The Mist Vol 3 Chapter 9

Vol 3 Chapter 9

"...Is that Ilumine?"

'Ah, that guy...'

Come to think of it, Kran often immersed himself in the concept of a mannerly holy knight and acted sickeningly sweet. Thinking that he wouldn't let it slide if Kran said something nonsensical here, Kapros nodded, but surprisingly, Kran just looked at Ilumine once and said, "So she really is an elf," before quietly sitting down right next to Kapros. It was Kapros who was more surprised by this uncharacteristic docility.

"You..."

"Hm?"

"You're not using that sickening tone this time?"

"..."

Kran, who had been silently looking at Kapros, shook his head after a moment, letting out a laugh that was almost like a sigh.

"Come on, Kap. What do you think of me? Do you think I do that all the time?"

It seemed like he had been doing it all the time... But since he said he didn't, Kapros decided to let it go. As he turned his head towards Ilumine, he didn't properly hear the voice muttering softly behind his back.

"This is too much... Is that all my image is worth? You really don't know the difference between words to lighten the mood and words with sincerity."

"What?"

As Kapros turned back, Kran flinched.

"Nothing, nothing. Hahaha. Just saying I'm popular."

"...Really?"

"Yeah, you don't believe it? It's true!"

While Kapros was talking with Kran, Ilumine, who had finished examining the brooch, returned it to him. She looked at Kran sitting next to Kapros and opened her mouth with a somehow intriguing smile.

"That silver holy power... You're the descendant of the Bright Light."

"Pardon? Oh, you mean me?"

Kran, who had briefly worn an expression of confusion, awkwardly asked back.

"Hmm... I personally liked the Bright Light. It was frustrating not being able to talk to the Lord, but all the other humans were like that too... Among them, he was the best human."

"...Excuse me?"

Kran responded with an awkward smile to Ilumine's incomprehensible statement, which she had suddenly blurted out while looking him over. However, Ilumine, without answering, held out her hand to Kran as if it were natural.

"...W-What is it?"

"Give me yours too. Your Lord Piece."

When Kapros whispered "The guiding gem" to Kran, who was openly showing an expression that said 'Huh? What's that?', Kran soon made an "Ah..." sound and handed over the yellow gem pendant he had taken off his neck to Ilumine.

"Is this your Lord Piece?"

Upon receiving it, Ilumine made an intrigued expression for some reason and tried to open the gap in the pendant that looked like it could be opened, then turned her gaze to Kran.

"Have you ever opened this?"

"Ah... No, I haven't."

That was true. Kran's pendant had a small protrusion at the bottom that could open a lid, but after obtaining it from carrying the old lady NPC in the Zagreb temple, Kran couldn't open it no matter how hard he tried. So they all thought it was just designed to look that way.

After hearing Kran's words and examining the pendant for a while longer, Ilumine nodded as if she had realized something and handed the pendant back to Kran.

"Now I understand after seeing both of your Lord Pieces."

"Understand what?"

"The original power imbued in both of them has become too clouded, hiding their true power. It's probably because they've been passed from hand to hand, traveling the world for too long."

Ilumine's voice revealed concern as she said, 'Judging by their condition, the other Lord Pieces are probably similar,' but soon her eyes sparkled like glass as she looked at the puzzled Kapros and Kran.

"Well, repairing such things could be rewarding too."

"Uh... repair?"

When Kran asked dazedly, Ilumine nodded firmly.

"Yes. I'll repair them properly. It will take some time, but these Lord Pieces are pitiful as they are now."

Could this be... a chance to upgrade the items? Kapros nodded immediately without asking anything.

"I understand. Please do."

"Good. Little one. I like that."

There was no way Kapros would pass up the opportunity to possibly unlock new powers in the Superior brooch. He and Kran handed their guiding gems back to Ilumine. Holding the brooch and necklace tightly in both hands, Ilumine finally broke away from her doll-like face and spoke with a pleased smile.

"As expected of the descendants of the Lord and the Bright Light, you're much better than that human from before. Your wavelength matches mine too."

'The human who came to this village before us...!'

As Kapros's eyes sharpened at those words that came up again, Ilumine continued speaking.

"Now then, from here on I'll only answer questions, so if you have anything to say, go ahead. If you don't have any questions, that's fine too."

"Of course I do."

Kapros, who answered quickly, decided to ask the first thing that came to mind.

"I just heard about someone who came to this village before us... Who is he?"

"He is human, yet not human."

Ilumine's answer shot out immediately as soon as the question was asked, but more surprising than its speed was its content.

'Human, yet not human...?'

If that was the case, there was one person who came to mind. Kran's complexion also changed slightly for a moment, as if he had thought of the same person as Kapros.

"Could that be... the descendant of the Knight of the Demon God?"

Sure enough, Kran had thought of the Knight of the Demon God, Caesar, just like Kapros.

Caesar... As Kapros recalled Jeong Seung-jo's face, familiar yet unfamiliar, his mood turned cold and he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying not to let others notice.

However, upon hearing Kran's question, Ilumine slowly shook her head.

'No?'

Ignoring their surprised reactions, Ilumine answered.

"The one you know as the Knight of the Demon God is certainly human. The 'non-human' I'm talking about is the one who always stood by the Lord's side in the old days."

Always by Lord Superior's side...

'That...!'

For a moment, the disorganized thought that flashed through Kapros's mind was something even he couldn't believe. He thought it couldn't be possible, but after swallowing once, his mouth automatically spilled out the words.