Chapter 77: In-depth and Structured Plan (1)

About ten kilometers from Valmiris City lay a vast forest.

As it was an untamed wilderness, the forest was home to various beasts—wolves, black-fanged tigers, knife-toothed bears, and other deadly creatures.

Each of them stood over three meters tall, monstrous and powerful.

Naturally, neither ordinary mages nor commoners could hope to defeat them.

To prevent casualties, the forest was guarded by soldiers dispatched by the Malvain and Caltheron families.

Additionally, a magical boundary had been established at the forest’s edge, preventing ordinary people from entering without permission from the guardian mages.

At that very moment, two kilometers deep into the forest, there was a massive cave. Hidden among dense vegetation—trees, moss, and thick underbrush—the cave resembled a five-meter-tall boulder.

On its right side, an entrance lay concealed behind a curtain of overhanging weeds.

Inside, an old woman sat cross-legged atop a one-meter-high rock, deep in meditation.

She wore a black cloak that covered her entire body, revealing only her wrinkled face. Long white hair flowed down her back.

Although aged and frail, traces of her former beauty lingered on her face.

But suddenly, she opened her eyes and coughed up blackish-red blood.

"Argh!" she groaned, clutching her left chest.

Her face turned pale in an instant as her body curled in pain.

Cold sweat drenched her back, while a deep fear—like she’d just seen a ghost—twisted her wrinkled face.

"This is dangerous... truly dangerous," she muttered, her voice shaking with panic and fear.

If Nolan had been there, he would have laughed.

This old woman was the very soul that had possessed Melissa’s body for years, masquerading as her within the Caltheron family mansion.

But when Melissa’s body was consumed by the black flames, the woman’s soul suffered immense damage.

More than half of it had been obliterated—only a small fragment managed to return to her original body.

Had she not used a secret technique at the very last moment, she would have perished for good.

"I have to get out of here!" She growled through gritted teeth, her face contorted in horror.

She had never imagined that the plan she had spent years preparing would collapse so easily.

The most terrifying part was the prince—the one mocked as weak, stupid, wild, and worthless—was actually a monster in disguise.

He had hidden his true nature too well. No one in the world knew the truth... except her.

With a sharp gasp, the woman tried to stand—but failed.

Still, she didn’t give up. Gritting her teeth, she forced her broken body upward until, at last, she stood.

As she limped toward the exit, the space around her suddenly fluctuated—twisting unnaturally, as if some incomprehensible force were distorting the very fabric of the dimension.

Her steps froze. She stood still, paralyzed, as her eyes landed on the one figure she feared most—just a few meters ahead.

"You... You..." she stammered, pointing at Nolan with wide, trembling eyes. "How did you find me?!"

This cave was hidden deep in the heart of the forest—far from the Caltheron family estate. Even knowing how powerful Nolan was, it should have been impossible for him to locate this place so quickly.

How? How could he have gotten here in just a matter of minutes?

This doesn’t make sense!

Nolan let out a low chuckle as he stepped forward at a relaxed pace. One hand rested in his trouser pocket, while his eyes gleamed with a sharp, playful glint.

"You don’t need to know how I found you," he said casually. "With my power, even if you were hiding at the edge of the world, I could find you in the blink of an eye. But never mind that—let’s finish this. How do you want to die?"

As Nolan drew closer, the old woman staggered backward, her face pale with terror.

"P-Prince Nolan—no, I mean, Singul—"

Before she could finish, her mouth suddenly stiffened. She couldn’t move it at all.

Her eyes widened in panic as she struggled to speak, but it was useless.

Then, she noticed the faint smile on Nolan’s lips... and instantly understood—it was all his doing.

"Umm!" She shook her head in despair before turning around and limping away in panic.

But no matter how hard she tried to escape, her pace was far too slow.

Within moments, Nolan closed the distance. When he was just a meter behind her, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her body to the ground.

"Ughh!" She groaned in pain as blood trickled from the corner of her lips.

She looked up at him, eyes filled with fear and desperate pleading.

But Nolan’s gaze showed no mercy. To him, those who ruined the lives of others with cruelty didn’t deserve forgiveness.

And this old woman was exactly that kind of person.

Not only had she stolen Melissa’s body and destroyed her soul to take control of it, but she had also secretly conspired with Nina to curse Alicia and ruin Orlan’s life.

Yes, Nolan knew he wasn’t a good person—certainly not the kind of hero found in fantasy novels. He was selfish and sometimes cruel when it served his interests.

But he still had a conscience. He would never harm the innocent—especially not children or defenseless women—just for the sake of it.

In the end, doing so would make him no different from a heartless, inhuman devil.

Nolan closed his eyes for a moment—then slowly opened them again.

His pupils had changed, now glowing with the brilliance of a star and the blaze of a sun.

Whoosh!

From the hand gripping the old woman’s neck, a stream of purple light surged forth, pouring directly into her.

"Umm!" she writhed in agony, thrashing with all her strength to break free—but it was hopeless.

The torment lasted for fifteen minutes.

At last, her body went limp, lifeless.

Her eyes were empty, her body reduced to nothing but skin and bones—emaciated, as though all her flesh had been drained away.

Nolan released his grip, then brought his index and middle fingers together, pressing them against his forehead.

Buzz!

A stream of purple light emerged and flowed into his head.

It carried the old woman’s memories—everything about the Underworld Gate, her scheme to infiltrate the Caltheron family, the curse placed on Alicia, and more.

Moments later, the light faded.

Nolan opened his eyes. The calm, indifferent look on his face gradually shifted—his expression growing colder, darker, and filled with loathing.

He stared at the old woman’s lifeless body on the ground, his gaze brimming with murderous intent.

"This woman... and the Underworld Gate... are nothing short of monstrous."