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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 118: The Crazy Mage Squad Commander.
Loren let out a derisive snort and stepped forward.
"Did I mishear you?"
"That's impossible."
Already exasperated, I retorted in my own way.
"If we delay any further, the Third Military Commander will be in dire peril."
"So you're confirming what I already know."
A chill gradually crept into Loren's eyes, which had been indifferent just moments before.
"I gave you a clear warning. Weigh your words before you speak."
"But these aren't empty threats."
Fearful of losing my tongue, I quickly got to the point.
"If the Third Military Commander is experiencing fluctuating complexions, shifting between a deathly pallor and an unnatural flush, then you have every reason to hear me out."
Loren involuntarily questioned,
"What?"
The coldness in her eyes softened slightly, replaced by a flicker of curiosity. Seeing Loren's reaction, I felt my own anger subside a little.
If my suspicions were correct...
This was a problem far greater than just Ardehain.
"As I sensed before, you possess an uncanny ability,"
Loren said, her gaze filled with intrigue.
"Tell me more."
I briefly surveyed our surroundings. Urgon's lackeys had us surrounded, awaiting their leader's command, while Balkan wore a look of unease. A bit further away, Elder Parin, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, was observing us.
"We have an audience. Let's discuss this inside."
Following my gaze, Loren let out a small laugh.
"You want a private audience? It seems you truly have something important to say."
As I moved to follow Loren inside, Balkan's voice rang out from behind.
"Loren!"
Loren slowly turned.
Balkan hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"There's no reason to entertain this deceitful scoundrel."
"Don't concern yourself with him."
"He's not worth your time."
The swordsmen around us glared, and Loren, after fixing her gaze on Balkan, smirked.
"My my. It seems we have another one who needs to learn some respect."
With that, Loren spun around and entered the building, leaving Balkan with a hardened expression.
I wagged my index finger at Balkan a couple of times before hurrying after Loren.
* * *
Inside, it was silent. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
Loren led me to a secluded room, where she sat down at a table, crossing her legs and looking at me expectantly.
"Now, I'm listening. How did you come to know about the Third Military Commander's condition?"
I sat opposite Loren and answered earnestly.
"If I'm right, we'll miss our chance to help him if we wait even a day."
"Miss our chance?"
"He may never awaken."
"..."
Loren tilted her head.
"That's quite different from what our chief healer reported."
"It never hurts to be cautious."
Loren stared at me intently, then abruptly asked,
"What's your basis for this?"
"First, I need to examine the Third Military Commander's condition."
Loren let out an incomprehensible sigh, then said,
"Don't try to test me. Be grateful that you've been given a chance to speak. Don't mistake kindness for entitlement. Just answer my questions."
I shook my head.
"I'm not just saying this for no reason. I need to see his condition to be certain."
The corners of Loren's lips curled up into a sneer.
"You're not understanding, Ruin Samael."
"It doesn't seem like I've made a difficult request."
Loren's tone changed.
"Didn't I warn you last time? Choose your words carefully depending on who you're speaking to."
As expected, Loren's reaction was consistent no matter what I said. It wasn't her fault. She was that kind of woman. I changed my tone and replied,
"It seems Ardehain doesn't value the lives of its people."
A brief silence followed, and then the corners of Loren's lips curled up completely as she burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, Loren pointed a finger at me.
"You're out of your mind. Do you have any idea who you're speaking to like that?"
Despite the smile on her face, her eyes held a look of contempt I had never seen before.
Yes, this was also as I expected.
Loren didn't know me... but I knew her.
"Of course I know."
I grinned and met Loren's eyes directly.
"I know very well."
The Ardehain clan.
Among countless swordsmen, a single red lotus signified direct lineage from the clan head.
When one's talent blossomed and another lotus was added, only then was the opportunity given to lead Ardehain.
There were various positions within the clan, but among those, what I knew was this:
Only a handful of women, who had proven themselves countless times with their swordsmanship, symbolized Ardehain itself.
"Lotus Swordsman."
"What?"
Loren's indifferent eyes widened in surprise.
I smiled and shook my head.
"More precisely..."
Beyond two lotuses.
Among those elegant Lotus Swordsmen, one who had fully bloomed their swordsmanship talent and earned another lotus.
Three lotuses.
"Swordmaster General."
"...!"
Loren's eyes narrowed, and an overwhelming presence erupted from her.
Fwhooooosh—
It was different from mana, an aura emanating from Loren herself. It had no physical form, yet its presence was undeniable.
Thud-thud-thud— The sound of running feet echoed from all directions. Celestine from upstairs and the swordsmen guarding the entrance rushed in at once.
"...!"
"...!"
The swordsmen lined up in front of the room trembled at the force Loren exuded. Loren, with an unchanged expression, stared at me and uttered a single word.
"Who are you?"
The suffocating pressure that constricted my heart surged once again. But this time, I didn't avoid it.
Instead, the more intense the pressure became, the more I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
'Once is enough.'
This much was enough courtesy for a former comrade from my memories.
The Bongshin clan, the Ardehain clan.
Certainly, they were clans that left meaningful milestones in that hellish journey.
'...How laughable.'
How dare they.
How could they even compare to Samael?
As I unleashed my aura, a look of bewilderment briefly flickered in Loren's eyes.
With each step I took towards Loren, her pupils dilated, and an expression of disbelief blossomed in them.
Stopping a step away from Loren, I looked down at her.
"I am..."
From now on, Loren would remember too.
"The Crazy Mage Squad Commander of Samael."
* * *
Thud—
Only after the cold sweat dripping from her forehead hit the ground did Celestine realize she had been holding her breath.
Her eyes darted back and forth between the two figures, her pupils shaking uncontrollably.
'...How?'
It was hard to believe that he had figured out her mother's identity.
But even more unbelievable was witnessing him directly withstand the force her mother deliberately unleashed.
Incomprehensible.
'...He didn't even flinch.'
Who was Loren Ardehain?
The owner of three lotuses, a title granted to only two among the countless swordsmen of the main clan.
Even without crossing swords...
She was an awe-inspiring figure who could break one's will with a single glance.
And yet...
Not only did this man endure the force she intentionally unleashed... but he also exuded an aura that seemed to push back against it.
How was she supposed to make sense of this situation?
Celestine forced her trembling legs to stay still. She couldn't calm down. Even she, with the blood of Ardehain flowing through her veins, was overwhelmed. How could this man...?
"..."
Celestine suddenly turned her head and looked around. The swordsmen guarding the room, their faces pale, were all drenched in cold sweat as they stared into the room.
'It's the same as that time.'
It wasn't just a matter of strength.
It was the overwhelming pressure.
The suffocating presence she felt when she saw Ruin at Chris Beer.
'Just who...?'
At that moment, breaking the suffocating silence, Loren spoke.
"How did you know?"
Ruin's gaze fell to a specific point as he replied,
"It's written on your scabbard."
Loren briefly checked her scabbard, then asked incredulously,
"You even know the meaning of the lotuses?"
"I do know about the Lotus Swordsmen."
Celestine, who had been listening to their conversation, looked at Ruin with renewed surprise.
The fame of the Lotus Swordsmen was widespread across the continent, but their true nature had never been revealed publicly.
While other noble clans with whom they interacted regularly might know the truth, this man shouldn't.
Moreover, the fact that he had confidently identified her mother's status just from the lotus pattern meant it couldn't be a mere guess.
Loren furrowed her brow and muttered to herself,
"I thought it was a bit strange that he knew the proper etiquette... But he doesn't seem to have any other hidden identity. How is this possible? Crazy Mage Squad Commander... Samael... That name sounds familiar..."
After muttering to herself for a while, Loren stared intently at Ruin again.
"That's not really important. This is more interesting."
The corners of Loren's lips curled upwards.
"You acted that way despite knowing who I am?"
Ruin nodded and replied,
"Because it's true that the Third Military Commander is in danger."
"Oh my. You truly have no fear."
Suddenly, sensing danger, Celestine instinctively rushed into the room.
"Mother!"
Celestine knew. If Loren were to display even a fraction of her true strength here, not only this man but also the clan members upstairs could be in danger.
However...
The moment she met Loren's gaze, Celestine couldn't help but stop herself.
"What is it, Celine?"
Her eyes softened, and a natural smile graced her lips.
Though a rare occurrence...
Celestine had seen her mother wear that expression before. It was the same expression she had worn when Celestine successfully manifested her sword aura for the first time after thousands of attempts.
Loren was now...
genuinely delighted.
"My, my, our Celine's judgment wasn't wrong. He has the spirit to back up his words."
This time, it was the guards' turn to widen their eyes. Even after witnessing Ruin's presence firsthand, they couldn't help but be taken aback by Loren's assessment of him.
Her words were practically the highest praise.
No longer laughing, Loren looked at Celestine with a serious expression.
"Celine, is the Chief Healer upstairs?"
Celestine nodded.
"She should still be in the infirmary."
Loren briefly met Ruin's gaze, then said to Celestine,
"Let's go see the Third Military Commander."
"Yes, Mother."
Celestine led the way upstairs without a word. Just then, a white-haired healer emerged from a room.
"Chief Rachel."
Spotting Loren, the Chief Healer hurriedly bowed. Loren waved her hand dismissively.
"How is the Third Military Commander?"
Rachel replied respectfully,
"There seem to be no significant issues."
"Have you found the cause?"
"Not yet. We're being cautious as he's still unconscious... However, there are no signs of internal injuries, his breathing is stable, and his complexion is returning to normal, so he should regain consciousness soon. I will inform you of the cause after that."
Loren glanced back as if to ask for his opinion, but Ruin stepped forward and spoke abruptly.
"What did you just say? That his complexion is returning to normal?"
"Yes, but..."
Rachel looked back and forth between Ruin and Loren with a bewildered expression. Loren responded,
"There's no need for alarm. It's only right that we introduce ourselves first. This is our Chief Healer, Rachel, and this is..."
Ruin immediately cut in.
"Ruin of Samael."
"Indeed," Loren confirmed.
Ruin pressed further.
"Answer me. Are you saying the Third Military Commander's complexion has returned?"
Sensing from Loren's demeanor that this man was no ordinary person, Rachel answered honestly,
"Yes. His complexion is returning to its normal state."
"...Strange, that shouldn't be possible."
Ruin furrowed his brow for the first time, a look of confusion on his face. Loren let out a scoff of disbelief.
"Why, did you miscalculate or something?"
"..."
Ruin didn't answer, only repeating, "That shouldn't be possible," as he lost himself in thought. Then, he looked directly at Rachel.
"What about the cold energy? Has the chill in his palms disappeared? Wasn't it spreading from his shoulders throughout his upper body?"
"The cold energy isn't really a cause for concern..."
Suddenly, Rachel took a step back, her eyes widening.
"How did you know that?"
It perfectly matched the symptoms Rachel had just discovered while examining the Third Military Commander.
She hadn't mentioned it because she thought it was a temporary symptom, but it was a different story entirely that he had pinpointed it.
With a grave expression, Ruin declared,
"I need to see for myself. Lead the way."
"..."
Observing Rachel's reaction, Loren commanded in a low voice,
"Open the door."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
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