NOVEL NEXT Chapter 146
Yellody Latashia.
Her sky-blue hair and languid eyes didn’t quite fit in with the demons.
With a rather cute, demure appearance, she was recognized as such, yet her origins in Pandemonium remained a mystery.
Thus, she belonged to no one.
While demons seek to join the ranks of the Great Demon for greater power, Yellody was different.
Even among the hierarchical and bloodline-obsessed demons, she didn’t care to be beneath anyone…
Because she possessed an absolute quality far superior to that of a great demon.
Hmm, what to do, hmm~…
She could be lethargic and passive when disinterested, yet when intrigued, showed an obsessive and fanatical side.
The simple reason she spent time at Claris Academy, a place she wasn’t particularly interested in, was straightforward.
To nurture the ambitious boy, Caeran, who had both the potential of a hero and a trait of corruption, and make him take down the current Demon King.
Unfortunately for her, while she had power, she didn’t have the skills of an executor who could deal with demons.
Therefore, Caeran Hiss was a valuable pawn for Yellody Latashia.
The problem was…
A mysterious gray-haired man…
Had disrupted all her plans into vapor.
…
…
…
In the hatchery of Markosias’s Fifth Legion.
A pool mixed with green and purple floated with Markosias’s corpse.
And right next to it was a gray-haired boy.
All causation was clear now.
In an instant, Yellody’s previously sluggish blood flow of mana began to accelerate.
“So it was you…? Lev Denec.”
“…”
“You were the one who cursed Caeran….”
Caeran, who began to weaken suddenly in the rank battle.
Whatever ability he had used, it was clear it was this guy who had placed that unknown curse on him.
If it wasn’t, there’s no way he could just pop up here in the heart of Pandemonium.
Zshhh!
“Care to answer? How did you do it?”
“Hmm, senior. Your speech is quite similar to Lily’s.”
Even under Yellody’s murderous magical pressure, he continued to crack jokes.
“Haa…?”
Yes.
He had become quite strong.
It wasn’t pure luck that he had taken down Markosias; he certainly didn’t possess the qualities of a mere first-year cadet from Claris.
‘Perhaps he might have even higher potential than Caeran…?’
However, it seemed like he had exhausted all his strength in taking down Markosias, as he now appeared barely capable of even standing.
In a somewhat adorable but slightly terrifying tone, Yellody asked him.
“Lev, you see… I’m not very patient… so you’re not going to answer?”
“No, I feel sorry for Lily being compared to a greedy person like you, senior…”
“Uh-huh.”
Swoosh!
Crash!
“Ugh!”
Lev’s words couldn’t find a conclusion.
Crash!
A shadow hand made of Yellody’s dark magic slammed him against the hatchery wall.
Creeeak…
And slowly began to crush.
“Well then, goodbye.”
Crackle…
Human joints aren’t that sturdy.
As Yellody’s magic constricted around Lev’s body,
Crunch.
The abnormal clicking of bones began to echo.
“Hehe…”
“?”
Yet, he was laughing.
It was madness.
Blood oozing from his mouth, he was forcing a smile despite being on the brink of death.
“Is this really the time to be so relaxed…?”
“Wow, you’re really going for it.”
“Lev, have you really gone insane?”
“Did I tear it?”
“…?”
With his nonsensical responses, what was he talking about?
“I really did tear it. Is there something wrong with it?”
He lifted his chin, pointing at something.
Fwoosh…
All that approached Yellody with a threatening aura was burned away…
In a blaring inferno of absolute defense, something turned to ash and blew away in a flurry.
Shwaaa…
And that ash began to settle within Yellody’s body.
Gasp!
Yellody’s high resistance to magic was inherent, so crude human curses were ineffective against her.
Yet, the lack of rejection suggested it resembled an enchantment scroll created by humans.
And the mouth of the gray-haired boy opened to clarify this doubt.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh…?”
“To my master.”
Thud!
‘Huh…?’
With those words, Yellody’s body began to move against her will.
Her killing intent still intact…
For some reason, her body chose to release him.
“W-what’s happening??”
Her dark magic vanished without a trace.
…
…
…
Ding.
“Created Scroll: Markosias’s Power – Curse of Subjugation.”
“Target: Yellody Latashia.”
“Successfully used!”
Before being infected, Yellody had the ridiculous characteristic of ‘immunity’ just like Caeran, allowing her to avoid any debuffs.
However, the enchantment scroll was treated as a buff.
‘This isn’t a buff at all…’
By receiving judgment from Markosias, Yellody would become my subordinate.
“Hehe… cough!”
While chuckling to myself, I coughed up a glob of blood.
Having fought for too long, my body could barely sustain itself.
“Protect me, Yellody-senpai.”
“Whaat…?”
I smiled and commanded her.
“And guide me. Psyche, you know where she is, don’t you?”
“…!”
Yellody stared at me, astonished at how I knew that.
Ding.
“Warning: Erosion Level remains high.”
“Warning: Player’s stress level and stamina have reached their limit.”
“Warning: Current health is below 5%.”
“Warning: Severe debuff – injury; movement inhibited.”
If things continue this way, I’ll die soon.
I was on the edge of losing my sanity due to the creeping erosion from extending Markosias’s power.
And Pandemonium was immense.
Even with Yellody as a subordinate, I’d surely perish while trying to move.
So the easiest way to escape from Pandemonium was undoubtedly…
‘The Saint, Psyche.’
According to [Hwanseangaka], she will awaken in Chapter 5, sealed away in Pandemonium.
Afterwards, with Kroon’s blessing enveloped in his thoughts, she would safely return to the Jeonguk.
Then, she’d discreetly enroll in Claris, searching for successors to take her place as the Saint.
‘I need to latch onto that…’
She might cleanse me of the erosion, being the only one who successfully escaped Pandemonium.
I must find her.
…
…
…
This year’s aspiring hero – at the selection test for Claris Academy, a joint funeral was held.
The academy also felt a dismal sense for the youth they sent off…
It’s often said that sad days bring rain, but it wasn’t the case this time.
In fact, it was painfully sunny, as if nothing had happened at all.
At least there weren’t many casualties, thanks to Edwin Gwynn’s party.
They swiftly stopped the Three-headed Dog and disabled the Magic Tower on Mystic Island,
The merit was so great that it was publicly acknowledged by the Empire rather than Claris Academy.
Lev’s shot didn’t end there.
“For the sake of the bereaved families and the honor of the Empire, I take this opportunity to declare that an investigation into Guild Crow Pay and the Haisman family will be conducted thoroughly.”
Under the Imperial Center, the Principality of Prominence and the Valentes family joined in a fervent effort to root out the factions colluding with demons.
…
…
…
The emerald knight, Edwin, looked at the imperial invitation and spoke to the two women.
“It seems they want us in the Hwangdo. Perhaps they’re planning to hold an award ceremony again.”
“…”
Yeriel remained silent, but Selena showed her discomfort without hesitation.
“How can they want to gather when people are dead?”
“……”
The news of Lev Denec’s death.
Sad news spread like wildfire.
“Lily… still no news?”
“…Yeah. But at least the meals have decreased…”
“What? Where’s Lev? Where’d he go?”
“……”
“Huh? What’s going on? Lily was waiting for Lev and prepared for a party…”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“……”
This harsh reality might have been a bit much for young Lily.
Clatter.
She finished those words and didn’t come out of her room.
A small sign hung on the door.
“No knocking except for Lev.”
That was all.
“Lev… Lev…”
Even Yeriell felt she might go mad.
Yet, what Lev had said to her remained.
“Take care of Aria.”
“I know it’s selfish, but… everyone else too.”
Every single word he uttered barely held her together.
“Lev is doing well, right…? I… I…”
Just thinking of Lev felt like her heart would burst.
But the more she mentioned him, the harder it became for Aria.
Everyone is struggling.
“Okay, okay. Since it was Lev’s request… I need to hold on… I will do my best… Lev…! For everyone’s sake…”
Tears kept flowing, emotions rising, but…
Thus, she had to endure.
Falling deeper into this pit of sorrow wouldn’t be what Lev wanted.
At that moment, Selena’s lips opened heavily.
“Aria Bluebell is…”
“…!”
“How did things end up like this?”
Her eyes had turned red.
Lev Denec.
He was the first human man the elf Selena acknowledged.
Eager and cherished, this connection made Selena regretful.
“So even if I weren’t there…”
At the festival in Neldaran, he certainly had said such.
A world without him. It was already predestined.
‘Why couldn’t I have realized it sooner…?’
Taking Lev’s place in the Marksman Committee was all part of a plan.
There was a reason behind it.
Therefore, Selena believed she also had the right to hear Lev’s last words.
In turn, Edwin opened his mouth for her.
“Selena, Aria is… hurt a lot right now…”
“Well, she kept apologizing yesterday…”
“…”
“Could it be… Lev died saving her?”
“……”
Edwin’s and Yeriel’s gazes crossed.
The idea that Aria had killed Lev was…
“Let’s keep this under wraps for now.”
At Violet’s suggestion, they kept it a secret.
With no one having witnessed it, if the news revealed Aria had begun killing after inheriting the Saint’s power, people would certainly doubt her potential.
Of course, they didn’t distrust Selena.
But her expression was quite blunt…
If there was any conflict with Aria in her emotionally fragile state…
“……”
As Edwin and Yeriel carefully chose their words.
“No.”
“!”
Finally, exasperated, Selena stood up.
“I’ll just ask her directly.”
“S-Selena?”
“Selena…!”
Edwin and Yeriel tried to stop her, but it was futile.
……
Even the ever-cool demeanor of her face now showed a visible tear streaming down.
Thus, Selena headed toward the Sellafi Black House where Aria Bluebell was…