Chapter 235: Customization
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235: Customization
[When the Savior finished His work and entered the castle, a strange and profound silence fell. The Savior's people prostrated themselves, anxious that they might have committed some great sin, but the Savior paid no heed to His disciples and His people, remaining secluded upon His sacred throne. After His people had prayed for a long while, repenting of their sins and transgressions, the Savior finally emerged from His sacred throne on the third day, revealing His true form and smiling broadly upon them. - The New Testament of Blood Dagger, Chapter 35, Verse 12.]
“Hoo… hoo…”
I moved my body, testing it out, and it was thoroughly satisfying. The body's specs had improved beyond words. More than just an increase in specs, ‘optimized’ was the most fitting description.
It was a body of my own creation, so that was only natural. Circulating mana through my circuits, I could feel that this new body could contain a vast and smooth flow of magical energy, incomparable to before.
Large horns, heavy and dark eyes, a majestic tail, and a body that seemed forged for battle. I had used a demon as the base, but the resulting race was too ambiguous to be called a simple demon.
“Hahahaha.”
I couldn't wait to try out this new body. I quickly started to head outside. Wanting to test my tail, I imbued it with a great deal of mana and swung it. The door blocking my path was completely shattered.
I’m still not used to swinging the tail. I was worried its length might make it a target, but it was far sturdier than I’d thought and seemed to be a suitable vessel for containing mana.
As the door flew open, I saw the clan's women and the executives. The worry on their faces was plain to see. Hark and the others simply nodded when they saw me, but the women of the clan had tears welling up in their eyes.
“Hmm…”
Baek Ahyeon’s expression was especially a sight to behold. She was prostrated before me as if in worship.
“S-Savior!”
“The Savior has returned in his true form!”
“S-Savior!”
It was just customization, but the atmosphere was quite strange. The disciples who had come with her also bowed their heads, and the other clan members looked at me with deeply moved expressions. I had been so focused that I hadn't checked how much time had passed, so I spoke to Choi Eunju.
“How long has it been?”
“Ah! Yes, honey. You didn't come out for exactly three days. We were worried something had happened.”
I never imagined three whole days had passed. I knew I had been concentrating, but it had taken far more time than I expected, which was a little surprising. Strangely, I wasn't hungry. I figured it was probably an effect of my body's transformation. Everyone seemed to accept it, thinking I needed time to transform into my new form, but since I’d actually had a rather enjoyable time with the customization, their gazes felt a little burdensome.
“I am fine, so everyone return to your duties. We will prepare to return to the settlement soon.”
“For Blood Dagger!”
“For Blood Dagger!”
If it had been three days, there must have been some progress on clearing the path. I turned to Hakajin.
“How many of the Japanese bastards survived?”
“I believe more than half have survived.”
“Sort out the useful ones, heal them, and arm them. Then send them to the underground. They should be at a level our young warriors can handle.”
“Yes, I understand.”
To be honest, it would have been better to take a little more time, but I couldn't stand it. I wanted to test this body. I especially felt the urge to test my tail. After I finished speaking, I immediately headed underground. The clan's women looked disappointed, but the warriors seemed to realize I had grown even stronger, and the corners of their mouths turned up in faint smiles.
When I got to the underground level, I saw a lot of cumbersome debris. I unleashed my mana in all directions at once, and the surrounding area was completely swept clean by a magical force far greater than before.
“Hahaha.”
A satisfying body. The output of my mana was also incomparably stronger. In an instant, a wide-open space was created. It seemed like a decent place to test my body.
Before long, the Japanese bastards began to descend into the underground area, their faces tense. Hark was leading them. He could have ordered his subordinates to do it, but seeing him come down like this, it seemed he really wanted to see me.
“For Blood Dagger!”
“Thanks, Hark.”
I patted his shoulder, and he nodded. There were about 100 Japanese. I hadn't imagined there would be so many strong enough to be a match for our young warriors. They all looked like they had no idea what was going on. I didn't have translation magic, but I did have the Translation Bracelet, so I spoke to them.
“Hmm… Not bad.”
The one who seemed to be their representative, a man at the front, was trembling. He seemed to have realized he was brought here on my order, and he began to speak.
“P-Please spare me.”
As expected, their greatest goal was to survive. I looked at them and spoke.
“Impossible.”
“Ah…”
“However, I will give you a chance. If you can wound me, I will let all of you go free.”
Their faces suddenly brightened, but just as quickly, they darkened again. They knew it was impossible, of course. There is a fundamental difference in class that people can sense. They and I were worlds apart. To put it simply, we were predator and prey. And they knew it.
They seemed to have lost their nerve before we even began, so I spoke again.
I focused mana into my hand and thrust it out carelessly. A deafening roar echoed through the underground chamber. Once again, their faces turned pale.
“This is the power you know as mana. I will not use it.”
“Th-Then…”
“Furthermore, I will not move a single step from this spot. I will not use my arms or my legs. If you can wound me or make me retreat from this spot, it is your victory.”
These were incredibly favorable conditions. They slowly began to nod. Above all else, the condition that I wouldn't use mana must have been a welcome one. The same went for not using my arms and legs.
“M-Maybe we can do it?”
A single phrase, quietly uttered by one of them, sent ripples through the group and began to spread. They couldn't win, but if they could make me move or wound me, it would be their victory. Naturally, they would become desperate.
I crossed my arms as if to show I wouldn't use them, and they slowly began to prepare for battle. I felt like I had become a raid boss. Warriors holding decent shields stepped forward, looking terrified, while the mages and priests began to chant their spells.
“W-We can do it!”
“We can do it!!!”
“Y-Yeah! We can do it. If we can just land even a scratch…”
“We can do it!”
I could hear them shouting as if in a last-ditch effort. The first one to charge was, as expected, a warrior. He looked almost cute, cowering as he ran toward me. I moved my tail toward him, holding back its power.
I thought that if I killed him in one blow, it might break their morale.
As he ran at me with his shield held forward, I remained in place with my arms crossed and swung my tail.
Thwack.
With that sound, his entire upper torso, shield and all, was sent flying. His upper and lower body had been separated. Moreover, the point of impact on his body had vanished without a trace, as if he’d been struck by an Ogre's fist.
“Huh…”
That sound came from me, not them. I definitely hadn't used my full strength, nor had I used any mana. They were weak, yes, but I never imagined it would be this effective.
“Uwaaah…”
The emotion of terror was written all over their faces as they stared at me, aghast. I had planned to fight a little longer, but just as I felt a pang of disappointment that they'd lost their will to fight, another voice rang out.
“I-If we stay here, we'll all die anyway! There has to be a way!”
“Y-Yeah! Let's do it!”
There’s always one of those helpful types in a party, the one who inspires courage and hope. Whether he was a master of incitement or not, the others began to respond to his words. I smiled, and then they all rushed me at once.
I batted away massive fire spells and volleys of arrows with my tail. Agile swordsmen and assassins closed in quickly, but the moment my tail connected, their arms and legs were torn from their bodies without a trace. The healers immediately cast healing spells on them, but a priest came into my tail's range, so I promptly took off his head.
Thwack.
With that sound, the man's face vanished without a trace.
Immediately, three or four tankers gathered their mana and tried to push me back, but it was futile.
“Yaaaaaaah!”
“Push him back! Push him back!!!”
“Heal! Heal!!!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! Help me! Help meeee!”
“Priest! Priest!! What are the tankers doing!”
Screams echoed through the chamber. I just stood there quietly with my arms crossed, continuing to swing my tail at them. As time passed, I slowly grew accustomed to using this new appendage. It felt a little different from moving an arm or a leg. I couldn't think of the exact words, but in some cases, it seemed it could be even more useful than an arm.
Once again, the warriors raised their shields and tried to push me back, so I swung my tail casually.
Thwack.
With a sound like a watermelon splitting, the upper bodies of three or four men were flung from their legs. This was the result of pure physical ability, without using any mana. It would have been an easy feat for Goff, but for the Blood Dagger of the past, it would have been quite difficult.
After a little more time had passed, only a few survivors were left, sitting on the floor and trembling. Some had tried to flee midway, but they were already within range, so I dealt with them accordingly.
About six remained. Even they seemed to have lost the will to fight. Interestingly, the master of incitement had also survived. The ones who stood out were a samurai woman with a katana and a woman who looked like a ninja.
It seemed pointless to continue, so I spoke to Hark.
“Take these ones upstairs. Give them good food and let them rest.”
“For Blood Dagger.”
There was no particular reason for it. It was just a simple whim. I was in a pretty good mood. My new body wasn't just stronger than before; it felt perfect. The interesting thing was that their emotions were still flowing into me.
Sorrow and despair. I couldn't help but realize that my evolution wasn't over yet.
The next task was already decided.
If I continue to gather emotions, another evolution will become available. Depending on how much I collect, I might even be able to gain new limbs or wings. What I needed was to build a factory. A factory to extract emotions from this kingdom—no, from this entire continent.
The manager will be Baek Ahyeon, for now. But she can't do it alone.
I had to keep thinking. Jung Hayeon wasn't a bad choice, but she was more efficient by my side.
As I racked my brain, the one who came to mind was none other than Lee Wanyong. That bastard who managed the prison was not only quick-witted and competent, but he also had a special talent for tormenting others.
I couldn't help but look forward to the collaboration between Baek Ahyeon and Lee Wanyong.
I nodded and immediately contacted Jang Ye Ri.
On a continent I had luckily obtained, an endless hell was about to be born.