Chapter 34
Chapter 34 - The Trump Card
"Hmm."
I sat quietly in my room, staring at the pitch-black panel that appeared before my eyes. It was time for the regression point... that is, the save point(?) for time-space regression to update.
[The immortal regression point has been updated.]
[Time - Mittelland Kingdom Year 547, December 19th, 7 PM]
[Location - Halcenberg Castle, Knight Cesar's Room] [TL/N: He is in her room]
[Notice - The Immortal Demon King is close to hatching.]
[Notice - Until the Immortal Demon King fully revives, regression points will update every 12 hours.]
In one hand, I held the Demon King's egg which continuously emitted an ominous light.
It had grown larger than an ostrich egg now, but weighed even more than one. As expected of containing a Demon King, its weight was extraordinary. The energy it emitted was also somewhat unsettling.
"Um... Jeong-yong nim." As I was quietly observing the egg, Seolbaek, who had been lying silently beside me, carefully spoke up.
I turned to look at her.
"What?"
"That... What kind of egg is that?"
"Do you want to eat it?"
"Am, am I some kind of pig!" Seolbaek protested lightly while puffing her cheeks. She must have thought I was teasing her.
However, considering Seolbaek's appetite over the past few days, it wasn't just a joke to laugh off. She would empty not bowls but three pots of food every day.
'Well, she's not a pig but....'
If anything, Seolbaek was still rather thin and needed to eat more.
However, her complexion had noticeably become healthier now, and her cheeks had filled out somewhat so she no longer looked as pitiful as before.
To be more precise, as she recovered her true appearance, she was turning out to be even more beautiful than I had expected.
"I, I just asked because such an ominous energy is leaking out... it sends chills down my spine."
"Hmm. Really?"
"Yes! How, how can you hold something like that in your hand so casually, Jeong-yong nim?"
Seolbaek asked while looking at me as if truly puzzled.
Well, of course it's not pleasant having something dark emitting such an eerie aura. But it's not so bad that you'd recoil like that.
Perhaps this is also because I'm the egg's guardian, so this energy feels familiar to me. Nodding my head, I asked Seolbaek.
"Hey, Seolbaek."
"Yes. What is it?"
"Are you a healer?"
"Healer... what's that?"
"Recovery artist. You said you specialize in recovery."
"Ah yes. That's right. I'm a qi artist specializing in recovery and support."
Seolbaek nodded and immediately brought her hand to her chest.
―Grurururu!
Then, transparent energy gathered in Seolbaek's palm, taking the form of a small dragon.
An amorphous dragon emitting a transparent, mysterious light. It moved in perfect unison to coil around Seolbaek's shoulder area.
―Groooo....
It seemed to be waiting for commands as it quietly watched Seolbaek.
I opened my eyes wide at this sight. Seolbaek smiled slightly at my reaction and explained.
"This is the qi dragon (氣龍) I use. Its name is Aran (牙蘭). I ask Aran to heal wounds or activate the body." [1]
"Hmm."
That's quite fascinating.
But fascinating aside, I'm primarily focused on performance, so I have no intention of ending with just a paper interview.
I immediately pointed at the qi dragon and asked Seolbaek.
"That dragon. How strong is its recovery power?"
"How... strong you ask?"
"Like healing scratches? Reattaching severed limbs? Or even saving people on the brink of death?"
"Well... in terms of strength..."
Seolbaek pondered for a moment.
She glanced at my face, seeming to mutter to herself 'Should I tell him?', then as if having made up her mind, she nodded and said.
"Would it help explain if I told you Aran is the reason I could survive being imprisoned in that dungeon for 3 years?"
"That's sufficient."
I nodded and looked at the qi dragon with renewed interest.
'No way. At that level she's not just a healer but Hua Tuo himself.' [2]
A woman who's worth her salt as a cook and turns out to be top-tier in recovery too? She's basically a walking lucky charm.
As I nodded with an impressed expression, Seolbaek scratched her cheek awkwardly and said.
"Everyone who came here with me was killed by that crazy maid. But, even she couldn't inflict fatal wounds on me. It was all thanks to Aran."
"Hmm."
"In the end, when she couldn't do anything with me, that woman locked me up in that prison."
"... So that's what happened."
Seolbaek's expression darkened as she spoke.
"Yes. After that, that woman never paid any attention to me again. After a long time passed, I was in a comatose state relying on Aran... that's when you passed by, Jeong-yong nim."
Seolbaek's face had turned pale with fear of Leila. Inevitably so. Since I deeply sympathized with that fear, I just nodded heavily.
Anyway, at that level, the success rate of my plan increases significantly. Such an incredible ability to reduce double deaths to single deaths couldn't possibly not be helpful.
'But since her body isn't fully recovered yet... should I leave her be for now?'
I decided to consider her as reserve force number 1 for now.
My plan basically involves betting with life as the basic stake. If I can reduce the risk of the stakes, I plan to even borrow the hands of that terrifying Leila.
That's why after Seolbaek, I'm planning to go to Leila too.
I immediately gripped Seolbaek's shoulder. When I brought my face a bit closer, she was startled and immediately blushed.
"Seolbaek. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"Ah, ye... yes!"
No. Why are you suddenly closing your eyes when I tell you to listen carefully?
Well, it doesn't matter since closing your eyes doesn't block your ears.
I went straight to the point with her.
"Tomorrow morning. I'm going hunting."
"... What?"
Seolbaek asked with a deflated expression, opening her eyes wide.
I started explaining the whole story to her.
"Actually, I made this deal with the owner of this place..."
I continued explaining to her, recalling the deal I had just made with the Border Duke in the audience chamber.
* * *
"... Hahaha. Good. Let me hear your plan, Sir Park Jeong-yong, the Eldritch Slayer."
Though his words were positive, the Border Duke expression was not good at all.
It seems he thought I was mocking him. His expression was filled with displeasure. His way of addressing me was mixed with ridicule.
Well, fine. Whether to take my hand or not is entirely his judgment. If he doesn't follow, I'll just make another plan.
"I will be leaving this castle soon."
"...!!"
"So I don't think I have time to leisurely level up step by step anymore. I want to quickly kill the Eldritch, settle my debt with you, Margrave, and leave without regrets."
"... I, I see."
At my blunt words, the Border Duke nodded with a bewildered face.
I smirked while looking at him.
"So, the plan I'm about to tell you isn't exactly orthodox."
"Then? You mean it's unorthodox? Is there such a thing? What exactly is it?"
Perhaps because my attitude was so confident. Lord Margrave's mocking tone became tinged with a hint of expectation.
I continued speaking with a grin at that change.
"Margrave. You must feel it too."
"Feel what?"
"That despite us annihilating their vanguard, the Eldritch's legion has been unusually quiet."
"...!"
The Border Duke had muttered this while looking at the ruins of the undead legion's base.
―But... this is strange.
I remember clearly.
Back then, I didn't know what was strange about it, but now I do.
'The fact that there's been no counterattack from the Eldritch at all.'
The frightening thing about the undead legion is that even if you annihilate them, they quickly revive and attack before you can reorganize.
But during the month we spent exterminating the undead. Despite having enough time for the clearly killed undead to revive, there were no signs of counterattack at all.
This must have been an incomprehensible, strange phenomenon for the Border Duke.
Of course. Because no one except me knows the truth behind this phenomenon.
"So, Margrave. The fierce counterattacks from enemies we hunted the same way suddenly stopped a month ago. What has changed between a month ago and now?"
"Hmm..."
The Border Duke fell into thought with a blank expression, then suddenly widened his eyes.
Those wide eyes immediately turned toward my face. An incredulous voice came out.
"... You. You joined the hunt."
"Yes. That's right."
"You're saying, you're the cause? The reason why they're not counterattacking?"
"Yes. That's also correct. I can be certain. I bet my left testicle it's the truth."
When a man bets his thing, it's definitely the truth.
Margrave, if you're a real man too, you should believe my words.
"... I simply cannot believe it. Can you show me proof?"
But the Border Duke ultimately shook his head and asked me back. How disappointing, Margrave. You should believe me.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and shook my head.
"No. I can't help it with this part. There is evidence but I can't show it to you."
"What does that mean? Didn't you want me to believe you?"
"That's not it, but. If I show you the evidence, you'll cut my throat before we get to the Eldritch."
"What? What are you..."
The reason I can't show the evidence? It's simple.
Because that evidence is the Immortal Demon King.
The fact that the Demon King's egg interacts with the undead legion.
It means while the undead affects the Demon King's side, the Demon King's side also affects the undead and their leader, the Eldritch.
Simply put, the enemy Eldritch has also sensed it.
The ominous energy they feel from us who are hunting the undead legion.
The revival of their lord.
'They... the Eldritch has detected the Immortal Demon King.'
By my guess, that's the reason the counterattacks stopped.
I can't imagine anything else, and this fits perfectly.
'But how do I explain that to this man?'
That's why I tested whether he hates heroes.
In my experience, reckless business actually works better with skeptical opponents.
To the Border Duke, I must be an utterly puzzling existence right now.
He probably can't tell if I'm good or evil, a con artist spouting nonsense or a trustworthy hunting companion.
But precisely because of that.
There's a possibility my persuasion might work even without being able to show evidence.
"Anyway, I can't show you the evidence. But it's certain that I have the power to suppress them."
"... That's... too unbelievable of a story..."
"That's why I won't ask you to believe me. However, I've staked my life on this matter. As you'll understand when you hear my plan. This plan is one where I alone shoulder all the risks."
"......"
"Lord Margrave. I won't ask you to stake your life either. Just do as I instruct. And when you see an opportunity, escape. Back to this fortress. Like you always do."
Lord Margrave remained silent for a while. I waited patiently.
Of course it would be hard to believe. He might feel like he's being played.
'But if my prediction is correct.'
If my judgment of Lord Margrave's character isn't wrong. Then the answer is probably already decided.
Because he wants to protect this land more than anyone else in the world. Because he must hate the Eldritch more than anyone.
No matter how crazy it sounds, you cannot refuse my proposal.
"... You saying you'll stake your life. What nonsense."
Sure enough. Lord Margrave soon opened his mouth with a heavy expression.
He soon strode toward me and held out his fist as always.
A reliable smile was on his face.
"I too will stake my life. After all, I've lived until now for that moment alone."
"... Well said."
I showed a satisfied smile and bumped his fist hard.
After clearing my throat a few times, I began explaining to him in a subdued voice.
"Then. I will tell you the plan."
Footnotes:
1] [TL/N:氣龍 (Qì Lóng) symbolizes a dragon embodying powerful energy or spiritual essence while 牙蘭 (Yá Lán) symbolizes a blend of strength and elegance, meaning "Fanged Orchid" or "Ivory Orchid."]
2] HUA Tuo was an expert in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, and acupuncture.Given the name, Chinese God of surgery.