Chapter 65: Seth’s disillusionment

“Seth!”

Rita cautiously approached, issuing a warning in quick succession. Yet, Seth’s gaze remained fixed on the mana stone.

Rita despaired as she recognized Satan’s influence. 

No matter how much Seth had changed, a human like him could hardly resist such temptation.

Thus, Seth would inevitably yield to Satan’s choice.

Rita pleaded for Seth’s sake.

“Seth, I wish you wouldn’t choose that.”

Her hand gripped his shoulder, and Seth briefly turned to look at her.

Her strained smile met his innocent, questioning gaze.

“You’ll surely… become someone different from who you are now.”

Seth pondered the meaning of her words for a long while.

Even amidst his impatient, desire-driven state, he saw the sincere golden eyes before him.

Rita, who had somehow become his “friend,” was genuinely worried for him.

But he lacked the resolve to cast aside the immense power he now held in his hand.

Seth turned his head back to Floria.

The guilt Satan had planted in him was tightening its grip around his throat.

With guilty eyes, Seth bowed his head to her.

Floria, sensing his resolve, approached angrily, but Seth ignored her, tightening his grip on the mana stone.

“I need power.”

Crack. As the stone shattered, golden chains of light enveloped Seth’s body.

The process mirrored Floria’s.

Seth let out a silent scream as overwhelming mana surged into him, while Rita and Floria, forced to witness it, swallowed heavy sighs.

Seth’s mana absorption continued for some time before gradually subsiding.

He had safely absorbed and contained it without Rita’s guidance.

Standing limply, Seth slowly raised his head.

His radiant emerald-green eyes remained unchanged.

Yet, his mana had grown exponentially, far beyond what an ordinary first-rank mage could possess.

“As expected. A weak vessel like yours could only handle so much,” Floria said coldly, her biting words laced with both regret for Seth’s choice and anticipation for his growth.

But Seth knew her true intentions. He gave a bitter smile at her harsh tone.

Like Floria, Seth was deeply satisfied with his own growth.

He gazed joyfully at the bright golden light shimmering in his palm.

Rita could only watch his distorted smile with a heavy heart.

***

“Keep advancing! Hold the defensive line!”

Beyond the northern defensive line, a horde of lizard-like beasts surged forward in overwhelming numbers.

Count Roia, taken aback by the sudden influx of beasts, led his soldiers into battle as soon as the warning horn blared, but they were outnumbered.

Even with every remaining soldier mobilized for this critical battle, the expedition was being pushed back.

“Any word from the Princess?”

The soldiers, terrified by the relentless onslaught of mature beasts, cried out in fear.

Everyone desperately wished for the return of the supreme-rank mages.

Count Roia, too, inwardly prayed for their swift return, moment by moment.

It was a faint hope that kept them barely holding on in this living hell.

Skreee!

The lizard beasts, tearing through anything in their path, suddenly raised their heads to the sky. 

The soldiers, startled by the abrupt halt in the battle, hiccupped in surprise. The lizards began writhing, letting out anguished cries.

The soldiers exchanged confused glances.

“Wait, didn’t this happen before…?”

A soldier who had fought in a previous battle recalled a similar event.

Before the supreme-rank mages had brought back Baal’s head, insect-like beasts had suddenly stopped and screamed in the same way.

The soldier’s face brightened as he remembered how those beasts had retreated soon after.

His hopeful guess soon became reality.

“The lizards are retreating!”

The beasts halted their attack and began to withdraw. As they fled toward the forest, Count Roia ordered their annihilation.

Yet, the lizards fled without resistance.

That night, as the soldiers’ morale surged from this unexpected reversal…

“The Princess has returned! But…!”

With her return came the head of Satan, the mother of the lizard beasts.

“Princess!”

Count Roia greeted them with joy.

But their expressions were grim.

As he puzzled over their silent approach, Count Roia noticed someone was missing and looked around.

Then he saw Eugene at the back, carrying someone in his arms.

“No, it can’t be…”

A lifeless body, covered by Seth’s white cloak.

Strands of dark green hair fluttered from beneath, and a pale arm dangled limply.

Realizing what this meant, Count Roia let out a low groan.

The jubilant atmosphere among the troops quickly turned to sorrow.

“A supreme-rank… and a Child of the Forest, dead…?”

The news of Eileen’s death spread rapidly, delivering a heavy blow to the soldiers.

The Children of the Forest were revered even in human society as a sacred race.

Among them, Eileen was a prominent figure, representing the bridge between their kind and humans, with significant influence among warriors.

The death of Kerman, a mage who had perished earlier with the pursuit team, was tragic, but the loss of Eileen, a supreme-rank figure, was an even greater shock.

“A supreme-rank died? Was this mother beast stronger than the last one?”

“My friend was there when the lizard mother came. He said he could barely breathe.”

“But it’s over now, right? We got the insects, and now the lizards…”

“They found goats in the northwest. And the Great Mage said there might be more.”

“How long do we have to keep fighting here…?”

As a gloomy atmosphere spread, the headquarters hurriedly prepared Eileen’s funeral.

Floria wished to lay Eileen to rest at Nashapur’s sacred tree as soon as possible.

The simple funeral, led by Saint Michael, was brief.

Despite being held unannounced in the dead of night, no one complained.

Everyone paid silent tribute to Eileen, who had fought bravely for their sake.

Even Karina and the Free Mages, who had recently joined the expedition, along with the Sea Mercenary Guild, mourned solemnly under Eugene’s guidance, despite their usual rowdy behavior.

After the short funeral, Floria, with the help of the temple and the Mage Tower, escorted Eileen’s body to Nashapur.

“We’d like to come along…”

“No, it’s fine.”

Rita’s group wanted to accompany her to bid a final farewell, but Floria refused.

Human visits violated Nashapur’s customs.

After Floria left, starting with Sercia, everyone swallowed their bitterness.

“She must be devastated. She won’t come back.”

“I wouldn’t either, in her place.”

“She’s a rare being, blessed with the sixth blessing. But I respect her decision.”

“Then we’ll exclude the archer role from future strategies…”

“Should we request reinforcements?”

“No. I’d prefer no replacements.”

Floria’s newfound supreme-rank power was invaluable, but the group chose to respect her decision.

***

Yet, the next day…

Floria, whom everyone thought would not return, came back to the northern battlefield.

Her face was gaunt, her eyes hollow.

“Lady Floria.”

Sercia approached with an apologetic expression, silently patting her shoulder.

Normally, Floria would have shunned such contact, but she quietly accepted it, lowering her head.

One by one, starting with Valery, her comrades offered their condolences.

Floria nodded silently until Seth approached her.

Even as she raised her weary gaze, Seth averted his eyes guiltily. After a few seconds, he struggled to speak.

“…Are you alright?”

Floria let out a sharp laugh.

“Who’s worrying about whom? I’ve lived longer than you and am still stronger. Worry about yourself instead.”

Her curt reply came out harshly. Seth flinched but looked up to find Floria staring at him with a lofty gaze.

“Do you know what your face looks like right now?”

Seth instinctively touched his face. He didn’t need a mirror to know.

He hadn’t slept or eaten properly since Eileen’s death.

Sighing and rubbing his face, Seth was watched quietly by Floria, who then cautiously lowered her voice.

“You. What changed?”

“…Nothing’s changed.”

“Don’t lie. Something’s definitely…”

“I’ll head back.”

Though he knew her probing came from concern, Eileen’s face kept resurfacing in his mind, and Seth fled the conversation.

As he hurried toward the barracks, Talos and Torgo appeared before him.

He wasn’t in the mood to face anyone, but Seth still bowed politely.

“Oh, Seth. I couldn’t say yesterday amidst the chaos, but congratulations.”

As he had once before, Talos mentioned his disciple’s mana growth with a kind smile.

But given the tragedy behind it, this wasn’t the time or place for such cheerful remarks.

Seth bowed with an uneasy expression.

“I’m delighted. My disciple has grown further. Of course, I always believed you’d achieve greatness.”

It had been a while since he’d heard his master’s praise. But Seth felt no joy. He gave a curt reply.

Torgo, displeased with his reaction, interjected.

“Why the glum face on such a momentous occasion? Because of the Child of the Forest? You traveled together, so it’s unavoidable, but don’t get too close. They’re a different kind from us. Once the war’s over, you’ll have no reason to see them.”

Seth doubted his ears for a moment.

But Torgo’s next words were even worse.

“With their supreme-rank leader dead, those arrogant folk will be humbled. Thinking of how they lectured us with that tree from Aide Hill makes my blood boil…”

Torgo laughed heartily, and Seth’s eyes trembled.

He was chilled by Torgo’s attitude, treating Eileen’s death as an opportunity.

‘Was this truly something an elder should say?’

Horrified, Seth looked at Talos.

Surely Talos would reprimand Torgo’s inappropriate behavior.

“Forget the past, Torgo. The Mage Tower’s influence in magic will grow stronger now. So, Seth, you and Blena have important roles. Support Rita well, and the Mage Tower’s prestige will rise further.”

Talos smiled calmly, cruelly.

Seth couldn’t hide his shock at his master’s underlying intent, urging him to play politics for Rita.

There was no sorrow or consideration for Eileen’s death.

Their minds were solely focused on the Mage Tower’s future.

Seth couldn’t accept this situation calmly.

‘Was his master always like this?’

The unfamiliarity of Talos’s demeanor filled him with disillusionment.

Perhaps that’s why.

Recalling Rita’s change, Seth nodded in understanding.

“Seeing it up close is astonishing. I can feel mana beyond first-rank from you. I heard the rough story, but could you tell me the details?”

Unaware of Seth’s feelings, Talos subtly began probing him.

This was the same Talos who had treated Seth like baggage not long ago.

Comparing his two faces, Seth felt drained by the futility.

“I don’t really know…”

Between Rita’s gag order and his reluctance to continue speaking with the now-unfamiliar Talos, Seth remained silent.

Talos quickly read his emotions.

His disciple was confused.

Acknowledging his own haste, Talos began to watch his words.

But Torgo, walking beside him, lacked such tact.

“The Child of the Forest you brought back has golden eyes now, I hear. She went berserk fighting the mother beast, didn’t she? Maybe you could’ve reached that level. Must feel like a missed opportunity.”

Seth had barely maintained his composure, but those words broke him.

‘A missed opportunity?’

At the callous tone, Seth slowly raised his head.

His trembling green eyes began to twist with anger.