TMLOWM 45

Chapter 45

‘The wounds aren’t even healing.’

He couldn’t even tell how much time had passed. Taiburn felt the sticky blood flowing from the wounds on his waist, thighs, and back.

With this much blood loss, he should be dead—but somehow, he wasn’t.

The one who dragged Taiburn into this place had been the leader of the werewolves. From the beginning, it was clear that Taiburn had been the target—there had been no hesitation.

That gaping maw, those gleaming eyes, and the strange, mournful growling sound still lingered in his mind.

The creature had thrown Taiburn—already dying from his injuries—into the source of corruption, then seemed to return to the battlefield.

“Hoo… I have no idea what the purpose of this is.”

There didn’t seem to be any monsters here capable of communication. What was this place even for? If he stayed like this, his already-overburdened body would eventually give out, and he’d die.

It had been a tiring life.

As he trudged forward, Taiburn reflected on his life.

Becoming a Sword Master, being hailed as a hero, getting married, and having a child. He recalled the constant clashes with his wife, whose personality had never matched his.

“Damn old hag.”

It was likely that the greedy old woman was the one who had ruined Herden’s education.

Being stuck here was making him dwell on useless thoughts. Taiburn sighed.

“She might’ve cursed me, that old hag.”

She had resented him until the day she died. Taiburn wiped his weary face.

What frightened him more than the monsters was dying in this place. It hadn’t been long since he started to believe he might survive.

Once the addiction had been cured, Taiburn had started thinking about what he wanted to do. He had begun to dream of nurturing the future of Katieron again—something he had long given up on.

What he wanted most was to see Katieron’s next Sword Master with his own eyes. That alone would be enough to leave this world without regrets.

‘Of course, even without me, Hider has Lani.’

Still, was it so wrong for an old man to have a little selfish desire? Just as Taiburn moved a bit further—

—his body suddenly felt lighter. It was the first time he’d felt anything like it since arriving in this place.

“…?”

Even the blood that had been endlessly flowing from his wounds had begun to stop. It felt as if his healing abilities—long dormant—had been pushed to their peak.

“What the…?”

He looked around, but nothing seemed different. Nothing was descending from the sky, either.

Taiburn touched his body. Even his hunger was fading away. The changes were so extreme, it felt almost unpleasant.

Then suddenly, his wounds healed completely. His eyes widened.

“…A miracle? Magic?”

It felt as though a question mark had popped up over his head.

It was as if someone had intervened and adjusted his physical condition.

In that moment, one person came to mind—someone not human. A miracle that had visited Katieron.

“Lani?”

Could Lani really do something like this? She couldn’t be here, could she?

This was a place humans couldn’t enter—and besides, a girl like Lani traveling all the way to the North would’ve been nearly impossible.

As soon as the war broke out, the North would’ve been locked down. And yet, was it possible to bless someone from such a distance?

Taiburn thought it over quietly.

He’d never heard of a being capable of using such powers. Sure, fairies and spirits were known to wield absurd abilities…

“Fairy King…?”

To perform something like this, wouldn’t she have to be at least that powerful? Taiburn swallowed hard.

A thought struck him—perhaps Lani was descended from the Fairy King.

“…Huh.”

Thankfully, Lani was worldly and materialistic—it was easy to keep her tied to Hider’s side.

Even then, he’d never once begrudged spending money on her. Maybe he had been underestimating her powers all this time.

A materialistic fairy. Lani loved money. Taiburn thought to himself: if he really managed to return safely thanks to her blessing, he’d have to give her even more than before.

* * *

As someone’s misunderstanding deepened, time outside passed relentlessly.

Having finished his preparations, Viscount Aros watched the Marquis of Aites’ residence with tense eyes.

He’d run through the scenario countless times in his head, but the tension gripping his body couldn’t be helped.

“Tsk.”

The House of Aites was just as powerful as Katieron—that much was certain. Viscount Aros clenched his fist.

‘Don’t be so scared. Didn’t you hear what Young Master Hider said? That Lord Taiburn will return.’

‘But… does that even make sense?’

‘Maybe there’s something that only Sword Masters understand. They live in a completely different realm than us.’

‘But the young master isn’t a Sword Master yet.’

‘Lord Taiburn acknowledged him, didn’t he? That’s basically the same. Either way, they’re not like us. And it’s better to do something than be sold off and ruined. I need to move too. And we should offer our support.’

Behind Viscount Aros stood Count Zech and Viscount Nathan—united in purpose. This wasn’t something he was doing alone. Even if Taiburn disapproved after his return, there would be three of them to face him.

And then there was Hider.

He was possibly even more brilliant than Taiburn.

‘As long as we don’t get caught.’

Right—just don’t get caught. Viscount Aros entered the drawing room. Kiera appeared, fussing with her face.

“What the hell? I told you not to come unless I called for you! Can’t you even handle things on your own?”

She snapped irritably. Despite having been informed of the visit two days ago and agreeing to it, she acted like she’d been inconvenienced.

“I was getting a facial, you know! What if my skin gets ruined? Can you take responsibility? I’m going to meet Her Majesty the Empress soon!”

“…I’ve come with good news, Duchess.”

“Good news?”

Kiera pouted. Her sharply raised eyes and glossy, oily skin made her look like a witch.

How on earth had someone like her entered Katieron?

That Herden had been captivated by her looks was perhaps one of Katieron’s greatest tragedies.

“Speak. Hurry. How many times do I have to say I’m busy? I’m selling the merchant group anyway.”

“That’s actually why I came, Duchess. I want to buy the merchant group.”

“…What?”

Kiera’s eyes widened. She was certainly a beauty, and yet somehow, she still looked pathetic.

“You? Do you even have that kind of money?”

She gave Viscount Aros a look filled with suspicion, scanning him from head to toe.

“Did you embezzle it?”

That kind of thing was more typical of people like her. He barely stopped himself from saying it.

Viscount Aros forced a smile.

After meeting Hider and sorting out the necessary documents, he had quickly moved to produce forged paperwork.

Count Zech, as promised, spared no resources—he had even introduced his younger brother, a practicing lawyer.

With his help, they had forged some rather convincing documents.

“No, not at all. Actually, there’s a plot of land that has been in my family since my grandfather’s time. It’s located in the East.”

The moment he mentioned the East, a gleam sparked in Kiera’s eyes.

“Ohh, the East?”

“Yes. I sold that land and received enough money to purchase the merchant group.”

Currently, the East was a hotspot for land sales—being snapped up like mad by the Aites family, their associates, and relatives of the Empress.

Who was selling the land didn’t matter. Even if Viscount Aros was one of the sellers, no one would find it suspicious.

He handed over the forged land-sale documents. Kiera skimmed them briefly and snorted.

“Just know this is all thanks to me. Count Zech always goes on about money when he sees me—like I wouldn’t pay him back. Look at this! You’re already reaping the benefits of knowing me!”