Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 287
Chapter Title: The Archmage's Warning
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Kim Il-su called Hailz into the reception room. As she was an important guest, a lavish spread of refreshments had been prepared for her.
The desserts looked appetizing just by sight, but Hailz didn't touch them. In the awkward silence, Kim Il-su spoke first.
"Not a fan of sweets?"
"No. I like them."
"Then?"
"I don't eat things I don't know about. Who knows what's inside."
Hailz didn't bother trying to match his mood. She was openly saying she didn't trust Kim Il-su.
Well, considering he'd asked such a question the moment he saw her face.
Kim Il-su smiled faintly and reached for the refreshments.
"That's a shame. Our patissier makes great cookies."
"Just answer my question from earlier."
"Sorry."
Crunch. Kim Il-su bit into a cookie and shook his head.
"That's going to be difficult."
The moment those words left his mouth.
Whoosh—!
Hailz's mana surged, instantly altering the air around them.
The cookie Kim Il-su was eating crumbled to dust and scattered on the floor. The other snacks on the table met the same fate.
He knew she hadn't come with good intentions, but to fly off the handle like this.
Kim Il-su met Hailz's gaze without flinching.
"But why the sudden curiosity about that?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"Because of Si-woo and Ye-ryeong?"
"So you do know."
Two people who were supposed dead were alive.
No, not just them. Hwang Gyu-seong had been alive too, even if he was dead now.
One showing up was suspicious enough, but three?
Hailz couldn't make sense of it.
"I know something happened that day. Whether it was you or someone else, someone was involved in oppa Soo-hyuk's death."
Rumors about that day were rampant. Lee Soo-hyuk's death at the time had spawned countless stories.
Some said the Hydra was that powerful. Others claimed there was a traitor in Blue Eyes. Some even suspected Jin Do-ha, the head of Murim.
Amid the flood of speculation, some pointed to Kim Il-su as the culprit.
But the truth remained unknown.
Like the saying to hide a tree in the forest, the rumor that Kim Il-su had betrayed Lee Soo-hyuk was just one of many.
And then Hwang Gyu-seong appeared.
"When Hwang Gyu-seong died, I felt relieved, honestly. Like, ah, so he was the one who betrayed oppa. Finally paying for his crimes. But now I don't know anymore."
"If I told you something, would you believe me?"
"No. Even if you betrayed oppa, you wouldn't admit it."
Hailz let out a scoff, her eyes glowing red.
"You'd die by my hand if you did."
"A bit..."
Roooar—.
Hailz's mana filled the room and pressed forward. The air grew scorching hot, green currents flowing around Kim Il-su.
"You're crossing the line."
Hailz's behavior was indeed excessive. Even for an archmage, her opponent was the leader of the massive guild Blue Zone.
Storming in and interrogating him, spouting threats of death—she owed an apology.
If judging right and wrong, she was at fault.
But she didn't back down.
"You're right. I don't plan to believe you. No, that's why I came here—because I can't trust anyone."
Hailz had investigated Soo-hyuk's death before.
Had he really died fighting the Hydra? Was there a traitor in Blue Eyes like the rumors said? Or had Blue Zone, or Murim, betrayed him?
Amid the flood of information, the truth was unknowable. If she wanted revenge, there was only one way: kill everyone who was there that day.
She had no means to uncover the truth alone.
"I just came to check, just in case. If not, fine."
With that, Hailz stood up. Her business done, she strode out of the reception room.
Kim Il-su didn't see her off. From the window, he heard Vulcanus roaring and spreading its wings.
"Leaving in such a hurry."
Alone in the room, Kim Il-su stared at the ruined refreshments.
He realized why she had come here.
'To issue a warning.'
Not knowing who the culprit was, she was warning everyone.
Whatever you're plotting, I'm watching.
A warning from an archmage, no less. Impossible to ignore.
But she was mistaken about one thing.
"Can't let her live too long."
She thought he wouldn't be Lee Soo-hyuk's successor.
Kim Il-su pulled out his kit and made a call.
Soon, a seductive voice came through.
-What brings this on?
"It's been a while, Red Tower Lord."
Kim Il-su recalled her proposal from long ago.
"I think it's time to revisit that talk."
Clementine gazed out the window from her luxurious carriage.
Beautiful scenery passed by: mountains, birds, clouds in a perfect sky, and a river reflecting it all.
But in Clementine's world, everything was burning.
Fwoosh, roar—.
Crackle—.
People burned like firewood. Somewhere, an awakened Clementine smelled her family burning.
Every time those memories resurfaced, she touched her ring.
The Ring of Black Soul.
Staring at the gleaming black gem, her eyes went vacant.
'If I'd had this back then, both could have lived.'
She knew it was a meaningless what-if.
Yet she'd been dwelling on that meaningless what-if for decades.
And the conclusion was always the same.
"Neila..."
A red-haired woman's face appeared in Clementine's eyes.
She didn't know Clementine. Back then, Neila thought she was dead.
If she couldn't remember that vivid, glamorous face, she might not even know who took her family.
After staring out the window for a while, Clementine closed her eyes.
Only then did the flames consuming her world fade.
But they were merely out of sight.
The fire burning her world would never extinguish in her lifetime.
It wouldn't be long now.
Either the fire dies, or she does. One or the other.
Soo-hyuk replied to Clementine, accepting her proposed commission.
And a notice went up on his broadcast station.
Unhyang's short notice.
Was it because the guest was Clementine? The surprise guest tease even had money symbols.
"It's starting again, huh?"
Back after finishing his errands, Soo-hyuk faced Ye-ryeong.
Ye-ryeong spun a dagger nimbly in her hand. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him.
"How's your body?"
"Good. Really good."
"Figured. After shedding your mortal shell like that."
He hadn't had time to properly assess his condition with Hye-min waking and meeting Clementine. But Soo-hyuk had felt it all along—his state was different now.
His body felt too light. Sometimes, his feet moved ahead of his thoughts.
He could feel his physical abilities had risen more than one level overall.
"Just so you know."
"Yeah?"
"I've got a stream tomorrow. This is just warm-up today."
A spar without Lightning. Using Lightning always built up fatigue, big or small.
With the trial tomorrow, he couldn't afford to go all out.
"I know that much. I get it, but..."
Ye-ryeong scanned him up and down.
"You look taller."
"Taller? You think?"
He'd noticed his eye level seemed a bit off.
If it was noticeable at this distance, it wasn't just a little. Probably obvious to the eye.
Growing taller was a good sign. Bigger frame meant easier to wield greater power.
"I'm curious how effective shedding the mortal shell really is."
Recalling that moment, Ye-ryeong's eyes lit up.
Even in his previous life, Soo-hyuk hadn't achieved it. Among current Murim players, only Jin Do-ha was known to have.
Of course, that didn't mean Soo-hyuk was at Jin Do-ha's level now.
Jin Do-ha was Murim's undisputed strongest besides the Heavenly Demon, even above Kim Il-su.
Still, expectations were high.
"Here I go."
Soo-hyuk didn't yield first move.
Ye-ryeong was unbeatable even with Lightning. Without it now?
It was just conditioning, and he knew he couldn't win.
But that didn't mean he'd go easy.
Swoosh—.
He reached her faster than thought, half a beat quicker.
Ye-ryeong wasn't the only one surprised by the speed. Soo-hyuk swung his sword on instinct.
Clang—!
Riiiing—.
No skills used, yet sparks flew from sword and dagger. The blade vibrated, shock transmitting to their hands.
Soo-hyuk's eyes gleamed.
Scraaape—.
Sword and dagger grazed. His sword danced; Ye-ryeong parried without dodging.
Like him without Lightning, she held back stealth and projectiles.
They clashed relying solely on physical prowess.
Sword met dagger. Ye-ryeong leaped over the blade; Soo-hyuk pursued skyward.
In the long hang time, fierce exchange continued. Suddenly, her form miraged away; his half-swing halted.
Dozens of daggers appeared from all sides.
Not a skill. No stealth or assassination.
Pure speed technique.
Normally, he'd fall for not spotting the real one amid fakes. But instinct picked it true.
Craaang—!
Sparks flew again; illusions vanished.
As he identified the real, Ye-ryeong reappeared. Her eyes said:
You reacted to that?
Soo-hyuk answered with his eyes.
"I see it."
He couldn't explain how. His vision cleared; body reacted on its own.
Brief pause. Not wasting momentum, he pressed on.
Wondering if luck? She repeated the technique several times.
Dozens of daggers spread; mirage Ye-ryeongs appeared. Couldn't track the speed, but he reacted surely.
Not luck. He adapted to expanded vision and sharpened nerves.
Then.
Crackle—.
Electricity flowed from Soo-hyuk's body.
"...!"
Booom—!
Faint, but Lightning cloaked his sword, repelling Ye-ryeong.
Sudden event broke the flow. Startled, Soo-hyuk raised his hand.
"Sorry. You okay?"
Battle heated; Lightning leaked habitually. Normally fine, but unexpectedly she was pushed back.
She seemed unhurt. But shocked, she chuckled dryly, staring at her dagger hand.
"I'm fine, but... wasn't this just warm-up?"
"Yeah."
Soo-hyuk clenched his fist, euphoria uncontrollable.
"Looks like... I've got a lot to loosen up."
Seeing his eyes, Ye-ryeong thought.
The old Lee Soo-hyuk is back.