Chapter 421: Witch of the Curse (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 421: Witch of the Curse (4)
The Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword radiated a gloomy aura, its blade gleaming menacingly.
Lavinia's face instantly turned pale.
Her instincts screamed, wailing that she must not, under any circumstances, be killed by that sword.
But she soon realized.
The warning echoing from deep within her chest was not her own, but a scream from the remnant thoughts of the archdemon Lulucia.
“Are you done struggling?”
At Kang Hyun-woo's words, Lavinia broke out in a cold sweat, her entire body trembling.
An irresistible fear pressed down on her like iron chains.
“S-Spare me!!”
In the end, Lavinia cast aside her pride and bowed her head.
But Kang Hyun-woo's gaze, as he looked down at her, remained ice-cold.
“Answer my questions, and I'll let you live.”
“...!!”
The moment she heard those words, a deep despair clouded Lavinia's eyes.
Anyone could tell it was a lie.
He had no intention of ever letting her live.
Realizing this, Lavinia frantically began to review her escape routes. She had prepared dozens of countermeasures in case of a surprise attack from the church.
But none of them gave her any hope of escaping the monster before her.
Still, Lavinia wasn't one to give up.
'...I have to buy time, no matter what.'
To do that, she was willing to give up some of her organization's secrets.
No matter how pathetic it was, nothing was more important than survival.
“Two hundred years ago, was Malefis involved in the rebellion in Peledeia?”
“...What?”
Lavinia was momentarily taken aback by Kang Hyun-woo's question.
Two hundred years ago was before she had even joined Malefis.
“Why would you be curious about—”
“Did I say you could ask questions?”
CRUNCH!!
“Kyaaaak!!!!”
Without batting an eye, Kang Hyun-woo stomped on the back of Lavinia's hand.
She writhed in agony, the distinct sensation of her bones shattering.
“Just answer what I ask. If you ask another question like that, I'll cut off your fingers. And use formal language... no. Hearing an old hag like you speak politely would just piss me off.”
'This little brat...!'
Grit!
With her forehead pressed to the ground, Lavinia bit her tongue, suppressing her rage.
If she could, she would have torn him to shreds right then and there, but now was the time for patience and submission.
“...That's right. Just as you said, Malefis was involved in the Peledeian rebellion.”
“More details.”
In that instant, killing intent flickered in Kang Hyun-woo's eyes.
It was a murderous aura so intense that the rage boiling in Lavinia's chest instantly subsided.
She swallowed dryly without realizing it and continued speaking.
“I-I don't know the exact details... I only joined Malefis about a hundred years ago. All I know is that the current queen of Peledeia joined hands with us to start a rebellion, and it succeeded.”
“What was Malefis's purpose in helping the treason?”
“...They said they needed the World Tree for an experiment.”
“An experiment?”
Kang Hyun-woo's expression hardened.
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Lavinia quickly shook her head.
“I really don't know any more than that...! Top-secret information is restricted even from the executives!”
Kang Hyun-woo clicked his tongue and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Next question. Tell me about the other Malefis executives—their identities, locations, and abilities.”
“...”
A short, heavy silence followed.
After a long hesitation, Lavinia finally raised her middle finger at Kang Hyun-woo, a twisted smile on her face.
“...Go to hell.”
Even if he really were to spare her, that was the one thing she could never say.
She didn't even consider making something up.
If he were stupid enough not to see through such a lie, she, the infamous Witch of the Curse, wouldn't be kneeling here like this.
“What a shame.”
Slice—
Lavinia's vision flipped upside down.
It was the end of a dark mage who had lived for nearly 150 years and committed countless sins.
And the moment she registered her own death, a single lantern went out in the deepest part of Malefis.
*
I looked down at Lavinia, who had aged into an old woman in an instant.
She was strong enough to be called an executive of Malefis, but she felt weaker than Lancelot.
It was probably because her Authority didn't work on me.
If the Blessing of the Demon Hunter hadn't blocked Lavinia's Authority, she would have undoubtedly been a much more difficult opponent.
So much so that I would have had to go all out from the start.
Stab—
The Heaven-Shattering Demonic Sword pierced Lavinia's body.
“Absorb everything.”
-Kieeeek!!
The moment the command was given, Tam appeared.
Like a pet getting a treat after a long time, Tam writhed with joy and began to suck the energy from the corpse.
Leaving Tam to it, I walked toward the cave.
I had to get Melissa, and since this place was used as a secret base for Malefis, there might be something worth taking.
“...Though I made such a mess, I'm not sure if there's anything left to salvage.”
I approached Melissa, who was lying unconscious in a corner of the cavern. Fortunately, she didn't seem to be injured.
But she showed no signs of waking up.
I had no choice but to carry her in my arms and start exploring the cave.
[Detection]
The cave was much larger than I expected.
It seemed to have been dug out over a long time, extending tens of meters underground.
I followed the path deeper underground.
Unexpectedly, there were no traps.
“W-Who are you!!”
“Who do you think? It's an intruder! Kill him, quick!!”
“Is that a Paladin?!”
“Report to Lady Lavinia at once!!”
Instead, dark mages popped out from all over like cockroaches.
Seeing as they hadn't fled despite the commotion, they didn't seem to know that Lavinia was dead.
[Chain Lightning]
BZZZZZT!!!!
“"Aaaargh!!!"”
The acrid smell of burning flesh stung my nostrils.
After killing about thirty of them, my magic detection no longer picked up any more dark mages.
Instead, in a laboratory-like area I found underground, I discovered caged magical beasts.
-Grrrrr...
-Keeeeek!!!
-Kark, kark.
They were all C-rank or higher magical beasts, and there seemed to be dozens of them.
Something like a research journal was scattered nearby.
'...Look at these guys.'
Its contents were quite interesting.
Malefis had been conducting research on magic stone amplification here.
Magic stone amplification was an experiment to artificially create mid-grade magic stones by implanting low-grade magic stones into the bodies of high-grade magical beasts.
For reference, this experiment had been abandoned on Earth hundreds of years ago.
If magic stones could be made that easily, why would Hunters even exist?
I looked around other labs after that, but I couldn't find anything particularly useful.
Just as I was about to collapse the place and leave.
“M-Master...”
“Melissa? Are you awake?”
Melissa, who had struggled to open her eyes, tugged on my collar.
Her face was a little pale, likely an aftereffect of Lavinia's Authority.
Only after drinking the water I gave her did her expression soften as she pointed to one side of the lab.
“...There's a hidden space over there.”
“A hidden space?”
At Melissa's words, I used the Detection spell.
But there was nothing behind the wall.
“That's because there's a barrier set up to prevent it from being found by magic. If you place your hand on the wall and inject demonic energy, the entrance will open.”
I did as she said, placing my hand on the wall and channeling demonic energy into it.
Rumble—
Soon, a vibration shook the entire lab, and a narrow entrance, just big enough for one person to squeeze through, was revealed.
Stepping inside, I found a fairly spacious area.
Unidentifiable devices were running erratically, spewing steam.
“This place is...”
Unlike the other areas, there were no research journals to be seen.
Meeting my questioning gaze, Melissa's lips parted for a moment before she slowly began to speak.
“...This is where they were developing an artificial Elixir.”
*
Elixir.
A miraculous medicine surpassing even the highest-grade Holy Water, it is found with extreme rarity in A+ rank Gates or higher.
In the past, it was known as a panacea and an elixir of immortality, but in modern times, it has been revealed to be an exaggerated legend.
However, it wasn't entirely fiction.
Consuming an Elixir can cure even diseases deemed incurable and heal severe injuries on par with severed limbs.
Furthermore, it extends one's lifespan by nearly one hundred and fifty years and rejuvenates the body, restoring youth.
Humanity's efforts to artificially create such an Elixir have continued for the past several thousand years.
But I had never heard of anyone succeeding in creating an Elixir by human hands.
“But to think they actually succeeded...”
Back at the mansion, I stared intently at the glass bottle on the table.
A purple liquid that emitted a faint glow sloshed inside.
Ting—
[New item information has been collected.]
[Incomplete Elixir
Grade: Unique
An artificial Elixir created by human hands.
Refined using the blood, flesh, and souls of 8,724 people as ingredients.
Upon consumption, all diseases are cured.
Upon consumption, all injuries are healed.
Upon consumption, lifespan is extended by 78 years.
Upon consumption, the body is rejuvenated by 40 years.]
The moment I checked the item's information, I frowned unconsciously.
Thousands of human beings were used as ingredients for just this one bottle.
No, according to Lavinia's memories, they had failed constantly over the past few decades, which meant that tens of thousands had likely been sacrificed to obtain this single bottle.
The moment I learned that, this was no longer a panacea or an elixir of immortality.
This was a curse, forged from the lingering hatred of its victims.
If I had my way, I would have destroyed it immediately.
But that would only make the victims' deaths meaningless.
“Hoo...”
Forcibly suppressing my anger, I put the Elixir into my inventory.
Flop—
Lying down on the sofa, I slowly went over the memories I had absorbed from Lavinia.
First, I learned that the drought that had persisted for the past year was Malefis's doing.
I had expected as much, so it wasn't particularly surprising, but Amelia would be furious if she found out.
Thousands had starved to death over the year because of the drought.
I obtained various other pieces of information, but the most important was about the other executives' identities, locations, and abilities.
Although I couldn't get any information about Peledeia, I did learn that a whopping three Malefis executives were gathered in the Great Forest.
Iris and Sylvia would be shocked if they found out.
For the record, I killed Sefran.
I just tossed his body in his office.
I staged it as a suicide and left evidence in his will that he was a dark mage, so I won't suffer any consequences from this.
Additionally, in Sir Leonique's bedroom, I left information about the rebel army's special unit and a list of those who betrayed Baron Bipolun's family.
With this, the Bipolun territory won't fall.
All that's left now is to head to the capital tomorrow morning.
Creeak—
“Master...?”
Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Melissa walked out with only a towel wrapped around her body.
Water droplets trickled down from her hair.
“Um... do you happen to have any clothes I could change into...?”