episode_0116

Definitely.

The ones protecting the master of the North, Taesu, were not your average fighters.

They were skilled enough to call most mercenaries ‘such.’

Of course, compared to me, who had learned to handle a sword, they were nothing.

I couldn’t afford to go all out, as using the Iron Blood Storm Slash would surely shatter them all into pieces.

“Do they not know Taesu’s true form?”

It was clear that the power to protect the weakened Taesu was severely lacking.

It seemed like they didn’t even know that Taesu had lost his strength.

Without bothering to engage them directly, I boldly used my sword to fend them off.

When I used the Inhae tactic to block the entrance, it was quite thrilling.

I even hesitated about whether I should cut down the people.

But thanks to Jineyeo’s sleep magic, I was able to pass through without harm.

The high-level experts who resisted the sleep magic were deceived by Trancilvia’s disguise.

Just as I released my sword strike, Alicia, who had been hiding, added a gust of wind.

It was difficult to distinguish between my sword strike and Trancilvia’s wind, especially since it was dark.

If they only used Darkia-style swordsmanship, they might not have known, but since they used the same technique, they had to believe it was Trancilvia.

Right after that.

I jumped off a cliff where the experts couldn’t chase me.

I had prepared a plan in case of an emergency chase.

Everything went according to plan.

How did I survive falling off a cliff where even the hidden masters of the North wouldn’t dare to jump?

The answer is simple.

“Ah, agh. I’m going to die…”

I didn’t survive.

If it had been the real Trancilvia, she would have used some kind of magic or cat transformation to survive.

Since I lacked such skills, my best option was to prevent my head from hitting the ground.

As a result, my legs were completely shattered and a mess.

My arms were also in a pretty bad shape.

Of course, the injuries to my arms were not caused by them falling off.

“Stop biting me already. Your biting strength is weak.”

Gwiho bit my arm as he ran away.

His cute level of biting strength was only about half of Mijeong’s.

No matter how hard he tried to bite my arm, he could only tear through my clothes and skin.

If he couldn’t break my bones, it was useless.

I didn’t let go of his neck or hands, no matter how much Gwiho bit me.

“Oh, Mijeong, you’re here. Hurry up and treat me. I’m dying. Also, get this one off me.”

“Bad. Bad dog.”

*Whack!*

Mijeong, who arrived late, knocked Gwiho unconscious with a bat.

Only then could I receive treatment with a potion.

Applying expensive high-grade potions, I managed to piece my bones back together, enough to walk and run immediately.

But using a technique like the Iron Blood Storm Slash would likely break my bones again.

I’ll probably have to rest quietly for the next two days, nursing myself back to health.

“Magical healing can completely heal even severe injuries.”

Suddenly, I felt impressed by the healing magic that could restore such injuries cleanly.

In the past, when I didn’t know much about magic, I would have just thought it was a great achievement.

But if it’s a 7th-rank magic without attributes, it’s a magic that you have to develop endlessly by hitting your head against the ground.

Of course, I did plagiarize some of the potion recipes from Petenburg.

“What happened? Did you get what you wanted? Huh? What’s that big fox over there?”

“Dirty! Damp! Smelly! I’ve been inside this disgusting sewer for 3 hours! I’ve used up a lot of magic! I need to absorb a lot of energy this time, so you better be prepared!”

Approaching together were a genie girl in a shabby outfit and Alicia in her bunny girl outfit, transformed into a young girl’s appearance.

It seems like both of them were able to take shelter safely in the chaos.

“You got what you wanted. This is the heart method that will cure your sister.”

“Oh.”

“Think about how you’re going to make Yerina train with that method. Anyway, training with it will improve her madness.”

“Th-thank you…”

I handed the heart method to Alicia.

It’s not my place to deliver it to her directly and tell her to train with it.

In the end, it’s a mission that Alicia has to complete.

If that works, Alicia will be less troubled, which is good.

It will be easier for me to escape, which is good.

Above all, Yerina’s own human relationships will improve.

“Now, let’s start planning.”

“What plan?”

“A plan to send you back to your sister’s embrace.”

This is where it gets important.

First, I have to send Alicia back safely so that the heart method or whatever can be delivered.

I held the fainted Gwiho in my arms and began to collapse.

“I should start learning magic by attribute.”

Now that I have a new magic attribute and a teacher who has lived for thousands of years, I can finally start learning magic in earnest.

Of course, since my talent is my talent, I don’t expect much.

If I can use magic, the range of options might expand.

***

“What did you do in the North again? Transylvia, your bounty has increased by more than 10 times.”

“Hmm. I’ve done so much that I can’t figure it out at all.”

“…”

Looking at Transylvia, who answered as if nothing had happened, Yerina let out a deep sigh.

Recently, Transylvia’s wanted order has been re-ignited in the North.

Due to the bounty that had been hanging for over a hundred years, it had practically been ignored.

With the bounty increasing significantly this time, it once again attracted attention.

But there was no known reason for it.

Most of the bounty was put up at the casino called White Blaze, but they didn’t explain the reason, which was frustrating.

It was speculated that it might be related to the recent false fire alarm malfunction incident.

“Is it okay for a slave to speak so boldly to their master?”

“Haha. It’s a pity. It’s a principle of mine not to bow my head to anyone. Except for one person… So if you want to completely subdue me, you’ll have to cut my throat.”

“…”

At Transylvia’s confident attitude, Yerina puffed up her cheeks slightly.

She had embedded the slave contract into the guy’s heart.

But whether the effect of embedding it in a dead body’s heart was diminished.

Or if Transylvia’s will was too strong and some of the magic was nullified.

Transylvia was Yerina’s slave, but he was not a slave.

Normally, those marked with a slave contract would obey their master’s words without question.

They would obey even if they were told to die or to do the impossible.

But Transylvia was different.

He mostly did what he was told through coercion.

But there were ‘things’ that he didn’t follow even if he died.

“It seems like sealing my ego is more burdensome than the history of the slave contract itself, as my own history is longer. If it’s a simple command that I want or if my ego doesn’t interfere strongly, I will faithfully comply. I will have no choice but to follow the command to chase after Alicia, the rabbit spirit, and the four men that are strongly engraved in the slave contract. However, commands that shake my self-esteem or directly oppose my values will not be accepted. For example, a command to bow. Or a command to cut down innocent people.”

“Wasn’t it someone who goes around chopping down innocent people?”

“How do you see me, King Parana? I may be a murderer, but I am not a pleasure-seeking killer. I have no intention of justifying that I am not evil, but at least I can boast that I have never lived doing shameful deeds. Ah. It’s a bit embarrassing to kneel before a demon woman who borrowed the authority of that person…”

Tran Silvia muttered, swallowing her shame.

Yerina felt a bit intrigued by her appearance.

Rumors had it that Tran Silvia was a bloodthirsty killer who went around killing people indiscriminately.

But meeting her in person and having a conversation, her image was quite different from what she had imagined.

“Your swordsmanship is impressive. I wouldn’t stand a chance if I didn’t activate Beast Mode. If I spar with that vampire often, I might improve my skills.”

Should I just turn on Beast Mode all day and spar?

Yerina thought, feeling her heart pounding with anticipation.

Tran Silvia sensed Yerina’s unusual gaze and trembled with inexplicable anxiety.

“Instead, tell me everything you know about Eugene.”

“That might be difficult.”

“Why? We are chasing Alicia, ultimately trying to find Eugene. Are you going to directly oppose the instructions written in the slave contract?”

“Sorry. It’s because the effect of the slave contract doesn’t reach the extent where it can overpower my ego. If I come face to face with Eugene, I can fight with all my might, even subdue him to the point of offering him as a sacrifice. But I can’t betray his information.”

“Why is that?”

“Eugene is my friend. A very precious friend. In this era, he is the one who understands me the best and whom I can respect. I can’t betray such a friend behind his back. If it’s a fair fight where we confront each other, that’s a different story.”

“Hmm. You guys are quite the honorable men.”

Although unexpectedly gaining a powerful ally, it seemed oddly useless when it should have been helpful.

Calling Eugene a friend and talking about betraying him, it seemed like they were quite close…

But even if she tortured Tran Silvia and interrogated her, she wouldn’t talk about him in the end.

Yerina gritted her teeth in frustration inwardly, swallowing her annoyance.

The hidden anger in her heart accumulated as a primal fuel that would eventually surface.

“Eugene…”

Yerina clutched her chest in anguish and called out the name of her beloved.

When she realized Alicia’s betrayal, it was very painful.

Alicia had come to Elvengard without my knowledge.

When it was confirmed that Eugene was with her at that time, I wanted to deny reality.

But I barely managed to control myself.

I didn’t even realize Beast Mode was about to activate.

I thought it was time to trust Alicia a little bit more.

So I let Alicia escape.

I wanted to torture Alicia and annihilate Yevgenia, but it was an irreversible act and just a simple outburst of anger, so I endured it.

And then I planned to track down Eugene after releasing Alicia.

Tran Silvia’s interference had caused chaos.

It almost seemed as if Tran Silvia’s interference was not part of Eugene’s plan.

‘Is she not just running away from me, but completely avoiding me? Why?’

There were times when I doubted my memories of Eugene, worrying that they might be just my imagination.

There were times when I doubted my sanity, even questioning if my return was not a dream.

Just the other day, I was crying tears of joy, convinced of Eugene’s existence.

But now, I worry for a different reason.

Perhaps Eugene is avoiding me, that thought lingers in my mind.

‘No. There must be a reason for everything.’

No.

In my past life, Eugene was always a few steps ahead of me in his thoughts.

When time stood still in the ice cave, seeing Eugene move on his own made me think he knew about reincarnation.

So perhaps Eugene is struggling to prevent something using the knowledge gained through reincarnation.

‘Is a great threat approaching?’

If Eugene is so engrossed that he’s ignoring me, could it be a threat to the continent’s existence?

Is it something that even Taesu would go crazy over?

Or is it an invasion by the beings from the other world that appeared in Basel?

Oh, this sounds too much like a fantasy novel…

‘Hmm. I want to help, but… No. No, Eugene is weaker than me, so I should make sure he can rest in a safe place. I’ll stay at home and deal with that threat on his behalf.’

Avoiding me must mean he doesn’t want me in danger.

Or maybe that threat is fatal to me?

Surely he’s not avoiding me because he doesn’t want to be involved with me…

It’s even a bit frustrating.

If he had told me, I would have used all of Pallana’s power to help.

I would have taken good care of Eugene so he wouldn’t have to step foot in a dangerous place.

Of course, it’s not that I don’t trust Eugene.

I trust him.

There’s no one else I trust.

He only looks at me, loves me, and cherishes me.

There have been sources of anxiety, but…

There were women who sent strange glances wherever he went, but…

He trusts me.

He won’t show any weakness to any other woman besides me.

He’s not a man who flirts around like a rag, laughing and teasing anyone.

“Ah. I want to see him quickly.”

I’m getting impatient.

I want to know the truth about his relationship with Alicia.

‘I have a rough idea of what it might be.’

It’s a bit scary, but it’s okay.

I can handle his anger.

They say there’s no man who can resist the seduction of a rabbit beast in heat.

From now on, I swear to only look at me, not even brushing past other women.

So, Eugene.

Hurry. Can’t you come out soon?

I feel like I’m getting soft too.

Yerina muttered to herself, taking a deep breath.

“This is…”

At that moment.

Tran Silvia’s expression changed.

Yerina’s gaze sharpened as well.

They locked eyes, confirming they had the same thought.

They had found traces of Eugene.

‘Finally!’

Upon hearing news of a rabbit beast similar to Alicia near the Blue Forest, they rushed over.

The traces here were surprisingly strong.

Tran Silvia found Eugene from the carved marks on the tree, and Yerina found Eugene and Alicia from the lingering scents around.

Eugene is not far away.

The two of them accelerated in pursuit with determination.

“Why is Yujin here…?”

Finding traces of Yujin was a relief, but at the same time, a sense of unease crept in.

This was the last place Yujin would be expected to be.

The most ominous place in the north.

It was the Sangcheong Forest, where the aura flowed like a strong current.

Originally intended to suppress the aura of the Sangcheong Forest, it was a city built next to the pleasure city Cheongnan.

“It’s also famous as a place of practice for shamans…”

Strange totems visible everywhere.

Abandoned cursed dolls.

And ancient characters drawn on the ground.

Yerina frowned as she looked around sharply.

There were no creatures as sinister as the shamans who wielded dark powers.

It was hard to believe that Yujin would be in a place like this.

“Suddenly, the flow of magic…!”

At that moment, a whirlwind of magic sucked in from the surroundings.

Surprised, Transylvania and Yerina got off their horses and started running hastily.

Where they arrived was a neatly cleared ground with trees cut down.

“A large-scale shamanic ritual!”

Inside, a large magic circle was drawn on the ground, emitting a faint light.

And in the center of the magic circle was none other than Alicia.

She was bound and in great agony.

Shocked for a moment.

Transylvania and Yerina were engulfed in another shock as they felt the overflowing magic.

Both of them had experienced Yujin’s magic firsthand, so they could be sure.

This was magic created by converting Yujin’s magic.

“Heh. Is he pretending to be the villain?”

Looking at Yerina’s face, still open-mouthed and dazed.

Transylvania secretly chuckled.

If you knew Yujin, you could recognize his traces.

Yujin was not hiding the fact that he was the owner of this magic circle at all.

So Yerina’s perception of Yujin as a flawless saint would change now.

It was a moment when Transylvania nodded her head, realizing Yujin’s plan to some extent.

“Ah! Ahh!!! Yujin’s magic! Forced to extract magic by a wicked shaman?! No, no…!”

“….?”

“To subdue Yujin and Alicia and create such a huge magic circle, he must be a terrifying shaman! Surely a creepy shaman who is petty, narrow-minded, likes to use tricks, and flirts with women like sausages! Oh no! What should we do!”

“Heh…”

Watching Yerina jump into the magic circle to save Alicia.

Transylvania breathed in the strangeness.

King Palana seemed to know Yujin well, or not at all…

He seemed confused.