Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock

Chapter 206: I came to collect the debt

A part of the twisted world.

The black figure said that as Lucion watched it appear and vanish in Keortia.

He hesitated.

Why hadn’t anyone told him about that black smoke in the shape of a palm?

‘Can you see the black smoke, Bethel?’ Lucion asked Bethel, who possessed him.

[‘What are you talking about?’] Bethel responded with confusion.

Surely, she must have seen it with his body.

Lucion stopped for a while before reaching out his hand, as if drawn to something.

Whoosh.

[Lucion? Why is the color of your darkness… violet?] Russell asked in surprise.

“I don’t… know either,” Lucion admitted genuinely.

He too was curious about why it appeared as violet darkness.

With his mouth shut, Lucion gazed at the violet darkness flowing like flames spreading towards the palace from his palm, as if on a canvas.

Before he knew it, Peter, Reint, and Kran, who had been exploring the surroundings, gathered around the sight that was now enveloping the entire palace.

Crash!

With the sound of shattering glass, something that had enveloped the palace broke apart.

The shattered fragments depicted the palace, revealing an empty plain within, where instead of the sun, a moon was hanging in the sky.

―Whoa! Night has come!

Ratta’s eyes sparkled, tracing the stars.

[…!]

Russell stopped, staring at the night that had only partially arrived.

“Can the moon rise while the sun still shines? It’s breathtaking,” Hume remarked with a smile.

[No. That’s impossible, Hume. The sun and the moon cannot coexist.]

Bethel denied Hume’s statement, unable to believe her own eyes.

“Is this… black magic?” Reint asked, glancing at Lucion.

“Isn’t this magic?” Lucion inquired in return.

“It’s definitely not magic. There is no spell that can switch day and night.”

“Likewise. There’s no black magic that can change day into night… I don’t know either.”

Lucion replied, conscious of Russell’s eyes.

Russell, in a sudden frenzy, gripped his hair tightly.

However, in a moment, that place returned to normal, just like the surroundings, except for the fact that the palace had disappeared.

“Lucion!”

The darkness that had suddenly appeared called out to him.

“We’ll hide this so you don’t get caught.”

“Lucion had shattered it.”

‘Shattered it? Me?’

Lucion looked at his own hand.

He had merely placed his hand there, that was all.

“That guy had weakened just a little, so this much was possible now.”

“Right. Right!”

[Is this related to that guy?]

Russell asked, raising his voice.

“I’m sure you remembered it, didn’t you, Russell?”

“Oh. It’s not this memory, is it?”

The darkness replied in a voice that felt slightly subdued, unlike when addressing Lucion.

“No matter what, we won’t let you down.”

The darkness spoke as if it were a warning and then disappeared.

Lucion felt an urge to ask Russell but refrained, allowing him time to process his confusion. 

He, too, wasn’t ready to hear that story just yet.

‘It’s part of a twisted world.’

Bethel was obviously listening to his thoughts, but she didn’t ask anything.

[Ah…]

The death knight looked at the disappeared palace and let out a long breath as if he was looking at a house that had been reduced to a handful of ashes.

Lucion couldn’t tell what kind of expressions they had because they were covered by their helmets.

But for some reason, it seemed they were shedding silent tears.

“Hamel-nim.”

Kran called out to Lucion in a voice that seemed to hold back tears.

“Could you please follow me for a moment?”

He moved away from Peter and Reint, who were investigating the strange phenomenon.

“Do you know the reason for this phenomenon?”

Kran asked.

“I’m as clueless as you,” Lucion shook his head.

“Nevertheless, I appreciate it,” Kran expressed his gratitude, conscious of Peter and Reint nearby.

Though he couldn’t comprehend the unfolding events, the repeated appearance and disappearance of the Kingdom of Keortia felt like a deep emotional wound reopening.

It was as if they were mocking the dead, and anger surged within him.

More than a decade ago, he had certainly wished for this moment.

Please, let Keortia appear again.

Please, let it all be a dream.

But now that he had accepted his lost homeland, he would have preferred for it to vanish completely, just like he had seen.

“Thank you for liberating Keortia.”

If there were people trapped within that repeating scenario, how painful would that be?

If they were conscious and still alive within that strange phenomenon, they would have to go through the agony of disappearing and reappearing on a daily basis.

“I’m glad I followed you. I feel relieved to share my past with you, Hamel-nim.”

“I didn’t do anything, Kran.”

Lucion felt he hadn’t done anything to deserve such gratitude. He had merely extended his hand.

“No, Hamel-nim. If it were someone else, they would have likely used my past to blackmail me. I might not have even come here, and I’d still be digging into the ground.”

Kran wore a relieved expression, as if he had finally set down a heavy burden.

“I confirmed my vanished homeland with my own eyes. I found out for sure who did it today. It feels like solving a problem that I’ve been struggling with for a long time. Of course, there are still issues remaining, but my guilt has significantly lessened.”

“Kran.”

“Yes, Hamel-nim.”

Kran responded brightly.

“There are those who have been waiting for you.”

Lucion glanced at the Death Knights trailing behind him, noting Russell’s slight startle but silence.

Kran turned his gaze to where Lucion had been looking.

There was nothing there.

“What’s your name?”

Lucion spoke into the empty air.

“Go ahead. Today is your only chance.”

He spoke as if addressing someone else.

If it hadn’t been for Hamel, Kran might have erupted in anger at what seemed like a prank.

“Paul Gaien and Gran Setrion.”

If those names he missed so much hadn’t come from Lucion’s lips, Kran might have questioned what was going on.

“How do you know those names?” 

Kran’s voice trembled.

They were his knights. The proud knight who had died before him, a dear friend who had tried to protect him until the very end.

“They’re here.”

Lucion pointed behind him.

There was still nothing there.

“There…”

“I know. It’s hard to see them. But they are here.”

Lucion revealed the presence of ghosts for the first time.

He stupidly brought up the fact that provided the decisive reason for his ruined life.

He could have simply been swept away by emotion.

But he wanted to do this.

He didn’t want to turn away from the Death Knights who had been waiting solely for Kran.

“What do they say?”

Kran asked hesitantly.

Lucion was a little surprised because he expected to be called a crazy bastard.

Turning his head to the knights of death, Lucion looked at them with that same emotion.

[For being alive… Thank you. For being well… Thank you. We are so grateful for those things alone, and right now, we are simply happy.]

Lucion, acting as a mediator, expressed their feelings, relaying their words as if they were his own.

Somehow, he felt like even their emotions were seeping through his voice.

“I… couldn’t protect anything. I was merely incompetent and irresponsible.”

Kran bit his lip.

[Do you remember, my lord? The reason you chose a bow instead of a sword? You said it was because we are swords.]

“…”

Kran’s eyes quickly filled with tears.

It was true.

Despite their invisibility, his knights were undeniably present.

How could Hamel know such things?

[I have seen that there are those who will become swords. Now, you may rest easy. Your Highness, Lord Kran, soar as you wish. There is no need for revenge. I simply wish for you to live the life you desire.]

“I will. I will do that,” Kran spoke willingly, releasing the emotions long held within him.

Kran expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you.” I felt proud, delighted, and grateful to have met you all.” 

[Be happy, my lord.]

“Farewell, Sir Paul Gaien. Sir Gran Setrion.”

Kran bowed his head in solemn remembrance, suppressing the tears that threatened to overflow.

Lucion watched them disappear like stars, like grains of sand.

They knew the path they had to take, even without his help.

He found it profoundly beautiful, akin to the myriad colors painted by daylight, reflecting the sunlight in countless hues.

[Thank you.]

[Thank you very much.]

The Death Knights offered their final farewells to Lucion.

He understood the words of the black figure that needed interaction with the darkness.

Even though he had only met them today, his heart was heavy with sorrow.

How much greater must the grief be for the darkness that had witnessed countless souls perish?

How could they communicate their sorrow if they couldn’t speak?

* * *

Lucion looked out at the sunset sky beyond the carriage window.

Although he was still in a state of possession with Bethel, holding onto consciousness had become too difficult now.

His eyelids felt heavy, threatening to close at any moment.

He decided to keep today’s events a secret for now.

Everyone was confused, and it was a question that could not be answered even if they tried.

Thoughts slowly crept in, wondering if the sight that seemed like the world was splitting in two was real.

“I apologize for the delay in greeting.” 

Kran, as Chefran’s butler, had boarded the carriage with Lucion to bid him farewell to Cronia.

“A greeting?”

Kran bowed his head toward Lucion, who appeared tired.

“Thank you for letting me know of their last moments.”

At the startling words, Lucion couldn’t hide the contortions on his face.

“Am I… disgusting?”

Kran looked up, shocked at Lucion’s quivering voice.

“Disgusting?”

It was the first time he had seen such weakness from Lucion, a side he had never witnessed before.

Suddenly, Lucion began to sweat profusely.

[Lord Lucion… ?]

Startled by Lucion’s accelerating heartbeat, Bethel asked.

Following the thumping sound, Lucion attempted to breathe, but his hand stiffened.

“Dad. Who are these people? Are they scary people?”

The servants looked at him like a monster.

“No, Dad, it’s not nonsense. Look, even now… they’re telling me to ‘die.’ Dad, you’re so strong, you can make them go away, right? Right?” 

His father gazed at him with a mix of pity.

“Sister, I’m not lying. Why doesn’t anyone believe me? …They’re right there, dark, right there! They keep glaring at me, yelling that they want to kill me!”

His dear sister had left home.

“No, brother, I’m not making this up. They’re really there. Look! There are so many. It’s deafening, hurting my ears. Why are they after only me? I’ve never lied. I didn’t do anything wrong!” 

His brother began to avoid him.

“…Hah, ha…”

Lucion struggled to breathe as he was suddenly overwhelmed by rising memories.

It was clearly a choice he had made.

Lucion had wanted to tell Kran himself, but the moment he mentioned it, his body froze on its own.

He was terrified.

So utterly terrified.

He would have rather kept silent.

“Y-young master?”

Hume frantically rummaged through his pockets.

There was definitely medication given by Anthony for Lucion in case he showed near-seizure symptoms.

“Why… is this happening?”

Kran’s voice caused Lucion’s body to tremble even more.

Bethel was breathing for him, but it felt so suffocating that he thought he might die.

Lucion tried to scratch his throat with his nails, desperate for some relief.

Ratta urgently clung to Lucion’s arm and spoke.

—Lucion! It’s okay! Just trust Ratta.

[Yes, Lucion. Look at Kran properly.]

Russell also grasped Lucion’s hand firmly, adding,

[I’ll help you.]

Bethel helped Lucion open his eyes slowly. 

“Are you okay? You should have rested longer at the mansion before leaving.”

Kran hadn’t changed at all.

His gaze was filled with concern, a blend of sympathy and regret as he looked at Lucion.

“Why…?”

Even when he was not Hamel but Lucion, Kran remained the same.

It was the same now.

“Why… Do you look at me like that?”

“…?”

“Am I not disgusting?”

“Why would you, Hamel-nim, be disgusting?” Kran seemed surprised, offering a gentle smile.

In a soothing tone, like an adult comforting a child, Kran spoke gently.

“I am more concerned about you, Hamel-nim. I worry that you might rush around like a moth drawn to a flame, neglecting your own well-being in the process.”

“Why…?”

“Why, you ask? Isn’t it obvious? This concern is only natural. If I were to find a reason, it would be because you first worried about me, Hamel-nim.”

“I…”

“I am rather thankful. You watched over the last moments of my knights that no one else knew about, didn’t you? You helped me bid farewell to them. If Hamel-nim wasn’t a warlock, I would have had to carry that guilt in my heart forever. If it weren’t for you, I…”

Please pray for their souls.

Kran had wanted to ask the saint for that favor one day.

But Lucion, who had once been the saint, had already done that for him.

“I wouldn’t even have felt this happiness that I now experience.”

Despite the sadness of not being able to witness it himself, just knowing that someone had seen their final moments brought him relief.

Lucion’s trembling and breathing slowly settled down.

The person who couldn’t see trusted him.

Lucion was relieved by that fact and no longer forced himself to be conscious.

He released his possession with Bethel and smiled gently at Kran before closing his eyes.

Quietly.

Hume smiled at the sound of Lucion’s relaxed breathing.

😭😭 I need tissue...