Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock Chapter 249 - I am a Saint (2)

 

“But, Young Master,” Hume suddenly spoke up.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Just how remarkable is the name ‘Cronia’?”

 

Lucion chuckled. “Ah, right. You didn’t get to see it last time, did you? Well, let me put it this way—it’s enough to stand up to a prince.”

 

He was, of course, referring to the fourth prince, Owen.

 

“Although, to be honest, I only found that out during one of the rare times Father forced me to attend a banquet.”

 

[He went fully cloaked, looking like some kind of assassin.]

 

Russell shook his head slightly as he recalled the memory.

 

“That was… well, I still feel this way now, but back then, I had no confidence in my face. Everyone called me a monster.”

 

[Huh.]

 

Russell sighed deeply, struggling to contain his anger at the thought.

 

“Back then, I thought the name ‘Cronia’ was as worthless as the insults people threw at me—something anyone could mock without consequence.”

 

“Did the head of the family just let that happen?”

 

“Let’s see. I might have hit a few people over the head with bottles. As for the others… hmm, I’m not sure. They disappeared after that.”

 

“Wait… you, Young Master?”

 

Hume stared at Lucion, dumbfounded. The image of his calm and composed master was impossible to reconcile with the story he was telling.

 

―Ratta knows! Lucion swung it with a ‘whoosh,’ and people fell to the ground with a ‘thud!’

 

[Now that you mention it, I always thought the way Lord Lucion handled a sword seemed unusually natural. That explains it,] Bethel said, as if a long-standing mystery had just been solved.

 

Lucion flinched, furrowing his brow as he glanced out the window.

 

‘Feels like something big just happened.’

 

[It’s Carson,] Bethel remarked.

 

[Oh, he’s definitely putting on the pressure. After all, Carson held off dozens of warlocks during the Magic Tower incident. The outcome here feels obvious, doesn’t it?]

 

Russell crossed his arms and spoke leisurely.

 

Moments later, Lucion’s eyes widened.

 

‘The light… disappeared?’

 

[The light… vanished?]

 

Russell’s voice trembled slightly, his eyes widening in disbelief.

 

[This is insane! Of all places, the Great Light Temple, and the light is gone? I thought he’d just pressure them, not extinguish the light entirely!]

 

It was undeniably Carson’s doing.

 

[Look there, it’s Carson,] Bethel said, pointing ahead.

 

As Lucion squinted, he saw Carson approaching from the distance. In the blink of an eye, Carson appeared right in front of the carriage, startling Lucion.

 

“…!”

 

Gulp.

 

‘The fact that I only got lightly stabbed by my brother’s sword… I must have been ridiculously lucky, huh?’

 

Lucion swallowed nervously as a thought crept into his mind: Maybe he went easy on me.

 

As Hume opened the carriage door, Carson smiled and said, “The light has vanished. You can come out now.”

 

“The light… vanished?”

 

“I reached a compromise.”

 

[It’s probably a threat,] Russell muttered, eyeing the remnants of mana flickering faintly in the air.

 

“Is this really okay?” Lucion asked hesitantly, but Carson’s confident smile didn’t waver.

 

“Didn’t I tell you? The name ‘Cronia’ carries weight.”

 

“That’s incredible, First Young Master!” Hume exclaimed, his admiration clear.

 

Carson’s lips curled slightly in response.

 

‘Well, my brother isn’t reckless. If this is how he handles it, I’ll go along with it,’ Lucion thought.

 

“Let’s get going.”

 

* * *

 

―It’s Uncle Troy!

 

Ratta walked happily, her tail raised high.

 

―Uncle Troy’s up ahead! Hehe! Ratta is so excited!

 

“Lucion!” Heint’s voice rang out the moment he spotted Lucion near the entrance. “That bastard—no, your brother—is insane!”

 

“Watch your words, Heint,” Carson interjected, his brows furrowing.

 

“Watch what? For heaven’s sake, he’s the only one who released mana with clear intent to kill the High Priest! He’s insane!”

 

“I haven’t drawn my sword,” Carson replied calmly.

 

“Obviously…!”

 

“What I staked was the name ‘Cronia.’”

 

Smack.

 

Heint slapped his own forehead in frustration.

 

“High Priest, you’d better pray I don’t unsheathe this sword. Even if I take your head, neither I nor Cronia will disappear.”

 

Dropping all honorifics and behaving as if he would kill the High Priest immediately if his demands weren’t met was what the world called ‘threatening.’

 

“Did you see that, Lucion?”

 

“That was… very much like you, Brother,” Lucion said with a small smile.

 

Heint glanced between the two brothers, his mouth agape.

 

[They really do look alike,] Bethel chuckled.

 

“I don’t know what happened inside, but thanks to you, Brother, I arrived comfortably. That said, I am a little concerned.”

 

“Don’t worry, Lucion. The barrier of light surrounding the temple has been restored. I reached an agreement—it will only extinguish when you enter or leave the temple.”

 

Carson shot a sharp look at Heint.

 

“I’m not a cruel person. All I did was open the way to the temple, like opening the gate in a castle wall. I didn’t tamper with the temple’s barrier itself.”

 

For Cronia, the castle walls were sacred. Similarly, Carson respected the temple’s barriers.

 

“If something happens inside, the temple will endure. If it can’t withstand it, then it has no right to call itself ‘great,’ wouldn’t you agree?”

 

As Cronia had defended its borders, so too would the Great Light Temple hold its ground.

 

Carson coldly assessed the situation and pointed toward the door. “Go in, Lucion.”

 

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

 

Heint smirked at Lucion’s question.

 

“The condition set by Nevast was simple: only you and the Divine Beast are allowed. No one else. So don’t worry.”

 

“If I can’t bring Hume… can I at least take Ratta?” Lucion asked, lifting the small fox who wagged her tail excitedly at his side.

 

—Ratta wants to go! Ratta really wants to see Uncle Troy!

 

“Ratta… Ratta will be fine,” Heint replied, chuckling at Ratta’s sparkling eyes.

 

“Right. Take Ratta with you,” Carson said as he gently petted Ratta. What possible threat could such a small fox pose?

 

“Thank you.” Lucion suppressed a laugh, amused by the irony.

 

It was funny that a high-ranking priest of Nevast would be meeting not only the Divine Beast of Light but also the Divine Beast of Darkness—and alongside him, of all people.

 

“Well then, I’ll go and come back. Try to relax a bit, Hume,” Lucion said, glancing from Carson to Heint and finally to Hume.

 

“I’d be happy waiting for you like this, Young Master, but I will do my best,” Hume said, his eyes burning with determination.

 

Lucion smiled knowingly. Even with those words, he was certain Hume would end up waiting by the door.

 

[Shouldn’t we step away for now?] Bethel asked hesitantly.

 

[Why bother? As long as we don’t use any power, no one will notice us. And if anything happens, I’m here, aren’t I?] Russell puffed out his chest, exuding confidence.

 

[Besides, aren’t you curious about what that high-ranking priest from Nevast might say? Just admit it.]

 

Russell’s teasing worked. Bethel, pretending to think it over, eventually nodded.

 

[I am curious.]

 

[I knew it!] Russell smirked smugly.

 

Caught off guard by his expression, Bethel averted her gaze, embarrassed.

 

* * *

 

After passing through three large doors, Lucion finally reached the place where the high-ranking priest of Nevast and Uncle Troy were waiting.

 

“…”

 

Lucion stopped in front of the priest.

 

[This…]

 

Bethel frowned.

 

“I beg your forgiveness, O Divine Beast. This lowly servant has committed a sin so great it cannot be atoned for. How can I make amends?”

 

Though the priest’s words carried an air of sincerity, his tearful confession felt strangely misplaced.

 

[If this is an act, it’s surprisingly convincing,] Russell muttered, crossing his arms.

 

[If it’s a performance, I might even applaud,] Bethel replied, her gaze sharpening as she studied the priest.

 

—Uncle Troy!

 

Ratta jumped down from Lucion’s arms and ran to Troy, rubbing her head against him. Her wagging tail made her delight clear.

 

-Yes, Ratta. You’ve grown again, Troy said, kneeling to meet her eye level.

 

—Yes! Ratta is growing big and will be just like Uncle Troy!

 

-Welcome.

 

Troy greeted Lucion warmly, shifting his attention from the priest.

 

The high-ranking priest, still prostrated, turned his gaze toward Lucion.

 

Suddenly, he began crawling toward Lucion, his face still pressed to the ground.

 

‘What in the world is he doing?’

 

Lucion was taken aback but suppressed the urge to kick the priest away.

 

Then, the priest bowed even lower and kissed Lucion’s foot—a gesture of such extreme submission that Lucion could only stare in bewilderment.

 

[W-What is he doing?] Russell stuttered, equally stunned.

 

“This humble servant greets the saint,” the priest declared solemnly.

 

“Why are you doing this?” Lucion raised his voice slightly, uncomfortable with the introduction.

 

He had no good memories of priests, and like Russell, he couldn’t help but feel disgusted. On top of that, this man was a priest of Nevast, amplifying his revulsion.

 

-Lucion.

 

Troy called his name softly.

 

-I know how difficult this must be for you.

 

‘Difficult? This is worse than that,’ Lucion thought, swallowing back his words.

 

-But could you trust me and speak with this priest? Is that… too much to ask?

 

Troy’s bright eyes, filled with regret, met Lucion’s. Troy hasn’t done anything wrong. If anything, he’s the one who was betrayed by them. 

 

‘So why is he the one apologizing?’

 

Lucion sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging in resignation.

 

“O Saint, though I am unworthy, I humbly beg you to hear my words,” the priest pleaded, still pressing his face to the floor.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Lucion sighed again and brushed his hair back from his forehead.

 

“Could you please get up so we can talk?”

 

“I am unworthy of meeting the saint’s gaze. Right now, I cannot trust anyone, and that is why I must act in this disrespectful manner. I sincerely apologize.”

 

“You cannot trust anyone?” Lucion asked as he took a seat beside Troy.

 

If the man was comfortable lying there, Lucion wouldn’t bother stopping him. Let him do as he pleased.

 

“I am a priest of Nevast, but I ran away.”

 

“Ran away? From whom?” Lucion asked, reaching for the tea and desserts that had been prepared beforehand.

 

“I ran away from Nevast itself.”

 

Lucion sipped the tea, then set the cup down as the priest’s voice became more passionate.

 

“As someone blessed by the light, as a priest, I could no longer commit acts unworthy of a human being!”

 

At the man’s sudden, fervent confession, Lucion leaned back, studying him carefully.

 

“If you’re wondering whether this priest is trustworthy, the answer is that he made mistakes in the past but seems to sincerely regret them,” Darkness had once told him.

 

Lucion reflected on those words.

 

-Lucion. He confessed his sins to me too. He said he was ashamed. He said he was wrong and asked for my forgiveness.

 

Troy quietly stroked Ratta as he spoke.

 

-But I couldn’t… tell him I was okay.

 

Lucion’s eyes widened slightly.

 

‘Why not?’

 

Anger bubbled within him.

 

‘Why would you forgive them, Troy? Why are you saying you’re okay?’

 

One side confessed their wrongdoings, while the other offered comfort with a quiet “It’s okay.”

 

“Ha…”

 

Lucion let out another deep sigh, exasperated by the strange contradiction in front of him.

 

—Lu, Lucion! Eat a cookie and calm down!

 

Ratta, noticing the furrow in Lucion’s brow, hurried over to the table and nudged a bowl toward him with her head.

 

[Yes, something sweet might ease your frustration.]

 

Bethel gestured toward the cookies in agreement.

 

Lucion glanced at the bowl Ratta had pushed but remained composed as he finally spoke, his voice calm but sharp.

 

“If you knew it was wrong, you shouldn’t have done it. If you knew it was something to be ashamed of, why did you do it?”

 

The priest, still kneeling, hesitated before answering. “One day, a god came to me.”

 

‘It wasn’t a god—it was probably Veronia,’ Lucion thought, suppressing a smirk. He knew he had to hear the rest of the story. It was Nevast’s purpose, what Veronia wanted to do.

 

-A god?

 

Troy froze, his expression tense. This was clearly a story he hadn’t heard before.

 

Lucion reached over and gently patted Troy, feeling his emotions gradually settle as his hand brushed against Troy’s soft fur.

 

“The god told us to save the world… but ironically, not a single person believed its words. The discomfort it inspired was stronger than any awe its presence might have commanded.”

 

-That can’t be. If a god had truly descended upon this land, I would have known.

 

[Troy, nothing in his words confirms the descent of a god. Even he hasn’t seen it firsthand.]

 

Russell interjected, his voice laced with skepticism.

 

The priest’s voice trembled as he continued. “But the god, in a demonstration of its great power, erased one of Nevast’s temples. It… it vanished completely before my eyes.”

 

[Who is this so-called god he’s talking about?]

 

Russell frowned, his unease growing.

 

-Is it… him?

 

Troy’s movements stilled entirely, his eyes trembling as they fixed on the priest.

 

“Everyone was thrown into chaos. The merciful God of Light had obliterated the temple—along with the people and all who lived there. I… I knew something was wrong, but…”

 

The priest clasped his hands tightly, his lips trembling as though in prayer.

 

“But if that truly was the God of Light… then what am I? I, who swore to follow him, blinded myself to the truth. I turned a blind eye as he destroyed the Kingdom of Keortia, corrupted the holy relics, and… killed the Divine Beast.”

 

“No. Your ‘god’ wasn’t a god. It was the Divine Beast.”

 

Lucion could no longer listen. So he spoke up for Troy.

 

“You killed your god with your own hands.”

 

“…”

 

The priest slowly lifted his head.

 

“Are you asking how I know that?”

 

Lucion scoffed at the high priest.

 

“I’m the saint. The saint chosen by the Divine Beast.”

 

He stood, towering over the priest, his gaze cold and unyielding.

 

“I’m sure you’ve been curious all this time—why I became a saint.”

 

A sharp, mocking smirk played across his lips.

 

“It’s because I can hear the voice of the Divine Beast… the voice you can’t hear.”