Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Briana's Errand
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#89
‘That thing?’
Seo Woo-jin tilted his head.
“What is it?”
He then asked.
If someone had been by Briana’s side, they might have scolded him for his rudeness.
But she simply gazed at Seo Woo-jin as if he were adorable.
“Didn’t Martes tell you?”
“Ah, yes. He just said that Your Grace would teach me...”
Dazed by Briana’s striking beauty, Seo Woo-jin averted his gaze slightly as he replied.
“It’s nothing much.”
Her eyes curved into a smile.
It was a playful expression, yet even that seemed elegant.
‘She really is royalty.’
She looked just like a heroine pulled straight from a romance novel.
“I just have something to pass along to Martes.”
Seo Woo-jin made a face like he didn’t understand.
So it was simply an errand to deliver an item.
‘She sent me for something like that?’
The request came with ten Summon Stones as reward.
From what Martes had said, he’d thought it was a simple task, but wasn’t this too easy?
‘Why send me instead of any old servant from the Sky Tower?’
The easier it was, the better for Seo Woo-jin.
But he still couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Seeing his puzzled look, Briana snapped her fingers.
Snap!
The sharp sound jolted him to attention.
“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not as easy as it seems.”
“What do you...”
“I’ll show you.”
She beamed and pointed behind Seo Woo-jin.
“Huh?”
When had it appeared?
There was no massive object there moments ago, but now it loomed right behind him.
Instinctively, Seo Woo-jin realized it had materialized when she snapped her fingers.
‘So this is her ability.’
It wasn’t magic.
He sensed no flow of mana whatsoever.
Of course, it could be magic so advanced he couldn’t detect it.
But Seo Woo-jin suspected it was a power on a completely different level.
‘Like a superpower?’
He wasn’t sure yet.
He had no idea what ability she possessed.
Asking directly would be rude, so he posed a different question.
“What is this?”
It looked about a meter wide and tall.
Black cloth draped over it, hiding the contents.
“Would you mind unveiling it?”
Briana nodded toward it.
He wasn’t thrilled, but figuring he should check the contents for the errand, he stood up.
Gripping the edge of the cloth with slight tension.
‘What could it be?’
From the shape, it seemed like a large box...
Whoosh—
The cloth slid down at Seo Woo-jin’s tug.
Revealing what lay within.
The first thing he saw was iron bars.
Not a box, but a large cage of steel.
And someone was trapped inside.
“...A Dark Elf.”
Black skin, pointed ears.
Followers of the Demon King he’d clashed with during imperial subjugations.
Fifteen years old, maybe?
Her face still looked youthful.
Seo Woo-jin’s eyes narrowed.
“Surprised?”
Briana asked, eyeing him with curiosity.
“A little?”
He’d never imagined delivering a Dark Elf.
The Dark Elf in the cage glared at Seo Woo-jin with feral eyes.
Her mouth was gagged, and her body bound, preventing any movement.
“You know Dark Elves follow the Demon King, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
How could he not?
“This child is the same.”
It figured.
The Dark Elf alternated hostile glares between Seo Woo-jin and Briana.
“But there’s something a bit peculiar about her.”
“Peculiar?”
“It’s not something I can share with you, so I can’t say.”
Briana shook her head with a smile.
“Anyway, I wanted Martes to look into something concerning for me. Looks like he handed it off to you.”
“...Wouldn’t it be better to just have your servants transport her?”
Rather than going through him and even giving a reward.
“I told you it’s not easy.”
Briana pointed at the Dark Elf.
“There’ve been constant attempts to rescue her. Quite persistently annoying ones.”
Seo Woo-jin’s gaze darkened.
Annoying enough for the Grand Duke to mention.
If she was on par with a Sword Sage or Magic Duke, this wasn’t just a minor hassle.
As his expression turned serious, Briana spoke as if to reassure him.
“No need for that face. A powerhouse like you should have no trouble getting her to the Sky Tower.”
She’d assumed a mage would come for the task.
But a hero had arrived.
Far more firepower than expected.
Even if Dark Elves swarmed to free her, he could handle it.
“I’ll lend you a few of my knights too, so it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
Not easy, but not impossible either.
Something like that.
Seo Woo-jin nodded at her words.
‘This seems worth the Summon Stones.’
It even felt like fair pay for the work, easing his mind a bit.
“Then when should I depart?”
He’d prefer to move her right away.
That way he could claim his reward and resume training sooner.
But Briana looked slightly troubled.
“I’d love to send you off quickly, but I have some business. Can you stay the night and leave tomorrow morning?”
It sounded a bit like an invitation to linger, so he cleared his throat.
“Understood. I’ll go tomorrow then.”
“Thanks. Anything you’d like? Martes will take care of you, but I can’t just send you empty-handed after coming all this way.”
Seo Woo-jin’s eyes lit up.
‘The reward’s doubling?’
It was the Grand Duke speaking.
No cheap trinket.
With a hopeful glint, he said.
“Do you have any Summon Stones?”
“Hm? No, those are rare. Even the Sky Tower doesn’t have many.”
Seo Woo-jin looked disappointed.
They really were hard to come by.
“Then...”
As he pondered, Briana clapped her hands.
Clap!
“Ah, this’ll do!”
“Yes?”
“Wait a moment. I have a few things from the war that might help.”
Her eyes closed briefly, then she snapped her fingers again.
‘This time...’
He saw it clearly.
Something appeared in her empty hand.
Still an unknown power, but definitely not magic.
More like a hero’s skill.
“Here, take it.”
Briana handed him a round bracelet.
A simple silver one, no ornaments.
As he stared questioningly, she explained.
“It’s a bracelet with Mana Engineer-level magic embedded.”
He felt Ailin, who’d been quiet, flinch beside him.
Whatever it was, it seemed impressive.
“‘Celestial Wing’ magic is permanently enchanted on it.”
A magic-infused item?
“I’d planned to give it to one of my subordinates, but it suits you better.”
“Th-thank you.”
Seo Woo-jin took it eagerly.
From Ailin’s reaction, it was clearly valuable.
“Use it well.”
Briana smiled and rose.
“Rest up today. I’ll tell Lumas, so ask him for anything you need.”
She left the reception room with her signature graceful steps.
Alone now, Seo Woo-jin asked Ailin.
“Why’re you so shocked about ‘Celestial Wing’?”
She’d been staring at the bracelet’s wings on his wrist. She finally spoke.
“It’s Wings of Heaven magic. As the name says, wings sprout from your back when you use it.”
“Oh, really?”
Seo Woo-jin eyed the bracelet with interest.
But he wasn’t that impressed.
From Briana and Ailin’s reactions, he’d expected something more extraordinary...
‘Just a cosmetic item.’
Cool-looking, maybe, but not particularly useful.
Noticing his vibe, Ailin shook her head.
“Flight with wings is handy, sure, but the real value is elsewhere.”
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.
“What is it?”
Now Seo Woo-jin was curious.
How amazing could it be?
“There’s a 10-minute limit, but...”
Choosing her words, Ailin continued.
“To sum it up simply: it boosts a magic user’s overall abilities.”
“By how much?”
A buff item, then.
‘Buffs are great. Cosmetic and effective? Perfect.’
Ailin’s next words made his eyes widen.
“At minimum double, up to five times amplification. Of course, shorter duration and side effects scale with it.”
He was speechless.
* * *
“Time to move.”
Gerald opened his eyes.
His body was in peak condition.
Demonic energy fully restored from rest, flesh brimming with power.
He could handle a Magic Duke like this.
Rising, he extended an arm.
Swoosh—thud!
A massive axe flew from the wall into his grip.
The cursed weapon ‘Taruke.’
Grown by devouring countless lives and blood.
Gerald’s beloved blade.
Feeling its ominous aura, he smiled in satisfaction.
“The last plan failed because of the Sword Sage.”
Such a pity.
He could’ve fed all those imperial knight pests and heroes to ‘Taruke.’
But the Sword Sage and that freak hero ruined months of preparation.
“Success today makes up for it.”
Take down one of the Five Guardians.
Weakening the Empire and sowing massive chaos.
“The time draws near.”
When his master would purge these filthy hypocrites and cleanse the world.
To ease his path even slightly, he had to sever the Grand Duke’s head today.
Hooo—
A long breath escaped.
Unpleasant, sticky Demonic Energy began to spread.
“No. 12.”
He whispered, and No. 12 emerged from his shadow.
“Ready?”
“Give the order, and the Empire’s bitch will lose her mind at once.”
“We’ll need rivers of blood.”
“Tonight, Mernotain will run red with it.”
“Good.”
A cruel smile twisted Gerald’s dark face.
Slinging ‘Taruke’ over his shoulder, he spoke.
“Show the fools hell.”
“As you command.”
No. 12 vanished.
Gerald set off too.
The Grand Duke’s Castle loomed at his path’s end.