Chapter 455: Dream
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 455: Dream
“Kneel.”
CRUUUUNCH!!!
The misshapen monster that had been lunging at Lee Wanyong was slammed into the ground in an instant. Crashing into the floor with a deafening noise, the monster let out a bizarre shriek and began to struggle.
“Fool.”
While it wasn't effortless to crush it with magical pressure, it was hardly a difficult task. For someone who supposedly possessed the power of a Seat, its strength was absurdly weak. Compared to Ha Yuri, the Fallen Throne, and myself, her power was clumsy and feeble. I sighed at the fact that despite having the power of a Seat, she had only managed to grow this much.
“I’ll kill you! Kill you!! You bastards!!”
“I’m not sure who you think is killing whom.”
I rose from my chair and pressed my foot onto the part of its body that passed for a neck. A choked sound immediately escaped. It tried to resist, but it was futile. She couldn’t even imagine a way to overpower me. The gap between her and me had already grown that wide.
“Gak… Gak…”
“Hehe… She seems quite agitated.”
This wasn’t the real world. Even if her neck were severed or her entire body crushed, she wouldn’t actually die. Even so, Lee Wanyong’s expression was one of immense relief. He seemed incredibly grateful to have been saved from a near-death experience; it appeared he disliked the sensation of pain itself.
“It’s not surprising she’s reacting this way. It’s hard to accept the unacceptable. This monster is the type of person who believes she is in control of every situation. Now that she’s finally realized she was the one being played from the very beginning, it’s safe to say her recent outburst was born not of anger toward you, but of anger toward herself.”
“I-I believe so. As expected, your insight is remarkable. Hehe.”
She must have enjoyed herself immensely while her plan was in motion. She must have thought the board was playing out exactly as she’d designed, that all the pieces were falling into place like a puzzle. She undoubtedly received various pieces of information, synthesized and checked them, and planned accordingly.
It’s incredibly satisfying to watch a situation unfold exactly as you’ve planned. It’s also a pleasure to watch the game pieces move across the board you’ve set. I couldn’t help but smile, imagining how much she must have enjoyed it, how she must have envisioned a happy future.
It was all a lie. The one being played was her, and the foolish game piece moving across the board was also her. For someone like her, who preferred and prided herself on using her head rather than her body, this must be the ultimate humiliation.
I glanced over at Lee Wanyong.
‘This terrifying bastard.’
If I was the director of this play, then the script, the lead role, the dialogue, and everything else came from his mind.
After realizing his daughter's ability was related to dreams, he began researching it. He discovered that people emit specific brainwaves when they fall into a dream, and it proved effective to manipulate Eliane's brainwaves along with his own. The answer to Choi Seulgi's question of how he knew all this was even more absurd.
‘I happened to have worked briefly at a neuroscience research institute in the past. Hehe.’
I couldn’t even fathom how many jobs he’d held back on Earth. After manipulating the brainwaves with the Eastern mages and his daughter, he further advanced his own abilities through Wanhee to perfectly impersonate Eliane. That woman never knew Eliane's true personality in the first place.
The Eliane she knew was a fictional character created by Lee Wanyong.
A character who was slightly arrogant, who doubted the power of the continent's humans, and who feared the Green Skins. A character who had lost her reason in her thirst for revenge for her younger sister, Alisha, but still possessed decent abilities. A character who lacked power but held various pieces of information, and was looking for someone who could make use of that information.
It was so thorough that it would have been strange not to take the bait.
“It seems she didn't even properly grasp her own abilities.”
“So it seems.”
“Gak… Kill… I'll kill you. Kill…”
“I thought she was a little smart, but she was just a woman who thought she was smart. Hehe. It's laughable that a bitch like this dared to oppose Lord Blood Dagger.”
“The credit is yours.”
“Was it not you, Lord Blood Dagger, who gave the order? I merely placed a spoon on the table you had already set.”
‘This bastard…’
Strangely, I couldn't hate him. This woman was so meticulous that I thought this fight might have become a bit troublesome if I didn't have him. Of course, I had no intention of denying Lee Wanyong's contribution. But seeing him turn even that credit over to me… it was truly hard to know what to say.
“Fishing is all about waiting, you see. You have no idea how hard it was to listen to that woman's bullshit all this time. But to truly feel the thrill of the catch, you have to be there on the scene, don't you? I am sincerely grateful to you, Lord Blood Dagger, for allowing me to be here. Hehe.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
Comparing this monster to a fish on a hook might not be the most elegant expression, but the effect was certainly tremendous.
“You bastard! I'll definitely… Gak… I'll, I'll kill you. Me! I'll tear you to pieces. You, of all people, I'll definitely…”
It seemed her hatred for the man hiding behind me was greater than her hatred for me. It’s always the one egging things on from the side that draws the most ire. And in truth, he was far more detestable than someone trying to stop a fight. It's not the most appropriate expression, but the sight of him snickering was truly something to behold. After glancing at me and realizing he had permission to speak, he cautiously began to open his mouth.
Even from my perspective, his voice was quite satisfying to hear.
“How are you going to kill me with your face shoved in the dirt? You bitch who doesn't know her place. How could you possibly think you could do anything to me, who is under the protection of Lord Blood Dagger? You foolish bitch.”
“You… you!”
“You're a dead woman now, you bitch! Our Lord Blood Dagger never lets his enemies live. Before you think about killing me, you should think about saving your own neck. I can still clearly see you flapping about excitedly, not even knowing you were on the hook. Figuring out how to cook you will be another pleasure in itself, wouldn't you say? Puhehehehehet!”
“You! You son of a bitch!!!”
“Pretending to be so smart, so intelligent, so noble, and now you reveal your true nature the moment you're pulled out of the water. Puhehehet! Hey, you bitch! Can't you see the position you're in? The way you're flopping around, you look like you'd melt in my mouth if I sliced you up for sashimi! Mmm, just melting away.”
“Gak… Cough! Uweegh! You… son of a bitch…”
She was so agitated that she was coughing up blood, a sight that was simply absurd. I thought that even Alisha's mental attack magic would have to take a backseat to his provocations. Even I, standing right next to him, felt the urge to punch him.
I could say with certainty that Maria’s anger wouldn't subside even if she tore Lee Wanyong to shreds. It was even more bewildering to see the monster's body slowly reverting to her own, as if her mind was wavering. Watching this, Lee Wanyong grew even bolder.
Blood-red tears streamed from Maria's eyes, as if the capillaries had burst. The sight of Lee Wanyong sneering at her made him look like a devil in his own right. As Maria’s voice sounded once more, I slowly opened my mouth again.
“Never… Never… Cough! I won't forgive you. Never…”
“You are not the one who forgives, fool.”
“…”
“Forgiveness is something the powerful bestow upon the powerless. Look at yourself now. You're in no position to forgive anyone. My vassal's words were not wrong.”
As I withdrew the magical pressure and my foot that pinned her down, the surrounding scenery began to change back into the luxurious room I had seen before. She had lost the strength to even lunge at me.
Even though I had removed my foot, she remained on the floor, staring up at me.
“Yes. That is where we each stand.”
“…”
“Does it feel unfair?”
“…”
“When you covet what belongs to another, you should also consider the risks you must bear. It seems you didn't think about the risks you would face. You failed to recognize what a great risk you were taking by provoking me.”
“Never… Never…”
“It must feel unfair. I'm sure it does. It's only natural for people to think from their own perspective.”
“I won't let you take it…”
“Just watch.”
Maria, muttering to herself as she looked up at me, did not answer. The way she was mumbling with a completely vacant expression seemed to signify that she was half-broken.
“Try to protect it if you can. The time for our actual meeting will be a little later. Until then, you will lose many things. Your status, your power, your philosophy, your assets, your dreams. I have protected the things you tried to take from me. My family, the honor of my race, the honor of my wives, the sanctuary where my daughter and son will live—I have protected everything I have built and obtained until now.”
“I'll protect it… I'll protect it…”
“Now, it's your turn to protect what's yours. Struggle as much as you want. I will watch your pathetic display from above and laugh to my heart's content.”
“I'll never let you take it… Never…”
“This makes it fun.”
The corners of my mouth lifted. What I saw in her eyes was madness. She was staring at me—no, at empty space—and muttering. A monster created by greed. In truth, I couldn't help but think that, in a way, she and I were not so different. I, too, stand up and fight to protect what is mine.
Because I have experienced loss before, I have become a little more vicious, a little more thorough.
Before, it was Choi Seulgi. And now, it is my family. If I were to lose the things I hold precious, I too would become no different from her.
I slowly raised my arm.
“This is in place of a farewell.”
I don't know why, but the weapon that formed in my hand was not Levatain, Gram, or Dainsleif. It was a weapon I hadn't used or even seen in a long time, but it was incredibly familiar. It was the cheap steel sword that Kim Taesung had used in the past.
‘Ha…’
I couldn't explain whether I had felt something while looking at that woman, but I found myself staring at the cheap steel sword for a moment.
It was in pathetic shape. The edge was completely dull, and I couldn't even imagine how one would fight magical beasts with it. By my current standards, it was a ridiculously laughable sword. It was the sword I carried when I had nothing to protect but Choi Seulgi. No, perhaps it was the sword I carried when I had nothing to protect at all.
The sword I wielded back then was incredibly light.
But the sword I hold now is quite heavy.
But…
“It's not so heavy that I can't bear it.”
I lifted the sword and plunged it into Maria's neck.
“Until we meet again.”
From her perspective, it must have been an unwelcome voice.