Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Revolution's Prison (1)
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"……Who would've thought I'd be eating chicken with five legs."
"Sometimes the night isn't so bad."
Anya shrugged as she tore into a chicken drumstick as thick as her forearm. If Tambi had been a spatial sorcerer skilled in subspace storage, they could have brought more ample provisions, but he specialized in teleportation rather than storage. In the end, they had no choice but to fill their stomachs each day with meat purified by White Flame and water.
That wasn't so bad, though. There were rumors that eating unpurified meat might make sprouts grow from your navel, but with two Nahar clansmen in their group, they didn't have to worry about that.
'The Nahar Clan really seems to exist solely for the sake of the night.'
Ban thought to himself. In the Dark Ages, when there were no lighthouses in the world and only darkness prevailed, he had heard that people formed societies centered around the Nahar Clan.
It had to be that way. In the darkness, the Nahar Clan's White Flame was a river-like source of life. Without it, they would eventually be consumed by the night and become one of those foul creatures.
"……That said, there sure are a lot of noble-grade ones around."
Kizl grumbled. Ban asked in a puzzled tone.
"Isn't this normal?"
"'Noble'-class ones, the really strong ones, usually prefer even deeper darkness. We call that the Abyss. And this place…… well, it's not quite the true Abyss."
"There's hardly any light here without White Flame."
"The Abyss is on another level."
Kizl shrugged.
"In that darkness, even White Flame can't illuminate your feet. Get it?"
"……Sounds depressing."
Ban clicked his tongue. Kizl glanced at him from his hunched position.
"Swordsmen used to seek out the Abyss. They said you could find your true sword there. Most just ended up as monsters swallowed by the night."
"……I have no intention of borrowing strength from the night."
"I figured. But still…… I was surprised seeing you spar evenly with Captain Dein, but I didn't expect you to fight so seasoned against the Night Clan's nobles too."
Normally, you'd be covered in blood like Hwan. No matter how vigilant you were, they struck from blind spots you couldn't watch. If it were overwhelming firepower like theirs, maybe, but to dominate so one-sidedly in a swordfight……
"No master, right?"
"All my opponents have been my masters."
"Hmm……"
Kizl looked at Ban with a strange glint in his eye. Ban ignored the gaze and spoke up.
"What do you plan to do at Pendel Prison?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? Why would we go there?"
"……Aren't we heading there now?"
"We're going as far as where Pendel Prison is visible. Not to the prison itself."
Kizl waved his hand dismissively.
"No matter how strong we are, there are only six of us. And Drampo and Lady Shiraz aren't even combatants. Facing the Revolutionary Corps head-on would be suicide. We confirm their presence from afar and return immediately via Drampo's recall formation. That's the plan."
"……Hmm."
"Anyway, like I said earlier, the path's rougher than expected. Why would so many nobles come all the way out here for scraps……"
"From what they were saying, it seems a new predator appeared."
"That's a bit odd too."
Anya cut in.
"We don't fully understand the Abyss's ecosystem, but an ecosystem is an ecosystem. There are plenty of predators in the Abyss. No reason for them to flee here all of a sudden……"
"Looks like this one wasn't your average predator."
"……Not a very positive situation, I get it."
Ban shrugged.
"But what can we do? You have to investigate, and we can't back off in fear of an enemy we haven't even seen."
"You're right. We have to keep going. Just be cautious. Anything can happen in the Night's domain. You know what I mean?"
Ban grinned and raised the chicken's fifth leg.
"I know all too well."
On the way to Pendel, they encountered more nobles of the Night—more precisely, Night Nobles—than expected. Each one was grotesquely bizarre beyond description. Some followed them persistently only to flee at the sight of White Flame; others bared their teeth and charged on sight. Some even prayed to them, while others lay down and slept, ignoring them entirely.
"I thought all Night Clan were inherently evil……"
"There's room for debate there. But one thing's certain."
Anya spoke as she melted the corpse of a steel giant that had attacked them with White Flame.
"They're too dangerous for humanity."
She was right.
During the journey, Ban ended up talking most often with Anya. Their topics varied, but the future came up inevitably.
"How long do you plan to wander?"
"……Until I don't have to?"
"Sounds like you hate wandering but have no choice."
"Plenty of places call me, but none to settle. What can I do?"
"Why no place to settle?"
Anya looked at him reproachfully. Ban gave an awkward smile.
"The lighthouse can't be my home. Even you wouldn't join me in wandering."
"How do you know? Maybe I would."
"……You'd come along?"
"No."
"See?"
"But if you'd asked sincerely, begged even, I might've given a different answer."
Anya glared at him sulkily. Ban sighed. From the moment they reunited, he'd sensed her anger simmering. Whether at herself or him, he couldn't tell.
'The Nahar lady and the Seonwoo man.'
Ban gave a wistful smile. Anya bristled at it, then spoke in a low voice.
"You like me, Ban."
"……That's an odd confession."
"If I'm wrong, say so. If the looks and feelings I sensed were just a silly girl's delusion, laugh it off properly. Don't hem and haw. Answer me. Am I wrong?"
"No, I……"
"Brother! Where are you?"
As Ban tried to respond, Hwan's voice cut between them. Anya sighed and turned away. Hwan appeared soon after, chuckling.
"Ah, here you are. Lady Shiraz just set the route. Two more hours, and we'll reach where Pendel Prison is visible."
"……Got it. Thanks."
"Your face looks pale, brother. You okay?"
"Yeah, fine. Just tired. Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
Ban glanced at Anya. He whispered: Let's talk later. She didn't reply.
The group walked in silence for a while. Confirming Pendel's status would clear one hurdle. Then it was just to Kalsmori Library.
They had to climb a towering mountain. It was treacherous enough to make ordinary legs tremble just ascending, and a massive centipede cloaked in darkness coiled around it entirely, but Shiraz said calmly.
"This foothill centipede isn't a threat. It's an earth-eater."
"……Earth-eater?"
"It eats dirt. Spends all day devouring that mountain to grow. Been there for decades. If angered, it's scarier than any natural disaster, but it doesn't do anything that stupid."
"The night really is……"
Ban shook his head, at a loss. They climbed, stepping on rocks and sometimes the centipede's writhing legs. As Shiraz said, it didn't threaten them. Good thing—honestly, if that near-mountain-sized thing attacked, he wouldn't know how to respond.
'……That said, what's this feeling?'
It started as they began climbing. Maybe tension from passing the massive centipede, but Ban felt persistent unease. Like some gaze brushing over him……
No lifeforms within his senses. He sharpened his senses amid the tension. And then—
"……"
Indescribable. Ban felt it. Two eyes watched them. He didn't know from where. But definitely, those eyes observed their 'ascent' warily.
"……Kizl."
"What is it?"
"I think we've been spotted."
"……"
Kizl didn't ask what he meant or how. Ban's instincts were the most reliable among them. He quickly turned to Tambi.
"Tambi."
"Yes. Preparing now."
Tambi pulled stones from his pouch—markers linked to the lighthouse's teleportation circle in the north. As he infused them with power—
Kwachik! A stone shot toward them shattered against Ban's blade. But it didn't end there. Two, three, ten—countless stones poured like hail, too many for his blade to chase. Each could easily crush a human skull.
Anya and Kizl's White Flames soared skyward, announcing their presence far and wide. But their position was already known. How they'd been spotted, he didn't know……
'How are they slinging stones from Pendel all the way here……'
Who mastered catapults to this level? Pendel was miles away at least. And precise throws in the Night's domain.
"Tambi, how much time do you need?"
"……Hard to exert power in the Night's domain. Tracing the lighthouse's space via these markers' thread……"
"Hurry. They're coming soon—"
Ban stopped mid-sentence, doubting his senses. Something approached at impossible human speed, like a falling comet. Soon he identified them.
"……Wraith Legion."
The same ones from the training camp. As wraiths rose from the darkness, Ban bit his lip. The gap between then and now was vast, but these wraiths were no pushovers either.
'Each at least 5-Star level.'
An aura unique to realm-attained masters shook the world's laws, swirling as darkness around them. One spoke, voice clear as a living man's.
"Drampo child. Drop the markers. We wish no needless blood."
Tambi scanned nervously. For spatial transfer, he needed physical contact with passengers. Rash movement now could cost their heads.
'So quick to react……'
Tambi glanced around. He could escape alone, but that defeated the purpose. He was here to ensure everyone's safety, not flee solo.
Tension thickened. Ban gripped his sword quietly. The Seonwoo Clan supported the Revolutionary Corps. Revealing his identity might calm this? Doubtful—their base was exposed now. Besides, not in front of Shiraz.
'……No choice.'
Only one option. Ban signaled behind his back. The group's eyes widened as they saw it. Ban clutched Yuri tightly.
Shiraz had said: Don't anger the foothill centipede, and it's safe.
But now, that danger was needed.
"……Sorry!"
Ban's blade swung. He still couldn't cut the sky, moon, or sea.
But his blade could still cut one centipede.
Painfully enough to enrage it.