EnCoffin Me Chapter 61
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 61
In the previous era, the everdark stone was just a type of mineral. Its only notable trait was its ability to absorb and store dark energy. In contrast, the brilliant stone was highly favored by the Holy Temple. When engraved with special storage runes, it could even become a strategic resource.
Alexio recalled that the fallen angels' hell fortress stored many everdark stones inscribed with magical runes. The fallen angels usually hired dwarves to mine them because dwarves lacked magical power, so the everdark stone wouldn't absorb their energy. For some dark creatures, these mines were dangerous, as the unprocessed ore within was extremely dense. Each stone sucked even the smallest amount of dark energy, which could completely drain the magical power of any dark creature for a period.
This information quickly ran through Alexio's mind. Then, piecing together the man-made light burst, the Holy Temple's efforts to capture dark creatures, and the elemental therapy Zhu Heng had mentioned, he began to sense an ominous conspiracy taking shape.
He looked at Lucius, wanting to hear what the lunatic thought. He wondered if it was his imagination, but he sense a wisp of dark purple shadow flit lightly across his vision the instant he looked at the lunatic. Yet, when he stared intently again, there was nothing there.
Alexio tilted his head in confusion, about to ask, when the saint suddenly said, “The everdark stone isn't only used by dark creatures. The Holy Temple once considered using them too, but after much deliberation, they abandoned the idea.”
Now Alexio grew curious.
“Why? I guess the Holy Temple planned to use everdark stones to absorb a large amount of dark enegy. It sounds crude, but… it might actually work?”
Following the Holy Temple's logic, even a silly method like throwing banana peels on the ground to make dark creatures slip would be something they'd try.
Alexio figured that Lucius must have thought of the banana peel too, since he glanced down at the ground near his feet. He probably recalled that ridiculous trick that had become a running joke.
“Because the experiment failed,” Lucius said expressionlessly. “The plan to use everdark stones was originally mine.”
Oh wow!
Alexio was totally intrigued. This was really news to him. He quickly strode over to Lucius and asked, “What started it? What happened? And how embarrassing was the end result? I can't wait to laugh!”
“……”
Lucius wanted to pinch Alexio's wings again, this time with more force. This guy was so lively, he was practically asking to be beaten.
“It began when I discovered that everdark stones had the property of devouring dark energy.”
“Mhm, mhm!”
“Naturally, I considered piling a lot of everdark stones together, then stuffing you in them. You'd definitely get drained and weakened.”
“…Hm?”
Alexio thought Lucius' idea was pretty dangerous.
“Before the official plan, I had to run experiments. So I caught a few night birds and prepared an open-air site, with lots and lots of raw everdark stones.”
He paused, then added, “It cost me about half of my savings at the time.”
Alexio tightly shut his mouth, already bracing himself to laugh.
“Then, on the day of the experiment, I discovered… that the everdark stones I had spent a fortune on had, over the previous days, absorbed dark elements from the environment on their own, becoming… everdark stones saturated with dark energy.”
“What's the point of that?” the saint repeated. “What use was that pile of stones? Should I donate them to dark creatures as a strategic reserve of dark energy?”
Hahahahaha!!!
Alexio nearly laughed himself to the ground. He could already picture Lucius standing there, clutching a few struggling night birds in his hands, staring at a pile of stones with a face that looked expressionless but was actually full of helpless frustration. Hahahaha!
The saint expressionlessly watched him laugh.
Just like that face now. Hahahahahaha!!!
This became a source of joy for Alexio over the days to come. He decided to tease Lucius about this every day. Just as he was about to deliver today's round of mockery, the expressionless saint raised his hand and placed something on Alexio's head. When Alexio moved his head, the object slid into his hand. It was another everdark stone.
“Why so many?” Alexio asked casually. “Is there a mine here… wait.”
He stared at the everdark stone in his hand, especially the second one. This stone was actually absorbing his dark energy. That made no sense at all. Once the everdark stone was mined and exposed to the outside world, it would absorb stray dark elements until the entire stone turned a shimmering black, meaning it was fully charged and would no longer absorb any more dark energy.
But this everdark stone…
“Did you notice?” Lucius said. “Even outside the mine's environment, the everdark stone still absorbs your power.”
Alexio thought for a moment, then a sudden realization struck him.
“The environment…” he murmured. “The world's environment has changed…”
Lucius nodded slightly.
In their era, although the Holy Temple had grand plans for the next millennia, they had yet to succeed. The balance between light and darkness still held. So once the everdark stones were mined, they would spontaneously absorb dark energy. By the time they reached the hands of dark creatures, they were usually fully charged and ready to be used. The real danger lay in the mines where the everdark stones formed. There, dark energy was nearly depleted, and the stones would ruthlessly plunder any trace of dark energy that entered.
Therefore, for Lucius' plan to work, Alexio would have to be thrown into a mine of everdark stones. But Alexio wasn't foolish. How could he knowingly jump into a trap?
The everdark stone plan was doomed to end, along with half of Lucius' assets.
But now, the balance between light and darkness had collapsed. The mined everdark stones could no longer recharge by absorbing stray dark elements from the air, so they had become something that threatened dark creatures. Lucius mentioned this to Alexio, only to see the vampire laugh.
“This is nothing,” Alexio said, casually tossing the two fully charged everdark stones aside. “My dark energy reserves are far greater than you think.”
That proud look is cute too, Lucius thought to himself, ‘Proud cat.jpg’ needs to be arranged. Suddenly, the purple shadow that had been deliberately left behind began to stir again. From this, he deduced that there was an over 80% chance that Theo's people were stationed at the northern front, and an over 60% chance that the light burst here was entirely controlled by the Holy Temple.
Otherwise, Theo wouldn't be so restless.
The camp was fully set up, and night was falling. Alexio called out to the lunatic.
“Lun… Lucius, rooms have been chosen. Which one do you want?”
The saint paused briefly, then walked over without any fuss.
“The one next to yours.”
That was easy. Alexio assigned the rooms. The wolf cub was already carrying their supplies back. After tidying up and having dinner, night had fallen. He returned to his temporary quarters and powered on his lightbrain. Since a while ago, messages had been coming through.
【Pupil: Be careful.】
【Pupil: I see a corner of Theo's domain still shrouding the hunter.】
In the darkness, Alexio slowly opened his red eyes. He had thought the lunatic had activated his domain in time, blocking Theo's mental control. But some residue still remained, and yet…
Why hadn't the lunatic told him?
He didn't even consider the possibility that Lucius might harbor ill intentions. Just as Lucius knew him well, he knew Lucius too well. While the lunatic might have previously hunted him under the Holy Temple's doctrines, now he didn't believe that Lucius would willingly let the Holy Temple's hand reach out again.
That meant…
He was being controlled!
Alexio gritted his teeth and mentally cursed Theo a dozen times over. After venting, he quietly considered his next move and finally decided to watch Lucius closely these days. This way, their enemy wouldn't be alerted, and he could also prevent the lunatic from doing anything dangerous.
He was really worrying about Lucius like a father! Maybe he should just give Lucius his First Embrace and be his dad already!
But…
He recalled the saint's beautiful, medium-length platinum-blonde hair and clear, bright sky-blue eyes. He raised his hand to touch his own hair and eyes.
He fell silent.
He thought some things from the past had been forgotten, but perhaps because he had looked at Lucius for too long, being soaked in that dazzling hair and eye colors, those things still lingered, refusing to fade as he had hoped.
He closed his eyes, and faint lights gently flickered around him in the void. He had once found them a bit dazzling and had reached out to block them, yet the sunlight still stubbornly overflowed onto his golden hair.
【Alexi, I heard you learned both martial arts and magic?】
【Even if you're talented, won't it take longer to master both? When will you join our mercenary group? We're all looking forward to fighting alongside you.】
The swordsman with a greatsword on his back, the mage holding a staff, the gentle priest, the agile rogue...
Surrounded by these people, he once smiled.
【I promised to learn everything in half a year, and I will!】His past self declared with a determined expression and a confident tone.【In six months, I'll join your mercenary group, and within five years, my name will be in the bard's poems!】
Everyone smiled kindly then, started chatting excitedly.
【That's an honor reserved only for heroes!】
【Alexi is a once-in-a-century talent. Who says he can't become a hero?】
【What if… what if Alexi is pulled back to inherit the throne? Then he'd be king!】
He had never wanted to be king, so he protested aloud.
【No way! I'm sixty-fourth in line! It will never, ever be my turn!】
【That's right! Alexi, stay and be a hero with us!】
【Yes, yes! A hero skilled in both magic and sword!】
【The bard's songs will surely mention that… ah, his golden hair… ah, eyes like the ocean… his brave companions…】
【Hahaha!】
The light gradually dimmed, and Alexio felt a sharp sting on his lip. He exhaled slowly, still unable to sleep, so he lay in bed listening to the lunatic's steady breathing next door.
He liked Lucius' hair, liked his eyes, and liked how he looked standing in the sunlight.
Wanting to turn the lunatic into a vampire…
Was too selfish.