episode_0112

An unknown enemy’s head soared into the sky.

A strike seized in an instant, capitalizing on an opening.

‘……Lucky.’

To be more precise, my condition was at its peak. Ever since I arrived here, I’d never been in poor form.

“……That was fast?” “Closing the distance in an instant made the difference. And the way you brought the sword down in one motion.” “I thought we’d struggle since they’re strong. Then again, any mage who gives up range is an idiot.” “Heheh, this is just our Yuseong’s ability.” “Yuseong was the one who killed the enemy. Why are you so proud?” “…….”

At Soyeonhwa’s words, Lucia firmly pressed her lips together. Yet, she glanced at me with eyes silently pleading for help.

Ah. I get it.

Now wasn’t the time to bicker.

‘As expected of Lucia.’

With such a kind heart, it must be incredibly stressful for her to endure people calling her the “Executioner Princess” or whatnot.

-Whoa…….

The Holy Sword let out an exasperated sigh. After shaking off the blood from the Thunder Dragon Blade—

I turned my gaze to one side.

Nameless maggot-like humans. Creatures brimming with the same alien energy as that thing were scattered everywhere.

“P-please, spare me!” “What the hell are these things?!”

Flames and smoke billowed in all directions. Chaos reigned.

Amidst it all, the guild members I’d seen at the cradle were guiding people, desperately trying to save the citizens.

‘Tch.’

I briefly glared at Chloe before stopping. Her presence here was problematic, given the protagonist’s involvement—

‘But that’s not a crime.’

She was no different from that detective from a past-life manga, Conan. ……I should probably keep my distance.

But before that—

‘I need to clean up.’

Whiiing!

Slicing through the torso of a black insect charging toward me, I advanced.

—

Krrrrumble!

A violet flash descended. Black-tinged violet lightning incinerated the swarm of insects.

Even in a city like the Cradle, overflowing with talent, such a sight was rare. Ermé knew exactly what kind of being the man causing this spectacle was.

“Breathtaking, as always.”

Ermé let out a deep sigh as she watched. These creatures weren’t supposed to appear today. They were scheduled to emerge a week later.

‘What the hell is going on?’

Swinging her sword with a sigh, flames roared along its edge. At this hour, under the afternoon sun, the power of solar energy surpassed that of lunar force.

Whooosh!

The flames melted the insects, leaving behind plumes of black smoke. Fire and lightning attributes could burn even the smoke away, so it wasn’t an issue—

‘I knew it, but they’re really troublesome.’

The hallmark of insect-type monsters. They carried poison, and upon death, expelled it all. That made them exceptionally dangerous.

Only fire or lightning attributes could incinerate even the smoke. Hence, they were both tedious and irritating.

Such was the nature of the Demon King’s army.

As Ermé meticulously eradicated the toxins, she noticed something strange. A spider-shaped metal construct glowing blue. It was slaughtering the insects.

[Greetings. Hello.] “Wh-what is that?”

Why was that here?

A robot from ancient times—no, from an era even before the First Hero. Why was it here now?

[Displeasure. Rude to react like that upon seeing a person.] “You’re not a person.” [Explanation. Cheongju is a personality-based robot created by Han Yuseong.] “Yuseong made you?” [Affirmation. Correct. Han Yuseong is Cheongju’s registered owner.] “Then how did you kill those bugs?” [Pride. This unit is synchronized with one of Han Yuseong’s gifts. Used it to exterminate pests.]

Ermé watched as the blue spider-shaped robot hurled something like a potion. Upon contact, the glass shattered, and a red liquid dissolved the insects.

“……Insecticide?” [Affirmation. Those are impure entities. Weak to holy water.] “You made holy water?” [Negation. This unit lacks sufficient proficiency. Utilizing pre-made antidotes by owner.] “Yuseong’s antidote is killing those things?”

So, the antidote was on par with holy water?

The absurdity of the thought made Ermé chuckle before dismissing it.

‘Then again, if it’s him, it wouldn’t be strange.’

To Ermé, Han Yuseong was that kind of existence. Just when she thought she grasped him, he’d slip away mysteriously. Like peeling an onion, something new always emerged.

The problem was that the core of it all was incomparable to any knowledge she possessed.

‘This is a goldmine.’

A business plan naturally formed in her mind. If Yuseong’s antidote was lethal to the Demon King’s underlings, then mass-producing it and showcasing its effectiveness—

‘The Guild Master won’t be able to maintain that arrogant attitude forever.’

And most importantly—

The Empire’s eyes would be on her. A frightening prospect, but—

It was a gamble worth taking.

Her mind raced. With the Demon King’s minions on the move, this antidote could easily rake in hundreds of platinum coins.

Yet, Ermé’s thoughts cooled in an instant.

Profits were good, but—

Right now, saving as many lives as possible was her priority.

[Refusal. This unit refuses further exploitation.] “…….”

A machine complaining about overwork?

Ermé was baffled, but survival took precedence.

Just as she prepared to exterminate the remaining insects—

Fwoosh!

Light melted the swarm. A golden radiance extended rapidly, dissolving every last one.

“Annoying. What the hell is this mess?”

A sharp voice laced with irritation.

Ah.

What a relief.

Ermé sighed in relief. At this moment, the most reliable ally had appeared before her.

Veronica.

“What, you? Why are you here?”

Veronica scowled at her. Ermé simply smiled in response.

“Have you lost your mind? Smiling in this situation?”

Veronica snapped, her temper as fiery as ever. But Ermé knew exactly how to handle her.

So—

She deployed the magic words.

“Yuseong’s been looking for you!” “What?”

Like a rabid dog turning docile.

Veronica’s sharp eyes and irritated expression softened for the briefest moment. The corner of her lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

A change so subtle, even the most observant would miss it.

But Ermé, the Golden Witch who manipulated others through threats, persuasion, and money, caught it instantly.

‘Sorry, Yuseong.’

She hadn’t wanted to resort to this, but—

“We need to get to Yuseong now!” “Why should I go to that cook…?” “Because that cook is in danger right now!”

—

Thump. Thump.

My heart beat quietly as I stared at the thing before me.

A pitch-black, egg-like mass. Yet its form was grotesque—stripped flesh pulsed as if alive.

‘A heart.’

Like a heart.

It throbbed quietly, emitting a dark glow.

“Wh-what is this?” “Ominous.”

Lucia and Soyeonhwa openly grimaced at the sight.

-……A seed of malice.

The Holy Sword identified it.

‘What’s that?’ -A seed to bloom evil. Once it flowers, the true elites under the Prince of Decay will hatch. ‘Then we destroy it now—’ -Impossible with your power.

The Holy Sword was firm.

-Even that Black Spear or Vulcan, or whatever they’re called, can’t destroy this. ‘What?’

That was shocking.

Vulcan and the Black Spear couldn’t break it either?

Then—

I looked at the Holy Sword.

-Sorry, but… I can’t destroy it in my current state. ‘You’re a divine relic bestowed by the goddess.’ -My power isn’t fully unsealed yet. Only after being formally recognized as the Hero and receiving the goddess’s blessing will I be complete. ‘…….’

Effectively, there was no way right now.

Soyeonhwa and Lucia were already attacking, sensing its malevolence, but—

“It’s not working.” “It’s not that the attacks are blocked—it’s like they’re being diverted somewhere else… This isn’t something we can handle.”

Lucia’s voice trembled.

An unfathomably sinister presence loomed before us. Like a bomb, this thing could devastate the Cradle beyond recognition.

I studied it.

-The seed’s structure is a spatial distortion. All attacks are redirected to another dimension… Then, from within, the Prince of Decay’s elites are summoned. ‘What kind of cheat ability is that?’ -Not something you should call a cheat, but… yeah, it’s broken. Regardless of the cost, that thing is beyond you right now. ‘How strong are the elites if they come out?’ -Vulcan and the Black Spear, was it? If they team up with that Guild Master, the win rate’s about 70%.’ ‘…….’

A 70% chance of victory.

But a 30% chance of defeat.

What bothered me wasn’t even that.

‘How many will die?’ -At least one. The seed summons the Prince’s space and his elites. Your level can’t handle it. Normally, that is. ‘…….’

The Holy Sword was oddly calm. Normally, it would’ve urged me to flee, but—

It seemed to expect something from me.

[Kehehe…….]

A strange laugh echoed.

A person? No—was it even human anymore? Eaten away by insects, its form was unrecognizable as it stared at us.

[Too late. You’re all done for. Soon, the Cradle will vanish without a trace.] “You’ll die before that happens.” [Doesn’t matter… A hopeless life anyway. A world of misery is better than a happy one.]

I frowned at the man’s shrill laughter.

-A being tainted by malice. The Demon King’s energy has seeped into his bones. Killing him is the right call.

The Holy Sword’s judgment was cold.

[Wait here. Witness the arrival of His elites. And kneel—as He tramples all life!]

I silently observed him, then the seed.

If the Holy Sword’s explanation and his words were true—

Then it was absolutely unstoppable.

“The Seed of Malice…” “I’ve only read about it in texts. Seeing it in person is different.”

Before I knew it—

Vulcan and the Guild Master had arrived.

[Oh? The Butcher Vulcan and the Crimson Leftover. The big shots finally show up.] “Didn’t expect a dead man to cling to the Demon King.”

The Guild Master glared disdainfully at the man.

[Kehehe… One of you three will die today…]

The so-called dead man laughed gleefully.

No one denied it.

Perhaps sensing the dread—

Lucia and Soyeonhwa’s eyes trembled.

I focused on the seed.

Thump. Thump.

Pulsing like a heart.

“Han Yuseong, and his lackeys. Fall back.” “We can’t fight while protecting you.”

Vulcan and the Black Spear stepped forward.

They didn’t attack the seed—as if knowing it was futile.

-Well, figures. The Empire’s got plenty of competent ones.

The Holy Sword sounded indifferent.

-So? You’ll do it? ‘I have to.’

The Holy Sword had declared the seed invincible. Vulcan, the Black Spear, and the Guild Master looked equally stumped.

‘……But it’s not like there’s no way.’

Divine Realm of Theft.

The pinnacle of stealing, evolving into a divine domain.

Maybe because of that—

I could perceive things more clearly now.

-……Your talent is endlessly bizarre. The Sword Hero wields the Holy Sword, but… perhaps you…

The Holy Sword trailed off, then fell silent.

-No, even if you can’t reach that far, you can do it. A waste for the Divine Bow, but… your essence truly is ‘stealing.’

Its voice carried a hint of resignation.

I took a step forward.

The Seed of Malice.

The Holy Sword had said— It distorts space, blocking attacks and summoning elites from within.

‘Then—’

If I steal the space itself—

‘Problem solved.’

I reached out.

A bizarre sensation—as if my hand slipped into something—

Crunch.

[Huh?]

The dead man stared blankly at the phenomenon before him.

I examined what I’d stolen.

[The Seed of Malice.]

-You didn’t steal the space—you stole the thing itself…? “None of the three are dying today.”

I smirked at the dead man.

He didn’t seem to realize it yet— In battles where victory isn’t certain, the one who runs their mouth always gets beaten down.

That was the rule.