Ch.222Transcender (3)

“I need to go.”

That’s what Lucilla said as she hurriedly packed her things.

Frantically filling the pouch at her waist and strapping to her back the spear that Llewellyn had received from the Sword Saint and given to his sister.

Her expression was unusually urgent and worried.

Eshaterna, who was watching blankly from behind her, thought this was only natural.

It had been just a few days since that tremendous magical power and force had erupted.

Though it happened far to the west of the Temple of All Gods, it wasn’t a level of power that could be ignored.

A force powerful enough to split the sky. And that wasn’t all.

When morning gave way to night, and night pressed down on the ground like a falling guillotine, quite a few people were injured.

Though no one died, many had barely survived critical moments.

Because they lacked power. The shock of a world being shaken was not something fragile humans could endure.

Even Eshaterna, who had been receiving affection from “My Lord” at the time, had been startled and slow to respond.

Anyone could see these were no ordinary events. In the midst of all this, Lucilla had said:

“I need to help Sejin.”

That massive pulse, which she’d been told was a manifestation of divine power.

When it reached the Temple of All Gods, Lucilla claimed she had clearly felt her brother’s gaze, a feeling of him asking for help.

“Since he hasn’t returned yet, he must be in trouble. So…”

“My Lady.”

It was Eshaterna’s role to stop Lucilla.

Because there had been instructions from the “Young Lord” before he left.

“Don’t you trust the Young Lord?”

For the past few days, she had managed with these words. Whenever Lucilla heard them, she would recoil as if splashed with cold water and calm down.

But even this magical phrase had its limits.

“No, I do trust him. But if something happens and I can’t help him…”

Lucilla continued packing while saying this.

She even increased her packing speed, making Eshaterna hide her perplexity beneath an expressionless face as she pondered what to do.

She didn’t know what to do.

Using force to subdue her was no longer an option, as Lucilla was no longer an easy opponent.

If she fought with all her might, who knows what would happen, but Llewellyn certainly wouldn’t want that.

Though part of her wanted to try, that didn’t mean it was allowed.

Above all, Lucilla’s power had long since surpassed what Eshaterna could confidently subdue, so she considered her options.

She couldn’t fulfill her orders. Perhaps it would be better to just follow along.

Her deliberation didn’t last long. Both Eshaterna and Lucilla turned their heads westward at the same time.

The west. The place where Llewellyn had departed with the Sword Saint. Where Arba was located, and beyond that, the path to the magical realm.

Something was surging from there. Formless yet distinctly perceptible, a powerful energy that was felt more deeply by those with higher sensitivity.

Divine power.

Lucilla rushed outside without looking back, and Eshaterna sighed softly before following.

Thinking that she would definitely need to be compensated for this work.

Should she ask to join when the Lord and Young Lord next embraced? Or perhaps ask to be held when alone?

Eshaterna ran while contemplating which would be more enjoyable, while Lucilla moved at a pace that Eshaterna could barely keep up with as she left the Temple of All Gods.

In a straight line.

“My Lady.”

She didn’t stop at the call. At the cliff edge of the temple, she lightly jumped onto a tree and accelerated using her magical eyes, which turned the whites of her eyes black.

Leaves fell in showers, and a fierce gale followed her trajectory, sending birds and forest animals scurrying away.

They knew being caught in it meant death. Eshaterna followed with elven agility but at a speed beyond an elf’s, watching as Lucilla moved with the intimidation and power of a giant.

Naturally, Lucilla arrived first. A woman landing with an impact reminiscent of a meteor.

It’s impossible to know how much magical artistry went into that landing, but it must have been quite startling for the “Young Lord” himself.

KWAGOOOOONG!

A figure landing with a thunderous roar.

Llewellyn instinctively flinched and lowered his stance at the landing figure, then looked surprised as the dust cleared to reveal who it was.

“…Sister?”

Since he had deliberately spread divine power, he expected someone to welcome him or come to meet him.

But Llewellyn hadn’t anticipated his own sister would descend like a meteor, and he was visibly taken aback.

Of course, Lucilla paid no mind to that.

“Sejin!”

His sister rushing toward him. Though not at maximum speed, for a moment it seemed threatening. Llewellyn stiffened briefly before embracing his sister as she threw herself into his arms.

The soft sound of her falling into his embrace was light. Eshaterna knew that even in this movement, there was extraordinary footwork.

To brake smoothly and create an illusion of distance. If used to close gaps, it could slit a throat in the blink of an eye, rendering any defense useless.

But Llewellyn didn’t know this, and simply stroked her back while feeling his sister’s softness.

Long ago, when they both lived in the modern world, he might have felt bra hooks or straps, but now he felt almost nothing. Llewellyn felt a slight disappointment while enjoying the scent of his sister’s hair, the fragrant soap mingled with the unique scent of a woman’s body.

But even that didn’t last long.

Lucilla, who had been briefly enjoying Llewellyn’s embrace, pulled her face away from where it had been buried and examined him thoroughly.

She held his face and inspected it carefully, checked his hands and wrists for injuries, and so on.

The Sword Saint, who had practically been carried there right behind him, wasn’t even acknowledged. The Sword Saint felt an inexplicable disappointment despite having no reason to feel that way.

“I’m fine. You know, being a homunculus…”

“We don’t know how long you can regenerate. I… your sister was so worried something might have happened to you.”

Should I take her with me next time? Llewellyn thought as he smiled awkwardly, and Lucilla had to suppress her desire to kiss Yoon Sejin’s lips.

Melody was right there. Judging by her expression, she clearly thought, “This is a bit unusual.”

Or perhaps she had intuited something more. But Melody was Netel’s finest minstrel. When she deliberately concealed her emotions, no one could notice.

Lucilla forgot minor concerns and embraced her brother again.

Thump, thump. The low beating of his heart and the lovely divine power within it. Lucilla took a deep breath, barely suppressing her rising anxiety.

“This won’t do. Next time, your sister should also…”

“Ahem.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice. Lucilla froze mid-sentence and slowly peeked out.

Emerging from her brother’s large, sturdy embrace, she saw familiar red hair.

Red and curly hair that evoked the vigorous flames of the sun, well-maintained despite the long journey.

Then there were those red eyes, which seemed like they wouldn’t suit his face—typical of a Latin man—yet harmonized surprisingly well.

Not to mention the red armor and cape he wore.

Lucilla knew this man well.

So well that it was momentarily difficult to accept the fact that he was here.

“…Bel?”

“Um, ah, well, it’s been a while, Lucilla.”

The awkwardly greeting Conflagration Lord and the Extinction who had frozen at the sight of her old friend.

Between these two supreme masters of flame, Llewellyn sensed it was his time to step in.

“Um, Sister. Since you already know each other… let me introduce you. This is Beliareus, the Conflagration Lord, who came looking for me after learning I was fighting a transcendent being.”

Llewellyn turned to Beliareus, who still wore a troubled expression.

“And… Beliareus. This is my sister, Lucilla.”

They looked extremely awkward meeting again after so long.

*

After the Sword Saint was moved for treatment and Lorian left to recuperate.

Llewellyn stood between the Conflagration Lord and Extinction. It was then that Eshaterna brought tea, acting like a loyal maid.

“…Eshaterna? You’re here too…?”

“Such things happened.”

“Hmm, if I ask, you’ll try to kill me again, won’t you?”

The Conflagration Lord scratched his head with a troubled expression, while Eshaterna smiled as if she knew him well.

Llewellyn was watching cautiously from between them. His sister’s mood wasn’t particularly good.

He knew well that when his sister was angry, he needed to bow his head deeply.

“Bel.”

Beliareus, shortened to Bel.

A nickname that made their shared adventures feel real. However, unlike a term of endearment, her voice was ice cold.

A coldness that would intimidate even someone as innocent, bright, and oblivious as Beliareus.

“Why are you here?”

Though it sounded like she wasn’t happy to see him, that wasn’t actually the case.

“What about your domain?”

“…I thought my wife would take care of it. If there’s any real problem, she can relay it to the Star…”

Words that made listeners furrow their brows. Lucilla was no exception, and Beliareus shrank back.

But only for a moment, before he resolutely continued.

“But still! The Star said it was truly important. I never thought it would be Lucilla’s brother rather than Lucilla herself, but she said I absolutely had to go to complete the great work that the Star failed in the distant past and to ensure world peace.”

Beliareus, as if harboring some resentment, grumbled on for quite a while after that.

About being suddenly woken in the middle of the night and having to leave without proper sleep. About only being able to grab his sword before departing.

About following traces only to find nothing but shattered ruins, realizing he was too late, then searching other paths only to discover more ruins, madmen, and enemies, which was agonizing.

“I really struggled. I finally found you on the seventh try… it hurts when you’re so harsh with me.”

Perhaps her heart softened at the sight of his drooping shoulders. Lucilla was fundamentally soft-hearted, so she sighed.

“Aren’t you happy to see me, Lucilla? After all we’ve been through together…”

Adding to that, he looked like Huey who had been denied a playmate and left alone.

Lucilla finally slumped her shoulders in defeat, exactly as Llewellyn had told Beliareus she would.

That if he created a situation where she couldn’t help but show sympathy, she would let it go.

That she would forgive his action of essentially abandoning his domain to his wife.

Because of this, Beliareus was convinced that Llewellyn truly was Lucilla’s brother.

It was truly fortunate.

“So why were you looking for Sejin, I mean, Llewellyn?” Lucilla asked once the Conflagration Lord had relaxed.

“The Star offered Llewellyn ascension,” came his natural response.

Llewellyn’s face froze.

He thought to himself:

‘What? Is she telling me to go die?’

Whatever the intention, that’s how the proposal sounded.

In the flowing silence, only the Conflagration Lord looked puzzled.