Chapter 32

“Cian, Theo.”

Zephyros quickly approached the entrance and spoke to them.

Lucian also showed a blatant surprise at the unexpected appearance.

Me? I was very surprised, but I didn't show it.

“Zephi, were you invited too?”

“That’s right. What are you doing here?”

Zephyros, who wouldn’t be strange to have torn up the invitation, what change of heart made him attend the party?

“No matter how I think about it, it feels like sending a child to the water’s edge.”

“The water’s edge is the party venue, and the child is Cian, right?”

“It’s shameless to sneak out by yourself.”

Lucian’s reproach hurts.

Ugh, the sight of me suffering as if stabbed in a weak spot was met with Zephyros’s dumbfounded gaze.

“Can’t I even play the victim? More than that, you managed not to throw away the invitation.”

“I don’t throw away invitations that haven’t expired. You never know what will happen.

And there’s the other person’s sincerity.”

My goodness, the other person’s sincerity.

The fact that the word ‘sincerity’ could come out of Zephyros Nevera’s mouth was astonishing.

“It’s really nice to meet you in an unexpected place.”

At Lucian’s words, Zephyros muttered with slightly dead eyes.

“Actually, there’s another reason I didn’t want to come.”

It was that moment.

From a distance, a group of people clustered like a cloud and came towards us.

The group instantly descended and filled the space around Zephyros and Lucian.

My weak body was pushed by them and separated from the two.

“Wow.”

Was the other reason Zephyros mentioned them? If so, I’ll admit it.

“Hmm.”

Should I be loyal, or should I betray them like this? The time for consideration was short.

I haven’t forgotten the grudge from before.

Lucian, Zephyros!

As I happily headed for the corner full of food, it was so deserted that it was difficult to find people.

It was thanks to everyone flocking to Lucian and Zephyros’s side.

Still, since I have a conscience, I thought I should get a few things, and as I greedily gathered food, I bumped into someone.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

With a brief apology, the person I bumped into bowed his head.

“It’s alright. I’m sorry too.”

I wasn’t looking properly ahead either because I was getting food, so there was no reason to receive an apology.

The person, wearing a deep robe that didn’t suit the party venue, strangely didn’t make eye contact.

Though he was in front of me, I felt a distant feeling.

…Is it just my imagination?

“I hope you enjoy the party.”

The person, whose name and face I didn’t know, who had bowed his head once more, left leisurely.

“Could it be that guy?”

I inhaled the perfect cream pasta and cut a small piece of steak and handed it to Albedo in my pocket.

“Nah, no way.”

Thinking of that guy’s setting, there’s no way he could attend a party like this.

Shaking my head, I gathered a handful of food in both hands and approached Zephyros and Lucian, who had barely escaped to a corner.

“You’ve suffered.”

“It wasn’t suffering. It’s just….”

The area under Lucian’s eyes was a little dark.

Wow, how much were you pestered?

“I’d believe you if you said you were an Academy TA.”

“That’s too harsh.”

Lucian grumbled and ate the lamb steak I had brought.

“Hey, you ran away using us as a sacrifice?”

Zephyros, who seemed to have barely come to his senses after drinking a lot of water, ground his teeth and protested belatedly.

Oh dear, he must be hungry. Eat a lot more.

I quickly speared the largest piece of lamb steak with my fork and stuffed it into Zephyros’s mouth.

“This is actually really delicious.”

“Right? It’s delicious, isn’t it?”

Seeing Lucian’s eyes sparkle, I felt quite proud, even though I hadn’t prepared it.

Is this why grandmothers eagerly feed their grandchildren?

“There’s a lot of other food, so eat as much as you like.”

Iris Viden, her face covered with a pure white mask, suddenly appeared from behind.

You scared me!

I felt a cool breeze brush past my forehead in the firmly closed party venue.

I blinked stupidly at the sudden event and realized it belatedly.

“Zephyros.”

It was the power of the wind.

“Lucian.”

Lucian, holding the holy sword, clearly showed his hostility and pointed the sword at Iris.

It wasn't something appropriate to do in a party venue like this, so I quickly looked around, but no one was paying attention to us.

The reason was simple.

Because a man I had seen once before from the high place of the party venue was coming down the stairs, wearing a splendid golden outfit.

Everyone was so busy looking at her double that they had no capacity to pay attention to this side.

“That’s my double.”

Iris said softly, like a teacher imparting a lesson.

“Is that so?”

I, who had become like I was being escorted by Zephyros and Lucian, asked Iris back.

But, she seemed not to have heard any voice.

The wall of wind would carry the other person’s voice, but it blocked my voice.

“Zephi, I’m disappointed if you come out like that.”

“I don’t remember allowing you to use a pet name, so don’t call me so familiarly.”

“The hero candidate is too much. I only remember showing you goodwill.”

“It is my place to judge whether your goodwill is genuine goodwill. Master of Golden.”

Lucian seemed to have blindly blocked her way thinking it was dangerous, but Zephyros’s expression blazed with hostility.

Iris, however, didn't even bat an eye and whispered as if genuinely sorry.

“Would it be alright if I told Duke Boreas Nevera that his beloved son was so rude to me?”

Compared to her monotonous voice, the content within was a clear threat.

Zephyros gritted his teeth but didn’t let down the wall of wind.

“I just want to have a conversation with Theo Lisitoel.”

“Do you think I’m so foolish as to not know that half of the people who had a ‘conversation’ with you died?”

At Zephyros’s question, Iris gave a vague smile.

As expected, I couldn’t let the two of them confront each other forever.

Right now, all eyes were on the master of Golden’s double, but who knows when people will pay attention to this side again.

And I was also worried about Lerwon, who hadn't shown his face for days.

“Zephi, I’ll talk to Golden.”

Even if others don't, Iris at least will know Lerwon’s whereabouts.

“Is that okay?”

At Lucian’s question, I smiled without a word.

I will definitely be fine.

“Trust your friend a little.”

Zephyros, who had been silent all along, showed a surprisingly soft expression at those words.

The Zephyros Nevera I remembered was not a person who would make such a face.

I felt good that I seemed to have become friends with Zephyros in a quite short time.

“You still remember what I said, right?”

If I seem brainwashed, throw me out of the Academy.

Zephyros slowly nodded his head.

“You reckless bastard.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“You don’t lose a single word.”

In the end, the wall of wind was lifted, and I looked straight at Iris Viden.

Sweat beaded on my palms.

So she had been lenient with me before because I was her friend’s son.

Now, I had to endure her presence fully, as if she had no intention of hiding her aura at all.

“Follow me.”

I quietly followed her out to the terrace as requested.

The spring breeze of April was still cold.

“I tried making a drink using the recipe you gave me.

It certainly wasn't an ordinary fruit juice. I’ll acknowledge its commercial value.”

Did I avoid becoming Iris Viden’s slave with this?

I barely swallowed a sigh of relief.

“If there’s anything you want, feel free to say it.

I’ll get it for you as long as my power reaches, even if it’s illegal.”

“I’m not interested in such things in the slightest.”

“Do ants have fingernails?”

“It means I have no interest at all.”

If I obtained such a thing through Iris, it would be no different from handing her my own leash.

If there was such a person, I could genuinely swear at them for two hours, asking if they were crazy.

“If you give me the Golden Elixir, I’ll acknowledge you as the second master of my merchant guild.”

“That’s quite groundbreaking.”

“The Golden Elixir has that much value.”

That I’ll admit.

I nodded and remembered the reason I had agreed to a conversation with her.

I wondered if he was personally assisting Iris by her side, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

“Are you looking for Lerwon?”

A little suddenly, Iris, who had strode closer, had a flower scent that stung the nose.

As if she had washed herself with perfume to deliberately cover up some smell.

“It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve seen senior.”

“He hasn't been seen since Tuesday.”

“I see.”

“He disappeared after he told you to reconsider the contract with me, I’m sure.”

She gave a bright eye-smile. For a moment, it felt like my breath had stopped.

I had never seen such an ominous smile before.

The moment the corners of her mouth drew an arc, my heart sank.

“Lerwon-senior, where is he now?”

At my question, Iris handed me a certain key without any answer.

The key was full of the smell of iron, and an indelible red energy swirled around it.

“It’s the key to the basement of this mansion.”

That was the end of it.

Without looking back, I left the terrace.

“Theo?!”

I heard the voices of Lucian and Zephyros calling me, but I left them behind and ran without thinking.

“Albedo! The way to the basement!!”

Tell me now!

At my urgent call, Albedo showed me the way.

I ran with all my might.

Please don’t be too late! Just don’t be too late!!

* * *

《This is the place!》

I tried to open the firmly locked lock, but my hands were trembling so much that it was difficult.

Bang! I hit the wall with my fist with all my might to stop the trembling of my hands

.

When I finally opened the locked door and entered, the underground passage was full of darkness.

How far had I run down the stairs that led down? I saw the messed-up Lerwon.

“senior!”

His whole body was covered in blood, and there wasn't a single proper place.

His wrists were so tattered from the handcuffs that even his white bones were visible, and for a moment, nausea surged, but I managed to hold it back.

I have to open it now! I have to open it! I was panting and trying to undo the handcuffs, but they just kept slipping.

“It’s a different… key….”

Lerwon barely muttered.

If you’re going to give me a key, give it to me all at once!

She wanted me to just stomp my feet and give up on Lerwon.

But, I had a way too.

「Lerwon’s handcuffs are unlocked」

I used my skill and hurriedly scribbled the words.

Thunk, with the sound of the handcuffs unlocking, Lerwon’s body lost its strength and I barely caught him as he fell forward.

For a moment, the breath was knocked out of me by the sudden weight, but I checked his body first.

Lerwon, who had lost consciousness again from the shock of that moment, was covered in blood and had no unharmed places.

“Are you really crazy?!”

To make a person look like this just for saying one such thing?

《Theo Lisitoel, get away from that human right now.》

“Don’t talk nonsense, Albedo.”

I’ll just give him first aid with the writer skill and then take him to the Academy right away.

If Iris stops me, X-bal, I’ll just have to run away.

《I can’t read his mind.》

At Albedo’s words, my hand that was using the skill stopped.

What did you say? What came to mind for a moment was a question I had never had before.

Lerwon, who became the final boss of Part 1, was strong.

He became a monster that drove the empire, the world, to destruction.

‘Even a brilliant genius, can he become such a monster in a short period of time?’

He was a boss with a strength that could only be described as unreasonable, both in-game and in the story.

But, even if he had committed all sorts of evil deeds and planned thoroughly for revenge.

Is it really possible to acquire that much power in less than a year?

《That is no longer a complete human.》

How nice it would be if Albedo’s words were a blatant lie.

But, I felt it.

This was an obvious fact that could not be a lie.

《No, it’s a monster that can no longer even be described as ‘human’!!》