Chapter 181 - Episode 24. Ancient God (6)
Chapter 181: Episode 24. Ancient God (6)
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A short while later, Jaehwan stood at the entrance to Ignel’s shop. Solitary Existence at his waist gave a purr like a kitten. It felt somewhat different from Dokbul, but its hilt fit perfectly in his hand. It was a sword he liked.
Runald also bought a black longsword. It had originally been nameless, but Runald insisted on having a name engraved on its scabbard.
[Solitary Child]
Andersen scolded Runald as he grinned.
―That sounds like an edgy teenager’s name.
“It means it sounds cool, right?”
Jaehwan thanked Maiad, who was watching the scene beside him.
“I owe you one.”
“It was nothing.”
Maiad had paid for Solitary Existence and Solitary Child.
More precisely, their price had been reduced in exchange for materials Maiad had offered.
“If a single sword can earn me a connection with Heaven Destroyer, it is not a loss.”
It was not the kind of item one could call just a sword. Even if it was unfinished, it was Ignel’s fourth numbered signature.
Yet Maiad did not seem to mind. It almost looked as if he had intended to give the sword to Jaehwan from the start.
Matching his stride to Jaehwan’s, Maiad asked, “Do you have somewhere else to go?”
“I plan to visit the auction house.”
“Oh, I was headed that way too. Let’s go together.”
Andersen whispered quietly as she watched Maiad speak so smoothly.
―He’s clinging to you.
“You received a necklace from him. You shouldn’t say that.”
―You called him a con artist earlier too.
Maiad’s subordinates chuckled behind them as they listened to Runald and Andersen. Maiad, walking along casually beside Jaehwan, looked pleased as well.
“Are you looking for something particular at the auction house?”
“Probably the same thing you are.”
“Oh, as expected.”
The purpose of any top powerhouse of the 《Abyss》 visiting the Grand Auction House right now was obvious.
“Ignel-nim’s work is excellent too, but honestly, it cannot compare to the Three Divine Artifacts.”
“Didn’t you say earlier that who wielded a weapon mattered more than the weapon itself?”
“I said that because Ignel-nim was there. Some weapons can let you win a battle that could never be won, or cross a wall you could never overcome alone.”
As he spoke of a wall, Maiad looked up at the sky again.
“If one of the current Seven Divine Thrones obtained a Three Divine Artifact, they would become strong enough to contend with the Three Ancient Gods of the past.”
“If it is such a powerful weapon, its wielder will be consumed by it.”
“Probably. That is why I want to test myself even more. To see whether I am truly worthy of a Three Divine Artifact.”
His voice was full of competitive spirit, but Maiad was a man qualified to feel that way.
Jaehwan had only spent a short time with him, yet he could tell.
Jaehwan had encountered many powerful figures as he passed through 《Chaos》 and the 《Abyss》. Samyeong Hun, General of the Great Realm. The Metaverse Six Gods. Eoduksi, the Leader. Russell of the Seven Stars and Shiyu of the Seven Heavens. Gainak, the Driver.
Yet none of them were like Maiad.
This man had a great capacity. He might be able to do what they could not.
“It is a shame I did not seek you out earlier, Jaehwan-nim. If I had known we would get along so well, we could have been better friends.”
They had barely exchanged anything worth calling a conversation, yet Maiad muttered that so naturally.
After thinking for a moment, Jaehwan said, “Perhaps. If we had met a very long time ago.”
The entrance to the Grand Auction House came into view in the distance.
Jaehwan decided it was time to ask.
“Why are you showing me kindness?”
“Because I want something.”
There was no kindness without a price.
When Jaehwan gave him a look asking what he wanted, Maiad held out his hand as if he had been waiting.
“Can I have one of those too?”
He was looking not at Jaehwan, but at Runald.
Runald happened to be eating a king dumpling pulled from Andersen’s necklace. He choked before answering.
“This is lunch for Jaehwan-nim and me.”
“One bite should be fine. I’m a good person.”
Runald hesitated, glancing at Jaehwan. Jaehwan nodded.
“Give him my share.”
Runald took out a fresh dumpling with a deeply dissatisfied expression.
“One with meat and cabbage. Not the small one, the big one beside it.”
“You’re picky.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Maiad took the king dumpling and bit into it.
A fragrant scent spread from the filling.
A satisfied smile spread across Maiad’s face.
“Delicious. It truly lives up to the name Martial World Dumplings.”
“You know these dumplings? When did you have them?”
“A long time ago. It is a very nostalgic taste.”
As if savoring the memories held within it, Maiad slowly ate the dumpling.
“That cannot be all you want.”
“Of course, there is one more thing.”
“Of course there is.”
With his cheeks still full, Maiad looked toward the auction house entrance.
The Grand Auction House was divided into the Gold Gate, where ordinary Part auctions were held, and the Hidden Gate, which handled the finest Parts.
“In truth, Caspion’s main auctions are held at the underground Hidden Gate. Only invited beings can enter it.”
The Three Divine Artifacts were likely among the items handled by the Hidden Gate.
Jaehwan could tell from the faint traces of World Force flowing out of the entrance alone. Beyond it, monsters stronger than every formidable enemy he had faced so far were surely gathered.
“Those invited to the Hidden Gate may bring one guest. Quite a few of my friends must have come to this auction, and they will all have brought impressive guests.”
“So?”
“Whenever a grand auction is held, there is an unspoken competition among my friends over who brings the most impressive guest.”
This was why Maiad had been lingering around Jaehwan all this time.
“I would like you to attend as my guest, Jaehwan-nim. If you dislike calling it that, you can think of it as joining hands with me briefly.”
It had been a long time since Jaehwan had met someone so direct and honest.
If he had met this man in the past, he might truly have become his Companion.
Jaehwan looked up at the sky.
Then, very slowly, a strange sense of discomfort came over him. He could not believe he had failed to notice it until now.
“Do you want to make me your Companion?”
Maiad tilted his head as if asking what he meant. At that moment, Jaehwan drew Solitary Existence.
Maiad’s eyes widened faintly. His subordinates shouted. Jaehwan stabbed toward the sky.
It all happened at nearly the same time.
Maiad’s subordinates drew their weapons and raised their World Force. Screams erupted nearby.
Then something like a tiny star blinked in the distant sky.
Rumble...
The sky struck by Jaehwan’s 「World Stab」 was horribly warped.
Jaehwan stared at it.
It was ridiculous.
Perhaps he had grown arrogant after bringing down the 〈Metaverse〉 and defeating the Leader. Or perhaps Maiad’s friendly manner had made him lower his guard.
Why had he noticed only now?
While he had been with Maiad, the huge eye in Jaehwan’s sky had disappeared.
A massive eyelid emerged again beyond the sky split by 「World Stab」. Wherever its gaze fell, the world rippled.
That gaze told him the truth.
Without realizing it, Jaehwan had entered Maiad’s Unique World.
Andersen, perched atop Runald’s head, moved.
―Jaehwan.
He must have heard Andersen’s voice hundreds of times by now. Yet this time, the emotion in it was different.
―Run.
Her voice sounded as if she were forcing out every feeling she possessed. Andersen was so tense that the crow doll had turned pale white.
There was no mistake.
Andersen had recognized who Maiad was.
She was not the only one.
“Ugh... Aaaah!”
Shopkeepers who had been selling things nearby and guests walking through Festival Street screamed and collapsed where they stood. Some had greeted Maiad warmly just moments ago.
“R-run. Everyone, run!”
Like people suddenly regaining lost memories, the Followers who saw Maiad recoiled in horror and fled.
Only then did Jaehwan think he understood Maiad’s Setting.
He likely possessed a Setting that severed the Link to memories connected to him.
Maiad watched those fleeing with a sorrowful expression.
Then an overpowering stench of blood began to creep in from somewhere.
Jaehwan knew what it was.
This smell was likely the blood of everyone Maiad had killed.
Maiad slowly raised both hands, then brought them together as if swatting a mosquito.
Clap.
The smell vanished as if it had been washed away.
The terrified people stopped in place. Andersen, who had gone pale, tilted her head. Runald, who had been clutching Jaehwan’s sleeve, looked confused.
The eye in the sky had disappeared again.
Maiad smiled at the empty sky.
“You should not go around putting holes in other people’s ceilings.”
His subordinates grumbled behind him. From the looks of it, they had even bet on Jaehwan’s reaction.
Jaehwan glanced at the subordinates exchanging trust, then spoke to Maiad again.
“I know who you are.”
Jaehwan had known Maiad long before meeting him.
―Be careful of Maiad. If he learns you opened Creation, he will not leave you alone.
Dark Fragrance Lord Samyeong Garam had warned him first.
―The person who cleared the final floor of the 〈Metaverse〉 seven hundred years ago had something like yours hanging in the sky too. It was not an eye, but it took a different form.
The man King of Crows Ethan Cart had mentioned.
Ash-gray hair that Jaehwan seemed to have seen in passing somewhere.
His name had been at the very top of the rankings for the first floor of the 〈Metaverse〉 from the beginning. If he had not fallen victim to a Setting that severed memory Links, there was no way he could have failed to recognize it.
“To be honest, I hoped to avoid being discovered until the end. People usually form prejudices the moment they learn who I am.”
“I think that prejudice has only gotten worse.”
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. It is a pleasure to meet you, God Slayer. No, Heaven Destroyer Jaehwan.”
A star floated above the sky of the man who bowed politely.
A star absent from Jaehwan’s sky.
White and dazzling, a star that gave its light equally to all living things.
As if displeased by that light, the eye in Jaehwan’s sky frowned faintly.
“I am Maiad van Declan. My friends in the 《Abyss》 call me the Rupture Lord.”
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