Chapter 318
Chapter 318
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 318
Chapter Title: Black Tower Lord of the Deep Sea
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The people heading to the deep sea numbered three.
Lee Soo-hyuk, Si-woo, and even Ye-ryeong.
Hyo-min and Unhyang, who had only recently awakened, stayed behind at the lodging. They needed at least two people to handle any contingencies. Hyo-min's abilities shone brightest when she was with someone else.
Laura stayed at the lodging with them. Before leaving, Soo-hyuk made a promise to her.
"I'll definitely bring back your siblings."
It was a promise to Laura, but also to himself.
And it was a vow that he wouldn't treat this matter as just a hunt for a single god-grade item.
"Really?"
Soo-hyuk nodded at Laura's earnest question.
Si-woo and Ye-ryeong nodded in agreement as well.
"We'll bring them back for sure."
"Just stay with your sisters here for a few nights, and we'll be back."
Laura burst into tears at the trio's promises. She'd been restless with worry about finding her siblings, but now she seemed a bit relieved.
After leaving the exhausted, tearful Laura in Hyo-min and Unhyang's care, the three headed out.
"That kid's siblings... they're still alive, right?"
Soo-hyuk nodded at Ye-ryeong's worried question.
"For now."
"How can you be so sure?"
"It's not certainty. But those guys want experiments, not slaughter."
"Then we were too hasty. We can't even be sure they're alive, but we made a promise we might not keep."
"I didn't make the promise thinking I could definitely keep it. I made it because I intend to keep it no matter what."
A smile tugged at Ye-ryeong's lips. In her heart, Soo-hyuk's response was a perfect score.
The three set off, mainly traveling by wyvern.
It cost a pretty penny, but walking was too far, and running would drain their stamina too much.
Throughout the wyvern flight, Soo-hyuk focused on one practice.
To handle lightning more powerfully and freely without a sound. To make it as natural as breathing.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on the lightning. He tried to feel it as naturally as blood flowing through his body.
Of course, he was still far from it.
"Ow, that stings!"
Ye-ryeong beside him rubbed her arm and jumped. The wyvern rider startled and yanked the reins.
Kraaah-!
The wyvern flapped its wings in surprise and shot up high into the sky. The rider quickly regained control, and the calmed wyvern resumed its path.
Soo-hyuk hurriedly apologized for the commotion he'd caused.
"Sorry about that. Rider, my apologies."
The rider waved it off, saying it was fine. The wyvern had been startled, but thankfully the lightning hadn't affected the rider.
Ye-ryeong rubbed her elbow where the lightning had zapped her.
"What's not working?"
"This is tough."
Ye-ryeong noticed Soo-hyuk's fingertips trembling faintly. It was from the repeated drills to master lightning control.
Did Soo-hyuk reach this position with talent alone? It was talent, luck, and relentless effort. The top spot couldn't be climbed without all three.
In that sense, Soo-hyuk was more hardworking than anyone Ye-ryeong knew. Even this short time, he was devising ways to grow stronger.
Sometimes it was hard to watch.
"Aren't you pushing too hard?"
Soo-hyuk quickly hid his trembling hand at Si-woo's question.
"Pushing?"
"You just got back not long ago. You're already plenty fast."
"I'm still miles away."
"Miles? From that fight, it looked like you were flying around again."
Si-woo snorted, recalling the Hydra battle. Soo-hyuk's impatience was baffling after that monstrous display.
"You've always said it. Lightning is an unstable power. Handling it hastily could hurt not just you, but your allies too—like a live bomb."
"……."
"It's just a sting now, but who knows what your rush might cause."
"Worried I'll kill someone else?"
Ye-ryeong startled at Soo-hyuk's sudden question. But Si-woo nodded without flinching.
"You could put it that way."
Sandwiched between them, Ye-ryeong glanced nervously. Soo-hyuk fell silent at Si-woo's words.
Poke. Ye-ryeong jabbed Si-woo's side and whispered.
"Hey, are you crazy?"
"Why?"
"Why say it so harshly? Can't you be nice?"
"This is nice enough."
"No, why are you two grown men bickering like this?"
Si-woo gave her a what-did-I-do look despite her scolding. Ye-ryeong pondered how to lighten the stuffy mood.
But then.
"You're right."
Soo-hyuk nodded and shook out both hands.
"I was too impatient. No one's chasing me or anything. Habit, I guess?"
"Bad habit."
"I jolt awake at night just thinking about grinding."
"Same here. But that thing's not going anywhere, right? Or are you planning to hunt a Guardian or something?"
"No way. I'm not thinking of taking on a Guardian right now."
"Good. I thought you'd finally lost it."
Unlike their worry, the two conversed casually. Just moments ago, it felt like they might throw punches.
"You two weren't fighting?"
"Fighting?"
"What're you talking about?"
They both stared at Ye-ryeong like she was weird. Since this wasn't new, she realized quickly.
'Oh, right.'
This is how they are.
Their talk seemed like arguing at a glance, but it wasn't. They didn't probe hidden meanings—just took it at face value.
They didn't laugh or chat idly, but these two probably understood each other best among the group.
The wyvern flew on, reaching the deep sea.
There was nothing special about the deep sea. The city looked a bit rundown, but it was still a place where people lived.
The rider dropped off Soo-hyuk's group and quickly turned the wyvern around. No one who knew better would linger here, regardless of appearances.
"This place always puts me in a foul mood."
Ye-ryeong grumbled irritably. She stared at the dingy sign reading "Deep Sea."
It wasn't just the looks.
The name "Deep Sea" carried an inherent unease. It might terrify some, but none of them felt that.
"And what's with that skull? Ugh, tacky. What era is that design from?"
"It's deliberate."
"Deliberate? Why?"
"To scare people like you. It's old and ugly, but nothing warns 'you could end up like this' better."
"Who said I'm scared!"
Ye-ryeong huffed indignantly and handed over two masks from her hand.
"Quit yapping and put these on. Our faces are too recognizable."
"……These are stuffy."
"You wear one, and can I just use a hood?"
She threw the masks at their faces in response.
"Just wear them!"
The group split into three.
Soo-hyuk and Si-woo, who couldn't hide their faces, headed to the streets, while Ye-ryeong took the shadowy spots away from prying eyes.
The deep sea was vast.
Though one nation, dark factions lurked within. Sticking together wasn't efficient here.
Of course, they couldn't blindly search everywhere.
Start with the highest probability spots.
Soo-hyuk walked the deep sea streets. Despite the dark, dangerous name, they looked no different from other cities.
"Hey, young man."
Then, an old man approached Soo-hyuk.
He offered bread with his wrinkled hands.
"Buy a loaf? Flowers too."
His basket mixed bread and flowers—an odd combo, and pricey.
Soo-hyuk nodded.
"One, please."
"Thank you. Here..."
As the old man extended the bread.
Pfssht-.
A sharp needle shot toward Soo-hyuk's throat.
Slash-.
Soo-hyuk's sword cleaved the needle and the old man's body. As it split, greed filled the old man's eyes.
Crack. The halved body collapsed, unaware of its death.
Soo-hyuk eyed the fallen needle.
A poisoned barb. A total stranger, yet intent on killing him.
No reason.
Just how things were here.
"Fresh fruit!"
"Tasty turkey roast! No poison, eat up worry-free!"
Even with a corpse and blood on the street, no one batted an eye.
Common occurrence. Everyday banality here.
So even the mightiest had to stay cautious.
The residents, from kids to elders, were all adapted to the deep sea.
Step-.
Walking the street, Soo-hyuk paused before a shop.
Orphanage.
Utterly mismatched with the deep sea. He stood there a moment, then entered.
"Bom, you can't take your friend's toy."
"Teacher! It's mine!"
"No lies! Teacher, punish Bom!"
"Now, now, be good. Should friends fight?"
The orphanage felt worlds apart from outside. Kids ran, laughed, fought, chattered.
Over ten children and one young teacher.
The teacher spotted Soo-hyuk scanning the rundown interior and paused.
"A guest."
"Guest?"
"Kids, say hello."
"Hello!"
Soo-hyuk beamed and waved at their greetings. The young man, apparently the teacher, approached.
"What brings you here?"
"Passing by, love kids, so I stopped in."
"I see."
Soo-hyuk smiled. The kids waved curiously at the stranger.
"Do most local kids come here?"
"Not all, but many. Why?"
"Looking for some kids."
"Ah, a story there. Come inside, don't stand there."
"Thanks, excuse me."
Guided by the man, Soo-hyuk entered. The man excused himself briefly and resumed playing with the kids.
Soo-hyuk sat in a corner chair, watching.
'Hard to believe even now.'
He didn't fit the deep sea at all. Unfazed by kids' antics, he cared for them even brighter.
The world wouldn't know.
Who that smiling man among the kids was. What face hid behind that gentle smile.
'That guy's the Black Tower Lord.'
The deep sea's master.
Black Tower Lord Mersian.
No one would guess he was here like this.