Chapter 345: The Haxen Family (1)
Damian stared blankly at the spot where Dorgo had vanished. The words Dorgo had spoken just before leaving echoed relentlessly in his mind.
“No… this can’t be happening…”
His family was in danger—not just their lives, but something far worse. Damian’s mind was flooded with memories of the tortures Dorgo favored. No, Dorgo was intent on ruining them, and he would inflict horrors far beyond what Damian could imagine.
“Not my family… please, not them…”
But Damian was powerless. He couldn’t open a dimensional gate on his own. Even if he had the skill, the dimensional flow around Mount Karon was too distorted to allow it. Forcing a gate open by slicing through dimensions was impossible. Dorgo had erased his traces so thoroughly that Damian couldn’t follow.
As Dorgo had said, Damian had no choice but to wait here until Dorgo returned, having done his worst to Damian’s family.
“Aah…”
Damian crumpled to the ground, kneeling and burying his face in his hands.
“This can’t be happening… it just can’t…”
He had lived a wretched life. In his youth, he had been a reckless fool, leeching off his family’s blood and sweat. As a death knight, he had killed his own family with his own hands. Even after death, his family found no peace, trapped by vile necromancers and subjected to daily torment.
“How… how did I get them back…”
By some miracle, he had been given a chance to atone, and he had vowed to live for his family in this life, to make them happy. But now, what was this?
He had failed to protect them. His family was experiencing hell in his absence. Faces of his family members flashed through his mind. In his past life, they always wore expressions of sorrow. But now, they were smiling brightly in his memories. Soon, those smiles would be shattered, replaced by tears and screams—all because Damian couldn’t stop it.
It wasn’t just his family. His sister’s unborn child, his nephew, would also fall victim to Dorgo. That innocent soul would be tainted, simply because he was Damian’s nephew.
“No… not the child…”
His teeth ground together involuntarily, his gums tearing and bleeding.
“Not the child… I won’t let it happen.”
His voice gained strength, and life returned to Damian’s eyes. Responsibility pushed despair aside, and anger surged within him, his eyes bloodshot with determination.
“There must be a way…”
He was no longer a death knight. He wasn’t a fool trapped in a body, wasting away. “Think, think!” he urged himself.
He had heard that Ruin could do anything, and he had gained the same talent. So he had to find a way. Even if he didn’t have Ruin’s talent, he had to find a way.
Damian meticulously reviewed every skill he had learned, leaving no stone unturned. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming, but he didn’t stop. Blood trickled from his nose, but he didn’t even notice.
“I found it…”
He muttered suddenly.
“I found it.”
Damian’s eyes blazed as he stared into the void.
“What a beautiful day.”
A woman lay atop a spire roof. The roof was narrow and steep, a fall from which would be fatal, yet she seemed perfectly at ease.
-How long do you plan to rest?
A sinister voice whispered in her ear, though no one was around. It was a situation that would startle anyone, but the woman merely frowned in annoyance.
“I trained a lot yesterday. I moved so much I ended up coughing blood.”
-That only proves your body is still weak. You need to spend more time on physical training…
“Ugh, more nagging. You’re such an old man.”
-O-old man? When I was alive, we weren’t that far apart in age!
Dominico protested, his voice rising. Veronica picked her ear with her pinky and replied.
“You said it was a ten-year difference. That’s quite a gap.”
-Y-you little…
“And you’re weaker than me now.”
-Weaker? You’ve only just reached my level!
“What was the score yesterday?”
At Veronica’s question, Dominico fell silent.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? What was the score?”
-Ten matches… six wins… four losses…
“I won six, you won four. See? I’m stronger now.”
-The outcome of a battle can change depending on the situation! Today will be different!
“Go nag the dwarves instead. You haven’t checked if they’re remodeling the castle properly!”
-Those stubborn fools wouldn’t do a sloppy job! You just need to focus!
“Whatever. I’m taking a break today.”
Veronica turned to her side, ignoring Dominico’s outburst. She had heard his nagging so often that she could now ignore his shouting without even covering her ears.
“Ah, Miss Veronica! There you are!”
A voice called from below. Veronica peeked over the edge of the roof to see Victor, the steward of Spring Castle.
“What’s up?”
“The lady of the house is calling for you. She brought back some rare treats from the city.”
Veronica’s eyes lit up at Victor’s words. The Countess of Haxen often brought back delicious foods for Veronica, and chatting with her over these treats was one of Veronica’s greatest pleasures.
“I’ll be right there!”
-What about your training?
“I said I’m taking a break today!”
With that, Veronica leapt down. For an ordinary person, the height would have been deadly, but for Veronica, it was no different from walking down stairs. After all, she was now a master-class knight.
“I’m here!”
Veronica burst into the drawing room, where the Countess of Haxen was seated.
“Veronica, you came quickly.”
“How could I delay when you called, Mother?”
“You always have such a way with words.”
Veronica’s cheeks flushed at the Countess’s compliment. She had never heard such words from anyone else; only the Countess praised her speech.
“Come, have a seat.”
On the table were dark, lumpy objects. Veronica examined them curiously.
“What are these?”
“They’re called chocolate, sold by a merchant from afar.”
“May I try one?”
“Of course.”
Veronica reached for a piece with her fingers, but the Countess gently tapped her hand.
“Veronica, how should you eat when there’s food?”
”…With utensils, as you taught me.”
Rubbing her hand, Veronica picked up a fork. Despite her initial impulse to grab the chocolate with her fingers, her manners weren’t bad. She delicately speared a piece and brought it to her mouth.
A bittersweet flavor spread across her palate, and her eyes widened.
“Wow, I’ve never tasted anything like this!”
“Isn’t it wonderful? I was so surprised when I tried it, I rushed to bring it to you.”
Someone as noble as the Countess wouldn’t have literally run, but Veronica loved even her exaggerated words. She smiled bashfully.
“Thank you.”
Veronica eagerly devoured the chocolate, and the Countess watched her with a satisfied smile.
“It would have been nice if Damian could taste this too…”
The Countess’s murmured words made Veronica pause. She looked at the Countess, who was gazing out the window with a somber expression. There was no need to ask who she was thinking about.
“Indeed. That rascal… I mean, Damian Haxen, never seems to catch a break. Always wandering about and missing out on things like this.”
Veronica joked, and the Countess chuckled softly.
“You’re right.”
“When he comes back, I’ll make sure he stays put, even if I have to beat him up!”
“I’ll count on you for that.”
Veronica speared another piece of chocolate with her fork. Just as she was about to eat it, she sensed something.
She set the fork down and rushed to the window. The view outside was peaceful and serene, but Veronica felt it—a chilling, ominous presence enveloping Spring Castle.
Even as a master-class knight, she felt like a mere ant. Her whole body trembled, and she wanted to flee.
“Veronica? What’s wrong?”
The Countess asked, her face filled with concern. Veronica gritted her teeth, summoning courage for the Countess’s sake.
“Mother, you need to run.”
“Veronica? What are you talking about?”
“We don’t have time to explain! You need to leave the castle immediately…”
The sky twisted and tore open, revealing a dark void. From within, three figures emerged.
At first glance, they appeared to be ordinary humans.
But Veronica’s instincts, honed by experience, screamed otherwise. These were monsters wearing human disguises.
Among the three, a woman silently surveyed Spring Castle.
She was so breathtakingly beautiful that one might think she was crafted by the gods themselves.
Who should I break first?
A sinister smile spread across the woman’s face.