As the name suggests, it referred to one who could command insects as if they were their own limbs. Derod was born a Bug Master. From an early age, he displayed an exceptional talent for handling insects. From tiny bugs to massive insect-type beasts, he could control them freely. Even dangerous insect-type beasts like the Red Locusts regarded Derod as their mother and followed him. Depending on how it was used, it was an ability that could exert a fraudulent level of power—yet paradoxically, Derod was despised in El Harun. Beastkin like Shapping, whose bodies were honed and powerful, considered commanding insects to be an act of cowardice. And lofty races like the Elves looked upon Derod as if he were a filthy bug himself. Those scornful gazes only crushed him further. He became withdrawn, avoiding contact with others as much as possible. But even for Derod, there was one being who held his heart. Unlike Derod, Brula was an ordinary person with no special ability. Yet with her pretty looks and kind heart, she received the love and attention of many. Brula was Derod’s everything. His joy was watching her grow. But then one day, Brula disappeared. Derod searched all of El Harun for his daughter, who had been missing for days. After relentless searching, he finally found her. More precisely, her remains. The beloved daughter he had cherished was left only as part of a face and body. Clear bite marks scarred what was left of her flesh. Someone had eaten her. From that day onward, Derod devoted himself with madness to finding the one responsible. He questioned those who had been close to Brula—her friends—about what had happened that night, but they all kept their mouths tightly shut, as if bound by some oath. That was when Derod realized. A tremendous force was at work. Something great and unseen was compelling Brula’s friends to remain silent. From that day, Derod changed. His already introverted nature twisted into something sinister. He abandoned the thought of seeking help from the people of El Harun. He resolved to uncover the truth with his own strength. With the power of the insects. Every insect in El Harun became his eyes and ears. Tiny bugs spread across the land, gathering information. And in the end, Derod learned the identity of the one who had destroyed Brula. And upon finding out, he fell into despair once again. It was someone far beyond his reach. No matter that he was a Bug Master—he couldn’t even dare think of revenge. The culprit was one of the most powerful figures in El Harun. “If I cannot avenge her with my own power, then I’ll borrow another’s power to do so.” He gave up on seeking help from anyone in El Harun. Instead, he chose the Black Queen. The Black Queen was a figure who had once struck terror into countless races in Kurayan. Her infamy in life had been so immense that even the races who crossed into Earth still feared her. From then, Derod obsessed over gathering information about her. Eventually, he discovered that part of her—a Black Horn—was stored in El Harun’s subspace vault. Risking his life, he infiltrated the vault and stole the Black Horn. And at last, he was able to enter the dungeon where the Black Queen had been sealed. The Black Horn had guided him here. “Heh… to awaken the sleeping Black Queen, a sacrifice was needed.” “So you offered yourself as the sacrifice? You insane bastard!” At Uslann’s rebuke, Derod smirked and replied. “When Brula died like that, I was no longer among the living.” “You could have taken it to the Council—!” “Heh! Are you… serious? Kuh-haha!” Derod coughed blood as he laughed. His pitiful, ragged laugh robbed Uslann of words for a moment. The Council was an assembly of leaders from all races of El Harun. An absolute authority, second only to Del Roa, El Harun’s strongest being. They did not concern themselves with trifles. They convened only for matters that would decide the fate of El Harun itself. Otherwise, they focused solely on ruling their own races. They had no interest in the misfortune of a Bug Master. Far weightier matters occupied their attention. Had they spared even a fraction of it for Derod, this tragedy would never have unfolded. Derod’s fading eyes stared into the void. “Doesn’t it suit well? The Black Queen, betrayed by her own kin… and me, betrayed by El Harun.” “So that’s why you freed her? Do you know how many will die because of her?” “Why should I care? Let them all die… As long as I get revenge, nothing else matters.” “What does the Black Queen look like? Is she really headed for El Harun now?” Derod forced his middle finger up—and then never moved again. Uslann stared down at the corpse with a bitter face. They had learned nothing useful. Derod himself had never seen the Black Queen. He only knew of her terror through records. At that moment, the dungeon shook violently. With its core—the Black Queen—gone, it was beginning to collapse. “Shit! Everyone out, now!” “If we don’t escape, we’ll be destroyed with it!” Uslann and his subordinates rushed out of the dungeon. Zeon turned to follow them—then stopped. Derod’s corpse lay there, eyes still wide open. Zeon sighed and walked over, closing the dead man’s eyes. The awakened of Sinchon who had died to Derod’s swarm of Red Locusts had been a tragedy, but Zeon could still understand Derod’s reasons. Had it been him, he too might have sold his soul to a demon to avenge such a loss. “I don’t know if there really is an afterlife… but may you live happily there with your daughter.” Just then, as if in answer, something fell from Derod’s robes. A curious little hand mirror made of bronze. Why it had been on him, Zeon could not tell. It felt like Derod’s keepsake. Zeon picked it up. Fresh chapters posted on N0velFire.ɴet At that moment, the dungeon’s tremors grew worse. Zeon tucked the mirror into his robes and left. Outside, Uslann was waiting. “You’re late. Did something happen?” He had no intention of mentioning the keepsake. Uslann studied him suspiciously, then spoke. “So what will you do now?” “I’ll return to Neo Seoul.” “Yes. I came to resolve the Red Locust problem. The instigator is dead, so I should return.” Uslann frowned at his answer. “Is there a problem?” “Rather than that, how about coming with us to El Harun?” “Yes. It will be a valuable experience for you.” “I don’t see any reason to go.” As Zeon tried to sidestep, Uslann’s expression hardened. He wasn’t inviting Zeon because of fondness. Nor to show off El Harun. The skill he had shown in the dungeon—White Phosphorus Flame. To deal with the Black Queen, they needed that unquenchable, purifying fire. It was possible they wouldn’t. El Harun’s strength was immense, rivaling even its peak in Kurayan. But Uslann wanted to be prepared. At that moment, Corin, who had been watching, exploded. “You bastard! You’re being invited to a place you could never enter in your life, and you should be groveling thanks—but you dare refuse? We’ve spoiled you too much, and now you think you’re something?” “That’s why I said I’m not going. Because I know I’m nothing.” As Corin lunged in rage— Uslann’s fist slammed into his gut. With a thunderous crack, Corin flew back and crashed to the ground. “Ghhhk! C-Captain… why?” “When did I ever give you permission to speak while I am?” Uslann’s furious gaze silenced Corin completely. No matter how much he despised humans, even Corin feared and respected Uslann. That look meant Uslann was truly angry. Corin ended up bowing low in apology. Uslann turned back to Zeon. “That one won’t trouble you again, so pay him no mind.” “The reason you want me in El Harun is because of the Black Queen, isn’t it?” “I promise you’ll face no disadvantage in El Harun. Contribute, and you’ll be rewarded.” Zeon wore an expression of brief hesitation. But he had already decided to go. He only feigned hesitation so they would grow more eager. ‘A place I had to visit eventually anyway. Might as well take this chance.’ Zeon hid his thoughts and spoke. “Very well. I’ll go with you to El Harun.” “Good. And the journey there will be our responsibility.” At Zeon’s answer, Uslann smiled with satisfaction. Meanwhile, the other races like Corin forced down their resentment. Whatever they felt, the captain’s command was absolute. And thus, Zeon’s journey with them was decided. Uslann addressed his men. “According to records, the Black Queen’s form is that of a human woman’s upper body with the lower half of a serpent. If she moves, there will surely be traces left behind. We’ll track those while heading for El Harun.” At present, their knowledge of the Black Queen was almost nonexistent. Her last appearance in Kurayan had been a thousand years ago. Too long ago for much record to remain—only her dreadful reputation and depictions of her form. And if she truly appeared as the records described, she would be impossible to miss. “Our best course is to kill her before she reaches El Harun.” “But will she really go there? She may not even know the way.” “Derod must have told her.” “Even if not, with the abilities described in the records, she won’t have trouble finding it.” Another of the Black Queen’s names was Queen of Serpents. Snakes never forget a grudge. That was why they were called the embodiment of vengeance. And the same was true for the Black Queen. No matter how much time had passed. She would seek out El Harun. The only hope was to find and kill her before she arrived. ‘And to kill her… we will need that man’s power. The flame that burns even the soul… the purifying fire.’