LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 57
Chapter 57
He bore a resemblance to his former self, yet the man with a gentler demeanor pressed firmly upon his head.
“Yan, isn’t it beautiful?”
Just as the man had said, the scene unfolding before Yan’s eyes was breathtakingly beautiful.
Purple wildflowers were densely embedded into the cliffside, with a waterfall cascading below.
Beneath it, those who had settled around the area were sweating profusely as they toiled away.
‘Where is this place?’
Even Yan, who knew every corner of the continent, couldn’t easily deduce it.
A cliff with purple wildflowers and a flowing waterfall…
As he pondered, the man continued in a soft tone.
“In ten years’ time, this will be the land you must protect.”
Cryptic words.
And just as the man’s enigmatic statement concluded…
Pop!
The world turned as dark as if it had been switched off.
* * *
Yan’s Awakening
Gripping his head as if it might shatter from the splitting headache, Yan rose to his feet.
“Have you awakened?”
A voice of profound timbre reached him from beside.
“Steward Hans?”
The speaker was Beowulf’s steward, Hans, wrapped in bandages several times over.
“It seems you’ve had a nightmare. Your clothes are drenched in cold sweat.”
Indeed, Yan’s attire was soaked through with sweat, just as Hans had observed.
‘What was that dream about?’
The man in the dream, bearing a familiar visage, and his words, along with the place he had seen, were branded in Yan’s mind like a fiery mark.
‘Ah.’
It didn’t take long for Yan to deduce the identity of the man in his dream.
A man who bore a terrifying resemblance to his past self.
‘The one in the pendant… my father.’
Setting that aside.
Were the words his father spoke in the dream real, or were they a figment of his imagination?
As Yan’s expression grew grave, Hans asked with a concerned look.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Yan dusted himself off and checked his condition.
He had fainted from using magic to the point of mana exhaustion, but now he was somewhat recovered.
“Ho? You seem quite robust.”
Hans looked at Yan as if he found it astonishing.
Even considering the high-quality medicines administered to Yan, Hans hadn’t expected him to rise so quickly.
“By the way.”
Yan looked up at Hans, his face setting into a firm expression.
“Does the Duke know as well?”
He had used magic that he had kept hidden, not wanting to draw attention.
The exposure of his concealed strength was problematic.
‘If the Beowulf family were to spread word of this, it would attract far too much attention.’
He had pondered this before when he had revealed his Level 5 abilities at the training center.
He had worried that he had shown too much.
‘To receive missions that allowed for independent action without suspicion, I had to demonstrate that level of skill.’
But the current situation was entirely different.
A Level 5 knight who could use magic, already a precedent with the ‘Crown Prince’ and the ‘Grand Duke of the North.’
The former was not a first, but the latter, as far as Yan knew, was.
Hans seemed to catch on to Yan’s inner turmoil and smiled warmly.
“The head of the house is very tight-lipped.”
The Duke of Beowulf knew but intended to keep it to himself.
Yan would have liked to extract a vow, but.
‘It wouldn’t be right.’
At least, the Duke of Beowulf Yan knew was not given to ostentation.
“Oh, and about the test…”
Collecting ten tribal relics.
Yan and the other trainees had yet to gather all ten.
Hans chuckled heartily.
“I was planning to give you a passing grade, but do you have any objections?”
Yan smirked.
He had played a significant role in thwarting that villain. It was a natural outcome.
“How could I?”
Hans patted Yan’s shoulder and continued.
“And the head of the house has invited you to lunch. Rest until then. Someone will come for you when it’s time.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Hans left the room with a hearty laugh, and Yan lay back down on the bed.
There was still much to ponder.
“A sudden new dream…”
Yan’s eyes settled with determination.
It was the emergence of a new clue.
* * *
Two Hours Later
Following a maid, Yan arrived at the dining hall where the trainees had already gathered.
“You’ve come back from the dead, huh?”
Cruel teased, poking Yan in the ribs and giggling.
Cruel himself had a splint on his arm, and Charl was bandaged around the thigh, presumably from a cut.
“…”
Next was Lorena.
She snorted and turned her head sharply when Yan made a gesture as if stuffing a gag in her mouth.
‘No need to worry then.’
Lorena’s attitude suggested she wouldn’t speak of Yan’s use of magic to others.
As all the trainees had arrived at the dining hall…
Thud. Thud.
Someone entered.
“Everyone’s here.”
It was Duke Beowulf.
At his dignified tone, Lorena’s face noticeably turned cold.
Cruel and Charl looked at the source of the voice with flushed faces and quickly bowed their heads.
“Ah, greetings Your Grace!”
“…Hello, Duke.”
“Pleased to meet you, hmm?”
Duke Beowulf frowned slightly at the trainees’ greetings and then vanished from his spot.
Swoosh.
“Your Grace?!”
Suddenly appearing right in front of Cruel, Duke Beowulf looked down at him with a stern face.
A knife, now in his opposite hand, was pointed at Cruel’s throat.
“Why is there such a foul presence in my house?”
Yan’s face contorted at Duke Beowulf’s words.
“A demon, or a spy from the ‘Seven Sins’?”
Duke Beowulf murmured, extending his hand towards Cruel’s throat.
At that moment.
“…Yan?”
Yan quickly stepped in front of Cruel, facing Duke Beowulf with a hardened expression.
‘He’s noticed the demonic energy.’
It was something Yan had uncharacteristically forgotten amidst the many events.
Given Duke Beowulf’s status, he would be one of the few to know about ‘demonic energy.’
The ‘demons’ and ‘Seven Sins’ mentioned by Duke Beowulf were forces the empire was on high alert against.
Thus, Duke Beowulf’s actions were justified as a noble of the empire.
And it was true that the dark arts Cruel had learned before joining the training center were associated with the ‘Seven Sins.’
But.
‘If I hand over Cruel now, all my efforts will have been in vain.’
Cruel already had a role in Yan’s plans.
He had to cling on, even if it meant taking a risk.
Duke Beowulf asked in a low voice.
“What are you doing?”
“This person isn’t as significant as you think, Your Grace.”
“And how do you know what I’m thinking?”
“If you’ve seen it, you know it’s just a tiny remnant. If it were what you’re thinking, wouldn’t it be strange for it to have stayed quiet until now?”
Yan spoke rapidly, and Duke Beowulf twisted his lips.
“Remnant or source, it’s still demonic energy.”
“Your Grace!”
Whoom.
A white light emanated from the sword Duke Beowulf held.
Ssssh.
The chill it released swept through the dining hall.
The floor froze over, and the steaming food turned cold.
Frost formed on the edge of the table, and the trainees nearby began to breathe out white puffs of air.
It was a tense standoff.
Yan bit his lip.
He might have to use the ‘letter’ Wiglaf had given him.
‘It would be too wasteful to use it now…’
As Yan pondered, an unexpected figure intervened.
Duke Beowulf frowned at the person who stood before him.
“…Hans.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Hans, who had been wrapped in bandages just moments ago, now stood in a suit, blocking Yan and dissipating the immense energy.
“My lord, these are the lady’s friends and children who have made great contributions to the Beowulf family.”
Despite Hans’ words, Duke Beowulf’s expression remained stern.
The trainees, except for Lorena, gasped at the intense standoff.
Cruel, in particular, who had been Duke Beowulf’s target, was pale with fear.
“What is this madness?”
Hans glanced at Lorena and then said firmly.
“These are guests who have protected the ducal house.”
Duke Beowulf’s gaze grew even colder.
Grrrr.
The pressure increased, and Hans’ feet dug into the floor.
Sweat began to stream down his forehead.
After a while, as Hans’ face began to heat up…
Whoosh.
Duke Beowulf released the immense energy he had been emitting.
“Enough. It’s childish to engage in such a power struggle with a patient.”
“Huff. Wise decision.”
Hans staggered.
Even for a superhuman, it was no easy feat to withstand Duke Beowulf’s energy after a battle and while still recovering.
Had Duke Beowulf not dispersed his energy himself, Hans would have suffered severe internal injuries.
“A creature with demonic energy has made great contributions… It would be foolish for me to intervene further when Hans speaks so.”
“I’m… sorry.”
Cruel, pale as a ghost, hastily bowed, not even knowing his own fault.
Duke Beowulf snorted and strode to the head of the table.
“Sit down, everyone.”
At Duke Beowulf’s command, Cruel and Charl fumbled to find their seats.
Click.
Amidst it all, Yan sat down nonchalantly.
“Yes!”
‘Hoh.’
The one who had just felt his power dares to act so casually?
Though Hans had mostly shielded him, such energy was not something a mere Level 5 could withstand.
Interest flickered in Duke Beowulf’s eyes.
‘He’s no ordinary fellow.’
A smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
The displeasure from earlier vanished, replaced by curiosity and intrigue.
Duke Beowulf, holding his cutlery, said.
“Let’s start with the main topic after the meal. Everyone must be hungry, so eat up.”
At his words, Lorena sat with a cold face, while Cruel and Charl sat looking flustered.
In the dining hall filled with awkward silence and stillness, only Duke Beowulf, Hans, and Yan seemed at ease.
Gulp, gulp.
“What’s… what’s demonic energy?”
Cruel whispered in a tiny voice next to Yan, who just shrugged.
“Don’t know?”
“You… you seem to know, yet you ask!”
“Just eat.”
“You… are you made of steel? How can you eat in this situation?”
Yan chuckled.
“Relax your shoulders.”
This guy might not understand the gravity of the situation and is frozen in place.
But Yan knew all too well.
‘Why freeze up when you’re being rewarded?’
Acting clueless might mean missing out on what’s due.
‘Duke Beowulf isn’t that petty. And more importantly…’
That wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
‘At least double it!’
One must diligently claim the reward for their labor, right?