Chapter 243
Chapter: 243
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 243
>Chapter Title: Return (3)
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>Boom!
The old man jumped to his feet in shock at the intruder's arrival, which tore through space like it was ripping it apart.
It was Nate, his temper flaring from head to toe after repelling hundreds, thousands of assaults that had invaded the dimension in a single day.
His foul mood was vividly reflected in the white aura that had materialized, flickering with a menacing intensity.
[Convene the Council of Six, Elder.]
The old man blinked in confusion at Nate's blunt demand.
This suddenly?
But it was a perfectly legitimate request from the proposer.
[...What's the agenda?]
[Stripping Versheus of his racial representative status.]
It had come at last.
The old man closed his eyes in despair.
He had anticipated a major clash between the two someday, but he had hoped the dimensional boundary could be maintained stably for as long as possible.
[What are his disqualifying reasons?]
[He caused unnecessary conflict, taking countless human lives and nearly wiping out what remained of his own race. And that's not all? By stirring up massive unrest in the northern continent, he brought severe karmic distortion to this Delcross dimension.]
[.......]
[Moreover, he induced the current Delcross guardian to violate the pact, even scheming to overthrow the entire dimension. How could such a one not be deemed a dangerous element harmful to the dimension?]
At that, the old man's pupils contracted sharply into vertical slits as he faced Nate.
[Do you know the consequences? If even one racial representative seat becomes vacant, the dimension's barrier becomes that much more unstable.]
Nate smiled broadly, baring his teeth. His eyes weren't smiling at all, making the expression all the more chilling.
[It doesn't matter, Elder. No matter what tricks anyone pulls to intrude, I'll protect this dimension as soundly as ever. As long as no one pulls any needless stunts on my child.]
Just then, the old man's gaze fell on Nate's sleeve. Precisely, his left sleeve, soaked through with blood.
Unlike his right hand gripping the white sword, his empty left hand was clenched so tightly it was nearly digging into his palm.
The old man was speechless.
Thanks to his immense divine power, any fatal wound healed in an instant—yet this man had kept his fist clenched until his sleeve was in that state.
[If you're so worried, why not go to her right now?]
Unable to bear watching Nate chew his lips in anxiety, the old man asked.
[Even if I went back right now, there's no way I could help the child.]
[...I see. You're killing time here to stabilize your condition quickly.]
Nate had spent nearly the entire day in the Rift. Even if he returned straight to the Delcross dimension, there was a high chance he'd be wracked with severe motion sickness for a long time, unable to stand.
To properly tend to his son's current bedside condition, he'd likely have to pour out all his power.
But doing so in soul form could lead to unimaginable horrors.
This time, the karma would overflow completely. Not just him, but his son would pay the price too.
In the end, borrowing Sir Sharon's body was the only way, but then the poor exorcist would suffer the same symptoms.
'So even if I went to her now, Sir Sharon couldn't maintain possession for long.'
Nate was fully aware he had to wait a bit longer.
Regardless of how his chest burned with anxiety.
[What are you hesitating for, Elder?]
Instead, Nate resolved to make this waiting time more meaningful.
By swiftly eliminating his enemy—the dangerous element threatening his child.
[I have no objections. That one's been severely unqualified from the start. And we do have alternatives.]
Mitra said, tilting his glass.
The discovery of Lord Nebraskas's bloodline had already become common knowledge among the Council of Six members.
[I never approve of your unilateral actions. But it's common knowledge that we can't recognize someone who endangered his own race as a representative. This time, I'll cast my vote in favor.]
The woman who had enveloped an entire island in fierce winds spoke.
[May at least your heart find peace....]
The massive ancient tree offered its opinion without hesitation. The problem was, as always, how out-of-left-field it was.
But someone interpreted it perfectly.
[Thank you for your approval.]
Nate nodded politely toward the tree.
What? You...
While the old man was flustered—
[Grawrblarg! @#Dyasim;Serak!]
A massive manta ray gnawed at the [Key] with its jaws, bellowing incomprehensible cries.
[Lord Manta approves as well. Now, Elder, your vote makes it unanimous.]
Nate lied without changing expression, leaving the old man gaping in disbelief for a moment.
Come on, man! Haven't you kept some semblance of propriety until now?
[Wrong, Elder. Don't you see his state? He's so furious he can't see straight.]
Mitra cackled, chugging from his bottle.
[One dissenting vote, and he'd cut us all down without mercy!]
[......!]
Indeed, Nate neither denied it nor anything, just calmly facing the old man.
In the end, the old man had no choice but to steel himself and summon Versheus.
[I knew you'd pull something like this! You sly, arrogant bastard!]
Summoned into the Elder's Rift, Versheus flew into a rage the moment he saw Nate's face, thrashing wildly.
[So, how long have you been plotting this? Stealing the Lycanslope bloodline too, to monopolize the racial [Keys]? Which other race's bloodline did you sneak away? You didn't touch the manta race in their madness, did you?]
[????]
[Everyone listen up! This shady bastard fooled us all! He used his 'mongrel' spawn to steal the racial keys and aims to hog the Council of Six's authority all for himself!]
The council members were thrown off by Versheus's unexpected ravings. Nate himself just silently glared at his ranting.
Even so, they sensed his mood plummeting. Though physical laws didn't apply in this space, the temperature around them distinctly dropped.
Only the excited Versheus remained oblivious.
[Ha! Think I don't know who you'll appoint as the next representative after ousting me? That headache of a son of yours! Scheming to control the Lycanslopes through your 'mongrel' son—what's your endgame? Huh?!]
[No, Versheus. What on earth are you...?]
Amid the stunned council members, Nate declared in a low voice.
[As you all see, he's already lost his sanity. He's completely consumed by the demonic energy of the demon realm. We can no longer entrust him with a pillar of the dimensional boundary. Seal the key immediately.]
A eerie silver chill glinted in his dry gaze as he scanned the members.
Under that heavy pressure, they began manipulating their [Keys] one by one. In response, Versheus's [Key] gradually lost its light.
Versheus clutched the sealing key in desperation, lashing out.
[That's my line, you unprecedented troublemaker! You, who birthed a 'mongrel' and sowed chaos—how dare you claim to be this world's guardian! I won't allow it!]
Then, a frost-laced roar thundered toward Versheus.
[Shut your mouth, mongrel!]
[!!!!]
Whoosh.
A cold aura spread like ice water poured over everything, freezing Versheus in place. Though his tantrum had already deflated, Nate's pressure on him continued.
Laced with unpleasant sarcasm.
[How dare a wretch like you call anyone a 'mongrel'! Mongrel!]
Was this guy always like this?
Even after joining the Council of Six and dealing with countless half-breeds over Ionia matters, he'd never uttered such crude words.
As the members who had finished sealing gaped wide-eyed, Nate strode up and seized Versheus by the collar with one hand.
[Guhk!]
By the time he screamed, the racial key from Versheus's hand had already been snatched away.
Then came an overwhelming pressure like a mountain crashing down.
Like a mouse facing a beast, he couldn't budge, gasping for air, as cool silver-gray eyes flickered, staring him down.
[Listen well. Do you know why I haven't slain you on the spot despite your filthy deeds?]
[Gk! Guhek!]
[Because you still have a shred of usefulness left.]
Nate leaned in and whispered softly into his ear, his tone almost gentle.
[So go. Crawl back to the Anoelder realm and flail in the mud forever. And in the end, become a handful of dirt for my child to tread upon.]
With those words.
Shiiiik—
Versheus's form lost cohesion and faded. Having lost his key, he was being expelled from the Rift.
[Uwaaaah! Wait, just a moment...!]
His screams faded in an instant.
Moments later.
The half-baked Lycanslope lord was completely gone. Only the sealed racial key remained where he had stood.
A heavy silence fell over the Rift.
[Once again, we've danced to your tune beautifully. How unpleasant. Truly unpleasant....]
The woman with storm clouds in her hair muttered thus before manipulating her key and vanishing from the Rift.
[Haha, of course. Who could stand against the will of God's proxy?]
Mitra, with illicit brew on his lips, flashed a self-deprecating smile and vanished into his domain.
Then the tree, then the manta ray...
Once all members had space-jumped away, only Nate and the old man remained, as at the beginning.
The old man, still wearing a dazed expression, finally let out a deep sigh.
[I tried to stop it somehow, but in the end, everything went as you wished. Are you satisfied now?]
[How far will you blame me? He merely reaped the karma he sowed.]
Nate replied coldly, without even turning to the old man.
Of course.
The problem was that he had likely foreseen this entire affair. Wasn't he the oracle called the thief of God's eyes?
[Everyone approved his disposition, didn't they? Will you call it my unilateral action now?]
[No, I won't.]
[Then we're done. I'm leaving now, so if you have any business, say it all at once. From today, I won't respond to the Council's summons for a while.]
[Why is that?]
Nate didn't answer, but the meaning in his cold eyes was clear.
I'd rather not waste another second on the likes of you—I need every moment with my children.
[Listen, Nate.]
The old man called out to him as he turned away decisively.
[You knew everything. Don't deny this part. It was all foreseen from the start, wasn't it?]
[I only follow my child's choices.]
[You'll respect its choices?]
The old man laughed in disbelief.
[Don't spout nonsense! We got lucky this time and it worked out, but what if it really left this dimension? What then?]
[.......]
[You'd have dragged it back, defying the natural order. Repeating the same mistake, right? So, what price will you pay this time? You can't cling to past bonds anymore. It's wrong for you and for it.]
Nate turned back, grinding out the words.
[I won't ask you to understand my actions. But some choices can't be comprehended without experiencing them firsthand. Of course, it might be presumptuous to say so to you, Elder, with your long years.]
Finally, the glare he shot the old man gleamed with icy light.
[You don't have kids, do you? Ever even been in love?]
[.......]
* * *
Seongjin regained consciousness in the late morning, nearing lunchtime.
[You're finally awake! Are you okay now, Yi Seongjin?]
The demon king, who had been rolling around idly in the salt crystal, greeted him joyfully.
"......"
Seongjin slowly raised a hand to his still-throbbing temple without responding.
No wonder his eyes felt stuffy— the bandages he used to wear everywhere were wrapped around them again.
At the same time, dull aches and stabbing headaches assaulted him.
There was only one thing that meant.
'Father hasn't come yet.'
Rather than disappointment, worry surged first.
There's no way this guy wouldn't have shown up by now. Did something happen?
"Ah, Yi Seongjin, are you compos mentis now?"
Then Logan's voice came from beside him.
Startled, he quietly sensed presences—Logan was there, and Sir Masain too, seemingly exhausted and deep in sleep.
To not notice them first—his condition wasn't normal; his senses were considerably dulled.
"You could sleep more. I did what I could, but fully restoring you was beyond me. There might even be permanent aftereffects."
Logan, straightening the blanket over Seongjin's chest, continued worriedly.
"Anyway, what happened? Do you remember why you're like this?"
"No, Logan. That's not important right now."
"Huh?"
As Logan asked in confusion, Seongjin swallowed hard.
"Truth is, Logan. I have something urgent to tell you."