Chapter 30
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Imperial Capital Assault (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Kuhk—!”
Thud—
Greed pierced through the heart of an Imperial Guard knight.
As he yanked his hand free, the knight's corpse crumpled to the floor. The Imperial Guard knights defending the palace had no time to mourn their fallen comrade before charging at Greed.
Clang—!!
Slash—!
The Imperial Guard knights succeeded in embedding their swords into Greed's body.
But—
“What in the world…!”
The flesh around the wounds writhed and seized their blades. Thanks to that, the knights who had been trying to carve him up froze in place.
They quickly tried to release their swords and fall back, but—
“Haha, that tickles too much.”
Greed was even faster at piercing their bodies.
Plop, plop—
The knights, now riddled with massive holes, turned to gold and solidified on the spot.
“Mmm. You've become gold, more valuable than your worthless human lives. Feel free to thank me.”
“Nonsense!”
Despite the mounting deaths, the Imperial Guard knights pressed on with their sole resolve to protect the palace.
They swarmed in from all sides, tightening the noose around Greed. They finally succeeded in driving a blade into his neck—but—
Clatterclatterclatter—!!!!!
Golden chains erupted from thin air, binding and crushing the knights' bodies.
Thud—
Greed smirked as he pulled the sword from his neck and crunched it between his teeth.
“Well then, shall we continue~”
.
.
.
.
Stab—
“Gah—”
A knight whose body had half-turned to gold collapsed.
Thoom—
Though it was a human falling, it sounded like a statue toppling.
Greed kicked aside the nuisance of a corpse and eyed the massive door before him.
“Hmm. So this is the Imperial Vault.”
A place where treasures amassed by the imperial family over centuries were stored.
Piles of gold and jewels, elixirs with miraculous effects after just one dose, and divine artifacts wondrous enough to be called miraculous.
Greed had risked pushing through the assault on the capital precisely to enter here.
Of course, it wasn't just for “mere” treasures that he'd stake his life—there was something far more special.
“Ab…solutely… won't… let you… in…!”
At that moment, a knight behind him—his body turning to gold—rose from the ground and aimed his sword.
“Oh? Still alive?”
The knight mustered his last strength and swung at Greed, but it sliced through empty air futilely.
His sluggish body finally crumbled into gold dust and scattered into the air.
“What a pain. As expected of the Empire—the knights are top-notch. Though without a Sword Master, they can't stop me~”
Heh—
Greed reached out toward the vault. The magic formation resisted fiercely. Even as a Master-level being forcing his way in, it held firm.
But—
Crackcrackcrack—!
As Greed poured power into the formation's core, it began to lose its glow.
Finally, the Imperial Vault permitted entry to an outsider.
Greed swiftly grabbed something like a map from inside and exited. He dearly wanted to sweep up the treasures as befitting <Greed>, but…
“No time for that.”
He didn't know when a Master might arrive—he had to escape fast. He'd tied up the Guard Captain and Yujin at the martial tournament arena, but he didn't expect it to last long.
As Greed moved to flee the palace, someone behind him unleashed a sword aura.
Slash—
Splatter—!!
The right arm holding the map was severed and flew forward.
“What do you mean no time?”
“...See? I knew it.”
Turning, Greed saw numerous knights in black uniforms, with Yujin at their forefront aiming his sword.
Yujin and the Black Knights raced through the streets and entered the palace.
Normally, Imperial Guard knights would have stopped them for inspection, but not now. Everyone was preoccupied with Greed's intrusion and the demons.
Tsking his tongue, Yujin headed toward where he sensed Greed's energy.
Whenever horned humanoid demons popped out from hiding—
Slash—
Splat—
The Black Knights cut them down without Yujin needing to lift a finger. Knights existed to loyally serve their lord and slay his enemies, after all.
The Black Knights proved their worth in full.
As they joined the fray, the situation improved for the Imperial Guards and palace security forces, who then merged with Yujin.
Here and there, demon possessors disguised as palace servants tried to slip in, but Yujin handled them personally.
No need to draw his sword. Mind Sword sufficed.
Thus, their group swelled as they walked the red carpet stained crimson with blood.
And—
“No time for that.”
They spotted Greed emerging from the Imperial Vault with something in hand.
Yujin instantly drew his sword and unleashed a concentrated sword aura laced with killing intent.
Slash—
Splatter—!!
“What do you mean no time?”
“...See? I knew it.”
Greed sneered.
‘Looks different from the clone.’
Slightly, but the core energy was the same. Of course, the total demonic energy and perceived realm differed vastly from the clone…
‘I won't lose.’
Yujin instinctively knew he held the edge.
Unless Greed had some hidden trump card, defeat wasn't in the cards.
He was certain.
“First time meeting the real you, and the greeting's a bit aggressive, don't you think?”
“Good thing I don't want to exchange pleasantries with a greedy rat.”
“Oh dear. Don't you know 'greedy' is a compliment to me?”
Yujin scoffed at Greed.
“Correction: I don't want to play nice with a thieving mongrel who doesn't know his place.”
Twitch—
For a split second, a vein throbbed on Greed's forehead. He could overlook the rest, but “thieving mongrel” stung.
Ignoring him, Yujin glanced at the severed arm and the paper clutched in its hand.
‘...A map?’
He'd assaulted the palace just for a single map?
‘...No way.’
This map was worth risking his life for. Realizing that, Yujin shot forward without a word, reaching for it.
Kaboom—!!!!!
Greed and Yujin clashed, unleashing a massive explosion.
Screeech—!
Greed's fist met Yujin's sword, sparks flying. But Yujin's power clearly dominated.
Forcing his blade down, Yujin sent Greed flying into a distant wall.
Kaboom—!!
Plop, plop—
Greed brushed debris from his shoulder and approached. His arm had already regenerated. The map remained unclaimed.
Thus, they circled each other warily, the map between them.
“Haha! Facing the real me, I see it now. You're a monster. What kind of power is that?”
—Even I wouldn't kneel anywhere with this much strength.
Greed muttered with a thin smile.
“Perhaps because you've only fought weaklings until now?”
Twitch—
A vein truly bulged on Greed's forehead this time.
Probably his reverse scale.
Yujin stared at Greed and addressed the Black Knights, remaining Imperial Guards, and palace security waiting behind him.
“I'll handle this vermin alone. You lot purge the pests invading the palace.”
“““““““...Understood.”””””””
The Black Knights scattered in all directions at once.
“You think I'll let them go easily?”
Greed immediately shot golden chains from the air toward the knights. But Yujin's Mind Sword severed them before they connected.
The chains vanished without a trace.
“Got time to look away with me right here?”
“Haha…”
Greed had no chance to retort. Yujin thrust forward in a blink, closing the distance.
Clatter—!!
Kaboom—!!!
Screeeeech———!!!
More chains from the air and a demonic energy barrier halted Yujin's sword.
But.
“……!!!”
The barriers shattered under Yujin's immense mana.
Bang—!
Kabang—!!
Greed barely twisted his head to dodge the thrust.
Slash—
Plop—
Not fully, though—his earlobe and some hair tumbled to the floor. Yujin twisted his blade in an impossible arc toward Greed's neck.
Thoom—!
Screeeeech———!!!
“Kgh…!”
Greed broke into a cold sweat blocking it. But Yujin's sword extended its aura as if nothing happened, burrowing toward him.
Sensing danger, Greed punched at Yujin while summoning golden chains from the air.
Clatterclatter—!!!
Yujin retracted his sword and evaded.
The chains pursuing him gouged the floor and walls.
Bang—!
Bang——!!!
Kabooooom———!!!!!
‘...Strong.’
Each chain packed tremendous power—comparable to Yujin's sword aura?
Considering the golden transformation effect from the barrier, he absolutely couldn't let them touch him.
‘Tricky.’
Couldn't touch the opponent's attacks. Had to strike unilaterally, like performing acrobatics.
But with superior regeneration, like the clone in the barrier, he'd survive or recover no matter how finely diced.
‘...Then overwhelm the regeneration with sheer damage.’
But that might half-destroy the palace from the fallout.
So…
‘Lure him outside the capital.’
Yujin unleashed black sword auras everywhere, annihilating the encroaching chains. He swiftly snatched the fallen map, then charged Greed.
“...!!!!”
Greed's eyes widened.
Yujin disrupted the surroundings with his signature black mana and closed in.
And
“Hup…!!”
“……!!!!!”
Thud—
A sword aura-clad fist slammed into Greed's gut.
Kaboooooooooom——!!!!!!!!!
Greed's body launched airborne at ludicrous speed—smashing through the palace ceiling into the capital skies.
Ruuuumble—!!
Plop, plop—
Forcibly ejected beyond the palace and out of the capital into a pile of rubble, Greed regenerated his gaping stomach and chuckled in disbelief.
“...Guess I have to get serious.”
“Wasn't that serious before?”
Yujin taunted, landing lightly.
“...As if.”
“Really.”
Yujin raised his sword at Greed once more.
Their auras swelled massively.
Greed's demonic energy filled the sky, corrupting the surroundings. Plants withered, earth died, turning uninhabitable.
Yujin's black mana devoured it, loftily crushing everything.
A fierce contest of repulsion and consumption.
“...This time, do it right. Daring to assault the palace like this means a grave miscalculation.”