Chapter 57

“An irreversible act?” Enria asked with a hardened face.

In lieu of an answer, Blizzan spread his palm and created a small flame. The flame flared up strongly with a pat, then quickly withered, and instantly vanished.

“The attributes of the fire spirits, including mine, have begun to disobey.”

He explained that all the fire spirits who were battling the mages following Groen had been troubled because their fire attribute attacks suddenly stopped responding. He added that this was because Panz had begun to dominate fire, an attribute of his own, by consuming the spirit soul.

Enria’s eyes widened almost to the point of popping out. While she was bewildered by a situation that didn’t exist in the original story, she was also shocked by the fact that a fire spirit could control all fire attributes just by consuming a spirit soul.

Of course, the Black Mage making one of Rahar’s spirits side with him was also not in the original story, so she shouldn’t be surprised that the situation was developing this way. However, Panz gaining control over the entire fire attribute felt incredibly dangerous for them.

As Enria’s brow furrowed slightly with worry, Caldeon, also wearing a serious expression, muttered to himself, “This is not a situation we can simply overlook.”

Rahar, who heard his muttering, looked at Caldeon and said, “All the fire spirits in the Spirit Village are in the same condition as Blizzan.”

Rahar added that they were in trouble because all the fire spirits were unable to use their attribute and had withdrawn from battle. Blizzan smiled sadly and said that at this rate, the Spirit Village might be destroyed.

[Since he has already tasted how strong the power gained from consuming a spirit soul is, he will surely want more power.]

Silri said with a worried face.

Graum nodded once and added.

[He will become consumed by more power and turn into a pure mass of evil. If that happens, he might become the vessel that resurrects the Evil God.]

At that, the expressions of the surrounding spirits instantly hardened.

Enria looked troubled, unsure how to handle this truly serious situation.

***

“Will it be okay?” Enria asked Caldeon after the spirits and Rahar had left without a solid plan.

Caldeon, who had been standing by the window lost in thought, turned his body and approached Enria, saying, “I need to make it okay.”

He sat down naturally next to the bed where Enria was sitting, gently kissed her cheek, and continued, “You don’t have to worry. I will protect you and Hayden, no matter what it takes.”

“I know. But I want to protect you and Hayden too, Lord Caldeon.”

At Enria’s words, that she couldn’t help but worry, Caldeon let out a low chuckle. Her heart fluttered slightly at his magnificent laugh.

“When Rose returns from the Imperial Palace tomorrow, you will formally discuss this matter, right?” She asked him, trying to calm the heart that was fluttering just from Caldeon’s smile.

“I should. We will likely discuss this situation as soon as they return, as Tearen’s illusion magic will also be necessary.”

“I hope it ends well without any sacrifices, but that will be difficult, won’t it?”

At Enria’s sigh-laced comment, Caldeon also wore a worried expression. “As long as the Black Mage is involved, it won’t end easily.” Furthermore, since Panz had already stepped onto an irreversible path of evil, he predicted that a bloodbath would surely sweep through the Empire.

“For the time being, he will probably focus his efforts on eliminating the Master of the Oracle.”

At Caldeon’s words, Enria’s face hardened.

As if to reassure her, Caldeon wrapped his large hand around Enria’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. I will protect you, without fail.”

Enria felt comforted by his words, but many thoughts still raced through her mind.

‘I need to prepare for Panz’s movements in addition to the atrocities the Black Mage will commit in the future.’

If Panz’s power were to combine with the villain of the original story and cause an even greater disaster, it would not be an event they could easily overcome, even with preparation. Therefore, she immediately needed a countermeasure to stop Panz.

‘Just like in the original story, the Black Mage and the villains will ultimately be defeated with the help of Roseanne, Caldeon, numerous reinforcements, and the spirits.’

She had already seen the peaceful ending, so she believed it would be the same in reality. Enria sighed deeply in Caldeon’s embrace, hoping for that to be true.

Just then, the door opened with a knock.

The sight of Windel entering, holding the seat of Hayden’s pants in his mouth, instantly brightened Enria’s worried expression. Hayden, dangling in the air and flailing his arms and legs while being held by Windel, was giggling as if even that was enjoyable.

Enria, a smile on her face, quickly approached, took Hayden from Windel, and held him. Windel said.

[The human who has been constantly sticking to Hayden said it was time for sleep.]

“Ah, yes.”

Enria, accurately recognizing the “human” Windel was referring to as Chavel, nodded once. Just as he said, Hayden, who had been giggling moments ago, now blinked his sleepy eyes slowly, resting his face against Enria’s chest as if nothing had happened.

As Enria patted Hayden’s back and walked toward the bed, Windel addressed Caldeon.

[I will go over to the Spirit Village and return around the time Hayden wakes up.]

“To the Spirit Village?” Caldeon asked.

Windel nodded once.

[I intend to try infusing my wind attribute into Blizzan’s flame. Silri said it wouldn’t work, but the spirit Silri failed with was intermediate, so I, being a superior spirit, might succeed in infusing the wind attribute into Blizzan.]

“Can’t another superior Wind Spirit do it?”

[Unfortunately, only spirits bound to the same contractor can infuse attribute magic into each other. And only you, who possess black magic, and Silri’s contractor can contract with more than one superior spirit. Since Silri cannot do it, it is a task only the two of us can figure out.]

At that, Caldeon looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

[Hayden is your son, so I don’t need to ask you specifically, right.]

Caldeon said there was no need to worry, in response to Windel’s remark that while it was obvious, he asked him to take good care of Hayden during his absence.

[You’d better be careful. He might reappear suddenly.]

Caldeon nodded once as Windel added that even though they had cast a strong barrier around the castle’s outer wall all day, the Black Mage, who had begun using spirit souls, could surely breach even that easily.

“I know. I have no intention of letting down my guard, so go take care of your business without worry.”

[Then, I will be back.]

Windel nodded at Caldeon’s words, turned, and left the bedroom.

Enria gently placed Hayden, who had fallen asleep right after being patted a few times, on the bed. She pulled the blanket up to his chest and turned to look at Caldeon. As soon as Windel left, Caldeon began casting a barrier around the door using his black magic.

The thorough and meticulous way he did it made Enria realize that he was still feeling uneasy. She walked up to him and, in the same way she had helped him with the outer wall, covered the barrier Caldeon was casting with her divine power.

Caldeon looked at Enria with affectionate eyes and said, “It is highly unlikely that he will appear again today. This is merely a precaution for any unknowns…”

“I know.”

Enria nodded at Caldeon, who spoke as if to tell her not to worry. After finishing the barrier by covering the end with her divine power, she naturally linked her arm with his.

“It doesn’t look like we’ll fall asleep right away anyway, so why don’t we sit down and talk for a bit?”

Enria led Caldeon toward the window sofa, continuing by saying that since Hayden wouldn’t wake up even if someone carried him away once he fell asleep, their conversation wouldn’t disturb his slumber.

She thought it would be best to vaguely tell Caldeon about the things the Black Mage had committed in the original story. That way, even with Panz’s involvement, they would be somewhat prepared.

Caldeon, quick to notice that Enria wanted to tell him something, smiled gently when she hesitated and couldn’t speak readily. “Speak comfortably, Enria.”

Enria smiled awkwardly for a moment, then cautiously opened her mouth. “It’s about the Black Mage.”

She felt Caldeon’s face harden slightly at the mention of the Black Mage. He seemed to want Enria to not worry or fret because of the Black Mage.

“I might sound like a strange person saying this… but… I h-had a dream.”

A dream was the idea she had come up with after worrying about how to talk about the evil deeds the Black Mage had committed in the original story. It might sound absurd or surprising, but for now, it seemed the most plausible approach.

“A dream?” As expected, Caldeon looked slightly puzzled by Enria’s sudden remark.

Enria nodded quickly at him and continued, “My dreams tend to be accurate. Maybe it’s because I’m the Saintess, but I sometimes have prophetic dreams.”

“Ah, yes.”

When Caldeon nodded, looking as if he believed her, Enria felt at ease and began to tell the story of the original work, disguised as a dream.

“Actually, it’s about what the Black Mage will do in the future.”

Caldeon’s eyes looked more serious than ever as he listened to Enria’s words, which helped Enria relax.