Finally, Luna saw the man's face—the one she had called a vicious demon. It was still the same arrogant face she'd seen before.
A strange mix of happiness and bitterness stirred in her mind.
"I-It's you, bastard." Luna groaned and slowly showed her pouty, tearful expression.
Hector slightly nodded. He wanted to speak, but he didn't know what he should say at this moment, especially as gazing Luna's tear face.
Luna slowly approached him and embraced him tightly. She said nothing, only burying her face in his chest.
Piecing everything together, she understood everything. It turned out that Hector had been toying with her from the beginning
However, when she thought about what he had done to her, she shivered.
Then, she began to sob and groan.
"W-Why?"
"W-Why?"
"Why would you toy with me like that?… Why would you use such a terrifying plan on me?"
Hector smiled weakly and rubbed her head.
"I told you before: I promised you'd use your blessing today."
He added,
"A headstrong girl like you… you also know fear?"
…
Luna gritted her teeth, clutching Hector tightly and shivering nonstop.
''Y-Yes! I'm already afraid… very, very afraid… I'm weak, I'm a coward. I admit it''
"You're proud of it?"
"I'm not like you." She sniffled.
''Y-You're really really a vicious bastard.''
…
Hector let out a deep breath. He hadn't expected a main villain to show emotions like that. He'd imagined she would lunge at him and tear him apart after everything he'd done.
For a moment, he even forgot his original plan—to make her fear him, to make her never dare face him again.
His plan was almost complete. All he needed now was to perform some vicious act on her, to break her mind. If he did that, his plan would be fulfilled.
(Tsk, Screw the plan)
"I'm sorry, Luna."
Finally, he pulled her into a tight embrace, trying to comfort her fragile heart.
***
After coaxing Luna for around ten minutes, she finally stopped sobbing. But she still didn't even glance at him. Well, she was sulking again.
But he had a method. He simply gave her some glitter powder. As a result, she smiled brightly again.
Only then did he have time to notice the bloodstone bin. He took it into his color slot and explained a bit about it to the princess.
Just as he thought, she was very surprised by the bloodstone.
"Are you ready, princess? Let's act together." Hector smirked.
Luna blushed and replied,
"As long as you don't hit my butt."
Hector nodded.
"Certainly."
Luna hesitated for a moment before adding,
"And… Don't call me princess. Just Luna."
…
"Sure, little princess."
Just like that, Hector disguised himself as a demon worshipper, while Luna acted like Hector's spoil.
Before long, they left the demon cult's mine without facing any trouble. However, Hector scowled, because this was impossible for him.
Either way, the Nameless God had cursed him.
[Blasphemer's Burden]
He was a troublemaker wherever he went.
The more peace he felt, the more worried he became.
"Let me out! …We're already quite far from them!"
Luna groaned while trying to escape Hector's hold. Indeed, she felt embarrassed as the physical contact continued.
But for Hector, it was nothing. Luna was nothing more than a brat to him.
"Be quiet, little princess—if not, I'll hit your butt again."
Hector sprinted forward, carrying Luna over his shoulder. From time to time, he glanced back, searching for any sign of an enemy.
"You have to take responsibility then," Luna pouted, sulking.
At some point, a voice rang out.
"Well, well, well. Let's see what we have here."
Hector frowned and came to a stop.
From the front, a shadowy figure slowly emerged.
Hector clicked his tongue in annoyance and set Luna down.
"As I thought. There's no way we could leave the mine that easily."
Jack chuckled as he gazed at Hector.
"I can't believe I get to take my revenge so soon. Little rat."
Then he turned his attention to Luna, smirking.
"So it's you… the princess of the Hayden Kingdom. Tch. Quite unlucky—I just remembered you a few minutes ago. Otherwise, I would've killed both of you in the mine."
"My memory is pretty bad,"
He muttered.
"But there's no helping it. It's the price for power."
…
Hector's eyes gleamed sharply. He suddenly embraced Luna, making both Jack and Luna freeze in bewilderment.
"W-What are you doing?" Luna stammered, her face flushing. But the next moment, she quickly passed out when Hector struck lightly at her nape.
Hector's lips curved faintly as he stared at Jack, still holding Luna.
If he summoned Aharok right now, things would get complicated—Luna would learn what Hector's blessing was.
His blessing was a secret. Perhaps in the future, everyone would know, but at this time, he would not allow anyone to find out.
Luna didn't need to know his blessing yet… because Aharok would be the trump card the next time he met her.
"Take your first order, my summon… Kill that scum for me."
Creak!
Creak!
Creak!
A similar scene appeared once again.
Space shattered into countless fragments, sending threads of mana pouring out from the massive rift. Then, a terrifying roar echoed outside from the gaping hole.
The hideous monster slowly forced its way through the edge of the rift, stretching out its massive hands. Soon, pure black horns emerged first, followed by its grotesque face.
It giggled, revealing ragged, razor-sharp teeth in its maw.
Five mana cores.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT MONSTER?" Jack's eyes widened in shock at the creature's appearance.
He had never seen such a monster before.
But he could tell this powerful being came from Hector's blessing, and it had to be high-ranked.
Hector smirked and turned his back on Jack while carrying Luna. His action made it clear that Jack didn't even deserve his attention.
Naturally, Hector's arrogance had already ignited Jack's fury. Veins bulged across Jack's face as humiliation twisted his expression.
Just two mana cores… How could such a weakling dare to treat him like that?
"YOU BASTARD!… I'LL KILL YOU!"
However, before he could shout any further, crushing gravity suddenly enveloped Jack's body. He writhed in agony, struggling to escape, but each scream was answered by the sound of bones breaking under the immense force.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"