Chapter 185: Got caught

Chapter 185: Got caught

Clap clap clap.

Russell claps his hands.

[That’s right, Hume. Isn’t that the first thing you do as a butler? To protect your master’s life?]

“Yes, that’s correct. My master treats me like a statue. And that angers me.”

Hume scrunched up his face.

“Who? Me?”

Lucion pointed at himself in surprise.

“Yes, you, young master.”

“Who cares about my body as much as I do?”

Lucion felt ridiculous having to state the obvious.

There was a moment of silence.

[...You’re kidding, right?]

Russell blurted out, and Lucion shook his head.

“I’m serious.”

[You may be surprised, but Lord Lucion is really, really serious right now].

Bethel spoke with some frustration.

Russell’s eyes widened at that, and Hume tilted his head slightly, bringing his clasped hands to his mouth as if in deep thought.

Where did this go wrong?

“...?”

Lucion tilted his head at Russell and Hume’s reactions.

―Lucion. If you don’t know the word ‘cherish,’ I’ll teach you, because Ratta is smart and knows it! Cherishing means...To hold someone in your arms every day, as if they’re precious...

‘What is she doing?’

Lucion stopped listening to Ratta’s sermon and realized something was wrong.

Why did he have to listen to this kind of talk?

Pfff.

But it was amusing, so it was fine.

Lucion burst out laughing, but stopped at Bethel’s words.

[Kran is coming.]

The sound of footsteps came up the hill, and Kran turned to Lucion.

“Over here.”

Lucion waved, and Kran hurried over.Ne/w novel chapters are published on no/vel(/bin(.)co/m

“As you instructed, we have divided into two groups and are waiting. The items imbued with light are fully prepared for immediate distribution to Miella.”

Kran reported first, then got to the real point.

“We haven’t heard from you for two days. What happened?”

“Yes.”

Hume answered.

“No.”

Lucion interjected, tilting his head in confusion.

As their statements conflicted, Kran looked at the two with a bewildered expression.

“Currently, Mr. Hamel is injured.”

Hume accurately reported Lucion’s condition.

Kran was startled and immediately spoke up.

“W-Where is he injured? How severe is it?”

“He is injured to the extent that he cannot perform smoothly in this mission. I hope Mr. Kran understands.”

Hume spoke extremely clearly, and Russell applauded.

‘Huh.’

Lucion felt as if he had been stabbed in the back again by Hume’s actions of running his mouth arbitrarily.

“What are you doing?”

Lucion raised his voice slightly.

“I have fulfilled my role. This was my judgment and conclusion. I have a duty to protect Mr. Hamel.”

At Hume’s determination not to back down even an inch, Lucion let out a weak laugh for a moment.

Hume had thought and made a judgment.

His actions were for his own sake, and they weren’t necessarily bad decisions.

While the other members may not have known, Kran had to be aware of his condition.

‘This time, I’ll step back.’

Upon Lucion’s decision, Bethel was greatly pleased.

‘It’s a good decision, Lord Lucion.’

Lucion nodded, feeling somewhat uneasy about why Bethel was so happy.

“Rental is right. It’s not a severe injury that will hinder me greatly. As long as I don’t overexert myself, and since I don’t have much to do today, it should be fine.”

“So... that’s why there has been no contact?”

Kran’s eyebrows furrowed downward.

“Yes. I’ll be going in shortly, so let me know once the situation is sorted out.”

“In that case, even if Hamel doesn’t come...”

“No. I’ll need to be there to find information. Not everyone who speaks is necessarily alive.”

There were a lot of dead bodies down there.

There would be many ghosts.

Above all, there were undying soldiers.

“Whatever happens, don’t touch the basement. Clean up the surface first. I’ll join you afterward.”

The warlocks in that mansion were so formidable that Bethel was unable to explore the inside in detail.

However, she mentioned the possibility of corrupted ghosts or previously created undying soldiers turning corrupt.

Russell agreed.

It was the same for him.

“May I ask why?”

Kran asked with doubt.

“I don’t think you’d know if I answered that. Anyway, I’m telling everyone to be extra careful with their light objects, whether they’re wrapped around their bodies or strapped to their waists.”

“Okay, I’ll be a little more careful.”

“Kran.”

“Yes.”

“...I’m sorry.”

Lucion wanted to apologize now, as much as he could after the raid on the mansion.

It was true that he had kept information related to Kran hidden.

“Yes?”

However, Kran was just confused by the apology for no reason.

“Anyway, I’ll be waiting for you after the raid, so let me know.”

‘Don’t exaggerate...’

With a chuckle, Lucion immediately turned to Hume, who promptly smashed the enemy’s head.

Crunch.

“Thank you!”

“Thank you, Mr. Hamel!”

As nearby members of the organization rushed over, Lucion took a step back.

Meeting him was difficult, and striking up a conversation was even harder, but here he was, standing so close.

Hamel’s performance undoubtedly confirmed Peter’s enthusiastic praise from the rowdy drinking party.

Swift and powerful.

Even though it was the same darkness, the warmth emanating from Hamel’s darkness inexplicably gave rise to a strange sense of familiarity.

They wanted to talk.

They wanted to hear his voice.

“P-please calm down.”

Stepping back, Lucion hastily spoke in response to their strange anticipation.

“...Of course.”

Lucion turned around and deliberately ignored their conversations as their eyes followed him down the hallway.

[Wow, quite popular, huh?]

Russell nudged Lucion with his words.

Who would have expected him to attract such attention just by showing concern?

“Sh, shut up.”

Lucion brushed off the tingling emotions.

For now, guided by Bethel, he summoned and dealt with any remaining warlocks and any ghosts he could summon immediately.

“...Did you take care of the rest of them on your way here?”

Hume flinched for a moment as Quate’s voice came from his right.

Lucion answered.

“That’s right.”

“I was in charge of handling them... but...”

“Oh, I inadvertently took that task away from you. I apologize.”

“No, no need to apologize... I heard that you are coming with great ease.”

“I’m taking it easy. You know how challenging it is to deal with warlocks.”

“So I made thorough preparations. I was just about to activate an object imbued with light. Luckily, I narrowly avoided that.”

“Really?”

Then, who cuts off the assassin’s head?

“We have many capable individuals within the organization. Nevertheless, let’s double-check.”

“Since I’ve already scouted the area, why don’t you take care of the ones escaping through the mansion’s main entrance?”

“Reint is guarding it, so it should be fine. I don’t want to end up skewered like a kebab.”

“Are you trying to shirk your responsibilities?”

Lucion stopped giggling and suddenly turned his head to the left.

It wasn’t him, but Bethel, responding to something.

[Enemy.]

Hume also turned his head reflexively, but he remained still.

Quate had already stabbed the enemy in the heart with his sword.

‘He was definitely next to me?’

Surprised, Lucion glanced briefly to the right.

“Well, don’t I need something special to survive too?”

Quate said as he unsheathed his sword.

He lowered his mask, revealing a smirk on one corner of his mouth.

“Ah, what were you saying?”

“...Where is Kran?”

Lucion’s voice trembled.

[Hahaha!]

Russell burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

He had been adept at dealing with warlocks so far, but not so much with others.

“He’s over there. Shall we go together?” Quate said, suppressing his laughter.

He moved his lips, unsure when he would have another chance to tease Hamel like this.

“No, thanks. Actually, I think I can find him on my own.”

Lucion turned his head to the side.

Quate, whose expression was hidden behind his mask, clearly showed his disappointment.

“Well, then, see you later.”

After bidding his farewell, Lucion headed towards the direction Quate had indicated.

Russell’s laughter right beside him was irritating, but Lucion couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

He just blushed.

* * *

It wasn’t until they reached Kran’s location that Russell stopped laughing.

[Wow. It’s quite chaotic here, isn’t it?]

[I couldn’t come this far. There were quite a few warlocks.]

Through Lucion’s eyes, Bethel observed the lifeless bodies of warlocks and organization members strewn across the floor.

She sensed an unsettling presence from the ghosts guarding the entrance to the underground, along with a strong stench emanating from that area.

―Uhh... Ratta hates it here.

Ratta, in the shadows, held her forepaws to her nose.

“Have you arrived?”

Lucion drew his sword immediately, ignoring Kran’s greeting.

Swoosh.

With Bethel’s help, he swiftly dealt with the ghost guarding the entrance to the underground, enveloping his sword in darkness.

“...?”

Not only Kran but also the other organization members stationed there stared at Lucion with puzzled eyes.

Why was he suddenly swinging his sword in the air?

Sheathing his sword, Lucion explained, “There was something there.”

He left the exact details unsaid, leaving the organization members with an inexplicable chill.

“Rental and I will go in first to conduct various checks before calling you guys.”

In sync with the timing, Lucion subtly raised his momentum with Bethel.

“So, under no circumstances, do not enter inside.”

And he issued a stern warning.