Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Crown
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Valen, the 75th-ranked Ranker, patted the shoulder of the defeated Pimir as he returned.
“Good work. Leave the rest to me.”
“Be careful. If the opponent is an undead, they’re not to be taken lightly. Damn it, a 7th-Circle mage losing without even casting a single high-level spell… I’m so ashamed.”
“It couldn’t be helped. 7th-Circle magic takes a while to cast.”
“Still, if I’d made better use of the Spirit Staff and debuff magic, who knows… It’s such a shame.”
“Your opponent was undead from the start, so debuffs wouldn’t have worked anyway. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Just rest. This match… I’ll be the one to end it.”
Valen drew twin swords from his inventory ring, holding one in each hand.
He was a rare elf who had mastered swordsmanship and was skilled in spirit magic, earning him the name Spirit Swordsman.
Watching Morus relax inside the cage, Valen flashed a confident smile.
He was talented in martial arts, and his affinity for spirits was overwhelmingly higher than that of other elves.
Was that why?
He thought of himself as the protagonist and was convinced the universe revolved around him.
Everything he did was a success, he had never known failure, and now, he was living as a retainer of the Graves family, the most prestigious house in the Demon Country.
And not just any retainer, but one under Pames, a prominent heir to the family.
‘Defeat? Such a thing doesn’t exist in my mind. A powerful foe? They exist, of course. But they’re nothing more than steps for me to climb. In time, they’ll all just be extras bowing their heads at my feet.’
Valen opened the cage door and stepped into the arena.
Then, he shouted in a booming voice.
“I, Valen, the Spirit Swordsman of Victory, have arrived!”
It was a cringeworthy line coming from someone unimpressive, but it was a different story when a man of Valen's caliber said it.
He was truly capable, and his fame had spread throughout the Demon Country after he became a high Ranker.
BJ Rose, who seemed to be a fan of Valen, delivered an introduction full of personal bias.
[Our contender for the fifth round from Team Pames is the Spirit Swordsman, Valen! Not only is he handsome, but he’s also well-built, tall, and has broad shoulders, a combination that has captured the hearts of countless fans! He even has a fan club called Valen-Luv! Ahem, I’m not a member, but it’s a fan club with a long history, so I ask our audience for their interest…]
As Rose rambled on excitedly, she felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck and glanced around. The sharp gazes of the audience and staff were piercing her like daggers.
Her face flushing, she cleared her throat lightly and concluded her introduction.
[The handsome Spirit Swordsman! Valen makes his entrance! His opponent from Team Alma is the undead, Morus! Ooh! Looking at them like this, it feels like a hero fighting the Demon King's number one subordinate!]
His mood lifted by Rose’s biased introduction, Valen twirled the twin swords in his hands with an elegant gesture.
“Lady. I shall yield the first move to you. A beauty deserves such consideration.”
“Hmm, you have a good eye, don’t you? And you’re handsome, so I like you. Alright. Your head. I’ll add it to my collection.”
“Haha, there’s no chance I’ll lose, but if that is what you desire, then by all means.”
“Oh? You’re offering your head to me as a gift? I’m delighted. I’m so touched. I’ll be sure to cut it off painlessly, then. I’m very good at cutting, you see.”
Whatever Morus said, Valen seemed to find it ridiculous, and he simply let out a hearty laugh.
[Then let the duel… begin!]
Just as Morus was about to approach Valen with light steps, Lee Si-woo moved toward the cage.
He closed his eyes, gathered the energy of Barathrum, and touched the cage with his index finger.
Woooong!
At that moment, the ‘barrier’ function of the metal cage was completely nullified.
The power to nullify all magical means, Rupture, had been unleashed.
‘It’s about time.’
As Lee Si-woo looked up at the sky, a black shadow was falling, accompanied by a sound that tore through the air.
CRASH!
The metal cage crumpled and shattered as if a meteor had struck it.
Inside the shattered cage, Valen, caught in the surprise attack, was sprawled on the ground like a frog, letting out dry coughs.
A black-haired man in a white dress shirt and slacks stepped on Valen’s back and spoke.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Even with the appearance of an uninvited guest, Morus remained calm, showing no signs of panic.
It was as if she had already known he would appear.
“I didn’t expect you’d dare to come all the way here, Crown.”
At the three syllables that left Morus’s lips, not only BJ Rose but every spectator in the dueling arena turned pale.
Crown.
There was likely no one on the central continent today who didn't know the owner of that moniker.
He was the master of The Decapitators, a pirate clan infamous even in the Infinite World.
And he was a malicious Racist who mercilessly slaughtered non-human races.
Sure enough, on the arena’s screen, a translucent silver crown hovering over the black-haired man’s forehead emitted an eerie glow.
[E-Everyone. C-Crown…! It's Crown! The rising supernova of the Infinite World! He's here! My god… did you see that?! The cage! The cage that can withstand attacks from the 800-level range has been shattered. Th-Then Crown’s level is… insane! In the 900s?! E-Everyone… just a moment. I suddenly need to use the restroom…]
Rose threw down her hologram mask, which had a built-in microphone, and fled, swinging her arms back and forth.
For someone in a hurry for the bathroom, it was an all-out sprint filled with desperate energy.
Rose’s flight was the signal for a wave of panic to sweep through the spectator seats.
Terrified by the appearance of the worst racist and terrorist in history, the audience began to flee.
Ignoring the spectators scattering like an ant colony hit by a water bomb, Crown grabbed Valen by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up.
“What’s this?”
Dangling and swaying in Crown’s hand like a pet cat held by its neck, Valen trembled as he turned his head away.
Seeing Valen avoid his gaze, Crown tossed him aside as if he had no interest in small fry.
Valen, who flew out of the cage and slammed into a wall, was in a sorry state, but he seized the opportunity and fled with all his might.
As confident as he was, he wasn’t brave enough to challenge a monster of a different caliber who could shatter the arena cage on his own.
Crown looked at Morus, or rather, at Lee Si-woo beyond her, and smiled, his eyes filled with killing intent.
“I… have been looking for you.”
As Crown rushed toward Lee Si-woo like a bee to candy, Morus blocked his path.
“Sorry, but you can’t go any further.”
“Get lost, wench.”
Crown swiped his hand through the air, and a sharp blade of wind shot out, slicing Morus’s body in two.
As her body split, Morus grabbed her own head with both hands and threw it upward.
Woooong.
A sub-dimensional portal opened, and from it emerged the body of a magical beast: a chimera with the head of a lion, the tail of a scorpion, and the body of a griffin.
Morus, her head now attached to the chimera’s back, spoke.
“My, how violent. Well, try as you might. I have… plenty of spares.”
As if waiting for those words, Crown shattered the lion’s head with his elbow and drove his knee into the griffin’s abdomen.
Its internal organs must have been destroyed, as the chimera’s legs trembled before it collapsed. From behind it, the scorpion tail, now thoroughly enraged, shot forward.
CLANG!
With a sound like metal striking metal, the scorpion’s stinger was stopped by Crown’s skin.
With a wry smile, Crown grabbed the body of the level-700 chimera with both hands and ripped it in two.
But Morus, ever so cunning, had already switched to a new body.
This time, her head was embedded in the shoulder of a giant steel golem.
“This is just the beginning. I admit you’re strong, but you’re absolutely not getting past me.”
Crown muttered with a dazed, almost possessed look in his eyes.
“Alma… I will kill him. I will kill him… and I will become him.”
Crown charged at the steel golem like a starved wild dog.
The parts he kicked caved in like a crushed can, and the parts he punched exploded as if hit by a bomb.
Watching another one of her prized bodies being destroyed, Morus sighed.
‘This is crazy. Big Bro only passed on two of his Talents, Mineralization and Danger Sense, but this doppelgänger has become a complete cosmic monster. I guess it can’t be helped… With the Mineralization ability alone, its level must be over 800.’
A doppelgänger instinctively pursues the one it copied to the ends of the world.
Only by killing the target can it absorb their memories, soul, and abilities to fully become them.
That was why doppelgängers were objects of hatred in the Infinite World.
No one wanted to have their body, memories, and soul stolen by one.
Well, except for a certain someone who would try to use even such a monstrosity.
Lee Si-woo left Morus, who was being hopelessly pushed back by his doppelgänger, and scanned his surroundings.
‘The broadcast has been live for a while now, why aren’t they here yet?’
There was no way Black Night would stand idly by after seeing the undead Morus, and now, with a doppelgänger’s appearance being broadcast live.
Black Night had no choice but to make a move.
Just then, Plis of the Angel race, whom Lee Si-woo had been eagerly awaiting, appeared suddenly in the arena.
Plis flapped their pure white wings, floating in the air as they spoke to the doppelgänger.
“I expected you to be in the Demon Country, but I didn’t think you’d show yourself so openly, Crown.”
At Plis’s appearance, the doppelgänger frowned.
Having been implanted with only limited memories by Lee Si-woo, the doppelgänger had neither the knowledge nor the sense to recognize Plis.
However, the Talent that Lee Si-woo had allowed the doppelgänger to copy, Danger Sense, saved it.
Zzzzing!
A shiver of danger ran down its spine, and the doppelgänger, startled like a deer seeing a predator, hastily activated a ring on its finger.
Woooong!
The doppelgänger’s body turned into a streak of light and vanished from sight.
It was the function of a Teleport Ring, one of the immensely valuable artifacts Lee Si-woo had given it.
Not expecting the doppelgänger to flee without a second thought, Plis let out an involuntary, hollow laugh.
They had thought that when a creature famed for its cunning appeared so openly, there must be some grand plan or trap. They had never imagined that the infamous Crown would scurry away like a frightened mouse the moment he saw them.
‘Just runs away? Huh, that’s not like Crown. Every time he appeared, he inflicted massive damage on us at Black Night. That means he’s not one to act without thinking. But… he runs? Then why did he show up here? No, why was he targeting Alma?’
Although they had lost Crown, Plis was not disappointed.
The big fish may have escaped, but the bait was still on the hook.
Plis spoke to Lee Si-woo.
“Alma Graves. Lord Imago wishes to meet with you. Are you willing to accompany me to see him? Ah, I must ask… please do not refuse. Matters related to Crown are of the utmost importance to us, and we may be forced to be discourteous to you…”
Faced with Plis’s polite threat, Lee Si-woo replied in a troubled tone.
“Hmm, I don’t mind going to meet him, but I need some time. I think I need to sort out this mess of a duel first.”
Hearing Lee Si-woo’s answer, Plis turned to Pames and Acumen, who were standing there blankly.
“I will sort it out for you. Everyone. This duel is won by Alma Graves.”
At Plis’s firm declaration, Pames let out a sneer.
“Hah, whoever you are, you don’t seem to understand the situation. The duel was ruined by an intruder’s interference. In this case, the duel must be held again…”
Plis cut Pames off without mercy.
“The result will not change no matter who you bring. It is unlikely to happen, but should there be a rematch, I will fight as Alma’s champion.”
“Hmph! You think we’ll be scared just because someone like you says so…”
As Pames was speaking, his secretary rushed over and whispered in his ear.
Soon, Pames’s pupils wavered as his secretary told him who Plis was.
Only after the report did he learn that this angel was the president of Black Night and an absolute powerhouse in the 800-level range.
Having grasped the situation, Pames gritted his teeth.
He realized that with a monster like this backing Lee Si-woo, the tide had already turned.
“Damn it! Do whatever you want. Acumen. I’m sorry. I can’t be of any more help. I’ll be leaving now.”
Muttering a quiet curse, Pames left, and Acumen knew there was no point in being stubborn any longer.
Without Pames’s help, Acumen lacked the capability to handle not only Plis but even Morus, who was under Lee Si-woo’s command.
“…Alma. This duel is your victory. So, the mercenary company, Khan… is now yours.”
“What about your shares, Brother Acumen?”
Looking at Lee Si-woo’s smug face, Acumen wanted to spit, but he held it in.
“That’s yours too. And… Alma. This debt I owe you today, I’ll be sure to repay it someday. One way or another!”
“True, it’s not good to be in debt. Feel free to pay it back whenever you feel like it. Though, debts aren’t something you can always repay just because you want to.”
Insulted by Lee Si-woo’s mockery, Acumen spat on the ground and left the arena.
Once the situation seemed to be resolved, Plis prompted Lee Si-woo.
“Then let’s go. Lord Imago must be waiting eagerly.”
Lee Si-woo shrugged and followed Plis.
* * *
Imago greeted Lee Si-woo warmly as he arrived at Black Night’s safe house.
“Welcome, Alma Graves. Did you have any trouble on your way here?”
“No trouble, but it was a little scary. Lord Plis was threatening me so politely, you see.”
At Lee Si-woo’s wit, Plis, standing behind him, shook their head as if to say he was incorrigible.
Plis had talked with Lee Si-woo for quite some time on the way to the safe house, but they still couldn't figure out what kind of personality this man had or what type of person he was.
They could only confirm one thing.
This man was no pushover.
Imago spoke with a benevolent smile.
“My apologies for the offense. But please understand. The matter is of great importance, so Plis had no choice but to treat you a bit forcefully, Lord Alma.”
“I understand. If I were in your shoes, I’d probably act rough too if it involved Crown. But… let’s not beat around the bush and get straight to the point. Lord Imago, you called me because you’re curious about my relationship with Crown. Am I right?”
At Lee Si-woo’s skillful way of taking control of the conversation, Imago’s eyebrow twitched, but he didn’t pressure him unnecessarily.
“You know well. That’s right. We are very interested in Crown.”
“As you probably gathered from the broadcast, Crown and I had a bit of a… disagreement. No, is disagreement too strong a word? Let’s just say we have a grudge.”
“A grudge… How did that happen?”
“I can’t tell you that just yet. After all, we’re not close enough to share secrets so freely, are we?”
When Lee Si-woo evaded the question, Imago didn't hide his displeasure and shot back in a cold voice.
“So? You’re saying you won’t tell me?”
“That’s not it. I’m saying we need to become closer, close enough to share secrets and profits.”
Finally grasping what Lee Si-woo was getting at, Imago spoke in an interested tone.
“Hmm… get closer? How?”
Lee Si-woo’s lips curled into a smile.
“From the looks of it, you were planning to form a business partnership with the Vampir family. That. Let's do it with me instead. Black Night has its pride, doesn't it? Does it make sense to deal with number two when number one is right here? In the Demon Country, everyone knows that if the Graves family is gold, the Vampir family is silver.”
Lee Si-woo’s purpose for bringing the doppelgänger out of Barathrum—a move that could have easily backfired—was singular.
It was to get into Black Night.
Only then could he find their weaknesses and, of course, find out where they had taken Jin.
‘Harman tried to stop me, saying it was madness to enter the heart of Black Night alone… but I have no choice. No matter how I think about it, this is the only way to find Jin.’
Lee Si-woo wet his dry lips with his tongue.
He was tense, as if standing on the edge of a knife, but it didn't matter.
To find Jin and hear the whole story from that bastard, he was willing to risk even greater dangers than this.