The priest Timorang, who was now unconscious, had said it.
“At night, the city will be covered in gray, and gray monsters will try to devour demons!”
For now, gray clouds had indeed covered the night sky with rain clouds, making the atmosphere truly gloomy.
“The city will burn, and demons’ screams will cover heaven and earth—!”
“A red-haired man will climb a bell tower, but that bell tower will be destroyed by the blue dragon!”
“Gray, gray rain will not fall, and morning will come. The city will be covered in gray ash—”
It had been a truly horrific prophecy.
But the people around Cale saw his indifferent face reflected in their eyes.
“Why? Is it not possible?”
SHAAAAAA—
At the moment when the worst incident might have unfolded, when the prophecy might have come true.
The gray snake that would have been its starting point had been dealt with.
No, the man before them had eaten the gray snake.
“Mr. Ed.”
SHAAAAAA—
Strategist Ed had hurried out to the scene the moment he learned the gray snake had been found in Midi.
He had not even thought to bring an umbrella, and he was soaked through with rain.
“...Sir Cale.”
He spoke with a stiff face. Ed summarized the rough plan that had just flowed from Cale’s mouth in a few short words.
“You intend to do both at once? Lure in the third Emperor and perform the purification ritual?”
“Yes.”
The one who reacted to that calm voice was not Strategist Ed.
“He’s, he’s insane!”
Cale’s gaze shifted to the side.
There stood the Wanderers Cho and Ryeon, who had arrived late with Clopeh. The one who spoke to Cale was the Wanderer Cho.
“You’re going to face the third Emperor—no, fine, that water dragon? Do you think that’s possible? The third Emperor is strong, but that water dragon is just as strong!”
The Wanderer Cho was serious.
He can’t die!
The bastard in front of him could not die.
It would be a problem if the only bastard who could show everyone their happy moments died.
The moment desperation filled Cho’s eyes—
Pfft.
Cale let out a deflating laugh, and his gaze turned to Strategist Ed and General Mol.
Especially when it settled on Strategist Ed.
“I will execute the plan you mentioned.”
Ha!
The Wanderer Cho let out a dumbfounded sigh. However, there was no wavering in Strategist Ed’s eyes.
They had come this far. Was he supposed to doubt Cale Henituse’s judgment?
He could not do that.
And once something had happened, following the leader’s words was the most efficient course.
SHAAAAAA—
Rain poured down, but that rain did not touch Cale.
Though he was already soaked through, the invisible black dragon was blocking the rain from him with magic.
Even so, Cale’s complexion was pale.
His lips had turned blue.
“......”
Strategist Ed looked at that face, then turned around.
And he headed straight for Midi’s lord’s castle. Once he had said he would execute it, the only thing left was to show it through action.
“All knights and soldiers, listen!”
General Mol also moved into action.
“Go to each quarantine center currently in Midi and Mika and tell them that the purification ritual will be carried out for all infected and suspected infected!”
“Yes, General!”
“Yes!”
The expressions of the territorial forces, knights, and the Demon King’s army who answered him were solemn.
They could not stand right beside Cale, so they could not hear what he was saying through the fierce rain.
But when they heard that the purification ritual would continue even on this rainy night, their hearts had no choice but to harden with resolve.
“Hurry!”
At General Mol’s order, the soldiers moved busily.
As the soldiers acted through the rain, the distinction between territorial forces and the Demon King’s army blurred.
“Are you satisfied?”
General Mol, who had been watching them, turned back to Cale with a rigid face.
“Yeah.”
And Cale smiled at General Mol’s question.
“Let’s move to the nearest quarantine center immediately.”
There were quarantine centers throughout Midi and Mika.
That could not be helped.
Because they had to avoid the third Emperor’s eyes and proceed in secret without revealing the matter to the residents, they had chosen to place quarantine centers in several locations and monitor them thoroughly rather than gather many people in one place.
“......”
General Mol did not move, simply staring at Cale.
“What?”
At that gaze, Cale spoke in an indifferent tone.
“Are you worried the infected will run wild at night? Don’t worry. I’ll purify them before that.”
“No, I—”
Mol could not continue.
“Haa.”
He let out a sigh, then immediately began walking.
Are you all right?
The water dragon and the purification ritual. Would he be all right doing both?
Mol wanted to ask Cale that, but he swallowed the words.
Because he suddenly remembered the way the territorial forces and the Demon King’s army had looked at Cale with eyes full of expectation.
SHAAAAAA—
Even though this was the night the prophecy had spoken of, even though the rainstorm was driving down and giving off an ominous air, the faces of those who ran forward through the rain were bright.
That sight sealed Mol’s mouth.
What is wrong with him?
Cale made a reluctant face at Mol’s oddly wistful and sorrowful expression.
But then—
—Cale. You intend to recover as much of your condition as possible before the water dragon comes, right?
At the Ancient Tree’s following words, he nodded and relaxed his expression.
The upper body near his shoulders.
The corruption there had not all been purified yet.
His skin was still gray.
If I’m going to face the water dragon, I need to purify my body as much as possible.
Of course, after this whole rainstorm was over.
Waiting until all the infected have quietly fallen asleep, then purifying them all and recovering my body would be one method.
After that, he could use some method to suck in the water dragon’s power.
But with what method?
How, and by what means, could he lure in the third Emperor’s water dragon and drain its power?
Now is the right time.
Now, while the Demon King was dealing with the third Emperor.
Moreover, now, when the third Emperor believed there was something in these two cities and was trying to pull tricks.
This was the best moment to lure in only the water dragon, not the third Emperor himself.
And—
“Ron.”
“Yes.”
“You rest.”
“...Yes, young master.”
Just in case, Ron would be sent to the rear.
“The rest of you, please help me today.”
Choi Han, Eruhaben, the average ten-year-olds, and even Clopeh, who had returned at some point, all nodded.
His companions had seen the water dragon and faced it.
Because they were here, Cale’s judgment became a little easier.
And—
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
The Wanderer siblings. Cho flinched, and Ryeon looked at Cale.
“Aren’t you two going to answer?”
“!”
Cho, who breathed lava-like fire.
And Ryeon, who handled ice.
Among them, Cale looked at Ryeon and spoke.
“Are you planning not to see me again?”
As Ryeon failed to answer—
“Freeze it.”
“...What?”
Cale approached Ryeon.
Then he placed both hands on her shoulders.
There was even a rather gentle smile hanging on his lips.
However, Ryeon clearly felt that his two eyes were burning savagely.
He is angry.
Cale Henituse was furious right now.
Ryeon’s gaze suddenly shifted toward the servant Ron, then returned to Cale.
The fact that one of his companions had been hurt.
Cale was not showing it much, but he was quietly furious.
Ah.
This man was not simply trying to drain the water dragon’s power.
He wanted to land a blow on the third Emperor right now.
The moment focus entered Ryeon’s eyes—
“When my companions face the water dragon and hold it off for a moment.”
Ryeon felt as if she knew what she had to do.
“Freeze it.”
Freeze it.
“I’m telling you to freeze the water dragon.”
As Ryeon unconsciously swallowed in tension—
As she thought of the three strongest figures of the Five Colored Blood family. As she thought of the third Emperor.
“You two are strong, aren’t you?”
At Cale’s words, Ryeon closed her eyes, then opened them and answered.
“Then will you keep showing it?”
Would he show them happiness?
Cale answered that question.
He was smiling.
“As long as I’m purifying the Demon World’s chaos seeds, you may continue following me around.”
Ryeon opened her mouth immediately.
“I have never faced the third Emperor’s water dragon. To be honest, I am not confident. That power is above mine.”
Compared to her, who froze moisture, the third Emperor’s power was the sea itself, Five-Colored-grade.
“So are you doing it or not?”
There was only one answer to that question.
“I will try.”
Ryeon could do anything for her younger brother Cho.
This was easier than death. There was no reason she could not do it.
“No, I will make sure I do it.”
The purification ritual that had unfolded a short while ago at the Gray Tree clan treatment center, not Mika city barracks.
There, Cho seemed to have seen the same joyful moment.
But Ryeon had been different.
Cho.
After seeing the illusion at Mika city barracks, Cho’s happy voice had lingered in Ryeon’s ears.
Ryeon realized that she had felt joy then.
She wanted to experience this moment again, and she could not miss it.
“Good. Then, while you have it frozen.”
The corners of Cale’s lips rose.
“I just have to eat that water dragon.”
Cale could feel the energy rippling inside his body.
It was hard to explain.
—I’m thirsty.
—......
The Unbreakable Shield and the Water that Devours the Sky.
He could feel that the tree and the water were waiting more desperately than ever to meet the water dragon.
“Let’s go.”
Cale began walking.
SHAAAAAA—
Rain fell, wind blew, and the sky was dark.
The first quarantine center in Midi.
“Graaaaah—”
“Ugh, aaaaaah—!”
The infected screamed like monsters and convulsed.
Their numbers were small, but—
Clank.
Slide.
As every window and door opened, the figures revealed inside truly looked like monsters.
Their bodies stained gray, they acted as if they would lunge at the living beings around them.
“......!”
“!!”
The people living near the quarantine center.
Or the suspected infected gathered before the quarantine center’s main entrance.
All of them were stained with terror as they watched the sight.
SHAAAA—
But the moment another sound of wind was heard.
Saaaa—
Or the moment the sound of waves was heard.
One could see the expressions of the quarantine center, the suspected infected, and the Demon King’s army and territorial forces surrounding them.
They were not afraid, nor were they simply sorrowful.
Nor were they solemn.
Instead, what fell over them was bright.
What enveloped those who had been seized by fear was something they could not tell was joy or anticipation. But the fear was vaguely washing away.
SHAAAAAA—
And at last, they could see a man appear before the infected and suspected infected who had transformed like monsters.
Though his whole body was wet, rain did not fall on him.
A black umbrella floated above his head.
—Human, don’t get rained on! If you catch a cold, it will be a big problem!
The red-haired man who appeared with a black mana umbrella.
A pale complexion and a towel covering his shoulders.
SHAAAAAA—
The sound of fierce, ominous rain could not be heard.
Cale had passed the river right beside the residential district and entered the first quarantine center.
The quarantine center located in the residential district.
Those who had stayed inside their homes because they feared the storm and darkness—no, because they feared this incomprehensible situation—looked outside without daring to open their windows.
SHAAAAAA—
Because they could hear it.
The sound of wind and waves.
And something flowing in between them.
It resembled a nostalgic memory of joy.
Clack.
Someone opened a window.
The gray mist reached that person as well.
Gray mist spread through the quarantine center and the surrounding area.
SHAAAAAA—
Even in the rain, that gray mist did not disappear.
“Ah.”
A vivid memory of joy that made them forget vague terror and fear.
Warmth bloomed throughout their bodies.
And the gray particles that bloomed from those bodies gathered toward Cale and the quarantine center.
A radiant gray galaxy that rain and darkness could not hide.
When that galaxy disappeared—
Drip. Drip.
The neighbors, acquaintances, and family who had transformed like monsters were gone.
They had returned to their original appearances.
Drip. Drip.
And the gray droplets falling from them began to mix with the rain and seep into the ground.
“......”
“......”
No one could easily open their mouth.
Their gazes turned toward the red-haired man standing beneath the black mana umbrella.
*****
The Demon King looked down at his hand.
One of his rings was shining.
Tap.
When he touched the ring, a voice could be heard.
—Please let the water dragon go.
The Demon King’s bored eyes gleamed.
SHAAAA—
Rain was now falling here as well.
The Demon King finally seemed to understand why the third Emperor had been waiting for an opening since earlier.
The water dragon, was it?
Creating an opening to let that thing go.
That would not be difficult.
After all, he had not once used his full strength yet.
Rather, he was bored.
Because this was an uninteresting fight.
But now, it seemed this situation was about to become a little amusing.
Not because of him, but because of someone else.
*****
Cale opened his mouth.
“Next.”
The gray near his collarbone had faded slightly.
He still needed much more purification.
And there were still many quarantine centers left.
The red-haired man walked onward with the black mana umbrella above him.
SHAAAA—
SHAAAAAA—
Gray galaxies bloomed here and there.
In a world where the storm made it difficult to distinguish anything and only darkness had settled, it was a clear light visible to those who looked outside.
