Chapter: 122
Spirits are pure. Yet, because of that, they can be incredibly cruel. Just like how the innocence of children can be terrifying.
Lian approached the knight who was collapsed on the ground, his expression blank as he turned away from the mosaic-covered assistants. The glass walls were completely gone, but the ropes binding the knight remained intact.
As Lian squatted down in front of him and transformed the Demon Sword into a dagger shape to slice through the tightly wound ropes, the knight flinched. However, he didn’t react any further.
The knight’s gaze was fixated on Lian’s pure white hair and shimmering golden eyes.
Snip.
The magical ropes, designed to drain the power of their captives, were cut without a fuss. With the ropes around his ankles loosened, the knight was now entirely free.
“Yay!”
“Thanks, human!”
“Hehe.”
A few spirits that had just returned from exacting revenge on the assistants fluttered around Lian’s shoulders and hair. Some poked and prodded at the ends of his hair, tickling him.
Their innocent playfulness was oddly gentle for spirits, who usually had a rougher edge.
“Can you get up?”
“Yes, yes! I’m fine!”
At the unexpectedly polite voice, the knight startled, springing to his feet. He almost lost his footing after being tied up for so long, but thanks to his regained magic, he managed to stay upright.
‘Not sure why I was captured here, but… it’s best to let the spirits out with me.’
While the knight was strong, he wouldn’t be much help without his sword and armor. It was better to evacuate the unpredictable spirits outside than to risk dragging someone who could become a burden.
‘Plus, it’ll be easier to take them down this way.’
A mix of a gag world’s values and the harsh experiences of dark fantasy made bold thoughts come to mind.
“Have you seen a boy… or girl, with brown hair and green eyes?”
“Ahem, no. I was brought here right after getting caught, so I haven’t seen anyone else.”
“Got it…”
Lian let out a small, gloomy sigh.
‘Ugh, I need to find Noah as quickly as possible. Should I have left one alive?’
He glanced at the mosaicked assistants and shook his head slightly. Holding onto what was already done wouldn’t change anything.
Just as he was about to tell the knight how to exit to find Noah, the spirits interrupted him.
“I saw him! A human with brown hair and green eyes!”
“I also saw a red cat!”
“That’s not a cat, it’s a puppy!”
“No, it’s a human!”
Upon hearing that Jess and Noah were spotted, Lian’s eyes widened. He asked urgently, “Where, where did you see him? Is he close?”
“No, not really! Far, far away!”
“They’re going down this huge open road!”
With the vague and unclear information, Lian frowned in confusion. Just then, a more mature spirit – the one that mentioned “mother” before – approached him.
“Humans are making their way out through the path that leads to the forest.”
“Can you see that from here?”
“Our nature lets us see everything within a short distance.”
To the spirits living in the vastness of nature, the size of the laboratory felt smaller than a fingernail. It was easy for them to look down on the interior of the lab.
‘Everyone got out! Thank goodness!’
Lian’s face brightened.
‘Now, we just need to escape.’
If he could make the lab collapse with the Demon Sword just before escaping, everything would wrap up perfectly!
With a cheerful expression, Lian addressed the spirits, “Thanks for the info. Now, let’s all get out of here!”
However, the spirits, who he thought would cheer and bounce around, shook their heads sadly.
“No, mother is still here.”
“She’s in pain.”
“We won’t leave until we save mom.”
It finally clicked for Lian about the dead assistants mentioning that the spirits’ mother was captured.
‘I can’t just come all this way and leave them behind.’
With a serious expression, Lian thought for a moment before speaking to the gloomy spirits, “I’ll help you. Do you know where your mother is trapped?”
“Yes! We know!”
“In a bad room made of a horrible stone that weakens our power!”
“Mom is crying… please help…”
Their different personalities reflected in their way of speaking, each cuter than the last. Lian couldn’t help but smile before turning back to the knight.
“Oh.”
The knight was taken aback by Lian’s unexpectedly warm expression that was worlds apart from the first impression given.
‘So, that stiff demeanor was all an act?’
The oppressive feeling that once reminded him of a duke vanished, revealing only the kind smile of a young noble.
The uncomfortable emotions he felt like a thorn in his throat faded away.
‘Surely, someone with the duke’s blood can’t be like that.’
As those uncomfortable feelings melted away, they were replaced with bubbling excitement and affection.
“Could you please head out with the spirits first?”
“Uh? How do you know I’m a knight…?”
In order to conceal his identity as an imperial knight, he wore disguising clothes similar to a mercenary, and he didn’t even have a sword with him. Realizing Lian had figured out he was a knight left him frozen.
‘Oh man… What a slip-up…’
He had called him “knight” in his head, and it unwittingly slipped out. While he tried to think of an excuse, the Demon Sword decided to chime in.
“Hah, that’s easy to figure out …”
Lian felt a chill run down his spine.
“Ah…?”
A look of awe spread across the knight’s face, his eyes shining even brighter than before.
‘Wow, bloodlines really can’t be hidden!’
The knight’s misconceptions deepened even more.
“It’s not hard for me to escape alone, but taking you and the spirits with me seems tough, so…”
Lian pointed to one of the eloquent spirits and continued, “I’d like for you to take the other spirits out first.”
“…Understood.”
The knight wanted to stay by Lian’s side to protect him, but objectively, Lian was stronger, and he didn’t even have a real weapon. He would just be a burden.
Later, Lian had the idea to send for at least one weapon, so he rummaged through a desk and experimental table nearby.
He found a magical tool and a sword that had been stored as an emergency backup. However, the sword was dull from lack of maintenance. At least it was better than nothing, so the knight took both.
“Hmm?”
As he was searching for something useful on the shelves, he pulled out a book.
Click.
As he pulled the book, the shelves slid aside, revealing a new space.
‘Oh! An emergency exit!’
There was even a friendly sign indicating the way to go.
While it didn’t specify exactly where it led, it noted that the end of this passage would connect to an exit.
“I guess we can go through here!”
With a bit of comedic flair, it seemed like the spirits showering blessings onto Lian from time to time had worked its magic. A stack of little messy bits of luck had added up to become great fortune.
“I need to find the spirit’s mother right away, so please exit through here, knight.”
“Of course, please be careful.”
The knight performed a salute as if he had received an order from his lord before starting to move with dozens of spirits.
‘With that many spirits, there shouldn’t be a problem getting outside.’
Lian turned his gaze toward the spirit perched on his shoulder. The quick-witted spirit immediately took off, leading the way.
“This way!”
Lian followed rapidly, climbing a few stairs and weaving through a maze-like corridor until they reached a magnificent door.
“…Here she is.”
The spirit gazed at the door with teary eyes, as if about to burst into tears.
“You stay here.”
“But…”
“You said the spirits’ power weakens in here, right? So stay here; I’ll be right back!”
“…Okay.”
The spirit nodded slightly and flew up to the ceiling, trying to avoid being noticed by anyone else.
“If someone tries to enter, I’ll stop them!”
“Thanks, I’ll count on you.”
Not wanting the spirit to wait in agony for no reason, Lian affirmed the spirit’s words as he stepped into the room.
Needless to say, the first thing to catch his eye was the elegant and expensive-looking furniture befitting the lavish doorway.
Tack.
Quietly closing the door, he began to search for the spirit’s mother, peering around. Just then, he heard the Demon Sword’s voice.
“There she is. Looks like she’s in quite the predicament.”
The sword pointed its blade at a curtain-covered window. Lian quickly approached, pulling the curtain aside.
Whoosh.
“…!”
“AAAAH!”
The sharp scream that pierced through the air was jarring as he pulled the curtain away.
A huge feminine spirit writhed and screamed, a sight that was anything but pleasant. Lian immediately recognized her as the spirit’s mother.
“Gargandoa!”
“Hehe, let’s slice this cleanly.”
“Don’t cut the spirit!”
“I know that!”
The sword glided smoothly down like a predator’s fang on the hunt.
Creeeek–
The sound was akin to glass grinding against glass as the specially made window shattered into dozens of pieces.
The tiny shards of glass fell to the ground. Instead of stopping there, Lian and the Demon Sword swiftly cut through the chains that bound the spirit’s body to the ground.
Clang!
“…!”
“Ugh!”
To their surprise, the chains were tougher than anticipated, and the sword couldn’t slice through them. Infuriated, the Demon Sword erupted with power, and Lian flinched back as if his clothes had caught fire.
“Dare you!”
With that shout, the chains cracked like glass into dozens of pieces, falling to the floor.
Creak, scratch!
As the lower parts of the chains shattered, the chains embedded in the spirit’s body came free, rolling down in a heap.
“HA HA HA! This is my power!”
Ignoring the Demon Sword’s gleeful boast, Lian focused on the spirit’s mother.
“Are you okay—…”
Before he could finish, the tortured spirit’s mother began to flail wildly, having completely lost her sanity. Stripped of her reason, she perceived all humans as enemies, including Lian standing right before her.
“Uhhh…”
Lian gazed up at the floating spirit’s mother, exuding a terrifying aura like the sword, his voice trembling slightly.
“Something feels… wrong…”
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