Chapter 59
Chapter 59
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 059
Chapter Title: The Corrupted Spirits
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘A special wartime reward?’
Kyle pondered this as he slammed down the lightning stake gripped in his hand one final time.
Boom!!
‘What is this? It feels like something similar happened before...’
He didn’t know the exact details, but for some reason, the Quantitas School’s desperate last stand had been thwarted.
Kyle let out a small groan.
‘My influence, huh.’
Was it thanks to his infamous title as the Mafia Butcher? Or the feat of slaying the dragon?
‘Nah, doesn’t feel like that.’
High-ranking executives of a school wouldn’t all get wiped out over something like that.
But soon enough, he shrugged it off and decided not to dwell on it.
‘Whatever. Good things are good.’
Either way, extra rewards were always a win. He could just think of it as compensation for all his hard work staying alive this far.
‘Now that the Quantitas School has been crushed...’
Kyle aimed another thunder spear at the chimeras now pushed right up to the pyramid’s doorstep and spoke.
“So, once we mop these guys up, we’re done?”
With those words, a massive thunder spear plummeted down onto the chimeras.
Boom!!
*
“...What the hell happened here?”
An hour later.
The police, having finally seized the pyramid, stared at the horrors within the sealed zone and grimaced.
Every single alchemist who appeared to be one of Quantitas’s core executives had been slaughtered.
“Who could have done this...”
Those who spotted two wrists jammed side by side into the gargoyle statue’s mouth furrowed their brows.
Kyle activated [Nebras’s Super Sense].
“...Looks like they got hit with a total surprise attack.”
“A surprise attack?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded at Inspector Roden’s question.
‘And...’
His gaze shifted to the wrists clamped in the gargoyle’s mouth. As Kyle approached the statue and pulled out the severed wrists, an ignition key came loose with them.
“...So this is it.”
The key to whatever conspiracy the Quantitas School had been plotting.
Inspector Roden, seeing this, muttered to himself.
“Looks like they were trying to activate something with these keys. Then the surprise attack hit, and it all fell apart.”
“Just a hunch on my part.”
Kyle held up the key and continued.
“But using this thing feels really dangerous somehow.”
“Hm.”
The inspector took the key, pondered briefly, then smashed it against the statue with all his might.
Crack! The key shattered.
Kyle blinked in surprise at the decisive action, but the inspector just shrugged.
“Better safe than sorry.”
“I like that.”
He appreciated how the man didn’t waste time investigating devices or whatever—just quick, firm decisions.
“Alright, let’s see...”
Kyle scanned the scattered corpses and approached two alchemists with their wrists severed.
Staring at their faces, he pointed to one and asked.
“Inspector, isn’t this guy the schoolmaster?”
“...!”
Inspector Roden peered over Kyle’s shoulder, confirmed the face, and widened his eyes in shock.
“How did you know?”
“Gut feeling.”
“...?”
“The big important stuff like this is usually handled by the head honcho personally.”
With that, Kyle felt around the nape of the dead man—Mark’s—neck.
“Got it.”
At that moment, as he yanked out the hidden neural data chip with force...
What followed next was undoubtedly the death settlement. Kyle recalled how he’d been killed earlier by the dragon’s freezing magic.
Sure enough, the settlement message popped up right away.
But of course, that wasn’t the end of it.
‘Dragon’s Incarnation?’
The explanation appeared as if on cue.
“!!”
Kyle’s eyes lit up as he read it.
‘Nice.’
He’d been thinking lately, ever since facing off against the Viper Guild assassins, that he needed a skill to boost his physical abilities.
Of course, [Nebras’s Super Sense] let him react just fine, and steady stat growth plus [Wereking Step] and [Baal’s Minor Curse] meant his body was no slouch.
But against truly powerful foes, he was starting to feel the limits.
‘This time, Leverk botching the dragon control saved my ass.’
If it had been a real dragon fight, his lacking physical prowess would’ve tripped him up for sure.
‘Prioritizing this next time wouldn’t be a bad idea.’
On top of that, Kyle remembered the new fire magic skill unlocked after acquiring [Flame Shield].
‘Oh, right. That one.’
He pulled up its description.
‘A stacking skill, huh?’
It seemed like its true potential shone when combined with powerful attack spells.
‘Not bad, but I’ll hold off for now.’
He could pick it up later once he had stronger fire magic.
With that thought, Kyle handed the chip to Inspector Roden.
“Here. Neural data chip.”
“Mm.”
With this, they’d surely uncover tons of intel on the Al Kimia Alliance.
“Good work.”
The inspector said this to Kyle, then addressed the other officers.
“Once we collect the bodies here, everyone withdraw.”
“Yes, sir!!”
*
Dusk soon fell.
The cell block buzzed with activity as inmates returned from the mission, endlessly maintaining equipment under the darkening sky.
Restocking guns, resupplying damaged gear. The training grounds especially overflowed with inmates scrubbing every nook of the used armored vehicles.
A few grumbles escaped here and there, but surprisingly, they focused quietly on cleaning the barrels.
Even with Gulag veterans mixed in, the place was eerily orderly.
The reason was simple.
The guards had appointed Kyle as their overseer.
It was a wise choice—no inmate in the 141st dared act out.
‘Not a chance in hell.’
One guard chuckled to himself.
How could they? Everyone there had watched the Mafia Butcher punch a dragon to death with their own eyes.
Besides, bomb collars made you think twice before pressing the trigger, but rumors said the Butcher’s fists didn’t care about that.
Proof? The hothead who mouthed off right after arrival was already in the infirmary with a shattered face.
As vehicle cleaning wrapped up roughly and squads headed back for personal maintenance...
Kyle pointed at Lumia, the dark elf.
“Hey, you. Come here a sec.”
“!!”
The 3rd Squad inmates, already watching Kyle’s mood, flinched as one.
Walter, covering his mouth like he was in a drama, muttered.
“Oh, shit.”
They whispered among themselves as the flushed dark elf hurried after him.
“Damn, total alpha move.”
“Work’s done, and he just takes her straight away.”
“Is that really the stuck-up elf? Thought it was someone else.”
“In front of the Butcher, she turns into a schoolgirl, dumbass.”
“Fuck, strong guys really are the answer.”
“Y’all don’t get it. Dude slays dragons but doesn’t flex at all normally. That’s the point.”
“He keeps it so low-key, I almost jumped that skinhead on day one.”
“You’d have been fucked.”
Meanwhile, Kyle approached Inspector Roden, who was wiping down a tire, and called out.
“Inspector.”
“Ah, you’re back.”
As if expecting him, Roden pulled a keycard from his pocket.
“You know that room? Interrogation room—cameras are off now.”
Normally, two non-roommates whispering in a CCTV-free spot would be forbidden.
But Kyle was the exception, so no issue.
“Thanks.”
“No big deal. They said to accommodate you as much as possible. I’ll be here—bring it back when you’re done.”
“Got it.”
Kyle entered the interrogation room with Lumia and locked the door with a click!.
Lumia’s eyes sparkled as she strode forward eagerly.
“I! I survived without dying, just like you ordered today... Gah!”
Kyle grabbed her face and shoved her back.
“Enough.”
His expression hardened as he asked.
“What the hell are you, really?”
*
Meanwhile, at the Sapientia Magic Tower.
“What? What the hell do you mean by that!!”
Boom!! Surging mana shredded the neatly organized office.
At the center stood none other than Walter Leverk.
Bloodshot eyes bulging, he screamed as if vomiting blood at the unbelievable news.
“Franz...! My Franz—what happened to him?!”
His son, Otto Leverk, squeezed his eyes shut.
“He... possessed the summoned dragon directly with his consciousness...”
Otto’s voice trembled.
“And when the Mafia Butcher killed the dragon, he...”
“No way... you’re saying he’s dead?”
As Otto fell silent, unable to continue, Walter’s pupils quivered.
“Calm down—you’re saying he’s really dead?”
Biting his lip, Otto nodded.
“...Yes.”
“Ah... Aaaah...! Aaaaaah!!”
Walter clutched his face at the inconceivable news and wailed in agony.
“Aaaaaaaaagh!!”
Boom! Another mana burst demolished the desk. He grabbed Otto by the collar and roared.
“I told you! I specifically said possession should use prepared vessels! Just implant the ‘kill the Butcher’ suggestion in the dragon—that’s enough!”
“I warned Franz over and over. But...!”
His gaze turned to the black-robed figures trembling by the door.
They were Franz’s longtime attendants.
Who had also allowed his reckless solo action.
Otto covered his eyes and muttered resignedly.
“...Looks like Franz changed his mind at the last second and insisted on possessing it himself.”
“You...!”
Walter glared at the robed figures, body shaking with rage.
“Youuu...!!”
“F-Forgive us, family head!!”
The robes prostrated themselves hastily.
“We should have stopped the young master somehow!”
“We never thought it would end like th-this...! We’re so sorry! So sorry!!”
“Shut your mouths!!”
Dark flames erupted over Walter’s hand.
“Do you even know what kind of child he was?”
The faint draconic aura from the ancient summoning invitation. A child born with it after centuries.
Soon to lead Leverk to the pinnacle of this tower of knowledge and magic, Sapientia.
The shining star of their golden age.
Leverk’s noblest bloodline.
That was Franz Leverk.
“And yet... and yet...!!”
The robed figures cried out desperately amid the raging flames.
“F-Family head!!”
“Please, spare our lives...!”
“...Franz must be so lonely, leaving this world alone. Yeah, that’s gotta be it.”
Walter muttered through choked sobs.
“So you lot, who spent so long by his side... go keep him company.”
“Ah, aaaah... Nooo!!”
“Family heeead!!”
But merciless flames roared forth, engulfing the black robes in an instant.
Soon, the office echoed only with agonized screams.
“Aaaaaagh!!”
“S-Save...!”
“Please! Pleeeease!!”
“......”
As the flames raged on briefly, nothing remained but piles of ash.
Walter’s hands trembled as he stared.
“How... how could this happen...”
He collapsed there, clutching his face and howling.
“How could something like this happen...!!”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“?!”
They looked up at the voice, stunned.
At the office door stood a man they’d never seen before.
He continued, eyes wide as Walter and Otto gaped at him.
“It’s all because of the Mafia Butcher.”
“...Who are you?”
The man casually waved away the thick smoke and introduced himself with refined poise.
“An honor to meet you. Heirs of the great Leverk bloodline. I am Austin Marshall.”
He looked up with a smile.
“Second son of the Marshall Family.”
“Marshall Family’s second son?”
“Yes. Congressman Simon Marshall is my father.”
Otto’s face hardened.
“Even so, how did you get in here? Sapientia isn’t a place outsiders can just wander into...”
“Is that really what matters now?”
Austin Marshall—self-proclaimed—stepped over the charred corpses toward them.
“What matters is avenging Franz Leverk, sacrificed to that vile Mafia Butcher.”
“!!”
Walter stared down at his hands, eyes trembling.
“Right...”
His face twisted with rage and hatred.
“This is all... that damn Mafia Butcher! I’d tear him apart a thousand times and it wouldn’t be enough...!!”
“Exactly, great head of Leverk.”
Austin smirked.
“It’s all that Mafia Butcher’s fault. Without him, everything would’ve gone smoothly. Not to mention...!”
He placed a hand on Walter’s shaking shoulder.
“...You wouldn’t have lost the great Leverk bloodline so pointlessly.”
“But the Butcher still killed an ancient dragon.”
Otto asked, his chest’s fury cooling to ice.
“What method is there against a monster like that?”
“True, he killed the dragon. That’s fact.”
So bizarre, even now no one knew how he pierced its hide alone.
“But that doesn’t mean we should overhype him.”
“What?”
“Because what he fought wasn’t truly the ‘dragon’—it was ‘Franz Leverk.’”
“What do you...”
“If I may be so bold.”
Austin lowered his voice.
“I don’t believe mere human Franz Leverk fully unleashed the dragon’s power.”
“...! You bastard...!”
Blood vessels bulged in Walter’s eyes.
“You dare insult the child born with the dragon’s aura!!”
“No, no, not at all. I merely meant the unavoidable limits of humanity. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“Human limits? You say that because you didn’t know him! Franz was a genius! Perfect to lead this great Leverk into the future!”
“Ah, fine. Fine.”
Austin raised his hands placatingly.
“Let’s say Franz fully harnessed the dragon’s power. And yet the Butcher still won.”
Even so.
“There are ways to kill the Butcher.”
“What... what is it?”
“Simple.”
Austin paused and turned to them.
“If physical killing is tricky, use a non-physical method.”
“Non-physical...?”
Nodding, he leaned in and whispered.
“Pay him back in kind.”
“!!”
If Franz died possessing the dragon’s consciousness...
“Why not possess the Butcher’s consciousness ourselves?”
Otto’s eyes widened.
“You don’t mean...”
“Exactly.”
The underbelly of Zone 27.
The labyrinth called the City of the Dead.
“Its corrupted grudge spirits... even against the Butcher, they could possess him easily.”
Then it’s over.
Once possessed, they’d make his body end his own life.
“What could even the Butcher do then?”
Austin brushed Walter’s lips.
“Fi... fitting... Those soul monsters could do it.”
But soon his eyes wavered.
“But would those ghosts bend to our will so easily?”
“Of course not.”
Austin halted with a light tap and continued.
“So to pull this off, we’ll need... a small price.”
Smirking, he stared into Walter’s eyes.
“You wouldn’t hesitate over avenging your only grandson... would you, great and mighty head of Leverk?”
“!!”
He curled his lips into a grin.
“Great and mighty head of Leverk.”