episode_0061

LVII.

Death can only be paid for by death.

―From the Grim Reaper’s monologue.

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Although his power as a card master has not been fully revealed yet, it seems that the power he received through God’s grace has not been completely blocked by the seal.

If you look at a video where the moment you pick up the DEATH card, it comes rushing in like a flood.

The video started with a black screen.

Nothing? I think it was a space with that kind of feeling.

It’s just a black space, but it feels like I’ve seen it somewhere before.

ah! okay. It resembles the universe seen in video from Earth, where Goh Gon-seong lived.

When the thoughts started to flow, the space where there was nothing around suddenly moved backwards, and a round planet that I had never seen before appeared.

I don’t know whose memory it was, but I knew that the planet inhabited by life was a beautiful combination of blue and green.

But although this planet is teeming with life – I don’t know how we know this – it is a dull, faded gray.

In a way, it is like looking at a dirty white ping pong ball that fell into a sewer. Nevertheless, rather than feeling disgusted, I feel a numbness and pain in my heart for some reason. I haven’t experienced anything like that yet, but is this what it feels like to see your beloved son or daughter sick?

I feel like crying for no reason, my heart is pounding, and my throat is itchy.

While I am briefly buried in the flood of emotions, my gaze turns towards the planet.

From this perspective, the planet was dying.

People, people who appear to be of different races, trees, grass, animals, and the earth.

Everything was dying.

While looking at that miserable and gloomy scene, rather than asking ‘Why?’, what comes to mind first is how rich this land was, as if in a fantasy.

The ecosystem of the fittest was still the same, but although there were monsters, there were no magical beasts.

A dimension filled with happiness.

It seemed like that would happen. No, it definitely had to be that way.

However, this dimension, like a flower grown with care in a greenhouse, could not withstand even a small shock, and when we tried to fix it, it was already hopeless.

After looking around a dimension that looked the same as the one I had seen for the first time, the planet and dimension that appeared on the changed screen was a beautiful planet with blue and green colors as if it was overflowing with life even when viewed from a distance. So much so that I naturally became curious about what the inside of the planet was like.

When the field of view moved back to the planet, surprisingly, there were ‘demons’ hiding in secret, slaughtering humans and other races, but were discovered by stronger humans and were torn apart by his hands.

Only then did the question, ‘Why?’ come to mind.

[They were created out of necessity, but they must be destroyed. To death.]

Where did the voice come from?

The video ended with the voice of a man who was dignified but also strangely nervous.

“Huh… ?”

“Are you okay?”

“Master?”

Two arcanas call me with concern. I gave them a cursory nod and turned my attention to the card I was holding in my hand.

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〈Card Information〉

1. Name: DEATH

2. Number: 13 (Thirteen)

3. Type: PASSIVE

4. Condition: Blood of a high grade or higher demon

5. Power: Accumulation of DEATH

6. Detailed items

[K 0] [S 0] [U 1] [I 7] [L 0]

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“Huh? K?”

“This is the king. King.”

Before I knew it, the witch who was next to me and looking at the death card said that.

“Then? What is S?”

“Top level. Superlative Level.”

“Ah, then Upper, Intermediate, Lower next?”

“Yes. Maybe so.”

Thanks to the witch, I was able to understand the numbers and meanings written on the cards, but I still did not understand the power ‘Death Accumulation’.

The witch who was thinking quietly at that time,

“This is just a guess… … .”

He cautiously opened up about his thoughts.

“Yes. Anything is fine.”

“Maybe… … .”

“Baby! Baby!”

No, I tried to do that. If it weren’t for the clown who intervened at that time. The clown who suddenly joined in had a somewhat serious expression and looked directly into my eyes with his unique red eyes.

“I decided.”

“Huh? What?”

“I made up my mind. I. Yes, yes!”

The clown, who speaks in a clear tone without elongating his words as usual, suddenly takes a step closer to me. The witch took a step back without realizing it.

“I have to get married. With you.”

“Uh, huh?”

“This is it. Death accumulation! One advanced and seven intermediate. The demons. When you see points accumulating like this every time you catch a demon… ? We will become rich soon, right? Then, there will be more women and men who like it.”

“Points? the rich? No, wait! Was there a very dangerous word just now? Me, a man?”

The clown really seemed sincere… No, he’s serious.

ha… . We must quickly raise our level… … . Superhuman (Superman) No, yes, even if you become a Grand Master, you will be able to compete in some way. The clown has become stronger, but his stamina doesn’t seem to have increased much!

“Not a man. Anyway, what is a point?”

Did you naturally change the topic of conversation?

okay. It felt natural.

I saw the witch, who had retreated due to the clown’s spirit, approaching again and pursing her small red lips.

“Huh? Don’t you know? But isn’t it always good to accumulate points?”

“Perhaps death accumulates every time a demon is slain.”

“Huh? okay? So what do you use it for?”

“Up to that… … .”

Leaving behind the witch who said she didn’t know, I looked at the clown just in case… ? He is smiling happily, wondering what he is imagining. Sometimes he smiles like a child and says ‘hihi’.

“Okay. Well, it’s a good thing. First of all, what will happen? first… … . Let’s go eat.”

“Yes. Master.”

“Huh~? Are you already going to find out about the wedding reception? Baby~?”

The right side is occupied by a clown and has a unique squishy feel, while the left side feels like the hand of a witch who is shy but has the courage to gently hold the sleeve.

It feels like this.

A feeling I’ve been missing for nearly a month. I left the training center prepared by the Caligo Church, enjoying the strange yet fresh, cozy and peaceful feeling.

Indeed, it has been a long time since I went to the temple of the Caligo Church. Unlike usual, it was not inside the academy, but outside, so I visited the street vendors lined up on the street and tried all kinds of dishes.

Sometimes, the clown tried spicy food that he couldn’t eat due to the witch’s provocation, and cried out ‘Hot!’ hot!’ I also laugh when I see him doing it.

The witch took a bite of the spicy skewer as if to show off to the clown, avenging the feeling of defeat she had felt a little while ago.

“You’re weak.”

It’s strange, but it leaves behind a heartwarming impression of watching Meopjjili.

A witch who has a weakness for cute things couldn’t take her eyes off the chicks being sold at the stall. When the clown told me to go, she looked at me as if she was asking me to buy this,

“When it grows up, it will become a chicken that poops all over the place and makes noise by cackling. Chicken good for frying. Chicken.”

The witch, who glanced at the clown who said, sighed as if she already knew, and took a step back as if she was disappointed.

And to me, who was just about to pay with the Evergreen Pad while looking at the witch’s eyes,

“Self. No matter how much we like it, what happens if we buy everything we ask for? If we get married later, we need to have a house, if we have a baby, we need a lot of rooms, and if we want to raise children, we need some land.”

I nagged like a housekeeping expert in the 9th level of housewives would do.

Is it strange that I don’t hate it, but rather feel that I like it?

As I walked down the street with the more cheerful clown and the cuter witch, there was information that came to me naturally.

Among them,

“Even if it’s long, it’ll be over in a week?”

“They say so… . I don’t know.”

“I heard there are hundreds of people who are masters or higher and are fighting for the empire.”

.

.

There was also information that within a few days, a conclusion would be reached regarding the two empires and the emperors detained under the pretext of investigating witnesses.

Was that why?

Evergreen City was so crowded and crowded that you could not feel the chilly early winter weather.

I enjoyed it with my eyes among the people, walked and ate with a bowl in my hand, and just walked along, feeling a little happiness in this busy environment.

“After… . It’s nice that it’s quiet.”

I was able to rest my ears only after entering a tea shop overlooking the streetscape, which somehow gave me a sense of excitement and heart warmth, to the point that even in crowded situations, not a single pickpocket was to be seen.

“Wow~. Baby~. Are you really giving this to me?”

Although it sparkles in emerald color, it is actually a ring made by grinding cheap jade. Perhaps that is why the color is not uniform and the white appears sparsely.

While watching the clown who couldn’t take his eyes off the jewelry he was selling at the stall, she couldn’t take her eyes off the ring he bought her.

“Thank you. Master.”

A witch also received a similar type of ring.

“But isn’t it too cheap? I’d rather buy a slightly more expensive and proper accessory… … ?”

You’re not listening to me at all. The jester carefully placed the ring on his palm and held it out to the witch.

“ character. Let’s take a look at your skills. Protection magic, anti-shock magic, anti-theft magic, owner recognition magic, self-recovery magic, what else? ah! Return magic! And with the charm magic… … .”

“Wait a minute. Is this a subtle joke? Is it without the bottom? Why is the charm magic used?”

“Chet.”

“Heung!”

In the end, all the magic except the charm magic is released from the witch’s hand and seeps into the clown and the witch’s ring. Isn’t the magic the witch just gave more expensive than that ring?

But the two women are not listening to my thoughts or words at all.

The second floor of the tea house is well-decorated enough to be called an Instagrammable cafe.

The owner recognized me and the Arcanas and led us to a special-looking space with a large window and a partition.

Naturally, after taking my gaze away from the place where the two women cast a spell on the ring and their sparkling eyes, all that remains is a large window.

Although it is late, the streets are full of people and crowded. In particular, there are many people who appear to be lovers, and people who appear to be family are occasionally seen.

It may be cold outside, but the weather already feels so cold that nothing feels too cold, and the inside of the cafe is magically very warm.

Warm interior. Tea with a pleasant aroma. A street filled with happiness and loving women.

Is this compensation for swinging a spear for over a month until I collapsed from exhaustion? I feel a feeling of happiness tickling my chin, as if I am about to fall into a drowsy drowsiness.

side-!

“Huh?”

When did it arrive? The clown across the table was sitting next to me, kissing my cheek and smiling brightly.

“Don’t worry. There’s no need to go back to using cards again! It’s because the God of Struggle gave us too much service this time. Yes, yes!”

The clown, who holds his left arm with both his hands and leans his head on his left shoulder, closes his eyes as he says this, like a girlfriend who finds her boyfriend’s arms after working overtime.

“Okay.”

It may not have been what she wanted to answer, but I answered that way without realizing it. It’s so faint that it comes out and then gets erased, like letters engraved on a window with your breath on a winter’s day.

“Ugh~.”

The clown, who muttered like a cat lying in front of a stove, actually took a deep breath and fell asleep.

“It must have been difficult. I did too, but she worked really hard too. To come out as soon as possible.”

Hearing the voice of the witch who was still across from him, he turned his gaze from the top of the clown’s head to face her.

“You worked hard. Clowns too… … . you also. Now~.”

“Ah… Yes?”

“here. There are seats left.”

When the clown pointed to the unoccupied right side of the round table structure and spoke with her chin, the witch’s ears turned red and she lowered her head, then silently got up and sat down on the chair on the right.

“Then. for a moment… … .”

The witch carefully places her arm around her free right arm, rests her head on her shoulder, and closes her eyes.

Although you can’t see it, the faces of the witch and the clown reflected in the window have happy smiles similar to those flowing through cafes and streets.

I and they both know that those who have reached the level of superhumans do not fall asleep from physical exhaustion.

Even though I trained hard for a month, I was fine.

I cautiously speculate that it might just be the mental fatigue of having to endure the arcana that had already been summoned and re-entered the card.

As time passes over the teacup, the temperature of the hot tea has cooled down, and all the people who filled the street have returned to their desired places, leaving only the quietness befitting a winter night on the street.

Ignoring the wish that time would stop for a moment, time passed quickly and it was time to close the store.

So, just as I was slowly trying to wake them up,

“Baby!”

“Master!”

Holy Power flows out in a wave that even those who do not feel divine power can feel.

From the two Arcana sitting on either side of me.