Chapter 121
Rumble—!
A deafening roar, akin to the sound of thunder, struck their eardrums.
The aftermath of the magic being nullified did not end with just a section of the stone chamber collapsing. The cracks that began from the innermost chamber spread outward through the ceiling and floor. As the tremors continued, rocks falling from above piled up one after another. By the time Sethian and his party had completely emerged outside, the cave crumbled entirely with a loud rumble, sending up a massive cloud of dust.
Roa, who had been shielding them from the dust-laden gusts with a protective barrier, was only able to dispel the magic after some time had passed. The torches carried by the knights had all been extinguished by the swirling dust storm, but the sunlight that had just begun to rise illuminated the scene well enough.
The cave had collapsed so completely that even the entrance was nowhere to be found, looking as if a landslide had taken place. Loose stones from the wreckage still rolled around at the knights’ feet, and the fresh air of the forest was thick with acrid dust, making the atmosphere stifling and heavy.
Staring at the mountain of rubble before him, Renoc turned to check on Sethian, whose wrist he had still been gripping tightly all this time.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?"
Although dust had settled on him, Sethian didn’t appear to have suffered any visible injuries. And yet, he stood still in silence, saying nothing.
His clear green eyes, which had been filled with complicated emotions before exiting the cave, now looked dull, as if covered in the very dust that had engulfed him. His expression was utterly blank, like that of a lifeless doll, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.
Renoc was about to call out to him again when Sethian slowly pushed him away.
"Find it."
His voice carried no emotion—not because he was devoid of feeling, but as if he simply didn’t know what emotion to express. There was an unusual lack of strength in his tone as well.
"Find anything... just find something."
Though Renoc was one to obey Sethian’s every command without question, this time, he could not move immediately. The same went for Kirsty, who had heard Roa’s bewildering explanations about spirits and dimensional movement on their way here. Knowing that Sethian’s target had possessed Eda and had controlled her up until the very last moment, they couldn’t help but wear grim expressions.
But they did not remain still. A command was a command. The knights were quickly gathered to begin clearing away the boulders blocking the entrance. If they could at least retrieve Eda’s corpse and lay it before their lord, perhaps reducing it to dust would bring Sethian some measure of relief. And if, by chance, Joo Yi-Gyeol’s soul emerged in the process, that would be even better.
As Sethian continued to gaze at the collapsed cave, he suddenly turned and walked toward the horses that had been tied to a nearby tree. Among them, one horse had a figure propped against its saddle—Joo Yi-Gyeol’s body, held in Teren’s arms.
Sethian’s eyes remained fixed on Joo Yi-Gyeol’s face. Despite all the commotion, his body still lay unmoving, as if in deep sleep.
Reaching out, Sethian gently stroked Joo Yi-Gyeol’s cheek. There was still warmth left in his skin, yet it felt colder than before.
The cave had collapsed—there should be nothing left to block a soul’s return. If Joo Yi-Gyeol could sense his touch, it would be fine for him to wake up as if rousing from slumber. And yet, his eyelids did not even flutter.
If only he would move, even just a little.
If only he would abandon Eda’s body and return, even if belatedly.
But as if to prove that this was nothing more than an empty shell, he remained utterly still.
-That guy isn’t coming back. No, he can’t come back.
At the voice whispering into his ear, Sethian’s hand, which had been caressing Joo Yi-Gyeol’s cheek, stilled.
-Eda knows all kinds of magic. If she were even slightly alive, she would have done whatever it took to escape this place. And yet, she’s still silent, isn’t she?
Sethian turned his head, searching for the speaker. But there was no one there. While he could faintly sense Joo Yi-Gyeol’s presence, the young boy’s spirit who had aided him was nowhere to be found—not even a trace of his presence.
The boy’s words suggested that Joo Yi-Gyeol would not return unless Eda was completely dead inside that cave. But Joo Yi-Gyeol wasn’t the type to kill. Even seeing someone slightly wounded made him anxious—there was no way he would have deliberately taken another’s life.
Moreover, Eda had been fully conscious while possessed. When Sethian had last locked eyes with Joo Yi-Gyeol, he had clearly seen him engaged in a battle of wills against Eda, the rightful owner of the body. She had a protective barrier, making it impossible for mere debris to crush her so easily. And as the original owner, she had the advantage in the struggle for dominance. Given a little more time, she would have surely reclaimed complete control.
Knowing this, Joo Yi-Gyeol must have chosen a more definitive way to stop her.
Just as the boy had implied, Eda had been called the next Tower Lord for a reason—she was an immensely skilled mage. The moment she reclaimed her body, she could have used the mana of Idelo’s Flower to wreak havoc or plan her next move, once again endangering Sethian’s life. She had spent far too long preparing for this to be defeated so easily. Understanding this, it wasn’t difficult to guess what Joo Yi-Gyeol had done to stop her.
Confirming Sethian’s thoughts, the boy’s spirit sighed softly.
-Joo Yi-Gyeol had planned to disappear far away with that bastard Eda from the very beginning.
He knew.
If Joo Yi-Gyeol didn’t want to be caught, it would be far safer to vanish to a place even the Emperor himself could never reach than to roam aimlessly across the continent.
The more he thought about it, the more his stomach churned, and his heart felt like it was being torn apart.
"Your Majesty."
At some point, Roa had approached him. He glanced nervously at the small soul butterfly hovering near him before speaking cautiously.
"Joo Yi-Gyeol... he most likely..."
Roa trailed off, unsure how to finish. Having seen Joo Yi-Gyeol silently possessing Eda, he could already guess his intentions. He had even seen his final smile. How could he not understand?
As he searched for the right words, Sethian suddenly spoke.
"I’ve heard of high-tier preservation magic that can put a living being into suspended animation."
Holding Joo Yi-Gyeol’s body in his arms, Sethian turned to Roa.
"That magic—can it be used on this body?"
Facing the direct gaze of Sethian’s now-clearing eyes, Roa unconsciously swallowed.
"It’s possible... Though preserving a human body would require an immense amount of mana, it could be done at the Magic Tower with Idelo’s Flower..."
"Then prepare it immediately."
Sethian’s eyes, looking down at Joo Yi-Gyeol’s face, began to lose their dullness.
"He is the only link to Joo Yi-Gyeol. Prevent any more vitality from escaping."
Sethian’s words made sense. As long as the body remained alive, there was a chance that Joo Yi-Gyeol could be pulled back to wake up when the connection was triggered.
But would he return?
He was someone who chose long loneliness because he didn’t want to devour Sethian’s vitality.
Although bitter, it was better to keep this tiny spark of life from leaving for now, especially for Sethian’s sake.
"And..."
Sethian raised his eyes to look at Roa. Roa, meeting his gaze, shivered as an overwhelming chill swept over him.
The light in Sethian’s eyes, which had lost its murkiness, now glowed with a great madness that even Roa could feel.
"Prepare the dimensional portal, just like the mage did."
Roa, sensing unease, asked for confirmation.
"Why do you need a dimensional portal?"
"Are you asking something so obvious?"
The cold grew even stronger.
"I’m not going to let Joo Yi-Gyeol go."
The intense cold and fiery madness seemed to squeeze his breath away, and it felt like he might collapse if he even slightly misstepped.
"Wait a moment."
Roa, turning pale, tried to stop Sethian.
"Drawing the magic circle won’t necessarily allow for dimensional travel. Even with Idelo from the Magic Tower, the greatest issue is the vitality. You’re not thinking of using all of Your Majesty’s vitality, are you?"
"Of course not."
Sethian didn’t even consider it.
As he held Joo Yi-Gyeol’s body, his grip tightened, as though to bind it.
"My vitality is for Joo Yi-Gyeol. If it’s not for him, it should never be used anywhere else."
His voice was clear and unwavering.
Roa, who had been speechless for a moment, still wore a serious expression.
"The magic circle’s activation and keeping the portal open requires two kinds of vitality."
"Is that a problem?"
Sethian tilted his head, speaking nonchalantly.
"There are three brothers left. We can just find a suitable excuse, give them the Crown Prince’s gemstone, and extract their vitality."
After all, their lives and weaknesses were already in Sethian’s hands. Those who had tried to kill him repeatedly in the past knew this, which is why they had obediently accepted his rule after he ascended the throne. If Sethian used this, he could put them on the guillotine under the emperor’s authority or make them offer their vitality under the pretense of protecting their honor.
Roa’s eyes widened in realization, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Such... such a terrifying thought! How could you even think of that?"
"Scared?"
Sethian moved closer to Roa. The quiet madness in his eyes felt as though it was simply gripping Roa’s neck.
"The real fear is this situation, where Joo Yi-Gyeol isn’t by my side. I’ll do anything to erase this unpleasant feeling."
His voice was calm, yet somehow twisted.
"By the way, didn’t they say that you need a guide to step into the dimension for dimensional travel?"
Roa’s shoulder twitched at Sethian’s words.
Vitality could be dealt with, but a living spirit was not something that could easily be seen. Roa, too, had only ever seen one with his own eyes when Joo Yi-Gyeol had appeared.
"I can’t see living spirits, so you’ll have to accompany me from now on."
"What... do you plan to do?"
Roa’s voice trembled with unease. He couldn’t take his eyes off Sethian, whose eyes gleamed with a quiet madness.
"Anyone who is about to die will inevitably yearn with all their might. Whether it’s to be saved or to be killed."
The horrific thoughts unfolding in Sethian’s mind made Roa’s spine crawl.
A deafening roar, akin to the sound of thunder, struck their eardrums.
The aftermath of the magic being nullified did not end with just a section of the stone chamber collapsing. The cracks that began from the innermost chamber spread outward through the ceiling and floor. As the tremors continued, rocks falling from above piled up one after another. By the time Sethian and his party had completely emerged outside, the cave crumbled entirely with a loud rumble, sending up a massive cloud of dust.
Roa, who had been shielding them from the dust-laden gusts with a protective barrier, was only able to dispel the magic after some time had passed. The torches carried by the knights had all been extinguished by the swirling dust storm, but the sunlight that had just begun to rise illuminated the scene well enough.
The cave had collapsed so completely that even the entrance was nowhere to be found, looking as if a landslide had taken place. Loose stones from the wreckage still rolled around at the knights’ feet, and the fresh air of the forest was thick with acrid dust, making the atmosphere stifling and heavy.
Staring at the mountain of rubble before him, Renoc turned to check on Sethian, whose wrist he had still been gripping tightly all this time.
"Your Majesty, are you all right?"
Although dust had settled on him, Sethian didn’t appear to have suffered any visible injuries. And yet, he stood still in silence, saying nothing.
His clear green eyes, which had been filled with complicated emotions before exiting the cave, now looked dull, as if covered in the very dust that had engulfed him. His expression was utterly blank, like that of a lifeless doll, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.
Renoc was about to call out to him again when Sethian slowly pushed him away.
"Find it."
His voice carried no emotion—not because he was devoid of feeling, but as if he simply didn’t know what emotion to express. There was an unusual lack of strength in his tone as well.
"Find anything... just find something."
Though Renoc was one to obey Sethian’s every command without question, this time, he could not move immediately. The same went for Kirsty, who had heard Roa’s bewildering explanations about spirits and dimensional movement on their way here. Knowing that Sethian’s target had possessed Eda and had controlled her up until the very last moment, they couldn’t help but wear grim expressions.
But they did not remain still. A command was a command. The knights were quickly gathered to begin clearing away the boulders blocking the entrance. If they could at least retrieve Eda’s corpse and lay it before their lord, perhaps reducing it to dust would bring Sethian some measure of relief. And if, by chance, Joo Yi-Gyeol’s soul emerged in the process, that would be even better.
As Sethian continued to gaze at the collapsed cave, he suddenly turned and walked toward the horses that had been tied to a nearby tree. Among them, one horse had a figure propped against its saddle—Joo Yi-Gyeol’s body, held in Teren’s arms.
Sethian’s eyes remained fixed on Joo Yi-Gyeol’s face. Despite all the commotion, his body still lay unmoving, as if in deep sleep.
Reaching out, Sethian gently stroked Joo Yi-Gyeol’s cheek. There was still warmth left in his skin, yet it felt colder than before.
The cave had collapsed—there should be nothing left to block a soul’s return. If Joo Yi-Gyeol could sense his touch, it would be fine for him to wake up as if rousing from slumber. And yet, his eyelids did not even flutter.
If only he would move, even just a little.
If only he would abandon Eda’s body and return, even if belatedly.
But as if to prove that this was nothing more than an empty shell, he remained utterly still.
-That guy isn’t coming back. No, he can’t come back.
At the voice whispering into his ear, Sethian’s hand, which had been caressing Joo Yi-Gyeol’s cheek, stilled.
-Eda knows all kinds of magic. If she were even slightly alive, she would have done whatever it took to escape this place. And yet, she’s still silent, isn’t she?
Sethian turned his head, searching for the speaker. But there was no one there. While he could faintly sense Joo Yi-Gyeol’s presence, the young boy’s spirit who had aided him was nowhere to be found—not even a trace of his presence.
The boy’s words suggested that Joo Yi-Gyeol would not return unless Eda was completely dead inside that cave. But Joo Yi-Gyeol wasn’t the type to kill. Even seeing someone slightly wounded made him anxious—there was no way he would have deliberately taken another’s life.
Moreover, Eda had been fully conscious while possessed. When Sethian had last locked eyes with Joo Yi-Gyeol, he had clearly seen him engaged in a battle of wills against Eda, the rightful owner of the body. She had a protective barrier, making it impossible for mere debris to crush her so easily. And as the original owner, she had the advantage in the struggle for dominance. Given a little more time, she would have surely reclaimed complete control.
Knowing this, Joo Yi-Gyeol must have chosen a more definitive way to stop her.
Just as the boy had implied, Eda had been called the next Tower Lord for a reason—she was an immensely skilled mage. The moment she reclaimed her body, she could have used the mana of Idelo’s Flower to wreak havoc or plan her next move, once again endangering Sethian’s life. She had spent far too long preparing for this to be defeated so easily. Understanding this, it wasn’t difficult to guess what Joo Yi-Gyeol had done to stop her.
Confirming Sethian’s thoughts, the boy’s spirit sighed softly.
-Joo Yi-Gyeol had planned to disappear far away with that bastard Eda from the very beginning.
He knew.
If Joo Yi-Gyeol didn’t want to be caught, it would be far safer to vanish to a place even the Emperor himself could never reach than to roam aimlessly across the continent.
The more he thought about it, the more his stomach churned, and his heart felt like it was being torn apart.
"Your Majesty."
At some point, Roa had approached him. He glanced nervously at the small soul butterfly hovering near him before speaking cautiously.
"Joo Yi-Gyeol... he most likely..."
Roa trailed off, unsure how to finish. Having seen Joo Yi-Gyeol silently possessing Eda, he could already guess his intentions. He had even seen his final smile. How could he not understand?
As he searched for the right words, Sethian suddenly spoke.
"I’ve heard of high-tier preservation magic that can put a living being into suspended animation."
Holding Joo Yi-Gyeol’s body in his arms, Sethian turned to Roa.
"That magic—can it be used on this body?"
Facing the direct gaze of Sethian’s now-clearing eyes, Roa unconsciously swallowed.
"It’s possible... Though preserving a human body would require an immense amount of mana, it could be done at the Magic Tower with Idelo’s Flower..."
"Then prepare it immediately."
Sethian’s eyes, looking down at Joo Yi-Gyeol’s face, began to lose their dullness.
"He is the only link to Joo Yi-Gyeol. Prevent any more vitality from escaping."
Sethian’s words made sense. As long as the body remained alive, there was a chance that Joo Yi-Gyeol could be pulled back to wake up when the connection was triggered.
But would he return?
He was someone who chose long loneliness because he didn’t want to devour Sethian’s vitality.
Although bitter, it was better to keep this tiny spark of life from leaving for now, especially for Sethian’s sake.
"And..."
Sethian raised his eyes to look at Roa. Roa, meeting his gaze, shivered as an overwhelming chill swept over him.
The light in Sethian’s eyes, which had lost its murkiness, now glowed with a great madness that even Roa could feel.
"Prepare the dimensional portal, just like the mage did."
Roa, sensing unease, asked for confirmation.
"Why do you need a dimensional portal?"
"Are you asking something so obvious?"
The cold grew even stronger.
"I’m not going to let Joo Yi-Gyeol go."
The intense cold and fiery madness seemed to squeeze his breath away, and it felt like he might collapse if he even slightly misstepped.
"Wait a moment."
Roa, turning pale, tried to stop Sethian.
"Drawing the magic circle won’t necessarily allow for dimensional travel. Even with Idelo from the Magic Tower, the greatest issue is the vitality. You’re not thinking of using all of Your Majesty’s vitality, are you?"
"Of course not."
Sethian didn’t even consider it.
As he held Joo Yi-Gyeol’s body, his grip tightened, as though to bind it.
"My vitality is for Joo Yi-Gyeol. If it’s not for him, it should never be used anywhere else."
His voice was clear and unwavering.
Roa, who had been speechless for a moment, still wore a serious expression.
"The magic circle’s activation and keeping the portal open requires two kinds of vitality."
"Is that a problem?"
Sethian tilted his head, speaking nonchalantly.
"There are three brothers left. We can just find a suitable excuse, give them the Crown Prince’s gemstone, and extract their vitality."
After all, their lives and weaknesses were already in Sethian’s hands. Those who had tried to kill him repeatedly in the past knew this, which is why they had obediently accepted his rule after he ascended the throne. If Sethian used this, he could put them on the guillotine under the emperor’s authority or make them offer their vitality under the pretense of protecting their honor.
Roa’s eyes widened in realization, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Such... such a terrifying thought! How could you even think of that?"
"Scared?"
Sethian moved closer to Roa. The quiet madness in his eyes felt as though it was simply gripping Roa’s neck.
"The real fear is this situation, where Joo Yi-Gyeol isn’t by my side. I’ll do anything to erase this unpleasant feeling."
His voice was calm, yet somehow twisted.
"By the way, didn’t they say that you need a guide to step into the dimension for dimensional travel?"
Roa’s shoulder twitched at Sethian’s words.
Vitality could be dealt with, but a living spirit was not something that could easily be seen. Roa, too, had only ever seen one with his own eyes when Joo Yi-Gyeol had appeared.
"I can’t see living spirits, so you’ll have to accompany me from now on."
"What... do you plan to do?"
Roa’s voice trembled with unease. He couldn’t take his eyes off Sethian, whose eyes gleamed with a quiet madness.
"Anyone who is about to die will inevitably yearn with all their might. Whether it’s to be saved or to be killed."
The horrific thoughts unfolding in Sethian’s mind made Roa’s spine crawl.
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