Chapter 50

Here’s the translated version of the romance novel into English using first-person point of view:

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What the heck? Look at this guy.

He approached with a menacing look, trying to uncover everything behind him, but suddenly he rolled his eyes back and fainted there.

This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.

“Get up!”

I shouted roughly while putting more force into my right foot that was already crushing his waist.

*Crack!*

The sound of muscles twisting under the weight and force I exerted echoed loudly from Khalid’s back.

A normal human would have lost consciousness or even their life by now, but…

Khalid’s body, which is as tough as they come, endured even with my foot pressing down. His mind remained stubbornly unconscious.

“Ha…”

After a sigh of disbelief, I briefly pondered how to handle this situation.

If I stabbed his heart with the Failord, he would die, but…

What good would it do to kill someone I need to interrogate?

At best, I might get a medal or commendation from the Emperor for catching a big-shot assassin from the League, but…

That’s if I receive anything. Still, I needed to hear this from his mouth.

I needed to know whether the series of incidents, starting with the theft of the Failord, were isolated events or ongoing activities within the Empire.

To do that, I had to wake him up and make him talk.

“Damn convenient consciousness. You can turn it on and off at will.”

I couldn’t help but think this.

Fainting means no interrogation, no pain, and no words—no information to give. It’s incredibly annoying.

If I can’t even wake one unconscious person, I couldn’t have lived in the back alleys for nearly ten years.

I decided to act immediately.

First, I concentrated all the hostility I had spread throughout his body into my right foot.

Beyond just intimidating him, I wanted to focus all my strength on the part I wanted to break.

Then, lifting my right foot as high as possible,

*Bam!*

I stamped on Khalid’s waist.

Khalid’s body trembled, momentarily lifted off the ground before crashing back down with a loud thud.

“…”

Even though I applied enough force to kill a person in Khalid’s condition, his consciousness didn’t stir.

“Huh.”

“Your body is not just tough, it’s insane. At this rate, even without hostility, a stab with the Failord wouldn’t penetrate.”

Though, not if I were Kaladvolg.

I swallowed the words I was about to say and wrapped my right foot with even more hostility, preparing to press down on Khalid’s body.

It reminded me of when I was younger, even without understanding breath control or the concept of hostility, I used the hostility naturally enveloping my body to beat up bigger and older street thugs and criminals, helping me survive in the chaotic Blood Haven.

After being dragged to the Sword Mansion by my biological father, I thought I’d never use such crude methods of hostility manipulation again.

I didn’t expect to use it to wake up an assassinated target as an adult.

Well, what could I do? He tried to knock out and kill Asulin.

He’s known for his brutal efficiency in completing assigned tasks, no matter how violent the process.

And he’s also involved in some of the secrets of the mysterious League.

I need to gather as much information as I can while I still can interrogate him.

*Thud!*

The hostility gathered at the tip of my foot emitted a resonant sound, signaling that I had enough power to awaken Khalid instantly.

“Hey.”

“…”

When I called out to Khalid, finding no response, I prepared to stamp on his waist again,

“…There’s no need.”

My right foot, which was about to stomp down, halted abruptly by Khalid’s calm voice.

“You awake, then?”

If he had woken up, he should have said so. I was already working hard to force him awake by stimulating his heart from behind.

I collected the hostility that had gathered on my right foot.

Even those who wield hostility normally would suffer internal injuries at this level, but…

My core, fully recovered and stronger than ever, simply absorbed the hostility.

“Hmm, good. Good.”

Among the few things I inherited from my biological father, this body has been a great help to me, and that’s something I’m grateful for.

Wait, this isn’t the time. I need to interrogate this newly awakened subject for information.

“Your voice sounds strong. If you don’t want your windpipe to collapse, turn around and let’s talk.”

I used the same tone I used in the back alleys, both friendly and threatening, to make Khalid face me.

Considering his difficulty in turning over with only his healing legs and two arms, I kicked him lightly.

I assumed Khalid had regained consciousness.

But…

When I saw his face, which I hadn’t noticed earlier, my expression froze.

The face was definitely Khalid’s, but…

“Long time no see. You managed to escape even after I marked you.”

Despite his appearance, his stern and cold expression resembled someone I knew very well.

“…You, this guy.”

“Fufu. Even with a borrowed body, you still recognize me. Indeed, I am the talent and insight I aimed to cultivate.”

No, it wasn’t just similar. He was the real deal.

With a deep sigh, I whispered,

“The Mountain Elder.”

*Grin*

Even though Khalid’s face, charred from Asulin’s lightning, twisted, the elder’s voice came through Khalid’s vocal cords, trying to appear strict.

“Hey, don’t use such outdated expressions.”

Yet, the twisted expression on Khalid’s face revealed satisfaction at my words.

As I said, this man, who I address as the Mountain Elder, manipulates Khalid’s voice to mock me.

In the West Continent, where it takes days to travel by ship from the Central Continent, he is known as a legendary monster who has lived for hundreds of years.

He is the founder of the Assassin League, a realist who believes that conflict is essential for perfection.

He is also a human trafficker who roams everywhere looking for successors, indiscriminately picking suitable candidates.

“Even after such a long time, you still make faces like you have something stuck in your teeth. No matter how happy I am to see you, there’s no need to cry over it…”

*Whoosh!*

I swung the Failord to shut him up, but the Mountain Elder, using Khalid’s body, easily dodged my attack, more skillfully than the original owner.

His movements were focused solely on evading, regardless of the borrowed body’s state.

Seeing him easily dodge my desperate strike,

“Heh, you won’t stop crying even if you swing a sword. Though you had talent for throwing hostility, your sudden aptitude for wielding swords is impressive. My eye hasn’t failed me.”

After narrowly avoiding my attack, the Mountain Elder continued speaking non-stop, making it hard to tell if he was praising or mocking me.

…My head hurts.

The psychological fatigue from listening to this madman’s rant, who is wanted across the continent as the leader of a notorious criminal organization, was worse than the instinctive threat he posed.

But as I endured the headache, I realized this was an opportunity.

I intended to interrogate Khalid, but having the Mountain Elder here, who commands attention, gave me a chance to learn more.

“Hey.”

“Oh, finally calling me out? So, you’re considering accepting my offer…”

“Shut up and answer my question.”

I wasn’t sure how he took control of Khalid’s body, but I started taking measures to keep the Mountain Elder, who appeared before us, in check.

*Bam!*

I struck a point opposite my heart with my left hand, which wasn’t holding the sword.

This was my unique preparation stance, to unleash another energy that naturally supported my life in the back alleys.

I released it. Without knowing how to contain or refine it, I unleashed an energy that had been with me since before the hostility.

It was hostility. Boundless hostility. Pure hostility meant for those who consider it natural to look down upon weaker beings due to their strength.

*Boom!*

Unlike clumsy hostility, this refined hostility formed a barrier around Khalid’s body and the Mountain Elder’s will, suppressing them even when my hostility-driven kick didn’t budge Khalid.

When Khalid’s body, which had resisted my hostility-driven kick, was overwhelmed by my refined hostility, it collapsed along with the floor.

“Heh… Already able to use physical force through sheer willpower…”

As I watched the Mountain Elder, who had been rambling, finally quiet down and admire my refined hostility, I felt ready to ask my questions.

“Mmm. Swallowing my disappointment and entrusting you to Dominus was effective. That crazy guy may be mad, but he sure knows how to teach.”

When the Mountain Elder unexpectedly mentioned my biological father,

“…What?”

I froze, forgetting what I was about to say.

“If you’ve grown so much, I’ll tell you one thing before we leave together.”

“Who gave you the right to decide when to stay or go!”

I shouted angrily, trying to amplify my hostility, but

“Your father is still alive. Whether he truly is or not, I’m not sure.”

The bombshell dropped by the elder,

“…What did you say?”

It stopped me from continuing my thoughts altogether.

“See you next time, young one who will become my successor. Next time, show me a more matured form that will please me. Hahaha!”

Without missing the moment, the old man vanished into a pitch-black mist along with Khalid’s body, leaving no trace.

*Bam!*

I dropped the Failord I was holding in my right hand.

The elder’s last word stunned me so much that I didn’t even realize I was still holding something.

How could I not be surprised?

Hearing that the selfish scoundrel who plunged a family and even a continent into chaos for years was still alive, not dead, was shocking.

I wanted to scream in anger right away,

But first, I needed to collect the hostility I had unleashed and gather the hostility I had stored, returning it to my core.

“…”

I simply looked up at the night sky in silence.

Though the stars lit up the clear night sky, marking the start of a new year,

I couldn’t see any beauty in the night sky.

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I hope this translation meets your expectations!