Chapter 260

[Translator – Night][Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 260: Contact (3)

“Did you know, Aschel?”

Haniel, who had been sitting quietly and touching her lips, looked up at the red sky and asked.

“People only realize the value of their lives when someone remembers them. Without someone to remember them, they’re no different from walking corpses.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Aschel nodded, indicating he understood her words.

“You must have felt it too when using that power. It’s lonely to have people who laugh at your mask instead of your true self. It feels like you’re not truly living.”

“Did you feel the same way, Mother?”

Haniel responded with a seductive smile instead of an answer.

“Humans are weak. Because they are weak, they always crave love and care. We were just following that deeply instinctual tendency, but the world mocked and scorned us for it. They even labeled us as witches…”

For a moment, a red gleam flashed in one of Haniel’s eyes.

“I thought there was no one left to remember us, but coincidentally, someone still did. That person very clearly called me a witch.”

“How did you feel? Did you realize the value of life again?”

“No.”

Haniel answered firmly.

Then she stood up and, with her golden hair fluttering, approached Aschel.

“She’s the same. She treats me like an evil woman who shouldn’t exist in this world without really knowing anything about me, about us! Do you think so too, Aschel?”

“No, I don’t.”

Satisfied with her child’s resolute answer, she laughed heartily.

“If you inherited my blood, it’s natural for you to think that way. You would use someone to the last drop of their blood when needed and discard them without mercy when they’re no longer useful. But Aschel, that’s the best way to live. It’s a truly honest way of life that doesn’t deny human nature!”

Haniel gently caressed Aschel’s face with her white, delicate hand.

“I brought you into this world and made you chosen by the gods! You must reign at the pinnacle of this world! You must prove that you are right! That you are the one and only truth in this world! Only then can the value of my life be realized!”

Her hands, now trembling with emotion, tightly gripped Aschel’s face.

Aschel did not reject or resist this and simply maintained a gentle smile.

“Please, make sure I don’t regret your return. My son…”

“Yes, Mother.”

Aschel held Haniel’s trembling hands.

“…”

Duke Vert watched the deep communion between mother and son indifferently from behind.

* * *

At the frontline camp.

The delegation, heading to the Lemea Gorge to trace Duke Vert’s whereabouts, encountered an unexpected presence.

A demon.

It was undoubtedly a demon.

The confused delegation could only repeat the same thought in their minds, unable to respond properly.

Except for one person, Luna.

‘Why is a demon here?’

No one doubted that the being was a demon.

But they needed to know why that demon was here.

Who it was, why it appeared before them—nothing was known yet.

But one thing was certain.

“You, come here.”

‘It can talk?’

The demon clearly pointed out Luna and spoke distinctly.

That meant communication was possible.

Luna swallowed her rising tension and cautiously opened her mouth.

“What brings you here?”

The delegation was shocked by her bold question.

“Do you have any business with us humans?”

Was she really intending to converse with this unknown, chilling entity?

“Lu-Luna! What are you thinking?”

“Hey, junior! Are you out of your mind?”

Despite the intense objections around her, Luna didn’t care.

She accepted Velcarion’s gaze with her half-lidded eyes.

“Hey.”

Velcarion spoke up.

“I told you to come here, not to speak, didn’t I?”

The tone was considerably unpleasant.

Realizing she didn’t have the initiative in this conversation, Luna immediately stepped forward.

“Where are you going, Luna?!”

Arin, startled, grabbed her arm to stop her.

“You know the situation isn’t good. They seem to want something, so it should be okay if we comply appropriately.”

“How do you know what they’ll do? They might harm you!”

“Then we can just run away.”

Arin couldn’t continue speaking in response to the resolute answer.

“I’ll be back.”

With those words, Luna left the group and approached Velcarion.

“Don’t worry. If things go south, I’ll rush at him.”

Set clenched his fists tightly, ready for any eventuality.

The distance was barely twenty steps, but each step felt precarious, like walking on thin ice.

Luna clutched the grimoire hidden in her clothes and whispered softly.

“Are you there, Remiharam?”

“Of course, my lady.”

Remiharam responded without materializing, maintaining a connection with Luna.

“Do you know anything about that demon?”

“I’m not certain, but I have a hunch.”

There was a slight tremor in Remiharam’s voice as he continued.

“Then quickly calculate what I need to do to defeat that demon.”

“Defeat that demon?”

Remiharam responded with an awkward laugh instead of an answer.

“Let me tell you one thing, my lady.”

“…?”

“If you see an opening, just run. That demon is not something we can handle.”

It was a very pessimistic answer.

Without hesitation, Luna continued forward and finally stood within two steps of Velcarion.

“Do you have business with me?”

She initiated the conversation with a bold question, not blinking an eye.

But Velcarion merely scanned her from head to toe without responding.

Instead,

“What’s your name?”

He unexpectedly asked for her name first.

“My name is Luna Rainriver.”

“Are you a witch by any chance?”

Luna frowned slightly at the unfamiliar term.

“I don’t think so. At least, I’ve never been called a witch in my life.”

Her sincere answer made Velcarion frown this time.

“Take off your clothes.”

At his sudden and outrageous demand, not only Luna but the entire delegation’s eyes widened in shock.

“That crazy bastard…!”

Set, unable to contain his anger, started to rush forward, but Luna raised her hand to stop him.

“May I ask why?”

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“Since you’re not forcing me, it seems you’re not too keen on it either?”

“I need to confirm something.”

Velcarion reluctantly answered.

Luna began to take off her outer garment without much resistance.

-Srrrrk

“Should I take off more?”

Velcarion pointed to the outer garment she had taken off and asked.

“What’s in there?”

Luna showed the grimoire she had hidden inside her robe.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

“It’s not a particularly interesting book.”

“Keep going.”

As if it wasn’t what he was looking for, he continued to order her to strip.

Luna, with a calm expression, continued to undress.

When she was about to take off her shirt after removing her top,

“Wait.”

He suddenly stopped her.

Then, without a word, he picked up her outer garment and carefully observed the bulging pocket.

As he was about to reach into the pocket,

“You’d better not touch that.”

Luna warned, stopping him.

“It’s not a very pleasant item.”

Velcarion, halting his actions, looked at her and asked.

“What’s inside?”

Thinking there was no need to hide it, Luna answered nonchalantly.

“A pendant.”

“…!”

The negative energy, including anger, quickly filled Velcarion’s eyes, which had momentarily calmed while she was undressing.

Unable to control his rising emotions, Velcarion reached out roughly towards Luna.

Sensing the imminent danger, Luna instinctively took a step back.

“Step back, junior!”

With an urgent shout, Set’s massive body descended like a thunderbolt from the sky.

-Bang!

Velcarion slightly leaned back, evading the attack.

Set didn’t stop there. As soon as he landed, he threw a punch made of compacted sand.

-Thud!

Unable to dodge, Velcarion lost his balance and was knocked backward.

-Whoosh!

But before long, he spread his wings to regain his balance.

Then, he flew back toward Set and swung his fist in return.

Seeing the trajectory of the punch, Set immediately took a defensive stance, but,

“…!”

The moment Velcarion’s fist made contact, Set realized something was wrong.

When else in a person’s life would they experience such immense power?

Unable to withstand the force, Set’s body was instantly pushed back to where the delegation was.

“Wow! This guy’s strength is no joke!”

A normal person would have been too shocked to react, probably collapsing.

But Set was undeterred.

Instead, his face lit up with excitement, and he charged at Velcarion again.

-Bang!

“Are there more like you in the Demon Realm?”

Velcarion didn’t respond.

His murderous gaze remained fixed on Luna.

“If you don’t want to die, step aside, human.”

“I can’t do that! I’ve been holding back a lot!”

A sandstorm began to swirl at Set’s feet, anchoring him like a rock.

Velcarion, seemingly no longer willing to hold back, let a dark aura emanate from his body.

It was a situation on the brink of explosion, ready to ignite at any moment.

In the chaos, Luna quickly gathered herself, opened Remiharam, and began chanting a spell.

“Defying the order of space, let us escape this impending crisis!”

A massive magic circle formed at Luna’s feet, extending to the rest of the delegation.

“Spatial Transition!”

A blue light emanated from the magic circle, enveloping everyone standing on it.

“…!”

Realizing something was amiss, Velcarion tried to act quickly, but,

-Whoosh

He was too late.

Luna, Set, and the entire delegation vanished completely from Velcarion’s sight.

-Thud!

Somewhere, they had been transported.

The delegation looked around, bewildered.

“This, this is the rear camp?”

“How did we get here?”

Through the spatial transition spell, the entire delegation had been moved to the rear camp.

The caster of this complex and profound magic stood up, dusting herself off as if nothing had happened.

“We don’t know when that demon might return. Let’s evacuate beyond the perimeter for now!”

Agreeing with her suggestion, Arin immediately gave orders.

“Everyone in the delegation! Evacuate beyond the perimeter immediately!”

The delegation moved quickly.

“But what was with that demon? Why did he attack you?”

“I have some guesses, but let’s discuss it later!”

Luna brushed off the question, emphasizing that evacuation was the priority.

“The perimeter gate is in sight!”

Soon, the gate came into view.

Led by Arin, the delegation swiftly passed through the gate without delay.

“But running away like this doesn’t really solve anything, does it?”

“Everyone step back. I’m going to set up a barrier right now!”

Standing in front of the gate, Luna opened her grimoire to cast a restrictive barrier.

However,

“…!”

She froze on the spot, unable to chant the spell.

“When did he…?”

Beyond the gate they had just passed through, the familiar demon stood there facing the delegation.

Velcarion had reappeared.

His murderous intent and anger seemed even more intense than when they first encountered him.

Yet, Velcarion simply stood there, not making any move to cross the gate.

“Is it just my imagination? He doesn’t seem to want to come over.”

It seemed as if he was hesitant to cross.

There was no magic or barrier set up at the gate yet, so he could have crossed over at any time.

-Step, step

In the silence, unfamiliar footsteps echoed.

Simultaneously, Luna’s eyes widened as she caught a familiar scent.

“…!”

Soon, someone familiar appeared between the delegation and Velcarion beyond the gate.

Seeing this person, Velcarion’s eyes also filled with intense agitation.

“You’ve finally shown yourself!”

With a strange expression, somewhere between a smile and a snarl, he shouted at the newcomer.

“Cyan Vert!”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]