Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 59
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Killing Stone.
As the name suggests, it wasn't some special item like a sword or suit of armorrather, it was a type of stone. The kind you could commonly spot by the roadside.
However, with the qualifier "killing" attached, it was far from ordinary.
In the episode where that stone appeared, casualties ranged from hundreds to thousands, so one could infer it was a lump specialized in slaughter, true to its name.
And above all...
'It has a deep connection with me.'
In the original story, Baek Seung-wooa one-off extra villaindropped out of the academy due to academic failure.
A promising prodigy, yet bested by the protagonist's insane growth rate, he lost his wings and plummeted, ultimately laying hands on something he absolutely shouldn't have.
That something was the Killing Stone.
"Do you know what the Killing Stone is?"
"The stone a Nine-Tailed Fox turned into upon dying. If you want to get technical, it's closer to a sarira."
"You know more about it than I thought."
"It's one of the Nine-Tailed Fox's legacies, after all. Though technically, it's a treasure of the Japanese government."
The White-Faced Golden-Furred Nine-Tailed Fox, known as one of Japan's three great villainsa fox spirit.
Legends and histories entwined with her abounded, but one indisputable fact stood out: she met her end in Japan.
After death, her corpse petrified into a toxic stone, spewing potent grudges and curses.
Its poison was so vicious that most blacksmiths succumbed before they could even process it, earning notoriety as an untouchable material.
Well, being a Japanese government treasure from the start, no mere blacksmith could touch it anyway.
"So why is something that dangerous here in our countryand at an auction house, no less?"
"How should I know? I only heard about it secondhand. Auction's today, so handle it yourself."
"......"
His words only muddled my head further.
The Killing Stonethe decisive factor in Baek Seung-woo's downfall and death.
I had no clue what process the original Baek Seung-woo went through to claim it and spiral into depravity. I hadn't even read the novel, and who bothers digging into the bitter end of a character modeled after themselves?
It'd just sour the mood.
"......What a rock and a hard place."
Take the Killing Stone, or leave it be?
A binary choice, with no clear right answer, loomed before me.
If only I could discern fact from fiction. Regrettably, I lacked the skill and knowledge.
"......"
I closed my eyes and agonized.
What to pick.
Going with the first option meant I could secure the Killing Stone.
A legacy tied deeply to the Nine-Tailed Fox could prove a game-changer for the familyand in some cases, yield powerful gear or let me thumb my nose at the Japanese government for leverage.
The second offered neither gain nor loss.
Having the trigger for the original Baek Seung-woo's corruption nearby didn't strike me as beneficial. If anything, I suspected the downsides would eclipse any upsides.
It was then.
A translucent window materialized, illuminating my path.
[Main Quest: Resolution]
[Description: Your actions were clumsy, your preparations lacking. Consequently, the protagonist awakened on schedule, and unrelated students fell victim to the scenario. Yet you've resolved to tread this path to its end. None know what awaits at its conclusion.]
[Clear Conditions: 1. Intervene in a new episode ahead of time. 2. Exclude the protagonist's involvement.]
The prior quest resurfaced.
The translucent pane shimmered faintly before spitting out fresh text.
[Intersection detected between Main Quest and new scenario!]
['Main Quest: Resolution' integrates the scenario, reforming as a new Main Quest.]
[Outputting 'Main Quest: Killing Stone.']
[Main Quest: Killing Stone]
[Description: You've poured effort into derailing the scripted scenario thus far. Now witness the fruits of your labor. Whether your groundwork suffices or falls shortthe results will tell.
Your sole objective: seize the 'Killing Stone' from the underground auction. Method irrelevant. What matters is the choice you'll make via that stone.]
[Clear Conditions: 1. Acquire the 'Killing Stone.' 2. Leave no opening for rival bidders.]
[Success: 'Point Shop' unlocked, 'Trait Catalog' granted, 'Author's Reply']
[Failure: Nothing occurs. All remains unchanged.]
The rewards hit me like a freight trainmy body went rigid.
No more binary dilemma.
This blasted Status Window forced a single path upon me.
* * *
An absolute chasm separated humans from demonkin.
Humans could ascend to supremacy via rigorous training, but demonkin wielded immense power from birth and metamorphosis.
Though the exalted nobles meant to lead them were trapped on some system-cursed island...
Their underlings roamed city streets unchecked.
Of course, operating in broad daylight sans precautions invited swift extermination by the Association or guilds.
"Rendezvous in this gloomy cave again today? Hardly healthy."
"S-Sorry! That mercenary's failure lit a fire under the Association and [Nine-Tail Guild], so they smashed every branch...!"
"Oh, I'm not scolding you. Merely concerned for our demonkin hosts' well-being."
"We're fine! No issues whatsoever!"
A pitch-black cave, untouched by human feet for ages untold.
Several figures lurked within.
Or rather, one human amid a throng of demonkin.
One might assume kidnapping, yet their dynamic felt... off.
Horned demonkin groveled before the human.
Said human exuded no overwhelming strength. His mana outstripped a layperson's but paled against any demonkin present.
Defying demonkin ethoswhere might made right, law and morals be damned. Any bystander would've rubbed their eyes, rejecting the sight.
The shock ran that deep.
And it didn't end there.
The human man drew documents from his breast pocket, proffering them to a demonkin.
The groveler accepted graciously, perusing them.
Their nature was plain at a glance.
Next stopovers and marks, plainly listed.
"Golden Dwarf ring-tail snake-forged sword, plus a cursed stone... Japanese government had to notice this haul. Insane. Utterly insane."
"Humans gonna human. A little sweet-talk, and they'll hawk national treasures for greed."
"Preciselythis auction host embodies it. Sane folk don't peddle such wares."
Jongno Underground Arena.
The horned demonkin marveled repeatedly at the header locale.
What steely nerves let the proprietor pull this stunt?
Even as an ex-human demonkin, he lacked such brazen verve.
Every lot: Japanese government darlings, sourced via brokers for brazen sale.
Madness incarnate.
"Still, we must snag these items. Even if plans derail, reclaim that cursed stone at all costs."
"Y-Yes! Mobilizing all sparesfrom C-rank to A-rank demonkin!"
"Haha, no need for extremes. Our Demonic Cult offers martyrs to pose as bidders."
To evade the honey-voiced man's notice, the demonkin swabbed sweat-slick palms. Martyrdom: laying down life for faith.
Practitioners earned titles like martyr or fatalist.
The man claimed he'd preemptively drafted them.
Casually hurling his flock into the mawas if routinestirred unspeakable zeal in the demonkin.
"My involvement runs deep enough; no need for further details? Let's meet next time with smiles."
"Y-Yes! T-Take care!"
"Haha, I said drop the honorifics. Casual speech next round, hm?"
With that, the human man exited.
Demonkin squinted at his fragile gait, unfazed as ever.
Rather, his interlocutor heaved ragged breaths.
Ground-staring till the presence faded.
Then, head rising: a lament.
"Haha, fuckwhen did Pandemonium's glory sink this low?"
"S-Senior, you alright?!"
"Yeah. Still kicking."
"Not the point! Why bow to some human scumbag...?"
"Hah? You don't know Simon?"
"......Simon?"
That name rang blank.
Incredulity etched, he pressed.
"Demonic Cult WorshipperSimon. First you've heard?"
"Ah! Simon's new, but that moniker rings a bell."
Demonic Cult Worshipper.
Infamous as a rabid cult zealot on the lam.
C-rank wanted; any B-rank certified Player Association member bags him easy.
Pure combat specs, that is.
"Why d'you figure 'Demonic Cult Worshipper' sticks to his poster?"
"Clickbait for news and streams?"
"Hah, moron. My own junior... Prospects dim. Ponder it."
Past prostrations vanished.
Back: sharp, savagedemonkin to the core.
The junior admired, mulling sotto voce.
Plenty Demonic Cult worshippers and fanatics beyond Simon.
Why him alone?
Greenhorn demonkin drew blanks.
"N-No clue, try as I might."
"Sigh. What'd you know? I'm no expert, but his silver tongue's legendary."
"Pardon? Speechcraft? How's that relevant...?"
"Dense as rock. Spell it out, and still? Kids these daysno savvy..."
"S-Sorry!"
Senior clawed hair; junior mimicked.
Modern demonkin: all dullards?
That explicit, and nada?
Not my era.
Boomer griping fueled a heavy sigh.
Blame Association and [Nine-Tail Guild] branch raids. Elsewise: better recruits, no dank caves, no groveling to Simon.
"If the Mage Hunter'd half-succeeded..."
All traced to that 'Mage Hunter's flop.
Pre-Chilseong: raided a [Nine-Tail Guild] dungeon, massacred hordes, headlined news.
Had he not perished howling therecontract-bound demonkin nowhe'd bolster ranks stoutly.
His boosted might? [Nine-Tail Guild] too spooked for reprisals, fearing escalation.
No Association-guild alliance torching branches wholesale.
"Hope lingers, no?"
"Hope? Us demonkin, not vanguard for nobles' unsealing, but kissing human cult ass?"
"European branch's brave general candidate arrives soon."
Brave general: Pandemonium cant.
Nobles island-bound, Pandemonium weakenedfour spearheads to rally.
One such designee.
"Lucky break. His valor plugs the nobles' gap awhile."
Candidate trumps typical S-rank.
Rankers? Stretch, but potential screams ascent thereto.
Sufficient for the grand undertaking.
"'s luster may waver briefly, but endure till nobles shed system chains."
Lives as forfeit till then.
Lowly demonkin like us plebs: sacrifice for nobles rightful. Our blood? Theirs to command.
Zealot noble-supremacist demonkin bit back the rest, eyes shuttered.
All for the nobles.
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