Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Eternal Dream
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“……So this is Taehak.”
Roberto’s startled expression lasted only a moment before he casually lifted his wine glass again, as if it were nothing.
He brought it to his lips, took a sip, swirled it with a swish, then swallowed.
With a satisfied smile, he turned in his seat toward the hall’s entrance.
“That demon bastard reeks of shit…….”
I blurted it out in disbelief before I could stop myself.
But when Roberto’s gaze suddenly flicked my way, I hurriedly hunched down.
“…….”
Roberto tilted his head, then refocused on his wine, staring straight ahead at the hall.
Phew.
I let out a sigh of relief and patted my chest.
As expected, his senses—amped up to the max by the Demonic Space’s effects—were razor-sharp.
Even from this distance, every word and movement required caution……
I had to be careful.
I huddled tightly, steeling myself.
Sure, I might look pathetic now, like a rat hiding on the roof. But didn’t someone once say?
Kneeling is just to build momentum.
I was enduring, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to unleash my trump card the instant he let his guard down—not because I feared his illusions.
……
Anyway, I peeked out again to check on my teammate’s fierce struggle.
Cheon Seo-yoon was sprinting down the long corridor leading to the main hall at full speed.
Her frantic dash was so intense I could feel the urgency from here, but it wasn’t easy going.
The various traps activated to block intruders were spewing flames.
The blades shooting from all sides, hidden in the darkness, were stealthy and brutal.
Yet Cheon Seo-yoon charged straight ahead, her sole focus on advancing.
Ignoring the minor attacks, she parried only the major ones. Scratches multiplied across her skin, but her relentless charge only halted when she reached the massive door to the hall.
From my distant vantage, observing like a spectator, I could see it clearly.
Joo Ah-rin and Roberto facing off across the door, locked in an intangible battle of wills, each aware of the other……
Cheon Seo-yoon took a deep breath in, then out.
Intense mana coiled around her upright sword before she slammed it down in one motion.
Creeeak—
The door split in two instantly and fell backward.
With a heavy thud—clouds of dust billowed up. As visibility cleared, Cheon Seo-yoon’s face twisted into a ferocious scowl.
“You Roberto?”
She muttered through gritted teeth upon spotting Joo Ah-rin.
Roberto just wore a smug smile without a word……
“You fucking pretty boy.”
Her blunt words echoed, and he finally spoke.
“For such a lovely lady, your mouth is rather……”
“Just come at me, bitch. Cut the tongue-wagging.”
But the exchange ended in mere seconds.
“……Looks like I’ll have to teach you some manners first.”
Roberto smacked his lips a few times, his reddish eyes flashing as he growled.
“Rise.”
Rumble rumble rumble.
The space vibrated finely.
The statues lining both sides creaked with friction as they stepped forward one by one, blocking Cheon Seo-yoon’s path.
A knight raising a brutal flail, one wielding a sinister axe blade, another aiming a sword, and so on.
The one-versus-many scenario unfolded in an instant, but Cheon Seo-yoon didn’t flinch.
“Yeah, that’s more like a demon bastard.”
Sneering, she kicked off the ground.
Without hesitation, she charged and swung her massive 3-meter greatsword horizontally.
The signal to open battle.
The first two knights up front flew back from that single blow. Ignoring them, the third knight rushed over their “corpses,” swinging a hammer.
Cheon Seo-yoon twisted her body to dodge, then used the centrifugal force to slice off the legs of the fourth knight charging alongside.
The fifth knight she met next was shoved back with a kick; in that split second, she swung at the sixth knight thrusting his sword.
Both seemed about to be cut, but she subtly twisted her upper body to deflect, while the sixth knight couldn’t.
With a crunch, the sixth knight went flying.
The brief gap was filled by the seventh knight’s axe.
Cheon Seo-yoon ducked her head to evade, then plunged her blade into his side.
She dove at the eighth knight, who was raising a club to smash down, and grabbed his collar.
Using his body as a shield, she advanced. Forward again toward Roberto.
After about ten minutes, the distance that once seemed unreachable had closed by more than half.
Close-quarters combat beyond anything I could imagine—the pinnacle of innate battle sense.
“A thorny wildflower, eh?”
Unlike me, mouth agape, Roberto casually stroked his chin with leisurely poise.
But I didn’t miss the glint in Cheon Seo-yoon’s eyes at that moment.
She gauged the narrowing distance with sidelong glances, then took a short, deep breath, gathering her mana as if resolved.
She faked a backward spin, then pivoted and kicked the ground hard enough to crater it, launching toward Roberto like a bullet.
She closed the gap to his face in an instant, thrusting her greatsword that soared nearly 4 meters high.
“It’s over, you fucker.”
A surprise attack exploiting his carelessness, with the sword’s erratic length—she seemed utterly convinced of success.
“……!”
But just an inch short.
Cheon Seo-yoon’s blade halted exactly an inch from Roberto’s face.
Roberto’s amplified demonic energy had pierced straight into her mind without any preparation.
“Close call there.”
“You son of a……”
“Fun’s over.”
Cheon Seo-yoon resisted until veins bulged at her temples, but she crumbled soon after.
The fury in her eyes turned hollow, and her sturdy legs buckled as strength fled them.
Eternal Dream.
She had been sucked into Roberto’s illusion.
……
Watching further was pointless, so I withdrew my gaze.
I stood quietly and stretched.
Loosening my stiff body, bracing for the counterattack to come.
Not indifference—trust.
In Cheon Seo-yoon’s life of trials and tribulations, unyielding even if broken; in the traits of the Star’s Flower……
Inspired by the hunting grounds, but unfinished due to lack of time—a strike I must succeed with. I activated Manifestation.
[Trait, Manifestation activated.]
Drawing a spell after so long.
32 strokes of 1-star Fire Control Technique, Flame Bullet.
32 strokes of 1-star Water Control Technique, Ring of Water.
The two spells adorned the dark night sky; I merged them without hesitation.
Blue base tinged with red paint.
The distorted spell pattern realigned to the rules.
And what was born: the most destructive spell I knew.
64 strokes of Attribute Combination Technique, Latent Heat.
Up to here, it flowed naturally like water.
But the key started now.
The ultimate goal wasn’t mere activation, but fusion with my armament.
Just like infusing fire attribute against the Strange Centipede—implanting the Latent Heat spell into One Sword.
SP shortage meant completing it with my own power, but I trusted the knowledge accumulated from browsing.
I would succeed absolutely: when Cheon Seo-yoon opened her eyes again, and he unleashed wildly.
Become one with One Sword, soar silently, and pierce his heart.
I closed my eyes briefly, focusing my mind.
* * *
Meanwhile, Cheon Seo-yoon was trapped in fragments of old memories, now so faded even their shapes were dim.
May 13, 2002. Her tenth birthday.
Regressed from 21-year-old Cheon Seo-yoon to 10-year-old her, but she sat calmly, letting him brush her hair. Behind her, the one person she loved.
Cheon Family Head, Cheon Woo-young, combed her hair while chiding her gently.
The topic: the classmate-beating incident from the day before yesterday.
She was the one who did the beating, so no room for complaint even if scolded harshly……
“Daughter, Dad’s disappointed. Two hits? Two? You should’ve landed at least five more.”
“Hmph, it’s not over yet. I’ll sort him out again at the sparring evaluation soon.”
“Oh, such a golden opportunity?”
The Cheon father-daughter duo’s conversation veered far from normal.
Because the victim had mocked her for being motherless.
“You know not to touch the face, right?”
“Of course.”
Cheon Seo-yoon and Cheon Woo-young exchanged knowing smiles.
Like any father and daughter, their upturned lips matched perfectly, creating a heartwarming vibe.
“But, daughter.”
“Yeah?”
“Your written exam this time…… dead last in the whole school?”
But it was fleeting.
Sensing something off with Cheon Woo-young, Cheon Seo-yoon pulled away quickly, protesting innocently.
“What, even on my birthday?”
“Heh heh, birthday? Bird-day? Did dead last in school have a birthday?”
Chortling, Cheon Woo-young spread his arms wide like chasing a rabbit.
“It’s not my fault I suck at studying. It’s yours, Dad. You were terrible too.”
“Even so, not dead last. I’m so embarrassed facing the other family heads.”
The impromptu game of tag ended with a neat knock and the door—flung open.
“Dinner is ready, Family Head.”
“Alright!”
Cheon Woo-young scratched the back of his head sheepishly, while the cornered Cheon Seo-yoon scampered to the table as if nothing happened.
Soon, silver lidded trays were placed on the pink tablecloth.
One before Cheon Seo-yoon, one before Cheon Woo-young.
Modest for the Cheon Family’s pampered princess birthday feast, but still special fare.
“I prepared as requested. Enjoy, miss.”
“Wow!”
Eyes sparkling with anticipation, Cheon Seo-yoon lifted the lid—and couldn’t hold back awe at the fast food’s pungent aroma.
The tray held a hamburger.
From a common chain, but all the more precious for it.
Banned in the Cheon Family for being unhealthy.
“New menu item. Like it?”
“Yeah, it’s huge.”
“Name’s a mouthful too. Quattro Supreme Cheese Double Patty……”
Cheon Woo-young recited the hard-memorized name fluidly.
But Cheon Seo-yoon couldn’t wait; she chomped down with mouth agape.
Tasting it, she shivered in surprise, then wolfed it down.
“You’re covered in it. Come here, I’ll wipe you.”
“Wait, eat yours quick. It’s really good.”
“Even if it’s cheap…… Nom nom. Huh? What’s this? Nom nom. Why’s it so tasty?”
Cheon Woo-young took a bite, eyes widening, and Cheon Seo-yoon giggled.
A day of pure joy.
In this moment, pink cheeks filled with utter, boundless happiness—wanting nothing more.
Yet Cheon Seo-yoon didn’t know.
Swollen emotions hasten the confrontation with truth, by the very measure of their size……
“Huh?”
A flash in the corner of her vision made her eyes widen.
Not a reflection, not a lamp—unusually bright, she found it curious.
But the doubt faded swiftly the next instant.
As a voice brushed past.
If light …… then false…… so …… don’t……
Her head suddenly throbbed like it would split.