Chapter 117
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: A One-Month Reprieve
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I don't know exactly when Sherard makes his contract with the demon. But it must be soon.
Once he gains the Soul Eater trait, he'll become a monster incomparable to his current self.
‘Perhaps, now is my chance.’
Chris narrowed his eyes.
Beating Sherard in a direct confrontation was impossible.
It would remain impossible for the foreseeable future.
But here, in the borderlands?
‘Within the borderlands, I can create countless variables.’
As it happened, Chris had something prepared.
A preparation for the assassins Marquis Langham might send.
It was a method that couldn't be used against Sherard.
‘But if I play my cards right, it might be possible.’
As he was contemplating his options, Sherard spoke with a troubled expression.
“You don't look too happy. I get it. I'm upset, too. I didn't want to kill you this soon. But even I'm afraid of my father.”
“...”
“You have no idea what a horrifying person my father, Marquis Langham, is, do you?”
Chris listened silently to Sherard's words.
As if madness was beginning to take hold, Sherard started chuckling.
“Grandfather probably has no idea what Father is doing behind his back. I may be a madman, but my father is even crazier.”
“...”
“Even for me, it's difficult to defy my father's orders. I plan to kill him with my own hands someday, but it's not possible yet. So, I hope you understand.”
He was saying he was going to kill Chris now.
But then, Chris, who had been quiet, spoke up.
“Do you have to kill me right now?”
“Huh? Didn't I just say? I have no choice.”
“There's still a month left until the portal to the Dark Magic Houses reopens, isn't there?”
“??”
Sherard tilted his head.
“You want me to kill you a month from now instead? What's the point? Are you trying to live a little longer like some insect? If so, I'm disappointed. Or should I cut off all your limbs and keep you barely alive for a month before I kill you?”
“No, that's not what I mean.”
Chris shook his head and said coldly.
“Because in a month, I'll be able to kill you.”
“!!”
Sherard's eyes widened, and a thick smile spread across his lips.
“Now that's an interesting story. But you know that's impossible at your level, don't you?”
“Why do you think it's impossible?”
Chris let out a smirk.
Intentionally.
Making sure it felt arrogant.
“You know I'm a genius, don't you? For a genius like me, a month is an eternity—long enough for anything to happen.”
“...”
“If you're afraid to fight the me who will have grown in a month, then you can kill me now.”
Sherard stood still for a moment, then let out a chuckle.
It was a laugh tinged with madness.
Sherard's blood-red eyes flashed wildly.
“Ahh. As I thought, it'd be a waste to kill you now. An interesting opponent like you should be properly aged before being killed.”
“...”
“Anyway, fine. As you wish, I'll postpone killing you for a month. For the next month, work hard and please me as much as you can.”
Sherard's lips curled up.
“I'll be looking forward to it.”
With those final words.
*Fwoosh!*
Sherard vanished, leaving behind a single drop of blood.
He had moved using his Blood Art.
‘He's probably watching me from nearby.’
Chris let out a low sigh.
‘In any case, it worked out.’
The truth was, facing Sherard head-on would still be impossible even after a month.
But it didn't matter.
There was no need to insist on fair play when catching a mad dog.
‘A month is plenty of time to prepare for catching that mad dog.’
Chris's gaze hardened.
During the promised month.
He would prepare to take Sherard's head.
However, there was a prerequisite.
‘I must perfectly establish the foundation of my Will.’
The plan Chris had in mind was impossible to attempt without a complete foundation of Will.
In the end, nothing had changed.
‘I need to get stronger.’
Chris drew his sword.
And so.
One day, then two.
Time flew by in an instant.
* * *
How many times had he teetered on the brink of death?
He fought until he collapsed, got back up, and fought again, repeating the cycle.
His body was in the worst possible condition from continuous exhaustion.
If not for the holy relic he'd received from Ruina, he would have long been dead.
The Cloak of Nine Deaths.
When the wearer's condition deteriorates to a near-death state, it activates a silver screen effect, hiding the wearer from demonic beings.
Thanks to it, Chris was able to barely cling to life each time he was on the verge of death.
‘Ah, damn it. This method really isn't my style. How did I end up suffering like this?’
Chris scowled and placed a hand over the wound on his abdomen.
*Fwoosh!*
A bright light emanated from his hand, healing the wound.
Another reason Chris had managed to stay alive was the Divine Doctor's Qi technique.
Having diligently studied the intermediate volume of the Divine Doctor's Qi technique manual he received from Duke Huam, the head of the Extreme Poison House, Chris could now use healing arts on par with the official saints of the Divine Doctor Noble Family.
“It's really strange.”
Just then, Sherard's voice cut in.
“How on earth can you use the power of light?”
“...”
Chris's expression darkened.
Given the circumstances, his secret had been exposed.
Well, it didn't really matter.
‘That guy isn't the type to go blabbing my secret to others.’
Sherard was a madman obsessed only with killing his opponents with his own hands.
So, he wouldn't do something like revealing Chris's secret to put him in a difficult position.
More importantly.
‘One of us is going to die here anyway.’
Of course, the one who dies will be Sherard.
However, there was something bothering him.
‘Establishing the foundation of my Will is progressing more slowly than I thought. It's already been almost a month. It feels like it's within reach, but I can't quite grasp it.’
Progressing slowly.
It was an expression that others would find utterly absurd if they heard it.
It had been less than a month since Chris entered this place.
In that short time, Chris had achieved remarkable growth.
In terms of a Majin, he went from the lower level of 4-Star to the middle level of 4-Star.
His level had shot up in the blink of an eye.
What was even more astonishing was his progress with Starlight.
He had reached the peak of the lower level of 5-Star.
He was now facing the wall of the middle level of 5-Star.
It was an incredible feat.
As has been said time and again, the gap between the lower, middle, and upper levels widens as one ascends to higher ranks.
This becomes particularly pronounced from the 5-Star Elder Class.
Raising one's achievement through the lower, middle, and upper tiers becomes much more difficult compared to previous stages, yet he had reached the wall of the middle level at such a rapid pace.
A crazy speed possible only for Chris.
But he wasn't satisfied.
‘Simply raising my level quickly isn't what's important.’
To be honest.
Chris was not satisfied with the progress he'd made with Starlight.
It wasn't a matter of speed.
It was a matter of ‘quality’.
‘My Aura Blade isn't perfect.’
It wasn't that it had a flaw.
Chris's Aura Blade was comparable to that of any Elder Knight in the Alliance.
But compared to the truly exceptional ones.
For example, the ‘Knight of Salvation’ or the ‘Knight of Annihilation,’ who were currently gaining fame.
Compared to the Aura Blades of those who would later grow into top-tier knights, his was lacking.
It was because of the Will it contained.
‘I should have established a perfect foundation of Will *before* obtaining the Aura Blade.’
Chris's ascent to the 5-Star level of the Alliance had happened by chance.
While researching how to imbue his Black Sword with Will, he had unintentionally manifested an Aura Blade.
As a result, it didn't contain a perfect Will.
Fortunately, it wasn't too late.
Whether as a knight or a Majin.
‘Even now, I must establish a perfect foundation of Will.’
This was a crucial step.
Forging a perfect Will wasn't just about strengthening the power of his aura.
Will was the foundation that would influence the subsequent stages of Will-Thought, Miracles, Domain, and Transcendence.
Depending on what kind of Will he established here, his future growth would change completely.
‘I must forge a Will that will never break. One that can crush any opponent.’
The problem was, he just couldn't grasp it.
It felt like a faint clue was dangling just out of reach.
Just then, Sherard approached with a hum.
“Aren't you attempting something a bit reckless?”
“What?”
“What you're trying to do now, it's to hone your Will, right? But Will isn't something that can be artificially honed, is it?”
Sherard tilted his head as if he couldn't understand.
“I've never seen anyone worry about the next stage before even climbing the current wall.”
He had a point.
No one else would try to build a foundation of Will by worrying about the distant future like Chris.
Usually, people break through the wall however they can and only belatedly start to hone their Will.
“That's the story for common talents.”
“!!”
“A genius like me is different.”
The reason others can only focus on breaking through the wall is because breaking through is a challenge in itself.
Chris was different.
For him, breaking through walls was not difficult at all.
‘More importantly, I have a reason to perfectly master each and every stage.’
In truth, even if he just went with the flow, Chris would become strong.
He would smoothly reach at least the 9-Star level.
Faster and more brilliantly than anyone else, at that.
But that wasn't enough.
‘Even if I become a 9-Star, I'll just be another run-of-the-mill Demon King-class Majin.’
If he was to face the enemies that awaited him in the future.
To prevent the coming ruin, the power of a Demon King alone was not enough.
Overwhelming.
He needed enough power to stand at the pinnacle of the Magitech Empire and have everyone beneath his feet.
This was why Chris was meticulously designing his path, considering all future processes from the very beginning as he built up his power.
Of course, it wouldn't be an easy path.
‘I can do it. I'm more than capable.’
“Anyway, get out of my sight. I don't want to see your face anymore.”
“Hmm. That hurts. I came here to help because I was worried, you know.”
Sherard shrugged.
It wasn't an empty boast; Sherard was currently acting as a deterrent, keeping the demonic beasts from swarming Christian.
Overwhelmed by Sherard's presence, the demonic beasts could be seen in the distance, warily looking for an opportunity.
He was being helped, in a way, but he wasn't the least bit grateful.
‘He needs to kill me himself, so he's "helping" because he's worried the demonic beasts might ruin me for him.’
What a horrifying bastard.
“You're disgusting. Get lost.”
“Kukuk. Alright, alright. I'll be on my way.”
As he turned away, Sherard shot him a glance.
“Try a little harder. At this rate, it seems you'll have a hard time meeting my expectations.”
“!!”
*Fwoosh!*
Sherard's body vanished with a drop of blood, and in his place, demonic beasts began to approach, growling.
Chris lowered his gaze, staring at the demonic beasts.
‘Just as Sherard said, I can't go on like this.’