No Entry Except for the Master - Chapter 77

He had wandered across the entire continent, hiding his identity as a writer by selling tales of the past, all the while waiting for her to be reborn. His corrupted body was no longer connected to her soul, but even so, he was confident that he would recognize her the moment she appeared.

So how deeply grateful Hecate had been when he heard, quite by chance, from some ignorant man, a story about a rabbit that turned into a human—sold off by none other than himself.

When he realized that the animals transformed into mere beasts by his curse had begun reacting to the returning divine power and regaining their werebeast forms, he was certain of it: Ravie had been reborn into this world.

“I could have met you first. I knew of your existence before he did…”

The rabbit thrashed and cried. She even bit down hard on his fingers, but the man’s grip didn’t loosen at all.

Hecate rubbed his face all over the rabbit’s body, kissing the small creature over and over again as if he meant to devour her whole. The cold aura of the corrupted spirit plunged her into terror. That ominous presence forced her to recall the nightmare-like scenes from that wretched day.

“If he truly loved you, he would’ve gladly let you go for your own happiness. But he didn’t. Back then or now, he’s a man who thinks only of himself. I’m the one who saved you from him.”

Hecate clamped down on the rabbit’s long ear and, like a mantra, kept forcing his words into the trembling creature’s ears. Slurp. His wet tongue lewdly licked the small rabbit’s body all over.

The rabbit burst into tears, wailing “Hyaaaang” miserably, but no one paid any attention to her sorrowful cries. Drenched in madness and disturbingly aroused, Hecate’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction—because to him, the crying rabbit was nothing more than a product safely contained.

“I even brought back the werebeast you loved. We’ll build our paradise here again. Once we bring the rest of the werebeasts, I’ll make sure no human ever finds this island. Just like I promised.”

“Haah… gross. Huff… will you just shut the hell up?”

The rabbit, drooping like a dead body and shedding sorrowful tears, suddenly whipped her head around. Teia, who had struggled up the stairs, slowly stepped into the room, wiping the flowing blood from his arm with his sleeve.

The rabbit reached out her arms and flailed toward him, desperate to run into his embrace. Hecate’s grip tightened.

“I hear you’ve been making all the noise, running your mouth alone… Whether it’s paradise or hell, make it on your own time. Now hand over my rabbit.”

Beeep! Beep!

“And you,” Teia added, his breathing ragged, “didn’t I tell you if you followed just anyone around again, I wouldn’t let it slide?”

It wasn’t like I followed him, I was kidnapped!

But even that unfairness vanished the moment she saw Teia again. Overwhelmed with joy, she couldn’t think of anything else. Her tears stopped flowing, and with droplets still clinging to her lashes, the rabbit began to thrash wildly.

Teia let out a long sigh and drove the sword he’d nearly dropped into the floor to prop himself up. He had no uninjured part left on his body after jumping off the cliff with the rabbit in his arms. It felt like he had internal injuries causes every breath brought blood up from his throat. Even his soft white hair, reminiscent of warm milk foam, was stained red with blood.

And yet, when he saw the struggling rabbit, he felt relieved: At least Lilith wasn’t hurt.

“You should’ve taken my kindness and left the island. But of course, you had to follow me all the way here.”

“If you don’t want a gift from a thief, take it back. I’m happy to return it.”

Teia gave a crooked smile, his expression still smug despite his ruined body. He wore the face of a calm victor.

When he leapt off the cliff with the rabbit, he had realized: ordinary magic couldn’t be used on this island. Someone was gripping all the mana that existed here, making it impossible to move. It was as if one of his weapons had been taken, but Teia didn’t care.

“I couldn’t care less about your memories. But maybe try respecting my rabbit’s free will, when she’s clearly saying she wants to return to her master.”

“You really think I’d return her to you, after finally getting her in my hands?”

“Why are you saying something different now? Didn’t you once preach, in that oh-so-noble tone, that if she could be happier away from you, you’d let her go gladly?”

“That’s because she’d never be happy by your side!”

Teia waved an empty hand, and a blade-sharp wind shot toward him. He grabbed the sword he’d planted in the floor and deflected the invisible strike. A strand of hair was sliced off by the breeze that grazed him.

“And who the hell are you to decide that, you piece of s**t.”

Teia’s face froze cold. Straightening the body that had been slumping from pain, he stood tall. The stench of blood pouring from his wounds sharpened his senses. The pain-cleared mind left no room for cluttered thoughts.

As Teia’s energy began to surge violently, Hecate shoved Lilith back into the cage. Thrown roughly, she hit the iron bars with a loud thunk, her vision spinning dizzyingly.

“Hiik! Beep…!”

Grabbing her throbbing head, Lilith tried to regain her senses. Meanwhile, Teia and Hecate clashed with full force.

Hecate fought with a weapon that had no shape only wind, earth, and water all bent to his will. Though his corrupted soul hadn’t regained its former glory, now that he had returned to the island, he could use parts of his power freely.

Teia, with his shattered body from the cliff fall, couldn’t be considered a proper match. It was only because he had reached a level beyond human limits that he was even able to block Hecate’s attacks a few times. But as the fight dragged on, Teia’s body took on more and more injuries.

“Keugh!”