[Translator - Night]

    [Proofreader - Gun]

    Chapter 123: Arrival with Lightning

    Barcavaran whistled when he saw the three of us.

    [Not bad. You’ve managed to charm some extraordinary beauties. Care to share some tips?]

    "Who are you to say that?"

    Coming from someone who’s practically a manifestation of lust, that’s rich.

    [So, you’re not dead, it seems. What brings you here? There’s not much for the living in a place like this.]

    Barcavaran must have sensed the presence of the Lightning Caller and decided to check things out.

    "Husband."

    Just then, Vinesha whispered to me.

    "There aren’t many spirits in the netherworld who can maintain their reason. It’d be wise to ask him for directions."

    That’s a good point.

    I hadn’t thought of that.

    At that moment, I felt a pull from Sharin.

    She was tugging at my arm.

    "Too close."

    Honestly, I started to wonder if Sharin was just here to cause trouble for me.

    "Barcavaran, do you know where the Abomination is?"

    His brow twitched.

    [That’s a seriously dangerous thing to ask. You’re not planning to go to the Abomination’s domain, are you?]

    "Yes. A fool went searching for the Abomination. I have to find him before he gets there."

    [So that’s why the Goddess of Lightning nudged you in this direction.]

    Barcavaran grumbled, sighing.

    It didn’t take long to realize that the Goddess of Lightning had sent him here through the Lightning Caller.

    "She’s been helping me all along."

    I should remember to thank her later.

    [I can’t guarantee your safety.]

    "I came prepared for that."

    Barcavaran didn’t say anything else and simply turned away.

    If the Goddess of Lightning had intervened, it meant something serious was happening.

    "Vinesha, Sharin."

    The two of them were still locked in a silent battle of nerves.

    I let out a sharp sigh and gave them a pointed look.

    "We don’t have time for this. It’s urgent."

    This wasn’t the real world.

    This was the netherworld.

    We were outsiders here.

    No matter what, we couldn’t afford to be careless.

    "Vinesha, you know better than anyone how dangerous this place is. I trust you, but if you keep acting like this, I won’t be able to."

    "H-Husband, you’re mad... I’m sorry! Please don’t be mad. It was my fault!"

    I wasn’t actually angry.

    The Veil Bandages had long since dulled my ability to feel rage.

    But Vinesha, who would do anything for me, panicked at even the slightest hint of displeasure.

    She was so afraid of being abandoned that she would go to any lengths to please me.

    It was heartbreaking, really.

    "Sharin, you realize you’re not acting like yourself, don’t you?"

    Her behavior had been erratic.

    She wasn’t acting out of reason but reacting emotionally to Vinesha’s affection toward me.

    She had to recognize that and snap out of it.

    "Ah... yeah."

    Sure enough, realization dawned on her face.

    She let go of my arm, looking uneasy.

    "Why did I even do that?"

    She seemed genuinely confused.

    Like she had no idea why she’d been acting that way.

    At least things were settling down for now.

    "Lastly, Eve."

    I carefully pried her off my back and took her hand firmly.

    "If you’re scared, just keep your eyes closed. I’ll call you when I need you."

    "...I’m sorry."

    She finally spoke.

    No need to apologize.

    I was the one who asked her to come.

    A thin beam of light seeped from the pendant, pointing toward a certain direction.

    Realizing what was happening, Vinesha’s eyes widened.

    “This pendant... is connected to that person, Grantoni?”

    “That’s right.”

    Vinesha, having no memory of Grantoni, simply looked on in wonder.

    In the netherworld, objects with strong ties to someone in life often maintained those connections.

    Thus, the pendant was still linked to Grantoni.

    I quietly observed Vinesha.

    She didn’t seem to question why I had given her such a pendant.

    Instead, she simply held it close, as if treasuring it.

    “It’s so warm...!”

    Vinesha looked at me, her face lighting up with joy.

    “I bet it’s because my husband gave it to me!”

    I raised my hand and placed it over the pendant in her grasp.

    Contrary to what she had said, the light itself wasn’t particularly warm.

    That warmth was something only Vinesha could feel.

    ‘Someone must have imbued it with a wish—one that hoped their warmth would never be forgotten.’

    Even if that warmth had ultimately scattered before reaching its destination.

    I hoped that, somehow, it could reach Vinesha once more.

    As a mid-boss, simply meeting a tragic end and disappearing was too cruel a fate.

    “Vinesha, follow the light. You should be able to sense where it’s leading.”

    “Got it! I’ll do my best!”

    With a confident expression, Vinesha strode forward.

    Then, suddenly, she came to an abrupt stop.

    “Uh, my husband...”

    She lifted her gaze.

    “The light... it’s pointing upward?”

    My own gaze slowly followed.

    One by one, everyone’s eyes turned toward the sky.

    And there, unfolding above us, was a pitch-black abyss.

    A massive hole had opened in the sky.

    My eyes widened.

    Below that hole—

    A man with a skull-like face hung limp, being drawn toward the darkness.

    At the same time, the hole widened, revealing a colossal being within.

    That being extended a hand of jet-black bone through the opening, reaching out to claim him.

    “Damn it.”

    Grantoni was seconds away from being taken by the Abomination.

    “Sharin!”

    I immediately called out to Sharin.

    And without hesitation, Sharin was already soaring toward the sky.

    As expected of one of the people I trusted most, Sharin reacted faster than anyone.

    I believed in her.

    If it was Sharin, she would surely snatch Grantoni away in time.

    [Uh, uhh... Honestly, I don’t think going up there is a great idea.]

    Barcavaran watched Sharin ascend with visible distress.

    By now, more than half of the Abomination’s hand had emerged from the hole in the sky.

    At this rate, Sharin could get caught as well.

    But—

    “If we don’t go now, things will get much worse!”

    I raised my hand above my head.

    Barcavaran blinked, baffled.

    He seemed utterly confused as to why I was raising my hand at this moment.

    I clenched my fist.

    “The heavens have graced us with their presence.”

    It was only right to return the favor.

    [Oh, hell no—!]

    Barcavaran clutched his head and immediately dropped flat to the ground.

    Then, in that moment, something ominous stirred in the sky.

    A radiant blue light swirled through the clouds.

    At the same time, Sharin reached Grantoni and grabbed hold of him.

    Come forth, Lightning Caller.

    A strike of brilliant blue lightning tore through the heavens.

    [Translator - Night]

    [Proofreader - Gun]