Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Lee Seo-yeon (2)
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"A deal..., huh. It's been ages since I last heard that word."
Baek Yu-hwa murmured those words and closed her eyes.
The faint smile playing on her lips suggested she was lost in memories.
"There was this guy called the Murim Alliance Leader back in the day. He suggested making a deal with me."
...Murim Alliance Leader?
Did this world even have murim in it?
I suddenly recalled the world of Arena Academy at the martial arts term 'Murim Alliance Leader' that had slipped from Baek Yu-hwa's mouth.
Sure, there were titles like Sword Saint, Twin Sword Dragons, and War God, but nothing even remotely related to murim.
Which meant it had to be someone's epithet.
'Someone I don't know, but Baek Yu-hwa does...'
Maybe back when the Continent of Death was still called China?
Yeah, that would explain why I'd have no clue.
The Arena Academy lore didn't delve much into the past anyway.
As I pondered that, Baek Yu-hwa opened her eyes and spoke.
"So, kid, what do you think I did?"
It was a sudden question, but I didn't panic. I thought it over carefully.
Judging by that wistful smile from moments ago, she'd probably accepted the deal.
But looking at her haughty demeanor now...
"...I don't think you accepted it."
"Why's that?"
"Because you're the War God."
"You think I turned it down because I'm the War God? That title wasn't mine back then, you know."
"I still think you'd have done the same regardless."
"Oh?"
Baek Yu-hwa's fingers danced piano-like on her thigh as she stared at me intently.
Then, with a soft chuckle, she said,
"Lee Yoo-jin, you're an interesting kid."
With that, she released her propped-up chin.
"Yeah, you're right. Just like you guessed, I didn't make a deal with that Murim Alliance Leader."
She rose from her chair.
In that instant, the space around her rippled.
As if something enormous had stirred.
"Why do you think I did that?"
"...Because it went against your beliefs."
"You're a sharp kid with great insight."
Baek Yu-hwa nodded, seemingly pleased with my answer, and continued.
"Exactly. The deal that fool of a Murim Alliance Leader proposed clashed with my principles."
She began to pace.
"His offer was this: he'd give me half of murim, and in return, I'd help him rule over humanity."
Thud─, crackle!
Thud─, crackle!
With every step she took, the surrounding space cracked like shattering glass.
And through the fissures, a black void like the cosmos peeked through.
Cold sweat trickled down my back as I watched.
The game called her an absolute being, but how strong did you have to be for mere movement to tear space apart?
At that level, she wasn't just transcendent—she was practically a demigod.
"So, what do you think I did?"
A man who defied her beliefs.
The War God who despised evil.
There was only one answer.
"You killed him."
Baek Yu-hwa nodded with a satisfied smile at my response.
"Right. I severed that Murim Alliance Leader's head right then and there. And I wiped out the entire Murim Alliance he belonged to."
She halted her steps.
Stopping about three paces away, she met my gaze and said,
"Why do you think I did that?"
"......"
I couldn't answer her question.
No, I couldn't even open my mouth.
And for good reason.
Rumble...
A colossal pressure hovered right above my head.
One slip of the tongue, and it'd crush me flat—I was too terrified to speak.
As I clamped my mouth shut, sweat pouring down, the War God placed a hand on my shoulder and said,
"The head of a group doesn't rule over the masses through domination, but with compassion and mercy."
The War God took a step closer.
"That is the duty and the way of those in power."
She stepped even closer.
"Thus, this seat personally purged the evil."
Her face was inches from mine.
"So I ask you, bearer of evil."
Her black pupils gradually turned red.
And soon enough, they were fully crimson.
"Are you evil?"
Her question forced my mouth open against my will.
And words spilled out without my control.
"...No."
I denied being evil.
"......"
The War God stared at me silently for a moment.
Then, shortly after,
"I see."
She pulled back her face, accepting my words.
At the same moment, the crushing pressure above me vanished in an instant.
I instinctively realized I'd survived.
"Harboring evil, yet not evil yourself..."
Her red eyes reverted to obsidian black as she muttered.
"You're a peculiar kid."
Baek Yu-hwa patted my shoulder with a grin.
Then she walked back toward the massive chair.
Crackle...
Like time rewinding, the torn space began mending itself.
And only after she sat did the phenomenon cease.
The space was fully restored.
"Alright, kid. Let's make that deal you want. What do you desire?"
Back to her initial haughty posture, Baek Yu-hwa brought up the deal.
Unlike with that Murim Alliance Leader, she'd accepted now that I'd been cleared of being evil.
I wiped the sweat from my face with a handkerchief and named the elixir I sought.
"I want the Spirit Capacity Pill."
"Spirit Capacity Pill?"
Baek Yu-hwa eyed me curiously.
"Kid, do you even know what that is?"
"Yes, I do."
Spirit Capacity Pill.
An elixir that expands the vessel of the soul.
But it's also used when talents overwhelm the vessel, damaging it—like with Lee Seo-yeon or Asuka.
Of course, Asuka's issue is congenital, so the pill won't grant full control, but it should help.
For Lee Seo-yeon, though, one pill solves everything.
It enables complete control over her talent, erasing the risk of corruption into a Fallen.
"Your soul seems fine, though. No need for a Spirit Capacity Pill."
Baek Yu-hwa looked at me, puzzled.
"It's not for me."
"...Not for you? Then for someone else?"
"Yes."
"Well, now..."
My answer perfectly aligned with her beliefs, drawing an admiring sigh from her.
With a satisfied expression, she reached into her coat and pulled out two small boxes.
"Here, take them."
She tossed them my way.
I caught the two boxes in surprise and looked at her quizzically.
"Chairman, what about the deal...?"
"Deal? Do we really need one?"
"...Pardon?"
"Your insight fails you now?"
Baek Yu-hwa chuckled amusedly.
"It's a gift because I like you. Just take it."
"......"
Whoa, never saw that coming.
In the game, items came only through quests—deals, basically.
Now I get them as a reward for sweet-talking?
"Don't like gifts? Then we can make it a deal like you wanted..."
"N-no! I love gifts!"
"Good, then I'm glad."
Baek Yu-hwa nodded with a smirk.
I bowed deeply to her in gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Chairman!"
"Haha, enough of that."
She gazed at me like a grandparent watching a playful grandchild.
Considering her age as a first-generation transcendent, she was easily over two hundred.
"Alright, kid, stop with the bowing. Go give that elixir to whoever needs it."
"...Chairman, what's the other one?"
I tried appraising them with the system, but it wouldn't work for some reason.
Maybe because the boxes are closed?
"The other one's a gift for you, my commendable kid."
She'd thrown in an extra one for me too?
"Thank you so—"
"I've had enough thanks already. No more bowing."
"Still..."
"Hey, I said enough."
Baek Yu-hwa waved her hand dismissively at me.
Suddenly, it felt like someone shoved me—I flew backward.
Ding.
Perfectly timed, I slipped into the open elevator.
To me, she gave a gentle smile and said,
"Lee Yoo-jin, see you again."
With that, the doors closed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Descending.] With Baek Yu-hwa's figure gone, the audience came to a safe end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The elevator carrying Lee Yoo-jin descended.
"......"
At the same time, the smile faded from Baek Yu-hwa's lips.
Staring blankly at where Lee Yoo-jin had stood, her expressionless face parted to speak.
"This time it's that kid, huh?"
......
"How long do you plan to keep repeating this cycle of karma?"
......
"...Not even bothering to show yourself anymore?"
Ha.
Baek Yu-hwa let out a hollow laugh and rose from her chair.
At that moment,
Crackle...!!
Like before, space tore open, revealing the cosmic black void.
"Fine, then. I'll make you show yourself."
Baek Yu-hwa's eyes turned red.
She clenched her fist toward the empty air.
A black sword had appeared in her grasp, unnoticed.
Hummm!
The black blade resonated.
Shatter───!!
Space didn't just tear—it shattered like glass.
Darkness engulfed everything.
In that abyss, Baek Yu-hwa emanated immense pressure and raised her sword.
Then,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Stop it.] A message window appeared before Baek Yu-hwa, just like Lee Yoo-jin's system.
She lowered her raised sword and said,
"Finally showing yourself. Slave to karma."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Aren't you the same now?] "This seat is only half-bound, while you're fully shackled. So yes, you're the slave."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......] "What, pissed off? Then drop the messages and show yourself. I'll split you in half personally."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Your foul temper hasn't changed, Heavenly Demon Baek Yu-hwa.] "Don't call this seat that. I left that title behind."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Still hung up on that? What happened?] "How could I forget."
Baek Yu-hwa stared vacantly at the message window.
"The day I lost everything."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [That wasn't your fault. It happened because...] "Right, those outer gods. But I fell to demonic corruption because I listened to their whispers. That's fact."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [But that's...] "Enough of this."
Baek Yu-hwa released the sword in her hand.
It melted back into the darkness.
Gazing at it, she said,
"Slave to karma."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......Yes.] "You vanished after leaving this seat for a while."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......] "For that long absence, I thought you'd accepted karma and given up."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......] "But no."
Baek Yu-hwa eyed the message window.
"Lee Yoo-jin—that kid—has your origin planted in him, along with the outer gods' power. What the hell have you been up to?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I can't tell you everything right now.] "...Restrictions?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Yes.] "Then can you answer this?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [What?] "Is this cycle of karma... the last one?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [......] The message window fell silent.
But only briefly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I can't appear for a while, but for your sake, I'll say it.] [Yes, that's right.] [This is the last...] Crash!
The message window shattered.
The karmic restriction had lifted.
At the sight, Baek Yu-hwa's eyes trembled, and she collapsed into her chair.
Crackle...
As she sat, all space returned to normal.
"Ha... this is the last one?"
Her voice quivered as she murmured.
But joy was unmistakable in it.
"...Lee Yoo-jin. I should give that kid more gifts later."
Thanks to him, she'd learned what she'd waited so long for.
Whatever he wanted, she'd make it happen.
Recalling Lee Yoo-jin's delighted face upon receiving the gifts, Baek Yu-hwa smiled.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, Lee Yoo-jin.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [System Maintenance Notice] [Due to an issue, the system will undergo about 12 hours of maintenance.] [Basic functions remain available, but item appraisal, status window, and skill checks are disabled.] [We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. (_ _)] "What the—?!"
He faced an unexpected system maintenance.