Chapter 34
Nathan spat out his venomous words before tossing Luke aside like garbage.
“I’d love to throw you in a cell right now, but questioning your crimes will have to wait until we find Claudia. Once we ask her directly, we’ll know for sure whether this was an accident—or if you pushed her.”
Turning toward the knights, Nathan prepared to order a search for Claudia.
It wasn’t like Luke could escape this isolated island anyway.
So Nathan planned to leave him for now and focus on finding Claudia first.
Every second counted if they wanted to save her.
As Nathan turned away, Luke, despite his pain, gritted his teeth.
‘Damn it…!’
His wounded pride whispered to him.
Don’t just take this lying down.
The throbbing pain in his nose,
The fear toward the imperial family—
None of it registered in that moment.
Even knowing he should keep his head down, he couldn’t stop the dangerous words from slipping out.
“What happened today… cough… I won’t forget it—even after I become head of the ducal house.”
Nathan had been about to ignore Luke entirely.
But those words made him turn back.
“…What did you just say?”
“I’m saying I don’t deserve to be treated like this.”
The murmurs of the crowd died instantly.
The atmosphere wasn’t just cold—it was frozen solid.
Everyone expected Nathan to snap, to lunge at Luke in a rage.
But Nathan stayed silent.
Only his closest aides knew—when he was truly furious, he grew quiet. They looked at Luke with pity.
“Ah, right. You’re the next duke, aren’t you? I almost forgot.”
Nathan stepped closer to Luke.
Then—
THUD.
His knee drove straight into Luke’s solar plexus.
“—!”
Luke collapsed without even a scream.
Nathan kicked him, stomped on him, struck him again and again.
Even the knights and sailors—hardened men accustomed to violence—held their breaths in shock.
The beating didn’t stop until Felix finally intervened.
“Your Highness, any more and you might kill him.”
“Let go. A wise future duke like him would’ve known the risks before running his mouth.”
“Lady Claudia wouldn’t want this. And right now, we need to focus on searching for her. Every second counts.”
“…Hah.”
Nathan exhaled sharply before speaking to Luke in a voice like ice.
“Fine. You are the official heir to a duchy. But tell me—how much does your family’s power and prestige help you here, on this island, with no way back to the empire?”
Luke was in no state to answer.
Nathan turned and barked at the knights and sailors.
“Listen well! Until Claudia is found, no one leaves this island!”
The declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.
The sailors muttered about breached contracts; the knights exchanged uneasy glances.
Nathan silenced them with one sentence.
“If you have complaints, say them to my face—not behind my back.”
No one dared step forward.
They’d all seen how Nathan handled Luke.
All that remained were resigned sighs of men lamenting their circumstances.
“A… a mouse?!”
I hadn’t misheard.
The spirit had clearly said, “If you want out, struggle like a pitiful mouse trapped in poison.”
‘Are spirits allowed to be this nasty…? Aren’t they supposed to be pure, sacred beings born from nature’s mysteries?’
This water spirit shattered those preconceptions.
There was no purity in its actions or speech—only a cynicism so cold it could freeze hearts.
Either way, I had no choice but to bargain with this temperamental disaster.
Keeping my voice steady, I asked,
“Tell me why you’re doing this. I haven’t done anything wrong, yet you lock me up, try to brainwash me—”
No wrong…?
It circled me in a frenzy, its half-liquid form swirling like a whirlpool.
Why are humans all so stupidly arrogant? Your very presence on this purified island is the offense.
“But you told me to enter the lake—”
You deserve punishment.
Then—
Pop.
The water bubble trapping me burst.
A violent current instantly wrapped around me.
“—!?”
This was nothing like the warm, gentle water from before.
This was cold, wild, untamed—nature’s raw fury.
The spirit hurled me toward the lake’s surface, only to drag me back down, over and over.
‘I should’ve picked ANY other career than spirit contractor…!!’
I cursed my life choices internally.
Clamping my mouth shut, I finally managed to yell,
“I-I’m gonna puke! Stop!”
Vomiting in the lake would pollute its waters.
Mercifully, the torment ceased.
The spirit dragged my limp form close, sneering.
Pathetic. You dare speak of contracts when you’re this weak?
I stayed silent.
Opening my mouth felt like an invitation to empty my stomach.
Its disdain continued.
Long ago, another greedy fool like you sought a spirit’s power.
I forced my head up.
It was talking about the first emperor.
I was right.
Because of his thieving greed, his descendants still writhe under a curse.
“…”
The “cursed descendants” could only mean one person—Nathan.
‘The first emperor sinned, so why must his descendants suffer? Do you really think that’s fair?’
I wanted to argue, but nausea kept my fists clenched.
Meanwhile, the spirit’s mocking voice continued.
This is what happens when you reach beyond your station. If you want my power, prove you’re worthy of it.
Gulping down bile, I rasped,
“And if… I don’t…?”
You’ll end up cursed—or like them.
It twisted my body to face the lakebed.
Below us lay piles of bleached bones.
‘If I hadn’t regained consciousness earlier… would that have been me?!’
The sight sharpened my mind instantly.
Forgetting my nausea, I blurted out,
“I-I can prove it!”
Hm?
“I’ll prove I’m special enough to be your contractor!”
With death looming, my brain kicked into overdrive.
Luckily, the spirit seemed intrigued.
Special? You look utterly ordinary.
“…”
If you’re about to boast of titles or wealth, save your breath. Things like ‘imperial’ or ‘noble’ mean less than dust to me.
“Not that. Even without status or money, I am the most unique human you could meet.”
Its gaze sharpened, warning against lies.
But I wasn’t scared.
Because this wasn’t a lie.
“The truth is… I’m not from this world.
