Chapter 997: 16.43 First Red Star - Don't run, You punk!

Archbishop Mayonaka Yoru had fallen under the spell of the two Cardinals, unbeknownst to the others. That was a forcefully imposed spell that now controls Mayonaka Yoru's body like a Marionette is a dark type control spell. Mayonaka Yoru now appears disoriented, like a soulless doll. He was expressionless as he stood in front of the two cardinals.

Cardinal Lemuel stated, "I told you it will work. Things in the Pope's chamber are all treasures!"

"Hah~ that scared me. I thought it would fail. I never expected it would immediately take effect after throwing it at the target." Cardinal Darius Rueden said.

Cardinal Lemuel Elon said, "We can't leave him like this or others will notice. If Esther Dawn learned we touched him, that brat would destroy our group by touching this brat."

"Indeed. I don't know why he is protecting a hybrid like this man especially since he is the Holy Son's right-hand person can't he just ask this brat to join them?"

"Or maybe this brat was invited yet he declined their invitation. This brat loves fighting alone." Cardinal Lemuel said as he finally commanded Mayonaka Yoru who fell under their spell and became a puppet for them to use. "You... Go back to the Underground Prisons and protect them well. Don't let anyone save that man at the lowest layer of the Water Dungeon."

"Yes, Master. Your wish is my command." Mayonaka Yoru responded. His reply was monotonous and like a puppet under someone's command. He left and returned to the underground prisons as he was ordered.

He returned to the underground dungeons as he was ordered and as soon as he felt all of the surveillance on him disappeared, he suddenly clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Tsk!

Mayonaka Yoru murmured, "Those old things had gotten crazy. Did they really think that a spell that targets control would work on a puppeteer like me??"

Luciel Dawn, who had been listening to the sounds outside his cave, noticed that Mayonaka Yoru had returned. He even heard him mumbling but himself as usual.

"You are back, Yoru-kun. Still so frustrated as always. Did you get more work to do?" Asked Luciel Dawn.

Mayonaka Yoru squats in front of the stone door of Luciel Dawn's Water Dungeon Prison and asks, "Uncle Luc, don't you know that the reason they summoned me is because of you? They said that some people from the other factions are definitely going to attack this place. Are they here to save you?"

"...They already heard about that. Well, the intelligence division of the Templar Temple has always been neat. Did they tell you to watch over me and prevent the others from rescuing me? What are you going to do then?" Luciel Dawn asked.

Mayonaka Yoru sat on the floor and leaned on the stone walk with his two hands placed being his head,

"What should I do then? I'm just going to pretend to defend this place and give you a way to them. I mean they even used a Puppetry Spell on me just to keep you in there. Uncle Luc, who are you really?" He asked in curiosity.

Luciel Dawn admired the young man's forthright demeanor. He is straightforward and distinguishes between likes and dislikes. He wouldn't make a move if he didn't have to and would act for as long as he wanted, even if it meant dying. Furthermore, due to his half-blood history, he must have grown accustomed to other people's judgmental gaze. Despite the fact that some half-bloods were stronger than purebloods, the majority looked down on them.

"Hmm~ well, they would definitely be afraid. If I got out of here whole their Pope is not there to protect them then... Templar Temple would definitely fall. After all, I am stronger than Kenan Light." Luciel Dawn said.

Taken aback by surprise, Mayonaka Yoru exclaims, "WHAT!? What do you mean by that, Old man!?"

"This rude brat. Call me, Uncle!"

"Tsk. I'll call you father-in-law instead..."

"I don't have a wild son like you! My darling son is smart and gentle. He must be quite big right now, at least near your age a bit younger. If you two meet I'm going to introduce you to one another. If only you didn't have a beloved I would want you as a son-in-law."

"Nevermind, I'm just going to call you Uncle."

"d.a.m.n, Punk."

Luciel Dawn immediately became silent, as if contemplating over something, which perplexed Mayonaka Yoru. They can chat for hours on end and never seem to run out of topics to discuss. This is the first time the old man has abruptly stopped speaking.

Mayonaka Yoru worriedly asked, "What's wrong, Uncle Luc? You suddenly stopped talking."

"Yoru-kun, did you really want to know who I am? Maybe after learning my ident.i.ty what you used to believe about the Temple would overturn. If you can accept the possibility of losing your faith to the Templar Temple then I will tell you who I am." Luciel Dawn said.

Silence~

Mayonaka Yoru was taken aback when the Uncle suddenly became serious. It appears that his request for his identification was a serious landmine that he couldn't dodge. He had to answer this question now that he had been asked who he was.

"I am not really loyal to the Templar Temple. I only remain in this place because my beloved is from this place. He happens to work for the Holy Son. Even though I don't want to work under someone, I also don't want to leave him in this dangerous place alone. You don't need to worry Uncle Luc. The Holy Son doesn't get along with the Pope even though they are masters and disciples. As you all know that all disciples of the Pope are..."

"Dead. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d used devour spells to eat their life force to extend his life and stole their powers to get stronger. Pope Keylan never taught him something like that. He learned it in some forbidden grimoire. In the end, he still put it into practice ha." Luciel Dawn said. "It was because of his ambitions and greed that he even killed his own master for the position of the Pope. He is no longer a human."

"For real! He killed his master. No wonder I feel there is a weird scent of death on him. Is he undead?"

"No. He can't wield light energy if he is dead. He is a Quasi-Necromancer. Either way, be careful of being alone with him. He can use the Devour spell on anyone anytime." Luciel Dawn warned.

Mayonaka Yoru said, "Ah! Right... I heard something unexpected happen within the Blood Clan. They found a new heir. It's a Pureblood Vampire Princess. Her name is... What was it again...? Abby? Ann? Am...?"

"Amber Dawn"

"That's right. That's the name. I heard she is Archbishop Dawn's Younger Sister. Este-chan is more beautiful though." Mayonaka Yoru mumbled the last sentence in a low voice so Luciel didn't hear it as for the rest of the sentences he heard all of it.

Luciel Dawn said, "How can she be chosen as an heir? My darling daughter... Is it because of her yin-yang Elements?"

Mayonaka Yoru was taken aback by what he heard as Luciel Dawn was murmuring a few things on his own. He didn't want to overhear Uncle Luciel's rambling, but in such a quiet area, even a murmur can be plainly heard, especially because they are the only ones on the bottom floor.

"D-Daughter? Amber Dawn is your daughter, Uncle Luc. T-T-Then... Esther Dawn, who is he to you?" Mayonaka Yoru asked with a shaking voice.

Luciel Dawn heard his question and answered honestly, "Este? He is my son, Esther Dawn. You know I have two children right? My daughter is called Amber and I named my son, Esther. Both are good children. I will introduce them to you next time."

Luciel Dawn, the adoring father, proudly talked and boasted about his children. What he didn't realize was that the young man he had become close to had a surprised expression on his face outside the stone door of his cell. His eyes enlarged in amazement, and his mouth formed an 'O' shape large enough to fit a chicken egg.

Mayonaka Yoru's body reacts before his mind could process anything, unlocking the stone entrance to Luciel Dawn's Water Dungeon. Luciel Dawn, who was bound within, closed his eyes immediately due to the unexpected light that seeped through the fissure. Fortunately, Mayonaka Yoru locked the door again after entering. A dimmer light dispersed around the dungeon served as the area's lighting. He cut the chain around Luciel Dawn's neck and hands and afterward dragged him out of the water.

Luciel Dawn sat down on the ground, free of the chain and the ice pool. Before he could respond, a blanket was placed around him, and someone employed wind components to dry his entire body while simultaneously beginning to cure his surface wounds. Mayonaka Yoru was the one who did everything, but Luciel Dawn couldn't comprehend why the young man went against his mission.

Mayonaka Yoru restored Luciel Dawn's hoa.r.s.e throat, and it wasn't as raspy as it had been. He can still sense his body's weakness. More than that, he is perplexed as to why this punk decided to help him while knowing he is Amber's father.

'What is going on with this brat? Had he lost his mind, why would he destroy the restrictions on me? Those old men would definitely know I was freed. Wait a minute. He suddenly made a move when he heard I called Amber my daughter. Don't tell me!!?' Thoughts of the doting father named Luciel Dawn.

Mayonaka Yoru kneels on one knee before Luciel Dawn. With a serious expression on his face, he asked,

"I want to formally ask the hand of your son, Luciel Dawn, Father-in-law!"

"I'm not going to give you my daughter so easily!!"

The two were both flabbergasted by what they heard. They were surprised to hear an answer that differed from what they had envisioned in their imaginations. The two looked stunned at each other with the identical expression of astonishment on their faces. They both appear amusing since they were somewhat comparable at the time.

"I don't want your daughter. I want your son."

"Is it Esther the one that you like!?"

Mayonaka Yoru answered honestly, "Well, yes. I love your son. I mean I choose to be designated in the prisons because I wanted to help Este-chan find his father. All these years I have checked all the old and new prisoners that entered the Underground Dungeon. He only said his father has gold hair and purple eyes. But Uncle Luc, how come your hair has turned white, and aren't your eyes supposed to be golden?"

"This water dungeon extracts my powers, especially the ice pool. It was specially made to not only restrain my abilities but also to drain the light elements in my body. My hair turned white due to this. As for my eyes... I gave it away to protect my daughter," answered Luciel Dawn.

Mayonaka Yoru looked into his uncle's eyes and waved his hand in front of them. As he saw him react to his actions, he was perplexed since he had just been told that his uncle's sight had been sacrificed for the benefit of his daughter.

"Uncle Luc, you aren't blind. That means... You gave away your heavenly eyes! Those are extremely rare!" Exclaims Mayonaka Yoru.

Luciel Dawn smiled and said, "Compared to the lives of my children that things aren't much." Then he recalled this man asking for the hand of his son, it was something that left him flabbergasted for a moment. He said, "Instead, let's talk about the relations.h.i.+p between you and Este. Care to tell the old man what's the relations.h.i.+p between you two, you brat."

"U-Uncle Luc... How about you heal yourself first?" Suggested Mayonaka Yoru while taking a step back.

Glaring at this d.a.m.n brat, Luciel said, "Don't run, you punk!"