Chapter 165
Chapter 165
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Severed Fingers
Sintu.
A faint smell of blood wafted up.
And there, scattered about, were three severed fingers.
Along with strands of blue hair.
'Tch.'
Sintu clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight.
It looked like these guys had gotten tangled up in something troublesome. And there was a high chance he himself would get dragged into it too.
Troublesome.
That was the first emotion that hit him.
But.
'Actually, this works out fine.'
Sintu glanced sideways at Han Yuseong.
It seemed someone he knew pretty well had been kidnapped.
'A person's true character only emerges once they hold power.'
Some say humanity's instincts come out in times of poverty and hardship.
That's all bullshit.
When you're broke and struggling, of course people get irritable.
True nature reveals itself when you hand someone power and they live in abundance.
And his evaluation of Han Yuseong would hinge on how he handled this situation.
That was Sintu's main purpose in coming here.
'He'll probably pass without much issue.'
The Hero Tournament's goal was to verify the candidates' combat prowess.
Character came after that.
Checking what kind of person the one granted divine power was.
Countless Thief Heroes had been eliminated in this process.
It couldn't be helped.
Given the environments they grew up in, many failed the character test.
That was why the elves, who constantly harassed human men, could keep existing. Even with nicknames like "Hump," they steadily produced Thief Heroes and survived with aid from many races.
Humans had produced Thief Heroes too.
But they always caused incidents.
One tried to sell the Holy Palace to the Demon King's forces, another tried to side with the Demon King.
That's why character mattered.
They might betray humanity if the final moments came.
But you couldn't make a Hero out of someone who'd betray humanity for no reason.
So the Church dragged its feet on summoning Heroes, citing various reasons.
The character test was usually passed, but if not, qualifications had to be revoked immediately.
So Sintu watched Han Yuseong closely.
'Ho.'
Han Yuseong stared at the three fingers with emotionless eyes.
Intently.
Yet the killing intent leaking from him was so thick it could choke even seasoned fighters.
To the point where even Sintu flinched for a moment.
'...This guy.'
There are some things in this world determined by innate factors.
Most call them talents. Those with vast potential, immense mana reserves.
Being born with killing intent is a great blessing among them.
Because the higher power, will, can bend the laws of the world.
Sintu thought to himself as he watched Han Yuseong.
At minimum, in terms of raw power.
'Even if the other Heroes drag him down, he won't be held back.'
Sintu hoped Han Yuseong would perform well.
That way, he wouldn't get dragged down himself.
But.
The more he evaluated him.
'A monster... of a guy.'
One thing was certain: he wanted no part in being enemies with this one.
*
Dried bloodstains.
And blue hair with three fingers.
Others might not know, but this was plenty for the Thief's Divine Realm to draw conclusions.
'Single perpetrator.'
A stealth expert had come here, dumped this, and left.
Light footsteps, traces wiped as best they could.
'Pretending to wipe traces means someone besides us did it.'
But it was odd.
Leaving traces like this usually signaled a desire to negotiate.
And that led to one conclusion.
'They know about me.'
They thought they'd left minimal info.
But the Thief's Divine Realm revealed more.
"Interesting."
My voice came out chillingly cold, even startling me.
"Found the culprit?"
"Yeah."
I nodded at Ermé's question.
I'd planned to send someone on an errand and wait for Cheong Yurang.
'But with tricks like this.'
No need to bring Cheong Yurang along.
I glanced at Sintu.
Sintu flinched and looked back.
"W-what?"
"Will you help?"
"...Ahem. If you're asking, I'll lend a hand."
I stared intently at Sintu.
"You look like you need my help, so I'll oblige."
-Yawned off.
No, I'd been seriously pondering what to offer to get him to help.
-Isn't it simple? Treat him to your cooking, Master.
'No, but he's Sintu, of all people.'
-Your master is Level 9, isn't he?
'...'
Whatever, think about that later.
That wasn't the priority now.
"Then let's go catch them quick."
"Who even got hit with this? It's not one of our clan members, right?"
Rosenta asked, looking at me.
Fair enough; she and Diago had no real connection, so she wouldn't know.
"We've got one idiot."
Everyone turned to look at the glasses guy at my words.
"Why are you looking at me?! I'm a smart mage!"
"For a mage, he sure seems like an idiot."
"Viola, even you?!"
*
We sprang into action.
But only Sintu and I were moving.
The others.
'They're exhausted.'
They'd just adapted to the new labyrinth and city.
They needed time to settle in.
One issue, though.
'Should I show him?'
I glanced at Sintu.
He flinched at my gaze.
"W-what? I wasn't thinking anything!"
-He was. Just wipe him out, Master?
'No, doesn't seem that bad.'
Nothing particularly suspicious.
And above all.
'...Something's off.'
I could guess why the Sacred Bow wanted Sintu gone.
He was too suspicious.
Sintu suddenly shows up, and then someone from the clan gets attacked?
'Reasonable suspicion.'
Yet Sintu readily agreed to cooperate.
First thing the Thief's Divine Realm confirmed, naturally.
'He's not lying.'
He was even fawning over me, eager to help.
So.
Use him for now.
And figure out exactly why he's approaching me.
Better to keep him close than let him slip away.
"Where are we headed?"
"Following the traces they left."
"This fast?"
Sintu widened his eyes.
I tilted my head.
"Problem?"
"N-no, nothing from me."
A fawning expression.
Did I say something weird?
-Told you, he's vile. Classic bully-to-the-weak type. He's probably moving while thinking he'll get crushed by your killing intent and killed.
'...No way.'
But given how he'd lived so far, it wasn't that strange.
Anyway, not important.
I drew the bow.
Since things were escalating, I'd brought the Sacred Bow.
It took the form of a black bow, different from usual.
Kiiiiing.
I nocked and drew the string.
"W-wait. You've already pinpointed the culprit?"
"Yes."
I looked toward an abandoned factory-like building. It had display cases like for weapons.
All traces pointed there.
'Issue is Diago's survival.'
I scanned with the eyes of a master archer attuned to Shadowless Phantom.
No sign of Diago.
Probably underground somewhere.
'In that case.'
Distance to the enemy: 10 km.
Calculated precisely.
Diago's likely in a basement.
Then.
'Shadowless Phantom.'
Shrrrr.
The arrow darkened.
Mana enveloped it. Then crackle! Purple lightning coiled around.
Extreme Thunder God · Violet.
And on top.
'Storm.'
The Storm Giant's heart pounded fiercely. Wind swirled around the arrow.
Kigigigik!
The arrow trembled under immense strain.
'Maybe reinforce arrows sometime, grab a batch.'
Reinforce by fusing to reduce numbers and boost strength.
I took a deep breath.
Twang.
Quietly released.
As the arrow flew, three shadows behind me loosed arrows too.
Four arrows streaked in a straight line.
'Split.'
The four split precisely into forty.
Moments later.
The forty split into four hundred.
Once more.
'Split.'
The four hundred exploded into four thousand in an instant. Arrows melted into darkness.
Like darkness itself descending.
Pabababababak!!
Countless arrows rained down on the factory.
"What the hell is that?"
Sintu's dazed voice rang out.
*
Watching the descending arrows of darkness.
Han Yuseong moved smoothly.
Using the Thief's Divine Realm to mask his presence as he dashed, Sintu followed.
'How's there a guy like this.'
No presence while moving.
A bizarre sensation, like chasing a ghost.
Sintu chased after, feeling uncanny dissonance.
'Great movement...'
Something he'd noticed before.
But moving through darkness like that made it hit harder.
This guy.
'Anything I can teach him?'
Sintu thought seriously.
Of course, as the one titled Godthief, he was an exceptional thief.
But having surpassed Thief's Extremity into the Divine Realm.
Han Yuseong's techniques had transcended humanity.
There might be something to teach.
What he lacked was experience.
If he crammed in everything he'd been through.
'He'd master it in no time.'
Sintu instinctively realized how quickly he'd learn if he started teaching.
He, the Thief Hero known as prodigy, scorned and revered by his clan.
'Ha, I slaved away for at least 70 years.'
Even he felt like a lifetime to barely open his eyes.
'Just 7 days.'
A story one man had told him right before coming here.
-He's my disciple, but treat him lightly and he'll clean you out.
He recalled the grinning man who'd looked at him and laughed.
Meanwhile, sensing Sintu's odd presence.
'What a weird guy.'
-Agreed.
'Might get along with my master.'
-...Is that an insult?
Han Yuseong was very close to the right answer.