Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 98
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“My name is Diena. I have a family name, but it doesn’t matter. Ah, you don’t need to introduce yourself either. I already know who you are. We’re short on time, so I’ll explain quickly. Necromancer Demian, you must have realized you went into Rampage. I used my ability to suppress it. The thing is, the fact that I have an ability is supposed to be a secret. But by purifying you, I’m risking that secret getting out.”
“…….”
“Now that you’ve heard this explanation, you understand how much I’ve sacrificed for you, right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Demian tilted his head, his expression vacant. Listening to Diena’s words, he felt as though he’d received an enormous debt of gratitude.
‘I suppose I have received a favor…….’
By nature, he rarely listened to others’ words without resistance. But for some reason, Diena’s words carried a strange weight that made him want to comply.
‘Still, using Soul Binding feels a bit off…….’
It was his own ability, yet it left him uneasy. It was a power that controlled someone’s soul and restricted their actions. He had sworn to himself not to use it unless the other person was truly wicked.
“I don’t know how you found out, but at least I owe you an explanation. It’s not an ability I can use on just anyone, after all.”
Demian thought of himself as someone not so debased as to disrespect the person who had saved his life. Besides, if the girl’s words were true and it really was such a remarkable ability, anyone would want to keep it hidden.
Learning that such an ability had been exposed because of him, he felt a pang of conscience.
Seeing that Demian was listening seriously, Diena’s eyes brightened as she spoke.
“There’s someone from the Five Great Houses outside. Cassian Volkov—do you know him?”
He couldn’t not know. The people of the Five Great Houses were so famous that even commoners knew of them.
“Y-you’re saying someone from the Five Great Houses came to stop me?”
Demian felt both flustered and oddly proud.
“That’s right. I want you to bind him with Soul Binding.”
“B-bind someone from the Five Great Houses? Is that even possible? To use my Soul Binding, I need the other person’s consent, don’t I?”
“All we need is his consent.”
“But…… well, that’s true. However, I haven’t decided whether to use my ability yet. What about my consent?”
To his serious question, the girl answered brightly.
“Your consent doesn’t matter—let’s go right now.”
“What?”
“Once you understand the situation, you’ll consent immediately. Just do what I tell you.”
With that, Diena grabbed Demian’s hand and pulled him along.
* * *
Cassian’s face was ashen. All traces of his usual composure had vanished; the hair across his forehead was matted with sweat and dust. He breathed heavily, glaring at Barcan. Judging by the way his legs trembled as though he might collapse at any moment, Barcan’s condition appeared even worse than his own. The momentum he’d felt when landing that punch to the man’s jaw moments ago seemed like a mere illusion.
If they continued fighting, Cassian would likely emerge victorious in the end. But what good would that do? Cassian muttered in a tone of resignation.
“It’s already over.”
Too much time had passed in this pointless struggle with Barcan. Even if he went looking for Diena now, everything would be finished by then.
Gripped by terrible despair, Cassian wiped his face compulsively with dry hands. At his words, Barcan let out a laugh as though he found it absurd.
“Over? What’s over?”
“You’ve wasted so much time! You’ve ruined everything. It’s too late to save Diena now.”
“Who made Diena a dead woman?”
Cassian attacked Barcan again, his blade wrapped in his ability.
Ching!
Barcan deflected the slash with ease, a cold smile playing at his lips.
“Why not stop digging your own grave? You’re going to regret this later.”
“What nonsense have you been spouting since before…….”
Even before his words finished, something changed. Cassian flinched and turned his head.
“What……?”
Cassian blinked blankly.
The violet haze that had been emanating a sickly aura vanished in an instant. As though the Rampage had never occurred, silence fell over everything. And in his eyes appeared a white light streaking across the sky.
Cassian stared at it in rapture. How much time had passed?
“Barcan!”
At the sound of a familiar voice, Cassian remained frozen before turning around. The necromancer Demian was walking out from within.
And walking beside him, leaning on his arm, was someone he’d thought was dead—Diena.
“Diena! Are you alright?”
Cassian rushed to Diena and examined her carefully. She was completely unharmed, without a single injury.
Only then did Cassian relax, and he turned his gaze toward Barcan. The man gave a shrug and pulled the corner of his mouth into a smile—clearly mocking Cassian.
Cassian turned away from him and looked at Diena. “What happened, Diena?”
“What do you mean?”
“How did you manage to come back alive and unharmed like this?”
“Were you hoping I’d be injured?”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Diena shrugged and spoke. “I delivered the Side Effect Suppressant from the Magic Tower safely before Demian went into a complete Rampage.”
Cassian narrowed his eyes. It struck him as natural the way Diena referred to the necromancer by his name.
“Right, Demian?”
“That’s correct. Diena handed me the Side Effect Suppressant. That’s how I managed to suppress the Rampage just in time. It was a close call. If it hadn’t been for that, I would have gone into full Rampage.”
His frown deepened. Demian’s response seemed distinctly awkward.
Cassian set his jaw and spoke. “You were definitely in Rampage before. What was that explosive ability you were using?”
“Oh, that.”
Demian answered as calmly as he could manage. “I was just testing it out.”
“……Just testing it out?”
“Yes. I thought if I did that, Duke Balthasar and the Temple would give me the Side Effect Suppressant.”
“So you’re saying you acted all of that out to obtain the Side Effect Suppressant?”
“Yes.”
Cassian let out a hollow laugh. If he hadn’t known of Balthasar’s plan beforehand, he might have believed it. Demian’s explanation was that convincing.
But Cassian knew that Balthasar had inflicted excessive darkness upon Demian, forcing him into Rampage. He had even witnessed the violet ability burst forth with his own eyes.
And it was harder still to fall for such an obviously clumsy lie. Anyone could see that Demian was lying.
He looked at Demian and raised one corner of his mouth. “You don’t seriously think I’d believe that, do you?”
“…….”
“Diena, I don’t know what you’re hiding, but it’s all pointless.”
Demian turned to look at Diena. His expression was one of despair.
Diena nodded and spoke. “Hmm…… I figured you wouldn’t believe us.”
“Then I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me what actually happened.”
“Fine. I’m an Ability User with a Purification Ability.”
“……What?”
“Yes, I’m not a Non-Ability User. I awakened my Innate Ability a long time ago, but I’ve been keeping it secret.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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