Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight – Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Reminiscence

TL: Potato-tan

Proofreader: Asianpotato

 

The light was dim, barely recognizable as sunlight. A lone demon beast prowled through the winter forest. Its appearance resembled that of a bear, and perhaps that was what it had once been.

 

But the strange flow of magic in the north sometimes gave rise to peculiar phenomena, and the transformation of a beast into a demon beast was one such phenomenon.

 

Four days ago, the demon beast recalled its prey. Two-legged creatures had shrieked. But two legs could not match the stride of four. A powerful blow from its front paws had cleanly severed the two-legged creatures’ heads, and the demon beast had enjoyed a hearty meal.

 

Furthermore, with each two-legged creature it consumed, it felt its strength grow. Sustenance and the growth of power. Both were things that the beast and the demon beast desired, and the past month had provided ample opportunity to fulfill both desires.

 

And the demon beast could sense the presence of two-legged creatures in the direction it was following the scent. Soon, the two-legged creatures came into view.

 

The two-legged creatures were sitting on a lone rock outcropping in the snowy field. The demon beast, having consumed numerous two-legged creatures, developed a certain level of intelligence and observed their peculiar attire.

 

The overall color scheme is black and blue. A thick, white animal pelt wrapped around their neck, and beneath that, a soft-looking cloth mantle. Underneath that, they wore a uniform that was the same black color as the mantle. Finely crafted gold buttons adorned the silver belt and trouser pockets, glinting in the light.

 

Had it been human, it would have recognized the two-legged creatures’ extraordinary attire as belonging to someone of high rank or lineage. However, in the demon beast’s eyes, they were nothing more than prey that stood out.

 

The demon beast slowly approached the two-legged creatures. The two-legged creatures were looking at something. The demon beast did not know what it was, nor did it care. The demon beast’s only concern was how much stronger or smarter it would become after consuming these two-legged creatures.

 

The demon beast, seizing its chance to strike, charged. And it pounced from a point where it judged the two-legged creatures would have difficulty fending off the attack.

 

The massive body rose into the air as if it were a lie. The front paws, which were raised high to strike down from above, contained enough force to crush even a boulder.

 

However, the demon beast was unable to bring its front paws down. No, it could not move at all. A gleaming white chain ensnared its entire body just before it could shatter the two-legged creatures’ heads.

 

More than a dozen chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around its hind legs, torso, front legs, neck, and head. The chains also secured the lower and upper jaws of its mouth. It could neither open nor close them.

 

The only body part it could move was its eyeballs, which revealed to the demon beast that the chains had been scattered across the snowy field from the very beginning. It was a realization that came too late.

 

Squeak━ The sound of forcibly squeezing leather reverberates. The sound of the chains digging into the demon’s body was audible.

 

Even amidst the searing pain that flashed before its eyes, the demon beast summoned its last ounce of strength. Sensing its imminent death, it made a move to kill the two-legged creatures before it.

 

The strength it had accumulated by consuming countless four-legged and two-legged creatures without discrimination erupted. The front paws moved little by little, ever so slowly. The speed was comparable to that of a snail’s crawl.

 

At that point, the two-legged creatures, who had not paid any attention until now, raised their heads.

 

Their snow-white skin was flawless. Their delicate features boasted the golden ratio itself, and their eyes, like their hair, were as black as night.

 

Any human male would have lost their mind at the sight of such beauty, but unfortunately, the demon beast lacked the aesthetic sense to appreciate human beauty. Demon beasts generally categorize their counterparts into only two categories: hunters and prey.

 

But there was no question about who was the hunter and who was now the prey.

 

The two-legged creature spoke.

 

“A commendable spirit. But that is precisely why you are foolish.”

 

The demon beast struggled with all its might to sink even a single tooth or claw into the two-legged creature’s body. Its entire body trembled violently, but in the end, its efforts were in vain. More chains wrapped around the demon beast’s body at an even faster rate.

 

For the first time in its life, the demon beast felt fear in the white darkness that was gradually enveloping its field of vision. That was the last emotion the demon beast ever felt.

 

The demon beast collapsed onto the snowy field, resembling a mummy. The white chains served as the demon beast’s bandages and shroud. Black blood seeped out of the gaps between the tightly wound chains.

 

And so, the demon beast that had terrorized the Solyun Mountains of Aurnhilnar for over a month met its end.

 

The woman who had slain the demon beast stared down at the black blood that had splattered across the white snowfield.

 

Without moving a single hand, she began to manipulate the bundle of chains, creating a drawing. She used the white snowfield as a clean canvas, the chains as her brush, and the demon beast’s blood as her paint.

 

Just then, someone’s voice pierced through the trees.

 

“Milady! Milady Irrucil!”

 

The woman who had killed the demon beast turned her head. People were running towards her from afar. There are five knights in armor and a young woman in a robe. Irrucil, the woman, swiftly erased the drawing with a quick flick of her eyes. And just like that, the drawing disappeared.

 

Soon, the knights and the woman arrived, and the young woman gasped for breath before speaking.

 

“To venture out this far alone! Ah, without even bringing any knights!”

 

“Donna. I’m fine. See.”

 

Irrucil gathered her magic. At once, the white chains scattered, revealing the contents they had been concealing like a spider’s web cocoon. It was the demon beast’s corpse, resembling a giant bear. Donna and the knights were not surprised. They merely sighed.

 

“Milady Irrucil. I understand that you possess a manifestation ability that is unprecedented in the Zahard family. I know that you are stronger than wizards like me could ever imagine. But next time you go out, please give us some advance notice. Do you know how surprised I was when I went to wake you up in the morning?”

 

Irrucil smiled faintly.

 

“I will be careful. And I believe you have some news to deliver. Tell me.”

 

Donna sighed again. Despite her quick wit, her stubbornness made it difficult for those who followed her to catch their breath. But even so, she possessed a charm that made it impossible to disobey her in the end.

 

However, the news she had to deliver now was serious enough to make even Donna, who had been by Irrucil’s side for a long time, nervous. Donna moistened her lips and spoke.

 

“Hella-nim has returned.”

 

The faint smile that had been on Irrucil’s face vanished. She checked Donna’s expression and the faces of the other knights. Donna had said that Hella had returned.

 

“Your brother did not come with her.”

 

A voice colder than the frost sent shivers down Donna’s and the knights’ spines. Donna lowered her head.

 

“Yes. There was no sign of your brother.

 

Donna, with her head bowed, noticed that Irrucil, who was sitting on a rock, was holding something in her hand. It was a small book. The cover bore no title, and the interior bore no writing either.

 

The pages were filled with drawings. People’s portraits.

 

At that moment, Donna failed to properly identify the person in the portrait as Irrucil closed the book she had been holding and tucked it into her bosom. However, she already knew who the person was.

 

Irrucil rose from the rock.

 

“Where is she?”

 

“I believe she arrived at Zahard’s main house first. We confirmed it with the crystal ball.”

 

“Donna.”

 

“Yes, milady.”

 

“I will return first. You stay and sort things out here. The villagers can now live without fear due to the subjugation of the demon beast.

 

“Understood.”

 

Irrucil walked past them. Donna bowed her head, and the knights saluted her as they escorted her away.

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

Irrucil returned to the main house as swiftly as the wind. She entered the main gate without acknowledging the guards’ greetings. The Zahard main house and its private property were vast. It was impossible not to feel the extent of Zahard’s wealth and power.

 

All the servants, soldiers, and knights who passed by greeted their young mistress. Irrucil also ignored them, and they left to do their own work without taking offense.

 

Once inside the grand mansion, Irrucil passed through the intricate corridors and staircases without hesitation until she reached a certain room. It was the head of the family’s room. She did not knock and flung open the door.

 

Only two people were in the spacious and old-fashioned room. Lahart is Zahard’s current head, and the successor of Vladyka, Hella.

 

Lahart was sitting facing the front, with a balcony and a transparent glass door behind him, while Hella was sitting on a chair in front of him, her profile visible.

 

Lahart glanced at Irrucil, seemingly indicating her arrival, before addressing Hella.

 

“Thank you, Hella. Now go back and rest. I have prepared a room in the annex. I will notify Vladyka’s head.”

 

“I appreciate your consideration, Lord.”

 

Hella rose from her chair, bowed to Lahart, and turned around. Naturally, she came face to face with Irrucil, who had just opened the door, and Hella walked towards Irrucil. Irrucil spoke.

 

“Hella.”

 

Hella stopped. It was because Irrucil was blocking the path between the doors and did not move out of the way.

 

“Irrucil.”

 

The two women’s gazes met in the air. A twisted smile formed on Irrucil’s lips.

 

“To return alone after nearly two months. How brazen. Or perhaps, How foolish.”

 

Lahart raised his voice in anger.

 

“Irrucil! Stop it!”

 

“Father.”

 

“Stop it. Step aside. Hella has just returned from a long journey. We can talk later.”

 

“. . . . . .”

 

“Now.”

 

Irrucil gritted her teeth. She then stepped aside. With an expressionless face, Hella passed Irrucil. Then she whispered in a small voice.

 

“That person deserves to run away. It’s suffocating here.”

 

Irrucil did not grab Hella by the hair right then and there, not only because her father, Lahart, was watching, but also because she did not allow herself to be that kind of person.

 

She was a woman well-versed in decorum and manners, fully aware that relying solely on her impulses could quickly turn her into a cheap person, subject to disdain no matter how much attention she received.

 

Irrucil was Zahard’s eldest daughter, but her opponent was also Vladyka’s second daughter. And a strong successor at that. In the future, but soon, she would be standing on equal footing with her, working together to build the future. Even if she found her distasteful from head to toe, there was nothing she could do about it. Life does not always go the way one wants it to.

 

Hella walked down the corridor with a nonchalant back, then disappeared around the corner. As she entered the family room, Irrucil slammed the door shut. Lahart looked at his daughter and folded his hands on his desk, resting his forehead on them.

 

Illasil sat down heavily in the chair opposite the one Hella had been sitting in. She asked,

 

“What about Russell?”

 

“I don’t know either.”

 

“Father.”

 

After leaving traces in a city named Calisden, he completely vanished. According to Hella, he went west.”

 

West: the path leading to the central part of the continent. There were kingdoms above and below, and further beyond that, there was an empire.

 

“He intends to continue on that ridiculous world tour, doesn’t he?”

 

“It seems so. And he may even completely sever ties with us if he gets the chance. You know, Russell is more than capable of doing so.”

 

Irrucil gripped the armrests of the chair she was sitting in. The reddish-brown mahogany armrests began to show the imprint of her hands. Lahart looked at it with a gloomy expression.

 

“And I also heard something unbelievable.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Apparently, a dragon appeared in Calisden.”

 

Irrucil turned her head sharply. Lahart nodded as he watched his daughter’s black eyes tremble.

 

“Hella confirmed it. The Calisden of two months ago was apparently a scene of constant turmoil. The sudden, large-scale invasion of monsters, the dragonkin behind it, and the princess of the empire all played a significant role. It’s fitting to call it a dragon, supposedly sealed away in ancient times, a fire-breathing dragon. I knew he was courting trouble, but. . .”

 

“Russell?”

 

“He slayed the dragon.”

 

Snap. The mahogany chair armrest broke cleanly. Lahart thought. ‘It’s been a long time since I had to replace the chairs.’

 

“. . .Russell has become a dragonslayer.”

 

“Circumstantially, and practically speaking, yes. He is a tall and large man with purple-colored eyes. A handsome face. It’s not an easy face to mistake.”

 

“Of course not.”

 

Irrucil smiled as if she had received a compliment herself. However, Lahart knew that his daughter would not bat an eyelid even if someone praised her own beauty. Lahart chuckled and continued.

 

“I don’t believe he’s revealing his true identity, given that the name Zahard has never surfaced. Which is understandable. In my opinion, if someone experienced such a huge incident from the start, he’s only going to get better, not worse. But for now, there’s nothing we can do.”

 

Irrucil understood her father’s meaning.

 

“. . .You mean it’s not the right time now?”

 

“That’s right. Winter is almost here. It’s time for the demon beasts of the north to run wild. You brought one down, didn’t you?”

 

“. . .Yes.  I have dealt with the demon beast.”

 

“Good. We’ll put the search for Russell on hold for now. Now is the time for all the families to join forces. We can’t let internal matters disrupt the grand scheme of things. Did you understand?”

 

“. . .Yes, Father.”

 

“Thank you for understanding. Russell has already earned the title of dragonslayer. Rumors travel faster than the wind and permeate everywhere like water. And with his outstanding appearance, finding his whereabouts shouldn’t be difficult. Catching him is another matter altogether, though.”

 

Irrucil raised her determined face.

 

“When the time comes, I will go myself. I will bring him back, even if I have to tear his limb from his limb.”

 

“Then build up your strength. You must exert significant effort to prevent your younger brother from surpassing you.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Now go and rest. I’m going to have to spend two hours gossiping about that son of mine with the head of Vladyka.”

 

Irrucil returned to her room and collapsed onto her bed. The room was large and splendid, befitting the prestige of Zahard. Exotic art adorned the walls and tables. The furniture, meticulously inspected by the servants and arranged to harmonize with the floor, wallpaper, and ceiling, further enhanced the room’s elegance.

 

However, none of those things caught Irrucil’s eye at the moment. Hella’s exploration, which had carried even a glimmer of hope, had ended in failure.

 

Click.

 

There was the sound of teeth grinding together. Irrucil got up abruptly from grinding her teeth and took out a small book from her bosom.

 

It was a book of drawings and illustrations. From the beginning, Irrucil flipped through the pages.

 

The face of a young baby appears. The baby gradually becomes a boy, grows into a young man, and then becomes a handsome man. Her drawing skills were quite good, depicting the face in detail with distinct features. Of course, it was her own work.

 

Long handling and storage had discolored the paper in some areas. The corners were slightly worn. At first glance, it seemed like a worthless collection of illustrations that wouldn’t even sell on the market.

 

However, to Irrucil, it was a treasure among treasures, and she would not trade for anything in the room.

 

She spent a long time gazing at the drawings on the bed before falling asleep.

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

“What are you looking at so intently?”

 

Ulca inquired, gazing at the assortment of illustrations Russell was examining. Russell looked up and down.

 

“Memories.”

 

“Memories? Drawings?”

 

“It depends on who attracted them and who attracted them. This is a memory for me.”

 

“Can I see?”

 

Russell handed Ulca the collection of illustrations. She took it and began to flip through it from the beginning. Russell picked up a piece of firewood and put it in the campfire.

 

Night had fallen shortly after they left the village. The winter sun sets early. Moreover, in the depths of the forest, the sunlight receded even faster.

 

Thanks to Ulca’s sharp night vision, they were able to find a suitable camping spot without difficulty. Two large rocks leaning against each other provided shelter from the wind, and there was a nearby stream that they could use as a water source.

 

After a simple meal with the food they had brought, they decided on the order of the night watch. Russell volunteered to take the middle shift, and Hailyn and Jess took the first and second shifts.

 

Jess woke Russell with an apologetic look, and Russell replied that it was okay.

 

While on night watch, he had thought about lighting a cigarette, so he searched through his bag in his coat and found the collection of illustrations, which was one of the things he had brought from home.

 

The late night, the crackling campfire, and the countless stars in the night sky provided the kindling with an opportunity to reminisce about old memories. Ulca, who he had thought was asleep, woke up with a start, saying she couldn’t sleep, and that was the current situation.

 

Russell slowly explained to Ulca, who was looking at the figures drawn on the paper.

 

“That’s my father.”

 

“And this person?”

 

“My mother.”

 

“Who’s this woman?”

 

Russell paused for a moment. Her beauty had not faded, even though she had drawn it herself. She had an extraordinary talent for drawing, even as a child.

 

“My older sister.”

 

Irrucil. Unlike how he truly felt, the words came out flat, and Ulca moved on to the next one.

 

“Yeah. Who are these kids?”

 

“My younger siblings.”

 

“Uh-huh. And this?”

 

Ulca picked up the paper with Russell’s face drawn on it and smiled mischievously. The paper, discolored by time, depicted Russell with large horns on his head and a fierce expression with scars all over his face.

 

Ulca was able to recognize the face because only the eyes were colored purple. Russell chuckled and said,

 

“Me.”

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

Ulca giggled as she compared the drawing of Russell to the real Russell. Russell shook his head and tended to the campfire, stoking the embers.

 

With a little bit of magic, the flames flared up again, rising into the sky. The blazing embers illuminated the life of a creature less than a day old. And then it died.

 

Watching the embers, Russell thought of his older sister, Irrucil. A woman with an equally outstanding talent. She was twenty-six years old and had never engaged or married.

 

With her beauty and talent, she had received countless marriage proposals from not only the northern families but also other families, but she refused them all. She expressed her aversion to marriage.

 

Russell looked at the embers. They must be doing well. His father, his mother. His sister and his younger siblings.

 

Just then, Ulca, who had been laughing silently as she looked at the drawings, raised her head abruptly. Ulca pricked up her wolf ears and narrowed her pupils as she scanned the night sky. Ulca said.

 

“They’re coming.”

 

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