I Became a Sick Nobleman

Running away wasn’t a bad idea either. 

But Aris drew his sword and stood in front of Ruel. 

Ruel spoke, looking at Cassion and Aris, “Now step back…”

“I can’t just step back against that guy.” 

Suddenly, a dagger appeared in Cassion’s hands. 

He looked in the direction the monster was coming from with interest and smirked. 

“He’s strong.” 

“Yes. This one, no, this monster is strong.”

Aris furrowed his brow and swallowed nervously.

The ground shook for a moment. 

A giant snake with golden-yellow scales emerged, crashing through the trees.

It stood tall, filling the forest with its overwhelming presence.

It was so large that Ruel couldn’t help but exclaim, “What is that? It’s huge…!”

Standing before such a monster, he felt as insignificant as an ant.

-Ugh. 

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Ruel’s head. Ruel quickly turned to look at Leo.

It wasn’t Leo. Leo was gaping in surprise. 

‘I haven’t even used my power yet; I can hear its voice.’

The blackened eyes of the monster only looked at Ruel. 

-Me… me. 

Shaaa. 

Just the sound the monster made sent shivers down Ruel’s skin. 

“Aris, take Ruel-nim and retreat,” Cassion’s dagger emanated a purple aura.

“Understood.” Aris immediately took Ruel, who was lifted by Hold, and ran backwards. 

-Stop… Please. 

“Wait a moment!” Ruel urgently called out to the desperate voice of the monster. 

Aris came to a halt, his expression filled with confusion as he looked at Ruel.

“The monster is speaking to me.”

“…?” Aris was taken aback by Ruel’s words. 

“That monster.” 

A light shone in Ruel’s green eyes. Despite how absurd it sounded, Ruel didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar with the monster.

“Instruct me to stop.” 

-…Ruel. 

The monster spoke Ruel’s name. 

At that moment, Ruel’s heart skipped a beat. 

Thump thump. 

‘Does this monster… know my name?’

Ruel couldn’t comprehend this strange situation where the monster seemed acquainted with him. The glow in Ruel’s eyes caused Aris’s face to tense up. He was using that power again. “Ruel-nim, do you plan on using that power?” 

“Release Hold.” 

“Yes.” Aris immediately released Hold at Ruel’s command. 

But Aris watched over Ruel, biting his lip in worry about what might happen. 

“Leo, step back.” 

—This body… 

“Leo.” 

—This body understands. 

Ruel put Leo down and walked forward. 

“Ruel-nim?” Cassion turned his head at the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. His master was heading towards them.

Cassion wanted to shout, “Are you out of your mind?” But when he saw the light in Ruel’s eyes, he turned his head towards the monster. The blackened eyes of the demon gradually subsided.

Cassion clenched his dagger tightly and spoke firmly, “You said you wouldn’t use that power if possible.” 

The monster was strong, but he was confident he could handle it. 

“I can handle this.” 

“Cassion, step back.” Ruel commanded. Reluctantly, Cassion took a step back. 

However, he was prepared to step forward, no matter how much it pained his heart.

“Stop.” At Ruel’s command, the monster stopped and stared silently at Ruel. 

Ruel thought it wouldn’t be difficult since it was just one monster, but a severe headache surged as if controlling dozens at once. 

Ruel grabbed his throbbing head and asked the monster, “How do you know my name?” 

Cassion, who was standing behind, looked at Ruel and the monster alternately in surprise.

-Dear. 

The monster called Ruel with a faint voice. 

-My friend. 

“….?” Ruel was too shocked to utter a word. 

The monster called him a friend. 

-Something is devouring my existence. I can no longer sustain myself. 

“What… are you saying?” Ruel felt frustrated that the monster didn’t explain in a manner he could comprehend.

“Who are you? Speak so I can understand!” 

At Ruel’s command, the monster spoke immediately. 

-I am Rupina. The guardian and the one who obeys your commands. 

“Rupina…?” 

Why did that name not feel unfamiliar? Apart from the headache, Ruel sensed a surge of emotions welling up within him, but he couldn’t grasp what they were. 

It felt as though something tightly blocked his understanding. 

There was no Ruel Setiria to seek answers from at that moment.

-I have protected this place, faithfully following your orders until now. Please aid me in finding rest.

“Me? Help you?” 

-Even if you don’t remember me, I’m fine. I’m just happy to see you for the last time. 

The monster bowed its head to Ruel. 

Cautiously, Ruel reached out and touched the monster. 

There was no warmth. 

How many times had he experienced this sensation now? 

Ruel finally understood what it meant—the monster was on the verge of death.

‘Ruel Setiria. You’re such a piece of trash.’

Why are there so many things you left behind? 

If you’re leaving, take everything with you. 

Ruel understood, yet there was only one command he could give to the unfamiliar monster.

“Rest in peace now.” 

Instantly, Ruel collapsed in place, overwhelmed by a sudden headache. 

A trickle of blood streamed from his nose.

-My friend and my master. 

The monster, raising its head again, looked at Ruel with golden eyes and smiled. 

-Goodbye. 

In an instant, it turned into silver dust. 

Even though it wasn’t purification, the same phenomenon occurred. 

As the wind blew, the dust scattered. 

At the same time, Ruel felt the emptiness and nostalgia of sending off a familiar being. 

‘Damn it…’ 

Ruel felt frustrated. 

The monster named Rupina, whom he had only encountered once, couldn’t be erased from his mind.

***

Ruel sighed as soon as he opened his eyes. 

The ceiling above him was unfamiliar once again.

‘But I didn’t collapse immediately, so I must have grown somewhat.’

Finding some solace in that, Ruel chuckled softly. 

He had a minor nosebleed as an aftereffect of controlling the monsters, but he was fine.

It seemed like he had walked for about 5 minutes, but he had lost consciousness afterward.

Leo’s large eyes came into Ruel’s view. 

—Ruel, Ruel. Are you awake?

“Nothing happened, right?”

Ruel looked around. 

It seemed like a few spirits had disappeared, but some still remained.

—Nothing happened! Um, about this body’s front paw…

Leo grabbed his own tail before finishing his sentence. 

—If this body gets the date wrong, are you going to grab this body’s tail again?

“Even if a lot of time has passed, it couldn’t be more than two days.” 

As someone who had collapsed before, Ruel knew. 

Even if he used the power to control monsters and collapsed, it never lasted more than two days. 

Feeling somewhat well-rested, it seemed like a day and a half had passed. 

—Ruel. 

Leo let go of his tail and leaned in close to Ruel’s face again.

“Why?”

—Did Ruel use purification?

“No. The shadows didn’t even move.” 

—But why did a phenomenon similar to purification happen with that monster?

Leo tilted his head in confusion. 

Ruel grabbed his head as a sudden realization hit him. 

“Was that truly purification?” 

—Yes! It was purification! Leo nodded in response to Ruel’s question.

-Someone is devouring my existence. I can no longer sustain myself.

Ruel remembered Rupina’s words and felt puzzled. 

‘Is Rupina being controlled by someone?’

-I am Rupina. The guardian and the one who obeys your commands. 

‘Rupina is not a monster….’ 

Ruel furrowed his brow and clenched his fist. 

‘That can’t be. This power can only control monsters, right?’ 

Ruel covered his face with both hands and took a deep breath.

-My friend and my master.

‘Rupina addressed me as its Master. Wasn’t this just Ruel Setiria’s power? Being the master of a monster. What’s this…?’

Trying to avoid dwelling on it any further, Ruel sat up. However, he immediately felt dizzy and had to lie back down on the bed.

—You shouldn’t get up suddenly like that! Leo exclaimed in alarm. 

“Why? What happened while I was unconscious?” 

Using the power to control monsters was only burdensome during its use, with no issues afterward. 

Leo was gradually disappearing from Ruel’s sight. 

Leo flattened himself on the bed and buried his face in the blanket.

—This body, this body ate something black because this body was hungry. This body was only supposed to eat a little, but it was so delicious… so this body ate a lot.

Only then did Ruel notice that his clothes had changed. Ruel rolled back the blanket and gently stroked Leo’s head. 

“If you’re hungry, you can eat.” 

—Ruel, are you not mad?

“I’m not.” 

When did Leo ask for permission and eat? 

It was quite amusing. 

Leo stood back in his place and wagged his tail.

—Hehe. It was so delicious! As expected, the black stuff that springs from Ruel’s body is the most delicious!

Creak. 

The sound of the door opening made Ruel turn his head. 

“Are you awake? How’s your body feeling?”

Cassion’s voice sounded slightly strained.

Aris stood behind him.

“It holds more grudges than it looks.”

Ruel chuckled and said, “Oh, please don’t misunderstand. It’s because the sound that comes every time the door opens is unpleasant.” 

Cassion glanced at the door, ready to grease it.

Then he brought a tray and placed it on the table. 

Before opening the lid of the tray, Cassion looked at Ruel with a mocking smile. 

“I didn’t say anything, but it seems like a guilty conscience needs no accuser, Ruel-nim.” 

A direct hit. 

Ruel looked at Cassion with an uncomfortable expression. 

“Leo, would you like to play with Aris for a while?” 

Since it was a topic that a talkative fox shouldn’t be involved in, Ruel sent Leo out differently than usual. 

—I will stay by Ruel’s side. 

Leo pouted. 

Cassion nodded slightly at Aris. 

“Leo.” Aris called Leo. 

—This body is not in the mood to play with Aris right now. This body will stay by Ruel’s side. 

“Besides that, don’t you want to go buy snacks with me? Ruel-nim hasn’t been able to eat anything and has been lying down all the time, so he must be very hungry.”

Leo slowly turned his head to look at Aris. 

His eyes were still full of discontent. 

“Leo, you’re going to choose something delicious for Ruel-nim.”

—This body? 

“Yeah. You know best what Ruel-nim likes.”

—This body knows! 

Only then did Leo smile broadly.

—This body knows how hard it is to be hungry! This body will choose something delicious for Ruel!

Ruel felt a sense of guilt as he looked at Leo’s innocent smile.

‘I’m sure he’s just happy to think it’ll help me, and whatever he chooses, I’ll make sure it’s delicious.’

—This body will be back. 

Leo was hugged by Aris, who waved his short front legs. 

Ruel waved his hand as well, and the door closed with a squeak.

Cassion brought a chair with a frown at the unpleasant sound.

He spoke up towards Ruel, who was sitting upright and inhaling Breath. 

“Is it worth sending out an innocent beast like that?”

Ruel knew that he usually didn’t send Leo away from his side. 

He sent Leo away because it was something that shouldn’t be heard by him.

“Cassion,” Ruel spoke with a deep frown.

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Do you remember when I first performed purification, and you questioned my identity?”

“I do remember,” Cassion replied. 

The memory of that moment was still vivid for him. However, now that he knew the reason behind Ruel’s ability to purify, he no longer doubted Ruel’s identity.

“The monster claims that I am its master,” Ruel revealed, causing Cassion to be taken aback.

“The… monster?” Cassion repeated, trying to comprehend the absurdity of the statement.

“I’m not joking,” Ruel said, looking at Cassion, who was in shock. 

“I’m not joking either. The master of a monster is obviously not a monster.”

If Ruel was a monster, it made sense that he could control monsters as well. 

It was obvious that the master of monsters could control them. 

“Cassion, stop talking nonsense.” 

Ruel’s voice rose.

Since it was not good for him to get angry, Cassion held back his itchy mouth and remained silent.

“I have no memories of my childhood,” Ruel continued, revealing that his childhood memories had been erased by someone. Cassion was aware of this fact, but Ruel himself was not. 

Cassion hesitated on whether to inform him of this.

“Perhaps someone granted you this power when you were young?” Cassion suggested. 

The demon named Rupina knew about him.

Rupina even said it received orders from him.

There was no doubt that Ruel had encountered that monster when he was young.

“It seems like I have more reasons to find the king.”

Cassion nodded.

“That’s right. First, we need to go back to the Beast Forest.”

“Pardon…?”

“We came here to chase the spirit, didn’t we? We need to achieve our goal.”

Cassion stared at Ruel as if he had been hit hard.

Whether he stared or spoke, Ruel lifted the corners of his mouth and said, “We’ll eat first and then set off again.”

***

—Was the cake this body chose delicious?

“Cough.”

Ruel nodded his head at the sudden cough.

—Really?

Leo’s eyes sparkled unusually today.

Ruel smiled and patted Leo, who was sitting on his shoulder.

“Yeah, it was delicious.”

—This body did it! This body was helpful to Ruel!

Leo nuzzled his face into Ruel’s arms and constantly waggled his tail.

They left the inn in the neutral zone and walked through the marketplace.

Since none of them had seen the neutral zone before, they decided to take a leisurely stroll around the outskirts of the Beast Forest, allowing themselves some extra time.

“Ruel-nim,” Cassion spoke quietly. Since Ruel mentioned going to the Beast Forest, Cassion’s expression hadn’t been favorable.

“Why?”

“Please accept this for now.”

Cassion handed Ruel a cane.

‘Why a cane all of a sudden?’

Briefly puzzled, Ruel soon turned his gaze around.

“Someone is watching you, Ruel-nim. I thought it would be wise to be prepared, so I’m giving this to you.”

Ruel’s doubts were resolved by Cassion’s small voice.

Ruel held onto Breath and asked.

“Is it the Red Ash?”

“I don’t believe so. They don’t seem to have any intention to attack.”

“Is that so?”

Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.

No one was chasing after him.

If someone were, Cassion would have already informed him.

‘They seem to be interested in me.’

Whether this person recognized his face or had heard the name ‘Ruel’ from Cassion or Aris, they clearly knew who he was. 

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have stared at him so intently, prompting Cassion to report it. 

Ruel didn’t know their intentions, but he had to confront them directly.

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