Chapter 121
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Relationship: Evaluation
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[Relationship: Evaluation]
Treatment varies based on the target's value—it's a rational yet ruthlessly pragmatic state of affairs.
Being scrutinized at every turn is like walking on thin ice, but endure it, and you'll earn treatment befitting your worth in a truly rational bond.
* Each time the target's evaluation rises, a Bond Stone is generated.
* While the target's evaluation holds steady, Bond Stone maturation accelerates.
* Currently generated Bond Stones: None.
Lee Se-hun wore a peculiar expression as he read Erika's relationship details.
'Evaluation, huh...'
It made sense enough—the bond had only formed after he'd shown some skill from the start. Still, it left a sour taste.
'Relationships like this are a bitch to salvage once they sour.'
Like how someone out of favor gets hated no matter what they do, bonds built on evaluation sink into the muck the moment they falter.
What bugged Lee Se-hun most was the 'criteria' Erika used to judge him.
'Is it just that she likes my versatility, or does she have some clearer goal in mind...? No damn clue.'
Was Erika laying groundwork to claim the Inoue family head position? As Lee Se-hun pondered that...
"What's up?"
Erika peered at him curiously.
"...Nah. Just something crossed my mind."
He could probe her reactions later at his leisure.
Shelving thoughts of the new bond, Lee Se-hun eyed the black box he'd seized from Amir.
'No need for extra safety measures...'
Confirming the box already had its own safeguards, he promptly released the lock.
Shhh!
The talismans clinging to its surface peeled away naturally, orbiting the box to form a translucent barrier.
It seemed designed to contain any flames spilling out upon opening—the spellwork looked impressively solid.
"Himura clan sorcery."
Erika noted calmly, gazing at the floating talismans. Lee Se-hun shot her an intrigued look.
"One of the three great families?"
"Yeah. They've muddled the formula a bit, but it's unmistakable."
Lee Se-hun examined the sorcery up close at her words.
If it were some built-in device on the box itself, he could've chalked it up to a coincidence—something pre-made that ended up in the Dream Demon's hands. But this was different.
'Disposable talismans with a botched formula. This screams mass-produced supply.'
Whether aimed at the pleasure district or the shadows, there was clearly a backchannel pipeline dumping these somewhere.
'Kaden and now the three great families... Quite the haul today.'
A wry smile tugged at his lips at the thought of how busy things might get. He turned back to the box.
"Opening it."
Creeeak.
The lid eased open slowly, and from the widening gap, pristine white flames billowed out like dry ice smoke.
Whoosh!
They scattered like mist upon hitting the encircling talismans. They looked feeble at first glance, but spotting their unique shape, Lee Se-hun's eyes widened.
'This is...'
Catching him off guard, he flung the half-open lid wide. The box's contents fully revealed themselves.
Vmmm.
A fist-sized orb glowed milky white.
Its smooth surface evoked a pearl at a glance, but closer inspection revealed it faintly burning, leaking those same pristine white flames.
Like tears trickling down, the sight drew a troubled mutter from Lee Se-hun.
"Tearfire..."
Nicknamed for its tear-like flames—a term blacksmiths used among themselves. Its true name was something else.
"Cadet Lee Se-hun..."
Ryu Eun-ha stared in shock, clearly recognizing it. He nodded faintly and summoned the info window.
[South Fire Pupil]
Grade:Legendary | Quality:Mid-Low
The pupil of the Vermilion Bird, sovereign of flame.
Imbued with immense fire-attuned mana, it resists mental interference and commands flames.
Contains 'Karmic Blaze' that scorches guilt, inflicting torment.
* Massively boosts fire resistance.
* Massively boosts mental resistance.
* Enhances flame control.
* Permanently consumes durability to unleash 'Karmic Blaze'.
S-rank beast Vermilion Bird's pupil.
His first Legendary-grade material since returning, yet joy eluded Lee Se-hun. He scowled.
'What the hell are these bastards plotting?'
"Dammit! Brain-dead, worthless sacks of shit...!"
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Meat-pounding echoes relentlessly rang across the beach.
Waves indifferently washed over the blood-soaked sand, only for fresh sprays to splatter anew.
"Urgh...!"
"Guh...!"
Hours of beatings had mangled the kneeling men's bodies grotesquely, yet every one clenched torn lips and held position.
Thwack!
One man crumpled unconscious onto the sand after a bat to the head.
Splat!
The bat crashed down again where his head had been, ensuring he'd never rise.
"Toss it."
"Yes, sir."
The hulking wielder—the Black Arms' boss—spoke, and waiting staff swiftly dragged the corpse away.
Confirming it gone, he readjusted his grip and eyed the trembling employees.
"That's ten now."
Thwack!
He resumed pummeling. From the beachside outdoor bar, a crimson-haired man watched with disbelief.
"What the hell's that clown show?"
"Downsizing, apparently. Keeps going till twenty drop."
The green-haired woman sipping a cocktail grinned amusedly. A-grade demon Bulgasa clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Such a brute..."
"What can ya do? Cargo ship got hit—passengers and all. Letting any live is impressive."
Credit underpinned all trade, especially in the hypersensitive black market.
Losing a passenger liner with cargo intact? Black Arms' expansion was screeching to a halt.
"Speaking of, where's the boss? Haven't seen him since he showed."
"In a meeting."
"Oh right. He's repping this time."
Recalling the schedule late, the woman rolled ice from her glass in her mouth and shuddered.
"Ugh... Ten Evils meeting? I'd be too scared to speak."
Bulgasa eyed the fussing Drias pityingly.
She'd ripped five apart before joining Black Arms, yet this?
'Not that it matters.'
How many could chatter casually before those monsters? Outside, he and Drias were feared A-grades; there, roadside pebbles.
Suspect any hindrance, and they'd kick them aside without a glance.
'...Gotta grow faster.'
Bulgasa scowled at his stalled progress. Drias finished her cocktail and crunched the glass.
Crunch crunch.
Teeth marks neatly sheared it. Chewing like ice, she asked Bulgasa,
"So, what's the play this time? Even that depressive's in, and the Vermilion Bird heart we scored..."
"Zip it."
Bulgasa cut her off flatly.
"Don't yap till the boss lays it out."
"Tch... Buzzkill."
Drias grumbled, munching on. Bulgasa sourly watched the 'downsizing' continue.
Behind their bar squatted a small villa. Purple haze choked its living room.
Shhh.
Blurry like purple paint smeared over a finished canvas. It obscured vision outwardly, but inside?
Crimson luxury wallpaper, glittering chandelier. A vast rectangular table bore ten chairs spaced arm's-reach apart.
"Hmm..."
The space dwarfed the villa's room sixfold.
Mismatched inside and out, Velros' boss—seated—surveyed it.
'So this is the infamous Dream Citadel.'
The Dream Demon's long-labored fortress straddling dream and reality.
Invitees entered from anywhere; even Summit Climbers struggled to find it. Thus, a venue for Ten Evils meetings.
Intrigued by his entry, suddenly—
Whoosh!
A figure materialized in an empty chair.
"Sorry I'm late. Got held up listening in."
Deep purple hair framed a shoulder-baring dress. Ink-black eyes gleamed with moonlike yellow pupils; curled black goat horns sprouted at her temples.
Faint purple tinged her skin lighter than her hair. The boss's eyes narrowed.
'Sharp as day, yet somehow hazy.'
Mold human dreams into beauty? This form fit. Gazing at the Dream Demon, he noted her horns.
'Demons waste no flesh... Wonder what those do.'
Given her stature, perhaps dream mana dwarfing a molar's Dream Tusk.
Curiosity flared briefly—
Whoosh.
Half his vision vanished.
"...!"
Startled, he clutched his face. His right socket empty.
Panicking at the blink-fast theft—
"You seemed distracted, so I'll hold onto this till the meeting ends."
The Dream Demon lightly gripped the snowy lump in her palm—his right eye.
Shhh.
She opened her hand; a purple butterfly fluttered into void.
His vanished eye chilled his spine.
'Right... This is her guts, dream-womb and all.'
Ten Evils or Summit Climbers might survive; midway worms like him? Dust to dream in an instant.
Recalling his proxy status, he quelled surging ambition and bowed.
"My apologies, Madam."
"No harm. I delayed us anyway—let's begin."
Clap!
Her palms met lightly. Blurry outlines sharpened atop chairs.
A grotesque ball-jointed doll, every hole save mouth sewn shut. A 2m-plus giant in black hat, robe, beak mask veiling all skin. A kindly-faced elder.
The boss easily pegged them.
'Puppeteer and Tuner. Dawn's proxy.'
Mid-tier brass like him. All gathered, the Dream Demon sighed regretfully.
"I reached out, but... others lacked interest."
The beak-masked giant—Tuner—shrugged.
"Figures. Demons suck at teamwork."
Grumbling lightly despite his bulk, he scanned attendees and shook his head.
"Eh, this clears minimum quorum. As proposer, I'll run point."
Leaning back, he addressed the seated.
"Babel—or Ascension Festival precisely—is stirring. Puppeteer's raid started it, fine—but trashing a third of Shedding's labs? Overkill."
At the Watcher's mention, Dawn's proxy Charles and Oblation's boss eyed him.
"Guess messing with unidentified bodies pissed 'em off. Fine by me—rage sells, but solo charge? Nah, too risky. Wasteful too."
Ten Evils outmatched Summit Climbers sorely. Tuner nearly glossed over it—until intel shifted.
"Turns out, plenty hold grudges against Ascension."
Shrugging breezily, he eyed them.
Purposes varied, methods aligned.
Sensing viability in the improbable, he'd convened this.
"So, let's rally—go team! No silver tongue, so plan's simple."
Three Ten Evils, two Watchers.
Forces even Summit Climbers dreaded. Tuner spread arms festively, grinning.
"That fancy garden of theirs? Let's torch it grand."