Ch.110You didn’t know?

“Fighting. Do your best.”

A chilling smile, followed by a drop of black tea falling from the tip of her hair.

“Of course, next time.”

Before he could even register the scent rolling down the bridge of his nose, Nahan’s hand shot up.

The hand of a free priest, not a combat priest, holding no weapon.

Normally, Hallorand, an A-class mage, would have felt no pressure and could have struck back to end his opponent’s life. But the intuition cultivated through countless regressions whispered to him.

‘I’ll die.’

For reasons unknown, the power of the free priest “Ian Red” before him overwhelmingly surpassed his own A-class magic abilities.

‘Why?’

How could an unnamed free priest, not even a combat priest, pressure him, an A-class mage?

‘Is it the power of possession privilege?’

If so, how to counter it?

Despite the split-second moment, his mind raced frantically, but as Nahan’s hand approached his face, only one concern remained:

‘…I have to repeat everything again?’

This insufferable regression?

Ian Red’s words followed immediately.

-That’s right. If you’re lucky, next cycle. If unlucky, you’ll return after eons of cycles.

Just as he said, Hallorand had experienced near-endless cycles of regression.

Tired from the long journey, he had spent tens of thousands of cycles like a byproduct of time, practically dead.

‘Just when I finally had a chance to end it all.’

Must he return to the beginning again and wait for an opportunity that might never come?

“No…!! That can’t be…!!”

Hallorand raised his head and shouted toward Nahan, who stood beyond death.

“I’ll help you!! I’ll cooperate, so withdraw your hand!!”

At Hallorand’s desperate cry, Nahan’s approaching hand stopped in mid-air.

‘…As expected.’

Though they were both saviors, their experience points from years lived were different.

‘I’ll somehow save my life first, pretend to cooperate, and if things don’t work out, I can always return to the reincarnation savior.’

First, save his life by pretending to cooperate, then add conditions while feigning innocence.

Despite the brief moment, Hallorand had formulated a perfect countermeasure. He took out a handkerchief, wiped his face, and added:

“But I have a few conditions—”

“Just die.”

“Wait—”

Swish!

Nahan’s hand blade passed by his cheek in an instant, filled with murderous intent. Hallorand flailed both hands.

“W-wait!! Didn’t I say I’d cooperate?!”

“How can I trust that?”

“What…?! That’s unreason—”

“So what? Well, anyway, you’re lucky. I was going to smash your head, but you happened to wipe off the tea at that moment. Don’t worry though.”

Nahan raised his hand again.

“I rarely miss the heart.”

A more terrifying killing intent than before flashed, threatening to pierce Hallorand’s heart.

And so Hallorand thought:

‘He’s insane.’

This person is beyond reason, the type who would overturn the entire game if things went wrong.

“Save your last words… for your next life.”

The hand thrust forward with a flash.

In the face of fear he hadn’t felt in ages, Hallorand instinctively raised his hands.

“C-contract!! I have a soul contract!!”

“Oh, I have something similar.”

“I’ll do it!! No, please let me contract with you!!”

A pause.

The hand strike that had almost reached his heart stopped, and those red eyes rolled.

After a moment’s consideration, a question:

“You want to?”

“Yes!! I will!!”

At Hallorand’s vigorous nodding, Nahan placed his outstretched hand on his heart.

“The contract terms are absolute obedience. If you don’t comply… no need to spell it out, right?”

Hallorand nodded again.

Only then did Nahan stop his “act” and considered:

‘Should I place the Black Wolf’s restriction?’

The Black Wolf’s restriction.

It connects with the contract target and increases one’s abilities proportional to theirs.

‘But if the target dies, I die too.’

Members of the Black Wolf could cancel the contract and die if necessary, but he couldn’t expect such sacrifice from Hallorand.

‘Too risky. Better to just bind him with a pretense.’

Nahan stirred the aura within his body.

An aura that could be refined into either the Yellow Dragon or the Black Wolf, depending on how it was processed.

‘Might as well create something for Ian Red while I’m at it.’

A power as extreme as the Black Wolf but brilliant like the Yellow Dragon, resembling overwhelming divine power.

Whoosh.

The calm red hair began to ripple as the aura was released.

As he was adjusting the form using only his own power without system assistance, a cheerful notification sound rang out as the system window appeared.

【Category: Applying <Aura(Ex)>.】

【Combination Color: Gold金 + Red赤.】

【<Nahan???>’s unique characteristic – <Acting???> combines with this world’s power!】

【Congratulations!】

【Skill 1 of <Black Wolf(Ex)> – <Black Curtain黑幕(Ex)> now includes the forms of <Ian Red(Ex)> and <Yellow Dragon黃龍>!】

Just as an actor follows the characteristics of their role, Black Curtain had evolved to “act” according to the forms of both individuals.

‘That’s good.’

Having finished his contemplation, Nahan met Hallorand’s eyes and spoke.

“This contract is with the goddess. Break it, and your heart will melt on the spot.”

“…Goddess?”

Before the suspicious voice could fully emerge, Nahan immediately used his transformed Black Curtain.

【<Black Curtain黑幕(Ex)> – <Ian Red Mode> – 40% activated.】

An overwhelming surge of power.

If the Black Wolf’s Black Curtain was oppressive like it would crush everything, Ian Red’s Black Curtain was a force that instinctively inspired reverence.

The red-gold aura surrounding Hallorand stirred his brain and whispered:

-Revere.

-Do not even think of resistance.

-Simply look up in awe.

Though he had been just another human moments ago, Ian Red with his power unleashed was truly a being beyond human standards.

Having limited the range to just Hallorand’s room, it pressured only him.

-Revere.

-Do not even think of resistance.

-Simply look up in awe.

A massive fragment of power twinkling like stars.

It was clearly a power far beyond human reach, one he could never attain even after countless regressions.

Yet it wasn’t enough.

“That… day. The power shown by the… reincarnation savior who found me was…”

A power so overwhelming that one had to accept whatever was said.

A power so mighty that it made one instantly believe even the absurd claim that he could destroy the world single-handedly.

Hallorand raised his head and declared:

“It’s… impressive, but falls… short.”

At Hallorand’s slightly mocking smile, Nahan casually asked:

“Really?”

Then the power increased.

【<Black Curtain黑幕(Ex)> – <Ian Red Mode> – 100% activated.】

Nahan approached Hallorand, radiating a brilliant halo, and asked:

“How about now?”

“Ah, aah…!!”

Truly overwhelming.

A massive power he had never encountered even once during his countless regressions.

“M-monster…”

With those muttered words, Hallorand finally lost consciousness and collapsed.

2.

Several hours later.

Slap, slap, slap…

Hallorand slowly opened his eyes to the stinging pain on both cheeks.

He saw Nahan, who was in the middle of sweeping valuable items into his spatial storage.

“You’re awake?”

“This weakness… what did you do to my body?”

“I told you. If you don’t obey me, your heart will melt.”

“…I don’t feel any change though?”

“Of course not. It’s not the kind of contract someone of your caliber could perceive.”

It was all lies, of course.

Nahan had merely unleashed his power; there was no contract whatsoever.

But having faced such power and even fainted, Hallorand had no choice but to believe Nahan’s words. He sighed and muttered:

“I suppose… since you mentioned the goddess, it can’t be a lie.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Don’t pretend. You know that mentioning the goddess in a lie results in death by divine punishment, right?”

…I didn’t know that?

Nahan momentarily froze but quickly dismissed the thought.

‘I’ve done it many times before and I’m still fine.’

Besides, she wouldn’t kill her own summoned savior just for a few lies, right?

“Of course I know. I was just testing you.”

“Naturally.”

“Anyway.”

Having finished his thoughts, Nahan continued gathering valuables as he spoke.

“You need to tell me everything—the reincarnation savior’s goals, established plans, everything.”

“…It’s going to be a long story.”

“That’s fine, I have a lot to collect. Start with the important parts.”

Clatter, clatter…

Hallorand’s treasures being sucked into Nahan’s spatial storage.

“Ah, that’s my father’s keepsake…”

“Too bad. Just spill the plans.”

“…Fine.”

After staring at where his keepsake had disappeared, Hallorand finally spoke again.

“You know about the Black Wolf, right?”

“Of course.”

Because I’m their leader.

As he nodded, Hallorand smiled wryly and added:

“Then this will go quickly. Eclipse’s next plan is to capture Casler, the second member of the Black Wolf.”