Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Sisters
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Sisters.
I looked at Clara.
Golden eyes with silver sparkling in the pupils.
If the Veroki family's gaze was venomous, Clara's eyes were round and innocent.
Aside from that.
They resembled each other so much that the words sisters or twins suited them perfectly.
'They only look alike.'
Veronica was arrogant.
As if she were the best, she had no intention of hiding herself. In fact, she only puffed herself up more.
Clara, on the other hand, was the opposite. She hid herself, concealed herself.
Though now I couldn't see that hidden side.
'Why me?'
The mission to kill Veronica.
Why had they commissioned me of all people?
I looked at Clara. She was still ambiguous. Ever since she'd asked me to kill Veronica just moments ago.
I couldn't properly read her.
'Whatever it is.'
This commission felt fake.
Like it was just a test for me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Focus on your senses. Your senses have some exceptional aspect to them. Even this body acknowledges that much. I nodded inwardly at the holy sword's words.
I looked at Clara. She still wore a tense expression.
'It's an act.'
[Thief's Extremity (S)] could even detect something like this.
That's why it puzzled me.
'Why approach me while acting?'
Maybe she was after something.
I didn't know what, but.
'It probably won't be good for me.'
To be honest, I didn't want to get involved with Veronica at all.
Her personality was violent, yet she had the nerve to ask me to cook for her. She stomped around causing trouble for everyone.
Sometimes I even wondered why someone like that was the Saintess.
So.
"I'll pass."
"...I figured as much."
"...?"
Clara looked relieved, as if she'd known I'd refuse.
"You act like you hate Veronica, but whenever she's in danger or trouble, you help her."
"No, I just don't want to get involved."
"You put up with her whining so well. Normally, you couldn't do that without some affection."
"No, what am I supposed to do when she shows up?"
"Still, I feel relieved. Your sister's personality is a bit much... Honestly, I thought she wouldn't have anyone truly on her side."
"Why would I be on her side?"
This was slander like no other.
It made me want to jump out of my skin.
"I have one request."
"... ."
Clara's expression looked somehow ominous.
"Just suppose. A very remote possibility. If the whole world turned against your sister, what would you do?"
"...I'd turn against her too."
"At that time, could you extend just a tiny hand to her?"
"I..."
I'm not even close to Veronica, let me finish.
I swallowed my words.
I'd meant to say it with full sincerity.
But in the end, I couldn't.
Because Clara wore the face of someone about to leave forever.
"... ."
"I'm sorry. For asking something like this right to the end."
She bowed her head politely and headed outside.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Entering the clan house, people were bustling about.
Some were unfamiliar faces.
Many were familiar.
As I went deeper inside.
"Hey, what's your deal? You here to scout our clan?"
Some thug-looking guy blocked my path.
If you visualized "thug," it'd look like this. Golden hair, slightly tanned skin.
He carried a shield and a sword.
"Isn't that guy our rear guard?"
A middle-aged voice came from the opposite side. Turning my head, I saw a middle-aged man...
'A dwarf?'
The dwarf had a massive axe slung on his back.
'Two frontliners.'
Roughly level 3 and level 4, by the looks of it.
"Ah, you're Han Yuseong, right?"
Purple eyes aren't common, so it has to be him. And the glasses look like parasites, which matches the description.
"As expected of Senior Marcel."
"And you?"
"I'm Hansen. That little punk over there is Pin."
"Nice to meet you!"
"Why does that guy talk like that?"
"Don't say it's like his tongue got cut off."
"... ."
I hadn't said anything that harsh.
But Hansen was clearly more dangerous than he seemed.
I exchanged greetings with them and went further in, where Marcel and Teresa came into view.
"Oh, Yuseong, long time no see."
"Yeah."
Mid-conversation, I paused. The aura emanating from them was impressive.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Looks like they leveled up in the meantime. Well, time in the labyrinth is fixed, creating a big gap with the outside. I agreed with the holy sword.
It had probably been about a week for me, but several times that for them.
"Good timing. We can head out on an expedition right away now that you're here."
"...Another expedition. Kinda tough."
Teresa was showing rare signs of fatigue.
'If even she's tired, they must've been grinding their bones off.'
Thinking about it, Glasses had never skipped a labyrinth run.
Teresa was motivated in her own way.
But as the frontline tank blocking monster charges head-on, it was the hardest role.
'The toughest yet most essential frontline.'
Something I could never do.
Thus, Teresa held one of the most crucial positions in our clan.
'Irreplaceable.'
I could handle both frontline and rear guard, but I lacked the power to block a mass monster rush.
With Glasses' magic and Rosen's divine power, maybe once or twice.
'No more than that.'
In a way, Teresa might be the third most important after me and Ermé.
People with that kind of defense weren't common.
"How about just a light run today for volunteers? With Yuseong here, we could plan an expedition without issue."
"Expedition?"
"Yeah, expedition. Preparing to go at least below the 10th floor."
"The 10th floor."
"With two mages and one priest, no big problems."
Glasses' proposal got nods from me and Hansen.
"Then preparing for expedition... at least not today. Tomorrow if we take it easy."
"Expeditions need supplies, after all."
"So we can rest today?"
"Of course, Teresa. With our sturdy frontline like you, the clan stays stable."
"Thanks, Glasses."
Teresa said that and headed upstairs in the clan building.
"Oh, right. Yuseong, you haven't gotten your room yet?"
"There's rooms in the building."
"The rooms here are awesome."
The thug called Pin chimed in.
"Didn't introduce properly earlier cuz of Uncle Hansen. I'm Pin, the monster rookie who leveled up a whopping 3 times in a year."
"...Ah, I see."
Level 3 in a year makes you a monster rookie, huh.
I'll remember that.
"...Of course, Marcel over there is a monster who hit level 3 in half a year. Teresa too."
"And you don't know this guy?"
"...How could I not?"
I sensed a hint of inferiority.
"[Ghost Sword of Ja-an]. Already hugely famous in these parts."
"... ."
What?
Ja... Ja-what?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Pfft! Puhahaha! As I panicked, the holy sword burst into laughter.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ To think you could make that face! Quite the entertaining sight. Anyway, that's a pretty decent nickname, no? The holy sword seemed genuinely curious.
My head spun; I wanted to grab it.
'Why are they doing this to me?'
Ghost Sword of Ja-an, seriously.
'It's... kinda cool.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I headed to Ermé's office.
She was the de facto leader, but nominally, I was the clan master.
I hadn't wanted it, but Ermé insisted strongly.
'Honestly, it's a hassle.'
I really thought so.
Power and such had nothing to do with me.
Struggling to survive alone, now coordinate with others?
'Such a pain.'
Ermé handled most of it.
But as clan master, there were a few duties.
"Expedition tomorrow? Well, now we have two parties, so it's about time."
"Yeah."
"Lucia's combat power is a bit unknown, though."
"Probably stronger than me."
I hadn't seen Lucia lately.
Last time, my win chance against her was near zero.
'Less than 1%, by probability.'
But now?
I calculated the gap, but no clear answer.
'She's especially strong even among level 5s.'
Volkan said it, so true.
"Lucia can't join right away. Family matters, she'll take a bit."
"Family matters?"
"Yes, unlike us, she's nobility. Lots of annoyances. But she said next week at latest."
"...9 people then."
"We could recruit in a pinch, but..."
Trustworthy people are few, Ermé added.
"Oh, right. What about the Saintess side, Yuseong?"
"What about it."
"Something terrifying's brewing there soon."
"... ."
I'd already sensed it.
From the moment Clara came here.
'Something irreversible is coming.'
My instincts said so.
"I once told Veronica she's just the acting Saintess."
"Yeah."
"And Clara is her replacement. No, she's the most perfect Saintess candidate in the church's history."
"What makes her so perfect?"
"Veronica is the strongest Saintess ever. Heals with holy magic, attacks too, support a bit weak, but not an issue for her. Clara, comparatively, excels only in support. Up to here, Veronica fits as Saintess."
Ermé gave a slightly sad smile.
"But Clara completes herself with half... Veronica's death. The perfect Saintess fulfilled by Veronica's death."
"Perfect Saintess fulfilled by Veronica's death?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...Born with the Twin Gift. The holy sword spoke in a headachey tone.
"The Twin Gift... more precisely, the Twin Unity Gift."
"No way."
"Two beings form one law. When one life dies, the karma accumulated by that one transfers fully to the twin. That's Clara's gift."
"... ."
Really don't want to get involved now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And the next day.
"You guys said you're short one clan member, right?"
"... ."
Veronica approached us with a triumphant look.