The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 148

The Black Lion Family’s Strongest Daughter-in-Law (148)

#148.

Sensing something strange in their behavior, I asked with a suspicious look.

“Huh? Can’t you see it, Mom?”

Eve shook her head at my words, even as I pointed toward the door.

“I don’t see anything… More importantly, Father, why are you here…?”

Both of them looked bewildered and blinked in confusion when it happened.

Suddenly, the Sarvan Family Head pushed me away from Eve.

“Mom!”

“Ugh!”

Following the Sarvan Family Head were several soldiers.

The Sarvan Family Head, who had quickly subdued Eve and surrounded the area, gave a sly smile.

“So, the Clergy Leader’s words were true. To think someone who could see the door would really appear.”

‘I’ve been tricked!’

Having Eve snatched away in a moment of carelessness, I spat out, my voice cold.

“What is this all of a sudden?”

“Open the door now.”

“Give me Mom first, then we’ll talk.”

Besides, I don’t even know what will happen if I open that door, so why should I?

I had already considered the possibility of the plan going awry. I had weighed various scenarios since Zerachiel and I decided to act separately.

I spoke innocently, pretending not to know anything. I couldn’t tell how much the other side knew about our plans yet.

“Grandpa, why are you being so scary?”

But it backfired. The Sarvan Family Head frowned at my words and retorted.

“Grandpa? Don’t be absurd. Don’t tell me you actually thought I considered a dirty bastard like you a real grandchild?”

“…”

“The only reason I barely tolerated that disgusting thing was for the Clergy Leader’s sake.”

The Sarvan Family Head chuckled and held a knife to Eve’s neck. It didn’t seem like words would work.

Before I knew it, blood was flowing on her fair and delicate skin.

Just from that action, I could tell that all our plans had been revealed. Perhaps the succession ceremony was just an excuse, and the real purpose was to lure me here.

Eve seemed surprised, so it didn’t seem like she was in on it. Judging by her expression, she seemed to think she was causing trouble again by being taken hostage.

Is he really her father, holding a knife to his own daughter’s neck?

It was an action that was hard to believe came from blood relations. I crushed the last bit of expectation of kinship and said coldly.

“You’re even more trash than I thought. Isn’t Eve Sarvan the only blood relative you have left?”

“A few sacrifices are necessary for a great cause. I can always have more children. Don’t tell me you actually believed I would make you my successor.”

“So, the rule that only direct descendants could attend the succession ceremony was just an excuse from the start.”

“You could say that. It would be difficult to capture you if the Young Lord of Javisi followed you here.”

“From the beginning, the goal was to bring me here and confirm it.”

The Sarvan Family Head didn’t deny it. He even bared his yellow teeth and sneered, which made me feel unpleasant.

I frowned and glanced around.

It’s strange. Why isn’t anyone coming?

Those who should have moved as soon as they knew I was surrounded were nowhere to be seen.

Even if Ella and Heathcliff went ahead to where Ebensebe’s stone was, Ayla and Javisi’s soldiers should be here.

Then, the Sarvan Family Head spoke as if he had read my mind.

“If you’re waiting for your companions, you should give up.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’ll be wandering around in circles in the same spot because of illusion magic.”

“Ah.”

“Beastmen can never escape that illusion magic.”

“That’s amazing.”

I let out a hollow laugh at the absurd situation. I never imagined that Eve would be taken hostage, and Ayla and Javisi’s forces would be wandering around nearby in such a ridiculous situation.

“So, don’t try anything funny and open the door.”

“What’s beyond this door?”

“There will be a flower. A flower with the powerful force we’ve been longing for.”

“Ah, that ridiculous flower the Butterfly Clergy Leader is talking about?”

I deliberately scoffed, holding onto the doorknob as if to show off. Ancient words that only I could interpret were written on the door. I read them silently and turned around.

“Before I open the door, let me ask you one thing. Why are you so obsessed with that flower?”

“Because that’s how the Clergy Leader will conquer this continent.”

“As if you’re not the villain, dreaming of world domination. How boring.”

I would have shed tears if there had been a touching story, at least.

Then, Tebi spoke through the bracelet.

— I can feel a strange energy flowing from beyond that door.

Following that, Jonathan said something similar to Tebi.

— I don’t sense any ominous energy. It feels just like… when I see the Divine Beast.

— That’s right, it’s a nostalgic energy.

The Guardians chattered back and forth, getting excited. Seeing the vibrating jewels, I asked cautiously.

‘So, it’s not dangerous to open that door?’

— Hmm, I can’t say for sure… But it probably won’t be harmful to you.

Jonathan spoke ambiguously. Then, Tebi said boldly.

— They can’t see this door anyway, right? How about going in alone and stealing that flower or whatever it is?

— Goodness! Thievery is not right!

— Hmph! Says the guy who makes holes in other people’s territories!

— I, I was just doing as I was told!

— Then do as you’re told now, Elder.

— Tsk!

Even in this situation, my insides were burning as I watched the Guardians bickering. For now, it seemed like this door was meant for me, according to the Guardians.

That’s because a pure energy was overflowing from the doorknob in my hand.

“Haa.”

However, I couldn’t just relax in this situation.

It felt like I was getting involved in something troublesome. Should I open it or not?

“Don’t even think about playing tricks and open the door quietly!”

The Sarvan Family Head ordered, misunderstanding that I was trying to escape because I was hesitating. He was about to threaten Eve, so I quickly stopped him.

“I’ll open it! I’ll open it!”

Geez, you have no patience!

“N-No, Daughter!”

Eve reached out to me, pleading as I tried to open the door. I smiled at her and said.

“Stay still. You’ll only make the wound worse if you move.”

At the same time as I said those words, I scattered pheromones on the ground. It was a signal to Ella in case something happened.

I didn’t know what the Sarvan Family Head would do to Eve after I opened the door.

“H-Heuk. N-No, Daughter, please…”

“Don’t worry. I’m stronger than you think.”

“Ah…!”

“Just wait a little. I’ll be right back.”

Leaving those words behind, I turned the doorknob.

In reality, I was just talking big, but I was very nervous. I was worried that there might be danger lurking beyond the door, contrary to expectations.

But the moment I opened the door, I could rest assured.

It was because I felt a warmer energy than ever before enveloping my body through the crack in the door.

* * *

I couldn’t see for a while due to the sudden light.

It was as if something was covering my eyes, and for a moment, I only saw afterimages like heat haze.

And when my vision barely returned, I was lost for words at the sight before me.

Because it was a completely different scene from what I had imagined.

“W-What is this?”

The Javisi Castle was burning before my eyes. Collapsed ramparts and corpses scattered on top of them.

The castle, which seemed to have been captured a long time ago, was completely destroyed with nothing left.

I collapsed to the ground at the sight of the battlefield.

‘While I was confronting the Sarvan Family Head, was there a siege in Javisi Castle?’

Even though I knew that it wasn’t a castle that could be captured so quickly, my mind was paralyzed at the sight before me.

It was literally all blood-red. Just like I saw in my dream.

‘Could it be.’

Feeling a sense of déjà vu [a feeling of having already experienced the present situation], I started running madly somewhere as if possessed.