Chapter 463
Chapter 463
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 463
Chapter Title: Kim Katt and the Ghost House
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A brilliant blue radiance.
Thousands of mana strands, like threads, burst forth, extinguishing the evil spirit's karmic flames. It was a tidal wave of mana. The scattered fragments of mana finally took shape, forming a single, unyielding form—the Manifest Sword Beam.
"This Manifest Sword Beam."
True power.
The pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Living in this other world, I'd carved away at common sense and emotions. The horrific pain that stemmed from it had transformed into a burning desire for survival and unyielding grit. Mental fortitude. Yeah, that's right—mental fortitude. One of the most vital virtues of a warrior.
If I hadn't met Claudy, if I hadn't made repaying her love my life's goal, pushing my body and mind to the brink to become a true warrior as she wished... Sword Aura would have been an impossible realm. Claudy always praised me no matter what I did. Whenever I put in effort, she showered me with affection and compliments. That overflowing maternal warmth was the first I'd felt in this world, and it made me her prisoner.
"With Claudy."
Claudy, who possessed a warrior's soul.
And so, Kim Katt, the tree nurtured by her praise,
had borne the fruit known as Sword Beam.
"To the victims of imperialism."
In this other world, I was no different from the black folks in the sugarcane fields. To me, this world itself was imperialism incarnate. An unknown land where I could do nothing but endure pain and hunger.
And yet, I killed to survive there.
Karin once told me I had talent for the sword. Could you even call it talent? It was a flower that bloomed in a world like a mud pit. Without effort, it withers. The moment you get complacent, you fall.
I knew I had to do it, so I threw myself into training, practice, and real combat. Always surpassing my limits, mixing my blood with my enemies' to temper my soul.
Looking back, it was all for Claudy.
My own most beautiful goddess.
"And."
The suffering of the weak.
I knew it all too well.
"I dedicate it to you."
The burning woman before me was just as much a victim of imperialism as I was. I'd learned the truth of this mansion from what they showed me. The women ravaged by the intruders were the same as the black folks massacred by imperialist whites. Knowing that full well, as one of their kind, as a comrade, I would grant them salvation.
"Salvation is enlightenment."
The essence of Fusion Confucianism. Truth. Duty.
"Enlightenment is redemption."
The Sword Beam cloaking the pitch-black blade was unbreakable. The evil spirit's grudge ran deep, but it couldn't stand against the Sword Beam.
"I will judge you and cleave your soul!!!!"
It was tragic how those who'd suffered despaired and hated, passing their pain onto others. Buddha, King David, and Hwanung were watching over me.
"I will halt any further corruption here!!!!!!"
I'll stop it right here!!!!!
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 "Burn to death in flames—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
—KyaAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The evil spirit, completely lost to reason, screamed as it charged.
The karmic flames filling the passage lost their power to the Sword Beam. But the blaze raging behind her was fiercer than any scorching concept. From the flames rose visions of the past.
—Flash.
I'll clash with it head-on!
"KieeeEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaak!!!!!!!"
The Manifest Sword Beam surging from my blade sliced through the oncoming Lace Queen—!!!!
—Boom!
Past and present intersected, the mansion's tragedy overlapping with my Sword Beam. Who would win? Naturally, me. I poured power into my blade, believing it with every fiber!
"I am the Heavenly Demon Kim Katt!!!"
I'll cleave your soul right here!
—Slash.
"It hurts."
My battle-honed swordsmanship and senses blocked the Lace Queen's attack, destroying her body.
"It hurt."
The brilliant Sword Beam extinguished the evil spirit's flames, pulverizing her flesh.
The evil spirit's soul scattered. Cracks spread through the blackened skull and ashes, shattering like glass to reveal the face of a beautiful woman within.
"I waited."
—A moment as if time had stopped.
The woman shed clean tears as she gazed at my face.
"No one came."
Finally free of the evil spirit's form, the Lace Queen returned to her original appearance and faced me. At the same time, the Sword Beam dispersed. Its power had been more than enough—overwhelming.
All that remained of the woman was her head and part of her upper body.
"Why did I have to suffer such pain."
—Why?
Regaining her senses, the woman smiled as if she might crumble, tears streaming as she lamented. Her voice echoed toward the distance. Drip. A teardrop fell to the ground. Why did she have to suffer? Why did such horrors befall her?
"...Evil has no reason."
There is no reason anywhere.
Imperialist slave traders place no weight on massacring and abducting black folks from Africa. They do it simply because it makes money. They don't think of anything else. No—they don't even consider that they should think about it. They commit crimes without a second thought.
Some might feel pangs of conscience, but then they rationalize it by invoking 'God.'
Other criminals are the same. They see crime as natural as breathing. They don't care about others' thoughts, or even consider they should. But when it happens to them, they wail.
That's crocodile tears.
I despise crocodile tears.
"That's how all villains are. No reason needed. No—they don't even care. It's just how things are."
"So I suffered and died for something like that?"
The woman asked in response to my words.
There was only one answer to give.
"Yes."
"...How."
The emotion she felt was.
"...unfair."
Unfairness.
"So go to a good place. A place with no sorrow or pain."
Strictly speaking, the Lace Queen hadn't killed anyone. That's why I'd decided to save her. That was the true way of Fusion Confucianism.
I didn't know when this mansion had belonged to the enemy or when the evil spirits had awakened. It just happened to be on my path. An enlightener always wanders.
"There was no reason for your suffering."
I told her once more.
"You're not at fault. They are. You're innocent."
It wasn't your fault.
"Hic... Hic...!"
The Lace Queen burst into tears. She sobbed openly. Ghostly tears poured out. Sobbing, she said pitifully,
"That's what I wanted to hear... Hic! Hicccc!"
—Shimmer.
The Lace Queen's form began dissolving into particles of light. Enlightenment? Ascension? Even in this world with gods, I knew little of the afterlife.
"Thank you."
She vanished completely.
"Thank you, knight."
Even so, she smiled brightly and expressed her gratitude.
—Thank you.
—Thank you.
—Thank you, knight.
—Gratitude.
—Gratitude to you, knight.
Thank-yous echoed from all around simultaneously. Surely the banshees had been freed too. With the Lace Queen's dissipation, their curses were lifted.
The mansion, now rid of ghosts, returned to its original dilapidated state.
"Thanks, you bastards."
I sheathed my sword and stood.
"Live happy lives in your next one."
It felt like all strength had drained from my body. Similar to the sensation after using Manifest Severance and Heavenly Demon Supremacy.
But not enough to immobilize me.
"I can hold on."
The overflowing power of the Sword Beam.
Manifest Sword Beam.
Now, its secrets were firmly in my grasp.
I'll head home, recover my mana, and show everyone.
I could already picture Claudy cheering in delight. Finally drew Sword Aura. No idea how happy she'll be when I show her.
Winia will love it too, and Lisha will be pleased. Though as mages, they might not fully grasp a swordsman's achievement.
Karin will be thrilled too.
"Heh heh heh."
Just thinking about it gave me strength.
"Ugh, fuck... It hurts like hell..."
But I'd taken wounds too. Burns on my arms and torso. My damn armor was smashed to bits, pain and fatigue setting in. Even enlighteners need armor for this shit.
"Fuck, not the time."
Now for the next task.
With the Lace Queen gone, my friends and the missing adventurers would wake soon. I hurried back to the basement and laid out Kobson, Meria, and Lina neatly.
"These fuckers are still out cold."
Their faces looked peacefully serene, like napping in their own bedrooms.
Would it take a bit for them to wake?
Quick decision made, I approached the pile of fallen adventurers.
Before these bastards woke, I had to strip them fast and loot their pockets. Fuck, I saved them all, so compensation is only fair. Perfectly reasonable.
Rough count: dozens.
Gonna make a good haul if I grab it all.
"You bastards owe your lives to me."
I rifled through the adventurers' pockets one by one.
I'm no rookie at frisking folks. In seconds, I emptied their hidden wallets, pocketed the cash, and put them back. Still, the adventurers just snored peacefully, not stirring.
Silver and copper coins piled up in my pouch. Over 30 silvers just from what I grabbed. Decent cash, probably 'cause these were guys with some skill. And there were a lot of them.
"Oh?"
Come to think of it, I'm unequipped now.
Perfect chance.
I picked a few and stripped their armor. Nabbed Quilted Armor and threw it on, pried off a breastplate and equipped it. My gauntlets and greaves were fine, skipped those. Stole shoulder pauldrons and strapped them on.
Gear restored in a flash.
They'd all be dead without me anyway, so this is fair pickings.
—Shing.
Pulled a sword to check too.
Great blade, but after the Manifest Sword Beam, it was cracked all over. Even black iron couldn't take it? Can't ditch Karin's gift. I'll take it back and confess I broke it.
Grabbed a spare long sword too, then headed to my friends.
—Splash.
Dumped water on Kobson's face.
"Gahhh!!"
He screamed awake, bolting upright and patting himself down to confirm he was alive. Energetic bastard.
"Evil spirits! The mansion's evil spirits...!"
"Shut it."
"Barbarian bro! The evil spirits were gonna...!"
Freaked-out Kobson clung to me, eyes trembling.
The night of evil spirits was over.
Time to head home.
"Night's over."
"Barbarian?"
"It's morning now. Let's go."
"Uh, uh... the evil spirits."
Kobson babbled, scanning the basement.
I grabbed his shoulder and said,
"We survived. Ran all night and made it. Guess they let us go since they didn't catch me."
"R-Really? A-Anyway, barbarian! You did great! We're alive! Never setting foot in a fucking ruin like this again! Who'd expect this shit!"
Finally realizing he was alive, Kobson yelled in joy. From his reaction, he'd seen plenty of those evil spirits too. Must've been terrified.
"But barbarian, isn't your outfit different?"
"What're you on about?"
Woke Meria and Lina with Kobson.
They jolted up in shock too when I splashed them.
"Kyaa! Stay back! Stay back, you bastards!!! Uh, wha?"
"Oppa! Where the hell were you...! Ahh?"
They must've passed out surrounded by evil spirits.
Anyway, they woke fine, no issues.
"Hey, hey. Morning now. Didn't grab shit, but let's bail quick."
"What happened... Ahh, my head."
"O-Oppa...?"
Guess I'll explain on the way out.