Chapter 52
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Rakionia Consumed by Gloom
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Zanierko's long, swaying hair cascaded messily across the floor.
—This isn't human power...
Zanierko murmured softly, then staggered to her feet from the chair.
"This is a gift from Basilahan."
—Basilahan...
Zanierko whispered his name softly and stepped closer to Lee Ru-ri.
Up close, her hair was as vividly red and elongated as Keres's eyes, strewn messily across the floor and dragging behind her as she moved.
—You can hear my voice, can't you?
"Yeah."
As Lee Ru-ri answered, Zanierko shuddered weakly before letting out a chilling laugh.
—Kukukuk, kuhahaha!
"What the—?"
—Then... die!
Zanierko's eyes darted wildly as she tilted her face upward.
Her previously blurry features came into sharp focus at last.
Eyes as red as her hair, and a mouth torn open all the way to her ears.
The moment goosebumps prickled across Lee Ru-ri's skin at the grotesque sight, Zanierko's scarlet hair surged into the air and shot toward her all at once.
What had been swaying gently moments ago had transformed into razor-sharp needles.
Unable to dodge in time, the hair pierced into Lee Ru-ri's arms and legs in several places.
It felt like they were sucking the blood right out of her body.
The strands that Lee Ru-ri had managed to evade began madly pounding the piano keys, playing a melody so piercing it threatened to rupture her eardrums.
Completely immobilized, Lee Ru-ri watched her stamina plummet as she desperately pondered how to escape this predicament.
Her mind grew foggy. At this rate, every drop of blood in her body would be drained by Zanierko.
"Ugh... I need... to snap out of it. Huff, huff."
—Ku, kukukuku! Human blood after so long—it's insanely sweet! Kyahaha!
Listening to Zanierko's laughter sparked a sudden flash of insight.
"Hey, you're done for now."
—You're the one dying. Didn't you come here to offer me your blood? Kuhaha!
Lee Ru-ri mustered her last ounce of strength, extended her hand, and quietly shouted.
"Manifest."
The moment the skill activated, a deafening roar echoed from afar.
—Kraaaaaargh!
Cracks began forming slowly across the gate floor. Zanierko eyed them curiously.
Soon, the fissures split open with a grinding crack, revealing none other than Lee Ru-ri's first contractor, the Drayger.
The Drayger shattered the cracks in the gate floor and soared unhindered into the sky.
Spreading its massive wings, it unleashed a ferocious barrage of fireballs at Zanierko.
Zanierko hastily wrapped her scarlet hair around herself, but she was swiftly engulfed by the Drayger's flames.
Just as Lee Ru-ri had shattered whatever dark mana cocooned Zanierko earlier, shards like broken glass rained down onto the floor with a crash.
'That hair is the problem.'
Though squarely hit by the fireballs, Zanierko's health bar didn't budge.
Lee Ru-ri addressed the Drayger as it landed before her.
"Drayger, we need to do something about that hair."
—Why do you look such a mess, my lady?
"Argh, that's embarrassing—let's talk about it later."
The Drayger chuckled softly.
She could feel its hot breath.
Moments later, the Drayger twisted its body and muttered something, eliciting another familiar roar.
The gate floor trembled even more violently than before, then boomed as cracks spiderwebbed across it.
Emerging from those cracks were the Bewitched Draygers.
The Bewitched Draygers took to the air en masse, assuming attack positions aimed at Zanierko.
An army of them, far too numerous to even estimate.
"Wow, I really thought I was dead back then, but having them on my side feels incredibly reassuring now."
In response, the Drayger guarding in front of her gently stroked her head with its tail.
Zanierko, who had been watching the scene, stretched her torn mouth to its limit in a broad grin.
—How amusing!
Zanierko shuddered again, laughing maniacally.
Her hair, limp on the floor, billowed upward into the air once more.
Her eyes darted wildly again.
In the blink of an eye, her strands burrowed desperately between the Draygers' scales.
The Drayger immediately commanded the Bewitched Draygers to attack.
The Bewitched Draygers unleashed a torrent of fireballs at Zanierko at blinding speed.
The instant Zanierko's attention fixed entirely on the Draygers, Lee Ru-ri activated her skill again.
"Manifest."
A flash of light so intense it darkened her vision erupted inside the gate.
And through it, Basilahan charged forth on horseback at tremendous speed, calling out softly.
"Lance of Lament."
Countless spears poured from the spot where Basilahan appeared.
They stabbed into Zanierko's chest in unison, shaving off nearly 15 percent of her health in an instant.
"Whoa!"
The Drayger and Basilahan pressed their relentless assault on Zanierko.
"No, this isn't the time."
Lee Ru-ri collected herself and focused on raising Zanierko's favorability.
Not a single strand of Zanierko's hair could reach her.
Just as she wondered how much time had passed, an alarm rang out.
[Zanierko, Composer of Death's Melody's favorability has increased by 10,000,000.]
[Cumulative target favorability: 10,000,000.]
[Summon contract limit has been lifted.]
"Hold up."
Confirming the alarm, Lee Ru-ri signaled the Drayger and Basilahan to stop their attacks.
As their onslaught halted, Zanierko collapsed to the floor with a thud.
Lee Ru-ri approached her cautiously.
"I don't want to kill you."
—Why not?
"Give me your will."
—You have no need for something like my will anymore.
"No, I want to receive it directly from you."
The Drayger, who had been listening silently, dismissed the Bewitched Draygers, and Basilahan dismounted.
Zanierko gazed quietly into Lee Ru-ri's eyes.
Faced with the unyielding resolve brimming in them, Zanierko slowly closed her own.
[You have acquired Zanierko, Composer of Death's Melody's gift. Would you like to confirm? Y/N]
"Thank you."
She immediately checked Zanierko's gift.
[Zanierko, Composer of Death's Melody's Gift]
[Acquired new skill <Glass Mask>.]
Zanierko settled onto the decrepit piano and spoke.
—Listen to my story.
By now, the Drayger and Basilahan had approached Lee Ru-ri and Zanierko.
Zanierko began playing the piano slowly.
Listening quietly, a heavy weight settled in Lee Ru-ri's chest.
—Through that door lies the one.
"The one?"
—The very person who drove me to death. The man who treated me with utmost cruelty in life, yet whom I couldn't help but love—my husband.
"You were married."
—His name is Rakionia.
The young lord Rakionia was one day bewitched by the Grand Witch.
Enthralled by the Grand Witch, Rakionia accused his wife Zanierko of witchcraft, tore her mouth, and cast her out.
No place would warmly accept Zanierko due to her hideous appearance.
Late one night, Zanierko slipped into the grand cathedral to evade people's eyes, weeping as she prayed to the gods.
She prayed that her beloved husband would realize his grave mistake and not torment himself with guilt.
But someone discovered Zanierko hiding in the cathedral. Crowds gathered, pelting her with stones and beating her.
And from their mouths, she learned the truth: the one who had ordered her death, the one commanding they take the breath from the woman hiding in the cathedral, was none other than Rakionia.
Consumed by rage, she unleashed curses in her blood-soaked final moments, departing the world in lonely solitude.
As Zanierko's tale and performance concluded, red tears traced down her cheek.
Lee Ru-ri approached and gently wiped them away.
"Come with me."
Zanierko gazed quietly at Lee Ru-ri.
—Can you quell this rage of mine?
"It won't be easy, but I'll try."
Zanierko glanced at the Drayger and Basilahan watching from behind.
She rose from the piano stool, knelt before Lee Ru-ri, and bowed her head lightly.
Lee Ru-ri clenched her fists and activated the skill.
"Manifest."
A blinding light exploded with a pop, and Zanierko's scarlet hair transformed into lustrous black strands tinged with a subtle blue glow, fluttering gently.
Zanierko slowly lifted her head to meet Lee Ru-ri's eyes.
Her red irises had become clear, icy blue.
The grotesquely torn mouth had returned to its original state.
Lee Ru-ri extended her hand to check Zanierko's status.
S — Zanierko of the Blue Hope: Target's favorability can no longer be increased.
—My heart feels at peace.
"I'll make that guy pay for his crimes myself."
—Thank you.
"Can you play something uplifting next time?"
—Of course.
Zanierko bowed her head in greeting to the trio heading for the door.
Once they entered and the entrance sealed shut behind them, Lee Ru-ri spoke up.
"That Rakionia bastard—we're gonna make him regret everything. What a scumbag."
—My fists are itching too.
—How about burning him to ash?
"Forget contracts or mercy—let's just beat the crap out of him."
Lee Ru-ri shouted boldly.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
The sound of something charging at high speed echoed from somewhere.
—It's coming.
Basilahan mounted his horse as he spoke.
The Drayger flapped its wings, ascending into the air in attack formation.
Lee Ru-ri tried a high leap just in case, but as expected, Leap wouldn't activate.
With no choice, she extended her hand to check the incoming monster's info while waiting.
As the sound grew closer, the information appeared.
[B — Maddened Rania: Current favorability <0>]
"Rania?"
The Drayger spat fireballs at the oncoming Ranias.
Revealed in the fireballs' path was a massive horde charging straight at Lee Ru-ri.
"Argh, why do they look like that?!"
The Ranias were covered in stitched wounds from face to torso.
Their upper bodies resembled goblins, but their lower halves were equine.
"They're so ugly!"
As Lee Ru-ri yelled in disgust, the Drayger laughed from the air.
—Is that truly important to you? If you despise them so, I'll incinerate them all.
The Drayger twisted its body, summoning the Bewitched Draygers once more.
In an instant, the sky filled with Draygers spewing fire at the charging Ranias.
The Ranias shrieked in agony as they burned to ash.
—It's hot.
The dim gate interior flashed golden for a moment.
Golden ornaments dangled everywhere.
At the end of them sat a massive chair seemingly carved from solid gold.
A pale-faced man with furrowed brows occupied it.
Lee Ru-ri extended her hand, and his info appeared.
[S(H) — Rakionia Consumed by Gloom: Current favorability <0>]
"High rank."
Basilahan confirmed Rakionia's rank and stepped in front of the startled Lee Ru-ri.
—Insolent fool. No reason to retreat just because he's stronger than us.
Rakionia waved his hand lazily, as if annoyed.
Vast numbers of Ranias materialized instantly and charged.
"Bring it on."
—And don't forget my Anacons.
"Oh right!"
Basilahan raised one hand, and will-o'-the-wisps flared up with a whoosh.
A tremendous horde of Anacons poured from the will-o'-the-wisps.
The Anacons lunged at the Ranias en masse.