Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Shadow Shepherd King (3)
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Shiver.
It trembled from the cold.
A barren planet at minus 273 degrees Celsius.
In a shadowy place untouched by light, a massive dog crouched.
- How bitter. Even the feeling of longing no longer stirs in me.
An eternity ago, so long that even eras couldn't measure it.
A dog abandoned by its master.
The Shadow Shepherd.
It recalled the days when it lived in the light.
The glorious moments wandering the universe alongside its master, Light.
The pinnacle of its canine life.
- Gnash!
The Shepherd ground its teeth.
It was furious.
Because it had loved its master.
Because its entire life had been devoted to that master, the betrayal cut that much deeper.
- Used me to the fullest, then dumped me in this wasteland of a place. Longing for such a master? Tsk, absurd.
If only it knew the reason.
But no explanation was given before being shoved into this hellhole.
It and its precious children, the Shadow Shepherds, suffered.
Slowly dying.
A land without light.
A world shrouded in darkness where even open eyes saw nothing. What was there to do?
What happiness could be found?
As time flowed on.
The newly born pups knew little of the world.
They took the darkness for granted and didn't know the meaning of "seeing."
- The light...
So the Shepherd yearned to go to the light.
To a sunlit place.
It wanted to show the world to its children.
Deep down, it wanted to find the master who had abandoned it and demand to know why.
We Shepherds are a shadow race.
Beings whose meaning shines brightest in the presence of light.
Thus, time flowed like running water.
Then, in that moment, an alien being appeared before its eyes.
[Ding!]
[The Dungeon Maker has appeared.]
A strange entity announcing its presence with an alert window.
She spoke in a sweet voice.
"Please help me."
"If the plausibility is fulfilled, I'll grant your wish."
Ah.
The Shepherd unfurled its crouched body.
Its stiffened muscles loosened softly.
The opportunity it had longed for across endless years had finally arrived.
- Growl.
Shadow Shepherd.
No, the Shadow Shepherd King howled.
- Growl! Woof woof!
The ink-black dog clamped down fiercely on the lifeline dangled before it.
* * *
I didn't need to go to it.
Whoosh!
No, even before the whoosh could be heard.
The Shadow Shepherd King appeared before my eyes.
I hadn't seen its movement, nor heard it.
'What the...'
You want me to face something like that?
[The Shadow of the Abyss binds your mobility.]
[Movement speed reduced by 30%.]
Something pressed down on my body.
A pressure and gravity heavier than usual?
"Tsk tsk, you fool."
Yes, Elder.
"Didn't I tell you? This is a game you can't win."
As expected.
The old man never spoke falsely.
Whenever he said so, it had always been true.
'But.'
I gazed at the massive shadow dominating my vision and spoke inwardly.
'You know it too, Elder. My choices have never been wrong either.'
With a hardened expression, I stared at the giant dog before me.
Yes, just as the old man said.
This thing had something to say to me.
That's why it hadn't attacked immediately and had revealed itself like this.
- You...
It was then that the Shadow Shepherd King opened its mouth.
'But.'
There was clear surprise and bewilderment in its voice.
Why was that?
- You're peculiar. Definitely different from all those who've challenged this trial so far.
And there was no hostility toward me.
No killing intent like the other Shepherds had shown.
- This trial was meant to proceed in stages. That was the pact with the alien being. But you're the first to recognize me. And that intrigues me to no end.
"......"
- How in the world could you see me?
How?
The old man beside me told me.
"That."
Whoosh!
I flicked my right hand, summoning my spear.
"I can't just tell you. Trade secret."
Even if the opponent harbored no hostility.
My intent to capture the Shadow Shepherd King remained unchanged.
Honestly, this situation was somewhat grateful.
At least it had bought me time to prepare.
- Trade secret...
The Shadow Shepherd King muttered bitterly.
As the aura emanating from its being brimmed with melancholy.
'Now...!'
I widened my eyes.
It had approached and spoken to me.
No need to indulge its brooding.
It had its circumstances, but so did I—with my goal.
The goal of completing Theme 4 with top scores.
'Going in.'
This was my chance.
A chance to take down the final boss.
I stepped forward.
The Peerless Invincible Footwork from Theme 3 unfolded.
At the same time, I thrust my spear forward, infused with the essence of myriad arts.
But.
The spear merely sliced empty air.
The Shadow Shepherd King's massive body had silently shifted to the left.
'Hmm.'
I furrowed my brow.
"Tsk tsk. Think that'll land?"
The old man shook his head beside me.
'If attacks don't land, keep going until they do. Besides.'
Swish!
I pulled a scroll from my pocket.
'I've still got one trump card left.'
[Item: Wish-Granting Scroll]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Scroll]
[Description: Use in a moment of crisis. Something you need most will appear.]
[Effect 1: In a moment of crisis, ancient magic aids you.]
That's right.
I could still borrow the power of 'Ancient Magic' (SSS Grade) once more.
The unknown entity that had blocked the clash of those two mighty breaths with spatial separation magic.
- Alien being! Wait...! Just hold on a moment!
The black dog's voice trembled violently.
- Why do this to me! With great power comes great responsibility! How can you torment a desperate weakling!
"......Weakling?"
Who here was the weakling?
Wasn't the weakling me, rather?
Sensing something off, my movements halted.
That mutt.
It seemed to be under a massive misunderstanding.
- I have reason to capture you. Only by capturing you can I free my poor children from this hell. But!
The shadow of the ink-black dog writhed wildly.
Shaking as if emotionally crying out.
- You're too strong for that. You're pretending to be weak now, but did you think I wouldn't notice?
Its voice pierced the heart.
- You're hiding something. There's an immense presence slumbering within you. Just like... the one who was once my master... two such beings. I can sense it.
"Master?"
No way.
Was it referring to the essences of fire and water within this weapon?
It said two, so definitely.
'Then right now.'
It's cowering because it can't handle these lunatics?
Nah, no way.
- Yes, climbing this far without using that power must mean you're just toying with us. Giving hope to me, to our race. Only to snatch it away in an instant. Why do that! Must you be so cruel? Is the heart of the strong always so vicious?
It was real?
"......"
But why?
Listening to it, I felt a twinge of pity.
'Hmm.'
If I had to compare.
Yes.
It smelled similar to Sun-i.
The child of the desert abandoned by humans.
The dog abandoned by its master.
Similar, right?
"It's not mockery."
So I said.
"And I harbor no malice or grudge toward you. I simply have a clear purpose to capture you, and I've come for that."
- That damned scoring system? The trial created by the being who provided this space?
"You know it well."
- Heh, just for a game...?
"It's not 'just' a game. The more points I get, the more I gain. I get stronger. Even the beings you sense inside me were obtained through those points."
- ......Does that even make sense?
"Whether it does or not, I've lived it."
- I see. Hrm, those points... similar to the plausibility I'm seeking now.
"Yes."
So no need to feel wronged.
Our goals merely clashed.
- ......Then, a moment. May I make a proposal?
"Proposal?"
My ears perked up.
Truth be told, though I'd been acting tough.
My only reliable card was 'Ancient Magic' (SSS Grade).
Alone, no matter how many spears I thrust, I couldn't touch it.
"What proposal? Speak."
- If your goal is to grow even stronger... I can teach you my technique. I have attained the realm of soundlessness. I'll impart to you the essence of the movements I've honed over endless years.
"......"
The realm of soundlessness...
That tempted me.
"Learn that, and you die? No, you get eliminated?"
- Yes, alien being. Elimination has no effect on your life anyway.
Ah.
That was the goal from the start.
It must have felt fear seeing me detect it from afar and charge in.
So it stopped its subordinates' attacks and proposed a deal.
"But."
I shook my head.
"I can't give up points for just one technique. I don't even know its value, and this trial isn't solo."
Even now.
Far off, my teammates were fighting.
Each earning points for the team through their efforts.
I couldn't take personal gain without their consent.
"No, you fool! You madman!"
The old man cried out in shock.
I furrowed my brow.
'Why!'
"That thing's a monster you can't beat anyway? It's offering everything on a platter, why kick it away! It's an absolute ruler of a world. There's reason it dominates a world! You must learn it!"
The old man pounded his chest in frustration.
'......'
"You fool. Know the strength of myriad arts? It admits there's no end to learning and absorbs everything. While others drill one technique repeatedly, we myriad arts take the best and forge the ultimate. We reach the extreme faster."
'Elder, you rate that soundless realm so highly?'
"Didn't I say from the start? Even I could barely detect that stealth ability."
'......'
Is that so?
Was the old man right?
'Well.'
It did feel a shame to waste 'Ancient Magic' (SSS Grade) now.
Themes 5 and 6 remained.
Even using 'Ancient Magic' (SSS Grade) offered no guarantee of capturing it.
Better to take what's certain?
Swish.
I tucked the scroll back into my pocket.
- Changed your mind?
It asked.
"Yes, you fool! Good thinking!"
The old man cheered.
But I shook my head.
Elder.
Looks like my negotiation skills are a cut above?
"No."
I smiled.
"One technique isn't enough to satisfy me. I'm a bit greedy."
- ......What?
"Give me the realm of soundlessness, and have all the other Shepherds except you eliminate themselves to me. Then I'll accept. Win-win—you get me eliminated, I maximize points."
Even a dry rag squeezes out water.
If there's more to squeeze?
Squeeze it.
"How about it? Deal?"
It was the tyranny of the advantaged.