Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Withered Crone
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The underground cavern that had housed hundreds of cultists was now left with just three people and a pile of corpses.
Even if those three had rampaged wildly, wiping out over a hundred cultists would have been no easy task.
There had been no need to kill them all, either. The Sword Dragon alone was a handful, but with Yuri and Ha-ryeong crashing the party, the cultists chose to abandon the fight and flee.
Still, the 5th Tier wielders of the blue bracelets who had attacked the Sword Dragon first, along with the possessed red-bracelet wearers, were all dead. The Sword Dragon couldn't chase down those who fled far away, but he didn't let a single one nearby escape.
Yuri eyed the corpse of a possessor whose ID—or even name—he'd never heard of. A faint twinge of unease stirred in him. Strictly speaking, they were victims from his own world, kidnapped against their will.
But he didn't dwell on the sentiment. Unpleasant as it was, they were people who had to die.
"So."
The Sword Dragon still gripped his sword, not a drop of sweat on his face. No injuries, no signs of fatigue, not even a hint of labored breathing.
"Who are you two?"
Failing to slaughter every last cultist with his blade was irritating, but rounding them up was only a matter of time. Having witnessed this city's filth, he would petition his family to purge the outer districts.
That was for after returning to the Orsia Family. For now, these two were nagging at him. They clearly weren't cultists... but their identities eluded him.
"Woman. Why haven't you removed your mask?"
"My lady's face isn't fit to be shown to others."
Yuri answered for Ha-ryeong. At his words, she whipped her head around to glare at him.
[I suddenly want to become a cold, ruthless, terrifying assassin.]
[I'm not serious.]
He brushed it off for now and continued. The Sword Dragon, evidently unprepared for such a response, looked flustered. After a moment of silence, he fixed his gaze on Yuri.
"Then, who are you?"
Of course he'd ask that. Yuri fell silent this time. Should he give the alias Juga? Or just reveal he was Brain Cloud?
No need for lies with this one. He'd altered his face with transformation arts upon entering the city to hide from cultists and possessors, and he'd sealed his fist techniques to focus on kicks and footwork for training.
'Not like I've done anything shady.'
If anything, he'd helped hunt cultists—worthy of praise and reward.
"It's not over yet."
Yuri said for now. He rubbed his blood-sticky shoes on the floor and continued.
"The High Priest hasn't shown."
"High Priest...?"
"Yeah. A 6th Tier mage. The one ruling this area's cultists."
All he'd heard from the dying Flame Whisperer about the High Priest was that they were a 6th Tier mage. Even Flame Whisperer hadn't known their identity.
"The first guy I killed said the High Priest would be coming down from above soon..."
Yuri slowly tilted his head up to the ceiling. Ha-ryeong and the Sword Dragon followed suit.
"He's not coming."
"..."
"Maybe the Sword Dragon, he saw you rampaging and bolted."
"You're blaming me?"
"Wouldn't you?"
The Sword Dragon glared with fierce eyes, but Yuri met his gaze without flinching.
"The cultists you and I killed were just regular followers."
"..."
"I infiltrated the gathering to kill the High Priest. I figured even if the rest escaped, taking him out would do. What do you think, Sword Dragon?"
The Sword Dragon bit his lip, unable to reply. He thought the same. They hadn't even killed all the regulars—just a few dozen. Far more had fled.
And they hadn't even encountered the High Priest. They could round up the others, but some unknown High Priest? Unlikely.
"My mistake."
The Sword Dragon finally spoke after the silence.
"Sorry for ruining your plan."
He sighed deeply and scratched his head vigorously. Who knew he'd apologize so readily? Were the scions of prestigious families raised from youth to be so sensible and polite?
'Guess that bastard Namgung Jin was just an unusual prick.'
His character was comparable to Yuri, an orphan raised without parents.
"I'm going to find the High Priest."
Yuri declared.
"I said he might've fled, but that's just a guess. Could be he just hasn't come down yet."
"..."
"So we need to search. Introductions after."
He naturally postponed it. Reveal his identity based on the situation—or slip away if not.
"I'll come with you."
The Sword Dragon said.
"A 6th Tier mage, right? I acknowledge you two are top among 5th Tiers, but you'll lack the power for an upper-tier mage."
"So you'll help?"
"This was Orsia Family business to begin with. If the High Priest escaped, it's on me too."
With that, the Sword Dragon turned crisply.
[The young master of Orsia Family—I figured he'd be as prickly as that Namgung Jin bastard, but he's got a decent personality.]
[Don't talk to me, the woman with the smashed face.]
[I didn't say smashed, exactly...]
[Anyway, don't talk to me.]
A chilling gaze emanated from inside the mask. She followed the Sword Dragon, who walked ahead first, swapping her cultist mask for the fox one.
"?
Sensing it, the Sword Dragon turned to look at Ha-ryeong. He eyed her now-smiling fox mask and asked.
"Why the mask...?"
"My face is so smashed it's unfit for others, so I wear a cute one at least."
"Sword Dragon, truth is my lady's face is fine—beautiful, even. She just keeps the mask on for personal reasons."
Yuri hastily added. The Sword Dragon blinked in confusion.
"What are you talking about...?"
"Anyway, let's move."
He glanced at Ha-ryeong. Mask hid her face and expression, but her icy glare seemed to soften a bit.
[I know I'm pretty.]
She really seemed over it.
[But Yuri. How do we find the High Priest?]
[Head up and search...]
—Boom!
A massive quake shook the entire building.
*
Among the continent's many magic towers, Ludelra Magic Tower was regarded as an evil path.
The truth it pursued: overcoming mortality. Denying the law that all born must perish.
Higher tiers conquered aging. At 6th Tier, it slowed; at 7th, rejuvenation restored the body's prime.
Rejuvenation granted lifespan beyond ordinary humans, but not true immortality. Ludelra sought complete immortality of body and soul—defying death itself, beyond mere aging.
Thus, Ludelra delved into corpses and souls. Necromancers collecting bodies from various causes were long-time clients of medical guilds and Ludelra.
No open hostility, but other towers kept distance. Most churches outright rejected and loathed them. To god-worshippers, Ludelra's research, magic, and truth were intolerable.
Without alliance with Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Ludelra might have vanished under church bombardments long ago.
'To think they'd shelter with the Chaos Church.'
Biyeon had never met the Withered Crone in person. He'd first heard of the old monster now.
Ludelra Tower Lord, Corpse Immortal Spirit Herain Ludelra.
As Ludelra was a longtime ally of Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so was this sinister archmage a longtime friend of the Heavenly Demon. But friends didn't mean constant closeness. The Corpse Immortal Spirit usually holed up in Ludelra, rarely emerging.
The summons came first from Biyeon's master, the Heavenly Demon.
Suddenly, the master called Biyeon and the Corpse Immortal Spirit to a room, pointed at Biyeon, and ordered him to kill the Withered Crone.
'Suddenly?'
The Withered Crone had never crossed Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The old witch had fled Ludelra a decade ago. Ludelra had let her be, yet now Heavenly Demon ordered her death.
'No need to keep her alive?'
'She didn't steal anything major. Just too bothersome.'
'Then she can die.'
'Yes.'
That ended the talk.
"Indeed."
Biyeon scowled and grumbled. Why send him all this way to kill Ludelra's fugitive, unrelated to Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Now he understood.
'Because of the Chaos Church.'
Two years ago.
Biyeon had visited the Order Church's sanctuary with his master.
There, he met the Order Church's High Archbishop and the Ferocious Saint Lorellia of the Limitless Sovereigns.
Among Limitless Sovereigns, fiercer than the War Saint of the War Church—hence her title, Ferocious Saint.
Never imagined she'd be master's aunt—but he couldn't ask about family.
Now, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's training ground was complete nearby, turning boys, girls, and young disciples into poison vats via solitary training, but he hadn't returned to the sanctuary since.
He remembered that conversation, though. The High Archbishop said the Heavenly Demon was closest to slaying the evil god, and master hadn't denied it.
'Is master truly set on killing the evil god?'
He'd shown mild interest in a wish granted by the Goddess of Order, but not enough to fight an evil god over it. Even disciple Biyeon didn't know master's exact tier—but master's goal was challenging 10th Tier godhood.
Blocked by godhood's wall? No, master just wanted confirmation. Could he, a mortal, achieve god-slaying? Could power from mortal life unmake immortality?
Sending disciple Biyeon here implied war declaration on Chaos Church. Master stepping in for a mere High Priest was overkill; better relay intent through young disciple.
"Still following?"
Biyeon scowled irritably and glanced back. Sword Shadow stood in the shadows, smiling faintly.
"I get why master sent me. So I'll convey his will alone, as a disciple should."
"Young Cult Leader's skills are exceptional, but the Withered Crone is a cunning old mage."
"You think master sent me here hoping I'd die?"
"Haha, of course not, but if worst happens and I fail to protect you, Cult Leader will kill me."
Sword Shadow replied with a smile. Biyeon glared briefly, then whipped around to glare at the building.
Chaos cultists were preparing a gathering below. Biyeon eyed it with narrowed gaze.
That instant, ambient mana surged wildly as magic manifested. A gray umbrella-like form appeared above the building, crashing down to crush it entirely.
—Rumble! The building shook like an earthquake and began collapsing. Biyeon startled, eyes sharpening. At the mana storm's heart floated a robed mage.
The Withered Crone. No idea why she'd smash the whole building with magic, but Biyeon was certain.
"Huh."
Sword Shadow, caught off-guard, let out a surprised sound. Biyeon didn't hesitate, unleashing Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Roar! Pitch-black aura enveloped him, crimson glow spilling from his pure white featureless mask's eyeholes.
Boom! Cloaked in Heavenly Demon Divine Art's protective aura, Biyeon kicked off the ground and leaped upward.
The Withered Crone spotted his approach. Her face, revealed by fluttering robes, wasn't the gaunt elder of tales.
Thin, but seemingly rejuvenated over the decade—youthful-looking.
Not true rejuvenation, though. Ludelra pursued immortality. Just over-suppressed aging via magic. Ultimately, a forced facade; even after ten years, she hadn't broken 7th Tier's wall.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Youthful face, but voice was a raspy old man's. Biyeon concentrated Heavenly Demon Divine Art's inner energy into his right hand instead of answering.
Heavenly Demon Spirit Annihilation Palm. Exploding from his thrusting hand came inky-black aura. Kaboom! The Withered Crone's body reeled from his preemptive strike. She instantly armored herself in barriers and swung her staff at him.
*
—Rumble...
Hard to grasp what was happening at first.
He'd somehow convinced the Sword Dragon. Mere minutes ago, they'd agreed to team up against the 6th Tier mage High Priest and were leaving the basement.
Then the building shook, and the ceiling collapsed.
"Bro..."
Ha-ryeong dodged the falling debris with agile moves, hesitating briefly. Obviously couldn't call him "Cat Panties" in front of Sword Dragon. Or Yuri. Juga? But doubted it'd stick long-term.
"Young brother, you alright?"
Ambiguous names might give Sword Dragon leverage later. So Ha-ryeong dropped names entirely.
"Yes, sister."
Yuri brushed dust off his shoulders and replied. Sword Dragon, who sliced falling debris with sword aura instead of dodging, was unscathed too.
"Guess he didn't flee after all."
Sword Dragon spat. Sensing the space-crushing magic, he continued.
"That High Priest meant to bury us with the building."
Yuri agreed. If the magic had completed, they'd be trapped below, unable to escape immediately. High Priest planned to exploit that and run...
'But the magic didn't finish.'
No mid-cast change of heart—interrupted? That thought hit when—
Boom!
The upper ceiling crumbled further, someone plummeting through.
Biyeon. He landed cleanly without tumbling, poised to leap again—then startled, scanning around.
'What the hell?'
Mangled corpses everywhere. Not crushed by debris—these predated it.
That alone baffled him. Why were gathered cultists already dead? And so few. At least a hundred should have been here—where'd they go?
'Those are...?'
Biyeon's eyes widened scanning further. Three survivors amid the rubble.
The man from two days ago on the street, who stirred his competitive spirit.
The fox-masked woman.
And the last, blond...
"Sword Dragon?"
Biyeon blurted in shock. He knew the moniker, of course. While Heavenly Demon's disciple Biyeon remained obscure, Sword Dragon was already famous.
Biyeon had always seen Sword Dragon as his rival—never dreamed they'd meet here?
"Interfering, are you...!"
The slowly descending Withered Crone rasped. Killing Sword Dragon meant Orsia Family enmity. Unwanted, she'd planned to seal and flee the building—ruined by that wench.
"What the hell are you? Why interfere with me?"
Seal too late now. Escape unfeasible. Trembling with rage, she glared below. Sword Dragon and his pre-gathering rampagers. The sudden intruder woman. Seeing those five fueled uncontainable fury.
"Sword Dragon, you insolent whelp...! Flaunting your family's glory, rampaging like thunder! I spared you out of fear of your house—now impossible."
Escape foiled, time for plan B.
Orsia enmity be damned—kill Sword Dragon. Others too. That wench forcing hard choices dies, and those two unknowns with him.
Kill them all, harvest souls. Especially Sword Dragon—body too. Orsia as blood enemies? Fine, if she gained his soul and corpse. Stir this chaos. Church would protect her.
'Might even become a saint.'
The thought eased her boiling gut. —Roar! Ominous gray swirled around her.
"I'll kill you all—every last one!"
Kyaieee! Ghostly faces emerged in the gray light, eerie shrieks shaking space.
"Mommy."
Ha-ryeong flinched, pressing against Yuri.
"?
Unsure of the situation but tense, Yuri startled at the voice and weight on his arm, turning. Mask hid her face, but he saw her huddled shoulders.
"W-what?"
"Nothing."
Ha-ryeong quickly recomposed and pulled away.