Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Pain is Relative
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Pain is relative.
Lord.
The time it took for one Shepherd to earn that title was an immeasurable span, vast beyond reckoning.
No Sound.
Only when he had barely begun to grasp that realm, which all Shadow Shepherds yearned to achieve.
- Child, from now on, you are our tribe's Two Dogs.
From the King.
He was recognized by the tribe's mother.
- Ah, my King.
The Lord's body trembled.
His heart pounded.
Shoooo...
Upon becoming Lord, the shadow enveloping him grew denser.
Seeing this, his mother spoke.
- When I am gone, you must save the children from the darkness.
- Hone that technique further and lead our Shepherds to become an even stronger tribe. Understood?
A sense of responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders.
- Child.
If.
- We must remember.
If a chance ever came to escape this barren darkness.
If they could avoid shivering in this near-absolute zero chill.
If such a thing were truly possible.
- Never forget this injustice.
- Even in this universe, there is such a thing as righteousness. The moment that righteousness is violated, we too will have no choice but to abandon our loyalty.
His mother glanced around.
Blind shadow kin wandered aimlessly.
Some tripped while walking, others huddled against the cold.
- For a very long time, our tribe has sacrificed much for Him. Those sacrifices came without reason or condition. Simply because it was Him. Because He was our beloved master. We lived for Him alone.
Loyal Dog.
Faithful hound.
- We were our master's hands and feet. At times, we became weapons, tearing into enemies and ambushing them. At other times, we became shadows, relaying information.
- My King...
- But what was the result?
The Shadow Shepherd King looked around.
Countless Shepherds were emaciated and gaunt.
There was no strength in their steps.
- We lost our sight. We lost warmth and became blind hounds. The newly born children, including you, don't even know what I look like. They can't even recognize their own appearances. Mothers can't see their young, and young can't see their mothers. Beyond misfortune, we no longer even know what happiness is.
Rabbit Dies, Hound is Grilled.
A dog used and discarded.
- Yes, we were not objects of our master's love, but tools for our master. Tools to be thrown away when worn out.
- It makes me angry.
The Lord ground his teeth.
His mother's sorrow, the heart of one betrayed, stabbed at his own heart.
Before becoming Lord, he hadn't known.
Since birth, it had always been that way, so he assumed it was natural.
But upon reading his mother's memories.
Rage filled his entire body.
- So we will take it back.
What they originally possessed was their right.
If it had been stolen by someone, they had every reason to reclaim it.
For himself.
And for the countless children of the tribe.
Fwoosh!
Black energy roiled wildly around the Lord's body.
The moment the loyal dog became a mad dog.
* * *
- Frankly, it's laughable.
The Lord looked at me.
- I acknowledge that another being is imitating shadow techniques, even if just at the toes. But to my eyes, your level is still far too low.
“......”
I didn't respond.
Lord?
The strongest dog among those born without ever seeing anything?
I don't know about that.
I don't care to know.
If it's in front of me, I just fight.
Sss!
I extended my foot into the rippling shadows.
The Lord moved without hesitation as well.
'Hm?'
But it was only faintly perceptible.
No sounds reached me.
'Where did it go?'
I furrowed my brow.
The old man knew I was in training and gave no hints.
He meant for me to find it myself?
In the pitch-black field of vision where nothing was visible, I focused.
The only senses restricted to me were sight and hearing.
Not seeing and not hearing was nothing much.
The things I'd trained normally through the Clear Sky Heart Method.
Ta!
From the subtle sense of incongruity I'd felt earlier, I thrust my spear in one direction.
Something.
Into a space devoid of warmth, filled with cold ruthlessness.
Kwaaang!
'Good.'
I felt the hand sensation.
The opponent was there.
Which meant it wasn't as hard as I'd thought...
“Hup?”
In that instant, an immense force flew toward my abdomen.
Was it the guy's instep?
Instinctively, I twisted my waist and raised my sharp spear.
The God-Slaying spear that could even split dragon hide.
- Hoo.
I heard the guy's voice.
- I take back calling it laughable. You're pretty good.
“Of course. You're just a lord, not even the king.”
- Cocky words. Then I suppose I can push harder?
“As much as you want.”
Combat.
No, the fight had begun.
* * *
Indeed.
The Shadow Shepherd Lord's movements were no joke.
That first clash was merely a probe.
His movements grew even more precise and faster.
As time passed, it definitely became harder to deal with.
'Damn.'
Land a spear on the guy?
I couldn't even manage that.
I was just busy sensing incoming attacks and fleeing.
- Speed dominates battle. You can't beat me with shadow arts of that level.
Attacks came from all directions simultaneously.
They probably weren't truly simultaneous.
It just felt that way.
Proof that my senses couldn't keep up with his speed.
- Just running away like that, when do you plan to win? You don't intend to fight forever, do you?
The Lord couldn't kill me.
Because the King had imposed the condition not to harm me.
So, he could only strike to a certain degree.
“Well, I'm learning slowly.”
- You think you can close this enormous gap just by learning?
“Yeah, maybe. In our world, we call that a heaven-sent talent, a genius.”
Of course, only my body was approaching genius level.
And that too, thanks to the old man's great magic...
Tadadak!
I kept moving my body.
- Truly... your shadows are so sloppy no matter when I see them.
The Lord moved his body as well.
- While imitating shadow techniques, you don't even understand our essence.
Sss!
The Lord's body rippled like heat haze.
- Shall I tell you a little? Living in a world without sight is truly like being alive in hell.
Sorrow filled his shadow.
- Have you ever felt terror from the mere fact of having to go somewhere? Do you know of a tribe where falling happens more often than walking, where broken legs are everyday occurrences? Unless you understand that pain, you can't claim to fully comprehend shadow arts.
“That tribe. You're saying that's you guys, right?”
Whoosh!
The guy's claw grazed the tip of my cheek.
“Well, you guys move well now, so it must be your pups. Kids.”
- That's right. We can't walk from birth either.
“If that's the case, well.”
I nodded.
“I've never experienced it, but I've felt it before.”
- Felt it? You?
“Of course.”
After dodging the claw, I hurled my spear toward the direction it came from.
Sss!
From the sensation of skin brushing, the guy dodged too.
“I've felt it.”
One of my skills.
[Skill: Memory Reproduction]
[Grade: S]
[Effect 1: Reads the memories of the dead.]
In the past.
Through this, I read the memories of the Sun Spear in my mind.
I vividly shared and felt his emotions.
- Nonsense. You claim to understand our pain?
“Emotions are relative. Shepherd.”
I shook my head.
“Like how your finger cut hurts more than the guy next to you with a broken bone. Everyone lives carrying their own pain in their hearts.”
More than some stranger dying in an accident on the other side of the world.
Losing a loved one right now hurts more.
More than wars between foreign countries.
One worries more about one's own nation's involvement.
- …….
“But if you insist that only your tribe's pain matters.”
Sss! Sss!
The guy's claws and my spear grazed each other's skin.
“Then I'll claim that the emotions I felt hurt more than yours.”
I began to find my rhythm.
The shadows felt even more familiar.
And with familiarity, I could sense where and how the guy was coming from.
“The child was born like you guys and lost his sight right away. It wasn't that there was no light to begin with, but he lost his vision due to malice by others.”
Eyes throbbed painfully, stabbed repeatedly.
For some reason, everyone wanted to kill him.
“You all lost your sight together. So you share the pain 'together.' But the child was alone. He had to learn to walk alone, instinctively fill his hunger. Eating dirt and poisonous weeds, learning everything one by one by himself.”
Lonely.
Why does the world hate me?
Thuk!
This time, my spear stamped the guy's instep.
I felt his shadow shake in surprise.
“Better if he'd never seen from the start. You didn't know happiness, but the child had it taken away. Isn't it more painful to know something and then be unable to have it than to never know it at all?”
“My lord...”
Sun was listening from the side.
A choked voice came.
Scrape.
Our Sun hurt more than those bastards.
What nonsense is this guy spouting?
- You...
The guy's emotions surged.
The King clearly said not to kill, but killing intent grew thicker.
His claws sharpened, and his speed grew fiercer.
- How dare you belittle our tribe's pain!
Sss! Sss!
The guy's claws shot sharply.
They swarmed from all four directions: east, west, south, north.
Step.
I evaded them with a single step.
The manifestation of the supreme invincible steps mixed with shadows.
“Of course, I'm not dismissing your shadow tribe's pain.”
Whoosh!
My spear cleaved the air.
This time, the guy flinched and dodged.
The subtle incongruity thickened further; now I could read his movements completely.
Is this true shadow arts?
Am I tasting the No Sound realm, even if just for a moment?
“Pain is relative. I said it from the start.”
Whoosh!
I swiftly twisted my waist.
The thrust curved toward the direction he dodged, like a guided missile.
- What is this...?
The guy panicked at the sudden movement, but.
I didn't stop.
Without the slightest hesitation.
Confidently.
Naturally.
Puk!
I thrust the spear in.
I felt the sensation of the God-Slaying spear smoothly piercing skin.
'Ah, finally.'
I did it.
I knew without opening my eyes.
My spear had pierced right through the center of the guy's throat.
- …….
The guy's skin stiffened in shock.
The pounding heartbeat and shallow breaths.
All transmitted to my fingertips.
- Indeed.
The guy's voice trembled with excitement.
- So that's your shadow?
I opened my eyes.
The Shepherd with the cross-shaped scar on his left eye silently stared at me.
- Yes.
Even if he couldn't see.
It felt like he desperately wanted to see me.
- Now that's befitting a shadow kin's skill.
“......”
The guy coolly acknowledged me.
Then he grinned and began to slowly disperse.
Due to Delaila’s contract.
Returning to his original world, I suppose.
- That was a good fight.
He murmured as he vanished.
I smiled back at him.
Someday.
Maybe I'll see this guy again?
For some reason, it felt that way.
“I agree, it was a good fight, Cross Puppy.”
A message floated over my vision.
[You have acquired the skill ‘No Sound’ (S-Grade).]
[This skill has room for further growth.]