82 – Agilrem (17)
“……Ugh.”
Right after Hamel unfolded the sword that split into two, I couldn’t hold back my body and staggered.
I soon regained my balance, but honestly, I wasn’t in a good state.
‘…No sacred place.’
It feels without even needing to inspect it closely.
The fact that my whole body is a complete mess.
It’s not a life-threatening wound like after a sword fight, but it’s definitely not a normal state.
No, to be honest, it’s close to the limit.
I probably can’t fight properly anymore.
Fortunately, the fight is over.
I forced myself to hold back the urge to collapse immediately and raised my gaze.
Then, I saw a single human figure lying on the floor.
“What is this… exactly…?”
With the two split swords diagonally, Hamel muttered in a voice full of doubt.
Although he should be in a situation where an ordinary person would die instantly, he was barely alive, unable to move properly and even speaking.
No, beyond that, he was already trying to heal his wounds, groaning in pain.
Due to the severity of the wounds, immediate recovery seems unlikely, but even that alone is a terrifying healing power.
At this point, it’s definitely beyond what can be called human. Well, it’s a fact I’ve known for a long time.
“What… what is that…?”
With unfocused eyes, Hamel stared through me and asked.
Saying that in a situation where he doesn’t know when he might die with the two split swords is quite something.
Looking at it this way, he might be an unavoidable monster himself.
Starting from the fact that he ascended to the position of a Ten Swords.
Even if born with talent that could reach the sky, the level that can only be reached after inevitable training and suffering is precisely the level of determination.
Although it may not seem so on the surface, the position that someone who has no interest in martial arts can ascend to is definitely not one that just anyone can reach.
Thinking about it, there may be no lack of a warrior’s heart in Hamel.
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…I don’t really want to admit it.
“What… is this…!!”
Now, in desperation, Hamel shouted.
Listening to his voice, I thought.
If someone asked what I had shown a while ago… I honestly don’t know either.
Rather than being a perfect technique of mine, it was just a technique I used in the spur of the moment.
If I were to analyze it…
Before Hamel transformed like that.
When Hamel first fell.
I think it would be more accurate to say that it was a step beyond the technique he showed back then.
What I used back then was a simple slash using determination, rather than a perfect technique.
It was like facing a tentacled wolf near the lake in the vicinity of Raikinwood.
And what I used just a while ago could be considered a step further in that direction.
As I mentioned earlier, I couldn’t originally use that technique.
No, even if I were asked to use it again now, I honestly don’t think I could.
It was more like something I accidentally implemented while vaguely observing.
It started to become visible not long ago.
Probably since the battle with Geomong.
To be more precise, maybe it was during the middle of that fight.
After exerting all my strength in the battle with Geomong, catching a glimpse of the distant state of being called Geomong, I began to see something vague.
Regaining consciousness at Bell’s house, I struggled to catch a glimpse of that vague something while unable to move my body.
Replaying the battle with Geomong in my mind over and over again.
The process was not easy.
It took quite a while to make it as clear as dust.
But perhaps it was due to the long, consistent effort.
At some point, I was able to see its outline to some extent.
And I realized.
That it was the ‘path’.
The technique I last showed was a skill infused with the realization obtained from that ‘path’.
I didn’t use it with intent, it was more of a sudden occurrence.
There was no certainty.
I just had a feeling that it might work vaguely.
And it did work.
Well, that doesn’t mean I completely ascended on that ‘path’.
I should express it as just becoming a bit clearer.
Anyway, I don’t really know the answer to Hamel’s question.
If I had to express it, I could come up with various answers… but I had no intention of teaching them to Hamel.
“Do you think you’ll teach me?”
“You…!”
“But.”
Once again, I cut off Hamel’s attempt to speak with a loud voice.
“If you answer a few questions, you might.”
“….”
Hamel fell silent.
He examined my expression in silence, then spoke.
“…What is it?”
His voice was noticeably calmer than before.
Feeling that we might be able to communicate to some extent now, I brought up the question that was on my mind.
“What about that body, what exactly happened to it? Could it possibly be something like a different species?”
Avoiding the Empire’s gaze immediately is the goal, but in the long run, my goal is to thwart the plans of the ‘organization’.
However, the ‘organization’ is shrouded in mystery from top to bottom.
To confront the ‘organization,’ it is necessary to first uncover their information.
Originally, the corner to obtain that information seemed daunting, but suddenly that corner appeared before my eyes.
It was Hamel.
The aura emanating from Hamel even now is remarkably similar to what Hayden possessed.
Considering that such aura is rare, it is not far-fetched to assume a connection between Hamel and the ‘organization.’
Therefore, seizing this opportunity, I must dig out the organization’s information.
However, diving in headfirst like that from the start is not the wisest choice.
Even if outwardly Hamel seems too preoccupied, inwardly there is a chance he is scrutinizing me carefully.
So, it is better to conceal as much as possible how much I know.
Thus, pretending mere curiosity, I begin with the questions.
“I don’t understand what nonsense you’re talking. I said I’m human. I have been human since birth.”
“Are you saying you were born like that?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then how did you end up with that body?”
…”
In response to my question, Hamel seemed to hesitate.
After what felt like a long time, Hamel’s tightly shut mouth opened again.
“…It was something that happened over 10 years ago. Back then, I was a mercenary who made a name for myself in my own way.”
And so, it became a tale of Hamel’s past.
Around 10 years ago from now.
Hamel was a mercenary who made a name for himself in his own way.
No, it would be an oversimplification to put it that way.
Apart from his peculiar appearance and that strange body, his talent was truly remarkable.
Moreover, even considering his current level, it is unlikely that he was just making a name for himself 10 years ago.
“Back then, I took on missions as a mercenary as they came. I was blinded by money and fame.”
From that point on, he was a materialistic person who became a mercenary for money and reputation.
If he had ventured into the front lines, he could have gained enough fame, but he decided that dealing with demons was not profitable.
Thus, becoming a mercenary, Hamel, with his exceptional skills, quickly gained fame without much difficulty and could also accumulate wealth to a certain extent.
But one day.
“A man came looking for me.”
It was a man he had never seen before.
That man came to Hamel out of the blue and made an unbelievable proposal.
“He said he would grant me eternal life.”
It was an incredibly suspicious offer.
“Naturally, I initially refused. However…”
The man showed Hamel a sample of eternal life.
A sight of someone being beheaded, their heart exploding, yet coming back to life.
“In the end, I accepted the offer.”
Even after seeing such a sight firsthand, the unease remained.
However, the sweetness of the offer they presented was too tempting to reject just because it was merely unsettling.
In the end, Hamel accepted the man’s proposal and received the spell of eternal life.
“So many things changed after that.”
Having received the spell, Hamel soon realized that his body had indeed transformed.
His magical power accumulated more efficiently than before, becoming usable, and his physical strength noticeably enhanced.
Moreover, his flexibility improved to an unbelievable level.
Hamel was extremely satisfied.
However.
In life, as things come, there are also things that must go, such is the way of the world.
“In exchange for eternal life, the man asked me for a favor. It was a request to kill a man.”
“…Was that Miguel?”
“Yes.”
“….”
Hamel, calmly accepting, continued, “He said it was fine if I refused. But when I heard the details, it wasn’t a bad deal for me either. It was an opportunity to possibly take over the underworld of Agilrem, a city of significant proportions, maybe even the largest on the continent. In the end, I accepted the request, attacked Miguel, and killed him. Then I entered Agilrem and took over the underworld.”
“…Was that the end of your connection with that man?”
“No.”
Hamel shook his head.
“After I gained control of the underworld, that man contacted me again. This time, he offered to help me take over Agilrem.”
Hamel promptly accepted the offer.
“Even if I became the leader of the underworld, I judged it was too much to challenge Agilrem. I still thought he was a suspicious character, but… well, I figured it was pointless to doubt at that time.”
With the man’s assistance, Hamel finally seized Agilrem as well.
And when he became the actual ruler of Agilrem, the man reappeared before Hamel.
“He then asked if I would join his plan.”
“What plan is that?”
Swallowing dry saliva, I asked.
It was a crucial moment.
It was evident from the context that the man was clearly part of an ‘organization.’
Perhaps now I could uncover the true purpose and plan of this ‘organization.’
With that thought in mind, I waited for Hamel to continue speaking.
Finally, Hamel opened his mouth once more.
“He said it was to create a new world.”
“A new… world?”
“Yes. He told me he would completely destroy the current structure and rebuild the world from scratch.”
“…And the specific details?”
“The specifics are…”
I waited for Hamel’s words to continue, holding my breath, but no matter how long I waited, Hamel’s voice did not reach me.
Feeling puzzled by this, I looked back at Hamel.
“….!”
Hamel, too, appeared bewildered.
Like a person unable to speak, Hamel only stuttered without making a sound.
It was clearly a strange phenomenon.
The person who had been speaking perfectly fine until a moment ago suddenly couldn’t make a sound.
That peculiar state persisted for a while longer.
“This is…!”
Finally, when Hamel’s mouth opened, his face showed clear confusion and anger.
I realized.
What caused this phenomenon to occur.
“…Geumjero-gun.”
I, too, realized.
The reason Hamel couldn’t continue speaking.
Hamel had been subjected to a Geumje.
And it wasn’t difficult to guess the person who had placed that Geumje.
Probably, it was ‘that man’ Hamel had encountered.
“How dare you, how dare you to me…!”
As if just realizing that he was under a Geumje, Hamel raged wildly.
With his neck just hanging there, it didn’t carry much weight, but still.
As Hamel raged on wildly, I started walking slowly towards him.
“You…! No, stop! Y-yes! Spare me! It seems like you’re investigating those bastards, but if you spare me, I’ll help you! Let’s join forces against them…!”
Hamel began urgently shouting, perhaps understanding my intentions.
However, I didn’t stop my steps.
“Enough! Enough…! Set aside your deep-seated grudge and look ahead! If you spare me, it will surely be a great help…!”
Despite Hamel shouting so loudly that the surroundings echoed, my movement didn’t halt.
I grasped the thick resentment emanating from Hamel, lying on the ground.
And, I aimed the tip of the spear towards Hamel.
“Neeeoohhhhh…!!”
Realizing my determination, Hamel distorted his face in anger, but
With a swift motion,
The spear pierced through Hamel’s head indifferently.
And from that point on, his voice was no longer heard.