Chapter 239
kVFzL“Until when do we have to keep up with this shit?”OlxqGzd
esKvftJ“Until that bastard dies, what else?”FqA
t1yvKane, a guard at the mansion, muttered as he laughed with his companion and brought a cigarette to his lips.iYZnkQA
YAknMEAround them there was nothing but mountains and monsters. Nothing to enjoy.l2S
LpmI7xThey had been living like this for three years.Rp7XpgT
7kL2When Kane managed to get in with the second prince, he thought he’d hit the jackpot. But after three years in that post, he was starting to think that “golden thread” was just a rotten rope.R5mNBS
uJXL‘Damn first prince—can’t we just kill him already?’4Wy
zcsegAt first, he was shocked to hear the prince’s condition, but not anymore.f5pau
BWI0hHe was just an addict, a burden that kept him from living a normal life.RFgA
f3EiKilling him would be better for everyone.8TZ4ly
XMC74mf‘And still, what a tough bastard—even if he got out, it wouldn’t be a bed of roses waiting for him.’4C2vi2i
sXRf7fAHe clicked his tongue and blew out smoke.3rxdO
Ex1Y“Huh?”H3e
Hb4Y8sAt that moment, he noticed movement outside the wall. Something was crawling in the darkness.eGlJ8SZ
uSPiPQbFor a second, he thought it was a monster, but as it got closer, it was clearly a person.ISiFp
aqDBK3kHe didn’t ask, “Who’s there?”her4d
UtZTIf someone showed up in the middle of those deserted mountains, it could only mean one thing.OrMSz6
K9aGS7dAn enemy.Z7ykfPq
VAZoGxPThey had been warned someone might come eventually. He just never thought it would be now, so many years after the prison site was built.1uhw8G
lPyFweeeet—!X9el
FGZKane blew his whistle.hCp
qygyAh“Stop right there!”zuS
T8GrKJHis partner drew his sword and shouted.O7Z7fC
x1MnoCx“Whoa, sorry. I’m a slash-and-burn farmer, got lost in the hills—never imagined there was a mansion here. If it’s not too much trouble, could I spend the night?”InG
ERMVHe looked miserable—worn-out clothes, tired expression, submissive voice. He genuinely looked the part.3gR9U9v
eHc1But a farmer wouldn’t be wandering alone, especially not in a monster-infested place like this.byh
fhN82“Who sent you?”Gb9
wGPlbJI“Sent me? No, I was monsters attacked us, I got separated from my group and fled here. Please, help me reunite with them.”t0W
6VqThe man was even crying, pleading with such a convincing story that for a moment, it almost seemed real.gYlAzi
w5cBMeanwhile, he kept inching closer without Kane or his partner noticing.wKQ
kw1And when almost all the knights and soldiers of the mansion gathered at the entrance—u0Ladg
uFh“Forty-two… yeah, I think that’s almost all of them.”47m
1vkFsThe man’s expression changed.WaQ
zJVFlash!pED7St
OOH1bGJA flash of light pierced them. Kane barely had time to react.KLexT1
ZEijClang!ao53ZQ
StCPA black dagger shot out, but was deflected at the last moment. Still, a deep scar was left in the ground where the man had been.e56
ASJEh“What the hell are you doing?!”xjCkp
lSBedZA giant over two meters tall appeared, growling.UMToY
tZWT“You’re still listening to that crap? Chop off his head already!”n9XN
MGPp3R5“Yes, sir!”MEbp
CHSgm6Knights and soldiers surrounded the intruder.7Ul
5CbThe man barely dodged and locked eyes with the giant.hpmi7mw
Edtp9DThat aura, sharp as blades, vicious and repulsive.dzfOXr
NRFO“This wasn’t part of the plan…”ym5nZ4
u9WdThe Black Turtle was sweating cold.8nLy8qr
LD30jjRCould he kill him? Didn’t seem possible without a high cost.o9t
0Wj2A“There’s no choice.”5g2u1
EkLNXHe could only buy time until Aint arrived.CtXMHO
p6qmVQU“Kill everyone—except him!”GHrl2
UZfjQnGImmediately, the Black Turtle agents sprang from their hiding spots, attacking from all sides.F5c
nBtN***zZVrsm
d9n3PMage Jordi was dazed.AcS
F58RdWhat the hell? What’s happening to me? Why am I on the floor? Why is my arm twisted?eVh2
9yDHAOQ“W-Wait! Don’t kill me! I don’t know anything! I was just following orders!”7lMOOB
UbUbPM“Orders for what?”ZRt
02UiBZiThe masked man murmured in a chilling voice.fruL
eCEvGYl“T-That is…”t1yhB
XamSuddenly, Jordi clutched the syringe he had.bHfL8
vVR9“You think I’ll talk, trash?!”fsI
NlwkBHe lunged forward, trying to use his momentum.GRiPL
B94T0Crack!02tBVfT
PSl“Aghhh!”epWIYG
WMRk3hcHis jaw shattered. The syringe clattered to the floor, broken.PVfASe
t97Y“If you really were just a pawn, I’d let you live.”JTX0xJ
UxL0LH6The intruder’s voice sounded gentle, which only made it more terrifying. He grabbed Jordi’s head tightly.d7CGGW7
NLj“But you have corrupt magic inside you…”soC
g7hYou’re a corrupt.rZFSPc4
jyJggSo you must die.kpI6
5dQHoblCrunch!PNtKj
4uMYpBgThat was the last sound Jordi heard.Rut7d
sFR“…He’s dead.”j3Soq
FoCThe first prince’s eyes widened at the corpse.Uqg6yo
Qzts“That easily…”60JA
bXwasThe torment that had haunted him for years had ended in an instant. A feeling of release washed over him.cvPzN
3xWhB5Q“Aint Armian… I’ve never heard your first name, but I know your surname.”KfwfB
0i4BArmian. The bloodline of the hero who defeated Colomo and the demons, founding the Empire.PEh
4kb“So you’re his descendant.”tYDG
7bidqEY“I am.”tVKJ
0k2moc“I’ll be blunt. I’m ready for anything now.”7cv
IxNU1RThe deaths, the confinement, the madness—it had all broken him. Antenor Linelt wanted nothing more than to escape that hell.spZvr
H9F8u1“I can believe anything.”n57kP
4vw2vqThat he was innocent.mjRvCYZ
7EZmThat the corrupt had used him.Hkrx
UCVAnd that Aint Armian was there to save him.DSo1gvU
Jb8yHe needed to believe it. Even if it wasn’t true, he wanted it to be.mc4k3qd
zJADtdJ“I’ll ask you again. Who are you?”lP6Chaj
oFT“I’m Aint Armian.”GCwO5vw
PUq8Z“And why did you come here?”wqdwunr
nKs“To save you, Your Highness.”MpS
O7p“Even though they say I’m a mad murderer who killed the kingdom’s nobles?”7y2k
8kRZg“That was a deception by the corrupt, who brought you to ruin.”EwQ
qPcB3u“……”NOzXIL
y1GTqDLike a ray of light, like a lifeline, those words soothed the prince’s battered heart.KAPOdF
ZQqA tear rolled down his cheek.B9r
xuJ“…I’ll believe it. Even if it’s not true, it’ll be my truth now!”40T
7170g“Thank you.”5vn5
E9Be“What should I do?”3KO5Uz
VDp8S“We’re getting you out of here. There’ll be some noise…”UH1KYYt
GbyyClang!4nGDU3E
fsuIe7m“Aghhh!”4nW6Yf
7my59“Kill them!”QKdeW
JzBF9HThe screams and clash of weapons already echoed outside.7Ek
w0yP9w“Don’t be afraid. We’ll get you out.”0SbvEG
o2N9fOAint lifted Antenor onto his shoulders and jumped out the window. He landed softly like a feather and ran toward the Black Turtle.e6Gru
ZFKakBut then—a0SaXS
vwCZGZBoom!TKV87
1aHQkniA massive sword came crashing down vertically.sOC
0UqcUOThe impact shook the earth, sending debris flying everywhere.62Unc
QW2z1X— Corrupt magic! Thick, disgusting!ehk0TrE
8tmBlocking with one hand, Aint looked up at the giant who towered over him.qePqXR
6sF8The aura of corruption he gave off left no doubt—he wasn’t even trying to hide that he was corrupt.ZBbwDir
zksOiLD“Who are you?”JGVyF
xdW3CL“That filthy power… I know who you are. Since when did the Armian family—the imperial family—become thieving rats?”N3je4
pAWtHThe giant growled.k4m7
MJUZaHO— A dangerous opponent. Where the hell did this monster come from?vDmxkmQ
tiGFhDGardner gave a warning. Even without it, Aint already felt it.QWve1o
8skbIhNThe corrupt magic pouring from the giant was denser than that of any corrupt he had ever faced, except the demons themselves. A monster. And not just any monster—possibly even more terrifying than Rahnas, the rank 1 beast.cc2V
FjqOkQjAint tensed, and at the same time, his heart pounded fiercely.wTCaF
KHPXFighting someone strong was always a risk, but also the best kind of experience.l4b
7jxIt had been that way when he fought Andromalius, when he battled the chimera left by the First Emperor, when he killed Rahnas, and when he faced Andrealphus.ygDyZ03
w2bUlHe had never had easy enemies. But thanks to that, he had continued to grow.SkQfsP
akq1M“Hand over the prince now. That way I’ll cut your neck quickly and painlessly.”Fo7gCn
sC1LfAj“What nonsense are you spouting?”TR1
UaCHAint slowly raised his sword but didn’t charge immediately. If he did, the First Prince could be caught in the crossfire.JfGxi
eoqRuAfter so many years of being drugged, he was weak; even a small shock could be dangerous.E2cX9
NO3xAt that moment—JXs
Na2Kv“Aint-nim.”aPAO3r9
TWpPOFrom the shadows emerged a masked figure. It was the Black Turtle.FJhn4SO
cSvaTA“Leave the First Prince to me, and in return, avenge my men.”akzDQD
OuiWtg“Vengeance?”TF9I2
UeJcUH“Yes. To avoid that monster, I had to slaughter the rest, and we took losses too.”DLbsHUY
tekpUWhat he said was true.xEAqu
b7lu2eMOf the nearly fifty knights and soldiers, not a single one remained alive—they all lay like corpses.YO5HqG
wT4“When…?”RsyX
RGBSUXMThe giant’s eyes widened in surprise.7hN6Z
2D0V“Capturing him alone would be impossible without losses. That’s why I ask this of you.”ivKNOYt
WJjSpeaking as if his mission was already complete, the Black Turtle didn’t wait for a reply. He took the First Prince and retreated.FEOniCi
GPE“Damn worms you dare mock me…!”0CoCf
Ti3BlBoom! The giant stomped the ground. A wave of corrupt magic shook the earth.wfliYfU
ksQqJS“No one’s leaving here alive.”65eTmw
turLWqA flash. From his feet, a magic circle spread, enveloping the mansion.WoW
ZYT6LnIt wasn’t ordinary magic.xpx
Yqs9g5T— A demon’s circle…oZjZgy
KjmcCCGardner muttered with a shiver.WWo
YShcTQFIn an instant, the formation covered the entire building. The bodies of what once were knights and soldiers turned to ashes, absorbed by the spell.8pGhax
gL94In the end, a complete barrier was formed.dEO8wN
FENQzP“Could it be…?”SGc
xxJx“Yes. Exactly what you’re thinking.”H08O6
K2C6rLjThe giant growled and threw his massive sword to the ground.2W8uU
Ko5O“From the start, I was the only real guard here—because I alone am enough!”vmwHWTX
j6vcYHis body began to swell, growing even more. His skin turned black. His armor twisted and shattered to pieces.RZznNE
5RIZvL— The seal!8Mn
iSlWA strange mark glowed on his wrist—the seal of a contract.W3cU
4H8d— It can’t be…!xMmy
5WkORlM— Careful! The contractors of the Colomo bloodline aren’t ordinary opponents!3HPfX74
Dbl7They were beings above the normal level. Some rivaled Royal Knights or Archmages; and those closest to the Great King Colomo even challenged demons themselves.QOhO
I2LVCIt was history from a thousand years ago, but even now, they remained formidable.5AmF
gAFAnd that overwhelming pride he displayed—even in front of the natural enemy of the corrupt, the Armian heir—was not unfounded.mG0x
cTeZqhThree meters. Four. Five. The giant grew like a titan, and the corruption grew thicker.AC24D1
NvlGhM“Die.”DJn3E
FJ8uaDHe threw a punch. It was so simple and light it seemed like nothing.YEyE
lqyNBut the impact was anything but light.qgrTK
r44Boom!P7w
Pq1The ground cracked open into a massive crater. The mansion shook with the shockwave.LMA6GT
mo9yeEThe Black Turtles screamed as they were flung through the air.jPASmb
XxoW09And yet—GYj8
hadAint still stood.gwR
yUSWith both hands, he held his sword against the giant fist, unmoved even a centimeter.QkQY
jYw68White aura burst from his blade, opposing the black tide.KtMApe
ZS2LKThe colossus stepped back.U95UNx
xxg4n“Seems like in your calculation of ‘I alone am enough,’ you didn’t count on me.”FqUh5
U3W4RAint’s tone had changed. His arms were shaking.EZncbl9
5wKWith just one clash, he understood how hard this would be.LKL6kYb
Du6ddBut he couldn’t lose. Not to a corrupt. Not to the bloodline of the Great King Colomo.hnOpLp
ZAVzEyIf he wanted to restore the name of Armian, fear was not an option.b5bX1B
RNuv“You said that if I surrendered and handed over the prince, you’d tell me who you are.”rYA
7P9dLet me make you another offer.UvsiM
HdDwJty“If you kneel and tell me everything, I promise you a quick and painless death.”9BeiB
kIonQI3“You damn insect, how dare you…!”TSgm
MLFC“Tell me. What are you to the Great King Colomo?”92E0E
Hbq“How dare you soil his name with that filthy mouth?!”W9bLQL
hih9gThe giant launched another punch.nEI
CznThe battle had begun.4K6n4NG
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