Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: It's Okay Because I'm a Genius Even on a Time Limit
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It was the most incomprehensible turn of events.
I'd only just met Han Su-hyuk today, so there was no connection between us whatsoever.
"What do you mean, because of me?"
I asked him, having forgotten even fear.
Han Su-hyuk pointed lazily at Cheon Seo-yun, slumped in the corner, and spoke.
"Ask the old geezer you'll be meeting soon about the details. Seems like he owes a debt to you and that woman."
Ah...
To him, it was just an offhand remark, nothing more or less.
But to me, it rang differently.
There was only one group that held grudges against both me and Cheon Seo-yun.
...The Demon Subjugation Society.
And "old geezer" had to refer to Jeon-gwi, one of the Seven Demons—the old demon who was mad for money and committed all sorts of crimes.
Han Su-hyuk must have come here on that Seven Demon's commission.
It might not be entirely accurate, but I had no time to nitpick.
"Anyway, about your armament and flying blade technique."
Han Su-hyuk continued, his voice laced with interest I'd never heard from him before.
"If they show enough power to satisfy me, I'll leave with just you and that woman. But if not..."
"......?"
"Everyone here dies."
He glared at us with a sticky smile.
It was a bizarre, almost absurd proposal, but I nodded right away.
There was no downside if I thought about it. Breaking through the barrier would take preparation time anyway.
He was offering to wait patiently—no reason to refuse.
I bowed my head toward Reina.
She closed her eyes and murmured softly.
"For that name, among all foreigners, make them believe and obey."
She reached out toward my head, so I bent my knees slightly to match her height.
Right then, a pure yet majestic energy flowed into my body.
Different from 'sanctification,' this divine power made me shudder for an instant.
[Reina's trait 'Self-Sacrificing One' activates.]
[Amplifies your abilities using her lifespan as the medium.]
[Your physical abilities rise for a set time.]
[Your mana rises for a set time.]
[Light-speed property infuses your mana for a set time.]
No mere message or visible stat could describe the sensation.
It was like shedding my skin and being reborn, power surging through my entire body.
In that overwhelming euphoria where I felt I could do anything.
"...This is as far as I go."
I supported the staggering Reina and gently set her down, then activated Manifestation.
[Trait, Manifestation activates.]
With multiple lives on the line in a single move, this was my first real battle in this world—not my usual single strike.
For the first time in ages, I manifested the armament that I'd implemented at a measly 10% before, barely able to handle even that.
[Manifesting Chilji Sword.]
Then, without hesitation, I poured everything in.
The mana amplified by Reina's lifespan, plus the trait's time-limited power.
"I offer the remaining three days as sacrifice."
I stripped every available resource to focus on manifesting one single sword.
Moments later, seven copper-colored blades shot into the sky, revealing themselves.
[Chilji Sword (Replica)]
[Grade: Hero (Mid)][Performance Limit: 40%]
[Effect: Strength and Agility +60%. Crowd control effect within 2.5m radius]
A more complete version of Korea's hero-grade national treasure had manifested on this land once more.
"A summoning-type armament?"
Han Su-hyuk let out a low exclamation, eyes widening, then drew the Moon King Nine Heavens Sword.
"It looks unstable, but this should be fun to clash with."
Tzzzzzt.
The Chilji Sword gleamed like a holy sword infused with divine power, while the Moon King Nine Heavens Sword rippled with sword-red demonic energy.
The demonic sword, said to grow by devouring enemy blood, was aimed at its counterpart.
The clash of two armaments that would never meet in a lifetime created a powerful anomaly on its own.
As their overflowing auras collided, intense sparks flashed, dizzying the surroundings, and the confined wind whipped into a fierce gust swirling between them.
"Already exceeding expectations, fledgling."
Han Su-hyuk murmured, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with anticipation.
But I didn't answer.
No, couldn't was more accurate.
Even with my body maxed out by Reina's buff and the Chilji Sword's effects, just standing was all I could manage.
The presence of those two armaments was that immense.
But I had no time to space out.
I gritted my teeth, unfurled Heavenly Silken Threads, and wrapped them around the Chilji Sword.
"Keep your promise."
Then, I thrust with all my might.
Not at Han Su-hyuk.
Upward, toward the ceiling of the chapel where the pale barrier held.
Shrieeeeeek.
It happened so fast that even Han Su-hyuk couldn't react.
"What the—?"
He just looked up in bewilderment.
The Heavenly Silken Threads' acceleration propelled the Chilji Sword upward violently, smashing into the barrier.
Thunder and lightning alternated from the ceiling in bursts of intense light and noise.
Krrrzzzzzt.
The result: complete penetration.
The barrier shattered, and the fierce winds enveloping the chamber surged upward.
I'd achieved my goal, but I couldn't relax.
['Greed' awakens from dormancy and screams to be careful.]
Right after Greed's sudden warning.
"Playing tricks, eh, fledgling."
The Moon King Nine Heavens Sword flashed, and a wave of demonic energy roared.
Boom!
A destructive sword strike flew at me like a bullet from a gun barrel.
It closed the distance in an instant, giving the illusion it would cleave me in two.
It was probably pure instinct.
My right hand extended, activating Greed's authority.
[Subsidiary Authority 1.]
[Greed advises preparing for impact exceeding tolerance.]
Kablooom!
Han Su-hyuk's strike met Greed.
The shock rocked my whole body; I spread my legs wide and gripped my trembling right hand with my left.
"Urgh..."
But the demonic energy surpassed tolerance by a wide margin.
Like dipping my hand in black dye, my entire arm blackened, and I was flung away.
I crashed into the corner, gasping raggedly.
Urk—
Blood surged back up, followed by agony like my body had been shredded.
Still, I'd blocked it.
My enhanced physical stats had let me endure.
I forced my shaking legs to move and stood.
The demonic wave had likely spread across the cathedral by now, and reinforcements would arrive soon—I just needed to buy time.
Some liquid—blood or sweat—blurred my vision.
I wiped it away and forcibly lifted my eyelids.
Thud—
Han Su-hyuk, approaching, stopped dead then.
"You..."
Why was that?
His face, now facing me again, was noticeably distorted.
His shaking pupils parted as if to speak, but he shook his head.
"You win today, fledgling."
Without any follow-up attack, he turned and left.
...Just like that?
It was utterly baffling, but I had no luxury to question it.
Tension released, and I collapsed in a heap.
Too drained to move, I just stared blankly at the light seeping through the hole the Chilji Sword had punched in the ceiling.
"Fuck, that hurts."
The world spun, darkness crept in, and I blacked out.
I remember nothing after that.
* * *
I opened my eyes nearly 12 hours after passing out.
A white ceiling swam into view, the drip-drip of IV fluid echoing, and I realized I was in a hospital.
"Ugh."
I barely sat up and sighed in relief at finding no one around.
Having someone nearby when I felt this drained was just uncomfortable.
What happened after I blacked out became clear from the messages popping up.
[Achievement 71 - Dramatic Escape from Crisis]
[You protected the protagonists from mortal threat and survived.]
[Reward: +12 days to remaining time.]
[35 SP acquired for the dramatic development.]
Han Su-hyuk had fled, and the protagonists were safe, it seemed.
Maybe because I'd nearly died.
The reward was on par with a major main quest.
Not bad at all, I thought—just then.
Bang—
The door flew open, and white-coated medical staff rushed in.
"Oh my, you're already up?"
"Are you okay?"
"P-patient's awake!"
In the frantic atmosphere, I lay back as instructed.
The staff examined me here and there with puzzled looks.
They pried open my eyelids for a flashlight check or waved strange devices over me.
What stood out most was the doctor's expression. For some reason, his face was deadly serious.
"Is something wrong?"
I asked, a bit spooked, and he muttered gravely.
"...Yes. Your recovery is ridiculously fast."
"Pardon?"
No, why is that a problem? It's a good thing.
It had to be the effect of my trait, Resilient Recovery, but I didn't mention it.
Claiming fatigue, I shooed the medical staff out.
Bang—
But soon after, familiar faces entered.
"You woke up sooner than expected."
"Good to hear you're okay."
It was Lee Tae-jin and Kim Mi-young.
Even tired, I had things to sort out, so I couldn't chase them away this time.
After a brief check-in, Lee Tae-jin got to the point.
"You stayed till the end and broke the barrier?"
"Yeah, well... The Saintess's power was huge."
"Heard the assailant was a sword-using demon. Know who?"
"Well..."
I was about to say Han Su-hyuk but held back.
Should I reveal the truth or hide it? Weighing which benefited me more.
Maybe because Roberto had failed so pathetically.
The Demon Subjugation Society was moving more aggressively than in the original.
They should've escalated gradually, but this time they hadn't.
This crossed the line.
Dragging in Han Su-hyuk out of nowhere to crush budding sprouts? Unforgivable as the author. No guarantee it wouldn't happen again.
So, best to redirect all arrows at the Demon Subjugation Society and crush them now.
Decision made, I spoke.
"I don't know the demon's identity well. But he was targeting me and student Cheon Seo-yun."
"Not the Saintess?"
"He said so himself."
"Hmm."
Lee Tae-jin paused, piecing it together.
Being sharp, he'd likely caught on quick.
The Demon Subjugation Society's role as the link between me, Cheon Seo-yun, and Roberto.
"That's all?"
"I think I heard 'Seven Demons' too. Some money-crazed old geezer."
I added a bit to confirm his deduction.
"Seven Demons, huh."
Lee Tae-jin stood, fully grasping it.
"Good work. Rest now."
"Shall we call a meeting?"
Lee Tae-jin and Kim Mi-young left with hardened expressions, far stiffer than when they'd arrived.
I leaned back in relief, then recalled one unresolved question.
"You win today, fledgling."
"Why'd he just leave?"
It seemed perceived as him fleeing before the Execution Squad arrived.
Honestly, with Han Su-hyuk's abilities, he could've kidnapped me and Cheon Seo-yun before they showed.
['Greed' puffs up its nose, saying it was due to its own dignity and presence.]
"If that's true, why'd all the other demons charge at me like mad?"
['Greed' says even it doesn't get that part.]
Yeah, you're special.
I smirked at Greed.
It had its cute side, after all.