Adopted Daughter Role Overdone 142

Dexial was one of the notorious villains who had carved a fearsome reputation alongside Hela.

““Hehehe. Rejoice in becoming my experimental offering.””

In particular, he conducted human experiments in the pursuit of dark magic, with many powerless individuals sacrificed along the way. Among these were numerous sadistic and perverse experiments unrelated to dark magic.

“The ultimate goal of human experimentation was to acquire a robust body like that of Duke Brandia.”

Dexial was born in the slums. From birth, he was frail and had poor vision, suffering greatly from bullying.

He endured terrible abuses from a huge man next door, while his parents failed to protect him. One fateful night when he was 19.

That night was horrific for Dexial. His parents worked late at the magic stone factory, leaving him home alone. The man next door ultimately broke into Dexial’s house that night.

““Come on, be a good boy, Dexial. I’m not a bad person. Come here.””

Dexial could not resist.

He was too scared to do anything.

Dexial was filled with rage.

What made him even angrier was that his parents witnessed the scene and acted as if they didn’t.

His parents feared the man next door, too. Dexial sank into deep despair. Self-hatred for being unable to do anything, rage against his parents for not protecting him, and disgust for their cowardice in ignoring the horrible situation consumed Dexial.

““Do you want to become strong?””

One day, he heard a voice.

““You can become stronger if you contract with me.””

An evil spirit approached him.

He contracted with the evil spirit and delved into dark magic.

““I need offerings, contracted one.”

He made his mother and father his offerings.” Killing direct lineage and drinking their blood was the best way to grow in dark magic.

Years later, he brutally killed the man next door and drank his blood.

“That night, he killed everyone in the slum.”

The people in the slum knew all about Dexial’s circumstances. Yet no one came to help him. They all remained silent and turned away.

Dexial asked.

““Why didn’t anyone help me?”

“Because if you suffered, we could all live in peace.””

Dexial knew. The people of the slum were actually grateful to him.

As long as only Dexial suffered.

As long as only Dexial was sacrificed.

In return, the others could enjoy peace. ““You’re dirtier than that bastard.””

He brutally massacred everyone in the slum. His sadism towards men knew no bounds. In [Bellatu's Shadow], it was described as too horrific to depict in detail.

“As time passed, he began conducting serious human experiments. If only I had a strong body like Duke Brandia’s, such tragedies wouldn’t have occurred…

If I hadn’t been small. If my vision had been clear, such horrific events wouldn’t have taken place. Hence, Dexial sacrificed countless people.

He achieved some research success.

Then one day, he learned that Duke Brandia’s youngest daughter was moving alone without a guard. ‘Today is the day.

Such an opportunity wouldn’t come again.

Duke Brandia’s youngest daughter.

I must dissect her to uncover Brandia’s secrets.’ He had hidden himself until now, preying only on the weak.

‘Your skin, your muscles, your nerves, your organs, I must take them all.’

It would be the day his wish was fulfilled.

*

Zeno was smiling cheerfully.

“Our princess holds her family dear.”

Viola flinched momentarily. In the novel, Zeno rarely got truly angry.

In [Bellatu's Shadow], it was explained:

“He used the final technique of the Rasbon Ice Sword Art, ‘Frozen World,’ only when genuinely angry.”

‘Is this… the Frozen World?’ It involved transforming the properties of surrounding mana to be close to ice, maximizing Rasbon’s Ice Sword Art.

It consumed immense power, but it guaranteed destructive force and lethality.

“The ‘Frozen World’ also had connections to magic. Some referred to Rasbon’s Ice Sword Art not merely as swordsmanship but as magic swordsmanship.”

Zeno continued speaking. “He came to swear an oath with his family. Our princess.”

“What are you?”

Zeno drew his sword and placed his right hand on his chest, bowing slightly. “I am Viola’s butler.”

Dexial grew tense. While he couldn’t pinpoint Zeno’s true identity, he sensed an unusual momentum.

‘Damn!’

What kind of monster is he? He had received information that Selbin was moving alone, but he still prepared for any contingency.

Having studied Brandia’s traits for years, he felt confident.

‘Brandia shouldn’t be able to breach this barrier.’

Blood relatives of Brandia or those trained in Brandia’s martial arts couldn’t penetrate this barrier. Yet it seemed the real concern wasn’t any strength from Brandia’s side. “It would be appreciated if you could step aside, as our princess needs to make a sacred vow.”

Zeno walked steadily and stood in front of Dexial. Dexial instinctively assessed the situation.

‘It would be troublesome to fight here.’

The barrier and illusion magic were not all-powerful. How long could he block all travelers’ eyes and ears?

If a major fight broke out here, his movements would be exposed, revealing his identity.

‘They don’t know who I am.’

So today, he needed to take a step back for the sake of his next move. ‘I’ll wait for the next opportunity.’

Dexial raised his hands, signaling his surrender.

“My apologies. I’ll withdraw.”

“That’s a good choice.”

Zeno had his back to Viola. He had always smiled, but today, he did not.

His eyes were cold and settled. “Please be on your way.”

You will be going very far. Yet he did not say that. “Watch out for poison.

Outside the barrier, Sheilan was waiting.

*

Viola felt something was off.

Not only was it strange that Zeno used the ‘Frozen World,’ but it was also odd that he let Dexial go after employing such a technique.

‘He must have intended to finish things.’

So Viola deduced. ‘Someone must be waiting outside.’

Since this was the place for a sacred blood oath, it was evident he didn’t want to spill dirty blood here.

Though someone was waiting, she couldn’t discern who it was.

Viola said.

“Zeno, before you kill him.”

Zeno flinched. He turned to look at Viola.

His expression transformed completely; no longer the same as when he faced Dexial, he smiled gently and awaited Viola’s command.

“Clearly ascertain his affiliation and name.”

Dexial was a notorious villain, but in truth, he was little more than a lackey. The true body was the dark magician group ‘Death,’ and Dexial was merely the tail.

Viola smirked on purpose.

“You dared to interfere with my oath.”

Though it wasn’t something she relished, she still invoked the righteous cause. “You interrupted my precious time with my dear sibling. I’m quite displeased.”

At her words, Selbin beamed as if she had the entire world.

“My dear sibling, my dear sibling, my dear sibling,” she chanted repeatedly.

Then she yelled. “Selbin is my dear sibling! Hehe!”

Viola continued speaking. “His robe had markings indicating his group. Investigate and find out for sure. You may request assistance from Brandia.”

“Understood, my princess.”

Though it was unfortunate to have met Dexial, this was another opportunity for Viola. The dark magician Dexial was deeply connected to the shadowy figure ‘Heat Wind’ in the novel.

Death and Heat Wind were both highly dangerous groups for Viola.

Thus, the quicker the absolute beings of this world recognized those two groups, the better. Especially the fiery Duke Brandia would never forgive today’s events. ‘The absolute beings will learn about the secret organizations.’

What had saddened Viola as she read the novel was that the absolute beings showed little interest in the secret organizations. Naturally, that was how the story progressed. However, things would change now.

There would be many variables, but still, Viola felt this choice was right.

She began to draw those working in the shadows into the light.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes!”

Viola and Selbin entered the Black Temple.

‘Huh?’

There was no one around. This in itself wasn’t strange. One could assume no one entered the temple due to Dexial’s barrier.

‘There are no monsters either.’

A sinister energy was palpable. ‘Nothing here.’

It felt as if it was a manipulated space, infused with an unsettling discomfort. A voice resounded.

“You’ve awakened the Black Calamity.”

Its origin was unclear. “You’ve resurrected the spirit of Storm Blade Jackal and awakened the Sword Demon Ersa. You commendably thwarted the Forget-Me-Not Alliance’s terror.

And you also killed my contractor?” Selbin thudded the ground with a bang. The temple floor tremored in response.

“Who’s messing around over there? Hurry and show yourself!”

Her pronunciation was precise. Her tongue was not short.

A voice responded.

“It seems you must die.”

Viola placed a hand on Selbin’s shoulder, who was growing agitated. Selbin took a deep breath, looking at Viola.

“Big sister?”

“Stay still.”

“Why?”

Selbin’s tongue seemed to shorten again. “I’m your big sister.”

Viola ruffled Selbin’s hair. Viola wasn’t entirely steady either.

However, she hid her nervousness and spoke into the void. “Wilderness Evil Spirit.”

A ‘contract’ that was difficult to grasp unless one were a reader, and even harder to remember unless one were a true reader. “Remove the shadows and face the light.”