#083

“This wasn’t the original plan, was it?”

Ulli confirmed as she reloaded her arrow. Her face was pale from the sudden blizzard and deepening cold.

“Ulli, please cover my back. It seems that fellow has made a move.”

Cullen coaxed his horse, which was trying to back away, and requested. He had clearly used power related to Akesis, and based on his experience, one had to kill the one with power to stop Kwanu. If Kwanu entered the duchy in its current state, the territory would be ruined. All his nerves were on edge.

“Got it! Arne, come here!”

As she followed Ulli, who was pulling her along, Arne called out worriedly.

“Cullen-nim, where is Lasano-nim? Is he perhaps next to that Demonic Beast? Is he not hurt?”

Lasano was supposed to be by Kwanu’s side, so there was a possibility he was injured. However, dealing with Zarkas and Kwanu came first.

“I’ll go, Cullen-nim.”

Cullen, whose attention was focused on Zarkas, immediately changed direction when he saw him about to move. This conversation itself was a waste of time. He couldn’t give that person time to escape. He kicked the horse’s flank and said.

“Arne, stay with Ulli, it’s dangerous. You are not combat personnel, and Lasano is the High Priest, so he’ll be fine.”

“But you’re alone.”

Arne’s words made Cullen, who was about to run, pause. Taking advantage of his hesitation, Arne turned the horse’s reins and moved immediately. In the opposite direction of Zarkas, as far as possible from the giant.

Kwanu’s destination was unknown, making even this a suicidal act, but Arne seemed to have overcome his timid nature for now.

“That guy’s running, chase him quickly!”

Ulli’s shout pulled Cullen back to reality. Urging his horse, which was already prepared to bolt, Cullen shot forward. He caught a glimpse of Arne disappearing, buried in the snowstorm, and increased his speed.

When had he last entrusted his back to someone else? The situation of engaging in battle with multiple people, not alone, unsettled him.

“Kwanu, can you hear me!”

Cullen shouted towards Zarkas even as he ran towards him. Kwanu, who usually spoke on his own, seemed not to hear his shout and only looked straight ahead.

With every step Kwanu took, the ground cracked, and the distance closed in an instant. A massive boulder slammed past Cullen’s side.

Cullen maneuvered his horse, dodging the flying rocks and snow. He soothed and coaxed the trembling horse, and then spotted the end of a black cloak hidden in the snowstorm.

The gap closed quickly. The mask glanced up at Cullen. Seizing the moment, Cullen leaned as far to the side as possible and swung his sword.

A sapphire blade sliced through the cloak. Zarkas twisted his body diagonally and changed direction, running.

Cullen realized that a faint green light was seeping from somewhere on his body, beyond the cloak. Ulli had said that if one used power beyond what was permitted, the weapon would eventually consume the contractor.

Were all Zarkas using Akesis’s power through their weapons? If so, how far did this person’s power extend? What exactly was it?

The questions exploded like rage. Cullen leaped towards the retreating Zarkas and pressed down on him. The recoil from Cullen jumping off his horse sent them rolling and entangled on the ground. As they tumbled across the frozen earth, Cullen reached out to pull off the mask.

The opponent blocked the rough force. A dagger slipped out and scratched Cullen’s hand. Enduring the injury, Cullen managed to pull the mask halfway off.

He had to see the face. Seeing him command others, this person couldn’t be of ordinary standing.

“There isn’t… time for this…”

A low voice was heard. The heavy baritone sounded male.

With his other hand, he drove a dagger into Cullen’s shoulder. Kkuhk, gritting his teeth against the groan, Cullen saw the half-revealed face. A sharp jawline and pale lips were visible. Even with just the white face and half-revealed features, he sensed it wouldn’t be an ordinary appearance.

But he couldn’t identify him with this alone. There were no moles or obvious distinguishing marks.

“A golem is heading for the duchy. Many will die. Enough to ruin the ducal territory.”

The dagger in his shoulder dug in further. Cullen put his weight into it and finally pinned him down.

“If I kill you, it’s over.”

The mask revealed up to his nose. Beneath the cold mask that touched his palm, silver hair was visible. It was pure silver, as clean as Lasano’s.

The High Priest? He flinched, but without knowing the eye color, he wasn’t sure. The High Priest required silver hair and two red eyes as marks.

However, silver hair itself was certainly rare. Cullen suppressed the rising suspicion. He would find out if he subdued him.

“Why are you doing this? What do you hope to gain by killing innocent people?”

The man’s lips curved. Haha, he let out a low laugh, pulled the dagger from his shoulder, and swung it at Cullen. Cullen hastily twisted his body to dodge the sword, then grabbed the man’s wrist with one hand and pressed down on his throat with the other. Despite choking from the force crushing his cold neck, the man laughed.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t tell me. I’ll take you…!”

Cullen stopped speaking as a chilling wind rushed towards the back of his neck and he pulled away from the man. Turning immediately, he saw a being floating in the sky.

It wasn’t Kiyen. But it had wings on its back. Wings that looked like the sharp quills and membranes Kiyen might have originally possessed.

“…A Dragon?”

Kaak, the Demonic Beast shrieked, landed, and wrapped its wings around the man. He skillfully looped his arm around the beast’s neck. Due to the fierce snowstorm, the beast’s appearance couldn’t be seen clearly, but slippery white scales and shining yellow eyes were visible. It truly looked like a small dragon.

“I wish it were a Dragon. Then I would have burned this land long ago,” the man whispered, laughing with a clear voice.

“You, on the other hand, should think about why this is happening. You are the last of the Larkan. The goddess must prepare to face the vengeful spirits of the countless people she killed in the name of justice.”

The beast tightly held the man who spouted incomprehensible words. Before Cullen could confirm its intelligence, the beast flapped its wings vigorously and began to ascend.

“No reason can justify your actions. Even now…!”

Kwang, a sound echoed from behind. Kwanu had clearly entered the ducal territory. If he couldn’t interrogate this person alive, he had to kill him. Cullen abandoned his hesitation and made his decision.

Cullen picked up the sword that had rolled on the ground. As the beast kicked off the ground and flew up with a whoosh, he hurled his sword towards Zarkas. The heavy greatsword shot towards him at terrifying speed.

The sword embedded itself in the man’s side. The beast let out a Kiiiii sound and created a sharp wind, shooting it at Cullen. Caught by the strong wind mixed with snow, Cullen was pushed back, and the beast glided high into the air. It immediately disappeared into the snowstorm and was no longer visible.

As Cullen looked at the sky with eyes full of confusion, Ulli arrived. Her face, which had been pale, was now flushed, as if she had run until sweat beaded on her brow.

“Are you okay, Cullen? What was that just now? Was it a blonde?”

Ulli had also seen the flying Demonic Beast. Cullen shook his head.

“It was a Demonic Beast.”

“You let it get away, I’m sorry. The blizzard made it hard to see. What do we do now? Do we have to kill it?”

Cullen nodded, looking at the giant’s back disappearing into the white, fog-like snow.

“I think we have to. The situation has become difficult, but Kwanu gave us a hint beforehand on how to kill it, so we have to manage somehow.”

Cullen’s words were not visible. Ulli pointed to her horse and said,

“Ride this for now. You have to get rid of that thing, so I’ll ride. You need to conserve your energy.”

Despite the dire situation, Ulli smiled. Cullen gazed at her face for a moment before heaving himself onto the horse. As he sat behind Ulli, she said,

“When will the Dragon come? Is it just going to leave like this?”

“It will be here soon,” Cullen said firmly and urged them to depart. “Kiyen has to protect me due to our contract, but he always appears for me in dangerous moments.” Ulli’s lips parted as if to say something at his voice of unwavering faith, then they set off.

The ducal territory was half in ruins. Everything collapsed just by Kwanu stepping on it. Houses made of stone, fences, roads, the very foundations that made up the lives of the territory’s people, including a mansion piled three stories high. Spaces that had been filled with life were being destroyed simply by walking through them.

Was this not the only one? Cullen grimly recalled what Kwanu had said. What kind of events had unfolded during the time he existed? Cullen gritted his teeth against the questions that flooded him, making him feel nauseous.

“What do we do, Cullen!”

Ulli screamed and shot an arrow at Kwanu’s back. She hadn’t stopped firing it while chasing to get his attention, but the arrows just bounced off.

Due to his naturally large strides, Kwanu was already heading towards the southernmost point where people had been evacuated. The temple of the ducal territory was just ahead. It was also where the most children were.

“We must proceed as planned,” it was not Cullen who answered. Both of them looked to the side simultaneously. There was Lasano, riding behind Arne. His frozen blue face was pale.

“What’s wrong?”

“You got hurt because of me.”

Next to Arne’s words, someone spoke. It was Anan.

“I can’t converse with Kwanu like Cullen-nim, but I can sense his thoughts. I followed Lasano-nim just in case it might be helpful, but when Kwanu came out to the ground, he saved me from being crushed….”

Lasano did not respond to Anan’s words but stared directly at Cullen. Zarkas’s silver hair flashed briefly in Cullen’s mind. The moment suspicion bloomed, Lasano spoke.

“Cullen-nim, you must kill that thing. I will bestow a blessing upon you. And even if you get hurt during the battle, I will heal you each time…”

Lasano coughed briefly.

The surroundings were filled with chaotic screams and the sound of vibrations. Cullen set aside his suspicion for the moment, took the two greatswords Ulli had prepared, and offered them to Lasano. As soon as Lasano saw the swords, he reached out and invoked divine power. Closing his eyes, he whispered a few words, and silver light spread.

“I will stay nearby.”

Taking the two greatswords, Cullen said to Ulli,

“You protect these people.”

“Can you really kill that thing?”

“We’ll have to see.”

With a determined tone, Ulli scowled and dismounted. Then she said,

“You’re not alone, so call me if it’s dangerous!”

She pointed to the greatsword. Cullen looked up and saw Lasano and Arne staring at him. His heart fluttered. At the same time, anxiety surged. This was a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for someone to die at any moment. If one of them died, if they died…

No, they aren’t comrades, so it’s fine.

Cullen firmly steadied his wavering heart and deliberately turned his back without a word.