Rematch (4)

Hold your breath. Don’t make a sound. I smacked Sirek on the back of his head, who was floundering, and forcibly hid him. I didn’t expect to run into him so soon… Our paths overlapped. If he’s here as soon as the black market opens, they must be pretty desperate too. We hid behind the corner, only sticking our heads out to observe the guy presumed to be Fordill.

It was just as Pesker, who had already ascended to the heavens, had said. His entire visible skin was wrapped in bandages. Meticulously wrapped without exception. Judging by his singed hair, he seemed to have burns all over his body.

If it was an attack that could cause burns all over his body, it must have been from the attack back then. The aftermath of the massive explosion I unleashed at the very top of the Labyrinth, sacrificing my body. I really thought I was going to die back then. My arm flew off, my flesh burned away… I later heard that a Demon froze the space, so I barely survived, but looking back, it was the most thrilling moment.

I hid, reminiscing about what happened back then.

‘He couldn’t heal. Is it the World Tree’s influence?’

Perhaps as the World Tree suppressed the Demonic energy, the Demon’s transcendent healing power was also lost. One question is, why would he come here even giving up on healing? The gap before the re-pursuit begins. It should be at least a week, but he really couldn’t do anything during that time?

“Who the hell is that-“

“「Shut up.」”

I shut Sirek up and assessed the situation. First, I decided to ignore why he couldn’t heal. Most of the time, there’s no need to understand things my brain can’t comprehend. There are only two cases where I give up on understanding. When it’s something beyond common sense, or when knowing it won’t change the outcome. No matter what variables there are, the fact that I have to catch that bastard and beat him to a pulp remains unchanged.

-Friend. Shall I subdue him?

When I came to my senses, a fluffy ball of wind was circling my ear. It was a wind spirit summoned by Lanya. She whispered to me using the spirit. I sent a wait signal without turning my head. It’s not time yet.

‘The other one isn’t visible.’

I carefully scanned the surroundings. With the absolute protection of the World Tree blocking Demonic energy, scanning the surroundings with Mana would only reveal indistinguishable life reactions. So I had to see with my own eyes.

That’s because they’re ‘twin’ Demons. Guys who move as one. But the other one, Cordill, wasn’t visible. Depending on the situation, he could be the most dangerous threat-he, the variable himself, with the heinous ability to block all magic. He wasn’t in sight.

‘Should I make contact first?’

But I couldn’t choose the option of giving up on Fordill. It’s a chance I’ve finally caught. A chance to end the long, long chase. Even if a battle breaks out, I had to make contact.

‘If things go south, I’ll at least kill one.’

The scenario I’m worried about is catching one but not both.

However. The scenario of missing both doesn’t exist. The moment that bitch came into my sight, her fate was sealed. A fate to be trampled and killed miserably. But I still can’t let my guard down. The biggest variable is magic expulsion. The sanctuary of Demons that nullifies even the magic of an Archmage.

But it’s not like I didn’t prepare countermeasures. Cordill’s ‘Expulsion Incantation’ has the effect of expelling all magic emitted externally. But conversely, Mana circulating within the body wasn’t affected. A fact I learned through direct experience.

I’ll use this.

‘Attacks that sacrifice the body… are my specialty.’

I was planning to use my arm as a bomb. If the sanctuary unfolds and Fordill approaches, I’ll condense Mana inside my arm and detonate it. I won’t use the simple and brutal method of blowing up my ‘whole body’ like at the top of the Labyrinth anymore.

If I had to prioritize the order of detonation, approaching the Demon is the top priority. After that, condense Mana in my arm, cut it off, create distance, and then detonate it. One explosion per arm… no, if I reduce the power a bit, one explosion per finger. The cost-effectiveness was quite good.

To me, the body is a consumable.

Come at me if you dare.

“Sirek. Go first.”

“-….”

“「You can talk.」”

Sirek, whose silence magic was lifted, speaks urgently.

“…It looks like you’re involved in something dangerous?”

“That bitch is a Demon.”

“Oh, good heavens. Oh, Winter God-isiyeo. My body won’t return to the snowy mountains, and only my soul will leave to smell the scent of my homeland. Please take care of this poor wolf’s plight-“

“Take this.”

I hand Sirek a box containing a World Tree Leaf, interrupting his prayer. I urged him to move, pushing his back.

“We stand out too much even with our faces covered. As a local, you’ll draw less suspicion.”

“Ah, shit. Damn it. Then why did we disguise ourselves?”

Sirek, who spat out profanity, took the box and left the corner. His gait was confident, considering his fearful tone. He walked a bit and had to endure the stares of the two arguing in front of the reception table.

“…Who is it?”

“Oh, Sirek, perfect timing. We have new beast tranquilizers in stock.”

Fordill and the Dwarf Elder spoke simultaneously. Fordill’s eyes narrowed like the waning moon. The eyes visible through the bandages were bloodshot, with veins popping out. Like a red moon. Those eyes that bloomed in the darkness. Aimed precisely at Sirek’s eyes.

“….”

“Oh, long time no see, Elder.”

Sirek stood in front of the table, looking around. He seemed uncomfortable with Fordill’s gaze, constantly tapping his nails on the table, showing signs of anxiety. So far, so good. Those who come to sell World Tree Leaves are usually anxious. So, Sirek’s anxiety was actually a natural appearance. The Dwarf Elder says.

“Did you come to sell that box this time? The material seems to be Farnium… If you sell it, I’ll give you a good price. We’re short on Farnium these days because of the barrier repair period. If we melt it down and make ingots, the Elves will love it.”

The Dwarf Elder changed the subject to the box in Sirek’s hand. He didn’t even glance at her, as if the conversation with Fordill was over. Sirek kept looking around and placed the box on the table.

-Teong. A dizzying metallic sound reverberated through my spine. The Dwarf seemed to sense something from this sound and wore a pleasant smile.

“Hmm! Definitely Farnium! And, not just any Farnium! Something inside is a bit more high-end, with higher purity-…”

The Dwarf, who said that far, flinched.

“You don’t mean.”

“…….”

Farnium is usually used as a weapon material, but it has countless other uses. Thanks to its property of releasing Mana, making it into a box can make the contents’ Mana circulate inside. It can maintain magical freshness to the maximum, a method often used by trading companies.

There’s no way a Dwarf wouldn’t know the properties of metal. The reason he flinched like this must be because this is a black market. There weren’t many things that could be put in a Farnium box in a place like this.

“Is it a World Tree Leaf?”

For example. A World Tree Leaf. The Dwarf Elder muttered softly. In a small voice that no one could hear, only Fordill and Sirek. Fortunately, I and Lanya, who has sharp ears and enhanced hearing with Mana, could hear it.

“You got a Leaf?”

A cracked metallic voice. Fordill cuts in between them. Full moon滿月. Her red eyes shone brightly. Surprised, Sirek hurriedly raised his hand to stop her. He didn’t stop there, even pretending to untie the chain tied to the box and turn it over, as if telling her not to come any closer.

“Stop right there. You want to see the Leaf crumble?”

“…!”

Sirek witnessed her nails sharpening. A reflection反射 that doesn’t appear in humans. It wouldn’t be strange if he were an Ain, but the bandaged woman in front of him wasn’t an Ain. His mouth dried up.

“Hey. Do you know how hard it was for me to get this?”

“…I’ll pay the price.”

“How much?”

“Twenty gold coins. That should be enough.”

“….”

But like a lie, the fear took control. It was the moment when the experience of rolling around in the shadows was displayed.

The Dwarf Elder puts gold coins on the table. Twenty gold coins that she paid as a down payment. Sirek’s eyes widened. It was real gold. Even after excluding the brokerage fee, he could receive eighteen coins. He could live comfortably even with just one coin, let alone ten, but eighteen? It was too much money for him, who had been rolling around in the shadows his whole life.

“…….”

Sirek’s hand holding the box trembled.

This time, it wasn’t fear but greed.

Greed grew, intersecting with fear.

‘Okay. Hand it over first.’

The course of action was decided.

Receive the Leaf and wait for Cordill to appear. Waiting time is 30 seconds. If Cordill doesn’t appear during that time, Lanya and I will cooperate to subdue Fordill.

“Lanya. Get ready. Thirty seconds after receiving the box. I’ll move.”

“…Okay. Friend. Be careful.”

I manipulate the Geumje and send a message to Sirek.

-Hand it over. Run away as soon as you get the money. I can’t guarantee your life after that.

Gulp. The sound of swallowing. Sirek picked up the gold coins and put them in his pocket, then left the box and ran away. I and Lanya were not in his sight. He turned the corner and ran out, receiving the glares of everyone in the black market.

“What an amazing coincidence! For the seller to come when the person in question is here. And that too, that precious… World Tree Leaf.”

The last words were careful. The Dwarf Elder, who received the brokerage fee, wiped the gold coins with a satisfied smile. Fordill muttered.

“Can you hear it? It’s a bit of a shame that it’s an old Leaf… but this is enough.”

10 seconds.

No other life reactions felt.

“Haa… finally.”

20 seconds.

Fordill turns her back. We moved a few steps to avoid being caught in her sight.

25 seconds.

She opens the box. The red full moon that rose in her eyes. Soaks the World Tree Leaf.

“Now… it’s over. Cordill.”

29 seconds.

Attack start.

-Kugung! The ground vibrated, the wind swirled, and the world shook. I held a decoy Earth Sword and cast multiple spells. I’ll kill her in one go using all possible means without destroying the surroundings. It wouldn’t be satisfying to just break her horns and finish it. Compared to relatively moderate Demons like Gaolise or Artania, who established bases and only filled their pure desires, these guys were of poor quality.

“…!!”

I run, merging with the darkness. My face is covered with a veil. Because of that, she couldn’t confirm my face. Fordill thought I was just running in for money and tried to kill me by pulling out her nails, but she sensed an unusual energy and chose to flee.

But.

This moment of hesitation was enough.

The decoy Earth Sword did its job. I threw away the Earth Sword and stamped the ground to create a wall. Kugung. A pillar of earth rises, blocking Fordill’s escape route. She panicked as a huge wall, just over 3 meters high, rose in front of her and turned around.

“You are…!”

Our eyes meet. The black veil fluttered in the wind, and for a moment, my eyes were revealed. My red eyes, seen so closely, must be a very familiar gaze. The same distance between you and me as back then. This is probably the first meeting without an explosion, right? I smiled and prepared the next magic. There’s no time to hesitate.

“Quietly, freeze.”

-Jeojeojeojeok!! A chilling cold spread from under my feet. Bitter cold酷寒. The ground froze, binding Fordill’s feet. It wouldn’t budge with ordinary strength.

Unable to move and groaning, Fordill. The harsh cold immediately caused her feet to necrose. Fordill, who lost sensation in her legs, suddenly staggered and leaned on the wall blocking her way to balance herself.

I slid across the ice and activated the magic I had cast in advance. The casting point was the wall she was leaning on. And both hands. Kugugung. Magic circles formed where she was holding the wall. Fordill, who belatedly noticed, hurriedly tried to take her hands off-

“Too late.”

Piles of stones were created, binding Fordill’s hands. Piles of stones, stronger than Farnium in terms of strength, wrapped around her wrists like handcuffs. With this, both her hands and ankles were sealed.

“You, youuuuu!!”

“You have the strength to shout?”

She belatedly took out her nails, but there was no space to swing them. I formed a Yeonseong hand seal. When I crossed my hands, numerous spears were created behind my back. All of the ice and snow spears that appeared simultaneously in the air. Flew, aiming at Fordill’s vitals.

“Aaaaaaack!!!”

Two in each arm. Two in each foot. Five in the abdomen. Fordill, who was vomiting blood and wailing, was no different from a skewer. I formed a Yeonseong hand seal again and created a sharp blade on my wrist and went straight through. Crossed the ice. The accelerated body didn’t stop and sprinted towards Fordill’s neck. I reach out and close my eyes. Death approaches.

“Aeu, keuk.”

The aim was accurate.

-Puuuk. The sensation of tearing flesh spread from my wrist to my whole body. I twisted the cervical vertebrae firmly after smashing them and then tore them sideways, pulling out the ice blade. The Demon’s blood, which hasn’t lost its warmth yet, hits my cheek.

‘I wanted to capture her alive if I could…’

The Demon race has too many variables.

It was easier to kill one and find the rest.

“Friends. Recover the box.”

The box flies away on the wind. Lanya, who summoned the wind spirit, picked up the box that had fallen to the ground and recovered the Leaf. I handled it too perfectly, so she didn’t really play an active role-…

“…Friend.”

Lanya’s face is dark.

‘Haa….’

What’s the problem again.