Chapter 137

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 137

Chapter Title: Sticky Darkness

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The Shadow Summoner's tree is usually pitch black. From the roots to the trunk, branches, and fruit.

Each class's ability tree had its own unique color, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just like this.

Such signature colors almost never changed. And drinking the blood of the progenitor was one of the rare events that almost never happened.

Branches where red and black hadn't fused, each occupying half.

Kang Seol confirmed the one composite ability he could now unlock.

This wasn't the first time Kang Seol had seen such a composite ability.

Pin Modria, the previous owner of the progenitor's blood, had unlocked a composite ability blending the priest's white with the progenitor's red.

'This is my root ability.'

Root ability.

The ability named as such because the tree starts from the roots.

This referred to foundational abilities that formed the core of the class, like Shadow Hand or Shadow Summoning.

The midpoint between the progenitor's blood and the Shadow Summoner.

New abilities would now branch out from here. And it would all begin with this Sticky Darkness ability.

Drip...

As Kang Seol rose from his seat, nothing remained on the wall where his massive ability tree had been etched.

"...Hm?"

Hundreds of people, who had been staring silently at the wall, now shifted their gazes to Kang Seol.

Someone asked,

"H-Hey! Why is only one side a different color?"

"No, it looks just like mold..."

"But who is that? First time seeing him here..."

"It's the Penitent! The Penitent! ...Or not?"

"Over there..."

Suddenly, people swarmed toward Kang Seol.

The union member who had guided him here panicked and called for backup.

"Don't show off—just tell us!"

"What makes you think I can tell you?!"

"Just let us know! Us alone!"

Before the unexpected hostile atmosphere could escalate, union members rushed in and whisked Kang Seol away.

Long after the info on composite abilities spread through the association's community, Kang Seol arrived at a secluded spot.

"The diocesan has arrived."

"...Let's head out right away. It's about time."

With that, the rest period in the ward came to an end.

The carriage carrying Kang Seol, Chameli, and a few Black Pilgrims set off.

The other Black Pilgrims followed in another carriage.

Over the two days the carriage raced on, only a few words passed between Kang Seol and the pilgrims.

Mostly things like, "We'll camp here tonight."

"...Any progress on the tracking?"

"Tracking?"

"Yes, the Black Knight."

Chameli nodded.

"Pilgrims are already ahead in Ilia. They found traces of the Black Knight nearby."

"Then hasn't the Black Knight already entered Ilia?"

"No, the Black Knight brings a storm of blood wherever he goes. If he'd come to the city, people would already be dying."

"Can't the lord's guards handle him?"

"The lord has fine knights, but they probably can't match the Black Knight. Not so far..."

"So we have to deal with it in the end. But even leaving traces, tracking doesn't seem easy."

"I understand your concern. But we're doing our best. We have a contracted adventurer handling the tracking."

"A Transfer?"

"Yes, a very strong one. The local lord is also providing full support. Now we just need to find the Black Knight."

The mention of a very strong Transfer joining as an ally piqued his interest slightly, but since they'd meet in Ilia anyway, he didn't ask further.

Chameli cautioned Kang Seol.

"One thing in advance: don't act rashly in Ilia."

"Rashly?"

"The Black Knight is cunning. Why hasn't the bloodstorm bringer been caught yet? It's not just his power—he avoids traps and dangerous spots."

"In short, don't draw attention."

"He's a beast that's socialized to some degree. A monster that speaks human language."

"...Understood."

"The pilgrims in Ilia are careful too, so as long as you do that, there shouldn't be issues."

Four more days passed before the carriage stopped.

Ilia was similar in size to Audenin but lacked a massive union like Audenin's guild alliance, hosting only minor guilds.

That made it a place where Transfers acted freely—or chaotically.

On the second day after arriving, Chameli said,

"Today, I'll introduce you to one of our tracking allies."

"That one from before."

"Yes, they're waiting at the rendezvous. Let's go."

Screech...

After entering Ilia, Kang Seol had strictly avoided going out. Not that he had reason to anyway.

The lined-up buildings were impressively large, as if boasting the city's status.

But the city's atmosphere felt off as he walked briefly.

Thud thud thud...

People were running, as if in a hurry.

'What's going on?'

Kang Seol turned toward the running crowd. Chameli beside him followed suit.

"What do you think it is?"

"Something nearby, probably..."

Unable to contain her curiosity, Chameli chewed her lip and said,

"The rendezvous is that way anyway."

"And?"

"...Shall we swing by there?"

Her obvious intent was clear, but Kang Seol nodded. Paths connected anyway.

As they strolled with a faint smile, Kang Seol's expression hardened slightly.

Thwack!

"Urk..."

Thud!

"...You little shit! Who the hell are you?"

"Stop! Please... stop!"

"Ha... Look at these bastards. Hey, you don't know me?"

"I didn't know... I didn't... Sorry, so sorry..."

Screams, shouts, sobs, madness.

One man was bullying a group with heavy kicks and a ferocious glare.

Chameli rushed forward in shock.

"Such... such insolent thugs!"

"Diocesan, no... don't...!"

Before the pilgrims could stop her, Chameli plunged into the heart of the threat.

Kang Seol followed slowly.

"Stop it! What are you doing?!"

"...And who's this? Why butt in?"

"Diocesan!"

The woman beside the man confronting Chameli said to him,

"Looks like a Black Pilgrim?"

"Those mongrels? Why're they strutting here? Hey, you know me?"

"Se-hyun, lots of eyes—maybe stop?"

"You crazy? I was minding my own, they started it. When have I ever lived watching my step?"

Chameli declared firmly,

"I don't know the details, but using violence against someone not resisting is wrong."

"...You teaching me now?"

A tattoo, seemingly from some gang, was visible on the man's exposed neck.

Balanced build, intimidating presence to dominate foes.

And strangely, everyone ignored his arrogant attitude.

The man being kicked spoke up.

"...We did."

"What?"

"The item we reserved first... you snatched it..."

"So?"

"So...?"

"So? What now? Want an apology?"

"......"

The man looked around, unable to reply.

Only cold stares met him.

Aside from the unknown woman with arms spread wide, everyone stood by indifferently, hands behind backs.

Their mindset was obvious.

Good thing it's not me getting beat.

Probably that.

But this awkward situation where calling out wrongdoing felt off frustrated him. Overwhelmed with grievance, he yelled,

"Yeah! Apologize! If you're wrong, say sorry to us!"

Flames ignited in the man's eyes at the response.

"Should I beg maybe? You're right, yeah. We snatched it. Really sorry, our bad—we'll return it."

Clunk.

He tossed the item back insincerely; it spilled from his inner pocket across the ground.

The beaten man trembled with humiliation.

"But you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠messed up too, so take your punishment."

"Punishment...?"

"You barked without knowing your place, so I'll take one tooth. Fair? Won't kill you—just one each time I remember."

"S-Stop... please stop..."

"Hey, grab 'em all. If they interfere, you're first."

Just before the powder keg exploded, someone stepped in front of the fallen group.

Notably, he faced the youth defying the man called Se-hyun, not Se-hyun himself.

"That voice..."

It was Kang Seol, stepping up to protect Chameli.

At first, that was his only reason. He had no interest in unrelated quarrels.

Surely.

"Lift your head a bit."

"...Pardon? Uh?"

As the man raised his head, his bloodied face appeared. Swollen eyes like a bloated fish, blood and saliva drooling from his mouth.

"......"

Kang Seol's expression vanished.

The tattooed man said,

"Why do clueless meddlers keep popping up? Been quiet lately? Hey, you with them? Got lots of friends?"

Ignoring him, Kang Seol brushed the dust from the swollen man's clothes.

"Kyung-taek, right?"

"Seol hyung? Is that... you, hyung?"

"Did you do something wrong?"

Jo Kyung-taek recognized Kang Seol and burst into tears, shaking his head.

"No... no... I didn't..."

He clung to Kang Seol's ankle, pleading.

No one had cared for the weak; they feared drawing the strong's ire and turned away completely.

In that nauseating scene, Kang Seol appeared.

Jo Kyung-taek desperately crawled and grabbed his ankle.

"Please... help me... I did nothing wrong..."

Kang Seol stood abruptly, turned, and addressed the tattooed man's gang.

"Then you must be the one in the wrong."

Veins bulged on the man's forehead.

"Ha... fuck... what, beg again? Begging works?"

Kang Seol replied,

"Yeah."

"...Hey."

"Beg."