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Chapter 66
When Ricardo changed into his military uniform and stepped out of his room, his adjutant, Rowen, immediately followed.
His hair was flattened in the back, and there was still sleep in his eyes.
“Your Grace.”
“Tell Jin to get ready.”
Rowen, having rushed over straight from sleep to receive orders, had no idea what was going on.
“Understood.”
But if Ricardo was moving in such a hurry, there was always a reason.
“And Evan Taylors as well.”
Rowen flinched at the unexpected name, but quickly replied.
“Yes, my lord.”
At Rowen’s order, the soldier behind him sprinted off at once.
And just as Rowen was about to step outside, a familiar maid came running, pale as death.
One of her shoes had slipped off, yet she kept sprinting desperately—it was Maya.
“The young lady is gone!”
Right behind her, Robin came running as well.
“We searched the mansion, but the young lady is nowhere to be found.”
Rowen frowned and snapped at Robin.
“How could you be so careless with the locks that the young lady disappeared again?”
But a low voice from Ricardo cut him off.
“…It seems she isn’t here.”
Everyone turned their eyes to Ricardo’s back.
He was staring into the night sky with a gaze cold enough to freeze the world itself, his lips parting slightly.
“Sasha is in danger.”
“Othello!”
I shook Othello’s body, but his cold wrist just slipped limply to the ground.
The sound of his hand brushing against a tree branch was shockingly clear.
What happened? Don’t tell me this isn’t a dream?
Othello was unconscious.
His body was as cold as ice, and the heavy snowfall showed no signs of stopping.
What do I do… what should I do?
Beside him lay a sword half-buried in the snow.
Othello’s sword. Its blade was stained with blood—fresh, vivid red blood.
And at that moment, a chilling growl rumbled through the air.
I instinctively activated a skill.
[Using “Black Domination (Lv.5 / SS).”]
A beast lunged toward me at terrifying speed.
It looked like a hyena but with a body as massive as a lion’s, its fangs glistening razor-sharp.
I remembered reading its name in the library.
Behemoth. A predator of the snowy plains, now thought extinct.
Far stronger than any ice bear could ever be.
Grrrr—
I locked eyes with its blood-red pupils and narrow slits.
Perhaps because “Black Domination” had taken effect, the Behemoth couldn’t approach.
But it ground its teeth as though it would devour us any second.
“Othello!”
I kept my eyes fixed on the beast and called his name.
We had to run. If we didn’t escape, we’d die here.
Every nerve in my body screamed warnings at me.
“Please, wake up!”
White breath hissed from the Behemoth’s jaws, drool dripping from its maw of jagged teeth.
“Please…”
Thanks to Jin, I had managed to raise the skill all the way to Level 5, but this was my limit.
A Behemoth was a monster only someone like Ricardo or Jin could hunt.
That was why they were hunted to extinction—they were too strong. A single one could wipe out an entire village of hundreds. The kingdom had mobilized an entire campaign just to eradicate them.
“Let me into a special zone, at least!”
I screamed in desperation, but no status window appeared.
Any way to escape would do. Anything at all.
But Catheter only worked inside the mansion… what should I—
And then I felt it—the fragile thread of my skill finally snapping.
The Behemoth’s eyes gleamed menacingly as it opened its jaws wide and lunged at me.
So this is it, I thought, squeezing my eyes shut.
“…”
But there was no pain.
Am I… dead?
When I opened my eyes, I froze.
Othello was staring at me through a mask of blood.
The Behemoth’s jaws had clamped down on him, from his left chest up to his shoulder.
“Othello!!”
He had turned his back to shield me.
Blood soaked his chest and shoulder, and I cried out.
In his deep green eyes, I saw my reflection.
He looked like even breathing was painful.
“Ose… Othello…!”
My eyes burned hot, my chest hammering with panic.
Why—why are you looking at me like that?
“…Run.”
His lips barely moved.
I shook my head violently.
Inside, I screamed “Black Domination!” countless times, but the skill would not trigger.
I had to save Othello. That was the only thought in my head.
Then, for an instant, his lips curled faintly, bitterly.
“Hurry, kid.”
Crack— I heard the sound of my heart splitting.
The Behemoth dragged Othello closer.
A flood of grief burst its dam, and I screamed:
“No!!”
I couldn’t lose Othello. Not like this.
Please. No.
And suddenly, before my eyes appeared a radiant spear of light I had never seen before.
[※A special ability has manifested※]
[Just as Mekius once shared true power with the Four Dragons to revive a ruined land, you may grant strength and healing at the cost of your own life force.]
Every ability I had seen until now had been made for battle.
To kill, to destroy fortresses, to pierce monster hide.
But this message explained that my awakened ability was different.
Not black flames. Not like Jin or Othello’s power to slaughter monsters.
But… I could grant strength, at the cost of my life force?
My heart pounded violently.
Without hesitation, I gathered the power overflowing in me into my hands and reached out to Othello—
As if I had always known how to use it.
[Target’s causality is low. Ability efficiency decreased.]
And then Othello’s entire body was wrapped in blinding light.
When I squinted and looked again, the sword that had lain on the ground flew into his hand as if summoned.
His blade erupted in searing, jet-black flames.
The Behemoth’s pupils trembled wildly.
“…Die.”
Othello’s lips moved.
And the black flame cleaved through the Behemoth’s chest, piercing its heart in one strike.
The beast’s jaw slackened, releasing him, and collapsed.
Though blood still seeped from his deep wound, the bleeding was less than before.
Othello didn’t even glance at the fallen monster. His eyes stayed on me.
I stared back blankly, not knowing what to say.
[Ability is temporarily restricted for reuse.]
[Quest rewards are being calculated.]
[By manifesting a stronger and faster ability than expected, you have earned the title “Key of Mekius.”]
I… just now… and Othello just…
My mind couldn’t process any of it.
“O…”
The moment I forced out a syllable, my forehead pressed against his chest.
Othello had pulled me into his arms.
Warmth I hadn’t felt before seeped into my ears, accompanied by the sound of his heartbeat.
For some reason, I wanted to cry.
But then I heard it again—a chilling sound.
Grrr—
The Behemoth’s growl.
Still holding me, Othello turned his head.
One, two, three…
So many growls echoed, even though the Behemoth was supposed to be extinct.
The system had warned me: Target’s causality is low; efficiency decreased.
Maybe that was why Othello’s wounds hadn’t healed completely.
[Quest reward: All stats +8, Healing Potion, Shop unlocked.]
Right—the healing potion!
I remembered just in time, but realized it was too late.
Before I could even pull it out, another Behemoth would strike.
Roar!
Even nestled in Othello’s arms, I could feel the currents of air shift as they charged.
This really is the end, I thought, squeezing my eyes shut.
Crunch!
A sharp, slicing sound split the air, followed by the Behemoth’s agonized cry.
I felt Othello’s arms slacken around me.
Looking past him, I froze.
Pillars of black flame had erupted from the earth, skewering three Behemoths at once.
Another, trapped in a cloud of black fire, shrieked before disintegrating into ash.
One survivor, its leg pierced, crawled toward us with glaring eyes—only for a sword glowing blue to drive straight into its skull.
I stared, stunned.
Ricardo’s cloak billowed in the snowy wind.
Beyond the ash-filled cloud stood Jin, his cold green eyes blazing.
And Evan withdrew his sword from the Behemoth’s head.
