Ch.73True Punishment

# 1.

The key to this operation is swift and decisive action.

The moment rumors of the purge begin to spread, the trash will hide even deeper.

Even if we can still find and kill them, if <Eclipse> gets involved, members who haven’t yet received ‘Salvation’ and risen in rank could be in danger.

‘Especially the 1st Elder.’

While the other elders also outrank members who haven’t released their restrictions, the 1st Elder might be a being comparable to Black Wolf.

In other words, if the 1st Elder steps in, all members could be in danger.

‘And that’s not all.’

Most of the purge targets are the escort personnel that Duke Hallorand requested, so if we drag this out, <Light> will join the battle too.

“Everyone will eliminate their assigned trash as quickly as possible.”

All members bowed their heads in acknowledgment as the killing intent settled quietly around them.

“Wait at your positions with your assigned partner. Never move alone. Report via communication magic stone when you reach your position. Dismissed.”

The moment Nahan finished speaking, eight shadows paired up and dispersed, leaving only Nahan behind.

The teams Nahan had assigned:

Lactea – Ruby Red.

Ruby compensated for with Lactea, as Ruby has superior numbers but a relatively weak main body.

Pedro – Yuria.

Pedro, strong in both long and short range including illusions, paired with Yuria who still needs to observe and learn.

Casler – Dalan.

A chuunibyou and an old man to keep him in check.

Hanryang – Luna.

Previously two fools, but after ‘Salvation,’ they’ve become the strongest short-range combination with vertical power growth.

From top to bottom, he gave them call signs: Red Gold, Fanatics, Cold Heart, and Chaos.

Of course, Cold Heart was…

“Next is… Casler. Your team will be—”

“We’ll be Cold Heart.”

“…Let me give you a name first—”

“Cold Heart.”

“…Do as you please.”

A call sign that was established by Casler’s unilateral insistence.

Anyway, right now.

Including the one-man team Black Wolf, a total of five teams were mobilized, moving from the farthest targets to the closest.

After a few minutes, reports came through the communication magic stones inserted in their ears like earphones.

[Cold Heart standing by.]

[Fanatics standing by.]

[Red Gold standing by.]

[Chaos standing by! Shh. Quiet, I’m—. Alright…! Chaos standing by…]

The elite teams of Black Wolf, combined for their characteristics and synergy.

【Alert – <Acting> has begun!】

【Stage 1 – <Analysis> completed.】

【Your understanding of the character – <Black Wolf> increases exponentially!】

【Stage 2 – <Immersion> completed.】

【You now recreate the image of <Black Wolf> that you understand with perfect accuracy.】

After completing his own brief preparations, Nahan arrived at his point and commanded:

“Twenty-four assassination targets. We end the operation in exactly 30 minutes and regroup at the hideout.”

Then,

“Operation start.”

The night of purging began.

# 2.

Baron Halbert.

Located in the southern part of the Empire, he was praised by all subjects for his territory that flourished through the cultivation of various fruits and had the lowest tax rate in the Empire.

But the subjects didn’t know.

That beneath the fertile land existed a secret farm where he kidnapped women with no connections and raised them for his own meals.

That the low tax rate was a trap to lure in those without connections.

Of course, a long tail is bound to be stepped on, and a few years ago he was almost caught by the Emperor, but…

“…Where did you say you’re from?”

“Eclipse.”

He was able to avoid the crisis thanks to Eclipse, the new ally of the noble alliance.

That’s why Halbert liked Eclipse.

Because they saved him from the misfortune of almost being caught by the Emperor and losing everything.

It wasn’t that his life was precious.

It was just that if everything was exposed and he died, he would never be able to eat these delicious things again.

That alone was the calamity and divine punishment that Baron Halbert feared most.

Therefore,

“Please eat. It’s fresh, just cut off.”

The wicked woman who appeared before him was no different from a saint in his eyes.

Grab.

Halbert eagerly grabbed his own right arm, which had been cut off by Yuria, with his left hand and began to chew on it.

Crunch, crunch.

CRUNCH!

An unpleasant rancid smell—this is why he only ate women he raised himself.

‘Well, I’m dying anyway, so I won’t complain.’

I am, until the very end, a successful nobleman who achieved what I wanted.

As the right arm disappeared greedily, Pedro, who was watching, smiled and asked:

“You filthy bastard. Do you perhaps know of a man called Erysichthon from foreign mythology?”

Munch, munch,

Gulp.

“Don’t, mmm… don’t know him?”

“You don’t know the man possessed by hunger who, no matter how much he ate, was never satisfied, and eventually devoured even his own body?”

Pedro quietly continued his explanation.

A man cursed with insatiable hunger who chewed and swallowed everything, and finally ate his own body.

In the end, only his teeth remained, clashing forever with a sound.

“I envy him.”

“You envy him?”

Halbert cackled and answered.

“Thanks to this saint, I think I can die like that too.”

Munch, munch,

Smack, smack,

CRUNCH! Chomp, chomp!

“Oh right, I’ve almost finished eating this, would you cut off my leg next, Saint?”

Human flesh.

For Halbert, it was a feast, and what the enraged Yuria did—making him experience it himself—was as glorious as a death row inmate’s last meal.

“…Disgusting bastard.”

Just as Yuria realized her mistake and moved to kill him,

Swish.

Pedro carefully reached out, gently embraced Yuria, and whispered in her ear:

“Do you understand now, Sister? When dealing with such terrible sinners, we punishers must also become sinners.”

“Yes, Senior Punisher.”

“Excellent.”

Pedro smiled faintly, took Yuria’s hand, and with transparent tears streaming down his face, offered a prayer:

“Black Wolf, my one true God… as your young punisher repents with all her heart, please forgive my sin of failing to properly teach this young punisher.”

A memory quietly surfaced.

“…I am a sinner. I cannot wash away my sins with anything.”

“Those sins you fear so much. I may not be able to wash them away, but I will bear them with you. All the sins you’ve committed, and all the sins you will commit in your lifetime.”

That’s enough.

I’ve repented, so I’m forgiven.

Abruptly.

Pedro wiped away his tears and stood up, approaching Halbert who was still eating.

“You must remember, Sister. True punishment is condemning sinners so they can never achieve what they desire most.”

The next moment.

Crack.

“Gah!!”

With a quick punch, Halbert’s teeth scattered to the floor.

“Shh.”

Pedro covered his mouth and moved his hand again to pull out the remaining teeth.

After removing every single one, he tore off his nose.

After completely destroying his sense of smell, he finally grabbed the thick, fat tongue and asked:

“Do you repent?”

Teeth and nose.

And tongue.

Of the three most important things for tasting food, only the tongue remained.

‘…I can’t eat anymore?’

A fear worse than death, felt for the first time in his life, crushed Halbert’s brain.

‘I must beg!!!!’

Even if he loses his life, he must protect his last remaining tongue!

Halbert placed his remaining hand against his cheek and rubbed it desperately as he begged.

“I’b horry!!!! I truly, deeply rebent with all by heart!!”

I repent.

I truly repent from the bottom of my heart.

So please,

“Pl… please…”

My tongue,

At least my tongue…

Finally, a fearful expression appeared.

Pedro nodded with satisfaction, set fire to the pile of human flesh, and whispered in the despairing Halbert’s ear:

“Go fuck yourself, you son of a bitch.”

Rip!

The cleanly torn tongue was buried deep in the burning flames, turning to ash.

“No…!!!! No!!!!!!”

The man threw himself into the flames.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!”

By the time he finally grasped his tongue,

Crackle,

Crackle….

His body had burned completely black, with an expression of terror.

Even as Baron Halbert’s body burned pitch black, Pedro and Yuria were,

“You’ll do better next time, won’t you?”

“Yes! Senior Punisher!!”

“Ah, how spirited. I’m sure Black Wolf will be pleased as well.”

The Black Wolves moved diligently, reducing their assigned targets one by one.

As the 30-minute mark approached.

[Black Wolf, returning.]

[Cold Heart returning.]

[Fanatics returning.]

[Chaos returning!]

The scattered Black Wolves began to return as if they had been waiting for this moment.

The only team left was Red Gold.

Although he had sent them without much worry since Deputy Leader Lactea was with them, there was no news even after exactly 30 minutes had passed.

“……”

As the other members who had returned waited anxiously under Black Wolf’s silence, a report finally came in from Red Gold.

[This is Red Gold.]

The reporter was Lactea.

The report content was,

[We were attacked by <Light> and <Eclipse> during the assassination of the final target. I managed to shake off <Light>, but Ruby Red is in conflict with Eclipse’s Elder—Disaster of the Blooming Flower. Currently about 4 minutes of communication blackout.]

The next moment.

“I apologize, Leader.”

【Black Wolf’s No.5 – <Dalan – Monster Dragon> releases the restrictions of <Black Wolf>.】

【Monster Dragon – <Dalan (S+)>’s rank rises to <Dalan (SS+)>.】

Dalan left the hideout.