Chapter 81
The servant opened the door, and I carefully stepped into his study.
The study at midnight was so dark that it felt a little frightening.
And there, in the study chair, sat Recardo, dressed only in a shirt.
His eyes, just returned from outside, carried the chill of the night air.
“I’m glad you returned safely,” I said, standing in front of Recardo and watching his reaction.
“Paramena must have been very cold…”
I fiddled with my hands.
Though my condition had improved, I couldn’t help feeling intimidated in front of Recardo.
After a brief silence, he moved his lips and spoke in a low voice.
“I heard about what happened tonight. And besides…”
In Recardo’s green eyes, he could see my anxious face as I clasped my hands together.
“I didn’t expect a divine beast to grow in my house.”
“…I’m sorry.”
The divine beast that had appeared when the Cup of Darkness was destroyed had completely filled the assembly hall.
It probably could no longer be used for its previous purposes.
“Everything is a matter of merit and demerit,” Recardo’s low voice seeped into my ears.
I couldn’t read whether he was praising or scolding me.
He was too expressionless to be considered praise.
“But you will know when to lower yourself. Isn’t that right, Sasha?”
Recardo didn’t like it when I drew attention.
“After death, nothing matters.”
I remembered Cater’s expression that Recardo had shown on the third anniversary of the Darkness.
It seemed he had worn the same expression back then.
“…I see.”
I understood why Recardo wanted to keep me from standing out.
If the eyes of the bloodline focused on me, countless rumors would spread, and it would be exhausting.
Maya guessed that it was to prevent me from being in danger, but whether Recardo, with his iron blood, truly intended that was hard to imagine.
“Even if I returned to that moment, I would use my ability again.”
Though I always shrank in front of Recardo, there were things I didn’t want to hide.
He moved his eyebrows slightly.
“Even if it means dying?”
His tone was casual, but the icy light in his eyes made the hairs on my body stand on end.
After staring at him for a moment, I spoke.
“…I used it to survive.”
Recardo stared at me for a long while.
What I had just said was the truth.
“I live to survive.”
His eyebrows twitched at my words.
If Jin had died, I too would have been annihilated along with everyone there.
After a moment, Recardo moved his lips.
“A good outcome doesn’t mean everything is good.”
He was right. It was only fortunate luck that things turned out well.
I slightly bowed my head.
Then Recardo’s continued voice seeped into my ears.
“But now, seeing you chatter in front of me…”
I raised my gaze to look at him.
“It seems to prove that your judgment was not wrong.”
After going in circles, it seemed his words ultimately were praise.
“Well done, Sasha.”
I smiled faintly at Recardo.
He twisted his lips slightly, giving a cold smile.
“….”
If he smiled just a bit more, he would be the most beautiful in the world—but with Recardo’s personality, the corners of his mouth wouldn’t lift again in my lifetime.
Anyway, he spoke again, in a less oppressive tone than before.
“I heard that the divine beast’s flower helped you recover.”
The essence of a divine beast, appearing once in a millennium and only in legends, was known for its incredible medicinal properties.
I nodded.
“Yes. Using my ability weakens my body to the point of vomiting blood, but drinking the essence of the divine beast restored my body beyond the pain I had suffered.”
After a moment, Recardo murmured.
“Good. No need to make a long detour.”
“…Yes?”
Then, in a calm tone, he made an astonishing proposal.
“I will grant you ownership of the assembly hall.”
“…Yes?”
The place where the Cup of Darkness was held was one of the better locations among the buildings of the Winchester mansion.
“Then the Cup of Darkness…”
“Since the cup was broken, it can no longer be opened.”
“Ah…”
From the perspective of the collateral bloodline of the Winchesters, I would feel like a disaster.
Because Affinize could no longer be opened due to me, and even the Cup of Darkness itself was abolished.
“…I think I’m causing too much damage to the family.”
“If anyone says that, make sure to tell me.”
I flinched at Recardo’s sharp gaze.
“You still have the leeway to clarify who saved whom. Or you could let them experience what would have happened if Leviathan had survived.”
The black flame behind him flickered so darkly that it was visible even in the shadows.
“…Yes…”
I lowered my head slightly.
Then Recardo turned his chair slightly and looked out the blackened window.
His silhouette seemed heavier than the last time we dined together.
As I prepared to leave, I heard Recardo’s voice.
“Sasha.”
I flinched and looked at him.
His face was unseen.
“Don’t get hurt.”
Outside the window, the wind had grown stronger, and white snowflakes swirled.
Signals went off simultaneously, indicating that the enemy had fallen into traps equipped with magic stones.
Rowen immediately mounted his horse and drew his sword.
The elite soldiers, already prepared, followed him and stormed the village.
Those entering the empty village wore black robes.
Though they thought Duke Recardo had left, the appearance of his knights made the black-robed figures panic.
“Capture them alive if possible…”
Rowen commanded his subordinates.
“If they refuse to follow, kill them.”
Clang—the sharp sound of metal meeting metal rang out.
The black-robed figures were no ordinary people; they drew weapons from their robes to resist.
Though their numbers were considerable, Rowen was confident that the Winchester soldiers would not be overwhelmed.
There were also traps that had been previously set.
Leaving the battlefield to his subordinates, he headed toward the central warehouse.
If his lord’s predictions were correct, enemies would surely be there as well.
His horse entered the shadow of the largest building in the village.
There, Rowen encountered someone in a robe.
The man was very tall and carried a staff.
“Who are you?”
Despite Rowen’s cold question, the man said nothing.
Rowen approached with his sword drawn.
“I asked you to identify yourself.”
As he raised his sword toward the man, the man flinched and twisted his body.
A sharp dagger grazed Rowen’s side.
If he hadn’t sensed the danger, he would have been pierced.
The startled horse raised its forelegs, throwing Rowen off.
Rowen rolled across the dirt floor.
The tall man in the robe had moved from his previous position.
The man had stepped back before attacking.
‘An incredibly skilled fighter.’
From the aura he exuded, there was a 70% chance he was stronger than Rowen.
At minimum, he was a noble with abilities. Why he collaborated with an unknown prophet was unclear…
“….”
Rowen straightened his sword.
He had a duty to report this to his lord.
But before he could step forward, the man’s body moved like lightning.
When the flash of his sword appeared before Rowen, all he could do was defend.
Clang—
The man’s jet-black eyes stared at Rowen.
Rowen realized he might not survive this encounter.
‘I have to find an opening…’
Just as Rowen attempted another strike,
“…!”
The man in the robe widened his eyes.
The speed was so fast Rowen couldn’t keep up, and when the man stopped, Rowen hesitated too.
“Ugh.”
Black blood dripped from the man’s open mouth.
Rowen, staring blankly, saw a clear, blue sword extending behind him.
And in the distance, a boy with black hair stood holding a sword.
Snow had accumulated on the boy’s shoulders.
“….”
One with abilities is subdued by another with abilities.
A child whose aura rivaled Jin Winchester.
Evan Tellers stood there with a cold gaze.
