Chapter 141: After the Death of Kidad Hall (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 141: After the Death of Kidad Hall (2)
The item Casimir had secured was a ‘Nameless Pass.’
It was the essential key required to enter Samil, the city that served as the headquarters for the Nameless. Attempting to locate Samil without a Nameless Pass was nothing short of suicide.
However, even possessing a pass did not guarantee safety within Samil. The city was a place far more treacherous than even lawless regions like the Black Sea.
It was the sanctuary of assassins.
No commoners lived in Samil. Every resident was a cadet training to join the Nameless, and the city itself functioned as a massive, lethal training ground.
This meant that assassination drills were constantly underway. Unlike conventional training, these drills explicitly permitted—and encouraged—murder between cadets. Furthermore, the protection of visitors was not part of their mandate.
In other words, there was absolutely no issue if a visitor was used as a target for assassination practice.
‘Possessing a Nameless Pass and seeking them out means you agree to follow their ways.’
Conversely, those who arrived without a pass were immediately classified as enemies rather than visitors. A visitor only had to endure the assassination attempts of the cadets and leave with their life, but an enemy—even if they managed to escape—would be placed on the Nameless’s hit list and suffer a lifetime of assassination threats.
And in the entire world, there were very few who could expect to survive once their name was written on that list.
Jin toyed with the Nameless Pass as he sprawled out on the sofa.
‘The place where Sister Yona is. And meeting her won't violate the laws governing Reserve Flagbearers.’
Yona was currently an assassin of the Nameless, not a member of the Runcandel family at the Garden of Swords. Therefore, Jin would not face any family punishment for meeting her.
After his regression, Jin had planned to visit the Nameless before the year 1799. It felt a bit early to go now, as the assassination attempts of the Nameless cadets were a threat even to 7-star knights.
‘I intended to visit when I could laugh off a cadet’s assassination attempt... but if I run into Kuzan again or have to fight a poison user of his caliber before then, I’ll be helpless.’
The reason Jin was seeking out Samil, the city of the Nameless, was poison.
‘There are too many poisons in this world that even a Runcandel’s blessed body cannot withstand.’
Memories of being pushed to the brink of death several times since his regression surfaced. When he met the White Wolf warrior Quajito Truka on his first mission, when he fought Andrei, when he dealt with the Zipple mages in Colon...
The most dangerous among those encounters was when he met Beris and Kuzan. The moment he was struck by Kuzan’s poison, he would have certainly died had Prince Laika of Delki not found him. He had also felt much during Taimun’s death.
‘Kuzan will continue to hunt me, and there will be countless others who try to kill me using poison. Even after I return to the main house.’
Everyone belonging to the Nameless developed poison resistance through training. Even the cadets training in Samil possessed the resistance to withstand most intermediate poisons. Once the cadets officially became ‘Assassins of the Nameless,’ they gained significant resistance even to deadly toxins.
However, what Jin wanted was not at that level. He already possessed that much resistance simply by being born a Runcandel.
‘I have to get the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor.’
The Ten Thousand Poison Liquor was a secret elixir passed down only to the top assassins of the Nameless. Those who drank it gained a body that was nearly immune to all poisons.
An absolute state of ‘Immunity to All Poisons’ was not officially recorded, but it was speculated to be a realm reached only by Temar, the first patriarch of Runcandel; Cyron, the current patriarch; and Korun, the first Nameless King.
Of course, the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor was not something one could obtain just because they wanted it. It was an elixir granted only to the highest-ranking assassins who had earned the Nameless King’s recognition.
‘But in my past life, Sister Anne definitely drank the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor. Around the year 1799.’
If things flowed the same as in his previous life, Anne would drink the elixir in about three years. Specifically, the one Yona gave her as a gift.
‘Sister Yona attained the rank of top assassin in the shortest time in the history of the Nameless. Moreover, she was born with a body already close to being immune to all poisons, so she had no need to drink it herself.’
So, Yona had offered her portion of the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor to the family. The Nameless King had been furious, but he quietly swept the incident under the rug for two reasons: first, he cherished Yona more than his own child; second, if he retaliated against the Runcandels, he would have to be prepared for the destruction of the Nameless.
Instead, the Nameless King used the favor to keep Yona bound to them, ensuring she remained with the Nameless even after her contract ended.
‘That was probably better for Sister Yona anyway. Regardless, Sister Anne drank it back then... but this time, it’s mine.’
As far as Jin was concerned, Anne was clearly on Joshua’s side. And Jin intended to ruin everything his enemies had, from start to finish. He would take what benefited them and exacerbate what harmed them.
Bit by bit, he would carry out his revenge.
*
The rune substitution for the Book of Reverse Flow was complete.
“Augh, it’s finally over, damn it! Come here and show me your back.”
“Thanks.”
Murakan grumbled as he etched the rune characters onto Jin’s back, one by one. With every rune carved, Jin could feel his understanding of everything related to Reverse Flow magic rising rapidly. This included the standard and advanced spells of the Reverse Flow system, such as Reverse Flow Sphere and Reverse Flow Explosion.
It even included the ultimate Reverse Flow magic that Kidad had named ‘Heaven Reversal.’ As Jin let out a satisfied laugh, Murakan shrugged.
“Is it really that good?”
“This is what’s great about magic. You can’t obtain a secret swordsmanship technique through something like rune substitution.”
“That’s also a downside of magic. In many cases, you can’t display your true power even if you learn the spell if you don't have the runes. That’s why I don’t use Flash Cannon. Though this Great One is already strong enough not to need such things.”
“I feel like I’ve gained a proper weapon to follow up Flash Cannon.”
“I looked closely while I was decoding it, and they’re quite useful spells. If you master that Heaven Reversal thing, even a mob of mages at the 7-star level or below won't be able to catch you.”
To put it simply, Heaven Reversal was a spell that manifested a massive Reverse Flow Explosion in the sky. Naturally, it sucked in mana with a force incomparable to the Reverse Flow Explosion held in one's palm. Furthermore, it was a spell that broke the existing laws of Reverse Flow once again. Heaven Reversal could induce a minimum backflow reaction even if the target possessed more mana than the caster.
If what Kidad had unleashed had been Heaven Reversal instead of a mere Reverse Flow Explosion, Jin wouldn't have been able to kill him so easily, even with the power of the mirror.
“It’s a spell I obtained at the risk of straining the mirror’s seal, so it better be worth it.”
“Good grief, really. Do you think a seal Solderet made in his prime is going to loosen just because you offed one 9-star mage? You can use it a bit more freely.”
“It still feels uneasy. If the seal breaks, the world ends. I have to use it while considering every possible 'what if.' Besides, if I only rely on the mirror, my actual growth will inevitably be delayed.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Murakan spoke indifferently, but he was inwardly impressed.
‘After killing that Kidad fellow, he must have realized how incredible infinite mana is, yet this little brat shows no sign of falling for the temptation of convenience...’
In his over three thousand years of life, Murakan had seen countless geniuses ruined by the temptation of shortcuts. While becoming stronger efficiently was important, there was no such thing as a method to become strong easily and quickly in this world.
“Hmm, anyway, should I try it out to celebrate?”
“Heaven Reversal?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait a sec, let me release some spirit energy first.”
“It’ll take time to chant anyway since I’m still inexperienced. Since it was the ultimate technique of a 9-star mage, I’m a bit short on mana too.”
“And we’re indoors, you crazy kid.”
“It’s an indoor space as wide as a training ground. Here I go.”
While Jin closed his eyes and chanted Heaven Reversal, Murakan quickly shielded himself with spirit energy. Since he also possessed mana, he wanted to avoid being exposed to the influence of Heaven Reversal.
Whirrrr— Clang!
Soon, the mana released from Jin’s hand began to form a massive sphere on the ceiling. It took fifteen seconds for it to grow large enough to cover the entire ceiling. As the chant ended, the sphere began to rotate violently, and a shallow vibration shook the entire spacious living room.
“Oh!”
The moment Murakan looked up at Heaven Reversal in wonder.
“Lord Jiiiiiiin!”
Enya, who had just entered the living room to find Jin, began to foam at the mouth. She had been exposed to the influence of Heaven Reversal.
“Oh no!”
Jin hurriedly dispelled Heaven Reversal and rushed to Enya. Murakan pointed and burst into laughter like a delighted puppy, while Jin had no choice but to support Enya, almost embracing her.
“Are you alright, Enya! I’m sorry. I didn't know you were nearby, Miss Enya...”
Thumbs up!
Enya gave a thumbs up, her eyes sparkling.
“It’s the best...!”
“Pardon?”
“I said it’s the best! Right now! You’re totally cool!”
It was hard to tell if she meant Heaven Reversal was the best or if she meant this current situation, but Jin breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Enya wasn't seriously hurt.
“Whew, thank goodness. If you had been injured, Miss Enya...”
“Just stay like this for a moment! No, forever! Right now, I feel like my life is a suc— Gack!”
Quicantel, who had approached unnoticed, chopped Enya on the back of the neck, causing her to lose consciousness. It was a frequent occurrence.
“Insane... Has Enya reached the stage of harassing you now? Good heavens, I’ve told her time and again that no matter how much she likes you, she shouldn't act like that.”
By then, Murakan was rolling on the floor, roaring with laughter, and Jin had to spend a long time explaining the situation to Quicantel.
“It was my fault, Lady Quicantel. I’ll apologize to Miss Enya when she wakes up.”
“No need for an apology... Forget it, Enya needs to get her head on straight anyway. Regardless, I heard you’re going to Samil, the city of the Nameless, soon? To get the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor from your sister.”
“Yes. I’ll probably depart the day after tomorrow.”
“You know what kind of neighborhood that is, right?”
“I do. The city itself is a giant training ground, and even visitors aren't free from the threat of assassination.”
“At your current level, you should be able to withstand the attacks of the Nameless cadets well enough. But in Samil, the more you fend them off, the stronger the assassins they send. If you hold out until the end, the top assassins will come.”
“Uh, I haven't heard that part.”
“Of course not. Anyone who would spread such stories is either dead or reluctant to talk about the Nameless. Usually, people die or finish their business and leave before a top assassin arrives.”
Even in Quicantel’s time, the Nameless was a famous group of killers. And among her companions, she knew the most about them.
“I can’t guarantee your safety against the true assassins of the Nameless, even if your sister is one of them. So, when you feel like you can’t handle the assassins anymore, take this out and show it to them. You’ll be able to live then.”