Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Rashid's Execution
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Rashid's execution was carried out.
Was it out of consideration for Mohiaddin?
The execution took place not in front of the territory's residents, but in a remote area outside the lord's castle.
In the execution attended only by knights, Rashid was hanged by the neck with a rope.
It was a lonely death, with no one to mourn him or pity him.
Mohiaddin received the report of his son's death in his office.
And he wept.
No matter how much of a wretched sinner deserving death his son had been, he was still his one and only son.
He couldn't hide his grief even if he tried.
Seo Woojin let out a sigh as he watched Mohiaddin shed tears.
He didn't even think to offer hasty comfort.
How could he fully understand the heart of a father who had ordered his own son's death with his own words?
All Seo Woojin could do was quietly stay by his side.
Time passed like that.
Mohiaddin repeatedly wailed and fainted, until his subordinate knights had no choice but to carry him to his bedroom.
"Haa—"
"He must be in great pain."
When had he arrived?
Ban Slane had appeared beside him at some point and patted Seo Woojin's shoulder.
"He did what he had to do, so don't feel too sorry for him."
"I'm just a bit conflicted."
Rashid had committed a capital crime and died for it.
Mohiaddin had fulfilled his duty as lord.
Even trying to think of it as just that, watching the father who had lost his son made his heart feel bitter.
"What will happen to Viscount Mohiaddin?"
He had decided to take full responsibility for the sins his child had committed.
No light punishment would be handed down.
That was what worried Seo Woojin.
"I don't know imperial law well myself... but it seems he'll be hard-pressed to avoid execution."
It was a crime connected to the Demon King.
If something like this had happened in Zion, where they fought monster wars every year?
Not just Rashid and Mohiaddin, but their entire family would have been beheaded.
It was such a grave offense, so the empire would handle it much the same.
As he said, Mohiaddin had a high chance of being executed.
Seo Woojin wanted to stop it, but he had no particular way to do so.
No, even if there was a way, Mohiaddin didn't seem like he would accept it.
He had already resolved himself to death.
Seo Woojin shook his head.
"Put this incident behind you. Don't you have things you need to do now?"
There was nothing more to accomplish here.
Reina was dead, and Baek Siwoo had disappeared with the Lion.
With the punishment for Rashid, who had committed a great sin, carried out, there was no reason to stay.
As Ban Slane said, they needed to move elsewhere now.
To the place thought to be the base, to find Baek Siwoo.
"...Let's prepare to depart."
"Good thinking. We'll leave as soon as the train time allows."
Ban Slane patted his shoulder again before turning away.
Seo Woojin's expression, left alone, was dark.
* * *
"...This is ridiculous."
The Lion let out a hollow laugh.
For him, whose emotions rarely fluctuated, it was an unusual reaction.
The current situation was just that absurd.
"A new king?"
No.
The Baek Siwoo before his eyes was nothing more than a hero lost to demonic frenzy.
He possessed an astonishing amount of demonic energy due to his excellent quality, but that was all.
"Foolish."
The Lion murmured lowly toward Reina, who had already died and vanished.
He hadn't confirmed it, but he'd brought him here personally, taking the risk, because she insisted he was the king...
The Lion raised his hand and slapped Baek Siwoo's cheek.
Slap—!
At the same time, Baek Siwoo's facial skin tore, and blood flowed out.
"...Where is this?"
Only then did focus return to Baek Siwoo's eyes.
His mind, which had gone blank after being consumed by demonic energy and witnessing the apocalyptic beast called 'Versht,' had awakened.
But his red eyes still gleaming with murderous intent showed he hadn't fully escaped the demonic energy.
"Is your name Baek Siwoo?"
At the Lion's question, Baek Siwoo finally noticed his presence.
Heh—
His lips curved up to his ears in a chilling smile.
"Did you just slap my cheek?"
Demonic energy mixed with mana poured out.
An immense, overwhelmingly powerful aura.
Thanks to his SSS-grade talent blooming into a black flower upon encountering demonic energy, he possessed a depth of power without end.
The Lion was slightly surprised watching such a Baek Siwoo.
He was just a fledgling hero who hadn't even properly grown yet.
For such a one to already emit this much aura.
'They said his grade was the highest.'
He couldn't match the irregular named Seo Woojin, but Baek Siwoo was a possessor of talent the Lion had never seen before.
"Is that so?"
A hollow, gloomy voice flowed out.
Then Baek Siwoo's smile deepened further, and murderous intent exploded forth.
"Then you die."
Demonic energy extended in tendrils.
It was demonic energy of such purity that it was hard to believe it came from a hero.
'Huh...'
The Lion had no choice but to acknowledge it.
He understood why Reina had thought this one was the new king.
With this much demonic energy, it was understandable to mistake him.
'This might just...'
A single thought flashed through the Lion's mind.
But it was still just a plan.
Not something to voice aloud yet.
Instead, the Lion said something else.
"If you can, try killing me."
A provocation.
To accurately gauge the extent of Baek Siwoo's power.
The moment the words ended, Baek Siwoo's sword was drawn.
"'Thunderclap.'"
As if matching the skill's name, lightning exploded violently.
It was a sword strike so powerful it felt like the air itself was burning.
But the Lion blocked 'Thunderclap' by casually extending his hand.
Crackle—!
The sword gripped in his hand flashed with lightning, but it seemed to deal no damage.
"Is that all?"
At the disappointed look, Baek Siwoo gritted his teeth.
"'Ascendant Thunder!'"
Rumble—!
The sword in his hand soared toward the sky.
Like a dragon ascending, the writhing blade escaped the Lion's grasp.
'Hmm.'
This time, he was a bit more surprised.
He hadn't used full strength, but he'd gripped it quite firmly, yet it had been forcibly pulled away.
'He's usable.'
The Lion raised his assessment of Baek Siwoo's value from trash slightly higher.
'No, wait.'
Considering he was a hero, there was plenty of room for growth from here.
They had been summoned to oppose the Demon King in the first place.
That meant they could grow into beings comparable to the Demon King.
'This is...'
A chilling light gleamed in the Lion's eyes.
A new king.
Even if Baek Siwoo wasn't him, it didn't matter.
'Can't I just make him one?'
A small ambition took root in the Lion's heart.
To create a king with his own hands and stand behind him, grasping everything in his palm.
A smile formed on the Lion's lips.
Unlike the earlier hollow laugh of absurdity, this was a genuine smile of delight.
'You left me a fine gift, Reina.'
For the first time, he felt grateful to her.
"You should stop now."
He reached out and grabbed the throat of Baek Siwoo, who was relentlessly attacking without pause.
"Kuhk!"
Under the pressure like being crushed by a hydraulic press, Baek Siwoo halted his movements.
No matter how much he drew on demonic energy and mana, he couldn't twitch a finger.
Baek Siwoo's murderous eyes glared piercingly at the Lion.
The Lion nodded in satisfaction at the sight and opened his mouth.
"You'll have to do one job with me."
In Baek Siwoo's eyes, the Lion appeared as a monster brimming with greed.
* * *
The train was quiet.
Ban Slane had rented an entire train, so there were no other passengers.
Of course, he hadn't paid for it.
He had requisitioned it under the pretext of official duties.
Thanks to that, the train held only Seo Woojin and Ailin, Ban Slane and the White Knights.
"How long will it take?"
Seo Woojin asked.
"No stops at stations, straight to the destination... about 7 to 8 hours should suffice."
Their destination was the western empire.
After alighting at the station there, they would proceed on foot.
"A forest, right?"
"Correct. It's not grand enough to be called the Demon Realm, but the locals call it the Forest of Death, it's that dangerous."
"Forest of Death? Lots of monsters?"
Seo Woojin's eyes widened.
It wouldn't have such a name unless it was considerably hazardous.
"Actually, there are no monsters there. At least, not from what I confirmed."
"Yes? Then why is it called the Forest of Death?"
"I don't know. No, no one knows the reason."
It was a nickname given because many who entered the forest went missing and never returned.
They first thought it was monsters' doing, but despite multiple searches and subjugations, not even a glimpse of them was found.
Not even fierce beasts could be spotted; it was safer than the local hills.
"And yet, dozens go missing there every year."
Unexplained disappearances.
Thus, the locals feared it and called it the Forest of Death.
"Those guys might be involved."
"That's what I think too."
It was the direction the ones reeking of demonic energy had headed.
There had to be a connection to the disappearances.
"It wouldn't hurt to investigate this time."
Ban Slane took a sip of coffee from his glass.
Then he looked around.
"The empire's national power is something else..."
He couldn't help but marvel.
The passenger car looked better than his own office.
It was only natural to be impressed.
But at the same time, he felt a bitterness.
The gap between the empire and Zion felt all too real.
"Ah, and your sword's changed."
Ban Slane hid his inner thoughts and shifted the conversation.
"'Karaniel.' Right?"
"Yes. Got it recently."
Seo Woojin started to draw the sword to show it off, but Ban Slane shook his head.
"No need. It might just stir envy."
He spoke with a smile.
Seo Woojin smacked his lips in disappointment.
He wanted to brag about this fine sword to his master.
But instead of envy, Ban Slane offered advice to such a Seo Woojin.
"No matter how good the sword, the most important thing is your own skill."
Seo Woojin with 'Karaniel' versus Ban Slane with his worn sword.
Who would win in a fight was obvious.
"Wield that fine sword well. With your talent, you can draw out the divine sword's full potential."
"...Its power?"
Until now, Seo Woojin had used 'Karaniel' simply as a very sharp sword.
Of course, sharpness enough to tear demonic energy and mana to shreds, but he hadn't considered it had more abilities.
"From the moment it was forged with the life force of the continent's beings, 'Karaniel' is no longer just a mere sword."
Seo Woojin's eyes sparkled.
Did it perhaps have magic like 'Celestial Wing' or 'Aegis' built in?
But Ban Slane didn't explain the ability.
"Figure it out yourself."
He merely assigned homework.
Seo Woojin wore a regretful expression, but the train simply sped toward its destination.