#141

The scene was so unreal, like an illusion, that Cullen blinked briefly. But it remained. Arne’s surprised and frightened face was revealed beneath the flickering silver light. His wide-open brown eyes were filled with shock rather than fear. He too seemed unable to believe his current situation.

Cullen felt the same. He had suspected Lasano was suspicious from the beginning. And recently, that suspicion had only grown.

“You…”

Cullen’s mind cleared slightly at Kiyen’s low voice. Glancing at him, he saw Kiyen scowling. He too seemed to have had no inkling of Lasano’s appearance.

“I thought you were suspicious from the start, and now you disappoint me.”

His tone was calmer than Cullen’s or Arne’s. It was as if he were an observer, with only a hint of displeasure towards a being he could subdue at any moment.

“Oh my, it’s the Crown Prince next to Kiyen-nim who is disappointing.”

Lasano replied to Kiyen’s words. My mind began to cool down. Lasano was trying to incite conflict between Cullen and Kiyen. It was not the time to remain silent.

“Lasano, stop your nonsense and release Arne. Why are you doing this?”

Cullen wanted to know the reason first. Lasano’s past, which he had experienced earlier, flashed through his mind. If he was being held back by something from that time, then he and Kiyen could resolve it.

“It could be a side effect of falling into an illusion.”

Kiyen, not immediately swayed by Lasano’s words, tried to assess the situation with Cullen without dwelling on what he had said.

“Unfortunately, I am perfectly fine. Now, let’s stop the idle chatter. Cullen-nim, throw that sword to me. Otherwise, I will slit the throat of this poor Common Priest.”

His voice was unusually bright. It didn’t sound sincere. It sounded more like he was forcing it.

“Lasano-nim, please… don’t do this.”

Arne spoke up at the threat of being killed. His deep voice was not filled with fear, but with sorrow. At his whisper, Lasano’s expression stiffened slightly. While his smiling eyes froze, Cullen decided to try and persuade him along with Arne.

Whatever his identity, whatever the cause, he didn’t want to kill Lasano while saving Arne. If it were his past self, he would have cut him down without hesitation. There would be no reason to agree to such a negotiation.

However, Cullen had changed while being with Kiyen and making companions. And one of those companions was Lasano. Hadn’t he healed him countless times and saved others? Regardless of his suspicious nature, Cullen didn’t see him as a bad person. His cynical demeanor didn’t negate his kindness.

“Are you doing this because of the threat from the cousin who saved you? A deal with him?”

When the word “cousin” was mentioned, the smile in Lasano’s eyes crumbled. His lips were still turned up, but it looked like he was barely maintaining it. He slowly opened his mouth.

“It wasn’t a misunderstanding. Cullen-nim’s memories flowed to me as well, so I was curious… Thanks to that, I had twice the fun.”

Cullen carefully replied to the sarcastic voice.

“Lasano, no matter the situation, we can resolve it. We just need to work together. So please, don’t do anything you’ll regret…”

His words seemed to shake Lasano for a moment. He completely erased his smiling expression and stared at Cullen. It was as if he were looking at Kiyen.

“Lasano, put down the dagger.”

Cullen spoke to him cautiously again. Lasano shook his head.

“I can’t. I came here for this moment from the beginning, so I have to see it through to the end.”

This time, Kiyen asked.

“Your cousin knew about this from the start?”

If Lasano had been by their side with a purpose from the beginning, it meant the other party already knew about the artifact or the sword. Confusion washed over him. Suppressing the urge to deny it, Cullen took a step forward.

“Doesn’t it seem that way?”

Lasano replied, asking Kiyen. His gaze stopped at the tip of Cullen’s sword.

“We all suffered because of that damned sword. We truly waited for a long time. If you hadn’t been the chosen one, Cullen-nim, perhaps I wouldn’t have revealed myself. Now, enough chatter.”

Lasano shook his head and put on a smile again.

“Hand over the sword. Or I will kill you.”

His dagger pressed tightly against Arne’s throat. Blood could be seen welling up. Arne, who had been so timid, was surprisingly composed in this moment of potential death. Instead of begging for his life, he looked at Cullen with eyes full of sorrow.

“Cullen.”

Kiyen called me softly. I knew what he meant. I couldn’t let the sword be taken, nor could I let Arne be killed, so for now… I had to attack Lasano.

“Please, don’t kill him, Kiyen-nim. I beg you.”

As I whispered softly, I felt Kiyen looking down at me.

“As long as I don’t cut off his head, he will live.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the air changed. Simultaneously, Lasano’s arm suddenly lost control and dropped.

Golden light flashed in Kiyen’s eyes, and then Lasano’s feet were slightly lifted into the air. I didn’t know exactly what magic it was, but it seemed intended to separate him from Arne.

However, Lasano’s expression didn’t change. Instead of looking bewildered, Lasano’s smiling face faltered. After a brief, bitter expression flashed across his face—

“Kia.”

His name was called. Then, something unbelievable happened. A force similar to what I had just felt seemed to approach me in an instant, and then, ‘CRASH!’ A powerful impact sound, like colliding objects, spread. Kiyen’s robe fluttered, and his face turned grim.

The force that pushed Kiyen moved again, quickly creating something else. Blue ice began to sprout from the ground. As an ice wall instantly blocked my path, Lasano was thrown to the ground. As he fell, still holding Arne, someone appeared behind Lasano.

The silver light that had emanated from Lasano’s hand disappeared, but the blue light emanating from the ice illuminated the interior. Cullen watched as a long shadow fell over the faint light. The shape of long, massive, pointed wings descended upon the light.

Following the shadow, Cullen slowly turned his gaze. There stood Kia, his white wings spread. But he was not alone. Like Lasano, Kia had brought someone else. I saw short, shaking blond hair. The moment I saw it, my heart sank.

Ulli, who seemed unconscious, was held in Kia’s arms.

“Kia, what are you doing there?”

Pure confusion was in Kiyen’s voice. He scowled, as if he could not accept this situation. Kia, with an expression like a child being scolded, looked back and forth between Kiyen and Cullen.

“Are you angry? I’m sorry. But I can’t help it. But I’m not trying to do anything truly bad!”

Kia, sensitive to emotions, began to cry.

“I’m doing this for Kiyen-nim. Mom said if I did this, Kiyen-nim would be happy. I wouldn’t have to be confined to Father’s island anymore, and good things would happen for Kiyen-nim too.”

Lasano stopped Kia, who was volunteering information he hadn’t asked for. He sighed and got to his feet.

I saw a white hand reaching for Arne. It wasn’t a rough movement. Arne glanced at Cullen but followed Lasano obediently instead of resisting. His face was one of confusion about what to do.

I understand. Cullen also didn’t know how to act in this situation. Moreover, wasn’t Arne the one who cared for and liked Lasano the most among the group?

“Don’t do anything foolish and come here, Kia. I’m fine with just you.”

Kiyen, though scowling, spoke kindly. Kia seemed to waver, looking at Lasano as if Kiyen’s words were truly alright. Then Lasano spoke.

“Do you want to see Yuri sad? Do you want to see Mother disappointed? Don’t have vain thoughts, Kia.”

At his cold voice, Kia bit his lip.

“Now. I assume you understand the situation. Kia-nim is not far behind Kiyen-nim. Furthermore, I have two hostages.”

Lasano extended his hand.

“Give me the sword. Now. Let’s not have any unnecessary sacrifices.”

Lasano said firmly, as if he would argue no further.