abcnovels
Chapter 157: To the North (3)
Chapter 157: To the North (3)
Chapter 157: To the North (3)
Heint found it challenging to let go of his hostility toward warlocks, considering his previous training at a temple.
<Sir Heint.>
Cetyl said.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
<Let the Sir decide.>
“Do I…? How can I make such a decision?”
<I believe in you. I also trust your insight. Right now, you are the only one who can get close to that warlock.>
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
<Then I’ll check the list of those bastards who have crossed the border and deal with them.>
These were the traitors to the imperial family that Gartio had mentioned before his death.
Gartio had claimed to know 13 people, but he had actually named only 8.
The remaining individuals had gone to the warlock, begged and pleaded, only to be mocked and killed.
“There may still be more. I didn’t get the information right.”
<Don’t blame yourself, Sir Heint. Because the information you gave me was considerable. Well then, take care of yourself.>
The contact was cut off with Cetyl’s last words.
Heint let out a short breath.
5 out of 13 people on the list were still missing.
Did Hamel know that he had only received half of the information?
It was possible that he was aware.
Heint got up from his seat.
He received a report that Lucion, who always eats well, did not eat breakfast.
He was worried.
‘I guess I should go check.’
* * *
Knock. Knock.
Hume quietly turned the doorknob and stepped out of the room.
“What about Lucion? Is he still sleeping?” Heint asked, puzzled.
Hume, noticing Heint’s unusually pale complexion today, responded a bit bluntly.
Both had been exposed to darkness and light, but Hume couldn’t help feeling a little resentful at seeing Lucion in pain while Heint was walking around seemingly unharmed.
“He’s in a lot of pain.”
“What?”
“His fever was high, and the wounds were inflamed.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
‘Because of you.’ Hume wanted to say, but he restrained himself.
A feeling of resentment toward Heint welled up within Hume.
It was because of Heint’s actions that Lucion had overworked himself.
Especially during the last attack, Lucion’s wounds had nearly burst.
[Hume, try to relax a little. Your expressions are all visible on your face, you know.]
Russell lightly poked Hume’s shoulder, causing him to slump his shoulders.
“Did you call the doctor?” Heint asked.
“Yes. He just fell asleep.”
“Ah. I almost made a mistake. Please let me know if Lucion wakes up later.”
Heint quickly apologized before turning to leave.
Hume bowed his head and then turned back into the room.
“I can’t manage my facial expressions, and I’m still immature as a butler.”
[No. That was good enough.]
Russell encouraged Hume.
Hume took a seat in the chair next to Lucion.
He wondered if Lucion’s current condition was due to exhaustion from not being able to rest properly, the excessive exposure to light, or a combination of both.
Even in his sleep, Lucion frowned as if in pain.
However, Hume felt fortunate that Ratta was sleeping peacefully.
“Mr. Russell.”
Hume glanced at Lucion and spoke.
[If you have something to say, say it.]
“Even though his light resistance has become stronger, why do the symptoms still persist?”
In response to Hume’s question, Bethel also looked at Russell.
[Didn’t you say that as light resistance becomes stronger, Lord Lucion will be less affected by light?]
[As you now know, Lucion’s condition is unstable due to the black orbs.]
Russell continued speaking with a face he wanted to place a finger flick on Lucion’s forehead.
[Besides, he was exposed to a lot of light at the auction house, right? While his recovery was still low, he suffered from things that he would normally just ignore.]
“Do we have no choice but to wait for him to recover?”
[That’s right.]
“So, Heint, he can recover with light and move around like that?”
[Yes. That’s the difference between light and darkness.]
“It’s unfair.” Hume expressed his frustration, his face contorted as he clenched his fists on his thighs.
[I know. Still, I can’t help it.]
“Yes. I know that too. Still, the feeling of injustice does not go away.”
Hume took a short breath, then stood up and wiped Lucion’s sweat.
He hoped Miella’s magic item would be completed as soon as possible.
* * *
Munch.
“Shall we postpone the pilgrimage schedule for a day?”
Lucion asked Hume as he enjoyed a macaron.
[Huh, Lucion, do you just get over it as soon as you wake up?]
Russell was amazed to see Lucion waking up early the next morning and eating macarons, as if he had never been sick.
His complexion was bad, and he was sweating, so how could he just get over it with macarons?
“Yes, I get over it. It’s even delicious, you know?” Lucion even offered one to the open-mouthed Ratta next to him.
Russell let out a laugh at that sight.
“Master, you are not feeling well.”
Hume hesitated to point out.
[Hume is right. How about postponing your schedule and taking a break today?]
When Bethel was suggested, Lucion hesitated before opening his mouth.
“Well, my body isn’t feeling great.”
Ratta, whose mouth was open, looked at Lucion in surprise.
“I also want to postpone it.”
It wasn’t a joke.
Right now, there wasn’t a single place on Lucion’s body that didn’t hurt, to the point where if he saw Heint, he would probably start swearing.
But it wasn’t unbearable, so he decided to just get used to the pain.
He had enough experience dealing with such discomfort.
“Then…”
“I’m sorry, Hume. This time, it’s not a schedule I can postpone at will. If it could have been postponed, Brother Heint would have informed you in advance,” Lucion explained, placing another macaron in his mouth from the plate held out by Hume.
As he was invited on a pilgrimage, once the scheduled date passed, he couldn’t go again.
Since it was the Empire that granted this opportunity, Lucion wasn’t entirely free to make decisions.
Hume’s eyebrows narrowed slightly.
“Young master.”
“Why?”
“Macaroons in the morning are not good.”
“You know that, so why did you keep making me eat it?”
“Young master gave the order; didn’t you want it?”
“Yes, but if you don’t like my orders, you don’t have to follow them.”
As soon as Lucion finished speaking, Hume quickly took down the plate.
At that moment, Lucion’s eyebrows twitched.
“Except the macaroons.”
Hume held out the plate again.
Lucion said something insinuating at the sight.
“Is the young master, by any chance, angry?”
“Is that possible?”
Despite the usual response, Lucion ate the macaron a little slowly while looking at Hume intently.
[Then how about possessing? I will walk instead of you, Lord.]
“That’s not bad.”
Lucion was intrigued by Bethel’s offer.
“But not now, but during the pilgrimage. Please take care of me then, Bethel.”
Heint said he had to walk a lot, so he thought it was a good thing since the road ahead was already difficult.
“Ah, master.”
Hume said as he handed over the warm tea.
“Why?”
“I received a call from Mr. Kran yesterday.”
“What did he say?”
“He says they have secured all three central branches.”
‘It’s a natural result.’
Lucion smiled with satisfaction.
“He said they haven’t touched the anthills yet, and the rest of the northern and eastern parts haven’t been touched either.”
“And?”
“He said he was looking for things that were good for the body.”
Upon hearing Hume’s report, Lucion suddenly ate the macaron as if chewing rubber.
Why would he vomit blood at that time?
Lucion felt very uneasy because he didn’t know what Kran would do in the future.
“Have you heard from Heroan by any chance?”
“There was.”
“What did he say?”
“There were, but most of them were complaints.”
“Did you hear everything?”
“Yes. I can tell you everything right now. Do you want me to tell you?”
“That’s enough.”
Lucion was disgusted.
“After breakfast, we should head north.”
“I will prepare soon.”
Hume hesitated and stood up.
* * *
“Lucion?”
Heint carefully woke up Lucion, who was sleeping soundly.
Yesterday, Lucion was seriously ill, so he suggested that he go on a pilgrimage and tried to comfort him, but it was no use.
The stubbornness experienced through Carson was also present in Lucion.
He almost made a sarcastic comment to Lucion by mistake, but Heint had a really hard time holding back the words from coming out.
“Have we arrived?”
Lucion quickly opened his eyes. It seemed like he was really a light sleeper.
“Not yet. We will arrive soon. Before that, I want to tell you something.”
“What happened?”
As Lucion spoke, slightly moving his back, Heint soothed him with an apologetic look.
“No. Nothing big has happened, so don’t be nervous.”
“Is that so?”
Lucion still looked at Russell with surprised eyes.
[Nothing really happened.]
Only then did Lucion let out a short breath and lean back in his chair.
He gently rubbed Ratta’s wincing head, and she drooped back to sleep.
“I mentioned that I went on a pilgrimage before.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I woke you up early to tell you things that the pilgrimage route manager didn’t mention. I apologize if I seemed rude for no reason.”
Heint smiled awkwardly and fiddled with his fingers.
“No. I’m very interested.”
Lucion’s eyes sparkled.
Lucion wasn’t feeling well at the moment, so it would be beneficial to be prepared in advance.
“Yeah?”
“That’s right. Didn’t you say it for me? I will listen attentively.”
Heint’s expression immediately brightened at Lucion’s sincere words.
Unlike Carson, who jumps out first when he wakes up, Lucion was very kind.
Heint once again realized that despite coming from the same womb, their personalities could be so different.
“That’s a relief. I thought I shouldn’t have woken you up.”
“Yes. Please tell me.”
Heint smiled as Lucion seemed to be begging to read a storybook.
In fact, there was a significant age difference between them, so Heint wondered if it would be like this if he had a younger brother.
Heint opened his lips with a much softer expression.
“The pilgrimage route is currently in darkness.”
“Yes…?”
“Exactly. That’s what surprised me too. I had imagined the pilgrimage route to be very bright, considering it was said to have been walked by a great king, usually associated with the god of light. But no, it’s dark.”
“I will prepare a fire.”
Hume quickly answered.
“That’s right. You have to prepare with fire magic, not light.”
Heint reacted to Hume’s words as if he was remembering something he had briefly forgotten.
“Why is that?”
Lucion asked curiously.
“It devours the light.”
What does that even mean?
‘How can light be devoured?’
Lucion was confused.
[It consumes light. I suppose it truly is a trial of light.]
Russell chimed in, as if he were content with the knowledge he had gained, and moved closer to Heint’s side, listening intently.
[Have you never been there? It must be different from me, who is almost trapped in a building.]
Bethel asked.
[Uh…]
Russell hesitated for a moment.
Again, his memory was empty.
Before Russell met Lucion, no, he couldn’t even remember when he died.
This was the price he had to pay.
A bitter taste filled his mouth.
[I’m sorry, Russell. I guess I shouldn’t have asked that question.]
As soon as Bethel saw Russell’s hardened expression, she immediately apologized to Russell.
[No. There’s no need to apologize. It’s not something to apologize for in the first place.]
Lucion was very concerned about the conversation between the two.
‘How much memory has Teacher lost?’
In the first place, it was said that it was impossible for ghosts to lose their memories.
But what could have caused the impossible to occur?
“Oh, don’t worry about it, Lucion.”
Heint laughed lightly as he looked at Lucion, who was deep in thought.
“I don’t know why the light disappears. It didn’t do me any harm or anything, but it seemed like only the light was overreacting.”
“Is that why it is also called ‘Trial of Light’?”
“That’s right. You have to rely entirely on fire to advance.”
“Does that mean I have to go in alone?”
“Yes. You can only enter alone. You can have one person accompany you up to the entrance. Will you take Hume with you?”
‘Should I take Hume with me, of course?’
Lucion was taken aback by the obvious question.
He had to say no to the doctor’s question if he suddenly moved, and even now his stomach is more throbbing than it was yesterday.
But Lucion looked apologetic.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. You usually take a servant. Oh, and finally, it’s not as foresty as it looks.”
“It’s not a forest?”
“That’s all I’ll tell you. This is to tell you not to be too surprised.”
‘What? That’s not something you need to wake me up for.’
Lucion rubbed Ratta’s stomach when she fell flat.
“Ah. And lastly, it feels really long.”
As Heint spoke, he suddenly searched his arms.
“I heard you like macarons.”
As soon as Lucion saw the packaging Heint was holding, he immediately recognized where it came from.
Even though he sent Hume a fake when he went to meet Gartio, isn’t it the very store that Hume wanted to buy inwardly?
‘What Brother Heint said was helpful, and it’s okay if my stomach hurts a bit. It’s natural to feel pain after being stabbed by a sword.’
Lucion smiled brightly at Heint, recalling the incident that took place two days ago when he met Heint as a warlock. It was a moment that had almost melted his heart.
Soon, the carriage stopped.