1.
Duke Halorand.
A talented strategist and mentor of common birth who had saved Asha from the burning ruins of Mirabelle.
With the empire in turmoil, he was the only noble Asha could rely on.
That very Duke Halorand had personally come to Radiance a few days ago with a request.
— Free Priest Ian Red. You must bring him into the party.
The reason was the protection of several key figures.
— Rumor has it that Her Majesty the Empress is preparing a purge list.
The problem was that the majority of those listed were allies of Duke Halorand.
— I have already dispatched people to provide protection, but the list is extensive… Some will inevitably die.
However, Ian Red… If his first divine authority were used, they could ambush the imperial forces the moment an ally fell and turn the situation against the throne.
— Please, for the time being, align with us— the anti-imperial nobles— alongside him.
That was why Asha had come.
And, incidentally, to make him some stew as well. The thought of being able to stay by his side for a while made her excited.
Thus—
“What if word leaks? What if, because of this, the priest is assassinated by the Empress’s forces? Then what will you do?”
“…”
She deliberately averted her eyes from dangers that were obvious with even a little thought.
“…I’ll stay by his side and protect him.”
“Every day? Every moment? Even when he goes to the bathroom?”
“I can do that.”
“Ha!”
Yuria scoffed and grabbed Asha’s collar, forcing her to lower her head.
“Get a grip. The moment the priest helps with this, he becomes the number one target for elimination by the Empress.”
Her golden eyes gleamed ominously.
It was far too menacing to belong to a saint, yet Asha was unfazed, meeting her gaze with a serious voice.
“If that happens, we just have to eliminate the imperial family.”
“What…? Do you even understand what you just said?”
“What’s the problem? It’s what the entire empire has been hoping for, isn’t it?”
They say people in love become foolish.
Asha knew full well how reckless and dangerous her words were, but expressing them without filter felt strangely liberating.
“…And this is supposed to be a Hero…?”
Yuria murmured in stunned disbelief. But then, Asha whispered menacingly, her aura brimming with bloodlust.
“I’ll handle it from here, so shut up and get lost, Saint.”
Crack…!!
“You insane…!!”
“I said get lost.”
A chilling golden light.
Air twisting.
Platinum hair rippling like a storm.
Was this what it felt like to stand beneath a crumbling sky?
Under the suffocating pressure, Yuria turned her gaze to Nahan.
“…”
“…”
A fleeting exchange of glances.
Yuria’s lips parted slightly, as if trying to convey something to Nahan.
‘…What the hell is she saying?’
He didn’t understand.
But in moments like this, the polite thing for a Korean was to nod regardless.
As Nahan gave a slight nod, a faint smile appeared on Yuria’s lips.
“Fine, I’ll disappear forever— from your side, from the Hero Party. So…”
Swish.
With an elegant movement, she raised her right hand, extending her middle finger like a blooming flower.
“The next time we meet, I won’t be a saint— I’ll be a member of Black Wolf.”
…Huh?
“What?”
Asha looked at Yuria in disbelief, but she simply winked and vanished.
“W-What the…!!”
Asha felt Nahan subtly grab her wrist, seemingly urging her to apologize. But instead, she pulled him in closer and whispered.
“Don’t worry, Priest.”
Just like last time…
And the time before that…
No, perhaps even far earlier than that.
“From the day you saved me, my entire world has been about you. I will always be by your side to protect you.”
Whether the enemy was the imperial family,
Black Wolf.
Or even this very world itself.
“Forever, always.”
Asha smiled.
Like a piece of broken glass shining brightly, with such beautiful yet cold eyes.
Nahan quickly questioned Asha, who bore such an expression.
“So, in short, you want me to stay by the Hero’s side for now? While also using my first divine authority to assist Duke Halorand?”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
“Understood. I accept. The stew was fantastic, so please come back at this time tomorrow.”
“What?”
“I have something really urgent to take care of.”
“…All of a sudden?”
Asha clung pitifully to his sleeve, but Nahan’s mind was elsewhere— now fully processing Yuria’s silent words from earlier.
— As expected, Savior, I think I suit Black Wolf much better.
— I’ll be waiting at the hideout.
No matter what, he had to stop her.
2.
The Saint.
A chosen one, granted immense divine authority and a sacred mission by Goddess Aria.
For the faithful, she was a blessing they would welcome with open arms. Just months ago, Yuria herself had longed for such a calling.
Yet now—
“To be honest, Mother, I don’t know.”
When I desperately wished for it, You ignored me. But only after Black Wolf saved me, You decided to grant me power?
“So, Mother.”
Please do not be displeased that I have chosen to join Black Wolf instead of the Hero of Light.
As someone of humble status, I believe the true cause does not lie with Light, but with Black Wolf.
“I was sent by Black Wolf.”
“…Who— are you?”
“An applicant. The name’s Yuria.”
“…The-Saint?”
Following Your will, I shall now dedicate myself to the salvation of the world from this place.
.
.
.
“Get out.”
“Huh?”
“Han-Ryang. Take this out with the trash.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Wha— wait, hold on! I’m a Saint! I could be very useful! This is the perfect chance to improve Black Wolf’s reputation!”
Right.
‘And also completely alter the future.’
Thus, Yuria— known as the Saint with the strongest divine authority in history—
“Good job. Dismissed.”
“Ugh—!?”
Thud!
Was instantly rejected from Black Wolf’s entrance trial.
.
.
.
“Fine, then I’ll just tell everything.”
“?”
“Black Wolf is actually Yell—”
Bam!
“Congratulations on joining.”
Somehow, she miraculously got in after all.
3.
A week later.
The moment Eclipse received word from its numerous informants that Yuria had officially left the Hero Party—
They acted.
Though she had now joined Black Wolf, nothing changed.
— Kill the Saint.
Just as Black Wolf followed their leader, Eclipse blindly obeyed their own.
And so, their mission remained the same:
Find and eliminate Yuria, the Saint.
The second to seventh calamities of Eclipse gathered in their newly repaired hideout for a meeting.
The first agenda item.
“Who wants to do it?”
No. 4, Calamity of the Blooming Blood, spoke in a languid voice.
No. 2, Calamity of December, answered without hesitation.
“We all move.”
They had seen a familiar face during the recent attack on Aria’s main church.
‘…Han-Ryang.’
The rumors suggested it, but to think he was truly a part of Black Wolf.
“That guy alone means at least two of us will have to step in personally. He was the strongest of all my disciples.”
After all, he was once the Jangseung.
‘Perhaps Han-Ryang is actually the real leader of Black Wolf…’
Knowing the power of the Jangseung, Calamity of December wore a grave expression.
But the others only sneered, mocking his seriousness.
“Tsk, you still look like an old man, but inside, you’ve aged even worse, huh?”
“…”
Even so, Calamity of December remained unshaken, simply staring at Calamity of the Blooming Blood.
Only then did she sigh, her demeanor turning serious.
“Are they really that strong?”
Once more, Calamity of December nodded.
“The rest of their members might be insignificant, but Han-Ryang— that guy is the real deal. He might even be their actual leader.”
“Hah… Seeing how you’re not even getting mad after all that teasing, I guess you’re serious.”
… Rustle.
Tugging at the hem of her black dress, Calamity of the Blooming Blood scanned her surroundings before asking—
“Calamity of Twisted Mischief, Calamity of Misguided Faith, Calamity of Whispering Nightmares. Those three should be enough, right?”
“Hard to say. We don’t know how strong the rest of Black Wolf is. If they’re all as powerful as Han-Ryang, or even stronger…”
… Shudder.
A cold chill crawled up his spine. But Calamity of December shook his head.
‘If all of Black Wolf were on Han-Ryang’s level, they’d be a literal calamity.’
And if they really had that much power, they would’ve openly declared war on the world instead of moving in secrecy.
Thus, Eclipse calculated—
‘The only one at our level or beyond in Black Wolf is Han-Ryang.’
The rest, including their Captain, were likely weaker than them.
“So, I’ll leave it to you three, alright? Five, Six, and Seven.”
Calamity of Twisted Mischief.
Calamity of Misguided Faith.
Calamity of Whispering Nightmares.
Three would be enough— to subdue Han-Ryang and kill the Saint.
Confident in their inevitable victory, Calamity of Twisted Mischief turned to the others with a grin.
“What if we absorb Black Wolf into our ranks?”
“…”
“Tsk. Master’s too scared to think straight, so just judge and act as you see fit.”
“Yes, Calamity of the Blooming Blood.”
…Such an enticing woman.
One day, she will be mine.
Flutter!
“Let’s go, boys.”
With a grand flourish, Calamity of Twisted Mischief turned, followed by Calamity of Misguided Faith and Calamity of Whispering Nightmares.
“Once we locate the hideout, I’ll handle the small fry. You two take care of that Han-Ryang guy.”
“Haha… How kind of you, leaving all the hard work to us.”
“…I’m sleepy.”
For the first time since the founding of Eclipse, three of their Seven Elders moved in unison.
.
.
.
“Hey, platinum Beauty. You with Black Wolf?”
“…?”
“Deaf? What’s with the silent stare? Wait… never mind, you don’t look the type. How about a little fun instead? Hmm? What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Lactea.”
“…Huh? That’s the same name as the missing First Prin—”
── Slash.
Thud.
“…Ehh…?”
Calamity of Twisted Mischief.
“…Where the hell did this insect come from?”
— Instant Death.
