Chapter 79: New Destination

“Your Majesty! I have urgent news!”

The suddenly appearing messenger shouted, seemingly oblivious to the chaotic mess around him.

His face was drenched in sweat, and he was so out of breath that his face was flushed red.

‘Urgent news?’

‘Your entire royal castle is falling apart, and there’s something more important than this?’

Looking around, I was struck anew by just how much I had destroyed.

The marble pillars were cracked all over, and some had completely collapsed.

My black roots were still sprouting from the floor, and amidst them, the once-splendid ornaments of the castle lay shattered to pieces.

It looked just like the aftermath of a typhoon.

“What is it now?”

The king asked, pressing his fingers to his forehead.

His face had turned pale, and exhaustion and fear were clearly visible in his eyes.

His gaze towards me was filled with terror and vigilance.

His face was already as wrecked as it could be.

‘I might have been a bit too hard on him.’

‘But I was speaking moderately, it was the noble soul that kept speaking so menacingly!’

‘I didn’t mean to threaten him that much!’

“At the meeting point of the Hecsht Empire and the Dians Empire… the rulers of the Great Labyrinth from the legends have appeared!”

The messenger’s voice trembled.

Every word he spoke pierced my heart like an arrow.

‘What?’

‘The rulers of the Great Labyrinth?’

‘No way!’

“Nis appeared and has completely devastated the southern region of the meeting point. Everything that comes in contact with that place is decaying… and even more terrifying, the dead are rising and moving! The undead are rampant, and all surviving residents are fleeing.”

At the messenger’s words, a wave of joy washed over my heart.

‘Nis-nim!’

‘You’ve awakened!’

‘Then, Master too!?’

I felt a smile spread across my lips.

The humans were terrified by the dreadful news of the dead rising and the region being devastated, but to me, it was merely proof of Nis-nim’s power.

Miel, who had flown from the king’s head back to me, flapped her wings around me.

As if she had sensed my feelings, her wing beats grew more intense.

Small sparks fell from Cecilia’s three pairs of wings, and even Glasia, who had been lying in a corner, rose and spread her wings wide.

Only Lotte’s orbiting speed seemed to slow, as if she was feeling fear.

‘Right…’

‘Lotte, when we meet Nis-nim again, I’ll be sure to protect you…’

“And… Frostia has also appeared. It’s said she has completely frozen the northern part of the meeting point! The empire’s entire army has been turned into ice sculptures, and there is nothing living left there…”

‘Master!’

The moment I heard my master’s name, tears almost welled up in my eyes.

To turn an entire imperial army into ice sculptures, befitting her majesty—that’s just like my master!

‘Finally! Finally, my master has awakened!’

“What joy this is! At last, my master has awakened and descended upon the world!”

My joy burst out on its own.

The noble soul made my words sound like a cult leader’s, but my emotions were honest and sincere.

The faces of the people around me grew even paler, but I didn’t care at all.

‘But the meeting point of the Hecsht and Dians Empires…’

‘On the map Ryandel showed me, it was definitely in the center of the continent…’

‘Why did they go there?’

A question suddenly arose.

Why did Master and Nis-nim go to the center of the continent?

Of all places, the meeting point…

Could they have some intention?

Flap, flap!

As I was lost in thought, Miel flapped her wings vigorously.

Her blue ice wings sparkled in the sunlight, drawing beautiful arcs.

Miel flew in small circles in front of me, then tried to express something with her tiny feet.

‘What is it?’
‘Do you understand?’

Miel gestured more earnestly.

She repeatedly pointed her tiny feet towards Sia Calt, then at me.

Then she made a searching motion, followed by an angry flapping of her wings.

‘Hmm…’

‘Let me see if I can interpret this. Master came home, I wasn’t there, so an enraged Master is now destroying the world…? Is that it!?’

Flap, flap!

Miel wriggled more intensely, trying to explain, as if frustrated.

Her small eyes were filled with impatience.

I tried to understand Miel’s gestures, but it was hard to grasp exactly what she was saying.

But Miel didn’t give up and moved more diligently.

This time, she made a motion as if shouting, and pretended to look for something unseen.

‘Ah!’

‘You mean they can’t find me, so they’re telling me to come to them! If they cause a huge event like this, word will spread across the entire world!’

I finally seemed to understand Miel.

Master and Nis-nim are looking for me!

And by making their presence known to the whole world, they want me to find them!

My heart felt full.

‘Master… is launching such a large-scale operation just to find me…’

“My master… is surely calling for me…”

My voice trembled slightly.

My heart had already reached my master.

I whipped my head around to look at Ryandel and Ravy.

They had somehow moved quite far away.

Ever since I met the king, they had been distancing themselves as if we weren’t part of the same group, and now they were quite far behind.

Both of them stared at me with pale faces.

Sweat beaded on Ryandel’s forehead, and Ravy was constantly fiddling with her bow.

‘When did you get all the way over there!’

‘And are you ashamed of me!’

I understood why they were acting like that.

I had just been wrecking the royal castle, after all.

And the news the messenger just delivered must have been terrifying.

But I didn’t have the luxury to care about that now.

My master is looking for me!

‘Ryandel, Ravy! Let’s go to Master right away!’

“Ryandel, Ravy! We shall move to the center of the continent at once! The time has come to return to the benevolent embrace of our master!”

I looked at them with determination in my eyes.

There would be no more delays.

We must leave now!

Ryandel and Ravy hesitated before nodding.

It seemed reluctant, but it was a sign that they would follow.

Fear was visible on their faces.

Their eyes were filled with anxiety, and their lips trembled slightly.

‘Huh?’

‘Are they scared of Master?’

‘Well, I guess she is killing everyone right now.’

‘But it’s fine, I’ll speak to her for you!’

‘And you, Count and Edgar! Farewell! I had a good rest, thanks to you!’

“Count, Edgar, I express my gratitude for your hospitality. I shall now depart. The time has come for me to fulfill my eternal loyalty by my master’s side.”

It was only for a day, but they treated me really well at the Count’s estate.

The soft bed, the delicious food…

They were genuinely kind to me.

Looking at the Count and Edgar, I saw worry in their eyes, but also a sense of relief.

“Licorice-nim, I wish you a safe journey.”

The Count said in a deep voice, bowing his head along with Edgar.

Their sincere farewell touched my heart.

‘Yes, yes!’

‘I’ll come again when the lair is complete!’

‘You must build the lair quickly!’

“King, mark my words. If the lair is not completed within a month, your kingdom will become a new sea, and its color shall be that of blood.”

‘Why has this soul been so bloodthirsty from the start!’

‘I have no intention of killing them all!’

All I wanted was to build a magnificent lair for my master…

This soul keeps making me say scary things.

‘It will become a sea of blood,’ isn’t that a bit over the top?

Though, the king’s terrified expression was a little amusing.

As I walked down the central corridor of the castle, the knights, slowly recovering from their paralysis, pressed themselves against the wall to make way.

The sound of their trembling armor echoed through the hallway.

Every one of them had a look of terror in their eyes, but no one dared to block my path.

At the main gate, a few servants were huddled together, trembling.

When I appeared, they hastily bowed low.

With trembling hands, they swung the main gate wide open, and the sound of it slamming shut was heard as soon as my party passed through.

I left the castle and was about to get back into Count Hynd’s carriage, but it was nowhere to be seen.

I looked around, but there was no trace of that luxurious carriage.

‘What the?’

‘It wasn’t as good as Silverbrook’s, but that carriage was super comfortable and nice…’

“Where did my carriage go!”

My voice rose in my bewilderment.

I also realized my normal way of speaking had returned.

“Oh! My real voice is finally back!”

I clapped my hands in joy.

That was so uncomfortable!

“Perhaps… when the castle started to crumble and screams were heard from inside, they went back…?”

Ravy suggested timidly.

Her voice was cautious, and her eyes were still filled with anxiety.

Still, she seemed more at ease than before.

‘I guess so…’

‘The coachman probably fled in terror.’

‘Considering I was wrecking the castle like that…’

‘Still, I’m a little disappointed…’

‘Couldn’t they just have waited a little farther away!’

“The meeting point of the Hecsht and Dians Empires is quite far. The Count’s carriage would have had its limits anyway, so it’s better to find a new one…”

Before Ryandel could finish his sentence, I was already striding back towards the castle.

“Uh, Licorice-nim? Where are you going?”

“I’m going back into the castle to get the best carriage!”

“What? But just a moment ago…”

I couldn’t even hear Ravy’s words.

There was only one thought in my head.

I have to get to my master quickly.

So I need the best carriage!

When the main gate opened again, the guards’ faces were filled with horror.

The knights, who had just recovered from their paralysis, screamed upon seeing me again.

‘King! Where are you? This is urgent!’

“Lead me to where your king is! Delay is sacrilege, so carry out my command swiftly!”

My voice echoed throughout the entire castle.

The chandeliers hanging on the walls trembled at my voice, and a few ministers at the end of the hall fled as if their lives depended on it.

‘I was finally free from the noble soul…’

‘I need to get the carriage quickly and get out of here!’

A short while later, the king appeared with a pale face.

I could see his legs trembling.

“W-What is it? The construction of the lair has just begun…”

‘Give me a carriage!’

“Present to me at once the greatest carriage your kingdom possesses!”

The king’s eyes widened.

“A… a carriage, you say?”

‘Yes! You’re a king, so you must have the best one, right?’

“Indeed. The finest carriage in this kingdom must be yours, and I desire it.”

The king stood dumbfounded for a moment before quickly nodding his head.

“O-Of course! I will have the finest carriage prepared immediately! I shall provide it with the swiftest horses of the royal stable!”

‘Quickly!’

“Hurry! Delay will bring disaster upon your kingdom.”

Just a few minutes later, a royal carriage adorned with splendid gold decorations was ready.

Eight sturdy horses were prepared to pull it.

The coachman’s face, however, was filled with fear.

‘Is this the best carriage?’

“Is this the pride of your kingdom?”

“It is. It can be said to be the finest carriage made by the best craftsmen with the kingdom’s fastest horses. Do you require an escort as well?”

‘Hmm… not bad.’

‘This is exactly what I was looking for!’

‘Good! This is mine now! I don’t need an escort!’

“This carriage is now my property. Do you think I require an escort in the face of my majesty?”

I happily headed towards the carriage.

It was so spacious that Glasia could ride with us.

The king seemed to want to say something more, but my attention was already completely focused on the carriage.

‘Ryandel, Ravy! Get in! We’re leaving right now!’

“Ryandel, Ravy! Board at once! Our journey begins now!”

The two still looked bewildered, but they soon climbed into the carriage.

The inside of the carriage was, as expected, truly luxurious.

Soft leather seats, curtains embroidered with gold thread, and even a small table studded with jewels.

This is better than I thought.

“How long will it take to meet Master?”

Once the carriage started moving and the noble soul quieted down, I asked Ryandel with an excited heart.

“With a normal carriage… it would take about two months, but since this one is pulled by eight horses, it should take about a month and a half.”

Ryandel said.

A hint of apology was in his expression.

“A month and a half!? And it was originally two months!?”

My voice rose involuntarily.

A month and a half!

I can’t wait that long!

“Then the news the messenger brought was from two months ago!?”

I asked in a panic.

If that’s the case, my master might have gone somewhere else by now.

Then no matter how fast I go, I won’t be able to meet them!

“That’s not the case. The news would have been exchanged using a communication magic tool, so it hasn’t been long since Frostia-nim and Nis-nim appeared.”

Ryandel quickly replied.

His words reassured me a little.

Still, a month and a half was too long.

“A communication magic tool? Such a thing exists?”

‘This world has phones?’

‘Maybe I can use this to contact my master?’

“Yes. To put it simply, it’s a magical device that allows messages to be exchanged without physical travel. It’s a very rare magic tool used by high-ranking mages and nations to quickly transmit important information.”

His voice carried the usual pride of a knowledgeable person.

‘Wait, so the messenger just ran all the way here after getting a phone call?’

‘His face looked like he was the reincarnation of the history of the marathon…’

‘Ah, that’s not what’s important right now.’

“Then can’t you use that communication magic to tell my master I’m here?”

My eyes sparkled.

With this, I could get my message to my master without taking a whole month!

Cecilia’s wings glowed brighter with anticipation.

Miel also circled around me rapidly, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Lotte continued to orbit silently, while Glasia, who seemed to be fond of the plush carriage sofa, was sleeping peacefully.

“Even if we could use a communication magic tool, would there be anyone willing to approach them just to deliver the information…?”

Ravy asked cautiously.

Her words instantly shattered my hopes.

‘Hmm…’

‘No one would be able to do that.’

Thinking about the current state of my master and Nis-nim, it seemed unlikely anyone could get near them.

Who in their right mind would approach beings who turn armies into ice sculptures and raise the dead?

In the end, I had no choice but to go myself.

“Still, since it’s the king’s carriage, we’ll get a high pass to our destination, right!?”

“A high pass…?”

“It’s a thing!”

‘Master, please wait just a little longer!’

‘I’ll take the high pass!’