Black ViSage finally arrived at the Nightglass Covenant headquarters, where Handerson was waiting anxiously for Halex. His eyes were wide with relief, and his whole body seemed to vibrate with emotion.
"Halex… my son," Handerson said, his voice shaking slightly as he stepped forward.
Halex ran to his father, his small arms wrapping around him tightly. "Sorry, Dad… I worried you," he whispered, his voice trembling with guilt.
Handerson gently patted Halex's back, holding him close. "No… no, my son. There's no need to apologize. I am just happy… so unbelievably happy that you are safe. Truly, my heart was in pieces until I saw you again. Thank you… thank you, Mr. Black ViSage."
Black ViSage stood silently, his expression unreadable, his dark presence calm yet imposing. "So… give me my reward," he said simply, his tone flat but commanding.
Handerson quickly reached into his bag. "Yes… of course. Whatever you ask, you shall have," he said, handing over the agreed-upon sum.
Black ViSage took it, inspecting the contents briefly. Then, with his usual bluntness, he added, "Hey… you gave me extra money."
Handerson smiled wryly. "That's because you didn't betray me, and you completed the mission perfectly. You deserve it."
Black ViSage's expression remained stoic. "I do not need extra. Do not give me more than what was agreed."
Handerson nodded, not pressing the issue. "Very well. You can keep it if you wish. I have no problem."
Black ViSage shook his head slowly. "No. My job is done. I am leaving."
Handerson sighed softly, finally relaxing his shoulders. "Okay… I won't force you."
Black ViSage turned, his cloak swaying slightly with his movement. "Then it is settled. My work here is complete. Farewell."
As Black ViSage started to leave, Halex suddenly called out, his voice a little shy but determined. "Dad… I… I have a crush on a girl."
Handerson froze, his eyes widening in surprise. "Hey now… you're just a kid! Don't start saying things like that already."
"No… no, I'm serious," Halex said, his cheeks heating with a blush. "I really have a crush… and she even said she would marry me one day."
Handerson chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Ooh… alright then. But that's something for the future. You'll need to grow up first, understand?"
Halex nodded eagerly. "Yes… but when I grow up, I'll make some friends, and sometimes I'll go meet them. I promise, Dad."
Handerson smiled warmly, ruffling Halex's hair. "Alright… but I will also come with you sometimes, to make sure you don't get into trouble."
Halex's face lit up, and he ran forward, hugging his father tightly. "Thank you, Dad! Thank you so much!"
From a short distance away, Black ViSage silently observed the reunion. His dark eyes were fixed on the father and son, and though he said nothing, a rare thought crossed his mind:
So… this is what family looks like.
For the first time in a long while, even Black ViSage felt a subtle warmth at the sight of it, a feeling he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge.
Back at home, Halex finally stepped inside, and his mother immediately rushed forward, enveloping him in a tight hug.
"Halex… my dear child," she whispered, her voice trembling, "why did you run away from home? Don't you understand how worried we were? How much tension and fear you caused us?"
Halex lowered his gaze, his small hands gripping his mother's sleeves. "I… I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't mean to… I worried you."
His mother held him tighter. "You must understand… we only ever want your safety. Don't ever scare us like this again."
Halex's father stepped forward, his expression stern but gentle. "Listen, Halex. I told you not to become an adventurer… for your good, not your bad. Everything I did was to protect you."
Halex nodded earnestly. "I understand, Father. I will never do something like this again. I promise."
Meanwhile, somewhere far from the warmth of home, Miha—now going by the name Liya—was preparing herself carefully. She had studied humans meticulously, mimicking their behavior, their expressions, their very nature, until she could pass as one of them. With perfect posture, graceful movements, and an appearance that seemed almost ethereal, she looked entirely human.
Today, she entered the Nightglass Covenant headquarters, determined to register as an adventurer. Her goal was singular: to find clues about Black ViSage. She wanted, more than anything, to discover his real name and uncover any hint of weakness.
As she stepped inside, heads immediately turned. Her beauty was breathtaking—striking, almost unreal. Adventurers, some low-ranked, couldn't resist approaching her, trying to flirt or catch her attention. Liya knew exactly what she was doing. She needed to stand out, to make herself visible to Black ViSage. If she didn't do something extraordinary, he would never notice her.
Walking with deliberate grace, she addressed the nearby adventurers in a soft, alluring voice. "Excuse me… do you know where I might find Black ViSage?"
The adventurers blinked in shock. Why would such a beautiful girl be looking for Black ViSage? one whispered.
"I-I… we don't know," stammered another.
Liya smiled, her eyes glinting with quiet cunning. "I see… that's fine. I simply wish to meet him. Perhaps he will come to me if others speak my name… after all, Black ViSage does not like attention. If people mention me, he will undoubtedly try to find me."
A small adventurer group, known as Vinus, approached. "Miss, you can join our team if you like," one said politely.
Liya's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Perfect… instantly accepted, she thought.
But Vinus did not know the truth. The moment they entered Liya's home, every member of the group collapsed to the floor in a deep sleep. Liya moved silently among them, bending close to one of the sleeping adventurers. She pressed her lips to his neck and drank, tasting the blood.
"Ooh… your blood isn't tasty," she murmured with a smirk, before moving on to the next.
Another member, still half-conscious, whimpered, "Please… Miss… drink my blood… sweetly."
"Of course, sweetheart," Liya replied softly, her voice like silk, almost affectionate as she took what she wanted.
Far away, Black ViSage was already aware. He had been tracking subtle disturbances—rumors and whispers—and now he heard of the new adventurer, Liya, who had openly declared her desire to meet him.
Why does she want to meet me? he thought, his dark eyes narrowing. What is she planning…?
Even to him, Liya's actions had left a trace. He remained silent, his mind calculating, already preparing for the encounter that he knew was inevitable.
Then Miha leaned closer and gently kissed him on the neck.
"Ooh… tasty," she whispered softly.
"It's yummy."
The member trembled and cried out, "Ahh… it hurts… please… Miss, forgive me."
Miha smiled faintly. "Okay. I will eat you at last."
The member exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Miss…"
Miha turned her gaze to the others. "So… who is next?"
A member stepped forward. His name was Gen.
"Me, Miss," Gen said calmly.
Miha nodded. "Come."
Gen replied obediently, "Okay, Miss."
Why did the members behave like this?
The reason was simple—and terrifying.
Miha had placed a slave contract upon them.
Through this contract, Miha could command them as she wished. Their bodies, actions, and even resistance belonged to her. She could do anything with them, and they could not refuse.
Back to the scene.
Miha kissed Gen slowly and then sighed in satisfaction.
"Ahh… tasty. I like it."
She pulled back slightly and smiled.
"Ooh… I really like your blood."
Gen bowed his head. "Thank you, Miss."
Miha laughed softly. "Ooh… I'll eat you later. For now… let's have some fun."
She turned her head and called out to another member.
"Come here."
The member stepped forward nervously. "How can I help you, Miss?"
Miha pointed casually. "Go and punch him."
She gestured toward another member.
Without hesitation, the ordered member struck the other. The second member retaliated instinctively, and soon, they were fighting each other violently. Punches were thrown. Bodies crashed to the floor.
Miha sat back, resting her chin on her hand, watching with amusement.
She smiled.
"How entertaining…"
Meanwhile…
Far from that place, Black ViSage stood before a merchant, his presence calm and unreadable.
"I want to go to Gargolos Village," Black ViSage said plainly.
The merchant nodded.
"Okay. No problem," he replied. "But there is one condition."
Black ViSage looked at him silently.
The merchant continued, "Can you protect my merchandise? Many bandits attack travelers on that route."
Black ViSage answered without hesitation, his voice cold and firm.
"Okay."
The merchant smiled with relief.
"Then let us prepare to depart."
Black ViSage chose to travel to Gargolos Village for a very specific reason.
He wanted to meet an old man.
Black ViSage had heard a disturbing rumor about the village—one that most people accepted as tradition.
On a mysterious moonlit night, a Ghost Dragon was said to descend from the sky.
That night, twenty-nine humans would disappear—devoured by the dragon.
Strangely, on the very next day, the sky would become clear.
The weather would turn calm and pleasant.
The crops would grow well.
Because of this, the villagers began to believe the Ghost Dragon was a divine being.
Over time, this belief twisted into a ritual.
Every moonlit night, the villagers sacrificed twenty-nine humans to the Ghost Dragon.
They worshiped it.
They thanked it.
They believed it protected their land.
And today was one of those nights.
The Old Man's Request
The old man of Gargolos Village had a son.
And today, that son had been chosen as a sacrifice.
In desperation, the old man sent a letter to Black ViSage, begging for his help.
Black ViSage read the letter carefully.
He did not hesitate.
He knew the old man.
Long ago—when Black ViSage was only ten years old—that same man had been a caretaker at an orphanage. One of the few adults who had shown him kindness when he had nothing.
Because of that debt, Black ViSage decided to help, without question.
No matter what waited for him in Gargolos Village, he would protect the boy.
Meanwhile — Liya in Nightglass Covenant
At the same time, Liya appeared at Nightglass Covenant.
She told a convincing lie.
She claimed that her teammates had betrayed her and run away, and that she was searching for them.
That was false.
The truth was far darker.
Liya had turned her teammates into slaves.
Bound by her power, they no longer remembered who they truly were.
They only knew one thing—
They belonged to Miha.
Liya had come to Nightglass Covenant for a single purpose:
To find new teammates.
And to her, teammates meant new slaves.
The Nature of Liya
Liya fed on human blood, human energy, and human flesh.
That was the natural sustenance of angels like her.
By consuming humans, angels grew stronger.
But Liya was different.
Though she was an angel by existence, her personality was that of a devil.
She did not see humans as living beings.
To her, they were tools.
Food.
Entertainment.
Objects meant to be used and discarded.
Liya's Obsession with Black ViSage
Liya was obsessed with one mystery.
Black ViSage.
She was convinced he was not human.
No human should possess power capable of standing against an angel.
No human should resist angelic authority.
And yet, Black ViSage had done exactly that.
She wanted to uncover his true identity.
His weakness.
His origin.
Not just out of caution—
But out of curiosity.
And soon, their paths were destined to cross again.