abcnovels
Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Chapter 187
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
Chapter 187: Starlight Fairies (1)
***
“My lord, I have returned.”
“What did they say?”
“As you instructed, I told them to send a messenger to the headquarters and requested the dispatch of a master class.”
“Well done.”
Victor beamed with pride at Damien’s praise.
“At first, I thought you had lost your mind when you told me to convey such a message without any evidence. But I was surprised that the Church readily believed your words.”
It was a testament to the strong bond between Damien and the Church.
“So they didn’t even question your absurd claim that Hedoniac is targeting the city.”
“When will the master class arrive?”
“They said they weren’t sure either. It will take some time for the messenger to reach headquarters and for headquarters to dispatch the master class.”
The answer was somewhat expected.
Even for the Church, it would be difficult to dispatch a master class so urgently.
‘At least there’s a lot of time left before Hedoniac arrives.’
Hedoniac’s two Transcendent Beings aimed to shatter the happiness of the festival.
‘So I should have plenty of time before they reach the city.’
But Damien knew.
‘Things don’t always go as planned, and you need to be prepared for the unexpected.’
‘Maybe I need to buy some time.’
If Hedoniac arrived before the Church, Damien would have no choice but to step in.
‘It would be a pain to deal with the master class and the Grand dark mage at the same time, but I can at least stall for time.’
“You’ve done well. Rest well.”
Victor bowed and left the room.
As soon as Victor was gone, Damien pulled out a travel bag from the subspace and summoned Munchi.
– Woof!
As soon as he came out, Munchi licked Damien’s face relentlessly.
“Come on, I get it. I get it.”
Damien pushed Munchi’s head away. It was a bit of a burden to have a wolf the size of a calf clinging to him.
– Play with me Woofl!
“Not now.”
– OKKkkkk! Wimper!
Munchi sat down on the floor and waited for Damien’s orders.
“Keep an eye on the city’s surroundings from today on. If you see any danger, report to me immediately.”
Munchi was perfect for this job.
Damien didn’t know exactly where Hedoniac was coming from.
‘And Hedoniac’s two Transcendent Beings will surely be hiding their powers.’
Utilizing his unique ability, ‘Shadow Tales,’ he could create clones to monitor a wide area and, with his animalistic instincts, track down the two Transcendents.
“I’ll do as you say, Woof!”
With those words, he melded into the encroaching darkness.
“I need to make my own preparations as well.”
Facing the two Transcendents, Damien too needed his own form of preparation.
***
After that day, Damien had a busy schedule.
During the day, he spent time strolling the city with his family. In the evenings, preparations for the Hedoniac’s arrival consumed his nights.
“Mom, look at this! A brochure made by the city’s artisans.”
“Oh my, it is truly beautiful.”
On their first morning in the city, they followed the women on a shopping spree.
His mother, sister, and sister-in-law, browsed through various shops, venturing into different corners of the city.
Damien followed behind, carrying their bags.
“Wouldn’t you ladies get tired of walking around the city together? I happen to know a great restaurant…”
“Enough with that, we don’t need.”
“What are you doing again… Ugh, ow!”
He also took on the duty of chasing away bothersome men who approached the three women.
Initially, there were many persistent annoyances, but after dealing with a few, not a single one dared to appear again.
“Oh, Damien, you’re back. Want to play a game of chess?”
Returning from shopping, he found the men engrossed in a game of chess.
“Play against Ballard once. You’ll learn a lot.”
“Brother-in-law! Your skills are no joke! You could even be mayor of the city with that level!”
“Oh, no, it’s not that good…”
When Louise’s fiancé Ballard heard Abel’s praise, he blushed slightly.
“How about you two settle it on the board? It would bring honor to the Haksen name.”
“Look at this guy? Why don’t you give it a try?”
“It won’t be easy against my brother either.”
Throughout the evening, Damien played chess and conversed with the three men.
His days continued to be filled with various activities alongside his family. They attended plays held in the city and enjoyed watching festive parades that snaked through the streets.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, he would patrol the city, preparing for the Hedoniac’s arrival.
Time flowed, and the night arrived, adorned by the flight of the Starlight Fairies. Food and drinks were enjoyed on the rooftop by the family while they awaited the ethereal spectacle.
“Damien, remember when you were young? You used to throw tantrums, saying you’d marry Mom.”
“Mom, why are you still bringing that up?”
“Look at him? Seems embarrassed.”
As the liquor loosened their inhibitions, lighthearted banter and laughter filled the air.
“So, Damien, when are you going to find someone?”
The conversation then steered towards a sensitive topic.
His mother’s question drew the entire family’s attention towards him. Damien pretended to focus on his food while subtly gauging their reactions.
Their eyes sparkled with anticipation, all fixated on him.
“Well, I guess it’ll happen when the time is right.”
“Oh come on, don’t be so nonchalant about it!”
“That’s right. Abel’s married, and I’m planning my wedding with Ballard soon. You’re the only one left alone.”
Damien continued to feign eating, observing their gazes.
Their expectant stares remained unwavering. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to easily deflect the question.
Just as he was pondering his response, a sudden burst of awestruck gasps erupted from all corners of the city.
“Wowww!”
“Oooooh!”
Confused by the unexpected sounds, everyone turned their attention upwards.
Something was ascending into the dark night sky.
It resembled an inverted flower bud, floating serenely across the vast canvas. The buds drifted slowly through the air, scattering light as they moved.
The Starlight Fairies were taking flight in a magnificent display, swirling and searching for their mates.
The entire family stood speechless, mesmerized by the sight.
Damien was no different. He had never witnessed such a breathtaking spectacle, even in his previous life.
The mesmerizing dance of the Starlight Fairies left him momentarily speechless.
“Beautiful.”
Count, who had silently approached him, simply uttered that one word.
Count couldn’t take his eyes away from the Starlight Fairies.
“Thanks to you, I’m getting to see such a wonderful sight. I’m really grateful.”
Damien let out a bitter laugh at his words. Count tilted his head in confusion.
“Why are you laughing? Is there something bothering you?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Don’t be like that. Tell me what’s on your mind. Your face has been full of worry for the past few days.”
At those words, Damien touched his face.
The truth was, Damien was always on guard, constantly watching his surroundings for any sign of the Hedoniac.
He thought he had been doing a good job of hiding his anxiety, but apparently, his father had seen right through him.
“I don’t know what’s bothering you, but why don’t you tell your old man about it?”
Damien’s mouth opened slightly at his father’s words, then closed again.
He couldn’t tell him the truth about his preparations for the Hedoniac. He had to come up with another reason.
“… I’ve been having a lot of nightmares lately.”
Maybe it was because the trip had helped him relax.
Before he could stop himself, Damien found himself confiding in his father about his real worries.
Without giving him a chance to explain himself, his father asked with a concerned expression.
“What kind of nightmares are you having?”
“Everyone… everyone but me dies in my nightmares.”
It was a lie, actually. That wasn’t Damien’s real nightmare. His real nightmare was killing his family with his own hands.
He couldn’t even call it a nightmare.
Everything had actually happened. It wasn’t a dream, but a memory. He wasn’t dreaming; he was reliving the past.
Damien’s father burst into loud laughter at his words.
“You’re worrying too much. Why would we all die and leave you behind? That’s not going to happen.”
It had happened.
Or rather, it would happen.
That’s why Damien couldn’t escape his nightmares.
He never knew when it would happen again.
The dark mages who had ruined him and his family were still spreading their filth all over the world.
“Damien, focus on this moment right now.”
Count said, looking at the family. The family was watching the Starlight Fairies, constantly exclaiming in admiration.
“Damien, I’m happy. What about you?”
Of course, he was happy. This time with his family was too precious. He cherished every moment, afraid that time would slip away too quickly.
But Damien couldn’t just let himself be happy.
He was anxious.
There was too much evil in the world. He was terrified that it would destroy their happiness at any moment.
That’s why Damien couldn’t easily bring himself to say that he was happy.
Just then,
Something tugged at Damien’s collar. He looked down to see Munchi’s head emerging from the shadows.
“Master, there’s big trouble!”
Munchi said, grabbing Damien’s collar.
“Two humans with a very dangerous aura have appeared.”
In the midst of his happiest moment in life, the most unwelcome guests had arrived.
***
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]