Ch.79Love is a Good Thing

# 1.

Fourth Elder of the Eclipse, Blooming Flower Calamity – Flora had a plan.

First.

Break the minds of the two captured Black Wolf members using her special ability.

Second.

Take these two incapacitated members and present them to the First Elder.

Flora recalled the First Elder’s command.

“Some of Hallorand’s chess pieces have been infiltrated by the Black Wolf. Blooming Flower Calamity, step forward and cut off the wolf’s limbs.”

She could have simply killed them as ordered, but this was, in a way, an opportunity.

‘Since the Black Wolf appeared, I’ve failed consecutive missions given by Him… From now on, I need to make up for it by going beyond what was commanded.’

This was because they were weak, and furthermore, Eclipse lacked sufficient power apart from Him.

So Flora thought.

‘…If it’s that technique that once consumed five of the world’s top ten, couldn’t I also consume these captured Black Wolf members?’

Recently, two of Eclipse’s seven elders had lost their lives to the Black Wolf, and another had become their dog.

Then again, a few days later, the December Calamity, the Silent Calamity, and herself—three in total—had attacked the hero and failed.

Of course, if they had used “that” which He had bestowed upon them, the outcome might have been different, but the fundamental power gap was too severe.

‘I must consume them and make them allies.’

The Black Wolf.

If these people, who became the Empire’s most wanted in just days, if each member was comparable to an Eclipse elder, they would surely become a formidable force exceeding the world’s top ten.

Therefore,

“You should come along too.”

A preemptive strike followed immediately.

【Blooming Flower Calamity – <Flora(SS+)> uses <Soul Consumption(SSS-)>!】

Having lived in a world where one must kill to avoid being killed, Flora had always done her utmost to survive by killing her opponents.

Whether through ambush,

Poison,

Or even taking hostages.

All enemies she faced criticized her for using dirty tactics, but in the end, Flora survived while her critics died.

“How cowardly.”

“I hear that often…!”

This time too, it should have been my victory…

【<Black Curtain(Ex)> activates.】

【Resisting.】

…or so it should have been.

“W-what is this…?”

Flora, who had involuntarily collapsed, barely managed to lift her head to look at her enemy.

Malevolent deity.

Bizarre and grotesque.

Myriad forms and images.

An enormous killing intent pressing down on the world gripped her heart and murmured.

“I need to reduce my power even more…?”

Despite exerting maximum restraint, the situation had overwhelmed even a double-S rank.

‘Well, I never had a proper opponent to test it on.’

After a moment’s contemplation, Nahan whispered to Flora, who had frozen in her collapsed position.

“Sorry, but I need to run an experiment.”

“…Eh?”

“Don’t worry. You won’t die.”

…Probably.

# 2.

A short while later.

“So about 15% equals SS-rank pressure.”

Having accurately measured his power, Nahan bound the unconscious, twitching Flora.

Though it took more time than expected, it was a productive period that yielded more than anticipated.

“From now on, I won’t need to hesitate about engaging in direct combat.”

Clenching his fist, Nahan turned to survey the entire underground cave.

A ceiling as high as a building and a space wide enough to fit several villages.

In the distance were stockpiled supplies, and right in front was a pitch-black altar—that was all.

‘I’ll loot those supplies later. Right now, what’s urgent is…’

Those two people.

Turning away from the supplies, Nahan slowly walked toward the altar.

On the intricately carved altar lay Dalan and Ruby, with black energy—presumably Flora’s—flowing from the bodies of the two unconscious people.

【Warning.】

【The <Seed of Attachment> embedded in <Ruby Red(S+)> blooms, feeding on sorrow.】

【Warning.】

【The <Seed of Attachment> embedded in <Dalan Esteban(SS+)> blooms, feeding on sorrow.】

That sinister energy emanating from them was undoubtedly something threatening their lives.

Yet both Ruby and Dalan wore smiles as if having pleasant dreams.

So Nahan pondered for a moment.

About a life that turns away from painful reality, living only in dreams of happiness. Perhaps that might be a better life.

-Han hyung, are you thinking strange thoughts again?

Startled by the sudden voice, he came to his senses and found himself smiling involuntarily.

“I know, it’s not right.”

Hadn’t he already realized it in the past?

That turning away from and escaping an unhappy life only leads to greater unhappiness.

That only by facing one’s misfortunes can one move forward.

“So let’s wake up.”

Since we must reach a happy ending anyway, I’ll take all of you with me.

Nahan placed his hands on both their foreheads.

【Main Scenario – <Those Who Could Not Be Saved> in progress… (Black Wolf – 3/10)】

【Warning.】

【Do you wish to proceed with Main Scenario – <Those Who Could Not Be Saved>?】

Yuria, who joined after being saved, and Luna and Hanryang, whom he directly saved.

It seemed that Dalan and Ruby also required direct intervention, like when he saved Luna and Hanryang.

However, it was somewhat different from those times when he had intervened without any demerits.

【Warning.】

【If the individuals – <Ruby Red>, <Dalan Esteban> refuse salvation, you too will be unable to escape from there.】

【Do you still wish to intervene?】

A message stating that if the two chose to remain in their dreams, he too would be trapped with no way out.

Nahan turned his gaze toward Flora.

-Ah, it’s magic that traps people in nightmares.

It harvests the target’s anger, pain, sorrow, etc. to maintain the spell, and adds happy memories to increase harvesting efficiency.

Thus, the target experiences moments of happiness before facing nightmares and despair, then returns to the beginning, repeating this countless times.

They are devoured by their own negative emotions, endlessly trapped in nightmares.

However, the reverse is also true—happy memories repeat endlessly as well.

Therefore, many powerful individuals, even after realizing it’s a dream, choose to remain there.

Which means,

If Ruby or Dalan choose to stay in the dream like others…

‘…I’ll be trapped too.’

An ending trapped in endlessly repeating nightmares rather than a happy ending.

Though more dangerous than an actual life threat due to its eternal repetition, Nahan spoke without hesitation.

“I will intervene.”

【Your will has been confirmed.】

【Intervening in <Blooming Flower Calamity>.】

Consciousness fading instantly.

‘I’ve bound her perfectly. I just need to focus on rescuing Ruby and Dalan.’

After checking Flora once more, Nahan relaxed his body as if falling asleep.

He had heard that people always dream when they sleep.

Most dreams dissipate before they can be remembered, so only a few are recalled.

Nevertheless, if there’s a dream you want to remember, hold onto it tightly so you don’t forget.

This was just like that.

“…ni! I also…”

“…right, Ruby.”

The moment he reached out and grasped someone’s flickering dream.

【Intervening in <Ruby Red(S+)>’s dream.】

【Intervening in <Dalan Esteban(SS+)>’s dream.】

Colors began to bloom in the previously dark surroundings, and his senses became clearer.

# 3.

Ruby Red.

The sixth member of the <Black Wolf> and branch manager of the mercenary union’s island branch.

Her official ranking is A+, but when the Black Wolf took her in, he said:

-One-person army. Ruby, you might be the one who best embodies that.

A monster who creates armies from blood and flesh, flashing with madness intoxicated by the scent of blood.

Even Lactea was reluctant to spar with Ruby at full power, such was the potential she possessed.

Because of this, <Black Wolf> members often asked about her past.

Where she learned such magic,

Why she became intoxicated with madness in every battle,

How much she trained as a child.

If her heart was cold.

But Ruby never answered.

She would only say,

-I was just like any other little girl. A pretty little thing who preferred flowers and people to blood and flesh.

She would deflect with what seemed like a joke.

Naturally, the members didn’t believe her.

They assumed she must have had an unusual past to use such unique magic and acquire such power rare for her age.

But Nahan knew.

What Ruby had told the members,

“Sister Rose!”

“Ruby, you’re here?”

“Yes! Look at this! It’s a flower from outside the forest, isn’t it pretty?”

Was all true.

“Sigh… Ruby. Didn’t Granny tell you not to go outside the forest?”

She looked only around twenty—too young to call herself “Granny.”

Ruby seemed to feel the same way, handing over the flower she brought while fluttering about.

“Oh come on, what Granny? You’re my sister! And I only reached out my arm, just my arm! My body stayed inside, so that much is fine!”

“Hmph. Didn’t I tell you that person might come looking?”

“Sister’s love, you said! I hope he comes quickly!”

It was a peaceful dream filled with the scent of plants, unlike what he had worried about.

“Love! Ruby wants to experience it too!”

“…Ruby.”

The woman called Rose grabbed Ruby’s cheeks as she chattered happily, and asked with a serious expression.

“Can you recite the great prophecy that Granny always tells you?”

“On the day the old woman’s first love blooms, the calamity of the red clan begins!”

“That’s right. And who brings that love?”

“Ah, that’s…”

Ruby clutched her head with her small hands, struggling, then suddenly exclaimed with sparkling eyes.

“The jewel of the red clan brings it! And you said Ruby is the jewel!”

“…That’s right. So, Ruby.”

Pat.

Rose placed her hand on Ruby’s head, stroking it as she added.

“Please, help this Granny not fall in love, will you?”

A solemn expression and an extended pinky finger.

“Hmm? It’s a promise, Ruby.”

“Uuugh…”

Whenever Rose made such an expression, Ruby somehow felt sad too.

The child reluctantly puckered her duck-like lips and extended her small pinky.

“That’s right, good girl, Ruby.”

“…Mm.”

Under the gentle stroking hand, Ruby sat sulking and wondered.

‘Love is a good thing, so why doesn’t she want it?’

…No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand, but,

“Shall I read you a story?”

“Waaah! Really!? That’s wonderful!”

If sister wished it, gladly.

However,

“…A forest that only those ranked in the world’s top ten can enter?”

Fate was still unfolding.