Chapter 79
At Paramena, the village located at the northernmost tip of the territory, Ricardo’s horse came to a halt.
The hundred or so knights and soldiers who followed behind him also stopped.
Ricardo’s brows furrowed.
From the chimneys of the snow-covered village, only thick black smoke was rising.
It had been a quiet village of twenty households.
The village’s purpose was the production of shells.
The noble minerals buried beneath the village willingly provided the energy needed for production.
Rowen, dismounting, looked at the tracks on the ground and said:
“Someone’s been here before us.”
At that moment, the black flame emerging from Ricardo’s body rode through the shadows, probing every corner of the village.
“……”
After a moment, the black flame returned, and Ricardo spoke.
“There’s no one.”
“You mean the enemy fled, my lord?”
“No.”
Ricardo dismounted, his boots pressing into the dirt.
“I mean literally no one.”
Not only were the villagers gone, but there wasn’t even a trace of blood.
The signs of life remained, yet it was as if everyone had evaporated.
“It must have been the rebels. Surely they abducted the residents.”
Before arriving at Paramena, they had subdued thirty rebels in another village.
― The prophet of Mecius foretold that Winchester is not the rightful successor! Among Ricardo Winchester’s children, one shall become the seed of ruin and bring about destruction… kuhh…!
Even when captured, the man had shamelessly spouted words to the crowd. Ricardo had executed him on the spot, yet the residents had looked on with eyes filled with distrust.
It was said that Mecius’s prophet had appeared.
He foretold of four calamities before destruction.
The first was the Calamity of the Wolf, the second the Calamity of the Serpent, the third the Calamity of the Eagle… and the fourth, the Calamity of the Girl.
The prophecy declared that once these four calamities came to pass, the world would be destroyed at the hands of Winchester.
This Mecius’s prophet was said to be an old man cloaked in a black robe, wielding astonishing abilities.
― The Calamity of the Wolf has already come to pass. Soon, the Calamity of the Serpent shall descend upon Winchester…!
The rebels had shouted in a trance, eyes glazed over.
― Winchester is a sinking ship!
Even the common folk had been swept up in the agitation, unrest spreading among the people.
Ricardo intended to uncover the truth of what was unfolding in his lands.
Vanessa’s schemes had ended with her death.
But now, these events were connected to the words she had spoken before she died.
― The prophet said… if Sasha is killed, my dead child will return and become the key of Mecius.
A new conspiracy was taking root.
Judging by the organization and precision of it, the enemy’s scale was formidable.
Perhaps even Vanessa, matriarch of the Halo family, had been nothing more than a sacrificial pawn used by them.
“Hearing the rumors spreading among the people about the downfall of abilities… it’s certain some plot is at work.”
The number of hoofprints imprinted in the soil was considerable.
“It would be wise to return for today. By punishing their supporters, you have shown the will of the house. They won’t dare rampage for a while.”
“Prepare a trap.”
At Ricardo’s words, Rowen flinched.
“A trap, my lord…?”
“They will return.”
“But would they come back, knowing we’ve been here?”
“The prophet is an arrogant man, overflowing with confidence. He’s brazen too. And his schemes follow a consistent pattern.”
Ricardo’s sharp gaze pierced the village.
“The daily utensils hold not a speck of dust. That means they left not long ago. It’s highly likely they sensed our approach and withdrew in haste.”
“Ah…”
“They will return to this small village.”
Rowen blinked.
“Set the traps around the central warehouse.”
Rowen stared blankly at Ricardo, then nodded.
Ricardo was a lord of few words.
When he spoke, it was only of matters only he could weigh.
When he had already foreseen several moves ahead.
“As you command.”
Rowen handed the soldiers traps etched with complex formulas—supplies supported by Arcada.
“And Rowen,” Ricardo ordered, “tonight, you will lie in ambush here.”
“Yes, my lord. And what of Your Grace’s plans?”
Ricardo’s gaze turned south, where the sun was setting.
The sky was high and splendid, yet in his deep green eyes lurked a chilling gleam.
“I shall return to the manor.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
Everyone was staring at Jin as if spellbound.
I too could not utter a sound.
Because I couldn’t believe what was before my eyes.
Several seconds had passed since Jin’s hand pierced through Leviathan’s heart…
“…The Leviathan… the Leviathan…”
“Jin Winchester has defeated the Leviathan!”
“The Leviathan has fallen!”
From the beast’s crimson eyes, life was draining away.
Blood, pouring from its heart, ran down Jin’s wrist to his elbow, dripping steadily.
The once-mighty Leviathan collapsed heavily to the side, strength gone.
A thunderous kwagwang echoed, but none of us covered our ears.
Jin’s expression was hidden, his cloak whipping in the dust-laden air until it finally settled.
Kater, who had nearly bitten through the iron gate, let out a low growl.
Step. Step. Evan, walking through the almost-broken gate, opened his mouth.
“Seems something happened.”
Pale-faced since earlier, Fermetis shrank further at Evan’s words.
“……”
The hall, after Leviathan’s fall, was in complete ruin.
Its massive tail had destroyed not only the furniture but even the walls, and the floor itself had nearly caved in.
It was no different from the aftermath of a demolition site.
“Are you alright, brother?”
I took steps toward Jin.
In the end, this was his victory.
A final strike imbued with all his might. With that blow, he had severed Leviathan’s life.
[Life Force has decreased.]
[Stats: Stamina 28 / Strength 20 / Ability 10 / Intelligence 41 / Life Force 36]
Though the life force I had barely raised dropped back down to 36, it was still better than dying outright from Leviathan’s attack.
“……”
Jin slowly turned to face me.
In his dark eyes gleamed a chilling light.
From that gaze, I felt the terrifying might of the power within me.
It seemed I had become a human amplifier.
I had turned Jin—already a monster—into something even more monstrous.
“…I’m glad.”
I stepped closer, stopping before him, and spoke.
Jin looked at me with eyes hollow with disbelief.
Yet he did not condemn me.
Had I not chosen this, we all would have surely died.
And then, from within, I felt something surge violently upward.
“Cough!”
With the metallic taste, blood spilled from my mouth.
“Sasha!”
Jin’s eyes shook. Even Evan, who had seemed distracted, strode swiftly toward me.
“…You!”
Blood dripped down my chin.
Ah… so begins another bout of frailty.
But then—
Tok—
Along with the feeling of blood flowing, a clear sound rang out.
I looked down to see a cracked chalice of darkness.
It must have been flung here during the battle with Leviathan.
My blood pooled into the chalice.
And then—
“…!!”
“What is this…!!”
From the chalice, an astonishingly radiant light burst forth in iridescent hues.
It took the shape of a plant, rapidly growing in size.
What began as a single stem split, each trunk thick as a child’s torso, with dozens of flowers blooming upon them.
The sight before my eyes felt nothing short of fantastical.
The entire tree and blossoms shone with light.
“What in the world is that?”
“The chalice shattered… or did it become that tree?”
Voices murmured all around.
If everyone else could see it too, then it was real.
“My god… That child… Her ability is no ordinary power.”
“Could it be that Winchester’s child doesn’t wield the Black Flame after all?”
“But she summoned the Gatekeeper hound! Such a beast could never be tamed by an ordinary power!”
“I’ve never seen such an ability…”
How could such a thing happen?
I staggered, leaning on Jin’s shoulder for support.
Evan’s gaze too was fixed upon the tree.
Even in the memories I had seen of Evan’s, such a sight had never appeared.
Then, a sudden voice interjected.
“As expected, Resource-sister… I believed you would bring forth a miracle.”
Casilion entered through the collapsed entrance, his violet eyes brimming with fervent joy.
“Only with devotion and noble sacrifice can a divine beast be born.”
In that instant, a list from a book I had read flashed through my mind—the catalog of precious elixirs.
“Even the Flower of the Divine Beast in legend bloomed but ten blossoms… This is truly remarkable.”
The Essence of the Divine Beast—that had been listed among them.
Though blood still poured from my lips, I did not despair.
For the hope I had received in exchange for pain now bloomed with such brilliance.
And in a softer tone, as if muttering to himself, Casilion added:
“And… the roots of the divine beast are the material I one day wish to use for the greatest creation of my life.”
