Chapter 139: Overwhelming Kill
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: Overwhelming Kill
"Pardon...?"
Jin stared at Kidad with a look of utter bewilderment.
"Are you saying I should experiment with Advanced Reverse Flow Magic on the people of Romp Village?"
"That is exactly what I am saying. Why that face? On such a joyous day, no less. I have gained the chance to study Shuziel Hister’s magic tome, and you have been entrusted with the Book of Reverse Flow. We have essentially placed our lives in each other's hands; I feel the bond of trust between master and disciple has truly deepened."
Jin was so stunned he was momentarily speechless. When he didn't respond, Kidad nodded as if he understood.
"Ah, Huwell. Is it that you've never killed anyone before? Not even during your time as a mercenary?"
Jin shook his head, suppressing the curses rising in his throat.
Advanced Reverse Flow Magic.
Based on what he had observed over the past ten days, it was a magic that could induce a backflow not just in mages, but in ordinary people as well. Unlike other methods, this spell could trigger a fatal reaction using only the infinitesimal amount of mana naturally present in a human body.
Furthermore, because Jin was only just beginning to learn Advanced Reverse Flow, he couldn't control its lethality. Of course, Kidad’s intention was for him to use the people of Romp Village as test subjects precisely to learn how to calibrate that power.
"It’s not that, but... this is a little unsettling."
"What's so unsettling about it?"
Kidad whipped around to face Jin, his eyes flashing with fury.
"They're just simple country folk. Using them as test subjects just to further my magical progress..."
"Ha! Huwell Hister. Listen well!" Kidad shouted, grabbing Jin by the shoulders. "You must not fear killing a few mere bugs. You possess a heaven-sent talent; your value is on a completely different dimension from theirs. It is only natural for them to become your nourishment!"
It was an outburst of agitation Jin had never seen from him before.
Kidad continued, huffing with exertion. "Do you know how I, Kidad Hall, reached 9-star? As a commoner, without any proper support? You must become a monster, Huwell. Otherwise, you can never become the best."
"Master."
"Those born with privileged backgrounds do far worse. They obtain test subjects with ease and purchase expensive magical tools without a second thought. But in my youth, even with talent far exceeding theirs, I always had to struggle."
The speech was nauseating, but Jin continued to feign rapt attention.
"I, too, felt uncomfortable with such things, just as you do now. But back then, if only someone had enlightened me... if only someone had told me early on that I possessed a value different from the countless bugs of the world, and that I could use them however I pleased."
Kidad’s hands, still gripping Jin’s shoulders, were trembling violently.
"The name Kidad Hall of the Reverse Flow would be standing in an even higher place than it is now. Huwell, you do not need to suffer the same losses I did. You only need to accept the realizations I gained through my failures, free of charge."
While Kidad rambled on, Jin kept his eyes cast downward.
Just as Jin was seeing this side of Kidad for the first time, Kidad was also seeing Jin’s seemingly cowed attitude for the first time. If I push him just a little more, he'll accept my words with a submissive look on his face.
That was what Kidad thought.
"...Huwell, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have even had the chance to let your talent bloom. You would have lived your whole life holding your breath as a third-rate mage. Now that you've been entrusted with the Book of Reverse Flow, show your master that you have the resolve. If you cannot, I will excommunicate you this instant."
"Ex... excommunicate me?"
"This is that important. It’s not just the bugs of Romp Village; you must continue to kill bugs in the future to hone your intuition. If you cannot accept that, I have no intention of raising you any further."
"...Please give me a moment to think, Master."
Kidad hid a smile as he watched Jin’s wavering eyes.
Yes, it would be difficult to accept immediately. But Huwell, once you start using the bugs, you will soon realize why the world is divided into geniuses and mediocrities.
He truly believed this was for his disciple's sake. He had lived that way for almost his entire life and had ultimately achieved the feat of becoming a 9-star mage. He had personally proven that this cruel, binary method of growth was never wrong.
Soon, Jin bowed his head.
"I was foolish, Master. To be honest, it will be hard to truly accept it right this moment. But I will trust your words and follow your lead."
"Are you lying because you fear being excommunicated?"
"No. If it weren't for you, I would have either rotted away at the Meltador Magic School or been sold to the Zipple and killed. If I do not trust and follow you, Master, I have no other path."
"Hmph!"
A clever child indeed. My eyes did not deceive me.
Kidad swallowed those words and stroked Jin’s hair. Inwardly, he had been worried about how he would have to coax Jin if he refused.
"...I shall be watching. But there must not be a second day like today. Not if you wish to inherit everything I achieved by passing through the gates of hell. My disciple, you are no different from my other self."
"Yes, Master. I will keep that in mind."
"Good. In exchange, if you use the bugs excellently and without hesitation tomorrow night, I shall give you a reward. The magic this master possesses isn't limited to the Reverse Flow system. From Elemental Magic to curses—I will teach you everything, one by one, each time you succeed."
Curses.
The moment he heard that word, Jin almost lost control of his expression.
I have no desire to learn such filth from you, nor do I need it.
And now, there was no longer any need to wait.
"Master, there is one favor I would like to ask before tomorrow night."
"What is it?"
"Please show me a demonstration of Advanced Reverse Flow Magic."
"Of course—"
"Please cast it directly on my body."
Kidad paused. Just as he was about to ask why, Jin continued.
"I want to know exactly which parts of an ordinary human body to target to induce backflow most effectively. That way, I can get the feel for it as quickly as possible tomorrow night."
"Khahaha...! Yes, that is exactly the attitude! How commendable! Indeed, if you kill more than five, knights will come from the capital, so we might have to leave this place immediately. I hadn't thought of that."
Veeeeeeeee! Veee!
A sharp, characteristic noise erupted as reverse flow mana gathered in Kidad’s hand.
"I shall show you right now. You will need time for your body to recover before tomorrow night anyway. Besides, as one who wields Reverse Flow magic, you need to feel this power for yourself at least once."
"Thank you."
"As you know from the Advanced Reverse Flow magic tome, the name of this spell is Reverse Flow Explosion. It generates a gravitational pull of mana, seizing the target's own mana to induce backflow. This is the magic you will be using starting tomorrow."
"Yes, the magic I practiced the entire time you were away in Vankella, Master."
"I will now accelerate the rotation of the Reverse Flow Explosion and begin to draw in your mana, from your toes to your head. I will concentrate the force on one part at a time, so focus your mind and feel where it is most agonizing."
Jin took a few steps back and quietly closed his eyes.
"I am beginning!"
Veeeeee, greeeeeeek—!
Kidad’s Reverse Flow Explosion began to rotate frantically. Mana particles started to seep from Jin’s body, slowly being sucked into the spell. It looked as if blue ribbons were flowing out of Jin and winding around the explosion.
Wait...!?
The moment he began, Kidad was struck with astonishment.
I cast a Reverse Flow Explosion at the maximum level of a 7-star so Huwell would feel the pain clearly, but why is there no sign of backflow even starting?
Ah!
Kidad flinched and examined the Reverse Flow Explosion. Cracks were forming on the sphere of mana that made up the spell.
C-Could it be? Is Huwell’s mana far beyond 7-star? No, that’s impossible. I must increase the power!
Kaaaaang! Sssssss!
As the rotation of the Reverse Flow Explosion intensified, the ribbons of mana flowing from Jin’s body grew thicker. Kidad was already channeling mana close to the late 8-star level, yet Jin remained standing with his eyes closed, his face expressionless.
Kidad realized something was wrong only after the Reverse Flow Explosion bloated grotesquely, unable to handle the mana it was drawing from Jin...
The infinite mana of the 'Mirror.'
From the moment he first came here to meet Kidad, Jin had already activated the trigger word for the Mirror. He had been waiting for a moment just like this.
Crr-ack! Bang!
As the Reverse Flow Explosion distorted and burst, Kidad hurriedly pulled up all his energy to control the mana, but even a 9-star mage was only human. He could not possibly handle the infinite mana of the Mirror. It was as futile as trying to hide a waterfall with the palm of one's hand.
His own mana, along with the Mirror’s, was now being absorbed by the gravitational pull of his own collapsing spell. An uncontrollable backflow ripped through Kidad’s body.
"Kidad Hall. You, more than anyone, should know the terrible pain of backflow."
"Cough, ke-heck, ack!"
As Kidad convulsed, blood pouring from every orifice on his face, Jin slowly walked toward him.
"You must have lived all this time having forgotten about me..."
"Cough, what... what in the world..."
Kidad’s distorted face was instantly drenched in blood. His eyes were wide with shock, and his legs trembled from the agony ravaging his body. Thud. His strength failed him, and Kidad fell to his knees, barely managing to look up at Jin.
"Hu... Huwell, cough! You—"
"Do you remember the name of the infant you came to Storm Castle to curse fifteen years ago, Kidad?"
"You... you...!"
"I am not Huwell Hister. I am Jin Runcandel."
Shring...
A razor-sharp dagger slid out from Jin’s robe sleeve.
Looking down at the man, Jin saw the twenty-eight miserable years of his previous life—the hellish times wasted, never even knowing he had fallen under that godforsaken curse, the Delusion of the Blade.
"It took me forty-four years to find out that Joshua had Taimun Marius commission that curse from you."
"Ple-ease. Gaack. No, don't."
"I didn't even have the chance to beg like you are now. Kidad, back then, I was only one year old."
As Jin’s dagger turned black with spirit energy, Kidad thrashed and shook his head. A few streaks of fresh blood from Kidad’s throat spattered the hem of Jin’s robe.
Slowly leaning down, Jin pulled Shuziel Hister’s magic tome from Kidad’s chest.
"Your pathetic eighty years can hardly compensate for my forty-four, but I shall make good use of the Book of Reverse Flow."
"S-Spare... cough."
Stab...
As the black blade pierced Kidad’s heart, bloody foam frothed at his mouth. Then, he was dead.
Leaving the slumped corpse behind, Jin strode away. He swung the dagger, still enveloped in spirit energy, and carved a message into the wall:
You will not be able to die as peacefully as this. — Jin Gray.
So that his eldest brother, Joshua Runcandel, could see it clearly.