Chapter 105: Step by Step (3)

Chapter 105: Step by Step (3)

‘Who is it?’

Lucion took out his mask and put it on.

“Hamel-nim!”

It was Miella.

Why is her timing so good?

Lucion’s voice automatically brightened.

“Yes, Miss Miella.”

<Are you okay?>

“What... are you talking about?”

<Kran-nim is always worried about Hamel-nim’s condition, but your voice really doesn’t sound good. I’ll call you later.>

“No, I can talk to you now.”

Not knowing what Miella was going to say, Lucion was slightly excited.

Maybe Miella was going to talk about her masterpiece, the item that absorbed light and stored only the regenerative power of light.

<Really?>

“Yes, that’s all right.”

‘Mmm’, Miella said, raising her voice while dragging out the end of her word.

<Do you remember the trash who stole all my items and got their wrists cut off by you, Hamel-nim?>

“I remember.”

<I thought I got all the items back. But the most important item among them was fake. Damn it. I should have decided on a temporary workplace quicker, but this bastard’s house is too wide. ...Ah, I don’t blame Hamel-nim at all.>

Miella’s voice sharpened for a moment, then quickly melted away like snow.

Her tone of voice was not important now.

Lucion suddenly felt desperate.

What is the most important item Miela has?

“Do you know where that item is now? Does Mr. Kran know as well?”

If Kran knew, he would have moved Helon to get the information.

<No... Well, um. I’m contacting you to ask if I could borrow the organization’s money. You really, really don’t have to care about the rest!>

“Money, you said?”

<I mean...>

Miella continued to drag out her words.

“Miss Miella, the matter of money must be precise. If you don’t tell me, I can’t give you money recklessly.”

<It was something I made.>

Miella then lowered her voice, hesitating.

<In the South... I’m sorry, I’ve heard of the location, but it was so absurd at the time that I can’t remember it now. I’ll ask Helon again for the location.>

“That’s all right. Please speak calmly.”

Lucion’s words made Russell look at him curiously.

[Lucion, rather than Miella, you’re the one who needs to be calm. Why are you shaking your legs all of a sudden?]

Lucion didn’t mean to but he was impatient.

In the first place, the reason Miella was brought into the organization was for the masterpiece she would create.

But that masterpiece is gone?

―Can Ratta cling to Lucion?

Looking at Lucion’s trembling legs, Ratta made a very funny expression.

Lucion sat Ratta on his lap and petted her.

“...Sigh.”

Lucion felt more comfortable with the soft touch on his fingers.

<Are you angry?>

“No, why would I be angry? Keep talking.”

<Mr. Helon said the item I made had gone to the auction house. It’s likely going to be sold at a high price. It’s only natural, so I’m not too upset. But there’s something else that really upsets me.>

[Isn’t it normal to get upset here?]

Russell fiddled with the back of his neck.

<It’s incomplete! I’m so embarrassed I don’t know how to raise my head! My unfinished magic item is going to the auction house...! I feel like I’m going to die.>

Miella’s words were spoken very quickly, and she was just as furious.

“Are you more concerned about the item being unfinished?”

Lucion asked, not listening.

<Of course! It would be much better for that thing to fall into the water and get broken after being swapped. This is the worst. The worst!>

Still agitated, Miella put in strength to her throat.

“So when is the auction house open?”

Lucion just happened to have business in the South.

Anyway, he had to get a mine for Zamad the blacksmith, and as a bonus, it was good that he could destroy the enemy’s third reporting point that sold his information.

<It’s my responsibility, so I’ll take care of it.>

“Miss Miela is now a member of the organization.”

<Well, I’ll ask Kran-nim. Like Kran-nim, I also thought that Hamel-nim is working too much.>

“No, it’s fine. I’m doing this because I like it, so don’t worry about it.”

He had to personally acquire Miella’s masterpiece.

It couldn’t be taken away by anyone else.

<Well, Hamel-nim...>

Miella hesitated again and called out to Lucion.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Lucion put Ratta down and got up from his seat.

[Where are you going again?]

“I’ll contact Father. Anthony has a contact item connected to Father. I want to know if he has arrived safely.”

Lucion smiled.

* * *

“What did Anthony say?”

Carson walked up to Novio who was standing on the wall.

The wall at the far end of the Empire was as high as a mountaintop, and they could see the rocky terrain beyond the frontier.

How many times has that very, very thick wall been broken and fixed?

There were dozens of barriers on this castle wall alone.

If the dead had been turned into tombs, they would have already exceeded the height of this wall.

But there was never a time when they gathered in front of him like ants.

For Carson, the familiar landscape felt unfamiliar today.

“There was an attack. Besides, under Lucion’s direction, they’re investigating the person who sent the assassin. Ah, I asked him to tell Lucion to wield the sword.”

Novio’s gaze was directed not to the castle walls, but to the place where Cronia’s mansion was.

Carson also followed Novio’s gaze.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“It’s obvious. However, that obviousness is really infuriating. It also infuriates me that we have to find out what the Kingdom of Nevast has done again this time.”

Novio let out a sigh and looked at Carson.

“So what happened?”

A fire had broke out near the river at dawn.

Novio couldn’t help but laugh at the flame that was flaring honestly as if it was asking for someone to look at it.

“It’s a warlock. The priests have already confirmed it.”

“Carson.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“The Nevast disappeared and a warlock appeared on the border. What do you think?”

“It’s obvious. They’re always so obvious. It is clear that they have reached out to those they shouldn’t have held hands with in order to overcome the empire.”

“Again... They will be after Lucion.”

Novio bit his lips.

Lucion had become a saint.

He became the only one in the world, blessed by the divine beast.

There was no way the warlocks would leave the Saint alone.

“Yes, my lord.”

“My decision remains. My decision.”

After Lucion became a saint, Novio recalled the ‘light’ in his head that he didn’t want to put into his mouth.

The power of light was needed to drive out the warlocks.

Ring.

Novio sighed briefly at the sound of the contact item ringing insensitively.

“What’s the matter, Anthony? It’s not like you. Why are you...”

<Father.>

Novio’s eyes softened at the brief poweful voice.

It was Lucion.

“Is it Lucion?”

Carson covered his mouth slightly.

Lucion was the only one who could make Novio smile like that, so he couldn’t help but notice.

<I’m sorry for contacting you suddenly. Can I talk to you now?>

“It’s fine.”

Contrary to his solemn voice, Novio’s eyes were soft.

<Have you arrived safely?>

“Yes, Lucion.”

<Have you eaten yet?>

“How about you? I heard something bad happened at home. Did you sleep well?”

<I slept well. So there’s no need to worry about me. Isn’t Father the one who is working hard?>

“Right.”

Novio burst into laughter.

To think that he would be praised by his son for everything he had dedicated his life to.

He felt pretty good.

“Lucion.”

<Yes, Father. I’m listening.>

“Tomorrow Carson will go back to the mansion, so tell Anthony.”

<He can go home...? Didn’t the Kingdom of Nevast do something?>

“The problem has already been solved. So don’t worry about it anymore and stay healthy. I’m very happy to hear that your results are good today.”

<You know about it?>

Novio smiled softly at Lucion’s words that sounded embarrassed as if he hadn’t expected it.

“Isn’t it obvious? You are my son.”