Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight – Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Beyond the Pitch Black (2)

TL: Potato-tan

Proofreader: Asianpotato

 

“Ugh! Ah…! Ugh!”

 

A dark, sealed room. A man was struggling on the bed. His limbs were tied to pillars that extended from the four corners of the bed.

 

The man’s clothes had ripped to shreds. However, his face was worse. His fingernails had peeled off his skin and flesh, revealing his blood-stained, blue muscles.

 

“Gaenak. . .”

 

Someone looked down at the man with complicated eyes. Dressed in clothes that revealed a woman’s curves, she reached out and covered the man’s face.

 

Then, the man named Gaenak grabbed the woman’s hand. Consequently, one of the corners that had been securing his right wrist broke with a loud bang.

 

“Gaenak? Have you regained your senses?”

 

The woman looked at Gaenak, who was holding her wrist, with bewilderment. Gaenak’s eyes sparkled with a clear light for the first time since he had collapsed four days ago. His tightly pursed lips trembled, and a faint voice leaked out.

 

“Th… that… guy, be careful…”

 

“Who is it? Who did this to you? Can you tell me?”

 

The woman asked urgently, seeing Gaenak look as though he had come to his senses.

 

“Black, hair. Purple. . . eyes! Those eyes. . . . .! Ugh, go away. . .!”

 

“Gaenak!”

 

The woman, who could no longer watch, finally took action. Until now, she had not been able to use her hands because she had been waiting for him to come to his senses. But if she left it as it was, Gaenak would die without finding out anything.

 

She had to find out the identity of the monster that had done this to Gaenak, even if he died. She pulled Gaenak’s tightly gripped wrist away, placed her left hand on his chest and her right hand on his forehead, and chanted a spell.

 

“Sleep. . .”

 

The woman’s consciousness became as sharp as a needle, and she passed through Gaenak’s heavily pierced mental barrier and entered his consciousness.

 

‘. . . What is this?’

 

She flinched with her eyes closed. Fragmented memories and spells floated around. Something forcibly destroyed the rings that had firmly bound and connected them.

 

‘Who on earth. . .’

 

The woman followed the traces to the most recent memory. And she succeeded in reaching the most recent memory.

 

In memory, Gaenak was lying down. Right above, the sky and sunlight were visible. Despite being a memory, the sky was clear and blue, and the sun shining at noon was bright. Then, a shadow that obscured the brightness and blueness appeared.

 

‘This person…?’

 

The shadow was identified as a man sitting on his haunches. Despite hiding in the shadows, he remained recognizable. Gaenak felt the hand of the man who had turned the trance-ridden wizard’s face around. He then met the man’s eyes.

 

The eyes, which emitted light, receiving magic, were like flames directly implanted into the eyes, were right in front of her. Even though she was only experiencing the pain Gainack experienced in the memory in a reduced form, she felt a piercing pain that felt like she was being stabbed all over by needles.

 

In the end, the woman hurriedly escaped from the memory.

 

“Ack!”

 

The woman, who had taken a deep breath, opened her eyes. Gaenak stopped struggling and collapsed. It meant that her spell had worked well.

 

The woman straightened her bent back. Sweat soaked her neck and back. She staggered, holding her temples, and barely regained her balance.

 

“Just now. . .”

 

Normally, Gaenakwould have easily resisted and even used her spell to counterattack, but now he had lost consciousness so easily. And that meant his mental world had been dealt a major blow by someone.

 

The minds of wizards who handle spells are strong, but at the same time, if even one pillar collapses, the things built on top of it can collapse in an instant.

 

However, Gaenak’s magic power was strong. He was capable of learning and mastering numerous spells on his own, as well as creating his own spell world. When it came to black magic and mind control, no one could follow him.

 

Moreover, Gaenak, who had mastered the technique of controlling seeds and terminals planted all over the continent by transmitting consciousness, was one of the necessary allies in their plan.

 

However, it is hard to believe that he became like this because he could not withstand the death of a single terminal. However, the evidence lay in front of her eyes, and what was that last afterimage that passed by like a ghost?

 

“Giselle.”

 

“. . .It’s been a while.”

 

A man appeared from the shadows. The man approached, clanging his gray armor. Giselle, as the woman was called, asked the man.

 

“Did you finish the work?”

 

“More or less. The north will now fall into chaos. Because Remegenus has risen.”

 

“Weren’t you going to wait until winter?”

 

“The seeds are growing faster than expected. I calculated that even if they are born now, they will have enough time to accumulate strength.”

 

The man looked down at Gaenak and the woman.

 

“Did you put him to sleep completely?”

 

“I had no choice. Had I waited a bit longer, his mind would have crumbled.

 

“You seem to have tried to read his memories.”

 

“It was all torn apart. It appeared as though a child had ripped it apart and discarded it immediately upon discovery.

 

“What did you get?”

 

“A black-haired man with purple eyes. Only these two. . . Why?”

 

Giselle took a step back from the man. It was because the man in gray armor had suddenly turned his head and looked at her.

 

“Black-haired man, purple eyes? Are you sure?”

 

“Do you know him?”

 

“I do.”

 

The man in gray armor gave an invisible smile.

 

“I’m hearing that here again.”

 

“. . . . . . .”

 

Giselle, who had stepped back, watched him and slowly retreated.

 

“Leave Gaenak as he is. He is no different from a plant, but his spells and magic power are useful. We should take what we can get.”

 

“You’re cold. But I like it.”

 

Giselle carefully stepped back, suddenly turned around, and asked a question.

 

“What is your purpose?”

 

“. . .Purpose?”

 

“Yes. The intention behind summoning and awakening us is undeniable. There must be a purpose behind the creation of monsters, the awakening of long-slumbering devils, and the recovery of the lost king of the demon beasts.

 

“Are you dissatisfied?”

 

Giselle shook her head.

 

“No. I’m not dissatisfied.”

 

“Then what’s the problem? Do what you want. Grow stronger; make people puppets. Raise the dead and create new spells. Make this stagnant world circulate.”

 

“. . .A stagnant world?”

 

The gray armor vanished when Giselle, who had been considering the man’s words, raised her head.

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

“Here, would you like to have this?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“It’s alcohol. You don’t dislike it, do you?”

 

Russell grinned.

 

“Of course not.”

 

“I knew you would. I told you before I came. Hedilund is famous for its fruit wine. It’s a wine called Levendel, and it’s said to be made by mixing various fruits and grass and fermenting them.”

 

As he sat down, Farrells held out a large iron cup. Russell received the cup with one hand and took a glass bottle from his arms. It was originally a blue glass, but it was a wine bottle that sparkled green, reflecting the burning sunset and disappearing beyond the horizon.

 

“Where did you get it?”

 

While pouring the bottle into Russell’s wine glass, Farrells answered.

 

“The soldiers gave it to me. They said they took it from a collapsed underground wine cellar. If my brother knew, he would be furious. But this is how we get a break.”

 

“It seems like you’ve already become close.”

 

“We somehow managed to survive the risk of an entire city being destroyed, so we ended up like this.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Russell, who smiled, handed the bottle over to Farrells and poured the wine into his glass as well.

 

“It’s lukewarm.”

 

“The earthquake completely destroyed the facilities, and this bottle was one of the few that remained among the broken bottles.”

 

“How do you typically consume this type of alcohol? Cold? Or warm?”

 

“Depending on the season, people typically drink it cold.”

 

Farrells’s eyes widened as Russell created coldness in one hand.

 

“Amazing. Is that magic?”

 

“It’s just converting the properties of magic. It’s not magic. Even warriors can do it if they know the trick.”

 

“Oh. What’s the trick?”

 

“Knowing the attributes and experiencing them. The fastest way is to face it head-on. Just enough not to die.”

 

“Did Russell also get it that way?”

 

“No. I just happened to?”

 

Russell ignored Farrells’s deadpan stare and crystallized his magic into coldness, then placed it in their glasses. The liquor, which had been lukewarm, instantly turned cold, forming a thin layer of ice on the surface.

 

Although the sun had set, the weather was still hot, and just holding the cold glass made them feel good.

 

“Good!”

 

“Right?”

 

Farrells, wearing a faint smile, spoke while clinking his glass.

 

“To your health.”

 

“To yours too.”

 

If it were for health, alcohol should be avoided, but what fun would it be to live without it? The two men drank from their wine glasses.

 

The cold wine gave off a great fruity scent as soon as it touched their tongues. It was sweet and sour, and at the same time, a strong scent went up the roof of their mouths and heated their nostrils.

 

It was a high-proof alcohol that caused a burning sensation in the esophagus and stomach. Russell, who had drunk it neatly in one go, made a face, while Farrells coughed after taking a few sips.

 

“Gulp, gulp. Wow, this is really strong.”

 

“That’s right. It seems like a liquor that’s been aged for decades.”

 

“Can you tell that too?”

 

“No. I’m just saying.”

 

Farrell smiled at Russell’s nonsense and drank the wine little by little. The wine was quickly reduced.

 

The two men sat still for a while and looked at the sunset. The sun, which was slowly setting beyond the horizon, decorated the end of the day with a golden light.

 

After watching it silently for a while, Farrell spoke first.

 

“Russell.”

 

“I’m listening.”

 

“I don’t know you well. You’re a completely different person from the younger brother I heard from Irrucil. When I see you killing devils and destroying golems, you look like an unparalleled warrior. You look like a fearsome wizard when I see you suppressing my brother at once and controlling his mind.”

 

He was discussing the possibility of altering Gellerd’s consciousness through his vision, as he had experienced seizures and mental confusion four days prior. Honestly, Russell himself was reluctant to change other people’s thoughts and minds at will.

 

Additionally, it brought back unpleasant recollections from his childhood, and he struggled to maintain proper control over his vision. However, every time he used his eyes’ power in that way, he felt as if his mind was also darkening.

 

While his eyes and its power were undoubtedly useful, there were times when it seemed to threaten to consume his mind, as if it were trying to eat away at his self-awareness, even for a brief moment.

 

There were times when his body, or a part of him, seemed to move on its own accord, causing a feeling of unease that someone else was controlling his flesh. Russell said.

 

“I’m sorry about that. Even though it was urgent, it was wrong of me to change someone’s will so arbitrarily. I apologize.”

 

Farrell shook his head at Russell’s apology.

 

“It’s already happened. It wasn’t for personal gain, was it? It was to save this city. Tools have no sin. If the person who uses them has a righteous will.”

 

“Do you think my will is righteous?”

 

Farrell looked at Russell and nodded strongly.

 

“Yes. I can tell just by looking down there.”

 

Russell also looked down again at his words. The people who had lost their homes set up tents in a row as temporary shelter. Some people built plank houses by pulling together collapsed planks and erecting frames.

 

People who had brought out various household items were making bonfires in several locations and placing pots on them. It seemed like they were about to have dinner.

 

Individuals, both those with and without houses, sat in their seats, their bowls brimming with a stew of boiled vegetables and meat. Meanwhile, children who appeared to be happy to play ran around excitedly.

 

Farrells, who had been staring blankly at the scene, suddenly spoke.

 

“I think I’ll have to stay here for a while.”

 

“Because of the lord?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Russell nodded slightly, recalling Gellerd’s condition. Three days after the city’s reconstruction began, Gellerd collapsed, and Russell immediately checked his condition.

 

Gellerd’s health was not very good. He had been imprisoned for over a month, and he had not been given proper meals. It was clear that he had been treated in a way that only his life was kept alive.

 

He rode a horse and ran around, saving people and commanding soldiers all day long, so it was only natural that his aging body would suffer.

 

“The doctor said that he needs to rest for at least three months to regain his health, so I should stay and help him.”

 

“You said he had no other family?”

 

“Yes, not yet. He said he was too busy developing the city, but really. It’s sad that because of that, he ended up calling for a wicked wizard and almost destroyed the entire city.”

 

“It would have been like that if you hadn’t told me to come.”

 

“That’s true too.”

 

Farrell laughed and got up.

 

“I’ll go in first. Russell, feel free to come in after you’ve had enough. I’ll tell them to prepare dinner.”

 

“I will.”

 

Farrell took Russell’s wine glass and went inside. Left alone, Russell removed a cigarette from his arms and placed it in his mouth. Soon, white, thin smoke rose.

 

His eyes looked north.

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

The next day. Russell, Irrucil, and Aellasis each rode horses and stood at the outer gate of Hedilund City.

 

The weather was a bit gloomy. It was a day where the weather seemed to fluctuate between rain and sunshine. Despite the cloudy day, which contrasted with the clear weather up to that point, there was no reason to postpone the journey.

 

“You can rest a little longer and go.”

 

Farrell was there. Gellerd was still unable to get out of bed, so he had come out alone.

 

“We’ve already rested for five days. That’s long enough. And there’s something I need to find out.”

 

“. . .about this incident?”

 

Russell nodded. Farrells, who had a hardened face, concurred with his words.

 

“The current situation is indeed highly suspicious. The ongoing civil war and the incursion of the monsters are concerning. This time, they’re attempting to take control of an entire city. If that had happened, the supply route for this region would have been quite chaotic. We would have had to take a long detour.”

 

“You have good insight.”

 

“Haha, well.”

 

Irrucil approached Farrells and held out her hand. Farrells looked at the white hand and gently took it.

 

“Thank you. It would have taken me a long time to find Russell without you.”

 

“I’m sure it would have. You would have wandered around for at least two more months before finding any clues. . . Aaaah! It hurts!”

 

Irrucil held Farrells’s hand tightly, causing him to scream for a while before releasing it. Farrells, who had twisted his hand, then greeted Aellasis.

 

“Goodbye, little dragon girl. I’d like to see you in your true form next time.”

 

“I may be able to give you a ride then.”

 

“Hahaha… I’ll pass on that…”

 

After greeting everyone, Farrell asked Russell.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“North. It seems like it’s time to put my sister back in her place.”

 

At those words, Irrucil’s eyes widened.

 

“I understand. I hope you only encounter sunshine on your journey.”

 

“To you too. I hope you take good care of the Lord.”

 

The group, who nodded, soon got on their horses, turned their heads, and went outside. Under the gloomy sky, three horses galloped towards the horizon.

 

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