Chapter 386
Chapter 386
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP. 80 – The Knight Sets Out on the Journey Again (3)
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KABOOM!
The earth-shaking punch that overturned the waterfall unleashed a terrifying gale.
It was a strike that would surely kill any human on impact, and the one who threw it had struck with the resolve to shatter his own fist.
In truth, no human could survive taking that hit unscathed.
They'd be torn to pieces without complaint.
However.
Szzzzzzt…!
"Not bad for an old guy. I underestimated you, you shaman geezer."
"……."
His punch failed to dismantle the shaman.
He'd landed it squarely, yet it felt empty to the touch.
Instead.
Swish.
"My hand's the one hurting now."
The hand he'd struck with ached…
How long had it been since he'd felt such a sensation?
After mastering the Indestructible Training and reaching the realm of invincibility, he'd prided himself on having achieved the pinnacle of defense. Yet now, that pride proved mere arrogance—Lee Han's hand throbbed with numbness.
As if…
"Young hero, I wouldn't recommend facing a seasoned shaman head-on. The stronger your power, the more it rebounds right back at you."
…he'd received his own force reflected perfectly.
And as if declaring the accuracy of that sensation, the blind shaman proclaimed it so. Lee Han nodded slowly in agreement.
"Attack reflection, huh? Annoyingly shaman-like."
"It's how shamans survive."
"Hm… but it doesn't reflect everything completely, does it?"
"……."
"Wipe your mouth, shaman."
"……."
Drip…
Amos, the blind shaman.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
No external wounds, but proof that the shock had reached his internals.
He had reflected Lee Han's strike, but not perfectly—some impact lingered.
And that meant.
Swish.
"If you can't reflect it fully, I can just brute-force through my own attacks and wear you down?"
"A foolish approach. Your body would collapse first."
"Dunno about that. Feels like I could tank a thousand. Wanna test it?"
"……."
"If you're gonna do it, do it seriously."
There wasn't a shred of mercy in Lee Han's voice.
It sent chills down the spine, proof that his words were no bluff.
"…You're terrifying."
Shamans, rarer than mages at one in a thousand births, and among them, the Grand Shaman was said to surpass even archmages in power.
Thus, Amos had always viewed his enemies—be they archmages or champion knights—as insignificant. Even the Mercenary King was merely an annoyance; he never imagined losing.
…But why?
'This young man is dangerous.'
He might actually kill me.
Such a premonition struck, and shamans' hunches were always spot-on!
For the first time in his life, Amos felt a powerful foreboding that today might be his last.
…Just as this ominous sense of standing on the edge of death washed over him.
"…Well, I'll let it slide once. Tricking me with lies is infuriating, but still."
Whoosh—.
"…?"
In an instant, the surging momentum calmed to stillness as he shrugged.
Amos faltered, but the shaman's eyes widened for an entirely different reason at the words that followed.
"You're not the [Prophet], are you?"
"!!!"
"Seems like you did summon the Demon King, but… maybe not? You probably lent a hand or something. Bet you didn't expect the real summon to work."
"……."
"Nailed it."
"…Did you learn mind-reading, young man?"
"Nah."
Tap tap.
"My nose and ears are just sensitive like that."
He playfully tapped his nose and ear as he spoke, but Amos couldn't muster a smile at the jest.
Instead…
'What a truly frightening young man.'
That's what he thought.
I knew from the start that the shaman's words were lies.
They were mixed with truth, which made it a bit confusing, so I threw the punch.
Mixing truth in meant the shaman had his own guilt.
What if he hadn't blocked it and died?
'Alban Family?'
He provoked first, and tried to toy with me with lies.
So if he died, it was his own fault.
"How did you know?"
"?"
"You said that shaman's words were lies, right? Look at his face—he's pale as a ghost. Haha."
Caesar was amazed to see a Grand Shaman's composure crack for the first time, and curious how I'd known it was a lie.
Lee Han replied casually.
"He manipulated his breathing, heartbeat, even his body odor with shamanism, but my ears and nose are sharp. I pick up artificial sounds and smells like a ghost."
"…An astonishing ability."
"Not really, just a bit sensitive."
"Doesn't seem 'a bit' to me…."
Caesar looked incredulous, but Lee Han meant it.
After all, this keen sense of smell and hearing was the result of years of honed effort.
If he didn't trust his own hard work,
'What would be the point?'
Thus.
"Hey, fake Prophet. Quick question: did the real Prophet send you because he wants to meet me? Or to dig up info on me?"
"……."
"…Hm, not the meeting part, then. But the Prophet himself is interested in me."
Lee Han wasn't a fool who couldn't leverage his abilities fully, nor an idiot who'd miss a chance to extract info.
Twitch…
The blind shaman's fingertips twitched.
"Next question. Did you climb this mountain to kill me? Or to recruit me?"
"……."
"Both, huh. Thought about killing me, and recruiting too. But killing was the bigger intent."
"…Enough."
"Seeing a shaman and spellcaster together, you're probably from the Torn Wings. You must know the Prophet, then—they're the organization's brains."
"I said enough!!"
The blind shaman shouted.
As if telling him to stop reading his mind.
But Lee Han didn't stop.
The guy was holding back anyway, wary of Vulcan.
Lee Han ignored whether the shaman raged or not.
And the angrier he got, the better for Lee Han.
"Wanna know the three reasons I figured you're not the Prophet? First, the Prophet's the guy who gave me a real sense of defeat. An enemy, but one I can respect. You? Not threatening at all. You've got decent power as a Grand Shaman, but no menace. Second, the Prophet wouldn't be dumb enough to waltz into enemy territory. What strategist who fooled the kingdom's geniuses does something this stupid? Third, just my hunch: the Prophet might not be a magic or shaman type, or even mystical. Why? His strategies showed empathy and rage for the powerless… Makes me think he's a regular guy. Maybe even a former loyal kingdom official…."
BAM!!
"-or a bureaucrat."
"…You're dangerous. Far too dangerous."
Was this what shamanic power felt like?
A curse-like aura tried to envelop Lee Han, but his indestructible will repelled it precisely. The moment the shaman exerted force…
KRZZZZT!!!
Vulcan's fury-laden lightning struck the shaman.
"Grrraaagh!?"
"…See? Told you he's dumb."
Lee Han taunted, but Caesar, watching, knew the shaman wasn't dumb.
How could a Grand Shaman be?
It was just…
'…No predator like this one.'
He'd lost his cool to the sense of crisis.
The natural enemy of shamans and mages…!
In Caesar's eyes, at least, Lee Han held overwhelming advantage against shamans and mages right now.
Their spells and shamanism didn't work, and he exposed everything they hid.
Mages and shamans toyed with deception, arrogance, and the laws of the world—but Lee Han's senses crushed that deception. It would terrify every mage and shaman in existence.
How many had he exterminated to gain such skill and experience? Damn.
And the predator spoke.
"If you want to kill me, step outside Vulcan's domain. I don't want to damage it if I can help it. But remember: if we fight today, one of us— you or me—says goodbye to this world for good."
"……."
"If you're not ready for that, leave. Luck doesn't strike twice."
Get out of my sight if you want to live.
Clap clap!
Caesar couldn't help applauding.
Even he wouldn't dare treat a Grand Shaman so lightly….
'What the hell were those Pendragon idiots thinking, kicking out talent like this?'
No normal fools would let go of someone like him.