Chapter 398: Taken Care Of
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 398: Taken Care Of
Ever since his confrontation with Kang Hyun-woo, Marquis Laxion had been seized by a sense of unease he couldn't quite place.
Those were not the eyes of an ordinary mage.
They were the eyes of a specter, belonging only to one who had danced with death time and again.
He might have appeared rational on the surface, but Marquis Laxion, who had spent half his life on the battlefield, could feel it in his gut.
Men like Kang Hyun-woo were the most dangerous kind.
At the Second Queen's insistence, he had hired assassins and sent them to the Ruby Palace, but his anxiety did not easily subside.
That was also why he had persuaded the commander and vice-commander of the Karmion Knights, the kingdom's finest knight order, to reinforce the security at the Sapphire Palace.
Although he had promised them positions within the noble faction in return, it wasn't necessarily a loss.
Both men were masters who had reached the peak of the Aura Expert realm in their late thirties.
With such talent, it was highly probable they would soon reach the realm of an Aura Master.
If such powerful individuals were to become key figures in the noble faction, it would be immensely helpful in seizing control of the kingdom in the future.
Marquis Laxion swung his sword in the training grounds, shaking off his worries.
Kang Hyun-woo was undoubtedly an extraordinary man, but that was the extent of it.
‘It seems he hasn't neglected his physical training, unlike most mages, but a mage is still a mage.’
If a knight was the spear of the battlefield, a mage was its flower.
The large-scale attack magic they unleashed could demolish castle walls and conquer fortresses in an instant, but it was an undeniable fact that they were outmatched by knights in one-on-one combat.
Besides, he was just a young man, barely over twenty.
The Marquis was certain he could be no match for him, a man who had roamed battlefields since his teens.
It wouldn't be long before he realized his grave miscalculation.
“Three against one? You call yourselves knights?”
“Shut up!”
Kang Hyun-woo stared straight ahead.
Needless to say, he had no intention of politely waiting for the three of them to coordinate their attack.
Zzzt-
Sparks flew.
Kang Hyun-woo unleashed his Formless Electric Body and struck first.
A streak of light, like a bolt of lightning, shot through the air as he swung his sword at Marquis Laxion.
CLANG!!
“Ugh?!”
Kang Hyun-woo's body, enhanced by support magic and Extreme Blood, overwhelmed the Aura Master. The impact broke the Marquis's stance and sent him staggering backward.
Lionel, the commander of the Karmion Knights, and Jeren, the vice-commander, were aghast at the sight.
“What?!”
“Impossible! A mere mage!”
The hot-headed Jeren immediately swung his sword at Kang Hyun-woo. But the reason Hyun-woo had targeted Marquis Laxion first was to deal with the other two.
In other words, he had even calculated the inevitable imbalance that followed a sword swing.
Lionel, who had been assessing the situation, followed Jeren's lead and swung his sword as well.
Whoosh-
““?!””
But their swords only cut through empty air.
Kang Hyun-woo's movements, guided by the Ghost Divine Art, were utterly bizarre.
He was truly a ghost.
After evading their attacks, Kang Hyun-woo immediately let go of his sword.
It was a choice no swordsman would ever make, and for a moment, the two knights’ composure wavered. Kang Hyun-woo seized that opening and drew upon his demonic energy.
He had restrained his demonic energy in England, mindful of the Church, but things were different now.
‘Whether an unidentified assassin uses demonic energy or not is none of my concern.’
Wooooong-
The two men tried to hastily retreat from the powerful wave of demonic energy, but Kang Hyun-woo was a step faster.
Having defeated Belmoras's high-ranking executives one after another and absorbed their demonic energy, Kang Hyun-woo's own had grown even more domineering.
Blood Flame Asura Demonic Art (血炎修羅魔功)
Sura Sky-Shattering Palm (修羅破天掌)
He unleashed the ultimate technique of the Blood Flame Asura Demonic Art, the unique martial art of Ma Paeseon—one of the six elders of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, also known as the ‘Asura Demon Lord.’
KRA-BOOM!!!!
“Keuk?!”
“Jeren!”
The devastating palm strike caved in Jeren's armor.
He flew backward, spewing dark red blood.
At that, Lionel and Marquis Laxion, who had regained his footing, unleashed their killing intent and charged toward Kang Hyun-woo.
“I’ll kill you!”
Unlike Lionel's aura, a distinct Aura Blade had formed on the Marquis's sword.
Kang Hyun-woo instinctively knew that while he could dodge the two knights' strikes, evading the Marquis's sword would be difficult. He summoned the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword.
The moment the sword was in his hand—
Kiiiiing!!!!
A brilliant flash of light erupted as a surge of Aura flared to life.
The two men were taken aback to see a mage using an Aura Blade, but they didn't waver any longer and swung their swords.
Kang Hyun-woo didn't back down either, meeting them head-on.
CLANG!! CLAAANG!! KANG!!
The clash of three masters of their craft immediately whipped up a massive storm. The Sapphire Palace was instantly thrown into chaos as the ceiling was blown away and walls crumbled.
But Kang Hyun-woo wasn't worried.
What was assassination?
It was leaving no witnesses.
Kang Hyun-woo stopped using the Ghost Divine Art and instead unleashed his 9-star Formless Step and 7-star Formless Sword Art.
The two men were bewildered by the mysterious footwork and swordsmanship, the likes of which they had never seen before.
Numerical superiority?
That only mattered when allies could cover each other's weaknesses and exploit the enemy's openings.
“Kuaargh!!!”
Lionel was desperate just to block Kang Hyun-woo's sword, while Marquis Laxion was engrossed in trying to grasp the flow of the swordsmanship.
Two men who could be called the strongest knights in the Nivia Kingdom were being forced onto the defensive by a single person.
And, of course, Kang Hyun-woo had no intention of giving them any breathing room.
Wooooooong!!!
The Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword began to shine brighter than the full moon in the night sky.
Sensing the ominous power gathering, Marquis Laxion hastily deployed his Aura Shield.
Formless Sword Art (無相劍訣), Formless Moon (無月).
KAGAGAGAK!!!
Countless slashes followed Kang Hyun-woo's swing, tearing through the corridor and flying in every direction.
“Kuaaaaaah!!!!”
Lionel also squeezed out every last bit of his mana to create an Aura Shield, but it was no match for the storm of innumerable slashes.
His full plate armor was shredded like paper, and deep cuts were carved all over his body.
“Just who the hell are you?!”
At that moment, Marquis Laxion swung his sword with all his might.
KWAAAAANG!!!!
A trickle of blood flowed from Kang Hyun-woo's lips as he took the full force of the Aura Master's attack head-on.
The impact gouged the floor, and an incredible pressure crushed the space.
Sparks, bright enough to illuminate the night sky, flew fiercely between the two men.
Marquis Laxion glared at Kang Hyun-woo with bloodshot eyes, a thick killing intent swirling within them.
“What is your identity?!”
A colossal rage spread in all directions, but his voice was tinged with a faint fear.
Seeing this, Kang Hyun-woo slowly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Who knows.”
There was no more conversation between them.
BOOM!!
The two men swung their swords at a speed that most knights couldn't even follow, continuing their life-or-death exchange.
In the midst of the fierce battle where even breathing was a luxury, Marquis Laxion realized he was gradually being pushed back.
But he desperately denied the fact.
It was absurd.
For decades, he had shed blood on the battlefield and honed his swordsmanship with his life on the line.
And he was being pushed back by a young brat who was still wet behind the ears?
“Uwaaaaaah!!!”
Overwhelmed by a reality he couldn't accept, Marquis Laxion was consumed by impatience and ended up making an irreversible mistake.
Kiiing-
At that moment, an intense energy began to gather on his sword.
Soon, a massive Aura Blade took shape. Its overwhelming presence, enough to slice the entire Sapphire Palace in two, and a pressure that would make even an A-rank gate boss tense up, vibrated as if to warp space itself.
Marquis Laxion did not doubt his victory.
But there was one thing the battle-hardened veteran, who had roamed countless battlefields, had overlooked.
In a fight to the death, victory is not decided by an ultimate strike that can cleave a mountain range.
Shunk-
“...Huh?”
It is decided by a single, decisive move that pierces the opponent's weakness.
Marquis Laxion stared with vacant eyes at the dagger that had deeply penetrated his neck.
“Wh-what is this...”
Gurgle.
He spewed dark red blood, looking at Kang Hyun-woo with eyes full of disbelief.
As he was unleashing a major technique, he had poured all his remaining energy into his Aura Shield.
He had judged that he could block an attack at least once, even if a barrage of slashes like the one before came from all directions.
But what had pierced his Aura Shield was a single dagger.
“Soul-Snatching Heavenly Killing Darts (脫魂天殺飛), Soundless Under the Moon (月下無音). Judging by your face, paradise is out of the question for you. You should try accumulating some good karma in your next life.”
“You, you bastard...!! Keuk!!”
Thud-
With those short words, Marquis Laxion breathed his last.
Kang Hyun-woo wiped the blood from his lips and calmly composed his breathing.
He then approached Lionel and Jeren, who were unconscious on the floor.
The Nivia Kingdom was a small nation.
Therefore, talented knights were precious assets that the state had to manage directly.
In that respect, these two, who might one day reach the same realm as Marquis Laxion, were indispensable talents for the Nivia Kingdom.
Especially considering the future when Elisabeth would ascend the throne, keeping them alive was in the nation's best interest.
Slice-
But Kang Hyun-woo beheaded Jeren without a shred of hesitation.
‘Leaving both alive creates too many variables.’
Kang Hyun-woo approached the Marquis's corpse and plunged the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword deep into his chest.
-Gurgle...
At that moment, Tam appeared.
“There’s no time, so just absorb the memories roughly.”
-Kuruk!!
“Do you want to starve for the next six months?”
-Kuruk...
At Kang Hyun-woo's threat, Tam did as it was told and began to quickly absorb only the Marquis's memories.
Though they were only fragmented memories, it was enough for now.
-Over there!
Kang Hyun-woo sensed the growing presence of approaching soldiers. Among them were several knights.
After a moment's thought, he headed straight for the Second Queen's bedroom.
As expected, the bedroom was thoroughly protected by artifacts.
What's more, unlike with the First Prince, this time even the bedroom door was blocked by a powerful barrier.
‘Is her own life more important than her child's?’
Kang Hyun-woo smiled faintly and threw a punch.
The condensed demonic energy exploded from a single point.
KWAAANG!!!
“Kyaaak!!”
Breaking through the door, he saw the Second Queen hiding among her maids.
The maid who appeared to be the most senior stepped forward, trying her best to maintain a composed expression.
“How dare an assassin like you set your filthy foot in such a safe place!”
The head maid's voice trembled slightly.
But Kang Hyun-woo remained silent.
He felt no need to answer.
Flick-
In that instant, a dozen thin needles flew toward the maids.
“Ah...!”
“Ugh?!”
“N-no...!”
The maids collapsed without even a chance to resist.
Of course, he hadn't killed them.
Kang Hyun-woo's eyes grew cold.
‘Some of these women must have tormented Elisa.’
This was a gift.
A gift to be given to Elisabeth later.
Kang Hyun-woo turned his gaze and slowly walked toward the Second Queen.
“D-don't come any closer!”
Like mother, like son, she was even throwing whatever objects she could grab, just as he had.
At the sight, Kang Hyun-woo chuckled softly and removed his hood.
“Your Majesty, do you recognize me?”
“Y-you are...!!”
At that moment, the queen's eyes widened, then began to tremble faintly.
“To show up so suddenly in the middle of the night and be greeted so warmly... I'm simply overwhelmed.”
“D-did Elisabeth, did that bitch send you?!”
“If I said no, would you believe me?”
Kang Hyun-woo pulled a sharply honed dagger from his coat.
The Second Queen's face instantly turned pale.
“W-wait a minute! Elisabeth... I don't know what that bitch promised you, but I'll give you double what she offered! N-no! I'll let you use Elisabeth, that bitch, like a slave! I'll provide you with as much wealth as you need for your magic research!”
Despite the Second Queen's desperate pleas, Kang Hyun-woo did not stop walking.
Beyond his gaze, a chilling killing intent lay in his eyes.
“You brought all of this upon yourself, Your Majesty. What did you hate so much about a little girl, barely ten years old, that you not only tormented her but even tried to kill her? The throne was going to your son anyway. You could have just ignored her and lived your life.”
“I-I'm sorry...! I apologize! I'll even get on my knees! So please...!!”
“It's too late.”
“Wai-”
Slice.
In that instant, the Second Queen's vision spun 360 degrees.
Kang Hyun-woo looked down at the Second Queen's corpse with cold eyes and plunged the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword into it.
After absorbing the Second Queen's memories, he immediately left the palace.
That night, the First Prince and Second Queen of the Nivia Kingdom, along with Marquis Laxion, known as the Kingdom's Best Sword, died.