Episode 14. A worthy opponent to fight
After confirming that Naiel had completely ceased breathing.
Sirius turned his gaze towards the entrance.
There, the people of the Yuterus family were gathered.
However, they all hesitated, unable to rush forward.
Because Sirius had defeated Naiel, the strongest of the Yuterus family.
And he did so without a single scratch.
“If anyone wishes to resist, step forward. I will deal with you.”
“…!”
Everyone took a step back.
This was a wise judgment.
If they had decided to resist to the end, the Yuterus family would have been completely annihilated today.
“It seems there are none. Among you, who is the highest-ranking person?”
“….”
Among the hesitant individuals, a man with a lean physique stepped forward.
With eyes that seemed half-closed, a glimpse of a firearm could be felt in his eyes.
One could see at a glance that he was a quick-witted individual.
“You have the face of a cunning rat.”
“Pardon?”
“Do not misunderstand. I like cunning rats.”
“…?”
Cheonlangmuje Baekmurang had direct subordinates called the Twelve Wei Soldiers.
Rather than being under the jurisdiction of the Mureummaengbo, they were a group that showed loyalty to individual members of the Baekmurang, consisting of individuals with outstanding martial arts skills as well as various talents.
They were referred to by names corresponding to the Twelve Branches, and among them was one named Jajun, a quick-witted individual like a rat.
“That Jajun fellow also had this kind of demeanor.”
Jajun lacked martial arts skills, but he was sharp and cunning, skilled in handling various tasks by coordinating with multiple people.
“If I am to build influence in this world, I will need individuals like him.”
Sirius decided to entrust this man with a task.
If he proved capable, it would be fine to have him perform a role similar to Jajun’s.
“What’s your name?”
“Palteon Yuterus… I’m the lord’s nephew.”
“Your name is quite similar to Kalteon.”
“He’s my brother.”
Sirius nodded.
“Kalteon is alive.”
“…!”
“The same goes for you. If you cooperate well, you’ll live, if not, you’ll die.”
In front of the breathless people, Sirius cast his gaze down to the floor.
There, bodies lay strewn about, victims of Naiel’s magic.
“If you follow me, at least you won’t end up like this.”
“…!”
“Palteon, gather all the high-ranking members of the Yuterus family. Discuss what to do next.”
Will they submit to Sirius and come under the Regel family?
Or will they resist until the end?
The Yuterus family must now deliberate on that.
“Those who wish to leave, may do so. I won’t pursue.”
“Sir, Sirius… “
“But, if you choose to stay, remember one thing.”
The man who trampled the rising power of Yuterus with an iron fist declared in a cold voice.
“From today, I am your lord.”
***
After giving Palteon some time, Sirius explored the building.
He needed to find Naiel’s research lab.
“Here it is.”
There was a room filled with shelves and cabinets.
It was much larger than the room prepared for Sirius by the Regel family.
“Is this the apothecary?”
Opening a drawer, he found various herbs neatly arranged.
It was easy to identify them.
Thanks to the knowledge in Sirius’s memory.
“However, I need to confirm how these work in the human body.”
Recalling his memories, Sirius opened each drawer to see what medicines were there.
In the midst of it all, he found a dried flower.
“White Frost Flower.”
White Frost Flowers are rare plants found in the frozen northern border.
But Sirius didn’t know that this flower causes frostbite.
Naiel, who was keen on ancient knowledge, knew about it.
“If I skim through the materials here, I might learn about the effects of other herbs.”
Glancing at Naiel’s collected materials, Sirius tucked the White Frost Flower into his pocket.
It should be enough for now.
‘To these people, the medicine is just a poison, but to me, it could be a great elixir. You just need to look carefully.’
As I stepped outside, the members of the Yuterus family were gathered in the spacious garden.
Everyone had a tense expression.
“Sirius.”
Palteon stepped forward and bowed his head.
“A considerable number have left.”
“Where did they go? Do they have a place to rely on?”
“They will entrust themselves to the Kalstein Sword Faction.”
“The Kalstein Sword Faction?”
“They are the most powerful force in this area. Our family has had dealings with them behind the scenes.”
Sirius recalled.
The maids in the annex had mentioned the Kalstein Sword Faction before.
They were said to be people who killed indiscriminately, and the Rigel family had suffered from them as well.
“Protecting the people from the dark forces is the duty of a noble family. Have you been building a relationship with the dark faction?”
“Lord, it may be necessary to rely on their power in the future…”
“Understood. Then we shall all wipe them out together.”
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“What?”
Ignoring Palteon, who had widened his eyes, Sirius looked around.
“Listen, everyone.”
Sirius’s clear voice echoed through the garden.
“From now on, the Yuterus family will come under the Rigel family. This means, soon, we will be under the protection of the Rigel family.”
“…”
Everyone looked puzzled.
Until just yesterday, the Rigel family was under the protection of the Yuterus family.
So, it was inevitable for them to feel awkward at Sirius’s words.
“Just understand that you are coming under my wing.”
“Ah…”
The expressions of the people changed.
Sirius was the one who had brought down Nael Yuterus, their absolute ruler.
If they were to come under him, the situation would be different.
“Nael Yuterus was a person who was not worth your loyalty.”
“…!”
“He was someone who could easily discard you like pawns for his own goals. But I am different.”
Sirius spoke in a cold voice.
“If the Yuterus family pledges loyalty to me, I will protect the Yuterus family.”
“…”
In front of the Yuterus family members who held their breath, Sirius made a clear declaration.
“You will soon realize that I am not just making empty promises.”
* * *
Sirius decided to stay at the Yuterus estate for a while.
Although reinforcements from the Yuterus family arrived belatedly from all over, they didn’t dare to challenge Sirius, who had defeated Naiel.
Palteon persuaded them as much as possible, and a considerable number of them decided to follow Sirius.
As Sirius had hoped, Palteon performed his role well.
He seemed capable of fulfilling a role similar to that of a Jun of the Twelve Guards.
“These quick-witted, rat-like fellows really do their job well.”
“….”
“I’m praising you, so smile.”
Palteon made a reluctant expression.
However, Sirius continued without hesitation.
“Palteon, soon you will officially be inaugurated as the new head of the Yuterus family.”
“Me? Are you talking about me?”
“Then who else would take on the role of the head? You have the highest rank among the remaining people.”
Upon hearing Sirius’s words, Palteon’s expression brightened.
“If anyone opposes, can I use your name, Sirius?”
“That would make things easier to handle.”
“Understood.”
Palteon nodded respectfully.
Just like the Jun of the Twelve Guards, these fellows would show proper loyalty as long as they were given sufficient rewards.
Sirius planned to train and utilize Palteon well.
“However, Sirius, there’s something that bothers me a bit.”
“What is it?”
“It seems that quite a few people who fled to the Calstein Mountains are not to be underestimated.”
Palteon cautiously informed Sirius.
“They will seek revenge on you by leveraging the power of the Calstein Mountains.”
“That’s likely.”
If they had the strength, they would have resisted Sirius on their own.
Since they lacked that strength, they had no choice but to rely on the Calstein Mountains.
“But even if they try to harm me, in the end, the Yuterus family will fall into the hands of the Calstein Mountains.”
“Yes… It seems that’s inevitable.”
The Black Society only thinks of their own benefits.
They will not help the Yuterus family through charity work.
After dealing with Sirius, they will try to swallow the entire Yuterus family.
“To be honest, the reason I follow you, Sirius, without hesitation is also because I fear the Calstein Mountains.”
“Are you more afraid of the Calstein Mountains than me?”
“No, not really… but at least you, Sirius, are not someone who ruthlessly slaughters people.”
Palteon scratched his head and spoke.
“The Calstein Mountains are individuals who consider human lives very insignificant. If they take control of the Yuterus family, screams will be heard from every corner of the territory without fail every day.”
“….”
“If I had to choose between submitting to the Regel family or the Calstein Mountains, I would have no choice but to choose the Regel family. At least the Regel family is a prestigious lineage with a long history, and they wouldn’t do anything to tarnish the family name.”
Palteon is cooperative with Sirius because of such calculations.
Since it has come to this, let’s rely on Sirius’s power that brought down Naiel.
With his quick-witted nature, that was the judgment he made.
“Then, there’s no need to worry.”
Sirius spoke in a calm voice.
“I will handle the Kalstein Swordsmen.”
“Is it truly possible?”
Palteon asked cautiously.
“The Kalstein Swordsmen are the black knights who worship the sword. Especially the officers’ magic swords… even the old lord was cautious.”
“Are they exceptionally skilled?”
“Yes, they train only with magic swords, without using any other magic.”
Among Naiel’s subordinates, there were those who used magic swords, but they weren’t particularly impressive.
The Kalstein Swordsmen, who solely trained with magic swords… how formidable could they be?
“Moreover, the leader Kalstein is one of the 7th Circle swordsmen, whom even the lord avoided fighting.”
“…”
A swordsman of the 7th Circle.
If that is true, they would be a more formidable opponent to face than Naiel.
—
Sirius sent a letter to the Rigel family.
Having defeated Naiel and suppressed the Yuterus family, he stated that he would return once the situation here was settled.
He also added that he would establish Palteon Yuterus as the new lord to deal with the threat of the black knights.
‘This should be enough of an explanation.’
Hoping that Lutvein and Yustia would understand the situation well, Sirius entered Naiel’s laboratory.
Over two days, they had prepared powdered Bai Binghua in the laboratory.
It was processed in a form easily absorbed by the human body, based on the information found in Naiel’s laboratory.
‘Properly made medicine is essential for maximizing its effects.’
Sirius put the powdered Bai Binghua into his mouth as if taking a medicine, drank a sip of water, and swallowed it, then sat on the floor.
‘Let’s begin.’
Adjusting his posture and closing his eyes, he could feel the coldness in his chest.
The coldness of Bai Binghua was gradually being absorbed.
Once it spread throughout his body and mingled with his blood vessels, it would become what Naiel referred to as Bai E Zhong, where the body would cool down like that of a person with weakened Yangqi.
‘But, it won’t come to that.’
Following the principles of the Chenlang Divine Art, Sirius began to manipulate the energy of his entire body.
The coldness of the absorbed Bai Binghua was swept along with that flow.
The chilling energy that should have impaired bodily functions by intertwining with the blood vessels was now harmonized with Sirius’s energy.
Becoming the essence of extreme Yin.
“…”
Of course, this is not the end.
One should not just absorb the energy of the White Frost, but rather utilize it to advance to the next level of the Celestial Wolf Arts.
Kalstein was a mage of the 7th circle… Unlike Naiel, he was an opponent who knew how to prepare for a confrontation.
It was necessary to reach a higher level.
‘The second stage of the Celestial Wolf Arts…’
Sirius could already use the first stage, ‘Northern Light,’ of the Celestial Wolf Arts.
However, he had not yet entered the second stage.
It was a stage that could not be accessed even with skills that could not be reached in one lifetime.
If he could surpass the first stage with the energy obtained through the White Frost… he could step into the second stage.
“…”
He circulated the energy of extreme cold along the predetermined path.
It felt like his entire bloodstream was being washed with cold ice water.
Occasionally, chilling pain would arise, but he endured with closed eyes.
How much time had passed like this?
“Gah…!”
Sickly liquid flowed from his mouth.
The congestion that had accumulated in his body rose up through his veins and was expelled.
But that was not the end.
From the back of his neck to his forehead, something viscous crept up, and sticky tears streamed down.
This time, the congestion rose through the toxic veins.
“…!”
The congestion that had continued to accumulate in Sirius Canisruth’s body kept coming out.
It was undoubtedly painful, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.
This was the most critical moment.
The sickly liquid that had been flowing continuously… gradually began to lighten in color.
And at some point, it turned completely clear.
“Phew…”
Exhaling deeply, he rose to his feet.
His entire body felt light. Sirius could tell that his body had become even more refined.
Turning his head, he saw his face reflected in the mirror.
His skin was clearer, his hair had more luster, and his eyes were even clearer.
Sirius was already handsome, but… his appearance had improved even further.
“Just because I look good doesn’t mean there’s anywhere to show it off.”
Muttering to himself, Sirius clenched his right hand.
At that moment, a translucent white energy surged.
Just that alone made the surrounding air chill, and a coldness was felt.
“Success.”
A smile appeared on Sirius’s lips.
The second stage of the Celestial Wolf Arts.
The realm of the White Wolf.