Ch.366Explanation

I showed the mark on my wrist to Jahan, who was looking at me with a strange expression. Only after explaining how I obtained this mark and the activation principles of karma did I finally make him understand that this wasn’t some sealed dragon power or anything like that.

“So… this is an ancient western sorcery, and the mark on your wrist transforms karma power into flames?”

“I guess? Something like that. Originally it seems to activate with mana, but I’m using karma power as fuel instead, so it’s closer to a technique than sorcery. Besides, there’s no way a being as powerful as a dragon would be sealed in a human arm, right?”

If something could be sealed in a human body, it wouldn’t be a dragon but a worm.

[What poor imagination. Who says such a thing is impossible?]

Hersella, who had been listening, muttered quietly.

‘Maybe possible in a fifteen-year-old’s delusions. What, did you want me to make excuses like—Haha! Yes, I am the ruler of black flames, the dark dragon of the sky sealed in the left arm of a mortal!—Like you did?’

[…Sky dragon? Is that what you call a name? Your naming sense remains not just vulgar but pathetically inadequate. Did you think slapping “sky” onto anything makes it work?]

…It’s hard to accept hearing this kind of talk from this woman.

Should I really be criticized about naming sense by someone who called herself “Blade of Hatred”? This is ridiculous.

“…Then this is a dangerous power.”

Jahan looked down at the mark on my wrist with a serious gaze.

His voice was low and sunken. The tone was unusually serious.

“Dangerous? Well, I suppose it is dangerous since once lit, the fire won’t extinguish without my will…”

“That’s not what I mean. If what you say is true, this mark helps even those without a sorcerer’s capacity to use sorcery. If someone discovered how to create it, they could birth an army of sorcerers.”

…He’s not wrong.

I closed that ruin, so there shouldn’t be a major problem as long as I keep my mouth shut.

I’ve never heard of anyone discovering a similar ruin either.

—-

“We’ve gone off topic. What’s important right now isn’t the mark on my right hand. Let’s get back to the main point.”

I withdrew the hand I had extended toward Jahan and sat back down in the chair.

“The main point…?”

“Mersin said I abandoned you all, right? So he betrayed me too. …I’m sorry, but that’s not wrong. Only, your master’s will wasn’t reflected in that decision at all. It was entirely my decision.”

Jahan’s expression hardened.

He probably suspected since learning I wasn’t the real Haschal… but suspicion and confession from the person involved carry different weight.

He seemed to be struggling to suppress his agitation and turmoil in the face of the truth presented before him.

“Why did you do such a thing? If it weren’t for you, Mersin would have…!”

“It was because of you all. I came to the Empire to get away from you… no, from the Ka’har. A gang of bandits who slaughter, rape, and sell civilians as slaves while taking pride in it. Murderers who draw swords over trivial disputes. Madmen who would try to kill even their own lord when I tried to stop them. To protect myself.”

I flicked ash from my cigarette and brought it back to my lips for another drag.

“It was already bewildering to wake up in a strange body, but I was surrounded by human butchers who might pull a knife on me at any moment, and I had no ability to protect myself. I wasn’t always this strong, you know. Can you understand how I felt?”

My long exhale seeped through the bars.

The basement that had smelled of rotten moss was now filled with a sharp scent of mint.

“Every moment, every single moment, I felt like blue blades were surrounding my entire body. In that situation, if I had stayed there… wouldn’t I have gone mad or died long ago? Along with this body’s owner.”

Jahan couldn’t say anything. Yes, he must know well.

The “warrior’s virtue” you claim is actually not much different from the virtues of bandits, right?

[So that’s how you felt…?]

‘…No, actually it wasn’t quite that bad. I was a bit anxious, but not that much.’

What is she saying now?

Why are you falling for the exaggeration I made to convince Jahan?

“Anyway, that’s why I came to the Empire. I regret that this caused conflict between you all, but coming to the Empire was something this body’s owner had already accepted. She knew well that with my skills at the time, I really couldn’t survive there.”

[Accepted? You’re packaging your outrage nicely. It was spilled milk, so I gave up.]

Isn’t giving up a form of acceptance?

More importantly.

‘If you’re going to nitpick everything I say, why don’t you just persuade him yourself?’

[…..]

I’m wracking my brain to create legitimacy and appeal to emotions, and you’re constantly muttering and interfering.

“You’re saying Lord Haschal accepted abandoning us?! Don’t lie!”

“No, she didn’t accept abandoning you. She only accepted that I had no choice but to defect to the Empire.”

I extended my right hand to stop Jahan and shrugged.

Jahan closed his mouth. I’m not sure if he was accepting my restraint or if he was being cautious about karma flames potentially shooting from my right hand.

“At first, we couldn’t even communicate, so I had to make decisions unilaterally, but later I was somehow able to talk with her.”

It wasn’t that we couldn’t communicate, but rather that I chose not to… well, these things are all in how you phrase them.

It’s not exactly a lie to say we couldn’t talk to each other because I couldn’t hear her voice due to smoking mana herbs, right?

“At that time, she and I made a deal. In exchange for helping me live in the Empire, I would grant three wishes she proposed.”

[Deal? Correct that to blackmail. Didn’t you threaten to graft me with a beast and display me in the middle of the square?]

It hasn’t even been thirty seconds since I asked you not to nitpick, and here you go again.

Besides, when did I ever say such a thing?

I merely advised that Isabella might do such things if she didn’t help me.

Anyone could see it wasn’t a threat but advice out of concern for her safety, yet she’s distorting clear facts to tell lies.

I wonder who taught her such fraudulent behavior.

“Three wishes…?”

“To help with revenge, to find a way to return her body, and… to protect her subordinates, I think? She was so adamant that I had to swear to our God in heaven.”

Since it was a promise to Jesus of Nazareth rather than Elpinel, I probably wouldn’t be punished for breaking it.

“Now do you understand? Your master didn’t abandon you. I also came looking for you to keep that deal. I just didn’t expect you would already be ruined by betrayal and internal strife before I could arrange protection for you.”

“I see…”

Jahan removed his hands from the iron bars, took a step back, and let out a deep sigh.

It was hard to tell whether it was relief or lamentation.

“…So, what exactly is Lord Haschal’s current state? As infuriating as it is, I understand that you’re the one controlling Lord Haschal’s body. Does that mean Lord Haschal is asleep?”

“That’s—”

“No, that can’t be right. You said you could talk with her. Then she’s not asleep… is she conscious but unable to move her body? Like sleep paralysis?”

Jahan tilted his head slightly as he asked.

For someone with a thief-like face, he seems surprisingly quick-witted. Or maybe he has good intuition?

[Yes. It feels similar to sleep paralysis. That’s a keen comparison for Jahan. More precisely, it feels like someone forcibly moving my body in that state. Not a… particularly pleasant sensation.]

Since Hersella’s answer couldn’t reach Jahan, I had to relay it for her.

“She says it’s similar to sleep paralysis, but with the feeling of her body moving on its own.”

“…What? Are you saying she’s been listening to the entire conversation between you and me?”

Jahan’s eyes twitched up and down.

What’s this? I thought he already knew that much. Could it be he hadn’t realized?

“Of course she’s been listening. In fact, the words I first spoke to you when I entered this place were directly relaying ‘Haschal’s’ words.”

“Good heavens…! Such disrespect…! This was no situation to be conversing with this person!”

A thud echoed through the basement.

Jahan knelt down as if collapsing and begged for forgiveness.

I couldn’t understand why this person was suddenly acting this way.

‘Hey, why is he suddenly acting like this?’

[…How would I know?]

If you don’t know, who would? Weren’t you like siblings?

“I beg your forgiveness, Lord Haschal! Jahan pleads for mercy! I dared to speak informally in Lord Haschal’s presence!”

I see. Since Hersella was listening too, it was essentially the same as speaking informally to Hersella.

He’s oddly traditional in strange ways.

[Was that the reason… As always, apologizing for such trivial matters. Even after becoming Champion, he hasn’t broken that habit.]

Hersella seemed to share my sentiment as she let out a light sigh.

However, Jahan’s confession of sins was not yet over.

“…Not only that, there is one more thing I must apologize for! In my carelessness, I violated your order not to reveal stories about the sky horse, sky wolf, and blade of hatred to anyone!”

Jahan bowed his head deeply as he earnestly apologized.

[Ah, ahhh…!]

Hersella let out a groan mixed with lamentation.

[Come to think of it, I did issue such a threat back then. I had forgotten…!]

So those nonsensical stories were supposed to be secret from everyone except Jahan?

Looks like the two of them had quite a good time playing make-believe.

At least they seem to know it’s embarrassing?