I Entered a Gacha Game That Had Been Abandoned for 10 Years

15 – Deafening Darkness (4)

Inside the office where Kallan’s five swords were making a fuss, Duke Laifelarosin felt a sense of shame in this situation.

No wonder, the duke had never been treated like this by anyone before.

To him, in the eyes of Yeongjimin, he was like a heavenly being.

Even the nobles of the same rank would overturn their stomachs and joke around at his words like little kids.

Even the king of the Kallan Kingdom could not ignore the duke.

The countless resources coming from his territory brought him wealth and power that could not be ignored.

However, the reason he couldn’t lift his head in front of them was the five swords of Kallan, who possessed the greatest power of the kingdom and could destroy a territory with just five of them, and the fact that they had come because of their teacher.

Moreover, most nobles, who were completely unaware, were only six who knew about the existence of the teacher, who attended the highest council only within the Kallan Kingdom.

They ignored the warning of the absolute ruler of darkness lurking in the kingdom’s shadow because they had grown the kingdom to the point where it could compete with others, and they came because of their teacher.

Thus, he remained silent, but in his mind, he thought, ‘No matter what, this is…!’

The duke frowned as he looked at the five swords.

Duke Laifelarosin was aware to some extent that it was a mistake to use the indoctrination poison so recklessly.

He had not properly explained the precautions when instructing Lordmalis to colonize the surrounding territories.

However, Duke Laifelarosin thought this was an accident.

Who in the world would think that the soon-to-be-gone Lord of Larvania would return?

“This was just a mistake, and you’re taking it too far in that direction-!”

Therefore, with a slightly uncomfortable expression, the duke tried to talk to the five swords.

“—”

The duke stopped what he was about to say in an instant.

That was because, until a moment ago, the five swords of Kallan, who had been talking calmly without any change in expression, all glared at the duke at once.

“Hey, Duke, do you think we’re keeping you alive because we want to keep you alive?”

“Hmm…!”

In the presence of the threatening aura, as if squeezing the breath of Duke Laifelarosin, emitted by one of Kallan’s five swords, Ruin, who had been talking a moment ago, he instinctively closed his mouth.

“Don’t be mistaken, Duke. If it weren’t for the grace of our teacher, you wouldn’t have grown this much. Don’t play with your mouth like a little kid.”

Ruin, with eyes that sparkled with a soon-to-be-lived intensity, glared directly at the duke, growling as if ready to kill him at any moment.

“Enough, Ruin.”

In response to Lorel’s composed voice, Ruin frowned for a moment, then decisively turned away, leaving the study without hesitation.

And Lorel, who restrained Ruin in such a manner, spoke with her characteristic stoic expression as she gazed at the duke.

“Welcome, Duke Laifel. I won’t say much this time since the master only advised you to let it pass.”

She continued, “If such a situation arises again, I won’t intervene to stop Ruin. No, there won’t be a need for that.”

“…”

“I will personally end your life and hang it on the banner of the Lordship.”

Chills ran down his spine!

Lorel clearly did not reveal any hint of emotion. However, unwittingly, the duke felt a chilling sensation coursing through his entire body at her words.

“Remember, Duke. The reason you’ve climbed up to where you are. And-“

With that statement,

“-who the Five Swords of Kalan, also known as Kalan’s Blades, originally belonged to.”

The Five Swords of Kalan vanished from the duke’s study, leaving the duke unable to do anything for a long time, merely staring with fearful eyes as his breath ceased.

####

Come to think of it, she didn’t like the title of the Absolute Ruler of Darkness.

No, she used to detest that title vehemently.

The reason was, of course, quite juvenile.

Certainly, that title had been bestowed upon her without any discrimination, even raising her, a half-demon who had to conceal her identity throughout her life, without asking for anything in return. However, at that time, she found it both embarrassing and unpleasant.

She didn’t realize how extravagant it was.

“…”

In the underground castle, a massive structure built in the underground realm of the Saint Territory, which could be considered the main stronghold of the Kalan Kingdom and where the king resided as the lord, she looked at the parchment in her hands.

A brief parchment that read, ‘The Lady of Lartania has returned.’

She had noticed this fact a week ago, and it had taken her three more days to confirm the truth that the returned Lady was the same Gra from ten years ago.

Yet, even after realizing this fact, the ‘Absolute Ruler of Darkness’ remained motionless.

Had her heart left?

No.

Her heart, which had maintained silence for ten years, pounded violently at the mere confirmation of the characters inscribed on the parchment.

Now, even recalling his voice, of which not even the face is remembered properly, made her tremble.

…On the days when she dared to reminisce about the day she realized he was gone, tears flowed incessantly throughout.

Yet, the reason the absolute ruler of darkness, who could be considered her only light, did not seek him out was because of the sins she had committed.

“…”

The absolute ruler of darkness recalled a day after he had left.

That day marked a month since the nobleman, who was beyond calling her light, had departed.

As she looks back now, the thought of the wretchedness of herself, as foolish as trash, who was irritated by the absent nobleman, is more overwhelming than ever.

No, perhaps it was anxiety.

Maybe the anxiety that the nobleman might never return.

Yet, to forcefully suppress such anxiety, she whimsically thought that the nobleman might be engaged in battles.

It hadn’t been this long before, but there were a few times he hadn’t come for an extended period.

So, she brainwashed herself.

The nobleman was fighting with them, she told herself.

He wasn’t coming back to break his pride, she convinced herself.

As the brainwashing continued, the vampire tribe, who had been brainwashed by themselves to believe that the nobleman was not returning to win in a real battle, began to think so over time.

On the day marking two months since the nobleman disappeared, she shattered all the things he had given her.

She broke the jewelry he had gifted.

She broke the weapons he had given.

She tore the clothes he had given.

Even the trivial items he had given, she trampled them all.

Wanting revenge on the nobleman who made her suffer so much,

Wanting to torment the nobleman who couldn’t even properly respond to her tantrums,

Believing firmly in the lie she told herself that he wasn’t coming back because he was busy with battles, she released the accumulated irritation.

The nobleman will surely come back.

Because he had no reason to abandon her.

…

However, one month passed after that.

Half a year passed.

And when another year had passed.

She realized.

Youngju does not return.

Bantam Tribe, realizing it as they sit in the spot where Youngju always sat, spent several days and nights weeping.

Weeping until exhausted, falling asleep, waking up to weep again—such was their daily routine.

In this completely shattered state, after spending several days, she staggered toward her room with unsteady steps.

She wanted to escape.

From the fact that Youngju would not return.

To escape from the realization that his voice and face were gradually fading from her mind.

She headed towards it.

To her room, where Youngju’s gifts were.

And when the Bantam Tribe woman returned to her room, what she could see was the sight of Youngju’s gifts, which for her, was the only light, shattered into pieces.

Upon seeing it, she immediately recalled her past self.

The wretched image of herself, smashing Youngju’s gifts as if they were just debris.

The Bantam Tribe woman wailed.

Wailed at the items Youngju had broken himself.

Gathering the shattered gifts, now turned into scraps, she embraced them all and shed tears.

Despite getting cut and bleeding from sharp metal shards, it didn’t matter to her.

The pain of the body being sliced and bleeding was nothing compared to the excruciating pain of a heart that felt like it had been pierced.

Ironically, she cursed herself and wept.

In the end, all that remained for her at that moment was the epithet ‘Absolute of Darkness’ given to her by Youngju.

Yes, that’s all.

…The bond and memories with Youngju, only that was left.

From then on, the epithet became her crutch.

And so, another year passed.

The Bantam Tribe woman left the territory.

It was to fill the void of Youngju’s gifts that she herself had destroyed.

It was so that when Youngju returned someday, he wouldn’t be disappointed when he looked at her, to restore all the gifts to their original state.

She was scared.

Terrified that if, by any chance, the returning Youngju saw the shattered gifts, and his gaze chilled as he looked at her, it would be too unbearable.

‘If, if by any chance, I receive such a look from Youngju, I…’

“Ah, hah- sip…gulp!”

Even just imagining it made her feel breathless, and she forced herself to stop the thoughts that were choking her.

Her breathing hadn’t calmed, and her heart, pounding as if it might burst at any moment, surged with tumultuous beats. Tears had unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.

“No, no – it must never happen…it should not!”

She didn’t want to be hated.

She didn’t want to be rejected.

In her life, as the only half-elf, she didn’t want to lose the light that had reached out to her for salvation once again.

That’s why.

“I have to collect everything, everything-“

She couldn’t turn back.

Until she gathered all the gifts Young Lord had given her.

Absolutely, she couldn’t turn back.

“…Just two more, and it will be enough.”

Fortunately, her current situation wasn’t too bad.

Though she didn’t like it, the audacious wolf girl was protecting the Young Lord, and there were only two more gifts left for her to collect.

“Just two more, and-“

Furthermore, collecting two items was just a matter of time.

“-I can receive forgiveness.”

She imagined it involuntarily.

Collecting all the gifts.

Pleading for forgiveness with determination in front of her light without any hesitation.

And the Young Lord, smiling, accepting that forgiveness.

“Ha-“

Whether it was possible or impossible, she felt a dreamlike hope, and she rejoiced unknowingly.

But at the same time, to escape the ever-creeping anxiety as always, she-

“Ugh──”

– like she had done so far, immersed herself alone in ecstasy to dispel the unease.

Calling out the Young Lord’s name.