Chapter 233
A New Challenger
"So, what happened, Arthur?"
Inside Arthur's private training hall, the place was immersed in deep silence. Arthur sat calmly in the center of the hall, his back straight and his breathing steady, while Sung sat opposite him, peacefully holding the sleeping Rath, as though the entire world had become nothing more than a warm embrace for this small child.
Estaroth was quietly wrapped around Arthur's neck, moving slowly like a living shadow, while Kio stood to the side in silence, watching the scene with cautious eyes without interfering.
Arthur sighed deeply, then slowly opened his eyes and looked steadily at Sung.
'He is someone worthy of trust… but I cannot tell him that I am being hunted by external entities, entities capable of erasing this world in a fraction of a fraction of a second.'
"I went out to rest for a while with Rath at the café after finishing my coffee," Arthur said in a calm and composed voice. "I went out to smoke… and that was when I sensed a devastating aura, terrifyingly powerful. Then I heard a massive explosion that sent me flying away."
He paused for a moment, then continued in an unwavering tone:
"And when I came back to check on Rath… well, you know the rest."
His voice was steady, and his gaze was sincere enough to leave no room for doubt. Everything about Arthur—his tone, his eyes, even the stillness of his body—seemed to cry out the truth.
Sung did not know whether to believe him or not. All of his senses confirmed that Arthur was telling the truth, and yet… there was something strange. A hidden feeling that something was surrounding the place, something that could neither be seen nor touched, yet was undeniably there. He tried to grasp that feeling, but failed.
After Arthur finished treating his wounds, he sat cross-legged, staring at the floor in deep silence.
'What am I supposed to do with Bokrog's egg, for the Creator of the universe's sake?
Should I drain it… or leave it alone?
There is no entity to tell me what it truly is, nor a single clue explaining how to raise a creature born from one of the great Ancients.'
The thoughts continued colliding mercilessly inside his mind. Bokrog's egg was not something ordinary; it belonged to one of the great Ancients, which meant that whatever was inside would one day grow into an entity of the same rank.
And what would happen when it hatched?
Would it be evil or good?
Was it truly a child… or something else entirely?
The conflict within him intensified until he suddenly felt a small hand grasp his own. Tiny fingers barely managed to wrap around three of his fingers. Arthur raised his head and found Rath looking at him with half-sleeping eyes.
"Father…"
"Yes?" Arthur replied in a quiet voice.
"You are a good person."
With those three words, Arthur's body froze in place. He looked at Rath, who had returned to sleeping peacefully in his arms as though nothing had happened.
Arthur did not know what to do. Those simple words pierced his heart with a force he had not felt in a very long time. After several seconds of silence, he raised his hand and covered his eyes, then smiled a comfortable, sincere smile.
"Ah… we really are strangers," he murmured quietly. "You remind me of her, Rath."
He gently rubbed his face, then raised his gaze toward Sung, who was sitting silently in front of him.
"Sung… there's something I want to tell you."
"Ah—I remembered! Before you continue, I have some good news."
"?"
"My mother has been cured."
Arthur's face froze for a moment as he heard the pure joy in Sung's voice.
...
"Mother, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. His name is Arthur."
"Oh? A friend of my son? That's certainly something new."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I'm Arthur Narin."
Arthur was now standing inside Sung's home. In front of him were Sung Jin-Woo, his sister, and his mother. Arthur wore elegant black clothes, refined and simple, along with a black mask that concealed his features. Beside him stood Rath, also dressed in black, his black hair tied back.
"Ooooh, who is this adorable child?"
"Look! He's like a little angel… He reminds me of you, Sung, when you were a child."
Sung's cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
"Mother! Are you joking?"
"Look at this cutie… My brother looked more like an ugly mummy!"
His sister said sarcastically as she lifted Rath and gently held him in her arms.
"Tell me, what's your name?"
"I'm Rath… Rath Narin."
"Ooooh, is he your brother, Arthur?"
"He's his son, you idiot. Now leave him alone."
Sung's sister froze as she looked at Rath, then at Arthur.
...
"So, Mr. Arthur, what do you do?"
"Please, just call me Arthur… and I'm a Hunter."
"Oh… a Hunter? Sung's late father was also a Hunter."
Arthur nearly spat the water from his mouth at the comment, but he settled for a calm smile.
While Sung's sister looked at him with a hidden sadness in her eyes, Sung was strangely happy.
Rath sat eating quietly, completely focused on his food. At that moment, Arthur felt something he had not felt in a very long time… genuine warmth.
But suddenly—
{Arthur Narin… come out now. I am Baston, King of the Crabs, here by order of the Great King.}
Arthur's heart trembled as he felt that aura.
If that aura were truly unleashed upon the world, it would reduce it to ruin, but it had been released lightly toward Arthur alone.
'Can you hear me, Baston?'
{Yes.}
'I'll come out to you now, but don't involve the humans in this. This fight is between you and me. I learned from Bokrog that you don't care about humans, but I'm only saying this as a reminder.'
{As you wish. I have no interest in weak humans. I am here to fight you, but… if you choose to run or hide—}
Arthur smiled viciously as he whispered:
"You bastard… Do you think I'm a coward? I was born from the blood of Hell. I am the Sky Demon… Arthur Narin!"
"Arthur?"
"Sung… take care of Rath. I have something I need to take care of."
Before Sung could respond, Arthur disappeared from in front of him, shattering the window as he shot toward the sky at an incredible speed.
"Wings of Darkness."
Dark black wings formed behind his back, and he soared through the air like a heavenly dragon.
"Let's do this in your world, Baston."
With those words, a hole split open in the sky, and Arthur entered it with a smile.
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