Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Azalea Shedding Petals (8)
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The dank underground room, like a muddy swamp, was utterly repulsive just to stand in.
My shoes squelched through slippery liquid. The nose-stinging stench was as foul as petroleum.
A stained bed and bloodstained sheets. Forcing my gaze away, I spotted Lee Seong-han with his arms crossed.
"I never imagined you'd go this far, Brother Lee Si-heon."
"Please, drop the 'brother' bit if you can."
"You must really like my daughter, huh? Willing to risk your life for her."
"What? I'm no saint who throws his life away just to save someone."
We exchanged a few words.
While infusing mana steadily into the magic stone in my hand, I muttered to myself.
"It's not like I have zero backup."
"Hm?"
Finding a terrorist hideout is no easy feat.
Especially for a global terror group that dominates the underworld and hides its tracks—pinpointing their lair is next to impossible.
'High-level mana detection, satellites. Even mobilizing every resource at their disposal barely uncovers it.'
But once you're inside and can transmit the coordinates, everything changes.
What would cost billions to locate could be solved with a single locator.
Lee Seong-han was a big fish.
A man on par with Korea's top corporate chairmen. Taking him down in this sweep carried massive weight.
-Bzzz! Bzzz!
Seeing my receiver, Lee Seong-han gave a wry smile.
"That's..."
"You know what this is?"
"So you never intended to join us from the start, Brother."
Of course not.
Lee Seong-han swept back his hair, looking like he'd been caught off guard, and drew the sword from his waist.
"But you won't escape. No teleportation works inside this basement."
His confident words prompted me to pull out my last magic stone.
Teleport set for the Academy. But there was no sign of activation.
My plan to grab the location and bolt had gone slightly awry.
"Damn it."
...I'd taken a hit too.
-Rumble!
A commotion erupted outside.
Once they had the coordinates, they'd swarm in fast. Everything would wrap up within the hour, probably.
"Brother, I still believe in you."
"Still on that? No wonder cults are out of their minds."
"The oracle has never been wrong. You'll help us eventually."
-Shing— Even in the darkness, Seong-han's blade gleamed like it held moonlight.
My body was already a wreck. I'd fought tooth and nail against the cultists to let the cadets escape, leaving me with zero mana or anything else.
I wasn't completely tapped out. But how long could I hold? Honestly, victory seemed out of reach.
"Who the hell is this god you worship?"
"A transparent question, but I'll answer."
Spreading mana through his body, Seong-han continued with a eerie expression.
"His holy relic lies within. Seeing it might convert you. Care to take a look?"
Bits of stone dust trickled from the ceiling. Amid the sounds of crumbling walls came sporadic screams of agony.
Even in this dire chaos, Lee Seong-han just chuckled. Where did that composure come from? He flung open the inner door of the basement.
-Hiss...
White mist poured from within.
The floor was carpeted in vivid red soil. Rising from it was a towering tree that caught my eye.
I didn't know its name. No punch to the brain like with Lee Se-young, San Su-yu, or Bead.
This tiny tree stood utterly bare, without even rough bark to protect it, exposing its pale peach-colored skin.
Not a single leaf covered it. Smooth curves stood out. Midway up the trunk was a tightly sealed crevice.
"What do you think, Brother?"
I furrowed my brow at his smug grin.
"This looks like a god to you? Isn't this just a World Tree?"
"Don't dare compare Him to a World Tree."
Mana surged wildly in his sword.
Suddenly enraged, Lee Seong-han made me flinch.
I knew he was deep in madness, but this guy was completely unhinged.
-Bang!
A wave of mana-charged air blasted toward me.
I dropped my center of gravity to dodge. I pulled mana up from deep within.
"Did I say something wrong? Worshiping another World Tree like the rest of you lunatics?"
"......!"
His face twisted savagely as he charged with ferocious momentum.
Our gripped swords clashed.
Woodfolk Sword Art Form 3: Pruning Branches.
-Clang!
Mana sparked, blood sprayed. Agony ripped through both shoulders.
Just a blade lock, yet bone-crushing pain rebounded.
"O God, punish this lamb."
His necklace glowed red. The embedded gem looked familiar—the one he'd shown me before.
Controls Woodfolk, he said. Damn, he'd hidden this power.
My trembling arms screamed. By my left, tendons must've snapped; no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't move.
"......Fuck."
Muttering a curse, I switched to one-handed grip.
I knew it, but the reality that one slip could mean death hit hard. Sweat trickled down my back.
"Time for your enlightenment, Brother."
My skin chilled coldly. Snap out of it. I chanted inwardly, drawing up mana.
Heart's core, vessel's heart.
Short on mana, I pulled from surroundings. My body rejected the impure influx.
-Drip.
Overheat. Nosebleed.
To resist that unknown power, I had to overdraw mana. Honestly, it was force still beyond my control.
Any outcome was possible.
Zenith of fighting spirit.
Black mana ignited in my heart core, creeping outward.
Seong-han's body lunged. Reacting, mine shifted.
-Swish!
Vision widened vastly. Sword path, mana flow. Mana blades extending toward my body filled my pupils—things unseen before.
The spot to strike was clear. I bent low and shot forward like an arrow.
-Whoosh.
Jet-black shadows rose along my forearms.
The shimmering mana haze formed neither beautiful flower nor fresh leaf.
Just blunt slaughter intent. It advanced, radiating vicious aura.
-Rumble!
Foot down, floor cracked. Surging physical prowess swelled my muscles.
I saw him closing in. Confirmed the target spot.
-Crunch!
Straight, faster than he could see, my blade tip pierced Seong-han's cheek.
"-Gurgle."
Through skull, mashing brain.
Bursting mana tore the wound.
The handfeel of piercing head unsettled me. His dangling body slumped.
I kicked the corpse away. Meat squelched as I yanked my deeply embedded sword free.
Head spun.
Dead Seong-han's face was unrecognizable mush. I collapsed there, gasping.
"......Hah, hah."
Sweat poured. Somehow, I'd killed Lee Seong-han alone.
Confidence in my power surged. But no time to savor it.
Damn. Feels like death.
Hallucinations flickered. Stomach churned like poisoned mushrooms; body itched everywhere.
"J-Jewel?"
In my haze, I instinctively ripped the gem from the corpse and examined it.
⚔ ITEM ACQUIRED ⚔ Mass-Produced Pink Dawn (B) [Type: Equipment] • Effect 1: Instills unwavering faith in the user via intercourse or conversation.
• Effect 2: Temporarily creates a transparent blade. I pocketed the gem and pressed my twitching right arm to my forehead.
-Rumble!
Still going on outside?
How much longer?
The acrid blood stench overwhelmed; I crawled toward the tree.
The cool aura felt good.
Leaning back against the tree's trunk, I closed my eyes. Shade fell over my head.
I shut my eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The tree's tough bark sloughed off.
Sticky sap drooled down, revealing pristine white skin to the world.
A stinging, alien sensation wrinkled her face. Legs giving out, Azalea dropped to her knees.
How could a person do that? Her vacant eyes stared at the empty sky.
Nothing remained where he'd departed.
Her hands trembled.
"Ping Chaeng. Get up now. We need to head to the auditorium."
"S-San Su-yu."
"What?"
"Lee Si-heon... that guy. He'll be okay, right?"
Her voice shook violently as she asked San Su-yu.
San Su-yu's impassive face showed no emotion.
San Su-yu stared at the floor silently before slowly speaking.
"Si-on is fine."
"......"
"Everything's going according to Si-woo's plan."
She wanted to believe that. She hoped Lee Si-heon lived.
Realizing these feelings brought deep regret surging from her chest.
If only she'd trusted him from the start, none of this would've happened.
'Why go so far for me...'
Why sacrifice so much for her? She needed to know why. Not knowing would drive her mad.
"Azalea!"
Jeong Si-woo rushed to her, battered and wounded, breathing raggedly.
"You okay? What the hell was that?"
"Si-woo. That's not what's important."
"......San Su-yu?"
"To the auditorium. Now."
San Su-yu steadfastly helped Azalea up. Jeong Si-woo flustered but followed her lead.
Supported, Azalea's body sagged like a deflated doll.
-Step. Step.
Her mind reeled.
Regret, anguish, self-loathing for her distrust swelled.
She told herself he'd be fine. That if she looked away, that flippant man would grin brightly.
Azalea hated herself for failing to hold onto that bond.
All the way to the auditorium.
San Su-yu kept reassuring her it was okay.
-Take care.
But Si-heon's last words felt like a final farewell.
Azalea could only repeat them hoarsely, soaked in guilt.
"......I'm sorry."