The Red Lamp of Lacorinto
'It's suffocating.'
Roberta thought to herself.
That single thought summed up the atmosphere of the group over the past few days.
Ever since the inquisitor Beatrice and her two attendants joined the journey toward the County of Luogallan, the mood within Ulrich's party had changed.
After all, groups that were baring their teeth at one another had now become traveling companions. They watched each other's movements closely, raising their guard.
It wasn't that their relationship was openly hostile or provocative—but perhaps because of that, the tension felt even tighter. With no real conversation, only cautious glances exchanged, there was no progress in their relationship. Roberta and Fritz, caught between the two groups, also found themselves speaking less.
The only one unaffected by the atmosphere was Ulrich.
Riding at the front, he would casually toss out remarks like, "Looks like it's going to rain," "Let's stop for a meal," or "We should make camp around here."
Whenever he did, someone would respond, and brief conversations would spark among the group. Without even that, they likely would have traveled in silence all day.
As this mood dragged on for several days, Fritz cautiously asked,
"It'll get better once we reach Luogallan, right?"
"…I'm not sure."
Roberta trailed off.
The three groups traveling together all had different purposes. Ulrich's party was headed to the Pantheon, the young lord's party was returning home under escort, and the inquisitor's group was investigating the demonic realm.
Therefore, it would be natural for them to part ways as soon as they reached Luogallan. But things rarely went as planned. Even upon reaching their destination, Roberta doubted their journey together would end.
"You know what Ulrich is like. He might suggest investigating the demonic realm. If that happens, we'll be traveling with Lady Beatrice even longer."
And even after that, there was the question of what came next. After the investigation—would they split off to continue it further, or head to the Pantheon to report?
"Come to think of it, she seems very curious about Lord Ulrich. When Lord Elias or Lady Vermelani are around, she stays quiet—but when they're apart, she keeps asking me all sorts of questions."
Roberta shook her head.
"You didn't slip up, did you?"
Instead of answering, Fritz simply shrugged. That was enough. He was a tight-lipped boy. It was something Roberta had realized while investigating Ulrich shortly after being assigned to Dithmarschen.
"It's similar to back then."
"Similar? What is?"
"The way she is… doesn't she remind you of how you were when you first arrived in Dithmarschen, Sister?"
Roberta made an incredulous face.
"I don't think I was that bad."
Fritz replied firmly,
"You were worse."
A day passed after they entered the County of Luogallan.
As always, they set out early in the morning from their campsite and rode until the sun stood high in the sky. After traveling across flat terrain for a long while, they spotted a village in the distance.
Ulrich's group headed toward it. In the previous city they had visited, they had heard about this village. It was said to be half a day's journey from Terbu, the central city of Luogallan—but there were no signs of life.
"It looks like they evacuated."
Fritz said as they passed through the fields.
The fields, stripped bare after the autumn harvest, lay exposed. Autumn was a season of both harvest and sowing—one gathered the fruits of the past while planting seeds for the next.
But here, tools were left abandoned on the dry soil, with no owner in sight. And it wasn't just the fields—the entire village was deserted.
Every house stood open. Inside, visible through the doors, was a mess, and all sorts of belongings lay scattered across the roads.
"It doesn't seem like it's been long. Look over there."
Elias, the duke's son, covered his nose as they passed an inn. A foul stench lingered. Food left in a pot had rotted, attracting swarms of insects.
The group rode through the village, surveying it. It was in disarray, but there were no dead bodies—only a few collapsed animals.
"It seems their response was quick."
Roberta said.
"Because of monsters?"
"Most likely. There are no corpses on either side, but given the circumstances, that seems to be the case."
They hadn't heard of any war breaking out near Luogallan. Instead, on their way here, they had encountered monsters frequently—hunting them almost daily.
"Then… the demonic realm really is in Luogallan? We've fought quite a few monsters on the way here, but never enough to force an evacuation like this."
Roberta remained silent at Elias's question. He was right. An increase in both frequency and numbers meant that the demonic realm was nearby.
"Then isn't Terbu in danger too?"
Roberta glanced toward the fairy, Vermelani.
Hearing the young lord's muttering, the fairy's expression stiffened. Roberta could read the conflict on her face.
Had she come to Luogallan to ensure the young lord's safety, only to bring him into greater danger?
But the fairy did not halt the journey. After a brief moment of thought, she followed Ulrich out of the village. The group once again crossed the wide plains.
After traveling for some time across the open fields, Ulrich suddenly turned his head.
Since the one leading the group had abruptly looked back, everyone behind him followed his gaze.
"What is it?"
Roberta asked. She looked toward the horizon as Ulrich did, but saw nothing—only the brown earth meeting the blue sky in the distance.
He was not the type to act without reason. From her experience, whenever he behaved unexpectedly, it was because something unexpected was happening.
"We're being pursued."
With that single statement, Ulrich turned his horse around.
Startled by the sudden action of their leader, the remaining seven quickly followed. Each of them gripped their weapons while riding.
Soon, several figures appeared beyond the horizon.
At the front were two people riding horses at full speed. Behind them were more than a dozen monsters in pursuit.
Roberta felt a sense of familiarity at the sight of those monsters.
And she wasn't the only one—Fritz must have felt it too.
At first glance, they looked like wolves—but they were beasts with horns and spines.
"Canipus!" Fritz shouted.
They were the monsters once controlled by a Galua on the way to attend the Osnover royal wedding—Canipus. A pack of them was chasing two fleeing riders.
The distance between the two sides was still considerable, but it was closing rapidly. And Ulrich's group was even farther away.
"Come this way! Over here!"
Elias urged his horse forward, shouting. But his voice didn't carry, and the fugitives did not turn. They continued to move farther from Ulrich's group—and closer to the monsters.
The Canipus were fast and tireless. No matter how swift a horse might be, once they set their sights on prey, escape was nearly impossible.
"Bel! Do something!"
"They're too far! We need to get closer!"
Just then, the leading rider stumbled.
"…!"
The horse lost its footing, rolled, and crashed to the ground.
There was no time to recover. The pack of Canipus descended upon them. Though the distance was great, Roberta felt as though she heard a scream.
Half of the pack began devouring their prey, while the other half continued chasing the second fugitive. The exhausted horse could no longer keep its distance—the gap shrank quickly.
"At this rate, we'll be too late."
Beatrice raised her right hand as she spoke.
"Fritz, come here."
Ulrich called to the boy.
Though his voice was low enough to be nearly drowned out by the pounding hooves, Fritz heard him and steered his horse closer.
Ulrich spoke again. This time, his voice was lost to the surrounding noise, but Fritz widened his eyes and asked in disbelief,
"You want me to strike the Canipus from here?"
"Yes."
The boy pressed his lips together and stared at the distant monsters.
The distance was far too great. Even a fairy's arrow couldn't guarantee a hit from that range—yet he was being told to control mana and strike them?
Perhaps it would be possible for a mage bearing the name of one of the Five Sages—but for a boy who had only just begun to understand magic, it was unthinkable.
"…Understood."
Unable to refuse his master, the boy moved his mana.
Mana flowed toward him like wind, filling the vessel of his body.
Heat shimmered faintly around him. He gathered the mana within his body into his right hand, then channeled it into the branch of the spirit tree.
"…!"
He bit his lip, letting out a strained sound. He had drawn too much mana. In trying to reach the distant Canipus, he had pulled in a vast amount—but he could not control it.
The mana gathered in the branch leaked out like water from a broken dam. He gripped the branch tightly, trying to stop it, but the tighter he held, the more mana slipped away.
"Stay as you are."
"Y-Yes?"
Ulrich reached out.
From atop his running horse, he grabbed Fritz by the back of the neck. Like a mother carrying her young, he lifted the boy with one hand and placed him in front of him.
Startled, Fritz looked up at him with wide eyes. Ulrich met his gaze calmly, then placed his hand over the boy's hand gripping the branch.
"Mana is not as complicated as you think."
The leaking mana stopped.
"Did I not tell you? Think of it simply."
The shimmering air faded as well. The artificial turbulence vanished, replaced by a natural, steady flow—like mana returning to its proper course.
"How…?"
"The sacrament I granted you is authority, and what resides within mana is the wind of the heavens. The will that governs it is yours—and magic is the manifestation of what you desire."
Confusion clouded Fritz's face. He didn't understand.
"Fritz, who is the god you believe in?"
The boy answered, but Ulrich shook his head.
Fritz tried again.
"Lady Ganymea."
"Yes. Then ask of her. Reveal your will as you would offer a prayer to the heavens, and command the mana that carries her wind. If it resonates with her, the mana will follow."
Ulrich positioned the spirit tree branch before Fritz.
The boy steadied his expression, his eyes sharpening. He exhaled slowly, then spoke in a quiet chant.
"O Mother of Knowledge and Order, Ganymea—"
A massive amount of mana began to gather at the tip of the branch.
Ulrich watched, and at a certain moment, lifted Fritz's hand.
White clouds formed in the clear sky. Soon, they darkened.
"Deliver judgment upon the sins sown by the evil god Galpa."
In an instant, the world turned white.
A heartbeat later—crack.
Thunder roared, deafening.
Lightning had fallen.
From a clear sky, dark clouds had gathered—and lightning struck.
The bolt slammed into a Canipus just as it leapt from the ground.
"!"
The beast, which had been about to seize the rider in its jaws, collapsed instantly. No scream followed.
And the punishment from the heavens did not end there.
As the remaining Canipus halted in shock, more bolts followed in rapid succession.
The group brought their horses to a stop in the field. The continued lightning frightened the horses, so they simply watched until every last Canipus was struck down.
"Do not forget this sensation."
When all the monsters had died, Ulrich spoke in the returning silence. As before, he lifted Fritz by the back of the neck and set him back onto his own horse, which stood idly without its rider.
Roberta looked at the dazed boy, then turned her gaze to the aftermath scattered across the field.
She had seen scenes like this before.
Some, she had even witnessed firsthand.
Oxsana Narses—the witch who, blinded by jealousy, turned her stepdaughter into a four-legged beast—had done something very similar.
Which meant—
The boy had, if only for a moment, reached the same realm as a witch who wielded the name of one of the Five Sages.
READ MORE CHAPTERS HERE : https://beastnovels.com/