Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock Chapter 283 - It's Snowing (3)

 

 

[…I will stand with you.]

 

Bethel, after reading Lucion’s thoughts, took a steady breath before speaking.

 

If Lucion’s attacks were effective, it meant that the more he attacked, the weaker Veronia would become.

 

Lucion immediately contacted Heroan.

 

<Mr. Hamel…>

 

“Tell all warlocks in every branch to cover the shadows with darkness.”

 

<Ah, understood!>

 

Click.

 

Lucion ended the call and turned to Troy.

 

“Troy.”

 

He crouched down and gently stroked Troy.

 

-Yes, Lucion.

 

“Use this holy relic. I’ll be fine.”

 

Since Veronia was targeting people’s shadows, the most effective way to suppress corruption was with light.

 

Now that Lucion, as a vessel, had been restored through the fifth black orb, his resistance to light had reached level 18.

 

Though he wasn’t completely immune to light, thanks to the divine beasts’ blessings, the radiance emitted by holy relics—especially fragments of the Holy Sword—felt different.

 

Lucion handed over the fragment that Troy had previously given him.

 

-Give the rest to the true relic so it can absorb more light.

 

Lucion nodded.

 

-Lucion. Don’t disappear. Don’t get hurt. If you do… I’ll be very, very sad.

 

Troy tightly held Lucion’s hand before vanishing.

 

Lucion stood up and turned to Veronia, then called for Hume.

 

“Hume.”

 

“Yes, young master.”

 

Hume approached, tending to Lucion’s still-bleeding arm.

 

“As you know, Veronia is targeting you. But he won’t recklessly touch the barrier because my darkness prevents his regeneration. Do you understand?”

 

“I….”

 

Hume furrowed his brow.

 

“I can’t do that. I will stay by your side, young master.”

 

“Hume….”

 

Russell placed a hand on Lucion’s shoulder, trying to calm him.

 

“Go for now. Hume hasn’t used the darkness you gave him just now, so don’t worry.”

 

At the moment, Hume wasn’t the main concern.

 

Without another word, Lucion glanced at Hume and used shadow movement.

 

Even as he disappeared, Hume’s determination remained unchanged.

 

Lucion steadied himself and stood before Heint.

 

The knights tensed at Lucion’s sudden appearance atop the wall, but Heint raised his hand, signaling them to stand down.

 

From this vantage point, Lucion could see that the battlefield was nearly split in half.

 

“Heint.”

 

Lucion turned and called his name.

 

Having lost the opportunity to charge forward due to Veronia’s earlier attack, Heint stood frozen, unable to decide his next move.

 

“Y-Yeah,” Heint responded, stepping closer to Lucion.

 

“You saw everything from up here, right?”

 

“I did. I saw that… he can regenerate. And you…”

 

Heint hesitated.

 

For a brief moment, Lucion’s darkness had brushed against his shadow.

 

It felt different from the darkness of other warlocks.

 

Though it didn’t entirely erase his unease, it felt incredibly warm.

 

Suddenly, Lucion leaned urgently against the wall.

 

‘Teacher has made his move.’

 

The darkness Lucion had entrusted to Russell had now blended with Russell’s own darkness, pressing down on Veronia.

 

‘As expected…’

 

[As expected, it’s Russell, right? And Lord Lucion’s judgment was spot on. Veronia must be struggling, unable to erase the darkness.]

 

Bethel chuckled softly.

 

Bwooo—

 

A war horn echoed, followed by another burst of light.

 

Boom!

 

Startled, Lucion looked down.

 

‘Teacher?’

 

[Russell is fine. But… you might want to look beside you instead.]

 

Bethel hesitated before speaking.

 

—Novio is here!

 

“That ridiculous regeneration makes close combat meaningless.”

 

At Ratta’s urgent cry, Novio’s voice rang out, making Lucion instinctively flinch.

 

He had rushed here without hesitation, prioritizing the crisis above all else. But now, standing face-to-face with Novio, his heart pounded wildly.

 

—Lu-Lucion! Deep breaths! You need to breathe!

 

Ratta clung to the edge of his shadow, urging him to calm down.

 

“What do you think?”

 

Ratta clung to the edge of his shadow, urging him to calm down.

 

“What do you think?”

 

Novio’s voice cut through the tension, directing the question at Lucion.

 

“…May we move somewhere else for a moment?”

 

Lucion couldn’t bring himself to meet Novio’s gaze and instead fidgeted with his mask.

 

“Sure. Thanks to the warlock helping hold him under that barrier over there, we have about five minutes.”

 

Novio gestured toward Russell as he spoke.

 

For a brief moment, a faint smile crossed Novio’s face, reflected in Lucion’s mask.

 

* * *

 

“The enemy can teleport. We don’t know the full extent of his range. He could escape at any moment, so we have to keep him restrained.”

 

As soon as Lucion moved to a new location, he spoke quickly.

 

There was no time to waste.

 

“Yes. We unleashed an enormous amount of light earlier, so I agree that containing him is the priority.”

 

Despite the situation, Novio remained calm.

 

“Soon, the space where Veronia is standing will be completely isolated. The reason I used magic as bait and stalled for time was to separate the area, preventing him from sacrificing more people for black magic.”

 

They were preparing to turn that isolated space into the battlefield.

 

While the empire’s barrier was still active, the plan was to divide the space. Once it was sealed off, the priests would charge in, creating a barrier of light while attacking Veronia to weaken him. Then, with the support of the magicians, they would enter the isolated area and engage him in close combat to finish him off.

 

But the plan had already fallen apart.

 

Close combat was no longer an option.

 

“Right. It’s all meaningless now.”

 

At Novio’s response, Heint glanced at him anxiously.

 

“That’s why I’m proposing a slight modification to the plan.”

 

Lucion’s voice was firm.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Shrink the space. Just enough for Heint and me to fight inside. Then seal it off completely. With the area reduced, a total lockdown should be possible.”

 

He had experienced something similar before—back when he fought Hotram, the boss of the Hand of the Void.

 

Bethel let out a sigh at Lucion’s suggestion.

 

She had already expected this, but it frustrated her nonetheless.

 

“Wait a minute. Are you saying that you and I will fight him together?” Heint asked in shock.

 

Veronia had survived even when nearly all the priests attacked him with their combined light.

 

“Because of his absurdly powerful regeneration. But my darkness can nullify it. And Heint, the sword you have can pass judgment on him…”

 

Lucion trailed off.

 

Novio’s face had turned pale, as if he were about to faint.

 

“Absolutely not!”

 

Novio shouted.

 

But Lucion couldn’t back down.

 

“I must put an end to that ridiculous regeneration. That’s all I need to do. After that, it’s up to you, my lord—”

 

“Absolutely not, Lucion…!”

 

Novio bit his lips so hard that they bled before he finally managed to speak.

 

Lucion’s shoulders slumped. Heint’s eyes widened.

 

[This is his first time seeing Lord Lucion, isn’t it…?]

 

Bethel was at a loss for words.

 

“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you? I knew the moment I saw you. How could a father not know his own child?”

 

Novio, who had been so composed just moments before, now looked as if he were about to break down.

 

His entire body seemed on the verge of collapse.

 

“I wanted to ask why you were here, but I held back. Even when I saw you under the city walls, bleeding from your arm and vomiting blood, I wanted to run to you, but I held back.”

 

“Did you see everything?” Lucion asked, his voice trembling.

 

There was no time to hide or deny it now.

 

“I can endure everything else, but the thought of sending you into danger… I simply cannot bear it!”

 

“Father.”

 

Lucion removed his mask and faced Novio.

 

This was the real Lucion.

 

The blood on his lips had yet to be wiped away.

 

Novio’s eyes reddened as emotions surged within him.

 

He hadn’t realized his son had been walking straight into danger.

 

Foolish Novio.

 

Pathetic Novio.

 

He had believed Lucion was safe in the central region.

 

But no—he was here.

 

He had come as Hamel.

 

Everything Hamel had done to aid Cronia had actually been done by Lucion all along.

 

“Lucion… Please, I beg you. I will find another way. I swear I will. So please—”

 

“No, Father. I can’t.”

 

With a heart that felt as though it were shattering, Lucion refused Novio’s desperate plea.

 

He couldn’t waver.

 

Apologies could come later.

 

That was the only way he could endure.

 

Lucion put his mask back on.

 

“You are the commander here, Father. You must think rationally. I am not your son right now—I am a crucial piece in securing victory in this battle.”

 

Novio had to stay oblivious to his true identity.

 

He had to see him as just that.

 

“Lucion…!”

 

“Are you going to let everyone die? Or would you prefer they all become undying?”

 

“I would give up everything for you. You are my everything. You are all that I have…!”

 

Lucion squeezed his eyes shut at the desperation in Novio’s voice.

 

It felt like history was about to repeat itself.

 

In the previous world, Novio had sacrificed everything for him.

 

‘No. I can’t let that happen. Never again.’

 

Despair crept over Lucion.

 

“My father is Novio Cronia, the guardian of the frontier. I am Lucion Cronia. But I cannot stand here as Lucion.”

 

Lucion let out a deep sigh, and Novio stared at the mask his son had put back on.

 

“Do you have any idea what it took for me to wear this mask and come here? Father, please—think as a commander. I want to protect the people I love… the people I cherish so much.”

 

This time, he had to protect them.

 

“That is my happiness. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s what has kept me moving forward. Whether my name is Hamel or something else, I… I endured because of that alone, Father. Father…”

 

Lucion’s chest ached unbearably.

 

That he had to push Novio into making this decision.

 

That Novio had to hear these words.

 

How painful must this be for both of them?

 

“My Lord, a decision must be made. If Lucion can nullify Veronia’s regeneration, I’ll stake everything on that plan.”

 

Unable to hold back any longer, Heint interrupted.

 

The promised five minutes had already passed.

 

Any further delay was too dangerous.

 

Novio, his eyes brimming with tears and lips trembling uncontrollably, finally spoke.

 

And he uttered the most agonizing words in the world.

 

“…Permission granted.”

 

* * *

 

“Shaela.”

 

Carson spoke.

 

“Yes, brother?”

 

“Something feels off. The range of the space-separation magic seems smaller than what was planned.”

 

“I was just thinking the same thing. This isn’t the area Elder mentioned. Something must have happened…”

 

Shaela fought the urge to abandon her position.

 

Without hesitation, Carson activated his communication device.

 

“My Lord.”

 

<…Yes.>

 

Novio’s voice was shaking.

 

Sensing that something was wrong, Carson pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the immediate situation.

 

“The range of the space-separation magic has shrunk compared to what was initially discussed. Is there a reason for this?”

 

<I was just about to contact you about that.>

 

Carson waited, his disgust growing as he watched Veronia smirk despite being bound by the light.

 

That arrogance—

 

The certainty that he could kill them at any moment.

 

<It has been decided to eliminate Veronia’s regenerative abilities.>

 

A divine beast had descended.

 

Seeing what it was holding, Carson asked Novio, “What do you mean, it has been decided?”

 

Novio was the commander, but shouldn’t this have been discussed first?

 

As whispers of “relic” spread among the priests, Carson’s unease grew.

 

<The divine beast has activated a relic within the barrier, and—>

 

“…Wait a moment.”

 

Carson cut him off.

 

The only one who could communicate with the divine beast… was Lucion.

 

“My Lord, does this mean…”

 

<The divine beast is using the holy relic to reduce the space-separation magic. Hamel and Heint will face Veronia while sealing the space completely.>

 

“Father…!”

 

Carson shouted, urging Novio.

 

Hamel was going to face Veronia.

 

And Carson knew who Hamel really was.

 

<Of course, we considered the risk that sealing the space might not be entirely stable. But without nullifying Veronia’s regeneration, any attack would be meaningless. That’s why…>

 

Novio’s voice wavered, thick with suppressed sobs.

 

“I’m going too. I’ll accept whatever punishment comes later for disobeying orders.”

 

Without waiting for a response, he ended the communication.

 

Their father had realized everything.

 

“Brother…?”

 

Shaela looked at Carson in confusion.

 

“I’m sorry, Shaela.”

 

“Brother!”

 

She grabbed his sleeve.

 

“Shaela, I—”

 

“Come back. Together.”

 

She knew her magic wasn’t effective in confined spaces.

 

She had to trust Lucion.

 

Now wasn’t her time to step in.

 

But she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

 

“…”

 

Carson’s lips parted slightly, trembling.

 

Since when?

 

“It would be strange if I didn’t know, right?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

“Promise me. Come back together.”

 

“I will. I promise.”

 

Carson gently patted Shaela’s shoulder before rushing toward Veronia.

 

* * *

 

“It’ll be me, Bethel, Ratta, and Heint going in.”

 

Lucion looked at Russell and Hume as he spoke.

 

“I’m coming too.”

 

Hume stepped forward.

 

“No, you’re not.”

 

Lucion’s voice was firm.

 

He knew Veronia would try to use Hume as a sacrifice.

 

How could he allow that?

 

“Hamel-nim, I understand now how much my presence unsettles him.”

 

“That’s true,” Russell interjected. “That’s why I have to go. He despises me just as much as he does you.”

 

“Why are you both doing this? This isn’t a game.”

 

Hume and Russell refused to back down, and Lucion gritted his teeth.

 

“You know how much Veronia loathes you, how badly he wants you dead. You know you might not make it out alive, yet you’re still insisting on going.”

 

“Teacher, you understand. Why are you acting like this?”

 

If they went in, they could become a hindrance.

 

They could fall into corruption—just like before.

 

Especially Hume, a Ravien.

 

He was already vulnerable.

 

Stepping into that space was like stepping into a nightmare.

 

[To us, you’re no different, Lord Lucion. We don’t want to send you in either. If we could, we’d stop you.]

 

Bethel’s expression tightened slightly.

 

Lucion wasn’t the only one at risk.

 

—…Oh, um.

 

Ratta’s eyes darted anxiously.

 

“Hume is Veronia’s weakness.”

 

“And Veronia is Hume’s weakness, too,” Lucion countered Russell’s argument.

 

“I’m not going in there to die. This isn’t about duty—I’m doing this for my own happiness.”

 

“Then let’s go together. We don’t have time for this debate.”

 

“Then I’ll be stubborn for once, too. We really don’t have time.”

 

Russell smirked, and though hesitant, Hume followed suit with a small smile.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Lucion let out a deep sigh, and Bethel chuckled.

 

[That’s the same sigh we always let out when dealing with you.]

 

—Oooh! So we’re all going together? Ratta is so happy! Lucion, Russell, Bethel, Hume—everyone!

 

Ratta wagged her tail excitedly, beaming with joy.

 

They were in this together.

 

* * *

 

Veronia, who had been scanning the surroundings, suddenly froze when his gaze landed on Hume.

 

He had been considering ways to deal with the bothersome divine beasts, but the sight of Hume erased all other thoughts.

 

A delighted smile spread across his face.

 

“Excited to see him?”

 

At Lucion’s sudden remark, Veronia’s expression twisted, while Lucion’s mask shifted to a yellow hue.

 

“You’re about to be a lot more excited. More than you could ever imagine.”