How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 145

“H-Here it is.”

The guy who introduced himself as Kalandart led Ilia and me to a place that seemed to be his dwelling.

A small, quaint log cabin that looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale stood alone in the middle of the forest. It might sound romantic in a story, but in reality, it felt more like an abandoned haunted house in a remote valley.

“This is…”

“M-My house.”

‘What kind of housewarming is this, out of the blue?’ I thought. And to a haunted house where a ghost might pop out any second.

I quietly glanced at Ilia beside me, who was also wearing a bizarre expression.

“I-It’s cold outside at n-night…”

At Kalandart’s stammering words, I forced a smile and nodded.

“I’m very grateful.”

“Hee, hee…”

Watching him scratch the back of his head with embarrassment at my compliment, I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘I never expected this kind of development.’

I had many thoughts when I first headed here.

What to do if he didn’t cooperate willingly.

I made several plans and also prepared for when those plans failed. I tried to put everything within my expected range, and I thought I had succeeded.

But that expectation was beautifully shattered.

A druid who’s afraid and shy around humans? And inviting someone to his house as soon as he meets them? What’s that about?

If this guy is a pure druid and not a hybrid, he must be a mutant.

Creak-

The guy who slowly walked over and opened the door of the cabin caused the hinges to scream. This house really doesn’t deviate from expectations at all.

“I-It’s humble, but…”

Kalandart, using a common expression that humans would use, led Ilia and me inside, guided us to the living room, and sat down next to the table.

Well, I was bewildered, but if I only look at his intentions, he didn’t seem like a bad guy. Rather, I wanted to give him a good score because he didn’t have the pretentious atmosphere unique to nobles.

However, there was one problem: the only chair in this house was the one he occupied.

“…”

“…”

So what?

After he and we just stared blankly at each other for a while, the guy belatedly realized his mistake and hurriedly ran out of the house.

Ilia and I, who were suddenly left alone in the house without an owner, exchanged glances for a moment and then sighed.

“Young Master.”

“Don’t say any more. My head is also complicated.”

“…”

With a throbbing headache, I rubbed my temples with my thumb and looked around the house.

Really, it’s an unbelievable place for someone to live. There are spiders dangling from the ceiling, and a couple of mice under the bed are squeaking and looking up at me.

‘I’m going crazy. I wonder what the heck this guy does,’ I thought.

Could it be that he deceived me? Is he really a necromancer?

Isn’t a necromancer a profession that feels like an intellectual with an extraordinary mind who tricks others?

It was then, as I was feeling confused by the creeping distrust and looking around the inside of the house.

‘Hmm?’

There was something that looked like a door in the corner.

Well, considering the size of the house I saw from the outside, the living room was excessively small. So that means that room is quite large.

Is it a bedroom? But there’s a bed in the living room.

Then a storage room? But if you need a storage room, you usually build it separately outside the house, right?

With rising questions, I cautiously approached the door.

“…Young Master?”

At the call that seemed to be saying, ‘Is it okay to rummage around so carelessly after being invited to someone else’s house?’, I shrugged my shoulders.

“Honestly, you’re suspicious too. Aren’t you?”

“…”

Ilia, who initially tried to refute something, soon shut her mouth and turned her head slightly away.

That’s right. It seemed that Ilia also doubted whether Kalandart was really a proper guy.

Anyway, I can’t just let it go since I don’t know what’s behind that clumsy appearance.

Having made a decision, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

Creak-

Beyond the opened door was nothing but darkness.

The moonlight that came in through the living room window only faintly illuminated the doorway.

‘How can it be this dark?’ I wondered.

‘There doesn’t seem to be a single window.’

Usually, one window is essential for ventilation. Especially in such a large room.

Could he be hiding something?

At the thought that I could find out the true nature of that foolish guy, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘Of course.’

There’s no way he’s a clumsy fool with such abilities.

You sly bastard. Smiling with that face.

With a victorious smile, I stepped into the middle of the room and closed my eyes for a moment before opening them.

It doesn’t matter that the room is dark. I’m immune to darkness in the first place.

As the Dark Sight quietly opened, my vision slowly began to clear. If anyone saw my eyes, it would probably look like ink spreading.

Having completely adapted to the darkness in just a few seconds, I proudly looked around.

But the scenery inside the room was different from my expectations.

The scene I had imagined wasn’t there. It wasn’t a place where a curse ritual was performed, nor was it a place where cruel experiments were conducted.

In the middle of the room, there was only an easel, which is used to support canvases.

“…”

And the four walls were covered with dozens, hundreds of Rahennas [presumably portraits or images of Rahenna] without a single gap.

* * *

Ilia cautiously asked me as I came out of the bizarre room.

“Was there anything suspicious?”

“…”

How should I explain this?

That room is a place where very private and secret hobbies are displayed? And that hobby is a crazy fanboy’s obsessive devotion?

I can’t say it, no matter what.

“It’s better not to know.”

“…Excuse me?”

Thud!

Kalandart opened the door and entered at a good time. In his arms, he was holding two round wooden blocks that could be used as chairs.

“F-For now, at least this…”

Ilia and I carefully took the wooden blocks he offered and sat down in front of the table.

That’s how we gathered with the table in the middle.

“…”

“…”

“…”

A subtle silence flowed.

I was quietly trying to sort out my confused mind. Ilia didn’t seem to have anything to say either, since I was keeping my mouth shut.

Kalandart? He’s just sitting there smiling.

Well, anyway, let’s sort it out for now.

Rahenna sent me to this stalker-like guy. She said that if I wanted to get what I wanted, I had to pass the test he would give.

Yes. Let’s just think about that. Let’s put aside the reason why this guy has this personality and what the heck that room looks like.

‘It’s right to go straight to the point.’

Because it seems like it’ll be even more of a headache if I beat around the bush.

Nodding, I raised my head and looked straight at Kalandart.

“We came because Rahenna sent us.”

“Ah, I heard earlier, so I k-know.”

“She told you to give this. Then you’ll give us a test.”

“T-Test? W-What for?”

“I had something I wanted from Rahenna. She said this was a condition to get it.”

“W-Want?”

As I reached out my hand, Ilia took out a scroll from her bag and handed it to me.

I took it and held it out to Kalandart, who was eagerly looking at the scroll, and opened my mouth.

“The Crest of Hashunar.”

“H-Hashunar?”

“Yes.”

For the first time, a bit of seriousness settled on the face of the guy who had only been clumsy.

“H-How can a human h-have that?”

“Let’s read it first and then talk about the details.”

At my words, Kalandart flinched his shoulders and received the scroll.

I couldn’t read it until now because Rahenna had placed a seal on it.

But now, I was filled with anticipation at the thought that I could know what it said.

‘What’s it about? It’s probably a story about the test.’

Kalandart, who received the scroll, began to draw out some kind of energy.

The energy that rose through his hands consumed the scroll, and soon the seal was released, and it slowly began to unfold.

“…”

Kalandart began to read the scroll that was finally fully unfolded.

His face changed subtly as he did so. The light smile disappeared, leaving only a small sense of embarrassment.

‘What the heck is it about?’

“R-Really, did R-Rahenna write this?”

“I’m telling you, yes.”

“T-Then, I c-can’t help it.”

Kalandart, who had been hesitating, nodded at the words that it was Rahenna’s definite message.

“What’s it about?”

“I-It’s okay if you l-look at it directly.”

Kalandart, who nodded, turned the unfolded scroll halfway and handed it to me.

Thanks to that, the contents of the scroll were clearly revealed, and naturally, Ilia’s and my gazes turned to it.

[Kalandart, the one who found you is a human who proposed a deal with us. And the elders, including me, have decided to accept the deal.]

It was a good start.

I would guarantee a new territory with autonomy for the druids in the future, and the druids would get a powerful force, the crest.

It was finally the moment when Rahenna revealed that a deal had been made to demand what each other wanted.

But the following content gradually hardened my expression.

[But you also know that there are qualifications that must be met to obtain the crest.]

Proper qualifications?

[Test whether they are suitable. And if they pass, let me know.]

That’s how the contents of the scroll ended. The really important substance was missing.

So what kind of test are you going to give?

On the other hand, Kalandart reached out his hand to me, looking like he knew perfectly what to do.

“F-First, u-untie your sword.”

“What? My sword?”

“That sword c-can’t be used for the test.”

What is it? Did he recognize Aphen?

Well, Rahenna also realized that Aphen had a mysterious power when we first met. It’s probably some kind of energy that only druids can feel.

As I untied the scabbard and placed it on the table, Kalandart nodded.

“G-Good.”

“Is it a test that doesn’t require weapons?”

“N-Not really.”

This time, Kalandart took out a dagger from his chest and handed it to me.

It had a simple appearance that couldn’t be found in decorations, but strangely, the blade was black.

“W-With this, you’ll be a-able to cut.”

‘Able to cut? What?’

Leaving my question behind, Kalandart continued to speak.

“The crest you w-want is Hashunar’s.”

“…”

“So to g-get it, you have to be r-recognized by Hashunar. Because he’s the owner.”

“But Hashunar is dead, isn’t he?”

“T-That’s right.”

“So you’re not telling me to get permission from hell, are you?”

“Y-You don’t have to g-go to hell.”

“Then?”

“I-I’m a necromancer.”

Wait a minute. Why do I suddenly have such an uneasy feeling?

And is it just my imagination that the energy flowing from Kalandart is getting stronger and stronger?

“…Are you saying now?”

“Survive and cut him down, and you’ll p-pass.”

“Survive? From whom? Are you telling me now?”

“I just told you.”

Swoosh…

The black energy that had been flowing from Kalandart began to fill the house like the smoke of dry ice.

“You have to be recognized by him.”

Kalandart no longer stuttered.

Kalandart, whose eyes were filled with black light, reached out his hand.

Whoosh!

Then, the black energy that had been thickly laid on the floor began to spread in all directions.

And I felt it.

A powerful presence that wasn’t there a moment ago, but is now clearly felt somewhere.

“The test has begun, Cain Lindayer.”

I looked at Kalandart at the sound of him calling me.

And the moment I made eye contact with him, the entire world I belonged to was dyed black.