Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Monopoly
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If the sovereigns of magic were the dragonkin, then the sovereigns of black magic were the witches.
Beings who defied truth itself, summoning rifts to unleash "unknown phenomena."
Though few in number and reclusive by nature—never included among the Twelve Sovereigns—the witches' powers were on par with theirs.
'Witches have appeared from time to time in the past.'
Witches never strayed from their own domain.
Yet occasionally, some would burst out into the world beyond.
It was usually one of two reasons.
They'd been caught in a rift, or they'd committed a sin and been exiled by the Black Witch.
To Park Chan-woo, Adora seemed like the latter.
'The greatest sin in the witches' world is to feel emotions.'
There were so few witches to begin with.
The Black Witch wouldn't banish one over trivial matters.
Let alone a witch bearing the name of "Death"—a witch with immense potential worthy of her title. No way would they toss her into the Tower of Hubris.
The gravest of sins.
Adora must have developed emotions, and that was her punishment.
But it was just a hunch.
No hard proof.
Only after stripping the "Magic of Death" from Kankun did his suspicion turn to certainty.
He could feel the emotions in it.
'Adora felt something for Kankun. Whether it was love or hate, he couldn't be sure.'
It was a gamble.
It had to be one or the other.
As if flustered, her domain expanded.
Asking her straight out must have hit hard.
But "Death's Curse" had no effect on him.
'Death's power is the polar opposite of Bokshil's.'
Radiant Anubis, Bokshil!
Thanks to the being who called death, devoured it, and guided souls clinging to his body.
As long as Bokshil was attached, no ordinary deathly power could even touch him.
She was the perfect counter to the Witch of Death.
"You're... not afraid of my power, are you."
Witch Adora looked at Park Chan-woo in surprise as she spoke.
The "death" she wielded reigned supreme over all life.
Yet her "Death's Curse" had zero effect on the human before her.
No, it wasn't just "Death's Curse."
Instinct told her.
None of her deaths would work on this man.
Of course, she could probably crush him with other black magic, but it was still a fresh shock for Adora.
Her power was something even witches avoided.
And here was a human barging into her domain, offering to "solve her problem."
He'd even met Kankun from another domain, it seemed.
"Do you love Kankun?"
Park Chan-woo asked again.
Adora thought to herself.
...What a brazen human.
No living being had ever stood so boldly before her.
They all cowered in fear, bowing their heads.
"I harbor no such pathetic emotions."
"Then do you want him dead?"
"You saw the ‘Magic of Death’ engraved on his heart."
"That must have been your way of showing it. If you'd wanted him dead, he would've died already."
Park Chan-woo spoke with firm conviction.
Facing the Witch of Death made it clear.
She had spared Kankun.
Orc Master Kankun was undoubtedly formidable, but the "Witch of Death" transcended such measures.
If Kankun had the potential to surpass the 10th realm...
'Adora is already a powerhouse of the 10th realm.'
Kankun's level was 83.
He had one foot in the 9th realm.
But Adora's level was over 90.
This intense mana—it couldn't be mistaken.
She had already stepped into the 10th realm.
Unlike Kankun, though, Adora's status window didn't appear.
'You can't observe witches. That's why it's impossible to gauge them properly.'
Witches were the sovereigns of black magic, defying truth itself.
Normal methods couldn't fathom them.
He could only roughly judge by the mana he sensed.
Even that was possible only because Park Chan-woo had once reached level 99.
"...I was merely curious."
For the first time, Adora spoke the truth.
Curiosity, huh.
"Curious about what?"
"I've... been watching Kankun for a long time."
And so, Adora revealed her secret.
The deepest part of the Abyss.
The world where witches dwelled.
Born there, Adora was so talented that the Black Witch personally mentored her.
But that talent sometimes ran wild, spawning rifts.
The young Adora was caught in them several times, occasionally falling into worlds beyond the Abyss.
And by chance, she met "Kankun."
Though their meeting was brief, it left an indelible mark on her.
—"You possess an ominous power? But a great warrior does not kill a child."
When the orcs tried to execute Adora.
Kankun appeared and saved her.
Afterward, the Black Witch returned Adora to the Abyss, but as she grew, she learned to wield the "Witches' Orb" and secretly watched Kankun through it.
His process of uniting the orcs and becoming their lord.
Something inexplicable sprouted in her at his fearless, valiant figure.
The problem was, the Black Witch discovered it.
—"Adora. For the sin of harboring what no witch should, I banish you from this Abyss forever."
Exiled, Adora fell into Kankun's territory.
And the massacre began.
Her deathly power slaughtered the orcs.
Kankun attacked the sudden Witch of Death who was massacring his orcs, and in the chaos, Adora had no choice but to engrave death into his heart.
"Do you regret it?"
Park Chan-woo asked after hearing the tragedy.
Adora replied.
"Having emotions?"
"No, do you regret meeting Kankun?"
"...I don't know."
The world outside the Abyss was full of unknowns.
But her not denying it was progress enough.
'So that's why her deathly aura has weakened.'
Adora was a monster.
If her "deathly aura" were at full strength, everyone who chose her faction to climb the tower would have died instantly.
Just her appearance had wiped out an orc tribe.
Yet now, her death domain barely extended 500 meters.
It was weakened.
The Tower of Hubris must want her to regain her power.
Even Sacred Relics wouldn't strengthen her "deathly aura."
Because Adora herself was disgusted by her own power and full of regret.
"...You think you can solve this?"
She was the one who massacred Kankun's tribe.
Intentional or not, the result was the same.
They would hate and resent her.
Unless the orcs were revived, who could resolve this?
...Impossible.
The moment he thought that.
Park Chan-woo nodded and extended his hand.
"I'll solve it."
"...Why extend your hand?"
"Let's get along from now on."
"No one who touches me survives."
Even other witches avoided contact with Adora.
Everything that touched her died.
Physical contact wielded an absolute power beyond mere curses.
"It's fine."
Park Chan-woo was confident.
With Bokshil, he would never fall to death.
"...Don't regret it."
Clasp.
Witch Adora grasped Park Chan-woo's outstretched hand.
At the same moment.
His body convulsed!
'Gah!'
Park Chan-woo fainted on the spot.
"Who's that next to Adora?"
"A zombie?"
"No. Never seen him before..."
A commotion stirred.
On the 3rd floor of the Tower of Hubris.
No one had ever seen anyone beside Adora besides the monsters she'd revived on her climb.
He was clearly alive.
And for good reason.
"...He's talking to Adora."
"What're they saying?"
"Who is he?"
Zombies had no free will.
They didn't converse with Adora.
But this man was different.
Right beside her, holding a conversation.
And that sight.
'What the...?'
Han Shin noticed it too.
On his way back after securing mid-grade Sacred Relics.
He saw a man standing next to Adora.
An outfit he'd never seen before.
Han Shin immediately activated "Divine Sight," but...
"...Tch."
He clicked his tongue softly.
Adora's overwhelming aura shrouded the "death domain," making it impossible to see or sense anything inside.
Naturally, he had no idea what they were discussing.
At first, he thought it was one of her summons.
But the more he looked...
'A human.'
He was certain the oddly dressed mage was human.
But how could a human withstand "Death's Curse" and stand right next to Adora?
Even Han Shin couldn't manage that.
He might endure for a bit, but forcing his way in would mean death.
'Never saw him on the climb up.'
Where'd this guy come from?
This newcomer was acting like Adora's closest confidant.
Adora, who hadn't let Han Shin—who'd lined up six relics and was aiming for a seventh—stand by her side.
And not just that.
"...What?"
Han Shin scowled without realizing it.
Because Adora was handing over the Sacred Relics he'd hunted and obtained...
...to that guy.
And that mage bastard was cleverly replacing only the ones Han Shin had displayed.