Chapter 180
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 180: How to Reveal the Truth (2)
I let go of the Wedge Prototype I had stabbed into his chest. The prototype, resembling the spiral part of a screw, was deeply embedded in Park Siwoo's chest, but miraculously, he didn't bleed at all.
“Ugh…!”
Park Siwoo clutched his chest. However, the prototype wasn't grasped in his hand; instead, it melted away like an illusion.
“Haa, ugh…!”
Even so, he was in pain, his face contorting brutally. Supporting him as he was about to collapse, I gritted my teeth. Did something go wrong? If so, I had to get away from Park Siwoo, whom the Oracle might possess. But…
“…Don't go.”
The expression on his face as he held onto me tightly with his other hand looked so desperate that I couldn't move at all. He hugged me as if wrapping around me and exhaled roughly. Gradually, his breathing began to calm down.
“Phew….”
“Are you okay?”
At my words, Park Siwoo nodded. He was still Park Siwoo. Since the prototype's effect limit was about ten-something minutes at maximum, I didn't know how long it would last, but at least for that time, Park Siwoo was free from the Oracle.
“The voice in my head disappeared.”
“Yeah. That voice was probably… the Oracle.”
“Oracle?”
“It's a long story to explain… First, could you call Yggdrasil-nim here? The effect of the item I used on you won't last long, so I can't tell you everything right now.”
I looked up at him. Will he accept my sudden request? He seemed puzzled by my words, but soon answered coolly.
“Okay.”
“…! Really?”
“Because it's your request.”
An answer filled with infinite trust. I ended up feeling like I didn't know what expression to make. Every time his firm trust touched me, my cheeks felt hot for some reason.
“I'm always waiting for you.”
He lowered his head and whispered to me. The moment I flinched at his sweet voice and breath in my ear, he let me go.
“I'll be back.”
Soon, his back disappeared from the back alley. I cooled my heated cheeks with the back of my hand and leaned quietly against the wall. For some reason, these trivial things kept bothering me. Right, ever since he confessed that he likes me.
“Let's calm down.”
This isn't the time to play romance games. I tried to calm my mind and looked at the watch anxiously. Time was ticking. Since Park Siwoo probably came out during after-school training, it wouldn't be difficult to contact Yggdrasil, who was conducting our exclusive after-school class. The variable would be if Yggdrasil suddenly went out due to work… but in that case, I can contact her again through Choi Sujeong. So it's okay.There won't be a problem. I comforted myself like that. The anxiety was shorter than I thought.
“—So, this troublemaker disciple was looking for me?”
Because Yggdrasil arrived at the back alley where I was with a confident gait. Watching her raise an eyebrow and look at me with eyes she used when I did something disapproving… specifically, when I hid that I was sick, I smiled awkwardly.
“Hello, Yggdrasil-nim.”
“What is your business? The Key? Are we fighting?”
“I know I can't win even if we fight.”
I shook my head. My skills were not yet up to Yggdrasil's level. In the current situation where I couldn't borrow the fraudulent power of Metapoints, what was there to say? So I would only persuade her.
“Just, there is a story I want you to listen to.”
“Fine. I will listen once.”
Is this the leisure of the strong? Yggdrasil crossed her arms and stood crookedly, looking at me. Of course, without putting her bow into the Inventory. …If I fail to persuade her, I'll be arrested right away, won't I? Feeling a slight sense of crisis, I opened my mouth. To talk about the Oracle, the Calamity, and the Turns.
“—So the Wild Hunt is collecting Keys to prevent the mutation of other races caused by the Calamity.”
“…Hmm.”
Yggdrasil, who initially had the attitude of just listening, became more serious as my story progressed. Seeing her uncross her arms and rest her chin on her hand before I knew it, I was convinced I had half-succeeded. If there is doubt,
“How can I believe your words?”
“Scales of Truth.”
Because I had the means to turn that doubt into conviction. When I said those words, Yggdrasil's eyes widened slightly.
“I know a Fixed-type Dungeon where that exists. I will go there and repeat what I just said.”
“…Scales of Truth, you say. A nostalgic name.”
If it's Yggdrasil who was from the Savior-capturing team, she would know what the Scales of Truth looked like. She would know its effects well too. I took out the Gold Coin of Truth from my Inventory.
“I have also secured the Gold Coin of Truth. You just have to follow me.”
“What if it's your trap?”
At those words, I tilted my head.
“It doesn't matter, does it?”
Deliberately exaggerated, as if surprised.
“Why is someone strong enough to defeat us all even if it is a trap acting like this?”
“Ahahaha—!!!”
At my words, Yggdrasil laughed loudly.
“You are right!”
Yggdrasil looked quite amused.
“Fine. It wouldn't be bad to listen to my favorite disciple's whining for once!”
“Then you're going with me, right?”
“Understood.”
At the words of acceptance, my face brightened. The moment Yggdrasil strode towards me to take my hand,
“Dodge!”
“…!”
Boom—!
A blue slash destroyed the floor where we were. The concrete floor turned into tatters in an instant. Watching the familiar slash of light that just dizzied my vision, I clicked my tongue.
“Ah, what a pity.”
The prototype's effect ran out. The Oracle, possessing Park Siwoo, was standing at the entrance of the alley. He smiled brightly.
“This is the first time we meet directly. Yggdrasil-nim. You must have heard of me but… I am called the Oracle.”
“Right. Oracle. What business do you have? Stealing my disciple's body?”
“That is… it seemed that traitor was plotting something. I came to see you urgently to tell you not to believe whatever that person says.”
His smiling appearance didn't look like Park Siwoo at all. Yggdrasil seemed to feel even more uncomfortable at that sight.
“Who knows. That behavior of carelessly using my disciple's body right now is fueling my suspicion, though?”
“Hmm. Then do you intend to follow that person?”
“Yes. So I intend to verify the truth with my own two eyes.”
Hearing Yggdrasil's answer, the Oracle tilted his head strangely.
“Can't be helped.”
And he raised the Blue Twilight.
“I cannot let the Elf's Key be taken, so I'll have to accept the loss of the combat power called Yggdrasil here.”
That's not something for you to use. My teeth ground together automatically.
“Ha, you want to fight?”
“…Yggdrasil-nim.”
However, a head-on confrontation with him wasn't right.
'He possessed an ordinary researcher's body and killed the old man who was from the Savior-capturing team… Erentos.Avoid direct conflict with the Oracle.Especially when he possesses an excellent body.'
I don't think Yggdrasil is weaker than the retired capturing team member Erentos, but you never know. The Oracle was currently possessing an Awakened with excellent specs called 'Park Siwoo', not an ordinary person. Recalling Park Yulhan's words, I pulled Yggdrasil's arm.
“Let's retreat. That thing is using Park Siwoo's body right now. One wrong move and Park Siwoo dies. If we retreat, he'll stop possessing…”
“…Tsk.”
At my words that it was for Park Siwoo, Yggdrasil clicked her tongue but didn't deny my words. At that moment, a blue slash headed towards Yggdrasil again.
“This guy…!”
Yggdrasil grabbed the scruff of my neck and moved her body. The Oracle attacked with such speed that even I couldn't react for a moment. …As expected, maybe if it was Yggdrasil alone, but fighting in a situation where there's baggage like me, and where the Oracle is possessing her disciple Park Siwoo, is hard.
Thud—!
Yggdrasil, quickly reorganizing her stance, put mana into her foot and kicked away the sword swung at her fiercely. Then she immediately drew a sword from the sheath. Because she couldn't use a bow as long as I was with her.
Clang—! Clang—!
Yggdrasil looked very skilled even though she was wielding a sword, which didn't fit her main job as an archer. Is this what a legend called Hunter is? The Oracle possessed Park Siwoo's body and was wielding the sword with both hands, but Yggdrasil didn't feel like she was being pushed back at all even while wielding the sword leisurely with one hand.
“Here I go!”
She threw me into the air without any effort. Then she immediately kicked off the ground and soared, striking down the sword ruthlessly towards Park Siwoo, no, the Oracle.
Clang—!
Sparks flew as the swords clashed. A huge rupture sound was heard as if the sword would break. The Oracle, who barely blocked Yggdrasil's attack, gritted his teeth. Suddenly, its gaze turned to me. A dagger was gripped in his hand at a speed difficult for me to even react to. At the same time I noticed it, I pulled the trigger towards him. ...It was painful that his body was Park Siwoo's, but I gritted my teeth and shot. Simultaneously, the dagger held in his one hand shot towards me. But all I could do was move my fingers. Floating in the air unable to dodge anywhere, I squeezed my eyes shut watching the dagger rushing fearfully. Blood splattered. But it wasn't my blood. Yggdrasil, whose arm was slightly grazed, grabbed me and landed.
“Hmm, this is troubling.”
“It's hard with me here, right?”
It was an obvious fact. Seeing Yggdrasil bleeding, I decided to retreat.
“Retreating is okay with you too, right?!”
“Um! Anytime if possible!”
She answered vigorously, grabbed my scruff, and leaped. The Oracle's attack poured again on the spot where we were just a moment ago. I quickly placed the bracelet I brought beforehand on Yggdrasil's wrist holding my scruff. And shouted.
“Moving!”
“Now?!”
“Where do you—”
Before the Oracle could even react, our bodies began to turn transparent slowly.
Boom—!
A slash was swung at us again, but it had no effect on us who were transparent and just passed through us. Eventually, when I closed and opened my eyes, we had arrived at the pure white Wild Hunt headquarters.