Chapter 43: Seolrang (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: Seolrang (5)
Monstrosity Malliam was well aware of Seolrang’s strength.
The prowess she had displayed in the Colony thus far was even more intense than that of Kalman Arens, who had been active as a Babayaga for a very long time.
Even so, neither Malliam nor Kalman believed they would be pushed back by Seolrang in this fight.
Both Kalman Arens and Monstrosity Malliam were Babayagas just like Seolrang, and above all, they had already absorbed Abyss Bodies.
The Abyss Bodies.
Malliam didn't know the exact mechanism by which the Abyss Bodies granted power.
All he knew was that if someone of sufficient rank used an Abyss Body, they would be granted power in one form or another.
But for Malliam, that information was enough.
Even at this very moment, as they clashed with Seolrang, the two of them could feel that simply by using the Abyss Bodies, their strength had nearly doubled from its original level.
Rumble—!!!
When Malliam’s fist struck the spot where Seolrang had been, the cavern shook as if an earthquake had struck.
Crack!
With a single stomp from Kalman, the ground beneath them collapsed.
That wasn't all.
Rooooar—!!!
Malliam displayed such absurd power that he even tore off the top of a castle from the forgotten city and hurled it at Seolrang.
This overwhelming strength, which clearly transcended human limits, brought despair to the mercenaries, mages, and beastkin fighting the assassins.
However, the expressions of the two men—who were fighting as if they were tearing the entire cavern apart with such ridiculous power—only grew grimmer as time passed.
The reason was Seolrang, who continued to fight back against them both.
With a flash of light, her golden eyes vanished, only to reappear instantly in front of Malliam to strike his waist. Then, after blocking an attack from Kalman Arens appearing behind her, she drove her fist into him.
Boom—!
Malliam and Kalman were sent flying, crashing into and shattering the walls of the great cavern.
‘This is impossible...?!’
Malliam grimaced as he glared at Seolrang.
Her body was certainly covered in wounds.
Blood stained her glowing hair, and gashes marked various parts of her eerie physique.
And yet, she was dominating.
Against two Babayagas who had absorbed Abyss Bodies and become twice as strong as before, she did not retreat a single inch.
“You monster...!”
Malliam’s expression twisted as he transformed his hideously mutated right hand into the shape of a blade.
‘She isn't emitting black mana, so she couldn't have absorbed an Abyss Body...!’
Her strength was enough to seize the upper hand against two Babayagas who had devoured Abyss Bodies.
‘...It really is impossible to take her down through sheer force...!’
His relaxed composure long gone, he frowned deeply and looked toward Kalman.
“Tsk.”
Confirming the pre-arranged signal, Kalman clicked his tongue and lunged forward.
Not toward Seolrang, but toward the beastkin.
“!”
The moment she saw that, Seolrang realized Kalman was charging toward Ralga, her tribesman who was fighting the assassins at the very front. She immediately moved her body—
Crunch!
—and intercepted Kalman’s lunging fist.
Boom—!
She grimaced at the eerie shockwave, which was far too powerful to have come from a mere clash of fists. But her discomfort was short-lived.
Seolrang soon felt something was wrong.
Kalman, who had looked so serious just a moment ago, now wore a clear, unmistakable smirk.
In that instant.
Thwack!
“?”
Seolrang turned her gaze toward the searing pain blooming in her back.
There stood Ralga.
“Finally...!”
With his lips curled into a twisted grin, Ralga had driven a blade into Seolrang’s back.
For a moment, Seolrang’s eyes filled with confusion.
“Cough—!”
Blood spilled from her lips.
* * *
Bam—!
Sent flying by Kalman’s kick, Seolrang tumbled across the ground, unable to comprehend the current situation.
Her eyes were filled with nothing but questions.
Doubt. Confusion. And more questions.
Her eyes searched Ralga as if she couldn't understand this situation at all.
He wore a sickening smile.
To Seolrang, it was utterly incomprehensible.
“...Why?”
The question escaped her lips.
As Seolrang rolled on the ground due to Ralga’s betrayal, the expressions of the mages, mercenaries, and beastkin turned to despair, while a sneer formed on Kalman’s face.
Relief flickered in the eyes of the assassins, and a sense of victory appeared on Malliam’s face.
All that information entered Seolrang’s field of vision, yet she looked only at Ralga.
“How...?”
Seolrang uttered another question.
Then.
Ralga, who had been mocking her, walked toward her.
Seolrang tried to move her body, but—
“!”
She realized she couldn't move at all.
“The blade was coated in the poison of Kamonasis, so you won't be able to move for at least an hour. Stop trying to force it.”
Looking down at the shocked Seolrang, Ralga stepped right up to her.
Crouching down with a twisted smirk that replaced his usual solemnity, he spoke.
“Ah... what was it? Did you ask why?”
He then began to strip the gauntlets from Seolrang’s hands.
“I wanted this.”
“...What?”
“Didn't you hear me? I said I wanted this.”
Ralga grinned as he shook the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe in front of her as if to taunt her. Seolrang blinked slowly.
“Because of... that? You betrayed me?”
She still didn't feel anger. Ralga looked at her with a face of disbelief for a moment, then let out a mocking laugh.
“Because of this? Hey, Seolrang. Why do you think the guild you made has stayed together? Hmm? Did you really think—your kin gathered just to play house with you? No—not at all.”
Tap, tap.
“It’s because of this. The reason the kin are still in the guild is because of the power they can get from you.”
Seolrang’s brow gradually furrowed at his cynical attitude as he tapped her face with the gauntlet.
“Why do you think otherwise?”
“...”
In truth, Seolrang was somewhat aware that Ralga’s words weren't entirely wrong.
She knew the reason she could gather the Golden Mane Tribe so quickly in the Colony was because she possessed the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe, a gift from the Great Moon.
However, even so, Seolrang didn't believe that her kin had stayed with the guild all this time solely because of the Essence.
Even if they had gathered to gain power initially, the two years she had spent with them since forming the guild were real. She believed she was faithfully rebuilding her old family.
No, she trusted it.
“That... can't be—!”
Seolrang gritted her teeth, but despite her denial, Ralga’s sneer didn't fade as he stared at her.
He soon chuckled and snapped his fingers.
Snap—
And then.
“...”
Watching the procession of the remaining Golden Mane beastkin as they began to line up behind Ralga as if they had been waiting, Seolrang’s face filled with disbelief.
The kinsman she had greeted warmly just two days ago.
The kinsman she had talked with on the way here. Without exception, they all took their places behind Ralga. She watched them blankly.
Soon, noticing that their bodies—unlike the mercenaries—bore no wounds at all, Seolrang...
“Ha...”
...let out a hollow laugh for the first time.
It wasn't the warm smile she had always shown her kin, but a bitter, freezing sneer.
“Wow—now you finally look like you’ve woken up from your dream. I’m satisfied.”
Chuckling with delight, Ralga mocked her by patting her head.
“Honestly, I felt sick every time you acted out. Seeing you run wild with power you didn't deserve just because you got lucky with this... I really hated looking at you. How does it feel to wake up?”
“...Are the others... all traitors too?”
Seolrang answered his question with another.
Glimpsing the betrayal and hatred hidden behind her bitter sneer, Ralga twisted his lips to speak, finding it amusing. But—
“That’s enough. Let’s finish this.”
Before Ralga could even open his mouth, Malliam stepped in front of Seolrang. He immediately transformed his arm into a blade and raised it high.
“It’ll be a pain if she moves again.”
As if determined not to leave even the slightest opening, he swung the blade down to execute Seolrang on the spot.
Squelch—!
A small look of confusion appeared on Seolrang’s face, which had been resigned just a moment ago.
She wasn't the only one.
Ralga, who had been sneering.
Rian and the mages, who had been filled with despair.
Even Kalman, who had been smiling with interest until just now.
They all wore expressions of bewilderment.
The reason was simple.
“Huh—?”
A massive hole had suddenly been punched through the head of Malliam, who had been intoxicated with the thrill of victory just a second ago.
Thud—!
Malliam’s body collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
As everyone stood in shock at the absurdly hollow death of a Babayaga of the Colony...
“Ah—?”
Rian, who had been staring blankly at the scene, realized her breath had turned into white mist.
And at the same time, everyone there could see it.
In the distance.
From the City of the Old God Kahara, a man was walking out in silence.
Crackle—
With every step he took, white frost descended, freezing the path. Ash-gray mana rising from the bracelet on his left hand enveloped his body like a thin wall of ice.
Step. Step.
The man’s stride was unwavering.
Even with a Babayaga and dozens of enemies before him, his expression remained utterly indifferent.
Without a single sentiment or emotion, his expressionless appearance as he walked out began to make everyone tense.
Ralga, who had been mocking Seolrang.
Kalman, who had been wearing a relaxed smile.
Every enemy present grew tense as they watched the expressionless man appear.
Because they had seen it.
They had seen the head of Malliam—a man called a Babayaga—pierced through in an instant.
“Ugh—!”
As the man slowly approached, Ralga instinctively backed away.
It wasn't just him.
Every being there designated as the man’s ‘enemy’ naturally recoiled.
They felt an irresistible envy and fear from the sheer pressure that seemed to choke them just by his presence.
Even Kalman, the strongest among them...
‘What on earth is that—?!’
...stumbled back, feeling an instinctive terror at the black and blue eyes visible behind the man—eyes that he knew instinctively would shatter his mind the moment he truly perceived them.
“Mentor...?”
Finally, Alon reached Seolrang, who still had a blade buried in her back. He stared at her intently and spoke.
“Ice Crystal (氷晶).”
He uttered a Phrase, one different from any he had used before.