Chapter 120

Chapter 120

120th: Deficiency .”…” Taliman Rebote sat blankly on a bench, staring at the building across from him. Loafing around without work was a privilege afforded to guards working under powerful nobles. His employer, Count Typhon, had left to enjoy himself as usual, taking another guard with him instead of Taliman. Although Taliman’s skills were trustworthy, it was because he didn’t know how to enjoy the finer things in life. ‘…What kind of finer things are those?’ Taliman let out a sigh with a bitter smile. With the memories of his past life, this world was quite unfamiliar to him. Working as a mercenary, he realized that people’s lives could disappear much more easily than he thought, and at the same time, he learned that there were plenty of people who took not only the lives of others but even their own lives lightly. Recalling that fact, he felt his mood sink a little. ‘….I’m tired.’ That fatigue wasn’t due to physical exhaustion. It was like a burden given to those who constantly strive to live. Worry, anxiety, and impatience gnawed at his body, dragging his heart down heavily. No matter how much he had learned martial arts, this world was by no means easy. Even the martial arts in his knowledge didn’t exert much power. Unlike the world in his knowledge, there wasn’t even a handful of internal energy in the atmosphere of this world, and even after accumulating internal energy for more than ten years, he could only gather a meager amount of internal energy. Almost none of the martial arts of Dokgochu, who was called the Heavenly Net Sword Star, could be used. In the end, he trained his external strength with a handful of internal energy and honed his senses. Taliman, who was born with naturally good physical conditions, honed his five senses and the unique intuition of a martial artist, allowing him to perform outstandingly in the mercenary world. Of course, the background to his skills was also due to learning the Nordic Style training method, which could also be called the martial arts of this world. Even though there was almost no natural energy in the atmosphere, it couldn’t be said that the existence of Qi was completely absent. The humans of this world had learned their own way of accumulating power within their bodies. It was a strange method called Daesik, which was based on simply eating a lot, but it was effective. Although it was such a small amount of power that it was difficult to learn even the simplest external skills. Still, Taliman’s life wasn’t that difficult. He was lucky enough to get a connection to the Typhon family with the help of a friend and was even selected as a guard. After that, he even received a magic sword from the Count’s favor. If it was this much, it couldn’t be said that he had succeeded, but it wasn’t a failure either. ‘….Is that kid doing well?’ Taliman smiled slightly as he thought of someone. His old friend, whom he had reunited with in this desolate world. A friend with chestnut hair, in the form of a cute girl. The moment he thought of her, another girl’s image came to his mind. A girl with impressive, brilliant golden hair. ‘Come to think of it, they seemed to be about the same age.’ As he thought of that girl, Kaldin naturally came to mind. Come to think of it, what happened to him? And at that moment, Taliman was able to spot a familiar face as if by chance. “….Kaldin?” Was it a coincidence? Kaldin was walking out of the building across from the bench where he was sitting. The demon he had fought with his life on the line, but whose feelings he had cleanly blown away with a drink. Also, a pervert who liked young girls. He was carrying a long box on his back and heading somewhere. Taliman naturally turned his gaze to the building he had been looking at. It was quite large for a building in the Black Street, and it had a fancy sign. [Shaqid] Taliman didn’t know what the letters meant, but he knew that the building was one of the four famous Black Houses in the Black Street, and it was called the Joomagwan. ‘….Why?’ He wondered why Kaldin had come out of the Joomagwan, but he shook his head and erased the question, then got up. It wasn’t like he had any particular business with him. He just thought he’d say hello since he had nothing to do. Besides, he was curious about what happened to the girl. If he hadn’t met him like this, it might have been something he could have buried in his memory, but because he saw him directly, he was starting to get curious for no reason. Taliman started walking along the Black Street, following Kaldin. And as he followed Kaldin, Taliman noticed something strange. ‘…Is he going outside?’ The size of the underground plaza was quite large, but if you were determined to walk, it wouldn’t take long to get outside. He was following him as if he were tailing him, saying that it was a little far to talk to him, but judging by the direction, it was clear that he was heading outside the Black Street. Of course, if it was just the fact that he was going outside, there was no reason to feel strange. But the more he followed him, the more questionable things came to mind. He definitely said he would get the girl back. But the girl he had seen before wasn’t next to Kaldin now. He might have hidden her somewhere else, so there might be no need to suspect…. ‘…What the hell is that coffin?’ To that end, the long thing he was carrying on his back was quite bothersome. The strangely long, horizontal box looked suspicious at first glance. That’s because, if you have luggage, who carries a coffin-like box instead of a bag? Also, one that looks like it would fit a small person perfectly…. “….No way.” The moment he thought of that, Taliman felt a chill run down his spine. Suspicion, horror, and regret swirled in his heart. He tried to tell himself that it couldn’t be something like that, but the assumption he had in his head didn’t easily disappear. ‘Crazy.’ Muttering a curse that he didn’t know who it was directed at, Taliman followed Kaldin, muffling his footsteps. Was it a mistake to have told him the old man’s location? The thought that he had been deceived by his desperate appearance filled his head. He had forgotten that this was the underground plaza. A place where people’s lives could become infinitely light. When he asked about the old man’s location, he should have denied it somehow. No, he shouldn’t have been drinking with Kaldin in the first place. While various regrets and thoughts swirled in his head, Kaldin was leaving the Black Street. “….” Taliman hesitated for a moment as he watched the scene, but then he moved his feet and followed Kaldin. // It didn’t take long for Kaldin to notice the presence of the follower. While walking along the waterway where no one was around, Kaldin heard a faint footstep ringing in his ear and naturally turned around. When Kaldin turned around, he could spot a familiar face there. “Hey.” “….What, is that you?” Kaldin made a bitter expression as he looked at Taliman. He was grateful for the help, but now was not a good time. Whether he knew that or not, Taliman continued to speak. “You don’t look so good. Did things not go well?” “No, it’s been resolved well. I’ll definitely repay you someday. But I’d like you to just go on your way now.” It was a roundabout expression to tell him to get lost, but that only fueled Taliman’s suspicion. “…It just so happens that I’m going this way too.” He muttered as if he was sorry and slowly approached Kaldin. Kaldin’s expression was dyed with anxiety at the sight. Why now of all times. Besides, he looked like he had noticed something. ‘….Damn it. How the hell.’ Kaldin lamented inwardly and said to Taliman in a harsh tone. “Stop talking nonsense. Why would a guest’s guard be wandering around the underground waterway alone without a guide?” Was that what drove the wedge in? At Kaldin’s harsh reaction, Taliman nodded, drawing the sword hanging from his waist.

-Sreung.

“Yeah, there is one thing that could be.” Kaldin swallowed nervously as he looked at where Taliman’s gaze was directed. The eyes of the swordsman who drew the magic sword were fixed on the box on Kaldin’s back. “….I’ll say it one last time. I appreciate the help you gave me. But I’d like you to mind your own business this time. It’s a personal matter.” Normally, he would have jumped in and beat him up right away, benefactor or not, but he couldn’t do that now. He didn’t know what he had been hit with, but the wounds he had suffered in the fight with Lyla hadn’t healed yet. The visible wounds had healed cleanly, but Kaldin’s body was still not normal. If he clashed with Taliman again in this state, he would definitely lose. He had to avoid fighting here somehow. However, contrary to Kaldin’s wishes, the other party didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down. “I want to do that too, but I can’t. I can’t help but be bothered by that coffin. I don’t think I can stand it without seeing what’s inside.” “….Damn it.” “And who would back down if you said it like that?” Looking at Taliman, who was saying that he wouldn’t back down, Kaldin muttered a curse. It was a disaster that he had told his subordinates to come separately. If several people ganged up on him, he would have a chance of winning, but in his current state, it wasn’t even certain if he could beat him. But it was even more impossible to run away. Running away in front of a magic sword of lightning that paralyzes the body was out of the question. Now that it had come to this, he had no choice but to fight back.

-Tak.

Kaldin carefully put down the coffin and glared at Taliman. “Let me give you a piece of advice, from now on, try to restrain that damn curiosity of yours.” “Really? Then I should give you a piece of advice too. Next time, don’t spout so much nonsense.” After ending the short conversation, Kaldin transformed his entire body into a beast and rushed towards Taliman. // Contrary to Taliman’s expectations that it wouldn’t be easy, the battle was futile and bland. He may not have known it, but Kaldin, who had already taken damage from internal energy while fighting Lyla, couldn’t resist the lightning emitted by the magic sword and quickly collapsed. “…..” Taliman looked down at Kaldin, who was sprawled on the floor, with complicated eyes. The werewolf covered in black fur was still maintaining his form despite losing consciousness. Could that be the demon’s true form? After briefly thinking about it, Taliman shook his head with a bitter smile. ‘….Is that a silly thought?’ Right now, something else was more important than contemplating the lycanthrope’s transformation ability. Taliman approached the box that was neatly placed on the ground and reached out his hand. Then, he opened the lid of the box, which wasn’t even locked. As he looked at the scene inside the box, Kaldin unknowingly muttered a curse. “….Crazy.” His ominous premonition was right. No, it went beyond being right and approached as an even more ominous reality. “….” The girl he had seen before was sleeping inside the box. With her arms and legs neatly stretched out, the girl, who was sleeping peacefully, didn’t even move, as if she was in a deep sleep. But the reason why Kaldin muttered a curse wasn’t because the girl was sleeping inside the box.

-Ssuk.

He reached out his hand and rolled up the sleeve that was covering the girl’s arm. Then, the girl’s arm, which was dyed gray, revealed its appearance. Taliman unknowingly touched the girl’s arm. Not just the arm. From above the elbow to the fingertips, and from above the thigh to the tip of the toes. The girl’s limbs were dyed an alien gray. The girl’s limbs, which were dyed an alien gray, were cold. As if they had turned to stone. After confirming that, Taliman groaned as if he was moaning. “Petrification….” ———= Author’s Note ———= Everyone, rest assured. The protagonist’s limbs are safe, so please read without worry!