LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 180
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“……Dragon blood was indeed your blood.”
As Aster held his sleeping apprentice’s hand with both of his, he let out a breath he had been holding.
He didn’t want to believe it. But he had no choice but to accept it. Even if it was a mere glimpse, the Wolf’s eyes, which pierced through his past deeds, couldn’t possibly miss recognizing the state of his apprentice, Hong Yu-ri. It was only a moment’s pause; it wouldn’t be strange if transformation happened at any time.
“Right.”
Aster looked up at the ceiling at the Wolf’s agreement. How did it come to this— what was so urgent for his apprentice? Did she really have to gulp down the dragon blood… A myriad of imaginations ran through his mind.
His outward demeanor remained unchanged, but inwardly, a dry voice flowed from Aster.
“…Is this what she wanted?”
When he asked if it was Hong Yu-ri who demanded the dragon blood, the Wolf nodded, and Aster sighed. If it were just a little, it might have worked as an elixir. But she had swallowed too much. What was the urgency? Was Dorothy’s progress making Hong Yu-ri anxious? After all, Hong Yu-ri was already so close to reaching great magical power… If only she had waited a bit longer, she would have surely made it.
“The reason I called you is to see if there’s a way to stop the transformation.”
The Wolf then informed him that he had already asked the Butterfly of Covenant the same question. Being a fellow Square Master, Aster thought there might be a method she knew that he didn’t.
Upon hearing about the great magical power, Aster shook his head. An elixir could sometimes be a double-edged sword. Having accepted more dragon blood than her capabilities allowed, she could only possess strengths beyond that of dragon blood.
However, the only help he could offer was a slight assistance in her awakening. A small spark ignited at the tips of Aster’s fingers. When that hand brushed against her forehead, Hong Yu-ri’s complexion became much more relaxed.
“She’ll wake soon. This is all I can do for her.”
The Wolf nodded in response to Aster’s lament.
“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will definitely bring her back.”
He’s confident. Even in the worst-case scenario, if he uses a fake elixir, he can save her. But that’s only after exhausting every possible means and failing. The fake elixir was like a last resort for the Wolf.
“……How can you be so assured?”
Unaware of this fact, Aster cut himself off and nodded solemnly. There’s no way to prevent the transformation. If he called for help to ask himself, then Marang must have also been unable to find a solution. Yet to have such confidence…
It implied a readiness to face even incorrect words.
If he were to lose his reason and become a dragon, it was a declaration of his will to bear the consequences.
How can that be… There’s only one conclusion to draw. It meant that Marang was sincere. Even if his apprentice were to lose her reason, he wouldn’t be able to give up.
It was only now that he could understand why he stepped up to take down the Plague and Disease. Not just to help humanity, but because what his apprentice wished for was what he desired as well. There was a clear motive behind it.
Anytime, anywhere, why… countlessly questions vanished before Marang’s unwavering red eyes. Aster lamented. He couldn’t allow her to give up, nor would he.
Gently closing his eyes, Aster understood and accepted everything. However, he didn’t realize that this understanding could be a misunderstanding. He steeled himself and bowed his head to Marang.
“……Please take care of my apprentice.”
“Sure. We’ll meet again later.”
***
On the last day before Baek So-yul left for the purple city, shortly after his departure as Aster predicted, Hong Yu-ri finally gained consciousness with her head pounding.
“…Damn?”
That was her reaction to the news that she had been unconscious for nearly a day. At her vulgar exclamation, the Wolf and Baek So-yul couldn’t help but chuckle as if it were a signal.
“What’s up?”
“It’s nothing. Are you alright?”
“I said I’m fine. Stop making a fuss.”
As it turned out, she was indeed okay. The fairy’s light dust had completely healed her. The problem was the transformation. As soon as he explained, Hong Yu-ri’s eyes widened.
“……Don’t use magic?”
“No, I mean to keep it in mind. There’s a way to save you.”
“…….”
“You must be confused. Let’s eat first, and we can discuss more afterward.”
Hong Yu-ri nodded silently. While eating, when she heard that Baek So-yul would be heading to the Purple Square the next day, she gave him a pointed look.
“Hey, are you ready for your departure tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go to see you again.”
As Baek So-yul headed to his room, Hong Yu-ri turned her gaze toward the Wolf.
“So, what are you thinking?”
“……?”
“You already finished what you initially set out to do.”
The Wolf nodded at her words.
He had not come to the Square to stop the Plague and Disease. They were still distant monsters. He merely aimed to prevent the Butterfly of Covenant from betraying.
However, after coming to the Square, he learned many truths.
The stories entangled with the Master of All Things and the Butterfly of Covenant. The distorted family trapped within a coil. It wasn’t to atone for killing Agail.
It was simply to instill even a small hope in the powerless Square and humanity. To pray for the souls of those dying and to save those who are alive.
Thus, seeking help and cooperation, the Wolf fulfilled his promise.
His original goal had already been achieved, and there was no immediate need to forcibly take down the Plague.
Yet, as a result, the Plague was defeated, and the turmoil ended. It meant putting a decisive end to a long disaster that had lasted for decades.
What Hong Yu-ri wanted to ask was whether he would take down Disease now. And the Wolf nodded.
“I’ve decided to see it through to the end.”
He couldn’t stop now that he had come this far. Above all, it was what the Wolf himself wished for. A worm gnawing at the land. To move on, he must defeat the Disease.
“……Are you going to be alright?”
To that, the Wolf nodded once more.
That day, after meeting the Master of All Things, he realized.
There is no time to remain still here. He must advance. Even if it is difficult, he must move forward.
Disasters may be dispelled, but humanity could vanish at any moment due to her whims.
***
Time passed, and as evening fell, the members began to gather one by one in the center of the Square as summoned.
When the Butterfly of Covenant arrived just in time, nearly all seats in the meeting room were filled except for one, as usual.
“What’s the purpose of calling us?”
At the words of the Master of North Wind, the Butterfly of Covenant shook her head.
“It wasn’t me.”
With that brief answer, the Master of North Wind turned to Aster.
“It wasn’t me either.”
“Could it be…”
Even though both of them denied it, they wouldn’t play around. If not them, then it meant a third party gathered the Square Masters through them. Without a single clue, the Masters of Winter and North Wind quickly reached a conclusion.
And as if to prove this, when the door opened, a puppy came in. Just a rather unusual puppy, but that was just an appearance. It was merely pretending under their request. The proof being, none of those present could see through its true nature.
The Wolf, who had swallowed the disaster of the Plague, and Marang had clearly taken a step further. An end where its limits couldn’t even be measured. Perhaps there really was a hope to defeat the Disease.
The Wolf briefly glanced at the empty seat before surveying the room.
The Red Sage. The Master of North Wind. The Master of Winter. Even the Butterfly of Covenant—four Square Masters were seated, and the Wolf nodded, catching their attention.
Just as he had requested the Butterfly of Covenant to gather them, it was now his turn to continue the conversation.
“I want to talk.”
Slowly, the Wolf began.
“About the Disease. To defeat the remaining disaster.”
It was something they all longed to hear.
…….
There were opinions, but no dissent. The four Square Masters cast their votes in favor, and much discussion ensued to find a way. Once the conversation concluded, the Wolf looked down from the edge of the Floating Island. The Disease was surely asleep somewhere so far away that neither his eyes nor detection could reach.
If only he knew where it would appear next, but chasing after the Disease was impossible. Therefore, it was inevitable to lure it to defeat it. Once the Disease moved, that’s when the hunt would begin.
—It meant the preliminary preparations were complete.
“You plan to do it.”
Even though he heard the voice, the Wolf did not turn. He already knew.
The empty seat… but not really. She had been seated from the beginning. None present, including the Wolf himself, realized this. Unlike before, he felt nothing. No aura, no magic power, not even intimidation. Yet…
“……Are you planning to stop me?”
“I’m contemplating.”
Though he could not even feel the direction of her gaze, the Wolf felt as if she could see through him entirely. And that feeling was no illusion.
“It would be nice if I had another chance…”
“…….”
“Right, you’ve played a shallow trick.”
As she muttered something incomprehensible, a gaze that had never been felt before suddenly hit him. Lightly digging into the past that no one had seen, it pierced deeper into an obscure abyss. And what lay there was undoubtedly…
“……This is where the concessions end. Remember, there won’t be another time.”
The Wolf understood that this was a warning directed at him, but also not solely towards him.
At some point, a hand had placed itself over his head. The voice was clearly distant, yet the hand soothed him as if to reassure him. His body had become rigid, unable to move. The atmosphere shifted, and he felt an unknown pressure bearing down.
And that moment lasted but a fleeting instant.
“……!”
The Wolf whipped his head around, but there was no one there. Even his detection couldn’t feel a trace of presence. Was it an illusion? It couldn’t be. The sensation lingering in his fur denied that.
Clenching his teeth, he simultaneously felt relief. It meant at least for this time, she wouldn’t intervene. Yet it was clear that the system and the conversations he needed to have increased.
She had spoken with his inner self… undoubtedly, it was the system. It was certain that Tan Se-hyeok didn’t reveal everything he knew.
Still, for now, he had no choice but to focus on the situation unfolding before him.
***
As Euna returned from the fantasy world to the real world, she frowned. Her body had adapted to the dense magic power. The mundane world she once thought nothing of now felt somewhat uncomfortable. Dull and thin… Shaking her head, Euna decided to clear her thoughts as she strolled down the street. Before she knew it, evening was approaching, but she had to stop by the clan.
At that moment, she tilted her head.
Strangely, everyone’s expressions seemed rather bright and lively. Was there some good news? Or was it some special day? Tilting her head, Euna reached the clan just as others were finishing up for the day, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. It had been less than a month, yet it felt like she hadn’t been back for a long time.
“…….”
She thought about stopping home first, but just then… taking a deep breath, Euna turned toward the clan when she spotted a man with an unusual aura and one arm missing.
“Oh, Team Leader?”
It was Gu Jin-ha, the team leader who had been hospitalized before heading to the fantasy realm due to serious injuries. Euna bowed her head in greeting.
“You don’t need to bother with formalities. Are you back now?”
“Yes, I just arrived… Are you feeling alright?”
Gu Jin-ha nodded while touching his shoulder where his arm used to be. It had been a while since his discharge, but he was still getting used to it.
“Aside from this.”
“…….”
“You don’t have to worry too much. In time, it’ll heal, without a doubt.”
Though it would take longer than it had for Hong Yu-ri, there was no pain or anything like that. Seeing him walking around without hesitation, Euna thought his words were not empty, feeling relieved and grateful he asked her to come back tomorrow after work, to which she vigorously nodded.
Watching her retreating figure, Gu Jin-ha couldn’t help but admire softly. She had developed significantly while he was bedridden. While he hadn’t intended to hide, she must have sensed his aura and turned to look. The amount of magical power she emitted had clearly increased, surpassing most B-class hunters.
What had she been doing all this time…
Just then, distant fireworks sounded, and he let out a deep sigh. Now that news of the Squares defeating the Plague had spread, humanity was in a festive mood every day. Yet, only a handful were aware of the truths surrounding Marang that lay behind the scenes.
So, unbeknownst to them, the world was gradually changing. It wasn’t merely a dream to escape the threat of destruction someday.
…….
Yet even so, unease lingered.
Now that a miracle had occurred, defeating the Plague and dispelling the disaster, even the wastrels had gone quiet, and the silence felt like the calm before the storm to him.
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