◈ Episode 464. As Familiar to Me as Breathing (2)
A familiar silhouette.
Its identity was surely Kichi, the former leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
If I conceded a hundred times over, Kichi might know my full name.
Back when Kichi had broken her promise and wandered the continent alone. ‘She might have heard my full name somewhere.’ It had been a resounding legend and all that, making such a ridiculous racket.
But hearing it from someone else and hearing me say it myself were on completely different levels, weren’t they? Above all, I wouldn’t be able to make any more excuses, would I? Not when I thought of Granfell’s temperament, which never took back words once spoken! ‘It’s over now, Hoyeol. If you give up, it’ll be easier…….’ But then. ‘……
Wait.’
Granfell’s sharp aesthetic eye twitched.
I, Lee Hoyeol, who lacked delicacy, was reminded of a fact I had forgotten for a moment. ‘Why is her hair long?’ I wasn’t talking about my own long, flowing silver hair.
Kichi had definitely cut her hair short, with it falling around her cheeks.
And it wasn’t as if she would be wearing extensions like Wensu had said.
Yet before I knew it, Kichi had long, straight hair.
That was not the only question.
Shrring.
The crisp rasp of metal rang out.
Beneath the shadow.
There did not seem to be the slightest hesitation in Kichi as she drew a dagger.
Kichi was the one who had returned Granfell’s sister’s hair to me. ‘Kichi is pointing a weapon at me? That’s impossible.’ At that point, I could be certain.
That was not Kichi.
It was “something” that looked exactly like Kichi.
Perhaps it was not that strange after all.
Kichi was the master of the Shadow Corridor.
She had said she had made a contract with the Shadow God.
Suddenly, the attendant’s words came to mind.
“However, now that the Shadow Corridor has opened, ‘distinguished guests’ other than Lord Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo have also entered the corridor.”
No way, were those distinguished guests referring to contractors who had made contracts with the Shadow God? What gave certainty to my guess was, as expected, Granfell’s insight, which did not easily forget anything once witnessed.
Even under bright sunlight.
Kichi had no shadow, like a ghost.
Then the conclusion was clear.
I opened my mouth toward Kichi’s shadow.
“You have mistaken the master you must serve.”
It was not simply Kichi’s shadow.
To all the distinguished guests, all the shadows, who had come to the Shadow Corridor.
I declared.
“Your master is not something like the Shadow God.”
I did not know what the contents of that unfair contract were.
But shadows were originally supposed to have masters, weren’t they?
Of course, there were no shadows moved or inspired by my words.
The attendant prepared the next strike and murmured.
“To be able to speak so confidently even in such a situation. As expected of your reputation, you possess remarkable eloquence. However, it is unfortunate, Lord Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.”
You keep reciting that long name so well. Doesn’t your mouth hurt?
While hiding my displeasure,
I raised Gwicheol.
“As I told you, the Shadow Corridor has its own rules. And upon you has been placed an unprecedented bounty of no less than 1,000 Karma.”
A bounty.
At those words, for an instant, I shifted my gaze.
I checked the blinking system message.
[Current Bounty: 1,000 Karma]
Karma.
It must refer to a unit of currency. The attendant had called it exceptional. And just by looking at the number of distinguished guests rushing at me, I could tell it was an extremely large sum.
At the same time, I had expectations. ‘Can I buy something amazing with this?’ Let’s consider the appropriate level of the Shadow Corridor.
A whopping two thousand to three thousand.
Above all, it was the Shadow “God,” wasn’t it? ‘Perhaps…….’ I might be able to purchase [Mythic]-grade items with Karma.
After all, even if it was counting chickens before they hatched, I could at least put my lips to the bowl.
However, incorruptible integrity itself.
A man who had transcended worldly desires.
It seemed our Lord Granfell was not like that.
“To harm the innocent for a mere bounty.”
In any case, like master, like weapon.
—Master. It is time to make the Sword Gang shine.
It seemed Gwicheol was the same.
“Thank you. I can dispose of you all with greater sincerity now.”
In any case, fine.
After all, unless I dealt with them sincerely, I did not think I would be able to survive and set foot in the social hall right in front of me. The corridor was structured so that several passageways led to a single entrance to the social hall. ‘If I get held up here, even more distinguished guests will pour in.’
So I set my first objective.
I did not know what kind of space the social hall was.
But it would be better than facing the shadows that would continue to swarm in.
The moment I thought that, Gwicheol resonated.
—Master. In this moment, what is my name?
So what had to come had come.
That dizzying name suddenly surfaced in my mind, [Sword That Cuts Illusions: Illusion Breaker]. The first path of the Sword Path of Pride, which I had stepped onto in order to slice apart Raymon Sean’s prototype. ‘Yes, it will be necessary.’
Because there were no demons, [Natural Enemy Relationship] was not activated.
It meant that I, who had only just passed level 1,000, had to use every means and method available to survive in a hidden piece with an appropriate level of 2,000 to 3,000.
At last, it was time to pioneer the second path of the Sword Path of Pride.
So.
With my damned naming sense, I spoke.
“Devour.”
Now you’re even adding an activation word, Granfell?
“Shadow Slayer.”
Truly, no matter how many times I heard it, I could not get used to it. It was simply a feast of names that sounded excessively plausible on the surface. Fortunately amid misfortune, I had no time to suffer from shame.
Swish.
Fast.
And sharp.
Surprise attacks poured toward only my vital points.
As expected, were they contractors of the Shadow God?
To put it simply, each and every one of them was the leader of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
They were on Kichi’s level.
So I had no choice but to be grateful.
[Sword That Devours Shadows: Shadow Slayer]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Restriction: Unknown]
[Effect: When fighting “shadows,” destructive power greatly increases.]
[Description: An ego sword possessing a noble self.]
Boom.
Thanks to its greatly increased destructive power, merely clashing once allowed me to hurl away the shadow that had rushed in with a single blow. However, that alone was not enough.
It was impossible to deal moderately with opponents rushing in to cut off my breath.
—I shall devour them all.
Sword Gang.
The silver sword energy began to change into a form that flickered like flame.
As if declaring it would devour them was not bravado.
The moment I repelled the incoming attack.
Whoooom.
“!”
It went beyond blocking the weapon swung by a distinguished guest and vaporized it as it was.
To explain more specifically, it skipped the process of burning,
and the expression that it turned it straight into ash was more appropriate. ‘But that side isn’t ordinary either.’
If they had been demons or ordinary monsters, they would have at least flinched at the sight of their ally being crushed. But were they emotionless shadows? The distinguished guests, the shadows, moved mechanically. ‘Damn it.’
Relentless blows.
They must have grazed me.
My forearm, my side, and various other places throbbed. ‘As expected, is Demon Hunter a lowly class?’
When [Natural Enemy Relationship] was not activated, even if I held an ego sword, even if I used the unique stat [Tenacity], even if I utilized all kinds of high-level techniques, it was only natural that I could not fully draw out their true value. ‘Then I have no choice but to be sincere as well.’
What was the purpose of accepting this dangerous invitation in the first place?
Granfell’s sister’s debt, and as the new employer of the Shadow Mercenary Corps, annulling the unfair contract—of course those were important. However, controlling the rampage of [I Alone Am Supreme Under Heaven and Earth] was an equally important objective.
But. ‘No, when else would I ever experience something like this?’
Let’s be a little greedier, Hoyeol.
Because it was Kichi’s shadow, I could not know who was stronger compared to the real Kichi, or what was different. But fighting someone as strong as Kichi with my life on the line was not an experience one could easily have.
Moreover. ‘Even if I don’t, with Granfell’s talent.’
Wouldn’t he possibly gain inspiration from this duel and develop it into a marvel? So even as I took damage, I did not hunch my body. With my ever-present posture, my back straight, I opened my mouth.
“You are slow.”
To translate Granfell-style speech,
“So slow that it makes me yawn.”
It meant I would struggle a little more……!
Sssaaek.
Of course, there were no shadows who got angry or excited and rushed in.
They merely moved at a constant speed.
And poured attacks at me from blind spots in my vision. ‘I’m gradually adapting. I can see it.’
I focused on evading while following their attacks with my eyes.
Even in the midst of that, my posture was impeccably upright.
So much so that,
Gwicheol.
No, even Shadow Slayer added a word.
—Is that so……!
What do you mean, is that so?
—So that was it. The larger the counterattacking movements become, the wider the openings and blind spots also become. Master, by controlling your own movements to the extreme, you have instead formed a barrier!
What, formed a barrier?
What kind of nonsense is that?
I wanted to deny it immediately. ‘Why are they so quiet?’
It seemed I had unknowingly overlooked it.
Granfell’s innate talent.
That was right. Shadow Slayer’s words were correct.
Granfell, within the exchanges of blows,
had already created a new stance.
As I said, shadows possessed no emotions.
They coolly targeted only openings and attacked.
It meant that provocation did not work, and of course, they did not let their guard down.
And yet.
“Is that the end?”
Those shadows stood still in place and did not move an inch.
Straight as bamboo.
They merely stared at me, standing tall.
Of course. ‘Ah, it stings.’
Because it was the first time, it could not be perfect.
I did say I was forcing it, didn’t I? The appropriate level was a staggering 2,000 to 3,000. Until my body became accustomed to the new stance, daggers had swept past my body several more times.
But would pain ever show on this brazen face?
“It would be best to leave the welcome here.”
In the end, the one who put on a mask first was the attendant.
The corners of her mouth rose beneath the black veil.
It was impressive how she could hide the intentions she had revealed as if nothing had happened.
Just as I swallowed a hollow laugh in disbelief,
she continued.
“I will continue the guidance regarding the social hall.”
Creak.
As if she had completely returned to the attitude of an attendant,
she bowed politely and opened the door to the social hall.
If so, this side had no choice but to respond as befitted a noble.
“Thank you.”
Countless tables.
Only the candles placed atop them gave off light,
but they were far from enough to illuminate the vast social hall.
The attendant bowed and stepped back.
“From here on, I will be in charge of guiding you.”
At the same time, someone bowed from the opposite side.
Likewise, she was wrapped in a black veil,
but her voice was not much different from the attendant who had been with me until just now. ‘Are they twins or something?’
In any case, that was not the important thing.
“I will state the special rules of the social hall to our distinguished guests. Here, in the social hall, the corridor’s first rule is temporarily suspended. Therefore, we ask that the distinguished guest immediately unequip any weapons currently in hand.”
Put down your weapon.
I had said I would doubt everything.
Still, the system did not lie.
[1. The free duel system is temporarily deactivated.]
Only then did I swallow a sigh of relief. ‘So there is at least a place to catch my breath?’
At the same time.
I recalled the familiar social hall system.
In the [Spacetime Social Hall], items were purchased with [Spacetime Gold Coins]. ‘Here, I can probably buy things with Karma, right?’
[Current Karma Held: 1,000]
An amount of Karma equal to my bounty.
Honestly, what had I even done…….
I did not know why I had this much Karma either. ‘Whatever it is, should I at least try buying something?’
Perhaps there might be an item that would help me survive in the Shadow Corridor. First, let’s at least take a look.
I sat down in a seat so naturally that no one would think I had just been fighting to the death.
Thud.
Following me, the distinguished guests also began to find seats and sit one by one…… Indeed, I felt like I understood why only the first rule had been specifically deactivated.
Intrigue.
Because it was a social hall. For the sake of maintaining etiquette, only duels where people traded blows and fought were prohibited. It seemed the bounty hunting that used every means and method available continued even here. ‘So there isn’t a single moment I can let my guard down.’
How malicious, Shadow God.
As expected, this could be called the palm of his hand,
that fellow who held the lowest possible favorability toward me.
“Excuse me.”
While I was clicking my tongue inwardly, the social hall’s attendant approached me.
Pour.
She set down a glass and filled it with a porcelain teapot.
“We are not accepting Karma for this. Please enjoy.”
Was it some sort of celebratory drink?
As I looked at the glass being filled, Granfell’s senses warned me.
Poisoning was the regular guest of intrigue.
I should suspect goodwill without reason.
However, for this crisis,
even if you had not warned me, Granfell, I could have avoided it.
That was right.
Even if the Shadow Corridor was a place where all sorts of intrigue rained down,
I would not be taken down so easily.
“Regrettably.”
My hand naturally moved toward my inner pocket.
A teacup manifested in midair.
I skillfully hung a green tea bag over my personal cup and opened my mouth.
“It is far too insufficient to please me.”
……
You simply wanted to drink green tea, and yet you sure do talk well, don’t you?