Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 083
Chapter Title: Loyalty and Betrayal
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I thought fixing Sienjin's mother was on another level from what he was pulling off now.
So I figured Indus would be the first to step up.
"I'll do it."
But Sienjin stepped forward first and gave his answer.
It was proof of just how deep his sense of betrayal toward Demorus ran.
"""Me too..."""
Each with their own reasons.
The trust Sein had shown them.
Their own desires.
"I'll do it."
That was the moment Demorus's Three Forces completely fell into Sein's grasp.
"Good. Let's get along from here on out."
What they gained would match what they pledged.
A relationship that could be maintained indefinitely, as long as they got what they wanted.
That was the kind of trustworthy bond Sein desired.
"There won't be any moving the Three Forces right away anyway."
Sein said.
"There are too many restrictions."
Even though Sein was the commander of the Three Forces, they had belonged to Demorus first.
They had to be deployed on Demorus's orders and missions, so Sein couldn't use them freely.
"Just keep doing what you've been doing for the time being."
"Understood."
"Dismissed."
Some left with excitement in their hearts.
Others wore worried expressions.
Even as the Three Forces, they were human in the end, so they departed with all sorts of feelings.
The ones who remained were Sienjin and Indus.
"They're reliable comrades."
Sienjin said.
"Once they've made up their minds, they won't change them, so please use them like your own limbs."
Another oath of loyalty.
"You think so?"
But Sein's eyes had narrowed into thin slits.
"......?"
Sienjin looked like he didn't understand.
"Have you checked?"
Sein asked Indus.
"Yes."
Checked what?
That was the look on Sienjin's face.
"We've confirmed that Chebes and Herzer made contact with Timpia's succession candidate."
"......!"
Timpia was the succession candidate backed by Gail.
"A number of the troops have also made contact with other factions or commanders."
"What do you..."
"And they didn't tell me about it."
Sienjin's face hardened at Sein's words.
It was true that he trusted his comrades, but that didn't mean he was blind.
"Are you saying the troops betrayed us?"
The troops' betrayal.
"Well, isn't that obvious? They've slaved away under Demorus for years—why would they jump ship just because I treated them a little well?"
Sienjin was a special case.
"The good news is that at least half are sincere."
Crunch.
Sienjin ground his molars at Sein's words.
"I'll handle it."
They were his subordinates and comrades.
If they had broken that trust, it was the commander's duty to take responsibility.
"Why bother?"
But Sein said it with a completely nonchalant expression.
"I left them in place on purpose. Why touch them?"
If he didn't know who the betrayers were, that would be one thing.
"We use them."
*
*
*
A woman boasting seductive allure in a form-fitting blend of black and gold.
"That guy..."
Her upturned lips were enough to steal one's soul.
"...said that?"
"Yes."
But one couldn't fall for her beauty.
Not when she was Demorus's succession candidate, Timpia.
Born of the main family, Demorus's leading contender for succession.
On top of the factions supporting her and her own personal abilities.
"Interesting."
That was why Three Forces members Chebes and Herzer trusted their choice.
'Sein Demorus.'
He was definitely a rising star.
But having spent so long in Demorus, they had learned something.
'He's just a shooting star at best.'
Those from the main family.
They were the sun.
An unstoppable force that could incinerate everything with a mere whim.
"His actions and the rumors don't paint him as a fool, at least."
Timpia muttered to herself.
"Is he declaring war or something?"
Words telling them to pledge loyalty to her, not Demorus.
In a way, it evoked thoughts of rebellion.
But there was some ambiguity there too.
—Succession candidate.
The special nature of the title.
"In the end... once he becomes family head, he'll be Demorus."
It was something a qualified person could say, forgivable to a degree.
But anyone who heard it would clearly be inclined to oppose Sein.
"He's clever."
He was drawing all eyes to himself.
"What about the others? No interest?"
Timpia asked.
"...I'm sorry. I probed subtly, but no one expressed anything definite."
A shame.
The Three Forces might come from lowly origins, but their skills were undeniable.
To only snag these two from them.
"They're idiots anyway."
"......"
"Can't be helped. Can you set up a meeting with Sienjin?"
"I'm sorry."
"Tch."
Useless fools.
In truth, Sienjin was the most valuable asset in the Three Forces.
His Eastern origins and exceptional talent were one thing, but in this filthy underworld, holding true loyalty was no common gift.
"Did that guy really cure Ganderic disease for Sienjin's mother?"
The rumor that Sein had cured the Ganderic disease afflicting Sienjin's mother.
"From what we've gathered, yes."
That rumor had Demorus even more abuzz.
Demorus valued strength and had many from the East.
Quite a few of their families suffered from Ganderic disease, but no one in Demorus—or the continent—had ever presented a cure.
But if Sein truly had the power to cure Ganderic disease.
'Dangerous.'
It meant there were still plenty who would follow him.
It couldn't be Sein's ability.
'The Legion Witch. Is it her?'
Timpia finished her thoughts and rose.
"Lucky for me."
As Timpia stood, her captivating figure was thrown into even sharper relief.
"I have loyal ones like you."
"......?"
"Can you promise me?"
Timpia wrapped her arms around Chebes and Herzer's waists.
"That you'll do anything I want, whenever I want."
Gulp.
"If you do... I think I can give you something nice in return."
A forbidden fruit.
Yet.
"We will..."
It was the temptation even primordial humans couldn't resist.
*
*
*
'Level's around late 10s.'
Sein calculated his level based on the number of times he'd entered the lantern.
'The awakened perks.'
The abilities he'd gained that way.
He still hadn't fully integrated them.
Things he'd been used to before were hard to manifest now that they mingled with the laws of reality.
Swish.
Sein had closed his eyes and sunk into meditation.
-Meditation helps.
What had been a mere formality in the game actually showed results in reality.
Early on, when he hadn't awakened many perks, there were no issues.
But as perks awakened and took root, problems arose.
"......"
Sein's face twisted in pain.
Each awakened perk was monstrous on its own, clashing and trying to devour one another.
"Urk."
They tangled completely, tormenting him.
Meditation was how Sein subdued and organized his awakened perks.
In the process, he checked his own condition.
'Bastion.'
His useful gear.
'Rogue.'
Ego.
And.
-Tejera.
He recalled Demorus's family head.
Comparing himself to that monster who seemed to grow stronger every time he saw him.
Sein could already handle master-level foes with ease.
Roooar!
But Tejera, manifesting in the darkness, was a colossal giant, while Sein felt like a squat dwarf by comparison.
An ordinary person would never dream of reaching that height.
But Sein wasn't ordinary.
'Prioritize leveling up.'
He had a way to get there.
'Levels get harder after 20, so I need to hit that first as fast as possible.'
Things would change a lot after level 20.
'Need more gear too.'
In this kind of game, equipment was an essential spec boost.
And beyond that.
Shaaa.
The necessities.
What he needed to acquire.
The path forward.
Lost in such thoughts, Sein delved deeper into meditation.
How much time passed?
"This is..."
Sein opened his eyes.
"What now? Damn it."
An intensely vivid darkness, and above it, a massive red eye staring down at him.
Too clear to be a dream.
Crunch.
A realism that left no room for such thoughts.
Sein slowly parted his lips.
"Finally."
How long had he waited for this moment?
"Feel like talking now?"
Of the things dwelling within him, two weren't there by his own will.
That red eye was one of them.
"Demon Dragon, Archibald."
The heart of the Demon Dragon.
[Your flailing around has been pretty entertaining. I've been watching.]
No voice—instead, something like a system message appeared before Sein's eyes.
"......"
Sein's face darkened.
Archibald definitely had secrets.
Secrets even he, who had poured decades into Sanctuary, didn't know.
[But how long will you keep it up?]
The eye, which had seemed to shine with goodwill, now brimmed with boredom.
[You must feel how little time you have left.]
"......"
[Do you think everything will go according to your plans?]
It asked.
"What's your goal?"
But Sein countered with a question.
His greatest irritation was the unknown.
He had no choice but to carry something he didn't understand, and without knowing its purpose or intent, it was nothing but a bomb.
Especially a transcendent power beyond his control.
[You're not ready to hear it yet.]
Archibald said.
[But you will learn.]
"Quit with the vague nonsense..."
[This isn't the Sanctuary you knew.]
"......!"
Again.
That tone, as if it knew all the truths.
[The tutorial is finally over.]
Uttering words no being of this world would say.
[It begins.]
It expelled Sein from the mental space.