Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Capital Invasion (3)
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Yi Hyun's thoughts went something like this.
[—Error occurred. Non-virgin detected.]
[—Execute 'Debug'?]
The notification he'd seen the day he held Blanc.
Maybe using this 'Debug' would do the trick somehow.
The warning window had been written in bright red letters, after all.
Something totally out of the ordinary was bound to happen.
'She's gotta be a non-virgin, after all. While Blanc holds her down, I dash in and snag her. If it doesn't work, we just bail with Blanc.'
That was the origin of the face-grab-and-bolt strategy.
A gamble banking solely on the transcendent speed of 'Super Acceleration.'
'Can't exactly explain this one...'
Of course, he couldn't reveal anything about the mod.
So Yi Hyun racked his small brain hard.
And the excuse he came up with for everyone else was,
"You can put anything in there as long as it's not alive, right? Even demons should work, no?"
"...Pardon?"
"I'll stuff her in with my Blessing and never take her out."
Sealing Sitri via Inventory.
A possibility even Yi Hyun himself had dismissed with an 'Eh, no way that'll work.'
Naturally, the others' reactions were negative too.
"No way something like that would work on a high demon like Sitri..."
"Worth a shot, though, right?"
"I'm voting for Yi Hyun too. With his speed, he can probably make it back without getting killed, even against her."
Regardless of feasibility, sending Yi Hyun out was seen positively.
Stalemating Sitri forever like this would be trouble for the Empire.
They had to do something, after all.
"It could also lure her toward the capital. Not sure why we'd want to draw such a dangerous enemy there, though."
"Her Highness must have her reasons."
And one more thing.
The Imperial Princess had secretly instructed them to lure Sitri to the capital.
That's why they'd proposed sending Yi Hyun.
Even the Princess, upon hearing the report, had agreed.
"If Sitri doesn't retreat or enter the capital after a day, trying to lure her isn't a bad idea."
"You sure? It looks way too risky."
"Sorcerers lag behind martial artists in reaction speed. With him and Blanc, they should at least avoid death."
"In that case."
And so, under the Princess's lead,
the so-called 'Moth to Flame' operation was established.
Of course, a thorough review came first.
"Any chance Sitri calls in more monsters?"
"Scouting shows none, but I've ordered enhancement spells on Blanc and Yi Hyun just in case."
"What about the 'Saintess's' Blessing?"
"Her existence is classified. If Sitri catches wind because we carelessly let Yi Hyun near her..."
"Shouldn't we wait at least a few more days?"
"Give her too much time, and she'll send even stronger monsters. Even an elder dragon would be a headache."
"Got it. I'll trust you, Liliana."
In the end, even the Empress approved.
Not trustworthy, but the best option available.
Yi Hyun, gnawing away at the sporadic Skull Wyverns flying in, finally brightened up.
"Alright then..."
"Yi Hyun, I'm counting on you."
"Just pin her down for three minutes so she can't bolt, and I'll dash right in. Don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"Pfft, it's been ages since someone's worried about me. Don't worry—when it comes to speed, even the Hero can't match me."
A smile from Blanc at his side too.
Covered head to toe in enhancement spells, she slowly set foot on the ground.
Then, a golden figure shot out beyond the capital.
-Fwhoosh!!
'This chilling aura... a terrifying powerhouse.'
Racing forward, kicking up dirt.
The chill intensifying all the while.
Sweat beaded in the presence of absolute power.
Yet Blanc stepped forward.
'The enemy of Zaksen, of Yi Hyun.'
How she'd lamented seeing Zaksen turned into an undead den months ago.
How heartbroken she'd been learning Yi Hyun was the sole survivor.
The one responsible was Sitri.
She couldn't forgive that.
Not as Captain of the Imperial 2nd Knight Order, nor as Yi Hyun's lover.
'I'll fulfill my duty!!'
-Thud—shaking off the fear crawling down her spine, she moved even faster.
It didn't take long to encounter Sitri.
"Eh? What're you?"
"Captain of the Imperial 2nd Knight Order, Blanc!!"
"Ha, even a puny runt like you comin' at me? Think I'm easy pickings 'cause the Hero lopped my head once?"
Sitri didn't bat an eye.
Her level was 280, Blanc's 193.
The vast power gap made it natural.
A fact Blanc knew down to her bones, but,
-Fwaaah!!
'Three minutes from now!!'
She gathered mana in her finger and fired anyway.
Not at Sitri, but toward the sky.
The signal of the 2nd Knight Order.
Yi Hyun spotted that light trail immediately.
"Yi Hyun!!"
"I'll be back before the Imperial Princess's pussy juice gets cold!!"
-Kwaaaang!!!
And the charge.
No delicate control like Blanc—just a reckless sprint down the main road.
For some reason, that sight burned in Blanc's eyes.
'He's charging in by now. Using the same Blessing as me, desperately.'
"Haat!!!"
-Tadadak—racing at top speed.
She had to draw Sitri's attention to herself, make her too focused to react instantly to Yi Hyun.
Dodging relentlessly to hold the overwhelming foe's gaze.
And before such a her,
Sitri...
-Chill.
"Eek."
'What the...? Feels like I gotta bolt right now.'
Felt an indescribable sensation creeping in.
The unease she'd sensed since heading for the capital.
A dread even the Hero's blade at her neck hadn't evoked.
It was growing.
Rapidly.
-Step back—before she knew it, she retreated.
"Ah, lucky you! I just remembered some business—I'm out!"
"...Pardon?"
"My babies! Back to base!!"
She even waved her hand.
At the Skull Wyverns flying in from afar.
For Blanc, prepped for battle, it was deflating, but,
[—Can you tie her feet for just three minutes?]
'Come to think of it, Yi Hyun said to pin her down. Like he foresaw her trying to flee.'
A fierce face flashed before her eyes.
Short deliberation, swift action.
-Fwaat—leaping like lightning, she severed the neck of an incoming Wyvern.
-Slash, thud.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Th-this crazy bitch!!"
Sitri's eyes narrowed into slits.
Anger and impatience filled them.
'Damn, I don't wanna stay here anymore!!'
"Die!!"
-Shweeeek—hurling clumps of demonic energy.
Beams that rotted flesh on contact traced countless arcs through the air.
'Impressive, but...'
"Our Yi Hyun's even better!!"
Blanc danced between the trajectories.
Experience dodging Yi Hyun's sword beams in sparring now paid off.
The golden flash tore through the darkness like lightning,
'Opening!!'
"Haaaaat!!!"
-Shweeeek—
Her sword aimed for Sitri's neck.
A miracle, considering their level gap.
And Sitri...
———thrust her neck forward, as if waiting.
'J-just kill me!!'
Take out this fly here.
Boring and pretentious. Takes too long.
Just die.
Simple and quick.
Possible thanks to her Life Vessel reviving her endlessly.
Blanc wasn't fooled.
'I know you won't die even if I cut your head off!'
-Whirlic—
A golden storm swirled around Sitri's body.
Exploiting the gap, it etched red lines across her form.
The strikes of the 2nd Knight Order Captain, a Rising Star expected to be the Empire's top swordswoman.
They stripped the high demon like she was a plaything.
-Rip—her pallid nude body was revealed.
"Wh-what the hell you doin'?"
"Oh? You're a woman? Thought you were a guy, you're so flat."
"What kinda bullshit...?"
"Looks fun to fool around with a corpse. No man would hug her, so she'd have to settle for rotting zombies."
"This isn't the time!!"
Blanc meant to provoke her further, but
Sitri didn't register a word.
The anxiety swelling rapidly since earlier.
Because dirt clouds rose from afar, someone charging in.
"Blannnnncc!! We leavin' NOWWWW!!"
"...Shit, fight it is!!!"
Demonic energy gathered at her bony finger.
Aimed at her own temple.
Ready to suicide and escape.
-Halt.
'This shit hurts, though.'
But the memory of the 'Hero' slicing her neck.
It delayed her resolve just a moment,
'No idea why you're trying to kill yourself, but you think I'll let you?!'
"Haat!!"
Seizing the gap—crack—
The blade struck Sitri's wrist upward.
A massive beam of demonic energy shot skyward with a boom.
Dispersing the clouds.
"That’s..."
"What the hell’s going on?"
"Was Blanc of the 2nd Knight Order always this strong?"
A spectacle that stunned onlookers from afar.
Even Blanc gulped in surprise.
Unable to fathom why Sitri wanted death so badly,
'Damn, that used up all her demonic energy...'
'Our Blanc's safe!!'
Only one knew the reason: Yi Hyun.
He arrived, covered in dirt.
"Huff, huff!!"
'Situation...'
No time to catch his breath.
In super-accelerated time, his eyes scanned everywhere.
First, the massive demonic beam he'd seen from afar.
Blanc holding her sword skyward before it.
And finally...
'Huh? Why's she naked?'
Sitri.
The non-virgin filled his vision.
Their eyes met.
'Th-that's Yi Hyun...'
'No way she's the type to run around naked? Whew, one low kick from those legs and I'm done...'
And finally.
———time stopped.
-Clunk.
"...!!!"
Floating dust in the air.
Blanc's fluttering hair.
Everything froze.
Only Yi Hyun's pupils moved freely.
[Overhaul Mod - Virginity Purge activating...]
[Error occurred. Non-virgin detected.]
[Exception handling impossible.]
['Debug' execution confirmed?]
The warning before his eyes.
'Debug' in blood-red letters.
A button packed with malice, set to turn one man's life into dark fantasy.
Yi Hyun simply thought,
'Execute.'
-Ding.
[Calling System Administrator.]
Eerie alert chime.
As it rang, light returned to Sitri's dazed pupils.
In the frozen time.
Terror-filled eyes turned to Yi Hyun.
As if someone had reserved the final, most cruel moments for her.
'Pfft, wanna scare this idiot a bit?'
At the same time, someone prepared to intervene, but...
-Step.
"...Huh?"
'When the hell did that one pop out!?')
A footstep echoed.
All eyes turned to one spot.
A nude woman was stepping forward.
'Who the...'
'Keeek!! That bald monk bitch!!!'
And simultaneously,
the Status Window's font
shifted to a brush-script style.
-Dudung.
[Core Object 'Purity' has been summoned.]
