《The Successor of the Underworld is a Cheat Player》 Chapter 1 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 1 The First Game in Human History! The Greatest Game in Human History! Finally, born with advanced technological prowess, the virtual reality game, ¡®Sanctuary¡¯ was a magnificent game adorned with numerous accolades. The primary objective of the game was to leave a significant mark on the continent of Sanctuary by finding one¡¯s own destiny within the randomness of life. If that were all, it would have merely been a well-made initial virtual reality game. However, Sanctuary was different. ¨C Three Lives! In Sanctuary, three lives are given to the player. The player inherits the achievements of each life to the next, evolving under their influence. That is to say¡­ ¨C Reincarnation System. Given the benefits of reincarnation through past lives. Sanctuary captured the attention and love of countless players. Of course, the game was not without its issues. ¨C Damn it! Does this difficulty make any sense? ¨C How¡­ The biggest problem in Sanctuary. ¨C It¡¯s been 10 years since Sanctuary came out, and nobody has cleared it. Does that make any sense? No one has cleared the game due to its extreme difficulty. Even becoming a hero and defeating the demon king. Even becoming a saint and saving the world from evil. Even becoming the emperor of the empire did not cause the game¡¯s ending credits to appear. The game company said, ¨C There are definitely ending credits. Sanctuary has an ending. And finally, on the 13th anniversary of Sanctuary¡¯s opening. ¨C What¡¯s that? Have you seen this? ¨C Sanctuary! A single announcement that concentrated hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide. ¨C The first Sanctuary clear has been achieved! A monumental event that made headlines even in the news bulletin. However, following reports from gaming YouTubers, many gamers couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed. ¨C The first clearing of Sanctuary was not achieved through normal gameplay. In other words, ¨C A cheat player cleared the game. It was news that only brought cold stares and immense disappointment. ¨C The cheat player will face consequences proportional to their actions. Furthermore, the developers of Sanctuary issued a stern warning to cheat players. *** ¡°This is outrageous!¡± A scream echoing through the back alley. ¡°To call this a punishment is too much!¡± In frustration, the residents of the alley quietly closed their windows. There was no one here to help. ¡°Barely¡­!¡± Thud! At that moment, a flying kick landed on the face of the shouting man. ¡°Ugh¡­ Ugh!¡± The man groaned in pain. ¡°Barely?¡± The man standing before him glared at him with a chilling voice. ¡°You said ¡®barely¡¯ just now? Seriously?¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­! Barely!¡± ¡°Is this guy insane?¡± The man didn¡¯t stop kicking the fallen man. ¡°Sigh.¡± When the kicking finally stopped after a few minutes, ¡°I¡¯m here, boss.¡± Another man approached and handed a towel to the man who was kicking. Another man brought a piece of furniture and placed it in front of the man. Thud. The man sat down. In the darkness of the night, the man¡¯s face was revealed in the brilliant moonlight. White hair as if drained of color, eyes the color of the sky. His subtle yet beautiful appearance seemed to catch anyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Say it again. ¡®Barely¡¯?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The fallen man whimpered without any response to the man¡¯s words. ¡°I told you not to fuck around in my territory.¡± ¡°That¡­ that¡­¡± ¡°Keep talking.¡± Under the man¡¯s gesture, his subordinates lifted the fallen man up. ¡°I¡­ I asked for Rose!¡± Rose, the top-notch woman famous in the underworld. ¡°But what came out was Rose, but a wildflower!¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± The subordinates couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads, suppressing their laughter. ¡°You find this amusing?¡± But at the man¡¯s subsequent tone, the subordinates quickly lowered their heads. ¡°Sorry, boss.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll settle this later.¡± The complexion turned ashen. ¡°Whether it¡¯s a wildflower or Rose, if you call for one, you have to pay for it. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°What the fuck!¡± Whack! The sitting man kicked the barely standing man. ¡°You dare to swear at me after benefiting from it?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°If you use it, you pay for it. Isn¡¯t that a simple principle? You have no money yet you dared to call for Rose with a few silver coins. You penniless bastard.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°This is the last time.¡± The man stood up. ¡°If I catch you pulling this shit again, I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t use roses or wildflowers ever again.¡± White hair and eyes the color of the sky. Despite a noble appearance that one might trust, the man was rough to the core. His fierce demeanor only added to his ruggedness. The man. He was none other than. ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°Go through him and get the rest of the money.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± He was the Mad Dog of Chichiron, Sein. *** It was another day of completing the tasks excellently and heading back. ¡°Bor is crazier than me.¡± The man spoke of Bor, the owner of the moon of Chichiron¡¯s underworld. ¡°If I called for Rose, but a wildflower showed up, even I would lose it.¡± No, would this madness ever end? Bor was halfway killed, and the underworld was about to be set ablaze. But what could he do? ¡°This is my life.¡± The slums. He was born and raised there. Life didn¡¯t even allow him to leave this narrow alley. Survival meant doing anything, even licking the backside of a mugger. That was the life of Sein. After years of struggle, he finally claimed his territory. ¡°I guess you could call it success.¡± He smirked, twisting one corner of his mouth. A truly harsh life. Who could blame anyone? It was his own fault for being born like this, and his own fault for living like this. Even if regretful, he had been harshly dealt with by the given reality, and it had been a long time. ¡®It was a life I thought I would never get used to.¡¯ Sein with a rough, wolf-like appearance. But his current appearance was somewhat vague, that of a regretful sinner. ¡°Anyway¡­¡± The alleyways of Chichiron. While quiet during the day, at night, this place was noisy. But it was already late at night. ¡°It¡¯s too quiet.¡± Sein, standing still, looked around. Since then, not a single shadow of a person, not even a rat, could be seen. It was a strange situation to anyone else, but Sein remained calm. ¡°Hmm.¡± A sobbing sound echoed from somewhere. ¡°Who¡¯s crying on such a fine day?¡± As Sein spoke, shadows began to appear slowly in the alley. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­ You son of a bitch!¡± ¡°You¡¯re that asshole from earlier, aren¡¯t you?¡± The guy who made a fuss about getting a wildflower instead of Rose. He appeared in the alley, wrapped in a blanket, having been beaten up and stripped of everything worth money. The problem was. ¡°Heh.¡± He wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°Are you with the cripple?¡± Laughter accompanied the appearance of figures, too many to count. Even after careful inspection, the alley was already filled with shadows. Thomas, the cripple, one who is sharing this narrow Chichiron with me. No matter how much of a bastard Bor was, he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± ¡°Bor, I knew he owed you, but to stab me in the back like this.¡± Finally, the shadow revealed itself. A blond guy with a prosthetic leg. ¡°Long time no see. Mad Dog.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call me a mad dog. Cripple.¡± ¡°¡­Hmph.¡± In no time, Sein found himself completely surrounded. Already, there had been clashes here and there due to Sein taking over the territory. ¡°Wanna start a war?¡± ¡°War? What nonsense.¡± Snickering, the cripple grinned ominously in the moonlight. ¡°It¡¯s a hunt.¡± Though he looked for a way to escape, there was none. ¡®Looks like he¡¯s been prepared for a long time.¡¯ It had been over a year since he took over the territory, so it might have been inevitable. Sein was about to pull something out from his pouch. ¡°It¡¯s useless. Your lackeys have already gone far away.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, they said they had a stash of money.¡± The guy who was crying and getting beaten just a moment ago raised his voice, claiming to be on Sein¡¯s side. ¡°Hah. Money, money, money.¡± Though he intended to pull out a whistle, Sein took out something else. Swish. A sharp, gleaming dagger. In this garbage-filled alley of the underworld, it was quite a sophisticated item to obtain. ¡°You¡¯ve been too much of a nuisance, Mad Dog.¡± There was no choice. ¡®About six in the front, seven in the back¡­ Five on each side, perhaps? I¡¯m ready.¡¯ Despite being cautious, it seemed inevitable that one would become dull over time. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll kill you here, and I¡¯ll take over the alley of Chichiron.¡± The cripple¡¯s right hand slowly rose. And finally, the moment it struck down. ¡°Kill him!¡± The subordinates of the cripple began to rush in. Clang! Clang! Sparks flew out. Even though outnumbered, Sein was the boss who controlled one of the alleys in Chichiron¡¯s underworld. Experiences of countless fights since childhood. ¡°Hiiyah!¡± Sharp sword strike that one wouldn¡¯t think could come from an alleyway native. And movements quicker than anyone else¡¯s. ¡°Why is that guy fighting so well!¡± It seemed like a trap one couldn¡¯t escape from. ¡°Argh!¡± Sein had already dispatched more than seven opponents. ¡°What are you doing? Come in.¡± Sein, wiping his hands on the clothes stained with the blood of the cripples¡¯ organization members. Truly a Mad Dog in every sense. ¡°What are you all doing! Kill! Kill him!¡± Even with the cripple¡¯s orders, his subordinates couldn¡¯t step forward easily. ¡°Useless lot¡­!¡± Frustrated by the sight of his subordinates, who despite countless preparations couldn¡¯t hunt down one Mad Dog, the cripple finally moved. Or rather. s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll have to step in.¡± More accurately, it was the shadow next to him. ¡°You know my sword is expensive, right?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± A man wielding a sophisticated sword that didn¡¯t match the alley. It seemed the cripple had indeed made preparations for hunting down the Mad Dog. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 2 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 2 It might have been due to the long-standing rivalry over the small alleyway. ¡°Did you even manage to hire mercenaries?¡± Thomas, the Cripple, seemed to have made thorough preparations to hunt down the Mad Dog Sein. ¡°The kid managed to take over half of the alley with just his fighting skills, so should I have not expected this?¡± Thomas chuckled. In contrast, Sein¡¯s face darkened slightly. ¡®He¡¯s a professional.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t just any roaming mercenary. His confident stride. His upright posture. His skilled swordsmanship. ¡®I didn¡¯t notice.¡¯ Above all, until Thomas called him, he hadn¡¯t even realized such a person existed. ¡°Oh?¡± The mercenary exclaimed in admiration at seeing Sein. ¡®Did he read me?¡¯ The mercenary had also grasped that Sein had gauged his abilities. ¡°Your movements and dagger skills are impressive, and your eyesight is sharp too. It¡¯s a shame to waste your skills here in the alley.¡± ¡°Are you here to praise him now?¡± Even to the Cripple¡¯s voice, the mercenary spoke while looking at Sein. ¡°Will you come with me?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What?¡± Both Thomas and Sein were equally perplexed. ¡°What the fuck are you talking about!¡± At Thomas¡¯s curse, *Crack!* The mercenary used his hand to cover Thomas¡¯s mouth. *Snap!* The sound of a solid jawbone fracturing happened in an instant. ¡°Ugh, ughh¡­ Ughhh!¡± Thomas began to scream in agony, thrashing about. ¡°Wow! First a cripple, now a mute. What should I call you now?¡± ¡°You even have a gag reflex.¡± The mercenary seemed satisfied even with Sein¡¯s reaction. But the mercenary needed to know, even though they were just thugs from the alley, they still had their own code of honor. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± The blade that was heading towards Sein suddenly turned towards the mercenary. The remaining thugs under Thomas¡¯s command. *Squelch!* However, before they could close in on the mercenary, they were cut into pieces and scattered. Blood turned into rain in the moonlit alleyway. ¡°Asshole.¡± That¡¯s all Sein could say. ¡°Called in a tiger to catch a dog.¡± Sein¡¯s sharp gaze. ¡®He¡¯s knight-level.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t just any run-of-the-mill mercenary rolling around anywhere. At least, he was at knight level. Well, considering his recent move, he could even be considered a commander-level mercenary. ¡°Did you see that? Truly beyond expectations.¡± *Thud.* The mercenary approached, stepping on puddles of overflowing blood. ¡°So, are you coming?¡± It wasn¡¯t a suggestion, it was a threat. If he didn¡¯t accept, he would end up like Thomas, or perhaps one of those lackeys. ¡°I would love to, but some circumstances prevent me.¡± ¡°So you are declining me?¡± The mercenary tilted his head in amusement. ¡°How unexpected. I thought you knew better than anyone how precious life is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s my life.¡± At that moment. ¡°¡­!¡± The mercenary, sensing something, reached out his hand, but *Boom!* The explosion erupted right in front of the mercenary¡¯s nose, catching everyone off guard. *Whoosh!* The smoke that followed quickly filled the alley. ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Breath¡­?¡± In the smoke, the mercenary murmured, seemingly bewildered. With that destructive force and smoke, it was a bomb called the Dragon¡¯s Breath, one of the lost secrets of the Empire, now vanished. ¡°This¡­gives me more reason to catch you.¡± The mercenary began to move. *** *Pant! Pant!* Sein was running and running. Now in the alleys of Chichiron, which could now be called his own territory. *Pant!* He knew better than anyone where to run and how to escape. But even for someone like Sein, the situation was dire. ¡°Damn it. That crazy cripple.¡± The mercenary he summoned was not a hunter but a tiger to hunt him. ¡°Why the hell did that guy come to this alley?¡± Chichiron was a small outpost on the outskirts. Even if it was an alley, it was still the same. ¡°Damn it!¡± Even if they were just guards, they were still formidable. No. ¡°He¡¯s someone even the knights of the lord would find hard to deal with.¡± So it was inevitable to feel overwhelmed. No matter where he ran, there was no one to stop him. ¡°There¡¯s not much time left.¡± Frustration and resentment. This dog-like life. He was sure the sun would rise soon if he waited just a little longer. ¡°There you are.¡± Instead of the sun, an ominous darkness enveloped him. With the voice echoing from afar. *Thud! Thud! Thud!* The buildings in the alley Sein was running through began to collapse. ¡°Insane!¡± That¡¯s a monster. Now, with nowhere to escape due to the debris of collapsed buildings, all he could do was stop. ¡°You run like a rat. I thought I took care of you, but you¡¯re quite a sight.¡± *Panting¡­ Panting¡­* The mercenary, facing him. ¡°Where did you get the Dragon¡¯s Breath from?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to answer?¡± He could be certain. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to run.¡± *Clank.* He gripped the dagger. ¡°Oh¡­ Seems like you even know what the Dragon¡¯s Breath is. My curiosity is piqued.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you.¡± Sein spoke. ¡°Please spare me.¡± S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t come earlier, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do it right away. I need to stay in Chichiron for a while. But if that¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll follow you.¡± Sein¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t seem to be lying. But¡­ ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± Damn it. This was why Sein had refused the mercenary¡¯s offer from the beginning. The fact that at least a knight, if not a commander-level figure, had come disguised as a mercenary all the way to the alleys of Chichiron. That meant¡­ ¡®A fugitive.¡¯ He was running away from someone. So no matter how much he wanted to, it was a calculated decision to leave this place immediately. ¡°One month, no, a week would be enough.¡± He tried to negotiate somehow. ¡°You have too many conditions. Since I can¡¯t cut your tongue, I¡¯ll have to cut your limbs first.¡± The mercenary had approached Sein¡¯s nose without him realizing it. His hand, reaching for the sword. ¡°I need to know your secret.¡± The moment the sword touched, Sein would have ended up like the fragmented lackeys of Thomas, if he was lucky enough to be alive at all that is. But just as the mercenary¡¯s hand reached the hilt of the sword¡­ *Boom!* What erupted wasn¡¯t the sound of Sein¡¯s body being brutally cut, but flames. ¡°What¡­?¡± The mercenary¡¯s face was filled with confusion. This was the only chance Sein had been waiting for. ¡°Yeah. What! You bastard!¡± The mercenary¡¯s sword slipped from his grasp, and Sein plunged his dagger into the nape of the mercenary¡¯s neck. *** ¡°Really¡­¡± It was a genuine voice. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡± The mercenary, with a face that showed complete bewilderment, looked down at what lay before him. *Cough¡­ Cough¡­* There, Sein lay, gasping for air. ¡°With movements unseen in the alley, and the Dragon¡¯s Breath¡­¡± The outcome was already decided. ¡°Until the end.¡± The mercenary was genuinely impressed. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± In such rural areas, only things unseen in the slums could be seen. Even in a world dominated by darkness, this was a remote countryside untouched by even the darkest shadows. ¡°Answer me.¡± *Scream!* The mercenary spoke as he stepped on Sein¡¯s ankle. ¡°What are you?!¡± Initially curious, now turned into suspicion. And bubbling beneath was greed. ¡°I¡¯ll spare your life. You seem to have some use.¡± ¡°You damn well want to know?¡± In agony, Sein twisted a grin and spoke. ¡°Shall I tell you?¡± ¡°You arrogant bastard.¡± *Thunk!* Finally, a groan erupted from Sein¡¯s ankle. ¡°¡­Cough. Now I¡¯m a cripple too.¡± Despite everything, Sein¡¯s laughter could be seen as madness itself. ¡°One arm, one leg, wouldn¡¯t matter. Can¡¯t have a fugitive like you carry a crippled one like me while running, now can you?¡± *Whoosh.* Under the radiant moonlight, the mercenary¡¯s sword gleamed, pointing toward Sein¡¯s dazzling eyes. Towards those eyes with a glimmer of madness. *Swish.* It was the moment the mercenary¡¯s sword was about to fall slowly. *Boom!* Another burst of flames. Sein wondered if the mercenary had still left a trick up his sleeve, but the mercenary¡¯s expression was different now. Shock, and fear. ¡°Witch¡­! Why you!¡± *Clank! Clank! Clank!* The mercenary¡¯s sword, still spewing flames, was blocking something. Sein could clearly see what the sword was blocking. A pale white something. It was¡­ ¡°I came here for a business, didn¡¯t expect to run into a fugitive.¡± It was the leg of a Bone Spider, an undead creature *Boom!* The mercenary, having deflected the Bone Spider¡¯s leg, stepped back heavily, touching the ground. The aura of death from the Bone Spider infected the mercenary¡¯s chest, making him appear deadened. ¡°A¡­business?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± A shadow loomed in front of Sein¡¯s nose. There stood a woman with jet-black hair, so black it seemed to swallow light, and curves that seemed sculpted by someone. ¡°This guy here is my business.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Beauty. A silhouette that encapsulated it. But within that beauty, there was an unmistakable aura of death, fierce and unyielding. ¡°You wanted to know what this guy is, right?¡± ¡°Witch. Spare me, and I¡¯ll leave quietly.¡± ¡°Too late.¡± *Boom!* The Bone Spider¡¯s leg. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the only one. Altogether, there were eight of them. From behind the black woman emerged something that seemed unbeatable, piercing through the mercenary¡¯s body with eight holes. ¡°No way¡­!¡± The trembling mercenary spoke. ¡°De¡­ath¡­¡± Facing death, the mercenary tried to utter his final words as if it were a last testament. *Shooock!* The leg of the Bone Spider, piercing through his body, didn¡¯t stop there, tearing him into pieces. A scene reminiscent of the alleys. The woman who brought about this spectacle turned her head slowly and spoke. ¡°You¡¯re Chichiron¡¯s mad dog, Sein, right?¡± *¡­* Sein looked up at her, confronted with a death so overwhelming that it couldn¡¯t be compared to the mercenary¡¯s. ¡°Tell me, who are you?¡± Sein was smiling. ¡°Well, ignorance is bliss, I suppose.¡± Beneath the radiant moonlight, ¡°You may not know, but you are of great blood, Sein.¡± The two were facing each other from different positions. ¡°Sein Demorus. That¡¯s your identity.¡± [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 3 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 3 The black haired woman appeared out of nowhere. Tearing the Knight/Commander-level mercenary to pieces, she turned to Sein and spoke. ¡°Sein Demorus.¡± His own name, and a title not his own. ¡°Dem¡­ orus?¡± But the surprise at that name was brief. ¡°That is your identity.¡± In that moment, a thunderous bolt seemed to strike in Sein¡¯s mind. ¡°Indeed, I was completely unaware¡­¡± The woman who was about to say something to Sein. But the woman was forced to shut her mouth. A sinister smirk crept up, his lips. Eyes of a sky-like hue with white hair. The expression on his face, even carried a sense of mystery. ¡°¡­Finally.¡± It was madness. ¡°Finally!¡± Sein shouted. He understood. He understood that it was a secret to be kept forever. He understood. He understood that it was his own secret that must never be spoken. But it had been a long time coming, a long time of waiting, of barely getting through this damned life. ¡°I¡¯ve waited.¡± Sein rose to his feet. Late at night, the only thing filling the alley was the brilliant moonlight. But that was the light of the world. The world seen through Sein¡¯s eyes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª- [Warning: You cannot leave this area until the tutorial is completed.] [Warning: You cannot leave this area until the tutorial is completed.] ¡ª¡ª¡ª- Nothing but a crimson red hue and streaks of yellow. Sein muttered, ¡°This insane world is finally ending!¡± He had endured so far in this world painted entirely in red. But even that was only until now. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The slender-eyed woman wouldn¡¯t know. What she had accomplished herself. Sein¡¯s world, once red, slowly began to regain its original color. ¡°I may not know who you are, but I am insanely grateful.¡± Sein murmured quietly. ¡°I will make sure to repay this debt.¡± ¡°¡­Surely not.¡± That was the last he heard of the woman¡¯s voice. He blinked for a moment, then realized. ¡°It¡¯s finally¡­ here.¡± A world completely dark. No, he knew it was in a space akin to the universe, judging by the twinkling starlight in the distance. Yet Sein remained unfazed. As they say, this is the moment he¡¯s been waiting for like a mad man. [Your life is confirmed.] This space wasn¡¯t an unknown territory, it was like Sein¡¯s¡­ [Your¡­ fourth life is confirmed.] For players, it was like home. ¡°Finally, it has come¡­ Stellar Beacon.¡± [TL/N: Name is subjected to change if more information comes later on] Stellar Beacon, that¡¯s what this space was called. *** Three lives, a world where anything was possible. But the world that never ended. Humans all had an instinct to conquer the summit. Here. ¨C Sanctuary. Sanctuary was no exception. Millions of gamers wanted to conquer Sanctuary, and challenges from over tens of billions of people were made. Yet, not a single soul saw the end of the world. But after many years, there was finally a player who reached the end. It was a glorious moment. It was a historic moment. If it weren¡¯t for the ugly truth. ¨C I did it. I did it. The first clear of Sanctuary. The player who achieved it was¡­. ¨C Hahaha! I did it! Finally did it in any way possible!!! An abnormal, cheat player, that¡¯s what he was. It was a coincidence. He was frustrated, frustrated by the fact that he had grinded through life, life itself, but couldn¡¯t see the end of Sanctuary. A gift to a man who no longer had the will to live. [Would you like to play the cheat version?] It was absurdly sweet. Sanctuary, which had never been breached. Clearly, it was obviously a scam to anyone who looked, but at the brink of despair, he chose. ¨C Anyway, what does it matter. It changed his life. [ID: BIRDMAN] ID Birdman. Real name. ¨C Crazy. It was real, wasn¡¯t it? Kim Sein. He succeeded in obtaining the cheat version of Sanctuary and finally succeeded in reaching the end of Sanctuary. However, at the end, there was none of the glory Kim Sein had imagined. ¨C What the hell. After more than a decade of enjoying Sanctuary and never getting tired of it, the price of using unauthorized methods was too great. There was no joy, no sorrow. Sein¡¯s world was. ¨C What is this¡­? It all came crashing down that day. The fall of the Empire, the ending of the Sanctuary, and the terrible emptiness that came with it. And then, suddenly. [Sanctuary is collapsing.] [Abnormal access detected.] [Initiating security measures.] The world was tainted with a sickly red. ¨C Connection terminated! He tried to flee in confusion, but it was too late. [Emergency protocol activated.] The connection wasn¡¯t terminated, and absurdly, Sein found himself trapped in the game. Three lives given. And the end. But for Sein, who had an abnormal conclusion, there was a price to pay. [A fourth life is beginning.] A fourth life that should never exist in Sanctuary. *** ¡°Sigh¡­ I didn¡¯t expect that.¡± Alone in the dark space, Sein murmured to himself. Every moment had been a continuous tension, but here and now, he didn¡¯t need to be tense. The absolute safe zone, Stellar Beacon, was a kind of mental world. ¡°I only knew that life was given, not that I had to live it.¡± A life¡¯s given at the beginning of Sanctuary. And a past life. All starting points were around eighteen. Because it was a game, that¡¯s why. What had been so natural became a dismal hell when it turned into reality. Trapped in Sanctuary due to misconduct, player Kim Sein had to live as the Sein of the back alleys. [Tutorial] The prison he found himself in with such a name. The reincarnation system that Sanctuary prides itself on didn¡¯t even work, and the safety measures that came with it being a game were completely gone. Days of survival he had to endure. Still, there was something that kept him going. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for nearly a decade of playthroughs, I would have died long ago.¡± Throughout the years before cheating, playing Sanctuary. Sein had truly lived countless lives. Sometimes as a farmer, sometimes as a miner, sometimes as a blacksmith. Sometimes even becoming a hero. In that life he had experienced, he had many mentors and learned from them. At that time. ¡°I just thought it was a game setting.¡± Magic this, meditation that, footwork this. Though he hadn¡¯t attached much meaning to things that activated under the name of skills, when Sanctuary became reality, they became experiences akin to treasures. Memories he had recalled to survive manifested as skills. The skills he had used out of habit were ingrained in his body. ¡°Thanks to them, I could survive.¡± Sein rose to his feet. Now, this space was Stellar Beacon. And what that meant was that the tutorial had finally ended. The starting point for every player. [Your fourth life is confirmed.] He had confirmed a fourth life that should have never even existed originally. [You are¡­] Now, it was truly the starting point. [You are the Successor of the Dark Abyss.] Along with tha, a twinkling starlight in the distance swiftly approached. Crash! A thunderous noise as if the sky were collapsing. Boom! Something falling from there appeared before Sein. This is it. The moment he had been waiting for so long. ¡°The Stone of Past Lives. It¡¯s been insane how long it¡¯s been.¡± Three colorless red stones. Each one contained the life he had traversed. Three lives that would allow Sain to clear the Sanctuary in the final playthrough. And that was it. ¡®My cheat.¡¯ The cheat code given to Sein. Lives given in Sanctuary were all random. As if it were a system that thrust our lives into a game, gamers were ecstatic yet saddened. All they wished for was just one thing. A wind just like reality. ¨C If¡­. Anyone could have any wish they desired. ¨C If I could only choose my life. The ability to choose what he was born as and how he would live his life. That was truly the cheat Sein possessed. And the three past lives. Lives Sein had dreamed of for over a decade. Whoosh! Sein stood on the third and final stone. S?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The moment Sein¡¯s hand touched the red stone. Hwaahhhh! The once colorless red stone began pulsating like a heart. What appeared next was¡­ [Activate Past Life?] A single question directed at Sein. The moment he had long awaited, and the predetermined answer. ¡°Yes.¡± Sein finally chose the strongest life he had ever seen, the past life of the Imperial Crown Prince. [Activating the Past Life of the Imperial Crown Prince.] He chose to start as the Crown Prince of the Empire. * * * ¡°¡­As expected.¡± A faint voice echoed. ¡°¡­Correct.¡± Sein slowly regained his blurred senses as he woke up. ¡°He was on the outskirts.¡± Along with a clearly audible voice. ¡°¡­.!¡± Sein blinked his eyes open. Crack! Something was tightly binding his arms and legs. Struggling seemed futile against such force. Sein could recognize what it was. ¡®The legs of a Bone Spider.¡¯ The legs of the superior undead Bone Spider. And its owner. ¡°You¡¯ve awakened.¡± The black haired woman who had saved him. In a world now fully illuminated, the woman facing him radiated even greater beauty than before. Amidst the brilliant moonlight. Crack. Sein was dangling in the air, bound by her. ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t your taste a bit too extreme?¡± Those were Sein¡¯s first words as he opened his eyes. ¡°Is this a joke?¡± The woman spoke to Sein as if in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of killing me, are you?¡± ¡°¡­Why would you think that?¡± Though he had spent time in Stellar Beacon, Sein remembered the situation before. The woman had clearly said, ¡°You¡¯re My business and your name is Sein Demorus.¡± Sein Demorus. ¡°Demorus.¡± It was his bestowed surname and the starting point of his fourth life. ¡°You are the one who has come to escort me, the successor of Demorus.¡± It was a world ruined by Sein. It was a name that no one in the Sanctuary, or Dark Sanctuary, could fail to recognize. ¡°Surely you¡¯re not thinking of killing the successor candidate of Demorus?¡± Demorus. They were one of the dark forces that divided the world into three parts. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 4 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 4 The woman fell silent. ¡°It¡¯s quite dizzying, isn¡¯t it?¡± Finally, what came out of the woman¡¯s mouth was praise. Swish! The Bone Spider¡¯s legs snapped back like a whip. Sein, who had found freedom, fell from the sky but managed to regain balance. ¡°It was just a matter of verification if your blood was¡­¡± Hmm! A necklace emerged from the woman¡¯s chest. ¡°Demorus¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Was it necessary to keep me tied up?¡± ¡°I like to be certain.¡± The woman said so, but¡­ ¡®It¡¯s suspicious.¡¯ Sein didn¡¯t stop his suspicious gaze towards her. He just wasn¡¯t foolish enough to make it obvious. ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised? That you¡¯re Demorus?¡± ¡°I knew I was special.¡± Sein checked his body over and over. ¡®My past life has been activated.¡¯ Finally, the tutorial ended, and he was granted the special privileges of his past life. Normally, even that would be random, but Sein could choose. ¡®I even activated the cheat.¡¯ That was the cheat Sein possessed. It was a ¡®choice.¡¯ As the imperial prince, his greatest privilege was¡­ ¡°You knew you were special?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen it. I used aura.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How many people in my age group are using aura?¡± The woman seemed to quietly nod her head. ¡°There in the back alleys without a proper mentor, awakening aura alone. Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°It sounds like I¡¯m a genius.¡± Sein spoke confidently despite the warm tone. ¡°How did you awaken aura?¡± ¡°How can you explain breathing? It just happened naturally. And isn¡¯t that evidence of me being a genius?¡± I¡¯ve thought about it countless times, waiting for this day. Dozens, hundreds of reasons to explain. But the conclusion was always the same. ¡°I awakened aura in such a remote back alley. Isn¡¯t that proof of how remarkable my blood is? I even thought I might be of the fallen ancient empire lineage.¡± Pushing his luck. Pushing harder than expected was effective. It was at that moment. Twitch. There was a subtle change in the woman¡¯s expression at the mention of the ancient empire. If I hadn¡¯t activated my past life, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed such a slight change. ¡°That makes sense. Then what about the dragon¡¯s breath?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same.¡± She had been watching from there. Yet the woman remained passive, indicating she was observing rather than intervening. ¡®She¡¯s testing me.¡¯ But Sein continued without showing any sign. ¡°Given by a traveler.¡± ¡°A traveler?¡± ¡°Most likely a fugitive. You already know I¡¯m quite notorious in the back alleys.¡± Naturalness. That¡¯s more important than anything. He was a foreign presence in this world, and he knew what was happening because of his past experiences. -Absolute law for enjoying the Sanctuary. He had even posted such writings on information sites. -First Law: Do not reveal the sense of foreignness. There are penalties for that in the Sanctuary, too. However, he had no intention of hiding himself. -Second Law: Naturally reveal uniqueness. Not as a sense of foreignness, but as uniqueness. If the residents of the Sanctuary, NPCs, can accept that uniqueness, the penalties in the Sanctuary will be greatly mitigated. ¡°I can¡¯t say there aren¡¯t any risks, but I can understand.¡± The woman approached Sein slowly. Swoosh. Extending her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the late introduction.¡± The woman spoke to Sein. ¡°My name is Arin.¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m also known as the Witch of the Legion.¡± That was Sein¡¯s first meeting with Arin. ¡°I¡¯m Sein Demorus. Nice to meet you, Arin.¡± * * * Thud! One of Sein¡¯s subordinates who had knelt down at his footsteps fell forward. ¡°Bo-Boss!¡± ¡°Please spare us!¡± Those who knelt were not just one. At least six. And they were the ones who¡­ ¡°Even dogs recognize their masters.¡± Were traitors. ¡°They wag their tails just because we feed them and put them to sleep.¡± Sein asked while looking at them. ¡°But what are you guys?¡± ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°I feed you, I shelter you, I clothe you, I protect you from other neighbourhood bastards trying to tear you apart. And yet you bite the hand that feeds?¡± ¡°Boss! It¡¯s not like that¡­!¡± The attack by Thomas the Cripple. That was clearly suspicious at first glance. Especially considering the situation of being attacked. It was definitely a planned event, and without traitors within, it would have been impossible. ¡°Darren.¡± At Sein¡¯s call, a shaggy one approached and bowed his head. ¡°What if they¡¯re not traitors?¡± Darren was a special one. ¡°Are you lying? Or are they lying?¡± He was the same man who had raised and clothed Sein since the day he woke up in this strange body. Though Sein was now the Boss, Darren was the only one he could trust in this back alley. ¡°You got any proof?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen those guys meeting with the Cripple several times. And they were paid quite a sum.¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stake my life on it.¡± Darren¡¯s firm voice settled the judgment. ¡°N-No, Boss, it¡¯s not true!¡± ¡°Boss! Please!¡± Swish. But Sein had already drawn his dagger. ¡°What¡¯s the punishment for betrayal in the back alleys?¡± Sein stood up. ¡°Death, Boss.¡± Thunk! Sein¡¯s dagger pierced one man¡¯s throat as a signal. ¡°Aaah!¡± Those struggling to survive tried to resist somehow. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Sein¡¯s subordinates, who were already waiting, promptly disposed of all the traitors without hesitation. The back alley fell silent in no time. Swish. As Darren, who had just dealt with the last one, wiped the blood off his dagger, he spoke. ¡°But, Boss. What about her?¡± In a corner of the alley, there was a strange woman that one wouldn¡¯t even glance at if they weren¡¯t from the same group. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like the Boss has taken in any women.¡± A beauty rarely seen in this rural area. But more than that, she exuded a dangerous scent that made everyone cautious. ¡°She goes by the name Arin.¡± ¡°Arin¡­?¡± It was a name he had never heard before. ¡°She seems to be called the Witch of the Legion.¡± It might have a notorious reputation across the continent. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± But it wasn¡¯t a name that had spread to this rural area. Swish. Sein stood up and said, ¡°The Cripple is dead. Take care of the kids and secure the Cripple¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°And as for Arin¡­¡± Sein turned around and said, ¡°She¡¯s a woman from Demorus.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± At that moment, the back alley froze. Even though it was a rural area where the reputation of the Witch of the Legion hadn¡¯t even reached. ¡°¡­Demorus, you say?¡± The name of Demorus held power even in such a backwater area. * * * ¡°Three of them did not lie.¡± Arin¡¯s sudden remark made Sein, who was drinking beer, pause. This place was an inn managed by Sein, the tomb of mercenaries. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Of the six you executed, three weren¡¯t traitors.¡± ¡°Ah, that.¡± Sein chuckled as if he had just realized. ¡°They were problematic even if not traitors. It¡¯s better to make sure when there¡¯s a justification, even if it¡¯s not this time.¡± ¡°Problematic?¡± Thunk. Sein slammed the beer down roughly. ¡°You seem very interested in others¡¯ territories.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t I finished introducing myself yet?¡± Even so, Arin didn¡¯t blink an eye. She was a woman who easily tore through the mercenary, a man of knight-commander level. Dealing with an aura user like Sein would probably be easier than swallowing cold soup. ¡°I am your guardian.¡± ¡°¡­Guardian?¡± ¡°It means someone who watches over you and judges if you are suitable to become a successor.¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t a guardian supposed to be someone who helps you?¡± ¡°Consider it multitasking.¡± Unable to withstand Arin¡¯s expressionless gaze, Sein finally turned away. ¡°One man touched a married woman. Another one¡­ harmed a child.¡± ¡°They deserved to die.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s more or less that kind of story. Although they could use aura, they were short-handed when it came to fighting with the Cripple over territory.¡± ¡°Is that why you spared them?¡± A gaze tinged with contempt. But. ¡°For that reason?¡± Instead, Sein¡¯s face twisted. ¡°Is there a reason more important than surviving in this hellish dump? I had to keep them alive by any means necessary. The esteemed guardian of great Demorus may not understand.¡± A hellish back alley. There was nothing as difficult as surviving there. ¡°Well¡­.¡± Sein muttered quietly. ¡°The guy who touched a married woman won¡¯t dare lay a hand on a woman again, and the one who harmed a child¡­¡± Thunk! ¡°I made the asshole pay for what he got. You don¡¯t get beaten like that for stealing, not on my turf.¡± ¡°Was that your doing? Good to hear.¡± ¡°Of course. Even if it¡¯s me, I¡¯m a strict person.¡± The trivial conversation ended there. ¡°What happens next?¡± Sein asked Arin. A new identity had emerged, and a watcher with the name of guardian had appeared. Things would be different from now on. ¡°We¡¯re going to Demorus.¡± A natural course of action. ¡°During the journey to Demorus, I¡¯ll watch over you.¡± She was his guardian. ¡°To see if you¡¯re suitable to be the successor of Demorus.¡± At that moment, Sein realized. ¡®This is the main quest.¡¯ His fourth life that was given to him. The main quest given to the successor of the Dark Valley. ¡°What if I¡¯m not suitable?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be discarded.¡± ¡°That¡¯s harsh.¡± But it didn¡¯t matter. Sein¡¯s goal so far. ¡®Survive.¡¯ Surviving in this hellish world. Thus, he endured, rolling in the filth of that dismal back alley. With all that filth clinging to his hands. But if it were only that, he would have given up. Running away from the gloomy reality was also an option, after all. The reason he persevered. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go to Demorus.¡± It was a task as significant as anything Sein had. The only redemption he could achieve for the world he once loved so dearly, which he himself had destroyed. Also, it was the sole hope Kim Sein, who had everything in Sanctuary, had. ¡®This time, I¡¯ll clear Sanctuary.¡¯ S~?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. No one can accuse him of cheating. This place may be a game to others, but it was real to him. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 5 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 5 ¡°From now on, let Weiss take care of Chichiron.¡± Number Three of the Sein Family. ¡°Boss, but¡­¡± ¡°Whether it falls apart or gets snatched by others, it doesn¡¯t matter. Do as you please.¡± Sein was getting ready to leave. ¡°Take some weight off your shoulders, you¡¯ll handle it just fine.¡± The reason why Weiss, Number Three, was put in charge of the organization was simple. Because Number Two, Darren, had decided to leave with Sein. ¡°Boss, come back anytime.¡± The subordinates bidding farewell to Sein spoke with sincerity. ¡°What. Isn¡¯t it better if I don¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°What are you saying, Boss?¡± Weiss, representing the group, spoke to Sein. ¡°In the back alleys of Chichiron, which is no different from a hellhole, Boss was a ray of light.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Still, thanks to the Boss, the ones crossing the line were somewhat quiet, weren¡¯t they? Even the residents of the alleys were thankful for their safety.¡± It was a time of hardship. In reality, the environment given to Sein was the worst of the worst. Chichiron was above all an equal place. The problem was that the standard for this equality was based on strength. Young and old alike were forced to kneel before the mighty and cry out in the alleys of Chichiron. ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting while following the rules the Boss set. Please come back anytime, Boss.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s irritating.¡± As Sein waved his hand, Weiss finally closed his mouth. ¡°Is that all you¡¯re taking?¡± Arin asked. Although it was time to leave and prepare, all Sein had packed was a small bundle. Even if Darren, a muscular fellow, carried most of the luggage, it was still a meager load. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± But Sein seemed to have no regrets. ¡°This is Sein¡¯s homeland, and yet, it¡¯s not.¡± All he needed to take were a few weapons and emergency tools. ¡°Darren, did you pack everything well?¡± ¡°Of course, Boss.¡± Just a handful of coins scraped together from the alleys of Chichiron. ¡°Weiss, don¡¯t let the kids go hungry. Deal with the thieves appropriately.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, Boss.¡± After more than a decade of imprisonment, that was all he had. A world painted with blood and filth. A world tinted entirely in crimson for Sein. ¡°Boss!¡± Windows in the alleys opened, and people shouted. ¡°Thank you for everything!¡± Sein, at eighteen. Though young, brought peace to the alleys of Chichiron. ¡°Ptuh! Don¡¯t ever come back! You lunatic!¡± Of course, that wasn¡¯t the only thing. ¡°Weiss¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Deal with that bastard on your own time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± And so, Sein left Chichiron, which was no different from his second home. *** His steps were light and free. ¡°At last.¡± Chichiron, trapped under the constraints of the tutorial. It was a place where nothing pleased him, and each passing day felt like sinking deeper into a swamp. So. ¡°Haha!¡± Finally, he could be satisfied with escaping. But even that moment of joy was short-lived. ¡°Indeed¡­.¡± A quiet soliloquy. The rest went unspoken. ¡°Things have changed.¡± Sein loved adventure more than anyone else. The azure sky and beautiful land. A world where nothing was not beautiful. ¡°It¡¯s gloomy.¡± The world he once knew was no more. Even though the sun was still up, the world seemed dark, as if shrouded in mist. ¡°Chichiron may be rural, but it¡¯s a domain.¡± Arin explained. ¡°Since it was protected by barriers, is this your first time coming outside?¡± ¡°It is.¡± A world of ash. This is the current world. ¡®Dark Sanctuary.¡¯ A world that had lost its light, unlike the past when it was called the Sanctuary. The once expansive territories of the continent had shrunk by nearly half, and even now, human domains were diminishing. ¡°It¡¯s because of the fall of the ancient empire.¡± The downfall of the ancient empire. ¡°The sacred light that once protected the continent disappeared, replaced by darkness.¡± The great empire of Archipald, which once safeguarded the Sanctuary, had fallen. No one else. ¡°It¡¯s also because of the Ruiner.¡± Because of their emperor. ¡°¡­.¡± It was a story heard. Even though it was in the rural outskirts, it was not a story one would not hear. The great empire of Archipald, which illuminated the Sanctuary, fell and perished due to the last emperor, also known as the Ruiner. That¡¯s it. ¡°Now it¡¯s a story that¡¯s been a hundred years.¡± A story from a hundred years ago. ¡°The moment I opened my eyes as Sein of the alleys¡­.¡± Yes. ¡°A hundred years after I destroyed the empire.¡± In the original Sanctuary, there wouldn¡¯t have been such a time difference in past lives, but now it was a twisted world. ¡°Sein Demorus.¡± Arin called Sein. S?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ve only set the destination for you.¡± The destination is clear. Demorus. ¡°The path and method to reach the destination are solely your decision and journey.¡± Arin is Sein¡¯s guardian. ¡°I¡¯ll watch over that and confirm if you¡¯re worthy.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Even if your life is in danger, it¡¯s best to think that I¡¯ll intervene according to my judgment, and it¡¯s practically better not to expect anything.¡± The day Sein faced Arin. ¡°On that day, you exhausted all the help you could get from me.¡± As a knight/commader-level mercenary, the aid received from him was the only help available to Arin. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°You¡¯re confident. The current world is far more dangerous than Chichiron.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Sein repeated the same words. ¡°If you can¡¯t overcome even that, nothing will change.¡± Sein¡¯s clear goal. It is to survive. And to see the end. The outcome of this world is unknown. But Sein was convinced because he had seen the end of the world once. ¡®The end exists.¡¯ And reaching that end was the only path he had to follow. ¡°To achieve that, I must make the most of what I¡¯ve been given.¡± His final life. ¡°A life as the successor of the Dark Sanctuary.¡± A life filled with failures. The only success was tainted by wrongdoing. It was a chance to erase all of that and start anew. ¡°So¡­.¡± Arin spoke with an odd tone. ¡°Is this really your first destination?¡± A dying forest. ¡°Yes.¡± Monsters lurked within it. * * * ¡°Squeak¡­ Squeak.¡± A faint cry echoed. ¡°Squeak.¡± It was like they were communicating with each other through the cries. They were hiding behind the dead trees, using them as cover. Holding rusty spears, covered in mud. ¡°Peekaboo.¡± It was a goblin, one of the lowest-ranking monsters in the Sanctuary. The goblin was startled by the sudden noise and tried to thrust its rusty spear, but it was too late. Swish! A sharp dagger had already pierced through the goblin¡¯s neck. ¡°Kikik!¡± Another goblin, sensing the attack, shouted a warning, but it was also too late. Swish! Sein, who had approached unnoticed, plunged his dagger into its chest. Around Sein, there were corpses of goblins strewn everywhere. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as I thought.¡± The continent was engulfed in darkness, and the decrease in human territories was largely attributed to the influence of monsters. In the past Sanctuary, the number of monster entities was extremely low, but after the darkness came, the number of monsters surged, and their level increased. ¡°No, it¡¯s definitely different.¡± Sein¡¯s experience with monsters was limited to the corpses brought by mercenaries. Encountering newly transformed monsters was a first for him. ¡°Kikik!¡± A goblin, using a companion¡¯s corpse as a cover, rushed towards Sein from behind. ¡°Seems they¡¯ve become more cunning and stronger.¡± Sein instinctively turned around and plunged his dagger into its throat. The goblins¡¯ coordinated actions were something usually seen in special events, especially using a companion¡¯s corpse as a shield. Coating rusted spears with poison or similar tactics were unheard of in the past. ¡°It seems somewhat organized now.¡± A game turned into reality. All of it had an unprecedented realism compared to the past. ¡°Schwack!¡± ¡°One left.¡± Sein was surprisingly adept, despite facing monsters instead of humans, having spilled countless amounts of blood. ¡°Chyaaa!¡± Writhing in the spear, soaked in crimson. ¡°It¡¯s broken.¡± He could adapt to all of this remarkably well. At the sound of Arin¡¯s voice, Sein turned his head. ¡°If it¡¯s a sword, it¡¯s still usable.¡± It was a dagger he crafted himself, gathering the best materials available in the alleys, so he knew it well. ¡°It¡¯s not a sword¡­.¡± Arin, looking straight at Sein. But she didn¡¯t finish her sentence. ¡°How long are you going to keep killing monsters?¡± ¡°Experiencing real combat is the best way to learn, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Humans have their limits, and you can¡¯t just kill them indiscriminately.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That was the reason Sein spat out to Arin. Thud. But there was a real reason behind it. Swish! Sein, starting the hunt again, moved relentlessly as if he would exterminate the goblins in the forest. Even though they were low-level monsters, it might be challenging for beginners, but Sein was already living his fourth life. And he could use Aura even before awakening. Swish! Goblins. Even if they had become stronger, it was nothing compared to him. ¡®It¡¯s working.¡¯ Furthermore, Sein was confirming. His third past life. -The Crown Prince of the Empire. The life special privilege of the Crown Prince of the Empire. A life special privilege was a very special ability given along with life. It was a power like the roots supporting life, the foundation of life. For the rightful successor of the ancient empire, Archipald. Thump! Dragon¡¯s blood flowed. As he awakened his magic, his pupils dilated like those of a lizard. Within them. Pah-aat! Sein gained explosive power and slaughtered goblins. ¡°A hundred.¡± Finally, when he slaughtered a hundred goblins, Sein¡¯s world began to change. A dark and mysterious universe. ¡°Stellar Beacon¡± It was the second time he found the Stellar Beacon. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 6 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 6 Sanctuary boasts an extreme level of difficulty. Among the factors that contribute to the difficulty of Sanctuary, the most notorious is the leveling system. Levels that intuitively allow players to feel stronger as they progress. -Max level 30. The maximum level in Sanctuary is 30. And less than 1% of the players, out of the hundreds of millions, have reached the max level even once in their lifetime. It was known that reaching max level in the following two lifetimes was achieved by fewer than ten thousand. Among them, those who reached max level in all three lives were said to be non-existent. This was due to the Sanctuary system, where the amount of experience required increases exponentially with each successive lifetime. The last life, where the level must be the lowest. Yet the reason it could be the most powerful is because. ¡°Stellar Beacon.¡± Right away, this Stellar Beacon system. With each of the three level-ups, the Stellar Beacon that comes allows the inheritance of abilities from past lives. ¡®Of course, it¡¯s random.¡¯ But Sein was different. ¡°The cheat I have lets me choose.¡± The life given, the number of times to access the Stellar Beacon. ¡®The special privileges I¡¯ll have.¡¯ The ability to choose everything. Once again, encountering the Stellar Beacon was a process of confirming that. Hum! The stone from the previous life that was currently active was the third life, the crown prince of the empire. As a noble with dragon¡¯s blood flowing through his veins, Sein had gained the power of the dragon, albeit faintly. ¡°What¡­.¡± Sein stood before the Stones of Past Lives. ¡°It might be limited what I can choose now.¡± The life of the Crown Prince of the Empire was already activated. If he didn¡¯t raise it to a certain extent, it would be impossible to activate another past life. For the time being, he needed to focus on the third life, that of the Crown Prince of the Empire. Swoosh. In Sein¡¯s hand was the third stone. Hum! Hum! Huum! The stone resonated loudly, as if recognizing its rightful owner. Normally, it should be given randomly rather than by choice. ¡°I choose the perks of my past life.¡± For Sein, choice was a cheat. Visions flashed through his mind. But at this moment, what to inherit was clear. ¡°Inheritance¡­¡± A powerful light burst from the third stone. ¡°Dragon Heart.¡± If he acquired the blood of the dragon, he needed a vessel to contain it. Sein continued to hunt even after waking up from the Stellar Beacon. But limitations always existed. ¡°Boss¡­.¡± The first to tire out was Darren. Darren was the one Sein had paid the most attention to in Chichiron. Although he couldn¡¯t use the aura, he was unrivaled in martial arts and swordsmanship in the alley. Darren¡¯s role was limited to dealing with the goblins that Sein missed or couldn¡¯t defeat, but he quickly reached his limit. ¡°To groan so much at that level.¡± But Darren wasn¡¯t the only one who had reached his limit. A strange sensation, as if bugs were crawling up his arm. On his exposed arm, there were long black scars as if they were burnt into the skin. ¡°You mentioned it was your first time stepping outside the territory.¡± Arin, who had only observed the hunt, leaned against a tree and spoke. ¡°The darkness.¡± ¡°Darkness?¡± ¡°The continent is engulfed in darkness, and without the protection of the barrier, it will be engulfed in darkness.¡± It was a known fact, but experiencing it was a first. ¡°This is darkness.¡± The first time experiencing it firsthand. ¡°If it continues like this, contamination will accelerate.¡± Arin said. ¡°At first, it¡¯s like having a light symptom of illness, but it gets worse over time.¡± ¡°In the end, they turn into monsters.¡± It was a story told to mercenaries. Arin nodded, as if agreeing with Sein¡¯s words. ¡°The more you confront the darkness, the faster the contamination accelerates. Hunting a considerable number of monsters and still not being heavily contaminated is quite surprising.¡± It wasn¡¯t just curiosity, but suspicion. ¡°What about you?¡± Sein redirected the conversation. ¡°Despite everything, you don¡¯t seem contaminated.¡± Arin was wearing a black dress that didn¡¯t seem suitable for such a dangerous place. Her arms were exposed, and her legs peeked through the split skirt. Despite her revealing attire, there were no black scars like his on her body. ¡°I have a resistance against the darkness.¡± That was a story he hadn¡¯t heard in the rural outskirts. ¡°Resistance?¡± ¡°Those blessed are not consumed by the darkness. At least, to some extent.¡± The words were complex, but the gist was simple. ¡°We need to escape from the contamination, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The sun was setting, casting the already dark forest into even deeper shadows. ¡°There are several ways to escape contamination, but the most effective one is hiding within the boundary of a sanctuary.¡± Sein waited. ¡°If not that¡­¡± Arin had another method in mind. With a sudden movement, Arin drove her staff into the ground. A surge of mana flowed out. ¡°There¡¯s also the option of using a temporary barrier. We¡¯ll deal with the cost later.¡± ¡°You call yourself a guardian, yet you¡¯re quite demanding.¡± ¡°As I said, even this level of assistance requires some investment. Sein Demorus.¡± Sein nodded without further complaint. ¡°Darren, we¡¯ll camp here tonight.¡± ¡°Understood, Boss.¡± As if prepared for such a situation, Darren retrieved camping gear from the supplies. He and Sein efficiently set up camp. ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t you say it was your first time outside the boundary?¡± Arin¡¯s voice echoed incredulously. ¡°I never planned to stay stuck in the countryside forever. I told you, didn¡¯t I?¡± The topic had already shifted adequately. What mattered now was driving another point home. ¡°A genius, you say?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A genius rotting away in such a backwater is a colossal waste for the continent.¡± ¡°Disgusting, isn¡¯t it?¡± But Arin¡¯s hand moved as if in agreement. ¡°Enough of that.¡± Tents and a campfire. A quite plausible campsite was set up. s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Sorry, but there¡¯s none for you. It wasn¡¯t in the plans.¡± There¡¯s only one tent. Darren seemed to have anticipated this, as he had already laid out his sleeping bag on the ground. Arin didn¡¯t have a tent. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Arin waved her hand again as if it didn¡¯t matter. Thunk! The ground rose sharply. Revealed from within was a tent made of pure white bones. ¡°¡­Bigger and cozier than Sein¡¯s.¡± ¡°Any chance of switching¡­¡± ¡°None.¡± So be it! *** Thunk! Squeak! Sein¡¯s dagger had long lost its edge. If he used Aura, even a dull dagger could reproduce the cutting power of a master sword, but Sein chose not to. Not only was he not accustomed to handling Aura yet, but he also deemed it a waste. Thunk! Squeak! That was the source of the eerie noise. Having wrestled away a goblin¡¯s wooden spear a couple of times before, Sein was now tearing through goblins. ¡°No need to keep up anymore.¡± Arin spoke to Darren, who struggled to rise despite being covered in blood. ¡°¡­Groan.¡± Darren sat down, seemingly frustrated. His body had already reached its limit. ¡°Thanks to the makeshift barrier, the pace of contamination has slowed down, literally.¡± Darren¡¯s arms and legs were covered in black scars from the wounds inflicted by goblins. ¡°You¡¯ll die if you overdo it.¡± ¡°But, Boss¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to follow that?¡± Thunk! Ahead of them. ¡°Squeak!¡± ¡°¡­Squeak!¡± The noises came together like the screams and laughter of terrified goblins. Hunting. ¡°That¡¯s close to madness.¡± Sein continued hunting relentlessly, taking only minimal breaks. ¡°I¡¯m just curious, but have you ever held a grudge against monsters?¡± ¡°¡­¡±. ¡°You ever had a bad run-in with goblins?¡± ¡°No, not that I know of.¡± Then where did that madness come from? Thud! That kind of madness, where did it originate? It was impossible without a clear purpose and venom, and even with those, it was still improbable. Crunch! That¡¯s true madness. ¡®He¡¯s definitely broken.¡¯ Arin thought as she looked at Sein. ¡®And accelerating.¡¯ Arin¡¯s job was to watch over Sein. ¡°Now we have to figure out what to do.¡± Darren hadn¡¯t awakened his magic, and Sein was literally going wild. But Arin felt it. Boom! In the heart of the forest. There was a strange movement of unfamiliar magic. It had been quietly rising and approaching this place for quite some time. ¡°Sein Demorus. The help I can offer you has come to an end.¡± So now. Boom! When you have to break free on your own. With thick dust. Rumble¡­!! Crash! Giant trees were collapsing with a thunderous roar. ¡°¡­Boss!¡± ¡°Darren. If you go there this time, you¡¯ll really die.¡± Boom! From far away, along with another explosion, a small shadow was seen darting towards them. Thud! After felling several trees, Sein finally came to a stop. Thud! Thud! Thud! The heavy footsteps echoed. Thunk! Thud! Trees that even seasoned lumberjacks would spend hours chopping down were collapsing like dominoes. ¡°Kieee!¡± His roar reverberated through the forest. Special breeds, exposed to darkness for extended periods, embraced its influence. ¡°Dark Goblins, perhaps.¡± Enhanced monsters engulfed by darkness. They surpassed the strength of their original breed several times over. Swish! Moreover, they possessed unique abilities of their own. A Dark Goblin emerged. ¡°No, it¡¯s a Dark HobGoblin.¡± The Dark HobGoblin, wielding its massive flaming greatsword, was advancing towards Sein. ¡°Ugh.¡± At that moment, even the fallen Sein rose to his feet. His body was in disarray from the brutal battle he had endured. But Arin could see it. Sneer. A smirk played on his lips. ¡°Finally showed up. The boss monster.¡± Sein had undoubtedly been waiting for this moment. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 7 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 7 ¡°Keyeh¡­.¡± A slow, steady rise of the head. ¡°Keyeh-!¡± The Dark Hobgoblin roared, raising its flaming sword high. ¡°Finally, we meet, boss monster.¡± Sein stood up from being pinned to a tree, speaking. An imposing adversary at first glance. Ssik. Yet Sein was smiling. ¡°Too massive to be considered a goblin, tainted entirely by darkness.¡± Furthermore, the flames clinging to the sword the Hobgoblin wielded. No matter how extraordinary a special species the Hobgoblin might be, such a threatening ability couldn¡¯t be within its reach. That. ¡°The current monster.¡± A special species tainted by darkness and corruption. Thump! Sein drew his dagger, facing the advancing Dark Hobgoblin. A dagger that had seen countless battles, stained with goblin blood. ¡°Enough.¡± But was it ever enough? Thump! Thump! The Dark Hobgoblin increased its speed even more. Sein, equally determined, began walking towards it. Thump! Thump! Thump! Thud! Thud-thud! Both accelerating towards each other. Kwaang! Finally, they clashed at the midpoint. The flaming greatsword and Sein¡¯s dagger collided. A fierce heat was felt, yet¡­ ¡°Heat resistance.¡± To Sein, it felt just like a gentle breeze. The power possessed by the dragon, called the ultimate lifeform. A new heart established through inheritance. Thump! It was the ability of the Dragon Heart. Moreover, Sein¡¯s dagger, which seemed like it could break at any moment, was¡­ Shaking! Despite clashing with the enormous greatsword, it held up. Ooong! A green light. Aura. Kwaang! But ultimately, Sein fell without overpowering the force. The Dark Hobgoblin was swinging its sword in pursuit of Sein, but it was too late. ¡°Keyeh?¡± Suddenly, Sein had concealed himself. ¡°Keyeh-!¡± The enraged Dark Hobgoblin swung its sword haphazardly. ¡°Has its intelligence declined even further?¡± The voice came from directly behind the Dark Hobgoblin. Realizing the situation, the creature hastily tried to turn, but it was too late. Phwoosh! A dagger filled with aura plunged into the Dark Hobgoblin¡¯s back. Just like that¡­ Kwaddduk! Sein infused even more mana into the aura, falling under the force of gravity. ¡°Keyeh-!¡± The Dark Hobgoblin screamed in agony from the pain in its back, thrashing about. Sein watched calmly as he distanced himself from the Dark Hobgoblin. ¡°Regeneration too.¡± It seemed to possess even the regeneration ability that Hobgoblins didn¡¯t originally have, as the torn wounds slowly healed. ¡°It seems this isn¡¯t enough.¡± Even as he let out a sigh of regret, Sein¡¯s lips still curled into a smile. How long had he been waiting for this moment? Monster hunting? Certainly, that was part of it. But what Sein had truly been waiting for was¡­ Thump! Thump! The immense power felt from his heart. ¡°Dragon Heart, output release.¡± The feeling of transcending humanity and becoming something else entirely. Even when it was just a game, he had become addicted to that immense sensation. And now that it had become reality¡­ ¡°Wow¡­.¡± An indescribable sense of fulfillment washed over his entire body. ¡°Kahaha!¡± His senses sharpened. The constraints of the system vanished. Even when trapped in this hellish prison, Sein had waited for this day. ¡°This is definitely reality. Someday, when I awaken the power within me¡­.¡± What sensations would he feel then? Twitch. Sein¡¯s pupils, like those of a lizard that had transformed. At that moment. Phwoosh. Sein felt as if he had become a god. The ground beneath him sank under the pressure. Sein used it as a stepping stone to channel even greater mana into his feet. Kwaang! Soon, Sein was soaring towards the Dark Hobgoblin as if he were a projectile. * * * The monster among monsters, the Dark Hobgoblin, fell. Its body was utterly ravaged. It wasn¡¯t so much hunted as it was torn to shreds. ¡°He looks like he¡¯s been experimented on.¡± A mad wizard had done everything he could to experiment. Arin looked at Sein, who had caused this mess. For a moment, her eyes were closed, as if mourning the prey. When they opened again. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sein harbored even more refined mana. ¡®Has he gotten stronger in this short time?¡¯ A growth that couldn¡¯t be ignored. And Arin¡¯s thoughts were indeed true. Ssik. Sein smiled. ¡°Leveling up in Reality might be brutal, but defeating boss monsters gives quite a bit of experience.¡± That¡¯s why he waited. Slaughtering goblins, trying to summon their boss. What Sein did was a kind of farming. And now, Sein had harvested what he had sown. ¡°My overall stats have increased quite a bit.¡± Furthermore, in Reality, abilities weren¡¯t gained through leveling up like in the game, but through hunting, especially with boss monsters providing a significant boost. ¡°I can¡¯t do it twice, though.¡± The stats he could gain through goblins and Dark Hobgoblins would end here. There would be nothing more to learn from opponents he had become familiar with. But what Sein gained wasn¡¯t just that. Just now, defeating the Dark Hobgoblin, Sein achieved another level up. -Dragon Fear. The newly acquired ability from there¡­ ¡°Hmm?¡± Dragon Fear. It allowed him to emit the primal terror that only the ultimate lifeform could possess. Arin frowned as she looked at Sein. ¡°Did you just¡­.¡± Arin was about to say something. ¡°Oh, so this is what it means to be alive.¡± It was Sein who made the move. ¡°I¡¯ve heard mercenaries talk about it, but is this the level of bloodshed required to unleash it?¡± Scratching his head then clapping his hands, Sein chuckled. ¡°What do you think, Arin? Is this right?¡± Having questioned Arin, Sein fell silent. ¡°It¡¯s a bit different.¡± ¡°Of course, you realized it on your own without learning, huh? The path of genius is indeed long and difficult.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sein smiled brightly at Arin, as if proving his innocence, but¡­ ¡°Does she not know to this extent?¡± Within, just like when he defeated the Dark Hobgoblin, Sein scrutinized Arin. ¡°Of course, with the ancient empire fallen, all ties have been severed.¡± He could be certain. He was the one who severed those ties by now. Already a hundred years later. Though through documents and stories, the nobility¡¯s uniqueness might have been passed down, experiencing it firsthand was different. With the ancient empire already gone and even the noble lineage disappeared now. ¡°No one left to recognize the power of the dragon.¡± And if someone were to recognize it, he would be ready by then. But even so. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± Sein remained vigilant. Just as Arin watched over him, he would watch over her as well. *** Finally, Sein declared the end of the hunt. ¡°¡­Boss, well done.¡± Even the typically stoic Darren showed signs of exhaustion from the hunt that had extended all the way to their chests due to contamination from the darkness, signifying the end of Sein¡¯s hunt. ¡°We¡¯ve obtained everything we can.¡± The stats obtainable from goblins. The stats obtainable from boss monsters. Two level-ups. It was an impossible situation to continue leveling up by hunting goblins and especially so after confirming the limitations of his current body in the fierce battles. ¡®The potential of the Dragon Heart is limitless. However, I still need to conserve it for now.¡¯ He checked his trump card. Above all, this was the most effective. ¡°Heh.¡± Contamination from the darkness. It was something he had to confirm in this changed world from the one he used to know. He had to understand the side effects caused by the worsening contamination. ¡®Still, the Dragon Heart suppresses the contamination from the darkness. Depending on the amount of mana possessed, the degree of contamination varies.¡¯ This was what Sein needed to obtain. And now that he had obtained everything. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It meant that he could now leave with peace of mind. ¡°If I can only manage the contamination from the darkness confidently, I can act freely.¡± Sein, who was moving leisurely as if he had no worries, brushed his hair back, but his eyes were alert. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing that concerns me.¡± Ssweep. Arin standing behind him. Only her. It was then. ¡°Sein Demorus.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± At the sound of Arin¡¯s voice calling him softly, Sein cautiously lowered his raised hand. ¡°What?¡± However, as cheerful as his expression and tone, Sein spoke towards Arin. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing Arin struggling to speak, Sein¡¯s mind was quickly racing. ¡°Well, it¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°What is it? Stop beating around the bush and spit it out.¡± He still didn¡¯t understand Arin well. A powerful woman known as the Witch of the Legion. Her ability to tear apart knight-level fugitive mercenaries was something the current Sein couldn¡¯t handle. But what concerned him the most was her subtle gaze. ¡®For now, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡¯ But if an opportunity arises¡­ ¡°Oh, what is it, tell me!¡± ¡°I have a favor to ask.¡± ¡°A favor?¡± Sein raised an eyebrow at the sudden remark. ¡°Well, it¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Oh, come on.¡± ¡°Dark¡­ Hobgoblin¡­¡± ¡°What! Damn! What?¡± It was the first time. ¡°Can I¡­ take the corpse of the Dark Hobgoblin¡­?¡± Seeing Arin, who usually appeared ruthless, make such a expression. With tightly closed eyes and her body fidgeting, she resembled a girl in love. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Even Sein was bewildered by her reaction. ¡°Dark Hobgoblins are extremely rare even among special species. It seems such a waste to just leave the corpse like that¡­¡± A faint voice barely audible. ¡°Ha, I don¡¯t know what else to say.¡± Sein turned his body in disbelief. ¡°Keep it. But don¡¯t forget. You owe me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember!¡± What exactly was she thinking? S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Before nightfall, Sein¡¯s group managed to arrive at a nearby territory. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 8 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 8 They passed several rural territories. These rural territories were no different from Chichiron, and they only stopped briefly to replenish supplies. With the ancient empire fallen and the continent in turmoil. Interactions between territories could hardly be described as active, and each territory barely managed to sustain itself. The skyrocketing prices even depleted the gold coins Sein had brought. This phenomenon could be even more severe in remote areas. -If you want, we could pay for the Dark Hobgoblin¡¯s corpse with gold coins. Arin suggested, but¡­ -Why? [TL/N: Just so you know these were like that in the raws too so this is not an error. ] Sein replied. Even in rural, small territories, there were rotten spots. Sein was like a cockroach surviving in such rotten waters. -Well Then. They call me the Mad Dog of Chichiron. Fork over all your travel expenses, or else I¡¯ll send you on your way in this rugged world! -What the hell are you saying! -What else? Hand it all over and scram. The dwindling travel expenses seemed to have increased again. No matter how well hidden the gold coins were. -Boss, I found it. -No! That¡¯s for our son¡¯s medical expenses! -Should I believe that you have a son just because you say so? Sein and Darren thoroughly looted them. They advanced without hindrance! ¡°That kind of recklessness won¡¯t work anymore.¡± For the first time, Arin, who had only observed, warned Sein. ¡°Well, the village was quite bothersome anyway.¡± More like a small town than a village. As expected, the level of trash in the alleyways was quite high. Well, it¡¯s just¡­ ¡°Thanks to that, we have plenty of gold coins, so it doesn¡¯t matter, right?¡± They were just alleyway trash. They looted more gold coins from one village than they could gather in a lifetime in Chichiron. ¡°It seems like I have a talent for robbery.¡± ¡°Are you just realizing that now?¡± ¡°Even robbery has its geniuses, now I know.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± But Sein knew too. ¡®From now on, it¡¯s going to be real.¡¯ As Arin said. The looming giant walls were getting closer. For Sein, or rather Sein Demorus, it was the first time seeing such a magnificent wall. It was a true city, incomparable to villages or even small towns. ¡°Borpeo Viscountcy.¡± It was a real city. The barrier covering the territory was so strong that it was visible to the eye. ¡°I recommend you don¡¯t go on a rampage from here.¡± Another warning. ¡°The Borpeo is definitely a place with a master.¡± ¡°I understand, I get it.¡± Sein moved forward again. ¡°You¡¯re not Demorus yet.¡± Sein paused momentarily at Arin¡¯s words. ¡°The successor candidates are just candidates for Demorus. Remember that you can¡¯t wield the power of Demorus¡¯s name.¡± ¡°Yes. Yes, I know.¡± Rumors had even reached the remote Chichiron. Confirmed upon arrival here, and the truth heard through Arin. Here¡¯s the translation of the provided text: ¡°Our impressive seed-spreading ancestors spread their seeds so widely that someone like me still feels insignificant.¡± ¡°If I remember correctly Demorus has over a hundred children?¡± ¡°Impressive. Very impressive.¡± With such trivial conversation, Sein¡¯s group arrived at the gates. Seeing gates of this size for the first time in this life. Familiar. It was a familiar sight to Sein. Guards blocking the way before they knew it. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Just someone trying to pass through the gate.¡± The guards frowned at Sein¡¯s words. ¡°Do you have a permit?¡± Indeed, was this truly a city? It was different from the easygoing atmosphere of the village. Ping! Sein flicked out a gold coin. ¡°It¡¯s a permit.¡± As in the small town, intending to use the gold coin as a permit. Tock. The coin Sein flicked fell to the ground without much care. ¡°You¡¯re rude.¡± ¡°Oh. Expensive guys.¡± ¡°You!¡± Thud. The guards raised their spears, facing Sein. ¡°Get lost. Before we kill you.¡± Growling, the guards didn¡¯t seem inclined to step aside easily. They weren¡¯t guards with a strong sense of justice. Even as they aimed their spears at Sein, their eyes glanced briefly at the fallen gold coin on the ground. Literally meaning expensive guys. ¡°Shall I give two more coins?¡± Even at Sein¡¯s words, the guards didn¡¯t bat an eye. Their gaze turned to Arin. ¡°Hah.¡± Now he understood the purpose of these guys. Arin was a rare beauty. With such a beauty in sight, gold coins wouldn¡¯t catch their eyes. ¡°Bold talk for such small fries.¡± ¡°I¡¯m impressed. To think you would stand before Borpeo¡¯s guards?¡± They are bold. ¡°You touch her, she¡¯ll kill you, not me.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°If money won¡¯t do, then so be it.¡± Sein felt reluctant to part with the money. Clang! A longsword from one of the villages he¡¯d passed was drawn, and he shook off the guards¡¯ spears. ¡°I am Sein, the mad dog of Chichiron¡­.¡± Grin. ¡°They call me Sein Demorus. Open the gate. You bastards.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± * * * ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡± Arin spoke. ¡°You haven¡¯t been granted the right to use the Demorus name yet, so the price for using an unauthorized name will be steep.¡± ¡°Geez, give me a break.¡± Sein replied nonchalantly. ¡°I¡¯ve only done you a favor by spreading your name. Can¡¯t I use the castle freely as my reward?¡± ¡°¡­Do as you wish.¡± Sein nodded in response to Arin¡¯s words. ¡°I will.¡± There was certainly a conventional route. To quietly accumulate power and slowly gain recognition while hiding oneself. But. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Though Sein smiled, his eyes were as cold as ice. ¡°If my fate is to be the heir of underworld.¡± When his fate was sealed, Sein made up his mind. ¡°I¡¯ll reveal myself and earn recognition.¡± It wasn¡¯t a reckless gamble. Though it might seem reckless, it was far from it. His heart raced. There was a way to handle all of that, a plan in place. In fact, this was necessary for the existence of Sein Demorus. ¡°Arin.¡± ¡°¡­Speak.¡± ¡°Threats don¡¯t come when I want them to.¡± Adversity and hardship weren¡¯t things one could seek out and overcome on their own. ¡°They come at the worst possible time.¡± It was about preparing in advance to be able to overcome them. To become stronger. To survive. You had to keep pushing through and defeating the challenges that kept coming your way. ¡°Luck and hardship hitting you all at once can be overwhelming.¡± It was a familiar sight. The quiet streets. There wasn¡¯t a soul in sight. ¡°The welcoming committee seems grand.¡± ¡°Are you the mad dog of Chichiron?¡± A group of men blocked Sein¡¯s path. * * * ¡°Are you the mad dog of Chichiron?¡± ¡°Do you know me?¡± He asked, but he already got the gist of it. The events at the gate must have already spread throughout the city. ¡®I¡¯ve heard that the entire continent is rotten.¡¯ With the emergence of the New Empire, the underworld had become mainstream. It was said that their power was so strong that the world outside was engulfed in Darkness, and the inside was tainted with blood. But even so, this was too much. S?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. For news of what had just happened at the gate to spread to the alleys before reaching the lord was unheard of. ¡°With just a name, you managed to open the gates of Borpeo. If you don¡¯t know, you don¡¯t deserve to survive in the alleys.¡± ¡°Then you must have heard of me.¡± Sein¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°My name too.¡± ¡°I am Sein Demorus.¡± Demorus. At the mention of that name, the men blocking Sein¡¯s path trembled. Even in the outskirts, the name carried fear. In a large city like this, ¡°¡­Do you mean the real Demorus?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m crazy enough to impersonate a Demorus?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± The power of a name and reputation in the underworld was formidable, even surpassing that of the empire¡¯s order. ¡°But for now, you¡¯re just a candidate, right? I haven¡¯t heard any news about the successor to Demorus being chosen.¡± ¡°¡­Are you stupid or brave?¡± Swoosh. The group blocking Sein began to advance slowly. Thunk. Darren gripped the hilt of his longsword, while Arin folded her arms as if she had no interest at all. Sein just stood there, staring at the troublemakers with a cold gaze. ¡°So, shall we have a go?¡± There were twenty of them. But they were nothing like the third-rate thugs they encountered in Chichiron. Their refined posture and movements proved that they were survivors of real combat, strong enough to live through it. ¡®Are they mercenaries?¡¯ They were not monsters outside the norm; they were just ordinary mercenaries. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not too bad. If it¡¯s back alley talk, it¡¯s the quickest.¡± The men paused. Only one one-eyed man stepped forward. The one-eyed man came closer and closer. They were within striking distance of each other¡¯s blade. However, what the one-eyed man drew wasn¡¯t a sword but his hand. ¡°They call me Cyclops. I may be small, but I rule one of Borpeo¡¯s back alleys.¡± A handshake. ¡°Welcome to Borpeo. Mad Dog.¡± With a smile full of kindness, the One-eyed man extended his hand to Sein. Clang! ¡°Oh, you tried to cut off my wrist. Not bad.¡± Sparks flew upon impact. The gleam from Sein¡¯s dagger clashing against the One-eyed man¡¯s sword. ¡°Where did you learn those dirty tricks?¡± ¡°¡­He doesn¡¯t seem to understand goodwill when he sees it.¡± The One-eyed man and Sein had unconsciously distanced themselves. ¡°There¡¯s something important in back alley fights.¡± The One-eyed man spoke. ¡°Justification.¡± Just like among nobles, justification was important in the back alleys. ¡°I showed you goodwill, but you repaid me with a sword. That¡¯s my justification. What¡¯s yours?¡± A fight dictated by rules. At this, Sein twisted his lips into a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of thing.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Oh, maybe I do.¡± His eyes turned fierce. ¡°Blocking my path.¡± Clang! Once again, a large flame burst forth. ¡°Indeed, you are crazy.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s not enough?¡± Beyond the clashing swords, both laughed. ¡°No, it¡¯s enough.¡± The first battle in Borpeo. Even though it was in the heart of the city, there was no intervention from the guards. This was a battle that took place within the underworld looming over the city. And shortly after. ¡°I apologize.¡± The One-eyed man knelt down, facing Sein. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 9 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 9 Sein sat crookedly on the desk, resting his chin on his hand. ¡°I apologize!¡± Starting with the dock of the one-eyed Cyclops. ¡°I apologize!!!¡± The toothless apology rang out. This is the home of the Cyclops. He had taken over his territory. It was simple. First beat up the cyclops to near-death position and then drag his feet through the streets for his minions to see. ¡°So why block the path for people walking quietly?¡± So many rules and regulations in the back alleys. But there¡¯s always one that stands above them all. ¡°I apologize¡­¡± It was power. ¡°Do you have any complaints?¡± ¡°Oh! No, sir!¡± The Cyclops immediately responded to Sein¡¯s question. ¡°That¡¯s how it should be.¡± Eyes lowered. ¡°If you try to take advantage of Demorus, you¡¯ll have to pay for it.¡± Hmmph It was a different reaction from before. ¡°Why, did you think I didn¡¯t know?¡± The Cyclops came out to greet him as soon as they heard the news. It seemed like they were extending a hand of friendship, but there was likely a hidden agenda behind it. ¡°You guys are shitty in the back alleys of Borpeo, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your territory¡¯s shrinking, and your people have probably split off.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­.¡± It was a predictable story. Sein Demorus, the mad dog of Chichiron. The fact that the name was first on the list proved they were desperate to do something. If the Cyclops gang had any power, they would have stayed back and watched the situation unfold. ¡°Some kid comes in here with a few men, campaigning, and you think if you scratch his back, he¡¯ll do what you want.¡± ¡°Oh, no!¡± Bam! Sein raised his foot and brought it down on the Cyclops¡¯ head. ¡°No? What do you mean no? If I hadn¡¯t provoked you, you would have half-killed me and somehow tried to use me.¡± ¡°We apologize¡­¡± The Cyclops eventually admitted. ¡°But why did you shrink so much?¡± Sein, with his chin in his hand, asked again. The Cyclops before him. He possessed skills that didn¡¯t suit the back alleys. Considering he was from the city of Borpeo, it was somewhat understandable. ¡®Three times.¡¯ Though he didn¡¯t display his true skills, the Cyclops had managed to block Sein¡¯s attacks three times. There must be a reason why an organization like his shrunk in such a small place. Especially¡­ ¡°You lost that eye not too long ago, right?¡± Cyclops seemed unaccustomed to his blind spot. If he had lost his eye a long time ago, he should have gotten used to it by now. ¡°Both the organization shrinking and losing the eye happened not long ago.¡± If that¡¯s the case, there must be a reason. ¡°That, that¡¯s because¡­¡± The Cyclops said. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Ogres.¡± * * * While Borpeo was located in the borderlands, it was still a city, making the ownership of the back alleys definite. The four divided districts were under the absolute authority of Warbear, the ruler overseeing all. He was a giant figure seldom seen in the borderlands, even reaching one of the three major underworld families. It had been a month since the sudden appearance of the Ogre, a presence so unexpected that it shocked the entire area. ¡°Cyclops lost?¡± New rumors were spreading in the back alleys. ¡°Well, that idiot, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising even if he lost.¡± ¡°He already did lose.¡± The owners of the other three districts, excluding the Cyclops, were gathered, discussing the matter. ¡°Anyway, he was going to be removed soon. The areas he controlled were already agreed to be divided among us fairly.¡± ¡°He was the one who provoked the Ogre.¡± The Ogre. At the mention of that name, the owners fell silent. They knew better than anyone else the ferocity and cruelty of the being that suddenly appeared after breaking through the city gate. The One-Eyed Cyclops. A one-armed wolf. The one-legged Frog. And finally, the one who was given the new name of One-Eared Fox. Just the thought of him sent shivers down the spines of the district owners. ¡°Still, that Cyclops guy, his other abilities were lacking. But when it came to physical strength, he was the best among us.¡± ¡°He knelt after just three sword strikes.¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± Such achievements made him stand out. ¡°Did they call him the mad dog of Chichiron?¡± ¡°That Chichiron from the farthest border? That¡¯s just countryside talk.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The name ¡®Mad dog of Chichiron¡¯ echoed throughout Borpeo. ¡°If he¡¯s called the mad dog¡­¡± Frog spoke as if he knew something. ¡°Why? Do you know the name?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± But Frog fell silent soon after. ¡°Moreover, the real issue is his true name.¡± Fox continued the conversation. ¡°They say his name is Sein Demorus.¡± ¡°¡­Demorus.¡± The power that name wielded was immense. Throughout the continent, there was no one who could ignore the name Demorus. Especially in the back alleys, that name held even more absolute power. ¡°Again¡­¡± The owners of the three districts, named after animals, spoke in unison. ¡°Demorus, is it.¡± * * * ¡°Wow.¡± At the center of the rumors. ¡°This is insane.¡± Sein was genuinely impressed. Shuffle. The scattered belongings of the Cyclops laid before him. Every item that Darren meticulously searched and found amazed Sein. ¡°It¡¯s incomparable to Chichiron, isn¡¯t it?¡± The spoils from the Cyclops were beyond imagination. ¡°Compared to the past, it may be nothing, but¡­¡± Sein, who once was a prince of the empire, had witnessed mountains of wealth built with gold coins. While it was surprising for him to be amazed by this amount now, it didn¡¯t mean he was still a prince of the empire. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± The Cyclops, wiping his hands in front of him. ¡°If this guy, who seems to know nothing but using force, is at this level, then what about the rest?¡± The back alleys of the city. It was a vault of wealth that could never be ignored. ¡°I heard the next guy, Wolf, is twice as powerful as me.¡± ¡°Twice?¡± ¡°The most skilled is Fox¡­¡± Chuckling. ¡°I heard he¡¯s over ten times more powerful.¡± Ding! A spark flashed in Sein¡¯s mind. Originally, Sein had planned to take a short rest in Borpeo and then head straight out. Since it was his first time in a proper city, Sein thought he could prepare for the journey to Demorus. But his mind changed. ¡°Anyway, the path to Demorus isn¡¯t just any ordinary road.¡± The journey was accompanied by a guardian. If they used teleportation circles, deliberately choosing to travel by land instead of a shortcut must have had a reason. ¡°My tracks will be the measure of my worth.¡± Every footprint would be an evaluation of himself. And if those footprints were lacking in depth or number, becoming a successor would be unlikely. In other words, ¡°Game over.¡± It meant the failure of the main quest. Of course, there would be routes associated with that, but Sein didn¡¯t feel the merit in seeking out the harder path. ¡°There are alchemists and blacksmiths in Borpeo.¡± So then, ¡°Alright. It¡¯s decided.¡± Sein stood up and declared. ¡°I¡¯ll conquer Borpeo.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The Cyclops widened his last remaining eye. ¡°Are you¡­ serious?¡± Surely, the Cyclops had spoken about Borpeo. About the existence of the Ogre. He thought Sein, known as Chichiron¡¯s Mad Dog, would run away. ¡°I am serious.¡± s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Sein said, ready to confront. ¡°Why? Wasn¡¯t it what you wanted too?¡± The Cyclops, who had come looking for Sein. ¡°To seek revenge, isn¡¯t that what you want?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The Cyclops, who managed his territory quite well. He couldn¡¯t be called a good guy, even in the best of terms. But. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you came to me? To use my name for something.¡± According to Darren¡¯s gathered information, he was quite a decent boss. Crack. A faint sound echoed from the Cyclops¡¯s mouth. ¡°¡­I do.¡± The Cyclops said. Because Ogre made his eye like this. But more than that. ¡°I can still hear¡­ the screams of my subordinates.¡± Ogre massacring his own subordinates helplessly in front of him. ¡°I want it. Revenge! Please, command me anything!¡± Swish. What came before the Cyclops was Sein¡¯s palm. Similar to the one the Cyclops had reached out to use for Sein. But. ¡°Hold.¡± Their weights were different. The palm of the powerless one and the one with power. ¡°¡­Thank you, Boss.¡± The difference was clear. * * * The dockside, bordered by the Byikal River. Once the protagonist who turned Borpeo into a bustling trade city, it was now abandoned and polluted. ¡°Long time no see, Frog.¡± This place also served as the headquarters of Frog, who divided Borpeo¡¯s back alleys into four. ¡°The epitome of defeat, aren¡¯t you, Cyclops?¡± Small stature, repulsive appearance. With bulging eyes, he was none other than Frog, also known as the Outsider. ¡°They said you got torn apart by a mad dog, but you seem fine.¡± Chin. Frog, placing his legs on the table, spoke. Since his legs were already short, it looked quite comical. ¡°¡­Your ugly mug is still the same, Frog.¡± ¡°What?¡± With Cyclops¡¯s words, the atmosphere turned hostile. Here were Cyclops and his two subordinates. And Frog with over a dozen subordinates. ¡°Scratching me won¡¯t do you any good. I¡¯ve figured out my stance clearly.¡± ¡°Oh. After getting chewed up by Ogre, you still can¡¯t get your act together. Must¡¯ve been quite the bite.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± When Cyclops acknowledged it nonchalantly, a hint of admiration flickered in Frog¡¯s eyes. Cyclops was a proud man. As the leader of a renowned mercenary band, he had quite the pride. For such a man to admit without hesitation¡­ ¡°So, why did you want to meet? I¡¯ve indulged you before out of goodwill, but there¡¯s no reason to see you again. You¡¯re nothing now.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Cyclops. Chin. He placed a lump of gold coins on the table. It seemed like it could easily be a thousand gold. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal. You repulsive toad.¡± [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 10 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 10 With a gulp, Frog licked his lips as he looked at the gold coins on the table. If there was anyone as greedy as the repulsive Fox, it was Frog. ¡°A deal?¡± The guy who had just been glaring as if he would kill at any moment now seemed curious as he initiated the conversation. ¡°Yeah. A deal.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡± Saying so, Frog fiddled with his dagger. ¡°¡­.¡± Cyclops couldn¡¯t easily continue the conversation. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s hunt down the mad dog together.¡± That was Cyclops¡¯s proposition. Snickering, Frog smiled. ¡°So, after all the pretense of being noble, all you propose is betrayal?¡± ¡°Betrayal? Choose your words carefully, Frog.¡± Cyclops slammed the table, seeming unjustly accused. Bang! ¡°Even if Ogre is an unavoidable monstrosity beyond our league, that mad dog isn¡¯t!¡± His voice was filled with anger. ¡°Do you expect me to submit to someone who takes what they want by force?¡± ¡°So, if we catch the mad dog, you¡¯ll give a thousand gold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an advance payment. If we catch the mad dog, I¡¯ll give more than that.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Frog smirked even more deviously. ¡°You had quite a stash hidden away? I didn¡¯t know you were so skilled.¡± ¡°So, will you do it or not? Speak up.¡± Swish. Frog continued to stroke his dagger without giving an answer. ¡°I refuse.¡± That was the final decision. ¡°Why? I thought someone as money-hungry as you would surely accept.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard some rumors about the mad dog too.¡± ¡°What?¡± What¡¯s this about now? ¡°One of my subordinates, who¡¯s from Chichiron, mentioned it. He said Chichiron¡¯s mad dog is so ferocious that once it bites, it never lets go.¡± That was quite an impressionable story. A subordinate who claimed he¡¯d do anything if ordered, even after barely escaping from the mad dog. ¡°But in the end, he¡¯s just a ¡®dog,¡¯ after all.¡± Swish. Frog rose from his seat. ¡°I thought he was just a guard dog, nothing to worry about while he stayed at home. Surprised to see him venture out.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re giving up three thousand gold just for that?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Cyclops?¡± Swish. Suddenly, a dagger was poised in front of Cyclops¡¯s remaining eye. Snick. Frog¡¯s torn lips seemed to hang on his ear. ¡°Here¡¯s a thousand gold already on the table. The rest? Well, I¡¯ll find out where it is while I torture you. You probably haven¡¯t surrendered everything to the mad dog yet.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better not to try to run or make a fuss. My subordinates are already lurking around. ¡± The fact that he had been fiddling with his dagger was a signal. Not to give him a chance to escape. ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯ Since Ogre appeared, Frog had always kept his subordinates on standby out of fear. A trap from which there was no escape. Cyclops had fallen into it. ¡°Is that so¡­?¡± But something was off. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± Cyclops was laughing as if he knew something amusing. ¡°If you¡¯ve heard rumors about me, that¡¯s good.¡± Then, a voice came from behind. Swaek! Frog swiftly turned around and swung his dagger without hesitation. Parr! His dagger trembled as it encountered something obstructing it. ¡°A finger¡­?¡± A finger. Someone¡¯s extended index finger was blocking his sharp dagger. ¡°Mad Dog¡± ¡°The mad dog is out of the house, so thought might as well give you a bite.¡± Kwaang! Frog¡¯s little guards went flying ineffectively as Sein kicked. ¡°You¡¯ve been out of the house a lot, too, so I thought I¡¯d give you a bite.¡± * * * ¡°Boss!¡± As Frog was being attacked, his waiting subordinates began to rush in. ¡°How¡­?¡± Meanwhile, Frog was more astonished than in pain. He hadn¡¯t let his guard down while setting up the meeting place and coming here. Even now, the dock was protected by dozens of men, boasting of its safety. And yet. ¡®How did he sneak up behind me¡­?¡¯ The Mad Dog, Sein, appeared behind him without a sound. ¡®If he wanted to kill me, I¡¯d be dead for sure.¡¯ Frog had crossed the boundaries between life and death that others couldn¡¯t comprehend. S?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Ohso-so. He couldn¡¯t even fathom what Sein had done. That¡¯s the way it had to be. Suh-guk-! The district chief of Borpeo back alley would never have known. Sein¡¯s life experiences. Among the lives he had ¡°Played.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you all hesitating?¡± It would never be known that he was once an assassin who wrinkled the continent. ¡°¡­Crazy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a monster.¡± Nearly half of the men in the dock were dead. The Frog flew off and slammed into the wall while he assessed the situation. ¡°No reinforcements are coming from outside.¡± They might all be dead. Could it be possible? Even questioning that was brief. Thud! Even Cyclops, who seemed like he would just watch, swung his sword towards Frog¡¯s henchmen. ¡°Hahaha! You sons of bitches! This is our new boss, the Mad Dog of the Cyclops Faction!¡± Seeing Sein¡¯s authority, Cyclops became even more emboldened. Frog gritted his teeth. But he didn¡¯t intend to die like this. ¡°Your teeth might be sharp, Mad Dog, but¡­.¡± Using one leg and a crutch as support, Frog suddenly stood up. ¡°I, Borpeo¡¯s¡­!¡± Click! A change occurred in the leg he had only thought of as a crutch. ¡°You Poisonous Frog!¡± Poof! In an instant, smoke filled the room. Poisonous Frog. It was what they called Frog, who dominated Borpeo¡¯s back alley with drugs and smuggled drugs through the river. ¡°Cough, cough! Boss!¡± ¡°Sskeaak!¡± Frog¡¯s henchmen groaned in agony and collapsed. ¡°This damn, dog-.!¡± The Cyclops, who had been dancing to Sein¡¯s tune, collapsed as well. ¡°Hehehe. It¡¯s Ormi¡¯s poison. You idiots.¡± It wouldn¡¯t lead to immediate death, but the poison inflicted such excruciating pain that dying would be preferable to being poisoned. Frog muttered. ¡°Damn it, I was saving this for the ogres.¡± Surviving until now using this method. ¡°Now that it¡¯s come to this, you bastards have to be my punching bags.¡± He wouldn¡¯t kill through poison. He would keep them alive in agony. Swish. And with his own hands, tear them apart until they begged for forgiveness. That was Frog¡¯s way. ¡°Especially you, you Mad Dog¡­.¡± Frog advanced through the smoke, clashing daggers. But he soon stopped, unable to do anything but stare blankly upwards. ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve hidden?¡± Eyes flickering in the smoke. Certainly blue, but¡­ ¡°And let¡¯s get something straight.¡± ¡°H-how¡­?¡± If his eyes felt too red, was it just a misconception? ¡°You¡¯re the moron, not me. Oh, and that one-eyed over there too.¡± ¡°How the hell-!¡± Frog thrust the dagger he held in both hands forward. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He couldn¡¯t have known. ¡°Whether someone¡¯s able-bodied or disabled, I never discriminate.¡± Thud! Even against the mightiest creatures like dragons, They were immune to poison. * * * ¡°Darren.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the territory takeover going?¡± Three days had passed since Frog¡¯s death. Sein, who seemed like a storm sweeping through Borpeo, had paused for a moment. ¡°We¡¯ve taken over Frog¡¯s territory as well.¡± ¡°And the subordinates?¡± As Sein¡¯s question followed, ¡°Aaargh!¡± ¡°Pl-please spare us!¡± Along with screams echoing outside the dock, Splash! The sound of ripples spreading in the Byikal River continued to be heard. ¡°It¡¯s been sorted out now.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Frog was a drug lord. He scattered drugs throughout Borpeo. Naturally, most of his subordinates were addicts to Frog¡¯s drugs. ¡°Eyes.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Yes, Boss!¡± Cyclops shouted with a rigid posture. He hadn¡¯t held such an angle since his days as a rookie mercenary. ¡°Remember.¡± Sein sat askew. ¡°While I may not care about other things, drug trafficking and prostitution are strictly regulated.¡± Cowed by his ominous demeanor, Cyclops remained silent. ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± ¡°Good.¡± Three days. Since Frog¡¯s death, time had passed. Sein hadn¡¯t moved, but Cyclops and Darren were rummaging through the alleys, taking over Frog¡¯s territory. ¡°He¡¯s not moving.¡± For Frog, it was like poking at something. How would Borpeo¡¯s back alleys react? ¡°Ogre.¡± To investigate how the monster, who had newly become the boss of the back alleys, would respond. But even after three days had passed, they hadn¡¯t moved. ¡°Seems like they have no intention of moving for a while. Or¡­¡± Was there a reason they couldn¡¯t move? Whatever it was. Ssik. He had confirmed what he wanted to confirm. ¡°Darren.¡± Sein had also wanted to confirm something over the past three days. ¡°You¡¯ve located the Ogre, right?¡± The Ogre¡¯s whereabouts. The location of the one who had cleaned up the back alleys and was hiding somewhere, not revealing himself. ¡°I found him.¡± ¡°As expected, Darren.¡± The protagonist-like ability that allowed him to survive in this dog-eat-dog life. Swish. Sein stood up from where Frog had been. Thud. His footsteps. Naturally, Darren moved as if one with Sein, following behind. Thud. Cyclops followed behind them. ¡°So, where is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the iron mine area.¡± The iron mine. ¡®There¡¯s nothing Borpeo doesn¡¯t have. It¡¯s a city of my liking.¡¯ And this city¡­ Crunch. Would soon be his. Sein emerged from the dock¡¯s gate and continued to walk forward. Thud. With a small step, he climbed onto the shelf where goods had been unloaded in the past. ¡°Nice to meet you. There might be some of you who are seeing my face for the first time?¡± Sein¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°I¡¯m Sein Demoros, also known as the Mad Dog of Chichiron.¡± There were no newcomers eagerly opening their mouths, perhaps because they had already received a warning or because they had witnessed the handling of Frog¡¯s henchmen just moments ago and chose to remain silent. ¡°How does it feel to have a city that was perfectly fine taken from you by someone else?¡± Sein asked. ¡°How does it feel to have a city you ruled like kings taken away from you?¡± Ssik. ¡°How does it feel for someone you considered a brother in arms to die and leave you behind?¡± Sein sighed. ¡°It¡¯s filthy!¡± Someone shouted. ¡°Shut up, you spineless bastard.¡± Sein said sharply with a piercing gaze. The ones hastily closing their mouths. ¡°If you were so upset and in pain, you should have stepped up earlier. If you were suffering, you should have thrown a fit.¡± The smirk on Sein¡¯s lips was mocking. ¡°What have those who did nothing got?¡± Thud. Sein descended from the shelf. He turned his back. ¡°Whatever it is, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as you follow me¡­¡± Ssik. ¡°I¡¯ll give you what you want.¡± Fifty of Cyclops Faction. Twenty of Frog¡¯s Faction. Wearing clothes of his own choosing and wielding weapons of his own choosing, ¡°Let¡¯s go, you spineless bastards.¡± They began to follow behind Sein. ¡°Unlike you, I¡¯m not a patient man.¡± [TL /N: The names are subjected to change as the story reveals information further down the line, it could remain the same as it is now but just a heads up.] [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 11 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 11 On the walls of Borpeo, where the guards kept a vigilant watch, sat a solemn figure. ¡°¡­¡± A woman with black hair was seated there. Her name was Arin. A witch. Once known as the witch of the Legion, she had once instilled terror throughout the kingdom. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Someone greeted her, addressing the woman who single-handedly brought destruction to the kingdom, someone whom the New Empire and even the all three major dark houses. ¡°Who?¡± Arin responded without even looking at the person offering the greeting. It was a massive warrior clad in black armor. Slowly, the warrior removed his helmet and spoke in a neutral tone. ¡°I¡¯ve met you once before, at a banquet. My name is Barbic.¡± Long, cascading red hair. The exposed face was as neutral as his voice, with strong lines. ¡°Ah, I remember.¡± Only then did Arin turn her head to look at Barbic. ¡°Your physique intrigued me, so I was curious.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Given Arin¡¯s nature as a necromancer, there was certainly room for misunderstanding, but Barbic seemed unfazed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to encounter a witch in this remote place.¡± Barbic, who was usually reserved in speech, was not accustomed to addressing a witch. ¡°I heard you disappeared for a while.¡± ¡°There was business to attend to.¡± ¡°Business, you say¡­¡± Rumors had been circulating. ¡°Are you looking for a candidate?¡± A candidate. There had been rumors circulating throughout Borpeo. Sein Demorus, a madman invoking the name of Demorus, was shaking the alleyways. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The candidate the witch is looking for¡­.¡± The witch, Arin, was a woman whose mere presence could shake the continent. Not only did she choose the candidate herself, but she also became his guardian. ¡°It¡¯s intriguing.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough, won¡¯t you?¡± Arin said. ¡°Stop standing there and come sit beside me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As if genuinely touched, Barbic blinked and took a seat beside Arin. On the walls of Borpeo, with the city bathed in deep darkness, torches flickered, casting their light. ¡°Barbic.¡± Arin called Barbic. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you prepared enough?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re kinder than I expected.¡± Barbic nodded slowly, saying so. Arin, without looking at Barbic, continued. ¡°The outcome will determine your fate as well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If someone unworthy invoked the name of Demorus¡­¡± Barbic remained silent. ¡°Whether he is qualified or not¡­¡± Arin said. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± The torches weren¡¯t the only things aflame; there were other places. Soon, a small war would begin in the alleys of Borpeo. And depending on the outcome, the fate of Borpeo, the fate of Barbic, would be decided. ¡°It¡¯s a battle of the candidates.¡± The being known as Ogre. His true identity was another Demorus. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Arin, the witch of the Legion, was also known by another name: the witch of destiny. She was one of the three absolute witches in the continent. Barbic could only wait for the impending fate to unfold. *** The sound of footsteps echoed, as Sein walked forward. Dozens of followers trailed behind him. Boom! Flames from torches repeatedly cast their shadows large against the buildings. Bang! Startled Borpeo¡¯s still-awake residents, who quickly shut their windows. ¡°Haha!¡± Drunken revelers, wandering the streets, hastily fled at the sight of the commotion. Gleaming eyeballs. Swift hands gripping weapons. Chaos erupted in Borpeo¡¯s alleyways. ¡°Oooh¡­¡± Amidst the tension, Sein leisurely hummed a tune¡ªa song known from rumors. A melody unheard of in Chichiron, his hometown too small to know such songs. ¡°Chichiron was too dull for my taste.¡± Once just a remote village, hardly more than a hundred souls, now¡­ ¡°Now, things are getting interesting.¡± Only a few hundred followed Sein, but the thrill was palpable. Like a scene from a childhood movie, every step mirrored the excitement felt then. Finally, Sein halted. Flames illuminated the other end of the street. During the day, this area was a bustling market. But now, it was the scene of confrontation. ¡°Are you the mad dog of Chichiron?¡± Wolf, the owner of one of Borpeo¡¯s alleyways, stood with his men. ¡°And are you another nuisance of Borpeo?¡± ¡°¡­What¡­¡± ¡°Just so you know, I don¡¯t discriminate against nuisances!¡± Sein¡¯s voice echoed through the dark alley. ¡°Heh.¡± Wolf chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re as crazy as they say.¡± ¡°Let me correct you. I¡¯m not crazy. I¡¯m a mad dog.¡± With a swift motion, Sein drew his blade. Wolf¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®Sloppy.¡¯ He was once a knight¡¯s squire. He had once caught the eye of a knight and been chosen as a squire, receiving training under the knight¡¯s tutelage. This enabled him to discern, quite clearly, the inadequacy in Sein¡¯s stance. In contrast, Wolf¡¯s stance, holding his drawn sword, was quite impressive. ¡°One armed.¡± Sein¡¯s voice carried. ¡°I¡¯ve heard your story. You were once a slave, taken pity upon and trained by a knight, only to assassinate him and steal his sword?¡± Wolf¡¯s face twitched at the sudden mention of his past. ¡°Thieving is what made me a one-armed man.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Despite the outburst, Wolf remained focused on Sein, analyzing him. ¡®Ignoring him isn¡¯t an option.¡¯ Despite being lacking, he was a Demorus. From Cyclops to Frog, the mad dog had destroyed them all. There had to be a trick hidden within Sein¡¯s sloppy stance. ¡°It seems Ogre won¡¯t show up. Is there a need to stay here?¡± Sein proposed. ¡°Why not join us now? Like I said, I don¡¯t discriminate against the disabled.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t seem interested.¡± Wolf concentrated on Sein¡¯s hand and sword, ready for any move. ¡°I don¡¯t need petty thieves around.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, Wolf instinctively leaned his head back. A sudden rush of air, followed by a sharp sound! A dagger flew towards Wolf¡¯s exposed neck. Thud! A terrifying sound emanated from Wolf¡¯s follower as the dagger pierced through. A momentary lapse, and Wolf could have been dead, his forehead pierced by the attack. ¡°You coward¡­!¡± Shaken by Sein¡¯s unexpected attack mid-conversation, Wolf raised his head, only to find Sein, who had been distant moments ago, now standing before him, wielding his sword. ¡°I told you.¡± Sein said, ¡°I don¡¯t discriminate.¡± With all his might and magic, Wolf wielded his sword. Swish! Thud, clatter. But all Wolf could see was Sein¡¯s foot, and suddenly, Wolf¡¯s head was rolling on the ground like garbage. It was all over in an instant. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Sein swung his sword once more, swiftly dispatching Wolf¡¯s remaining followers. ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡± A gust of wind, carrying the scent of blood, swept through Borpeo¡¯s alleyways. *** A small war erupted in the back alleys of Borpeo. ¡°Slay them!¡± ¡°Aaargh!¡± The sound of youthful screams and cries filled the late-night air of Borpeo¡¯s alleys. Among the four owners of the alleys, Cyclops was considered the most powerful in terms of force. However, when it came to evaluating the skill of his subordinates, Wolf was regarded as the best. Wolf, a former squire, had the opportunity to learn proper swordsmanship and because of that had skilled individuals under him. But now, it was Wolf¡¯s subordinates who were being massacred. ¡°The city, nothing special.¡± At the forefront stood Sein, surrounded by his frightened enemies retreating backward. Wolf¡¯s subordinates numbered over a hundred, but now three-quarters of them were famously killed by Sein. Although Sein¡¯s stance and swordsmanship were far inferior to Wolf¡¯s, his sword was sharp and powerful beyond comparison. Although they were recognized in Borpeo¡¯s back alleys, they were ultimately nothing but thugs. ¡°Darren. Cyclops.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± ¡°You called for us, Boss!¡± Sein had no equal among the thousands of masters who had shaken the continent. ¡°This should be enough. Spare those worth sparing and clean up.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And make sure to catch that Fox.¡± The momentum had shifted, and the tide had turned completely. ¡°You can handle it, right?¡± Chilled by Sein¡¯s words, Cyclops was terrified, but Darren was different. ¡°Go and return safely.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint.¡± Alone in the battlefield, Sein moved. Though Wolf¡¯s subordinates tried to block him, they soon scattered in a pool of blood that soaked the ground. Step by step, Sein moved forward, stepping on pools of blood. His destination was a shallow iron mine far ahead. Unlike when facing Wolf, Sein¡¯s momentum was now even more overwhelming. His Dragon Heart, pulsing within him, enhanced his senses to their peak. ¡°It¡¯s the Ogre.¡± The owner of the back alleys of Borpeo, received Sein¡¯s arrival. Ogre, rumored to possess great strength, wielding a sword larger than a grown man. But none of that mattered to Sein. The only reason he was interested was that Ogre had identified himself as Demorus. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 12 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 12 ¨C Keep this in mind. Arin had warned. -The fact that I¡¯ve come to find you means that the successor war of Demorus has begun. Successor war. It meant the beginning of the war to select the successor to the position of the next Demorus. ¨C Your path to Demorus will be your test. This is a test. No. It¡¯s the ¡®main quest¡¯ of the life of the successor of the dark family which will be his last life. ¨C The skilled ones of Demorus have the qualifications to become successors by inheriting Demorus¡¯ bloodline. That¡¯s why. ¨C You might encounter another Demorus on the road to Demorus. Arin had clearly warned. ¨C Another Demorus similar to yourself. Someone similar to him, someone who inherited the power of Demorus. Ssik. But Sein laughed. ¡°If that¡¯s all.¡± Step by step. ¡°Daring to compare themselves to me.¡± They and he would never be similar beings. Kwaak. He tightened his grip on the sword. Yet, he didn¡¯t completely ignore Arin¡¯s warning. This place was similar to the world he knew yet different. He couldn¡¯t be sure what differences existed, and those differences might be dangerous. ¡°Even if I say so, nothing will change.¡± Suddenly, Sein¡¯s eyes were calm. ¡°I¡­¡± He stopped. ¡°Will survive.¡± He would survive. He would survive and eventually move towards his goal. Once a world he loved so much. Now, a world that had become his prison. ¡°If where I live is hell.¡± A world where he must endure punishment if it¡¯s hell. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll turn it into heaven.¡± Where Sein stopped was the rugged mountains of Borpeo. Once known for producing iron ore enough to sustain a kingdom, Borpeo Iron Mine. But after the fall of the old empire, it became infested with monsters, making iron production impossible. ¡°Hey!¡± Said Demorus, the heir to the Dark Family. ¡°Welcome the guest.¡± The point where his successor¡¯s war would begin. Kwurung! The iron mine began to shake. Kurung! Kurung! Loud noises echoed from inside, indicating something tumultuous was happening. ¡°Good thing. If you kept me waiting, I would¡¯ve broken the door and gone in.¡± Sein¡¯s voice echoed. Thud! With another resounding noise, someone revealed themselves from the iron mine. It was a giant, to say the least. Towering stature, hair cropped short. ¡°Are you a little thief?¡± A voice like tearing. It¡¯s him. ¡°I thought you only plucked out Cyclops¡¯ eyeballs, did you pluck out yours too?¡± They advanced towards each other. ¡°Do I look like a thief to you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Sein looking up, Ogre looking down. ¡°You seem like a lost dog without a master.¡± Finally, they faced each other. Thunk! With a loud noise, Ogre¡¯s fist slammed down where Sein had been. Rustle. Amidst the scattered smoke, a slight tremor was visible. ¡°So, you¡¯re really Ogre?¡± Sein¡¯s sword blocked Ogre¡¯s fist. *** A man known as Ogre. One day, he came to Borpeo and single-handedly took charge of the back alleys. He dared to challenge others and took someone¡¯s eyeball, someone¡¯s arm, someone¡¯s leg, someone¡¯s ear. Thud! He truly possessed the strength and physique worthy of being called Ogre. ¡°Ha.¡± Sein chuckled. Rumble. Standing in the distance, Sein held his sword. But his sword was trembling. The impact from the recent clash. Crash! And suddenly, Sein¡¯s sword shattered into pieces. ¡°What kind of power is this?¡± He didn¡¯t hold back. This was just a greeting. However, despite his constantly trained physique, the legacy of past capabilities inherited through the end of tutorials. Wobbling. It was difficult to withstand Ogre¡¯s strength. ¡°You endured that.¡± Ogre¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°I wonder if you could have endured that?.¡± Sein responded. Thud, thud. At that moment, Ogre¡¯s attention was drawn to the sound of droplets hitting the ground. Blood droplets were dripping from the fist that had just struck Sein. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Ogre spoke as if he had realized something. ¡°The Mad Dog that¡¯s the talk of Borpeo.¡± Sein drew another sword. There wasn¡¯t enough time to properly craft a sword, so he had hastily prepared a longsword. ¡°Is that all you heard?¡± ¡°¡­Are you really Demorus?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who finds it hard to believe.¡± Sein adjusted his stance again. ¡°You¡­.¡± Before Sein could finish his sentence. Swoosh! Sein¡¯s new form appeared before Ogre as if it had been fired. ¡°You have the same blood as me.¡± Thud! The sword slammed down. It was different from before. Unlike the greeting earlier, there was a clear shining aura of magic, enhancing the durability and cutting power of the longsword. However¡­ Rumble! Ogre blocked Sein¡¯s sword. Boom! The immense force emanating from Ogre¡¯s fist. Sein tried to dodge hastily, but it was too late. The tremendous power from Ogre¡¯s fist¡­ Kwaaaang! Sent Sein flying. S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Trapped in the abandoned building, as if to prove its existence as a mine, Sein found himself impaled. ¡°I find it hard to believe too.¡± Ogre remarked, stepping heavily towards Sein. ¡°That someone like you shares the same blood as me.¡± Ogre was like a mountain, with sturdy legs and fists like rocks. ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± But before Sein could respond, the sound from the crumbling building caught Ogre¡¯s attention. ¡°Your mother was an Ogre, wasn¡¯t she?¡± The words sent shivers down Ogre¡¯s spine. Thunk! Ogre realized something was amiss and swung his fist, but it was too late. Sein, beneath his towering figure, grinned as he dodged. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your mother was undoubtedly an Ogre.¡± With a swift motion, Sein¡¯s blade finally pierced through Ogre¡¯s seemingly impenetrable flesh. *** ¡®Strength surpasses that of a Dark Hop Goblin.¡± ¡®And he definitely knows how to wield magic.¡¯ Among those Sein had encountered so far, there were few individuals who could manipulate magic. Darren had that ability, and Cyclops and Wolf, though to a lesser extent, could harness magic. But Ogre¡­ ¡°¡­How dare you.¡± A being who could undoubtedly manipulate magic. No, more than that¡ªsomeone who could shape and wield magic, turning it into a tangible force. ¡°You dare insult my mother.¡± A being capable of causing devastation. ¡°What¡¯s insulting about it? It¡¯s the truth.¡± Sein said, keeping his distance from Ogre. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a brat like you having such stature. Ignoring genetics would be unwise, so your mother must be an Ogre.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t know, now you do. Your mother is¡­¡± Crack! The sensation of the air tearing apart. ¡°Ogre!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± This time, it was Ogre who moved, aiming for Sein¡¯s heart. ¡®Crazy bastard.¡¯ He had underestimated the inhuman agility of Ogre, whose immense size and bulging muscles allowed for overwhelming agility. Sein instinctively realized he couldn¡¯t block it. ¡®So I¡¯ll let it flow.¡¯ At that moment, Sein gripped the sword in reverse and twisted the blade. Clang! The clash between the sword and Ogre¡¯s fist sparked flames. Their clash, already charged with magic, ignited even Ogre¡¯s fist, a mere human flesh, with such intensity that flames erupted. But the fact that flames erupted meant¡­ Swish! Sein successfully redirected Ogre¡¯s attack, just as he intended. Sein moved his body as if dancing, and with one empty hand, he wielded a dagger. With a swift motion, it pierced Ogre¡¯s back. ¡°This feels like a bullfight.¡± Sein remarked, creating distance between them again. ¡°Kraaah!¡± A furious roar echoed through the dark night of Borpeo. Ogre, having turned around, exhibited an even stronger momentum than before. ¡°The offense of insulting my mother won¡¯t end so easily.¡± ¡°If calling an Ogre ¡®Ogre¡¯ becomes a crime, then I humbly accept it.¡± ¡°Hmm, smooth tongue.¡± Ogre remarked, his eyes changing. ¡°Booba.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Booba Demorus. That¡¯s my name.¡± A surge of raw magic emanated from Booba¡¯s entire being. ¡°What¡¯s your name, you Mad Dog?¡± ¡°Sein.¡± ¡°Die, Sein.¡± A burst of raging magic erupted, shaping itself around Booba¡¯s body. Sein deliberately teased Booba to draw out his anger. Encountering Demorus for the first time, Sein sought to understand their nature and capabilities. The revelation of their secrets was unfolding. ¡°Iron Armour.¡± A rare skill indeed. It absorbed the magic of iron and bestowed the qualities of iron onto magic, enhancing defense, offense, and physical abilities to the limit. Boom! Boba¡¯s fist slammed into the spot where Sein had been. It exploded with a shocking impact. Sein had moved away just in time. ¡®That was risky.¡¯ If he had attempted to block or deflect, he might have been the one shattered. ¡°You were extracting the magic of iron from the iron mine.¡± Sein realized the reason why Booba, once called Ogre, had been trapped in the iron mine. ¡°But I¡¯ll show you, if this is all you¡¯ve got.¡± Sein¡¯s gaze shifted. His sword, rotating in the air, began emitting a deeper blue hue. The determined aura of Sein clashed with the enhanced form of Booba. ¡°I guess we don¡¯t have to play anymore.¡± His sword, filled with overwhelming determination, aimed straight for Booba¡¯s neck. But¡­ Clang! ¡°That¡¯s my line. Sein Demorus.¡± Booba, blocking the sword containing Aura with his neck, grabbed Sein¡¯s leg. ¡°Ah, damn it.¡± Crunch! Sein¡¯s body slammed onto the ground like a club. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 13 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 13 ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Sein groaned in pain. ¡°Damn¡­ that was close.¡± If he hadn¡¯t twisted my body upon hitting the ground, if he hadn¡¯t enhanced his physique with Aura, it would have been¡­ a disaster. ¡°Tsk.¡± The force of the blow would have been devastating. ¡°¡­¡± Ogre narrowed his eyes, as if he hadn¡¯t expected Sein to survive. ¡°Impressive.¡± Ogre sincerely acknowledged Sein¡¯s resilience. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Sein asked, curious about Ogre¡¯s reaction. ¡®It was an unexpected power.¡¯ He was well aware of Iron Armour. He had understood Ogre and Booba¡¯s level based on the surging aura and the quality of Aura. But even so, he thought he had a solid strategy. At the edge of Booba¡¯s neck, a red crystal that blocked Sein¡¯s sword suddenly appeared and disappeared. ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know about the blessing?¡± Ogre asked incredulously. ¡°Blessing?¡± Booba laughed, seemingly perplexed. ¡°You couldn¡¯t be a candidate. If your guardian hasn¡¯t enlightened you about such things¡­ So who¡¯s your guardian?¡± ¡°Her name is Arin. Recognize it?¡± Booba¡¯s eyes widened at Sein¡¯s words. ¡°The Witch of Destiny?¡± ¡°Yess, The Witch of Destiny¡± ¡°She chose you?¡± Booba¡¯s excitement, which had subsided after his mother¡¯s story, surged once again. ¡°You mean you were chosen by her?¡± ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite famous.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be.¡± Kwoo! ¡°If that¡¯s true¡­.¡± Booba¡¯s aura intensified. ¡°Just when I thought I¡¯d seen it all, but now¡­ it seems to be real.¡± The surging aura of Booba reached its limit, and his onslaught began. Crash! Kwaaang! Crash! Booba¡¯s punching movements were impressive, to say the least. It was like he was reproducing street fighting techniques learned on the streets, raw and unrefined. However, when it came to the body executing those moves, which belonged to Booba, the story was different. The ground cracked, and the air tore apart. Even a sword imbued with Aura was repelled by Booba, making him virtually indistinguishable from Ogre. Shuk! Even if Sein¡¯s sword pierced Booba¡¯s flesh to some extent, it was woefully inadequate to stop his movements or inflict fatal damage. Meanwhile, with Booba¡¯s speed increasing, Sein could only attempt to block his attacks. Crash! Sein was sent flying, rolling on the ground. There was a stark difference in power. Even at this moment, Booba¡¯s Iron Armour seemed to be getting stronger. Explosions ensued as Booba struck with his fists again. Amidst the chaos, Sein¡¯s rotating figure appeared in the air like a spinning top. With his eyes resembling a lizard¡¯s, Sein seemed different. ¡°¡­!¡± Booba¡¯s fist, sensing the change, flew towards Sein. Kwaaang! Another explosion erupted, but unlike before, Sein didn¡¯t get thrown back. Still hovering in the air, he adjusted his posture and held his sword with both hands. Tock! Finally, the seemingly unbreakable Iron Armour of Booba cracked. The two Demorus, locking eyes, shared a moment. Thump! Booba felt as if his heart sank. He felt like prey in front of a predator. ¡°What¡­?¡± His entire body trembling, the flow of Aura disrupted, it was an inevitable limit of his species. ¡°Ssik.¡± The primal fear of a creature known as a Dragon, the ¡®Dragon Fear¡¯, was what Sein had newly inherited. In an instant, the disrupted flow of Aura affected Booba¡¯s entire body. Cracks appeared in his sturdy armor. Crack! Sain¡¯s sword had gone right through both of his fists. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Kweaaaak! Booba screamed in agony. As he felt the pain, his instinctive fear diminished. And then! The iron armor hardened once more, pushing away ¡°Die-! Sein Demorus-!¡± Thud! If this was all he had, it was the end. Booba thought so as he poured out all the magic he could muster. ¡°Uh¡­¡­!¡± His power faltered at the sight before him. ¡°¡­How?¡± That was the only word Boba could manage to get out. But just as he thought he could pour out all his remaining power, Sein¡¯s arms, combined with his sword, struck him. ¡°That¡¯s how you use armour, idiot.¡± As if it were his own, Sein exerted force while wearing the Iron Armour. s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. In the ensuing moment, Sein rotated once more. Thuck! Fist and torso. With a whoosh, Sein cleaved through everything. It was the moment he finally touched the ground again. *** Sein had lived through thousands of lives while playing Sanctuary, his journey marked by countless builds honed to witness an ending he had never seen before. ¡°You were so fucking tough. Ogre.¡± Sein, now known as Sein Demorus, mused. In the past, utilizing his life experiences in the game was challenging when Sanctuary was just a game. This is a world where you can utilize what used to be called skills as technique, as long as you can use aura or magic. Sein¡¯s isolation in the rural outskirts of Chichiron was due to the constraints of the tutorial, primarily due to his inadequate Aura. Despite trying the techniques taught by his mentors and harnessing the fragments of Aura stones, his power remained insufficient. It was likely one of the constraints of the tutorial. However, Sein, now equipped with the Dragon Heart, had all these restrictions lifted. It was like the Dragon Heart had undone all the limitations imposed before. Splattering blood with his sword, Sein approached the dismembered Booba, who seemed incredulous in death. ¡°Nevertheless¡­¡± Approaching Booba, Sein felt an unexpected sense of camaraderie. He closed Booba¡¯s eyes as a sign of respect. Booba¡¯s display of courage surpassed Sein¡¯s expectations. Despite the disappointments in Chichiron and Borpeo, Booba was genuine. Especially the ¡®Red Crystals.¡¯ They blocked Sein¡¯s sword aimed at his neck and were revealed in his fists. The mere presence of them doubled his physical abilities. ¡°Red Iron Armour.¡± This skill, a superior form of Iron Armour, was called Red Iron Armour, demonstrating the unbelievable phenomenon of calling forth Red Iron Armour¡¯s abilities at the Iron Armour stage. ¡°Have you not heard of blessings?¡± And now, Sein had a story to learn. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± A neutral voice came from behind Sein. ¡°Was he impressive?¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± Turning around, He saw a large woman. ¡°Are you the ogre called this guy¡¯s mother?¡± ¡°Did he call me Ogre?¡± An innocent voice. ¡°However, I am not his mother.¡± Sein knew. He had heard that except for a few, the mothers of Demorus lineage had been removed. Moreover, the aura emanating from the woman before him was an opponent¡¯s aura that Sein, in his current state, could never reach. ¡°I just watched over him and taught him a few things here and there.¡± A Guardian. She must be Booba¡¯s guardian. ¡°They call me Barbic.¡± Sein could also tell. The armour she wore wasn¡¯t ordinary. The red crystals exposed on the armour were the influence of ¡®Red Iron Armour¡¯, the superior form of Iron Armour. She must have been the instigator who introduced Booba to Iron Armour. ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Sein spoke as if it were someone else¡¯s matter. ¡°It¡¯s inevitable. It¡¯s the fate of the Demorus blood.¡± They conversed. Yet Sein remained tense. ¡®How many times can I block?¡¯ He questioned and pondered about Barbic. But the inexorable conclusion was simple. To run away. ¡°Care to try a hand?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯ve got a foul mouth.¡± ¡°What can I do? Raised without a mother, and my father was just a sperm donor.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t even find respect for Demorus.¡± Yet, the reason Sein could be like this was because he harbored no enmity towards Babvik. ¡°Have a drink.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Drink the blood of Demorus. Fool.¡± A belated voice. ¡°Enjoying the show?¡± He knew Arin was nearby. ¡°Drink the remnants of the blessing, Sein Demorus. It¡¯s your right as the victorious one.¡± Arin spoke, her voice sounding uncharacteristically soft. Telling him to drink it. Sein now looked at Booba¡¯s completely lifeless body. ¡°The blood of Demorus carries blessings.¡± Awakening his Aura, Sein spared Booba¡¯s corpse. ¡°I¡¯ll gather the remnants of that blessing to receive the perfected blessing of darkness.¡± Only then did it become apparent. ¡°The path to becoming the hero leading Demorus.¡± Something eerie existed in Boobavic¡¯s heart, slowly emerging. It was a black small pebble. ¡°¡­¡± As a blacksmith, an alchemist, a merchant, and a magician, Sein had touched every substance in Sanctuary, through numerous lives. Even for Sein, what was called a blessing was a completely new substance. Something new, not from the past. ¡°Drink it.¡± That was the blood of Demorus. ¡°¡­¡± Sein slowly approached it. The shard he held in his hand seemed to be alive, digging into Sein¡¯s body. ¡°Do I really need to drink this?¡± [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 14 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 14 ¡°Do I really need to take this?¡± A substance unknown, and to top it off, something penetrating the human flesh. ¡°It¡¯s damn ominous.¡± It was natural to be worried about receiving something so ominous into one¡¯s body. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Just keep it in¡­?¡± ¡°Drink it.¡± Arin was firm. ¡°It¡¯s the proof that you are Demorus¡¯s blood. For Booba Demorus, the evidence he could claim to be Demorus to a few was precisely that.¡± The revelation about Ogre came from Cyclops. ¡°Ogre called himself Demorus.¡± And Sein¡­ ¡°I am Sein Demorus.¡± As he stepped into the sanctuary, he boldly spoke his name. The chill air enveloped him. ¡°If you do not take it.¡± An aura radiated from Arin. ¡°I will have no choice but to dispose of you.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Even Booba alone was an absolute powerhouse that his current self couldn¡¯t match. Moreover, Arin¡­ ¡®Booba might be a spoonful, but even she¡¯s beyond my league.¡¯ Even Booba, a mere spoonful, was a force that he could easily handle. To resist meant being able to withstand what was thrown at you. ¡°Haha. Just kidding, just kidding.¡± Sein, after saying so, quietly looked at the black shard. ¡®I won¡¯t die.¡¯ What was bestowed upon him was the successor to the Dark House. This essential item on the path to becoming the successor was naturally accepted as his own reward. He just had to be careful. But when necessary¡­ Slurp! The truth learned through countless lives was that one must challenge when needed. The moment he absorbed the dragon¡¯s aura, the black shard melted into Sein¡¯s palm. Thump! As the black shard merged terrifyingly with the Dragon Heart, it began to pulsate. ¡°Argh!¡± The pain he had never felt before. ¡°Aargh!¡± It was the agony felt as the Dragon Heart¡¯s aura and the black shard merged and exploded. ¡°¡­As expected.¡± Arin¡¯s voice sounded as if she had anticipated the situation. ¡°Damn it!¡± Sein screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees. Resisting with all his might, the pain he felt now was far beyond what any human could endure. His vision gradually blurred. ¡°Barbic. It seems your fate must be decided now.¡± At that moment, he heard the voices of Arin and Barbic. ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Witch.¡± Kwoooh! A surge of aura seemed to emanate from Barbic¡¯s body, shaking Borpeo as a whole. The armor she was wearing crackled once. Zzzzzz. Her armor was enveloped in red iron once more, enhancing all of Barbic¡¯s abilities by several orders of magnitude. Skilled Demorus could choose their successors when they pleased. However, they never chose candidates lightly. ¡°Barbic. Your body will be used where necessary according to my wish.¡± ¡°That too¡­¡± Guardians and candidates. Their destinies were decided together. Despite choosing the blood of Demorus, those who couldn¡¯t protect it were deemed unworthy of their lineage. ¡°It¡¯s an honor.¡± An honor to cease living. Kwaaang! Barbic unleashed explosive force, wielding a greatsword made of iron armor. The ability to create weapons out of armor meant the pinnacle of iron armor¡¯s mastery had been reached. However¡­ Chwrr! Suddenly, white bones emerged and wrapped around Arin¡¯s hands and arms. And from within them, a black greatsword revealed itself. Swish! It cut through everything. ¡°Honorable¡­¡± Barbic¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°¡­it was.¡± Her greatsword, armor, and entire body. With a flicker, they turned to black dust. That was the Witch of the Legion, determining fate. ¡°Well done, Barbic.¡± It was Arin¡¯s power. *** ¡°Argh! What the hell! Damn it all!¡± Sein shouted and screamed. ¡°What is this! Aaaargh!¡± The agony he felt from his heart spread throughout his entire body. He lost consciousness and regained it multiple times. The pain not only gnawed at his skin but felt like it was devouring his organs and veins from within. ¡°You¡¯re not adapting.¡± Amidst the unbearable pain, Arin¡¯s face appeared in his blurred vision. She seemed calm, as if she didn¡¯t care about Sein¡¯s suffering. ¡°No, your Dragon Heart is rejecting the fragments of blessing.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± As if she had been waiting for this moment. ¡°Ke. I knew this would happen.¡± Sein chuckled. He knew Arin was hiding something. She appeared at such a perfect moment. It was as if she had been observing him for a long time. Even after meeting her, she still seemed to be hiding something. ¡°Damn woman¡­¡± A dangerous presence. In Sein¡¯s mind, Arin was already such a figure. ¡°You knew, didn¡¯t you? Yet you accepted the blessing.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ Cough.¡± But Sein had accepted the blessing. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you run away?¡± ¡°¡­Did you think I wouldn¡¯t know? About the underling you attached to me, about your intentions¡­¡± ¡°Did you know about that too?¡± Sein glared at Arin. ¡°Enough! You damn bitch!¡± Sein shouted. ¡°¡­There must be¡­ a way¡­¡± But if Sein had tried to break free from Arin¡¯s grip, he could have. Despite knowing that Arin might have an ace up her sleeve, even after experiencing countless lives, Sein believed that Arin might not know everything. Yet, Sein stayed. ¡°Just fix it already!¡± Because he knew she wouldn¡¯t harm him. Because he knew her curiosity wouldn¡¯t drive her to kill him. ¡°Arin!¡± Sein shouted. ¡°Arin Seymour!¡± ¡­! At the mention of Arin¡¯s full name, Arin opened her eyes. ¡°You¡­ you know that too?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t have known¡­ You¡¯re the one I¡¯ve been searching for! Now that I¡¯ve confirmed it, take action quickly!¡± At that moment, Arin¡¯s palm touched Sein¡¯s chest. Thump! Thump! Thump! His heart, which had been racing like a runaway train, gradually began to calm down. Thump¡­ Thump¡­ Thump¡­ The aura of death emanating from Arin¡¯s grasp was what had stopped Sein¡¯s heart. ¡°Haa¡­ Haa¡­¡± Finally, the agony subsided. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Arin, Arin Seymour.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re truly the one I¡¯ve been looking for.¡± The one she had been searching for. ¡°You are the Destroyer.¡± The being that brought about the downfall of the ancient empire. The being that destroyed the warm and kind world of Sanctuary. The Last Emperor. ¡°The, Destroyer Sein Archipald.¡± ¡°Pfft! That¡¯s right¡­ That¡¯s me. Bitch.¡± Sein, rising to his feet, spat out blood as he spoke. *** The Necromancer was not uncommon in the Sanctuary. The same went for the Bone Spider. And one couldn¡¯t help but notice the way she handled the Bone Spider. ¡®Seymour.¡¯ A surname. But there was no certainty. The world had changed so much over the years, and information available in the outskirts was limited. So, he watched. Was she truly the being he perceived her to be? If she was indeed the being he thought she was. ¡®Why?¡¯ Why had she come looking for him? And he was convinced. She was not an enemy. At the very least, she was a presence with a definite purpose, seeking something from him. -I¡¯ll meet you back here in a week. That¡¯s what Arin said. ¡®Fuck.¡¯ Sein¡¯s current state, to put it mildly, was far from normal. The clash between the Dragon Heart and the blessing. His heart had stopped to stop those side effects. ¡°Geez.¡± Sein was now akin to an undead of sorts. A feat he hadn¡¯t done in countless playthroughs. This wasn¡¯t a game but a reality. ¡°¡­Boss!¡± Darren shouted as he rushed towards Sein from afar. Darren¡¯s appearance was a mess, as if he had been through a fierce battle. ¡°What¡¯s with the look?¡± ¡°Boss, it¡¯s not looking good.¡± Deron was right, Sain looked terrible. His sword was shattered, his clothes were torn, and his face was covered in blood. ¡°Is that the Boss¡¯s blood?¡± Though Darren rarely spoke much, he inquired of Sein. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Cyclops, and the subordinates who engaged in fierce combat. ¡°It¡¯s from the Ogre.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Sein¡¯s words froze everyone in place. Despite the fierce battle, it seemed victory was achieved. It was evident from their appearance. It seemed like victory. Adding to that, Sein¡¯s recent words. ¡°That means¡­¡± ¡°I split his torso in half and tore out his heart.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Though it sounds like that, splitting him in half was real.¡± In other words, Sein had also emerged victorious. ¡°Argh!¡± Cyclops tightly closed his remaining eye. Droplets began to flow from there. ¡°Thank you! Boss! Thank you!¡± The opponent, who tore apart his subordinates and even gouged out his eyeballs, was defeated, unable to resist despite his strength. ¡°We did it! We won!¡± Cyclops couldn¡¯t contain his excitement as he shouted. ¡°We won-!¡± ¡°Yaaaah!¡± A dimly lit alleyway. The battle had been so long that dawn had already passed. ¡°What about the Fox?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve tied her up.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Sein also captured Fox, the owner of another alleyway. ¡°Did many die?¡± ¡°They all fought hard.¡± Those guys, who couldn¡¯t do anything due to lack of strength. That¡¯s why those fools proved through battle that they weren¡¯t just fools. ¡°Take care of the dead, and take good care of the survivors. You¡¯re a family now.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Darren, who was trustworthy, said so, so they¡¯ll handle it well. ¡°And¡­¡± Sein was about to say something else. S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. His world was spinning, and they felt their strength leaving their body. ¡°Darn it¡­ take care of me too¡­¡± With that, Sein lost consciousness. Once again, it was a moment when the owner of the Borpeo alley changed. [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] The Successor of the dark family is a Cheat Player Chapter 15 [Translator ¨C Pr?ks][Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks] Chapter 15 Three days had passed since Sein regained consciousness. ¡°Ugh! F¡­uck! I thought I was going to die.¡± It¡¯s like mistaking the horse¡¯s mane for a lantern. To claim to have seen it without leveling up is like putting the cart before the horse¡ªit¡¯s truly a dreadful thing¡± Cyclops greeted Sein as he got up. ¡°Boss! Are you awake?¡± He was middle-aged and had lost an eye to the Ogre, but he had a surprisingly bright gaze even with an eyepatch over it. ¡°Where is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my hideout.¡± It seemed like a good place to keep Sein safe while he was defenseless. ¡°But that¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If you had killed me while you were sleeping, you would have been the new owner of the back alley in Borpheo.¡± Sein made a gesture to cut his own throat. ¡°Ugh! What do you mean!¡± The Cyclops shouted. ¡°Hans knows what gratitude is.¡± ¡°Hans?¡± ¡°Did you not know? It¡¯s my name.¡± His voice sounded a bit off. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Sigh. He guessed he should give him some credit. ¡°Well done.¡± Of course, the Cyclops, or rather Hans, would not have tried to take advantage of him when he was defenseless. If even a hint of doubt had crossed his mind, Darren wouldn¡¯t have let him do it either. ¡°It¡¯s a shame. If you had tried to kill me¡­¡± Sein¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Pfft! I would have been able to see your body explode.¡± ¡°A¡­are you serious?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re curious, why don¡¯t you try it?¡± Sein got up. ¡°¡­Damn.¡± His condition was indeed the worst it could be. The reason was simple. ¡®I overdid it during the battle with the Ogre.¡¯ He had used the power of Dragon Heart excessively and violently. His current body was still not strong enough to handle that violent power. ¡®I should have been at least level 10 to use it properly.¡¯ Otherwise, he would have needed to use a different perk to counteract the side effects. Without such a device, he had used the power of Dragon Heart to its fullest, and he had even used Ironclad. Sein had already experimented with this before he realized the name Demorus. Using the skills he had learned in his previous life to manifest through magic. It was a shabby Core Barrel, but he thought he could mimic a few skills. ¡°Seven days and nights? I was unconscious, right?¡± S~?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Due to not having learned the skill, or perhaps due to it, not only did it consume an immense amount of mana, but it also burdened his body, leaving him bedridden for a week. It was only thanks to the Dragon Heart that he attempted it again; it was not something to be taken lightly. ¡®And¡­¡¯ Another thing. ¡°How many days has it been since I woke up?¡± ¡°Three days, Boss!¡± If it was three days, then¡­ ¡°Then I have four days left.¡± His heart had now stopped. It was an emergency first aid performed by Arin to stop the so-called blessing and the backlash from Dragon Heart. With his heart stopped, it was strange for his body to function properly. It was only because Arin was such a great necromancer that he was able to breathe and talk like this. ¡°Still, four days should be enough.¡± Sein left Hans¡¯ hideout. * * * *¡±P¡­lease spare my life!¡±* Short hair, one ear covered. She was a woman with an alluring appearance who seemed to be in her late twenties. ¡°She¡¯s the fox.¡± It was Fox, one of the owners who had divided the back alley of Borpheo. ¡°The Ogre only cut off one ear.¡± Sein was genuinely surprised. While she couldn¡¯t be compared to Arin, Fox was a beautiful woman. ¡°Is this because city girls are different?¡± ¡°T¡­thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a compliment.¡± ¡°S¡­sorry.¡± Fox, completely terrified, was shaking uncontrollably with her head on the floor. The reason was simple. ¡®He had thrown the Ogre¡¯s body into the back alley.¡¯ It was Darren again. After Sein collapsed, Darren had collected the Ogre¡¯s body and left it in the back alley for a day. It was a warning to everyone in the back alley to watch how Sein¡¯s enemies ended up. On top of that. Darren had brainwashed Fox while he was sleeping. ¡°Well done.¡± On the surface, it didn¡¯t show, but the time Fox had spent in the past three days must have been truly terrible. Even though she might have been a seasoned ruler of the back alleys, ¡°You have a lot of money saved up, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I gave it all to Lord Darren!¡± ¡°Are you somewhat skilled at making money?¡± ¡°I am confident!¡± Fox straightened up, her posture suddenly rigid like a new recruit. ¡°I can do anything you ask!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Seeing Sein seemingly lost in thought, Fox¡¯s head shot up anxiously. ¡°I, I am good at many things!¡± Sein was the one who had slain Wolf, Frog, and even the Ogre. The nickname ¡®Mad Dog¡¯ was spreading fear like wildfire in Borpheo¡¯s Back Alleys. ¡°Nighttime activities as well¡­¡± Fox said this as she reached towards her clothes. Sein cut her off. ¡°We can discuss your nighttime skills later. The important thing is that you¡¯re demonstrably good at making money.¡± ¡°I can vouch for that!¡± The Cyclops, Hans, also spoke up in support of Fox. ¡°She may be a sly fox, but her skills are undeniable. And to be honest, she¡¯s not exactly crossed any lines.¡± What Sein had heard about Fox beforehand was that she was rather merciful. It was even thanks to Fox that the Cyclops, who had lost his base and subordinates, was barely clinging on in the back alleys. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re part of the team now.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± With Fox¡¯s situation settled, Sein rose again. There was still a lot to be done. Expensively dressed merchants awaited Sein outside the building. ¡°We greet the hero of Borpheo!¡± The merchants bowed respectfully to Sein, treating him like a legendary warrior. It made sense, since the back alleys were closely connected to the merchants. ¡°Alright, alright, enough with the formalities.¡± Sein said with a dismissive wave of his hand. ¡°We heard there was a war in the back alleys, and that you must have suffered significant losses.¡± The merchants¡¯ eyes widened at Sein¡¯s words. Based on rumors, they had expected Sein to be a tyrant no better than the Ogre. But he seemed surprisingly reasonable. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to the occasional scuffle. That¡¯s the price of doing business in the back alleys. From now on, that¡¯s the only level of disruption you need to worry about.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Just make sure you pay your tribute properly.¡± ¡°¡­! ¡± Only then did the merchants realize their mistake. ¡°And here my right-hand man, Darren, will inform you about specific items. If you find any of the said items, bring them to me first. I¡¯ll reimburse you for the base cost.¡± They finally understood. The being before them was a far more terrifying presence than the Ogre, the previous tyrant. ¡®The Mad Dog of Chichiron¡¯ It felt real now. A literal mad dog had become the ruler of the city. ¡°Certainly.¡± A young merchant stepped forward, speaking with a confident air. ¡°If you wish, could you inform us first? We will do our utmost to acquire the items you require, Lord Sein.¡± Sein eyed the young merchant with curiosity. ¡°Your name and affiliation?¡± ¡°Eiya. I manage the small but thriving Crow¡¯s Perch.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hired.¡± Sein approached Eiya and spoke in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯ll receive special treatment.¡± *** ¡®Eiya, was it?¡¯ He seemed quite capable. These back alley merchants were, in truth, nothing more than opportunists and scoundrels. They were as much parasites as the scum of the back alleys, leeching off the hard work of others. ¡®I don¡¯t care how they make ends meet.¡¯ Borpheo had become his domain. He had no need for such useless trash in his territory. But Eiya was different. ¡®He understood.¡¯ He understood the meaning behind Sein¡¯s words. He was being challenged to prove his capabilities. To demonstrate his ability to procure desired items. To prove his worth. Eiya was the only one among them who could be called a true merchant. ¡°This way.¡± Sein walked alongside Hans and a few of his subordinates. ¡°¡­Ack!¡± ¡°I-I apologize!¡± Residents, startled by Sein¡¯s presence, either scampered away or bowed their heads in apology. ¡°This is excessive. I haven¡¯t done anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of the Ogre.¡± The Ogre, who didn¡¯t seem like a particularly bad guy. ¡°He ordered us to sacrifice the residents.¡± He had apparently demanded the kidnapping of back alley residents. Children, old people, men, and women alike. ¡®There must be a reason.¡¯ That must be the reason. ¡®He even knows how to reinforce Ironclad.¡¯ Ironclad, and its evolved form, Bloodclad. He had been using this method to enhance his abilities. Ironclad imbued the metal with magic, transforming it into a component of iron. However, to reach the higher state of Bloodclad, a crucial ingredient was required. ¡®Blood.¡¯ That crimson hue was not the color of any gemstone. It was the deep red of blood flowing through human veins. This method, discovered by a single user, had revolutionized the common understanding in Sanctuary, which had long believed that evolving into Bloodclad was a natural consequence of hunting monsters. They discovered that the prerequisite for Bloodclad was blood. Sanctuary, with its boundless freedom, was indeed another world where anything was possible. ¡°Barbic. That woman must have been the same.¡± ¡°Ba¡­ Barbic, you say?¡± Hans shuddered as he spoke. ¡°That¡¯s right?¡± ¡°The Massacre Warrior Barbic¡­ You mean that¡¯s who you¡¯re talking about?¡± Massacre Warrior. ¡°It seems she¡¯s of the same kind.¡± Hans, oblivious to Sein¡¯s soliloquy, continued rambling for a while, explaining how terrifying Barbic was and how many people she had killed. ¡°Quiet.¡± However, Sein¡¯s single word silenced Hans instantly. The back alleys of Borpheo were surprisingly spacious for a city. The world, they claimed, was about the size of Earth. He once had the thought of slowly journeying across Sanctuary, but it never came to fruition. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Lost in his thoughts, Sein¡¯s party reached their destination. A dilapidated, decrepit building. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it collapsed at any moment, and it seemed more likely to be inhabited by ghosts than humans. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a haunted house?¡± It was more believable that ghosts resided there. ¡°This is it.¡± Yet, this was their destination. ¡°This is where Borpheo¡¯s finest blacksmith resides.¡± [Translator ¨C Pr?ks] [Proofreader ¨C Pr?ks]