I Became a Sick Nobleman

Chapter 181: What the Great Man Seeks (2)

“Speak.”

“I don’t know what request I might make, so please be ready to move at any time.”

“Understood,” Adea responded with a troubled expression.

Noah hurriedly opened the door for Adea to depart.

“We greet the Little Sun of the Kran Kingdom.” Cassion and Aris bowed to Adea. 

Prince Adea smiled at them both and went outside.

Soon, the door closed, and Aris spoke up with a serious expression, “Ruel-nim, I’ve just returned from inspecting the barrier sealing the entrance.” Aris paused abruptly, his gaze fixed on Ruel, surprised by his swollen face. Slowly, anger began to surface on Aris’s face.

“Who did this to Ruel-nim? I will confront them.”

“No need to concern yourself,” Ruel chuckled softly. The person who did this to his face was Jayel. Aris, not one to rush into conflict, shot a reproachful look at Noah for failing to protect Ruel.

“I told you not to worry about it,” Ruel reiterated. Despite Ruel’s reassurances, Aris struggled to contain his anger.

“But…”

“Aris.”

“Yes.”

“Must I repeat myself?”

“No, I misspoke.”

Only then did Aris relax his shoulders. After the exchange between Ruel and Aris ended, Fran cautiously asked, “Lord Ruel, is it alright if I listen to the conversation you two are having?”

“No.”

At Ruel’s firm answer, Fran observed the atmosphere and cautiously placed a hand near her ear.

“Then should I at least cover my ears? No matter how I look at it, it seems like I can’t go out.”

“Fret not. Aris will manage,” Ruel assured, glancing at Aris. As Aris cast a spell, a ripple enveloped Cassion, Aris, and Ruel.

“Was the barrier what Cassion expected?” Ruel asked, and Aris nodded.

“Yes, it was a barrier allowing only those with proof of belonging to the Kran royal family to pass.”

Ruel presented the necklace gifted by Adea. “Will this suffice?”

Aris inspected the necklace and nodded promptly. “Yes, that will suffice.”

“Can you alter the barrier’s structure?”

It was crucial to leave no trace behind.

“If the formation is altered to eliminate any traces, it can be done.”

“Very well.”

Ruel turned to Cassion and asked, “It’s a short distance, but can you transport three people, or even one more?”

Ruel smiled at Leo’s eager expression, indicating he would take him with him.

“I will transport a person at a time for safety,” Cassion suggested.

Aris sighed in frustration at the limitation, wishing he could use teleportation magic like Tyson.

“Aris,” Ruel called out, stroking Leo.

“Yes, yes!” Aris was startled when Ruel called him at such a delicate moment.

“Don’t be greedy.”

“Yes…?”

Aris was flustered by Ruel’s gaze, which seemed to see through everything. 

“There’s no need to be anxious. Can’t you see I’m not increasing the escort any further?”

Increasing the number of escorts wouldn’t make a difference if they weren’t coordinated. No matter how skilled anyone was, without mutual trust and character, it was just a tall sandcastle—easily blown away.

The reason Ruel didn’t feel the need to increase the guards was that he didn’t have to. Cassion, Aris, and the shadows were enough. Only then did Aris relax his tense expression. 

“I understand. Thank you for your words…”

“Good.” Ruel inhaled Breath, waving his hand. 

Aris with an awkward expression dispelled the magic.

“Fran.”

“Yes, Lord Ruel.”

“I need you to remain here in my absence.”

“Can I take a nap then?”

Hearing a touch of bashfulness in Fran’s tone, Ruel smiled. “Certainly, make yourself at home in this room.”

Ruel glanced at Aris while inhaling Breath again. Aris slightly nodded, understanding the unspoken request to make it appear as though they were using magic for the movement.

As Cassion stood next to Ruel, Aris pretended to chant a spell, creating a sparkling effect. When Ruel vanished along with Cassion, Fran and Tierra’s faces lit up with wonder.

“Wow! Is this magic?” Fran looked at Aris.

“Wizards are truly amazing!” Tierra said, clasping her hands together, gazing at Aris.

With both women’s attention on him, Aris bowed his head and rubbed the back of his neck, his face turning red.

***

“Ruel-nim.”

Hikars greeted Ruel as he appeared. “How are you? My apologies for not visiting.”

“No need to apologize.”

—Wuo… Hick!

Ruel immediately bent his knees and grabbed Leo’s tail. Sounds echoed in the underground. Leo’s voice was quite loud, and if he wasn’t careful, they might catch the attention of the soldiers guarding the underground. At that moment, Hikars’s voice calling Ruel was heard. 

“Ruel-nim.”

Seeing Cassion disappear once again, Hikars clenched his fists tightly and said, “Since becoming a servant of Death, this is the first time I have felt such great darkness.”

Ruel, who had been examining the barrier, flinched at Hikars’s gaze. His eyes, which appeared to regard him as a god, had grown intense. He felt uncomfortable, to the point where sweat broke out on his palms. 

“Not just me, but all the servants of Death have felt the power you possess, Ruel-nim. Just as I feel now, until the day my life ends, I will serve you.”

—Ruel isn’t too fond of… Hick!

As Leo tried to say something, Ruel grabbed his tail again, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Even if the words were cut off mid-sentence, he could guess what Leo was trying to say.

Hikars awaited Ruel’s command like a soldier. Under his unwavering gaze, Ruel finally spoke. “How progresses the search for the Devotees of Darkness?”

“Progress is underway. All rescued Devotees have been escorted to Leponia.”

“Good. Ensure their protection.”

It had only been a few days, but hearing there was already progress pleased Ruel. Shortly after, Aris and Cassion arrived. Ruel handed Aris Adea’s necklace.

“Please wait for a moment.” Aris took the necklace, bowing his head.

“Ruel-nim.” As Aris deactivated the barrier, Cassion spoke up.

“Yes?”

“I’ll assign one of my subordinates to monitor Prince Adea’s situation.”

“No, that’s fine. If he can’t even handle that, he should give up his position as prince.”

“By the way, that outfit looks really good on you.”

Cassion smiled contentedly, looking at Ruel’s black attire.

Right, he had briefly forgotten. He never expected Cassion to be the first to mention it.

“Ha.” Ruel exhaled in disbelief and asked, “What are you dissatisfied with?”

“Nothing in particular. I just chose a color that wouldn’t get dirty because I thought you might do something reckless.”

Cassion’s lips curled up slightly as he pointed to his own cheek. “In the end, you went ahead and did something, didn’t you?”

“It’s being taken care of by Noah and Sir Torto. Let’s pretend you didn’t see anything.” 

“Understood,” Cassion replied with a light laugh.

“You’re quite unpredictable, Ruel-nim. I thought you hated pain, but it seems that’s not the case,” Cassion remarked.

Ruel ignored Cassion’s rants as he turned to face Aris. The undulating wall had disappeared, revealing a space. The barrier had been successfully opened.

Returning the necklace to Ruel, Aris confirmed, “The barrier is now opened. It has been concealed as per your instructions, appearing undisturbed.”

“Good,” Ruel replied before shifting his gaze towards Hikars, drawn by approaching footsteps. Driven as if by a force, he boldly stepped inside.

“This is it! This is the place!”

The moment Ruel entered, he hastily pinched his nose. A wave of foul odor hit him, making him feel like he might vomit at any moment.

“Are you alright?” Cassion asked nonchalantly.

Ruel shook his head in response.

“I can use magic to help you.”

“No. It’ll be a hassle if there are traces left.”

—This body will stay in Ruel’s arms.

Leo tried to cover his nose but unfortunately, his short legs couldn’t reach. Leo smiled contentedly once he was in Ruel’s arms.

As they progressed, squelching sounds beneath their feet hinted at a gruesome reality. Ruel looked down to see dark red blood staining the stairs, a trail that continued downward.

“Judging by how the blood has clotted, it seems like it’s been about two days.” Cassion spoke, meeting Ruel’s gaze.

“Noah mentioned the bodies were being transported to the palace, so they must have been disposed of periodically.” Ruel added, following Hikars down briefly before a troubling realization struck. He quickly pressed down on Leo’s head.

“The bodies…” Aris couldn’t continue. The scene that unfolded below was a pit filled with corpses. He didn’t want to go down there. Clenching his fist, he looked to Ruel, his clear green eyes did not waver.

“There’s a distinct smell of preservatives in the air. It appears they’ve managed to preserve the bodies to some extent. Given the winter season, it’s a convenient time for dealing with corpses, making it an opportune moment for such actions,” Cassion remarked, his gaze sweeping over the grim scene before turning to Ruel.

“Please remain here, Ruel-nim,” Cassion urged.

“No, I’m just a little nauseous.”

“No, it’s to prevent your clothes from getting soiled.”

“What?” Ruel’s eyes widened at Cassion’s words, checking back to ensure he had heard correctly. 

“It takes at least three weeks to take measurements, select fabric, and tailor it. Why would you want to ruin your clothes?”

This visit to the Kran Kingdom was official, with Ruel serving as the delegation’s representative. Naturally, he had brought his finest attire. However, no matter how dark the color, once tainted with blood, it would be irreparable. The mere thought was horrifying.

“Do you realize how absurd what you’re saying is?” Ruel pointed out, but Cassion remained steadfast in his response.

“Ruel-nim, you’ve already ruined one outfit.”

It seemed it was from the blood spilled during their time at the second line of defense.

“Anyone who hears you will think I’m so poor I can’t afford a new outfit.”

“As you know, Ruel-nim, you lose weight very easily if you overexert yourself. And because of your sensitive body, you get rashes or itching if you don’t wear specific fabrics, right?”

Ruel’s expression began to harden, and Cassion’s once impassive face displayed hints of frustration.

“Moreover, recently you’ve been insisting only on white, and it’s taken a long time just to match the colors and designs. To you, it may feel like just one outfit, but for that one outfit…”

Ruel was on the verge of bursting into laughter but quickly stifled it with his hand. It was too amusing to hear such words from Cassion.

“Ruel-nim.” Cassion frowned and tried to stop him again.

“I understand. I’ll stay here.”

Even from the top of the stairs, he could spot the peculiar magic circle etched on the wall. He wanted to inspect it closer, but Cassion’s insistence made it impossible.

“Apologies for the interruption, but I have something to share, Ruel-nim.”

Hikars, who had gone ahead to examine the magic circle, called out to Ruel from a safe distance, concerned about blood splattering onto Ruel’s attire.

“What is it?”

“I’ve encountered something similar to that magic circle before. I’m not a mage, so I can’t provide details, but that magic circle certainly absorbs death.”

Ruel wasn’t surprised, as he had already anticipated that black water would be created here. However, the fact that Hikars had seen something similar weighed on his mind.

“I’ll go take a closer look.”

Aris bowed to Ruel and proceeded towards the magic circle. Ruel observed Aris, whose expression twisted with each step, and then turned to Hikars.

“Where did you see it?”

“I saw it in the Tonisk Empire.”

“…?”

Ruel raised an eyebrow in question.

“So, the barrier set up in front of the Tonisk Empire’s main gate looks similar to that magic circle.” Ruel had never seen the barrier in the Empire. He had too much going on in his own life to pay attention to that.

“Cassion,” Ruel called for Cassion immediately.

“Yes, I have a record of the Tonisk Empire’s barrier.”

“Show me.”

Cassion put his hand in his magic pocket and rummaged briefly before pulling out a bundle of papers. After checking the classification marked on the corner of the papers, he handed a sheet to Ruel. As soon as Ruel received it, he showed it to Hikars.

“Is this it?”

“Yes, that’s the barrier.”

After receiving Hikars’ confirmation, Ruel examined the paper. 

—This body doesn’t know about this.

Leo also glanced at it, but soon flattened his ears. The intricate patterns were so complex that they made his head spin.

‘It definitely looks similar.’

The designs drawn on the magic circle were alike, but the size, direction, and position differed. However, Ruel had not studied barriers or magic circles in detail, so he couldn’t discern much more.

“Aris.”

Aris, who had been examining the magic circle, hurried over at Ruel’s call.

“How does it look?” Ruel presented him the paper.

“The inscriptions on the magic circle are complex. However, it’s clear that it absorbs something.”

“Does it resemble the magic circle carved on that wall?”

“…Hmm. Currently, they serve different purposes. The one on the paper is a defensive barrier designed to prevent something, whereas the one on the wall is a magic circle that either generates something or triggers a specific phenomenon.”

“Aris.”

“Yes?”

“Can you gather more information about the function of that magic circle?”

Aris hesitated, biting his lip. “It might take some time.”

Understanding the delay, Ruel accepted the situation.

“Aris, please contact my uncle.”

“Understood.”

This time, Aris responded promptly, perhaps viewing it as a learning experience.

“Tyson-nim.”

Aris activated the communication device.

-Aris, you look even thinner. Are you eating properly? Just because you’re taller than Ruel doesn’t mean you should eat less…

Tyson began chatting cheerfully as soon as the communication started, but he quickly shut his mouth. He had belatedly realized the situation around him.

-Aris, is the situation dangerous?

Tyson grimaced at the sight of corpses and rotten blood everywhere.

“No, I need your advice.”

-In a situation like this?

“Yes, Tyson-nim.”

-Is… Ruel there with you?

Tyson’s worry was evident in his question as Aris glanced nervously at Ruel.

How should he respond?

“That is…”

“Uncle.”

Ruel cut in and called out to Tyson.

-Ruel, you’re not getting into trouble again, are you?

Tyson sighed heavily.

“No.”

As he hesitated whether to believe this or not, Ruel smiled brightly. Tyson’s heart wavered.

“Uncle, I have a request.”

Tyson’s heart softened at the word ‘favor.’

Having given up on scolding Ruel, Tyson saw him as a beloved child regardless of the circumstances.

-Tell me what you need.

Tyson looked at Ruel with a slight expectation.

“I would like you to check these two magic circle formations. Aris will explain in detail.” 

-Formations? 

“Yes, Tyson-nim.”

Aris showed him the magic circle in the paper he had received from Cassion.

-Hmm.

As Tyson nodded, Aris turned back to the magic circle in the wall.

“From what I can see, this magic circle seems to be used to absorb something and create something. And the warlock, Mr. Hikars said that death is being absorbed here.”

-Aris, can you show me the paper with the magic circle again? 

“Yes.” Aris answered, then adjusted the position of the paper so that the magic circle and the barrier drawn on it were clearly visible.