Taken (15)

In a deep, dark forest where even moonlight could not seep through.

While Yuria was clutching Dellen's corpse in her arms, Ian stood guard by her side.

– Whoooosh...

From atop a tall tree, a pair of red eyes gazed down at the two of them.

'How interesting.'

The eldest daughter of Hisperion, and Yuria's eldest sister.

Aris Hisperion.

'I never expected Young master Ian to appear here.'

Aris's red eyes curved with a cold smile.

'Thanks to him, the entire plan has changed.'

The reason Aris was in this place was due to the order of the Heavenly Sword Lord.

While her father had left Heavenly Sword Palace empty for the Northern Gate expedition, he had ordered her to watch over her youngest sister, Yuria.

'I had originally planned to rescue her myself.'

Aris deliberately waited until Yuria was at the brink of a desperate crisis.

The more extreme the predicament, the heavier the price of a life saved.

'But to think you would intervene.'

Ian Greysel.

'It doesn't seem as if you received the same order from Father.'

If Ian had the same mission from the Heavenly Sword Lord as she did, there's no way she wouldn't have known.

The informants she had placed with both Ian and her father would have reported it immediately.

'Which means... you came to rescue Yuria of your own accord, without anyone sending you?'

How commendable.

Was he already trying to repay the favor he had received from her father?

'But that's not important now.'

What truly mattered was something else.

'Ian Greysel. How did you find out that Yuria was here?'

How on earth did he manage to track Dellen's trail all the way to this place?

And alone, at that.

How did he find Yuria...?

At only fourteen years old, it was unlikely Ian had planted spies in Theo's faction.

Just how...?

Furthermore,

'What Young master Ian just did...'

What was that?

Everything shown during his fight with Dellen. All of it.

'I can hardly even fathom it.'

Aris touched her own lips.

To the outside world, Ian's level was known to be that of an expert.

Given that he was only fourteen, it was a remarkably high level, but as a swordsman, it was still considered an intermediate rank rather than that of a true powerhouse.

Yet, the skills Ian had shown in his fight against Dellen were clearly above the level of an expert.

'First, his swordsmanship and combat sense—absolutely not at an expert's level...'

There's no way an expert could parry the sword strikes of Dellen, a Swordmaster, so perfectly.

In addition, Ian had evaded Dellen's Flostilla— unleashed after Sword Spirit Release—without suffering a single scratch.

Even most Swordmasters would only manage to block Flostilla's sword spirit release by risking serious injury.

'And that's not all.'

If Ian had shown only that much, she might have put it down to god-given talent.

But what Ian had shown was not merely the abilities of a swordsman.

Ian had cast barrier magic several times without incantations or calculations, and he had also demonstrated monstrous regenerative abilities, instantly healing fatal wounds.

On top of that, he had seized Flostilla from Dellen and unleashed the sword spirit release at an even more advanced level...

Just how...?

'... How am I supposed to make sense of all this?'

That boy.

What on earth was he?

'Just what...'

Aris realized that all she knew about Ian now needed to be completely updated.

Was that mysterious, bizarre existence really the son of Hugo, the worst head in Greysel family history?

And even before that, fourteen years old? Was he even truly human?

'Utterly fascinating.'

Though Aris's mind was in complete turmoil, her eyes curved even more slyly.

A hint of greed and desire flickered in those red eyes.

'I want him...'

She had no way of guessing what Young master Ian's true identity might be.

But to Aris, such details didn't matter.

Whether Young master Ian was a contractor who made a deal with a demon, or even a dragon polymorphed as a human—

The only thing that mattered was his ability.

'Haa...'

A burning yearning stirred in Aris's chest.

Perhaps stronger than anything she had ever felt before.

It was the first time she'd ever felt such a powerful desire to make someone her own.

'I'm sure these abilities Ian has shown aren't all there is.'

She felt a strong intuition.

What Ian had revealed so far was only a small part of his true capabilities.

'And he doesn't seem fully developed yet, either.'

She could tell by the fact that Ian had not noticed her presence.

If Ian was hiding power beyond a Master, he would have sensed her lurking immediately.

Yet now Ian seemed to be barely holding onto consciousness, utterly exhausted.

He was on the verge of collapse after his fight with the Swordmaster.

'There is the possibility he's just pretending to be weak now...'

But the chances were low.

A true powerhouse would have no need to act so foolishly.

– Lick.

Aris wetted her lips.

'I want to take him for myself and raise him. Ian Greysel.'

If she could mold him to fit perfectly in her hand and make that boy obey her will...

Just imagining the moment that mysterious boy became hers made Aris's heart beat sweetly.

'How can I make him mine?'

Aris's red eyes flared like ghostly will-o'-the-wisps.

If it were any ordinary person, she would use threats, brainwashing, or trickery to bring them under her wing.

But such means could not be recklessly used against Ian Greysel.

That boy had already been claimed by her own father, the Heavenly Sword Lord.

'How could I steal him away?'

From her own father, the Heavenly Sword Lord Darkan.

How could she snatch that beautiful gray-haired boy and make him hers?

Should she try to gain his favor by giving him gifts, as her father did?

What would Young master Ian appreciate? Elixirs? Artifacts? Promoting martial arts techniques? Or... women?

'I guess I'll just have to find out slowly. This will be interesting.'

With a cool smile on her lips, Aris quietly vanished into the depths of the forest's darkness.

As if she had never been there at all.

But in Aris's mind, a new plan was already beginning.

Ian Greysel...

Until the day that boy was within her grasp, she would slowly and surely narrow the net, with patience and dedication.

And on the day of that grand finale, she would never let him go.

Until his secrets, his abilities—everything, his entire being—became hers.

* * *

After Dellen's death.

Ian and Yuria did not move from that spot until Javier's group rejoined them.

Yuria whispered her final farewells softly for a long time as she held Dellen's corpse, and Ian stood silently by her side.

About two hours passed like that.

"Young master Ian! L-Lady Yuria!?"

Javier and the Heavenly Sword knights tracked Ian's traces and found them.

Their bodies bore the marks of life-or-death battles against five master-rank Barbarians.

Their armor was shattered in places, some were drenched in blood, and some had splints and bandages, likely with broken bones beneath.

Still, it was fortunate that no one had died.

They had fought five master-rank Barbarians with only two master-rank knights and three peak-stage expert knights, and not a single one had died—truly luck had been on their side.

Even if Ian had lent them the cheat weapon Vladiark, he hadn't expected them to hold out so well.

Just how had they managed it?

He'd ask gradually later—for now,

"Sir Javier. And the other knights. I'm glad everyone is safe."

Ian expressed his relief that they had returned unharmed.

Javier exhaled a relieved sigh at those words.

"Hah. That's what I should be saying... For you to be safe, and for Lady Yuria to be found like this... The spirits of the Heavenly Sword must be watching over us. However..."

Javier hesitated as he looked at the corpse Yuria was holding.

"Who is that...?"

The frame looked feminine, but the corpse was so terribly battered that the face could not be recognized.

"That is Dellen Meslow."

The nanny who had vanished the moment Lady Yuria was kidnapped.

She'd been the prime suspect in Javier's mind for this incident.

"...!"

At Ian's words, Javier's eyes widened, and he fell silent for a time, staring at Dellen's body.

"..."

Yuria said nothing, only clutching the corpse tighter and bowing her head.

Her shoulders trembled faintly.

"..."

Javier looked at Ian with a somewhat complicated expression.

"Young master. What exactly happened here?"

Where and how was Lady Yuria rescued from her abduction?

Where had her nanny gone, and why was she now lying here in such a pitiful state?

Were there other accomplices?

He couldn't even begin to piece together the circumstances based on assumptions.

No wonder Javier found the situation confusing.

"I'll explain later. Let's get out of here first."

Ian suggested that they move before discussing anything.

Although he had dealt with all the nearby enemies, this was still a dangerous enemy territory.

With two Barbarians having escaped, it was possible they would return with reinforcements soon.

They had to leave before that happened.

"Let's hurry, before the enemy comes back."

"R-right. The young master is correct. Let's get out of here first."

Javier sent two of his subordinates back to the village to fetch horses.

He ordered the other Heavenly Sword knights to recover Dellen's body, but Yuria quietly shook her head.

"It's fine. I'll carry Dellen myself. All the way to Heavenly Sword Palace."

At that, the knights looked to Javier for guidance.

Javier nodded.

"Then I'll entrust the nanny's remains to you, my Lady."

– Rustle. Rustle.

After minimal preparation, they immediately began moving.

Ian and Yuria, guarded by Javier and the Heavenly Sword knights, traversed the forest.

By the time they escaped the dark woods, the knights sent for the horses returned and rejoined the group.

"First, let's get out of the region of Kartai City."

Javier suggested they ride to exit the western region of Hisperion first.

Using the nearest warp gate would be fastest to reach Heavenly Sword Palace, but with the west in chaos, even the cities weren't safe—it was too risky a route.

Since two of the Barbarians had escaped alive, the enemy surely knew that Yuria had escaped.

No doubt the enemy had spread eyes and ears everywhere in the west to find her.

If they were traced, they might face an enemy even stronger than Hong Yacha.

For safety, escaping the western Hisperion area was the priority.

– Gallop! Gallop!

The group rode their horses at a frantic pace for a while.

They left the forest far behind, pierced through thick fog, crossed wide wetlands, and eventually reached a long canyon.

By then, dawn was breaking.

The horses were tired, and the knights needed to change their filthy bandages, so Ian and the group took shelter among large rocks in the canyon to rest for a while.

"..."

Ian examined Vladiark, which Javier had returned to him.

Vladiark had devoured the master-rank Barbarians, and now had grown into a far more fearsome form.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Still don't like Dellen.

Burn in hell, bitch.

No pity to traitors...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】