Chapter 48
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 48: Trigger (4)
Crack—
Crunch—
Under the grey sky.
Creepy noises as if something that shouldn't be transformed is transforming rang out.
Sound of twisting, bending, swelling up and dying down.
Sound as if something is being reassembled.
"Ugh...."
Groan full of pain leaked from Iden's mouth.
As blue contract pattern started from his arm and spread riding shoulder to rib cage, nape, air changed first.
As if existence's phase is raised one step, radius centered on Iden settled minutely.
Shape of Belgrad's Execution Knight overlapped behind back fully overlaps, and two outlines are sutured into one.
Bones reacted first.
Vibration like dull metallic sound rings inside and skeleton rearranges.
Shoulder width widens, clavicle and ribs expand as if proliferating thickly.
Muscles not simply swelling, but compressed changing texture as if woven with black lines.
As if concept of battlefield was overlaid on human body.
Dark red carapace forms on skin surface as if seeping.
Combat outer skin leaving only minimal gaps avoiding joints.
Angled pauldron soars on shoulder, and blade-like ridge engraved on forearm and shin.
Hue absorbing light without reflecting only reveals outline darkly even under grey sky.
Blue circular seal pulsates in center of chest.
Contractor's nucleus.
Synchronized with heartbeat, light spreads regularly then subsides.
Every time that light flows, mana flows into limbs like electric current, and muscle fibers tremble minutely.
Pupils change too.
Losing existing color, blue halo forms thinly on deep navy like abyss.
Emotion didn't disappear, but instead of human wavering, only cold gaze based on judgment and execution takes place.
Hair flutters upward even though there is no wind.
Contractor's residual mana was pushing air away like static electricity.
Stone floor underfoot cracks minutely sinking down.
Implied density changed, not Iden's weight increased.
Behind back, shape somewhere between substance and shadow overlaps thinly.
Knight silhouette wearing huge helmet.
That shape wasn't independent entity, but 'expanded ego' perfectly synchronizing with Iden's movement.
As he takes one step, ground sinks as if pressed.
Sound like metals rubbing each other rings subtly following his movement.
Clenching hand, blue pattern flashes at every finger joint igniting.
Boundary between human and summoned beast disappeared.
Iden was no longer existence handling summoned beast.
He himself was summoned knight, and embodiment of battlefield.
On the cliff,
In the middle of space where blue and black cross,
Shape resembling hell's knight stood catching breath.
Execution Knight of Belgrad.
It was activation of High-Rank Contract Summoning Formula.
**
Fierce dark red energy dyed air over cliff.
Even grey light lost direction bouncing off blade tip, and cold wind spreading between rock crevices turned like hot and rough breath before knowing.
Iden, no, Execution Knight of Belgrad wearing Iden's shape walked towards Redric.
Every time moving feet, floor sank as if pressed, and blue contract pattern degenerated into dark red afterglow pulsating losing light.
"D, damn it—! Die—!!"
Pressure ruling surroundings just by existence.
At fear appeared without notice, Redric pulled up black mana swinging arm, and black flame splashed like spear.
But Execution Knight didn't dodge.
Just swept down sword once, black mana split like water scattering in wind.
"Non... sense...!"
Redric whose breath became rough with just one contest ground teeth raising second formula.
Concentration enough that black smoke wrapped body, and even surrounding stones discolored black.
But Execution Knight's movement was faster.
Black air current brushing forearm broke on that carapace, and before sword tip reached in front of Redric's chest, he was already bending knees.
It was one-sided.
Procedure close to slaughter, only imitating form called 'engagement'.
Redric filled with evil reached out hand desperately trying to grab something, moment Execution Knight twisted wrist breaking it.
"Aaaack—!"
Redric's black magic shook.
Formula cut off, remaining mana scattered into pieces like thin thread.
Following blow.
Execution Knight's left fist not holding sword struck Redric's abdomen, and Redric collapsed on cliff's stone floor.
Gasping for breath, vomited blood and black residue.
But Execution Knight didn't stop.
Sword tip slowly, very slowly settled over Redric's heart.
At that moment, something popped up in Iden's consciousness.
Like a person submerged in deep water, Iden saw dark red afterglow spread in vision and sword tip held in his hand aiming at fallen Redric's heart.
'Stop.'
Iden shouted inwardly.
'Stop. Shouldn't kill.'
But sword tip wasn't recovered.
As if mocking summoner's will, sword tip placed on Redric just went down slowly.
Iden's consciousness shook roughly.
Not simple calculation like ending if killing Redric.
Information Redric has, Endermit's reality, Leader... and above all, if killing him here, there was risk all flow would break unintentionally.
'Need him. Must be alive. Must interrogate.'
And.
Had to pay all price of sin alive.
With pain, with despair, with disgrace, had to pay price of sin.
However Execution Knight's will responded coldly.
Existence of other world for slaughter and butchery just performed what it craved.
Sword tip went down a little more.
Redric's chest heaved.
Residue of black magic leaked from body dirtying floor.
Iden clenched teeth.
'No...!'
He struggled from inside.
As if pulling his own body from outside, tried to pull up wrist, and stuck consciousness into every single tendon of arm holding sword.
However contract summoning formula strengthens body, simultaneously overwrites that body with entity's protocol.
Execution Knight of Belgrad was existence bringing 'judgment', not 'combat power'.
Once that protocol sets target, summoner's wavering was merely noise.
'Ple...ase...!!'
Just before sword tip touched Redric's heart, minute trembling occurred.
Trace of Iden's will resisting.
But sword tip went down again.
Pushing force was overwhelming.
Ethics like shouldn't kill weren't executed, and suppresses summoner's will as if asking responsibility for daring to summon itself.
Absolute execution as if summoning another despair to overcome despair.
Iden burns remaining will as embers in fading consciousness.
'N...o....'
It was then.
Far away, faint sound mixed in between wind.
At first sounded like summoning circle's afterglow.
Next like sound of broken black mana fragments brushing.
And finally became clear as human voice.
It was Vivienne's voice.
Just one word.
Moment that name rang in air, something exploded bang inside Iden.
'Edom.'
Afterimage thought disappeared revived as if wind touched embers.
Academy, red hair, blue pupils, back view looked from afar, fragments of uncomfortable emotions, all pieces thought forgotten formed one ring starting to struggle.
Simultaneously, Execution Knight of Belgrad's will stopped momentarily.
Name 'Edom' was word not in execution protocol.
Variable without reason, unable to define target.
That small gap was breathing hole for Iden.
Iden pushed will into that gap.
'Now... stop...!!'
At that moment, afterglow of pupils burning dark red shook.
Sword tip trembled stopped on Redric's heart, and blue contract pattern started pulsating again.
Blue light and dark red light pulled each other colliding.
As if movement of sword tip going up and down itself looked like wrestling of two egos.
Iden lastly, pressed down firmly from inside.
'Contract... terminate.'
Like a lie.
Afterimage of Execution Knight of Belgrad disappeared as if released from behind Iden's back.
Helmet silhouette containing red crack scattered like smoke scattering in wind, and dark red energy escaped at once evaporating into grey sky.
Iden's pupils returned to blue again.
"Gasp... gasp...!"
He inhaled breath largely several times.
Lungs hurt as if tearing like coming up just before breath stopping in water.
Contract pattern engraved on arm faded leaving pain.
Flame burning heart subsides, and murderous intent flowing steeply in blood flow is dispelled.
Staggering Iden.
Shaking pupils.
Uncontrollable mental fatigue.
Next moment, Iden's knees buckled.
Blue-grey hair scattering, he collapsed on cliff's stone floor like marionette whose string was cut.
Wind blew coldly again.
In place where dark red madness passed, only contract's afterglow and one person's will barely holding on remained.
And.
Heroine's shout and steps that should have headed to male lead Cale Bailus who saved her in crisis if according to original work, were heading to villain in original work who should have caused that crisis.
"E, Edom—!"