Chapter 45
Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Devil, Witch, and Demon Sword (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It wasn't a fast sword. Nor was it a heavy one. But being invisible, being imperceptible—that was sometimes even more terrifying than a fast or heavy sword. Being invisible meant it couldn't be blocked, and being unblockable meant... it was as good as the fastest sword in the world.
Ban’s dagger pierced Yucheong’s heart. Right where the sword wound from his corpse remained. The most basic way to neutralize a Demon Ghost: re-stimulate the cause of death from life.
Sever the head.
“Ah...”
Yucheong couldn’t even let out a proper death rattle. A blade of Qi without even temperature sliced across his throat, and by the time he came to his senses, his head was already rolling on the ground.
“Captain!”
“This can’t be...!”
Even the Demon Ghosts felt chills at that eerie technique. A fast sword could be anticipated. A strong sword could be dodged or parried. But how do you counter an invisible sword?
The problem was that Ban was still nowhere to be seen. If Yucheong had lingered, maybe, but the other ordinary Demon Ghosts were far too low in realm to spot him.
The Demon Ghosts’ death rattles continued. One by one. No matter how vigilantly they guarded their surroundings, by the time they snapped to, their heads were already tumbling to the ground.
And when one finally managed to light a fire, only five Demon Ghosts remained.
“How in the world...”
The Demon Ghosts let out sighs. Ban had reappeared in their sight, but his spotless form—not even a speck of blood—only cowed them further. What should they do? How could they?
“That’s enough.”
And that was the moment. Yucheong’s voice rang out. But his head had clearly been severed? As Ban frowned and turned, he couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
Yucheong’s head lay severed on the ground. The blow had clearly landed. Blood vessels bulged around his eyes, and the death aura cloaking him flickered unsteadily. Yet his eyes still fixed on Ban, and his voice rang clear despite lacking lungs.
“...Impressive. I never imagined your concealment Qi would be so masterful.”
“I was taught that even Demon Ghosts die if their heads are cut off...”
“Unfortunately, I’m not your average Demon Ghost.”
“You’re a particularly creepy one, yeah.”
“...You brat.”
Yucheong smiled. Even headless, he harbored no apparent malice toward Ban. Slowly, he opened his mouth.
“What will you do now?”
“...Who knows. Keep fighting, I suppose?”
“If I begged for mercy, would you grant it?”
“Why would I?”
“True. I suppose not.”
Yucheong sighed as if resigned. And in the next moment, the head he’d inhabited—Renber’s—jerked. Black mist erupted from it, and in the blink of an eye, he was sucked into the body of one of the remaining Demon Ghosts that hadn’t lost its form.
Ban’s jaw dropped.
“...Isn’t that a bit cowardly?”
“Don’t worry. Even I don’t find it easy jumping from corpse to corpse like this. I’m quite... fatigued.”
“Not a drop of sweat in sight.”
“Corpses don’t sweat.”
“Fair point.”
“Even so, I’m willing to fight until one of us is sweating corpses.”
Yucheong clenched his fist and grinned. Ban stared silently at him. The aura emanating from him was indeed somewhat weaker than before.
But he’d revealed another hidden card all the same. Fighting on like this offered no guarantee of victory... and now that they were wary of the darkness, using his fifth sword again wouldn’t be easy.
Ban glanced at the pastor. He spoke quietly.
“This isn’t the end. You’re just postponing it. You know that, right?”
“...Please, think about it. The citizens of this city, and why I’m doing this.”
“It’s easy to say there’s a problem with the world, Pastor. No world is without its issues.”
But,
“I’ve seen plenty like you, Pastor. You talk about the problems right in front of your eyes and say we should smash everything to change it. But...”
He had seen those who lived—and died—their lives and their children’s to protect this world. He had witnessed the bitter loyalty of the Shiraz Clan.
Ban understood the rebels’ hearts as much as he understood the kingdom. The kingdom wasn’t purely good, but it wasn’t something to hate either. That was why he had seen its tender side all too clearly.
Ban’s gaze darkened.
“The meal was delicious, Pastor. Until we meet again.”
“Very well.”
The pastor replied in a bitter tone.
“The potatoes for the starving... will always be ready.”
§
Ban dashed out of the mine like a wolf. The residents who hadn’t yet fled cowered in fear at the sight of him, but he had no business with them.
The night was far from over. He wasn’t sure if Anya and Yeoryeong had met the witch successfully, but there was something more urgent to check first.
“It doesn’t add up.”
Brown. His face came to mind. When he’d spoken of the ritual, he’d omitted the most crucial detail: how he’d escaped.
The tunnels inside the mine branched in many directions, but there was only one entrance. And guards stood at that entrance... There was no way Brown could have slipped out undetected.
He was hiding something, or lying. The chance he was in league with the pastor wasn’t high. No clear reason came to mind for exposing their presence at Citadel Academy.
“What is it? What am I missing...?”
Crowded rooftops and chimneys became his path. The few people out and about were too drunk to notice him, and the night was obligingly dark.
It was a large city. Nothing compared to Citadel, of course, but the sheer scarcity of empty alleys gave a sense of its scale.
And in this city, serial killings occurred periodically.
Ban’s feet halted. He recalled the corpse he’d seen. A single thrust to the heart. Death without even time to feel pain. Not the work of some amateur murderer in a frenzy, but someone who truly knew the sword...
And the pastor had called that corpse a “brother.” Mere ritual words? Or...
His mind brimmed with questions at a glance, but they faintly outlined the incident’s contours. And that was reason enough to find Brown that much faster.
Ban first retrieved the broad dao and longsword he’d hidden at the inn. The moment Yuri was in his hand, she whined in disgust.
—What’s this? Why’s it covered in death aura?
“Fought some Demon Ghosts.”
—Demon Ghosts? Don’t tell me you actually joined that devil-worship service?
“Something like that. Better a devil that grants wishes than a god who won’t even speak, I guess.”
—Ugh, glad you didn’t bring me. I don’t want to go anywhere near those things.
Yuri despised the Seeds of the Night. She didn’t fully remember her death, but having sacrificed herself when the North fell, they were likely her killers.
Ban set off again without rest. Yuri asked curiously.
—Why the rush? Something else happen?
“There were lookouts at the mine.”
—And that means... Ah. Brown...?
Yuri grasped it without need for elaboration. Ban nodded.
“Don’t know why he lied... but we’ll find out soon.”
—He didn’t seem like the stew-boiling type... An accomplice?
“Probably.”
And that accomplice was likely the serial killer. Perhaps... a vigilante quietly taking out the devil worshipers.
The path to Brown’s house was treacherous. Many stairs, narrow alleys—but no obstacle for Ban. His feet touched every rooftop and wall between.
And before the moon had shifted, he arrived.
“...”
—Be careful.
He knew. Ban drew his broad dao and took stance. A faint blood scent wafted from Brown’s house, door left ajar. Someone was inside. Someone terrifying...
“...Jeo?”
Ban lowered his hand and entered. Amid shattered furniture, Jeo lay collapsed, covered in blood.
“Jeo, Jeo! What happened? Who did this?”
“B-Ban... is that you?”
Jeo struggled to open his eyes and look at him. No immediately fatal wounds, but blood poured from gashes all over his body. Thanks to his unique stamina, the injuries visibly healed before the eyes, but...
“...Brown... Brown...”
“Brown did this?”
Jeo shook his head. Rather than make Jeo speak, Ban cut in.
“An accomplice. A swordsman. Skill... enough to do this to you.”
“Strong... Be careful... *cough*.”
“Wait. I’ll fetch a doctor.”
As Ban rose, Jeo grabbed his wrist. Gazing up effortfully, he said.
“Track... my... blood.”
“You sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m... Jeo. Of the Eustaine Clan... *gasp*... Jeo.”
Jeo breathed raggedly and forced a smile.
“No need... to worry.”
He couldn’t argue after that. With the Eustaine Clan’s regeneration, it was just a matter of time...
Ban sighed.
“You’re always embarrassing me like this. Don’t come back after getting beat somewhere.”
“If I’m... *gasp*... this beat up... how bad off... is that guy...?”
“Even on your deathbed, the bravado. Just rest.”
Ban picked up a bloodied cloth scrap from Jeo’s clothes and stood. For someone capable of this to Jeo to be rotting in this city... “Interesting.”
—Don’t let your guard down, Ban.
Yuri’s voice followed immediately. But it was needless worry. No complacency here. Jeo required caution even against Ban. For him to clash in earnest and neutralize him just short of death... wasn’t easy even for Ban.
But.
“Senior, this guy’s a swordsman too.”
Ban smirked oddly. If he could endure, Ban held overwhelming advantage over any swordsman. The longer it went, the more he could analyze their sword path— who else could a swordsman hate more?
Ban sniffed Jeo’s blood scent. Inferior to Eustaine retainers, sure, but he’d diligently trained his “scent-tracking.” Nothing too hard.
Wondering if he’d ever spent such a long night, Ban hurried on. He didn’t hate fighting martial artists or ordinary warriors... but what he loved most was dueling swordsmen.
And soon after, Ban dropped down before Brown and a man.
“Eek! K-Knight... sir...!”
“Not a knight yet. Haven’t been knighted.”
Ban replied languidly, broad dao slung over his shoulder. The answer was for Brown, but his gaze pierced the man beside him.
“This guy... did that to Jeo...?”
Something felt off. Ban slowly scanned the man. Solidly built, sure, but the training marks weren’t deep enough to fell Jeo.
Yet his sword grip felt like a seasoned master’s. A mismatched composition full of incongruity. And as Ban eyed the source— the man scowled.
“Who’re you?”
“Ban. Name’s Ban... Hey. Got a question for you too.”
The man was ordinary. Your run-of-the-mill swordsman, nothing more or less. But... the sword in his hand was different. Even approaching felt like it’d slice flesh—the keen edge poured out, and facing it brought inexplicable pressure.
Thoughts flooded his mind. Deduction. Admiration. Awe. Suspicion. Then, nothing remained but...
Ban bared his teeth.
“That sword looks pretty good.”