Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 751: Well deserved rest [2]

Valemount.

The city had undergone drastic changes over the recent periods. From moments of decline to moments of prosperity. As the main city of the Evenus Household, it held a significant importance.

It was the trade hub for the Household, and where most merchants and branch-guilds could be found.

After a period of decline brought on by Aldric’s schemes, the city had begun to recover. A sudden influx of funds was revitalizing it — Renovated roads, financial aid and subsidies for local businesses, and generous tax reliefs all fueling the resurgence.

This naturally brought a sudden rise in the city’s population.

The place was a lot livelier than Linus had remembered. Walking down the cobblestone road while lowering his hat to hide his face, Linus looked around him in surprise.

‘…It’s thriving quite well.’

The place was clean, and the people no longer looked gloomy.

It was clear that his father’s work had made all of this possible.

And of course…

‘He helped out as well.’

Linus had mixed feelings while staring at the back of his brother as he walked ahead, casually taking the sight without the need to change his appearance due to some sort of skill of his.

He seemed to be casually talking with Leon, the two looking rather close.

Even now, Linus didn’t understand where Leon was bringing them. All he knew was that he had to go as well. Despite his refusal, Leon didn’t listen to him and dragged him to the city.

He gave up then

‘I might as well use this chance to check up on him.’

Linsus’s thoughts were rather complex. He was still having trouble coming to terms with the fact that his brother was alive. He understood that this was some sort of plan that his father had created, but at the same time, he felt like shit.

Why did they not tell him?

Did their father think he was not good enough?

…Did he think he couldn’t keep a secret?

Why make him go through all of this? If it were for the benefit of the Evenus Household, Linus was willing to do anything.

In the end, it really did seem like it came down to the fact that his father didn’t trust him with the news. The news hurt him, but at the same time, he could only stay quiet. He wasn’t as irrational as he was in the past.

He could keep calm.

When the time came and his father showed up again, he’d plan on asking directly.

If only he knew where he was…

Linus lowered his hat further as he picked up the pace.

Lifting his head again, he caught sight of Julien’s outline. In that moment, for just a brief second, flames engulfed his vision. The very same outline stood before the flames, his clothes fluttering under the fire as he burned everything down.

It was just for a brief moment, but it was enough to make Linus stop.

He stared quietly at Julien’s back as he bit his lips.

‘It’s back.’

The nightmares.

They were back.

***

“We’re almost there. Just a few hundred meters.”

“…You said that about ten minutes ago.”

“Did I?”

Leon put on a casual look before picking up the pace. I shook my head and didn’t bother. There was something else that was bothering me. In particular, the intense glare was coming from behind me.

‘He still hasn’t stopped. He’s been like this since the moment we got out.’

Was he that mad at the fact that I had faked my death?

…Well, I didn’t.

I had actually died.

But it wasn’t like I could say this. It would lead to quite a troublesome situation.

‘That aside. I’m really curious as to where Leon is trying to lead me.’

He had been rather secretive about it since the start. Regardless of the many times I’d ask him, he’d just answer with, ‘You’ll see. I know you’re going to love it. Just trust me. As you know, I know what you like. Trust me…’

The more he acted like this, the less I seemed to want to trust him.

He wasn’t going to bring me to some sort of perverted place, take a photo, and send it to Delilah, right?

“….!?”

The sudden thought made me pause.

Although I couldn’t see my face, I could probably tell that my face had gone entirely pale.

This…

I looked at Leon.

He wouldn’t do this, right?

This felt like some sort of nightmarish scenario. If it truly did happen, then forget about the Outer Beings. I’d be creating an even scarier being.

“Wait, Leon. On second thought—!”

“We’re here.”

Leon stopped before a rundown-looking building. The walls were filled with cracks, and a half-open metal door yawned at the base, hinting at a passage leading underground.

My legs felt weak.

“How could you do this to me?”

“Eh? What are you talking about?”

“I know I haven’t been the best master, but to betray me like this? How dare you?”

“What? Are you okay?”

“I—”

“Excuse me.”

A certain voice cut through my face as I turned my head to see a couple staring at us with a weird expression. I tilted my head, wondering what they wanted. But soon after, they pointed at the door.

“We’re trying to enter. You’re kind of in the way.”

Perverts!

A couple of pe—

“The comedy show is about to start. We don’t want to miss it.”

“…..”

I blinked my eyes.

Wait.

Hold up.

Hold on a second.

What did he just say?

I took a moment to swallow my saliva before asking. Obviously, I kept my expression calm outwardly.

“What did you say this place was?”

“A comedy club?”

“…Like where you tell jokes and stuff?”

“Yeah?”

The man looked at me weirdly. And then, seemingly getting fed up, he pushed me to the side before opening the door and entering.

“…..”

I remained standing still.

Not until—

“Leon.”

“…Yes?”

I nodded.

“Is this your idea of resting? A comedy club?”

I shook my head.

“As if I’m going to be interested in something like this. What even is the point? My jokes are enough, no?”

“You think?”

“I don’t think. I just know.”

“Then why are you walking down the stairs?”

“Me?”

I paused and shook my head.

“Scouting the competition.”

What a stupid question.

***

Bremmer.

Drip! Drip! Drip!

The rain gently fell from above, droplets pattering against the streets, tracing thin streams along the uneven stone and gathering in shallow puddles.

Within the gentle stream, a single drop of red dispersed with the water from the rain.

It gently followed the small stream before falling towards the sewers.

Plop!

With a gentle plop, the water fell down from above.

Eventually—

Splash!

A figure began to emerge from the water.

With a pale face and trembling body, the figure staggered several steps before stumbling towards the side of the sewer. Holding onto his mouth, Noel just barely managed to keep himself standing.

‘…I lost him, for now.’

He was extremely weak.

Any second now, and he felt that he’d collapse on the spot. If not for the fact that he was immortal, he’d have already passed on by now.

Despite his body being completely fine, he had been killed over several dozens of times.

His connection with his heart was faint now.

He could no longer tap into his old powers, and he was slowly feeling the energy starting to sap away from his body.

‘I don’t have much of a choice.’

Although he knew that it wasn’t the best decision, Noel understood that he had no choice but to head back to the Mirror Dimension. The closer he was to his heart, the stronger his regenerative powers and energy.

If he allowed himself to completely fade at this moment, then he’d regenerate right where his heart was. That would mean falling right into Toren’s trap.

He couldn’t allow himself to become trapped again.

…But he also understood that there was a chance that it could happen.

He had been well aware of the possibility since the moment he started to enact the plan, and this was the price he was willing to pay in order to set everything in motion.

“…Hm.”

Staggering forward, Noel walked through the sewers.

The sewers were connected throughout the entire city of Bremmer, and having memorized every nook and cranny of the sewers, he knew exactly where to go as he eventually stopped before a certain point.

“Haa… Haa…”

Taking deep and steady breaths, Noel looked up. Towards the tiny opening above.

He could hear the muffled sound of people speaking above, alongside the numerous footsteps. Closing his eyes for a moment, he bit into his finger and produced a droplet of blood, which he tossed upwards.

As the droplet moved up the opening, the blood morphed into his figure as he touched his face and morphed it to look like a completely different person.

A massive crowd appeared around him, and yet, nobody noticed his actions at all as he quietly waited in line.

A strong fluctuation filtered right before him as he lifted his head slightly.

Greeting him was a massive crack.

Noel’s expression turned serious at the sight. He could feel his expression turning more and more serious as he inched closer to the crack. He didn’t know what waited for him behind the crack, but he had no choice but to go.

And eventually—

“Next.”

It was his turn.

Noel stepped forward and provided with payment.

He was granted access shortly after that.

The moment he stepped into the gate, the world around him began to twist and turn. By the time he came to, he felt the air become warmer. Staler. And a stifling feeling engulfed him as he looked up to see a massive gray sky looming right above him.

Alongside the gray sky was a massive white sun that hung high above.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve last been here, and I still despise it with all my being.’

Just the thought of returning to the Mirror Dimension felt nauseating for him. Having been trapped inside this forsaken place for so long made the entire place extremely repulsive to him.

But just because it was repulsive, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t tolerate it.

He could, and as he stepped forward to move out of the safe zone he was in, something unexpected occurred.

“Ah—!”

“Look!”

“What the hell is going on!”

“Get back!”

Screams and shouts suddenly engulfed the entire safe station as everyone began to panic.

Amidst the panic, some people couldn’t help but point up.

Towards the sky.

Or more specifically, towards the second sun in the sky.

“What’s going in!?”

“Another sun!”

“….”

Noel’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

That was no sun.

That was…

‘Dawn’s true form.’

His stomach sank.