Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: A Man Who Has Lost His Humanity
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A blazing sun—no, flames. So blinding they seemed like the sun itself.
I kept staring at the sight. The fierce flames incinerated the spirit's body without leaving so much as ashes, but to me, they were just a little hot. No damage at all.
"Fortunately, Levatein isn't an ungrateful daughter."
[But is it okay to unleash fire like that in such a narrow space, nya?]
"Crazy."
That's true. But since everything's fine, it should be okay, right? If something was going to go wrong, it would've by now.
"Magic is the best."
[It's not magic, nya.]
"Then this ability is the best."
After watching the spirit disintegrate a bit longer, I felt a gaze and turned around. Shin Chae-yeon was staring in a daze, so I flashed her a grin.
Well, even I'd be stunned by something like this. Not even a tenth-circle grand spell could match it.
Jealous? You jealous? Our girl's the best, right?
She's the world's strongest daughter. That's what I'm saying.
"About our daughter being the world's strongest."
[Don't say that crazy nonsense so seriously, nya.]
Whatever. It's not a lie. I turned my head. The cave was left without even a pile of ash.
The walls were charred black, and the protruding rocks had melted away.
All that remained was the giant spirit, different from the one that burned. The light particles concealing its form had vanished, revealing its true appearance.
But it wasn't moving, so I waited for Levatein to return. The crow came back without a single scratch.
Our daughter's flames must be gentle to allies, after all.
[Daddy!! Did I do good?!]
The moment the crow reached me, the fire peeled away, and Levatein burst out. Back to her usual form, she threw herself into my arms.
I naturally scooped her up and stroked her head. She looked up with a smile, so I smiled back—then
turned around.
Blue hair was swinging her sword busily, weaving freely through the spirits.
Really dodged a bullet there. Felt like I aged ten years. Just to be safe, I glanced at the cat, and she nodded.
[Didn't see a thing, nya.]
"Phew."
Chills ran down my spine. That was close. Got too caught up in my own natural act.
I let out a sigh of relief that I hadn't been busted and ruffled Levatein's hair wildly.
[S-stop~]
"No more of that from now on. Human form only when you're with me or Mom. Got it?"
[Got it!]
With her reply, she vanished into the scythe like she'd been sucked in. Listens well too. Isn't this the joy of raising kids?
[Sigh.]
With the cat's sigh, the massive body stirred as if it had been waiting.
I didn't flinch. Well, I tried not to—close enough.
I looked up to meet the gaze looking down at me. Its form was a little grotesque.
Like an evil tree. A tree broken at the top. It resembled those trees from a witch's forest, with a fierce face crudely drawn on.
Its roots had all turned into legs—creepy—and its hands couldn't even fold, which was kinda pitiful.
The thing loomed over me. I stared right back without yielding.
Sorry, but I don't lose staring contests.
We locked eyes for a good while until it finally spoke first.
[Let's talk.]
"Talk? What talk? After trying to kill us? Ever seen a victim chat with their murderer?"
[Sorry. I lost hold of my reason for a moment.]
Maybe because it nearly got roasted by Levatein, the berserk ancient spirit bowed its head.
History proves it after all—fire's the perfect counter. Anger issues? Levatein fixes that right up into proper control.
The other spirits, now back to their senses, were gathering. Shin Chae-yeon wandered over casually and stood beside me.
"Says it's back to normal."
"Too bad."
That's what disappoints you? I glanced at the expressionless Shin Chae-yeon, trying to read her feelings, then listened to the rest of what the ancient spirit said.
[Sorry. I just couldn't endure it. This is the land I love. A haven I found after wandering the human world for centuries.]
Sentimental appeal, but it's ridiculous. This is Justitia's territory.
Ancient times might've been first-come-first-served, but these days, land has owners. This place is officially recognized worldwide as Justitia's.
This guy's wrong from the start, throwing a tantrum to boot people off "his" land.
Its next words were even more absurd.
[Just thinking about how long it takes for the trees you smashed to regrow made me shake with rage. Some areas turned to wasteland.]
Magic can regrow them in three seconds. Wastelands too—fixed in three.
[The monsters you loosed threaten the ecosystem, devouring wildlife.]
Those dimension-rift monsters mess with ecosystems too.
And those monsters barely roam—they're getting rounded up as we speak.
The more I heard, the more ridiculous it got. No idea who programmed this thing, but it's basically a burglar breaking into someone else's house and trashing the place.
I glared at it, face full of displeasure.
Shin Chae-yeon asked what was up from beside me, but I didn't answer.
[Talk about a burglar, nya.]
Exactly my point. This is why old stuff doesn't cut it anymore.
"So, what do you want?"
My blunt question met the ancient spirit's gaze. Eyes, I guess?
After staring at me for ages, the expected words tumbled out.
[Leave the island. All of you.]
Shamelessness has degrees, but this thing knows none. I nearly unleashed Levatein right then—but held back.
Ancient spirits are strong. No need to burn my own power.
Time for the efficient, comfy route.
I placed a hand on Shin Chae-yeon's shoulder next to me. She jolted and swatted it away.
Ouch, that stings. With no choice, I pointed at her with a sullen pout.
"Not without stakes. Beat her, and we'll leave. Everyone on the island."
"What authority do you have to─ Mmph!"
I clamped her mouth shut and gave an awkward smile.
"Saw my magic earlier, right? Even mid-berserk, you'd remember. If I can pull off grand magic like that, surely I have the pull to clear the island?"
"No, you─ Mmph!!"
Quiet down!! Won't help but keeps interfering—I muffled her harder.
Don't bite. Ow.
While wrestling with the blue-haired girl, the spirit groaned like it was pondering.
[Fair point. Deal. And if I lose?]
"You win, we leave now. You lose, you leave us be. We'll head out tomorrow."
"Mmph─!!"
Why fight me on this? It's good for you too—chance to battle a strong foe. Why sabotage?
You get stronger, I win without lifting a finger.
Sister-in-law happy, brother-in-law happy. What's the issue?
As the spirit accepted, I whispered just loud enough for Shin Chae-yeon to hear.
"Stay put. Only suckers get scammed─ Aak!!!"
She bit down harder.
"What kind of person is he, really."
Shin Chae-yeon grumbled but readied for battle. Part of her wanted to clash with that massive spirit, but she couldn't refuse Lee Seong-hoon's request.
Her real-time growth here, her survival— all thanks to him. No way she could say no.
'What the hell is he?'
Insanely strong, yet his humanity was in the gutter. Was that TV bit true—strength and character inversely proportional?
No matter how she sliced it, he'd lost his humanity.
Nothing for it but to try. Shin Chae-yeon raised her sword. She circulated mana through the blade and summoned her contracted spirit to enchant it.
Water mana met water spirit, coating the edge in a thin membrane of liquid.
[M-me, fight that thing?]
"Yeah. Your fault."
[B-but!!]
She ignored the whining spirit and stared ahead. The giant tree loomed down.
Even before, the pressure had been immense. Even shrouded in light, idle, it pressed hard.
Now? Light stripped, weakened by his magic—still overwhelming.
Her sister passing out felt natural by comparison.
"Fighting~ Lose and the exam's toast because of you!!"
'Shut it.'
A wrinkle formed between Shin Chae-yeon's brows. Normally expressionless with muted emotions, she somehow shifted a tiny bit when bantering with him.
So subtly even she wouldn't notice. Just a smidge.
"Fuu."
One deep breath, then she charged. An ancient spirit, or so it claimed. Spirit-illiterate as she was, hard to gauge.
How strong? Spirit King? Upper? Middle-grade?
Couldn't tell, but she felt it the instant her sword met its arm.
A wall. Unscalable. She didn't halt her blade.
Shin Chae-yeon was the type to slice through walls. If not, she'd jam her sword in and climb bit by bit.
Not her nature. A habit drilled by her family. But humans adapt to their world.
In the end, it became part of her. She swung. Acrobatics for the cut.
Not textbook. Not her family's style. Each clash felt like hacking steel.
'How?'
She needed flair for power. To cleave steel.
Tried body spins, wide arcs, quick chops.
No dice. Still tougher than steel. Blade ricocheted.
Yet her mind stayed ice-cold. Like doused in water—the longer she fought, insights sparked.
That was her gift. Innate genius for swordplay.
Mingled with her force-fed tenacity, birthing something new.
'Thinner.'
She thinned the spirit enchant on her sword, tuning for precision cuts. Peak power came from—
'Centrifugal force.'
One foot as pivot. She spun around it, sharpening to a single plane.
'Slice.'
She cut. Layers of steps for that simple act.
The tree wheeled in her vision. Ominous, but eyes locked.
She wondered. Was this right? Wrong?
Her keen blade lunged at the spirit. Rotation propelled it faster than any prior swing.
Seruk─!!
A crisp sound—its arm sheared off. Aimed for the head, but good omen.
She could cut it. Then she could win—
[Impressive.]
A kindly voice. Her gaze met the tree's.
[Such effort... sorry.]
The spirit's body glowed. No dodging this.
'Just grasped it.'
Regret. A bit longer, breakthrough felt close—
That's when Shin Chae-yeon saw it. Behind the spellcasting spirit, something emerged.
Black hair. Black robe. A stark-white scythe gleaming madly, unlike usual.
"Yeah. Sorry about that."
The spirit whipped around. Black hair grinned.
"Here's a tip for surviving the human world."
The scythe arced. Pure white trail—tree's face sailed skyward.
"Don't trust humans. Especially ones like me."
Shin Chae-yeon thought.
Truly insane trash.