Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: If Shame is Excessive
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Still, Silver Star lived up to her name as the Insight Ability—she was sharp as ever.
Oh...
The sharp, stinging pain in my broken and crushed limbs began to subside a little.
"Circulating blood to the injured areas faster?"
She was attached to me, so she couldn't control my body directly, but she could assist from within.
"Impressive."
The pain had eased. I looked around the sanctuary to assess my situation.
"There's gotta be info in my head already, so why ask?"
Sigh. Can't reject physical assimilation at this point.
Once I gain resistance to the cold, we'll see.
I shook my head and picked up where my thoughts had left off.
I'd been circling the altar.
'Can't fight off the cold.'
Thanks to spreading it evenly through my body, I could breathe somehow, but staying still dulled my motor nerves and senses inevitably.
"Gotta keep moving for now. And think."
When I'd entered with Luke, divine power had lit the way, but now only starlight remained.
Thanks to Silver Star, my enhanced vision let me adapt to the darkness faster and more effectively.
I ran my hand along the wall, circling the sanctuary once.
"Just rock for an exit..."
My energy drained away.
Thirst and hunger piled on, making it all the more hopeless.
I collapsed beside the rock serving as the doorway.
For the first time in ages, I wanted to cry, but Luke's temperament wouldn't even allow that.
I couldn't just wallow in despair forever.
Based on my exploration of the sanctuary, I racked my brain with the compiled info.
The sanctuary was tall and vast, able to hold hundreds, but no secret passages or hidden spaces.
"First, think of a way out of here."
Option one: through the rock.
Possible.
But after that was the problem.
I jumped up to confirm again, placing my hand on the rock.
Swoosh—
The rock sucked me in.
I yanked my hand back fast.
If it swallowed me like this, the rock would spit me out outside.
"Then..."
Some pervert in nothing but a cloak, and the Red Dragon Knights would lynch me. Probably target one spot relentlessly.
"Eugh—!"
The horrific thought made me shake my head furiously.
I ignored Silver Star's nonsense. She was picking up my dumb influences.
To avoid getting sucked into the rock, I needed to control my strength.
"Like this—"
I lightly placed my hand on the rock and pressed gently.
The rock turned transparent, revealing the cavern outside the sanctuary.
About fifty Red Dragon Knights holding the line were doing their own things.
Bam! Clang—!
Nearest by, two burly knights took turns smashing the rock with maces and flails.
- Hoo... Not even a scratch.
- A morningstar forged by imperial smiths, dented...
With my hand on the rock, I could hear sounds too.
'Snag that flail, take one hostage... Nah, too strong.'
Even just watching from Luke's body, their ferocious auras had shocked me.
No matter that it was Luke's body—my skills couldn't handle it.
Familiar faces among the knights too.
- Enough of that.
Geum Taeyoung, hurry up.
- Even aura doesn't work on this rock. Probably sealed with holy power for Holy Knights only.
- Big trouble. Trapped front and back.
- Hm...
Geum Taeyoung nodded gravely.
'Silver Star, they look screwed too, right?'
Where'd she learn that?
Irritably scratching my forehead, I pieced together their talk. The Red Dragon Knights' predicament came into view.
The knights who'd chased Luke alerted those outside.
Dozens more arrived while I writhed in pain.
And Delma returned after eating.
The Red Dragon Knights' escape options...
Break the holy-protected rock.
Jump off the cliff overlooking Hellite and smash their heads.
Charge a massive hippo without mana and get trampled.
'All lead to smashing or getting smashed.'
Even if I were them, nothing looked easy.
Dilemma. They couldn't advance or retreat.
Heh.
Absurd and satisfying—I gritted my teeth in a grin.
- Huh, did something...
Geum Taeyoung's eyes widened as he approached the rock.
- Did the rock just mock us?
- I heard it too.
With hand on the rock, even breaths had to be careful.
Sounds leaked out.
- Hah. Knights who can't even scratch it—hilarious. Holy power isn't to be trifled with.
- Think it'll curse us or something...
Geum Taeyoung shook his head at his pale subordinate.
- Dangerous as unknown black magic, but holy power is generous even to other races, they say. No need to worry.
The reassured knight left, leaving Geum Taeyoung and the ox-like knight.
- Outside knights will request backup. Wait till then.
- If Luke Seid bursts out suddenly, we're mana-less—we all die.
- As long as we don't draw swords, a Holy Knight won't bare fangs. Watch your words, vice-captain. Morale's at stake.
- My apologies.
The burly vice-captain bowed.
Geum Taeyoung and the vice-captain moved to the cavern center.
I eavesdropped till they were far.
- At least no food worries.
A bonfire in the center could seat dozens.
The ox-like vice-captain pulled something from thin air as they arrived.
'Backpack? Huge! From nowhere?'
He distributed jerky from it to comrades.
Other knights thumbs-upped him.
'Some ability, huh.'
'Handy for heavy loads.'
'Not with my skills.'
I chuckled at the innocent question and shook my head.
'No intent now. But if they keep trying to kill me, I won't just take it.'
I shook my head again.
She knew full well anyway.
I kept my hand on the rock, watching the knights. Most spent time honing swordsmanship.
Enhanced senses let me see their moves, but that was it.
Reading and responding physically were worlds apart.
'Fools who don't know their place die first. I don't wanna die.'
Anyway, rock exit on hold.
Without peak Crystal Realm holy power, couldn't return, and even shaking knights, narrow cliff gap led to the hippo blocking ahead.
'No guarantee the hippo recognizes me.'
Second escape: ...
I hopped on the altar, but my jump couldn't reach.
Ceiling so high, hole's edge out of reach.
Haa... Rhythm from that weirdo drains me more.
'Impossible means give up.'
Still, seemed survivable short-term.
"No law says die."
I found the toothpaste-tasting elixir, Toolsep.
Thanks to dark-adapted eyes.
Few steps from altar, in unlit corner, faint emerald glow like firefly drifted midair.
Dust-like light, might mistake for emerald powder.
Even dark-adapted, without Silver Star's enhanced sight and smell, missed it.
"Safe to eat?"
Silver Star knew it was musing, stayed silent. No knowledge of Toolsep anyway—trapped in Luke's heart, no shared senses then.
'Ingredients: unknown herb. Storage: constant temp/humidity cave. No rot, mold, stench.'
Judged by my knowledge.
Freeze or starve, same difference.
Grabbed big handful, shoved in mouth.
Absorbed into body before tongue touch, spicy spread.
"Tasty?"
No answer, but awed reaction.
Mint choco fan?
Heretic vibes explained.
Nothing else, shoveled it in.
Toolsep never fills you, no matter amount.
Plus three baskets worth.
Baskets waist-high and thick.
Ten total, seven empty.
"Old? Barely effective..."
Nom nom nom—
Growing on me...
Nom nom nom—
Body warmed nicely.
Cold faded, heat surged.
Nom nom nom—
Head foggy though...
Nom nom nom—
So I didn't hear.
Silver Star shrieked, snapping me awake with a jolt.
"Shit. Scared me."
Felt her glaring inside me.
Realized why instantly.
"My hands..."
Hands swollen like water-filled rubber gloves. Like blood blocked by tight rubber band on forearm.
Not just hands.
Whole body bloated, hard to move.
"Heugh—"
Even esophagus and airways narrowed, breathing tough.
"Damn... Vessels blocked everywhere?"
"Hoo... Stop the wuxia novels..."
Crazy kid, really.
Guardian about to explode, yet babbling nonsense.
"Not severed—transplant incomplete. Nerve graft done, pain reduced, that's all."
Still, having her help inside to save me was fortune.
'I know what to do now.'
Wobbled to altar, climbed up.
Cross-legged, began mana cultivation.
Only solution I knew.
Planned to try even before Toolsep—solid body alone couldn't escape sanctuary. Just too hungry and tired.
Hands on knees, palms up, thumbs and index fingers touching...
Ah, shut up.
Crazy kid, really.
But.
'You... a girl?'
Eek—
First I knew.
That excessive shame could make you lose consciousness.