novelraw Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92. Visit
Ilea sank to the ground.
Yohan hurried over and checked her condition.
“Are you alright? Are you badly hurt?”
Her eyes were dim, her body covered in blood.
With difficulty, she spoke.
“My legs just gave out. No fatal injuries.”
But Yohan was not reassured.
“Then what is all this blood?”
Her silver hair and white clothes were drenched scarlet.
He quickly checked her body from head to toe.
Aside from some light scratches, there were no major wounds.
Blushing, Ilea said,
“P-please don’t do that so suddenly. It’s not my blood… Don't worry, Yohan.”
He looked toward Gawain.
“You’re covered in his blood, then?”
Gawain lay collapsed, soaked in blood, looking like a corpse.
Ilea nodded.
“Yes. His resistance was… intense.”
Yohan asked tensely,
“Don’t tell me he’s dead? Gawain, I mean.”
“No. He’s still breathing. Just as you asked, I only subdued him.”
Yohan let out a sigh of relief.
Gawain was a necessary asset. Without him, it would be difficult to prepare for the later stages.
“Well done. You’ve suffered a lot.”
Ilea pouted playfully.
“I nearly died, you know. If the situation hadn’t favored me, and if His Highness had the Holy Spear in hand, the outcome surely would’ve been my defeat.”
It was a humble judgment.
In truth, Ilea had fought under restrictions too.
Because of Yohan’s request, she could not kill Gawain.
She could not use lethal spells.
If both she and Gawain had fought at full strength, who could say what the result would have been?
Yohan could not guess.
He said,
“I made you fight a dangerous battle. I’m always grateful.”
She smiled mischievously.
“You want to repay me, don’t you?”
Yohan looked puzzled.
“Well, yes. Do you want something?”
Suddenly, Ilea spread her arms.
“Carry me on your back first. I can’t walk, my legs won’t move.”
Yohan shrugged.
“Fine, I can at least do that.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected that answer.
“Really?”
Yohan crouched, offering his back.
“Get on. We have mountains of work ahead.”
Smiling brightly, Ilea wrapped her arms around his neck.
Then she whispered softly,
“Thank you.”
“Don’t blow into my ear.”
“I-I didn’t!”
Yohan smirked and gestured toward Gawain and Yuri.
“Fine, then deal with them. We need to secure them before they wake.”
No sooner had he spoken than Gawain and Yuri’s bodies floated into the air.
Ilea’s magic was at work.
Yohan headed straight for the keep.
There was much to do.
***
The underground library of the lord’s castle—beneath it lay the Forbidden Archive. Countless holy relics stood neatly in rows.
Light from the relics illuminated the interior.
The archive was as orderly as ever.
Though the castle above had been smashed and ruined, the archive remained untouched, unaffected by outside destruction.
Yohan felt relief.
Had the archive been damaged, it would have been a nightmare.
He glanced around and muttered,
“At least nothing here was affected. That’s a relief.”
Ilea looked glum.
“But what about the castle? It’s completely wrecked.”
The interior had lost all shape, like a battlefield after war.
No one could live there anymore.
Yohan answered evenly,
“It can be repaired, so don’t worry.”
“Because of me, the cost will rise.”
“Then I’ll charge it to him.”
He looked at Gawain.
Gawain was restrained in the center of the archive.
The chair he sat in was the highest-grade restraining device for humans, and the chains binding him were relics capable of subduing even ancient beasts.
Even Gawain could never escape.
He was completely captured.
Slowly, he spoke.
“…Where am I?”
His eyes turned toward Yohan and Ilea, burning with fury.
Yohan said,
“The renowned Forbidden Archive. The kingdom’s treasure vault.”
He no longer used polite speech with Gawain.
Since the mask had already fallen, there was no need for pretense.
Gawain’s eyes darted left and right, up and down.
With his neck bound by chains, he couldn’t turn his head, so he strained to take in his surroundings with only his eyes.
“And why have you imprisoned me here?”
“As I said yesterday, to cure your illness.”
To Gawain, it was absurd.
“Don’t spew nonsense. Release these chains at once.”
Yohan shook his head.
“Impossible. Until your illness is cured, you cannot leave.”
Gawain ground his teeth.
Suddenly, he roared like a beast.
“Illness? What are you babbling about since yesterday?! Enough nonsense—reveal yourself! What do you want from me? Did the Count put you up to this?!”
Yohan dug a finger in his ear.
“You’re too loud. I can hear you fine if you speak calmly. Ask your questions one by one.”
Gawain began trembling, fury consuming him.
Ilea stepped in front of Yohan.
“It’s dangerous. Please, step back from him.”
At that moment, Divinity exploded from Gawain’s body.
Light engulfed the archive.
Yohan shielded his eyes.
The brilliance threatened to burst his sight.
But that was all.
Divinity could not harm an ordinary human.
And in the day, Yohan was human.
Gawain’s struggle was meaningless.
His roar thundered.
KHHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHH────!
A truly beastly howl.
Yohan clicked his tongue and covered his ears.
‘We can’t talk like this.’
His rampage continued for a long time.
He twisted and thrashed, trying to break free of the restraints.
Several chains cracked.
Ilea immediately fetched other relics to bind him again.
The process repeated several times.
At last, silence returned.
Gawain had collapsed unconscious again.
His body was now swathed in chains and talismans.
Only his face remained exposed.
It looked uncomfortable, but there was no alternative.
This much was needed to hold him.
Yohan spoke.
“It seems talking won’t be possible for now. Until he accepts reality, we’ll have to wait.”
Ilea nodded.
“That’s best. Leave this to me, and go see the castle.”
There was still an aftermath to clean up.
Yohan headed back aboveground.
***
The southwestern Sacred Quarantine Zone was lifted after two months.
No matter how the Order investigated, they couldn’t uncover even the faintest clue about the ancient demon Kaiaze or the Thirteenth Apostle of the End.
On top of that, Apostle Mapheltan had suddenly attacked the royal capital.
The Order no longer saw reason to maintain the quarantine.
Once the Church withdrew, the southwestern residents returned to their lives.
They repaired homes and fields, preparing for winter.
One band of slash-and-burn farmers was an exception.
They left the southwest, heading south.
Specifically, toward the direct territory of Miyatro.
Because of their pact with Yohan.
He had promised them a new home.
At the head of the group, an old man spoke.
“He was young, but truly resolute and dependable. My grandson too was saved by him.”
Walking beside him, the red-haired Shaferia replied,
“Elder, you’ve said that more than ten times now. My ears are growing calluses.”
The old man chuckled.
“Not even a hundred praises would be enough. He was the very picture of nobility, as the Scriptures describe.”
Shaferia smiled warmly.
“I can’t deny it. Everyone who met Sir Yohan says the same. Talking with him fills you with trust.”
Because of the Eyes of the Great Saint.
The old man clapped his hands.
“So people do think alike. You agree too, Holy Knight?”
Shaferia nodded.
“He is a rare man of faith in these times. Just the fact that he volunteered alone for the quarantine zone shows it. Soon, we’ll meet him again.”
She pointed ahead.
A vast castle and its village came into view.
Snow-covered scenery shone beautifully.
Expectation mixed with a hint of worry in the old man’s eyes.
He spoke cautiously.
“He hasn’t forgotten us, has he?”
Shaferia shook her head with a smile.
“Sir Yohan remembers everything. He is not one to break a promise.”
Relief spread across the old man’s face.
“Great Saint Marziel, may your light guide Yohan’s path.”
Shaferia traced the holy sign as well.
They entered the direct territory.
***
“You cannot see the Baron at this time.”
Though they had reached the village, the inner castle gates were firmly shut.
Dozens of soldiers blocked every entrance to the castle.
Shaferia was perplexed.
“I am not here for the Baron. I came to see Sir Yohan.”
One soldier answered stiffly.
“Sir Yohan has inherited the barony. He is now the head of House Miyatro.”
Confusion spread across her face.
“But Sir Yohan hasn’t even held his coming-of-age ceremony?”
At his age, he could not lawfully become lord.
That was kingdom law.
The soldier said no more. He simply stood firm.
As Shaferia fretted, the gates swung open.
A large man stepped out.
The soldiers saluted briefly, and the gate closed again.
Shaferia smiled brightly.
“Sir Gaf!”
It was the captain of the guard, Gaf.
He looked startled.
“…Lady Shaferia?”
“Yes, it’s me. It’s been a while.”
She had returned to the domain after two months.
She had been investigating White Horn in the quarantine zone.
Gaf’s expression hardened.
“It has been a while. But what brings you here?”
Shaferia had to enter the Abyss to regain her lost Holy Power.
Yohan had promised her.
On the full moon, he would open the gate.
She spoke.
“I came to see Sir Yohan.”
After a pause, Gaf replied coldly,
“Then you haven’t heard. By royal order, investigations into the Miyatro lands are forbidden. Leave at once.”
Shaferia was also a spy for the Order.
She was tasked with probing any link between the southern incidents and the baron’s house.
She froze in shock.
“…You knew my identity?”
“Of course.”
“Then Sir Yohan also…?”
“Naturally. So do not return.”
Gaf immediately disappeared.
Shaferia stood still, gazing up at the castle.
A chill passed through her.