1.
The 4th Elder of <Eclipse>, the Calamity of Blooming Blood — Flora, had a plan.
First, step one.
She would break the minds of the two captured <Black Wolf> mercenaries using her trait.
And then step two.
She would bring the now-disabled members to the 1st Elder as an offering.
Flora recalled the command from the 1st Elder.
—Several of Halorand’s chess pieces have been entangled with the Black Wolf. Calamity of Blooming Blood, step forward and sever the limbs of the Black Wolf.
She could’ve simply killed them as ordered, but in a way, this was an opportunity.
‘Since the appearance of the Black Wolf, I’ve failed every mission He assigned… From now on, I have to make up for it by going beyond His expectations.’
It was because they were weak — and ultimately, because <Eclipse> lacked power compared to Him.
So, Flora thought.
‘…If it’s that technique, the one that once devoured five of the Great Ten, wouldn’t it be possible to consume the Black Wolf members as well?’
Just recently, two of the Seven Elders of <Eclipse> had lost their lives to the Black Wolf, and one had even become their dog.
Then again, just days later, the Calamity of December, Calamity of Silent Silence, and herself — the three of them attacked the Hero, only to be defeated.
Of course, if they had used “that thing” He had bestowed upon them, the outcome might have been different — but the fundamental power gap was too great.
‘I have to consume them and turn them into allies.’
<Black Wolf>.
If the ones who became the Empire’s top-priority fugitives just days after their appearance each had power equal to an Elder of <Eclipse>, then they would undoubtedly become a force beyond the Great Ten.
So—
“You’re coming with me too.”
A preemptive strike followed immediately.
【Calamity of Blooming Blood – <Flora(SS+)> uses <Soul Erosion(SSS-)>!】
Having lived in a world where it was kill or be killed, Flora always survived by doing whatever it took to eliminate her enemies.
Whether it was a sneak attack, applying poison, or even taking hostages.
Every enemy she encountered criticized her for using dirty tactics, but in the end, Flora survived — and they died.
“Cowardly.”
“Yeah, I hear that a lot…!”
This time, my victory was clear……
【<Black Curtain(EX)> activates.】
【Resisting.】
—It should have been.
“W-What is this…”
Without realizing it, Flora collapsed to her knees, barely lifting her head to look at the enemy.
Abominable and evil killing.
Grrrr…
The great multitude of creatures.
A monstrous killing intent that weighed down the world gripped her heart and whispered.
“You’re saying I should hold back even more…?”
He had already been restraining himself, yet he still overwhelmed even a double-S class.
‘Well, I haven’t had a proper opponent to test it on yet.’
After a brief moment of thought, Nahan whispered to the frozen Flora.
“Sorry, I’m going to run a little experiment.”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t worry. You won’t die.”
…Probably.
2.
A short while later.
“At around 15%, it gives off an SS-level pressure.”
After precisely measuring his own power, Nahan tied up the trembling, unconscious Flora.
It took more time than expected, but it was a profitable encounter with much to gain.
“From now on, there’s no reason to hesitate about entering combat myself.”
Clenching his fist, Nahan turned to survey the underground cavern.
The ceiling was as tall as a building, and the space could likely fit several towns.
Stockpiles were visible in the distance, while a jet-black altar stood right before him.
‘Let’s loot the stockpiles later. Right now, the urgent matter is…’
Those two.
Turning his head away from the supplies, Nahan walked slowly toward the altar.
On the intricately carved altar lay Dalan and Ruby, both unconscious, with a dark aura—presumably Flora’s—leaking from their bodies.
【Warning.】
【<Seed of Regret> embedded within <Ruby Red(S+)> blooms, nourished by sorrow.】
【Warning.】
【<Dalan Esteban(SS+)> contains the <Seed of Regret>, which is blooming, nourished by sorrow.】
That ominous energy was without a doubt something that threatened their lives.
Yet Ruby and Dalan both wore faint smiles, as if they were dreaming happy dreams.
So Nahan hesitated for a moment.
A life where one turns their eyes away from pain and lives only in the dream of happiness—maybe, just maybe, that might be a better life.
– Brother, you’re having weird thoughts again, aren’t you?
The sudden voice snapped him out of it, and Nahan unconsciously let out a soft chuckle.
“I know. It’s not right.”
Hadn’t he already learned it long ago?
That turning away and running from a life of misfortune only leads to even deeper misery.
Only when you face your misfortune head-on can you finally move forward.
“So let’s get up.”
In the end, we’re headed for the happy ending anyway—and I’m taking you all with me.
Nahan placed a hand on both of their foreheads.
【Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed> in progress… (Black Wolf – 3/10)】
【Warning.】
【Would you like to initiate Main Scenario – <The Unredeemed >?】
Yuria had joined after being saved, and Luna and Han-Ryang had been rescued through direct intervention.
It seemed that Dalan and Ruby, too, would require the same direct intervention.
However, unlike before—when there were no penalties—this time was a little different.
【Alert.】
【If the individuals – <Ruby Red> and <Dalan Esteban> reject salvation, you will not be able to escape either.】
【Do you still wish to intervene?】
If the two chose to remain in their dreams, it meant he, too, would be trapped and unable to return.
Nahan turned his gaze to Flora.
– Ah, it’s a magic that traps people inside nightmares.
It harvested emotions like anger, pain, and sorrow to maintain the spell, and to increase the harvesting rate, it also embedded happy memories.
As a result, the target experiences blissful moments, then crashes into nightmares, despair, and returns to the beginning—over and over again.
Devoured by the negative emotions they themselves created, they are forced to endlessly relive the nightmare.
But conversely, it also means that the happy memories are repeated countless times.
Thus, even powerful individuals, upon realizing they’re in a dream, often choose to remain.
Which means—
If Ruby or Dalan chose to stay, like others before them…
‘…I’ll be trapped too, won’t I?’
Not a happy ending, but a cycle of unending nightmares.
A fate more dangerous than death itself, since it’s eternal—but Nahan didn’t hesitate.
“I’ll intervene.”
【Will confirmed.】
【Intervening in the Calamity of the Blooming Blood.】
In an instant, consciousness faded into the distance.
‘She’s completely restrained. I just need to focus on rescuing Ruby and Dalan.’
After checking Flora once more, Nahan relaxed his body as though falling asleep.
He’d once heard that people always dream when they sleep.
Most dreams vanish before we even remember them, and the ones we do recall are only a few.
Still, if there’s a dream you want to remember, they say to hold onto it tightly so you don’t forget.
This was just like that.
“…You! Me too…”
“…Okay, Ruby.”
The moment he reached out and grabbed onto the flickering dream—like a blinking light—
【Intervening in the dream of <Ruby Red(S+)>】
【Intervening in the dream of <Dalan Esteban(SS+)>】
The pitch-black surroundings began to blossom with color, and his senses sharpened.
3.
Ruby Red.
The 6th member of the <Black Wolf>, and branch manager of the Mercenary Alliance’s capital branch.
Her official ranking was A+, but once, when Black Wolf took her in, he had said:
– One-man army. If anyone fits that title best, it might be you, Ruby.
A monster who, intoxicated by the scent of blood, shimmered with madness—creating armies of flesh and blood.
Even Lactea hesitated to spar against Ruby at full strength. The potential she carried was immense.
Because of that, the <Black Wolf> members would occasionally ask her about her past.
Where had she learned such magic?
Why did she succumb to madness in every battle?
How much training had she endured as a child?
Was her heart truly cold?
But Ruby never answered.
She only said, like a joke—
– I was just like any other kid. A pretty little girl who liked flowers and people more than blood and flesh.
—And brushed off their questions.
Naturally, the other members didn’t believe her.
She clearly had an unusual past, which explained her unique magic and the kind of strength one normally couldn’t attain at that age.
But Nahan knew.
What Ruby had said to the other members—
“Sister Rose!”
“Ruby, you’re here?”
“Yup! Look at this! It’s a flower that was blooming just outside the forest—it’s really pretty, isn’t it?”
—Was all true.
“Haah… Ruby. Didn’t Granny tell you not to go outside the forest?”
She called herself Granny, but she looked to be barely around twenty.
Ruby seemed to feel the same way and waved the flower she brought as she smiled.
“Oh, come on! You’re not a granny—you’re my big sister! And I only stretched my arm out! Just my arm! My body stayed inside, so it’s fine!”
“Tsk. I told you—what if that person finds you?”
“But you said he’s your love! Wouldn’t it be great if he came soon!”
Contrary to expectations, it was a peaceful dream filled with the scent of fresh greenery.
“Love! Ruby wants to try it too!”
“…Ruby.”
The woman called Rose cupped Ruby’s cheeks, who was cheerfully chattering, and asked with a serious expression.
“Can you recite the Great Prophecy Granny always told you?”
“When the first love of the old woman blooms, the calamity of the Red Clan shall begin!”
“Good. And who brings that love?”
“Oh, that was…”
Ruby clutched her head with her tiny hands, struggling to remember, then suddenly lit up and shouted:
“The jewel of the Red Clan brings it! And Ruby is that jewel!”
“…Exactly. So Ruby—”
Pat.
Rose placed her hand on Ruby’s head and gently stroked it, adding.
“Please, help this Granny not fall in love.”
Her expression serious, her pinky held out.
“Hmm? Promise me, Ruby.”
“Uuuu…”
Whenever Rose made that kind of face, Ruby couldn’t help but feel sad too.
With a pouty duck-like expression, the girl reluctantly raised her tiny pinky.
“Good girl, Ruby.”
“…Mmm.”
Under the calm, gentle hand stroking her head, Ruby sat, pouting, deep in thought.
‘Love is a good thing… so why doesn’t she want to fall in love?’
…No matter how much she thought about it, she didn’t understand.
“Shall I read you a fairy tale?”
“Waa! Really!? That’s amazing!!”
If it was what her sister wanted, then gladly.
But—
“…There’s a forest you can only enter if you become one of the Great Ten?”
Fate was still flowing forward.
