Chapter 52
“…It’s impossible.”
It’s different.
It’s of another dimension.
The fierce advance he displayed while slaughtering the undead was of yet another nature.
Yes. Upon reflection, the assassination skills I stole were merely a minor copy of Halsenberg’s. To begin with, there was no way I could compete in terms of speed.
‘But surely not to this extent…!’
He had absorbed all the ether.
Moreover, it’s night. Furthermore, it’s a full moon night.
Due to the Holy Maiden’s crest, his stats must be close to double their usual strength.
Even so, the gap is this vast?
What’s even more terrifying is that
Halsenberg is fighting right now while completely sealing away his specialty, magic.
“Roaaaaaaaar!”
I made my final desperate lunge at Halsenberg.
There were no tricks, no weapons, just a clenched fist. Realizing how pitiful I must have looked, Halsenberg furrowed his brows in distaste.
“That’s enough, Jung Yong.”
Booooom! Halsenberg’s bell technique erupted.
With a swiftness that could cleave the earth, I narrowly avoided it by rolling along the ground, then curled up on one knee beside him.
“I only knelt…”
And like a spring, I shot straight back at Halsenberg.
“To gain momentum!”
I swung my fist outward with a roar.
Of course, the sound of a body being struck didn’t come from my fist.
Halsenberg, who had already reversed his sword, struck my abdomen with the pommel.
“Ugh, urgh…!”
Thud. Struck suddenly, I collapsed where I stood.
I instantly sensed a chilling killer instinct. I immediately sprang to my feet and prepared for another attack.
“Water Lily.”
From behind me, I heard the incantation of a skill.
Trying to widen the gap, I quickly retreated, but soon froze in place.
‘What!’
There were five Halsenbergs.
Five twisted images of Halsenberg were closing in on me from all directions, their swords aimed squarely at my back.
This was “Water Lily,” the origin of the copied skill Lotus.
“I thought you’d make a good comrade-in-arms, Jung Yong.”
From all the Halsenbergs’ mouths came a voice filled with regret. He was clearly confident of victory.
It was understandable. I was weaponless, my back was completely exposed, and there was no way for me to tell which of the illusions was the real one.
In other words, checkmate.
‘…That’s what I wanted you to think.’
At that moment, I finally gave a satisfied smile.
The Halsenberg who noticed my dark grin showed a fleeting sign of confusion—but it was too late.
I cried out loudly.
“Ruci! Do it now! Go to the corpse!”
“Understood!”
I had been calling forth the Demon King silently until now, and following the plan, the Demon King quickly darted to stand beside the viscountess’s corpse.
“What…!”
Halsenberg wore a surprised expression, having completely forgotten the Demon King’s presence.
Naturally. I had been deliberately making the Demon King’s existence as forgettable as possible.
Would I provoke someone like Halsenberg without a chance of winning, even if I were crazy?
‘The plan worked!’
Halsenberg, sorry, but I never once thought I could beat you.
I avoid fights I can’t win as a matter of principle.
I stared at Ruci who was now approaching the viscountess’s corpse. Meanwhile, I immediately began to chant a skill.
“Lotus!”
Then, with a swish, my surroundings changed drastically.
In front of me was the Demon King standing dumbfounded. In his hand was the dagger I had given to him before.
The Demon King stared at me, appearing as startled as I was by my sudden appearance. Hesitantly, he stretched out his hand.
“Here. Take it.”
“Alright, you did well.”
I smirked, then accepted the dagger from his outstretched hand.
Losing my weapon was all part of my plan. I had dropped it intentionally to seize the moment Halsenberg would let his guard down.
However, in order to destroy the vassal, I needed a magical attack. And the only magic-based skill I possess is the Seven Sword Pierce, and Seven Sword Pierce only activates with a sword.
For that reason, I gave the Demon King the dagger. It was for this final strike.
“Aah… Ugh… Cough.”
I aimed the dagger at the viscountess. Shaking violently, as if sensing her impending doom, she began to quiver in fear.
I frowned at the sight slightly, but did not stop charging the dagger with mana.
“No! Stop! Cease this!”
With a terrifying momentum, Halsenberg charged at me.
Sorry, but the mana is already fully accumulated. I gave a fleeting look of apology to Halsenberg and, without hesitation, plunged the dagger into the viscountess’s chest.
Crack! The red brooch was pierced and shattered helplessly.
“Seven Sword Pierce!!”
Seven blades of mana flying from all directions completely pierced right through the viscountess.
The viscountess’s corpse, which had instantly been shredded, was now sparking with blue sparks when—
BOOOOOOM!!
A blinding red light erupted from within her. The crimson red gem concealed within her trembled violently, pierced by the magic blade.
“This, this can’t be… That’s…!”
Halsenberg stopped his charge abruptly at the sight of the gem, his expression one of bewilderment as he stammered.
A skilled mage like Halsenberg would surely know better than me what the thing that originated within the viscountess was.
― This can’t be… My vessel… No… My sovereign… Oh glorious Black Sun…! Have mercy on me…! Have mercy…! Ghaaaaah!!
Simultaneously, the ear-splitting scream of Eldritch echoed through the audience hall.
Pathetic melodrama lines were blaring out as he collapsed. It’s your fault you’re dying early because of that kind of sentiment.
I poured mana into the dagger once more and incanted the skill.
“Seven Sword Pierce!!”
Pop! Pop! Pop! The bright blue magic swords pierced the gem once again.
The crazily vibrating red ruby, unable to withstand the shock, shattered into a million pieces.
An overwhelming red light burst outward. The entire audience hall was dyed pure white.
“Ughh!!”
Both Halsenberg, myself, and the Demon King closed our eyes and waited for the light to subside.
“Kiyaahhhh!!”
“Ughaaa!!”
“Queek! Quaaa!!”
Within the prolonged glow of light, endless wails of the undead resounded.
Also from the audience hall, from somewhere underground, and even beyond the castle walls, wails mingling with the cold winds could be heard.
Amidst this chaos, an entirely alien fanfare kept ringing in my ears.
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
…
And then, the light faded.
The wails ceased. Slowly, I and the Demon King opened our eyes. Halsenberg followed a moment later. Upon witnessing the scene before him, his eyes widened.
“What…?”
All the undead in the vicinity had turned into white ashes.
The audience hall, previously filled with the groaning of the undead, was now covered with white ash, as if a heavy snow had fallen.
“Master! What was that sound just now…?!”
“Jung Yong! Are you alright?!”
Clang! Right on cue, Leira and Seop Baek burst into the audience hall.
Upon taking in the scene, just like Halsenberg, they froze in shock. Leira, wearing a dazed expression, gradually approached Halsenberg, who had fallen to his knees.
“J, just what happened? The undead? What are all these ashes?”
“Nothing more— Eldritch is dead.”
In place of the dazed Halsenberg, I gave the reply.
Leira stared at me with wide eyes, completely disbelieving.
Unbelievable as it may be, you’ll have to believe it now.
“Phew, phew. I’m done for…”
Just then, the effect of ether started fading from my body. A sudden sense of exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.
The Demon King cautiously approached me.
“Betrayal won’t happen this time. Given the great services rendered, past transgressions can be overlooked.”
“Alright, alright. Good job. Well done.”
“Hohohoh!”
Anyway, this isn’t even my lifetime of suffering, nor can I even remember it.
Forgive and forget then. After all, the Demon King did contribute significantly during this mission.
As I responded with a resigned chuckle, I suddenly feel myself falling.
“Wh, what the…”
Naturally, I tried to stand back up.
But I was mistaken. My body refused to obey. Even lifting my eyelids felt wrong. My limbs wouldn’t move an inch.
My eyes… they’re slowly closing.
“Lord Jung Yong! Stay awake! Jung Yong!”
“Scream! Jung Yong! What’s going on… Dragon! Help him quickly!”
“Ah… this is severe exhaustion. Lord. Quickly, use the recovery magic…”
Voices from the surrounding crowd reached my ears, growing increasingly distant. It felt like my body was floating.
Why on earth am I like this? Am I really dying here?
C’mon now. I defeated Eldritch. Surely, I’m not meant to suffer this again?
“Damn it… never… make stupid… remarks…”
As I mumbled these words, I lost consciousness.
