My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 132

§ 132. The Scarred Place (1)

Darkness painted the entire landscape.

Pitch-black darkness completely obscured everything.

There was only darkness, so thick that you couldn’t see an inch in front of your face, even with your hand outstretched.

But this darkness felt different.

The darkness of the Demon Realm, as manifested by Asran Diaz, had a damp, oppressive feeling that was absent here.

It wasn’t evil or ominous.

Nor was it frightening or terrifying.

It was like the night sky at quiet dawn.

The darkness that blankets the end of a tiring day.

Only coziness and warmth emanated from it.

A deep silence descended.

Not a single sound escaped.

As if sound was swallowed by the darkness.

Or perhaps no sound could exist within it.

The draped darkness offered no answers.

Swoosh─!

Suddenly, the darkness scattered, revealing the familiar landscape.

Everything in the world began to return to its proper place.

The purple sky shifted back to blue.

The greenish sun blazed once more with yellow flames.

The red earth reverted to a barren wasteland.

The reversed reality of the five senses corrected itself, and the natural laws of the world resumed their functions.

The shadow monsters had vanished without a trace.

All the surging negative emotions had also disappeared.

The manifested Demon Realm dissipated.

The colors of the earth and sky returned to their original order.

People stared blankly at the scene.

No one, not a single person, uttered a word.

Their minds, their consciousness, struggled to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

At that moment.

Crack─!

The sound of a crack echoed through the air.

People’s gazes instinctively turned towards the source of the sound.

There stood Asran Diaz, holding Insteez.

Red magic power was gathering in Asran Diaz’s outstretched hand.

However, the red magic power was directed towards empty air.

As if someone were there, Asran Diaz was reaching out towards the void.

Crackle─!

The sound of a crack echoed again.

Insteez, which Asran Diaz was holding, was now covered in fine, spiderweb-like cracks.

At that moment.

Clang!

Insteez shattered into pieces.

And simultaneously.

【”Kuaaaaaaaaah─!!!!”】

Asran Diaz unleashed a terrible scream.

Red magic power erupted from Asran Diaz’s entire body.

The expelled red magic power surged towards Insteez, but the shattered pieces could not contain it.

“Kuaaaaaaaaack!!!”

Asran Diaz’s screams continued, but his voice was different now.

No longer a grotesque sound, but Asran Diaz’s own voice.

Asran Diaz’s eyes, which had been glowing red, were now black.

Kwaaaaaaaaah─!!

The magic power, now without a vessel, began to scatter in all directions.

A fierce storm of magic power raged.

“Su, surely···! Another rampage···?”

Someone shouted at the sight.

But they quickly silenced themselves at the voice that followed.

“It’s not a rampage··· it’s just that the magic power is returning to where it originally should be···.”

Looking towards that speaker.

There stood Panat, staring blankly at the scene before him.

“Insteez shattered, losing control of the power. That magic power is just uncontrolled magic power; it’s different from a rampage.”

A rampage is an artificial force.

There was no rampage in magic power and mana [the fundamental energy of the world] that existed in a natural state.

Mana is the source that constitutes the world’s materials.

Mana simply moved freely.

Placing that mana under artificial control and detonating it.

That was the principle of a magic power rampage.

So, magic power that had lost control like now could not cause a rampage.

It was just mana moving freely.

However, the magic power that Insteez controlled was immense.

Therefore, the scattering mana was also immense.

Both in terms of power and visually, it was perceived as a rampage.

Soon, Panat’s gaze slowly turned to one side.

“Kueueueuk···!”

Asran Diaz still looked to be in pain.

But the screaming had subsided, so he seemed better than before.

The madness and evil power that had dominated Asran Diaz.

As the magic power that had lost control scattered, that also scattered.

The reason that was possible was one.

Insteez, lying on the floor, came into Panat’s view.

To be exact, only the remnants of what ‘was’ Insteez were scattered on the floor.

“How could···.”

Panat muttered to himself without realizing it.

He simply couldn’t believe it···.

The power residing in Insteez was truly transcendent.

And Asran Diaz, who used that power, was also transcendent.

Asran Diaz was the worst and most heinous evil.

In fact, there was no way to stop him.

An evil that would be remembered beyond the North, in the Empire, on the continent.

Lorcilt and Elandur.

All the families of the Empire and the power of the Imperial Family.

Would it have been possible to stop him even by mobilizing all the power of the Charlotte Empire?

Asran Diaz was such a terrible evil that it would have been better if Insteez’s magic power had rampaged and half of the North had been blown away.

A magician who understands phenomena and manipulates laws.

The possibility that Panat defined was 0%.

The possibility of confronting Asran Diaz.

The possibility of overcoming that situation.

It wasn’t even close to 0%.

It was literally 0%.

A non-existent possibility.

It was the same no matter who came.

The head of the family, Egret Lorcilt.

The strongest archmage in existence who had reached the 8th Circle [a measure of magical power].

Even if he came, the 0% possibility would not be overturned.

A non-existent possibility.

0% means such a possibility.

An absolute law that can never be overturned.

But now.

That possibility was overturned.

A 0% possibility, a possibility that could not exist.

It was now appearing as reality before his eyes.

“Ho, how could···.”

Panat couldn’t escape from the shock.

And that wasn’t just Panat.

“I couldn’t··· see it.”

Osly muttered quietly.

In the midst of the raging storm of magic power.

Osly was supporting himself with his greatsword, looking ahead.

He couldn’t see it.

He couldn’t understand it either.

Osly, a master of the intermediate level.

What Osly saw, what he could see, was nothing.

Just a streak of ink-black flash.

That was all Osly could see and understand of the scene.

Something unfolded outside the realm of perception.

Osly couldn’t understand it.

“Wh, what on earth···.”

“No way··· no way···.”

The emotion of astonishment couldn’t even permeate people’s faces.

The feeling of facing something that shouldn’t exist.

The contradiction of that inconsistent reason was eroding people’s minds.

How on earth.

Did they create this contradiction?

People couldn’t answer this question.

Even Panat, who was called the star of the Empire, couldn’t answer.

Because he couldn’t see it either.

Because he couldn’t perceive it.

People saw only two things.

Therefore, there was only one question they could answer.

Who created this contradiction?

People’s gazes all turned to one place.

Behind Asran Diaz.

There lay a man sprawled out.

His entire body was covered in blood, making it difficult to recognize his form.

Blood was constantly flowing from his pierced abdomen.

Blood was also flowing from every hole in his face.

Was he even alive?

Was he already dead?

The man’s appearance was so terrible that such questions arose.

No movement was felt.

-My Lord!!

“Lord!”

Kendrick and Ruben’s knights rushed towards Cyan.

#

“It’s okay, Cyan. Everything will be alright.”

Cyan’s mother, Cecil, said to Cyan.

A warm smile was on her face.

Cyan looked at that smile and thought.

Ah, this is a dream.

Cyan’s mother died when he was young.

This is a dream of those nostalgic times when his mother was still alive.

At first, he was overjoyed.

But now, he is indifferent enough to know it’s a lucid dream at once.

Because he’s had it so many times.

More than that, this dream.

It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve had it.

Maybe··· I haven’t had it since I became the lord of Ruben.

“Mom is okay. Mom is fine because we have Cyan.”

Cecil’s words were heard.

Cecil, who always had the words ‘I’m okay’ on her lips.

But now he knew.

The young Cyan at the time didn’t know.

And the Cyan in the previous dreams probably didn’t know well either.

But the current Cyan knew.

The treatment Cyan received when he went to the Elandur mansion.

The emotions he felt from having a private meeting with Durak.

What kind of treatment Cecil had received.

And what kind of pain she had endured.

The current Cyan knew.

“It’s okay. Everything will be alright.”

Cecil’s continued words.

Cyan smiled bitterly.

Dreams are so cruel.

Just when you’re about to forget, they bring back those memories.

Even the same content, the same words are repeated every time.

I wish I could see a slightly different version of my mother.

I wish I could bring back other memories of the past.

Why is the same dream repeated for some reason?

“Cyan. Love people, have pity on them, and care for them. This is how Cyan can live like a noble.”

Mom can’t, but···.

Cecil muttered the last words quietly.

Cecil’s gaze turned slightly downwards.

In the past dreams, Cyan would hug Cecil every time.

And then he would answer, ‘Yes, I will definitely do that.’

Every time, his mother’s smiling face was truly beautiful.

But a sight he can never see again.

Cyan slowly approached Cecil.

And instead of hugging Cecil, he sat next to her.

“Mother. You know, I became the lord of a territory called Ruben.”

The same dream, a slightly different content.

Cecil’s eyes widened.

“At first, I thought, what kind of trash territory is that? But really··· it’s hard to believe, but···.”

Cecil smiled gently at Cyan’s words.

The Cecil that Cecil sees is not the current Cyan.

The Cecil in the dream, the Cyan in the dream.

Still young, they remain in that frozen time.

Therefore, Cyan’s words that he became a lord.

Believing that would be foolish.

But Cyan continued to tell her what had happened.

“Oh my. When did you become a lord without telling Mom?”

Even so, Cecil chimed in with Cyan’s words.

She deeply sympathized with Cyan’s story and listened attentively.

“Then a merchant named Amelia came to Ruben···. Ah, Mother. You know the Brahe family, right? The great merchants of the West, the Brahe Merchant Guild.”

Numerous events that had passed by.

The things Cyan felt and realized in them.

It was a truly long story.

But Cecil never interrupted Cyan’s story.

“Then I came all the way to the North. Ah, now that I think about it, I wonder if Asran Diaz is okay. He was aiming for Insteez, but I hope he wasn’t hurt. That wouldn’t be good. Sera··· might be very upset. She’s already lost all her family.”

Cyan wore a worried expression.

Cecil quietly looked at such Cyan.

“Our Cyan. You’ve become a really wonderful lord.”

And Cecil’s voice was heard.

Cecil continued to speak once more.

“Cyan, I’m sorry. For being born as the son of this incompetent mother. And thank you···.”

Cecil raised her hand and stroked Cyan’s cheek.

Even though it was just a dream.

A warm energy was felt throughout his cheek.

“Thank you so much for letting me live as the mother of such a wonderful son, Cyan.”

Cecil looked at Cyan with a wistful gaze.

Cyan looked at such Cecil and hugged Cecil tightly.

Then Cecil looked slightly surprised.

Soon, her smiling face was beautiful as always.

A sight he can never see again.

It’s about time to wake up.

Dreams are just dreams after all.

And an irreversible past.

“If I ever get the chance, I’ll introduce you to the people of Ruben.”

“Really? Then I’ll be looking forward to it.”

The dream flows like a dream.

Soon, the floating spirit returns.

“Ugh···.”

Cyan felt a dizzying headache and was able to grasp his consciousness.

A dazed mind.

Consciousness had returned, but the mind was still hazy.

Cyan couldn’t come to his senses for a while and twitched a few times.

How much time had passed like that?

As his mind returned, Cyan slowly opened his eyes.

And what he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

It was a wooden ceiling.

Cyan slowly turned his gaze to the side.

Then the scenery of a house decorated entirely with wood came into view.

A room of a moderate size, probably about 33 square meters [pyeong is a Korean unit of area].

Judging from the looks of it, it wasn’t just decorated with wood, but it seemed like he was inside a tree.

It seems to be a Dark Elf village···.

Cyan once again turned his gaze to the side.

Then he saw the figure of a woman sitting with her back turned.

Black hair flowing down over her shoulders.

Skin as white as snow, visible on her neck.

The downy hair was as fluffy as a child’s, and the pores were so small that they were not visible to the naked eye, so there were no blemishes at all.

“Sera?”

As Cyan muttered, the woman slowly turned her head.

Her face was small, her nose was straight.

Her black eyes were large and full of life, a beauty.

It was Sera after all.

“Yes. Cyan.”

Sera looked at Cyan and nodded.

Then she paused.

“Cy··· an···?”

Sera’s black eyes widened greatly.

Soon, her mouth opened wide as well.

“Cyan!!!!”

With a great shout, Sera jumped into Cyan’s arms.

“Cough!”

Cyan burst out in pain at Sera’s sudden action.

His mind had returned, but his body hadn’t yet!

The body that had shattered in the extreme instant.

The muscles throughout his body were still trembling.

He didn’t know how many of his ribs were broken, but a terrible pain surged every time he breathed.

“Cyan. Cyan!”

In that state of body, Sera was hugging him and rubbing against him.

“Cough cough!”

Cyan felt like he was about to faint!

Get out of the way! I feel like I’m going to die!

Cyan shouted inwardly, but no voice came out.

“Cyan. I thought you were going to die. I really thought you were going to die···.”

Sera was sobbing in Cyan’s arms.

Right now, Sera, you’re killing me!

At this rate, I might really die!

Cyan kept shouting, but no voice came out.

If this goes on, I might die.

At that moment when that thought dominated his mind.

-Is Cyan here?

-Yes.

A voice of salvation was heard from outside the door.

Knock knock.

-May I come in for a moment?

A light knocking sound was heard along with the voice beyond the door.

But Sera didn’t seem to hear that sound.

Sera was still sobbing in Cyan’s arms.

-It seems the elf is away for a moment.

-Then I may come in for a moment.

Soon, with a click, the door opened.

And two figures appeared.

One was a knight with a huge build like a bear.

Osly, the Margrave of the North.

And a figure with such Osly.

That was a figure that was truly beyond Cyan’s expectations.

A handsome blond man in neat attire.

He was not much older than Cyan, but he naturally exuded dignity and grace.

His Highness the Crown Prince?

The Empire’s second-in-command, Crown Prince Conrad.

He was standing in front of the door.

Your Highness···?

Cyan said with a question mark on his face.

But it was only uttered inwardly.

“Cough···!”

What actually came out as a sound was a groan of pain.

Conrad tilted his head at such Cyan’s appearance.

“······ Hmm?”

Conrad couldn’t understand the situation before him.

Only then did Sera stop her rubbing movements.

But she only turned her head slightly while still in Cyan’s arms.

And then she found Osly and Conrad and tilted her head.

Sera pointed at Conrad with her finger and asked Osly.

“Bear Uncle. Who is it?”

“He is His Highness the Crown Prince of the Empire. Show some respect.”

“Crown Prince? What’s that?”

Sera tilted her head to the other side.

Then Osly sighed deeply.

Cyan was slightly surprised at that sight.

He thought he would get angry, but somehow Osly had become a little more lenient.

“Like your Dark Elf’s forest keeper···.”

“That’s enough. We can’t force human culture on elves.”

But Osly closed his mouth at Conrad’s words that followed.

Conrad turned his gaze back to the front.

Cyan lying on the bed and Sera hugging him.

And why is it.

“Huff···! Huff···!”

Cyan was breathing heavily.

His hair was wet with cold sweat that had flowed down.

It was as if he had been doing something intense.

Conrad recalled the situation where he hadn’t even heard the knocking sound just now and said.

“I interrupted─.”

In an instant, Conrad’s words stopped.

With a gaze that he had turned with difficulty, Conrad was looking at Cyan with a complex and subtle expression.

A feeling that was sorry, but also somehow resentful.

It was a look as if those contradictory emotions were mixed.

I don’t know why there is a resentful feeling mixed in.

But Conrad was like looking at a brother-in-law who was cheating···?

“You···!!”

That unknown resentful voice was directed at Cyan.