I Became a Sick Nobleman-Chapter 202: Scattered Bodies (2)

***

Aris ran with all of his might. The gateway was right ahead. As scheduled, the gateway stood open, with the magic knights stationed proudly, their presence offering a sense of security.

“Setiria.”

However, a chilling voice cut through the air as a black water materialized, blocking Aris’s path and forcing him to halt abruptly.

“Ruel Setiria!”

His instincts warned him that the Great Man was dangerous. As the rippling of black water around him became more intense, Ruel spoke to Aris in a shaky voice to calm him.

“Calm down.”

Aris suppressed his mana at Ruel’s words.

“I apologize.”

It was all part of Ruel’s strategy, so this was to be expected. No matter how poisoned they were, they had to pretend to be sheep until Tyson gave the signal.

‘Tyson-nim, please. Please!’

Each step the Great Man took felt suffocating to Aris. Could he face him? Could he protect Ruel if needed? Countless thoughts raced through his mind.

“Wow. I see you got a new head? I didn’t know you liked playing with dolls.”

Ruel’s voice broke through Aris’s thoughts. It was Ruel who seemed most affected by the Great Man’s presence. Despite his pain, Ruel continued to speak as if everything was normal. Aris glanced back to see the black water rising like a formidable wall they had to overcome.

“It’s been a long time,” the Great Man spoke, reminiscing. His eyes held a glint of emotion.

“I don’t know what’s been long, but it seems you’ve been preparing quite hard,” Ruel mocked back, exchanging barbs.

“You must have struggled a lot with your pathetic body to come this far. Were you satisfied with my gift?”

Ruel gestured to himself. “You’re talking about the mark, right? Yeah. It’s such a pathetic gift that I’ve grown fond of it. If I could, I’d love to give you a gift in return.”

“Setiria,” the Great Man addressed Ruel affectionately, his voice was so disgusting that Ruel bit his lip hard.

“I didn’t personally have a grudge against you. You were just the beginning and the end of my purpose. That’s all you were. I wonder how much you must have suffered to endure.” His gentle words made Ruel feel nauseous.

‘You mad bastard!’

“Thank you for living this long. I almost ruined everything with my own hands.”

Grit.

Gritting his teeth, Ruel struggled to maintain composure. “I guess you’ve prepared another gift for me?”

With each step, the gap between Aris and the Great Man closed.

“Cough.” Ruel coughed.

“As a token of my gratitude, I will show you now.”

Ruel forced a smile. “Sure. Go ahead.”

In Ruel’s gaze, which could be found to contain fear, the Great Man’s pupils moved. The knights standing behind the gateway. Faint presences hiding around him. And Ruel Setiria standing against the gateway. The Great Man smirked. It was clear to him what kind of plan Ruel had set in motion.

‘He intends to lure me into the cursed barrier.’

Ruel’s strategy was simple: exploit the Great Man’s inability to enter Leponia for their protection.

Humans were predictable when cornered, but this was laughable. This was the end of Ruel, who had always been as slippery as an eel. Even if they managed to save Ruel, it would be pointless. The outcome had already been determined.

As the Great Man snapped his fingers, Ruel coughed, almost theatrically. Just as the corners of the Great Man’s mouth curled up in satisfaction, a deafening explosion reverberated across the country.

Boom!

The sound of the explosion was accompanied by a surge of black water shooting towards the sky from the direction of the capital. As the noise echoed like fireworks, the Great Man lightly stamped his feet. It was like the orchestra he had once heard at a banquet.

Seeing the horror on Ruel’s face, the Great Man gazed at him and began to chuckle, the laughter growing louder with each step towards Ruel. With just two steps left between them, he reached out his hand towards Ruel.

“Wow. This is seriously not a joke!”

However, the Great Man’s laughter abruptly ceased at Ruel’s unexpected response. It was not a voice filled with despair, but rather one tinged with innocence, like that of a child marveling at a spectacle.

“I might have played with fire a bit too much. I’ll probably get an earful from His Highness Banios, won’t I, Cassion?” Ruel smiled genuinely.

Swoosh!

Cassion appeared, severing the Great Man’s arm.

“Indeed, Ruel-nim.”

“…!”

The Great Man, caught off guard, widened his eyes in disbelief.

Flare.

In a flash, the black water surrounding Aris and Ruel erupted into flames.

“Seems like it’s more than just a scolding.”

Aris dashed through the flames, and before the Great Man could react, Cassion, charged with aura, appeared and delivered a powerful knee strike.

Thud!

The impact sent the Great Man’s head flying, and though the black water caught him before he fell, that brief moment was decisive. Aris rushed through the gateway.

“Burn it all down!” Drianna commanded after making sure Ruel had entered securely. The Great Man was surrounded by the fire magic that the magic knights had prepared.

—This body shall assist you!

Leo reacted as if he had been waiting for this moment.

As the magic of the magic knights met Leo’s magic, pure flames ignited that could even scorch the sky, tearing everything apart from the Great Man. The sight of him charred black and dripping like a liquid was horrifying enough that Ruel wouldn’t want to see it even in a nightmare.

“Setiria, Setiria! You bastard!”

The Great Man’s voice grated harshly, as if his vocal cords had been burnt, akin to the piercing sound of nails scraping against a chalkboard. Ruel staggered upon touching the ground but managed to stand with the support of Aris and Cassion.

The Great Man, seemingly on the brink of death, began to regenerate, possessing a power of recovery that Treitol, a devotee of darkness, did not possess.

‘In the end, did he touch the black water?’

The black water typically transformed beings into monsters, but for the Great Man, it seemed to serve a different purpose. As soon as he found his head, Treitol’s body died.

For the one who could manipulate death, Treitol’s lifeless body became a mere plaything, just like King Kran’s, and the black water acted as a recovery potion.

Anticipating this turn of events, Ruel maintained a composed demeanor and smirked slightly. “Oh, something about despair, was it? Seems more fitting for you.”

Ruel raised his middle finger. Whatever it was, this was only the beginning. Now, the real war with him was about to begin. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

“You! You bastard!”

Ignoring the desperate shout, Ruel turned away and, with support, began to walk slowly,

inhaling Breath. The signal exchanged with Tyson had been a simple ‘cough.’ It was a signal that seemed almost tailor-made for him.

With Tyson deactivating the magic circle, Ruel timed his next explosive move by coughing. This explosion happening in the capital was the real deal, and the phenomenon that appeared to be like black water was merely a shadow created by the devotee of darkness.

‘The stage… was a success!’

Ruel clenched his fist tightly, preparing for the final act. He busily gathered the devotee of darkness to Leponia, all to deceive the Great Man and deliver despair to him.

‘Now he has no cards left. I’ve destroyed them all!’

Struggling to keep his eyes open, Ruel turned to Cassion and inquired, “Cassion, what about him…?”

“First, let’s administer the tranquilizer. That’s the priority,” Cassion replied, pulling out a syringe as Ruel’s trembling persisted.

Pausing at the words he longed to hear, Ruel asked, “How did the battle go?”

“I’m confident I held my ground,” Cassion answered as he prepared to inject Ruel.

“Alright. That’s reassuring,” Ruel finally felt a sense of relief. If even the strongest person present, Cassion, had not mentioned the word ‘impossible,’ he would have been deeply unsettled.

‘I broke his wings, but there’s still the black water.’

Taking a deep breath, Ruel had already given up on the body in the Beast Forest when Mayre mentioned she didn’t know its exact location. Was it worth sacrificing one to gain multiple advantages?

Or should he stubbornly cling to that one? Ruel opted for the former. The king’s information that the Great Man couldn’t utilize his ‘unique power’ and his inability to breach the barrier in Leponia heavily influenced his decision.

—Are you alright?

Leo rubbed his face against Ruel’s. He was not alright.

Wiing.

The power of recovery cried out.

‘My eyelids are growing heavy.’

The aftermath of borrowing strength from monsters and the sedative left Ruel feeling on the verge of losing consciousness. However, he resolved to endure this moment; fainting could wait.

“Cassion, pass me a stimulant as well,” Ruel requested, intent on staying conscious with the help of medication. He had already instructed Fran to prepare several doses.

“Ruel-nim,” Aris called out to Ruel in shock, but the gravity of the situation left him unable to say much more.

Cassion hesitated before voicing his concern, “Miss Fran mentioned potential side effects of the stimulant. Are you certain about this?”

“I can’t afford to pass out now. By the way, where’s Noah?” Ruel inquired.

“He’s en route here. He should arrive soon,” Cassion reassured him.

Ruel smiled faintly at Cassion’s words and extended his arm. Despite the Great Man’s body likely having mostly regenerated by now, he was still alive and approaching, undoubtedly enraged.

“Drianna.”

“Yes, Ruel-nim!” Drianna responded, trying to conceal her concerns.

“The portal is ready, correct?”

“Certainly. We have not only set up a portal connecting Setiria and the gateway but also established links to the royal family and the five families to this location.”

Due to the encircling rocks, Setiria was the sole entrance to Leponia. In other words, if Setiria fell, it would be the end.

“The black-blooded men may soon besiege the gateway and the city walls. Mobilize our standby troops and make preparations!”

“Understood. I’ll dispatch forces to Setiria immediately.”

“Drianna,” Ruel looked apologetically at Drianna and the magic knights. In warfare, casualties were inevitable, regardless of the scale. There had never been a conflict without loss.

“It’s alright, Ruel-nim! We are here for you!” Drianna’s resolute words rallied the magic knights, who echoed their commitment.

“We were created as a knight order for you from the start!”

“We will fight until the end!”

“The lives you’ve given us are meant to be used now! Please don’t apologize!”

“Alright.” Ruel tried to smile as he looked at them.

Unable to lead the charge alongside them, all he could do was swiftly locate and eliminate the scattered bodies of the Great Man and deliver his end. As the stimulant began to take effect, Ruel felt his heavy eyelids lighten slightly.

“You’re going to have a hard time even with the drug taking effect, use this.” Cassion offered his cane.

Cassion was the one who took his first steps with Ruel and would remain by his side until the very end. Ruel leaned on the cane and stood up.

“Let’s head to the royal palace.”

Gently patting Aris on the shoulder, who couldn’t tear his gaze away from the magic knights, Ruel addressed him.

“Aris.”

Aris might have been even more distressed than Ruel, but he silently followed behind him. Before stepping onto the portal positioned at the gateway, Ruel remembered Noah once more and turned to Drianna, who had come to bid him farewell.

“Drianna.”

“Yes?”

“Mayre has passed away.”

“I am aware,” Drianna responded with a bitter smile. Ruel gave her shoulder a supportive pat.

“When Noah arrives, instruct him to report immediately and remain here to await my return and join the battle.”

“Understood!”

Acknowledging Drianna’s assurance, Ruel entered the portal.

***

As countless beams of light flickered in and out of existence before his eyes, the scenery shifted around Ruel, causing a momentary wave of dizziness. Grimacing, he pushed through the sensation and addressed the gathered people.

“I appreciate you all coming together.”

Brans, Banios, Ketlan Prios, Rie Kuhn, Ben Liobenez, Serti Shio, and Corrence Lumina—the king, the prince, and the five noble lords—stood assembled.

Meeting Banios’s nod, Ruel knew that all discussions had concluded. Facing the anxious gazes fixed on him, he announced solemnly, “He has appeared.”

At the mention of the Great Man, Serti spread her fan wide to hide her eyes filled with terror.

“I’ll deploy the troops immediately,” Ketlan declared, his resolve unwavering.

“Ah, no, this is…” Ruel’s glare at Corrence, who seemed ready to flee, was enough to halt any thoughts of escape. Turning to Brans, he inquired, “Your Majesty, have we received updates from the Cyronian Kingdom and the Kran Kingdom?”

“Do not worry. We’ve already made contact. They will come to Leponia as soon as we signal them.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ruel expressed his gratitude, though Brans shook his head, knowing it was Ruel’s efforts that truly mattered.

Addressing the five nobles, Brans commanded, “Lords, dispatch troops to Setiria without delay.”

Except for the Great Man, all were permitted entry into Leponia. Recognizing the threat posed by the black-blooded man, the lords acknowledged the gravity of the situation. The fall of Setiria would bring dire consequences, regardless of the enemy.

“As you command,” they affirmed, mindful of their duty as citizens of Leponia.

“Your Majesty, there’s a matter I need to clarify,” Ruel approached Brans, lowering his voice. Understanding dawned on Brans as he turned to Banios.

“Banios.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Guide Lord Setiria, please,” Brans instructed.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Brans had already handed the key to the royal treasury to Banios. It was Banios’s role to unlock the seals placed on the Great Man’s body. Before following Banios, Ruel turned to Aris.

“Aris, stay here and oversee the situation. Contact me immediately if anything urgent arises.”

“Understood, I’ve got it covered.”

“Duke Setiria,” Rie called out to Ruel, causing him to pause. “Are you… alright?”

Ruel’s complexion was far from good. Although she knew it was wrong to pose such questions before a crucial fight, whether they could keep ‘Ruel’ from getting taken by the Great Man was critical to the war. It was reasonable to feel anxious when Ruel appeared to be about to collapse.

Despite his visibly strained appearance, Ruel reassured her, “I’m holding up fine; no need to worry.” His beaming smile aimed to reassure all present.

In contrast to the previous banquet, there was no space for frivolity now. Everyone was likely anxious because of their own conditions. Aware of this, Ruel straightened his back even more.

“Your Highness, please lead the way.”

Banios and Ruel exited the conference room, escorted by knights.

“Ruel,” Banios began.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Pausing briefly, Ruel replied, “I believe it’s too soon for Your Highness to say that.”

“Regardless of the situation, everyone knows how hard you’ve worked. And if not now, then when should I say it?”

“Does that mean you’re forgiving my little prank then?”

Banios chuckled and said, “A little prank, huh? You certainly made quite a scene!”

—This body was very surprised!

Leo exclaimed, his eyes wide and his voice raised.

“It was a tad louder than I anticipated.” Ruel was equally taken aback. His request to Tyson for a grand explosion seemed to have been a bit excessive.

“Wasn’t that a bit too much… What do you think?” Banios asked Cassion, blinking.

“Yes, I believe so,” Cassion agreed.

“Ha ha…” Banios looked at Cassion in disbelief before turning back to Ruel. “Anyway, wasn’t this a bit different from what I initially heard from you? I thought a meteor had fallen!”

“As promised, it didn’t cause any harm, did it?”

“True, there was no damage. Well, if it’s your doing, I might even consider letting you blow up the royal palace next time.”

“Really?” Ruel’s smile radiated brightly.

“Well, I did just say that, didn’t I?” Banios awkwardly chuckled, secretly hoping Ruel wouldn’t take him up on the offer to explode the royal palace. He quickly guided Ruel towards the royal treasury.

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