Ch.62Congratulations on joining.

# 1.

Duke Hallorand.

A capable advisor and mentor of common birth who had saved her from the burning Mirabel.

In the current chaos of the Empire, he was the only noble Asha could rely on.

A few days ago, this Duke Hallorand personally visited Gwangmyeong and made a request:

“Free Priest Ian Red. I believe you should bring him into Gwangmyeong.”

The reason was to protect several key figures.

“From what I hear, His Imperial Majesty is preparing a purge list.”

The problem was that most of the names on that list were allies of Duke Hallorand.

“I’ve deployed my own people as guards, but the list is so extensive… some will surely die.”

However, with Ian Red’s first power, they could rush to the scene the moment an ally died and formally challenge the Imperial family…

“Please, for the time being, side with us anti-Imperial nobles along with him.”

That’s why he had come.

And incidentally, to make stew for him, feeling excited at the thought of being with him for a while.

Therefore,

“What if information leaks? What if the Priest gets assassinated by the Emperor’s side because of this? What then?”

“……”

She deliberately turned a blind eye to the dangers that could be inferred with just a little thought.

“…I can stay by his side and protect him.”

“Every day? Every moment? Even when he goes to the bathroom?”

“That’s not impossible.”

“Ha!”

Yuria snorted and grabbed Asha’s collar as she hung her head.

“Get your head straight. The moment the Priest helps with this, he becomes the Imperial side’s number one elimination target.”

A chillingly flashing cross-shaped gaze.

It was too vicious a pressure to belong to a saint, but Asha faced it without shrinking back and replied in a solemn voice.

“Then we’ll eliminate the Imperial family.”

“What…? You… Do you even know what you just said?”

“Is there a problem? It’s what everyone in the Empire wants anyway, isn’t it?”

They say people in love become strangely foolish.

Asha was aware of how irresponsible and dangerous her words were, but conversely, it felt refreshing to speak her mind without filtering.

“…And they call this a hero…”

As Yuria muttered in a mixture of confusion and bewilderment, Asha now whispered with a vicious killing intent.

“I’ll handle it from now on, so stop chirping and get lost, Saint.”

*Crunch…!!*

“…You crazy…!!”

“I said get lost.”

Bluish gaze,

Distorted air,

Rippling platinum hair,

Is this what it feels like to have the sky collapse on you?

Under the fiercely emanating pressure, Yuria turned her head toward Nahan.

“……”

“……”

A glance exchanged in an instant.

Yuria tried to convey something to Nahan by moving her lips,

‘…What is she saying?’

She failed.

But even if he couldn’t understand, nodding was the virtue of a Korean.

When Nahan nodded, a faint smile appeared on Yuria’s face.

“Fine, I’ll disappear forever as you wish. From your side and from Gwangmyeong. So…”

*Swoosh.*

With an elegant gesture, she raised her right hand and extended her middle finger.

“The next time we meet, I won’t be a saint but a Black Wolf member.”

What?

“What?”

Thinking it was nonsense, he faced Yuria, but she disappeared with a final wink.

“W-what was that…!!”

He gently grabbed Asha’s wrist, meaning she should quickly go apologize, but Asha grabbed that arm and pulled him close, whispering:

“Don’t worry, Priest.”

Last time…

The time before that…

No, perhaps much earlier.

“Since the day you saved me, my world has been filled with nothing but you… I’ll stay close and protect you forever.”

Whether the opponent is the Imperial family,

The Black Wolf,

Or even this world itself.

“Forever and always.”

Asha smiled.

With eyes beautiful yet cold, like shining broken glass.

Nahan quickly asked Asha:

“So, you’re asking me to stay by the Hero’s side for a while? Helping Duke Hallorand with my first power.”

“What? Oh, yes.”

“I understand and accept. The stew was delicious, please come back at this time tomorrow.”

“What?”

“I suddenly have an urgent matter.”

“…All of a sudden?”

Asha pitifully clutched his sleeve, but in Nahan’s mind, he finally understood what Yuria’s moving lips had said:

-I think I’m more suited to the Black Wolf, Savior.

-I’ll be waiting at the hideout.

He had to stop her by any means necessary.

# 2.

Saint.

One chosen by the One True God Aria, bestowed with mighty powers and a mission.

A blessing that would be welcomed with open arms by those who believe in and follow the goddess. A few months ago, Yuria too had wished for this selection like a dream, but,

“Honestly, I’m not sure, Mother.”

When I desperately wanted it, you ignored even my prayers, but only after I was saved by Lord Black Wolf did you grant me power?

“So, Mother.”

Please don’t be angry that I’m joining the <Black Wolf> instead of <Gwangmyeong>.

In my humble opinion, the greater cause exists within the <Black Wolf>, not <Gwangmyeong>,

“Lord Black Wolf sent me.”

“…Who are you?”

“A membership applicant, Yuria.”

“……The Saint?”

I will follow your will here and work toward saving the world.

.

.

.

“Get out.”

“Eh?”

“Hanryang. Take this trash out.”

“Yes, Leader.”

“Eh? What? I’m the Saint! I could be a huge help! The Black Wolf’s image could definitely improve too!”

Right.

‘And the future would change just as much.’

Thus, Yuria, evaluated as having received the strongest powers among all saints in history.

“Thank you for your time.”

“Eeek!?”

*Thud!*

Failed the Black Wolf entrance interview spectacularly.

.

.

.

“Then I’ll tell you everything.”

“?”

“Black Wolf is actually the Imper-“

*Slam!*

“Welcome to the organization.”

Miraculously accepted after all.

# 3.

One week later.

Eclipse, through his numerous subordinates spread throughout the Empire, learned of Yuria’s departure from Gwangmyeong.

Though she had joined an organization called the Black Wolf, nothing had changed.

-Find the Saint and kill her.

Just as the Black Wolf blindly followed Black Wolf, Eclipse also followed their leader.

So their task was still to find and kill the Saint – Yuria.

Calamities #2 through #7 gathered at the repaired hideout to begin their meeting.

The first agenda was,

“Who wants to take this on?”

At the sultry voice of #4, the Calamity of Blooming Flowers, #2, the Calamity of December, spoke.

“We all need to go.”

A familiar face discovered while observing the recent attack on Aria’s main church.

‘…Hanryang.’

I had suspected it from rumors, but to think he really belonged to the Black Wolf.

“Just for that one man, at least two Calamities need to go in person. He was the strongest among the disciples I trained.”

He was even a Jangseung.

‘Perhaps Hanryang is the actual leader of the Black Wolf…’

The Calamity of December, knowing the power of a Jangseung, was quite serious, but the others mocked him.

“Sigh, you look like a middle-aged man on the outside, but inside you’ve grown as old as your years?”

“……”

Nevertheless,

The Calamity of December stared at the Calamity of Blooming Flowers without the slightest wavering.

Finally taking him seriously, the Calamity of Blooming Flowers sighed and asked again.

“Are they really that strong?”

The Calamity of December nodded once more.

“The rest of the members might not be much, but Hanryang alone is the real deal. He might even be the actual leader.”

“Sigh… seeing you not get angry despite my teasing, I guess it must be true.”

…Rustle.

The Calamity of Blooming Flowers, gathering her black dress, looked around and asked:

“Will the Calamity of Wicked Mischief, the Calamity of False Belief, and the Calamity of Whispering Night Sleep be enough?”

“I’m not sure. The strength of the other members is unknown. If the rest are as strong as Hanryang or stronger….”

…Shiver.

A creepy chill tickled the back of his neck, but the Calamity of December shook his head.

‘If all Black Wolf members had power equal to Hanryang’s, it would be truly calamitous.’

And if they really had such power, they would have won even with the whole world as their enemy, so they wouldn’t have been moving so secretly until now.

So Eclipse’s prediction was:

‘In the <Black Wolf>, only Hanryang is equal to or stronger than the Calamities.’

The rest of the members, even their leader, were likely weaker than them, so,

“Then I’ll leave it to you? 5, 6, 7.”

The Calamity of Wicked Mischief.

The Calamity of False Belief.

The Calamity of Whispering Night Sleep.

These three should be enough to subdue Hanryang and then kill the Saint.

Therefore, already confident of victory, the Calamity of Wicked Mischief asked them:

“What if we can absorb the Black Wolf as our subordinate organization?”

“……”

“Tsk, our great master is so scared. Just use your own judgment and act accordingly.”

“Yes, Calamity of Blooming Flowers.”

…She really is an attractive woman.

I’ll have her someday.

*Flutter!*

“Let’s go, guys.”

With a stylish response, the Calamity of Wicked Mischief turned around, followed by the Calamity of False Belief and the Calamity of Whispering Night Sleep.

“After finding the hideout, I’ll take all the small fry. You two handle this Hanryang guy.”

“Ahaha… wanting to take all the easy work for yourself, I’ll gladly oblige.”

“…I’m sleepy.”

It was the first simultaneous deployment of three elders among the seven since Eclipse’s founding.

.

.

.

“Hey, pretty platinum hair. Are you also part of the Black Wolf?”

“…?”

“Are you deaf? Why are you just staring? Are you Black Wolf… No. You don’t look like it. Want to play with fire with big brother for a bit? Hmm? What’s your name, baby?”

“Lactea.”

“…Hmm? That’s the same name as the missing First Imperial Princess-“

──*Slash.*

*Thud.*

“…wha…?”

The Calamity of Wicked Mischief.

“…Just another bug that flew in from somewhere.”

Death.