Count's Youngest Son is a Warlock

Chapter 185: Got caught

Clap clap clap.

his hands.

[That’s right, Hume. Isn’t that the first thing you do as a butler? To protect your master’s life?]

“Yes, that’s correct. My master treats me like a statue. And that angers me.”

Hume scrunched up his face.

“Who? Me?”

Lucion pointed at himself in surprise.

“Yes, you, young master.”

“Who cares about my body as much as I do?”

Lucion felt ridiculous having to state the obvious.

There was a moment of silence.

[…You’re kidding, right?]

Russell blurted out, and Lucion shook his head.

“I’m serious.”

[You may be surprised, but Lord Lucion is really, really serious right now].

Bethel spoke with some frustration.

Russell’s eyes widened at that, and Hume tilted his head slightly, bringing his clasped hands to his mouth as if in deep thought.

Where did this go wrong?

“…?”

Lucion tilted his head at Russell and Hume’s reactions.

―Lucion. If you don’t know the word ‘cherish,’ I’ll teach you, because Ratta is smart and knows it! Cherishing means…To hold someone in your arms every day, as if they’re precious…

‘What is she doing?’

Lucion stopped listening to Ratta’s sermon and realized something was wrong.

Why did he have to listen to this kind of talk?

Pfff.

But it was amusing, so it was fine.

Lucion burst out laughing, but stopped at Bethel’s words.

[Kran is coming.]

The sound of footsteps came up the hill, and Kran turned to Lucion.

“Over here.”

Lucion waved, and Kran hurried over.

“As you instructed, we have divided into two groups and are waiting. The items imbued with light are fully prepared for immediate distribution to Miella.”

Kran reported first, then got to the real point.

“We haven’t heard from you for two days. What happened?”

“Yes.”

Hume answered.

“No.”

Lucion interjected, tilting his head in confusion.

As their statements conflicted, Kran looked at the two with a bewildered expression.

“Currently, Mr. Hamel is injured.”

Hume accurately reported Lucion’s condition.

Kran was startled and immediately spoke up.

“W-Where is he injured? How severe is it?”

“He is injured to the extent that he cannot perform smoothly in this mission. I hope Mr. Kran understands.”

Hume spoke extremely clearly, and Russell applauded.

‘Huh.’

Lucion felt as if he had been stabbed in the back again by Hume’s actions of running his mouth arbitrarily.

“What are you doing?”

Lucion raised his voice slightly.

“I have fulfilled my role. This was my judgment and conclusion. I have a duty to protect Mr. Hamel.”

At Hume’s determination not to back down even an inch, Lucion let out a weak laugh for a moment.

Hume had thought and made a judgment.

His actions were for his own sake, and they weren’t necessarily bad decisions.

While the other members may not have known, Kran had to be aware of his condition.

‘This time, I’ll step back.’

Upon Lucion’s decision, Bethel was greatly pleased.

‘It’s a good decision, Lord Lucion.’

Lucion nodded, feeling somewhat uneasy about why Bethel was so happy.

“Rental is right. It’s not a severe injury that will hinder me greatly. As long as I don’t overexert myself, and since I don’t have much to do today, it should be fine.”

“So… that’s why there has been no contact?”

Kran’s eyebrows furrowed downward.

“Yes. I’ll be going in shortly, so let me know once the situation is sorted out.”

“In that case, even if Hamel doesn’t come…”

“No. I’ll need to be there to find information. Not everyone who speaks is necessarily alive.”

There were a lot of dead bodies down there.

There would be many ghosts.

Above all, there were undying soldiers.

“Whatever happens, don’t touch the basement. Clean up the surface first. I’ll join you afterward.”

The warlocks in that mansion were so formidable that Bethel was unable to explore the inside in detail.

However, she mentioned the possibility of corrupted ghosts or previously created undying soldiers turning corrupt.

Russell agreed.

It was the same for him.

“May I ask why?”

Kran asked with doubt.

“I don’t think you’d know if I answered that. Anyway, I’m telling everyone to be extra careful with their light objects, whether they’re wrapped around their bodies or strapped to their waists.”

“Okay, I’ll be a little more careful.”

“Kran.”

“Yes.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Lucion wanted to apologize now, as much as he could after the raid on the mansion.

It was true that he had kept information related to Kran hidden.

“Yes?”

However, Kran was just confused by the apology for no reason.

“Anyway, I’ll be waiting for you after the raid, so let me know.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for your signal to attack.”

Kran replied, still looking dumbfounded.

Only after Kran had walked away did Lucion turn to Russell.

“Are you satisfied now?”

[No. I will be satisfied only if you stay in bed.]

“Then what about you?”

“I am satisfied for now.”

Hume had a soft smile on his face.

“And you, Bethel?

[…I will remain silent. I am already regretting agreeing to your proposal.]

Lucion finally sat down and lay on the grassy field as requested by Ratta.

―Heehee.

Ratta’s bright laughter echoed by his side.

After a while, Lucion received a message from Kran, indicating that he was ready. Lucion briefly released his possession with Bethel and asked her to eliminate the ghosts.

Lying on the grassy field felt like a good decision. As soon as he released the possession, his body became heavy, and his fever quickly rose.

[Alright, Lucion. Let Kran know.]

Russell looked toward the mansion and opened his tightly closed mouth.

As if he’d been waiting for it, Lucion spoke immediately.

“Move, Kran.”

<Yes.>

Kran answered briefly and ended the call.

[…I couldn’t even touch the basement.]

Bethel, who returned, expressed regret.

“It’s alright. There might be corrupted ones in the underground.”

[That may have played a part, but the warlocks seemed to recognize me, so I couldn’t get any closer.]

[Even without your presence, they would have suspected something when the ghosts disappeared.]

Russell stated matter-of-factly, adding to Bethel’s words.

[But even if they suspect, what can they do when we attack with light?]

Chuckling, Russell twitched his mouth again.

“Still, we should be prepared.”

Lucion re-possession with Bethel as he watched the twinkling lights over the hill.

Even armed with light, the warlock would not be easily defeated.

“Proceed with caution.”

Hume acted as if he would grab Lucion at a moment’s notice.

But Lucion snorted.

“Whenever I go, I go.”

Once was enough for him, but not twice.

He couldn’t back down this much.

He had to show his determination as a master.

* * *

Bang!

The object containing the light shattered, plunging the room into darkness.

“…Urgh.”

The injured warlock coughed up blood and glared at the organization members, exuding darkness from his entire body.

“I shall make you my minions….”

Puck!

But before he could finish his sentence, a flying palm in the form of darkness struck his face.

“Undoing curses is no easy task, so shut up.”

For the cursed individual, Quate was more than enough.

Whoever said undoing curses was easy?

Gradually unraveling Quate’s curse consumed a significant amount of darkness, making it incredibly difficult.

Absolutely.

No matter what happened, curses had to be avoided at all costs.

‘I’m glad I arrived in time.’

“Mr. Hamel…!”

The organization members welcomed Lucion with joy.

It was so intimidating when the warlocks were enemies, but when they were allies, they couldn’t feel more secure.

“If you want to stop the curse, simply silencing him won’t be enough. You have to sever his head completely.”

Hume picked up a nearby sword and swiftly beheaded the warlock before he could regain his senses.

Simultaneously, the sword shattered.

Hume looked at his empty hand and took a short breath.

“I’ll come by soon to find a new sword, so stay strong.”

Lucion approached Hume and patted his shoulder.

“Really?”

Hume smiled broadly.

“Of course.”

Lucion replied, shifting his feet slightly to create a wall of darkness.

Thud!

There may have been more warlocks hiding from the light, but he had Bethel.

She reacted, and Lucion used darkness.

The enemy’s darkness could not pierce his own darkness.

Lucion expanded his darkness, creating an opening, while Hume launched a spiked ice bolt.

Sizzle!

Thwack!

With a resounding crack, the warlock staggered backward, a spike piercing his forehead.

“He’s not dead yet.”

[That’s right. He’s still alive.]

Following Lucion’s words, Russell nodded, and Hume immediately rushed forward and stamped his foot.

However, the enemy’s darkness enveloped Hume’s leg, and Lucion quickly sent his own darkness to strip away the enemy’s darkness that had captured Hume’ leg.

Squeak.

As he unleashed additional darkness towards the enemy, it dug into the enemy’s darkness like a drill.

Lucion had learned the weakness of darkness to disruption when his left arm was broken.

“…Aaaah!”

The enemy let out a scream as their darkness intertwined with Lucion’s.

‘Don’t exaggerate…’

With a chuckle, Lucion immediately turned to Hume, who promptly smashed the enemy’s head.

Crunch.

“Thank you!”

“Thank you, Mr. Hamel!”

As nearby members of the organization rushed over, Lucion took a step back.

Meeting him was difficult, and striking up a conversation was even harder, but here he was, standing so close.

Hamel’s performance undoubtedly confirmed Peter’s enthusiastic praise from the rowdy drinking party.

Swift and powerful.

Even though it was the same darkness, the warmth emanating from Hamel’s darkness inexplicably gave rise to a strange sense of familiarity.

They wanted to talk.

They wanted to hear his voice.

“P-please calm down.”

Stepping back, Lucion hastily spoke in response to their strange anticipation.

“…Of course.”

Lucion turned around and deliberately ignored their conversations as their eyes followed him down the hallway.

[Wow, quite popular, huh?]

Russell nudged Lucion with his words.

Who would have expected him to attract such attention just by showing concern?

“Sh, shut up.”

Lucion brushed off the tingling emotions.

For now, guided by Bethel, he summoned and dealt with any remaining warlocks and any ghosts he could summon immediately.

“…Did you take care of the rest of them on your way here?”

Hume flinched for a moment as Quate’s voice came from his right.

Lucion answered. “That’s right.”

“I was in charge of handling them… but…”

“Oh, I inadvertently took that task away from you. I apologize.”

“No, no need to apologize… I heard that you are coming with great ease.”

“I’m taking it easy. You know how challenging it is to deal with warlocks.”

“So I made thorough preparations. I was just about to activate an object imbued with light. Luckily, I narrowly avoided that.”

“Really?”

Then, who cuts off the assassin’s head?

“We have many capable individuals within the organization. Nevertheless, let’s double-check.”

“Since I’ve already scouted the area, why don’t you take care of the ones escaping through the mansion’s main entrance?”

“Reint is guarding it, so it should be fine. I don’t want to end up skewered like a kebab.”

“Are you trying to shirk your responsibilities?”

Lucion stopped giggling and suddenly turned his head to the left.

It wasn’t him, but Bethel, responding to something.

[Enemy.]

Hume also turned his head reflexively, but he remained still.

Quate had already stabbed the enemy in the heart with his sword.

‘He was definitely next to me?’

Surprised, Lucion glanced briefly to the right.

“Well, don’t I need something special to survive too?”

Quate said as he unsheathed his sword.

He lowered his mask, revealing a smirk on one corner of his mouth.

“Ah, what were you saying?”

“…Where is Kran?”

Lucion’s voice trembled.

[Hahaha!]

Russell burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

He had been adept at dealing with warlocks so far, but not so much with others.

“He’s over there. Shall we go together?” Quate said, suppressing his laughter.

He moved his lips, unsure when he would have another chance to tease Hamel like this.

“No, thanks. Actually, I think I can find him on my own.”

Lucion turned his head to the side.

Quate, whose expression was hidden behind his mask, clearly showed his disappointment.

“Well, then, see you later.”

After bidding his farewell, Lucion headed towards the direction Quate had indicated.

Russell’s laughter right beside him was irritating, but Lucion couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

He just blushed.

* * *

It wasn’t until they reached Kran’s location that Russell stopped laughing.

[Wow. It’s quite chaotic here, isn’t it?]

[I couldn’t come this far. There were quite a few warlocks.]

Through Lucion’s eyes, Bethel observed the lifeless bodies of warlocks and organization members strewn across the floor.

She sensed an unsettling presence from the ghosts guarding the entrance to the underground, along with a strong stench emanating from that area.

―Uhh… Ratta hates it here.

Ratta, in the shadows, held her forepaws to her nose.

“Have you arrived?”

Lucion drew his sword immediately, ignoring Kran’s greeting.

Swoosh.

With Bethel’s help, he swiftly dealt with the ghost guarding the entrance to the underground, enveloping his sword in darkness.

“…?”

Not only Kran but also the other organization members stationed there stared at Lucion with puzzled eyes.

Why was he suddenly swinging his sword in the air?

Sheathing his sword, Lucion explained, “There was something there.”

He left the exact details unsaid, leaving the organization members with an inexplicable chill.

“Rental and I will go in first to conduct various checks before calling you guys.”

In sync with the timing, Lucion subtly raised his momentum with Bethel.

“So, under no circumstances, do not enter inside.”

And he issued a stern warning.