When Elurian had just opened his eyes, he found a strange intruder leaning against the side of his bedroom window. The intruder was wearing a black robe from head to toe making it impossible to determine his identity.
Is this the legendary kidnapping plot?! Elurian wanted to slap himself for being at a loss for words over the ongoing plot regardless of the circumstances.
He knew sooner or later this plot would start, but he didn't think it would be sooner than he expected. One part of the plot where the legendary kidnapper kidnaps disciples from guides around the world was no exception.
Elurian raised his body and looked at the intruder with a smile. "Hello, Sir. Are you here to kidnap me?"
The intruder didn't seem surprised, on the contrary his attitude was too relaxed with his arms crossed. As if he wasn't worried about his whereabouts being exposed. Even the guide on guard outside couldn't detect him.
"Very smart, good quality as an experimental subject," he praised while feeling amazed at the child's unique violet eye color.
Elurian had already guessed the answer, that person was not an ordinary kidnapper, that was clear both from the information Elurian knew and from his strong aura.
Since awakening, Elurian could vaguely feel a certain unique energy circulating around him, it was aether. Perhaps what had prevented him from sensing aether all this time was due to that assimilation.
Aether is a special form of energy that generates supernatural powers approved by world causality. Not only that, someone who reached a high level would be able to manipulate the aether around him as desired. That's what the kidnapper did, he manipulated the aether so that his presence could not be detected.
Of course, the kidnapper was no match for his Master, Rex Violet, this world's strongest protagonist.
So, Master isn't here. Well, it seems I'll have to separate from him for a while. All those plans had to be postponed until I returned.
Elurian thought about various things while the kidnapper was watching him. Strangely, the person didn't immediately take him, as if enjoying seeing Elurian's expression before being kidnapped.
"Sir, you must be feeling bored," said Elurian suddenly. He still maintained his strange smile.
The man replied with a chuckle, "Yeah, but it's not boring anymore. You're not the messenger, right?"
Elurian felt his heart stop for a moment. Cold sweat ran down his back. His face turned pale because he didn't expect that.
What happened?! How did he know about messenger? Elurian tried to communicate with the entity, but as he expected, at a critical moment like now, the entity didn't answer him.
The person looked even more interested as he continued, "There's no need to be so afraid, I have no intention of kidnapping you now. On the contrary, you're the one who will come to me by yourself."
"What do you mean?!" Elurian exclaimed while touching the crystal pendant around his neck. He was prepared to call his Master if something went wrong.
Elurian had originally planned to follow the kidnapper and reveal his hiding place to his Master, but now things had changed.
The kidnapper suddenly moved so fast, grabbed the crystal pendant by force while strangling Elurian's neck. His face under the hood of the robe was slightly revealed, but apparently he was wearing another mask as a precaution.
"Ugh!" Elurian struggled to breathe as he tried to escape the intruder's grip.
"Listen, you're lucky because you replaced the messenger. Ah, of course, your Master is one of the reasons too. Tell Ei to stop stealing things he shouldn't. This time I forgive you for using the messenger body, but that doesn't apply to anything else!"
The demon's whisper scared Elurian as he felt his surroundings turn dark. A barrier of darkness isolated him along with the intruder.
Elurian didn't have time to think about his words because he was almost dead. His head felt numb, and at the same time he felt like his soul was being pulled out.
"Ugh! Help...me!" Elurian knew it was futile, but he still hoped someone would help him.
At that moment, golden light descended and tore through the dark barrier as red aether energy devoured the surrounding anomalies.
The intruder finally released his grip and dropped Elurian, but he didn't stop there. He left behind a curse. A black, triangular mark appeared momentarily on the back of Elurian's hand.
"That mark will guide you to find me one day. Until then, you will feel a wave of madness every midnight. Enjoy it as the price of using that body."
Then the intruder's figure disappeared without a trace just as the dark barrier collapsed. Elurian, still in shock from the curse, looked like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Finnian, who used his sword to cut through the barrier, was stunned to see Elurian appearing to be dying. He truly regretted not keeping him in the room straight away and allowing this terrible thing to happen. He was too relaxed due to blind trust in Master Rex's protection.
Rex Violet, who was now beside him, also seemed to have received a blow. He was the one who used that red aether energy to remove all traces of evil.
When he was called by Finnian because Elurian had disappeared, his anxiety surged. Rex Violet began to question his own strength, which was not enough to protect his disciple.
Rex Violet's eyes narrowed as he saw the crystal pendant shatter and his pupils cower in fear. He walked closer to Elurian then used his aether to calm his disciple who was almost losing his mind.
"Elurian, it's fine now. I will find the culprit and eliminate him. I'm sorry for not being able to protect you before," he said as he pulled Elurian into his arms. For the first time he called his disciple's name.
Elurian's chaotic mind gradually cleared up and he regained his senses.
It's not Master's fault... he thought sadly. That entity, who lied to him, was to blame for what happened.
Elurian even suspected that his contract with the entity was just an illusion and that he was actually tricked into becoming a sacrifice in this world. The feeling where he was helpless and became the scapegoat for the other party's mistakes reminded him of his previous life.
He curled up in his Master's arms, feeling the warmth to keep him alright. Everything was so different from the novel. He felt real pain and changed that violated the knowledge that he knew.
What was hidden behind all the deception?
Why did that entity trick him?
Then, how does this world exist? Why did his older brother have to die?
The shell, which prevented him from accepting the truth, was cracked. He may have to change his goal, rather than saving this world from destruction, he was more curious about the reason this world exists and why he was sent here.
Heh, I know turning back time is impossible. At least, I realized earlier instead of continuing to be fooled stupidly.
Elurian decided to wait for the entity to admit his deception, of course he wouldn't let that opportunity pass him by.