194th Episode
“Hmph.”
Before me, Altear lies convulsing, unconscious from my dazzling skill (?).
I let out a sigh of relief, standing before her fallen form. Quickly, I prepared to activate the Shadow Chains.
“The real show starts now.”
That’s right. It’s not about SM play and bondage…
To establish any sort of dialogue with this kamikaze lunatic who could self-detonate at any misstep, I need to tie her up first, rendering her completely unable to act.
“Before anything, I should neutralize her weapons.”
I glanced at Hrungnir, lying nearby.
A magical bombardment machine towering over three meters, this intricate and formidable contraption radiates sheer intimidation.
As usual, by staring at it intently, a panel floated up.
[Item Information]
[Name: Spell Gun – Hrungnir]
[Adjustment Value: Amplifies magical power to Master Level + a, depending on the mana supply.]
[Details: Prototype of the Great Demon King’s Weapon Project ‘Hrungnir.’ Increases the power of magic by inserting an ether-expansion cartridge according to specified voice commands. The project was canceled due to high base mana requirements and failed attempts at weight reduction. Only one person in the world is qualified to use this.]
[Upgrade Possible: 0]
“Hmm, so if I can use it…”
I recalled Altear unleashing a barrage of magical bullets. It was truly overwhelming. Magic-rich artillery can’t be overlooked in combat, and to be brutally honest, it was pretty cool.
Maybe switching from a swordsman to a gunner wouldn’t be a bad idea. I tried to lift the weapon by gripping its handle.
“Ugh!”
Surprisingly, it didn’t budge an inch.
Despite putting in a decent amount of effort, I couldn’t lift it, and judging from its weight, I’d need strength on the level of a grenade (Grenade) to even drag it.
“Guess I have to destroy it, huh.”
In the end, I sighed and drew my sword.
With a sharp sound, I activated Seven Sword Pierce and Fatal Thorns. I concentrated all my skills directly onto Hrungnir and, in an instant, slammed it into the weapon.
“Hmmph!”
The result was pathetic.
With a ringing metallic sound, my magic blade bounced back after striking sparks. The thorns from Fatal Thorns, upon contact with the gun’s surface, promptly bent and collapsed.
“Wow.”
Without realizing it, I muttered an absurd exclamation.
So tough. I mean, it looked durable, but I didn’t expect it to withstand such a skill barrage without even a scratch.
“My ultimate moves only work on living beings…”
The ambush combo of Marking, Softening, and Rear Strike works only on organic beings that I can ambush from behind. It’s useless against inanimate objects.
Here I go, encountering the same Korean weapon problem again. Confused and annoyed, I rubbed my face.
“Now what?”
Let’s move the interrogation location. Since moving Hrungnir is impossible, moving Altear is the only choice. Besides, I planned to move to a more secluded location anyway, as staying here is dangerous.
I recalled the final moments of my previous life.
“…Moskden of Solitude. He came.”
There was not much time; the enemy would arrive after about 5-10 minutes from the start of the fight.
If Moskden’s arrival time remains consistent, I need to act immediately instead of wasting time.
“Better to gather some new intel.”
I took out a piece of paper and a pen from my pouch, noting down the newly acquired facts.
[The amusement park (Amusement Park) is Alteer. The factory complex is Moskden. The old city area belongs to Dyrus.]
[Altear will attempt self-destruction if not killed in the first attempt. Handle with care.]
Since Moskden had arrived first at the amusement park, the old city area must belong to Dyrus. Satisfied with this deduction, I tore the paper and placed it into the Box of the Dead.
Unlike last time, I didn’t rip it too roughly. One wouldn’t want something to lead to strange misunderstandings, should I die again.
“Time to move.”
I immediately hoisted Altear over my shoulder. She hung there like wet laundry, limp and unconscious.
I glanced at the broken Ferris wheel, and then carefully examined the tall cliff beside it, searching for a path.
“Maybe I should’ve used Black Wings earlier…”
The only route to climb up this cliff from the amusement park is through here, but the only way across, the Ferris wheel, collapsed under Altear’s barrage of white flame bombs.
Now this, with its 20-minute cooldown left on Black Wings, feels like quite a waste.
“There has to be some sort of passageway…”
There’s no way the route is completely blocked.
According to the map of District 10 given to me by Knightrea, there should indeed be a way to cross over from the amusement park to the upper area.
Carefully feeling around the cliff, I soon stopped at a particular point.
“What is this…?”
My hand, as it brushed against the cliff wall, had slipped through it.
For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating, and quickly pulled my hand back. Then, after a short pause, I carefully reached out again.
Ugh. With a deep resonating sound, my arm was unmistakably drawn into the cliff.
[Alert – Skill Activation: Eye of Insight]
[A false illusion has been detected. All deceptions and lies are negated.]
“Illusion?”
The part of the cliff in front of me, which seemed so solid, was an illusion.
I immediately remembered the bamboo forest in Markeuteuriseu. The ground disappeared like an illusion at Adrang’s command, revealing a staircase.
It felt like a similar situation. After a moment of contemplation, I gathered my courage and plunged my head into the cliff.
“Phew!”
Ugh. True to form, my head slipped into the illusion of the cliff without any resistance.
I cautiously opened the eyes I had clenched shut, and a gasp escaped my lips upon witnessing the scene within the illusion.
“Whoa, damn.”
A field of flowers.
Through a dark and damp passageway, unknown flowers shone brilliantly, emitting a mysterious blue light.
That mysterious blue hue. I had seen it somewhere before. I quickly recalled its origin.
“The Dreaming Asiatic Dayflower.”
The flower Altear showed me in the cathedral. It supposedly slowed the progression of Black Blood Disease.
I naturally focused on the flowers, activating the Eye of Mimir.
[Item Information]
[Name: Dreaming Asiatic Dayflower]
[Adjustment: ???]
[Details: ???]
[Upgrades: ???]
Damn, another piece of junk resembling an amateur version of the Eye of Mimir. Again, with the question marks.
I glanced at Vestark, lowering my expectations a little. I would ask Master Sooho as well.
“Master, do you know anything about these flowers?”
― Hmm? Hmm.
Master Sooho let out a surprised exclamation, pondering for a moment before responding with a slightly embarrassed tone.
― You come asking me about things that don’t show up in the system, right?
“Yes?”
― But I’m the one who made the system! So, information that isn’t listed there, I might not know either, wouldn’t you agree?
“Are you saying…”
― I don’t know.
“Go dig it out yourself, master.”
― Hmph.
Thus, the extremely unlucky life of Park Jeong-yong continues. There’s not a single helpful person around.
Fine, I didn’t really expect much anyway. Just one of those things—time to move on.
“Damn.”
I spat and pushed my body through the passage.
Ugh. As if passing through a jelly wall, a sticky sensation swept through my entire body, leaving me standing squarely in the field of flowers.
“I never knew such flowers were hidden in a place like this.”
Altear must have been gathering these here all along. I glanced at her over my shoulder.
Does she have the Eye of Insight? Or perhaps she possesses an item with similar effects?
After a thoughtful pause, I shook my head.
“No, that’s unlikely.”
Since Skaro said that she comes here during the day, the flowers must be more visible elsewhere.
Given that they are scattered throughout the mid-reaches of the Valley of the Dead, there must be more prominent areas where they grow together. This seems like a more plausible assumption.
“Uh… Uh…”
At that moment, Altear, slung over my shoulder, let out a low moan.
Her body started to tremble, struggling to move despite her damaged state.
Oh no, she’s waking up. I hastily set her down and activated the Shadow Chains.
“Agh?!…”
The instant Altear’s eyes flickered open, long black chains snaked and wrapped around her entire body.
“KYAAH!”
A shrill scream pierced the air.
Chirrr! The chains quickly tightened around her arms, legs, waist, and neck, lifting her into the air.
Her bewildered gaze swept the surroundings and stopped when it met mine.
“…Crow!”
Altear’s fiery red eyes immediately brimmed with hostility.
Perhaps she instinctively understood that I was responsible for this predicament.
“Take it easy, sister.”
I smiled up at her.
I moved my fingers slightly. Krrack. The chains tightened around her limbs, and a pained groan escaped her.
“UUUgh…!”
Though she writhed violently, resisting with all her might, the Shadow Chains are magic-based. Once restrained, they can only be undone by a dispel magic spell—not by physical force.
Against a wizard wielding Hrungnir with all their might, these chains could be considered their ultimate countermeasure.
“To be honest, I’m not really into SM stuff. Let’s keep it simple, shall we?”
I lowered the chains to bring Altear’s eyes level with mine.
Her scrunched-up face behind her gas mask stared back intently. With a calm demeanor, I plucked a sprig of the Asiatic dayflower nearby and waved it in front of her.
“Th, that’s…”
Only then did Altear finally look around properly.
Her eyes widened as she took in the expanse of cerulean flowers blooming around her.
“Wh, where the hell…?!”
Her shocked muttering revealed that she hadn’t seen this place before either.
So, she didn’t know about this location. Ignoring her astonished gaze and voice, I delivered my ultimatum.
“Answer my questions honestly from now on, sister. If you don’t want things to get bad.”
Because my victory was ruined by her self-detonation in my previous life, I still carry a grudge against her.
This life’s me may forgive you, but the me from my past life would never forgive you. Right, Jung Yong?
That’s right, Jung Yong.
I really want to rough up that five-hundred-year-old fake virgin witch.
Crack. I cracked my knuckles and twisted my lips into a cruel smirk.
