Chapter 166
Chapter 166
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Just a Coincidence
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“It must be a coincidence.”
Seo Woojin replied calmly.
He was certain they could never uncover that he was the ‘black presence.’
‘If they had figured that out, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.’
If they had, it wouldn’t have been Yorn coming out to greet him—it would’ve been the Guardians.
For now, it was just simple suspicion.
“Coincidence…”
Yorn gazed at Seo Woojin with a strange look in his eyes.
“Is that so?”
He took a sip of tea.
But his gaze never wavered.
Seo Woojin couldn’t even guess at the meaning behind it.
“Very well.”
Yorn nodded.
“To be honest, I’m not one to believe in coincidences. No, most elves are the same.”
Even the smallest events were dictated by fate.
That was the elven philosophy.
A race that believed coincidence was just another name for inevitability.
And yet Yorn wore an expression as if he understood Seo Woojin’s words.
“But for some reason, I want to believe you, Mr. Seo Woojin.”
What did he mean by that?
While Seo Woojin tried to read between the lines, Yorn rose from his seat.
“For now, you should head back and rest. I’ll make arrangements for someone to treat that wound on your face.”
Yorn pressed Seo Woojin no further.
“Thank you for your concern.”
Relieved inwardly, Seo Woojin offered his thanks when Yorn exclaimed “Ah!” as if he’d forgotten something.
“You should keep your schedule clear tomorrow.”
“…Is something going on?”
“Nothing major. His Imperial Majesty wishes to see you.”
The Emperor?
Seo Woojin’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘He’s not planning to pettily take back Ka Raniel, is he?’
He’d only had it for a short time, but ‘Ka Raniel’ had already become like an extension of his own hand.
It was that familiar to him—and above all, it had granted him the tremendous opportunity of chaos energy.
He had no desire to lose it now.
“Don’t worry. His Majesty’s magnanimity is vast enough to encompass the entire continent.”
As if reading Seo Woojin’s thoughts, Yorn smiled and spoke.
“Ha, haha.”
Caught off guard, Seo Woojin gave an awkward laugh and turned to leave.
“I’ll send someone to your lodgings tomorrow, so just follow them.”
“Thank you.”
“No need. I’m the one who should be grateful.”
Seo Woojin bid Yorn farewell and promptly left the chancellor’s office.
“Phew!”
The stifling tension lifted all at once.
His shoulders had been so rigid with stress that his body now ached faintly.
“Time to head back.”
It had gone off without a hitch, thankfully.
Of course, the suspicions weren’t entirely dispelled yet, but he should be safe for the time being.
Seo Woojin quickened his pace toward his lodgings.
‘Still, I need to figure something out with Ka Raniel.’
He glanced down at his waist.
The beautiful black sword.
‘Ka Raniel’ gleamed in a manner befitting its title as a divine sword.
However,
‘The purple mana is gone.’
This was a serious problem.
The black blade and rippling purple mana had been the hallmarks of ‘Ka Raniel.’
Of course, thanks to that absence, Ban Slane hadn’t realized he was the ‘black presence.’
But if the mana didn’t return, he’d be exposed for sure this time.
If they discovered Seo Woojin possessed the sword used by the ‘black presence’—and that it was ‘Ka Raniel’...
It would make the connection between him and the ‘black presence’ glaringly obvious.
‘What should I do?’
Seo Woojin drew upon his chaos energy.
Gray chaos energy began to ripple around ‘Ka Raniel.’
‘Tch.’
This would never fool anyone.
“Hey, aren’t you a divine sword? Got any tricks up your sleeve?”
He’d only muttered it out of frustration.
But then something astonishing happened.
Woooong—
As if understanding his intent, the chaos energy shifted to a purple hue.
“Huh? Wha—?”
Seo Woojin blinked in surprise.
‘Ka Raniel’ had returned to its original form.
‘Ah!’
Ban Slane’s words flashed through Seo Woojin’s mind.
‘Ka Raniel holds countless abilities lying dormant. Unlocking them is my role,’ he’d said.
Among them must have been this kind of ‘form shift’ or ‘energy property change.’
Seo Woojin experimented curiously with a few ideas.
“Hey, turn into a spear.”
He pictured an elegant spear in his mind as he spoke.
Incredibly, ‘Ka Raniel’ began to transform.
It flowed like liquid metal, morphing exactly into the spear he’d imagined.
“Heh…”
Seo Woojin let out a hollow laugh.
It seemed like a simple ability, but countless ways to use it sprang to mind.
‘I can adjust the length, or disrupt an enemy’s power concentration.’
Even just the obvious applications would open up far more combat options.
“Back to normal.”
At his command, ‘Ka Raniel’ reverted to its sword form.
“Oh, and keep the purple mana going.”
As the gray, murky chaos energy reappeared, Seo Woojin hurriedly amended his order.
Woooong—
The chaos energy turned purple once more.
‘This should fool most people.’
Of course, those at Ban Slane’s transcendent level were exceptions.
They saw beyond the surface, into the essence.
No matter how well he mimicked the exterior, they’d sense it wasn’t mana but something else at its core.
‘Well, that’s fine.’
Even Ban Slane had nodded at his excuse.
The other Guardians would likely do the same.
Seo Woojin set aside his worries about ‘Ka Raniel’ and headed to his lodgings with lighter steps.
“Someday I’ll have to take a day to explore your abilities.”
How many were there? What did they do?
The thought filled him with anticipation.
Seo Woojin crossed the darkening academy grounds.
* * *
“You may enter.”
Guided by a knight who’d come early in the morning, he returned to the imperial shrine.
Lee Ji-ah, whom he’d run into on the way, had begged to come along, but he’d managed to shake her off and come alone.
‘I should buy her something tasty.’
He felt bad for slipping away like a fugitive instead of catching up after so long.
With his pockets fuller now, he resolved to buy whatever she wanted, straightening his clothes.
Rumble—
Unlike the previous opulent doors, these massive iron gates exuded sheer intimidation as they slowly opened.
‘Hm…’
The scene beyond was nothing like what Seo Woojin had expected.
‘What’s with all the people?’
He’d anticipated a simple private audience with the Emperor, but dozens of nobles filled the space at a glance.
All their eyes were on him.
Most were strangers, but he spotted a few familiar faces.
‘That one’s Wooseo, right?’
The imperial count who’d approached him to recruit him.
After their last parting—where Wooseo had told him to think it over—they’d had no further contact, so he hadn’t expected to see him here.
Wooseo met Seo Woojin’s gaze and gave a slight bow.
Far more deferential than before.
‘Well, the situation’s changed since then.’
Back then, Seo Woojin had just been a D-rank hero.
No one had thought him important—just cannon fodder.
Wooseo hadn’t shown it, but he’d surely felt the same.
But now?
He’d defeated SSS-rank Baek Siwoo, fought three of the 13 Apostles, and clashed with Yeoryong.
Achievements unbelievable for a D-rank.
But more than that, he’d reached the same transcendent realm as the Guardians.
In a mere year.
He’d transcended humanity in that short time.
Unprecedented in the continent’s history.
Naturally, the nobles’ attention poured in.
Ignoring their gazes—fervent bordering on scorching—Seo Woojin stepped into the audience chamber.
‘Oh?’
Another familiar face sat beside the Emperor.
‘Drunak, was it?’
The imperial prime minister.
The noble who’d stepped in against some low-rank baron—Dorman or whatever his name was—and shown great favor.
Seo Woojin gave Drunak a nod of greeting before standing before the Emperor.
“Uh, so…”
What should he say?
Scenes from historical dramas flickered in his mind, but imitating them felt too embarrassing.
As Seo Woojin hesitated, the Emperor chuckled heartily.
“Enough with the formalities. Treat me as you did before.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Woojin bowed his head with inward relief.
A few nobles looked uncomfortable, but none dared speak.
“I’ve heard you faced great peril on this expedition. The wound on your face alone speaks volumes of its hardship.”
If Yorn knew, so did the Emperor.
He might even know things Seo Woojin himself didn’t.
“Thanks to Your Majesty, it wasn’t too difficult.”
It felt right to return the courtesy.
The Emperor seemed pleased, flashing his signature hearty grin before continuing.
“Yet the enemy’s momentum was fierce, and you failed to achieve your goal, I hear.”
In short: ‘You failed your mission, huh?’
Seo Woojin bowed apologetically.
He’d received the massive gift of ‘Ka Raniel,’ yet failed the Emperor’s not-quite-request.
He couldn’t help feeling sorry.
‘So please don’t take it back.’
Seo Woojin waited anxiously for the Emperor’s next words.
“Raise your head.”
The Emperor commanded in a solemn tone.
With no choice, Seo Woojin slowly lifted his gaze.
The Emperor and his guarding knights came into view.
“However, your feats in saving my knights and slaying the Demon King’s Apostles are beyond measure!”
‘…What?’
He had saved the White Silver Knight Order.
But slaying Apostles?
Seo Woojin blinked rapidly, confused.
The Emperor showed no intention of explaining.
Instead, he stared down at Seo Woojin with a firm gaze, as if forbidding further questions.
And then he spoke.
“Do you desire anything?”
Seo Woojin’s doubts vanished in an instant.
Misunderstanding or not, it didn’t matter.
‘He’s offering a reward.’
The first reward from the Emperor had been ‘Ka Raniel.’
What would it be this time…?
Anticipation swelled in Seo Woojin’s chest.