Chapter 228
Chapter 228
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 228
>Chapter Title: Black Obsidian
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Among the record keepers watching Kang Seol and Seolhong, a young man spoke up.
“Looks like he knew Seolhong from before?”
“Seems that way.”
“Reckless! Charging right into the heart of the mountain stronghold without any plan…”
“From what he’s showing, he seems pretty confident in his martial prowess, but Hwichang didn’t evade the imperial troops for so long without reason. He’s a bandit, sure, but not someone to take lightly.”
“Arrogance is just stepping unknowingly toward death’s door. Someone so oblivious…”
“Unfortunately, his swordsmanship doesn’t look all that advanced either.”
At that moment, Kang Seol and Seolhong obscured their view with the umbrella and vanished in an instant.
“…Did you see that?”
“…No.”
“I didn’t.”
The record keepers had missed Kang Seol’s movement. An elderly record keeper among them cautioned.
“Don’t miss a single move. Record everything.”
Kang Seol set Seolhong down in a safe spot and charged into the bandits.
Tsssp-!
“Gaaahhh!”
He swung Bitan, now shaped like a sword, slicing off a bandit’s arm.
Whish-!
Thwack-!
The bandit’s head, severed by Bitan, floated into the air. The bandits still hadn’t located Kang Seol amid the piles of corpses. His movements were as swift as lightning flashing across the sky.
However, Kang Seol’s face showed dissatisfaction.
Bitan felt the same.
‘It’s not familiar.’
The biggest change from Bitan’s recent growth was its ability to change form according to his will.
This was an advantage in some cases, but not always.
Especially for Kang Seol, who had no sword-related skills, wielding it proficiently was challenging.
In the East, the sword is called the king of all weapons.
It required depth to master, and Kang Seol couldn’t suddenly become a peerless swordsman.
Crunch-!
“Guhhh…”
Kwaaaah-!
“Uwaaah!”
Of course, thanks to the peerless weapon Bitan, slicing and stabbing people wasn’t too hard, but smashing them barehanded seemed more efficient.
‘No choice.’
Whirrlik-!
Bitan understood his intent and transformed into armored gauntlets.
Clank…
“Grab him! Grab that bastard and bring him to me!”
Hw chang shrieked like a madman each time Kang Seol killed one of his men. His ferocity was impressive, but he didn’t step forward himself. True to a bandit leader, he acted cunningly.
Smack-!
A black gauntlet to the cheek exploded a head.
Whish…
Crunch!
A spinning back kick caved in a chest. The bandit with the collapsed chest spewed blood from his mouth and died—it was inevitable.
Smack!
Smack smack smack!
Every flash of his hand burst heads like watermelons. Anyone else witnessing it would think it was hell itself.
“Hii… Hiiiik…”
“It’s a ghost! A ghost!”
The bandits realized something was off around then. But it was too late.
Whooosh-!
Smack smack smack!
Smack smack smack smack!
Splatter!
Spurt!
When three heads exploded simultaneously, sending blood fountains swirling, all color drained from the bandits’ faces.
Kang Seol was crushing the bandit gang with his overwhelming stats. Bone fragments, blood, and brains mixed into unrecognizable mush scattered everywhere.
People were dying every second.
Killing dozens of people was easier than swatting dozens of flies.
At least flies didn’t cluster like this.
Spurt!
Covered in blood, Kang Seol didn’t consider it evil.
With their grotesque display—people skewered on spits as trophies of terror—such thoughts were a luxury.
He butchered them like it was just another job.
Spurt…
Trash like bandits could be pulverized with minimal effort.
“Uwaaah!”
“R-run!”
Thud thud thud…
The survivors scattered in both directions.
Each praying Kang Seol would chase the opposite group.
Pop-!
Kang Seol pursued the left group first.
Like a wolf among sheep, he tore into them mercilessly.
“P-please…”
“Over therrrre!”
Spurt!
Boom!
As the opposite group sighed in relief and tried to widen the gap, a chain shot from Kang Seol’s hand.
Chaaaain-!
Bitan became a chain with razor-sharp barbs, flying toward them.
Stab!
“Guh… guh guh guh…”
A bandit’s heart was pierced by Bitan.
“Sp-spare…”
Bitan didn’t stop, snagging another bandit’s foot.
“Eeeek!”
Thud…
The bandit tripped, tangled by the chain, and grabbed the legs of the one fleeing ahead.
“S-save me… save me!”
“Let go! Let go, you bastard!”
Chaaaain…
The chain reeled them in.
They were dragged straight to Kang Seol in an instant.
Crunch!
He stomped their heads.
In mere minutes, every bandit in the stronghold was dead—except one.
“Dieeee!”
Hw chang swung his massive cleaver down from above with full force.
Thud-!
But Kang Seol caught it in his hand.
“Die! Die alreadyyy!”
Hw chang’s muscles bulged.
Rrrrip!
Straining as if his swollen muscles would tear, he poured everything into bringing the cleaver down.
“…….”
Yet why wouldn’t it budge? It felt like striking rock.
“Y-you… what are yooou…”
Hw chang’s strength ebbed from the cleaver.
Kang Seol found him utterly ridiculous. Probably no one was as cruel to the weak as this man.
‘…Shall I test it?’
With most abilities nullified here, maybe a summonless skill would work.
Ssssh…
Black shadow covered his hand from fingertips to wrist.
[The Night Raven form is assumed.]
Zzzzt…
Kang Seol grimaced.
Burning pain seared his wrist area.
‘No good.’
[Unable to maintain Night Raven form in unstable state.]
[Night Raven form released.]
Zzzt-!
Regrettably, Night Raven wouldn’t work, but he used the lingering energy to shatter the caught cleaver.
He grabbed Hw chang’s head with his other hand.
“Ughhh…”
Faced with the feat of crushing steel barehanded, Hw chang froze in terror. In his eyes, Kang Seol grew gigantic while he shrank.
“Ughhhhh…”
Hw chang knelt and surrendered on his own.
Of course, no mercy.
Crack-!
Spurt!
Hw chang’s head crushed, and he died.
Even without summons, Kang Seol crushed mere bandits effortlessly.
‘Unnecessary worry.’
Such overwhelming stats made him a being from another dimension. Even someone stronger than Hw chang would fall the same way.
“You…”
Seolhong approached.
Her face, smeared with blood, tears, and snot, was too heartbreaking for a girl her age.
Whish…
Kang Seol reverted Bitan to umbrella form.
He’d been soaked long enough, but rain dripping from his brow wasn’t pleasant.
As he approached to shield her, she flinched. Sensing it, he stopped.
“How do you know my mother?”
A stranger who knew her late mother, appearing out of nowhere.
It was bewildering for Seolhong.
Kang Seol shrugged.
“You…”
That was when it happened.
They weren’t alone.
“Death Flower Seolhong!”
The voice came from distant trees.
Undoubtedly the record keepers.
Seolhong bowed her head.
“Yes…”
“From now on, we evaluate your path.”
The young man’s voice first.
“Courage for venturing alone without giving up: +3 points. Reckless bravado with insufficient ability: -2 points.”
Next, the woman.
“Unyielding will against villainy: +3 points. Strength far too lacking to uphold that will: -2 points.”
Finally, the elder.
“Passing the trial as a result: +4 points. Minimal contribution to this trial: -2 points. Your score for this trial is a mere 4 points. Do you contest this?”
Hopeless.
All she gained was a pitiful 4 points after deductions. Out of 10, it was dismal.
Yet Seolhong bowed her head.
“Your words are just. Seolhong accepts the record keepers’ judgment.”
“…….”
“Also, this has shown me my own inadequacies. I, Seolhong…”
Seolhong wanted to quit.
She couldn’t overcome even the easiest trial on her own, surviving only through a stranger’s help. Shame and sorrow overwhelmed her.
Her dragon contest ended here.
“You’re as hasty as your mother.”
“…What?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Death Flower. Hear the full story.”
The elder continued.
“Today, you encountered great fortune. Without that black-clad man, you’d be skewered here as Hw chang’s trophy.”
“…Yes.”
“How can a Dragon Flower rely on a stranger’s kindness? Is your will so frail?”
“…….”
“Seolhong, what is this black man to you? Your evaluation hinges on this.”
Seolhong’s head tilted.
She hadn’t grasped the elder’s words at first.
Then, realization dawned, and she answered.
“I understand. But he… just happened to be here.”
“…Is that so.”
Then, Kang Seol approached Seolhong, shielding her with the umbrella. Ignoring her puzzled expression, he spoke toward the record keepers’ direction.
“That’s not true.”
“What…”
Seolhong’s bewilderment.
The record keeper asked.
“…Then?”
Kang Seol’s immediate declaration shook the dragon contest’s framework.
“I, Kang Seol, wish to become Death Flower Seolhong’s Dragon Stone.”
“L-lies! He’s… he’s…”
Seolhong, voice breaking, looked up at Kang Seol’s face.
She feared kindness. Leaning on others felt sinful. She was the one who drove her mother—the greatest blessing of her life—to death.
She feared depending on anyone. She believed she had no right.
The record keeper addressed the speechless Seolhong.
“To a Dragon Flower, the Dragon Stone… is a special existence.”
“…….”
“One who shares all glory and bears all burdens in their stead.”
He asked.
“Death Flower, if you accept, we shall appoint him as your vacant Dragon Stone. Decide.”
“That’s…”
Seolhong looked at Kang Seol.
He met her gaze silently.
A mysterious man—perhaps a god sent by her mother Yu-hwa.
Could she trust him?
Would she regret this?
Biting her lip, Seolhong answered.
“…I accept.”
At that moment, the record keeper proclaimed.
“Death Flower, we retract the prior evaluation.”
“…Yes?”
“Any Dragon Flower overcoming this trial without your ability or contribution would receive the same judgment.”
The same as before.
But more followed.
“However, the Dragon Stone embodies the Dragon Flower’s will. A dull blade doesn’t make the wielder’s sword dull.”
The evaluation changed.
“With deductions removed, you pass the first Dragon Trial with a perfect 10 points. We shall rank future evaluations. The next trial will be decided in three days via discussion.”
The record keeper wasn’t done.
“We bestow the Dragon Stone bound to Death Flower Seolhong with a title. Your name is…”
* * *
A place filled with the world’s rarest treasures.
Priceless artworks and dazzling weapons lined the walls.
This was the abode of the Khan Emperor, Hongcheon.
He sat in a massive chair, eyes closed.
Beside him, Prime Minister Banghyu read from a scroll.
Hongcheon listened silently, eyes shut.
As the Khan’s eyes and ears, Banghyu reported all news.
“Tae-yul succeeded in his trial. Some say it was easy compared to his status, but he solidified his position with top scores.”
“Sin-yo also shone. Outstanding leadership and inspiration earned high marks.”
“Je-gak was somewhat disappointing. Still, a promising child…”
“San-hai executed perfectly. But… is such cruelty and cunning fit for succession?”
Banghyu listed dozens of Dragon Flower candidates for next emperor, in order of importance.
After a long time, as sweat beaded on Banghyu’s forehead, the dragon contest report ended.
“The noteworthy Dragon Flowers have all demonstrated their abilities.”
“…….”
Hongcheon remained silent. Banghyu gauged his mood.
“Is something unsatisfactory?”
“…….”
After a pause, he smiled faintly and changed topics.
“Oh, I almost forgot. That child, Yu-hwa’s daughter… Seolhong passed her first trial. The trial itself wasn’t impressive, but the news was unexpected.”
Twitch…
Hongcheon reacted.
“Reports say she took a Dragon Stone. I thought some wandering knight or warrior, but surprisingly, it’s a swordsman.”
Twitch…
One of Hongcheon’s eyebrows rose.
“Brief intel: wields shadow-like powers, astonishing physical prowess. Uses a strange weapon that shifts forms constantly—origins unknown. Swordsmanship is mediocre, though.”
Rustle…
Hongcheon opened his eyes.
He spoke heavily.
“…Do you know?”
“Of what?”
“The flower name I gave that child, Seolhong…”
“Death Flower, right?”
“Do you know its meaning?”
“The bud draws all nutrients from the roots, splitting them so it can’t bloom again. That’s why the name… wasn’t it?”
Hongcheon bared his teeth in a silent laugh.
“Banghyu, do you not know Death Flower’s other trait?”
“…Forgive my ignorance, Your Majesty. Enlighten me.”
Hongcheon said.
“That’s not why it’s called Death Flower.”
“Then…?”
“The fragrance.”
“The fragrance?”
Nod…
“Its scent… overpowers any flower. It devours the fragrances around it. Thus, insect-attracting flowers wither and die when a Death Flower blooms. That’s why.”
“…….”
“That’s the meaning.”
“Is that why she’s Death Flower?”
“Who knows… More importantly, that Dragon Stone.”
“Seolhong’s Dragon Stone.”
“…Its title?”
Banghyu answered.
“Called black as a crow stone, U-seok… or…”
A title capturing Kang Seol’s traits perfectly.
“Black Obsidian.”
Hongcheon nodded deeply.
“…Intriguing. Seolhong’s next trial?”
Banghyu unrolled the scroll.
“That’s…”