Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-3. Lust
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He reverse-summoned Altemia, which he had been holding, and dropped Yakal. With a clang, the blade tip touched the ground and bounced up slightly. He looked around. Weapons and countless iron leaves lay scattered in a hideous mess, their control lost, faintly visible in the darkness.
Dragging Yakal along, he took a few steps and picked up one of the iron leaves. Shaped like a flower petal, it was incredibly sharp. The blade nicked his palm, drawing blood. The wound regenerated almost instantly. Without magical protection, mere contact sliced the skin. Thinking how terrifyingly sharp it was, he shielded his hand with mana and gripped it hard. It crumpled immediately.
Judah tossed aside the mangled iron leaf and let out a breath.
"Did she really run away? Organ?"
He couldn't believe it. He never imagined she would flee. If it was the Holy King's command, she would walk barefoot down a thorny path without hesitation. At least, the Organ he knew from the game was a fanatic who would fight to the end, biting with her teeth even if she lost both arms—not just one.
If she retained the game's skills and traits, she could fully regenerate an arm reduced to bone with holy power. As the Holy King's apostle, blessed and chosen, she would have near-immortal strength.
Naturally, when light flashed amid the iron leaves swirling around her like a raging river, he assumed she was repairing her shattered left arm and preparing to attack. That's what he expected. He never thought she would run.
'Was her holy power that depleted...'
A hollow laugh escaped him. And despite the victory, he felt deeply unsettled. Like using the bathroom, thinking you'd cleaned up perfectly, only to step out feeling something lingering—an unpleasant itch.
"Hmm."
He rubbed his chin, lost in thought, but couldn't pinpoint the source of the unease.
Swish!
"?"
Hearing a sound behind him, he turned. Faint dust-like particles fell from the hole-pierced ceiling. Up close, it was ash-like sand. The light beam fired to summon the Holy King had clearly punched through the ceiling; at the far end, bright light and a glimpse of blue sky were visible.
"......"
After staring at the ceiling briefly, Judah searched for the door to the final floor. It bore an engraved demon with horns, its form clearly outlined by black flames burning on either side.
He reached out to touch the door.
"!"
A chill prickled his fingertips. Goosebumps raced up his spine, and he yanked his hand back. It wasn't unsealed. He pressed his palm against the closed door again and pushed, but unlike the previous ones, it was locked. With no choice, he channeled mana into Yakal and activated a skill.
The thick iron door, which seemed as sturdy as a castle gate, had two lines etched across the demon's face before crumbling pathetically.
Boom!
He stepped back a few paces, waiting for the dust from the floor to settle. Amid the dust, dim lighting emerged, mingled with pale red smoke. He knew what the smoke was: the mana of Asmodeus, the seventh sin of Lust, released by Rudmillan. That explained the eerie chill from the door.
'I wonder if the effects are the same as in the game.'
The game and this world differed, but their systems overlapped somewhat. He couldn't help comparing them. He knew from various situations that they weren't identical, but the game was the only reliable knowledge he had, making it his inevitable benchmark.
Judah stepped over the iron door's debris and reached into the smoke. Though gaseous, it clung stickily to his fingers before seeping into his body. He retreated and checked his status. A ticklish sensation tingled at his fingertips, then faded.
"...Seems fine."
In the game, this smoke induced the Lust debuff. High magic resistance meant mere contact only restored mana without issue. But below a certain threshold, trouble brewed.
Of course, in the game, Lust didn't make characters lose control and devolve into orgies. Some modders enabled it, and sneaky players used those, but that was irrelevant.
Anyway, Lust debuff mimicked Poison: continuous HP drain, MP recovery, skill failure chance that climbed to near 90% with prolonged exposure. As a debuff, ample potions and decent resistance cleared it easily. But this world, realistic despite magic and monsters, would turn Lust into something far worse—no need to imagine.
'Arhil.'
Yes, like Arhil in heat. Lose reason to frenzy, and crudely put, he might hump the air. But Judah wasn't worried. His <Player> trait prevented mental disruptions.
'I saved anyway.'
Less than an hour ago. Expecting potential deaths, he'd saved hastily. Organ's flight made it feel like a wasted save slot.
'Wait, I could just die and reload.'
Before Organ summoned Metatron, corner her fully and prevent escape. That worked. Though fighting her at peak holy power worried him. Either way, Judah entered through the doorway, sticky smoke billowing out.
'Light makes it less stuffy.'
The lighting was probably never this dim originally—just basic illumination. But the room-filling red smoke turned it eerie. He frowned at the hazy fog blocking his view, walking on. Each touch clung and seeped into his skin, sticky and oddly sensual. Like soft hands caressing his body.
"......"
No traps in the room. Buffs held steady, Shadow Deployment scouting terrain. After advancing some distance, following the faint path through the smoke, he reached the room's end. Something snagged in the shadows, and a red dot appeared on his .
Clink!
Chain rattles echoed. Listening closer, a hissing steam-like sound: shiiiieek. He walked further. Through the thick fog, a dark silhouette writhed seductively—like watching a striptease through shadowy curtains. He drew closer.
"You're here?"
A giggle: "Hee hee hee." Embarrassingly flirtatious. A naked woman perched on an altar-like shelf, one foot raised. Wrists, ankles, and neck bound by golden chains, her private areas fully exposed.
"Hello, Judah. Long time no see. Doing well? Hee hee."
She leaned forward eagerly, but the taut chains shook her body instead. Breasts, waist, hips writhed in sequence—sensual, seemingly meaningless, yet perhaps deliberate.
Dim lighting, pale red smoke around her, eyes gazing temptingly hot. Plump lips bared white teeth as she spoke.
"Apostle guarding the door, yet you broke through?"
"You knew about the apostle?"
"Of course. The one who killed my first clone, then barely beat my freshly made second—that was her. How could I not know?"
She chatted casually, unconcerned about her past deaths, like old friends.
"Impressive skills, really. Beating an apostle surprises me, but Gabriel helping you? Never saw that coming."
She meant Arhil, chosen as Lust Saintess, now Gabriel's. Truth be told, neither Asmodeus nor Judah expected Gabriel's aid. He gave a wry smile and called her name.
"Asmodeus."
"Yeah?"
"Is that your true form?"
"This?"
Her sudden question made her glance down. Long denied sunlight, her skin was pale yet glossy—befitting Lust's demon.
Purple hair cascaded to her waist, magnificent horns sprouting amid it. Classic demon wings on her back, a long whip-like tail twitching between thighs. But chains bound wings and tail too, limiting freedom. Golden irises with slit black pupils like a snake's stared at Judah.
"True form? Hee hee, sadly no. My beast form would shock you."
Asmodeus giggled throatily, then eyed him curiously, as if remembering something. She leaned forward, but chains restricted her. Long sealed here, she seemed unbothered.
"Oh, but. Whether this is my true form isn't the point, right? Why dodge?"
"Perceptive. Just don't feel like answering."
She pouted at "unperceptive."
"Aw, meanie. So petty. Fine, answer this?"
"Hmm. Don't think we're chummy enough for cozy chats."
"No need to be cold? I'm chained, powerless—light talk's harmless. Plus, you owe me."
"Owe you?"
Asmodeus nodded with a smile.
"When saving the elves, I helped from the mansion—sucked life from its people."
Ah—
Judah got it. Yes, during the Uruun elf rescue, she'd drained the mansion folk. Unnecessary help, but aid nonetheless.
"Fine, what's on your mind?"
"What happened up there? You reached here, so you know. It faded quick, but that immense presence I felt briefly... You saw it, right?"