Chapter 14 - Episode 2. Witch of Massacre (4)
Chapter 14: Episode 2. Witch of Massacre (4)
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A spirit weapon, one of the extremely rare weapons said to grow by consuming other items, even in the 《Great Realm》. Mino had only heard of them. This was the first time she had seen one herself.
If that item truly was a spirit weapon, then the man's incomprehensible strength made sense.
Killing a Two-Horned Beast with a basic Stab.
The monstrous attack power of a spirit weapon could easily make that possible. As expected, it was not the man's skill that had killed the Two-Horned Beast, but the sword's power.
Mino reflexively glanced toward Kanghun and the Red Fox Clan members before speaking to Jaehwan.
"Put that away. Quickly."
Whoever the man was, casually showing off a spirit weapon in front of others was proof that he was inexperienced at adventuring.
Spirit weapons were powerful, but Adapters who relied heavily on their weapons were inevitably vulnerable to traps.
It was certain. Mino did not know who this man was, but he would soon be killed.
Of course, that had nothing to do with Mino.
All she had to do was carry out this request.
...That was how it was supposed to be.
The Red Fox Clan group was returning from afar.
They were all grinning, as though their conversation had gone well. Mino quickly stepped in front of Jaehwan, who was still feeding the spirit weapon, and naturally took both his hands.
"Wow, I never thought I'd meet someone from my hometown here. Jaehwan! You're definitely that Jaehwan from back then, right?"
Jaehwan tried to pull his arms free as she abruptly closed the distance, but Mino was persistent.
"We definitely parted ways after clearing the Tower of Nightmares together. Which region did you say you were going to? I can't remember very well."
Jaehwan looked at Mino as she pressed her face close to his with an embarrassingly sweet voice. She continued.
"You said you'd tell me later, but I never heard from you, so I was disappointed. Still, perhaps it really was fate that we met again like this."
"I never..."
Jaehwan stared up at Mino, wondering what this was about. The woman wore an expression so natural it was almost impressive. Then he saw Mino kick his Ice Dragon Sword behind her, hiding it among the packs.
Something clicked in his mind.
Ah. So that was it.
Red Fox Clan was approaching from afar. The woman was earnestly trying to tell him something with her eyes. Then her voice entered his mind.
It was the 「Push」 skill.
"Oh, you've lost your memories. That can happen."
[I'll protect your cover, so please stop talking nonsense and stay still. Unless you want those bastards to notice you.]
He had not met people for a long time. He had forgotten this feeling.
Right.
This was what they called "party play."
Party play, where ignorant travelers were used, abandoned, and killed. He had experienced it thoroughly in the Tower of Nightmares already.
That was why the woman's actions were truly unexpected.
Come to think of it, something similar might have happened when he first met Seoyul.
...Though he could hardly remember now.
"Oh my, you had lost your memories? So that's why you were so awkward with words."
Kanghun, the party leader, had come close enough to smile at them. Mino answered him calmly.
"That's what he says. Amnesia happens sometimes to people who have just entered 《Chaos》."
Kanghun smiled as if he understood.
"Well, coming to Chaos can be quite a shock."
"Some people piss themselves on the way here. Looks like that happened to this guy too."
Kanghun's party snickered at Jaehwan, apparently finding it hilarious.
From Jaehwan's perspective, it was a strange thing to say.
No matter how he thought about it, breaking out of the Tower had not been frightening enough to make someone piss themselves.
Mino added, "It might not simply be because he came to 《Chaos》. He could be an Abyss powerhouse. Abyss powerhouses usually suffer from amnesia."
"An Abyss powerhouse? Ha! What a joke."
Kanghun burst into exaggerated laughter.
Still, Mino seemed to have successfully diverted their attention. A Push came from her when their eyes met.
[You owe me one.]
Her smile curved like a crescent moon.
* * *
A little later, Jaehwan was paying dearly for that smile.
For reference, the information Jaehwan had received from Mino so far was as follows.
First, the members of this party were vicious criminals.
Second, for personal reasons, Mino had to wipe out this entire party.
Third, again for personal reasons, Mino could not reveal her identity.
Fourth, if they did not take care of this party tonight, Mino and Jaehwan would die.
Putting it all together, the conclusion was simple.
'You're asking me to join your side?'
Mino read his lips and answered through Push.
[We're already on the same side.]
'So you're saying I should kill them.'
Still, something about blindly accepting that sat badly with him.
They looked like bad people at a glance, but it was not right to judge people based on prejudice alone. Jay, the Tower's blacksmith, had also made a rough first impression, yet he had been a good person.
[They'll definitely make a move. I tried to hide it, but they noticed, one hundred percent. Spirit weapon or not, they'll definitely target your weapon. I don't think they believe your cover either.]
'So?'
[The answer is to strike first. Your weapon is good, so if you attack first, victory is guaranteed.]
'And if I don't want to?'
[...If you're going to run, you should leave quickly. With your footwork, they'll catch up to you in an instant.]
Night fell.
It was Kanghun, the leader, who suggested that they camp now that it had grown dark. According to the map, a village was not far ahead. Even so, Kanghun claimed that moving at night could agitate the horned beasts and proposed spending the night outdoors.
Pretending to sleep, Jaehwan used 「Doubt」.
Soon, he began hearing their conversation through Push.
[Leader, is it really true?]
[Yeah. I checked earlier just in case. It's definitely a spirit weapon.]
Jaehwan clicked his tongue inwardly. The woman had been right.
[A spirit weapon...]
[It's a weapon that grows by devouring other equipment. They're expensive weapons said to be used only by Lords in the Great Realm.]
[...Weapons used by Lords? Then could that guy...]
The "spirit weapon" apparently referred to the Ice Dragon Sword.
It was a little unexpected. According to the information Beastrein had given him, the items from the 《Tower of Nightmares》 were little better than trash compared to the collectibles of the 《Great Realm》.
Yet they were so desperate over a single sword?
[He's definitely not a Lord. If a Lord appeared in Chaos, this whole area would already be in an uproar.]
[Even if he isn't a Lord, he's strong. You saw him kill that Two-Horned Beast in one blow.]
[You really only know one thing and not the next.]
Kanghun spoke mockingly.
[Did you see how he killed the Two-Horned Beast?]
[Well... Something went whoosh.]
[That guy killed the Two-Horned Beast with a Stab.]
[What?]
The man sounded startled.
[How is that possible?]
[Of course it isn't possible. I guarantee you, there are fewer than ten people in all of 《Chaos》 who could kill a Two-Horned Beast in one strike with Stab.]
[Th-then you're saying he's incredibly strong?!]
[You're really frustrating... Hey, stop fooling around and turn on the measuring device. Measure that bastard's spiritual power.]
[Yes, sir!]
A little later.
[Huh? Leader. That guy's spiritual power is at the level of a Non-Adapter. It's even lower than mine.]
[Right?]
Kanghun chuckled.
[Then how the hell did he kill the Two-Horned Beast?]
[Have you already forgotten how we started this conversation?]
[Uh... Don't tell me?!]
[Exactly.]
The men stood there with their mouths agape.
[Are spirit weapons really that powerful?]
[As far as I know, artifacts like spirit weapons can only be obtained after entering the 《Abyss》. You've heard about the Abyss, haven't you?]
[You mean the 《Abyss》 called the "Branch" of the 《Tree of Illusion》?]
[That's right. That Abyss.]
[To think it is the Abyss of the Branch...]
Jaehwan did not know what profound subject they were talking about, but the men had clearly misunderstood something.
Still, "Branch"...
The memo in the Tower had said that the 《Tower of Nightmares》 was the "Root." If the 《Abyss》 was a "Branch," then there had to be a "Trunk" somewhere too.
[Have you been to the Branch, Leader?]
[How could I have? If you climb too far by mistake, you'll be spiritually annihilated at once. Be content with the Trunk. 《Chaos》 is a livable place in its own way.]
So this was 《Chaos》, the Trunk. Then what exactly did 《Great Realm》 refer to?
[Leader, then how did this guy obtain a spirit weapon?]
[Could he be an Adapter from a Great Family? If he has something like a spirit weapon, that's possible.]
[Those from Great Families notify us in advance before visiting Chaos. As far as I know, the most recent family to send notice was the Green Moth Family. Does that guy look anything like he comes from the Green Moth Family?]
[True. I heard the Green Moth Family members have antennae-like things on their heads.]
Kanghun nodded.
[And there's conclusive evidence that he isn't from a Great Family.]
[What is it?]
[The smell.]
[The smell?]
[Don't you notice a strange scent coming from him?]
[Could this be...?]
Kanghun tapped his nose and grinned.
[That's right. The Scent of Dreams.]
[The Scent of Dreams only comes from the "Root" or the "Branch"... Then this guy is one of two things. Either an 「Abyss powerhouse」, or a beginner. Maybe just as that woman said...]
Jaehwan reflexively sniffed his own arm.
He had not known he smelled like that.
[Of course he's not an Abyss powerhouse. It makes no sense for an Abyss powerhouse to be a Non-Adapter.]
[Then that guy is...]
No one answered, but the atmosphere already had its answer. Jaehwan could hear desire stirring.
[...What should we do about the woman?]
[Deal with her yourselves. This is more important right now.]
[Heh, then we'll take care of the woman.]
The men began to move quietly.
Mino had been right.
These bastards were bad people.
He had expected it, but seeing it unfold so openly still left him feeling hollow. Not expecting anything did not mean it was not bitter.
Life was like this anyway.
Had it not always been?
At that moment, something rolled into Jaehwan and bumped against him.
"Oh my."
A woman's damp hand closed around his right wrist.
"I didn't know you were here, Jaehwan. You're quite the lecher."
[What are you doing? Those bastards are making their move!]
"Oh my! Jaehwan! Those bastards have swords! Aah! Save me!"
[You aren't going back on our promise now, are you?]
The first plan was for Jaehwan to recite his designated line around now and fight.
For reference, the line Jaehwan had originally been scheduled to recite was as follows.
'Everything came back to me at just the right moment! Hehe, I am an 「Abyss Powerhouse」 who came to punish you bastards!'
There was no way he would say something like that.
[Those bastards have drawn their swords and are charging at us! Decide whether you're fighting or running, quickly!]
Mino shouted urgently.
Jaehwan only shrugged.
Strictly speaking, he had never promised anything. Mino had simply informed him of everything on her own.
A blade flew through the air.
"Kill the pair of them!"
A flustered Mino rolled once while holding Jaehwan. The blade embedded itself in the ground where they had been moments ago.
Mino shouted, "Take out your weapon! That black sword! Kill them with it!"
"I don't have it."
"What?"
"I said I don't have it."
Without a word, Jaehwan nodded toward his back. Mino's eyes widened as she followed his gaze.
No, why was it over there?
"You put it in the pack earlier."
"...You still haven't taken it back?"
"It kept asking for food. It was annoying."
"No, what kind of person are you..."
Of course, that was not why he had not taken it back.
Jaehwan had left the sword there for an entirely different reason.
Kanghun slowly pulled the Ice Dragon Sword from the pack, his lips curling into a delighted grin. Jaehwan confirmed the sight, then smiled at Mino.
Now he could finally see this woman's true abilities.
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