Chapter 85
Do You Not Trust the Elders?
Roksha Empire.
In a secluded temple located in the west.
The priest standing in front of the altar raised both hands toward a pot of blooming flowers.
“Praise Titan!”
Waaaaa—.
Dozens of priests inside the temple cheered.
Soon, that cheer turned into screams.
“Ughhh!”
“It’s a monster!!”
At the top of the altar, through a window on the second floor, the gleaming eyes of a beast were visible.
No creature of such size should exist, so it was a monster.
The threatening roar of the beast echoed. Then, the huge beast’s claws broke through the ceiling of the three-story building and ripped apart half of the temple.
“Attack, attack!”
The priests took out their weapons and began chanting magic spells. However, everything was helpless in the face of the monster’s slashing claws.
Priests, fallen and mixed among the temple’s debris.
The difference in strength was clear. The surviving priests began to flee.
“Stay alive!”
“Protect the order!”
On the opposite side of the destroyed temple, there was a door leading outside.
Waiting for the priests who rushed out was—
“Where are you going?”
A man with icy cold, sky-blue hair.
The five or so priests hesitated.
“Titan will be with us—”
“God? Hah.”
With a mocking tone, the man’s voice froze the priests’ bodies.
Robenhaf passed by the priests, now frozen into ice statues, and entered the temple.
Just then, Zickbert’s sword, which had undone the monster’s transformation, was splitting a statue of the goddess in half.
“Zickbert, is everything done?”
“Yeah.”
Zickbert nodded.
The surroundings were silent. Robenhaf, with no intention of leaving anything to chance, froze the remains of the temple and the priests in an instant.
Zickbert spoke in dissatisfaction.
“I finished everything.”
“Don’t feel bad. I froze it just to check.”
Robenhaf looked around. There were no priests moving.
“Are these all the ones in the temple?”
“Yeah.”
[Don’t think it’s all. There might be more.]
“It’s all.”
[You really don’t know humility. Even the monster transformation was sloppy in many places. Zickbert, just hand over control of the body to me. I’ll take care of them instead.]
“Riche said it’s not allowed.”
Upon hearing the name that came from Zickbert, Robenhaf flinched.
Seems like they’re talking with that so-called “Great Star” again.
“Oh, miss!”
“Find the miss!”
It’s been half a year since Riche disappeared.
[…Someone knows the squirrel’s identity.]
Half a year ago.
Upon receiving the communication that Riche had disappeared, Derkedion questioned Morgan Dayal, a male student, about the squirrel’s identity.
“The squirrel that was with Riche is the Great Star.”
The identity of the squirrel revealed by Morgan was the Great Star, Pythons.
However, after hearing Kessley’s testimony and the description of the woman’s appearance from Lordwick Palace, Morgan corrected his statement.
“That probably isn’t Riche’s squirrel. If it has the ability to stop time and looks similar to Riche, it must be the star that created Rutyom. I don’t know why it took Riche, though.”
Phillip relayed Morgan’s words to Blake and Robenhaf, who were outside the city.
The words were too absurd to be ignored.
Robenhaf had already witnessed the existence of Kaishan. If the origin of their abnormal abilities was the Great Star’s power, then it wouldn’t be strange if the Great Star that gave Rutyom also existed.
Deon, after hearing Morgan’s words, asked.
“Where can we find that star?”
“…I don’t know either.”
Morgan, who answered like that, disappeared the next day.
Soon after, news reached Lordwick’s intelligence network that the dog of the headmaster of Uldick Academy had been bitten.
Since then, Morgan’s whereabouts became unknown.
“I’m resigning.”
Deon also left Kesselphon. Without Riche, Kesselphon held no meaning for him.
The chairman tried to stop him, but there was nothing to prevent Deon, whose sister had disappeared.
It seems like the finals went on smoothly, but there was no one around Deon who cared.
Immediately after Deon left Kesselphon.
Young capable individuals gathered at Lordwick Palace.
Where Riche had disappeared, a dried bloodstain remained.
Deon stared at the stain for a while, then clenched his fist.
“I’ll find it.”
“How?”
Deon said, and Robenhaf responded.
How can we find Riche? The star that took her is the one that created Rutyom.
“Where can we find Riche?”
If they were human, it would be impossible. But if they were human, Robenhaf had the confidence to turn the world upside down and find the culprit who took Riche.
But a star?
“Our world is the human world, and stars live in another world!”
Robenhaf shouted in frustration. He couldn’t believe it. It felt so pitiful.
Even though he was right there, Riche was taken away by that star.
“I should have frozen her. When that woman placed her hand on Riche, I should have frozen her heart.”
Riche was bleeding, and Robenhaf was scared.
It was eight years ago, in the first year. And, unfortunately, it was during the break. That’s why he only heard the news about Riche collapsing much later. He also learned that it had been a matter of life and death.
For several days, Robenhaf couldn’t eat or sleep after hearing that news. Since he didn’t know Riche was sick, he thought he should suffer the same way. At 10 years old, Robenhaf lay in bed, crying, and made a vow.
“When I grow up, I won’t let Riche be hurt.”
Two years later, he learned that Riche was Rutyom, and that the incident when she collapsed was a side effect of purification.
Later, Riche said that she no longer suffered side effects. But every time she performed the purification, Robenhaf was always cautious.
“Riche…!”
Such a Riche was bleeding. It was the same side effect of purification that he had heard from Zed.
Don’t touch her. Hurting Riche was the energy of the capable individuals.
Did Duke Lordwick also think the same as him? Unable to touch Riche, he called his daughter’s name frantically.
Even when the silver-haired woman appeared, Robenhaf was afraid.
“If I use my powers now, will Riche get hurt?”
In that instant, he raised his head in fear but couldn’t use his powers on the woman.
The thought was brief, but the moment the woman took Riche away, it was even shorter.
“I was foolish.”
“…..”
Deon remained silent, even when Robenhaf confessed.
He, too, wasn’t without fault.
If Riche had said to stay, he should have followed. If he had, maybe…
“I wasn’t scared of you at all back then.”
The anxiety he had heard since he was young. The fear that his fragile younger sister would one day abandon them and disappear forever.
Deon stood up holding his sword. The diamond-shaped decoration on the scabbard swayed. It was something Riche had given him before leaving Kesselphon.
“If we keep searching, we’ll find her.”
“Dercedion, calm down. Are you going to chase after an illusion for the rest of your life?”
“If there’s no other way.”
“Let’s find a way. We can act once we find it.”
“How long will that take!”
Deon shouted. Robenhaf stayed silent, as it was the first time he had seen Deon lose his composure.
“How long… We can find her.”
Deon’s eyes reddened.
“Titanism.”
Meanwhile, Zickbert, who had been quietly sitting on a nearby staircase, spoke up.
“The star that took Riche is the god of Titanism.”
Deon and Robenhaf turned to look at him.
With an inquiring look, they asked how he knew, and Zickbert pointed to his own head.
“Kaishan told me.”
“Who is Kaishan?”
“…The Great Star that gave abilities to the Serdiya family.”
Robenhaf muttered.
The clue to finding Riche came from an unexpected source—Zickbert’s head.
“Titanism made the star’s power stronger. When people call the star’s name, the star grows stronger and becomes a god.”
Zickbert spoke as if he was merely repeating what someone had told him. His words flowed smoothly, unlike his usual speech.
“The leader of that church is the vessel of that star. If we destroy Titanism, we can find Riche.”
The church, which was said to have gained power on the Western Continent, had a much larger activity range than expected. It spread across the entire Western Continent, part of the Pan Continent, and some areas of the Roksha Empire.
Deon headed toward the Western Continent.
Zickbert and Robenhaf took charge of the Pan Continent and the Roksha Empire.
Thus, the capable individuals of this generation had started to target Titanism six months ago.
“Seems like there’s no leader again this time.”
Robenhaf brushed his hands off and spoke.
Deon had also communicated yesterday, saying there was nothing useful.
“Let’s move to the next region. Zickbert.”
“Okay.”
The two of them moved to a different area once again.
Hwangrip Academy. Riche’s greenhouse.
Though the academy had quieted down as the winter break began, this place was bustling with activity.
“Lotus, that’s not it! The lily of the valley should be planted here!”
“Lily, aren’t you the one who doesn’t understand? White pansies should be planted if you want Riche sister to like it.”
The twins were bickering while digging the soil with their trowels.
Lily, who disliked dirt, was wearing a work outfit, with her face covered in soil. Lotus was in a similar situation.
Neither of them had any talent for gardening, so even after months of trying, they hadn’t quite gotten used to it.
“I was the one who asked the plants and professors to get flowers, you know? Do you know how hard it is to make flowers bloom in winter? So listen to me. Foolish Lotus.”
“Hmph. I moved all those flowers myself. Lily Hibetsum.”
The twins weren’t willing to back down even an inch.
Months ago, the news of Riche’s disappearance spread to Hwangrip Academy.
Around the same time, the former student council president, who had graduated, came to see Professor Rumblela.
“I heard the cult you’re affiliated with targeted Tiarice and the abilities of the three duke families.”
“I… I just want to undo the past!”
Professor Rumblela protested, struggling to explain himself.
Robenhaf gave a cold, icy smile and said,
“Don’t try to justify yourself. That past isn’t unique to you, Professor.”
Professor Rumblela froze on the spot.
Though they had the relationship of student and professor within the academy, things were different in the Roksha Empire.
The three ducal families, who wielded more power than the emperor, had a strong influence.
Accused of targeting them, Professor Rumblela was frozen and then tried in court, eventually being imprisoned in the Roksha Empire’s dungeons.
“Then let’s plant the lily of the valley on one side and the white pansies on the other. Let Riche unnie walk through the middle.”
“Oh, I like that idea.”
Lily stepped back, and Lotus smiled and agreed with her suggestion.
They wanted to show Riche a beautiful garden when she returned.
A lush and colorful garden.
“And then, we’ll give Riche unnie a bouquet and say something.”
“What will we say?”
“We’ll say ‘Welcome back…'”
“Ugh. Lily, you again.”
Lotus made a disgusted face and took out a handkerchief to wipe Lily’s face.
She was crying again.
“Riche unnie is coming soon, right? Don’t you trust us?”
“I do trust you.”
Lily snorted, wiped her nose, and threw the handkerchief to the side. Lotus let out a small scream as the handkerchief became garbage.
Lily, still awkwardly digging with the trowel, continued,
“Oppas will bring her back.”
[……Tiyom.]
[Ru……om.]
[Rutyom!]
“……!”
Riche took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
