Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 3
>Chapter Title: Monstrosity (3)
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‘This is insane!’
Escort Go Chan wore a look of utter dismay.
Not only was the severed arm twitching like a freshly caught fish, which was absurd enough, but this fake Mok Kyung-un’s brazen actions were beyond comprehension.
Even if the Clan Head’s condition was dire, chopping off a martial artist’s right arm without mercy was fearless to the point of recklessness.
‘What do we do now?’
If Great Madam Seok or the other young masters found out, it could spell disaster.
No matter the reason.
-Sizzle!
For now, Go Chan tore a strip from his own clothes and tightly bound the Clan Head’s severed arm stump to staunch the bleeding.
“Haa...”
Sorcerer Myo-sin let out a deep sigh as he watched the Clan Head’s complexion change.
In truth, this method wasn’t entirely wrong.
If the negative energy became too overwhelming, one method was to concentrate it into a body part and sever it.
‘...It’s ridiculous that someone who knows nothing about calamities or negative energy made this judgment.’
It was enough to make him stick out his tongue in disbelief.
However, this approach was truly a last resort.
For major clans or powerful figures, such extreme measures were hard to justify afterward.
“Foolish act.”
Sorcerer Myo-sin clicked his tongue.
He wanted to say more, but cleanup came first.
Though the monstrosity in the Clan Head’s body had been driven into the severed arm and expelled, the issue wasn’t fully resolved yet.
-Pat!
Sorcerer Myo-sin peeled off the talisman labeled “Pressure” from the Clan Head’s forehead and slapped it onto the severed arm, which was twitching on its own.
He formed hand seals and chanted an incantation.
“Northern spirits descend, transform into talismans, bind the ghosts! Reveal the truth, bind the unwilling, pressure the winds of the castle, hasten the laws of the spirits!”
-Bulge! Bulge!
The rampaging arm suddenly swelled with grotesquely blackened veins across its entire surface.
It was a sight few could stomach.
Even Escort Go Chan turned his head away, but Mok Kyung-un stared at the hideous severed arm with keen interest.
-Siiiizzz!
The talisman trembled violently as the attached skin turned red-hot.
Affected by this, the bulging areas around the talisman subsided.
‘A pity.’
Sorcerer Myo-sin inwardly clicked his tongue.
Unlike a typical monstrosity, this one carried killing intent.
Killing intent was a form of curse.
Meaning it wasn’t a random affliction but something inflicted deliberately.
Normally, with killing intent involved, there were ways to trace it back to the culprit.
But when the monstrosity gathered into a dead hunk of flesh like this, reversing the intent wouldn’t harm the culprit and was hard to pinpoint anyway.
‘This bastard ruined everything.’
That was why he inwardly lamented.
He needed to half-heartedly purify it, prove it wasn’t his fault, and get out of there quickly.
Since he couldn’t deliver what Great Madam wanted.
It was right then.
-Swish!
A cold, sharp sensation at his right neck.
Sorcerer Myo-sin halted his incantation mid-chant.
“...What is the meaning of this?”
A razor-sharp blade pressed against his throat.
The one holding the sword to his neck was none other than Mok Kyung-un.
“Young Master!”
Escort Go Chan was stunned by Mok Kyung-un’s sudden outburst.
But when Mok Kyung-un pressed a finger to his lips, signaling silence, he couldn’t say another word.
‘No, what the hell is this guy thinking?’
As Go Chan panicked, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“From what I heard, you’re called the Sorcerer. Is the Clan Head’s brush with death related to this?”
“Can’t you tell? Your Clan Head has been eroded by a monstrosity.”
“What’s a monstrosity?”
Sorcerer Myo-sin swallowed dryly at Mok Kyung-un’s basic question.
He needed to exorcise it quickly, but he couldn’t fathom why this was happening.
“Young Master... I’ll explain everything, so please lower the sword. If we don’t purify this properly, the Clan Head’s condition could worsen again.”
“Are you sure?”
“What?”
“It’s detached from the body, but it could still worsen?”
Sorcerer Myo-sin’s eyes wavered at the question.
Normally, people trusted a specialist like a sorcerer in such bizarre events.
Yet this young punk was doubting him.
Sorcerer Myo-sin replied calmly.
“Listen. I was paid by Great Madam Seok to perform this ritual. Why would I lie? The longer this drags, the more the Clan Head’s life hangs in the balance...”
-Swish!
Before he could finish, the blade dug slightly into his neck.
Startled, Sorcerer Myo-sin flinched.
“Wh-what is this? Are you truly set on ruining everything? I don’t know who you are, Young Master, but if the Clan Head dies, it’ll be on you.”
“If the Clan Head dies, it’s your fault for taking money and botching the ritual. How is it mine?”
‘!?’
Sorcerer Myo-sin was speechless.
This kid showed no hesitation despite his words, as if he had zero interest in the Clan Head’s survival.
‘No way... like Great Madam, does he actually want the Clan Head dead?’
It wasn’t impossible.
In his rituals, he’d seen such family power struggles countless times.
‘If that’s the case...’
“Don’t overthink it. Just answer my questions straight.”
-Pierce!
The blade dug deeper into his neck.
Overwhelmed by the fear of imminent decapitation, Sorcerer Myo-sin blurted out in panic.
“P-please, if you want the Clan Head dead too, I’ll make it happen, just spare my life...”
“Me too?”
“Yes?”
“Who else wants the Clan Head dead?”
Sorcerer Myo-sin’s face stiffened at the question.
He’d gambled on the fear of beheading, but it seemed he’d misread.
“Th-that’s...”
“Who?”
“Y-Young Master, that’s not what I...”
“Great Madam?”
“......”
Sorcerer Myo-sin was at a loss for words.
He needed an excuse, but the direct hit left him speechless.
Escort Go Chan inwardly marveled at the sight.
He’d thought the sudden sword to the throat was madness, but had he orchestrated this?
-Sweat!
Sorcerer Myo-sin broke into a cold sweat and opened his mouth.
“Young Master... Great Madam just...”
“I wouldn’t roll your eyes if I were you. In this situation, honesty might be your only way to survive.”
“Y-Young Master...”
“Feels like my grip’s tightening.”
-Swish!
“Eek! Gr-Great Madam said there’s no need to save the Clan Head—just find out where the secret manuals and his clan head seal are from his mouth.”
In the end, Sorcerer Myo-sin spilled what he knew.
He was no novice; he had plenty of tricks.
But this guy seemed ready to slit his throat right there.
“Secret manuals? Clan Head seal?”
Mok Kyung-un repeated, glancing at Escort Go Chan.
Go Chan looked troubled, unsure what to do.
‘Damn it. To think Great Madam would pull something this bold.’
They’d switched allegiance to the Second Young Master, not Great Madam and the First.
If Mok Kyung-un hadn’t shown up, the First Young Master would’ve inherited the clan head position before they could act.
“Escort Go Chan.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Great Madam ordered it, apparently. What should we do?”
“Pardon?”
Escort Go Chan couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
What was he supposed to do?
Even knowing Great Madam’s scheme, they couldn’t act on it now.
Interfering would only provoke her wrath and scrutiny.
Go Chan’s mind raced.
The situation had unfolded, and they knew her secret. There was one way to turn it around and survive.
‘Damn it!’
He never thought he’d say this himself.
“Young Master... we must save the Clan Head. Otherwise, Great Madam will target you.”
“Because I interfered.”
“Yes.”
Sorcerer Myo-sin hurriedly interjected at Go Chan’s response.
“Y-Young Master. We can save him. Since the monstrosity is separated, purifying the severed arm will do it. I’ll save him for sure, please...”
“So you can save him?”
“Yes! So...”
“But I’m more curious about something else.”
“What is it? I’ll tell you anything.”
“You said the monstrosity threatened the Clan Head’s life, so how did you plan to extract what Great Madam wanted from him?”
Sorcerer Myo-sin was speechless again.
He hadn’t expected a question about his exact method.
He could explain, but it needed context...
-Grip!
Mok Kyung-un seized Sorcerer Myo-sin’s throat.
He pressed hard and said,
“Don’t think. Answer my questions instantly, without pause. I don’t see the point in keeping unnecessary people alive.”
“......”
“No answer again. As expected...”
“C-Control the monstrosity to make the Clan Head speak directly.”
Terrified, Sorcerer Myo-sin answered immediately.
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly at him.
“You could do that, so why the scheming?”
“P-Please spare me. If not for Great Madam’s orders, I’d never have done it. I’ll purify the monstrosity right now, please...”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
To the puzzled Sorcerer Myo-sin, Mok Kyung-un pointed at the Clan Head and said,
“Do what you just mentioned.”
“Wh-what do you...”
Mok Kyung-un smirked at the flustered man.
“You said you could control the monstrosity to get what you want from the Clan Head’s mouth.”
‘!?’
Sorcerer Myo-sin and Escort Go Chan’s faces hardened at the unexpected demand.
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