Advent of the Three Calamities

I was just… tired.

Tired of it all.

The lies. The struggle. The pain.

I was tired of everything.

That was why I had made up my mind. I planned on coming clean to Delilah.

I wasn’t sure if this was great timing. Especially when taking into account what she had previously said to me, but after a lot of thought, I realized that by not coming clean, I would eventually be making things more difficult for myself further down the line.

“Even if things end up going badly, they won’t be as bad as her finding out further down in the future.’

She could also be a lot more understanding now than before.

I wasn’t sure.

However, this was my plan.

“..I’l approach things carefully before telling her everything.”

Everything else would be up to her. However, I really did need her help.

I wanted to better understand what the black tendrils inside my body were. And if they were connected to the Outer Beings, could she do anything about it?

“You’re going to wear the same clothes from the Rite?”

Turning my head, I spotted Leon walking down the stairs of the estate. He was dressed in a white suit that accentuated his physique, fitting him impeccably. For a brief moment, it almost seemed like he was glowing.

“Disgusting…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“No, you did say something.”

“…Maybe I did.”

I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t really know how to dress, and didn’t really think going over the top was going to be a good idea. As such, after a little bit of thought, I decided to dress myself in a formal black suit.

One that looked both elegant and fitted me well.

“Are you two leaving?”

Another person appeared on the stairs. Unlike us, he wasn’t wearing a suit. His face was filed with sweat, and his hair stuck to his forehead. It looked like he had just finished training.

“Yes, young master.”

Leon answered not a moment later, fixing his collar at the same time.

“The… event will start in a bit. It’s best if the two of us leave now.”

“Oh.”

Linus nodded calmly, his thoughts unknown. But in that moment, staring at him, it almost felt as though he was disappointed.

Did he want to come too..2

“Well, technically speaking, it’s my engagement. I can—No, never mind. It’s best if he stays here.”

I retrieved a couple of papers from my ring and handed them over to Linus.

“These are…2″

Linus looked at the papers in confusion. I gave him a brief overview a moment later. “They’re the papers that father… left behind. They detail everything about the territory and the future plans of the estate. Since I’m going to be gone, I need someone to watch over the estate. I won’t be gone for long, but you should still take these. It’s a good way for you to learn more about our territory and how to manage it.”

The truth was, I hated managing the territory.

It was boring and took too much of my time. I couldn’t afford to waste hours managing the territory. In that much time, I could’ve easily spent most of it practicing and trying to overcome my current wall.

This was why Linus was essential.

I planned on having him do all of this nonsense in my stead.

“Make sure you learn all of this, okay?”

“Huh..? Eh? But…”

“It’s okay. I believe in you.”

I patted Linus on the shoulder, amidst his confusion. But within his confusion, I could even see that he was subtly touched. He was probably thinking some sort of nonsense like, “He trusts me with this? He actually wants me to manage the territory? Is he planning on giving it to me?”

Kek.

I wanted him to think like that. Only this way would he work to the bone for m—

“You’re disgusting.”

A voice broke through my thoughts.

Looking at Leon and seeing the disgusted look on his face, I blinked innocently.

“What suddenly brought this?”

“…You know why.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re planning on using Lin—”

“How should we go there? Do you think carriage is good? I was thinking of using Pebble. Although it’s not allowed, I think if it’s above the Duke’s territory, it should be fine. Plus, what else can they—Hm? Leon? Why are you on your knees?”

I took a step back.

However, the moment I did, Leon placed his hand over his heart and lowered his head. “This loyal servant is at your service. If you tell me to go west, I’l go west. If you tell me to go east, I’ll go east. If you tell me to—”

“Alright, stop.”

I stopped Leon before he could continue on with his nonsense. I felt shivers just looking at him.

“..We’ll go with Pebble. Let’s go.”

Leon’s face remained straight as he lowered his head further.

“As you wish, sire.”

“Can you stop?”

“Yes, your royal highness.”

“No, seriously.”

“I understand, your majesty.”

ox

++Balk*

*+Fwap—lxx

A massive shadow cast over the forest beneath.

its size dwarfed everything around it, and its presence felt unmatched by anything nearby. It commanded the entire space, drawing the gaze of everyone below as heads turned upwards in awe.

At least, this was how it felt to Leon as he stood on top of the massive dragon, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

“F-finally…”

He almost felt emotional at the moment.

sx Thumpls*

How long had it been since he had not taken a carriage to travel far? Hell, even trains were better, and yet, he hardly traveled in them.

But this was way better than he had expected.

Standing on top of a dragon and overlooking the land beneath, he felt strangely powerful.

“Yes, this is how it should’ve been from the start.”

Leon extended both of his hands and felt the wind.

So fresh…

“Stop being a weirdo. We’re about to arrive soon. We should be there in a couple of minutes. I don’t want the people below us to think we’re weirdos that pose in the air.” Cutting the fun was none other than Julien. Leon’s face scrunched up as he lowered his hands and looked at him.

Ba…

“Can’t I just enjoy the moment?”

“No, you can’t.”

“You—”

“I’m still thinking about what happened with the old man.”

Leon’s face turned serious upon hearing Julien’s words. He also found the entire situation suspicious, and as he lowered his head and stared at his sword, he felt a certain sense of unease.

sx Thumpls*

“I’ve already had Linus check it. From what he said, the sword is clean. There’s nothing wrong with it. From what I can tell, the old man isn’t exactly with them. He most likely struck a deal with them to hand over the letter to us. In fact, he’s most likely affected as well.”

“..You’re right.”

Julien nodded, his brows furrowing as he thought more about the situation.

Leon stared at him in silence, his hair fluttering in the wind.

In the end, he walked toward Julien and patted him on the shoulder.

“You should relax for now. You’re about to be announced as the fiancé of one of the most popular people within the Empire. You shouldn’t think about this stuff today.” “…Mhm. You’re right.”

Julien nodded, patting his clothes while turning his attention towards the land beneath as his eyes squinted.

++Ba… Thump

“We’re a minute away. Let’s go down now.”

As Julien pressed his foot against the dragon, they slowly started to descend before finally landing on the ground beneath. Thankfully, there was no one present to witness the scene as the two dismounted and Pebble turned into a cat, hopping on Julien’s shoulder while licking its paw.

“Let’s go.”

++Ba… Thump! Ba… Thumpts+

Leon traced Julien’s back with his eyes as he took a step to follow him.

However, right as he did, his expression froze.

++Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump

His blood ran cold, and his face paled considerably.

++Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump! Ba… Thumpt+* Despite trying his best to remain calm, Leon couldn’t at all. The world around him started to spin, and his face paled further.

“H-hue..”

Even breathing was starting to become difficult as he staggered forward.

“Hm, Leon..2”

Finally taking note of the situation, Julien’s expression changed, and he rushed back. “What’s going on? Why are you acting like this? Is everything okay…? Leon?”

Julien tried his best to shake Leon out of it, but whatever he did was useless.

“What the hell is going on?”

++Ba… Thump! Ba… Thumpts+

“Akh—1”

Leon clutched at his shirt, fighting for breath. It was as if an immense weight pressed down on his chest, smothering him, stealing even the words from his throat.

He could hardly think or speak.

Julien’s expression turned graver and graver as he stared at the current state of Leon. Especially when he saw the saliva that was dripping out of his mouth.

Was this because of the black tendrils that had previously entered their body? Was that what this was?

Julien pressed his hand against Leon’s arm.

However—

Nothing.

He didn’t feel anything at all.

Julien bit his lips, his head flicking towards the cat that didn’t need to be told anything before dashing away to look for help.

“Ukh…t”

“Just what the fuck is happening?”

Julien clenched his teeth, feeling completely thrown off by the situation. He was just fine a few moments prior. What happened? Why was he suddenly acting like this?

Suddenly mustering up his strength, Leon reached up to grasp Julien’s shirt.

Julien’s expression changed abruptly upon seeing the desperation in Leon’s gaze. His eyes were bloodshot, and his lips were trembling. It was almost as if he was trying to say something to him.

Julien’s breathing quickened as he used the fifth level of emotive magic.

He wanted to see the current state of Leon’s emotions.

But right as he did, his breath left his body.

Purple.

Leon’s entire body was covered in purple.

Never before had he seen such purple before, and Julien’s mind blanked.

“L-leave.”

Leon’s words echoed in his ears, his hand tightly clenching against his shirt.

“We… need to leave this place.”

Every hair on his body stood on end.

At this very moment, his instincts were screaming at him. Far stronger than they had ever been in his life.

++Ba… Thump

Dread.

All he felt was dread.

++Ba… Thump! Ba… Thumpts+

One that was eating at his mind.

They had to leave. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)