Ch.111Guest of Honor

# 1.

Nahan almost reacted violently without realizing it, but barely managed to regain his composure and asked back.

“Castler?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

The questions and answers followed in quick succession.

Hallorand leaned back in his chair as if it were no big deal and replied.

“Do you know what the Savior of Reincarnation calls himself? The Designer, they say. Currently, he has completed his design for the destruction of the target world and has been following his plan.”

“I’d appreciate if you’d just answer the question.”

“I am. This is the answer.”

Hallorand shifted only his gaze toward Nahan and raised his left fist.

“Pedro was an important component. Almost every cycle of destruction began with his rampage. Therefore, the Designer also intended to use Pedro as the official starting signal. But… poof.”

His left hand spread wide open.

“Whether due to your intervention or variables caused by Black Wolf, I’m not sure, but Pedro didn’t go berserk this cycle. In other words, the chain reaction was blocked from the very first point.”

Hallorand’s words finally made sense.

Nahan muttered while watching Hallorand’s other hand rise in a fist.

“So you’ll replace that first point with Castler?”

“Correct.”

His right hand rose instead of his left.

Hallorand pointed to that right hand as he recalled his memories.

“You may not know this, but Castler has gone berserk in several previous cycles. And those cycles where he went berserk…”

His right hand spread wide open with a snap.

“The world was destroyed before we could even attempt to intervene.”

“…What?”

“Don’t be surprised. Each member of the <Black Wolf> is that kind of monster.”

Hallorand’s eyes twisted eerily.

“Pedro, Castler, Lactea, Black Wolf… they’re just monsters among monsters.”

He added, like someone somewhat broken reminiscing about old memories:

“Anyway, Castler’s rampage is absolute chaos. The Empire becomes the heart of the only bloodline, and the world transforms into a blood bag for him. By that point, neither priests nor hunters are of any use.”

“Is Castler really that dangerous?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s a Lord who has concentrated all the power of that bloodline into one body.”

Hallorand snickered and looked at the dumbfounded Nahan, then furrowed his brow.

“You know, you’re strong, but there’s something mediocre about you. How should I put it… like facing a fool with only strength? So I’d like you to prove that you’re more than just power.”

“Why should I do that?”

As Nahan’s attitude sharpened again, Hallorand answered calmly.

“Because if you’re more incompetent than I thought, there’s no need for me to help you stay alive.”

Hallorand.

A human who had accumulated experience and knowledge over countless years through numerous regressions.

He had decided to help Nahan because he seemed promising.

But what if he thought the possibility had decreased due to Nahan’s lack of ability?

Rather than wasting time helping him, it would be a much better choice to die as soon as possible and start regression again.

“Threats are useless. If the world is doomed to fail anyway, it benefits me to die quickly and start over.”

As Hallorand’s gaze returned to cold calculation, Nahan realized it too.

‘As Hallorand says, threatening him again won’t change anything.’

With no time for lengthy deliberation, Nahan nodded toward Hallorand.

“I’ll prove it. Tell me how.”

Hallorand’s lips curled upward.

Since Castler’s rampage had been a true catastrophe in the pasts he had lived through, he pointed out the window and stated his condition.

“The Savior of Reincarnation is planning to attack Castler. Stop it by yourself.”

“I will.”

Nahan nodded immediately.

However, instead of leaving right away, he stood there and added to Hallorand.

“In return, prove your usefulness too.”

“Fair enough. It would be hypocritical of me to refuse.”

Hallorand nodded and carefully selected a few pieces of information before speaking.

“The place where Eclipse will attack Castler is where his heart is buried. The execution date is today. The execution time is probably…”

Hallorand’s voice trailed off as he turned his head looking for a clock, but since it had already gone into Nahan’s subspace, he added with a smirk:

“It will begin soon.”

# 2.

The new hideout of Black Wolf.

Murmuring voices could be heard from a special underground room created by Ruby’s magic.

“Hanryang. Want to make a bet with me?”

“Eup-nida?”

“You’ll do it?”

“…? Eup-nida?”

The voices belonged to Luna and Hanryang.

Luna proposed with a cheerful voice that contrasted with the dimly lit torchlight:

“Today is the final day big sis mentioned, right? So, whoever gets that woman to talk first wins?”

Her sharp eyes, curved innocently, turned toward a chair placed in the corner of the basement.

Tied there was Eclipse’s fourth elder, Flora, the Calamity of Blooming Flowers.

Somehow they had captured her, but Nahan, who was unfamiliar with torture, had given instructions:

-…Go easy.

-What does that mean?

-It means interrogate her without leaving physical marks.

Nahan’s words meant to persuade her well and extract the desired information, but the Black Wolf members interpreted it differently:

“Today too, without wounds. Clean.”

They believed they should leave Flora’s body intact but break only her mind.

“This is, magic has an advantage—eup-nida.”

“Eh? Not confident?”

“This is, unfair—eup-nida.”

“Oh why! Hanryang, you have that technique that blocks meridians! It doesn’t even leave marks!”

The content was brutal despite the casual and innocent tone of voice.

“Ah, aah…!”

Flora, finally regaining consciousness, struggled while drooling, but Luna and Hanryang approached as if they didn’t care.

“Oh, she’s awake?”

“Last, chance—eup-nida.”

“Right. It would be better to talk before it hurts, wouldn’t it?”

What Black Wolf wanted was information.

“Eclipse’s members, objectives, plans… tell us everything you know and we’ll let you live, okay?”

…How many days had it been already?

Flora trembled at the vague memories of pain but still shook her head.

“I, don’t know…”

This wasn’t a lie.

The First Elder of Eclipse only ever explained the immediate plans and ultimate cause, never revealing detailed plans.

“You’re really stubborn… Just so you know, today is the last day. If you keep your mouth shut, we have orders from big sis… I mean, the Deputy Commander to kill you slowly in extreme pain.”

Luna’s words were also true.

If she continued to maintain silence, there was no need to waste resources keeping her alive.

Nevertheless, Flora remained silent.

-I will give you salvation.

In this cursed world, the only path to salvation could be shown by Him alone.

“Do, whatever…”

Luna sighed involuntarily as she met Flora’s glowing red eyes.

“Ah… I really didn’t want to resort to this kind of threat.”

“Should I, eup-nikka?”

“No thanks, Hanryang? You can barely speak properly, what kind of threat could you make… I’ll do it.”

After speaking lightly as before, Luna’s aura suddenly changed.

“You’re a witch, aren’t you?”

A chilling killing intent resembling the commander’s.

Mana mixed with emerald and ash-gray colors firmly bound Flora’s body.

“I’m going to kill you, cut off your head, and then find the surviving witches. I’ll show them your head and kill everyone related.”

Of course, this was a lie.

Black Wolf followed their commander, and Commander Nahan’s wish was to save the world.

“There are more witches alive than I expected.”

Luna’s lie was merely Lactea’s strategy, mixing truth and falsehood appropriately to extract information, but it worked perfectly.

“Ah…!!”

Flora’s eyes shook violently.

The interrogation that had continued day and night for days,

Her weakened body and mind,

The immense killing intent before her eyes.

Worn down to her limits, she couldn’t make proper judgments.

‘I shouldn’t talk… but I’m the only one who did wrong… the witches don’t need to…’

A massive wave starting from a small wish.

-Thank you, Flora.

Due to a promise made long ago, just as she was about to open her mouth unconsciously.

【Warning.】

【<Savior of Reincarnation(???)> is using their Skill #1 – <Descent(???)>.】

Flora’s entire body was enveloped in red light, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished.

“…Did I do that?”

“…No, eup-nida.”

As the two stood there dumbfounded,

Dalan rushed down to the basement and shouted at them.

“Castler!! She’s moving to Castler!!”

# 3.

Castler.

The second member of Black Wolf and the only survivor of the bloodline.

Unless something special happened, he would leave the hideout every night and head to the National Cemetery.

Located in the western part of the Empire, only those recognized by the Emperor could rest there, and the one Castler visited was also there.

Upon reaching the tombstone marked [Ran], he gently placed down flowers he had picked somewhere.

“…It’s warm.”

Drowsiness washed over him with his murmur.

Normally, he would have fallen asleep and returned before dawn, but,

“…I see I have a visitor.”

Castler looked toward the tree behind the tombstone.

And the one who revealed himself was—

“I should have brought a flower or two.”

The leader of Eclipse,

“It’s been a while, Lord.”

The First Elder.