Chapter 148: Pitch-Black Clutches

The monsters that had been surging toward the Mineta Kingdom were subdued in an instant.

Those that arrived late saw the majesty of Grapios and their own kin turned to ash, and fled in a panic.

Once the danger had passed, everyone drove their swords into the ground and let out a sigh of relief.

“Is it over now?”

“Ah… you shouldn’t say things like that.”

Words that brought about a sense of foreboding.

Of course, Raion had no idea what that meant.

He merely recalled the “flag” trope that Lewis used to talk about when telling fantasy stories in his previous life.

But for now, he needed to deal with Larsen’s reaction first.

“What in the world is that?”

At some point, Larsen had imbued his pure-white sword with aura.

He looked as though he was ready to cut Grapios down right then and there.

“Hmm… I suppose I should call it my pet? Grapios! Come back!”

[Got it!]

With that, Grapios’s size began to shrink at incredible speed.

After devouring so much energy, his now-tiny body bulged out in the belly.

[Ah~! Feels good!]

“Where did you learn to say things like that?”

[I don’t know! Feels good!]

“I thought I misheard, but… can it talk?”

“As you can see.”

While the two exchanged words, Patrick, Turklan, and Deborah approached.

All of them were splattered with monster blood from the battle.

“You all did well.”

“No, sir. Are you unharmed, Master?”

“I’m fine. What about you, Princess?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? Still… that was truly dangerous.”

Princess Deborah had felt her life in peril as she fought off the endless horde.

It felt almost unreal that it was finally over.

“Thank goodness. Now then, I should ask what brings you all the way here from the Bachenan Holy Kingdom.”

Raion’s gaze returned to Larsen.

Beyond him stood other paladins and priests who had approached.

Their robes made it easy to guess their identities.

“As Messengers of Grace, we were traveling throughout the kingdoms. I suppose it’s my turn to ask now—what exactly are you? You addressed that woman as a princess earlier, did you not?”

Larsen’s mind was in complete turmoil.

He couldn’t even begin to guess their relationship.

What exactly was their connection?

Raion smiled awkwardly.

“Just passing travelers. And she’s… well, simply a princess.”

They hadn’t even entered the royal capital yet.

Troops from the palace might appear at any moment.

Since Deborah’s identity had to be hidden, he made up something vague.

“I don’t intend to pry further. For now, allow me to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, we avoided certain death.”

“I’m grateful as well. Ah, I am Marianne, High Priestess of the Bachenan Holy Kingdom.”

“High Priestess…?”

Larsen Heights was the Paladin Commander, and Marianne was the High Priestess.

In terms of rank, they were among the top ten figures of the Bachenan Holy Kingdom.

“It’s merely a title I didn’t seek. I’m no different from any other priest. But if not for all of you, we would’ve perished right before the fortress gates.”

“I’m glad we could help. Though… does the High Priestess usually accompany the Messengers of Grace?”

“Normally, no. This journey was a special exception.”

Marianne’s eyes wandered toward the armor on Raion’s chest—

She was looking at Grapios nestled inside.

“What a curious creature.”

This wasn’t just any priest—it was the High Priestess herself.

A clumsy lie might cause unnecessary suspicion.

“This is the divine beast Grapios. I was fortunate enough to form a bond with him.”

Marianne smiled knowingly.

“As I thought… the divine beast Grapios. To think I’d see in person what I only learned about in the scriptures of the Temple’s Offering.”

As she spoke, she extended her hand forward, gathering divine power at her fingertips.

The plump Grapios poked his head out.

[Delicious smell! Delicious smell! Can I eat it? Can I eat it?]

“Does it smell that good?”

[Smells great!]

Grapios licked his lips, ready to pounce.

It was a sight Raion had never seen before.

“Will it be all right?”

“The divine beast Grapios feeds on the source of life… just as it’s written in the holy verses.”

Divine power was a force that restored life.

Naturally, Grapios couldn’t resist salivating over it.

“You may eat.”

[Thank you! Thank you!]

Slurp!

The divine power condensed in Marianne’s hand was sucked into Grapios’s mouth like water being drained.

[Delicious! Delicious!]

“You still have room to eat after devouring all that?”

[Too delicious!]

“Truly incredible. All right, rest for now.”

It was time to assess the situation.

Raion drew his sword once more and stepped forward.

Larsen and Marianne looked puzzled.

“What is it?”

“Something still remains…”

Marianne’s words trailed off as her eyes shifted toward the mountains in the west.

At that very moment—

A massive surge of energy erupted beyond the mountains.

Shwaaaaa!

‘As I thought!’

Raion channeled aura into his sword and swung mightily.

A blue arc collided with the approaching energy and exploded midair.

BOOOOM—!

The clash split the dark night sky with streaks of black and blue light.

“What was that just now?”

Larsen felt a dreadful aura from the energy that had just flown past.

If it had been aimed at him, he doubted he could have blocked it.

“That was the source of the monster outbreak.”

“There was a cause behind it?”

“For now, it would be best if everyone retreats as far back as possible.”

Shrrring…

Raion’s sword rose sharply, the blade gleaming.

From the scorched remains of the forest, a black human figure walked out.

Step. Step.

A being whose whole body radiated a black aura.

He wore a blue tuxedo—refined and elegant like a nobleman of high rank.

From his lips flowed a cold yet graceful voice.

“To think a mere human could block my great power with just a sword… I never imagined such a being existed in the Middle Realm.”

He had jet-black hair and a face so fine it could be mistaken for that of a stag—an otherworldly beauty.

His narrow eyes moved languidly as he scanned Raion and the others.

Even his gaze alone seemed to crush the air around them.

Feeling that pressure, Larsen, Marianne, and the others could only watch in silence.

“Who are you? Judging by how you controlled the monsters, you must be their leader.”

Raion could still sense a sinister presence emanating from him.

A pitch-black mass—if one stared too long, it felt like they would be swallowed whole.

“My name is Decarsen Falkahn. I serve Him as one of His hands, and I have come to retrieve the Offering that resides with you.”

Decarsen pointed toward Raion’s chest.

It wasn’t hard to guess what he meant by “Offering.”

‘He must mean Grapios.’

The Temple’s Offering—the same that suspicious priests from Fanir had once revered.

If this being desired it, then he was surely connected to the Dior Empire.

“And who might this ‘He’ be that you serve?”

“One beyond description through mortal words. Now, hand over the Offering quietly, and I shall grant you the mercy of a painless death.”

Even in his calm tone, murderous intent seeped through.

He was not one to make idle threats.

Raion did not loosen his grip on his sword.

“Everyone, get back as far as you can.”

“I’ll help.”

Larsen stepped in behind Raion.

In all his years living by the sword, he had never felt such an oppressive force.

The man who called himself Decarsen radiated pure terror.

“If you think you can endure it.”

Patrick and Deborah had already fallen back.

They knew full well that their skills would be useless here.

Turklan, however, stood beside Larsen.

“I’ll do what I can to help.”

“Not afraid?”

“I don’t know what he is—but I’ll have to try.”

Their brief exchange ended as Decarsen raised his right hand.

The same pitch-black energy as before erupted, streaming toward Raion.

Shwaaaaa! Chaaaaa!

The black light split apart along Raion’s blade.

“Ghhhk!”

The weight of the impact was tremendous.

Even those standing behind—Turklan and Larsen—were struck by the shockwave.

Though they managed to block with their swords, their feet slid backward.

“Master, don’t mind us! We’re fine!”

It was Patrick shouting.

He now stood beside the priests and paladins, twin daggers glowing with aura.

They too had barely managed to withstand the earlier blast.

“Can you hold on?”

“Don’t worry about us.”

“This wasn’t part of the plan… well, no helping it. Engraving—Gravity Shield.”

A vast sigil spread across the ground beneath Patrick and the others, forming a translucent, hemispherical barrier.

Larsen and Turklan gasped at the sight.

“…Magic?”

“Indeed. And high-circle magic at that…”

Even Decarsen, watching from afar as his attack was blocked, raised an eyebrow.

“Oh ho… a human who wields aura and magic both? Fascinating. I take it that means you won’t be surrendering the Offering quietly.”

A cold grin curved Decarsen’s lips.

And then—he vanished.

Swish—! Claaaang!

Appearing behind Raion, Decarsen drew his jet-black blade and struck.

Raion parried and deflected the blow upward.

‘Where the hell did this guy come from?’

Raion had reached a formidable level in both swordsmanship and magic.

He was confident he could fight an entire kingdom if necessary.

Yet now—he had to muster all his strength just to block a single strike.

“To be daydreaming before your enemy—how bold!”

In a blink, Decarsen appeared at Raion’s back, his black sword slashing down.

Boom—!

Even in that instant, Raion raised his sword to block.

Crackkk!

The two blades locked, power colliding head-on.

As the ground trembled, Turklan and Larsen drove their swords into the earth to stop themselves from being blown away.

All the while, Raion and Decarsen’s blades clashed in a fierce deadlock.

“I’d love to enjoy this longer, but I must deliver the Offering to Him—so let’s end this here.”

Decarsen leapt back, gathering dense black energy in his sword.

As the power grew, his lips began to whisper a chant.

“This much will leave the Offering intact… Teh Ebon (Blade of Darkness).”

When he swung his sword, dozens of black blades formed in the air and rained down.

Shwaaaaa! Boom-boom-boom-boom!

The violent sound shook the earth.

As dawn began to break, the rising sun cast light over the clouds of dust filling the sky.

A faint smile crossed Decarsen’s lips as he landed.

There was no doubt in his mind about the outcome of his attack.

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