Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Samdocheon
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Samdocheon.
It was the name of the river said to connect the heavenly realm, the demonic realm, and the mortal world—a river one crosses upon death.
I hadn't experienced it when I died in my past life. Whether that's because Samdocheon doesn't actually exist, or because my death wasn't counted since I returned to the past, I have no idea.
Yesterday, I nearly confirmed its existence against my will.
"P-Priest. Are you feeling okay?"
"Do I look okay?"
He flinched!
"That technique was downright terrifying. You created it to crush Veras, right?"
"Y-Yeah! That's right. His abilities have a bad matchup with mine, so if we were gonna clash, normal techniques wouldn't...!"
"I see. So you tried to 'crush' your one and only priest with such an insane technique. Got it."
He flinched! Flinched!
And the culprit who had nearly given me that precious(?) experience was now kneeling before me, watching my every move.
"N-No, I didn't know the priest was that strong. Even Master was iffy about it."
"Iffy... I see. Even Karma was iffy about it, yet White Wing here tried to crush me without a second thought."
He flinched! Flinched! Flinched!
"If Karma hadn't intervened through the wind flowers, I'd definitely be dead. Ugh, just thinking about it gives me chills."
"Hohoho, enough of that, young pup."
Rampang trembled like he'd been struck by the wind, and perhaps taking pity on him, the haggard-looking Karma stepped in to stop me.
Despite his sunken complexion, his hair was still thick and full, so it clearly wasn't due to old age.
That's right.
This place was a shabby makeshift hut Rampang had thrown together in a back alley of Fatima.
Last night, the fight had reignited thanks to Rampang's outrageous attack.
In the midst of our fierce battle, Rampang unleashed 'that' technique.
Truly worthy of the name White Wing. The title he'd claimed through gambling on the jade throne was no fluke.
I was pushed right to the brink of death.
If not for Karma's intervention at that desperate moment, I'd be dead for sure.
Having nearly torn the priest apart, it was only natural he was acting so cautious now.
"Even I wouldn't have believed it without hearing it from the trees. No way Rampang could've imagined it either."
At Karma's words, worry flickered in both Rampang's and my eyes.
That's right. To handle any potential contingencies, Karma had used his own abilities to intervene.
"Why'd you push yourself again when you're not even well?"
"Heh heh. Thanks to me, the poor third son didn't end up dead, did he?"
"......"
Rampang grumbled in frustration, but Karma's words shut him up.
...Yeah. I nearly died, but that's not the important part right now.
"So, what exactly happened? And what's with your wounds, Karma?"
I had a rough idea, but to judge the situation accurately, I needed to hear it from the source.
Grrrrr!
Rampang, who had been fidgeting guiltily toward me, suddenly let out a beastly growl.
"Veras, that bastard...!"
As Rampang started venting his rage, Karma raised a hand.
"Heh heh. Enough, Rampang. I'll explain myself. It was all due to my own foolishness."
For some reason, Karma wore a wistful expression as he calmly began recounting his tale.
Three years ago, after awakening my Heterogenous Power 'Steel' and leaving Banten, Karma had moved to the next city. Not long after, a Black Lion sent by Veras had tracked him down.
They had important business and requested a meeting.
When they said Rampang could come too, he went without suspicion. There, Veras had knelt and begged.
To create a world where Black Lions dominated, and to please join that cause.
There was no way Karma's temperament would accept such a proposal. When Karma firmly refused, Veras turned hostile and ambushed him from behind, inflicting a mortal wound.
"Your words came back to me then, young one. The warning to beware of Veras."
Even the slightest preparation versus total vulnerability is the difference between heaven and earth.
Fortunate in misfortune, Karma had managed to escape after dealing Veras a grave wound using a Yggdrasil seed, one severe enough to prevent pursuit. But Veras wouldn't let a critically wounded Karma go that easily.
From that point on, Karma and Rampang had been on the run from the Turbid Faction Black Lions following Veras. For three whole years.
...The history's changed again.
After hearing Karma's full story, I felt a twinge of guilt toward him.
In the original timeline, Karma should have stayed in Banten much longer, running his apothecary while waiting for me.
And I remembered him being killed by Veras right around when war with the Empire loomed.
But because I found Karma so quickly, he left Banten earlier than he should have.
And met Veras far sooner, suffering betrayal ahead of schedule.
I felt a bit indebted for putting him in a knife fight he could've avoided, but I shook my head.
Well, thanks to my warning, he survived the ambush just fine.
Results matter more than the process.
In the end, Karma and Rampang survived and crossed paths with me. That's what counts.
From the story, it was clear the Black Lions under Veras would keep targeting them indefinitely.
Last time Veras's subordinates ambushed me too... Those Turbid Faction guys are definitely plotting something big.
I don't know every detail of the past. Just knowing Veras betrayed them didn't reveal what they were scheming.
But it was definitely nothing good. Eliminating Karma and Rampang would neutralize the Pure Faction threat to the Turbid Faction.
I quietly observed Karma and Rampang, who had finished their tale.
Rampang might be fidgeting now, but last night, wielding 'that' technique, he was a powerhouse the jade throne title suited perfectly.
Securing someone like that would massively aid my plans.
And Karma? Azure Wing, patriarch of the Black Lions and one of the Great Three Sages.
...What am I even doing?
Pfft!
A chuckle escaped me at my own scheming.
Setting everything else aside, Karma had awakened my Heterogenous Power twice—past and present life—without asking for anything in return.
That alone was reason enough to help him.
"Why don't you two come with me?"
"Really?! Man, thanks to you I survi—!"
Rampang had been longing for this but held back due to his guilt(?). Now that I'd offered first, he eagerly accepted.
"No."
But his master's curt refusal darkened his face unexpectedly.
"W-Why...? Master, the priest is offering help. You need stable treatment right now!"
Even as Rampang looked ready to cry, Karma's expression didn't budge.
"Jerome, from what I remember, your family treated you like an outcast. Even with your Heterogenous Power making you stronger, bringing along baggage like us would surely sour things with your house."
His face was resolute. Yeah, that's exactly how I expected Karma to react.
"Seems like there's a misunderstanding, Karma. I'm saying this because I stand to gain plenty too."
"......?"
That's why I needed to plant the idea that we weren't a burden.
"No matter what you think, my family treats me better than that. Adding one or two more won't shake my position."
"......"
"Besides, I'm already at odds with Veras's side. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?"
"......"
"And Rampang's power is incredible. If anything, I'd be the one begging to travel together."
"R-Really? See, Master? Even the priest says...!"
But Karma's expression hardened further.
"...You plan to use Rampang?"
"Yes, I do."
No lies. Just the plain truth.
"But I promise nothing unethical. I'm a Black Lion who pursues the pure path too, after all."
"......"
I met Karma's gaze steadily as I spoke calmly.
"If you're still suspicious or burdened, just join me for the journey through the Empire. Watch me yourself and decide then. You need treatment anyway, right?"
Whether he sensed my sincerity or pitied Rampang's burden, Karma pondered before nodding.
"...Fine. Then I'll leave it to you. But promise me. You won't use Rampang for anything unethical."
"I swear it on the name of the Carviot Count family."
"That guy's got a silver tongue, alright."
Got 'em.
It took some ordeal(?) and time, but it was worth every second.
With jade throne Rampang on board, things in the Empire would be a breeze.
I grinned at Rampang, who awkwardly grinned back.
Just you wait. I'll squeeze you dry to the bone.
I hadn't lied to Karma once.
I'd never use Rampang for anything unethical.
But I never said how much I'd use him for things that are ethical.
For nearly taking my head. I'll collect interest and make him pay in full.
With the Ikenia Kingdom delegation gone, Fatima returned to its everyday bustle.
The delegation leaving for the next city had two more members than when they arrived, but no one knew.
Not long after the delegation departed, uninvited guests appeared in the now-routine Fatima.
Swoosh!
A group dressed in black, moving like shadows.
It was the Ghost Shadow Squad, Crow's direct pursuit unit—the closest to the Turbid Faction's Black Wings.
Sniff, sniff!
One of them was sniffing around on all fours like a beast.
The black-clad figure roamed, sniffing, then lifted his head and addressed the group.
"No doubt about it. White Wing was definitely in Fatima. The beastly musk is thick all over the city. This is unmistakably the scent of her Heterogenous Power, Beast King."
The Ghost Shadow Squad leader tilted his head at the words.
"Strange. That means she used her Heterogenous Power here. Does that mean others besides us are tracking her?"
The leader pondered seriously, but the sniffer dismissed it lightly.
"Probably got spotted by Empire holy knights or priests. Those zealots smash heads calling us heretics the second they see us."
"Can't rule that out, but... there's no way she'd fail to evade even holy knights or priests."
The leader never jumped to conclusions.
That caution was why he'd risen to lead the Ghost Shadow Squad.
After much deliberation, he decided.
"Scentchaser, track where her Beast King moved, how far it spread. Uncover every trace of her."
Scentchaser's face paled at the order, but he hid it.
Defiance after an order meant death.
"...Understood."
Sniff, sniff!
Scentchaser tracked until blood poured from his nose, leading them out of Fatima to the plains beyond.
"...A fight that spilled from Fatima to the plains? Even after she used Beast King, why...?"
She wasn't their master's equal, but still a woman at the same tier.
For her to use her power and not be subdued instantly—what kind of opponent was that?
As the leader brooded, an alien scent hit Scentchaser's nose.
"Sniff, sniff... Huh?"
"What is it?"
The leader never missed Scentchaser's reaction.
"I-It... It's another Heterogenous Power scent. Familiar yet unfamiliar... Ah!"
Scentchaser snapped his head up as realization dawned.
"Th-This smell! It's exactly like the one on Vladimir when he returned!"
"......!!"
The leader's eyes gleamed at the words.
He turned and murmured lowly.
"...Found you."
The leader's gaze pointed north of Fatima.
Toward the capital, Vatican.