Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Tying Up Loose Ends
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In a truly bizarre turn of events, Magic Arrows began to fire from the five mana flames etched onto Kakan’s side.
As Magic Arrows shot out from the wound Homage had left, against his will, Kakan let out a cry of agony.
He couldn't handle the rapid depletion of his mana.
“Lee Si-woo! How could a runt like you use Homage…!”
Normally, Homage, a 2nd Circle spell, should have been impossible for a 1st Circle mage like Lee Si-woo to wield, but Homage was an exception.
It was a modified spell that could be used regardless of one's Circle, as long as one had mastered the ‘base magic’ and possessed a deep understanding of it.
This was why wandering mages aiming for the selection trials coveted Homage.
Since there wasn't a mage alive who didn't know Magic Arrow, the base spell for Homage, getting their hands on it meant they could wield a 2nd Circle spell at the 1st Circle level.
Of course, that didn't mean modified spells were without their drawbacks.
Most modified spells required a high degree of understanding of the base magic, demanding considerable time to learn and use.
This was simply a non-issue for Lee Si-woo, who had acquired the 4th Circle Master, Harman.
“Once you’re hit by Homage, you’ll keep spewing Magic Arrows until your mana is completely drained. I imagine it’s quite draining… I’m surprised you still have the strength to run your mouth.”
Aman, the creator of Homage, was famous for having effectively modified Magic Arrow simply through a shift in perspective.
Focusing his research on the simplistic mana pattern of Magic Arrow, Aman dedicated his life to it and eventually succeeded in inserting the mana pattern into a target's mana shield in the form of a virus, forcing them to cast Magic Arrow.
By exploiting the simple mana pattern—both a strength and a weakness—he gave birth to a monstrous spell that would go down in the history of magic.
‘There’s no doubt Homage is a useful spell… but it’s too tricky to use. To utilize it properly, you have to get close to the opponent, and it’s useless against mages of the 3rd Circle or higher who have delicate control over their mana. It’s like… an overpowered spell for low-level zones? Something like that.’
The clear drawback was a bit annoying, but it didn't matter.
He had acquired Homage for the selection trials, after all.
Not to fight some 3rd Circle mage he had never even met.
“Kugh…”
No sooner had Kakan, all his mana depleted, fallen to his knees than Yuryung charged from behind.
Seemingly out of his mind due to the Pain Thorn, Yuryung’s eyes had rolled back in his head. Lee Si-woo lightly deflected his attack and cast Homage once more.
Magic Arrows spewed from the mark of Homage branded on Yuryung’s back.
But something was strange.
The mark of Homage vanished after only a few arrows had been fired.
‘A nuisance to the very end.’
Yuryung was the type to cover for his shallow magical prowess with physical ability, much like Si-woo, so his combat strength didn't diminish just because his mana was depleted.
‘But if he’s the same type as me… then he must be suffering from the same dilemma. Hmm, it should be about time…’
Sure enough, at a certain point, the movements of Yuryung, who had been relentlessly attacking Si-woo, became noticeably slower.
To exert great strength, one needs a proportional amount of energy.
In the end, not only his mana but also his stamina had hit rock bottom.
“It hurts. I’m tired. It’s agonizing. I’m hungry…”
Although the pain made it difficult for Yuryung to think clearly, he could at least sense the mortal danger he was in.
Yuryung suddenly started to run east.
He intended to flee now that the situation was unfavorable.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
Lee Si-woo’s golden arm snatched Yuryung’s shoulder.
Yuryung thrashed from side to side, trying to shake Si-woo off, but his exhaustion made it difficult.
Lee Si-woo clung to Yuryung’s back like a magnet and locked him in a headlock with both arms.
It looked as if a spider were sucking the bodily fluids from its prey.
*Crack.*
With veins bulging on his forehead, Lee Si-woo squeezed Yuryung’s neck with all his might.
Since Yuryung’s formidable defense made it difficult to inflict damage, he intended to suffocate him.
Yuryung gagged and struggled.
It was a mystery where he found such strength despite his exhaustion; it felt like a giant serpent was writhing in his arms.
Just then, as he gritted his teeth and tightened his arms, Lee Si-woo’s eyes flew open, and a groan escaped through his clenched teeth.
A sharp pain originating from his lower back had begun to spread throughout his entire body.
‘Pain Thorn?’
Si-woo realized Wiridia had seized the opportunity to ambush him with Pain Thorn, but he didn't loosen his grip.
He was certain that if not now, he would never be able to kill Yuryung.
“K-khhh…”
Yuryung, his face turning blue as he flailed his arms, let his tongue loll out and his head drooped.
The pulse he had felt from inside his arm had stopped.
But Lee Si-woo did not release his hold.
He hadn't forgotten Harman’s combat motto: confirm the kill.
“Kehek!”
Yuryung’s body, which had seemed to have met its end, suddenly arched like a bow, creating a massive recoil.
He was playing dead to escape the situation, but realizing it wouldn't work, he was now making a final, desperate struggle.
Not only that, but a tree vine had flown in from behind and wrapped itself around Lee Si-woo’s neck.
It seemed to be an attempt to suffocate him, just as Si-woo had done to Yuryung, but it was futile.
The constricting force of a vine manipulated by a tree spirit was insufficient to pressure Lee Si-woo’s mineralized skin.
“Yuryung, that’s enough. It’s time to go.”
At Lee Si-woo’s calm pronouncement, Yuryung’s eyes rolled back as he gasped for air. His fingertips, which had been reaching for the sky, trembled before falling limply to his side.
Even after that, Lee Si-woo continued to squeeze the life out of Yuryung for another minute, only releasing his arms when he was absolutely certain he was dead.
As Si-woo caught his breath, enduring the sharp pain from the Pain Thorn and the pressure from the tree vine, he was met by Kakan.
“Good work, Lee Si-woo. Thanks to you, I was able to kill that monster.”
Kakan, who had recovered some of his mana and stamina, kicked Si-woo in the side of the head.
With a sound like a leather ball being struck, Si-woo tumbled to the ground, and Kakan pursued him.
Taking a mounted position, Kakan clawed at Si-woo’s face.
*Kagagang!*
An unpleasant sound of scraping metal.
Kakan’s face was flushed with the excitement of having cornered his prey.
In the distance, Wiridia was preparing a follow-up attack.
It was a desperate situation with no apparent escape.
But Lee Si-woo lost neither his smile nor his composure.
“Mr. Kakan, let me give you a piece of advice. If a man wishes to live a long life, he must always watch his back.”
Thinking the cornered Si-woo was spouting nonsense, Kakan scoffed.
But he should have listened.
A human woman who had suddenly appeared behind Kakan threw a rope that ensnared his entire body.
Laila, who had been lying in wait for an opportunity on Si-woo’s orders, had bound him with a rope she’d brought specifically for this moment. A stunned Kakan shouted.
“You, who are you! Where did you come from!”
This is why preconceived notions are so dangerous.
People just assumed that because Si-woo had been moving alone until now, he would be alone until the end.
But Si-woo was no fool. Even if it was to kill Yuryung, he would never have left Kakan unattended without a thought.
Naturally, he had prepared a contingency plan.
Lee Si-woo returned the words Kakan had said to him.
“You’ve worked hard, Mr. Kakan. Thanks to you, things went much more smoothly.”
The longer this drags on, the more can go wrong.
As if he had no intention of hearing Kakan’s reply, Si-woo grabbed the bound man’s neck with both hands and twisted.
With the sound of breaking bones, he left Kakan’s head, now rotated a full 360 degrees, and turned his gaze.
The moment Kakan died, Si-woo saw Wiridia fleeing and frowned.
The sharp pain from the Pain Thorn persisted, and his body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton.
‘I desperately need a rest… but it can’t be helped. I can’t leave any loose ends.’
Pain Thorn was akin to a curse using the power of spirits, so it wasn't easy to dispel.
That was what made the mages of the Old Tree Magic Tower so tricky to deal with.
If you let your guard down and got hit by Pain Thorn even once, you’d have to fight while enduring excruciating pain.
But unfortunately for Wiridia, Lee Si-woo had Barathrum.
*Shhh.*
With a faint glow, Lee Si-woo vanished from the spot.
He had connected to Barathrum.
Closing and opening his eyes for a moment was all it took to manifest in the world of Barathrum, where the Butler greeted him.
“My Lord. I am aware that you are in a situation where you must use your connection strategically, but… I must ask you to refrain from connecting too frequently in the future.”
“Hmm? Is there a problem? I should have plenty of energy after absorbing Harman.”
“It is not a matter of energy, but for the security of Barathrum. Although I am doing my best to control it, a unique wave inevitably leaks out each time you connect. Furthermore, the more frequently you connect, my Lord, the more difficult it becomes to control that wave.”
“Hah, are you saying that the more I connect, the higher the probability that someone will notice Barathrum’s existence?”
“That is correct. When you connect only about once a day, the leakage is minimal and not a cause for concern. However, if you begin to overuse it as a means for combat… I apologize, but I cannot guarantee what will happen next.”
The Butler’s words left Lee Si-woo with a sense of regret.
For Si-woo, who still lacked sufficient skills, escaping a crisis by connecting to Barathrum was a card that was hard to give up.
“I understand what you mean, but as you know, my circumstances are not exactly lenient…”
“Naturally, you must use it in unavoidable situations. It is ultimately your choice, my Lord, so it is not my place to comment. I am merely informing you in advance to prevent any potential unfortunate incidents.”
“I understand. I will be more careful from now on.”
Once the Butler finished his report, Lee Si-woo focused his mind on his lower back.
Instantly, the sharp pain and the nagging presence of the Pain Thorn vanished as if washed away.
Having easily dispelled the Pain Thorn just as he had expected, Si-woo asked.
“So debuffs and curses disappear simply by connecting to Barathrum and manifesting my authority. But it seems wounds and fatigue don’t. Is there no way to fix that?”
“No. Not as of yet.”
“Not as of yet… you say.”
Mulling over the Butler’s words, Si-woo suddenly felt a pang of regret.
Appropriate predation was necessary for rapid growth, and he was kicking himself for not being able to touch Yuryung.
‘It can’t be helped. I know for a fact that Kenyon and Isabelle are watching the broadcast. If I use Predation and summon a white portal, I won’t be able to handle the consequences.’
After removing the Pain Thorn and receiving some brief advice from the Butler, Lee Si-woo disconnected.
He wanted to stay longer, but any further delay meant he might lose Wiridia.
When Si-woo returned, Laila, who had been waiting, handed him a compass.
“Sir Si-woo. This was Kakan’s compass. It should help you track Wiridia.”
Pleased by Laila’s sharp work, Si-woo smiled faintly.
“Thank you. And you’ve done well. Thanks to your hard work, this has been much easier to handle.”
When he infused mana into the compass, its needle pointed to the locations of nearby mages one by one.
Confirming Wiridia’s location, Si-woo flapped his wind wings and headed south.
It was time to end this eventful battle.
* * *
Lee Si-woo looked down with chilling eyes at Wiridia, who was coughing up blood at his feet.
The fight with her had been anticlimactic.
It was only natural.
If she and Kakan couldn't handle him together, it was simply preposterous to think Wiridia could take him on alone.
Wiridia spoke, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
“How… did you dispel the Pain Thorn so quickly? Hah, once you’re hit, it should be impossible for a 1st Circle Master to remove it in such a short time…”
“That’s a trade secret.”
At Lee Si-woo’s curt reply, Wiridia let out a hollow laugh.
“…Can’t you show a little kindness to a dying person?”
“What’s the point of showing kindness to someone who’s about to die? There’s nothing to gain.”
Wiridia gave a bitter smile.
“You’re more malicious than you look.”
“I tend to be a bit nasty to those I’m about to kill. Showing clumsy pity only earns you resentment in return.”
Wiridia looked at Si-woo with hazy eyes.
“I thought something was strange. It didn’t make sense that the Top 10 hadn’t been decided yet, even with Kakan and Yuryung dead. But… I think I get it now. You… you’ve been protecting other survivors, haven’t you?”
“Who knows? Maybe I have.”
Wiridia coughed up more blood. The blood streaming from her side was a clear sign that her end was near.
With a dry laugh, Wiridia said.
“Manipulating the Top 10 artificially… it’s insane. They will never let it stand. Hehe, but I don’t feel too bad. Soon enough… I think you’ll be following right behind me.”
As his hand gently wrapped around her neck, Si-woo said.
“Unfortunately for you, that won’t be happening.”
The powerful grip of his hand mercilessly snapped her neck bones.
As her lifeless body went limp, Lee Si-woo released his hand and muttered.
“The selection trial is over, but my business is just beginning.”