Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 211
>Chapter Title: Midnight's Uninvited Guest
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A message appeared before Kang Seol.
[You have acquired new information.]
[A sudden adventure, 'Midnight's Uninvited Guest,' has occurred.]
Adventure 29-2. 'Midnight's Uninvited Guest'
You escaped unscathed from the collapse of the smuggler's passage. Nevenia's pursuers are struggling, blocked by thick rock.
Taking advantage of the gap, you traversed quite a distance through the Nogurs Mountains as your route. However, with your party's stamina unable to keep up, you had no choice but to spend the night here.
You knew you couldn't afford to waste time thinking of Adelin's approaching pursuers, but you judged that this exile schedule wasn't something to rush blindly.
Is this the price of that recklessness?
In the dead of night, amid the night dew, an intruder appeared.
Objective: Repel the uninvited guest.
This is a sudden adventure.
This is a dangerous adventure.
Remaining time: Unknown
Shuro said,
"I'm not interested in that kind of noise."
"Is that so?"
"Instead, I'm interested in other sounds."
Whoosh...
Shuro's severed arm stuck back together stickily. Shadows acted like glue between the cut surfaces.
"Screams, for instance... More importantly, Crow. Who are you? I've never seen you before."
"Not strangers? I don't know who you are either. But..."
Seeing his severed arm reattach smoothly, Kang Seol said flatly,
"I think I know where you're from."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Kang Seol glanced back to check if Riona and Chadolf were safe, then said,
"The Immortal Church, right?"
Shuro jumped in surprise.
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"If it's hard to understand, that means you're from the Immortal Church."
"What kind of twisted logic is that? You don't make sense..."
"I'm not on good terms with the Immortal Church. Looks like I nailed it. Did Bria send you?"
In an instant, Shuro's expression changed.
It was like looking at a lake rapidly cooled.
"...Don't say that name lightly."
"Hit the mark again. Thanks for the easy tell."
"How does someone like you know Lady Bria?"
"If I had to say, we're sworn enemies. But are you just gonna keep yapping?"
Shing...
Shuro conjured a greatsword from the darkness.
"No... If you're on bad terms with Lady Bria... I need to erase your existence from the world right now."
"Fine by me. We're in a hurry anyway. Let's get started."
"Acting all cocky... Hah!"
Pop-!
A speed Chadolf couldn't match. Shuro had no doubt about this easy win.
'A summoner, from the looks of it. First, that weird crow mask...'
Swoosh...
But suddenly, Karuna stood before him.
Not just matching Shuro's speed, but surpassing it.
"Where are you looking?"
Pwaaack-!
"Ughhh..."
Karuna's kick whipped across Shuro's abdomen like a lash, sending him flying.
Kwaaang!
Shuro crashed through trees from the impact.
While Kang Seol and Shuro's battle unfolded, on one side, emergency treatment was underway.
"What do we do... Chadolf! Chadolf! Snap out of it!"
"......"
"Don't leave me behind! Chadolf!"
After shaking him a few more times, Chadolf showed signs of stirring.
"Ugh..."
"Chadolf?"
"Ah, Your Highness... I'm sorry. In the end, you lost your life following me."
"What? What are you talking about? Who's dead? No one's dead!"
"Y-Yes...? What do you..."
Chadolf, bewildered by the situation, tried to sit up when Viscount Brispin came running from afar.
"Huff... huff... Wh-what happened?"
"We were attacked."
"Oh no... What's the situation, Your Highness? What's going on?"
"The crow is right now..."
Swoosh...
As Riona turned to explain, an indescribable scene unfolded before her eyes.
Kaaang!
Kagagagang!
"Damn..."
Pwaaang-!
"Ugh..."
Maybe because of the overwhelming skill gap Shuro had shown against Chadolf, she expected the crow to struggle, but reality was the opposite.
"What is this..."
Pwaaang!
"Kuhuk..."
Kwaaaang!
"Aaaah! That hurts!"
The black knight wielded by Kang Seol completely dominated Shuro.
He was toying with him like a child.
Whoooosh...
Shadows soon poured from his body to heal the wounds, but Shuro's complexion was poor.
"Haaa... Not bad?"
"You're the one who's not bad."
"Don't get cocky... You don't know your place..."
Crack...
The aura emanating from Shuro's body was definitely shadow energy.
Kang Seol felt a twinge of doubt.
'But what's with that weird body?'
Constantly healing with shadows—it was an unheard-of concept.
'The Immortal Church... Did they create another pain in the ass?'
Crunch...
Shuro cracked his neck and said,
"Lady Bria was right to warn me. Now I'll get serious."
Whoosh-!
Whoosh-!
Two adult-male-sized shadows materialized at Shuro's sides.
"These are Biran and Bidon. Say hello."
"Kieee..."
"Khat! Kaaaht!"
Monsters with mouths torn wide and teeth scattered wildly. As if disgust itself had been molded into form.
"Biran, Bidon. Get ready."
"Kieeat!"
Pop-!
Suddenly, it was 3 against 1.
Shing-!
Whoooong...
Karuna's sword trembled faintly.
Then, his aura blazed explosively.
Hwaaaaang-!
[Karuna enters stage 3 of Moonlight Ascension: Full Moon.]
Flinch-!
Shuro startled at Karuna's sudden shift in presence but stayed composed, not having shown all his cards yet.
Kwaaaang-!
Biran swung at Karuna but struck empty ground.
An opening.
Karuna's slash poured in to exploit it.
But Biran stared straight at Karuna.
Ziiing-
[Biran uses Contempt.]
[The target is repelled from Biran.]
Thud...
A strange repulsive force pushed Karuna back, disrupting his stance momentarily.
"Bidon!"
Bidon stared at Karuna too.
Ziiiiing...
[Bidon uses Affection.]
[The target is drawn toward Bidon.]
Whoooong...
A sensation like being pushed from behind.
Karuna spun to resist, but he couldn't stop being pulled.
"Here!"
Chalaak-!
Kagagagak-!
Shuro's greatsword struck Karuna's breastplate.
[Hope Devourer consumes the impact.]
[Hope Devourer is in a hungry state.]
[Hope Devourer digests all impact.]
"...What the hell is this?"
Pop-!
Karuna widened the distance while Hope Devourer absorbed the damage.
"This is straight-up cheating..."
Swoosh...
Kang Seol considered adding Karen, figuring it wouldn't be easy.
But Karuna extended a hand to stop him.
"Master."
"Karuna?"
"I'm fine."
"...Got it."
Unlike before, with the persistent Lone Knight ability, even if the twin knights were summoned separately, he could fully benefit from the stat increase.
No loss in not summoning Karen simultaneously.
Still, the question remained: could Karuna handle those three—make that three beasts—alone?
Since Karuna's resolve was firm, Kang Seol decided to watch.
Swoooo...
"You know?"
This time, Shuro addressed not Kang Seol, but Karuna.
"That I'm special."
Karuna replied without backing down.
"I get that you're unique."
"Ehehehe... Shuro was chosen by Lady Bria. Chosen by the Immortal Church... So..."
Pop-!
"Die quietly!"
"Kiaaat!"
"Kiik..."
Four silhouettes clashed at once.
Kaaang-!
Kagagak!
Karuna focused on Biran, who had used its ability first.
That repelling power was the most annoying.
Ziiing...
[Biran uses Affection.]
[The target is drawn toward Biran.]
Whoooong...
Karuna's eyes flickered black.
He wasn't too rattled, considering the monsters might share abilities.
Swing-!
Shuro's greatsword swept horizontally.
Kagak-!
Karuna blocked. Now for the counter.
The enemies weren't about to let that happen.
Bidon focused on Karuna to repel him. Then, something shot from Karuna's hand.
Pak-!
"Kiaaaah!"
A dagger hit Bidon's eye. Karuna charged straight in.
"Ugh..."
Overall combat power favored Karuna over Shuro.
Naturally, Shuro played defensive until Bidon recovered.
But Karuna ignored Shuro.
Puhwaaaak-!
"Kieeeek!"
Karuna severed Biran's arm—the one that used its ability first.
Shuro gritted his teeth, blocking Karuna's onslaught.
Kaaang-!
Kaaang-!
"Die! Die! You have to die!"
Shuro held a unique position in the Immortal Church. The next generation to lead its future.
Among them, a select few granted special powers. Shuro was one.
Kaaang-!
Kaaang-!
"Until now... I've never faced anyone like this..."
Kagang...
"Kiaaaah!"
Pshut-!
Amid the exchange, Karuna lopped off Bidon's arm too.
"Stop it!"
Jeeeng-!
[Biran uses Contempt.]
[The target is repelled from Biran.]
Thud...
"Huff... huff..."
"......"
Karuna regained his stance after being pushed back.
This exchange was Karuna's overwhelming victory.
As long as he knew the enemies' abilities in advance and prepared, Karuna was an untouchable knight.
Conversely, Shuro seemed deeply shaken by the defeat, muttering lowly.
"I'm... chosen... Why..."
Kang Seol was optimistic about victory but tilted his head at Shuro's state.
'This guy's giving me the creeps.'
Shuro trembled, glaring at the damaged Bidon and Biran.
"Yeah... There was that method."
Suddenly, Shuro opened his mouth wide and sucked in air.
Kwaaaaa-!
No—shadows, precisely.
"Kiiii!"
"Kiaat!"
Biran and Bidon were drawn into his mouth.
"Haa... haa..."
Kang Seol fixed his gaze on Shuro.
Srrrruk...
Shuro's body began covering itself in shadows, just like a night crow.
"I... won't lose."
A memory etched in Shuro's mind.
"Shuro, you're chosen."
"Really...?"
"Yes. Remember, out of countless children, I, Bria, chose only you."
Those words were both truth and lie.
All the other children in the same experiment died.
Only he survived.
An experiment transplanting shadows directly into promising bodies.
Shuro was the survivor.
His body accepted shadows as naturally as breathing, and he wouldn't die unless decapitated.
If he grew well, these talents could fill the void of immortals, so Bria and the leadership spared no support.
And Shuro had one more special trait.
"Shuro, you get stronger the more you fight."
"What do you mean?"
"The shadows inside you adapt to the opponent's movements. They remember with senses far sharper than any human's."
"So... as long as I don't die..."
"Yes, as long as you don't die, you can defeat any foe."
Bzzzt...
Bzzzt...
Shuro snapped back from the noisy flashback to reality.
Kang Seol eyed the night-crow-like Shuro and thought,
'Night crow? No, a bit different. That's... shadows forcibly held together.'
Shuro grinned.
"Hehehehe... I'm invincible! Because I'm chosen!"
Crackle-!
His greatsword split into two swords as he gripped and tore the hilt.
Paaat-!
Shuro, empowered by absorbing Biran and Bidon, lunged at Karuna. Much faster than before.
Kaaang-!
'Not yet...'
Kaaaaang-!
'Not yet...'
Shuro swung the swords in both hands furiously. His speed gradually increased.
Kaaang!
Kaaaaang!
'Not yet!'
Kaaaaang!
Gradually, Shuro entered a trance.
Kang Seol commented,
"Getting faster."
Shuro clearly heard the mutter, snapping him to his senses.
'I can win! I get stronger! Faster!'
Bria had said so.
As long as he didn't die, Shuro would grow stronger.
'Faster! Even faster!'
Kagagang!
'Even faster!'
Shuro moved with all he had.
But something felt off.
'Why... why... is it the same?'
He soon learned why.
[Karuna enters stage 4 of Moonlight Ascension: Black Moon.]
Goooo...
Pitch-black energy poured from the knight's body.
'No... no! I... need to go faster... I'm supposed to be special... I need Lady Bria's praise...'
Am I slowing down?
No, did he speed up?
Or...
'Both...'
Shuro's instincts kicked in.
One leap wouldn't topple this knight. Realizing that, his innate battle sense shone.
"Diiiie!"
This swing was a feint.
For the decisive moment, he activated his held-back ability.
Zing-!
[Shuro uses Position Swap.]
[The gazed target and position switch.]
A new power gained by devouring Biran and Bidon.
Like kicking away a blocking pawn to charge the king as a rook.
Shuro repelled Karuna and charged Kang Seol.
"You! If only you die..."
"Die?"
"You... why..."
Shuro's body halted, like caught by a magnet. As if someone gripped his hair from behind.
Kang Seol faced him and said,
"Farewell."
Dudududu-!
Like sucked into a hurricane, Shuro's form was yanked backward.
Puhwaaaak-!
With Karuna's black wave, his body was sliced diagonally.
"Kuhuk..."
Thud...
Drip...
Severed at the waist, Shuro screamed in rage.
"I'll kill you bastards!"
To intimidate, Shuro risked using his ability despite the danger.
[Shuro uses Scorn.]
[Immune to all slows and controls temporarily.]
Whoosh-!
Like a deflating balloon, he hurled himself off the cliff.
He had to survive, at least for now...
Survival instinct saved Shuro.
No pursuit. Barely caught on the cliff, he clawed his way down.
Sssss...
Soon, his lower body regenerated.
Unbelievable speed, but not without cost.
"Haa... haa... Monster... monsters. Must tell... Lady Bria... tell her..."
Staggering like he might collapse, Shuro rummaged his pocket and widened his eyes.
"The crystal orb... where is it?"
* * *
"He's good at lying."
Kang Seol chuckled dryly at the raggedly escaping Shuro.
Karuna was growing stronger far faster than expected—even now. This fight confirmed it.
"Th-this can't be."
"To this extent..."
Riona and Brispin were speechless at Karuna's dominance.
Chadolf shook his head repeatedly, unsure if this was a dream.
Kang Seol approached them.
He asked Chadolf, who'd taken the worst of it.
"You okay?"
Chadolf flinched and replied,
"Ah... yeah... No broken bones, fortunately..."
"Huh?"
"Ahem... No, it hurts like hell, but I can move..."
"...Understood."
Riona fretted.
"What now? Who sent him?"
"What did he say?"
"Well, uh... yeah! Right, the statue... I found it."
"Statue... Immortal Church."
"Immortal Church?"
Brispin closed his eyes gravely.
"If even the Immortal Church is after us... things just got worse."
"Let's gather more info first."
"Info? How?"
Swoosh...
Kang Seol pulled a gleaming crystal orb from his pocket. Licking his dry lips, he said,
"Pickpocketing comes in handy more than I thought..."
"What?"
"Nothing."