Chapter 412: 6. 101 (4/4)
Chapter 412: 6. 101 (4/4)
Asura Demon Spear
(General Description: The divine spear, Sura, which has been passed down through a thousand years of legend. It is a Divine Armament recorded in the myths of the War of Gods and Demons in the ancient Hall Plain.
However.
Over the thousand years it was handed down, Asura Demon Spear has absorbed the blood of countless dark lineages. Drunk on the blood that slowly accumulated over a long period, Asura Demon Spear was, at some point, tainted by a demonic nature.
The current Asura Demon Spear is no longer a divine spear. It is a demonic spear that endlessly craves blood and cries out for destruction from its wielder.
In other words, the Asura Demon Spear.)
(Warning: The ill fortune latent within Asura Demon Spear will continuously bestow hardship and trials upon its wielder. Be careful. The moment you think you have overcome its demonic nature, the demonic spear will devour you without mercy.)
(Detailed Description: 1. Unconditionally increases the wielder’s Strength by 6. 2. The wielder….)
*
After moving to a quiet spot with Gong Chanho and Sung Hayan.
“I’ve been truly wronged.”
As soon as we sat down in some nearby seats, Gong Chanho’s lament began. Seeing his face filled with anxiety, it seemed Kim Minhee's words, “Just you wait,” had truly gotten to him.
“…For now, I think it would be best to wait for the Shadow Queen’s judgment.”
“B-But! Even so…”
Still endlessly anxious, Gong Chanho’s lips trembled as he looked back and forth between me and Sung Hayan. Sung Hayan patted his back with a worried expression as he fell into despair.
This is… not the attitude of someone I can have a conversation with.
No, before that. Is this Gong Chanho really the Peerless Under Heaven?
I let out a short sigh at this unfamiliar version of ‘Peerless Under Heaven.’ Then, I calmly organized my thoughts about the death. It seemed better to make him fully aware of the current situation before asking the questions I had.
“The key point is the fact that that woman touched the spear.”
The moment I spoke, Gong Chanho’s head shot up. His desperately shining eyes looked as if he were gazing upon a lifeline.
“User Kim Minhee’s claim is simple. When that woman touched it, there was no reaction, but the moment User Kang Seonghun touched it, a massive rebound effect occurred, strong enough to cause death. Therefore, if you can provide a clear answer for this, User Gong Chanho’s innocence will be proven.”
Gong Chanho seemed to understand to some extent. However, he still looked dejected, so it appeared there was a problem with providing a clear answer.
“About that… The truth is, I don’t know why that happened either.”
“Hmm.”
“Whew. Mercenary Lord-nim. Please, hear me out. First… the woman next to me is Sung Hayan, a trainee who is not yet a User.”
It was a sudden introduction, but I quickly turned my gaze. Sung Hayan looked at me quietly, then bowed her head.
“Hello. I’m Sung Hayan.”
“…I am Kim Soohyun, Lord of the Mercenary Clan.”
Her voice was clear, without a hint of impurity. It was as pure and lovely as the thought of white snow.
Anyway. I raised an eyebrow, silently asking what she had to do with this, and Gong Chanho shyly continued.
What followed was nothing special.
Gong Chanho was an instructor for melee classes. However, since it was his first time teaching, he said he made frequent mistakes and was often flustered at the beginning.
Then one day, after finishing an outdoor lecture, Gong Chanho forgot the Asura Demon Spear on his way back. When he rushed back to retrieve it, he saw Sung Hayan holding it.
“Just thinking about that time still makes me dizzy. If the rebound effect had occurred… Ah. Of course, I don’t know why it didn’t… Haha.”
Pausing for a moment, Gong Chanho looked at Sung Hayan and smiled shyly. She also blushed and smiled back at him.
From their expressions, I could guess their relationship. They had probably gotten close quickly after that incident.
A baseless irritation surged within me, and I opened my mouth, my tone sharper than before.
“…Does that even make sense?”
Gong Chanho’s smile vanished, and his expression turned serious again.
“As I thought… it’s not enough, is it?”
“…Hmm.”
I touched my forehead for a moment before speaking quietly.
“Then I suppose we have no choice but to hope for the Crystal of Truth.”
“But I don’t have the means to acquire a Crystal of Truth…”
“User Gong Chanho doesn’t need to be the one to get it. If the other party wants to clearly determine right from wrong, they will get it themselves.”
“But what if, by some chance, I’m proven guilty…”
Unable to resolve his surging anxiety, Gong Chanho kept bringing up hypotheticals. I strained my voice, signaling him to stop.
“In the current situation, User Gong Chanho has the advantage. That’s because User Kang Seonghun forcibly touched the weapon even after being told not to. If that part is taken into consideration, it’s highly likely the ruling will be death due to negligence.”
“Really… You think so?”
“The Head Instructor, Ko Yeonju, is a member of the Mercenary Clan. I spoke with her briefly earlier, and her thoughts weren’t much different from mine.”
Gong Chanho blinked pitifully and looked up at me. Seeing his face, I unknowingly frowned.
Really… so unfamiliar…
To be honest.
My first meeting with Gong Chanho was a tremendous disappointment.
Who was Gong Chanho? Wasn’t he the strongest hero of his time, ‘Peerless Under Heaven,’ whose name made the entire Northern Continent tremble?
Gong Chanho, ‘Peerless Under Heaven,’ was so outstanding, so powerful, that he was kept in check by every clan. I still remembered his great renown—how he repelled a joint attack from the ‘God of War’ Cha Seunghyun and the ‘Madwoman’ Ban Dahee, and how he was called a One-man Army.
Yes. An opponent has to be at least this strong to be worth fighting. Hahaha!
And when he had fallen into a trap. The image of him looking at the thousands of Users surrounding him, laughing softly as he proudly drew the ‘Asura Demon Spear,’ was still deeply engraved in my mind.
But. That being the case.
“Haha… I’ll be in your care. Mercenary Lord-nim!”
What was this servile attitude right now?
After a moment of savoring the bitter taste in my mouth, I slowly nodded.
Was he finally relieved? Gong Chanho let out a sigh of relief and bowed his head to me. He even added his thanks.
Seeing Sung Hayan bow her head along with him, I slowly shook my head.
A moment later, an awkward silence fell, and some time passed.
I tapped the table for a long while before breaking the quiet stillness.
“Come to think of it… I heard you were quite active in the recent war.”
“Y-Yes?”
“I heard you were recognized for your contributions and became an instructor.”
“Aha… Oh my. It was just a small contribution. How could it possibly compare to the Mercenary Lord’s?”
As he said this, Gong Chanho glanced at me as if observing me. That meant he knew a certain amount about me.
I tilted my head slightly and continued speaking.
“I heard you don’t belong to a clan yet. Are you perhaps operating alone?”
“Ah, that’s not it. I have comrades I’ve been working with, for as short as a few months to as long as a few years.”
“So… you’re still a caravan, I see.”
“Hey. Still, we plan to establish a clan soon. I don’t think we’ll fall behind in the performance evaluation thanks to this war. Haha.”
So that was it. I had actually expected this, but I couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste.
Gong Chanho’s Player Status was incredible. Just the fact that his Strength stat was 101 was enough to call him one of the Ten Strong without reservation.
So, why had such an incredible User remained unknown until now?
There was no need to even think about it. There was only one answer.
It was because Gong Chanho had been deliberately hiding his abilities until now.
I figured he probably had similar thoughts to mine in the early days of the Hall Plain. That is, to live quietly until his foundation was firmly established. Or perhaps it was just his disposition.
Of course, I didn’t know when he obtained the Asura Demon Spear. However, it was hard to believe Gong Chanho could have hidden this well all by himself; it was highly likely that he had outstanding comrades helping him.
Shin Hyochan… No. It’s more likely to be Hong Joohee. They assisted Gong Chanho for the longest time.
At the sudden thought, I stared intently at Sung Hayan. It seemed they already had a relationship, but if she hadn’t been scouted yet…
Feeling like I was grasping at straws, I opened my mouth.
“User Sung Hayan. From what I see, I heard you’re achieving quite excellent results at the Academy.”
“Huh? Ah, no, not at all.”
“Have any clans offered to scout you?”
“Ah, that is… Thank you for asking, but…”
However, Sung Hayan cautiously trailed off. Seeing her reaction, I could grasp the general situation. I let out another deep sigh.
In truth, the future had already changed, and Gong Chanho might no longer be my enemy.
But that was merely a possibility. For me, who had experienced the power of ‘101,’ there was a nagging part of me that was uneasy about letting the variable known as ‘Peerless Under Heaven’ go so lightly.
Who knew if that Asura Demon Spear would be aimed at me and my comrades in the future?
“Ah… haha. Mercenary Lord. Actually, I’ve already scouted her. She has decided to follow me after completing her studies at the Academy.”
Was my silence making him anxious? Gong Chanho’s careful explanation cleanly cut off even my last straw. At the same time, the future Peerless Under Heaven sent a suspicious glance my way.
Well, it was only natural. I had asked a series of questions that sounded like an investigation, and I had made a pass (?) at Sung Hayan, who already seemed to have a deep relationship with him.
I thought I should stop here, but I couldn’t help feeling a sense of regret.
After organizing my thoughts for a while, I decided to take a step back for now.
There’s nothing I can do right now.
Just as I was about to change the subject, the Asura Demon Spear hanging at Gong Chanho’s waist caught my eye.
If only I could prepare for the Asura Demon Spear…
The Asura Demon Spear was a piece of equipment that had vanished without a trace sometime after Gong Chanho’s death. Users had searched for it with fire in their eyes, combing through everything, but they couldn’t find it. As such, it was also the most veiled piece of equipment.
In that moment, I made a decision. I would figure out the Asura Demon Spear to prepare for any eventuality. First, I wet my lips…
“Whew. I understand. If you’ve already scouted her, then there’s nothing to be done.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Yes… Shall we return to our previous topic, then?”
“Yes? What topic?”
“I’m talking about that spear-like rod.”
When I gestured toward the Asura Demon Spear with my chin, Gong Chanho tilted his head.
“Honestly, part of me doesn’t believe it, and I’ve also become curious… User Gong Chanho. May I take a look at that weapon? If I do, I might be able to help you a little more.”
“Y-Yes? Ah. Of course.”
Gong Chanho was momentarily flustered but quickly held out the Asura Demon Spear toward me. He offered it so easily that I was almost taken aback myself, but I managed to compose myself when I saw him gripping both ends of the spear tightly.
“Please, look with your eyes only. It might be dangerous even up close, so it’s best to keep some distance.”
I immediately shook my head. Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.
Asura Demon Spear, Asura Demon Spear. That damned Asura Demon Spear. I don’t know its full extent, but I have to find out how much latent power it holds.
I had already thoroughly examined its stats with my Third Eye. However, there was bound to be a difference between that and actually holding and wielding it, so I planned to touch it myself and feel the rebound effect.
I stared at him intently and spoke in a low voice.
“May I touch the weapon myself?”
“What…? Ah! N-No, absolutely not!”
“It’s fine. My magic resistance is quite high. I’ll just touch it lightly, and if it feels wrong, I’ll let go immediately.”
“No! Even if you are the Mercenary Lord-nim, this is the one thing you absolutely cannot do! P-Please, just look at it with your eyes. Please…!”
I tried to coax him, but Gong Chanho vehemently objected, shouting. Seeing his arm showing signs of pulling the spear back, I quickly continued.
“No. Don’t worry. What could this possibly do…”
The distance to the spear was already within arm’s reach. Acting as if it were no big deal, I swiftly moved my arm.
Gong Chanho tried to pull it back quickly, but my Agility stat was 98 points. Thus, I successfully placed my hand on the Asura Demon Spear before he could fully retract it.
“Ah, no…!”
Crackle! Crac-crackle!
The demonic energy of the Asura Demon Spear is generating a rebound effect!
Glory of Heaven and Glory of the Sun activate in response! Judged as ‘Partial Defense’!
Blessing of the Battlefield (Rank: EX) activates in response! ‘Partial Defense’ judgment is upgraded to ‘Complete Defense’ judgment!
“Keuk!”
Were they surprised by the massive electrical discharge? I felt the grip on the spear loosen for a moment, and as I gently pulled it away, the man and woman stared up at me blankly.
I had prepared to use Eternal Flame just in case, but there was no need. I felt a slight friction, but that was all.
I gave the spear, which was emitting crimson currents, a light twirl. Then I shrugged at the two people staring blankly at me.
“See? It’s fine, right?”
“H-How…?”
Gong Chanho stammered, still in disbelief.
However, I didn’t let my guard down. Simply holding it was possible, but I hadn’t drawn out its true power yet.
So, after quietly composing myself, I slowly roused my magic power and pushed it into the spear.
And, it was in that moment.
Zzzzt! Zzzzzzt!
“Kyaaah!!!!”
“M-Mercenary Lord! Let go of it right now!”
The demonic energy of the Asura Demon Spear is running rampant!
Vwoom! Vwoooom!
Victoria’s Glory responds to the demonic energy and protects the User’s body!
Kgh!
I almost lost my grip for a second, but thanks to the ‘Victoria’s Glory,’ I barely managed to swallow a groan. Even though I had been thoroughly prepared, the demonic energy that momentarily surged back was truly terrifying.
Was it because it was a divine weapon passed down for a thousand years? The thousand years of power concentrated in my right hand was truly on a level that couldn’t be ignored. It was so overwhelming that it felt far more burdensome than even Mavolo de Ailight.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!
Vwoom! Vwoooom! Vwoooooom!
A sharp pain, as if hundreds of needles were stabbing my hand, washed over me, so intense it was beyond heavy. I managed to look down and saw the Asura Demon Spear, its demonic energy flaring up as if telling me to let go at once. Resisting it with all its might was the faint aura of light enveloping my body.
But I could see the faint aura fading quickly. There was nothing I could do here besides rely on my base resistance. The magic power currently connected to the Asura Demon Spear was my own. If I were to rouse my magic now, the spear’s power would only amplify along with it.
Crackle! Zzzzt! Zzzzzzt!
“Kuh, keuh!”
Barely holding onto the rampaging Asura Demon Spear, I grit my teeth. And I thought.
In the end… do I have to use Eternal Flame?
For now, I was barely holding on with the ‘Victoria’s Glory,’ but the moment this aura faded, the burden would become even greater.
Crackle, Boom! Kaboom! Kabooooom!
Now it was even exploding.
Damn it. It really seems to hate me. The swords weren’t like this.
With no more time to think, I took a deep breath. I was just about to awaken the power sleeping in my heart.
It was then.
Fwoosh! Fwoooosh!
—Oh my?
Zzzzzzt! Zzzzt…! Zzt…?!
—Oh my, my, my. Hey. Aren’t you Sura?
Before I could even awaken it, my heart spoke.