After teasing Luca thoroughly, Adris seemed to be in a rather good mood.
I get it. When someone is on the receiving end, they get all heated up, but when they’re tormenting someone else, it’s a different kind of thrill. Yeah.
“Old hag, do I look like I’ve got a rotten brain like you? Just because your brain is rotten, don’t drag me down to your level!”
As Adris pointed out, what I was doing was, indeed, just stalling.
Bringing in those who had been sacrificed by Luca, causing a rift between the Void Followers and Luca, playing mind games to make Luca hesitate—no matter how much I tried, I couldn't completely crush their power.
But that didn’t matter. The point was, I was stalling, so what’s the problem?
“While that senile hag is reminiscing and chuckling over the past, I’ve been struggling up top.”
So far, things were proceeding according to plan. In fact, Luca’s entry had even made the situation better.
As the Void Followers started using their powers to deal with the commanders, the Void’s influence within the barrier was diminishing.
That meant it would be easier for those on the surface to deal with the Void Followers.
The fact that I could directly witness Luca’s shock was also a significant advantage.
However, it wasn’t without its problems.
“When will the poor prince wake up?”
Before the Void Followers' plan was completed, Arthur needed to wake up. Only then would everything be resolved.
This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.
If Arthur didn’t wake up in time, well, I’d have to resort to drastic measures.
“Do you really think the cute princess is going to kiss you just because of this? Truly pathetic, that kind of thinking. How sad.”
As I watched Arthur, still staring blankly ahead, I sighed deeply and began formulating a contingency plan.
After all, I was responsible for overlooking the Void Followers’ plans.
If the worst-case scenario came to pass, I would have to act without worrying about the consequences.
“That’s just the trace left by that one. It’s not truly Erginus.”
When Arthur spoke of the great mage he had met before, the little kid crossed his arms and muttered discontentedly.
“I shouldn’t have expected anything. Even someone like Erginus can’t overcome the limits of humanity.”
The name "Erginus" clearly held great significance, and the little kid’s face was full of disappointment, but Arthur didn’t seem to care in the least.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but even if what I met was a fake, it still contained the true essence of Erginus, didn’t it?”
“Sure, I suppose. A fake made by him.”
“Then it makes sense that I can handle the barrier, doesn’t it?”
“I get it. Fine, I’ll stop pestering you. I’ll send you out now.”
The little kid, still grumbling, sighed and walked up to Arthur.
“Promise me one thing. After this urgent matter outside is over, you’ll come back here.”
“Do I even have the right to do that?”
“If a fake with Erginus’s knowledge has taught you about the barrier, it must mean something. So, when that happens... no, wait a minute. What’s this?”
The little kid abruptly stopped speaking, her face filled with confusion. Her muttering, now hurried and anxious, clearly indicated something had gone wrong.
“Could it be that something has happened and you can’t send me out after all?”
“...That’s likely.”
“Tch. Damn it. Fine. Explain what the problem is.”
“You’ll figure it out without me explaining.”
“What kind of nonsense is that...”
The peaceful blue sky suddenly turned black, and an ominous atmosphere filled the air around Arthur.
Startled by the sudden chill, Arthur blinked as the little kid clicked her tongue and observed the changes around them.
“You were right. The followers of the Evil God are taking control of the barrier.”
“Does that mean the Evil God’s influence is now within this space?”
“Yes. Because of that, it’s becoming difficult to send you out. My authority is being slowly taken away.”
The little kid grumbled while waving her hand through the air. The surroundings briefly returned to their original state, but the change didn’t last long.
“Tch. Hey, kid. Didn’t you say you wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible?”
“Yeah.”
“Then pass the test and take control of the barrier. That’s the fastest way right now.”
“Test?”
“I don’t have time to explain. Decide whether you’ll do it or not.”
As the little kid urgently urged him, the ominous atmosphere continued to thicken around them. It was clear that thinking it over wasn’t an option.
Damn it. Lucy Alrn, is this really what you were aiming for?
Is this really going according to your plan?
If so, you should have at least told me! I needed some time to prepare myself!
“Make a decision quickly! There’s no time!”
“Fine! I’ll do it!”
Just as Arthur nodded urgently, the little kid grabbed his wrist, and the two of them vanished in an instant.
Where they had stood, a lingering Void energy filled the space.
It was nothing, and because it was nothing, it could become anything. And because it was nothing, it exuded a jealousy toward everything else.
The sword swung endlessly through the nothingness of hell.
I failed again. I couldn’t complete the task the young lady entrusted to me.
How hard could it be to capture a single person?
Filled with anger at myself, I fought desperately, trying to escape this space, but hell’s landscape showed no signs of ending.
No matter how many demons I killed, more demons came, and even though I ran madly to find the end of hell, the landscape stretched endlessly before me.
Because of that, I grew increasingly anxious with each passing moment.
I had to get out of here quickly. I had to fulfill the task that the young lady had given me.
I had to do my best to avoid becoming a stray dog.
I didn’t have time to keep struggling here.
Damn it.
Damn it.
“Damn it!?...”
Cursing under my breath, I opened my eyes and found Erin’s concerned gaze as she caught her breath.
What...?
Just a moment ago, I had been wandering through hell’s landscape, hadn’t I? Why is Erin here?
“Pull yourself together, you fool.”
The voice that pierced through my confusion was the reproach of an elegant woman.
Without Lucy around, Lina, looking dignified and haughty as ever, stood with two foxes made of smoke beside her.
“Didn’t you realize you were just dreaming?”
“A dream...? All of that scenery?”
“Has being treated like a dog every day dulled your wits? How could an incomplete deity send everything in this space to hell?”
As I heard Lina’s clicking tongue, I began to realize that her words were true. I sighed in relief, only to notice that the most important and cherished person wasn’t here.
“Lady! Where is she!?”
“If you’re asking about the lady, she left to do her own work, Sir.”
“Where did she go?! I need to be by her side!”
“Sir.”
“Erin! Tell me quickly! I need to—”
“Calm down.”
At Erin’s cold voice, I closed my mouth instantly.
It was then that I realized the Erin I had known in the past was very different from the Erin standing before me now.
The first time I had met Erin, she was weak and pitiful, a mere collateral. She had been sold to serve the Alrn family, doing the hardest tasks.
But now, what about Erin? The woman who had been growing by the young lady’s side all this time?
She was no longer someone to be protected but someone who had become an unyielding, strong person, not lacking compared to those she served.
“You’re telling me the lady you want to protect is some fragile noblewoman who can’t do anything unless someone protects her?”
“...No, that’s not it.”
Could Lucy Alrn be someone who needed protection? No, that couldn’t be the case. If Lucy had been that weak, I wouldn’t have struggled so much to prove my worth.
“The lady entrusted you with the task.”
“...Yes, she did.”
“Then, what are you going to do if you can’t trust the lady?”
Hearing Erin’s reproach, I raised my head for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh.
“I’m sorry, Erin. It seems I became so desperate, repeating my failures, that I lost my focus.”
“Is that so? The Sir I know doesn’t seem like someone incompetent.”
“Haha. I was like that before. Back then.”
As I faced Erin’s smile, she quietly observed me before sitting down across from me.
“Sir.”
“Yes.”
“So, are you going to give up being under the lady’s service?”
“...No. Unless the lady casts me aside, I will remain by her side.”
“Then get up. Even if we have to struggle in the muck, it’s our duty to be of help to our master, isn’t it?”
Listening to Erin, I blankly stared at her face before sighing and standing up.
“You really are a strong person, Erin.”
“I try to be. To stay by the lady’s side, I couldn’t afford to be weak.”
“Well, it’s nice to have this warm atmosphere, but don’t get too comfortable. Shouldn’t we be doing our work?”
Lina, frowning slightly, said something, and I stood up, checking my gear.
Then I asked her.
“What should I do?”
“It’s simple. Be the fangs of Alrn and smash through the obstacles.”
“That’s what I do best.”