Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Promises Must Be Kept
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[System Message]
[ Mutation state is released! ]
Black energy dissipates from my body. I collapse in place, gasping for breath.
In that state, I grope over my body, which Yuria shattered into pieces.
Both sides are properly reattached without any loss.
As expected, a body that’s gone through one ‘mutation’ like this seems to return with full HP, in system terms.
‘...Though my senses are mostly gone.’
I clench and unclench my hand, barely piecing together memories from moments ago.
Only hazy outlines remain as faint afterimages.
I definitely thought and planned things myself and moved accordingly.
But in that instant, even as I controlled my own body, everything felt... ‘numb.’
It immediately makes sense why Elnor, whose personality was completely warped by the demon fragment in the game, committed those horrific acts without batting an eye.
It’s like observing myself from a third-person view.
A chilling sensation, as if I’m controlling a game character that’s me.
Honestly, I never want to go through it again.
“...”
I give a wry smile.
I’ll probably have to use it quite often from now on.
Just thinking about what I’ve been through so far, I’ve nearly died countless times. It’ll only get worse ahead, never less.
With that thought, I sigh and try to stand.
Then Tatiana’s corpse trips me up at my feet.
A corpse I created.
“...”
Even if my consciousness wasn’t fully intact during the mutation, the sensation lingers vividly in my hands.
I grab my trembling left hand and take deep breaths.
It’s a natural reaction when extreme stress hits the body.
With the Riverback Marquis, it didn’t even feel like killing a person. I just detonated a holy power bomb and watched it turn to ash.
This is the first time I’ve killed someone in a way that makes me truly feel like I ‘committed murder.’
Definitely.
As ‘Dawood Campbell,’ anyway.
‘Pathetic.’
I sigh and calm my hand.
It’s ridiculous for my mentality to break over something like this now.
To begin with, she was someone who deserved to die.
As those thoughts cross my mind.
[System Log]
[ Due to the influence of acquiring the ‘Mutation’ state, you acquire ‘Skill: Soul Devouring’! ]
Such a window pops up before my eyes.
I blink and stare at it.
What’s this now?
[Skill Info]
[ Skill: Soul Devouring ] [ Rank: A ]
[ Harvests the soul of a target whose breath you personally cut off. Can be processed in various ways. ]
[System Message]
[ Using ‘Skill: Soul Devouring’! ]
[ Absorbed the soul of target ‘Tatiana Grachel’! ]
[ You can check the target’s status via ‘Soul Linker’! ]
...What?
I glare incredulously at the amulet on my wrist.
In response, a small window appears above the amulet.
[ Currently Harvested Souls List ]
[ ▲ Tatiana Grachel ]
[ Specialty: Curses ]
[ Form: Wraith ]
[ Processing Options ]
▶ Subordinate as Familiar
▶ Bestow as Enhancement Material on Item
▶ Resummon in Complete Form (Disappears after one use)
Not bad...
The options are versatile. I’ll have to test their effects slowly from now on, but at least nothing looks useless. That’s a relief.
“...”
But more importantly.
The thing I need to check right now.
‘Caliban.’
This guy.
I have no idea what reaction he’ll have after seeing what I just looked like.
I’d rather not fall out with someone who can peer straight into my mind.
[...]
Only thick silence returns from the Soul Linker.
I swallow dryly, waiting for a response.
[Whoa, you survived again.]
A flatly emotionless voice replies.
[How the hell do you keep surviving? It’s creepy, seriously creepy.]
“...”
What can I say.
His reaction is tamer than expected.
[Well, you could only use that, right? I’m not gonna nitpick the method.]
‘But still...’
Wouldn’t a guardian who died fighting demons have a negative reaction to a human turning demon-like?
That’s what I thought.
[It’s a bit... different from that, you.]
“Yes?”
[I get what you’re trying to excuse. As someone who’s actually fought real demons, I understand right away.]
Caliban chuckles in response.
[That wasn’t a ‘demon,’ was it?]
“...”
[The form’s similar, but it’s something ‘optimized’ to take in demon ‘energy.’ The vibe’s a little off.]
It’s an answer that leaves me blinking in stunned silence.
An extremely accurate observation.
Demons are beings that can’t be artificially created, no matter how much I twist my body.
And if I’d truly turned into one of those.
[System Log]
[ All magic accumulated in ‘Seal of the Otherworld’ is consumed. ]
[ Sufficient interaction with demons and accumulation of magic is required to enable ‘Mutation’! ]
[ The third evolution of ‘Seal of the Otherworld’ will occur once sufficient mutation count is reached! ]
[ Mutation Uses: 1/4 ]
This wouldn’t pop up.
If I were a vessel holding a demon fragment, I wouldn’t need ‘another demon’s’ energy to mutate into that form.
[Yeah. So enough with the excuses. I get the gist of what you want to do with it anyway.]
Caliban’s voice continues.
[You’re scheming something for those girls possessed by demons, right?]
I scratch my head wordlessly.
He’s right.
Demons, like it or not, are the ultimate boss mechanics in the game.
So.
For the humans carrying them to get a ‘happy ending.’
I need to prescribe some strong medicine.
“...”
Especially.
Because of that ominous guy in the mask, even more so.
Because of him, the entire scenario is derailing like a train off the tracks, heading who-knows-where.
[...That’s what worries me.]
Such a response comes.
Unlike before, the voice is a bit more serious.
[No way a story that convenient happens without any sacrifices.]
“...”
[What’s the ‘price’ you’ll pay? There has to be one.]
There is, sure.
But that’s a problem for later.
It’s not like there’s no solution.
More importantly.
“Elnor.”
I need to take care of her first.
The curse spear embedded in the wall vanishes, and I cautiously approach Elnor sprawled on the floor.
The fragment’s effects, sealed by the Word of Command, seem to be resurfacing, as her wounds are regenerating rapidly.
“Elnor, you okay?”
As I speak, Elnor slowly lifts her head to look at me.
Unlike her usual emotionless demeanor, her atmosphere is filled with a gloomy pallor.
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Elnor’ feels extreme helplessness. ]
[ Target ‘Elnor’ makes an important resolution. ]
[ A special event occurs between target ‘Elnor’ and target ‘Gideon’! ]
Huh?
What?
Gideon?
“...?”
Helplessness out of nowhere, important resolution what, special event what.
I’m dumbfounded by lines I never imagined seeing here.
“...I’m fine.”
Elnor replies in a feeble voice and struggles to rise.
As I reach out to help her.
Elnor gently pushes my hand away.
“...Elnor?”
I question puzzledly, and Elnor bites her lip for a moment.
Then, a low, sunken voice emerges.
“...I don’t deserve this.”
“Yes? What do you—”
“Wait. Leave me alone for a bit.”
“...”
“Please, Dawood. Just a moment is fine.”
“...”
“I just need a little time to sort my thoughts.”
With that, I watch in confusion as Elnor shuffles down the corridor, shoulders slumped.
[Leave her be.]
Such a voice flies from the Soul Linker.
‘...Yes?’
[Whatever you say right now, she’ll react the same. No need to comfort her. I know that feeling. One thing’s sure: it won’t backfire on you.]
Caliban cackles as he continues.
[Dawood. Dead serious here.]
‘Yes.’
[Get lost.]
‘...What the hell, suddenly.’
[Just. Having such a devoted girl around pisses me off.]
‘...’
What’s that supposed to mean.
Talking in riddles only you get.
“Hey! You okay!”
As I shoot an incredulous look at the Soul Linker, a voice calls from behind.
It’s Hatan, who sensed the chaos and rushed over alone.
“...What... the hell...”
He scans the surroundings, swallowing a groan at the devastation.
At Tatiana’s corpse, he’s utterly speechless, staring blankly at me.
“...Looks like there’s a lot to hear.”
Hatan mutters, rubbing his throbbing head.
Of course, I agree.
Though the focus feels a bit off.
If you think about it.
I’ve saved the Forge of Strife at least two or three times now.
“Um, Clan Leader Hatan.”
“What.”
“That’s not the point.”
So. It’s not just about hearing me out.
“Prepare to empty your pockets.”
“...”
Hand over the rewards.
All the good stuff.
●
When Liru Garda came to, the sun had already fully set.
“...!”
She bolts up and looks around. It’s the infirmary on the Forge of Strife.
Someone must have brought her here from where she lost consciousness at sea.
Her last memory is being held in Dawood Campbell’s arms, her strength fading as her eyes closed.
He had held her tightly until then.
Like lovers.
“...”
Recalling that, Liru’s face flushes bright red.
She quickly shakes her head, realizing now’s not the time.
‘...I need to find out what happened.’
First, check what went down after that.
With that thought, as Liru tries to get out of bed, pain wracks her body, drawing a groan.
Her head throbs.
Her whole body buzzes with pain, but her head feels like it’s splitting open.
[You’re awake?]
Even voices sound this distorted.
Not like someone speaking nearby, but like a voice echoing inside her ears.
[It’s not just the headache.]
“...”
Liru blinks at words that feel like they’re reading her mind.
[We talked once before, Liru. I said we’d meet again soon, right?]
With those words.
A translucent figure of ‘herself’ whooshes into view before her eyes.
No other way to describe it.
It’s unmistakably Liru herself.
Naked as the day she was born, for some reason.
[Hmm... It actually works. Shocking. Even as the weakest among my sisters, with less than two fragments... communication’s possible.]
As she gapes dumbly at the sight, the translucent nude Liru floats around midair, chuckling.
[Anyway, the reason I’m showing myself is... there’s something we need to ‘receive’ from Dawood Campbell.]
“...”
She presses on to the speechless Liru, in a sultry, bewitching voice laced with allure.
[Liru. Shall we do something fun together?]
Liru has no idea what ‘fun’ means here.
But.
Undoubtedly.
It’s nothing wholesome or productive.
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