Weapon Master of the Count’s Family

Chapter 86. The Immortal Great Mage (6)

The God of Apocalypse and Destruction, Ragnad.

Since splitting from Hel, he had lain dormant in the unfathomable depths of the sea, passing countless ages in silence.

Days spent crafting souls into Sludge, indulging in his own warped amusement.

Even he couldn’t easily comprehend the situation before him now.

“Why are you back? Do you think this is a playground?”

It was strange enough that a soul had survived without being consumed, but to return?

And so boldly?

Moreover, the words Evan spoke to Ragnad were even more audacious.

“I need to take one soul from here. Please.”

“…”

Ragnad stared at him, speechless.

Someone daring to make a ‘request’ of him?

This was an intriguing event, unlike anything he’d experienced before.

But that lasted only a moment.

In response to Evan’s outrageous demand, he revealed his true nature as the God of Apocalypse and Destruction.

Transforming from a figure resembling Hel into a towering being with ashen skin and glowing red eyes, he held a massive sword wreathed in flames and smoke.

“You’re insane. Don’t think I’ll spare you just because Hel favors you.”

Ragnad aimed his sword at me.

Flames erupting from its tip flickered as if burning the surrounding air, and the searing heat scorched my skin even now.

Sizzle.

But despite the excruciating pain, I didn’t flinch.

Even as my skin burned, I stared unflinchingly at Ragnad, refusing to step back.

With death looming, I simply walked my path.

If I couldn’t escape the Coast of the Dead, my body no longer mattered.

“Even if you don’t spare me, I’ll have to take that soul.”

“Who is it? Who’s worth causing this chaos? A lover, a parent, or a child?”

“A child. But not mine.”

“So you’re doing this to take someone else’s child? Even though I’m not human, I can’t understand this.”

To Ragnad, who felt no emotions, my actions were an enigma.

He had observed and understood countless souls’ lives through their memories, but no cause-and-effect he knew could explain my reckless behavior.

“It’s to prevent this world’s apocalypse.”

I spoke to make Ragnad understand my reasoning.

“What does that mean?”

“It’s about a certain mage…”

I recounted how I came to the Coast of the Dead,

how I met Hel while trying to escape and accepted his proposal, and finally, what Ernst had been searching for during his centuries here.

“He’s been wandering the Coast, seeking his daughter’s soul, which has become Sludge.”

Ragnad listened with initial curiosity.

But that curiosity soon turned to displeasure, his ashen eyes blazing with deep anger.

“A mere human dares to touch my souls?”

His hostility shifted from me to Ernst.

The flaming sword in his hand burned brighter, and the surrounding space trembled with his overwhelming presence.

“I’ll find that insolent fool and punish him myself.”

His voice was deep and sharp, resounding across the entire Coast.

Despite being overwhelmed by his aura, I spoke.

“But wouldn’t that mean conflict with Hel? I’ll take responsibility and handle this.”

At my firm declaration, Ragnad’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Mentioning Hel’s name seemed to irk him.

“Arrogant fool. You think I, Ragnad, fear Hel?”

“That’s not it.”

I answered calmly.

“But isn’t it clear that Hel won’t stand idly by on this matter?”

Ragnad fell silent for a moment.

My words weren’t wrong.

Ragnad was a part of Hel.

His existence was born from Hel’s destructive nature, separated into a distinct entity.

In the end, he was Hel, and Hel was him.

Their power was equal, with no hierarchy between them.

If they turned hostile and fought, it would mean mutual destruction.

Knowing this better than anyone, Ragnad gripped his flaming sword and let out a low chuckle.

“So you’re worrying about me and Hel? A mere human?”

“Far from it. I only wish to deal with the one disrupting the order of the Coast as soon as possible.”

“Order… You’re just parroting what Hel wants.”

Ragnad paused in thought.

“Fine. I’ll specially permit you to take the soul you want.”

“Thank—”

I bowed to express gratitude, but before I could finish, Ragnad’s flaming sword came to my throat again.

“But bring that man to me. That’s the condition. If you fail, I’ll cross this Coast and end you, even if it means war with Hel.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ernst couldn’t leave this place unscathed anyway.

He would inevitably face Hel or Ragnad, so bringing him to Ragnad wasn’t a difficult condition.

Ragnad nodded and withdrew his sword.

“Good. I’ll send up the soul of his daughter, Veroni Romarn. Now go.”

As Ragnad raised his hand, my vision blurred momentarily.

Cold water surged from all sides, and soon I was rising back to the surface of the Black Sea.

“Phew!”

As I emerged, Lilith used telekinesis to pull me onto the warship.

“You’re insane! Insane! What kind of place do you think that is to dive in?”

“You got out quickly this time,” Gaiard said, looking down at me, feigning indifference.

“Any results?”

“Of course. Soon, what we—and Ernst—want will appear.”

With those words, a massive whirlpool formed in the Black Sea.

Whoosh!

The whirlpool crashed against the deck, and a Sludge appeared.

“S-Sludge!”

As one mage tensed, I stopped him.

“Wait.”

The black liquid enveloping the Sludge slowly dripped away.

When it fully dissipated, a woman’s form emerged.

“Where am I…?”

She appeared older than me.

Her head swiveled, but her eyes lacked any spark of life.

She seemed unaware of what was happening to her.

“Veroni Romarn, are you Ernst Romarn’s daughter?”

“Yes?”

She was the key to preventing this world’s apocalypse,

the daughter’s soul Ernst had desperately sought.

“Where is this?”

“This is the Coast of the Dead, where the deceased come.”

“I was supposed to go through the Reincarnation Gate…”

Gaiard interjected, his voice cold and flat as a blade.

“Because you sinned. Sinners don’t qualify for the Reincarnation Gate. Instead, they’re trapped below, becoming Sludge as punishment.”

Veroni remained silent.

Her lifeless eyes showed no surprise or panic.

She definitely committed some sin.

Finding out what she did was crucial.

That information was essential for persuading and using Ernst.

“If you don’t tell the truth, you might return to where you came from. Why did you become Sludge?”

Veroni slightly raised her head, her lips moving.

Then, with a leisurely smile, she answered.

“Because I killed people.”

Her voice was calm, as if recounting something trivial.

“And a lot of them.”

Veroni spoke with a hint of pride.

I felt a momentary shock at her demeanor but continued calmly.

“Was there a reason for the killings?”

From this point, I naturally dropped formalities.

I judged she wasn’t someone deserving of respect.

And I was right.

“Why? There was no reason.”

Veroni was someone who took innocent lives purely for pleasure.

I fully understood why she couldn’t pass through the Reincarnation Gate and fell into the Black Sea.

***

After a brief interrogation, I left Veroni in the cabin.

As a soul, she had no means of escaping, so she complied with orders without resistance.

Afterward, we took a moment to rest, waiting for Ernst.

I leaned against the railing, staring blankly at the sea.

Romen approached me.

“Have something to say? Did you find Ernst?”

“No… I have something else to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Ernst and Gaiard.”

“If it’s about that, talk to him directly. No need to tell me.”

“I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire. Just hear me out and decide.”

Romen began speaking about Ernst.

“You know Ernst and Gaiard were close friends, right?”

“Yes. That’s why he felt so betrayed.”

“Of course. Ernst actually refused the king’s order. But he had no choice but to comply. Because of his daughter.”

“You mentioned that last time. Though I only just learned she was a murderer.”

Having no blood family, I found it hard to understand such reasoning.

“Yes, Veroni was at risk of execution for serial killings, but thanks to Ernst, she was only imprisoned.”

“Did they threaten to execute her if he disobeyed the king’s order?”

“Yes. So Ernst had no choice but to follow.”

A plea bargain.

This was common even in the Empire.

“But she still died, didn’t she?”

“From what I know, she brought it upon herself. I heard she caused a riot in prison and died.”

Considering the Veroni I saw earlier, that was entirely plausible.

“Does Gaiard know about this family matter?”

“Probably not. Veroni was imprisoned before the war, and her death happened after the war, after Gaiard was sealed.”

I still found it hard to accept.

“Why was Ernst so desperate to protect his daughter? She’s worse than a beast.”

“Maybe because he’s a parent? I don’t know exactly.”

Then Romen brought up something intriguing.

“The strange thing is, she was a kind child when young. I don’t know why she turned out like that…”

Even Romen didn’t understand how Veroni became such a monster.

“Anyway, you can tell Gaiard or not. I just thought you should know.”

“I’ll tell him. There’s no reason for me to keep it to myself.”

I relayed Romen’s story to Gaiard.

He responded with an indifferent attitude.

“So what?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t care about his circumstances. He betrayed me, and that’s enough for me to tear him apart.”

Was it consistency?

Or a lack of humanity?

“Fine, it’s not my place to meddle in your affairs.”

As I left, Gaiard lay down, staring at the ceiling with a complex expression.

“Idiot…”

I couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.

***

Since Ernst’s daughter boarded the ship, there were no notable changes.

Despite her soul’s presence, there were no outward signs.

The mages made a suggestion.

“He doesn’t seem to sense his daughter’s soul. Should we make a bigger commotion?”

I nodded at Lilith’s proposal.

“If you have a good idea, go for it.”

“Wait and see. I’ll show you something fun.”

Lilith chanted a spell.

“Luximara!”

Instantly, silver dust streamed from her fingertips, staining the sky.

The dust coalesced into a massive sentence.

[Veroni Romarn is with us.]

The words shone so brightly they could be seen clearly even from the distant Citadel.

“Let’s see if he can ignore this.”

Lilith said with a satisfied expression.

Splash.

About five minutes later, something faintly shimmered on the southeast sea.

At first, I thought it was a wave’s distortion, but it grew clearer.

As the transparent ripple faded, the outline of a massive warship emerged.

“Finally.”

I whispered softly, keeping my eyes on the ship without relaxing.

On its deck, standing with imposing authority, was none other than the Great Mage Ernst.