Chapter 97
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Parting Ways
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“Smart thinking. Oh, and Evan?”
Evan lifted his gaze defiantly.
“What is it?”
“Isn’t that stare a bit insolent? I am your master, after all.”
“…Shut up.”
Chris chuckled and said.
“Once you escape this place, hide for a while, then make your way to the free city of Kainper.”
“A free city?”
“Yes. Enroll in the ‘Training Institute’ for the next term. It’ll be an opportunity for you to grow.”
It didn’t matter where Evan went after this.
Wherever he went, the constellations that favored him would surely bless him.
But he absolutely had to go to Kainper.
Because of the ‘Training Institute.’
It was the place where the core members of the Hero’s party would first come together.
‘Where the stars of the continent gather.’
Kainper’s Training Institute was completely different from other academies.
Only those who graduated from academies across the continent with the highest honors earned the right to enter.
The standards varied slightly depending on the prestige of their alma mater, but at the very least, one had to graduate in the top three to even submit an application.
And even then, they couldn’t apply immediately after graduation.
Only those who had proven their practical skills in the field could set foot in the Training Institute.
It wasn't a place for nurturing budding talents, but a hall where the continent's most proven and elite minds gathered.
As such, those who completed the program at the Training Institute were recognized as top elites in their respective fields.
“The Training Institute in Kainper is a sanctuary that even the noble sword houses can’t touch recklessly, so you’ll be safe there.”
“…Alright.”
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
As Chris turned to leave Evan with Ruina, Evan said something unexpected.
“What about you?”
“I have to stay here and deal with the pursuers.”
Evan’s mouth clamped shut for a moment before he spoke again.
“…Why are you taking such a risk for me?”
Chris tilted his head.
‘It’s not particularly for you, though?’
He was just taking care of Maisac while helping Evan escape, but it seemed Evan had misunderstood, thinking Chris was risking his life for him.
“Won’t it be dangerous? I’ll fight with you.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s fine. Don’t worry about it and go.”
He truly meant that he didn’t need any help, but for some reason, Evan scowled.
“I can’t go. I will fight with you.”
‘Hmm.’ It was unexpected, but also problematic.
What Chris was about to do was something that even Evan couldn’t be allowed to see.
“This is an ‘order’ from your master. Disobedience will not be tolerated.”
The moment Chris said that.
“!!”
Evan’s body froze solid.
The black magic had activated!
‘I secretly modified the master-servant seal so I could issue simple commands. It’s not as forceful without the Seal of Obedience, but since we’re in this relationship, there’s no reason not to make use of it.’
He couldn’t fully trust Evan.
They had been comrades in his past life, but that was in the past. Above all, he was now a Majin, standing opposite Evan.
He needed a minimal safety measure, and he planned to use this retainer relationship to his advantage.
“You go on your way. Leave the rest to your master.”
Chris flashed a grin and then shot forward with a burst of speed.
“……”
Evan clenched his teeth and watched Christian’s retreating back.
It wasn’t because of the discomfort of being controlled by black magic.
‘What on earth is he thinking? Why is he being so reckless?’
As far as Evan knew, the Majin pursuing them were not opponents Christian could handle with his current strength.
The Dark Demon Squad.
A top-tier elite combat unit known even to the noble sword houses.
‘He doesn’t stand a chance… To hell with his orders, I have to help.’
The black magic was compelling him, but since the Seal of Obedience hadn’t been carved, Evan could resist if he chose to.
But Evan hesitated.
‘Why should I? What does it matter to me what happens to him?’
In fact, it would be to Evan’s advantage if Christian died and disappeared.
Leaving him be was the logical choice.
‘Why is he taking such a risk for me?’
Evan’s face was a mask of utter confusion.
The only reason that guy had left alone was to save him.
And it wasn’t just this time.
From the very beginning.
Christian had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep Evan alive.
He’d heard that Christian had even pleaded for aid from Nordian, the absolute monarch of the Dark Magic Houses, and had protected Evan every time other Majin came for his head.
His attitude was harsh, but on closer inspection, all of Christian’s actions were focused on protecting him.
—It’s so I can make you my slave and use you as my sword.
That was the reason he’d given, but it was hard to accept.
Honestly, what were the chances that Evan could grow strong enough to execute the detestable members of the noble sword houses?
Even Evan himself thought the probability was slim.
‘He’s taking on such a burden for such a slim chance?’
But the strangest thing of all…
‘…Even with my Mind’s Eye, I couldn’t feel any hostility.’
A secret no one in the world knew.
Evan possessed an ability called the ‘Mind’s Eye,’ a gift from a constellation.
He hadn't officially formed a contract with the constellation yet.
But in an unprecedented move, he had received a blessing from a constellation without a contract.
‘It’s still underdeveloped, so I can’t clearly see into someone’s heart. But I know his feelings toward me aren’t hostile. If anything… it was goodwill.’
It had been consistent from the start.
All of Christian’s actions toward Evan were based on goodwill.
To be precise, it was the emotion of ‘worry.’
‘Why?’
Evan frowned.
He had been confused at first.
But now he was sure.
He just couldn’t understand it.
‘Could it be… he pities my situation?’
—You, the abandoned scarecrow prince of a noble sword house.
He remembered the look on Christian’s face when he’d said those words.
It was a mocking expression, but Evan’s Mind’s Eye had seen it.
The true feelings that were completely different from the outward expression.
‘…How ridiculous.’
Evan let out a dry laugh.
After his father’s death and his mother’s humiliating suicide, there was no one left in the world who worried about him.
Even his own blood relatives only wished for his death, yet here he was, being worried over by a Majin he’d never met before.
An indescribable emotion stirred in his chest.
‘…Arrogant.’
Evan’s eyes blazed with a blue light.
Yes, he was so arrogant that Evan couldn’t just leave.
He had to go back, if only to punch that smug bastard in the face.
‘Right, I’m not going for his sake. I’m going to crush that arrogant pride of his.’
Just as he said that to himself and began to muster his strength to resist the black magic.
Ruina grabbed him.
“Wait, stop. Sir Evan. Where are you going?”
“…I’m going to fight with him.”
“No, you can’t. Just leave him be.”
“Leave him be? He’ll die. Or do you want him to die?”
Ruina shook her head.
“Young Lord Christian? Absolutely not. There’s no way he’ll die.”
“…And why is that?”
“Because Young Lord Christian is the most vile… no, the cleverest person I have ever met.”
“……”
“He would never willingly walk into his own death. So, stop worrying and prepare to leave as the Young Lord instructed.”
Evan hesitated, then finally stopped.
Ruina’s words made sense.
It was certainly possible that Christian had some unknown trick up his sleeve.
If that was the case, his returning would only serve to hold him back.
‘…First, I need to hide and build my strength.’
Evan clenched his fists tightly.
He might not like the guy, and he was even a Majin, but…
As the rightful heir of the great Meyer family, Evan did not forget favors or grudges.
He would one day repay the debt he had incurred this time.
To do that, he needed to become stronger.
“Now, come on! I’m going to activate the artifact!”
A brilliant light burst forth from Ruina’s artifact.
As he was enveloped by the light, Evan had one last thought.
He was an utterly incomprehensible person.
But one thing was certain.
There was absolutely no way that man could be the ‘Great Darkness’ destined to destroy the world.
***
Meanwhile, in a forest near the Brexis River.
A group of figures cut through the trees.
It was Maisac and the Dark Demon Squad.
“This way, Young Lord.”
“How much farther?”
“Not far. We should catch up soon. I will confirm the exact direction.”
Maisac ground his teeth.
The moment to finally capture and kill that insolent Christian was at hand.
‘Never. I will never let you die a peaceful death. I’ll inflict such terrible pain that you’ll beg me to kill you.’
“Hurry and find which way he went!”
“Yes, I’ve just confirmed. It’s to the southeast.”
“Let’s go!”
Maisac shouted, full of vigor.
He was in a hurry, eager to tear the man to shreds.
And then, finally.
A human figure came into view in the distance.
‘The slave from the noble sword house!’
“Get him first! But don’t kill him!”
He couldn’t afford to let either of them die carelessly. He planned to torture them together before killing them.
*Zip!*
The members of the Dark Demon Squad lunged forward.
The man from the noble sword house flinched, but it was too late.
The squad members’ swords slashed at his arms and legs.
Blood scattered.
Severed limbs flew through the air.
With a single scream, the man collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in pain.
“Well done!”
“This is strange.”
“Hm?”
“Why didn’t he put up any resistance?”
Now that he mentioned it, that was true.
He was supposed to be a powerful knight, yet there had been no reaction at all.
‘Why?’
Just then, a sneering laugh echoed from above.
“Ah, that thing. It’s a homunculus, you see. A very expensive one at that. A high meister handcrafted it to be indistinguishable from a human body, both to the naked eye and to magic. A top-of-the-line fake.”
As they looked up, an infuriating face was looking down at them from a tree.
“Christian!”
“Yep, that’s me.”
Christian leaped down from the tree.
“My, my, chasing me so fervently. I doubt it’s because you missed me.”
Christian’s cold gaze swept over them.
“You want to see this to the end, is that it? Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
“……”
Why was it?
Maisac and the Dark Demon Squad flinched without realizing it.
They felt a primal fear, but they couldn’t comprehend it.
Objectively, their forces were overwhelmingly superior.
Maisac shook off the unsettling feeling and spoke in a dark tone.
“You’re the one who will have regrets. You will regret all the insolence you’ve shown me in the torments of hell.”
“Is that so? Heh heh. Then I suppose there’s no need for further talk. Come at me.”
Christian drew his sword.
One peculiar thing was that it wasn’t the standard-issue Dark Magic House sword he usually used, but the one that belonged to the man from the noble sword house.
The members of the Dark Demon Squad exchanged glances.
“We go all out from the start. Assume the Dark Demon Formation.”
“But… the Dark Demon Formation is our squad’s strongest joint attack. He’ll die instantly.”
One of the members questioned the order.
Maisac wanted Christian captured alive to be tortured as painfully as possible.
“Follow the order! I have a feeling we can’t afford to be careless.”
The squad leader of the Dark Demon Squad frowned.
‘I have a bad feeling about this.’