Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Logos
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“Who might the deceased be?”
Instead of swinging the dagger in her hand, Ha-ryeong asked a question first.
She didn’t think it was very likely, but if conversation was possible, they might avoid fighting altogether. And knowing who the opponent was would help in a fight, too.
“If you’re curious about who this old man is, shouldn’t you tell me who you are first? That’s the proper order, no?”
The old man wasn’t in any hurry.
He wasn’t hungry yet, and as he’d mentioned, he’d already cleaned up the surroundings. Overnight, the old man had killed more than ten adventurers, tossing their bodies into his hideout. If one of them had tried to flee, he wouldn’t have bothered talking and would’ve killed and chased them down first—but fortunately, they seemed ready to fight.
“I am Ha-ryeong of the Killing Guard Sect.”
“One of the assassins under the Faceless Killer? I shouldn’t have bothered asking your name. What could be more meaningless to an assassin than a name?”
The old man chuckled as he turned his gaze to Elena. Tense to the extreme, Elena was still aiming her wand at him.
“Elena Haiderga... of the Derusia Magic Tower.”
“Oh ho. I thought that flashy lightning magic seemed familiar—Derusia Magic Tower after all.”
Even if they didn’t know the Killing Guard Sect, anyone would shrink at the name Derusia Magic Tower. If a mage from the tower was murdered, Heavenly Thunder herself might move. But the old man acted like he couldn’t care less.
“This old man is known as the Blood Evil Ghost.”
Ha-ryeong understood his attitude the moment she heard that moniker.
“Blood Evil Ghost Woo Jin-yeol...?”
Until ten years ago, he’d been called one of the Demonic Cult’s Seven Evils. A great demonic head on par with the peerless sovereigns of the righteous and black paths.
Why was he, who had been expelled from the Seven Evils after losing to the Ghost-Eye Blade Guest and gone into hiding, here in Logos?
“Wait...”
Ha-ryeong flinched and examined the Blood Evil Ghost. His face was covered in deep wrinkles. Not just his face—the exposed hands were wrinkled too, and though his body wasn’t hunched for an old man, it wasn’t sturdy either.
It didn’t match the information she remembered. Martial artists suppressed aging past the 6th tier, and upon reaching the 7th, they returned to youthful prime. Ha-ryeong had never seen the Blood Evil Ghost who’d hidden away ten years ago in person, but she remembered the description: a giant of a man rivaling the Mad Wolf in his youthful form.
“...”
Was he really the Blood Evil Ghost? She didn’t ask outright. But fragments of information pieced together in her mind.
Ten years ago, the Blood Evil Ghost had lost a duel to the Ghost-Eye Blade Guest and been expelled from the Demonic Cult’s Seven Evils. She’d heard it was a one-sided fight.
The Ghost-Eye Blade Guest’s curved blade had deeply slashed the Blood Evil Ghost’s abdomen, and he’d begged for his life to survive.
It was a fatal wound. Especially grave was the damage to his dantian. The humiliation of begging for his life with a shattered dantian. The great demonic head, once one of the Seven Evils, had no choice but to hide from the Demonic Cult martial artists’ scorn.
A dantian wound. An aged body unable to maintain rejuvenation.
‘Qi deviation.’
Had it happened while recuperating from the wound? Or during training for revenge, when inner demons struck? One thing was clear: the old man before her lacked the ‘aura’ she’d felt from Full Moon Night Play.
“You don’t seem to believe this old man is the Blood Evil Ghost?”
“No, I believe you.”
“Assassin, you seemed deep in thought about me. What conclusion did you reach?”
“For recuperating from qi deviation, wouldn’t some deep mountain valley be better than a place like this?”
Ha-ryeong spoke with a blank expression. At her words, the Blood Evil Ghost twisted his face into a grin.
“If this old man had practiced righteous path martial arts, he might’ve recuperated elsewhere.”
An answer that didn’t deny the qi deviation. Ha-ryeong let out a short sigh and took a step back.
“Why are you here of all places? There are plenty of mountains out there.”
“Do you believe in superstitions?”
“Pardon...?”
“I do.”
The Blood Evil Ghost spoke with his ever-present smile.
“The wounds from ten years ago healed, but the lost inner energy and qi deviation couldn’t be reversed. My body can no longer resist aging.”
“...”
“Isn’t it a common superstition that drinking young, pure blood restores youth? In the past, I achieved enlightenment and perfected my body by devouring flesh and blood.”
Elena’s face twisted at the grotesque words.
“Logos draws plenty of young adventurers. For me, there’s no better place to recuperate. Even if people die, it’s blamed on monsters, young prey is easy to find, and the varieties are diverse.”
“I know you’ve enjoyed cannibalism since long ago, Blood Evil Ghost. But even if you don’t care about me, devouring a Derusia mage will bring Heavenly Thunder’s wrath down on this mountain.”
“The name Heavenly Thunder does inspire fear in this old man now.”
The Blood Evil Ghost’s lips parted. A tongue coated in white plaque slithered out from between his yellowed teeth.
“But if I devour you without leaving a single bone, even Heavenly Thunder won’t know. If it bothers me that much, I can make you my last meal here and leave— no need for you to worry about this old man.”
“Must you do this? If you let us go, I swear not to breathe a word of you to anyone.”
“Sealing your lips with death is surer than empty oaths. Assassin, no matter what you say, this old man won’t back down. Didn’t I say it? I believe in superstitions.”
Slurrrp... The long-extended tongue licked his lips. A red mist-like aura enveloped the Blood Evil Ghost’s body.
“You two are the finest young prey I’ve seen in these mountains. Power beyond your apparent age. Ah, such outstanding talent. Your blood and flesh must taste sweet, and they’ll deeply seep into this withered old body...”
A madman. She’d tried leveraging Heavenly Thunder’s name, but he clearly had no intention of letting them go. Still, the conversation had yielded information. Qi deviation. Unrecovered inner energy. Aged flesh.
The current Blood Evil Ghost fell far short of the Seven Evils level that rivaled peerless sovereigns. He probably couldn’t fully unleash the martial arts he’d built up in the past.
‘Even so, a former Seven Evils...’
Stepping forward without a sneak attack meant he was confident of victory. Even in the past, a great demonic head of the Seven Evils wouldn’t misjudge the odds.
‘No choice.’
[Miss. Are we really fighting?]
She sent a transmission to Elena. Startled by the sudden message, Elena soon replied via magic.
[I told you. I’m not as fast as you, and neither is Yuri.]
[I can at least buy some time.]
[What if that old monster kills you and comes after me?]
[Then I’m dead, so it can’t be helped. I’d probably reunite with you in that monster’s belly.]
[Don’t say creepy things. What if we fight together...?]
[Honestly, I don’t know. The opponent’s too unusual.]
[You can tell me now, right?]
The red aura around the Blood Evil Ghost thickened. —Crackle. Currents sparked around Elena too. Ha-ryeong dropped both arms and circulated her inner energy.
[Ha-ryeong, what tier are you?]
A bodyguard full of secrets. She’d said it was because she was an assassin. Even her name was an alias, and Ha-ryeong had never heard her exact age, let alone her tier.
[5th tier.]
This wasn’t the time to hide it as a secret. Elena let out a hollow laugh at the answer. She’d thought her older, but probably same tier.
[I don’t know your exact age, but 5th tier at your age makes you a genius, right?]
[How many times have I told you? I’m an outstanding, terrifying assassin.]
Fwoosh! Green sword energy enveloped Ha-ryeong’s dagger. At the sight, the Blood Evil Ghost’s wrinkled eyes widened. He’d thought 4th tier, but 5th?
“Evil God! I thank you for providing today’s sustenance as well!”
Suddenly, the Blood Evil Ghost bellowed. But nothing happened. Just a prayer.
He’d come to this mountain grasping at straws to repair his broken body.
He’d hoped for the Evil God’s grace but never received a response. But wasn’t that splendid sustenance proof of the Evil God’s grace? Devouring those two might shake off the qi deviation’s aftereffects! The Blood Evil Ghost grinned widely and kicked off the ground.
“Run first.”
From the crackling, boiling currents, Elena whispered.
“It’ll be dangerous, but better than here. So run first. Head straight down the mountain. If... if you meet anyone on the way, ask for their protection.”
Elena didn’t wait for a reply. She focused all her nerves on the Blood Evil Ghost. Discarding unfinished spell formulas, the most powerful Derusia spell she could cast devoured the surrounding mana and soul force.
Thunderclap Flash Strike. —Rumble! A massive lightning spear shot out. The Blood Evil Ghost, eyes wide with red gleam, didn’t meet it head-on but leaped skyward. The strike bent sharply, chasing him into the sky.
“Kehehahaha!”
The Blood Evil Ghost spat a huge laugh and swung his right arm. Crimson sword energy collided with the Thunderclap Flash Strike. —Flash! The exploded lightning scattered. His charred sleeve turned to ash and fluttered away, his airborne body pushed back slightly. But the old body still bore no wounds.
Pababak! Ha-ryeong dashed forward. Tracking the slowly falling Blood Evil Ghost with her eyes, she hurled her energy-coated dagger. Kwoong! The Blood Evil Ghost’s thrusting palm blocked it.
Boom! The Blood Evil Ghost, pushed back a bit more, landed on both feet. The ground shook from a single human’s fall, sending out a massive shockwave. Ha-ryeong clicked her tongue and leaped high, but Elena flinched in surprise and raised a barrier with her wand thrust forward.
“Run, Yuri!”
Elena shouted again and charged ahead. Fighting here would harm Yuri too.
Boom, boom, boom.
The clashes between dagger and bare hands were unbelievable. Ha-ryeong meticulously kept her distance, hurling daggers at the Blood Evil Ghost. But no matter how many times, they couldn’t pierce his protective aura.
‘Qi deviation.’
That much was certain. They couldn’t wound his body, but each hit shook his protective aura.
Impossible for a 5th tier like Ha-ryeong at full power to shake a 7th tier protective aura.
But it only shook—it wouldn’t break through easily. Even with much inner energy lost—indeed. Even aged and depleted, the martial learning of reaching 7th tier remained. No longer at his peak, but his proficiency in handling energy and executing techniques was intact.
‘Protective aura consumes a lot of inner energy. Unable to maintain rejuvenation means his tier fell due to qi deviation. Meridians probably damaged too.’
Dragging it into a prolonged fight offered a chance. That was Ha-ryeong’s conclusion.
‘Prolonged fight...?’
Was that even possible? Amid the red aura, the Blood Evil Ghost grinned horrifically. Kwoang! The distance closed in an instant. Ha-ryeong didn’t panic and stepped into footwork. Her body, about to be grabbed, left a faint afterimage, her real form circling to the Blood Evil Ghost’s side.
She tried to stab at close range, but as if expecting it, he burst his protective aura. Kwoang! Ha-ryeong braked her flying body and gritted her teeth. Blood’s taste filled her mouth deep inside.
“Ha-ryeong!”
With the shout, lightning flashed. Dozens of bolts shot past Ha-ryeong toward the Blood Evil Ghost. Pabapak! Weaving through the fast, numerous strikes, he swung both hands. Explosions, shocks—he blocked with palms, raised protective aura—but his bones and organs buzzed painfully.
‘The control over the energy is different...!’
The gap was huge. This despite qi deviation—what had his prime been like?
“Kyaaak!”
A scream came from behind too. The Blood Evil Ghost’s attacks weren’t solely on Ha-ryeong. She’d hastily raised a barrier, but couldn’t block fully. Elena steadied her staggering body by force and spat blood with hacks.
“Assassin. Your martial arts look familiar.”
Crackle, crackle. The clashing energies sparked.
“Killing Guard Sect assassin—you’re from the Tang Clan.”
A foul sludge stench wafted from the Blood Evil Ghost’s mouth.
“Why is the Tang Clan, rulers of poison gates, in the Killing Guard Sect? Is the Killing Guard Sect a poison gate? Even this old man didn’t know. But how intriguing. Your arts resemble the Tang Clan’s Emotionless Killing Stream, yet differ. You’re trying hard to hide it, but they’re brimming with emotion.”
“Stench.”
Ha-ryeong twisted her lips and spat.
“Blood Evil Ghost. Your mouth reeks of filth.”
Ha-ryeong’s body shook, green energy vibrating. —Pabababak! Sword energy burst from her whole body as daggers.
“Amateur Ten Thousand Plum Blossoms!”
The Blood Evil Ghost cackled and swung both hands. Crimson energy formed giant palms, blocking Ha-ryeong’s daggers.
“Ha-ryeong!”
Elena ran toward the staggering Ha-ryeong, swinging her wand. Lightning arrows summoned by magic poured at the Blood Evil Ghost, but even Elena’s spells couldn’t force him back.
Yuri.
Was watching everything.
‘I...’
Was excluded.
The suddenly appeared Blood Evil Ghost hadn’t glanced at Yuri once. He’d targeted only Elena and Ha-ryeong, and now was no different.
Ha-ryeong, who always wore a blank face and spouted silly jokes, had first tried to flee while carrying Elena and Yuri.
When escape proved impossible. Ha-ryeong had become the bodyguard she always joked about. She could’ve fled alone at her speed, but without hesitation, she’d thrown Elena and Yuri aside and blocked the Blood Evil Ghost by herself.
Elena hadn’t chosen to run. Her shout was quite realistic. Ha-ryeong alone couldn’t hold the Blood Evil Ghost long, and even Elena fleeing at full speed wouldn’t shake him.
“Aaah!”
Amid the crumbling barrier shards, staggering Elena had shouted for Yuri to run.
No one here thought Yuri could fight. The Blood Evil Ghost ignored him, Ha-ryeong and Elena hadn’t asked for his help, only told him to flee.
Fleeing was right.
What Yuri could do here was right.
2nd tier. The lie he’d told them both.
3rd tier. Yuri’s real tier.
Nothing impressive. No one here was below Yuri’s tier. Jake, squashed like a bug by the Blood Evil Ghost, had been 3rd tier.
So Yuri could do nothing in this fight. Even as Ha-ryeong rolled on the ground spitting blood, even as Elena barely stood on shaking legs and her lightning scattered in the Blood Evil Ghost’s hand.
Yuri could do nothing.
To avoid death, to even slightly raise survival odds. While the two desperately fought the Blood Evil Ghost, fleeing was right.
If lucky enough to meet other adventurers, beg for their protection.
Yuri clenched his fists.
Coming to Logos was Yuri’s fault.
If Yuri hadn’t spoken of adventurers, Elena wouldn’t have come to Logos, nor Ha-ryeong followed.
Without Yuri, this wouldn’t have happened.
He didn’t want to die.
He wanted to live.
Returning to the original world—honestly, it hadn’t been that urgent from the start.
No compelling reason to go back. No family, no friends, no job, no money, no skills, couldn’t speak his mind, no memories, nothing precious, no one waiting, no one seeking him.
Lee Soo-hyuk had been an empty shell, alive but alone.
Playing that damned game too long, better than others, falling into a trap, crossing to this world.
He’d thought it sucked. Of course he’d wanted to go back. But in a corner of his heart was ‘excitement.’
Because this wasn’t ordinary.
In a way, being chosen.
An astonishing event for Lee Soo-hyuk, who’d never been chosen, empty and worthless.
So returning to the original world wasn’t desperate.
Maybe life here would be better than there.
Had that expectation truly been absent?
‘No.’
He didn’t want to die.
He wanted to live.
That longing stemmed from hope in this world’s life.
Kill the Evil God and wish to the Goddess of Order? He was skeptical it could be done, but if his possessor status stayed hidden—
Yuri’s life might be better than Lee Soo-hyuk’s.
To not die, he had to flee.
Fleeing meant Elena and Ha-ryeong died.
But he might live.
That aligned with Lee Soo-hyuk’s old hopes.
‘I.’
If he fled and survived, how would he remember today?
‘The fire that executes heavenly punishment.’
He wouldn’t want to remember.
‘Asura that exterminates evil.’
He’d recall it as a horrific nightmare.
‘The apostle that upholds heaven’s principles.’
Better to have died today, he’d regret lifelong.
‘My hands hold the holy flame.’
Lee Soo-hyuk.
Yuri didn’t want to live bearing such regret.
‘My feet tread the demons.’
So Yuri stepped forward.
Flames blazing from his dantian enveloped his body.