episode_0116

Before the duel took place.

I ended up meeting Lucia’s so-called parents.

– Please, don’t ever think of them as people.

Before meeting them, Lucia had said those words in a firm tone.

As if her parents weren’t really her parents.

That was how she spoke of them to me.

– From the moment I left, they gave me no support. In fact, they were glad. I was such a fool… I wanted their approval, so I reached Level 5, and I even wished to return to the family and reclaim the family name.

The price for that was an engagement.

An engagement with Lecter.

The root cause of this whole incident.

But it was only natural that her parents would come after hearing of the broken engagement.

I don’t know how Lucia felt back then, but it seems she doesn’t care much now.

So it wouldn’t matter even if I ruined things.

With that in mind, I had challenged Lecter to this duel.

‘Honestly, I’m not sure if a simple oath would’ve worked, but a duel seems acceptable.’

Was it some kind of sacred ritual?

I wouldn’t know—I’m not from the Middle Ages.

Anyway.

That’s how I ended up meeting Lucia’s parents.

‘The head of the Fillihart family.’

A man and woman who appeared to be in their mid-50s stood before me.

The energy they exuded was pitifully weak. About on par with a Level 2 adventurer.

– Nobles in positions of power have no reason to bother raising their levels.

The Holy Sword spoke in a mocking tone.

“A pleasure to meet you. I am the head of the Fillihart family.”

He bowed his head with impeccable grace.

Not as one would to a mere adventurer.

It felt as though he was acknowledging me as an equal.

– Trying to humiliate you with etiquette?

‘They’d do something like that?’

– Most adventurers would fumble awkwardly if greeted like this.

That’s what the Holy Sword said.

The motion wasn’t particularly difficult—was it really something people struggled with?

“Han Yuseong, leader of the Starlight Spiral Clan.”

I mirrored the Fillihart family head’s bow exactly as he had done.

At that, the Fillihart patriarch’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.

An odd expression—displeased, yet somewhat satisfied.

“To think you’ve mastered the old empire’s etiquette so well. Impressive.”

– Were you a noble from the old empire?

‘What’s that?’

– ……? Wait, don’t tell me—

‘I just copied his movements.’

– For something like that…

The Holy Sword tried to say more, but I turned my attention back to the Fillihart head.

I didn’t want to judge prematurely, but he was oozing greed and was… quite plump.

Around 160 cm tall, yet his weight seemed about the same in kilograms.

I recalled the information Erme had given me.

If the Fillihart family head came here, it was to choose one of the methods to separate Lucia from them.

Those who abandon their family fear nothing.

Cutting off blood ties means they can blindly discard anything else for a single purpose.

“I’ve taken an interest. But my knowledge is limited, so let’s keep this brief.”

“……”

The Fillihart head studied me.

His gaze felt like he was sizing me up.

“What are your thoughts on our Lucia?”

“Beautiful and intelligent. I consider her a reliable clan member.”

“Hmm……”

The Fillihart head stared at me with an appraising look.

An unpleasant one.

“My apologies. I underestimated your capabilities.”

“……?”

An abrupt shift in tone.

But the Fillihart head smiled faintly as he spoke to me.

“If you wish, we will annul the engagement.”

“What are your conditions?”

“There are none. Just take good care of our Lucia.”

– How vile, utterly vile. The moment he realized you were superior to that fool Lecter, his attitude flipped.

‘What can you do?’

They were the ones who had abandoned Lucia in the first place.

No matter how much I tried to see them without prejudice, they were the kind of people who invited it.

I looked at them for a moment longer before turning away.

Up in the arena.

The Black Nether Lord was watching me, as if urging me to come down.

‘……Time to head down.’

Lecter and a Level 5 adventurer.

I had to face them in combat.

Lecter stared at the arena with shadowed eyes.

A battle begun to claim the love he desired.

But the path had not been smooth.

– You’re going to ruin the family over some woman?!

– You madman…

Parents who didn’t understand him.

And his younger brother.

It was understandable.

Noble families enjoyed many privileges.

But with them came responsibility—a sense of duty, one might say.

Something worth staking your life to protect.

That was the obligation, the shackles, and the privilege of being born a noble.

He had reaped those privileges well.

By commoner standards, his talent was slightly above average.

Better than mediocrity.

But only barely enough to be considered gifted.

With just that much talent, reaching Level 5 was a feat.

The privilege granted to him was immense, but…

‘……It feels like I’m being controlled.’

No, that wasn’t it.

Lecter shook his head, his briefly sharpened gaze sinking back into darkness.

He fixed his eyes on one man.

Han Yuseong.

The most notorious man in the Cradle.

After exchanging a few words with his master, Vulcan, the man turned to look at him.

Eyes gleaming with light.

Amethyst pupils locked onto him.

He studied Lecter for a moment before calmly descending into the arena.

“His movements… they’re not ordinary.”

“That’s a Level 5? He looks more like a Level 7…”

A light landing.

His movements were anything but ordinary. The reason so many in the Cradle spoke his name.

Han Yuseong stared at him intently.

Eyes that seemed to be weighing his options.

His emotionless gaze shifted between Lecter and the proxy knight.

The proxy knight trembled under that stare before glancing at Lecter.

“……This doesn’t seem worth it.”

“One more platinum coin.”

“Ugh… fine. I’ll give it a shot.”

The knight stretched reluctantly.

An adventurer swayed by money—displeasing.

Adventurers of the labyrinth and knights.

The difference between them was vast.

‘Still, two against one.’

Lecter took a deep breath and stared at Han Yuseong.

His relaxed demeanor was irritating.

The confidence that he could take on both Lecter and the adventurer without issue.

“Support me.”

“Understood.”

The two tensed, eyes on the referee. The Black Nether Lord, acting as judge, gave a silent nod.

“The match begins now. It will end if one side loses the will to fight or is deemed defeated.”

As the Black Nether Lord’s words faded.

The adventurer lunged forward.

Lecter matched his speed in an instant.

‘Too hasty.’

Lecter immediately activated his magic. Acceleration magic, strength enhancement.

Thought acceleration and motion correction.

Five spells enveloped the adventurer in a flash.

And then.

Claaang!!

Blue and violet clashed. The swordsman adventurer, Jason, wreathed in azure light, grinned as he parried the strike.

‘Stronger than I expected…’

A name that shook the Cradle.

And the successor to the Sword King, Vulcan.

Those two titles had made him hesitate to accept the request, but.

‘This is doable.’

Of course, having an exceptional mage supporting him helped.

A noble mage, young but already standing on equal footing with him.

Jason swung his blade.

Gift activation—Storm Sword.

Wind howled around his sword in an instant.

Condensing sword energy in a flash.

Then releasing it in a single strike—his ultimate technique.

“Sorry, young master. It’s just business. Don’t hold it against me.”

With those words, Jason unleashed the Storm Sword.

“……I had some expectations, but there’s really nothing to gain here.”

Han Yuseong let out a sigh.

Then, with a slanting motion, he deflected the sword.

“Truly a waste of time.”

A voice tinged with exasperation.

Yet his hand moved.

The sword style wasn’t yet familiar, making it slightly awkward, but.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

Han Yuseong’s sword moved.

At the same time, a crackling sound echoed.

And what appeared was.

‘Flowers…?’

Violet plum blossoms.

Darkness-wreathed amethyst petals bloomed.

“You told me not to hold it against you, right? Don’t hold this against me either.”

He didn’t like the smugness of that “ultimate technique.” The look of certain victory in Jason’s eyes was grating.

Normally, he might’ve humored him a little.

‘Nothing to learn here.’

A storm-like sword energy.

A technique that gathered and released razor-sharp wind in an instant.

Powerful in a single strike—had he not met the Black Nether Lord, he might’ve been slightly impressed.

‘I’d rather use Sword Cloud.’

It wasn’t a worthwhile choice for the current Han Yuseong.

Countless ways to defeat the adventurer flashed through his mind.

Sword Cloud, the orthodox swordsmanship of the Hero.

Simply stepping into his opponent’s range wouldn’t be bad either, but.

‘Rather than those—’

Crackle.

A strange sound reverberated.

The violet plum blossoms were engulfed in flames.

This was the place for it.

A stage to announce Han Yuseong as Vulcan’s official disciple.

– ……You’ve already learned it?

‘No reason not to learn what’s taught right in front of me.’

Answering the Holy Sword, Han Yuseong employed the old man Vulcan’s swordsmanship.

Plum Blaze Dance (梅花炎舞).

As the petals scattered.

Jason’s body was set ablaze.

‘Just enough not to take his life.’

Once that was done.

Han Yuseong turned to Lecter.

The gloomy-eyed noble staring back at him.

‘What to do with him?’

To Han Yuseong, Lecter was just a man blinded by a woman.

When offered the annulment, he had been overjoyed, demanding only that he stay away from Chloe.

That was all he was.

Just a man infatuated with Chloe.

His jealousy was excessive, making him a nuisance, but.

Han Yuseong sighed inwardly and suppressed his killing intent.

‘Not entirely without merit, though.’

In the future, the incidents he would cause were dangerously significant.

His friend had told him as much—so it was certain.

‘I’ll spare the adventurer, but—’

This guy, though, wasn’t worth sparing.

As Han Yuseong steeled his resolve.

And prepared to plant the Everlasting Sickness’s soulstone into Lecter’s chest with Absolute Theft.

[The target is the Everlasting Sickness.]

‘……?’

Han Yuseong stared at Lecter.

His eyes gradually turned icy. Somehow, before he could even use Absolute Theft, Lecter already carried the soul of the Everlasting Sickness.

‘Absolute Theft.’

The pinnacle of thievery, fused with Divine Domain.

It scoured Lecter’s body.

What emerged was.

‘As I thought—the soul of the Everlasting Sickness.’

Then it had to be taken.

But the Divine Domain sensed something amiss.

Something else slumbered within Lecter’s body.

Something comparable to the Everlasting Sickness—no, something beyond it.

Instinctively, I reached for that other presence as well.

‘…….’

I looked at one of the gems now in my hand.

The deep blue soul of the Everlasting Sickness.

And.

A diamond-like gem, pure white beyond compare.

Inscribed upon it was this:

[World── ───Corrupted by ──.]

I had stolen something deeply suspicious.