Chapter 232
Episode 75. Lani Salome (1)
“Did you say she’s going back? You mean right now?”
“Unlike you lazybones, I’ve got a busy schedule. Fixing this is taking longer than expected, so I can’t afford to delay any further.”
Misha pressed her foot firmly on Murakan’s head as he lay face down, then shrugged her shoulders.
The moment her foot touched his head, Murakan strained his neck veins and tried to stand, but he couldn’t overcome her strength.
With about 40% of his old power restored, Murakan was easily subdued by Misha’s single foot. The others, sensing his regained strength, found it impossible to even estimate the extent of Misha’s brute force.
Struggling and thrashing.
While Murakan fought against her grip, Misha calmly continued.
“Don’t take it too hard. The reason I’m so busy is ultimately for your sake.”
At the sudden news of her departure, the others exchanged glances. But Quikantel didn’t seem surprised, as if he had already anticipated it.
“I’m not upset. Just sorry. It feels like you’re leaving after only taking help from us…”
“No need for that. Besides, my shadow is now bound to you, so whenever you have time, we can meet again.”
Unlike Murakan, Misha had many duties beyond just protecting the contract holders.
Especially now, with Solderet absent, she had to take over everything he used to manage.
On top of that, she was searching for Solderet’s whereabouts, leaving her no personal time at all. Even on the first night, while drinking with Quikantel, she was preparing to treat Murakan through the night.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Misha briefly met Jin’s eyes.
“Not yet. Right now, your best help is to grow straight and true.”
Her gaze was filled with warmth as she spoke.
“When do you plan to return to your family?”
“Around the year 19.”
“Can’t you come back any sooner?”
“The promise I made to my father was until year 20. Bringing it forward by a year would be breaking that promise, so it’s difficult.”
“Hmm, that’s a shame. It would’ve been easier after you became a Knight Commander. You could’ve brought the Guardian Knights with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“The old Oterium.”
“The old Oterium?”
The old Oterium, once the capital of the Holy Kingdom, is now the stronghold of the Dark Magic Council under Kinzel. It’s also where the magical tome of the ‘Final Form of the Annihilation Flame Jade’—the legacy of Riol Ziphl—resides.
“There’s a magic tome there. It was left by Riol Ziphl, the previous contract holder of Solderet.”
Among the group, only Jin, the reincarnator, knew about Riol Ziphl’s legacy.
But Jin had learned about the Final Form of the Annihilation Flame Jade from Solderet. So it wasn’t surprising that Misha, Solderet’s black dragon, knew about it too.
“That place is the base of the Dark Magic Council under Kinzel.”
“I know. That’s why I thought it best for you to go after you become Knight Commander, but after year 19, it might be too late. Well, now that this guy has regained some strength, he could probably handle it even if you went now.”
“Misha, you seem to know a lot about Kinzel.”
“They once allied with Ziphl, using magic stones to sweep up contract holders. And that alliance was effectively broken because of you.”
Since Murakan had Misha’s shadow bound to him, she could roughly predict the paths Jin and Murakan would take.
Also, Kinzel and Ziphl were always under her watch. She suspected they were behind Solderet’s disappearance.
“If any important information about them comes up, I’ll send you a letter here. Anyway, you should get your hands on Riol Ziphl’s magic tome as soon as possible.”
“Is someone else after that magic tome?”
Misha nodded.
“Yes. Recently, a sorcerer I’ve been watching has been targeting it. A human girl named Aria Owlheart. She’s got a pretty special destiny, much like you.”
The others expected the name of a famous archmage or a rising star, given Misha’s watchful eye.
But ‘Aria Owlheart’ was a name no one had heard before—except for Jin.
‘My master was already after the Annihilation Flame Jade at this time?’
Aria Owlheart was one of the many aliases Valeria used in her past life.
Among them, this one symbolized that she carried the heart of the ‘Gray Owl,’ a name she cherished almost as much as her real one.
And in Jin’s past life, Valeria never obtained the final form of the Annihilation Flame Jade. Instead, she got an incomplete second form, which she once showed to Jin.
“A special destiny, you say…?”
“If you are the one chosen by the shadow, Aria is the one chosen by history. If you ever meet her, encourage her. In the grand scheme, she’s an ally.”
Misha seemed hesitant to say more.
Since Aria, or Valeria, wasn’t affiliated with the shadow, Misha had limited room to intervene.
She was cautious about giving Jin too much information, fearing it might alter Valeria’s fate.
‘My master’s lifelong goal was to reclaim the magic of the Hister family. Being chosen by history—could that be related?’
As questions flooded his mind, Misha lifted her foot off Murakan.
“Well, I can’t delay any longer. I’ll be going now. Hey, Murakan.”
“Why!”
Murakan stood up, glaring at Misha with a pout.
But he didn’t dare challenge her. Not only did he feel the difference in strength, but he feared that pushing it might bring back childhood nightmares.
“You should count yourself lucky and serve Jin well, got it?”
Compared to Misha, Murakan’s duties were fewer. That’s why she said he was ‘lucky.’
“Hmph! I don’t need your nagging to do my job right.”
“This won’t do. You’re too annoying. Gilly.”
“Yes, Misha.”
“Don’t make any strawberry pies for the next month. Understand?”
“Heh, as if strawberry pies would listen to you—”
“I said, understood, Misha.”
Murakan’s face instantly turned pale.
“Well then, everyone, see you again later.”
A week passed since Misha left.
Murakan, who had regained his strength and was wildly joyful, now sat quietly in the garden’s corner, looking listless.
All because he couldn’t eat strawberry pie. Though he’d gone without it before, being forcibly banned from it was unbearable—especially since it was because of Misha.
“You’re unbelievable. How can a dragon act like this? You’re starting to seem more like a kid.”
Unable to stand it, Jin finally brought some strawberry pie.
“O-oh! Ohhh!”
Murakan’s face lit up the moment Jin offered the pie. Who would believe this was the great black dragon who had existed for over 3,000 years and just regained 40% of his prime power?
Gratefully clutching the basket, Murakan hugged Jin.
“You’re the only one, kid. Raising you was worth it.”
He pulled out two pies, handing one to Jin. His trembling hands showed how much he hated sharing but was trying to be polite.
“I’m good. You eat it all.”
Crunch!
Murakan bit into the pie with gusto.
Jin watched quietly for a while.
“Sir Kashimir brought news about Lani. She helped us, got imprisoned, and was released two days ago.”
“Hmm, is that so? That’s a relief. I hate to admit it, but if she hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have survived. I’d have been caught by Kadun and dragged to Ziphl’s lab. That bastard still makes me angry just thinking about him…”
Murakan had said this right after Misha left.
—I owe that paladin a debt.
Jin had been thinking the same, but hearing Murakan say it so plainly was surprising.
“You should be more grateful to your sister who healed you.”
“If you knew what Misha did to me as a kid, you wouldn’t say that. She was a demon, not a dragon.”
“Anyway, about Lani. She’s not doing well, is she?”
“Not doing well?”
“Apparently, right after her punishment ended, she changed completely. She’s been drinking every day like a wreck, caused a scene at the temple right after her release, and got arrested again. Now she’s waiting for a trial for additional punishment.”
In past life newsletters, Lani Salome was often described as a wayward foster daughter. According to Kashimir’s report, the current Lani was heading down the same path.
“What? Was she always like that?”
Murakan had fainted the moment he met Lani, so he’d never had a proper conversation with her.
“Not from what I saw. The Doctrine Guardian Dawn Order values discipline and order more than any other group in the Holy Kingdom. Even a small mistake by a member often leads to expulsion, but for some reason, Lani hasn’t been kicked out.”
“She’s the Holy King’s foster daughter, right? Maybe that’s why they’re letting it slide.”
“That’s possible. But when Lani caused a scene at the temple, the Sacred King was there performing a blessing ceremony for the people of the Holy Kingdom. In other words, she was directly defying the king himself.”
Miklan, known as the ‘dotting father king,’ had always been very fond of his daughter, and Lani had always been close to him.
Yet, after Santel, their relationship suddenly soured.
“Maybe it’s just teenage rebellion? Hmm…”
“My guess is this: after Santel, Lani realized too late that the king had sided with Ziphl. She felt deeply betrayed and is now struggling with her own identity.”
—What I must do is not blind the people’s eyes, spread lies, disguise evil as good, or collude with power to become corrupt.
Looking back at Lani’s unwavering religious conviction, this theory made a lot of sense.
After a moment’s thought, Murakan met Jin’s gaze.
“Whatever the case, we need to meet her in person. Let’s help her as much as we can. My life’s worth at least that much, isn’t it?”