Chapter 154 : Chapter 154

Chapter 154

“This isn’t easy.”

Loen let out a sigh as she wiped her sweat-soaked forehead.

Her entire body was exhausted.

It was because Hazard’s rampage had been fiercer than expected.

Beside her, Sharle, in a similar state, was catching her breath.

If the two of them hadn’t enhanced their mana with Magic Tools and potions, they would have been knocked out long ago.

“I was too overconfident in my skills.”

“No. We should see this as Hazard’s rampage exceeding the expected range.”

“Thank you for saving face for me. Fortunately, Yulian was here, so we survived.”

The 2nd Sword of the Annihilation Squad, Yulian.

If he hadn’t joined in time, the Head Apothecary’s Office would have been blown away by Hazard’s rampage.

“He seemed quite surprised… but he’ll be alright, won’t he?”

Yulian had been living without knowing that Hazard’s true identity was a dragon.

Although he had been ordered by Killian to thoroughly secure the Head Apothecary’s Office, it was understandable that he would be flustered to suddenly face such a situation.

‘With this, one more person knows the secret.’

Loen sighed again.

She didn’t need to worry about the Annihilation Squad, as they were the Fourth Prince’s people, but she wasn’t foolish enough not to know the repercussions if this incident became known.

‘His Majesty the King is not a merciful person who would let a rampaging dragon live. If, by any chance, something goes wrong, should I send it to Cornelia…?’

She was looking at the collapsed Hazard with a pitying gaze after its rampage.

“We can only hold out for about another week.”

“……”

“There’s still no word from Sir Killian… so why don’t you consider moving it to my research lab now?”

Sharle’s personal research lab had numerous formulas inscribed, allowing for a flexible response to Hazard’s rampage.

Even if the surrounding area were destroyed, the damage would be less than here.

“……”

Hazard’s guardian and the kingdom’s Head Apothecary.

Which position should she consider more?

The answer was already decided.

“I…”

The moment Loen opened her mouth.

Hwa-aaaaaa.

From the newly installed warp stone on one side of the lab, mana surged with a bright light.

“The Fourth Prince!”

“Sir Killian!”

Loen and Sharle shouted as they saw Killian appear.

“I’m glad I don’t seem to be late.”

Killian, who had descended from the warp stone, took a box out of the backpack he was carrying.

When he opened the box, there was a small bottle inside.

“Fourth Prince, is that…”

“It’s Nectar.”

“……!!”

“You really brought it back.”

Loen and Sharle’s eyes sparkled.

They had been secretly worried about whether he would be able to obtain an item whose existence wasn’t even certain from the reclusive fairy race.

“It’s an item guaranteed by the Queen herself. It is undoubtedly Nectar.”

“The Queen…?!!”

“What in the world… happened?”

Killian shook his head and held up the bottle.

“It’s a long story. For now, please make a cure for Hazard with this.”

Loen, who received the Nectar, opened the bottle’s cap.

A faint light enveloped the room, and a serene energy seemed to flow from within.

“Leave it to me. I’ll start working on it right away.”

“I’ll help too.”

Watching the two women’s resolve, Killian looked at the sprawled-out Hazard.

‘Hazard, when you wake up, you should know it won’t end with just a scolding.’

Was it because that thought was conveyed?

[Keu-eung—]

Hazard let out a groan.

***

[Kraaaaang!!]

Hazard, in its wolf form, let out a mighty howl.

Its body was even larger than before, and besides the green and black fur, red fur had also grown in patches.

Just by standing still, it emitted an aura comparable to a 5-star knight, and the surrounding air trembled.

“So Hazard was a divine creature after all!”

Gala said with an admiring face.

Serena also nodded with a pale face.

“The aura of a 5-star knight… Now you look like a proper member of the Annihilation Squad, Hazard.”

[Krang~]

Hazard playfully pushed its body against Gala and Serena.

The two women of the Annihilation Squad stroked Hazard’s fur as if they were handling a puppy.

There was someone watching them from a distance with a stiff face.

“Yulian, your face is ashen?”

“I-is that so?”

Yulian stammered at Zodiac’s question.

“By the way, when did that guy get so big? I’m curious as to what the Head Apothecary is feeding it.”

“……”

“Anyway, don’t be too jealous. Sir Serena not recognizing your feelings and her cherishing Hazard are two different things.”

“Wh-what… I’m just… that thing is…”

Yulian closed his faltering lips.

Zodiac looked at Yulian’s attitude with curiosity.

It was because he, who was usually playful, was showing excessive tension.

“Haa…”

Yulian, who had a secret he couldn’t tell, let out a small sigh.

‘She said it was a secret that even His Majesty the King and the Commander of the Knights didn’t know.’

A fact known only to a very few within Eurasia.

And that secret was something that could endanger the country.

Yulian shook his head as if to shake off his heavy heart.

“Let’s go to another training ground. I feel like bad memories will come up if I practice Carpe Illusion here.”

“……?”

Leaving behind Zodiac, who still couldn’t understand, Yulian moved his feet.

‘Commander, this should be enough, right?’

[Kraaaang~]

Hazard’s howl echoed throughout the area.

***

The Annihilation Squad Leader’s personal training ground.

Killian, who entered it, confirmed the woman hiding in the darkness.

A Walker wearing an owl mask and a leather suit that clung to her body.

“It’s been a while, Orchid Owl.”

“You’re late, Killian Eurasia.”

Her voice was lively, but he was not unaware of the anger hidden behind it.

As she had a history of storming into the Annihilation Squad Leader’s Office before, this time he had contacted her in advance through Raven.

“I’ve been a little busy.”

Killian said as he headed to the center of the training ground.

She also walked to the center to face him.

“I thought so, so I came to get the item myself.”

“I’m sorry you seem to have made a wasted trip.”

“A wasted… trip…?”

Orchid-colored mana slowly rose from her body.

“Give me my item.”

A sharply honed killing intent, surpassing mere fighting spirit, stabbed at Killian’s body.

“Well, sure.”

Without hesitation, Killian took the pendant from his neck and threw it to her.

“……”

The pendant that allowed synchronization with the Violet Magic Tower, a symbol of the Cornelia family’s direct lineage.

Orchid Owl, who caught the pendant, showed a somewhat surprised expression.

“This easily?”

“It was a promise.”

“Hmm.”

After a moment of looking back and forth between the pendant and Killian, she nodded.

“Heung~”

She let out a hum.

“What. I came here thinking I’d even draw my sword.”

“If you want, I can take it back.”

“Ahahaha~ You call that a joke~”

Orchid Owl put the pendant around her neck like an excited child.

Ssssss.

The orchid-colored mana rising from her body seeped into the pendant.

A moment later.

Sareureureureu.

Violet mana was emitted from the pendant.

The inscribed formula had activated in response to the wearer’s mana.

“Yes~ I’m your new master~”

Orchid Owl spread her arms, savoring the violet mana that began to envelop her body.

The innocent appearance of a child who had gotten their hands on a desired item.

“……”

Killian watched her quietly.

The violet mana enveloped her body for a moment.

Kwa-aaaaaa.

It was soon followed by a scene where it pushed Orchid Owl away as if exploding.

Her body began to tremble.

It was because a reflux had begun.

“Keuk… this is… why…”

Orchid Owl staggered with a pained expression.

“You look like you’re in danger. Shall I help?”

Killian asked with a calm face.

Hwik.

She turned her head and glared at Killian.

“What did you do?!!”

Anger and bewilderment were mixed in her voice.

Killian shook his head and smiled.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Lies!”

Kwak.

Orchid Owl shouted, grabbing the pendant that was trying to separate from her.

“You tampered with the pendant!!”

Killian was still composed.

“I just gave you the pendant as promised.”

“You… after using me to your heart’s content… how dare you…”

Pouring out killing intent, she took a step toward Killian.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

“If you won’t talk willingly, I’ll kill you and…”

“The reflux will only get worse then. Are you going to subdue me in that state?”

Psik.

The corners of Killian’s mouth went up.

“Have you ever thought that the problem isn’t me, but you?”

“What…?”

Orchid Owl’s eyes, holding the pendant, trembled.

It was because the pain was getting worse.

In that moment, her pupils dilated.

“Don’t tell me this pendant…”

She continued in a trembling voice.

“Is connected to the Violet Magic Tower…?”

Killian nodded.

“And the Violet Magic Tower has a sense of self. Right?”

“Yes. The Magic Tower does not allow those who are not qualified to use it.”

What was permitted were those of Cornelia’s bloodline.

Among them, only the direct lineage was allowed to synchronize with the Magic Tower.

“In that case, I too!”

Orchid Owl shouted, tightening her grip on the pendant.

“I can use this too!”

Madness.

The red eyes revealed beneath the mask seemed to represent her madness.

“Magic Tower! You don’t know my abilities!!”

“Orchid Owl, take off the pendant now.”

Killian’s voice was cold, but it also contained a hint of concern.

‘Absinthe and Orchid Owl are very useful.’

Losing them like this would be a loss for Eurasia and the Annihilation Squad in many ways.

It was advice given with that in mind, but.

“No!!”

She ignored Killian’s warning.

“This is mine!!”

Instead, she showed herself trying to forcibly synchronize by infusing the pendant with even stronger mana.

The orchid-colored mana absorbed by the pendant turned violet and poured into the training ground.

“Ahahahahaha.”

Orchid Owl let out a sound that could have been either pain or ecstasy.

That appearance was undoubtedly a precursor to a rampage.

‘This is going to be a big problem.’

Killian hurriedly placed his hand on the scabbard of his Aether.

In her current state, he could cut her down with a single blow.

His thought was not long.

Killian, who had taken his hand off Aether, took a step forward.

“I’ll make sure to get my due for saving your life.”

Tuk.

Killian placed his hand on her shoulder.

Violet mana began to flow through his body.

“Calm down, Violet Magic Tower.”

Enduring the boiling wave of mana, Killian attempted to synchronize.

Tiring.

[Name Search Magic is activated.]

An androgynous, ageless voice echoed.

The Cornelia magic formula spread around them, and unknown characters appeared before their eyes.

[Authentication of direct blood relative, Sharle Cornelia.]

The magic formula and characters rearranged themselves.

[Confirmation of marital relationship between Sharle Cornelia and Killian Eurasia.]

[Confirmation complete.]

[Blood relative authentication complete.]

[Synchronizing with the Magic Tower’s mana.]

“Ah… ahh…”

Orchid Owl, with her head thrown back, began to tremble.

It was because she had begun to indirectly synchronize with the Magic Tower through Killian.

The Carpe Illusion that unfolded in that way.

In the virtual space made of violet mana, Orchid Owl gasped for breath.

“Ahh… haa… ahhh… ahhhhh…”

She wiped the drool that was trickling down the side of her mouth.

He was thinking that she looked like someone high on drugs.

[Authentication of direct blood relative, Sharle Cornelia, is being released.]

[Unauthorized intruder confirmed.]

[Conditions not met.]

As new characters appeared.

[Blood relative authentication failed.]

A warning sound began to ring in their heads.

[The Magic Tower’s mana will crush the intruder.]