Chapter 403: False Evil (End)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 403: False Evil (End)
Perhaps because I couldn’t fully offset the impact, the mask covering my face was stained black.
Well, I expected as much.
Since the World Tree had gone all out in handing over its power, Nidhogg wasn’t an opponent I could handle with a non-combat clone, even with a few buffs. Even if I awakened the Black Shadow and poured every last drop of the clone’s Innate True Qi into it, I’d barely be able to block a single attack.
But being able to block just one more attack was enough.
I’d stalled for plenty of time.
The sensation of my life force being completely depleted was still unpleasant, but it was distinctly different from the sensation of death. My consciousness wasn’t vanishing; it had a place to go.
— Life force has been completely depleted. Mental synchronization with the main body begins.
I’d suffered quite a bit thanks to that damn fairy’s prank, but once the Fairy Queen herself stepped in, it was only a matter of time.
The main body had regained consciousness.
My physical body would recover soon as well.
Up to this point, everything was going according to plan.
Exactly up to this point.
It was a perfect plan—the masked villain would sustain a reasonably serious injury, giving me the perfect excuse to retire.
However, it was funny; even after becoming this strong, things in this world still didn’t always go my way.
— Also.
…Huh? What do you mean “also”? What are you talking about, Lord of Myriad Worlds…?
— It has been confirmed that the tales you have built have reached the realm of myth. Conditions met.
— One of your artifacts will increase in rank to match your status.
Accompanied by an ominous tone, the black-stained mask began to flicker with a red light from its eyes.
No, seriously, what are you talking about, Lord of Myriad Worlds…!
Why is the artifact evolution—something that only happened twice in the original work—happening at this timing, and to my mask of all things…!
Just how many incidents did I cause while wearing that mask for this to happen…!
— The villain who wears a mask to judge the wicked. The white Ghost Mask, which never failed to appear in his stories, was in the process of developing an ego through its various experiences.
…Really? I honestly had no idea.
— Upon seeing its seemingly invincible master suffer defeat, the mask’s faint ego felt despair for the first time.
And? So what? What’s going to happen?
— The first thing the artifact clearly realized was its desire to be of help to its master.
That’s a bit touching, but I’m asking what’s going to happen!
— The Hero-grade artifact ‘Shape-shifting Mask’ has grown into the Legendary-grade artifact ‘Ghost Mask of the Hypocrite.’
— Regardless of the master’s will, if the distance between you exceeds a certain limit, it will be automatically equipped to the master.
— Automatic equipping and removal are now possible without the use of hands.
— The unique skill ‘Pressure of the Hypocrite’ has been created.
— Despite its faint ego, conversation with the master is now possible.
— As the artifact’s rank has increased, it has been converted into a bound artifact.
— …Always together.
Wait. If it’s like this, isn’t this just a cursed mask now…?
But before I could give any orders to the newly evolved mask, my consciousness gradually flowed back into my main body.
* * *
My hazy mind slowly cleared, and memories began to swirl and mix in my dizzy head.
…First, the memories from my childhood before I came to this world, the ones I had forgotten. I never expected to remember them like this, but what was even more shocking was the content of those memories.
The forgotten memories were a jumble, but surprisingly, there were many scenes among them that made no sense at all. It made me think that perhaps I had been under some massive misunderstanding.
Next were the memories of the clone that had suffered in my stead while I was in that strange state.
…Wow, it’s a total mess.
The Fairy Queen is calling me “Teacher,” she persuaded Ban Gi-san to come and cause a riot, and she even kidnapped that con artist bastard along the way?
And what? The World Tree is the mastermind behind this incident?
Ah, wait a second. There’s too much information to process. I’m getting dizzy.
But the moment I stumbled from the sheer volume of information, something flew toward me at incredible speed and latched onto my face.
[Mmph?! What…!?]
Actually, based on the familiar fit, I had a feeling I knew what it was. The memories flowing in were also telling me the identity of this object. It was the cursed mask that had evolved into a Legendary-grade… no, the Ghost Mask of the Hypocrite.
Right. Since the clone vanished, it was technically “taken off,” so it wasn’t unequipped by my will.
So, the moment I regained consciousness, it recognized me as its master and returned along with the Black Shadow?
…Wait. If that’s the case, I probably don’t look very good to others right now, do I?
I was back in my awakened state, with the Black Shadow wrapping around me like black wings, and the Ghost Mask, stained black and radiating a red glow from its eyes.
To make matters worse, when I came to, I was stumbling around from the dizziness, only to suddenly stand bolt upright the moment the mask went on…?
“So-so-hyun…!”
“This is insane…! Why did that mask suddenly…!”
No, guys, it’s not what you think. Cathy Noona, it’s not that. This is just a mask. My body hasn’t been snatched or anything…!
I had to clear up the misunderstanding.
I had a feeling that if I didn’t clear it up now, there would be no turning back.
I needed to let them know I was safe immediately, but that damn, brainless lizard Nidhogg was preparing to attack again.
[Stop interfering and get lost.]
— Master’s intent to attack confirmed. ‘Pressure of the Hypocrite’ is activated.
— All attack effects are modified, and a faint reinforcement effect is applied.
…Huh?
I had intended to just use Multiple Reinforcement, but for some reason, the reinforcement wasn’t the usual brilliant light. It had turned into a black light, just like when I mixed it with the Black Shadow.
And I was radiating a chilling atmosphere that even I could feel.
I needed to clear up the misunderstanding, but the situation was only getting worse. I couldn’t just leave Nidhogg alone, either.
Left with no choice, I slammed my fist into the jaw of the bastard who was trying to fire another breath.
His head snapped back from the blow, and his breath tore through the sky.
Okay, let’s summarize the situation.
I put on a mask that flew out of nowhere, stood still after stumbling, donned shadows and red lightning like wings, used my Talent in a way that looked completely different from usual, and then flew up to punch a dragon in the jaw.
…Will they believe me even if I say I’m okay?
When I looked around, everyone was staring at me, trembling as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.
No, not a single person even held a glimmer of hope that I was okay. It seemed everyone was convinced that my body had been taken over by the masked villain.
No, that’s not it.
I wanted to make an excuse, but I hadn’t finished off Nidhogg yet, and it was hard enough just suppressing the violently resisting bastard.
“Was this your goal from the beginning…? To seize a body possessing the power of a god…! I didn’t think there would be someone else thinking the same thing as me.”
Don’t give me that bullshit. This is my original body…! I never thought of such a thing, so don’t give the kids any ideas! You crazy elf bastard…!
Okay, let’s calm down. I just need to speak slowly and clearly.
[Seize?]
Wait. No, right? My tongue. No matter how crazy you are, surely you wouldn’t keep role-playing at a time like this?
There’s no way.
[I’m afraid I have no such intention. I simply found it frustrating to watch someone unable to properly utilize what they possess, so I borrowed the body for a moment.]
I’m screwed. Now everyone’s going to think I’ve been completely possessed by the masked villain…!
[Do not assume everyone harbors the same lowly goals as you. Third-rate.]
— This is quite surprising. To think the mask would be recognized as part of your tale and evolve into an artifact. Then again, since its master harbors such a vast story, it isn’t so strange for your possessions to be recognized as artifacts.
…Ah, Sun Wukong. It’s been a while, so I’m glad to see you, but what do I do now?
— What do you mean, “what do you do,” you brat? You’re doomed. You’d better pray you never get caught for the rest of your life.
[Watch closely. I will show you the correct way to wield what you call the power of a god.]
No, you crazy tongue, just stay still for a second…!
* * *
At that sight, no one could move their lips.
Not Leilan Claudia. Not Cathy. Not Park A-ram. Not the cadets. Not his family or his maids.
His appearance, draped in clear evil, was entirely different from his usual atmosphere.
His power, which had always been full of shining life force, was now stained black, radiating a pressure that made one’s body tremble just by looking at it.
The boy who was impossibly strong but always a reliable ally—someone who wasn’t scary in the least—was no longer there.
All that existed was the worst kind of ‘malice’ that had grasped the ultimate power.
The malice, which had lightly soared up to strike the giant dragon clinging to the World Tree and pin it to the ground, stepped on the dragon’s head and spoke arrogantly.
[Crude.]
“What?”
[I said it is crude. The puppets who don’t even realize they are being played, and the god who, for whatever reason, is strangling its own neck.]
The villain wearing the black-stained Ghost Mask scanned his surroundings before looking toward the group as if he found them absurd.
[And even those called heroes, who cannot even see through such crude malice.]
“Don’t act so high and mighty…! You’re just running wild with stolen power…!”
[Stolen power. I suppose I have nothing to say to that, but…]
Was he trying to turn the tide of a losing battle?
The moment Nidhogg opened its massive maw to absorb the natural energy of the World Tree, a vast amount of life force flowed out from the tree.
However, the life force did not head into Nidhogg’s mouth.
[I certainly don’t want to hear that from the likes of you.]
The sight of him forcibly plundering that vast life force was absurd to the point of disbelief.
As they watched the green energy turn black and fall into his hands, even Lucas, who had been noisy until then, trembled and backed away.
[To use such magnificent power in such a pathetic way. Watch closely. This is how the power of a god is meant to be used.]
Divinity and wickedness swirled simultaneously in the hand he stretched toward the sky.
The golden light, which for a moment looked like divine power, was instantly stained black as if corrupted, and the pitch-black-mixed golden light spread toward the devastated surroundings.
“It’s warm…”
The elf forest, which had been ruined by the aftermath of the battle, began to recover, and the fallen unicorns and elves were regaining consciousness.
Not to mention, the minor wounds the group had sustained vanished.
However, not everyone experienced this blessing.
On the contrary, the giant snakes they had been fighting writhed in agony, withering away as if their strength was being drained.
“Even So-hyun couldn’t do something like this…”
Kang Ha-ni muttered at the ridiculous sight, but almost everyone was thinking something similar.
He had used healing and curses before, but they had never seen him use them on such a wide scale, and while distinguishing between friend and foe(?).
Of course, in reality, he could have done it, but the situation had simply never called for it. However, since they had never seen it, it certainly appeared that way to them.
“He truly is a mysterious person…”
Cathy found herself staring at him.
His words always made him sound like a villain who would destroy the world at any moment, but his actions were more than just righteous—they were almost holy.
Of course, the fact that he had seized Kang So-hyun’s body was unacceptable, but wouldn’t the disaster have spread much further if it weren’t for him?
…She couldn’t fully trust him, but he did say he would return the body for now.
[Indeed, he is a mysterious man.]
“Ah, Mr. Ban Gi-san.”
[…I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am the Green Ghost.]
“Did you really think you could hide it…?”
[Ahem. I don’t know why you’d think that, but anyway, it would be best not to think of that man as simply evil. He is not a man an ordinary person can dare to understand.]
“…Yes.”
Cathy, the other cadets, and Leilan Claudia were all thinking the same thing.
They were receiving his help now, but recalling the things he usually said, he would likely become a great trial for the new hero organization Kang So-hyun would create in the future.
A trial far more threatening and harder to stop than someone committing mere lowly crimes.
“This can’t be… This shouldn’t be happening…?”
[The typical words of a loser. Why don’t you try to maintain a bit of that elven pride? Third-rate.]
“Just what are you…! How can you wield such overwhelming power so easily…!”
[If you do not understand, there is no need to. The scale of the ideals we harbor is different from the start.]
The giant dragon stomped the ground in a final act of resistance.
The malice looked down at the dragon arrogantly and reached out.
[Devour him. Black Shadow.]
The dragon’s roar and the shadow’s spikes collided, but even the resulting shockwave couldn’t disturb the surroundings, as it was sucked into the shadows.
The thick darkness swallowed even the dragon’s breath and slowly, very slowly, approached the dragon.
First the head, then the torso, then the legs trying to flee, and finally the wings were enveloped by the shadow. It began to tremble as if resisting violently, but that was only for a moment.
The shadow, which had slowly stopped moving, gradually shrank in size. A profound silence fell, as if no dragon had ever existed there in the first place.
[Eat slowly. There is still plenty of good prey left. There is no need to rush.]
The villain, declaring this as if it were nothing, was undoubtedly the absolute ruler who reigned over this place.