81. Let’s Find Out Now
What the hell is one thing?
At that look, Joo-Heon pointed to the floor with his finger.
“Before that, wake this bastard up.”
[This bastard?]
As soon as Joo-Heon finished speaking, a soul rose up from the corpse of the dead Grand Sorcerer.
-Wh… What?
It was the Grand Sorcerer’s soul.
Since he had died in the Forbidden Zone, he had also become a vengeful spirit of the Forbidden Zone.
“Now, then, hurry up and tell me.”
What the hell was his plan to do this?
And who helped awaken the Barbarian King?
“I have to hear everything.”
Joo-Heon’s eyes gleamed sharply.
-What do you want to know……
The Grand Sorcerer’s soul was infinitely depressed.
There was no trace of his overbearing and eccentric appearance.
It was the appearance that Joo-Heon knew well.
‘Yeah. This is the original Grand Sorcerer.’
In the past, the Grand Sorcerer had been unable to exert himself under the pressure of the great Barbarian Chief Karasen’s name.
He was respected by the tribe, but he did not act rashly.
‘Did he say blessing? Did his true nature come out thanks to that power?’
That wasn’t important now.
“Tell me. Starting with how you came to the Forbidden Zone.”
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-That…… I just…… to find a way to heal the Chief……
“Lies.”
Without the Chief, the Grand Sorcerer was as good as king.
Even if Karasen’s sanity was unstable and problematic.
“You would have just waited and he would have submitted on his own, so why did you do something so dangerous?”
It suits your personality well.
The Grand Sorcerer’s soul was drenched in sweat.
It was because of what Joo-Heon had said, as if he knew him well.
-Seriously…….
“Let’s see if it can destroy your soul too.”
Jooin’s gaze changed.
An energy that was strong enough to send shivers down the spines of even souls burst out.
[Conqueror]
He could completely conquer even the opponent’s soul.
This was especially the case when they were facing a perfect death like they were now because of Jooin.
The corners of Jooin’s mouth lifted.
‘I’ve been wanting to test out my new powers anyway. Perfect timing.’
＜Blood magic＞ didn’t work on souls without bodies.
But [Conqueror] was different.
If Jooin’s guess was right.
“I can devour your soul without leaving a trace.”
Was Jooin’s glare too ferocious?
The Grand Sorcerer’s soul ran to the Savage King.
-Y-your Majesty, please help me.
[Lowly creature. You’re the reason I’m in this state. Figure it out yourself!]
-Y-your Majesty!
The Savage King pretended not to see the Grand Sorcerer.
He needed to rest after giving up the rest of his energy anyway.
‘He wants me to fight that damn bastard in this state? He seems to have gotten stronger since our last fight.’
Of course, if he used all of his power, it wouldn’t be difficult to get rid of that bastard.
‘No, actually, it might be a bit difficult.’
The biggest problem was that strange power that Jooin had. He might end up losing if he had that.
The Grand Sorcerer’s soul turned pale when the Savage King coldly refused.
He couldn’t help it if things turned out this way.
-W-well…… what happened was…….
The Grand Sorcerer told him everything he knew.
“A strange man helped you?”
-To be exact, he asked me if I didn’t want to be the king who ruled the continent, not the Northern Barbarians.
The man even told him exactly how to do it.
-He said that I should awaken Your Majesty’s soul that was trapped in the Forbidden Grounds.
He just needed to awaken the Savage King’s soul and receive his strength.
Then he could start with the Barbarian village and become the true king of the continent.
That was what the man had said.
If he hadn’t been stopped by Jooin, that was probably what would have happened.
-I don’t know who he was. He just disappeared after that…….
“So you’ve been doing what that bastard told you to do until now?”
-Th-that’s right.
“That’s not all, is it?”
-…….
The Grand Sorcerer clenched his jaw.
It was an expression of will as if he could no longer speak.
In this case, Joo-Yeon had no choice either.
“You’re going to do as you’re told, but you still won’t cooperate until the end.”
Joo-Yeon’s hand seized the Grand Sorcerer’s soul.
[＜Conqueror＞ is activated]
[Caution! The target is not a being with a Monarch-class Job]
[It is a weak being that does not even need to explore the Great Work]
[Conquering the target]
It was the first time he had used this power, but it felt as natural as breathing.
Since it was already suppressed, there was no interference.
Then the Grand Sorcerer’s soul reacted.
-Euaaak!
Was it like having his soul ripped out?
In reality, the Grand Sorcerer’s soul continued to suffer enough to fade away.
The Grand Sorcerer began to beg Joo-Yeon.
-P-please… spare me.
“Why didn’t you just say that when I told you to?”
-I’ll… I’ll tell you! I’ll really tell you!
“No. You need to be punished.”
-Euaaak!
A long time seemed to pass.
The Grand Sorcerer’s soul collapsed, torn to shreds.
He could no longer speak.
However, it didn’t matter to Joo-Yeon.
[The Grand Sorcerer’s soul has been conquered]
[You have acquired the Grand Sorcerer’s abilities]
[You have acquired ＜Grand Sorcerer’s Sorcery＞]
[You have acquired ＜Intuition＞]
[You have acquired ＜Minor Prophecy＞]
He devoured the abilities as the Grand Sorcerer’s soul was conquered.
Since it wasn’t a title above the Legendary-grade, his abilities weren’t strengthened.
‘But it’s not bad.’
＜Intuition＞ and ＜Prophecy＞ were particularly useful.
＜Intuition＞
-You can instinctively grasp the crises that will come to you.
＜Caution＞ You cannot detect crises from enemies that are too powerful.
＜Minor Prophecy＞
-You can detect an uncertain future.
＜Caution＞ It is unknown when or how it will be activated.
It was an ability that was used automatically without any specific need to use it. It was similar to a reflex.
‘Especially ＜Intuition＞ goes well with ＜Crisis Detection＞.’
They were both similar abilities.
If the two abilities could be combined into one, the rank could be raised.
‘Furthermore, it is the magic of a Grand Sorcerer. This is a really rare ability.’
Of course, I couldn’t use it as perfectly as a Grand Sorcerer.
However, if I continued to use it, I would be able to use it better than a Grand Sorcerer.
Moreover, [Conqueror]’s power did not end there.
[A target that has been perfectly subdued and killed]
[You can read the memories of the conquered target]
Memories seeped into Joo-ahn’s mind.
The memories of the Grand Sorcerer being born and growing up. Since most of them were unnecessary, I only recalled important information.
“That guy kept supporting him.”
He provided the funds to build the arena and sent high-ranking visitors who could become connections.
He even protected it so that rumors would not spread outside.
“Isn’t that just like a servant?”
Joo-ahn’s eyes turned to the Barbarian King.
“Did you know about it?”
[Yes.]
“Unexpected?”
[What are you talking about?]
“The great and mighty Barbarian King received help from a mere mortal.”
[Hmph! It was not help. It was just a tribute that I received as an emperor.]
Oh, is that so?
Joo-ahn laughed as if it was funny.
‘It’s different from the time of the Balantino Saga.’
The Barbarian King receiving help from someone other than the barbarians.
The Grand Sorcerer awakening the Barbarian King.
All of it was something Joo-ahn had never experienced.
But I could guess.
And Joo-ahn’s target was the Barbarian King.
His eyes lit up as he thought about how to lure him in.
“To receive tribute from a Demon. You really are a great emperor. I’m impressed.”
[……?!]
The Barbarian King’s soul burned red with anger.
[Demon! There’s no way I would receive tribute from them!]
Bang!
Demons are the enemies of this world.
No one should join hands with them or acknowledge their existence.
Literally, he was like an alien in this world.
Joo-yeon smiled meanly at that reaction.
“What? You should be shameless to a certain extent. Do you think not knowing about it makes the fact that you received an offering from the Mazoku disappear?”
[What are you talking about! Mazoku! You, you wouldn’t have received an offering from those dirty bastards, would you?]
At the Barbarian King’s exclamation, the Great Shaman’s soul let out a groan and said.
-That can’t be true! No matter how much we are called barbarians, there’s no way we would have received help from trash like the Mazoku……
[You! I won’t let you get away with this false accusation……]
“No. It’s definitely the Mazoku.”
[……!]
The Mazoku wants chaos on the continent.
Before the Demon King appears, it was to sap the strength of the continent.
‘They know it too.’
No matter how strong the Demon King and the Mazoku army are, the strength of the continent when united is not to be underestimated.
So before a fight always breaks out, they try to sow discord and sap their strength.
‘This incident with the Great Shaman is like that too. It’s something they would do.’
There had never been anything like this before.
However, Joo-yeon, who had fought the Mazoku for a long time, could sense it.
That the Mazoku was involved in this incident.
Moreover, there was a reason he could be certain of it.
As proof, Joo-yeon looked at the Great Shaman.
-Ah…… No! I really didn’t receive help from the Mazoku……
Soon, a black fog rose from the Great Shaman’s body, which was starting to panic.
-W-what? What is this?
The barbarians reverently enshrined their dead for generations.
No matter how hostile the relationship was, they would at least make sure to bury them. However, look at the situation now.
Woosh.
The corpse was turning black and decaying. As if that wasn’t enough, even the Great Shaman’s soul was turning black.
-Ugh!
The Great Shaman writhed in pain.
His eyes were completely filled with the whites, so you could tell how intense the pain was.
Something was attacking the soul through the Great Shaman’s body.
The Barbarian King was unusually furious.
[This power! Are you saying it’s really the Mazoku!]
The barrier shook violently.
A powerful force spread out in all directions.
[How dare you! You dare try to defile the body and soul of my fellow tribesman right before my eyes!]
The Mazoku’s contract was not an ordinary power.
No matter how great the sorcery, there was absolutely no way to stop it.
Joo-yeon knew it for sure.
‘What they use is a contract between souls.’
The shamanism of the barbarians treasured both soul and body.
There was no way there would be a shamanism that could break the contract of the soul.
As the Barbarian King, he could only be furious.
[That idiot! Are you saying he really made a contract with a demon?]
The Barbarian King’s anger surged to the top of his head.
A contract he didn’t know about had been made behind the scenes.
What’s more, he was furious because it had happened to the Grand Shaman he had appointed as a proxy.
However, Joo-yeon was calm.
“Originally, the demons’ contracts are like that.”
They are secretive and deadly.
They would have gradually eroded him from the bottom without the contractor noticing.
“That’s why you shouldn’t carelessly eat things given by others.”
The Barbarian King frowned.
He wanted to say something to Joo-yeon, but he couldn’t.
For now, he had to at least block the demonic energy rising from that taboo.
[Listen here, lowly human.]
“It’s Joo-yeon.”
[Yes, Joo-yeon… If it’s you, you should be able to block that power now, right?]
Of course, he could block it.
“But I won’t block it.”
[Why not! Are you going to just watch the actions of those dirty bastards!?]
It didn’t matter that they had been fighting just a moment ago.
Anyone who lived on the continent had to be hostile to the demons.
It was the way of this world.
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It was natural for the Barbarian King to be so furious.
[Surely you’re not an agent of the demons!]
Joo-yeon smirked.
“Why would I call myself an agent of those guys?”
[Then?]
Instead of answering, Joo-yeon walked towards the Grand Shaman’s corpse.
“Actually, this demonic contract is quite interesting.”
Although it can be cast without the other party’s knowledge, there are also many contracts that are activated when the other party dies.
It was activated by feeding on the powerful energy of death.
“And all the demons are perverts, you know.”
[What are you talking about?]
“Literally. They’re all watching this place right now.”
[…?!]
As soon as Joo-yeon finished speaking, a change began.
Woong.
Black smoke formed into something like an eyeball.
And then a voice leaked out from the eyeball.
-Interesting. You’ve noticed me.
“Yes, you pervert.”
-…….
The eyeball quivered.
The eyeball transmitted the intense energy of the Demon.
-How dare you know who I am…….
“I’ll find out from now on.”
What?
At that moment, Joo-Yeon’s fingers intertwined.
And his foot pressed down on the corpse of the Grand Warlock.
“It’s a rainbow reflection, kid.”
-……!?
At that moment, Joo-Yeon’s vision changed.
What he saw was no longer the forbidden land of the Barbarians.
A black space.
Someone was sitting alone at a huge table.