Chapter 71 – Butterflies Flap Their Wings Twice (1)
The man in black, Hikat, was staring at the front door of Carnea.
‘…It’s late.’
Although the scheduled time is slowly approaching, the barrier surrounding Carnea shows no signs of loosening.
Could it be that the expectations of ‘Nameless’ were wrong?
For a moment, an impure thought ran through Hikkat’s head, but he quickly shook it off.
‘…Do not doubt.’
Hikkat knew better than anyone what the fate of those who doubted the Nameless would be.
‘I just have to follow orders.’
The Nameless rewarded those who followed his orders and punished those who did not.
Wasn’t it all thanks to his grace that Hikkat, who was only at the bottom of the organization, rose to this position?
Like the title Nameless, everything was wrapped in a veil.
He did not know his age, gender, class, or even whether he was a group or an individual.
One thing is certain, however, that Nameless’ orders come in the form of letters, no matter where he is at any time.
Everyone who had sat in Hikat’s seat so far tried to dig up Nameless’s identity or escape from his command, but in the end, he was only found with his entire body torn apart.
In that sense, Hikat could be said to be smart.
Because he had a good grasp of his subject matter.
Rather than thinking of fighting or fleeing like his predecessors, Hikkat chose to show Nameless that he was a useful chess horse.
It was like that today too.
Hikkat neither knew nor cared about why he had to attack Carnea.
It was just carrying out the orders given by Nameless.
“…The barrier is being lifted.”
When Hikkat raised his head at the words of his subordinate, the upper part of the barrier began to melt.
It was also just as he said.
Hikat kissed the ring on his right hand to thank Nameless once again.
“…The moment the barrier is lifted, it rushes in.”
“All right.”
The sword was pulled from Hikat’s waist, and the cool sound of the sword echoed through the night sky.
***
Back in the room, Tristan stared at the box anxiously until the seal on him finally began to come off.
Tristan’s expression contorted as he jumped up from his seat to check the contents of the box.
Wiggle─ wiggle─
There, ‘tentacles’ similar to slimes but with a completely different appearance crawled with bizarre movements.
Tristan had never thought of himself as having a weak stomach, but this was different.
Ominousness and fear seemed to creep up from his toes just by looking at him.
‘…Does this mean she has to feed her daughter…’
The man in black said that if she fed what was in the box, she could save her daughter’s life, even if it escaped humans.
It was as it was said.
The tentacles felt a force that even Tristan could not handle.
If he uses this power, he will be able to save his daughter’s life as the man said.
‘…However.’
Isn’t there something more important than life to human beings?
Feeding my daughter this terrible thing was like crossing a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
‘Dad.’
However, when he recalled Isolde’s voice calling him in pain, Tristan’s human emotions disappeared and only cold reason remained.
Tristan, determined, reached into the box.
“… !”
The moment Tristan grabbed the ‘tentacle’, he was able to intuit.
The moment I used this, Isolde would curse herself forever.
But despite being cursed by her daughter her, Tristan wanted to save her daughter’s life her.
‘Sorry…’
The moment Tristan opens Isolde’s mouth and tries to insert her tentacles in her.
“Ha ha… Ha… Now… Wait a minute!”
The cabin door opened and Eugene Calliope jumped in.
***
It was barely late thanks to my heart racing.
“…”
I stopped Tristan once, but I couldn’t be relieved.
Tristan’s eyes his had already lost their luster, and tentacles were still in his hands his.
“…Eugene…It’s too late… Now this is the only way left.”
As expected, Tristan gave up and tried to feed the tentacle to Isolde.
“Answer…! I have found the answer!”
“… Stop it. Don’t let me hang on to it any longer!”
Tristan shook his head as if he didn’t want to hear it.
He seemed tired of the constant false hope.
I shouted at Tristan again.
“Is he going to make Isolde give up her chance to live as a human because she can’t bear it!”
“…!”
“This is the last one anyway! If you can’t save Isolde with the method I’ve been using, then feed it the tentacles or whatever you like.”
Finally, hesitantly, Tristan let go of the hand holding his tentacle.
‘Whoa…’
I let out a short sigh.
First of all, the most urgent fire was extinguished, but as long as there was a huge mountain left to convince Tristan, I couldn’t be relieved yet.
“So… How can I end my daughter’s ordeal?”
“…The ordeal never ends.”
“Aren’t you going to end the ordeal? …Are you even going to risk my daughter’s life for a joke!”
“Please calm down and listen to me.”
“Shut up..! If you don’t want to die, turn it off while I have reason left!”
“Professor! Are you thinking of repeating the same mistakes as the first meeting!”
Tristan hesitated for a moment when I brought up a misunderstanding that almost cost him his life.
“…Okay, let me tell you. But if you’re talking nonsense, I won’t let it go.”
My body stiffened at Tristan’s animal-like flesh.
I thought Leos’ killing spewing was the best thing I’ve ever felt, but he also could n’t help but kill a father who wanted to save his children.
“…This is an item called ‘seong oil’, which has the effect of restoring physical strength itself.”
Saying that, I took out the nursing mother’s milk and put it on the desk.
Tristan gnashed his teeth.
“…In the end, was this the answer you were looking for! What’s the use even if I pass this ordeal? It doesn’t change that Isolde will die when the next trial comes anyway!”
“No! Different!”
“What the hell are you talking about!”
“This has a somewhat restorative effect, but it’s not strong enough to completely heal Isolde!”
“… ?”
My insistence made Tristan listen with his mouth shut, but it was clear that it wouldn’t last long.
I had to push when I had the chance.
I caught my breath and started explaining again.
“Calm down and listen. The professor said that every time Isolde passed an ordeal, a stronger ordeal would come.”
“…Okay.”
“Then, please remain as it is, the last ordeal Isolde can endure. As long as I have the holy oil I brought, I won’t die, even if it hurts a little.”
“You mean to continue torturing Isolde?”
“Yes, it will certainly be painful, but it will be far better than giving up on humanity.”
As if my words had hit the mark, Tristan shut his mouth tightly.
“Professor, we’re running out of time, so put down that terrible thing and have Isolde drink the holy oil. It won’t be too late to see the effect of the holy oil and think about it.”
“Okay… “
While Tristan was receiving oil from me, I quickly grabbed the ‘tentacle’.
‘…Well.’
It’s unpurified, so just holding it in my hand felt terrible, but unless I put the tentacle in my mouth and swallow it, there shouldn’t be any major problems.
In the meantime, Isolde’s expression became much brighter after drinking the nursing mother’s milk.
“…You really recovered your strength.”
“It is not completely cured. I’ll put some more of the holy oil I’ve brought here, so you’ll have to take care of it by having Isolde drink one bottle at a time whenever Isolde’s condition doesn’t get better.”
“… I see. So what is oil after all? Where did the stuff come from? How did you get it Is it something I can make myself?”
With every word Tristan uttered, he took one step closer.
I said, pushing away Tristan, who was getting too close.
“For now, calm down. Come down a bit professor.”
“…I’m sorry. I was so excited. But I have to answer.”
“I’m sorry, but the holy oil was made with the Calliope family’s vision, so it can’t be leaked outside.”
“…If it’s money, I’ll pay.”
“Money is not the problem. Even if I tell you the recipe, it is something that cannot be made without using the special equipment in the Calliope family.”
“…”
Of course, it’s all lies, but you don’t have to be caught.
Even Tristan won’t be able to invade and check the Calliope family.
“So this is my offer. I will continue to supply that oil in the future. Instead, the professor just listens to my ‘request’.”
“…Are you saying you’re going to use me as a leash with holy oil?”
“Please call it a transaction rather than a use. It would be more comfortable for the professor to give me a suitable price rather than having to worry about not knowing when it will be cut off while receiving it unilaterally.”
Even if he knows that this is the devil’s temptation, Tristan has no choice but to accept it as long as Isolde’s life is at stake.
“… I see. I will try to fulfill your request if possible.”
“Then, the deal is closed.”
Tristan took my outstretched hand and said with a wry smile.
“For you to find a solution I’ve been looking for for years, in just a few days… The knowledge of alchemy you showed when we first met, and I wonder if this is a real talent…”
“…”
Like Loreos and Tristan, it feels like the image of a talented person continues to pile up on the professors.
‘I just expressed my milk…’
—Puuong!
It was then that I heard something explode in the distance.
It was the sound announcing the start of the main event of Chapter 2.
“… It looks like something happened. I will find out and come back.”
“I’ll go too…!”
Tristan tried to run away with me, but he stumbled to his knees as if his strength was exhausted from the relief that Isolde had survived.
I said while looking at Tristan.
“No, Professor, please stay here.”
“…It can’t be. That’s what I called…”
“Even though they say they fed them with holy oil, they still don’t know what will happen to Isolde. And I need someone to deal with it when I come this way.”
When I mentioned Isolde, Tristan sighed as if he had finally given up.
“… Please take care of yourself.”
“Yes, the professor too.”
It was fortunate that Tristan hadn’t insisted on coming along.
It’s a high-quality manpower that I barely managed to save while struggling, but if I go out and fight in such a state and lose my blind magic life for no reason, I could die of Hwabyung.
‘Now…Then.’
I twitched the corners of my mouth as I left the cabin.
I got everything I needed, including intact tentacles and Tristan’s weaknesses.
All that remains is to wrap up the main event of Chapter 2.
