Chapter 278 : Chapter 278

Chapter 278. Dream of the Underworld Butterfly (1)

CRACKLE.

Radel threw firewood into the campfire. The dying embers flared up again.

He had eaten, and preparations for tomorrow were complete. Thinking it was time to slowly bring up the topic, Radel called Leon.

"Leon! Want some tea?"

Leon, sitting far away, raised his eyebrows. It was an expression that showed he did not understand.

"You promised to tell me the essence of magic. Come over and tell me a bit."

Radel looked at Leon while patting the seat next to him. However, Leon did not easily lower his guard.

"I'll talk from here."

Though he had softened compared to when they entered the Dungeon, he was still bristling with thorns.

Of course, Radel did not care at all. It was because he knew well what Leon's personality was like after dealing with him all this time.

Radel's eyes slowly examined Leon.

'His body is still tense, but I don't feel killing intent.'

Then he was halfway there. Radel had even tamed a wild Griffin.

Taming the Griffin had not been easy at first either. The Griffin tried to attack him at every opportunity even while eating the meat Radel grilled.

'Moreover, the opponent is Leon.'

A human with a dragon's magic power. When taming wild beasts, a little know-how was needed.

Radel spoke naturally.

"Don't worry and come over. I won't do anything weird."

"What?"

Leon's eyes turned cold. What could that thing possibly do to him?

He was confident he could subdue Radel immediately even if he attacked right now. To begin with, that bastard's magic power could not even compare to his own. He would know well what would happen if he rushed over clumsily.

'If that bastard's head is intact, it won't happen.'

However, that cunning bastard seized every opportunity to spout strange words and drain his spirit. Still, if he just did not react, that was the end of it.

Leon closed his mouth. He would not get caught up no matter what that bastard babbled.

"Really. I don't play around with food."

"..."

...He would not get caught up.

"Or are you scared of me?"

Even a passing dog would laugh at that. But he would not get caught up...!

Leon bit down hard on his molars invisibly.

He was angry at the situation where he had to stay still even after hearing such words, but he had to endure. Because that was what that bastard wanted.

However, Leon could not help but flinch at Radel's next words.

"Or is it not that either... is it because of your maternal grandfather?"

Instantly, the inside of the Dungeon became quiet.

* * *

Night in the Dungeon.

SQUEAK SQUEAK.

CHIRRRR.

The sounds of magical beasts crying quietly could be heard in the darkness. They were afraid.

Because the ruler of the flower garden had appeared.

RUSTLE.

The magical beast that appeared only at night spread the wings it had folded during the day. And it flew up into the sky.

FLUTTER.

As it flew through the sky, sparkling powder fell. A small magical beast that had not yet noticed its appearance sniffed around.

A sweet fragrance. The magical beast resembling a mouse sniffed and looked up at the sky.

In the sky, a giant butterfly was fluttering its wings. The butterfly's shadow covered the small magical beast.

- SQUEAK!

However, the magical beast did not run away. Rather, it approached the butterfly step by step as if entranced. It seemed intoxicated by the powder that scattered each time the butterfly fluttered its wings.

The giant butterfly with jet-black dark wings slowly moved down to the ground.

THUD.

Finally, the small magical beast intoxicated by the powder collapsed on the ground.

HIIISSS!

Seeing the magical beast collapse, a long tube extended from the butterfly's proboscis. Then it attached to the magical beast's body and began sucking something.

It was the magical beast's soul.

- SCREEE!

Night when flowers closed their buds and leaves drooped. A giant butterfly with black wings was stealing the soul of its prey.

Underworld Butterfly. It was the name of the flower garden's mid-boss.

FLUTTER.

After sucking in the soul, the Underworld Butterfly spread its wings again and flew up into the sky. And it discovered its next prey.

A boy with golden hair that shone even in the dark night. The boy wrapped in a blanket and asleep was frowning.

"...Ngh."

Could there be anything as delicious as a human soul among souls? The Underworld Butterfly flew toward the boy, fluttering its wings.

A dark shadow fell over the boy's face. The giant butterfly scattered powder while giving off a sweet fragrance.

It was powder that entranced even awake magical beasts. Not to mention the soul of a sleeping human.

Now it could eat the soul of this human sleeping unknowingly. The Underworld Butterfly's anticipation rose.

Just as the sparkling powder was about to fall on the boy. Pure white light split the darkness.

STAB!

It was a sharp sword. The Underworld Butterfly, noticing the attack, quickly fluttered its wings and scattered powder, but it was useless.

The human holding the sword had their nose and mouth covered with a mask. Realizing the powder did not work, the Underworld Butterfly panicked.

The masked human did not miss that opening and stabbed the Underworld Butterfly's chest. As the sword tip pierced through the Underworld Butterfly, powder sprayed out violently.

WHOOOOSH!

The dark night sky was dyed with sparkling powder.

At that appearance shining like stars, the masked figure jumped to dodge.

Golden eyes flashed behind the mask.

Night in the Dungeon. Radel was awake.

* * *

"...Phew, that was dangerous."

Radel let out a short sigh and removed his mask.

No matter how much Status Effect Nullification he had, he was vulnerable to physical poison. Status Effect Nullification only reacted to magic.

If Superhuman Intuition had not activated, it might have been truly dangerous. It was fortunate he had prepared a mask with anti-poison magic cast on it just in case.

Radel put the mask in his chest while examining the status window that had not yet disappeared from before his eyes.

[The skill Superhuman Intuition activates.]

[Someone's killing intent is detected.]

[The threat of death approaches!]

As he was checking and closing them one by one, a notification sound rang out.

DING.

[Skill upgrade conditions have been met.]

[Skill: Superhuman Intuition (D)]

[Will you upgrade the skill? (Y/N)]

"Of course I'll upgrade it."

When Radel pressed the confirmation window, a message appeared that Superhuman Intuition had been upgraded and the description changed.

Superhuman Intuition (C)

Superhuman intuition is demonstrated.

Often senses danger in advance without any warning.

Has a low probability of noticing information about the opponent.

Notice attacks containing killing intent (0/500)

'Low probability but it lets me know information about the opponent too?'

Even with conditions attached, it was a really good ability. If it activated well, he could identify opponents sending killing intent while sitting in place.

It would tell him exactly who to hit. Radel, who had been grinning, suddenly came to his senses.

"Right, what happened to Leon?"

Radel approached Leon. He was still deep in sleep.

"Leon!"

Normally, Leon would have been annoyed as soon as Radel called, but there was strangely no movement.

"I definitely defeated it before the powder fell..."

Perhaps he fell into a deep sleep after failing to avoid the powder that sprayed out when he stabbed the Underworld Butterfly. However, it was strange that he had not woken up even now.

"Spirit summon!"

Radel summoned the Spirit of the Library without hesitation.

"Calling me again in the middle of the night! Are you prepared to become stronger? Kuhehe!"

It was the Spirit of the Library, who had recently been burning with enthusiasm to make Radel stronger. As soon as the Spirit of the Library was summoned, it grasped the situation.

"What's this? Isn't this the Dungeon at the academy?"

Looking at it, one Underworld Butterfly had fallen after being struck by a sword. And one guy who looked exactly like Radel had collapsed.

"Looking at it, you must have defeated the mid-boss... Your twin seems to have been careless, trusting the magic he had cast on himself. Tsk tsk!"

The Spirit of the Library clicked its tongue. No matter how outstanding a mage, there was no answer in the face of carelessness.

Though he would have layered defensive magic and support magic, he had not prepared for even the sleep powder. It was an accident first-years unfamiliar with Dungeons often experienced.

The spirit examining Leon narrowed its eyes.

"Let me see... This is a bit dangerous. He didn't just fall asleep. Half his soul has been pulled out."

"What does that mean?"

"Look over there."

The Spirit of the Library lifted its pages and pointed to one side. There, the Underworld Butterfly's corpse still remained without disappearing.

"Feel the flow of mana."

At the spirit's words, Radel closed his eyes and began feeling the mana.

A thin thread. A very faint flow of mana connected Leon and the Underworld Butterfly.

Opening his eyes again, Radel spoke with a serious expression.

"Leon is connected to that butterfly."

"Right. The Underworld Butterfly dragged away his soul before dying. Because it's a magical beast that enchants souls the moment they're intoxicated by the powder."

It was the first situation Radel, who had been a Hunter in his past life, had experienced. Because the Underworld Butterfly was a magical beast with low combat power, it could be easily killed if one was just careful of the powder. And even if one was careless and their soul was dragged away, they could notice it and attack to defeat it.

"Still, someone of Leon's level should be able to solve it on his own."

"Hmph. Why do you think it's called an Underworld Butterfly? That thing appears in the form of a dead person and lures people. There are plenty of guys who won't wake up even knowing it's a dream."

"So they deliberately let themselves be caught even knowing."

"Right. That's the scary thing about the Underworld Butterfly."

The reason people hit by the powder are enchanted by the Underworld Butterfly. The reason they try not to wake up even knowing it is a dream was because it showed them the form of the deceased they so wanted to see.

The form of a dead person. Radel thought he knew who Leon was seeing now.

"...I think I know why Leon isn't waking up."

"Is that so? Then you know what you need to do."

The Spirit of the Library fluttered its pages and added.

"The Underworld Butterfly is already dead, so there's no other way. Your twin is the one keeping his soul trapped by being absorbed in the dream."

Since the souls were connected, there was no choice but to realize it himself and escape.

"That's also a part he needs to overcome. So..."

"Yes, I need to go and bring him back."

"Wait on your own... What did you say?!"

The Spirit of the Library jumped up.

"Are you saying you'll deliberately push your soul into that flow? Wait until that guy comes out on his own!"

However, Radel had a firm expression.

"The Leon I know won't try to escape even if he realizes it."

"Why wouldn't he try to come out when he knows it's a dream? He's not some idiot!"

The Spirit of the Library protested that it made no sense, but Radel was certain. He knew Leon's weak point.

No matter how strong a mage, he was still only seventeen. An age when lost existences would be missed.

Now was the time for the secret friend to step forward.

* * *

CLATTER CLATTER.

When Radel opened his eyes, he was inside a carriage.

'I must have entered well.'

Fortunately, the soul seemed to have connected safely. The air inside the carriage, the sound of wheels rolling, the texture of the seat felt in his hands. Everything seemed real.

'I was in the Dungeon just now.'

Radel looked ahead with curiosity. And he froze.

There sat a woman no longer of this world, smiling brightly.

"The weather is so nice, Radel. Don't you think?"

The 5th Imperial Consort of the Empire and the mother of Radel and Leon. It was Bianca Silvert Cretian.