Chapter 77: Atawolf’s Trap

When you live life in a whirlwind, there are so many memories you forget.

No, it’s more accurate to say you’ve been putting them off.

Things you avoided recalling because you didn’t want to face them.

Memories you didn’t look back on because your heart grew heavy.

All it takes is a small trigger for them to flood in like a rising tide.

Even the great Sword Saint, Vitalianus, is no exception. Even as a Superhuman of the 8th Rank, at his core, he is still human.

He, too, had memories he had pushed aside.

The difference lay only in how he accepted and faced them.

To Vitalianus, the existence of Atawolf was such a memory.

“Doesn’t this make you think of old times, Atawolf?”

Bang!

The clashes between Atawolf and Vitalianus continued one after another.

To an outside observer, the battle would appear fiercely intense, but to the combatants, it was quite relaxed.

“Cut the nonsense.”

Because they both knew neither was serious.

Yet this was not a probing fight either.

Since they knew each other better than anyone else, a test of strength had no meaning.

It was a one-sided check by Atawolf.

A trap meant to weaken the Sword Saint’s power and lure him deeper into the dense mist, while also slowing the overall pace of the army and increasing their fatigue.

Knowing this, Vitalianus did not fight back with his full strength.

That was why they could exchange words like these.

“We used to cross swords every day back then.”

“Want to reminisce, Vitalianus?”

“That’s a story from decades ago.”

Kraaang!

Vitalianus casually parried the reckless strikes of the Black Mist and spoke calmly.

Atawolf growled in irritation, a sound like nails scratching against eardrums.

“You look good, Vitalianus. Seems like you still don’t fully understand the situation.”

Atawolf wasn’t exactly in great condition either, but since he had ventured into the misty forest to catch Vitalianus, the Empire’s troops were in the same boat.

‘Was that smirk he wore confidence?’

‘Or just empty bravado?’

“It has to be.”

Vitalianus even gave a faint smile and nodded.

“You are the burden of my past mistakes.”

His answer sounded arrogantly mad to some.

Atawolf’s expression stiffened further, and the Black Mist thickened with power.

“Yes… your arrogance has grown boundlessly.”

Yet Vitalianus would not bend his stance.

“I tried my best to make things right. Wherever the name Heuka was heard, I dropped everything and ran. But I failed every single time.”

Kraaang!

Their clashing strength intensified.

“So how could I not feel good about this? This time, I have the chance to correct my mistakes.”

Vitalianus’s smile grew wider as if truly pleased.

In stark contrast, Atawolf’s face twisted with displeasure.

“A newfound arrogance beyond limits.”

“If fixing my mistakes is arrogance, then you’re right.”

Kraaang!

Atawolf, who had come to shake the Sword Saint, was shaken instead by that declaration and raised his power beyond his original plan.

“…Very well, Vitalianus.”

But soon he snapped back to reality and straightened his twisted expression, regaining composure.

Then he realized something.

At some point, the sound of thunder ceased.

The plan of Airlights to kidnap Hio Pavlenko had succeeded.

“I’ll watch how far your arrogance goes.”

He then withdrew his power, becoming one with the Black Mist as he slowly retreated.

Vitalianus, facing him, suddenly sensed something was wrong and urgently looked around, but it was already too late.

“…The magician’s form… is nowhere to be seen. Is this your doing?”

Atawolf burst out laughing, while Vitalianus’s expression began to distort.

Then Atawolf’s eerie voice spread widely through the mist.

“If you want to save him… then come to the Center of the Forest as soon as you can. I can’t guarantee he’ll still be intact by then.”

With those words, Atawolf vanished deep into the forest with the mist.

Vitalianus summoned more aura and swung his sword, but it no longer reached Atawolf, who had already resolved to retreat.

Pursuing him further was impossible.

This was already Atawolf’s territory.

“Sir Mahel!”

Several knights called out to the stunned Vitalianus.

“The enemies are retreating!”

As soon as Atawolf withdrew, all the forces that had been with Heuka turned their backs and fled.

They fled as if it didn’t matter whether Vitalianus swung his sword or not.

Without hesitation, Vitalianus gave a firm order.

“Do not pursue.”

In war, enemies turning their backs and fleeing like that is the worst choice from their perspective and the best opportunity for one’s own army.

Moreover, enemies suddenly fleeing amid fierce battle are an easy target. Pursuing them would surely lead to a great victory.

Indeed.

Some, still intoxicated by the heat of battle, had already started to chase after the enemies unknowingly.

“Everyone, stay where you are!”

But that was exactly what Atawolf was aiming for.

The most dangerous thing in Ba’al Forest is not the victory right before your eyes, but the ever-present mist beside you.

“But, Sir Mahel, truly… there’s no sign of the Guardian Knights.”

A knight looked around seriously as he spoke.

Vitalianus nodded in response.

“This is a serious problem.”

Though he said ‘serious problem,’ his face was filled with calm.

The magician’s kidnapping was not an accident but part of a plan.

Vitalianus believed in one thing.

“A truly serious problem.”

The symbol of hope that would succeed him.

***

The body refuses to obey the will.

Having one’s mind taken over is a truly disgusting feeling.

Of course, while under control, there is no sense of displeasure.

Only ecstasy exists.

Still, Hio could feel the displeasure.

Thanks to the Hidden Trait: Can’t Live Without Style!, he retained the barest minimum of reason.

But because of that, he had to keep fighting.

He had to keep resisting that quietly creeping temptation.

In other words, [Hidden Trait: Violence Is Not Allowed! (Endurance: 301 / 1000)]

He was enduring without rest.

As he continued deeper into Ba’al Forest’s center, a gray castle suddenly appeared.

A small castle, not very large.

The lake beside it blended with the quiet atmosphere to create a rather pleasant view, but the thick mist ruined the mood.

Holding Hio’s hand, Airlights cheerfully smiled as they entered the castle.

“Welcome. This is our honeymoon home.”

For a honeymoon home, the atmosphere was rather gloomy.

Dense fog everywhere and an eerie silence. A dull gray castle.

Yet Airlights’s expression was bright as if none of it mattered.

Holding Hio’s hand, she began to look around.

“This is the lobby, that way is the kitchen, and upstairs is our honeymoon room!”

She showed him around, but she seemed flustered, unable to find the kitchen which was on the opposite side, and the stairs going upstairs.

“I’m seeing this place for the first time too. If it weren’t for the current situation, Atawolf would never have allowed this.”

Normally, those with sinister backgrounds hide their whereabouts.

Especially a criminal organization, the worst in the continent.

Yet for Airlights to come and go in Ba’al Forest’s castle meant one of two things:

Either Atawolf highly valued her abilities and trusted her more than expected, or he judged the current situation dire enough to disregard such concerns.

Either way, it was a good sign.

Because this place was not easy to access.

“Anyway, the place we have to go is the honeymoon room!”

Led by Airlights, Hio naturally followed her into an empty room.

“…It’s about time… to release my skills, Airlights.”

Pretending to be under the enchantment while retaining minimal reason was no easy task.

The desire to simply surrender and become Airlights’s slave surged within him.

“That’s not allowed, Hio.”

But Airlights shook her head with a smile.

“Atawolf will be here soon.”

Her gentle touch caressed his cheek as she pressed against him.

So soft it almost made him want to give up reason right then.

“You have to pretend you’re completely under the enchantment. Until Atawolf leaves, you have to keep telling me you love me.”

Yes.

“Now, shall we practice? I love you!”

Her fox-like smile right before his eyes. The sweet scent tickling his nose.

[Hidden Trait: Violence Is Not Allowed! (Endurance: 312 / 1000)]

Still, he barely endured.

They hadn’t come here to play pretend.

But since he agreed to feign being enchanted, Hio followed Airlights’s lead.

“…I love you too.”

Airlights closed her eyes at those words.

Savoring the moment, she smiled pleasantly for a while, then opened her eyes again and embraced Hio.

“This time, say it with my name, ‘I love you, Airlights.’”

“Cut it out. Atawolf isn’t even here yet…”

Then, suddenly, the Black Mist poured in.

The mist filled the castle, its presence unmistakable.

“I love you, Airlights…!”

Hio tightly hugged Airlights in his arms.

The Black Mist slowly began taking human form.

But regardless, Airlights smiled happily and nestled deeper into his embrace.

“Me too! I love you!”

…I had steeled myself, but it already felt harder than I thought.

[Hidden Trait: Violence Is Not Allowed! (Endurance: 318 / 1000)]

***

“Don’t cause trouble in my house, Airlights.”

Atawolf’s strange voice echoed throughout the small gray castle.

Most people would have shrunk away from the sound, instinctively rejecting it, but… he was facing Airlights.

In other words, a madwoman.

“Trouble? Do you think I’m causing trouble?”

“Then what else is it if not?”

“A sacred process of affirming our love.”

“Then it is trouble.”

Only then did Airlights release Hio’s hand and slowly turn around.

The bright smile that had been on her lips had already turned cold.

“The only condition was Hio Pavlenko. If you can’t accept even that, then you should leave, Atawolf. Or should I leave? Taking all the others outside with me?”

Over half of Ba’al Forest’s forces belonged to the criminal organization under Airlights.

All were under perfect control, enchanted by her.

If she left, there would be a huge gap in their forces.

Knowing this, Atawolf glared at Airlights for a while.

“Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, he turned away.

“The enchantment must have worked.”

“Right. Want to see?”

“No, I can’t stand it.”

Atawolf walked away without looking back.

Without watching to the end, Airlights snuggled back into Hio’s arms.

“What a strange person!”

Hio nodded and hugged her.

“Yeah, really strange.”

Atawolf’s footsteps paused briefly as he tried to calm his anger, but what could he do?

Now, Hio was Airlights’s only demand.

In her words, a most beloved fiancé.

“I love you!”

“…Yeah. I love you too.”

Thus began the bizarre honeymoon life with Atawolf and Airlights.