96
Under the parasol held by the woman, the pale-faced young man walked leisurely, as if taking a stroll.
─He writes interesting stuff.
A sweet countertenor penetrated my mind.
“Will you not become a part of me?”
The young man’s black pupils were fixed on me.
Curved like a crescent moon, seeming amused.
What was contained within was a ‘collecting obsession’ bordering on madness…
Oma, the Devilmaker Auguste.
“Come with me.”
A sweet, seductive charm swayed my mind. The eyes I met were engulfed by desire.
“It’s the enchantment of the Maan. Do not make eye contact with him.”
Ivonne warned, raising her hand to shield my eyes.
Yet, Ivonne herself seemed troubled, as if a voice echoed in her mind.
Struggling herself, she was even taking care of an outsider like me. From the beginning, I had sensed that Ivonne was a deeply considerate person.
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However, it was either gratitude or unnecessary care.
“It’s fine.”
“But…”
I lowered Ivonne’s hand that covered my eyes.
“It’s nothing.”
I stared straight into Auguste’s eyes.
My unwavering resolve couldn’t be shaken by mere Maan enchantment.
Surprised, Auguste’s eyes widened.
“Oh, fascinating that my charm doesn’t work on you.”
The collecting obsession in his eyes turned into madness.
In the next moment, something extended towards me from him.
The ‘Black Thread,’ forcing contracts with others, visible only to my soul’s eye.
The biggest weapon of the one who instilled fear in Auguste in the superhuman society.
To me, it appeared as nothing but a crude imitation of a contract thread.
A true contract thread is tens of times tougher and hundreds of times stickier than this shoddy thread.
The mental sharing achieved through mutual understanding is incomparable to such a crude thread.
“Begone.”
Seeing the black thread flying towards my forehead, I furrowed my brows and flicked my hand.
Sizzle—
A blue flame rose, burning the thread and lashing out at Auguste like a brushstroke.
As Auguste raised his hand to ward off the flames…
aaah!
The blue flames, like a wildfire, engulfed him.
“Kyaaah! Help!”
The woman in a dress screamed, throwing aside the parasol she was holding.
“Quick, put out the fire, Urobo!”
It was a moment when the woman seemed at a loss, rolling her eyes as if she had lost her mind.
“Stop the theatrics, Maril.”
As Auguste’s voice resounded, the blue flames vanished as if washed away.
Soon after the flames dissipated, I saw August appear before me.
“A monster, are you.”
He stood there unscathed, as if untouched by the inferno. I had expected as much, but there was not a single trace of scorch on his clothing.
It was said that even the flames of Parang couldn’t pierce August’s protective barrier.
However, in a different sense, he seemed to have provoked the lad.
“Can you see the line of my contract?”
August’s eyes gazed at me with astonishment.
“And this fire…”
The astonishment quickly turned into an insatiable greed.
“Indeed, I must make you mine.”
August raised his hand, pointing at me.
“Bring that to me.”
“As you command.”
“Understood.”
The steward and a woman in a dress politely bowed. In the next moment…
Boom!
The woman in the dress, Maril, shattered the ground as she soared into the air.
In an instant, Maril reached the airspace above my head and waved her hand.
Dozens of spider threads weaved a web, enclosing me as they descended.
Suddenly, beside me, the air grew hot, and red flames radiated into the void.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Kyaaah!”
The spider threads melted in an instant, and Maril plummeted like a shot bird.
As Maril descended, her dress burned, her flesh charred black.
“Ivonneee!”
Numerous blue veins protruded grotesquely on her face, white pupils darkened, a chilling sight as Maril screamed in agony.
The one who caused her fall was none other than Ivonne.
August’s former colleague, known as the “Witch of Flames.”
“I’ll kill you!”
From Maril’s dress, dozens, hundreds of spider threads poured out, exploding towards Ivonne.
The spider threads grazed the stone statues of the cathedral, the lampposts, cutting them sharply.
Crack!
The force dividing the landscape was as strong as steel.
However, there was no hint of emotion on Ivonne’s face as she watched.
Whack, whack.
With each swing of the fan in her hand, blades of flame rose, shredding the spider threads.
“Ahh!”
Maril’s body sliced by the flames, burning, as she screamed.
“Stop! Stop it!”
Ivonne continued to swing the fan relentlessly.
Her usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found, as she mercilessly wielded the fan as if devoid of any concern for the suffering of her opponent, making it clear why she was called a ‘witch.’
Merrill fleeing like a burning boulder. Ivonne did not pursue her.
On the steps of the cathedral, a dressed novitiate had taken a seat unnoticed.
“Still as ruthless as ever, Ivonne.”
“I am Seorik. Possessing abilities close to the pinnacle of a martial artist.”
Ivonne calmly detailed the novitiate’s background.
“To be close to the pinnacle is not something easily dismissed.”
The novitiate, Seorik, swiftly rushed up the stairs.
Bang! Bang!
Ivonne brandished the fan, igniting two flames on the steps.
Whoosh!
Seorik’s fist, dodging the blade, struck Ivonne.
Ivonne, blocking the fist with the fan, was pushed back.
“My skills have already reached the pinnacle.”
Seorik spoke with a strange obsession.
I also knew his background.
Despairing at the limits of his talent as a ‘pinnacle martial artist,’ he was persuaded by August.
Trading a powerful physique for dealings with August.
Bang!
Seorik, raising his arm to block the flying flames, staggered.
Ivonne did not miss the opportunity, continuously wielding the fan.
At that moment, dozens of spider threads surged towards Ivonne.
Swoosh!
Ivonne, narrowing her forehead, altered the direction of the fan she was wielding.
The flames melted the surging spider threads in an instant.
But in doing so, she lost sight of Seorik.
And now, free Seorik’s target was not Ivonne, but me.
Seorik charged towards me at an incredible speed, regardless of my age.
I, with a cool tongue, accelerated my body and leaped aside.
Bang!
Seorik’s fist hit, causing the outer wall of the cathedral to crumble.
‘If that had hit, it would have been the end.’
Just the thought of being hit by that fist sent shivers down my skin.
“To dodge that, you truly are a talent worthy of August’s attention.”
Seorik turned to me with a face of understanding.
“If you couldn’t dodge, you would have died, right? Wasn’t August the one who wanted me brought here?”
“If I were to die from just this, then I wouldn’t be worth bringing.”
He’s making judgments as he pleases.
Glancing briefly at Ivonne, she was entangled at Merrill’s feet.
Despite being cut with each strike of the flame blade, she stubbornly clung on, appearing tougher than a stubborn old goat.
Seoiric was blocking the entrance to the cathedral, the only refuge available.
“Sigh.”
I took a deep breath and swallowed the red potion I pulled from my pocket.
[Red potion (Fire) consumed.]
Vitality surged through my body as the status screen updated.
[Stamina: 5 → 9]
[Duration: 09:59]
I bent my knees, assuming a charging stance.
“Face-to-face, then. Fine.”
Seoiric, smiling as if pleased, assumed a stance as if inviting me.
The next moment, I charged at Seoiric.
Thud!
My body, fueled to the maximum, collided head-on in an instant.
Oomph!
Then, all of Gram’s magical power was absorbed into my body without a trace left behind.
Cells awakened, strength coursing through my entire being.
Yet, Seoiric remained motionless, still poised to strike with his fist.
I continued to rush towards Seoiric as if to collide head-on.
＜Body Acceleration＞.
In an instant, the world seemed to slow down as Seoiric’s movements became clear and tangible.
As the distance closed, Seoiric’s fist retracted slowly as if preparing for a shot.
─It was that exact moment.
Thud!
Maintaining my charging posture, I abruptly turned at a right angle and slipped into the cathedral entrance.
“!”
Seoiric, who was in a stance to strike, blinked dumbfoundedly as if turned into a startled dog.
“Heh.”
Belatedly realizing the situation, Seoiric let out a bewildered chuckle.
“Escaping, are we?”
Seoiric muttered, looking at the vanished cathedral entrance.
***
“Sigh.”
Descending into the underground passage of the cathedral, I breathed out.
If Seoiric were to pursue, I had intended to use Anastasia to distract him, but fortunately, that scenario did not unfold.
And since the entrance to this underground passage was magically concealed, finding it would take quite some time.
Nevertheless, it was too early to relax, so I swiftly prepared for the next operation.
The underground was littered with cement bags, likely serving as a base in the abandoned area where the Undeemons were doing construction.
“Cement.”
The idea that came to mind was crystal clear. But to bring my imagination to life, I needed some helping hands.
“Everyone, come out.”
Descending to the basement 2nd floor, when they shouted, those classified as ‘non-combat personnel’ came out. There were only four of them. However, these few were sufficient.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s happening?”
The twin sisters, Lydia and Niel, were present.
“Lydia controls water, and Niel controls earth, right?”
The two sisters manipulate ‘water’ and ‘earth’ using magic. What happens when cement is added to the mix?
“Niel, let’s dig some soil with my brother.”
“Sure!”
“What about Lydia? What is Lydia doing!?”
“Lydia is over there, would you help Mineopah mix the powder in the bag with water?”
“Sure!”
I quietly asked Mine, who was said to be from Incheon,
“Do you know Gongguri?”
“G-Gongguri, you say?”
“Speak quietly so the kids won’t hear.”
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
Lydia and Niel are children who need special care. A single wrong word taught could be fully absorbed, transforming them into ‘villains.’ They are pure and absorb things quickly.
“But will that work?”
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“It has to work.”
“?”
Leaving Mine puzzled, I instructed Niel to drill a hole in the middle of the stairs.
“Niel, here. Dig with all your might.”
“Sure!”
Crack!
“······.”
As the ground sank, a hole that could easily bury about five people was quickly completed before my eyes, and I fell silent for a moment.
Is this right?
“Excuse me, who classified them as non-combat personnel?”
“Ebonne said that children are not allowed to······”
Watching Lydia create a large amount of water in the deep hole and thoroughly mix the cement, I scratched my cheek.
I thought this would be tricky, but it’s a piece of cake once you say the word.
Now, all that’s left is to dry it with blue magic.
So, should that monstrous old man fall in here?
“He should fall in.”
That’s what his energy is saying.
***
“Here we are.”
Click!
As Seoric surveyed the grand cathedral, he kicked a surface with his foot.
And then, the marble floor vanished with a swoosh, revealing an iron door.
Kiiii-
Seyoric, who opened the unlocked iron door, descended the stairs leading underground step by step.
However, he couldn’t go far before coming to a halt.
“I thought you were hiding. Have you resigned yourself?”
“Since it seems stalling is the only option.”
I, standing on the second basement floor, looked down at Seyoric.
“So, I have one proposal to make.”
“I cannot accept any proposal other than becoming a part of Lord August’s household.”
Seyoric, who had come down to the second basement floor, stood facing me at a distance.
“Oh, about that, I was going to accept it.”
I gazed at the floor absentmindedly, not even knowing what I was talking about, speaking vaguely as it came out of my mouth.
The spot where Seyoric was standing right now was directly above the hole Nielle had dug.
Nielle had restored it so well, like a lid, that stepping on it seemed perfectly safe.
However, the moment Nielle removed the lid, one would immediately fall into the hole.
Of course, the old man Seyoric was not naive enough to fall for just that.
The moment even a slight vibration came from the floor, he would spring into action.
What I needed there was my energy.
“He hasn’t caught on.”
I subtly shifted my energy to set a trap right above Seyoric’s head.
When he jumps, the energy from the jump would propel him downward due to the elasticity of my energy, causing a dreadful trap.
Fortunately, Seyoric didn’t notice my energy at all.
Instead, he made a sudden puzzled expression. Why?
“Oh, you intend to accept?”
Ah, seems like I said I would accept.
“Well, but I’ve changed my mind.”
“Huh? What—”
Ignoring Seyoric’s shocked expression, I shouted.
“Nielle!”
-Yes!
The next moment, the ground beneath Seyoric collapsed.
“Hah, what a cheap trick.”
Smirking, Seyoric leaped before the ground even shook.
“Cement? Is this all—!”
As he leaped, Seyoric, who had been peering down at the hole below, suddenly looked bewildered.
“What—!”
Suddenly feeling resistance around his head and neck, he continued to fall at the same speed he leaped, gaining momentum.
“Oh no!”
Even in the midst of all that, Seyoric, with amazing reflexes, twisted his body in mid-air and tried to brace against the wall. Of course, I wasn’t just watching.
“Not happening.”
The Gram’s thorns mercilessly pierced Seyoric’s body as he tried to brace against the wall.
“Ugh!”
Seolrik, plunging into the gray swamp while pushing away the rain.
“Blue.”
“Squawk!”
Before I knew it, Blue, standing beside me, spread his wings and grabbed my shoulder.
Instantly, the air in the trap dried up as if a dryer had been turned on, and the cement began to harden firmly.
Eventually, Seolrik stiffened, leaving only his head and one arm.
Of course, the time to bind Seolrik like this was not more than a few minutes.
The cement was already starting to crack.
“Too fast, just wait a bit.”
I raised the anti-gravity power of Icarus’ ring to the maximum and shot it towards him.
“!”
Seolrik, who was trying to break the cement, looked startled as the magic flew away.
“Let’s see if you can withstand my attack without magic.”
With a sly smile, I unleashed everything I had.
The rain of Gram. Anastasia’s light saturation. Blue’s flames.
A huge force, a fusion of energy and magic, light and flames, descended towards Seolrik.
────────!
***
Meanwhile, behind the cathedral.
Hanseyeon, who had dealt with two mines, found everything around her completely erased.
It seemed like there were three rooms beyond this point, but all the walls and objects had disappeared, forming one giant room.
“Was that a bit too much?”
With a slight rise in temperature, Hanseyeon, who seemed to have exerted a bit too much force, chuckled.
But upon recalling the reason, she realized she had actually reacted too weakly.
After all, it was only natural to do anything when her most precious possession given by Haesol was insulted.
Caressing the ring of the abyss with affectionate hands, Hanseyeon tried to leave the ruined room.
However, she stopped after a few steps.
“Oh…”
A huge shadow fell on the ground. Turning around, she saw a giant figure with disheveled hair standing behind her.
“A mine…?”
Without hesitation, Hanseyeon immediately swung her magic without looking around.
The darkness that flowed out sluggishly engulfed the giant in an instant.
And then.
“Huh?”
Hanseyeon’s eyes widened as she witnessed what the giant was doing.
“Eating the magic?”
The giant with its mouth wide open grabbed the magic and chewed it up without leaving a trace.
“Heh, interesting.”
A strange smile formed on Hanseyeon’s lips.