Thank you Not a Cofee Lover for the coffee.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
According to the man’s explanation, Ruby disappeared with the Crown Prince about ten days ago. In other words, it was the day after she came to find Clyde in the middle of the night.
It was mind-boggling that he had been waiting all this time without knowing that something like this had happened to Ruby.
“What exactly do you mean by ‘disappeared’? Is there a chance she’ll come back? Answer me! Can she be safely returned to how she was?”
Clyde demanded, gripping the man’s throat. The man made choking sounds as if he was in pain.
“I…I can’t breathe…!”
Clyde clenched his teeth and loosened his grip on the man’s throat.
“It…it’s not a life-threatening situation. It turns out that Professor Rojasis discovered that the artifact contained a formula for creating a dimensional portal.”
“Explain it so I can understand.”
“In simple terms, there’s a high chance that the Crown Prince and Researcher Rojasis were moved somewhere by the power of the artifact.”
“They were moved? To where?”
“W-We haven’t figured that out yet. But I’m sure we’ll find out soon.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Duke Julion Rojasis, who is the head of the Department of Magic, is leading experts to this location. He will undoubtedly find a way to bring back the missing people!”
“…….”
Clyde’s forehead formed sharp creases, almost like scars.
Julion Rojasis. Ruby’s father and the man who imprisoned Clyde in the laboratory and tortured him.
He was the most powerful mage in the Palma Empire. This member of the investigation team that Clyde was holding seemed to have unwavering trust in him.
Clyde wished he could jump in and find a way to rescue Ruby, but realistically, the chances were extremely slim.
Clyde knew very little about magic. He possessed incredibly powerful magic unlike any human magician or demon. However, he knew how to use that magic instinctively, and he never truly understood it in his mind.
As much as he hated to admit it, it wasn’t him who could save Ruby now, it was Julion. After all, he was Ruby’s father, and he would undoubtedly be fiercely dedicated to this matter.
“…When exactly is Julion Rojasis coming?”
“I’m not certain, but he should arrive within the next three days.”
Clyde stared at the man with a stern face, then released his grip on him.
The man sat down where he was, coughing heavily.
“What’s your name?”
“Yes? I’m Pahan Solibon.”
“Don’t tell anyone what just happened. If you do, I will surely kill you.”
“…Yes, yes. I understand.”
The man said, nodding eagerly.
Clyde concealed himself in darkness.
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~
After his arrival, Julion spent several days immersed in deciphering the artifact, along with experts in all fields, including ancient relics, magical objects, barriers, curses, and more.
With the safety of Prince Raphir at stake, everyone worked tirelessly day and night, reporting on the progress to the Emperor each day.
However, not a single person could find a way to return Eila and the Crown Prince.
They deduced that they were likely trapped in a magical subspace dimension created by the artifact’s power.
However, they couldn’t figure out where they had gone or how to retrieve them from that place.
“…With all of the greatest minds in the Palma Empire gathered here, why can’t they figure out even a single formula for the composition of this small magical object?”
Julion said it almost as if he was chewing on his words. His tone wasn’t loud, but it carried a chilling coldness that pierced the listener’s heart.
“Prince Raphir and Eila have been missing for 17 days already. Nobody knows if they are safe or how much longer they can endure. We must rescue them as soon as possible.”
The researchers only lowered their heads in resignation, unable to respond.
They had been hanging on for nearly three days without sleep, but no one could complain. They were aware that Julion had not closed his eyes for even a second since arriving here.
Nita approached Julion cautiously and spoke gently.
“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to rest a bit? You haven’t slept for three days already.”
Julion did not respond, nor did he turn to look at Nita.
“…Father, you might collapse at this rate.”
Still, Julion remained silent. Nita had no choice but to withdraw with a pained expression.
In reality, Aslan had not been sleeping either. He had spent every night tirelessly since before Julion arrived. Only when he couldn’t endure any longer would he rest for an hour or two..
Now, after 17 days, it wouldn’t be strange for him to collapse at any moment. Aslan’s eyes were still encircled by dark shadows as he wrestled with the runic symbols written on the scroll.
Of course, Nita understood this feeling all too well. If he were also a mage, he would likely have done the same as his father and Aslan. He had never felt so helpless.
His chest felt tight. Perhaps that’s why the air inside the cave felt even more stifling than usual.
He had stepped outside for a moment to get some fresh air when he noticed someone approaching from the opposite side.
Illuminated by the cave wall’s lights, the figure became visible. The figure was tall and strong, almost as tall as or taller than him. It was a silhouette that couldn’t be found among the mage team members.
At first he thought it might be a guard knight like him, but it wasn’t; the figure was covered from head to toe in a large cloak, the hood pulled low enough to barely reveal the mouth.
“Who are you? Identify yourself.”
Nita instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword and asked. There was no response.
The figure stopped walking and simply stared at Nita.
In the end, Nita drew his sword.
“I’ll say it one more time. Identify yourself. Otherwise, I will attack.”
“Step aside. I don’t want to cause a scene.”
The voice was young and sounded oddly familiar to Nita.
“This is your last warning. Take off your hood and show your face immediately, or—”
Before Nita could finish his sentence, the man moved his feet and approached.
Nita aimed his sword at the man’s torso and swung it, but the blade did not reach him.
It wasn’t that the man dodged or that Nita missed. The sword seemed to be halted in mid-air, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.
Upon closer inspection, a crimson mist emanated from the man’s hand and clung to Nita’s sword.
Nita tried to pull his sword back with all his strength, but it wouldn’t budge.
“What the…!”
“I said I didn’t want to make a scene.”
Nita released his grip on the sword and rushed towards the man. However, the same mist that emanated from the man’s hand constricted his limbs and pinned him against the cave wall.
“Ugh…!”
The man left Nita behind and continued walking towards the ruins.
When Nita tried to shout loudly to call his fellow knights, as if anticipating his actions, the mist blocked his mouth.
Nita, as a royal guard, had experience in combat training against mages.
But he had never seen a mage like this before. The man didn’t chant spells or form magical circles.
The crimson mist and the sheer power to easily subdue a knight of his caliber—there was no doubt in his mind that he was a high-ranking demon.
Nita struggled desperately to break free from the restraint, but his body remained immobilized.
~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~
Clyde soon arrived at the entrance to the ruins.
The soldiers guarding the entrance reacted similarly to Ruby’s brother whom he had just encountered, and Clyde responded in the same way.
In fact, using power in this manner to “subdue without killing” was a first for him. He wasn’t sure if it would work or not, but thankfully it did.
Following Pahan Solibon’s information, the chamber containing the artifact was deep within the ruins.
Clyde walked through the ruins, restraining anyone he encountered in the same manner. Finally, he reached his intended destination.
As Clyde stepped into the room, the attention of those inside turned to him.
“Who are you?”
A middle-aged man with brown hair and slightly downturned eyes asked. However, Clyde’s gaze was not on him but directed toward Julion Rojasis, who stood in the center of the room.
Despite seven years passing, Julion’s appearance had hardly changed. His face, etched deeply into Clyde’s memory, remained the same.
【Excellent. Truly excellent… a monstrous bastard.】
The voice that had once laughed with cruelty seemed to echo in Clyde’s ears. He clenched his teeth in response.
“Didn’t I ask who you are?”
The man shouted again. Instead of answering, Clyde extended both hands. Instantly, the crimson magical power emanating from his hands restrained everyone in the room.
𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊
