Ch.166Chapter 166

Dencan straightened himself with a relaxed expression and thought.

‘Ah, I want to run away.’

It was hard to believe that this was the thought of a hero worshipped by an entire clan and a great Summoner who had waited for resurrection for hundreds of years by relying on bloodlines, but Dencan was sincere.

Why should the master solve a problem caused by a tool acting on its own?

Strictly speaking, it was closer to a mistake made by a beast he had raised, so it would be proper for Dencan to resolve it, but Dencan wasn’t that overflowing with responsibility.

Responsibility was something to be exercised for others, not oneself, and Dencan had no interest in anyone but himself, so it was natural.

Dencan drew a new sword and made another proposal to the Wendigo.

“Can’t we just end this and let me go? If you want, I’ll start a new life far away in the East.”

“…You’re the first one with too much to say since Dario.”

The Wendigo stared at Dencan in disbelief, planting his ice sword on the ground.

A dead man had preserved his soul by relying on his bloodline and even managed to resurrect, so it wasn’t for lack of ability.

Judging by how he avoided the sword and looked for openings, he wasn’t lacking in fighting skills either.

All the others he had met might have surrendered due to lack of strength, but none had been this pathetic…

“You’re not weak, and you even stole a body from your descendant after making promises to them. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“That’s a harsh joke. Since I’m more valuable than my bloodline, naturally saving me is the wiser choice, isn’t it?”

“……”

The Wendigo was left speechless as his serious words were brushed off so casually.

It was just a brief exchange, but the Wendigo felt he understood what kind of person Dencan was.

This guy was… a narcissist without pride.

To him, nothing in the world except himself had any value, but he was a narcissist with a flexible waist, willing to bow to worthless individuals if necessary.

If someone asked whether it was strange to beg for one’s life when it was at stake, the Wendigo would proudly point to the warriors of the North.

Did they have two or three lives that they faced danger with their lives at stake?

Even Darius, one of Dencan’s descendants, chose an honorable end despite sensing defeat.

And yet this ancestor, whom such descendants worshipped, was in this sorry state…

“The more I think about it, the more I believe your death would be a service to the world.”

“Why?”

“Because you have no pride, no conscience, no sense of responsibility, and even no honor, yet you have talent.”

Each point alone might not seem like much, but together they made for the worst combination.

It was hard to imagine what atrocities a man who viewed even his own bloodline as mere sacrifices might commit if given sufficient opportunity and means.

When it became clear the Wendigo had no intention of letting him go, Dencan’s attitude changed instantly.

With a face devoid of any trace of humor, Dencan frowned and muttered.

“How nice it would be if we could just get along easily. Why refuse the wine I offer and keep demanding poison instead!”

As he swung the blood sword in his hand, dozens of swords appeared from the surrounding pools of blood and flew around Dencan.

Each sword, engraved with the image of a screaming human on its blade, roamed through the air, releasing screams.

In the clear sky, the blood swords poured down like heavy rain.

The Wendigo gripped the handle of the ice sword planted in the ground. He slashed the ground and raised his sword upward toward Dencan.

As the mystery within the ice sword burst forth at once, a massive ice mountain appeared, creating cracks in the ground.

Dencan’s sword was sharp enough, but not enough to carve up the ice mountain. However, Dencan wasn’t particularly flustered.

Instead of retreating, he hurled himself toward the ice mountain.

‘I don’t need to kill him. One fatal wound is enough to escape!’

If he could just escape from here, there were many ways to start a new life, whether in the Empire, further south, or in the East.

With so many things to enjoy in the world, why risk his life against such a monster!

Dencan leaped over the ice mountain and threw himself at the Wendigo. Along with four doppelgangers he had created, Dencan swung his sword at the Wendigo.

The Wendigo swung his sword and cut down two of the doppelgangers. However, the remaining two and Dencan landed on the ground and targeted the Wendigo.

One aimed for the head, one for the heart, and the last one for the legs…

‘Just need to damage the legs properly.’

Dencan deliberately avoided targeting important parts like the Wendigo’s head or heart. Those were the mystical centers when spirits formed bodies, so they would obviously have strong defenses.

However, legs were less important compared to the other two, but most effective in slowing down pursuit.

Dencan’s prediction was fairly accurate. The Wendigo’s sword flew toward the doppelgangers targeting the head and heart, not the legs.

As the doppelgangers’ waists were cut off, Dencan’s sword penetrated the Wendigo’s leg through the opening created by the ice sword.

Having accomplished his first goal, Dencan recited a spell and backed away. The Wendigo, who tried to pursue him, turned his head toward something grabbing his leg.

“There’s a limit to how much you can abuse your bloodline.”

“KIEEEEEK!!!!”

A melting human figure made of blood grabbed the Wendigo’s leg. The specter, which started as one, multiplied to five or six in the blink of an eye, blocking the Wendigo’s movement.

Dencan recited a spell while creating a dagger and stabbed his own heart.

With each beat of his living heart, blood burst forth, and bloody water streamed from Dencan’s mouth.

The abnormally increased blood stained the Wendigo’s legs red, and dozens of chains, along with the specters holding his legs, bound the Wendigo.

But Dencan didn’t relax. When the Wendigo let out a roar and drew out his strength, the chains broke and the clan’s specters burst apart.

‘I need to complete the seal here to buy time to escape.’

He refused to flee with such a monster on his tail. Dencan’s incantation sped up, and walls engraved with beast images began to rise around him.

Walls engraved with bears and boars symbolized the sturdiness of the seal.

Walls engraved with snakes and toads wished for the weakness of the being inside.

Walls engraved with hawks and owls hoped for the seal to continue eternally, regardless of day or night.

However, before the seal could be completed, the chains binding the Wendigo broke first. When the specters’ wailing stopped and the sound of pounding on the walls echoed, Dencan was terrified.

‘This madman. Breaking the chains in that situation!’

Despite having hunted many spirits, monsters, and beasts, Dencan had never encountered such a brute. Why fight such a monster when there was nothing to gain?

As Dencan’s spell neared its end, a magic circle engraved with complex patterns and long sentences began to glow faintly.

The ceiling engraved with the sun, the final symbol needed to complete the seal, appeared. Looking at the gradually closing ceiling, Dencan was confident in the completion of the seal.

At least until an ice arrow flew from somewhere and pierced his neck.

“Kuk?!”

Longer than an ordinary arrow and slightly shorter than a spear, the ice arrow penetrated Dencan’s neck and froze it, emitting cold air.

Naturally, Dencan’s sealing also stopped. Spells were effective when spoken aloud, but with his throat frozen, he had no way to produce a voice.

A suddenly interrupted spell was dangerous in itself. The mystical energy that had been flowing according to the caster’s will lost its path and rushed toward the caster.

Dencan gathered the turbulent mystical energy and looked in the direction from which the arrow had come. There stood a woman with a cold expression, drawing another arrow.

Dencan pulled out the arrow stuck in his neck and hurriedly rolled away. Another ice arrow passed through where he had just been standing.

Dirt entered his mouth, but Dencan had no time to worry about such things.

‘The seal, what about the seal—’

Dencan turned his gaze hurriedly and froze at the sight of the frozen seal wall. Through the gap created by the breaking center of the wall, the Wendigo’s eyes were visible.

The expressionless skull moved its mouth, but Dencan immediately understood what the Wendigo was saying.

I won’t let you escape.

“You son of a—!”

Having barely recovered from the wound in his neck, Dencan decided to modify all his plans.

Since he couldn’t escape this opponent by dealing with him half-heartedly, from now on he would use all his strength to… run away.

Dencan, who had deployed a barrier to guard against sniping, began to form a magic circle on the ground while reciting a spell, sweating profusely.

KWAAANG!

The Wendigo broke through the weakened wall of the seal that had been left incomplete and leaped out. He spotted Dencan hiding in the barrier and lunged toward him.

“■■■■■■■■!!!!!!”

“!?”

Dencan barely held back a curse as he completed the spell.

As Dencan’s body connected to a place that met the conditions, a pool of blood formed under the barrier, then rose high and engulfed Dencan.

Soon he would be transported to a quiet pool of blood where there were no people…

Through his vision obscured by blood, Dencan saw the Wendigo’s nails, which had turned white.

Unable to move due to the spell, Dencan couldn’t prevent the Wendigo’s nails from slashing across his stomach.

However, the spell Dencan had cast didn’t stop, and Dencan disappeared to somewhere with a large wound on his stomach.

* * *

As warriors advanced inward, only corpses and blood remained on the walls where people had thinned out.

Near where knights lay dead, one pool of blood began to bubble.

A moment later, Dencan emerged from beneath the pool of blood. He clutched the wound left by the Wendigo and screamed.

Whatever the Wendigo had done, the wound wouldn’t heal easily.

A sinister energy was spreading throughout his body from the frozen wound, eating away at his mystical power.

“This can’t… this can’t be happening! I’m more valuable than anyone else!!!”

Though he had stolen a descendant’s body, Dencan was half-spirit, having bound his soul to blood out of fear of death.

Without the blood and mystical power of his clan, he too would be finished.

Dencan, who had outstanding talent but failed to mature because of it, was terribly afraid of death.

Staggering to his feet, Dencan relied on his senses to find his clan’s blood. Since he couldn’t recover, he planned to replenish his blood to endure.

However, heaven was not on Dencan’s side.

Just then, Dario and nobles who were entering the city upon hearing news that the wall had fallen and the inner castle was nearly conquered spotted Dencan.

A warrior pointed at Dencan and shouted.

“Lord Dario! There’s a suspicious person ahead!”

“Probably someone trying to escape in the confusion… Dencan!?”

Turning his head toward where the warrior was pointing, Dario was startled to see a familiar face and called out the name.

The warriors were puzzled when the enemy leader’s name came from Dario’s mouth and turned their heads.

“Why suddenly mention the enemy leader… Could that person be…?”

“How could the leader be wandering around in a place like this?”

“That’s him! How could I not recognize a face I’ve seen for years!”

When Dario drew his sword, the warriors realized he wasn’t joking. They hid their relaxed demeanor and drove their horses and wolves forward with serious expressions.

Having been severely beaten by the Wendigo, Dencan finally couldn’t contain his anger when mere warriors dared to confront him.

“You worthless scum who can’t do anything dare to draw swords against me!!!”

Dencan’s blood spears, filled with his anger, pierced horses and wolves, and his sword slaughtered the charging warriors.

Though he had fled because the situation wasn’t good, how could a hero who had dominated an era die so easily?

After carrying out a massacre against the cavalry, Dencan charged toward Dario, who looked like a commander. Dario pointed his sword at Dencan with a stern face.

Dario shouted in a voice mixed with anger and shock.

“You’re not the Dencan I know! Who are you to appear in such a form!!!”

“Foolish child. The real Dencan stands before your eyes, yet that’s what matters to you? The Dencan you knew was nothing more than a slave existing to keep my vessel healthy!”

Perhaps it was because he mocked his friend as a slave.

Dario charged toward Dencan with gritted teeth. His sword flashed as it aimed for Dencan’s neck.

However, the overwhelming difference in skill couldn’t be bridged even by anger.

Dencan cut off Dario’s fingers. Naturally, without a hand to hold it, Dario’s sword flew far away.

“Kugh!?”

“Come down here. Now that I think about it, you seem to be quite loved by that monster!”

Dencan grabbed Dario’s leg as he sat on his horse. As Dencan’s fingers dug into his leg, Dario couldn’t withstand the intense pain and fell from his horse.

Dencan grabbed Dario’s neck. Though it felt like his neck would break from the force, Dario stared at Dencan with angry eyes and growled.

“You… you’re the one who drove Dencan mad!”

“It was my descendant’s will to fall in love with you… but yes, I did encourage their madness. So what?”

Dencan snorted and tightened his grip. Thinking about it, if this guy hadn’t bewitched his vessel, he could have resurrected more safely.

“Since it’s come to this, help me escape. Then your friend won’t die…”

“You’re spouting elaborate nonsense.”

Flinch.

Startled by the voice from behind, Dencan turned around. There stood the Wendigo, who had somehow arrived, glaring at him.

As the ice sword in his hand emitted an eerie light, Dencan quickly pointed his sword at Dario’s neck.

“Don’t come any closer. If you do, I’ll blow off the neck of your beloved.”

“… Beloved?”

As the Wendigo tilted his head in confusion, Dario shook his head in horror. Fortunately, Dencan had no time to dwell on such matters.

Dencan pointed his sword closer to Dario’s neck. With the sword so close that it created a thin wound that bled, Dencan shouted at the Wendigo.

“I know this person is quite precious to you. If you let me go, I’ll release him in two days.”

“How ugly… at least your descendant seemed to have decided to face me with dignity.”

“Provocation is useless. When death ends everything, what does it matter if it’s ugly?”

To Dencan, the most important thing was himself. With so much to enjoy in the world, why should he accept death?

However, there were those in the world who had things more precious than their own lives.

With a loud noise, Dencan’s sword fell to the ground.

“Huh?”

Dencan looked at his hand with a blank expression. His hand didn’t follow its owner’s will and remained paralyzed, unable to move.

Realizing what had happened to his body, Dencan screamed.

“You stupid bastaaaaard!!!!!”

While his own life might be precious to Dencan, his descendant had long abandoned any attachment to life.

Dencan tried to tighten his grip on Dario’s neck.

But he couldn’t. The Wendigo, who had approached unnoticed, had cut off his arm.

The Wendigo concentrated mystical power in his claws and left a farewell message for Dencan.

“Now leave my descendant’s body.”

KWAJIK.

The Wendigo’s claws penetrated Dencan’s chest. The mystical power that spread from inside froze the blood moving with will inside Dencan’s body.

[ Nooooo!!! Make me your slave instead! I am capable. I am more valuable than any human in this world!!!!! ]

“I’m not desperate enough to keep someone who would stab me in the back.”

The Wendigo ignored Dencan’s voice echoing in his head. By the time his voice completely disappeared, the Wendigo pulled his claws out of his chest.

With his heart frozen, Dencan collapsed with a thud. Dario caught the falling Dencan with a grimace.

Dario looked down at his friend’s face and muttered.

“You idiot. What was so good about such an ancestor that you went mad…”

“Cough! How could… I have known.”

“!”

Having regained his body as the specter departed, Dario’s friend answered his words with a dejected voice. But he couldn’t escape death.

In his final moment, Dencan sincerely apologized to Dario.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to remain a good friend to you.”

“You madman. After doing such creepy things in the name of true love, you say that?”

“Hehe, it seems you didn’t read that book properly. At the end of that section… it says that true love is wishing for the other’s happiness regardless of everything else.”

Dencan had been mature since childhood. It was natural, as he would have died otherwise.

He was too mature for his age, and because of that, he knew well that his love could hurt Dario.

So he gave up.

He was content with writing some of their memories in his diary, promising himself that he would sincerely congratulate Dario when he found a suitable lover someday.

However, that promise was broken as the clan’s actions became more radical.

It all started when a magician claimed he could become the true Dencan and spoke of magic with unknown origins…

“Ha… now that magician is dead too, what useless imagination.”

“You must really be dying. Spouting nonsense you never did before.”

“Yes, it seems my time has come… Dario, have you found a woman you like?”

“Yeah. I fell for a very pretty lady. I was planning to confess soon, but unfortunately, I got caught by you…”

Though his tone was aggressive, Dario’s voice was deeply troubled.

Dencan felt grateful to Dario, who still remembered him as a friend despite the ordeal he had gone through.

All sensation in his body was disappearing, and his mouth wouldn’t move easily. It felt like he would lose consciousness at any moment and fall into eternal sleep.

There was much he wanted to say, and he wanted to ask for forgiveness more sincerely, but time didn’t allow it.

“Dario… would you hold my arm?”

“Your arm?”

Though puzzled by the sudden request, Dario complied.

The moment Dario grabbed his hand, Dencan drew out his final strength and moved his mystical power. The mystical power that had once been as full as a lake was gone, but there was still quite a bit left by his ancestors.

Dencan put all his mystical power into his blood and transferred it through Dario’s arm.

Dario was greatly surprised by something seeping into his body along with a stinging sensation. But there was no time to ask about its nature.

Now it really felt like Dencan had very little time left.

“Dario.”

Calling his friend’s name, Dencan recalled many thoughts.

Among the flowing memories, he smiled as he remembered the note he had written in the corner of his diary when he gave up his feelings for Dario in his youth.

[ Prepare a gift to celebrate Dario’s marriage and for the happiness of his family. ]

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t know who that person would be… but surely Dario would meet and marry a good person.

Realizing it was truly the end, Dencan left his last words. The testament wasn’t long.

What he wished for was only one thing.

“Be happy.”

It was just one phrase, but it was enough. Dencan closed his eyes with a smile.

In his final moment, Dencan met a happy death in a fantasy of sharing a meal with Dario’s family.