Chapter 382: The Light (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 382: The Light (1)
Lich.
A monster that stores its life force outside its body, granting it abilities close to immortality.
The existence of this monster gave several necromancers a great deal of inspiration.
In a rather twisted direction.
Necromancers, beings who dealt with death.
While they felt a sense of security from their minions, who could recover in an instant even when torn and broken, they also harbored a strange sense of admiration.
A body that could instantly recover from fatal wounds, that never aged, that lived forever.
It was as if they had been granted a crude form of eternal life—the kind anyone content with their existence might dream of.
And so, a few necromancers banded together and secretly launched a project.
The project's name was ‘Immortal’.
Literally, research on how to become an immortal being.
“Kugh…!”
The man clutched his broken finger.
The Half-Lich was the result of their research.
An incomplete being that used the properties of a lich to transfer a portion of its life force into a vessel—alive, yet with one foot in the realm of immortality.
“Does it hurt?”
“You son of a bitch…!”
The guy glared at me, his eyes filled with resentment as he massaged his finger, which had healed over time.
This guy’s a real piece of work.
“Watch your mouth. Unless you want a few more things broken.”
“……”
His pride must have been wounded, because killing intent filled his eyes.
But seeing him keep his mouth shut, it seemed he didn't want anything else broken.
Should’ve done that from the start.
“Give me information on Hexagram. I’ll let you live.”
The man muttered with a bitter smile.
“Hmph… You must have already heard, right? All members are under a restriction. It’s impossible to divulge information.”
“I know.”
I continued, grinning at the man who was clumsily trying to outsmart me.
“But you can.”
“…What do you mean?”
“That restriction—it makes your blood slowly dry up until you die in agony, right?”
You die when all the blood in your body dries up.
Whether you’re a civilian or a Hunter, it’s a law of nature that no human can escape.
But this guy, having become a Half-Lich, was one step removed from that law.
“You can survive even if your blood dries up.”
This was a body that could heal a broken bone in mere minutes.
Even if all his blood were to dry up, his body wouldn't die as long as his life force wasn't depleted.
Of course, he’d feel extreme pain in the process, and some of the life force remaining in his body would be lost… but that wasn't my problem.
I had hit a nerve. He shot back.
“And if I refuse to talk?”
“Then we’ll start by breaking every bone in your body.”
“……”
I may primarily use a sword, but I’m pretty good with my fists, too.
I’m especially skilled at picking out spots that will cause the most pain, which came in handy when I had to interrogate captured villains.
“…It seems like I’ll be in pain no matter which I choose.”
“That’s true. But you should think carefully.”
Either way, the fact that he would suffer wouldn't change.
However, one thing was different.
“I’ll make you suffer forever. If you break the restriction, you only have to suffer for a moment.”
Eternal pain versus a moment of pain.
I didn't need to say more. It was obvious which option was better.
After a moment of thought, the man seemed to make up his mind and spoke.
“I have one condition.”
“Name it.”
His gaze shifted to Baek Hyeon-a, who was standing a short distance away, watching us.
“Guarantee the life of my subordinate as well.”
“Hmm…?”
It was an unexpected proposal.
I never thought he’d suddenly ask me to spare Baek Hyeon-a’s life, too.
“That’s surprising. You don’t look like the type to care for your subordinates.”
He frowned, clearly offended by my words.
“I won’t deny that… but at the very least, I don’t abandon a subordinate I can easily save.”
“Ah, is that so.”
Something felt off, but… it wasn't a bad offer.
I was already wondering what to do with her, so this made things simple. It was convenient for me.
“Fine, let’s do that.”
“I like how straightforward you are.”
The man smiled bitterly and pushed himself up.
“It’s too much to explain verbally. Instead, you can take the files I’ve organized at my place.”
His words made me frown unconsciously.
Hmm… This was a classic ploy used by those trying to escape.
“Let me make one thing clear… If I catch you trying any funny business, you’ll spend at least two weeks in so much pain you’ll wish you were dead.”
At that, the man flinched and replied.
“…Do as you please.”
Fine.
Since he’s going this far, I might as well play along.
* * *
On the way to his residence by car.
The three of them rode in the same car to prevent any potential tricks.
Baek Hyeon-a drove, while Kim Do-jin and the man sat in the back.
“…We’re here.”
After an hour of driving, the car stopped in front of an apartment in Eunpyeong District.
Baek Hyeon-a got out first, opened the back door, and supported her team leader by the shoulder.
He was suffering from mana exhaustion and couldn't walk on his own.
As they entered the apartment building, Kim Do-jin asked.
“Which floor?”
“The 8th.”
“Not too high. We can take the stairs.”
“……”
Seeing him say this with a grin, the other two guessed his true intention.
He was likely trying to eliminate any variables that might arise in an elevator.
At his thoroughness, the man, Lee Yoon-seok, was inwardly astonished.
This damn rising star is acting like a veteran who’s been a Hunter for over a decade.
He was impressed by how, unlike a typical prospect, he refused to allow even the smallest variable.
With no other choice, he struggled up the stairs, his uncomfortable body supported by Baek Hyeon-a.
It was incredibly taxing on his body, but in a way, it was for the best.
Thanks to him, I have plenty of time now.
As he deliberately slowed his pace, making the climb even harder on his already strained body.
He reached his arm behind Baek Hyeon-a and tapped her on the back.
Startled by the sudden touch, Baek Hyeon-a looked at Lee Yoon-seok with wide eyes.
But her surprise was fleeting.
Tap. Taptap. Tap.
She realized.
Lee Yoon-seok was sending her a message using the signal passed among organization members.
Catching on, she wiped the expression from her face and focused all her senses on her back.
Tap. Tap. Taptap. Tap. Taptaptap.
The first sentence of the simple yet complex signal was this:
‘The bomb will be detonated the moment we enter the residence.’
At those words, she had to struggle to hide her shock.
Detonate a bomb.
Was he planning to take Kim Do-jin down with him?
As she stood there, dumbfounded, the next message came.
‘Take the vessel and escape immediately.’
Only then did she fully understand his words.
He was a Half-Lich.
As long as the vessel was intact, he would suffer some damage, but he wouldn't die.
The plan was to move the vessel to a safe place and then kill him.
And the person designated to move that vessel was none other than herself.
The restriction was what made this possible.
Betraying him was the same as betraying the organization.
Knowing this, but still feeling anxious, Lee Yoon-seok left one last message.
Tap. Taptaptap. Tatap. Tap.
‘Cure will be administered after the incident is resolved.’
Nothing more needed to be said.
The cure he mentioned had to be the new drug that could treat her younger sibling.
For that, she was prepared to do anything.
Seeing her nod with a determined expression, Lee Yoon-seok suddenly collapsed, letting out a cough.
“Cough, cough…!”
Lee Yoon-seok coughed violently, covering his mouth with a trembling hand as if he were about to die.
It was a symptom that sometimes appeared in those suffering from mana exhaustion.
“…Are you all right?”
Baek Hyeon-a bent her knees to help him up, her face filled with concern.
As their hands met for her to pull him up, a small object was placed in her palm.
Even as he coughed, she saw the sharp glint in his eyes and realized.
What had just been placed in her hand was his very life.
* * *
Room 803.
Upon arriving at his residence, the man immediately sat down in front of the computer, turned it on, and gave Baek Hyeon-a an order.
“Go to the small room and take out all the documents in the safe. The password is 3832.”
“…Understood.”
Baek Hyeon-a headed to the small room next to the entrance.
After logging into a program with a complex password, the man asked me.
“Tell me your email address.”
“Ah, my email.”
What was my email address again?
I recalled the email address from Kim Do-jin’s memories, not Son Si-woo’s.
“…ehwlsdlek123.”
The man chuckled.
“You know, that spells out ‘Dojinida’ [It’s Do-jin] in Korean…”
“Shut i—”
One more word and I’ll break a bone before I get any information.
Sensing the killing intent in my tone, the man quickly shut his mouth and typed on the keyboard.
A moment later.
“I sent the file to your email. Check it.”
I took out my smartphone and checked my inbox.
There was one email, from ‘Lee Yoon-seok’.
I tapped it open and found a rather shocking message inside.
[You think I’d give you information, you idiot?]
“……”
Heh.
Look at this bastard.
It seemed he had prepared a move somewhere in his residence to instantly turn the tables.
No, he had to have.
“They say even a mutt has the upper hand in its own yard… Is this something like that?”
As I started to approach, the man grinned and held out his hand.
“Take one more step and you’re dead.”
What is this.
Is he bluffing?
While I paused to think, he roughly tore off one side of the computer tower he had just been using.
KRAK!
The components inside the tower were visible through the opening.
Wedged among them was an object that had nothing to do with computer parts.
“…A bomb?”
“Hehe! That’s right, it’s a bomb. The moment it goes off, it’ll easily blow away an entire apartment building.”
Only then did I realize why he had sent Baek Hyeon-a to the small room.
It wasn't to get documents; it was to have her escape with his vessel.
But the situation wasn't that dire.
A bomb powerful enough to destroy an entire apartment building.
That kind of power could certainly blow away even an A-rank Hunter.
Did this guy forget that I’m a mage?
Then, as if reading my mind, he let out a dry laugh and muttered.
“You’d be wise not to think about blocking it with magic. This bomb has a mana combustion feature.”
“……”
My face hardened the instant I heard his words.
A mana combustion bomb.
Literally, a bomb with the function to burn away all surrounding mana.
It was a dangerous item that completely neutralized a mage’s defenses, something that was impossible to obtain without government permission.
“…Ah.”
I had overlooked something.
The fact that Hexagram had close ties with key figures in various countries.
It wouldn't have been that difficult for them to acquire a bomb or two with a mana combustion feature.
My thoughts raced.
If it had a mana combustion feature, it would be impossible for even me to withstand it with my body alone.
Could I escape the blast radius if I moved quickly enough?
As the brief thought flashed through my mind.
“Hehe… You think I’d let you make a move?”
“……!”
The man’s hand reached inside the computer tower.
He was going to detonate the bomb without giving me a moment to think.
“Go to hell, you arrogant little brat…!”
His finger moved unhesitatingly toward the detonator.
As I turned to get as far away from the blast's center as possible, I saw Baek Hyeon-a, who had gone into the small room, standing there with a composed expression.
A question flashed in my mind.
Why was the person who should have already fled with his vessel still there?
Then, she spoke.
“There’s no need to run.”
Her voice was clear.
“The bomb won’t go off.”
At the same time, a loud noise came from behind me.
“Gack…!”
Thud!
I turned around to see the man, who had been sitting in his chair with a vicious smile just moments ago, sprawled on the floor, clutching his heart and throat.
“Guhk… Grrk…!”
As he writhed on the floor, his bloodshot eyes turned to Baek Hyeon-a.
“You… you crazy… bitch…!”
I turned my gaze back to Baek Hyeon-a.
Still standing with a composed expression, she opened her tightly clenched fist.
In her open palm lay a single tooth, neatly split in half.
The moment I saw it, the scattered pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.
“…Don’t tell me.”
Meeting my shocked gaze, Baek Hyeon-a nodded.
“That’s right. This is his vessel.”
The moment this was confirmed, I felt the blood run cold in my veins.
She had destroyed the vessel Lee Yoon-seok had given her.
Which meant.
“My promise to help you… I kept it.”
With those strained words, veins bulged across her entire body as her form slowly crumbled.