Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Summer
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Packed my bags.
The journey there and back alone would take a month. Even generously estimating, we'd stay in Logos for ten days, but schedules always deviate from plans once underway. We'd probably only return to the mansion two months from now.
I'd spent half a year in this mansion since coming to Lutran. The only overnight stay away from home for Yuri had been at Bakerd's lodging, when he'd unleashed the Southern Sky Cloud Drift Fist.
'No real reason to stay out anyway.'
Opening the drawer revealed a pile of letters. Old exchanges with Elena, a few from Gordon, and one from Bakerd.
I'd received a single letter from Bakerd after he left Lutran.
He hadn't specified his exact location, but he'd holed up in some remote mountain valley for closed-door training.
To vaguely glimpse the door to the 7th Tier. To fuse the Southern Sky Cloud Drift Fist and Diamond Shatter Fist into a new fist technique.
'A wall...'
Yuri was vaguely facing a wall of his own.
The wall of the 4th Tier.
Thinking about it, his growth had been too rapid so far. Even mastering the Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art, a divine technique, reaching the 3rd Tier in under half a year since seriously starting martial arts, and now on the cusp of the 4th—it was unprecedented.
'Hard to gauge how fast since I can't compare to other possessors.'
Ha-ryeong had told him on the first day leaving Oldor.
For mages, even those with average talent took five years to reach the 2nd Tier, ten for the 3rd.
Tiers were like levels. Just as high-level characters struggled to gain one more, higher tiers grew exponentially harder to advance.
'Climbing to the 5th Tier is supposed to be brutally difficult.'
That's when the Wailing Wall began, apparently. How would that difficulty apply to a possessor?
'Wish I knew Ox God Head's exact tier.'
If he did, Yuri could roughly compare.
The minimum qualification for Extreme Sovereign was the 7th Tier. But that didn't confirm Extreme Sovereigns were exactly 7th Tier. Experts at that level didn't boast precise tiers. Ox God Head might even be at the 8th.
"Sigh."
Training martial arts and advancing tiers was fun, honestly, but the road ahead felt endlessly far, drawing a deep sigh. At least the 7th Tier to share a table with Ox God Head?
Bakerd didn't seem utterly depraved, but no guarantee he'd treat possessors decently. Approaching casually might get his head smashed in Ma Do-ri style, so he needed to grow to a comparable level first.
Snapping back to reality, Yuri plunged his hand into the thick stack of letters and pulled out his coin pouch.
Savings amassed since Yuri the orphan's pickpocketing days. Elena would surely cover any expenses, but he packed the savings into his backpack anyway.
'Might buy a souvenir...'
He'd received tons from Elena, but never given any back. She didn't seem to need or want anything... A Logos memento from the trip together might do.
'Not like it's a vacation.'
Chucking dryly, Yuri opened another drawer. He'd memorized them thoroughly, but packed all the martial arts manuals into the backpack anyway—for reference if something felt off or confusing.
Changes of clothes and underwear. Spare gear bought yesterday. Quite a lot, yet the magic backpack's shape didn't change.
After packing everything, he shouldered it to check. Lighter than full armor, and without channeling inner energy, it didn't feel heavy. Thanks to steady external training over the past half-year.
That night.
Tense, excited, restless—he figured sleep would evade him, but once lying down, he slept soundly as usual.
"Ooh."
After breakfast, washing up, and donning his outfit, he descended to the living room. Ha-ryeong was already there. Dressed in black unlined robes like their first meeting in Oldor, her face mask pulled down around her neck.
"Two days ago you saw me, and now you're impressed?"
"Anyone would think you're a total newbie, couldn't help it."
Ignoring the teasing, he checked the living room mirror.
Ha-ryeong's assessment was spot-on. Gear fully equipped, but all shiny and new. Ung broken-in boots felt awkward, the belt around his waist stiff. No sense of weight, but the daggers tucked into the belt kept drawing attention.
Especially awkward was the robe draped as an overcoat. Expensive gear, barely any weight, no hindrance to movement. Just never worn anything like it his whole life.
He hadn't bought weapons. Some fighters used metal gauntlets or leather gloves, but they didn't suit the Southern Sky Cloud Drift Fist. It required delicate fingerwork, not just fists.
"All set?"
Elena emerged after a short wait. Unlike Ha-ryeong's identical look from Oldor, Elena skipped the white dress. Plain purple robe and boots. Short wand in one hand. Pure mage vibe, more seasoned than Yuri's fresh-off-the-shelf gear.
"First time seeing you with a wand."
"Easier in real combat."
Elena puffed her chest proudly, brandishing the wand.
"Got it as a gift from the Tower Lord when I hit 4th Tier."
"How much?"
"Can't buy it with money! It's one the Tower Lord used back in the day."
"Used?"
"You jerk..."
Wands and staves assisted mana handling. Essential for low mana affinity; even high-affinity mages used them in unpredictable real fights.
Such gear absorbed the mage's essence over time. Even a common wooden staff became a priceless artifact after decades with a grand mage.
If Heavenly Thunder Orca once wielded it, it was invaluable for lightning mages...
Elena explained as they left the mansion.
"First time to Logos for everyone, right?"
Yuri, hooded, glanced skyward. Clear weather, hot sun, but not sweltering. High-end gear had built-in comfort enchantments.
"Have you been, Ha-ryeong?"
"Went as a kid."
"How many years ago?"
"Stop with the pointless interrogation."
Ha-ryeong clicked her tongue, opening the carriage door before mounting the driver's seat. Half a year together, yet she remained an enigma. Not even her martial arts or age known. 'Ha-ryeong' might not even be her real name.
"Logos is among the milder rifts, favored as a training ground for low-tier fighters and mages."
Logos.
The area existed in the game, so Lee Soo-hyuk knew it. As Ha-ryeong said, a low-level hunting ground.
No named NPCs, no boss monsters. But unique monsters granting extra EXP sometimes spawned randomly.
That was it. Drops mediocre; pure leveling spot. No skill combos needed—raw level stats sufficed—so low-level builds weak to combos had no choice but to grind there.
'Rift of Chaos...'
The game lacked the 'Rift of Chaos' lore. Such zones were commonplace; no one questioned monster spawns.
"Pure 'fighters' not pursuing adventurer or mercenary paths dislike fighting non-humans, but Logos allows 'legal' real-combat practice easily."
Legal. The word made Yuri smirk unwittingly. Lutran had solid law enforcement, but this world was lawless. Die outside cities? Natural causes.
"Just watch for monsters in Logos?"
Ha-ryeong's eyes sparkled at the abrupt question. For a split second, her eyes seemed to smile.
"Aren't people worth watching out for anywhere, not just Logos?"
She liked the question. Unlike pampered Elena, this man—hardened by struggle—properly distrusted the world.
Good. Even prodigies died underestimating it.
"Logos rifts are mild, true. History spans decades; monster manuals solid. Yet deaths and disappearances occur monthly."
Her briefly smiling eyes returned to normal.
"Whether by monster or man? Unclear. Occasionally sloppy killers get caught failing to dispose of bodies..."
Ha-ryeong paused, glancing at Elena. Expecting tension? Instead, she stared at Yuri.
'Good lord.'
Hoping he'd get scared? Hate adventure, scared, wanna live with Elena forever—something like that?
'Nah, probably not.'
Still, the possibility lingered.
"With elite assassin me and Miss Elena here, no worries this time. But next time alone, stay vigilant, Mr. Yuri."
Tempted to scare him more blatantly for Elena's sake, but his serious face killed the urge.
"The 3.5 billion man, Mr. Yuri—excited to see if your luck shines in Logos too."
"Looking forward to it a bit."
Elena chimed in, inwardly disappointed he wasn't trembling. Yuri, clueless to their exchange, tilted his head.
"Luck? Looking forward?"
"Rarely, but rifts like Logos yield 'serendipities.'"
"What's that?"
"Monsters with inner cores or spirit herbs."
Chaotic god power birthed abnormal monsters in rifts, but rare mana surges created inner-core beasts or mana-infused herbs from weeds.
'Random unique monster encounters...'
"Serendipities number a handful yearly at most. If we hit one? The 3.5 billion man, Mr. Yuri, might become tens of billions—scary to imagine."
"Inner cores or herbs from Logos aren't top-tier, right?"
"Variance high, but average around Azure Heaven Pill quality."
"Find any, you take 'em, Yuri."
Ignoring Ha-ryeong's joke and Elena's generosity, Yuri couldn't smile.
Ha-ryeong always called him lucky—but neither Lee Soo-hyuk nor Yuri were.
If anything, disastrously unlucky.
Lee Soo-hyuk lost parents young in an accident.
Yuri abandoned at an orphanage as a baby.
Lee Soo-hyuk kidnapped to another world for gaming prowess.
Yuri stabbed dead before some unknown possessor claimed his body.
Two ill-fated souls merged.
'Luck turned post-possession, though...'
Misfortune times misfortune equals fortune? Their cursed fates finally paying off? Wanted to think positive, but their lots were harsh; Yuri forced a grin.
"Probably won't find any anyway."
The carriage departed.
*
I am the fire executing heavenly punishment, the asura exterminating evil, the apostle righting heaven's principles.
My hands cradle holy flame; my feet tread demons.
If the world is wicked, I burn and cleanse it with my fire.
Demon corpses I trample fuel the blaze.
Ten thousand demons burn beneath me; I am hell itself.
If burning fails to purify, I become the holy flame.
Even if heaven forbids it.
If the righted principle defies the natural order, I—
"..."
Her eyes opened.
The woman blinked seated motionlessly before slowly scanning around. Terrified paladins and priests filled her view.
The Extreme Sovereign's Two Saints.
Malignant Saint Lorellia pressed her thumb hard into the finger on her knee. A crack echoed through the silence.
"What is it?"
Her impassive, icy face bloomed into a bright smile. Beautiful, yet those kneeling around her felt only dread. A timid priest began hiccupping in fear; even stout paladins sweated coldly down their spines.
"My punishment as Lorellia surely isn't over? So why are my brothers and sisters here?"
Order Church's Punishment Hall.
Half a year ago, Lorellia entered.
For violating the Order Church's unbreakable laws.
Order priests must not specially treat possessors.
Per doctrine, they explained situations and imparted basics to possessors.
But Lorellia hadn't. She wasn't even assigned; she represented the church's violence.
Half a year ago, she subdued the assigned priest and personally guided the possessor from the lounge. Ignored doctrine. Lingered long, teaching him some martial arts.
Any other priest? Far worse than mere confinement.
But the current Order Church lacked power to execute her—and couldn't anyway. Compromise: Punishment Hall confinement, which she entered voluntarily.
Thus, no proper interrogation. Difficult anyway—goddess's oracle sealed lips on possessor details. Couldn't speak even if wanted.
But all priests guessed.
Order Church observed evil god traps via goddess's miracles.
Only one possessor could arrive now.
Why the Malignant Saint broke laws for him? Even High Priest uninformed. Lorellia stonewalled all interrogations, barricading herself.
"Why no answers?"
Her refreshing smile's blood-red eyes oozed sticky malice. Crimson gaze meticulously swept each face.
"Your presences ruined my satisfactory meditation! Not here without reason, surely? Come to mock this pitiful confined Lorellia?"
"N-No..."
"Ah! An answer at last. So, why?"
"High Priest's summons..."
"High Priest is too much! I've been reflecting in Punishment Hall months. Yet he never visited!"
Lorellia flung arms wide, shouting high.
"Ah! So heartless. But unavoidable. I, Lorellia, know I'm a sinner! Reflecting! That's why I'm here."
As she spoke, priests and paladins shrank further. Suppression seals abounded, but if she willed, she'd raze it smiling.
"Th-The High Priest is receiving a guest now."
"Guest? Who visits this sanctuary, so grand the lazy High Priest greets personally?"
The priest whispered, sweating profusely.
"The Heavenly Demon."
Air froze.
Lorellia stared blankly before tilting her head. No windows in Punishment Hall. Yet her crimson eyes pierced walls, glaring at the distant annex.
"That old man brought his disciple to scout grave sites?"
"Unknown, but he wishes to meet you, Lorellia..."
"Traveled far in frailty; must grant it. If desired, this Lorellia will personally send the old coot off this world."
Lorellia rose coldly smiling. Creak! Before priests and paladins opened the door, thick iron bars bent.
She passed through the gap. Grind, screech... Thick shackles on wrists and ankles twisted and shattered themselves.
"Ah."
Before heading to the annex, Lorellia paused, turning to the ashen priest.
"Sister. Exactly how long since I entered Punishment Hall?"
"1... 187 days."
"I see!"
Lorellia beamed, nodding.
'Is it ripening?'
Broke laws, sent precious gift—trouble if not.