"Why are you just silent? Answer me!"
Null Scribe's intense pressure spread throughout the Nihility Collapse.
"Answer me!"
He drew closer.
The pressure intensified, growing stronger.
It felt as if Hastora's soul was being ripped apart.
"A—Alright… I—"
Hastora struggled against the terrifying pressure, his legs trembling violently.
He wanted to continue his answer, but his mouth refused to move.
What the hell was this?
At this rate, his very existence could be erased from this world.
He had to do something.
Otherwise…
He would never return.
This was his greatest fear when attempting to return to the Nihility Collapse.
Even though Null Scribe was a being who couldn't break his promises, he was also a creature who loved to test his interlocutors.
He would exert immense pressure, inflict profound fear, even launch mental attacks on his opponents.
This was a fact, and it was powerfully evident now.
Hastora tried his best to move his mouth, but…
"You can't answer simply because I'm applying such weak pressure? Pathetic!"
Null Scribe's words froze Hastora in place. Those words…
Felt like a statement of fact.
Hastora gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tight.
"I…"
He realized his mouth was moving again.
Null Scribe's words had pushed him to resist the intense pressure.
Hastora stared straight ahead, his red eyes flashing momentarily.
"I—I… just want my payment."
The intense pressure vanished the moment he said that.
Hastora collapsed, gasping for breath.
"I thought my soul would vanish," he clutched at his chest.
Null Scribe floated slightly higher.
Although the intense pressure had disappeared, it felt as if it hadn't really gone away at all.
Get out of here! That creature is dangerous! his common sense screamed, urging him to leave.
Despite this, Hastora didn't move. He waited for an answer.
Would Null Scribe respond and speak to him?
Or would he refuse to answer and annihilate his soul?
He couldn't be sure.
Both possibilities hinged on Null Scribe's response.
---
Inside the Imperial Palace, Valeska von Asterea's chambers.
Valeriane's sobs showed no sign of stopping.
She had been crying for over ten minutes, with no change in her weeping.
Elyshara, clearly unsettled, covered her ears with her fingers, eyes fixed straight ahead.
"Please don't cry, Your Majesty. I'm sure Hastora will return soon… and he'll find a way to save Valeska."
Though she appeared composed, the scene struck a chord deep within her.
She had been through something like this before—
once, she had been the child in bed, while her own mother wept beside her.
When she lay sick in bed, it was her mother who cared for her, weeping the while.
Having lived for 5,000 years, she understood Valeriane's feelings perfectly.
The fear of losing her only daughter was the same fear Elyshara's mother had felt.
Unbeknownst to her, tears welled up on her face. She quickly wiped them away.
Mirellia also hadn't stopped crying since Hastora's departure.
She had tried everything to comfort Valeriane, but nothing worked.
Clang Clang Clang…
The sound of a knock on the golden door echoed through the room.
Valeriane quickly wiped her eyes.
She didn't want anyone outside the room to see her crying.
She stood and spoke.
"Mirellia, please open the door," she commanded.
Mirellia rose from her chair.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mirellia walked to the golden door and opened it.
A maid with brown hair and brown eyes stood outside.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I'm here to deliver a message," the maid bowed.
Valeriane, suppressing her tears, asked.
"A message? From whom?"
"From your husband, His Imperial Majesty Lucien."
Valeriane's eyes widened. "Deliver it."
"I will return in a few days. That's the message."
Valeriane smiled faintly at this, then turned back to Valeska.
"Alright. You may go," she said.
The maid stepped back, bowing.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave," she said before closing the door.
Valeriane, calmer than before after hearing her husband's message, no longer cried.
Instead, she smiled and hugged Valeska tightly.
"Your father will be back soon, Valeska. I hope he can save you."
Elyshara felt a little uneasy at these words.
While Hastora was away in a place that undoubtedly endangered his life, Valeriane seemed unconcerned about his efforts.
She smoothed her skirt.
'Hastora,I hope you're alright.I know you're doing something dangerous. '
'Idon't know where you are, but you must return safely. '
Elyshara smiled faintly, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Simply thinking this calmed her slightly.
She closed her eyes and leaned back in her wooden chair.
---
Nihility Collapse
"So, what's the verdict?" Hastora narrowed his eyes.
Null Scribe remained silent, saying nothing. This sent a chill down Hastora's spine.
But he couldn't let Null Scribe remain silent indefinitely.
He needed an answer—or everything he'd done would be meaningless.
He'd risked his life to come here for his payment, not to watch Null Scribe remain silent.
Again, Hastora asked, "So, what? Can I claim my payment?"
"…"
Null Scribe didn't answer.
Remaining as silent as before.
Hastora felt a little annoyed, but he couldn't show it here.
This might be a test from Null Scribe, a test of Hastora's patience.
He might want to see how calmly Hastora could react.
Of course, Hastora would gladly accept the challenge.
He decided not to ask again.
Silently, he stared calmly at Null Scribe.
He had to remain calm.
He couldn't show any emotion other than calmness.
He just had to wait until Null Scribe gave in and answered.
To be continued in the next chapter…