him was the stale air, thick with dust, untouched for what seemed like an eternity.
Lying motionless on the floor was the divine beast.
Once adorned with magnificent feathers, it now looked worn and fragile, its luster lost. Only the burning intensity of its gaze remained, filled with unwavering determination.
In those fierce eyes was a vow—an unyielding promise to never surrender its will.
[The divine beast…]
Bethel’s voice wavered with sorrow.
Seeing the divine beast in such a state stirred painful memories—memories of dying as a test subject for a curse.
Ratta emerged from the shadows and approached the bird-like divine beast.
—Divine beast uncle, are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?
At her gentle question, the divine beast’s eyes widened slightly. Struggling, it attempted to lift itself.
—No, don’t move! It’ll hurt more. Ratta is fine just looking at you like this. Right, Lucion?
Ratta turned to Lucion for confirmation.
“That’s right. We came to rescue you.”
Unlike Ratta, Lucion remained where he was, his voice calm and measured.