Chapter 69
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Sealed Greed
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The Inoue family.
Among Japan's three great ruling clans, they held unparalleled influence and possessed a unique secret art that set them apart as a prestigious house.
There had been some unsettling rumors lately, but once the war with the Demon Gods truly ignited, they threw their full support behind the allies without hesitation.
"Hah..."
Today, that entire lineage had been utterly erased from history.
"Nothing left at all..."
The sacred mountain where the Inoue family's main estate once stood.
Surrounded by protective barriers and lush peaks that lent it a mystical aura, it had drawn countless visitors in the past. Now, not a single trace remained.
A barren wasteland drained of all vitality. On that desolate, lifeless ground, the only remnant was a massive "birdcage."
Woooong─
At the center of the wasteland stood a silver birdcage about twenty meters tall.
Its interior was shrouded in black shadows, hiding whatever lurked inside, but it trembled intermittently, hinting at something trapped within.
'Not exterminated, but sealed... Guess the Greed was stronger than expected.'
As he pieced together how the battle must have unfolded, the space beside him split open. A fierce woman with short silver hair emerged—Violent Dog Louise Valente.
"This is fucking creepy as hell... What the fuck have those Inoue bastards been up to?"
She scowled and grumbled, clearly in a foul mood. Her intense reaction sparked a flicker of curiosity.
"That gross, huh? Looks like just a birdcage to me."
"Must be nice. It's a sealing spell woven from the twisted souls of tens of thousands of living humans."
"...Civilians?"
"Nah. All Inoue affiliates, but doesn't look like they consented. They were screaming to be let out when I got close."
The cage appeared elegantly beautiful at a glance, but its true nature was far from pristine.
"How's the status?"
"Seal's holding fine. But jostle it halfway, and the Greed'll bust right out."
"Hmm..."
He'd come to eliminate any loose ends, but tampering with it might unleash unforeseen chaos.
As he pondered the birdcage, Violent Dog nudged his shoulder.
"Just leave it. Even Annihilation and Oblivion could barely handle it. If this one breaks free again, we're screwed."
"...Yeah. Let's just mark it and go."
The Inoue clan's annihilation was a blow, but sealing the most dangerous of the remaining Ten Evils made it a net gain.
Weighing humanity's dwindling forces, he signaled Violent Dog.
"Let's move."
"Watch your tone. Before I slam you into the dirt."
She clicked her tongue, placed a hand on his shoulder, and prepared spatial transfer. As he waited, he glanced back at the distant cage.
Once the Inoue family's pride, an S-rank hero who fell to demonhood, became one of the Ten Evils, and wiped out her own clan: "Greed's Oblivion" Inoue Erika.
It was tragic, yet staring at the scene stirred doubt more than pity.
Woooong─
Was that stirring the Greed struggling to escape?
'Or... something new trying to be born?'
Unsettling, but no way to confirm.
He averted his gaze, halting his thoughts. That doubt would remain forever unresolved as the cage vanished into Annihilation's maw.
"..."
A memory from his past life flashed through his mind in an instant. Lee Se-hun's eyes narrowed at the vivid scene.
'Is this... Dream Tusk too?'
Far too clear for his own recollection.
For reasons unknown, the memory resurfaced, and Lee Se-hun turned to the young man before him: Inoue Ren.
'The family head back then was this guy.'
Sealing the Greed—a threat rivaling the Demon Gods—was commendable, but using tens of thousands of living humans as spell components was harder to overlook.
'Plus, records linked him to the Watchers this time.'
From the Dream Tusk archives, so veracity unconfirmed. But recalling that sinister seal from before regression lent it plausibility.
'What to do with this...'
As Lee Se-hun mulled his next move,
"Heard a lot about you from my little sister."
Ren smiled and spoke first.
"She says she's been in your debt a lot lately. Hope she hasn't been a bother."
Lee Se-hun watched the smoothly approaching Ren for a moment before shaking his head.
"Not that bad."
"Good to hear. Hate to say it myself, but her personality's... unique. Worried she might've weirded you out."
"She did a bit... but I consider that tame."
Compared to cleaning up after the Three Dogs pre-regression, Erika's antics were child's play.
"..."
He ignored the odd sidelong glance and pressed on. Ren let out a soft chuckle.
"You two get along. Relieved—you seemed like you'd mesh."
The conversation flowed warmly. Contextually, just a standard first meeting with a friend's family. But one glaring issue remained.
"Ugh... grrr..."
Carter, frozen mid-punch.
He strained to move, face twisting grotesquely, body rigid as if pinned in midair.
"What the hell did you do?"
"No magic or anything visible..."
Cadets buzzed, baffled by Carter's state. Lee Se-hun's gaze shifted there too.
"Oh, forgot to clean up."
Ren noticed, tapping his black rod—fan?—against his palm.
Smack.
"Ack?!"
Carter snapped to attention, then marched briskly to a corner of the hall.
Natural yet unnervingly off. The eerie sight chilled the mood; Ren gave a wry smile.
"Sorry. Some folks forget their place. Supposed to manage them, but it's tricky."
"Handling people is always the hardest. No issue."
"Thanks for understanding. Won't happen again."
Cadets around tensed at Ren's smile.
Exchanges were nominally member-led, but Ren had run it as president since year two.
Meaning: Carter was barred from future events.
"Uh, shall we check elsewhere?"
"Yeah. Plenty to see."
Cadets scattered. The area emptied instantly.
Lee Se-hun admired Ren's swift crowd control.
'Keeps a tight leash.'
Expected a mere street boss, but Ren dominated the exchange beyond expectations.
As Lee Se-hun marveled, Ren eyed the cleared space awkwardly.
"Guess I ruined it."
"Fine. Anyone fleeing this wouldn't be worth friending anyway."
Ren chuckled at the calm reply.
"Haha, true. Better to mingle properly. Impressive."
"Not really..."
"No, serious. Rare to see someone like that. Or rather, few can afford to be."
How many invitees could selectively befriend here?
Confidence to overshadow any background with pure talent.
Ren eyed him anew, sensing it in Lee Se-hun's demeanor.
"Want to chat more, but duties call. Catch up later?"
"Sure."
"Great meeting you."
Lee Se-hun gripped the offered hand, nodding.
"Likewise."
"See you. Erika."
Erika looked up at Ren's call.
"Lots to do—help out?"
"...Fine."
She glanced at Lee Se-hun reluctantly.
"Later."
"Yeah. We'll be with Jake. Come when done."
"Okay."
She nodded and followed Ren deeper into the hall.
The brief talk brimmed with overt goodwill. Most cadets would celebrate forging ties, but
'Slips in a curse with that smiling face.'
Lee Se-hun glanced at his hand, lips twisting.
Seemingly unchanged. But through Spirit Link Magic fully attuned to his body, he sensed the "wedge" embedded.
Shhh.
A hazy spike of black mist. The faint curse planted via handshake.
'More a marker than a proper curse.'
Prelude to a real spell later.
Stealthy and persistent. Examining its structure, Lee Se-hun pondered.
'Could dispel now...'
Unaware, fine. But fully cognizant, Spirit Link Magic made it trivial.
Yet dispelling immediately felt like a loss.
'Hitting me with an overt curse means they see me as easy prey.'
Dispel, and he'd earn respect—but wariness too.
Not ideal for probing Ren's intentions.
'Leave it for now.'
Against schemers, the key was striking hard from underestimated complacency.
Decision made, he lowered his hand casually and turned to Jake.
"Let's go... What're you doing?"
Jake scanned uncomfortably.
Lee Se-hun eyed him puzzled; Jake grimaced.
"Just... something bugs me."
"Tired? I can solo."
"No, fine. Probably low blood sugar. Let's head in."
Pushing like fleeing, they entered deeper.
Ren's warning kept cadets away—pleasant browsing. Lee Se-hun replayed the encounter.
'Come to think, that was baited too.'
Fellowship was surface; truly, a talent market. He'd just been "bid" on by Ren.
'Objectified, but... clears the path. Fine.'
Unhindered, guided by Jake, Lee Se-hun scanned faces.
Most nobodies, but some familiar from pre-regression.
'That one's busted for corruption... That side, murder-for-hire. Extortion, fraud, colluding with Myriad Demons' Mire...'
Future scum ruined spectacularly. Hypotheticals now, pointless to confront. Still, deflating.
'Lower caliber than expected.'
Exchange stars: Babel elites, A-rank potential.
But "mere" A-rank.
'Not bad, but insufficient.'
Myriad Demons' Mire boasted Ten Evils outmatching S-ranks, plus mightier Six Great Demon Gods.
Plus elusive Watchers. Needed S-rank minimum—or equivalent specialties.
'Hoped for one keeper...'
Overoptimistic? Sighing, scanning,
"...There."
Jake halted abruptly.
"Gotta meet someone quick. Mind soloing a bit?"
Awkward. Suspicious, but circumstantial, Lee Se-hun nodded.
"Got it."
"B-back soon!"
Jake bolted garden-ward, urgent. Lee Se-hun frowned curiously.
'Blackmailed?'
Intriguing, but harmless-seeming. He wandered alone.
"Tch..."
Soon bored—no prospects. He stopped in a corner, sipping brought drink.
'Prime time for bites...'
Ren or whoever—c'mon. Boredom scanning,
"Looking bored."
Familiar voice beside.
"No one catches your eye?"
Neatly combed blond: Bier Valmut. Lee Se-hun stared silently.
"Don't answer if awkward. Your face says it all."
Shrugging like unsurprised, Bier stood beside, surveying.
"Everyone needs talent, but blacksmiths especially. Weaponsmith's fame rides on wielders, not makers."
"..."
"That's why you're here, right? Scouting wielders worthy of your craft—or backers deep enough."
Lee Se-hun sipped instead of replying.
"...But as you see, slim pickings. Truly elite don't scramble here—they've got patrons, focus on training."
Participants: mediocres grasping lifelines. Chosen ones already secured.
"Want real 'clients'? Join us. No comparison to some advisor you'll outgrow."
Valmut recruitment. Earnest. Lee Se-hun drained his glass, set it down.
"One question."
Genuinely baffled stare at Bier.
"Why act like you know better?"
"...What?"
Lee Se-hun smirked at Bier's frown.
"You lot don't impress either. Why the smug pitch?"
"..."
"Amateurs who can't forge straight lecturing... Tch."
Tsking up at Bier, he walked off dismissively. Bier watched, stunned.
That barb stung deep, but he clenched fists, restrained.
'Not yet...'
Chance might not recur. Composing, he spoke.
"Your eye's shit too."
Lee Se-hun paused, turned.
"What?"
"I'll show you. Follow."
Bier strode ahead wordlessly. Lee Se-hun eyed his back, then followed.
They reached an exhibition hall corner—mid-setup, cluttered. Bier shoved through cadets inward.
Centerpiece: palm-sized metal plate. Ornate crest of crossed swords. Lee Se-hun's eyes widened.
'That...'
Seen pre-regression. Shocked by the surprise,
"Our family's new alchemical armament prototype: 'Iron Cage.'"
Bier gripped, tossed it.
Thud.
"Alloy from hero-grade 'Ripple Crystal,' refined by our alchemy. Leagues beyond market trash."
Lee Se-hun examined.
'Overspec for now, sure.'
Famed blades? Lagging masters. Mass-producing powerhouse "war gear"? Valmuts competitive.
"Just one of many projects. Join us, partake."
"..."
"Not impressed?"
Everything hinged here. Bier's sharp gaze met Lee Se-hun's calm reply.
"Nice."
Positive. Fleeting regret in Bier's eyes—then
"The materials."
Eyes flashed.
"...Just materials?"
"Yeah. Strutting a defect-riddled mess... speechless."
Vitriolic. Faces hardened—not just Bier, all cadets.
Personal piece? Overlookable. Family prototype diss? Game-changer.
"You accountable?"
Cold query. Lee Se-hun unflinching.
"Why not?"
Supreme confidence. Bier twisted in rage, inwardly sneering.
'Idiot.'
They knew the flaws. Brought it to lure—damage-free bait, prestige hit potential.
'Thinks no real harm here...'
Overlooked: They'd sacrifice project, rep, to eliminate him now.
'Might've spared if joined... That arrogance ends you.'
As Lee Se-hun infused mana,
Bier prepared covert skill detonation.
Tested on Louise pre-regression. Bier subtly gathered mana, waiting.
Whoooosh!
Lee Se-hun tossed Iron Cage skyward.
All eyes bulged at the unexpected—then he channeled via attached Black Spirit Thread.
Mana seeped; cracks spread.
Crackleshatter!
Thousands of disassembled parts exploded outward, blanketing the hall's ceiling.
"Wha..."
Bier's eyes ballooned at the spectacle. Lee Se-hun smirked.
"Watch closely."