227 – Cornerstone for growth (2)
Recently, Lucas was finding stability.
After witnessing the secret affair between Ed and his mother, he suffered from various delusions, but as he became closer to Claire, he began to find peace of mind.
That’s because Claire was the only person who understood him well.
‘But… Why?’
But at this point when she needed someone to rely on, Claire began to drift away again.
With the excuse that he is busy, he refuses to meet with me and avoids me somewhere else.
‘Ed…?’
Furthermore, the person I happened to meet was Edgar Fix.
His own mentor and respected friend.
But at the same time, he is like a thief who stole his mother’s heart.
‘Why… Why on earth…’
Why on earth does it get so twisted?
Why do all the people who are important to you leave for Edgar Fix?
Ed already has a lot of things.
Power, fame, virtue, and loved ones.
He had it all.
Why is he trying to take away his mother and Claire, who he desperately needs?
If he knows his situation well, if he truly considers himself a friend, shouldn’t he rather let go of his mother and Claire?
Why doesn’t he stop here?
‘···I don’t know’
Lucas couldn’t find the answer.
Edgar is a grateful friend who helped him resolve his complex about his father and help him awaken to a higher level.
Why doesn’t he let go of the people who are precious to him, his mother and Claire?
When he turned 19, he couldn’t understand why he was cruelly trampling on the feelings of love he had felt for the first time.
“Ed, shouldn’t we stop now?”
Meanwhile, Claire, who was watching Lucas from afar as he was becoming more and more exhausted day by day, spoke to Ed.
Shouldn’t we stop here?
He said he couldn’t see Lucas having a hard time, so let’s stop at this point.
But Ed only answered dryly with an expression that said he had gone a long way.
“No. I need to push more. If he quits here, Lucas will be a person who will be influenced by Lord Adela and your evaluation for the rest of his life. “Then nothing happens.”
“······.”
Claire lowered her head with a confused expression.
I listen obediently to what the great Edgar Fix is saying.
She thought, and she felt, that this would only backfire.
Isn’t it too harsh to ask Lucas, who was busy proving himself while suffering from the ghost of his father his whole life, to give up that tendency in an instant?
In addition to these methods, there were also ways to help him gradually regain his independence and self-esteem.
A way to comfort and restore his injured mind and spirit by being by his side.
‘It’s as expected.’
However, Ed felt that his goal was being achieved as he watched Claire suffer.
That’s because the target he’s trying to awaken is not Lucas, but Claire.
In order to awaken Claire, it was necessary to unite her mind like this.
Altruism is the most important quality for the Bernhard family, who are born with the traits of ‘Buff’ and ‘Aura’.
‘Claire, I think you can do it.’
And Claire was a child born with such altruistic talent.
Because she had a natural talent for reading people’s minds, and was so good at it that she was the first to notice Ed’s intentions.
For example, Claire has been constantly wary of Ed approaching Isabella and Enya.
Instinctively sensing that there was a hidden ‘purpose’ beyond simple favor, I took on the role of surveillance to see if he was taking advantage of his friends.
‘···If you guys are happy, well…’
And the result of such constant surveillance.
Claire was able to conclude that Ed did not have a sinister purpose.
Rather, meeting Ed has a more positive impact on both Enya and Isabella, so we can just wait and see the love triangle between the three for now.
‘···Lucas.’
But it wasn’t Lucas.
When I looked at him, I felt like I was seeing a child thrown into the water.
A child who is desperately trying to pretend to be calm when in fact he is afraid of water.
And the sight of him desperately proving himself and gaining recognition in the social world was like watching a boy swimming with all his might.
He wants to somehow hide the fact that he has commoner blood, so he plays perfection at every moment.
As a result, I couldn’t help but keep looking at him.
And over time, this interest eventually turned into compassion.
Compassion became a feeling of love.
Without realizing it, I started hoping for his growth and happiness.
‘Is this…Is this right?’
And her mind continued to coalesce.
Now I am deceiving Lucas by accepting Ed’s offer.
She felt tremendous guilt and suppressed her desire to comfort Lucas.
‘One week. ‘For one more week, let’s take a risky ride.’
So Ed decided that D-day would be a week later.
The day when Claire’s heart will explode.
***
A week later.
Lucas gathered his equipment with dark circles in his eyes.
Today is the day to learn how to fight against the devil under Ed’s guidance.
After completing preparations, Lucas moved to the announced meeting place.
Enya and Isabella are bickering with each other at the meeting place.
And there was Claire, clinging close to Ed.
As soon as Claire saw her, she looked away with a guilty expression.
Lucas lowered his head when he saw that.
‘I know. ‘How far have you gone…’
Lucas has witnessed Ed and Claire entering a secret inn several times.
Because of this, he assumed that Ed and Claire had gone as far as they could.
The exciting and exciting memories I felt while being with Claire evaporated in an instant.
Furthermore, Edgar Fix is the perfect male figure in anyone’s eyes.
There was no way someone like him could be his opponent.
He raised Ed endlessly, belittled himself, and accepted the current situation.
“Now, let me tell you today’s training schedule. First, Enya and Isabella will deal with the high-ranking demon ‘Targos’. This guy is called the ‘demon of fear’, and he gains strength by preying on the other person’s fear. “Believing in yourself is more important than anything else.”
Enya and Isabella nodded.
They have entered the stage of awakening by learning the art of baldo and abandoning negativity.
With a confident smile, he told me to just leave it to him.
After confirming their confidence, Ed smiled and nodded his head, causing Enya and Isabella to blush.
“And Lucas and Claire will also face the high-level demon ‘Cassandra.'”
However, Ed immediately erased his expression and told Lucas and Claire the mission.
Lucas and Claire’s mission was to slay the demon of corruption, ‘Cassandra’, and the most important thing was not to be swayed by the vitriolic words she spewed.
If your spirit breaks down, you become dependent on him and the corruption begins.
“I believe everyone will get through it well. “You guys are much stronger than before, and you will continue to be extremely strong.”
After delivering the mission, Ed patted him on the shoulder, saying he trusted everyone.
Enya and Isabella, who received strength from Ed, immediately moved to his location.
Lucas and Claire also moved to the operation site, hiding their discomfort with each other.
Of course, Ed and Elena. And the ‘Nest of Corruption’ that the Emperor and Eve decorated with all their might.
***
After arriving at the ‘Nest of Corruption’, Lucas and Claire hardened their expressions.
This is because the entrance to the nest is full of corpses twisted into bizarre shapes.
And the corpses reminded Ed of the warning he had given them.
This is a warning that if Cassandra’s harsh words break your spirit, you will die like the corpses in front of the nest with all your bodily fluids sucked out.
······At that time.
“···Lucas!”
Claire raised the tension and called Lucas.
I was concerned about his drooping shoulders and wanted to say something to cheer him up.
“Well, you don’t have to worry! The mental resistance technique…! “I’m a professional!”
“······.”
A word given to Lucas to cheer him up in order to relieve his tension.
However, Lucas stared at Claire without responding.
Resentment and anger. And he stared at her with eyes that were a mixture of her many complex emotions.
“····Ah.”
And Claire couldn’t take that look for long.
Soon his eyes became uncomfortable and he looked away.
Lucas looked ahead again and muttered.
“···I guess so.”
Jerbuk…Jerbuk…Jerbuk…
From noble mtl dot com
With those words, Lucas enters the cave.
Claire looked at his back with complicated feelings, and then followed him into the pitch-black cave.
Without knowing what danger lurks within.
***
“I can’t believe I’m doing this again.”
Meanwhile, Ed, who was watching the situation through a crystal ball, was looking at the ‘devil suit’ and grumbling.
I never thought the moment would come when I would have to put on a devil suit and put on a live show like this.
“This will probably be the last time.”
At that time, Eve, who was checking the creatures, responded to Ed’s words.
He also added that since the Archdukes’ offensive would begin in earnest in the future, there would be no day for such a joke.
Ed nodded and muttered.
“···Okay. “When that time comes, I will miss this moment…”
Ed mutters to himself as if sighing and reminisces about the previous episode.
Ed recalled that hellish moment and realized that his current happiness was not far away.
Now that the frequency of demons appearing all over the world is increasing.
There is not much time left until the Archduke’s main forces come over.
‘Before that, we need to germinate awakening as much as possible.’
So Ed was doing the most necessary work to prepare for that time.
A direct descendant of Celestials who can use the ‘power of authority.’ In other words, awakening the Grand Duchy.
‘For Claire’s awakening, it’s a role play like this. ‘You can do it anytime.’
So Ed gathered his heart and looked at the hideous devil mask.
The ‘Cassandra’ mask designed by Eve and Elena after three days and nights of careful consideration.
“·····Hu.”
Cassandra.
‘Cassandra’ is a ‘spider-type’ demon that requires acrobatic movements, and a high level of control is required to use natural movements.
In order to imitate the spider’s movements, you have to crawl on the floor using both hands and feet.
Furthermore, he had to periodically mock his opponents by making evil laughs.
If you think of it as a doll mask part-time job, it could be seen as a part-time job that has become a job with the highest level of difficulty.
“Oppa. “It’s time.”
At that time, Eve pointed to the crystal ball and glanced at Cassandra’s mask.
Lucas and Claire have arrived at the halfway point, so it is time to get ready.
Ed looked at Cassandra’s mask with a confused expression for a moment, then put the mask on and started rehearsing.
Let’s speak out Cassandra’s entrance line.
【How pitiful, you little creatures who are not free from desire. I am Cassandra, a high demon. If you give me your desires, I will set you free.】
······And as soon as Ed uttered the line, his situation became miserable.
I felt like my mentality was already cracking at the thought of having to say such cringeworthy lines like those from middle school without any hesitation.
Besides, you have to crawl on all fours to say these lines.
‘Kihihihihi!’ Not to mention the fact that he makes the same strange laughing sound intermittently.
‘Ah… Where’s my suit?’
I especially missed my suit today.