Chapter 67

# Episode 067

The Kingdom of Ruzad, Glumir.

This territory, the second largest and wealthiest in the kingdom, was ruled by a clan of vampires.

The Labyrinth Manor, located on the outskirts of Glumir, was their stronghold.

A three-story mansion built in the imperial style, it was named the Labyrinth Manor because the vast garden attached to it was designed in the shape of a labyrinth.

In fact, the mansion itself was also constructed with a dark and complex structure, unlike its appearance.

Even those who had visited the mansion several times could easily get lost if they let their guard down.

Of course, only a handful of people on the continent knew this fact.

Among them was the hooded man sitting across from Lady Nigrante, the mistress of the Labyrinth Manor.

"Has the lady recovered the lost lamb?"

The man spoke in a calm voice.

A large circle embroidered in gold thread adorned his robe.

The symbol of Luz Sol.

However, the lady paid no attention to the emblem.

The vampire clan had long been subordinate to the empire and the church.

In exchange for their cooperation in researching the secrets of immortality, they enjoyed prosperity in the closest border kingdom to the empire.

The man before her was the one responsible for managing this arrangement.

"Unfortunately... not yet, Father."

The lady smiled gently, stating the conclusion first.

It was a smile that could charm any human, but it had no effect on the man she called Father.

"But it seems to be becoming an even more intriguing existence. It will be a different kind of test subject. Not just because it's a fairy, but because it seems to be tightly bound by a strong will to live."

"It seems more time is needed."

The lady smiled even more gently to hide her tension.

This man was a fanatic of Luz Sol.

He could engulf the entire Labyrinth Manor in light if he wished.

That was why the lady did not try to reveal his identity or face.

Sometimes, not knowing was safer.

"A while ago, I discovered the child's trail in Bel Rond. I've dispatched a clan judge, so it shouldn't take long."

"Fortunately for you, there has been a small setback in our plans."

The lady did not know exactly who "we" referred to.

But she had a vague idea of their plans.

"You mean the plan to bring deeper darkness to the border?"

"It's a plan to make the light shine brighter and more brilliantly."

The lady responded with a smile to the man's correction.

"Despite the unexpected variable, nothing will change. The goddess only gives trials that can be endured, even if they are unforeseen."

"I hope you resolve it well."

As she said this, the lady thought that perhaps the most insane were not the fanatics but Luz Sol itself.

The disgusting goddess of light seemed to care little about what her followers did as long as they fervently worshipped her.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have bestowed such powerful divinity on the priest before her.

"It will be so. I hope you do too. I'll give you another six months."

The priest stood up.

"This is the last time. Next time... you'll need to prepare a new lamb."

"Of course."

The priest turned around.

The smile on the lady's lips vanished the moment he stepped out the door.

As she took out a blood vial filled with the girl's blood from a drawer, she murmured,

"An unexpected variable..."

In fact, she knew what the priest meant by the variable.

The savior of Agel Lan and the butcher of Bel Rond. A mercenary of unknown origin, known only by name.

She had learned this while tracking the movements of the half-breed experimental subject, whom she didn't even want to call part of the clan.

"...I hope it causes more chaos."

So that they wouldn't have the means to covet the clan's precious blood.

With genuine hope, the lady swallowed the blood vial in one gulp.

***

His breath formed a mist in the cold air.

Ian's face, slumped in the chair, was filled with relief.

They would arrive at the Temple of the Brazier in a few hours.

Once he placed Lucie and Miguel inside, this long and arduous quest would finally be over.

He planned to visit a nearby village next.

He needed to reorganize and rest, but most urgently, he needed a bath.

He smelled like a sewer.

"Seems like Havier wasn't trusted in Larumut."

Charlotte suddenly said.

Ian only moved his eyes to look at the back of her head.

"Speak clearly."

"Knights are waiting."

"What...?"

Ian straightened up, his brow furrowing.

On a hill along the road, four men in plate armor were visible, standing by a bonfire. Two were knights, and the other two seemed to be squires.

"How do you know they're waiting for us?"

Miguel, who instinctively tensed, asked.

Charlotte's voice continued.

"Can't you see the emblem? They're the Thunder Knights."

"Thunder... Knights?"

"Larumut's royal guard."

"Damn... I thought it was over."

Miguel sighed.

Ian's brow also furrowed.

Larumut knew that Lucie had received the grace of Lu Enter.

It wouldn't have been hard to guess their destination. They must have dispatched their elite knights as a precaution upon hearing the news.

They were likely waiting to intercept Lucie before they reached the temple.

Ian knew they were determined to get Lucie, but he didn't expect them to be this thorough.

'So, the back of the head is hit when you let your guard down, huh...'

Ian had fought the Thunder Knights in the game.

They were mid-bosses who guarded a castle in a mad state.

Naturally, they were terrifyingly strong and had difficult patterns.

There were fewer of them now, but they were still formidable.

Especially in his exhausted state.

Charlotte, who had been watching the knights prepare after spotting the carriage, finally smiled.

"Amazing. The Thunder Knights."

"You're excited about reinforcements?"

Miguel mocked.

Charlotte turned to him as if he were speaking gibberish.

"Do you think they'll save me?"

"…? You said it was amazing."

"It means it will be a beautiful death. Dying in battle with them is far more beautiful than living a long life like this."

"…"

"They are among the best in the empire, armed with weapons imbued with the essence of the Gray Tower. The outcome is set, but it will be a beautiful battle."

Miguel's mouth opened and closed, speechless.

Ian's snort followed.

Who decides the outcome?

"To think of dying before even fighting. Losing your tail must have made you lose your wildness."

Charlotte turned to him, indignant.

"My wildness is intact! I was just stating a fact…!"

"Even the strongest will die if their neck is cut or their heart bursts."

Ian slowly stretched his neck, looking at Charlotte.

"That's a fact I know."

"…"

This time, Charlotte was speechless.

She looked away from Ian, seemingly ashamed.

His eyes did not belong to someone who had given up on life.

They were the eyes of a warrior who would do anything to survive.

"Stop the carriage!"

A loud voice echoed.

The knights on horseback, holding lances at their sides, were looking at them.

Despite being only two, Ian's instincts warned him.

'They're really strong.'

Ian stood up and said,

"Miguel, when the battle starts, go around the hill. Don't worry about the outcome, just go to the temple."

"A, alright…."

The knight's voice continued.

"I commend your resilience for not returning empty-handed! But this is where it ends! If you hand over the young lady peacefully, I promise a painless death!"

What a knightly thing to do.

Without responding, Ian jumped out of the carriage.

Charlotte, drawing her dual swords, landed beside him, crouching.

The knights laughed at the sight of the two stepping forward.

"You want an honorable death."

They dismounted, as if changing their minds, threw their lances, and drew their swords.

Pachi, blue sparks ran along their swords, spreading over their armor.

Wind swirled around Ian and Charlotte.

As the distance closed, the knights' steps quickened.

Soon, both sides began to charge at each other.

Just before the collision.

Whoosh!

"…?!"

A bright yellow wall of fire rose between them.

Ian stopped, eyes wide, and the others did the same.

Charlotte looked at Ian.

A questioning glance.

Ian responded by turning his gaze.

This wasn't magic.

It was a holy fire, fueled by divine power.

It wasn't hard to identify the source.

At the top of the hill, a knight with divine power raised his arm.

Over thirty more knights appeared on either side.

"Cease the battle!"

Men in priestly robes, wielding maces, ran down the hill, shouting.

'They're priests of Lu Enter.'

Ian lowered his sword.

The priests split into two groups, half guarding the carriage and the other surrounding the two knights.

One of the priests said,

"Lower your weapons. This is the domain of the Burning Goddess."

Pachi, pachi

The knights, still gripping their swords with blue lightning, looked at the priests.

"We are here on the orders of Duke Larumut. Even if you are priests who serve the goddess, you have no right to interfere with our official duties."

"It is not unrelated. Since the child blessed by the goddess is involved."

"We let you spy on us out of mercy. If we return empty-handed, the duke's wrath will be directed at the temple."

An overt threat.

The response came not from a priest.

"You haven't considered why the duke had you wait here, not at the temple."

A woman's voice.

The priests spread out, and a robed priestess stepped forward.

The one who had ignited the holy fire.

She pulled back her hood and said,

"Go tell the duke. Cherwin Astraea, who serves Lu Enter, is willing to wait."

Blonde hair and red eyes were revealed.

"A, Astraea…! Forgive our rudeness, my lady…!"

The knights quickly knelt on one knee, sighing.

The lightning on their swords had already disappeared.

Because the priestess before them was of the direct imperial bloodline.

Ian looked at her, surprised for a different reason.

'…The Saint of the Brazier. I didn't expect to see her in person so soon.'

In the game, when he visited the Temple of the Brazier in the middle of Chapter 3, she was already dead.

She had sacrificed her body to the Brazier's flame to revive the dying holy fire.

The Brazier's flame was revived, but the priests went mad.

They began offering humans, claiming to carry on the saint's will.

The one who put an end to these sacrificial rituals was, of course, Ian.

He killed all the priests and extinguished the holy fire of the Brazier.

He had lowered the divinity of Lu Enter.

The result was to plunge the continent into deeper darkness, of course.

'…A future that no longer exists.'

Meanwhile, the knights had retreated.

As Lucie and Miguel approached, bewildered, under the priests' escort, Cherwin dismounted.

She clasped her hands in front of her chest and bowed deeply.

"I am truly grateful, Carrier of the Ember. The Temple of the Brazier is deeply indebted to you."

Her attitude was courteous, regardless of the other's race or status.

Then her gaze turned to Lucie.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for you."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Luciefer Ash Liorel."

Lucie greeted her respectfully.

Luciefer...? Ian exchanged a glance with Miguel, and she added,

"Am I going to the temple right away?"

"Yes. You will live and study with me. You will eventually take on my role."

"…But I want to learn magic."

"Surprisingly, the divine power of the Burning Goddess has many similarities to red magic. I was a red mage before I served the goddess. The important thing is not to lose your inner passion."

The situation was quickly resolved.

The group got back into the carriage and headed to the temple under the priests' escort.

Miguel suddenly turned to Cherwin, who was walking alongside the carriage.

"Bu, but how did you know we were coming?"

"About a month ago, the goddess gave a prophecy. That the ember would be carried here."

"A prophecy…? Directly from the goddess…?"

Miguel's eyes widened.

It was a very rare occurrence.

Ian suppressed a chuckle.

A month ago, when he had received the quest.

'She must have been desperate. After all, the divinity was declining.'

"While observing the imperial knights staying in the village, I realized they were trying to intercept the ember. I couldn't give them a reason to leave, so I just watched. …Fortunately, it's not too late."

Miguel, nodding, looked around again.

After a moment's hesitation, he added,

"Once we enter the temple, will Lucie and I not be able to come out for a while?"

"It's a rule that apprentices cannot leave the temple during their training period."

"Um… then… can we go to the village first and visit the temple tomorrow?"

"…?"

Cherwin tilted her head, and Miguel, sweating, continued,

"Since this long journey is over, I can't part without having a drink…!"

Ian turned to him with a hollow laugh.

Still thinking about a farewell party in the middle of this?