Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock Chapter 277 - Final Preparations (3)

 

Lucion smirked as darkness slowly wrapped around him.

 

Just before he could fall into the sea, he stepped forward, advancing toward the writhing Sea of Death.

 

At that moment, the black hands lying in wait lunged at him all at once.

 

“Damn it!”

 

Unlike the panicked Russell, Lucion remained calm, his steps steady as he moved toward the Sea of Death.

 

The drifting darkness in the air formed a foothold beneath his feet.

 

A black path emerged.

 

With his cloak billowing behind him, Lucion walked forward and came to a stop before the Sea of Death.

 

The sorrowful whispers of the darkness reached his ears.

 

His calm gaze contrasted with the turbulent Sea of Death, which seemed to be in turmoil.

 

Whoosh!

 

The black hands, lunging toward him like sharpened blades, were abruptly sucked into a swirling vortex of darkness—like a black hole devouring them whole.

 

It was Russell’s doing.

 

‘As expected of my teacher.’

 

The corners of Lucion’s mouth curled up.

 

Swoosh!

 

A sharp gust of wind sliced through the air, leaving a diagonal streak of black light in its wake.

 

Not a single hand dared to rise before Bethel’s keen blade.

 

‘Bethel is just as dependable.’

 

With Russell and Bethel at his side, Lucion could focus entirely on the purification without worry.

 

The same applied to Ratta.

 

Unlike before, she no longer trembled as she gazed upon the Sea of Death.

 

Descending as if stepping down an invisible staircase, Lucion placed a violet darkness upon the water—its shape reminiscent of a lotus flower.

 

…Ah.

 

The weeping voice of the corruption, which had cried endlessly in sorrow, fell silent for a moment.

 

A gentle touch reached them.

 

“Phew.”

 

Lucion exhaled softly, and as he did, the petals of darkness scattered, drifting down onto the Sea of Death.

 

The once-raging waves stilled, as if calming before the onset of tears.

 

—Over here, over here! See Ratta’s tail?

 

Ratta wagged her tail, wrapped in violet darkness.

 

Lucion reached into the sea.

 

A chilling sensation, like ice, spread through him.

 

Then, countless small hands made contact with his fingers.

 

As Lucion slowly unfurled his clenched fingers, the violet darkness that had sunk into the sea spread outward, rising into the air like a lantern’s glow.

 

…We have been waiting.

 

The voice of the corruption mixed with tears could be heard.

 

The violet darkness that appeared in the air slowly scattered down.

 

Like falling snow.

 

We have waited for so long…

 

Hearing those words, Lucion stood upright and slowly extended his arms.

 

His cloak fluttered in the wind.

 

“Thank you for your patience until now.”

 

Lucion’s calm voice flowed out.

 

The flickering violet darkness stretched across the waves, reflecting on the undulating surface, casting a soft glow over his face before fading.

 

—You don’t have to worry anymore.

 

As Ratta leapt down from Lucion’s arms, she was enveloped in darkness, her body shifting as she stepped forward in midair.

 

When the darkness surrounding her dissipated, a fox emerged—its elongated legs and sleek form shimmering with violet hues.

 

“…?”

 

Lucion’s eyes wavered for a moment.

 

Though smaller than Troy, she was still quite large for a fox.

 

‘Is that… Ratta?’

 

Has she grown this much?

 

All the effort he had spent feeding her had certainly paid off.

 

—Ratta and Lucion will help!

 

Ratta smiled before dashing toward the sea.

 

Where she ran, violet darkness bloomed in her wake, spreading beautifully across the water.

 

Even as her size increased, Ratta was still unmistakably herself.

 

Lucion chuckled softly and raised his hand.

 

Then, he clenched his fist.

 

Bubble, bubble…

 

The sea began to churn and boil.

 

Ah.

 

A sigh of awe escaped from the corruption as the entire Sea of Death was engulfed in violet darkness.

 

Lucion summoned the last remnants of darkness within him.

 

Drip.

 

A trickle of blood slid from his nose.

 

He was still missing one black orb—making the corruption that had spread in the Sea of Death overwhelming.

 

Yet, he held on, forcing himself to endure.

 

As the darkness flowed from his body, his glowing eyes flickered, his hair rippling in the wind, and his cloak billowed behind him.

 

His strength was slowly fading.

 

“You who have suffered,” Lucion murmured, offering his spilled blood as a final tribute to the darkness.

 

At his words, the waves surged violently.

 

“Now, let your tears be no more.”

 

With his declaration, the sound of corruption dissolving filled the air.

 

The sorrow that had once echoed like a lingering wail gradually faded.

 

Hiss…

 

“O King.”

 

As the violet darkness slowly receded, a round mass of darkness revealed itself.

 

Shaaa…

 

The sea regained its true color, sparkling as it reflected the moon and stars above.

 

As Lucion staggered, Bethel quickly caught him.

 

[Be careful.]

 

“Thanks, Bethel.”

 

Lucion smiled faintly and wiped the blood from his nose.

 

“…Ah, O King.”

 

The darkness surged toward him, its form trembling with emotion.

 

As the waves gradually quieted, sorrowful cries echoed through the air.

 

Lucion embraced the darkness, gently patting it.

 

It felt soft—almost alive.

 

“We waited, hoping our king would end our sorrow. We held on as tightly as we could, preventing this grief from spreading further.”

 

Tears of darkness dripped into the sea.

 

As they fell, the invisible boundary separating the ordinary sea from the Sea of Death began to dissolve.

 

Lucion stared blankly as the waves merged together.

 

Troy had made it clear—he had not created that boundary.

 

“You guys… You were the ones who stopped the corruption from spreading?”

 

Lucion’s voice was laced with disbelief.

 

“Yes. This sorrow is deep and heavy—far too dangerous.”

 

[…Ha.]

 

Bethel swallowed hard.

 

[To think that the corrupted darkness itself created the boundary between the sea and the Sea of Death…]

 

Now, only she, Lucion, and Russell knew the truth.

 

Glancing at Russell, Bethel noticed him hurriedly pulling out a notebook, scribbling down this revelation.

 

“But we could not contain this sorrow. It only continued to spread.”

 

The darkness wept, its form trembling.

 

“Veronia.”

 

“We knew that deceitful one would use our sorrow again. So we endured, no matter how much it hurt.”

 

“Because he had used us to manipulate the world as he pleased.”

 

“Once, our sorrow covered only the land. Now, it blankets the entire world.”

 

“Forgive us, O King.”

 

‘Veronia…’

 

Lucion bit his lip.

 

“It’s okay now!”

 

“Lucion has broken a hole in the world! You can cry as much as you want!”

 

Another hidden darkness emerged, embracing its kind.

 

Panting, Ratta came running and hurled herself into the darkness, as if diving into their embrace.

 

—Ratta will hug you too!

 

In an instant, she transformed into a small fox and nestled against the darkness, beaming.

 

“The Guardian and the Guide.”

 

The weeping darkness turned its gaze toward Ratta and Hume, who stood on the shore.

 

The most important truth began to surface.

 

And… that unique power, stained in violet—the only one of its kind.

 

The king had died.

 

Hadn’t Veronia stolen that power?

 

It was Veronia who had imprisoned them in this place.

 

It was Veronia who had continuously poured the corrupted into this sea until it became what it was—

 

The Sea of Death.

 

A sea that heralded the end of the world.

 

“Ah… Our king has returned.”

 

The king, who had died at Veronia’s hands, had come back after a long, long time.

 

They could see it now—the crown resting atop Lucion’s head.

 

“Our king has returned!”

 

“Yes! Lucion is our king!”

 

As the corrupted darkness spoke, those who had long held their silence finally found their voices.

 

All the darkness present opened their arms wide, welcoming Lucion before bowing their heads.

 

—Don’t do that. Just as Ratta is Ratta, Lucion is Lucion.

 

Ratta folded her ears, clearly displeased with the unfamiliar situation.

 

She didn’t like how Lucion’s name seemed to be fading away.

 

A name was something precious.

 

“That’s right. Even if my soul is the same as the former king’s, I am Lucion. Lucion Cronia—that is my name.”

 

He didn’t want to ruin this joyous moment, but he also refused to be seen as nothing more than the past king of darkness who had failed to defeat Veronia.

 

“Lucion!”

 

The darkness called his name with bright smiles.

 

“Yes. From now on, please call me Lucion.”

 

Only then did Lucion smile and release the darkness he had been holding.

 

Just as he was about to return to the ship, a pure, resonant sensation rose from the depths of the sea, making him furrowed his brows.

 

‘That…’

 

An object emerged from the water, taking the form of a sword—

 

A holy relic.

 

But unlike other holy relics, the darkness did not recoil from it.

 

Instead, it welcomed it—

 

As if expecting its arrival.

 

A light that does not kill darkness.

 

‘That… That’s a true holy relic.’

 

Lucion was startled as his own darkness responded, resonating with the relic.

 

A soft glow began to radiate from the sword-shaped object.

 

There was no doubt—

 

It was a holy sword.

 

[It doesn’t hurt.]

 

Bethel’s voice trembled with disbelief.

 

—Ratta too! Ratta isn’t hurt at all!

 

“That bastard… He hid this, didn’t he?”

 

There was only one person who would have done something like this.

 

Veronia.

 

“Yes. It would have been the greatest threat to him—the sword that punishes those who disrupt the balance.”

 

“We suppressed the relic using our sorrow.”

 

“Hurry, Lucion. Take it.”

 

“The relic wants to help you.”

 

Urged by the darkness, Lucion reached for the sword—but at that moment, his eyes widened.

 

The last remaining relic in his pocket began to merge with the sword, fitting together like a puzzle piece.

 

Only then did Lucion realize why Troy had told him to gather the relics.

 

They were fragments of this holy sword.

 

‘And this last piece… it was the key to summoning it.’

 

Thinking of Troy, Lucion grasped the holy sword.

 

As he held it, a strange familiarity settled over him, as if the weapon had always been his.

 

Lucion smiled softly.

 

‘I like it.’

 

* * *

 

As soon as his feet touched the deck, Lucion felt his legs give out, and he collapsed to the ground.

 

A fresh nosebleed trickled down his face, and a wave of heat surged through his body.

 

His skin burned with fever—his entire body felt as though it were overheating.

 

[Well done, Lord Lucion!]

 

Bethel clapped her hands together, showering him with praise.

 

The sight of the Sea of Death transforming back into its original form was breathtaking—a moment that would be remembered forever.

 

“Yeah, it was impressive. You did well.”

 

Russell forced out the words, swallowing down the nagging lecture that was threatening to escape.

 

“Your face… You look quite angry, Teacher.”

 

Lucion chuckled as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand, then took the handkerchief Hume handed him.

 

“It’s understandable to be upset. Honestly, I’m a little angry too.”

 

Hume’s voice had an unusual edge to it.

 

Just yesterday, he had been pierced through the shoulder by Veronia. Hadn’t Lucion also been exposed to a light bright enough for Russell to disappear?

 

He had lost so much blood that Carson had to step in to save him—again.

 

Lucion had been unconscious, unaware of Hume’s expression at the time.

 

And now, just when it seemed like he was recovering, he looked like this all over again.

 

Hume swallowed back the words he wanted to say.

 

“…Sorry for worrying you.”

 

Lucion’s quiet apology took Hume by surprise.

 

“It’s probably because this was my first time using power while wearing the cloak. I’ll be fine next time.”

 

Lucion lightly tapped the cloak.

 

Like water spilling over, it dissolved all at once, slipping into his shadow.

 

“…Hah.”

 

A sharp pain shot through him, like wings being torn from his back.

 

Cold sweat gathered on his forehead.

 

‘You didn’t say it would hurt.’

 

Scowling, Lucion thought of the King of Darkness.

 

That damned bastard.

 

He was about to curse aloud when his gaze was drawn to the night sea.

 

The moonlit ocean shimmered with scattered starlight, more breathtaking than he had ever imagined.

 

Even the innocent laughter of the darkness around him felt like the perfect finishing touch.

 

Unconsciously, a smile formed on his lips.

 

“Still.”

 

Lucion let his eyes drift closed for a moment.

 

“Still, I have no regrets.”

 

He never expected the night sea to be this beautiful.

 

A soft sensation brushed against his fingertips.

 

Lucion glanced down.

 

Ratta had lifted her paw, gently rubbing it against his hand.

 

—You did well, Lucion! Ratta will praise you!

 

Seeing Ratta’s sparkling eyes, Lucion couldn’t help but smile.

 

Then, he turned his gaze back toward the vast sea that embraced the moon.

 

What lies beyond that sea?

 

* * *

 

“…!”

 

As soon as Lucion stepped into his room, he froze.

 

Shaela sat quietly in the dim light, her eerie presence even more pronounced under the glow of the moon.

 

—Hooop!

 

Ratta jumped in fright and darted behind Hume’s legs.

 

[It looks like Shaela is… very upset.]

 

Bethel hesitated, glancing between Lucion and Shaela.

 

“You’re dead.”

 

Russell chuckled, dropping into a seat, while Hume instinctively took a step back, cradling Ratta in his arms.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Shaela let out a long sigh.

 

“Yeah, Lucion, you definitely need to be scolded.”

 

Russell, surprisingly, agreed.

 

It was irritating.

 

Still, Lucion carefully removed his mask and asked cautiously,

 

“How…did you find out?”

 

“Brother Heint told me you’d probably make a move. So I came just in case.”

 

‘Wow. Brother Heint, really?’

 

Lucion clenched his teeth at being blindsided by Heint.

 

“But I really didn’t expect you to actually go through with it in that condition.”

 

Shaela raised an eyebrow, her tone growing sharper.

 

Lucion gave an awkward smile, but then, as if struck by a thought, he called out to her.

 

“Sister.”

 

“…Yeah?”

 

“Please cover it up.”

 

“Do you really think I’d let this slide…?”

 

“No, I mean, cover the Sea of Death.”

 

“…?”

 

Lucion continued, his voice calm yet firm.

 

“I just purified the Sea of Death. If that bastard makes one last desperate move, thinking that his so-called final hope, ‘Macaron,’ is still intact… Just imagine what would happen.”

 

“W-Wait.”

 

Shaela had been mentally preparing a thorough scolding for Lucion.

 

But his words completely derailed her thoughts.

 

“The Sea of… what?”

 

“The Sea of Death.”

 

“You purified it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“All of it?”

 

“Of course. Do you think I’d lie to you, Sister?”

 

Lucion met her gaze steadily, his expression unwavering.

 

The more serious he looked, the more disbelief twisted Shaela’s face.

 

The Sea of Death was a place scholars, mages, and even the Great Light Temple had deemed beyond salvation.

 

“He’ll check from a distance to see if the Sea of Death is still intact. Honestly, unless you get close, it’s hard to tell whether the corruption is still there or not. And right now, he’s unstable.”

 

A slow, knowing smile curved Lucion’s lips.

 

“…Heh. Lucion, you’re truly something else.”

 

Even now, when he should have been getting scolded, his mind was focused on dealing with Veronia.

 

Russell couldn’t help but be impressed.

 

“I’ve already discussed setting a trap for him with His Majesty.”

 

Seizing the moment, Lucion brought up what he needed from Shaela for tomorrow.

 

“Please mobilize the Magic Tower.”

 

If the mages moved, there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish.

 

“The Elders—no, the entire Magic Tower—owes me, don’t they?”

 

Lucion had no intention of letting any opportunity go to waste.