TMLOH 92

Chapter : 92

A soft laugh broke out. Feshion blinked at the clear sound echoing in the empty space.

Soon, a faint light cut through the barrier, and a gentle hand stroked Feshion’s head.

[Decisions made under the sway of such emotions are bound to bring regret someday.]

The advice carried weight, like bones embedded in it.

[Yet… do you still want to go through with it?]

Feshion knew it was advice for himself… but still…

He nodded.

“I still want to.”

For some time now, when it came to Arellin, Feshion had no choice. He had taken the position of a complete weakling.

Even if he gave everything and gained nothing, as long as Arellin was happy, he would be content.

Because he loved her.

“It’s better to risk everything and do something than to do nothing and lose everything.”

He was so desperate—how could one not find that endearing?

[Truly adorable… child.]

Laziness sighed in lament.

[Why must you be entangled with a child of such cruel fate…]

Even knowing the future so vividly, he still cheered for him.

[Alright, I’ll help you.]

“Really?!”

[Yes.]

In the faint laugh, there was a trace of affection.

[I happen to have someone I’ve wanted to scold, too.]

Bang—!

The collision of two forces sent the surroundings flying. The floor and walls cracked, debris scattered, and dust rose.

It had been close.

Arellin had nearly been swept away.

“That’s strange.”

Emerging from the distorted backdrop was a distinctly foreign presence.

“We’ve come to see our little lady.”

“…….”

“Why is there something… unusual?”

Valler squinted.

His ability to “see secrets” was working, yet he couldn’t discern the opponent’s form clearly.

The only thing perceptible was a single golden eye, glowing bright yellow like a beast.

“Oh.”

The man, noticing Valler’s gaze fixed on him, smiled as if amused.

“Can you see me?”

“No.”

Valler moved first, but the man effortlessly deflected his attack.

In a brief moment, dozens of clashes exchanged.

Bang―!

The place, modeled after the Imperial Palace, had long been shattered, leaving only ruins. On that debris-strewn battlefield, only the man and Valler faced each other.

Despite putting effort into his attacks, the man stepped back with a laugh when they had no effect.

“Annoying.”

Tsk, there were so many things to do.

Valler, gauging the retreating opponent, quickly concluded:

“You’re the one who disturbed the barrier.”

The smoke flowing from the man’s body like wings matched the corrupting energy of the domain.

The Otherworld, Laziness’ domain, had turned into an unpredictable place due to the contamination.

“Ah.”

The man’s eyes flickered.

“You’re the current Duke Halbern of this generation.”

“You know me.”

“How could I not? You’re that famous.”

This was troublesome. To think the Grand Duke Halbern himself would enter the Otherworld.

Even he found Halbern’s power somewhat cumbersome. Specifically, the source of that power.

“What are you doing in another’s domain?”

“Looking for something.”

“Then why touch my daughter?”

“Oh, don’t you know?”

The man laughed.

“She’s a singularity.”

For a moment, Valler froze.

“My power didn’t work on her.”

“…….”

“She was the first ‘human’ to pierce my concealment and see me.”

Though her body seemed fragile, barely able to survive a wrong move, she was resistant even to the powers that drove the strongest in this world mad.

The weakest body with the strongest mind.

“Never seen anything so fascinating since I was born.”

Valler’s expression stiffened.

“So… what does that have to do with this mess?”

“I just came to get her out. She can’t get hurt.”

The man shrugged, wearing a sad expression as if misunderstood in his goodwill.

“I didn’t come to cause trouble.”

“Such audacity.”

Of course, the man’s excuse didn’t convince Valler.

Laughing, the man lightly shrugged off Valler’s attacks.

“Don’t bother, you won’t leave a scratch on me anyway.”

Full force might make it possible, but neither planned to.

“I should get going. Got a lot of work, you see. Busy, even if it doesn’t look like it.”

“You think I’d let you escape so easily?”

“You should be running too, otherwise you’ll get trapped here. Even Halbern wouldn’t escape easily.”

“Stopping you is more important.”

“Hmm.”

The golden eye glimmered.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

In an instant, Valler reflexively defended against what he expected to be a ferocious attack.

But the smoke, which had been swirling as if to devour him, vanished in an instant without attacking.

“…Missed it.”

Valler furrowed his brows.

He hadn’t expected the man to escape so easily.

“Immortal, perhaps.”

He sighed quietly as he inferred the man’s identity.

The dim twilight was quiet.

Unable to pursue the unknown enemy, Valler decided to find and take back the young lady.

That was probably the plan.

—Valler.

“Ah.”

Of course, he hadn’t just gone.

—Valler, come here.

The vision of the corrupted Otherworld took form and lured Valler.

Even knowing he must not touch it, that it was only an illusion, and that capture would be fatal…

He couldn’t avoid the hand of the vision, which bore his sister’s face and body.

—My dear little sister.

Even though it was a vision, a worthless one…

His mind told him to resist, to destroy it.

Yet it seemed so alive.

The warmth of the hand against his cheek was too comforting.

And so…

“Sis.”

Valler instantly lost all fighting spirit and was disarmed.

Covering the hand touching his cheek with his own, he rubbed his cheek with his palm and closed his eyes.

Even knowing it was a vision…

“How could I kill my sister?”

“…Dad.”

In the pitch-black darkness, I was the only living thing.

Holding a faintly glowing white-silver compass, I stood still, tears welling up.

‘What happened to Dad?’

Though I hadn’t even considered him my real father, I worried terribly. Now, it seemed like my real dad could help me.

Though too young to be a father, like a 19+ fantasy romance male lead, strange and unpredictable…

He had come to save me.

Though I realized it was too easy, thinking of my father in a past life, I couldn’t suppress my soft heart.

My real dad had abandoned me as soon as Mom left, never caring for me.

By comparison, Grand Duke Halbern had come for me.

He tried to save me.

He didn’t leave me alone.

I hadn’t thought of him as a father…

“Will it be alright?”

At least Mehen had said he’d survive wherever thrown. He wouldn’t get hurt or die, right?

The darkness always made me weak.

Maybe it reminded me of being abandoned by Mom, or maybe I was just naturally fragile. I tried to move my trembling body.

“Focus forward, don’t answer if called, recall only happy memories, think of the person I want to see most…”

I wanted to remember Dad’s advice, but it wasn’t easy.

I kept thinking of Dad.

And of the face that had laughed, saying, “Are you really calling me Dad now?” That silly face… Was calling him Dad really that important?

“When I return, I’ll call him Dad properly.”

I’ll call him over and over until I get tired of it.

“Forward, don’t answer, happy memories, loved one.”

Sniffling, I moved.

The white-silver compass Dad gave me faintly glowed, guiding my path.

“Where did he even get this relic?”

It looked impressive, and that worried me more. Would Dad be alright without it?

I knew I was in deep trouble, but if anything happened to him…

Hehe.

Maybe because I thought of so many unfortunate things, a nasty laugh echoed beyond the darkness.

Crack.

The spinning compass cracked.

“Ah.”

I held the compass tightly, trying to think of happy memories and the person I wanted to see.

I was sure I did.

—Saebom.

A voice I couldn’t hear, a name I shouldn’t be called, made me stop unconsciously.

“Ah.”

Crack.

The compass cracked again.

—Saebom, you Saebom!

“Huh?”

I accidentally answered.

In an instant, ripples surged from the darkness.

‘Ah, I’m doomed.’

No.

Isn’t using my previous life’s name cheating here?