Chapter 454
Chapter 454
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 454
>Chapter Title: Red Lotus Blooms in Mud
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kwaaaaaang—!
Karen, who had slammed the bisin into the volcanic soil, felt a mix of relief on one hand and anxiety on the other.
- Well done, Karen!
Her discipline.
The hallucination of Rain growing ever clearer.
It was the secret hidden behind her power that seemed invincible.
- Karen...
Rain called out to her.
Unknowingly, she found herself entranced, locking eyes with the hallucination.
“This is... too much...”
A perfectly identical face.
Irresistible.
Just that alone pulled her back into the past.
* * *
Deeeeeeng...
Deeeeeeeng...
She remembered.
What day it was today.
The Hongryeon Sword at her waist.
The sword given to her by Jin.
A sword that had sprouted from the holy pearl, resembling her.
The pearl was the symbol of the imperial guardians.
“I’ll head in first.”
“Yeah. I... no, you go ahead.”
The event starring her and Karuna had come to an end. The massive bell tolls, the cheers of the crowd, the aspirations and pride toward the great empire—all of it was hers and Karuna’s alone today.
Karuna accepted the responsibilities and mission with calm resolve.
But she...
“...It really happened.”
The eight guardians.
Plus two more, breaking tradition and principles.
Twin fairy orphans picked up from a bald forest had ascended to those ranks.
Shwaaaaa...
The most celebrated day, yet the heavens offered no blessings. Heavy rain began to pour.
The outdoor training ground was exposed to the downpour. Puddles formed, and the ground turned to mud.
There, Karen stood in her pristine white armor emblazoned with the empire’s emblem, braving the rain.
Even soaked, she remained pure white.
Like the epitome of noble knighthood.
“Huuuuu...”
Sring...
The Hongryeon Sword was drawn.
She gazed wondrously at the seamless flow from hilt to tip.
“...Beautiful.”
Her sword.
No one else’s.
The feel in her hand was unfamiliar.
Though perfectly balanced and weighted for her, it still felt that way.
“Ha!”
Whoooosh—!
It cleaved the wind, scattering raindrops.
Shaaaaack—!
No, it sliced through the raindrops.
She conjured an imaginary foe ahead—eight pairs of eyes, matching arms, a muscular build seemed fitting.
Whoooosh—!
Whooooooosh—!
From first form to eighteenth.
The fluid swordsmanship sharply proved she lacked nothing to become a guardian.
Paaaak—!
Tchweeeeeek—!
Thrust following the slash.
No excess.
Pak—!
Papapapapapak—!
Breath-infused combos.
Again, no excess.
Swoosh...
Karen, sword lowered, muttered.
“This isn’t it...”
To some, this sleek, clean swordplay would be coveted, but to Karen, it left her wanting.
Braving the rain in contemplation, the white knight resembled a lofty swan. A picturesque sight, indeed.
That was when it happened.
Paaaaak—!
A dull impact struck the back of Karen’s head.
“Ugh... who the hell...”
“Me, you idiot.”
Karen rubbed her head, confirming something merged with her hair.
“...Mud?”
“What’s with the posing? You looked so annoying I threw it without thinking. Should’ve crapped a sack and thrown that instead.”
“...What are you doing, Rain.”
“Doing? What are you doing?”
“Why are you picking a fight again? I told you to show some respect.”
“Yeah, you did. I said that.”
Rain trudged over.
“I take it back. I like your rude self better.”
“Ha, now you say that?”
“Yeah, now.”
Rain and Karen faced each other. Karen tilted her head, dissatisfied with Rain’s inexplicable behavior.
“......”
“......”
“Got something to say, Rain?”
“Yeah.”
“What...”
Poooow—!
“Uwheep... it got in my mouth!”
Rain hurled mud at Karen again. She didn’t dodge, and the mud splattered right on her face, filling her nose and mouth.
“Ptoo... gonna get mad?”
“Oh? Go ahead, get mad.”
“...This won’t do.”
Swoosh...
Karen thrust the Hongryeon Sword forward.
“Come on, draw your sword.”
“What are you doing?”
“Huh? What?”
“You said you’re mad? Is this how you get mad?”
“...Huh?”
“Sigh... you’ve even forgotten how to get angry?”
“What are you...”
Swoosh...
A presence like flowing wind.
Rain suddenly appeared right in front of Karen’s nose.
“A good hit’ll wake you up.”
Pwaaaaaak—!
Rain’s fist connected with Karen’s helmet. Shockingly, the helmet crumpled instead of flying off.
“Damn... what the hell!”
Clank...
Clank...
Thud...
Kuuuung...
“......”
“Karen.”
Rain’s armor pieces fell one by one into the mud. Normally, squires would struggle to remove such heavy plate, but Montora’s magical gear eliminated most inconveniences.
Finally, Rain stripped down to the underclothes padded for the armor, discarding everything obstructive.
Kuuuuwuuung...
His greatsword, the Sun Sword, sank into the mud last.
“What? You’ll get pierced by shrapnel and not notice?”
“......”
Karen, lips pressed tight, began shedding her armor like Rain.
Thung...
Thung...
Her relatively lighter armor hit the ground with crisp sounds. Mud stained the white plates.
Finally, she eyed the Hongryeon Sword.
This, at least, she couldn’t let sink into the mud.
It was bestowed by Jin himself.
Practically the symbol of a Montora imperial guardian...
Paaaaak—!
Rain sneaked up and kicked the Hongryeon Sword away.
It flew far, embedding in the mud.
“What the hell are you doing!”
“Idiot.”
“You bastard...”
Truly enraged, Karen charged at Rain.
Bwoooong—!
“Too big a motion.”
“Shut up!”
Swoosh...
Paaaang—!
“Not bad, just now.”
Her temple strike, accounting for height difference, was nullified.
Naturally, time for a counter.
Pak—!
Karen’s foot grabbed, she flew far away.
Taaang—!
She crashed, rolled two turns, and sprang up.
Curiously, sans armor, her body moved more nimbly than usual.
“Come at me, what’re you waiting for?”
“I’ll smash that ugly mug.”
“...Looking forward to it.”
Paaang—!
Karen fought with full tension.
For some reason, Rain was quite serious. “Quite serious” from him meant she’d struggle to even scratch him at full power.
Swish...
Karen’s agility-based dodge.
Rain didn’t extend his fist easily.
Paaang—!
Then, Karen swept low with a kick.
“Too shallow.”
“I know!”
“Good, you know.”
Her kick wouldn’t fell Rain unless it hit a vital spot.
Pang—!
“Yeah, quantity over quality.”
Whoooosh—!
Tsssk...
Rain’s fist tore through her hair, striking empty air.
‘Chance!’
Rain’s chin exposed in an instant.
Karen didn’t miss, pulling her fist from below.
Whooo...
Rain’s other hand splayed open, blocking her vision.
‘What...’
Pwaaaaaak...
“Uwoooo...”
Karen wondered if a cannonball had slammed her gut.
‘A human fist?’
Her mind reeled.
Bwoooong...
Her body lifted into the air.
She’d absorbed the impact, but a follow-up came.
“This... shit...”
“Uhahaha!”
Karen’s waist was caught in Rain’s hold.
“Here! Eat this! Rain Special Volcano Eruption!”
“Stop! That embarrassing name...”
“Kiss the ground!”
Thud...
Surprisingly gentle slam to the ground by Rain.
Jaaaack—!
Rain backhanded Karen’s cheek.
“Guh...”
He grabbed her neck, shoving her face into the mud.
“Buuub...”
“Snap out of it, Karen.”
Submerged in mud, Karen pondered.
‘Need to find a way. ...I could die.’
Rain was shockingly serious.
Had he ever been this brutal?
Shwaaaaa...
To survive, she had to find a way to take him down.
Kwarung—!
Lightning struck suddenly.
Over the sky and Karen’s head.
“Hm?”
While Rain looked at the lightning, Karen grabbed mud and flung it into his eyes.
Splash—!
“Ugh...”
“Kyaaaa!”
She wrapped his arm, rolling him into the mud too.
Now their positions swapped.
Straddling the fallen Rain in the mire, Karen pummeled his face mercilessly.
Poooow—!
Pooooow—!
“You bastard! You bastard!”
“Ahaha! Kuhahaha!”
“What’re you laughing at! You dogshit!”
The more she battered his face, the more it swelled.
Rain didn’t resist, just kept laughing.
Tok...
Tok...
Rain, face beet-red and swollen, spoke to Karen.
“Karen, don’t cry.”
Hot liquid mixed with raindrops falling on Rain.
Karen’s tears.
Red streamed from Rain’s nose.
“Whoops, nosebleed. I lose, Karen.”
“U... why, why do this? You ruined my whole day.”
“...Karen.”
Her hair disheveled, body caked in mud.
Rain caressed her face with both hands.
“Much better now.”
Mud smeared her face once more.
Thud...
Karen rolled aside, lying like Rain.
“The sword from Jin... it’s precious...”
“Kuhahaha! Don’t read meaning into it. That’s just a sword.”
“Tell me. Why this horrific stunt?”
“You know damn well.”
“...Me?”
“You’re forcing it, idiot.”
“......”
“Karuna’s born noble. Elegant, refined. You... you’re different...”
“Vulgar, you mean?”
“You’re free.”
Rain said.
“Wear the armor. Wield the sword. Don’t be bound by armor or chained to the sword.”
“...Looked that way?”
“Don’t delude yourself. You’re defined by weapons. Be weapon-like. No strutting on a noble white steed.”
His teachings.
“Be ready to dive into the mud and fight dirty anytime. These things happen.”
“...Unexpected, sure. Never thought you’d pull this on a day like today.”
“That’s why today. The day you shoulder the heaviest burden. Had to lighten that load.”
“...Harsh way to put it.”
Karen realized.
After this messy brawl with Rain, her mind cleared.
Rain grinned broadly.
“You really... became a guardian, Karen.”
“...Yeah.”
“...Congrats.”
“What?”
“I said congrats.”
“Lame! More! Praise me more. Advice or whatever!”
“Ahem...”
Rain cleared his throat, gazing unnecessarily at the distant sky.
“Montora’s red lotus blooms only in mud, Karen. I named that sword.”
“...For real?”
“Yeah. Embarrassing...”
Karen smacked Rain’s back repeatedly.
“Hey! Not bad!”
Rain jumped up, handing the mud-caked Hongryeon Sword to Karen.
“Karen.”
“...Yeah.”
“Bloom in the mud. Stay a messy knight.”
She took the sword and saluted.
The salute etched hundreds, thousands of times.
“Yes!”
* * *
Grrrrrind...
Grrrrrind...
An unintended brawl for the bisin.
“Why... did everything... go wrong.”
Hooook...
Hoooook...
Paaaaak—!
“Keheok...”
The bisin was crumbling.
Likewise, Karen wasn’t free from corruption’s grasp.
Black spots climbed even to her pupils, as if life would end soon.
“Let’s end it, knight.”
“Heh...”
Both at their limits.
Karen reacted first.
“Keheeeok...”
She vomited blood.
Corruption stacks exploding, no doubt.
“It’s over!”
The bisin reached to finish Karen.
Whoosh...
He realized something was wrong only after extending his arm.
“What...”
Karen burrowed into his arm’s inner side.
A vulgar headbutt followed.
Kwaaaaaang—!
“Kraaaak!”
Kwaaaaaang—!
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!
Seizing momentum, Karen hammered the bisin’s face repeatedly.
Kwaaaaaang!
Kwaaaaaang!
“Hehe... fooled youuu...”
Blood in her mouth, spat at the perfect moment by Karen. The bisin despised her tactic but had no retort.
Losers leave no words.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Kwaaaang—!
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!
“Haa... haaa...”
The bisin went limp.
His corpse began to shrivel.
The fight ended.
Fsssh...
Rain’s hallucination began to fade.
- ...Idiot.
[Hot Encouragement activates!]
[Not bad, Karen! activates.]
[All status ailments are cleared, recovering 30% of max health.]
* * *
Razin’s sanctum held Kang Seol’s party and all the Jins.
The ominous vibrations from the crater had them uneasy.
- O Razin, the bisin is no ordinary Jin.
- We must combine forces and reseal it now!
- It targets the embers and Razin!
Amid the Jins’ clamor, Razin stayed silent. Even if misguided faith, if he believed it right, he’d push forward.
Kang Seol, silently facing the crater before Razin, felt the same.
Time passed.
The vibrations stopped at some point.
If something happened, it was earlier; now, just wait for results.
“She’s late...”
“Could it be...”
“Sindio, you’re not thinking of saying weird stuff in front of Kang Seol, right?”
“W-well, maybe her legs hurt so she’s resting a bit before coming... like...”
“...Your improv sucks.”
“W-what am I supposed to say! Then... what was that vibration...”
Sindio was right.
Time had passed since the vibration.
Razin and Kang Seol exchanged glances and closed their eyes.
That was when.
Clank...
Clank...
Kuuung...
Kuuung...
Too heavy for Karen’s footsteps.
- The bisin!
- It’s him...
Thud...
Thud...
The Jins staring at the crater, Razin, and Kang Seol’s group realized it wasn’t footsteps.
Clank...
Thud...
Clattering of haphazardly added armor falling onto volcanic soil.
“My god...”
Sindio covered his mouth at the horrific sight of the knight.
Rotten armor hit the ground, crumbling to sparks.
Thud...
Through the shattered helmet, Karen’s face appeared.
Dragging the bisin in one hand, she arrived.
“Heehee... Razin, why didn’t you tell me.”
- ...Tell you what.
“This guy... pretty tough.”
- ......Ah.
The bisin had shrunk to child-size.
In the end, the iron giant felled the corruption Jin.
[Party battle with Corrupted Ember Bisin ends.]
[All corruption from bisin vanishes.]
[Bisin’s power returns to the embers.]
[Bisin’s corruption ends within the crater.]
[Struggling Flame Karen’s great feat brings change.]
[Great and small changes occur in the Eternal World.]
[Bisin’s ‘Demigod Toppler’ adventure is not generated.]
[Hidden adventure ‘Montora Was Here’ vanishes.]
[Sprno Volcano, set to erupt, falls back into long slumber.]
[Tense surrounding ecosystem relaxes.]
[Kesi tribe welcomes visitors who resolved Razin’s woes.]
[All players can now select ‘Stench of the Crater’ adventure from base.]
[All players can now select ‘Razin’s Other Trial’ adventure from base.]
[Acquire set amount of adventurer points.]
[Adventurer points transferred to Snowman.]
[Bisin’s horrific plan thoroughly crushed.]
[Acquire set amount of era force.]
[Struggling Flame Karen achieves first feat ‘Physical Seal’.]
[Struggling Flame Karen acquires first title 「Jin Slayer」.]
[Achieve first feat ‘Did Nothing’.]
[Acquire first title 「Moldy」。]
[Acquire Rotten Stench Bundle.]
......
Swoooo...
All Jins except Razin knelt to Karen.
- Razin was not wrong.
- You are truly mighty.
- We pay respects to you who freed the bisin.
[Great reputation! Jins pay respects.]
[Party dignity rises by 50.]
[All party member stats rise by 20.]
- Karen... you defeated the bisin. You’ve proven your worth.
Drrrrr...
End of this brutal fight.
‘...The embers, huh.’
Summon with authority.
The summoner’s dream.
Whoooosh...
The bisin’s corpse rotted into black flames.
Those flames seeped into the embers.
“That thing... it’s okay? It was a bad guy.”
- His existence wasn’t wrong. That’s why it pains.
Whoooong...
Razin’s body wrapped in ecstatic light.
- Flame that creates Jins, these embers to you...
“Wait.”
- .....
Karen extended her hand.
“I don’t want it.”
- ...What?
- Refusing the embers?
- How...
The Jins stirred at her words.
Kang Seol’s group too.
“A-are you insane? Take it if offered!”
“Yeah! Chance like this won’t come again...”
Razin asked.
- ...Why?
“Not my power, what would I do with it? Right?”
- You... yes, that’s why...
Trying to understand Karen was wrong from the start.
- Step by step, approaching the sun...
“Not exactly in return, but...”
Swoosh...
Karen pulled something out and held it forward.
A broken sword.
An ember.
Kang Seol’s eyes widened.
For an indomitable ember to break...
‘How brutal was that fight...’
Razin floated, alternating gazes between embers and the broken sword.
- ...You’ll need a new sword.
The creation-and-corruption ember flames would forge not authority, but a new sword.
[Legacy adventure ‘Ember Flame’ content changes.]