Chapter 70
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 070
Chapter Title: The Way Back
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The retreat proceeded smoothly.
Even as an army of stragglers, they commanded forces no ordinary beast would dare challenge. And with the infamous Noll tribe marching alongside them, skirmishes were few and far between.
But combat wasn't entirely absent.
There were always those reckless fools who charged headlong regardless.
"Grraaaargh—!"
Blind abominations knew no fear. They barreled forward without a thought, backed by regenerative powers that made them nigh unkillable.
Five abominations came rushing in. The Nolls grimaced at the sight.
"I hate fighting those bastards..."
Jaka grumbled. He was a brave warrior fit to lead the vanguard, but abominations were a different story altogether.
Troublesome spawn of the Demonic Realm. Putting one down meant getting dirty in a messy brawl.
Woojin ran his fingers along the machete's blade.
"Just provide support. I'll finish them off."
"Now that's what I like to hear."
Jaka grinned, puffing up his tail. With a mighty swing, he whipped it forward.
Thwiiip!!
Black spines shot from his tail amid a burst of wind. The blade-like projectiles burrowed deep into the abominations' torsos.
Their movements slowed noticeably. Jaka's spines carried paralyzing venom. The halted beasts began yanking out the poisoned barbs one by one.
They had to be dealt with before they finished. Woojin gripped his machete in reverse and charged.
There was something he wanted to test.
"Grraaaargh!!"
A fat abomination fist swung at him. It carried brutal force. Dodging or parrying was best against such blows—but this time, he'd take it head-on.
Woojin raised his machete like a shield. The abomination's fist smashed into the flat of the blade.
Kwaaaang!!
The impact shoved his body back. But Woojin pushed forward against the force, stepping ahead. His left foot bore the weight, amplified by gravitational magic.
Using it as an anchor, he held firm. His eyes scanned the enemy's bulk.
...'Flank.'
His hand shot out. Fingers stabbed like an awl into the abomination's side. Soon enough, he grasped what he sought.
Splurt!
He tore out a chunk of flesh from the flank and brushed past. The abomination staggered in confusion, then reached for Woojin's back.
"Grraaaargh..."
A feeble groan escaped it. Then, like ice cream melting in the sun, the abomination dissolved.
Jaka blinked at the sight.
What the hell?
He couldn't make sense of it. Abominations clung to life tenaciously—you had to hack them to pieces to kill one.
Yet this guy dispatched it effortlessly. One poke, and it melted away.
Woojin returned after felling all five in seconds. Jaka, visibly stunned, asked,
"How'd you kill them?"
"Pulled out their cores."
Woojin held out his left hand. Five abomination cores pulsed like heartbeats. Jaka pressed,
"How'd you even find them?"
Each abomination hid its core in a unique spot. You had to butcher them while probing for it—that was the only way to hunt them.
Woojin answered readily.
"It's a knack. A human technique—not something you pick up easily."
The third eye. Foresight.
He was honing it in real combat. Spot the core's location through Foresight, rip it out, and end them instantly.
Damn efficient.
Before, he'd have slogged through filth to find it or blasted them with lightning. Now, abominations were small fry.
"Impressive as always."
Logar, standing nearby, voiced his admiration. Woojin waved it off dismissively.
"Logar, drop the formalities. It's awkward when you keep bowing to me."
"...You sure?"
"Yeah, easier that way."
Once hailed as guardian and such, it all felt like ancient history now.
Bracnak was an old acquaintance, so the respect didn't faze him...
But Woojin had left the Noll tribe. Calling him guardian and acting formal didn't fit. Logar nodded, convinced.
"If that's your wish... I'll speak freely."
Logar caught on quick—no need to repeat himself.
"Any threats nearby?"
"None. No scents on the wind."
Logar declared confidently. Noll senses confirmed the area safe. Woojin nodded, satisfied.
Time for a break.
"Let's head back."
"Sounds good."
He walked to camp with the two Nolls. Meanwhile, he pondered the fresh cores.
Abomination cores.
Dark cultists called abominations failures. Miserable ends for the unworthy. They recoiled at consuming the cores.
Woojin had swallowed them grudgingly before, reaping benefits... but feeding them to the wolf felt wrong.
"Want these?"
He offered them to the Nolls. Logar and Jaka looked queasy.
"I'll pass to Jaka. Can't stomach shoving that in my mouth."
"Same here."
Even Nolls shunned abomination cores. Pondering disposal, Woojin stared at his hand.
The five cores were merging into one.
...Weird.
As if uniting to regenerate their lost bodies. Unsettled, Woojin clenched his fist.
Crunch!
The cores shattered, dark red blood dripping. He summoned flames to incinerate the mess like washing his hands.
Better just toss abomination cores.
Too alien. Best avoided.
Soon, they reached camp. Woojin spotted Roland by the fire with shaman Brotul.
"What're you up to?"
"Learning sign language from him."
To communicate with Nolls even without Woojin, Roland practiced signs in his downtime.
Curiously, someone joined the lesson: a priestess veiled in green muslin. Saintess Cecilia.
Why's she here?
Intriguing, but they weren't close enough to pry.
Dinner time.
He poked the fire's logs aside with a stick, digging out seven-odd dirt clumps from the ash.
Cracking the exteriors revealed the contents: deer meat wrapped in leaves and hide, roasted whole. He sliced them neatly and passed portions around.
"Here, Sir Roland."
"Beast meat's getting old."
"Can't be helped. Supplies are tight without resupply."
Woojin offered a bowl to the saintess. Cecilia accepted hesitantly.
"..."
She stared silently. Woojin added casually,
"It's hot."
"..."
Cecilia nodded wordlessly and began eating. Meat speared on her fork vanished under the veil bite by bite.
She's quiet.
Thinking back... he'd never seen her face or heard her voice. Excessively cautious.
Some issue?
Curiosity stirred, but he let it go. Prying into secrets wasn't polite.
"Hey, Jin. Got any wine left?"
Roland asked through chews. Woojin rummaged his pack for a bottle—Duke Edwin's favorite vintage.
Bracnak had shared spoils from the army: luxuries like this wine.
Pricey stuff hits nice.
Perfect with meat. He poured for Roland, then offered Cecilia,
"Care for some?"
She lifted the wooden cup slightly. Seemed she liked it.
He filled it generously, shook the bottle—about a third left.
Gotta ration the other two.
Pioneer City was still days off; supplies needed stretching.
Then...
Shaaaah—
Green divinity flowed from Cecilia's hand. Puzzled, Woojin watched a plant sprout from the dirt in seconds.
A bush blooming with fruit: raspberries.
Pluck.
She offered one. Woojin took it, entranced.
"Safe to eat?"
She nodded. He bit in—tart sweetness flooded his mouth.
This is good.
More than tasty; the sanctified fruit invigorated him.
One wasn't enough.
"...Can I have more?"
Nod nod.
Cecilia gestured freely at the bush. Woojin and the others gorged on the bounty.
Shaman Brotul murmured in awe,
"Never seen such potent magic."
"Brotul, it's not magic—it's divine arts. Born of faith in the gods."
Woojin explained, but Brotul shook his head.
"Guardian. My knowledge is limited... but this feels like ancient shamanism. At least to me."
Considering it...
...It is odd.
Like the stone bridge before—her powers felt off for divine arts. Cecilia commanded plants directly.
Not quite magic either. Enoch's knowledge held no such spells.
Neither divine nor arcane—an eerie talent. Woojin recalled something similar.
The witch's shapeshifting.
The black panther witch. Same vibe as first sighting.
...A dark cultist?
Maybe Cecilia was one. But dwelling on it... no, absurd.
Dark cultists wouldn't flaunt like this. And if she were, Bow's Foresight would've pierced her in Pioneer City.
Some unknown factor.
He shrugged it off, finishing the raspberries. No need to dig deeper.
Afterward, Cecilia visited camp whenever free. Woojin shared food; she repaid with fresh fruit.
As his pack dwindled...
...I see it.
A wall appeared on the horizon. Not fully built—low stone barrier, construction fresh.
Second Wall.
Cleansed by the first expedition's crack purification, reclaimed from the Demonic Realm. Built to defend that territory.
The soldiers cheered at the sight.
"We're home—!"
The long nightmare ended. After grueling trials, the second expedition returned to the Church Alliance's embrace.