Chapter 219 – The Temple of the Nephilim (2)
l6ZDfFor an instant, I couldn’t believe what I had heard.Q7W
wx6dThe name that the figure dressed in white had spoken. I wasn’t the only one horrified upon hearing it.8snit
hQI“K-Kuarne…?”pHp7FH
NSFTEdward, who had recovered his senses a little late, instantly paled. Even Horn, who had remained stunned, trembled slightly in her eyebrows. Meanwhile, the white figure descended the steps with light footsteps.0DB4c
Q86WnXKuarne, the Second Corps Commander. Leader of the Demon King’s Army and absolute sovereign of the infernal region of Gehenna. That being had just presented himself before us, none other than humanity’s great enemy.oDixld
xKzMy thoughts tangled into chaos. The Second Corps Commander, Kuarne? Really? If that was true, how was it possible that he was in the human world? Acting as a priest? Was it all part of some plan by the old elf?aPZzGD0
Xnrhm28I turned abruptly. The old elf was trembling as if static electricity was running through him. He was so shocked he could barely stand.ep8E
fshAgB“H-h-how can you be here?! Corps Commanders can’t cross into the human world!”oLsw
h3YjNfzThe old elf shouted as if he were screaming. Fear, panic, confusion, and horror were drawn across his face. That confirmed two things the elder wasn’t colluding, and that being truly was the Second Corps Commander.zwcrPER
Bzr5yKuarne smiled faintly and replied.gY5inQe
RxK0G“Calm yourself, elder of the dark elves. This is nothing more than a projection of myself, a sort of avatar, so to speak.”dme5IC
LM2K3He spoke with a clear voice, trying to calm us. But that voice, no matter how kind it sounded, seemed to tear at the soul. Kuarne stopped halfway down the stairs. At last, we could see his face.BtWD
6noisPpAn androgynous face, difficult to classify as male or female. Only from the voice could we infer he was a man. At a glance, he appeared human. But his skin, his hair, even his clothing were so pure white that they looked bleached.djF
GSVQHis eyes, opalescent white, reflected an inhuman coldness, as if they had been artificially waxed. He looked like a walking wax figure. An uncanny resemblance to the angels who had once nearly exterminated the Ancients.M9tp
a1lIf Kuarne had been given a pair of wings, he would have been identical to those doves. In a melodious voice, he said.lZE6IL
qnwbPs“The former priestess has been absent for some time, so I am merely taking her place. As the old elf well knows, the previous priest was a human woman. But one day, she disappeared without a trace. Someone had to protect the temple, and that is why I am here.”4NUsdb
Zgv“Whatever the reason, it is still an invasion of a Corps Commander into the human world!”uFW
2jltBmEdward, sweating cold, drew the large sword from his back. He pointed it directly at Kuarne.qfL
T8PItY“This is a blatant violation of the Treaty between humans and demons!”M2e
Te25The shout of Edward, the Black Bear Hero. It was the natural reaction of a warrior facing a mortal threat. However, Kuarne, with his blank and disinterested gaze, barely reacted.JJ3ESq
fAIj“As I said, this is not my true body. It is not a violation of the treaty.”IL3Z8t
3YTDHis voice sounded apathetic, as if he considered it a trivial matter.dFuf
tOUi4“Besides, I have absolutely no combat ability. I could swear it before God himself.”kLWb
bV7CKuarne insisted on his innocence.r9m9oK
cu4gteX“And that crap, are we supposed to believe it?”uiex
0oAc1gI whispered to Horn in a low voice. She swallowed hard and nodded with difficulty.vPeta8
sAECJ“…It’s true. I’ve been sensing his mana for a while… and I feel absolutely nothing. He’s not hiding it. He’s literally an empty shell.”Ej2r2
kDEpDKuarne smiled softly.hV168
yoa“Can you believe me now, brave heroes?”zgXm7
RrHn7Iy“Brave heroes…?”kdeuP7
csyQdkEdward blinked, confused. Should he feel flattered that the leader of the Demon King’s Army praised him?nHr
kMgeIkV“However, setting aside my personal appreciation, I regret to inform you that you have committed a grave mistake in this Temple of the Nephilim.”Uls9av8
I97At those words, Edward froze. His face instantly crumbled.HPRxFA
0Ih“W-wait a moment…!”H5uPtC
4XNZn8fA desperate scream. From his chest erupted a black vortex that began devouring him like a black hole.J9zOB
kwo4KKXScreams, the sound of flesh being torn apart, the smell of blood.Ss2BZi
Kqy6iKFIn the place where Edward had been just a moment before, only the echo of death remained. The Warrior-ranked hero disappeared without leaving the slightest trace.wfm
lvOIt all happened in the blink of an eye. The Temple of the Nephilim does not distinguish between good and evil. Whether human or demon, whoever breaks its laws is punished without exception.2bAu4
JsshDcKuarne shook his head, showing a genuinely regretful expression.MFBhk
mQn“The temple’s first rule you shall not draw your weapon under any circumstances. He violated that fundamental rule. I hope the others do not follow his example.”hAMtTtK
5KMeXKuarne had not intervened at all. It was Edward’s own recklessness that condemned him.k2A
6zlhYZ1“…Fuck.”W72Lpu
A71r36I had only come to the temple to search for the fifth fragment. That was the only goal.scNX
1kJBiAnd yet, here I was, facing humanity’s greatest enemy. And worse, I couldn’t even draw my knife.jmpW
vfSbXEdward’s fate was a warning far too clear.LElGOq
JRiBrzI glanced at the old elf. He was trembling like a leaf. His face was one of complete defeat. It made sense—he had betrayed his race only to fall now before the leader of the demons.RsCRv1
uNgAs if understanding it all, Kuarne smiled at him cruelly.0wF
n0yz“Ah… Ah…”LMxLdW
50sErDgThe elder was breathing heavily. He bit his lower lip hard, tasting the metallic flavor of his own blood.DwSuEL
dMiThe old elf thought, ‘Didn’t I endure all these humiliations for the survival of the dark elves?’QpOMj
8eB9nThey had nearly been exterminated by that monster, Kang Geom-Ma. But at least a score of his people were still alive. He had to save them at all costs.MdPfIB
mzESBuCalculating rapidly in his mind, the old man made his decision.znkYK
iSttjQHe clung to Kang Geom-Ma like a shadow. Kuarne frowned at the scene.ijMh5
Db7UmAnd then let out a sarcastic laugh.0tNCQfd
OSKMjO“Don’t you regret betraying your own race to join the humans?”VVVgx
K92WPXd“I do not regret it.”6Qq3B
gSlHaM7It was a lie. The elder knew well the devastating power of the Second Corps Commander.vmU
BnsKNo matter how strong Kang Geom-Ma was, he was still far from being a match for such a transcendent being. Had we been in Gehenna and not the temple, we would all have died like insects.HtgH4U
JAp6‘Nevertheless.’RGItg
tiEThough he had nearly been exterminated by the humans, the enemy of his enemy was now his only hope. The elder, Rog, bet everything on Kang Geom-Ma.ZAxen
3ODZaIt was, in essence, a desperate gamble on his potential. If he managed to awaken all his power, he might not only defeat the Second Corps Commander, but even the First.dl0x
6nyRJuThis was a fact that even Kuarne undoubtedly knew.mgF5i
3Sy5KHe had probably come to this temple not only to watch but perhaps to eliminate any threat at the root, even if it meant impersonating the true priest.GJPi
QC1yPPIf that were the case, Kuarne would be guilty of an unforgivable crime.tFi
ywfRI“I can hear the noise of your thoughts from here,” Kuarne said disdainfully.8CcNv
LShAt that moment, Kuarne’s eyes flashed with a murderous light. The old elf felt his body freeze instantly.YfKkVxr
uMk3r“I’m glad you say you don’t regret your choice.”utABC
p4lvP9ZKuarne spat the words with a twisted smile.OPsVn
9ZO“That way I can exterminate the dark elves without the slightest bit of compassion.”eim
7rFI couldn’t believe the absurdity of the situation. They were fighting among themselves. The old elf was hiding behind me. Now that I thought about it, except for me, everyone here was a demon. Well, Horn was almost human, so I guess she didn’t count.sLNK0
Se4e‘Damn it.’MdTxWsX
tWdHI recalled once again the reason I had come to the temple. With a look full of annoyance, I spoke.03La
PCCV“It doesn’t matter if you’re the Second Corps Commander or whatever. You said you’re acting as a priest now, right? Then do your job instead of causing chaos.”v7d0
SAPx3xWhat mattered wasn’t that Kuarne had appeared. What mattered was that he had no intention of fighting.iSCNRZ
yNeMaybe, ridiculous as it sounded, he really was here fulfilling the priest’s role for now.nUE
xVgIAnd even if he wasn’t, it didn’t matter. I just had to accomplish my goal and leave.lRuzZM
Is63I7ROf course, someday I would make this bastard pay for Edward. Not now, but that day would come.umDino
OO3“I must have made you wait too long.”hwA
6fHKuarne smiled coldly. He turned and gestured for us to follow.8gjD
XOzjWyF“Come. I will try to answer some of your doubts.”gKkO
5mJ1aHe was still using that gentle tone. Just before following him, I decided to provoke him a little.00DaB
lxF8f“Kuarne, you know very well that it was my hand that cut your brother’s neck.”vHonyIg
vXSS“Of course I know.”E6CWuM
CtRHe answered without hesitation, his emotions perfectly controlled.aaWIIM2
XPN5“But I don’t feel even a shred of sadness. In fact, I’m glad those useless fools became nourishment for your growth. We’ll discuss the rest inside the Temple of the Nephilim.”gr8
07Xp8kq***w88gS
bXM22S2At that very moment, in a dark hall.U3pjX
f5r552xA silver-haired woman, Yu Se-in, prayed with her hands together.dLSyOh
ghCR0f4Sweat had soaked the carpet beneath her knees. Her white ceremonial robe, now wet, had become almost translucent.LU0B
9d88QfbSuddenly, Se-in abruptly opened her eyes. She shifted her gaze toward a corner.8nAMsj5
YuymHLeaning against a marble column, a golden-haired man was watching her in silence. His torso, hidden in the shadows, was barely distinguishable.CEpK
MklISe-in shot a cold look at the man.jv0t
QVYa2k2“And what are you doing here?”on5RIC6
EYpThe blond shrugged without uncrossing his arms.PJx
s9R“Nothing. I was just curious to see what a saint does.”oOhZlE
QyLtucyHis voice sounded impeccable. But to Se-in’s ears, it was nothing but provocation. From the beginning, she deeply disliked that hypocrite defiling a sacred place.13oVa6Y
TVQSe-in said coldly.xQyWN7k
qMoZuW“Of course. I suppose for someone from the demonic world, seeing someone else praying must seem very curious.”4aP
IV9A slight change crossed the blond’s face. Although the darkness prevented a clear view of his expression, Se-in could feel it.WI1
e1IaAlKHe was furious.vRv
tzLh“…Didn’t I warn you not to mention where I come from?”8wRtKG
e3HlpqJDespite the implicit threat, Se-in didn’t even blink. She answered him with a sarcastic smile.uK7xo
xZC5ocE“By simply hiding your true identity and origin, I’ve already done more than enough for you.”fuj
FJkx2“….”FBPS
WMFETThe blond uncrossed his arms and slowly walked toward her, emerging from the shadows.mObQZ
bWGBeneath his golden hair, his pupils shone an intense blue.kpkR
dW3pfThe darkness tore away as his face appeared before Se-in.YAtyC
Rhd“Don’t you think so?”WQKu
inJmSe-in stared at him.384bbI
GUn“Leon van Reinhardt.”ObnC8p
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaWell this was expecting but I’m little shocked.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaCold
Sergey Kononov
MortalAight, 👍. Happens