Chapter 248: If I Meet a God, I’ll Kill Him (2)
B2VP6LA single ray of light cut through everything Sidherst had created.390lQ
4y9Z3The arrangement of mana, the structure of the magic, the blazing mana flames, and the illusions that deceived the eyes—all were split cleanly in two as if they were a single mass.x5eC
QqoPlThe world tilted from the fissure, wavered, and then slid downward.xuOd
rQiygHSidherst’s eyes went wide.QKQ
jtfJF“Ah…”1Uu7T9
erxBCHe couldn’t comprehend what he had just witnessed. The magic had been severed from its root—from its very origin.lD7rbk
m3eIWas something like that even possible?14S1Azs
5X7MD3As he watched in shock, seeing his world shatter, his domain slowly dissipated.mtw6Mf
3FBXwvyNow he was standing in darkness.gy3qdR
Odif“This is…”tVcfZ
StdSIn front of him, the prince of Briol held his sword at a diagonal.X2PSLYz
dxm“How about it, Sidherst? Is the fear starting to work now?”vZ9hm
7Pa“Who are you…?”WXY
6S8jr“Oh, good. At least you’re starting to sound a little more decent.”ELkG
f8jjMSidherst instinctively reached toward where Yuri’s gaze was fixed. His proud, full white beard was no longer there.D2x
8gcvcInstead, his fingers found only the cloth of his robes.bvA
MHdBJust as he had announced, Yuri had cut his beard.tm9
fq1x73L“T-this…”FsOvQ
KC1A spark of fury lit in Sidherst’s eyes.0NUGme
EOs“My beloved beard!”Yj8k
V63caRHe summoned mana again.Gbeca
QA9hFkA violet magic circle glowed beneath his feet and began replicating upward, forming dozens of magic circles spinning around him in a cylindrical formation.R03O8
m1PRZdoSidherst spread both arms.qko
RdFqS“I will not forgive you!”roAAV
bBOwBut Yuri simply swung his sword calmly. That was enough.IN7PF
QczfxThe energy of the Cut of the soul and the heart technique brutally destroyed Sidherst’s mana.y3PEN28
6HIwu4“By the heavens…”8VnN46H
nWmvohThough it resembled a Dispel, its principle was completely different. Dispel interfered with the arrangement of mana and dispersed it, but Yuri’s sword simply severed the mana itself.p0Fsb
OQeTZCould this even be called swordsmanship?4jrr0
BPqvSidherst felt an instinctive fear toward Yuri.ttbB52
P2qxUl9“Don’t tell me you…”f6R
Y8OjQKHe swallowed hard.bXE
1sJqskAs Master of the Tower, Sidherst had reached unparalleled heights.C5dN
3jdveHe was a great mage who ruled the Magic Tower, and also a Grand Sorcerer like Inariel and Hernando.Q1qGg8
kYNHis unique sorcery was the Complete Separation Technique—a spell that allowed him to create his own dimension and isolate it from the outside world.oFKQs
ok1bskwWhen Sidherst willed it, no one could find him.pZHltEU
7Uj0zThat was why he had always felt secure, no matter the situation.icp6D4
u24rUEven with the threat of black magic, he had never felt at risk.IWC9
Kmk9i8yBut this sword was different.JHy
pCwbA0Sidherst instinctively stepped back. He could feel it clearly—Yuri Briol’s sword, the prince of Briol, could cut through everything.Bqfp
2tHWEven his complete separation technique would not emerge unscathed against that energy.Y9aF5X
Y08“Yuri Briol.”nJs
JLfF“Already afraid?”OPJV
sw4“Don’t tell me… can you cut black magic?”cBS8JoS
dGjp1Yuri, Guilty resting on his shoulder, smiled at Sidherst.CKrL
ZuVHAPHis black hair melted into the darkness around him, but his eyes—just as black—shone with a fierce light.ByJOf
soWYuri replied.g2tDoXH
20fAypW“Yes. I cut it.”aYAuC
x6qmIZ“Ah…”Utphs5F
KFQIsSidherst understood.QgoM6et
lniAt last, he understood.1K2ILM
qv9WSHe was nothing more than a bubble appearing and vanishing briefly in the flow of the world.rQa9IDT
sEtDs9eThe title of Master of the Tower, his unique sorcery, the height of his magic—none of it meant anything.ZhsD
5VRSLQHe had believed humanity had been dealt a punishment.gsc2eTN
KRuBut it was the other way around.xwFMQs
QkOBTjIt wasn’t a punishment—it was an opportunity.WaBoS2v
PpaVsyNow he understood why Hernando and Maryrose, those two geniuses, followed this young man.RlH
KlYShivering, Sidherst spoke.cOQTd
aPuv“That edge that can even cut black magic… what is it called?”7ucrotR
Pff4h“Cut of the soul and the heart.”p8RyXBJ
l4w3“The sword that cuts the soul and the heart…”L4s
IgCC2The heart—and the soul.RV7D
zs7If a sword that cuts the body can also cut those… isn’t that the same as cutting a god?LeG
8UjvQSidherst closed his eyes.3zGznDw
QqDh2HgEven now, he could feel them—beyond this dimension, unknown entities continued to watch this world. They were like natural disasters.myS
aE4pWhen a storm comes, humans can only hide and tremble until it passes.MYVQ
3JzHBut now there was someone capable of facing them.2HDzE
T0o3xL9“I see.”6BBx
GuE0Sidherst spoke.qIg
kx6“What you’re attempting… will surely not be easy.”47m
Dm7DG“I don’t care.”v1yd
lB5o“Many enemies will stand in your way.”XvhGo
CAH9“I just have to cut them down.”kLmY1I
8f1Xhj“And your brother?”TGNc88D
bp6“I’ll kill him.”G0K2xNF
2HKZece“And if a god tries to stop you?”byM
kJifCjoYuri Briol, smiling without a shred of doubt, answered.aEZ
yCSiV“If I meet a god, I’ll kill the god.”ZGLqi
uXAEHZSidherst let out a laugh.gKkky
fGHHfYuri frowned, puzzled.MJhrff1
7xkWM“And why’s this guy suddenly laughing like an idiot?”cZUyVnr
g0NwIynThough the statement was bold, Sidherst didn’t flinch and laughed for a good while.3uMA
bBu“Yuri Briol. It’s likely even you don’t yet understand the true meaning of your sword…”wM5u
xyqSidherst lowered his staff and stepped toward Yuri.iGBg32A
7BLqWLWith each step, his shoulders felt lighter. The burden he had carried for so many years was gradually dissolving.KZi
4168TSPerhaps it was a hasty decision.YuQer
wGF5But the sword the prince of Briol wielded was worth it. Even if it failed, he would not regret this moment.Yiox2t
GCn5“Having come across that sword, I have no other choice. From now on, I will fully cooperate.”Vtp2X
RtJ“And now you say that? You’re making me feel bad for speaking informally to you—uh, I mean, to you, sir.”KhFX
FgTi1“Speak however you like.”IN4IzLx
W5UG“No… I can’t. You’re already advanced in years.”I9lV
IZOb0“Bwahahaha…”mfdyqW8
e8X8W“Now that we’re on the same side, I must treat you with respect.”IPfCwj2
bmT37“You’re shameless.”OdR
1WCFSidherst said.r0dvdN
ciemb“Let me warn you now. You will face an enemy far greater than you imagine.”eQmXK
z7YA“I’m ready.”lZey35
3xC1“Never forget that resolve. Only a stronger soul can cut down another shrouded in darkness.”1XaV
URIu4hSuddenly, the space around them shifted.sIj
l92UFThe darkness vanished, and the two now stood inside an old wooden cabin.pFwsf
u0ftBj“And this place?”DBAT
WOAd“My home.”Zf0CVPp
NFGFor the home of a great mage, it was quite a humble place. There were hardly any objects, and through the window, a thick forest could be seen.dS889
faJYNYuri looked around.qO8
ggnL“And this? If you’re going to cooperate now, let’s just go back already.”HrZl
QB67cb“Just wait a moment.”uneKs
TwggSidherst stood in front of the wall mirror.4pzj
qAYmb“Do you know why I let my hair and beard grow so long?”ekO8
oEOdkUO“Because you were too lazy to cut them?”nuDyP
ed2u“No. It’s exactly the opposite. Do you have any idea how hard it is to maintain long hair and a long beard? In truth, I wanted to cut them every single day.”7mVYR0a
jQsx“Then why did you grow them out?”KEpEt
5dZEP“So I wouldn’t forget.”lA4i
8kqDPSidherst picked up a dagger from the table.QXjV
YoRdC“So I wouldn’t forget that I’m already an old man. So I wouldn’t get stupid ideas and would simply let time flow, as an old man should.”3mZq
hnO5Then he removed his robe and stripped his upper body bare.VMho
okSFTxMYuri let out a sound of surprise.ZiE3t5F
h4EPlG“Oh…”Vw9Ixp3
1iSThe body revealed could hardly be believed to belong to an old man. He wasn’t bulky, but his firm frame was marked with defined muscles.TZP7L
JotAOMTSidherst smiled at himself in the mirror.MhC80QH
9xhBM“But there’s no need for that anymore.”vLv
bshZWith those words, he moved the dagger.tm3
h2g3His long white hair fell to the floor. He cut his hair down to a soldier’s crop, and shaved his beard clean, leaving only a faint gray shadow on his face.ibH
PGNmA single lock, left uncut, fell across his forehead.qQImSp
5bYF4A“Si… Sidherst… you…”Onv7ay
R1GvRYuri called out in a trembling voice.4RNNnf
QhfAt first, he had only seen him as a wrinkled old man with white hair.beOL
NmNSbkBut now, with the hair and beard gone, before him stood a mature man with such an intense, masculine air he looked like he had stepped out of an Imperial stage play.25pF98
Kwr“How is it? Do I look different now?”uzrqw
VqHhzP“You look like a revolutionary fighting against the Empire. Before, you looked like a greedy mage serving the Empire for riches.”Fscik
SFR“Hahahaha…”tu0
Ym8vcSidherst let out a laugh and waved his staff.P0vaoK
eZLL5“Let’s go back.”E4A
X2g87xnIn an instant, they were back atop the cliff. Hernando and Maryrose, who had been sitting silently, stared at them, mouths agape.idZ
CJ1pAsSidherst ignored their probing stares and turned toward the vast lands beyond the cliff, throwing an arm around Yuri’s shoulder.4YMy
16EegFor his age, he was tall enough to wrap Yuri’s shoulders with ease.7qD9R
iARSidherst and Yuri, arm in arm, silently took in the land stretching before their eyes.DFZSJ
qfwG8sSFrom behind, Hernando and Maryrose murmured.6yE852
aiqP“W-where did that hair and beard go?”PF8Ris
68a1“Bet the prince cut them off, and he had no choice but to tidy up.”RGi
6YE6a2“Did he lose the fight?”ShXl
QVT2“Obviously. How’s a mage going to beat one of the Ten Great Swordsmen?”Im25Qg
4ri“I thought Lord Sidherst would do something.”wvY
zJ0“Yeah, right… And now, what’s this, hugging like they’ve been best friends for life?”aRa
bjxg“It’s one of the prince’s skills. He hits you, then acts all warm, and turns you into an ally. That’s how everyone ends up as his loyal subordinate.”wR7Y
s8xz9fS“Hernando, is that how you ended up under his command too?”nZZ7C
F8Nbf“Of course not! I saw the prince’s potential from when he was young and have been with him since then.”8GU0
FE7ck3“Uh-huh…”FsFx
TufxGAAfter sharing that moment, Yuri and Sidherst returned to the table.74oB3
0yncDVThe ones who had been talking about punishments and beard-cutting were now looking at each other warmly.JoH
OWgn“Lord Sidherst. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”PPJC
vfy“The honor is mine for having met you.”OZB
XPUuOGHHernando and Maryrose were so perplexed they didn’t know what to say.1ki
wPSuZYuri continued.v1LkR
sJe“Could you condemn the Empire and black magic?”JpwMk
qVONayr“Of course. But before that, there’s something you must know.”tTOZ
6MbwlSidherst, out of habit, touched the place where his beard used to be, then lowered his hand.AhLoF
F1us7“The Empire has probably already completed the ritual they’ve been aiming for.”mrht4
W0uM“Excuse me?”Ult0g
Myokcgz“I have also been observing black magic. That Cedric as well.”gxU
eQqkofYuri’s expression hardened.C38AbCF
Z8bA“He wielded black magic with great skill. That power, which produces miracles using human life and soul as fuel, is not limited to our world alone. There are entities that worship it.”FitoW5X
NbL“You mean…?”Irj
95SI“He has already summoned an entity from another world. Terrifying beings that feed on the human soul and human suffering. To be clear…”oVjVIqE
qYAyKSidherst swallowed and said.NfNV
TqMm0X“The Empire has summoned a god from another world.”Kj0i
tLIrD***sYb
Zg7RCory took Laurent to a village in the Union of Small Kingdoms and admitted him there.TSn
GBLYIt was a small temple, so there was hardly any space for patients to rest.lwyWD
r7w2To make matters worse, upon seeing Cory and Laurent’s faces, the priest demanded an additional hefty sum.Jip4RM
j91Cory had no choice but to pay all of it. It was nearly all the money they had saved together.AQ0jSI3
sVyMLaurent lay in the room, covered in bandages from head to toe, while Cory stayed at his side, tending to him without rest.nTj0PQo
LelfEach time he passed, the priest would scold him.GlrU
bXDhfC2“Hey, you. Are you going to keep standing there?”MYcEL
bxu0Dd3“He’s bleeding…”F4unnY0
OmK“If you’re going to stand around, you should also pay for lodging.”jKFlB9
SlC“Please, have some consideration. I have to take care of him.”KWEbk3
61iBr“And who are you to take care of him?”XZtAgr
f1xXV“I beg you, sir… haha…”0pVq
7SyS“Bah, pair of filthy lepers…”r8aDUn
oZvThe priest muttered those despicable words as he turned away.viRG8A
VGulUntil now, every priest Cory had met at least pretended to follow divine will, but this one was nothing more than a greedy merchant disguised as a man of faith.9k1Ykve
d8PEven so, they had nowhere else to go.GNd
BUPM1Cory looked at the unconscious Laurent.RaWbzc7
CT8“Haa…”hUoDAh
rx3ug3ZMeanwhile, the priest’s loud voice could be heard speaking to a visiting villager.Llf9K4F
6cHqE0c“Admit him?? Impossible. Two horrible pests came in here. What do they look like? Better not see them—they’re hideous. I, as a priest, had to make a charitable act to take them in. Tsk tsk…”g12RK
aQydCory lifted his eyes toward the symbol of the deity hanging on the wall.oB02Ua
WlDLThat priest who claimed to practice divine compassion despised them solely for their appearance.AI7z8
OnKCRThe priest’s voice, now barely audible, went on.xWAPI2e
Ncy6iv“Not one, but two monsters! What bad luck, don’t you think?”9u7
4JMQThe priest kept talking.fFG
RX1“They’re both monsters. Monsters…”WxDF672
QWrsZPbCory lowered his gaze to Laurent’s face.bnw
yay5Lx1Since he had removed his hood for treatment, his deformity was fully exposed.F2n
vp86LubNo trace of his former attractiveness remained. In fact, he looked even more deformed than Cory himself.UN4D
jW9u“Sir Laurent.”zRXibBI
bjEHe called him, but there was no answer.14DU
JV3Only the sound of his rough breathing came, escaping from his broken, flattened nostrils.KdK
QC6mCory remembered what Laurent had once been.dNpaC
ePDQRA brilliant man.AY8LaV7
yhHlvDFFor his looks, his character, his lineage, and the gifts he possessed. But that was no longer so.GjR
SJUNow, he was an even greater monster than Cory, despised by all.pxfabTc
A6B9egNCory placed a hand on his cheek. Then he curved his lips into a smile.pT0Jjr
XBZkd7Trying to stifle the laughter welling up, his rough breathing echoed for a long while in the room.zWB
k5uHCory murmured in a low voice.RtjCzw
OKq“I will never betray Sir Laurent. Hehehe…”R5bwE
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!