Chapter 379
Chapter 379
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 379
Chapter Title: Interracial War (18)
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Lee Hyuk-soo frowned.
His voice was thick with disappointment.
If Han Shin had truly turned against them, he might have to deal with him personally.
Of course, the "blood oath" that Adora had proposed was extreme.
But when he considered the next round, where "betrayal carried no penalty," it held at least a shred of justification.
Han Shin met Lee Hyuk-soo's murderous gaze without flinching.
A cynical smile still lingered on his lips.
"Betrayal? That's not why I'm refusing, Lee Hyuk-soo."
Han Shin spoke in a tone as hard as steel.
"I have no intention of putting my life on the line with such a coercive blood oath."
At the same time, his eyes turned toward Adora.
"Especially... not one proposed by a being of unknown origins like you."
"A being of unknown origins? Are you talking about me?"
Adora's red eyes gleamed dangerously.
The air around her seemed to freeze once more.
But Han Shin showed no sign of intimidation.
"That's right. You seem to know a great deal, but you reveal nothing about yourself. And yet you expect me to stake my heart and soul on a blood oath? Even a passing demon would scoff at that."
He was a contractor of the Demon God Belial.
He knew better than anyone the dangers of contracts and oaths—and the hidden costs lurking beneath them.
Especially "deals" offered by demons or their ilk were always like sweet poison.
"One contract formed against my will is more than enough."
Han Shin's voice grew even colder.
His eyes had already shifted back to Lee Hyuk-soo.
He had already sworn one blood oath.
The oath to "never betray humanity until the Interracial War ends."
"Does that mean you're fine being branded a traitor right here?"
Adora slowly opened her mouth.
Killing intent laced her voice.
She had clearly declared that "anyone refusing the blood oath would be considered a traitor."
"It means I've already sworn a blood oath. Isn't that right, Lee Hyuk-soo?"
"...That's correct. You promised before me and the Messenger of Blood Oaths. That you wouldn't betray humanity until the Interracial War ends."
Adora's red eyes shifted from Lee Hyuk-soo to Han Shin, then back to Lee Hyuk-soo.
No emotion appeared on her face.
Taking her reaction as silent affirmation, Han Shin shrugged.
"Satisfied now?"
"......"
A strange tension hung in the air.
Lee Hyuk-soo stepped between them.
He could no longer just watch this disastrous situation unfold.
"In any case, Adora, I understand your intentions. But coercive blood oaths aren't the only solution. And Han Shin, I respect your will as well. But right now, we all need to trust each other and join forces. We can't afford internal divisions like this."
Despite his desperate mediation, the atmosphere inside the tent remained as frigid as thin ice.
"Won't betray humanity......"
Han Shin's oath was toward "humanity," not the "comrades" in this tent.
And in this trial, the greatest threat might not be external enemies, but betrayal from within.
At that moment, Reaper Johnson cautiously spoke up.
"Th-then... what about the rest of us? Do we really have to swear to the Messenger of Blood Oaths?"
His voice was still filled with anxiety.
Lee Hyuk-soo glanced back and forth between Adora and Han Shin before finally making his decision.
"No, I won't force any blood oaths."
His voice was firm.
"I understand Adora's warning fully. But I still trust my comrades. And if... if there's truly a traitor among us, no blood oath could stop them. It would only breed more distrust among us."
He looked around at his team members and continued.
"We've all chosen to stand here of our own will. And we'll fight for humanity in our own ways. That's enough."
At his words, Adora offered no further rebuttal.
As if judging that her warning alone sufficed, she reverted to her usual impassive expression, staring off into a single point in the void.
Lee Hyuk-soo was the warrior representing humanity now—and the one who bore full responsibility for that choice.
His resolute decision slightly thawed the frozen atmosphere, if only by a fraction.
The shadow of the word "betrayal" that Adora had cast still lingered in the corner of their hearts.
But at least the leader's choice of "trust" over coercive bonds brought a small sense of relief to the team.
"......Alright. So what's the plan now, Captain?"
Reaper Johnson broke the awkward silence with a touch of playfulness.
Lee Hyuk-soo nodded.
"Detailed information on the 'Chaos Archipelago' will be revealed soon. Until then, we need to use everything we have to devise the best strategy."
His gaze swept over the team members one by one.
"First, we need to meticulously reanalyze the information Dagon provided. Surviving races, and the newly joined demons. Grasping their forces, characteristics, potential alliances, and risks is our top priority."
Adriana nodded and added,
"Especially info on races in our mid-tier seed group, and those who've proposed alliances to us. We need to figure out if their offers are genuine or if they have ulterior motives."
"What about the alliance with the Windtrace Tribe?"
Ling Ling asked Lee Hyuk-soo.
Lee Hyuk-soo replied,
"The Windtrace Tribe could be our greatest asset in the Chaos Archipelago. Their scouting abilities and mobility are invaluable advantages on such a vast chain of islands. But at the same time, they're the least trustworthy. I don't know how effective Han Shin's 'special connection' will be, but we must always prepare for the worst."
The team members fell into thought at Lee Hyuk-soo's analysis.
The Windtrace Tribe.
They could certainly be powerful wings, but they were also a double-edged sword that could strike from behind at any moment.
"Their queen Sylvia demanded two conditions."
Adriana recalled as she spoke.
"Priority negotiation rights on the legacy of the Transcender 'Lil,' and arranging a meeting with Park Chan-woo. The first is moot until we find that relic, but the second means... we need to buy time until he returns."
"So, we use the Windtrace Tribe alliance to our fullest, but never depend on them completely."
"Was that story even reliable to begin with?"
Ling Ling and Reaper Johnson responded in turn.
Their voices carried more practical skepticism than belief in Queen Sylvia's mystical tale.
Lee Hyuk-soo nodded in agreement.
"I don't fully trust Queen Sylvia's words either."
At his statement, the team's gazes focused on him once more.
"Whether it's the prophecy of Transcender Lil or the fated connection with my master, those are realms we can't verify yet. But one thing is certain: the Windtrace Tribe has clear 'utility value' to us."
He paused briefly and looked around at the team.
"We maximize their abilities without ever trusting them fully."
Lee Hyuk-soo's eyes sharpened.
"The key is to remain 'necessary' to the Windtrace Tribe during that time. We make them believe the benefits of allying with us outweigh any gains from betraying us."
"How exactly do we move?"
At Adriana's question, Lee Hyuk-soo calmly responded, as if he had already formulated a rough plan.
His gaze first turned to the Aorum siblings, Aorum and Yoo Jin-seo.
"First, Aorum and Yoo Jin-seo."
At Lee Hyuk-soo's call, the two straightened up.
Aorum wore a light smile, but his eyes held seriousness. Yoo Jin-seo quietly awaited his next words.
Lee Hyuk-soo inwardly pinned his hopes on their hidden potential.
He knew they were ten-tailed foxes. They had fought alongside Park Chan-woo during the Night of the Witches.
"You two will prioritize scouting and exploration of the archipelago with the Windtrace Tribe. Leverage their intel network, but cross-verify with your spirit arts and holy power to secure independent information. And always prioritize safety—retreat immediately if it feels dangerous."
"Got it."
Aorum replied leisurely.
Yoo Jin-seo nodded firmly, her eyes filled with resolve.
Scouting and exploration were familiar territory for them, and collaborating with the Windtrace Tribe promised an intriguing challenge.
Next, Lee Hyuk-soo's gaze shifted to Ling Ling and Han Shin.
They were top-tier experts—and the most unpredictable ones.
Afterward, Lee Hyuk-soo assigned roles to his comrades and laid out the plan.
"I must keep the main plan to myself alone."
For now, that plan was not shared among them.
It was for contingencies—only Lee Hyuk-soo knew the full details.
Finally, Lee Hyuk-soo's gaze turned to Adora, who still seemed to observe everything from a corner of the tent.
The strongest power in the team, yet the most unpredictable existence.
What role should he assign her?
"Adora."
Lee Hyuk-soo called her cautiously.
"There's... something special I'd like to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"I want you to ally with other races."
"You mean betray us?"
Lee Hyuk-soo nodded.
He judged that Adora needed to act separately, like the Trojan Horse, to form alliances with other races.
And he was certain she wouldn't betray humanity because of her connection to "Park Chan-woo."
...If not, things would spiral out of control.
But he wasn't worried.
Perhaps because she held Park Chan-woo's "existence foundation."
"He trusts Adora infinitely."
Park Chan-woo seemed to trust Adora deeply.
It felt like mutual trust and reliance.
"Could she be in a romantic relationship with the Prophet?"
Her actions suggested it was possible.
For a moment, he wondered if he should call her "ma'am," but he shook his head.
Addressing the iron-blooded woman—the Creator of Death, who wouldn't bleed even if stabbed—as "ma'am"...
No sane person could utter it.