Ch.110Seiran

Chungik received an untimely new member. Due to the Emperor’s orders, no one particularly questioned her affiliation. Karnok also vouched for her harmlessness.

However, one question remained. Chungik is a knightly order—meaning a military force that keeps their bodies sharply trained to fight at any moment.

Could Clara, who had lived her entire life as a nun, handle a sword?

The answer to that question could be found not in Clara, but in the other soul, Alberich. He too used a sword. He strengthened the untrained female body with holy power to create explosive speed and strength.

Though not particularly strong, her skill was roughly comparable to that of a lower-ranked member. When Alberich stepped forward for sparring and handled the lower-ranked members without much difficulty, everyone acknowledged both her and him.

Yet few approached her closely. Most Chungik members had deep grudges against reincarnators. While they had no choice but to accept her as a member due to the Emperor’s orders, many felt they simply couldn’t bring themselves to get close to her.

Amidst this situation, a new mission was assigned—to Sae-erin. Clara was included among those who would participate in the mission together.

***

This was another long-term mission. Due to the distant deployment location, it was unclear how much time would be required. Mounted on her horse, Sae-erin looked back. Flora and Theo rode on horses on either side of her, giving off a reassuring presence. Clara had taken position at the very back.

Three intermediate-ranked members and one rookie.

Quite an unusual combination. Sae-erin recalled the conversation she had with Karnok before setting out on the mission.

‘Why was Clara included?’

‘Alberich told me that if we were to pursue a reincarnator using necromancy, he wanted to be sent. He said priests who use holy power can be sensitive to evil energy and would be of great help.’

‘That means…’

‘The destination is Stapifl. Several knight corpses that had been resting in the cemetery there were reportedly stolen. If it were an ordinary theft, there would be no need to go, but… there have been sightings of these dead knights not far from where the incident occurred. Corpses coming back to life and moving around. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It might be the work of that reincarnator you’ve been looking for.’

This was not a matter to be taken lightly. That’s why three intermediate-ranked members were mobilized for what would otherwise be a simple investigation mission.

With Sae-erin at the lead, the three mounted riders galloped down the road.

***

Chungik is a group with many enemies. They remain unattacked only within the Empire’s direct territories. Since they don’t hesitate to draw their swords against those associated with reincarnators, they’ve accumulated quite a web of grudges.

Nevertheless, an ambush like today’s was unprecedented.

Sae-erin pulled on her horse’s reins and placed her hand on her sword.

“How many of them are there?”

Theo, seemingly having detected something unusual as well, looked around and muttered. Blue lightning crackled above his furrowed brow.

“Thirty…? No, it seems like more.”

“Did… did we do something wrong?”

Sae-erin tilted her head. Amidst the sticky hostility approaching them, she sensed greed. Many gazes were directed at her waist. Base lust was something she felt daily. Sae-erin dismissed that part as insignificant.

‘Ah…’

At the same time, she realized. They had clearly come for the Ice Dragon Sword. Such an act in the middle of the Empire’s capital. Rumors about the Ice Dragon Sword must have spread quickly.

“It seems they’re my guests.”

So there’s no need for you to step in. The unspoken words quietly dispersed. As Sae-erin dismounted, there was bustling movement from all directions, and people who had been hiding in the undergrowth poured out.

“It’s the Ice Dragon Sword!”

“Kill them all! Don’t let her draw the sword!”

“Don’t let her cause an avalanche!”

Did they also attribute the avalanche in the Ice Dragon Mountains to the sword’s power? Even surrounded by more than thirty people, Sae-erin remained calm. Flora and Theo, trusting in Sae-erin, didn’t draw their swords either.

This worked out well. It was a good opportunity to test a new technique she had been honing. Sae-erin took a deep breath and spread her legs shoulder-width apart.

Swoosh—

As her pitch-black walker swept across the ground, pure white cold energy rose above it. Immediately after, a cold wind spread outward in a circle with Sae-erin at its center.

‘Breath of Snow.’

This was no ordinary wind. As the mana imbued with extreme cold began to permeate the surroundings, those directly hit by the wind began to freeze.

Crack-crack—

“Ugh, gaaah!”

“My, my body! My body!”

Not everyone froze completely. Those who basically knew how to coat their bodies with mana merely became covered in frost. But that was enough. More than half fell over in the positions they had been running in and shattered. Sae-erin, who had been pointing her hand downward, extended only her index and middle fingers upward.

Standing in the wind itself gave her a mystical appearance. As she raised her hand, ten swords that had been scattered on the ground rose into the air as if responding to her command.

Chungik normally doesn’t point swords at ordinary people. However, if attacked first, the story changes. That’s why Sae-erin had no hesitation.

Sae-erin’s gaze swept over the half-frozen individuals. Shock, fear, regret, and anger. The last emotion was difficult to understand. Why would they be angry when they had attacked first?

If they drew their swords, it meant they were prepared for the consequences.

Just as Sae-erin sighed, time seemed to flow again, and the ten swords that had been floating in the air, wrapped in cold energy, scattered in all directions.

Swoosh—!

“Ugh, gaaah!”

“It’s, it’s magic! Run! A magician…!”

“She’s a witch! Aaaagh!”

Each sword seemed to have its own will. Their flight paths were irregular. The unpredictable storm of swords centered around her swept away the remaining personnel.

Only then did Sae-erin lower her hand. The wind that spread out again made her cloak flutter greatly. It was still a difficult martial technique. Perhaps because she hadn’t received the complete transmission of the technique. She had to expend considerable mental energy just to control ten swords.

“Wow, what was that…”

“I think you could challenge the advanced rank with that level…”

Sae-erin showed a satisfied expression at her friends’ admiration. She was thinking about how remarkable her own growth was. Seeing her friends’ reactions made her shoulders rise involuntarily.

“By the way, where did these people come from?”

“I wonder…”

Theo and Flora’s gazes turned to the bodies of the attackers. Few wore sturdy steel armor. Most wore leather clothing, or at most, just greaves and gloves. Their weapons lacked uniformity as well, making them appear to be nothing more than a band of thieves.

Sae-erin rubbed her chin. The spot where rough stubble had once been was now extremely smooth and soft.

A mere band of thieves had heard rumors of the Ice Dragon Sword and prepared an ambush. There was no guarantee that other groups wouldn’t do the same.

“I need a disguise.”

“I thought so too.”

“I don’t want to wear contact lenses…”

The disguise was immediately put into effect. All the necessary items were prepared in the bag they had brought. Hair dye and contact lenses were applied. The Chungik uniform she was wearing also had to be removed.

***

Sae-erin’s party was a combination that easily attracted trouble from thieves. Few would pass by a group consisting of one boy, two girls, and one woman without causing trouble. Even merchant groups and ordinary adventurers often turned into thieves when they saw an opportunity.

Such situations didn’t occur when they wore the Chungik uniform.

“How troublesome.”

“It can’t be helped.”

The smell of blood emanating from the party grew stronger as they approached their destination. About two weeks had passed since they set out on the mission. Suddenly, Clara, who had been preparing for camp, stood up abruptly.

“This is…”

Her gaze was calm, and her standing posture exuded fighting spirit. It was Alberich, not Clara, who held dominance over the body.

“What’s wrong?”

“I sense evil energy.”

At those words, the party’s movements stopped. Theo, who had been driving a log post into the ground, frowned and spoke.

“Evil energy? You mean that necromancy? You’re not lying, are you?”

“Why would I lie? I always speak only the truth.”

“Where is it?”

“Hmm…”

A faint light emanated from Alberich’s frowning body. The light gathered in one direction, as if pointing somewhere.

“This way.”

Theo and Flora’s gazes turned to Sae-erin. She was the leader of this mission. It was also her responsibility to choose the direction in which the party would proceed.

After a brief contemplation, Sae-erin spoke. A small breeze blew, enveloping her body.

“Let’s go. Lead the way.”

The party followed Alberich’s guidance. In the pitch-black mountains, only the dim moonlight illuminated their path. The moonlight shining from the sky slid over leaves and grass, creating a strange atmosphere. The brightness of the forest constantly changed with the wind.

Sae-erin and her party cut through the gaps, wrapped in the wind.

Whoosh—!