Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Devil, Witch, and Demon Sword (2)
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'The Demon Sword...'
I'd never seen one in person, but I'd heard they existed. Just holding one granted immense power to its owner, but in exchange, it stole away their sanity...
In some ways, it felt similar to Yuri. Not that she'd be happy to hear that.
'Like a goblin or something.'
I had a rough idea of what it might be like. Could grabbing one help with my growth? Might it give me the breakthrough to shatter the wall holding me back?
Of course, it wasn't something to handle lightly. It was called a Demon Sword for a reason. One wrong move, and I might end up possessed by it, turning into a cold-blooded killer.
"What mission are you looking at? ...A Demon Sword?"
"Ah, just checking it out."
"You and your sword obsession. You're eyeing that Demon Sword, aren't you?"
"Nah, no way... But does holding a Demon Sword really make you go insane like that?"
"I've never seen one myself. It's more like a legend."
Yeoryeong shrugged. Then she fixed Ban with a stern gaze.
"Still, that mission's a no-go. It's way too vague. 'Near the northern border region, murders suspected to be caused by a Demon Sword's owner have been occurring. Investigate and recover the Demon Sword.' This has been going on for years, not just a day or two."
"...Hiding out somewhere?"
"Living where it's hard for us to find them. Could be wanderers. Anyway, it's not something we can just track down easily. Put it on hold. No, forget it. We don't have that much time."
"Got it..."
Ban drooped his head with a sullen expression. Yeoryeong glanced at his waist and spoke.
"And that Broad Dao... what are you planning to do with it? You have to return it after graduation."
"Well... I'll think about it when the time comes."
"Want me to look into it? Our family's blacksmiths aren't half bad. You know that."
"Let's table that for now. But I won't forget the offer. Thanks."
Honestly, Ban had no intention of returning the Broad Dao. Or more precisely, he had no intention of returning Yuri. They'd become old friends by now. He didn't want to leave her gathering dust in the training grounds' armory.
In the end, they chose a different mission. Not the north, but near the northern border region—a request from a village there. Reports said it was full of people worshiping the Seeds of the Night. It might be nonsense, but if not, it was worth confronting.
"...This feels like a waste of time."
Yeoryeong grumbled. But everyone knew her displeasure wasn't just about the potential wild goose chase. The north—even outside the lighthouse—didn't hold good memories for them. Not that anyone had fond feelings for the north.
It was their first time heading north since the training seminar. After learning rebels might exploit the northern seminar, it had shifted to safer activities. Safer meaning dealing with bandits or monsters that crossed the border into the kingdom.
'What if wraiths appear like back then?'
Ban thought as he touched the Broad Dao. Yuri snapped at him to stop fiddling, but in his mind, the wraiths' eerie laughter rang clearer than her voice.
He didn't feel responsible for Serifa's death. Nor was it sorrow. It was closer to anger. He'd keenly felt what it meant to lack power when it was needed.
That's why he wanted to test it. Confirm it. How much stronger he'd become. How much power he now wielded—or didn't. Could he cut through the night now?
§
If Tolzberry had anything to boast about, it was their black iron mine. Most of Tolzberry's youth were born sons of miners, lived as miners, and died in the mines.
People imagine mining towns as weary men with soot-smeared faces guzzling beer. It wasn't far off. The moment Ban stepped into a Tolzberry tavern, he realized silence was the farthest thing from this city. Men who hadn't bathed in who-knows-when were desperate to seat half-exposed women on their laps.
Women make men dream and fight. Was there any place that drove it home more? Fights over a single waitress were common, and no one seemed inclined to stop them.
Strange.
He'd been to plenty of rough neighborhoods. But this city had an odd atmosphere. It seemed lively and boisterous at first glance, but behind the rough laughter lurked a depression soaked in over long years.
Ban and Jeo had come here with the client. Anya and Yeoryeong were waiting at the inn. This place was too shabby for parading around elegant ladies like them.
The client was a scrawny man who looked like he could barely swing a pickaxe. He kept glancing around nervously before speaking.
"...Sorry. A noisy place like this seemed best for a discreet talk."
"It's fine. So, tell us more. Devil worshipers? In this village?"
"Shh! Quiet down! Someone might hear!"
Ban hadn't spoken that loudly, but Brown recoiled in horror, whispering. Ban eyed the man dubiously.
'...Total bust.'
No one would call him all there. Ban wondered if they'd come all the way to distant Tolzberry just to tour the mines. Brown lowered his voice.
"That day... I stayed late in the mine after failing my quota. Dozed off... When I woke, the torches were out, pitch black."
"Go on."
"I heard... chanting from somewhere. I crawled toward it, thinking I'd find someone—anyone—to borrow a light from and escape. But something felt off."
He hugged his arms as if recalling it terrified him. He gulped down rum, shivering as he spoke.
"There was a corpse with a sword in its chest. They were all gathered around it, singing. And... and...!"
He chugged more rum, staring into empty space with a flushed, drunken face.
"The baker Preda, florist Elsa, Beido, Enok... even Pastor Marton. Almost everyone I'd known my whole life was there. I... I couldn't believe it. Still can't. The kindest people I knew, chanting with the ugliest ones. And then... the corpse rose."
"...The corpse rose? Is that possible?"
"No lie! Damn it, if only I could forget. That scene... that horrific ritual."
"You're sure it wasn't a dream?"
Jeo asked. Brown glared at him furiously, then bared his arm. Bite marks, like from some creature. Brown laughed madly.
"I bit my own arm then. The scar's still here. Ah, if only it wasn't... if it had all been a dream..."
"..."
Ban and Jeo were speechless. They'd suspected madness at first, but now it seemed more than delusion.
Before leaving, Brown warned them.
"...Don't ask around too openly during your investigation."
"Why not?"
"Not friendly to outsiders... and lately, bizarre serial killings. Obvious, right? Those cursed devil worshipers... sacrificing people, using their bodies for the devils! They blame a witch, but... ha, as if! No way!"
Brown muttered like to himself, spilling his terror without regard for his listeners.
"And I... also..."
"What else?"
"...N-no, nothing. Please resolve it well."
Brown started to say more but fled like pursued. Though his exit felt off, Ban and Jeo returned to the inn instead of chasing him.
"...So, corpse ritual in the mine... nonstop serial killings in the village? They say it's a witch's doing?"
Anya and Yeoryeong frowned at the report. Eerie and suspicious. Yeoryeong rubbed her arms as if chilled.
"There's a lighthouse. How can they get away with that?"
"Lighthouse light doesn't reach inside the mine. And this mine connects beyond the border..."
"...Shouldn't it have been sealed off?"
"Probably. If it were normal. But can money not fix things?"
Anya said cynically. Ban clapped to refocus them.
"So, what's the plan? Split up for now?"
"I'll check the mine. No one moves better in the dark than me."
Jeo grinned. Darkness couldn't blind him, and if he blended into it, even bats wouldn't detect him.
"Then I'll hunt that witch. Heard where she is?"
"Roughly."
"...I'll watch the client. He's suspicious."
So Jeo took the mine, Anya Brown, Yeoryeong the witch. Ban was left. He decided to scour the village for info.
With his eastern features, he screamed outsider. Some ignored him, others mocked with nonsense and laughter. Without his sword, he fled fights amid their raucous jeers.
Finally, Ban climbed a church steeple to survey the city. Enhancing his vision wasn't his forte, but spotting goings-on wasn't hard.
'Not that weird a place...'
Not purely normal, but not devil-worshiper central either.
Then.
"Young man up there, what's the point?"
"...Me?"
"Who else is on that roof? Get down now!"
It was the pastor. He sternly beckoned Ban down. Ban grimaced but descended carefully, stepping on the roof. He could have jumped, but that'd draw eyes.
The pastor shook his head.
"These days' youth climb every steeple... No fear of divine punishment."
"Sorry. First time in the village, wanted a view..."
"Heh. At least you apologize properly. First time? Not much to see here... Job hunting?"
Good thing he left the sword. Otherwise, no naive question. Clutching his worn robe, Ban replied.
"Yeah, something like that."
"Mine work's tough to get..."
"I'm confident in manual labor."
"Hmm... Got a place to stay?"
"You offering if not?"
"God's temple always has room for the weary. Especially wandering lambs."
Ban smiled quietly.
"Please. Starved and walked far. Can't lift a finger."
"You're bad at lying. You look healthy."
"Really?"
'You're no better at it.'
Ban hid his thoughts behind a false smile.
Why.
Did this kind pastor smell of blood?