Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Snake Demon, Kiat
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The snake demon, Kiat.
The moment I decided to face him, I had run through countless simulations.
How could I win?
One conclusion I reached was to absolutely block the first attack with [Subsidiary Authority 1].
Since [Subsidiary Authority 1] Absorption could take in non-physical strikes without any risk, it was the perfect counter to Kiat, who would aim for a surprise heavy blow.
Kwachijijijik.
Anyway, as the demonic energy of the greed and snake-formed bastard clashed, my vision flashed bright in an instant.
For a moment, they held firm against each other, but the demon's unique demonic energy, denser than that of a demonic beast, soon devoured my right hand.
Before I could react, it surged past my forearm to my shoulder.
……Did it even activate?
Just as I began to suspect I might get completely swallowed up.
Suuuuuup.
A bizarre suction force activated from my hand, engulfed in the snake's maw.
The demonic energy that had been surging up triumphantly suddenly staggered wildly, like a hem caught in a door.
That was the beginning.
Suuuuuuuup—
As the suction force grew exponentially stronger, it started reversing course.
Powerlessly, like dust sucked into a vacuum cleaner.
[‘Greed’ blocks the opponent's non-physical attack.]
[Absorbing a certain amount of demonic energy.]
[Seal Release Rate: 86.5%]
It absorbs this too?
While I was pleasantly surprised, the black demonic energy vanished.
With my vision restored, I faced him.
Kiat, the blue-grade demon like Midas but far more dangerous—the one Kim Mi-young had fought.
He narrowed his already slit eyes even further and growled.
“……You blocked it? Who the hell are you? You're no ordinary Taehak lackey.”
Viscous killing intent seeped out, making the surrounding air roil in an instant.
“Se-Sunbae-nim.”
Baek Sa-young, who had struggled to her feet, raised her sword again and stood by my side.
But was it because she'd been immersed in her Special Forces role for so long?
A sudden inexplicable rage welled up, and before I knew it, I shouted.
“Who told you to butt in against a lowly demon like that?”
A frostbite-like aura erupted, startling Baek Sa-young into stepping back.
But I was just as shocked.
To taunt such an opponent when I should be measuring angles meticulously.
However, the heightened emotions were beyond even my control.
Baduk.
The inexplicable hostility grew stronger over time, and blood dripped from my tightly clenched fist.
Just as I realized this was more than mere personality contagion.
An unexpected message appeared.
[The brewer bloodline that despises demons meets the dignity of an unbroken noble house, awakening a dormant trait.]
「Adversary of Demons」
Description: A special bloodline trait innate to only a select few from the Prime Brew Clan, former vanguard commanders in the Great Demon Army War. Not yet fully awakened. All stats increase by 5%, and nullifies some demon traits.
……So that's why.
It was even more shocking because it was a trait I already knew.
Adversary of Demons.
This was an exclusive bloodline trait of the brewers that even Park Ha-yul hadn't obtained—a top-tier talent that exerted extreme power against demons.
Who knew acquiring the noble house's dignity would help in this way.
……In that case.
It might actually be more advantageous to act this way.
I followed my instincts for now.
“Kekeke, that trash isn't talking about me, is he?”
I continued flatly toward Kiat's grinning face.
“Who else but you? That oversized lump is lying there crushed by a single student.”
“Ah, can't argue with that. I admit Midas is trash too.”
“Admit?”
I twisted my lips in what might have been a smile and asked him.
“You think you're any different?”
“What?”
“To me, you're the same. Aren't all blue-grade levels about equal?”
“…Looks like you don't want to die easy.”
Finally, Kiat hardened his expression and flicked out his tongue.
I was provoking him to draw out another trait.
Sure enough.
“I'll cripple you first, then tear off your limbs one by one.”
In that instant, intense demonic energy roiled from Kiat.
Saaaa—
His pupils narrowed to slits like a snake's, and a sticky aura surged toward me.
This was probably Terror.
One of his boasted snake traits, imprinting fear on others' minds to drive them mad……
“…….”
But the surroundings remained silent. As if nothing had happened.
“…Why?!”
[Trait, Adversary of Demons activates.]
[Blocks Kiat's trait.]
The opening I'd hoped for arrived.
Using a powerful trait always came with a corresponding price.
“Keok.”
Toward Kiat, who suddenly spat out dark blood, I murmured quietly.
“Now it's my turn. If you're not trash, prove it.”
Feeling my heart pounding low but fiercely, I activated the trait.
[Trait, Manifestation activates.]
First, I poured all remaining mana to summon a proper 40% single sword—
“One isn't enough.”
Next, I prepared the second sword I'd been saving because it had no equal opponent: Yeon Gaesomun's second sword.
Performance limit: 40%. Time limit: 10 seconds.
No mana left, so equivalent exchange target…… my lifespan.
“I pay three days of remaining time as the price.”
I'd vowed not to use it lightly, but to decisively repel him, there was no choice.
Soon after, a dagger identical in form to the single sword appeared.
[Yeon Gaesomun's Second (II) Sword (Replica)]
[Performance Limit: 40%]
[Description: One of the five swords said to be possessed by Yeon Gaesomun, Great Moariji of Goguryeo. A type of phantom sword that disrupts enemies. Power increases when wielded with the Piercing Single Sword.]
[Effect: Senses +30%, Multiple Splits]
Thus, the black single sword and white second sword.
Two daggers, differing only in hilt color, gripped in both hands.
“Watch closely.”
I spouted the embarrassing line to Baek Sa-young with surprising ease and launched the two swords in succession.
Hwweeeek—
The second sword opened the path first.
Advancing transcendentally, it soon split.
Into two, three, five. Seven. Then ten.
Trajectories varied wildly.
Like shells fired from all directions at a single bombardment point, overwhelming Kiat's gaze.
“Ptoo, so what? Just scraps of metal!”
Spitting out a handful of sword-red blood, Kiat summoned the black snake form once more.
The black snake reared up fully, blocking Kiat's front.
He'd switched to a defensive stance.
That was his fatal mistake.
“Single sword.”
The other dagger, with its absolute hit effect activated, had already swung wide to take his rear.
Gaze stolen by the second sword, defense focused on the front.
And his body in abnormal state due to trait nullification.
All elements signed his defeat.
Puwook.
In the end, the single sword surging from behind pierced his chest in a surprise attack.
“Keuk.”
Followed by the bombardment.
Amid the rippling snakes with his short scream, twenty second swords burrowed in.
Only one with substance pierced his thigh.
Simple in a way, yet unavoidable for the victim—such a perfect strike.
All this unfolded in seconds, a mere instant.
……Even the rain sword arts.”
With Baek Sa-young's shock as the signal, the black snakes soon vanished.
There, Kiat knelt on one knee.
“Daggers moving at their master's will. Kekeke, so that's your weapon?”
But no anxiety of impending death showed.
His eyes laughed, and I knew why.
It wasn't his real body.
Soon, he dried up like parched tree bark and began crumbling.
“Se-Sunbae-nim.”
“No need to be surprised. It's his molt. Another of the snake's traits.”
It was the same in the original work.
True to his cunning nature, he'd fought while hiding his main body separately.
Still, it wasn't meaningless.
Having drawn over 70% of his true power, he'd be dormant and immobile for a while.
And we'd face him again soon.
That led into the next main episode, so for the greater goal, he had to be spared.
“I've got a sense now, so see you later. Next time, I'll definitely kill you…”
With those words, he crumbled completely.
Scattered by the wind, not a trace left.
From that moment, messages poured in, but I ignored them for now.
“Baek Sa-young!”
“Sa-young-ah, where are you?”
Just then, the Special Patrol Team arrived from afar.
I first approached Midas and absorbed his demonic energy.
[Absorbing demonic energy from demon, ‘Midas.’]
[Seal Release Rate: 97%]
Then I said to Baek Sa-young.
“As promised, cleanup is yours. As you see, it's not fully over yet.”
“I'll handle that myself. More importantly…… can we meet again?”
“If the chance comes……”
I turned my back on the clearly regretful Baek Sa-young.
For now, I headed in the opposite direction from the Special Patrol Team.
But where to?
This way would take me farther from the entrance……
Cool parting, but afterward felt hopeless.
* * *
The disappearance incident wrapped up without issue.
The arriving Special Patrol Team took the missing people back to the temporary base and handed them to the nearby police station.
Having exceeded the original goal with greater results, Kim Mi-young, just finishing her report, smiled brightly at Baek Sa-young.
“They're holding a medal ceremony too?”
“Huh? I just did what needed doing……”
Baek Sa-young, wrapped head to toe in bandages, scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
“No. For a mere second-year student to repel a demon and save people—it's unprecedented.”
“……Ah, yeah, sure.”
“But you did it alone, right?”
Kim Mi-young asked in a soft but quite serious tone.
Of course, she didn't doubt Baek Sa-young's skills.
But she'd struggled quite a bit herself to find the Demonic Space and reach the shrine, and even a blue-grade demon was still a demon—so circumstances made it suspicious that one person handled everything alone.
After a moment's thought, Baek Sa-young spoke.
“……Truth is, I didn't do it alone.”
“I figured. Who then……”
“The Special Patrol Team. No, the whole Class A.”
“Huh?”
“Good timing too. A demon happened to be away.”
Kim Mi-young finally chuckled.
It was amusing to suspect and pry when praising a humble, upright student was in order.
“Got it. Good work. The students are waiting—go eat.”
Baek Sa-young bowed and leisurely left the office.
But the instant she exited, she leaned against the wall and clutched her chest.
Whew, false report.
She'd gritted her teeth and tried, but it felt like forcing on ill-fitting clothes.
Just looking at Kim Mi-young made her heart pound like it would burst.
“What're you doing here?”
Suddenly, a curt voice rang out.
It was Park Ha-yul.
She'd heard he'd taken the day off due to feeling unwell.
His already pale face looked even more wan.
“Everyone's looking for you. Can't hide like this.”
“Hiding? I just met the instructor. Why'd you come out here instead of resting?”
“Gotta eat. I'm starving right now.”
“Ah, food.”
“Come on. They'll be done eating.”
Park Ha-yul grinned and walked ahead.
Baek Sa-young steadied her heart to follow.
But then.
“Huh?”
An odd sense of familiarity hit her.
That back view. Somehow familiar……
“What? Coming or not?”
Park Ha-yul turned, and Baek Sa-young shook her head vigorously.
“Someone else for delusions.”
Park Ha-yul and that person?
The huge gap made her chuckle softly as she hurried after him.