Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: The Witch of Grander
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Marthes moved silently down the corridor.
Her destination was the underground thirteenth floor.
It was the most alien layer in the entire Sky Tower.
Unlike the other floors, optimized for mages with their mystical and fantastical atmospheres,
there was only darkness.
Without the sporadic magic lamps clinging to the walls, one wouldn't be able to see a foot ahead.
Marthes continued down the corridor without a word.
Step- step-
Her footsteps alone echoed through the empty hall.
How long had she walked?
Marthes stopped before a massive golden iron door that clashed with the surrounding gloom.
Its surface was covered in indecipherable runes, sealed with chains thicker than her body.
"Release."
At Marthes's command, hundreds of chains rattled- and withdrew.
Grind-!
The door opened simultaneously.
It wasn't an ordinary iron door; with each widening gap, space itself screamed as if tearing apart.
Thud-
Finally, the door fully parted, revealing the interior.
The first thing visible was a long white spear.
There were three of them.
They pierced through someone's flesh, pinning them firmly in place.
The woman didn't stir an inch.
She showed no sign of movement whatsoever.
Her breathing was so faint it was questionable if she was even alive.
Despite the three spears impaling her, there was no trace of blood on her body.
Marthes opened her mouth toward her.
"Zenonia."
Surprisingly, the woman bound by the spears was none other than Zenonia.
At Marthes's voice, she slowly raised her head.
Her long hair slid down with a soft rustle.
"You've finally come to see me."
Zenonia greeted Marthes in a calm voice, as if feeling no pain at all.
"How is your body?"
Marthes asked with a heavy expression.
"Isn't it a bit odd for the one who personally drove 'Matea's Divine Spears' into me to ask that?"
Zenonia sneered.
"It's the price for what you've done."
Zenonia snorted at Marthes's words.
"Well, whatever. So why exactly am I here?"
Zenonia wore an expression of utter incomprehension.
"I clearly lost to the 'Black Existence.'"
She had fought and lost.
A惨 defeat, at that.
After being chosen by the Kademain and becoming an Apostle, she never imagined anyone could hand her such a loss.
Yet she lost, blacked out, and woke up here.
She hadn't realized at first, but spotting 'Matea's Divine Spears' embedded in her body tipped her off.
Only one being could wield them.
The master of the Sky Tower and the sole Grand Sorcerer, Marthes.
So she waited.
For Marthes to come.
And at last, the true guardian of the Empire and the continent appeared.
"King's Adversary."
Zenonia called Marthes by another name.
"You're not behind the 'King of Chaos,' are you? All to stop the ruler of Pandemonium from descending?"
Even as she spoke, she dismissed the idea.
The 'Black Existence.'
It was no being that someone like Marthes could produce.
She asked anyway because she had awoken in the Sky Tower.
"You're spouting nonsense, which means you've recovered enough for conversation. Witch of Grander."
Marthes shrugged as she spoke.
Killing intent flickered in Zenonia's eyes.
"...I hate that nickname."
Grander.
The kingdom where Zenonia had committed her worst massacre.
"It's hard to believe that from the one who slaughtered an entire nation's people."
250 years ago, a kingdom fell.
Its name was Grander.
The culprit and method of the slaughter were impossible to pinpoint.
The entire kingdom's population had died overnight.
The confirmed death toll alone approached 4.5 million.
Then Marthes visited Grander at the Emperor's request.
And declared:
This atrocity was the work of Zenonia, one of the Demon King's followers.
Since then, Zenonia had been known as the Witch of Grander, an object of terror.
"Hating it doesn't change the truth."
Zenonia let out a scoff at those words.
"Fine, whatever. But answer me anyway. Why am I here?"
She spoke with a grin, but her eyes remained fierce.
If not for 'Matea's Divine Spears' in her body, she looked ready to lunge at any moment.
Marthes gazed steadily into Zenonia's eyes before speaking.
"You're a dull one."
The only one who could be asked questions right now was herself.
Not the restrained woman who couldn't move a finger.
"Tell me the locations of Gorn, Ardethos, and the Lion. Do so, and I'll grant you a peaceful death."
The owners of the two names excluding the Lion were Apostles.
Among them, beings of equal or greater rank than Zenonia herself.
They were the ones who best deserved the title of strongest among the Demon King's countless followers.
Zenonia gave her a look of disbelief.
"You're asking me like I'd actually tell you?"
If she revealed their locations to Marthes, assassination orders would follow immediately.
Of course, given their caliber, they wouldn't fall easily, but the Empire was no pushover.
If its countless knights, Crusiel agents, and guardians mobilized...
Even they couldn't emerge unscathed.
"Don't waste time."
As Zenonia smirked, Marthes shook her head.
"This is the Sky Tower. And I am its master."
Mana began emanating from her petite frame.
An unprecedented, colossal mana.
Zenonia's eyes tensed at the sight.
'Crazy...'
Zenonia was strong enough to dismiss most guardians as unworthy opponents.
She figured only one Sword Sage could match her.
But the Magic Duke was on another level entirely.
She couldn't fathom why such a monster was lumped in with those others.
She swallowed dryly.
"If I wish to hear it, you'll have to speak."
The surging mana seeped into 'Matea's Divine Spears' piercing Zenonia's flesh.
And...
"Gyaaaaaaaah!"
Zenonia screamed.
It was a sound of pain like her soul shattering.
"If you want to answer, nod. Then I'll stop the pain."
The witch who massacred 4.5 million.
Marthes's gaze upon her was utterly cold.
* * *
Had beating down the mob that rushed him quelled his rage somewhat?
His anger felt a bit subsided.
Seo Woojin looked down at Kim Taejin writhing on the dirt floor.
The man was already a total wreck.
No exaggeration—he'd die if Seo Woojin so much as touched him with a finger.
Seo Woojin stared at him silently, then raised his hand.
His rage had cooled from head to toe, but that didn't mean he'd let it slide.
The price for daring to target Kang Byung-gyu's life could only be paid with his own.
"W-Wait a second...!"
Im Tae-eun's cry came from behind.
She'd mustered courage, but fear still made her voice tremble faintly.
Seo Woojin paused- and glanced back over his shoulder.
"Please forgive him. I-I'll kneel if you want. I'll be your sl-slave for life. Just please spare Taejin. I beg you."
Im Tae-eun's expression was sincere.
If Seo Woojin accepted, she seemed fully prepared to live as a slave forever.
'Hah-'
It was absurd.
But in a way, understandable.
To outsiders, they built walls, but among themselves, they were inseparable friends.
Their deep bond was obvious even from afar.
Yet of the five, one was missing, one dead.
And now one more faced death right before her eyes.
For someone like Im Tae-eun, who cherished her friends, she couldn't just watch.
Her teary eyes and bowed head drew a sigh from him.
'But I can't just let it go...'
If he spared them now, who knew when they'd strike from behind again.
Their hatred for the friend-killer wouldn't fade easily.
Seo Woojin pondered briefly, then sat by Kim Taejin's head, grabbing his hair and yanking it up.
"Cough-!"
Blood-flecked coughs spilled from the man's mouth.
"Hey."
Seo Woojin locked eyes with Kim Taejin and spoke.
"What do you say? Your friend is begging like that."
His tone was casual, but his gaze was ice-cold.
If even a hint of killing intent showed in Kim Taejin's eyes, he'd smash his head right there.
But fortunately—or unfortunately—
No hatred or malice lingered in Kim Taejin's eyes.
Only fear.
Pure terror toward Seo Woojin.
'Tch.'
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
It infuriated him that he'd nearly lost a friend to trash like this.
But it allowed him to decide.
He'd honor Im Tae-eun's plea.
Not that he intended to actually make her a slave.
Nor did he trust Kim Taejin.
"I'll spare you."
Kim Taejin's eyes widened at Seo Woojin's words.
His swollen face barely showed the change, but his shock was clear.
"Thank your friend for it."
With that, Seo Woojin pressed a finger to Kim Taejin's forehead.
"But I can't just let you go scot-free."
He drew up his chaos energy.
The overwhelming force nearly made Kim Taejin pass out.
But Seo Woojin wouldn't allow it.
Instead, he sharpened the man's mind clearer than ever.
"Brand."
The 'Brand' skill that vanished upon reaching level 50, merging with others.
It had evolved into the powerful 'Twelve Heavenly Swords,' but Seo Woojin had dismantled it to extract just the 'Brand' effect.
As he activated it, his chaos energy pierced Kim Taejin's forehead, etching into the depths of his soul.
A brand in the literal sense.
"Guhhh-!"
Pain he thought he'd never feel again surged, making Kim Taejin groan and tremble.
"It's one of my skills. You heard the name."
Seo Woojin leaned in close and whispered.
"If you ever pull something like this again..."
He gave no precise explanation.
But it was enough for Kim Taejin to understand.
Not spelling it out only amplified his terror.
Seo Woojin released the hair and stood.
Then he turned to Im Tae-eun.
"Take these guys and go. And stay out of my sight from now on."
His expression remained cold as he spoke.