Transmigrated as Baron, Married with my Lovely Maid-Chapter 91

There was no way that old man was Lord Vermillion.

Lord Vermillion was dead, and all that remained of him was his legacy of knowledge as a brave wizard who dared to oppose King Victor Dragomir’s regime.

But every time I saw him, I couldn’t deny that he was indeed the Lord Vermillion I often encountered in my memories as Atreus Vermillion.

"Hey, son. Why are you silent? You haven’t answered my question," the old man said, breaking my reverie.

"What question?" I asked again.

"About Leysha... what else? Why did you choose her to be your wife?"

"She’s loyal and reliable," I replied curtly, still staring intently at Lord Vermillion.

Even though I wasn’t actually Lord Vermillion’s son, Atreus Vermillion’s memories of him as his father were still so strong that I felt awkward not referring to him as "father."

"...even though you and her are so far apart in age, son? I mean, she’s ten years older than you, and—"

"She’s beautiful, elegant, has ample breasts, and sexy lips and hips. What else could make me hesitate to choose Leysha as my wife? Age? Well, as long as she’s as beautiful inside and out as she is, I don’t care about her age. You should understand a man’s normal logic when choosing a woman, father."

Lord Vermillion chuckled at my words.

"You’re too honest, son... With your position as Baron of the Vermillion family, I thought you’d choose a baroness from another family to secure your position."

"Cecile Thornvale and Azalea Aurelius are already among my mistresses, father. I’m not so naive about the politics of the nobility."

"Ah... you’re starting to think quite sharply at your young age, son. It feels... like I’m speaking to an adult."

"I could talk a lot about this, Lord Vermillion. But it would be nice if you could tell me what the heck you’re up to, suddenly appearing while I’m having intimate relations with Leysha."

Lord Vermillion didn’t reply immediately.

We both continued to stare at each other with vigilance, like two people at the ready with guns holstered behind their waists, even though our conversation sounded casual.

Before I entered this particular elevator, I had indeed been aware that someone other than Leysha and I had entered the elevator.

But after that, I couldn’t detect it anymore.

Damn it.

"...when you entered this elevator, it seems you didn’t realize that you and Leysha had fallen under the influence of Zeraxion’s time and dimension spell," Lord Vermillion said after a long pause.

"Really?" I asked to confirm.

"Look at this elevator...it’s moving down fast, but it never reaches its destination. Hasn’t it crossed your mind that this is an illusion created by Zeraxion?"

"Well... I thought this secret underground was at the bottom of the sea, maybe? But I guess I have to admit my ignorance."

I looked around, the Black Star in my right palm glowing with its black aura.

Leysha’s sudden disappearance seemed to be further proof that what Lord Vermillion had said was true.

"Funny though... I initially heard that Zeraxion was welcoming me to the room where he was sealed..." I said, remembering the moment before I boarded the elevator.

"Son, I know you’ve made a vow and committed to The Great Wyvern...and you should be aware that dragons have an arrogant and haughty nature. You were able to enter this elevator because Ulrich’s inner soul is in your possession. But the consequence of that is that Ulrich’s seal weakened, allowing Zeraxion to wield more powerful time and dimension spells. The fact that the people in your world are still frozen by the time frozen spell and you’re still trapped inside this elevator illusion is clear proof that Zeraxion is strengthening. Leysha disappeared because she was trapped inside a different illusionary world created by Zeraxion. Your time is short, son."

Damn it.

As much as I hate to admit it, I have to accept that what Lord Vermillion said is true.

"Okay...I admit I’m screwed up at this point. The important question is, what should I do after this?" I asked.

"You can simply return to the magic world to save yourself before the illusion spell becomes stronger and you’re trapped forever," Lord Vermillion replied.

"...and then abandon Leysha, the Angel’s Tear Pendant, and the people trapped in Zeraxion’s illusionary world? No. I won’t choose that."

"Give me the reason, son."

"I came here to win, Lord Vermillion. There’s no point in me going home like a loser and losing everything. Heck, I even don’t want to return to the magic world if I let Leysha trapped in Zeraxion’s illusion world. I risked so much when I decided to fight Ulrich, and I will do the same to establish a vow with Zeraxion. Isn’t that the Vermillion family’s vision and grand dream? To stand side by side with the dragons and golems to overthrow the cruel King Victor Dragomir?"

I saw Lord Vermillion fall silent, still staring at me.

Deep, wordless silence.

A few minutes passed, and he closed his eyes and smiled.

"...then, my role here is complete. There are still many of my notes scattered throughout this world and the world of magic, Atreus. Search and study them. I don’t have much time, but I’m glad to see you once again, a man I can trust to carry the Vermillion banner. Continue your fight, Atreus Vermillion. Never stop or look back."

Red and white light radiated brightly from Lord Vermillion, and then a few seconds later, he disappeared.

CRACK! 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The elevator finally stopped, no longer descending.

There were no more flashes of light.

The elevator doors opened by themselves, and what I saw was a long, dark hallway.

I stepped out, down the dark hallway lit only by the magical green flames of the torches.

I lost track of how long I had been walking, but the end of the hallway was still in sight.

But with every step I took, I could feel the walls and floor around me transforming into magical crystal fragments that gradually formed into a new shape, resembling a bookshelf filled with thick tomes.

The floor also transformed into wood.

I walked between two large bookshelves, where in the middle I saw a figure in a long coat sitting in a chair at the far end of the room.

It was a human, but more like a dragon, with a scaly head, tail, and wings like a dragon.

He sat in the wooden chair, his hands and feet chained by magical seal chains.

The man stared at me, his yellow eyes fixed on my arrival, as a purplish-black aura grew stronger and more oppressive.

"Atreus Vermillion...you’ve come," he greeted me, still sitting in the chair with his hand holding the open book.

"Zeraxion...what a welcome with such illusions..." I quipped.

The dragon man remained silent, closing his book.

"...right after you descended into the secret underground with that special elevator, I used my illusion technique. I successfully trapped Leysha, but you... were quite difficult for me to control with my illusion world," Zeraxion replied calmly.

"I thought you were going to kill me with Lord Vermillion’s illusion."

"Yes... that’s more or less the idea... making someone you remember kill you is a common practice in illusion worlds. Unfortunately, your memories of Lord Vermillion proved stronger than my illusion world. Instead of helping me, Lord Vermillion actually helped you escape the illusion world I created."

"Okay, so now you’ve admitted defeat, Zeraxion. What else is holding you back from making a vow with me?"

I showed the Black Star on my right palm as proof that I had made a vow with the Great Wyvern and that I indeed intended to add another dragon to strengthen my forces.

"The Great Wyvern has sworn an oath to you...? Impressive... but just so you know, Atreus Vermillion. Dragons only choose those worthy to be their companions, as I said before. If you can defeat me in my illusionary world... perhaps I will consider it... that is, if you can defeat me...!"

ZRAAKK!

Suddenly, magical chains appeared from the bookshelves to my left and right, swiftly binding my body.

I quickly activated the black flame magic from the Black Star in my right palm, but the black magic vanished.

Even the Black Star in my right palm suddenly vanished!

I tried desperately to concentrate on using any elemental magic, including summoning Rhaevor’s spirit, but it’s no fucking works.

What the hell...?!

My magical abilities are gone...?!