Chapter 414: Human World[R-18] (52)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 414: Human World[R-18] (52)
—BOOOOM!
A colossal explosion echoed through downtown Belfast. Buildings shook, and windowpanes shattered, raining down onto the streets.
From a cathedral window, Im Hye-rin watched the direction of the explosion, gritting her teeth.
“That idiot…”
Flames flickered in her eyes. Startled by the sudden sounds of battle, she had rushed to find Seo-yun, but only Ayame was in the room. Even after Ayame regained consciousness, she didn't know where Seo-yun had gone.
Hye-rin knew instinctively that Seo-yun was out there, fighting something all by himself.
“Master, Yuri has confirmed it. Someone is fighting some kind of monster over there.”
Jung Ji-hun reported, rushing over.
“A monster?”
“Yes, a type of monster I've never seen before… It didn't seem to be the product of an ability user, either.”
Im Hye-rin hesitated no longer.
“Summon the Nagitsune.”
“Understood!”
As Jung Ji-hun hurried away, Im Hye-rin clenched her fists.
Seo-yun must be the one fighting. Please, be safe...
A moment later, the cathedral doors burst open, and Nogi Kazuo entered, leading the members of the Nagitsune Guild.
“What's going on, Im Hye-rin?”
Kazuo's sharp gaze fell on her.
“Seo-yun is out there fighting a monster.”
She paused, her expression turning serious.
“It seems to be at least S-Class, maybe higher.”
Nogi Kazuo frowned, looking out the window. Another explosion rocked the entire building.
“We need to help him immediately. If he dies, we'll have a food problem.”
“Then let's move out right away.”
The two guilds spoke as one.
“Move out!”
Im Hye-rin took the lead, storming out of the cathedral. The rest followed, all of them sprinting toward the site of the explosions.
A short while later, they arrived at the heart of the battle, a chaotic scene of explosions and raging torrents.
Im Hye-rin froze.
“That's…”
A man was floating in the sky. Amidst the swirling vortex and storm, his teal hair scattered brilliantly. He looked like a hero from myth, overwhelming the monster with an indifferent expression.
The moment she saw him, a jolt shot through her lower abdomen, an unconscious, primal thrumming deep within her womb. An instinctive reaction.
“Somehow… he's gotten even more handsome…”
Jung Ji-hun and the other guild members who followed stared up, their eyes wide with disbelief.
“Mr. Seo-yun's appearance… he looks like a completely different person.”
“More importantly…” one of the guild members said, swallowing hard.
“He's strong… He seems even stronger than an S-Class.”
Even Nogi Kazuo was speechless, his lips parting slightly. His gaze was fixed on Jin Seo-yun in the sky.
“…That's… that brat…?”
Just then, Ayame murmured quietly.
“He's truly… incredible.”
Her voice was a mixture of awe and something else.
In the sky, the final clash between Seo-yun and Alexander was unfolding. The teal wind and the monster's aura collided violently, tearing nearby buildings to pieces.
“Can we… even get involved in that?” Park So-young asked worriedly.
“A fight of that level…”
“Let's watch for now,” Im Hye-rin said. “If Seo-yun is winning, it's fine. If he's in danger, that's when we'll intervene.”
All eyes were focused on the battle.
As she watched the fight, Im Hye-rin sensed something was off.
…Something's strange.
On the surface, it looked like Seo-yun was completely overwhelming his opponent.
He seems to be dominating, but he also looks… anxious.
Like someone who knows the power he's using won't last long.
Just then, she sensed a subtle dissonance in the storm, like a crack forming.
The teal aura wavered for a moment, and in that instant, one of the monster's tentacle-like arms shot out, grazing and tearing open Jin Seo-yun's side.
—BANG!!
Jin Seo-yun retaliated with a flurry of blades to barely create some distance, but it was the first time his posture had broken in mid-air.
“Seo-yun…!”
Im Hye-rin's heart sank. Aether instantly condensed at her fingertips, and the surrounding air began to burn. A searing current shook the earth, radiating intense heat.
“—White Flame Explosion!”
In an instant, a white flame fell like a meteor, crashing directly onto the monster's body.
—BOOOOM!!
A blinding white flame engulfed the monster, and a shockwave spread out in all directions with a deafening roar. For a moment, the white inferno covered everything, shaking the very air.
*
My entire vision was filled with a white flame so bright it hurt my eyes. Within that inferno, which seemed to set the sky ablaze, I immediately sensed a familiar aura.
That's my mother-in-law's attack.
A strike of white flame, fired the very instant my posture broke, piercing through the opening. It was perfect support.
The problem was…
I glared at the monster's silhouette as it writhed within the flames, already regaining its form. Its torso was burning and its flesh was melting away, yet it was still regenerating at an incredible speed.
…What are we going to do? That bastard just keeps regenerating like crazy.
Bi-yeon's voice was tinged with anxiety.
I thought there'd be a limit to its regeneration… but this feels like it has no limiter at all.
Ugh, this is so annoying. Honestly, its abilities are nothing special, but that one regeneration skill is making it impossible to beat.
Bi-yeon. How much time is left on the Spirit Fusion?
…Ten minutes at most. No, at the current rate of Aether consumption, eight minutes is the limit.
Only eight minutes.
“……Hmm, running away again would be a blow to my pride.”
Agreed. My pride won't allow it. ……Wait. Why did its regeneration slow down?
At Bi-yeon's words, I turned my gaze back to Alexander.
I could see it immediately. She was right. Its regeneration speed had slowed considerably.
“…Is it getting tired?”
No. I think it's because of that lady's flames.
Just then, Im Hye-rin's voice came from below.
“Seo-yun! Are you okay?”
“Yes, I'm fine.”
I slowly descended, landing beside Im Hye-rin. The moment I did, her hand shot out like lightning as if she'd been waiting.
—SMACK!
“Honestly, what were you thinking, fighting alone without telling anyone?”
“Haha… I'm sorry.”
My back stung where she'd hit me.
“So, we have guests…”
Alexander emerged from the white flames, his regeneration complete. But his recovery speed was clearly slower than before.
“What… in the world is that?” Im Hye-rin frowned.
“It's Alexander.”
“…What?”
Im Hye-rin's eyes widened. This creature looked nothing like the blonde Knight Commander she knew.
“The Templar Knight Commander turned into a monster like that?”
I quickly explained the situation, leaving out the part about him being an otherworlder but detailing his objective.
“So, he was deceiving us from the start.”
“Have you finally grasped the situation?” Alexander said with a sneer.
“That's right! From the very beginning, all of you were nothing but sacrifices!”
Nogi Kazuo drew his sword and stepped forward.
“Sacrifices? Don't make me laugh.”
“Father, be careful!” Ayame cried out worriedly.
“It's fine. It's just one monster.”
But despite Kazuo's words, the pressure from Alexander was immense.
“Mother-in-law.”
I whispered to Im Hye-rin.
“Your flames are hindering his super-regeneration. Please keep burning him.”
“Got it.”
Im Hye-rin nodded and began gathering flames in both hands.
Alexander was the first to move. He leaped from his spot and snatched one of the Nagitsune guild members in an instant.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
He opened his mouth and devoured the man's head whole.
“Damn it!!”
Kazuo swung his sword in a rage, but it was too late.
“Humans are surprisingly delicious!”
Alexander laughed, blood dripping from his mouth. At the same time, the remaining wounds on his body healed in an instant.
“Everyone, maintain your distance! Don't approach him recklessly!”
Im Hye-rin's shout rang out, but Alexander didn't stop. This time, he turned toward Ayame, a grotesque smile spreading across his face.
“Next… I'll take you.”
His tentacles shot toward Ayame like lightning.
“Ayame!”
Nogi Kazuo rushed forward, but he was too far away.
“Nngh…!”
Ayame drew her sword to cut the tentacles, but too many were swarming her from all sides.
In that moment—
—SHING!
Blades of wind sliced through all the tentacles.
“You okay?”
“Th-thank you…”
Ayame nodded, her face pale.
“Tsk, a meddler.”
Alexander clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to me. But just then, a pillar of fire descended from above. Im Hye-rin's flames struck him squarely on the head.
“Kuhk…!”
The creature took a step back. Through its burning shell, it glared at me and Im Hye-rin, then instantly turned and began to flee.
“He's running away!”
Nogi Kazuo immediately gave chase.
“Stop! Don't pursue him recklessly!!”
Im Hye-rin shouted urgently, but it was too late. The Nagitsune guild members swarmed out after Nogi Kazuo.
“Dammit…”
Im Hye-rin gritted her teeth and issued a command to the Halcyon Guild members.
“You all head back immediately. Secure the civilians and prepare for any contingencies with the other ability users!”
“Understood!”
The Halcyon members moved quickly. I turned my attention to tracking the aura of the fleeing Alexander.
Hey, that bastard… I think he's heading toward the black guy.
Bi-yeon's voice echoed in my head.
The black guy?
You know. The dark-skinned guy you beat up.
“……Evan Carter.”
As I muttered the name, Im Hye-rin's face, who was standing beside me, instantly hardened.
“Don't tell me… he's trying to absorb Evan Carter?”
“Mother-in-law, we're going to move fast. Hold on tight.”
I wrapped my arm firmly around her waist and shot straight up into the sky. The wind whipped relentlessly against my face as the city landscape blurred and receded behind us.