Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Heroes' Contest
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Ermé led the way, and we stepped into Beiping's night market. The street, lined with lanterns, was bathed in red and yellow light, while the smoke from grilling skewers mingled with the sweet scent of rice cakes, tickling our noses.
The bustling market, alive with people's laughter and merchants' calls, breathed like a living creature.
"Here, over here!"
Ermé grabbed my arm and pulled me toward a food stall.
Her crimson eyes sparkled in the lantern light.
Ermé bantered familiarly with the vendor and took two skewers.
"Yuseong, try this. It's the best lamb skewer in Beiping!"
She handed me a skewer with a playful grin. I chuckled and took it.
"I didn't know you were so at home in a place like this."
"Hehe, I'm pretty capable, you know."
Ermé giggled mischievously.
Cute.
Just as I thought that, I could almost hear the holy sword grumbling inside me.
-This guy's totally smitten again.
'Quiet.'
I took a bite of the skewer. The richly seasoned meat melted in my mouth.
"Mm, not bad. Not quite as good as Cheongju cuisine, though."
"Well, that stuff's basically fraudulent. Of course, I prefer yours, Yuseong."
That went without saying.
Cheongju only had elven alchemy on its side, while I was loaded with supporting gifts.
After wandering the night market, we found ourselves near a small lake at the edge.
Moonlight shimmered silver on the water, and the distant market noise faded faintly.
Ermé plopped down on a wooden bench by the lake and looked up at me.
"How's this? Nice and quiet, right?"
"It's good."
I gave a simple compliment.
Ermé beamed broadly.
"Wow, hearing you praise it makes all my hard work worth it."
"You went out of your way to find this place?"
"Well, I wasn't sure if we'd end up here, but I scouted around just in case."
Sure, if you say so.
But I didn't bother pointing it out.
'About time.'
The market noise died down.
Lights began winking out one by one.
Time had passed midnight.
A new day had begun.
"Honestly, I felt a bit bittersweet."
"Why's that?"
"Yesterday was a kinda special day for me."
"Kinda special?"
"Yeah, it was actually my birthday."
"......"
Don't drop something that heavy out of nowhere.
"Oh, no, I'm not asking for a gift or anything. Don't feel burdened."
"......"
"Spending my birthday with you was my present. Don't you want anything?"
......My eyes were starting to tear up a little.
'Dodged a bullet there.'
Good thing I'd stashed the gift in my hidden space.
I quickly pulled out a gift box from it on the fly.
"So I prepared one."
"Huh?"
"Happy birthday."
-Wait, hold up. That's the one for Cheongyu...
'......Can't be helped.'
Someone who hasn't had an uncelebrated birthday doesn't know the disappointment.
The holy sword doesn't understand human hearts.
-Why do I have to hear this ridiculous nonsense from you!
The holy sword spoke in a genuinely angry tone.
'I can get something similar for Yuran.'
-Whoa, whoa, whoa...
The holy sword, reduced to stunned exclamations at my quick thinking.
I ignored it and unwrapped the blue box with a red ribbon.
Click—it revealed a blue hair clip.
"Another hair clip."
-Of course. Cheongyu hasn't gotten hers yet.
"Two hair clips might not match well."
Ermé looked at me awkwardly with a smile.
"What do you think?"
"It suits you."
Soon, she smiled radiantly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A brief silence passed.
Ermé bumped her head against my shoulder.
"So, be honest. What info are you trying to pry out of me by melting me like this?"
"......You noticed?"
"Well, it feels genuine to some extent, but you're too pragmatic to keep someone like me around this long."
-Wow, what a spot-on assessment. And she nailed the wording too.
'Be quiet, holy sword.'
The holy sword fell silent at my words.
"It's probably about that incident I mentioned..."
Ermé trailed off.
Coming all this way, it didn't seem like she distrusted me.
More like some fundamental reason.
'......She can't speak properly about it.'
That seemed right.
-Knowing the future isn't all good. What's meant to happen will, no matter what. Once, a mighty empire on the western continent fell for that reason.
'Another empire?'
-The current empire wields space. But originally, the west had two empires side by side. Both inherited fragments of the space dragon's gifts. Side note, but if truly mastering time and foresight could change everything... that empire would rule both east and west.
So, knowing the future doesn't mean you know everything.
-You've handled it well so far... but sanctions or suspicious glances might start soon.
'......Meaning the situation might be worse than I thought.'
I looked at Ermé, who was hesitating, and spoke.
"If it's too hard to talk about, you don't have to."
"......You don't hate me, right?"
Ermé gazed at me with anxious eyes.
Me, hate Ermé?
"No way."
As if.
"How could I hate you?"
"Eh? Huh? No, uh..."
Ermé's face flushed at my words.
I chuckled.
"Then let's head back to the inn..."
Just before I finished.
Until a man in the distance began watching us.
"......"
A man in a pitch-black mask stared silently at us.
His hair and eyes were eerily black.
An uncanny aura, like ink layered over itself.
When Ermé's gaze reached him, she froze.
"Are you... Han Yuseong?" A voice like scraping iron, utterly suspicious.
The man asked us both.
"......"
I stepped forward silently.
Maybe because of the mask.
Hard to make out his identity.
His presence was elusive too.
As I stayed wary, Ermé poked my back with her finger.
Ma, gyo.
She silently spelled it out.
'Demonic Cult?'
-Troublesome bunch got involved. You never get off easy tangling with those cultists.
The masked man quietly regarded us.
Chilling eyes.
Empty, devoid of anything, staring at me vacantly.
"Go back." "......Why should I?"
"If you insist, no need." What the hell is this guy on about?
Couldn't grasp his intent.
As I narrowed my eyes at him, his gaze shifted to Ermé.
Looking at her with intensely complicated eyes.
"Just so you know, I have no connection to a guy like that."
Ermé spoke unusually fast.
No, that could be true, but why say it to me specifically...
"......In the end, everything unfolds according to that existence's will." He spoke in a tone like lamenting to the void.
I scrutinized the man closely.
'What do you think?'
-You can't win.
The holy sword said calmly.
-Whether you use Steal Strike or not, that's irrelevant. This guy's stacked serious levels in the level 7 range. Not easy.
'......Is that so?'
-Don't get cocky.
I heeded the holy sword's warning and faced the man.
His aura was anything but ordinary. Blurry like a shadow, yet harboring razor-sharp menace within.
But what bugged me most.
'Something like a ghost behind that guy.'
-Ghost? You sure?
'......That's what my senses say.'
I nodded inwardly to the holy sword's grave tone.
-He restored that demonic art after all.
Ermé pressed close and whispered.
"Yuseong, this guy's... high up in the Demonic Cult. Dangerous to act rashly."
"Got it."
I replied lowly, hand moving to my sword hilt. The holy sword was ready to draw anytime.
-Using my power here... might draw even more annoyances. But right now, your survival comes first.
The holy sword spoke with resolve.
"Han Yuseong... Don't act recklessly." The man spoke again.
His voice slithered like a serpent's tongue.
"You are this world's sole anomaly." "Anomaly?"
"Yes, anomaly. Predicted futures, measured pasts... all shifting because of you." The man looked up at the sky.
"It won't be long. The Beast's Apostle revives, and those beasts will ravage this world." "......"
My body tensed instantly.
Beast.
I knew the meaning of that word, even if just a little.
"Already reached that point? The previous anomaly took ages to get there." Suddenly, one person came to mind.
Someone not here.
And simultaneously, an existence worthy of being called an anomaly.
'Unwarranted favor.'
The bizarre entity that evoked it.
"Chloe?"
"Impressive. Already piecing it together." The man looked at me as if beholding something wondrous.
"Still, for now." The man raised his hand.
Black energy writhed up from it.
Eerie darkness, stark even in the night.
Unnatural.
'What the hell is that.'
-Incoming, be careful!
With the holy sword's warning.
The darkness exploded outward.
And.
A single gate rose from the darkness.
"......Demonic Realm Gate!"
Ermé exclaimed in shock.
"......That's enough for today." "What?"
"I only came to talk today... but getting strong so sloppily will bring trouble soon." Rumble rumble rumble!
A massive sound emanated from the gate.
And as it swung wide open.
'......It's calling me?'
Not dangerous.
If anything, an uncanny feeling—like it prepared the perfect spot tailored to my growth.
'......What do you want?'
The man just gazed at me with a strange smile.
"Next time we meet." Creeeak.
My body got sucked into the gate.
"I'll be waiting." Such words echoed.