Chapter 724: The Five

The Nine-Venom Castellan’s answer was heard immediately.

’Yes, my lord, the treasures that could be reached have been collected.’

’Good, return to the Colony Home.’

’As you command.’

Lian canceled Four’s summoning.

The Nine-Venom Castellan’s physical presence in the land ended, and he returned to the Colony Home along with the items and treasures he had collected.

Now only the Bone Minstrel and the three human companions remained.

Lian listened for a moment.

Among the sounds of the collapsing ground, the faint sound of a guitar could be heard from the south.

There he is.

"Two, head toward the sound."

The wolf changed his direction, and a few moments later, he passed between two huge masses of stone and reached a more open area.

There, the Bone Minstrel was moving with the three weak humans.

The skeleton raised his head when he saw the huge wolf.

"Ah! What a magnificent sight! Our savior has arrived riding a huge wolf!"

Lian did not even smile.

"Get on, quickly."

The musician glanced at the ground splitting apart behind him.

"I completely agree! My bony legs are already asking to retire!"

Two lowered his body.

The musician placed Rindo and Alicia on the wolf’s broad back, then seated Noah beside them, he climbed on last and held the three weak humans to prevent them from falling.

Lian immediately gave the order to move.

"Go!"

Two moved toward the golden curtain at full speed.

Behind them, the prison was still being destroyed.

The cracks in the sky were growing wider, and huge sections of the ground were disappearing without leaving any ruins behind.

This time, even the mountains were not safe from the collapse.

But the Eight-Disaster Wolf continued without stopping, and finally, after passing through the ruined sections of the land, the huge golden curtain appeared on the horizon.

"Finally."

Lian took a short breath when he saw the golden curtain.

Two reduced his speed slightly.

The curtain that formed the boundary of the Land of the First Dawn was still standing in front of them.

Even so, unlike before, its golden light had become unstable.

Parts of its surface were slowly trembling.

Young Vorhelm looked at his companions.

"Everyone, hold on tight."

Then he gave Two an order.

"Go through it."

The wolf moved toward the curtain, but just as he reached the boundary, a short impact sound was heard.

Clack!

The Bone Minstrel, who was sitting at the back, struck an invisible barrier.

The skeleton raised his head in surprise.

"Oh?"

He extended his bony hand toward the curtain, but before it could pass through, the golden light became concentrated in front of his hand and pushed him back.

Lian immediately understood the problem.

That’s right.

The musician himself was one of the prison’s prisoners.

And despite all the help he had given the group, the prison’s Seal still did not allow him to leave.

The musician looked at the curtain for several seconds and then gave a short laugh.

"Ah. It seems this is where our performance together comes to an end."

Lian turned his head toward him, and the skeleton lowered his hand.

"I must admit, young lord, accompanying you has been one of the strangest and most enjoyable performances of my life."

He paused for a moment.

"Although technically, I’m not sure I still have a life."

Young Vorhelm said nothing, behind them, the sound of another section of the land collapsing was heard.

The musician glanced at it and then turned back toward him.

"You had better leave, I would not want my final performance to cause the deaths of my dear audience."

This time, his tone had become a little calmer, but he still maintained his usual dramatic behavior.

Lian looked at him for a moment and then asked.

"Do you want to serve me?"

The musician remained motionless.

"Me?" He pointed a finger toward his own bony chest.

"Yeah."

There was silence for several seconds, and then the musician placed his hand on his chest in a dramatic manner.

"Do you really wish to take a handsome skeleton musician into your service?"

"The handsome part is debatable." Lian answered.

The musician burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha! How cruel! Even after saving the world, your tongue is still sharper than a sword!"

But after a few moments, his laughter became quieter, he looked at the golden curtain and then turned back toward Lian.

"If I accept... can I really come with you?"

Lian thought for a moment.

"Most likely."

"Most likely?"

"If you’d rather stay here and wait for the prison to be destroyed, I won’t insist."

The musician immediately shook his head.

"No, no! What a terrible suggestion! There are still thousands of songs that haven’t been played!"

"Then make your decision." Lian gave a short smile.

The skeleton remained silent for several seconds, then climbed down from Two’s back and knelt on one knee in front of Lian.

This time, his movement was not merely dramatic.

"In that case, young lord, please allow me the honor of playing the music of your victories forever."

He lowered his head slightly.

"From this day forward, my instrument shall be at your service."

Young Vorhelm raised his right hand.

[ Hive Dominion Activated ]

[ Colony Sovereign ]

[ Special Member Accepted! ]

[ Five — Bone Minstrel ]

[ Special Colony Members: 5/5 ]

A new connection formed in Lian’s mind.

He could now sense the Bone Minstrel’s presence just like the other Special Members of the Colony.

The musician also looked at his own hands for a moment.

"Oh... what a strange feeling."

Then he raised his head.

"So I’m officially part of your group now?"

"The fifth Special Member."

Lian glanced at him.

"From now on, I’ll call you Five."

The musician remained silent for a moment and then said excitedly.

"Five! What a short and magnificent name!"

Lian smiled, finally, one of his Colony members had recognized his amazing naming skills.

Then he pointed toward the golden curtain.

"Before you start writing poems about your name, try again."

The musician nodded eagerly and extended his hand toward the curtain, and this time, the golden light moved across his bony hand for a moment.

But no barrier formed in front of him, his hand passed through the curtain, and the musician remained motionless for several seconds before raising his head excitedly.

"Oh!"

He looked back at Lian.

"Then it seems our concert has not ended yet!"

Young Vorhelm gave a short smile.

The new Colony connection and the permission Hollow Sun had previously granted to those under his command were now enough to allow the musician to pass through.

"Get on, before this place collapses on top of us."

He looked toward the spreading cracks behind them.

The musician immediately jumped onto Two’s back.

"As you command, my lord!"

Two passed through the golden curtain at full speed.

For a moment, warm golden light covered Lian’s entire vision, and then a fresh wind struck his face.

The ground on the other side of the boundary came beneath the wolf’s huge claws, and Two continued moving without slowing down.

Lian turned his head.

The golden curtain was still visible behind them, but on the other side, the Land of the First Dawn was disappearing.

The sky had cracked.

Huge sections of the ground were disappearing, and the remains of the mountains were falling into the darkness along with stone and ice.

He looked at that scene for a few moments.

The land where he had encountered Hollow Sun.

Where he had killed thousands of Withered.

Where he had destroyed two Unholy creatures and finally devoured the second Calamity.

Now there was nothing left to keep him there.

Behind him, the Bone Minstrel picked up his guitar again.

"Well, my lord! What kind of music would you suggest to begin this new journey?"

Lian looked at his three weak companions.

Rindo, Alicia, and Noah were still lying on the wolf’s back, and the effects of spiritual corruption were still visible in their eyes.

Then he looked at the path ahead.

"For now, play something that won’t wake the others."

The musician gave a short laugh.

"Ah! Then a lullaby for our tired heroes! What a magnificent choice!"

A few moments later, the gentle sound of the guitar echoed through the wind.

Lian looked at the golden curtain behind him one last time and then turned his head forward.

The Land of the First Dawn was left behind them forever.

———

( A/N : End of volume 3 )