# Chapter 29
Even up until crossing the Delos Empire border to meet Hest, Ion’s steps had been heavy. Though he knew that the painful process of announcing Levi’s death would push him further into a dark abyss, he somehow managed to keep walking, thinking, “It’s Levi’s request, it’s Levi’s last wish.”
And then he learned the truth.
‘I was such a fool.’
Along with learning that there was a way to save Levi, he discovered that he had been killing him all along.
He had only wanted to show Levi things he hadn’t seen before. He had wanted Levi not to be hated by others, not even a little bit.
But that had been an act of taking away the territory that allowed him to live, of eliminating his only sustenance.
All the things he had done with the intention of caring for Levi had actually been deadly poison.
The one who killed Levi was none other than himself.
So he would revive him with his own hands.
Ion was determined.
“The pond in the Black Forest is where Levi was born. Just place the core in there.”
Ion’s heart raced madly as he ran through the Black Forest, which had turned green. His breath reached his chin and his leg muscles ached, but he kept running without caring.
Just a little faster, faster, faster.
After passing through the forest that felt unusually longer than usual, he finally reached the pond. Ion collapsed in front of it, opened the box, and took out Levi’s core.
“Levi…”
Cradling the core in both hands as if in prayer, he carefully brought it to the pond. With trembling hands, he gently placed it down toward the bottom of the water. The black sphere, which began to sink slowly, settled softly on the bottom of the pond.
Ion stared at Levi’s core resting beneath the sparkling, clear pond water for minutes, for hours.
Even as thick darkness fell over the Black Forest, which had been bathed in sunset, Ion did not leave the pond.
Early morning.
Ion, who had fallen asleep in the flower bed surrounding the pond, woke up feeling chilly. It was no wonder he was cold, having slept near the pond without even a blanket.
Rubbing his dry eyes, Ion sat up and quickly looked at the pond, as if he had just come to his senses.
The pond had somehow turned completely black, to the point where nothing could be seen. Seeing this, a bright smile spread across Ion’s face.
“The pond and Levi are connected. When Levi dies, the pond water becomes clear like normal water.”
“Put the core in there, and after some time, the water will turn black.”
“That’s the signal that Levi’s core is being regenerated.”
Just as Hest had said, the pond had turned black, enveloping Levi’s core. Upon realizing that Levi’s regeneration had successfully begun, Ion gave thanks to a god he didn’t even believe in and felt deeply relieved.
Ion, who had been looking at the black pond with a smiling face, soon changed his expression and got up. With a serious face, thinking about something, he turned and walked toward the tent house.
The tent house where he had lived with Levi remained unchanged, exactly as it had been. Levi’s presence could still be felt everywhere.
The spot where Levi had eaten flowers.
The spot where Levi had smiled for the first time.
The spot where Levi had comforted and embraced him.
From every corner, he could sense Levi’s scent and feel his warmth.
But he couldn’t stay here forever.
Ion opened the box Levi had left him and put the white glove, which Levi had prepared for him, on his left hand.
❖ ❖ ❖
Before leaving Hest’s mansion:
“If Levi’s request was to protect me, then there’s only one thing Hest can do for me.”
Ion, who had matured noticeably in just one day, spoke confidently to Hest.
“Protect Levi in my place. Protecting Levi is the same as protecting me.”
Hest frowned deeply at Ion’s words.
“Do you think I’m some kind of nanny?”
“But you’re going to do it anyway, even if I don’t ask, right?”
“…”
Ion, who had by now somewhat figured out Hest’s personality, smiled bitterly, with a much lighter expression than when he first visited his mansion.
“It seems like I can’t continue this way.”
Ion looked down at the box he was holding. His gaze rested on the wooden lid of the box, but he could clearly picture the black sphere that would be beyond it.
“I’m too incompetent and ignorant. If I stay this way, I’ll just repeat the same mistakes when Levi returns.”
Hest didn’t refute Ion’s words. They were completely true.
But that being the case, what could the current Ion possibly do?
“It’s good to be full of spirit, but what’s possible for a kid who’s being chased by slave traders and has no talents?”
“Why do you say I have no talents?”
Ion held out his left hand. The white hand with strange golden patterns captured Hest’s vision.
“I’m going to find someone powerful who needs this ability. Someone so high that the slave traders can no longer chase me or covet me.”
“Even if you find someone who would keep you by their side without going through slave traders, there’s no guarantee that person will only do the right thing.”
“I know that too.”
Ion looked coldly at his left hand.
“It doesn’t matter. Whether they use it for good deeds or for evil ones.”
Ion’s eyes were no longer the clear, child-like eyes Hest had seen before.
He had lost two people who had been his only supports.
His mother and Levi—both had sacrificed themselves to save him, and ultimately died.
The cause of their fate was the ability residing in his left hand. Because this ability happened to be with someone as worthless and lowly as himself, he couldn’t protect them.
An excessive ability given to an incompetent person ultimately becomes poison, making both him and those around him unhappy.
If so, there were two choices.
Either remain incompetent and abandon the ability, or become competent enough to use the ability.
Ion chose the latter.
“As long as I can protect Levi, that’s all that matters.”
Levi’s regeneration was the last chance given to Ion.
The last chance to shake off his incompetence and be with his precious person forever.
Hest quietly looked at Ion, who had the face of an innocent child but the mature eyes of an adult, then suddenly changed the subject.
“I did some investigating about those slave traders who are after you.”
Ion’s brow twitched at the mention of “slave traders.”
“It seems like you’re exactly the ‘premium goods’ those guys are looking for.”
He was newly reminded that he was being pursued. Now that Levi, who had protected him, was gone, he would have been better off receiving protection from Hest, if things had remained as they were.
But Ion’s determination didn’t waver. Hest needed to watch over and protect Levi while Ion climbed higher. Having decided to make Levi the center of his life, Levi’s safety was the top priority.
Seeing Ion’s tense face, Hest continued.
“But two days ago, you suddenly disappeared from their tracking list.”
“…?”
“They’re no longer pursuing you.”
Ion made a puzzled face at the unexpected news. Slave traders were known to be extremely persistent; they would never easily give up on those they had missed. At the very least, they would need to find a corpse before abandoning the chase.
So they voluntarily gave up tracking him?
Before Ion could raise the question, Hest explained first.
“The reason is, well, your information was sold.”
“My information was sold?”
Hest stared at Ion’s left hand. Until the ability was used, it was nothing more than an ordinary hand, but according to the information he had obtained, its value was beyond imagination.
“The Third Prince, Tis Benarion Delos.”
The name Hest uttered was one that Ion had heard of too. Though he didn’t understand many of the difficult terms, he had heard quite often that behind the golden age of the Delos Empire was the Third Prince’s overwhelming skill and policies.
“He’s the one who bought your information and ownership.”
Hest also added the comment, “You’ve been sold to a troublesome person.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Crunch—
The sound of someone stepping on fallen leaves came from nearby. The fact that there had been no sign until they were this close indicated how well-trained the person was. It seemed like they deliberately stepped on leaves to make their presence known, to avoid startling him too much.
“To think you were really in the Black Forest.”
Ion turned toward the young voice that sounded purely impressed. Two men in gray robes, who had been scanning the tent house and the surrounding colorful flowers with their eyes, approached Ion. It seemed that Hest had discreetly informed Ion’s would-be owner of this place, as requested.
Of the two, the one who had just spoken removed his hood. His dazzling blond hair, the same as Ion’s, gleamed brilliantly where the rays of light fell through the forest.
“Are you the son of the former Empress Claudia?”
The man’s golden eyes, mentioning the name Ion’s mother had used “before,” showed a distinct heterochromia.
Ion, facing the man, soon smiled as if he had been waiting. His left hand, covered with a white glove, clenched firmly, as if he had made up his mind.
