I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 65
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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65.
‘…What happens if there’s no sedative.’
I hadn’t expected the Rift Sound Stone to manifest like this either. I knew that occasionally people who recklessly swallowed Yin Stones seeking power would suffer terrible pain and eventually vomit them up, but what Seon-o had swallowed wasn’t just any ordinary Yin Stone.
What would happen if she ultimately couldn’t vomit it up?
‘Come to think of it, does Baek-ryu know about Rift Sound Stones?’
It was surprising that he happened to have medicine for Yin Stone poisoning. Or maybe he was just a thoroughly prepared person. Since people occasionally die from eating Yin Stones. But if it was powerful enough to suppress a Rift Sound Stone rather than just an ordinary Yin Stone, the medicine’s efficacy was quite remarkable. Since he possessed such medicine, he definitely wasn’t of ordinary status.
‘What is his real identity, seriously.’
My mind was so complicated I was exhausted to death, yet sleep wouldn’t come.
‘Sigh, about the Rift Sound Stone….’
I also considered asking Hwan for help, but I was worried it might make Hwan suspicious of me, so I couldn’t do that.
Hwan was now the only ally and comrade that must never be severed from Seon-o. I didn’t want to damage this relationship.
Also, I shouldn’t rely on him for too many things.
‘There must be a way. There has to be.’
Resolving to search again after finishing this matter, Seon-o blinked her heavily drooping eyes. Somehow the room seemed to be getting darker and darker.
After staring blankly at that darkness for a moment, Seon-o realized something.
‘Ah. Hwan is….’
Seon-o’s lips parted slightly as she noticed that Hwan was casting a gentle darkness throughout this room with his Dark Power.
‘He can do something like this too…? Wow, truly overpowered….’
Whatever he had done to the darkness, the darkness enveloping her entire body was tearfully warm.
His consideration, knowing that Seon-o wouldn’t be able to sleep, was melting away the anxiety in one corner of her heart and relaxing her tired body.
‘See, there is. Someone on my side….’
Seon-o, who had no way to resist that power, finally closed her eyes.
Soon her body settled into the peaceful darkness.
* * *
The next day, Seon-o’s physical condition was at its best thanks to the deep sleep she got because of Hwan.
Hwan conveyed that in preparation for Wang Ho-bang trying something with their meals, the couple would enjoy touring North Sea alone during the day and go to the Demon Fighting Arena in the evening.
Thanks to this, Hwan and Seon-o were able to admire North Sea’s scenery from inside the spacious carriage during the daytime while making plans for the evening.
‘Baek-ryu is… probably managing not to eat anything on his own. Who’s worrying about whom.’
Though she worried about Sa-baek from moment to moment, he was also no pushover. Convinced that there was no way he would fall victim to someone like Wang Ho-bang, Seon-o put aside thoughts of Sa-baek at some point.
The sun in North Sea set even faster than the sun in Myeonggyeong, and since the matches would be held in early evening, the two arrived at the arena before the sun had completely set.
The arena was located in such a remote place that it would be absolutely impossible to find without an invitation.
This was thanks to Wang Ho-bang, who had become anxious after Maehwagak’s downfall, specially selecting an even more remote location.
“You are even more beautiful today, honored Mother. Thanks to the radiant beauty of our great lord and his wife, I think half of North Sea’s Snow Mountain might melt!”
Perhaps because Hwan had paid half the investment money in advance the previous day, saying he wanted to check out the Demon Fighting Arena beforehand, Wang Ho-bang’s disgusting flattery reached its peak.
Seon-o’s gaze, facing the bastard, quickly moved toward Wang Ho-bang’s waist. A small pouch was tightly tied around his waist. It seemed like it couldn’t be taken without completely subduing him.
‘But Wang Ho-bang is also a Superhuman, so it won’t be easy. I can’t give him an opening.’
When Seon-o, hiding her true intentions, smiled sweetly, Wang Ho-bang’s spirits soared.
“Today there’s an even more special event. You definitely won’t be disappointed.”
Wang Ho-bang rubbed his hands together and fidgeted with excitement. He looked like a giant king fly, making me feel like I might vomit, but this act would end today too.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
When Hwan answered leisurely, the excited Wang Ho-bang guided the two to the highest part of the Monster Fighting Arena. I expected Sa-baek to be there first, but Sa-baek was nowhere to be seen.
When Seon-o seemed to be glancing around looking for Sa-baek, Wang Ho-bang, who noticed this amazingly well, tactlessly showed off.
“Ah, honored Mother! Young Master Baek had business and returned first. He also said he trusted Lord Jin’s judgment and decided to invest. You need not worry.”
Thanks to this, Seon-o’s eyes met with Hwan’s after being caught caring about Sa-baek. When he raised his eyebrows as if expressing disappointment like a husband whose wife’s attention was drawn to another man, the back of Seon-o’s neck grew hot.
‘Wang Ho-bang, you bastard. You’re dead.’
Seon-o, who had unnecessarily sharpened her killing intent toward Wang Ho-bang, hurriedly took her seat. Hwan sat beside her with a quiet smile.
The Monster Fighting Arena, formed in a similar structure to the Great Hall, was packed full of spectators. The only differences were that this place had a high ceiling, and that iron cages surrounded the front of the audience seats with protective treasure pendants embedded densely throughout to protect the spectators.
The treasure pendants were embedded more densely the higher up you went. Seon-o noticed that while half the spectators were Wealthy People from the upper floors, the other half were gamblers and criminals with vicious faces from the lower floors.
‘Right, to attract Superhumans, they can’t just accept Wealthy People as spectators.’
It seemed they had expanded their audience base starting from this match for their new business venture. With such remarkable investors appearing at just the right time, there would have been no need to hesitate.
Seon-o knew that today’s match was a very important turning point for Wang Ho-bang.
Unlike the original story, Seon-o had brought down Maehwagak, which meant Wang Ho-bang had lost his source for the drugs used to brainwash superhuman slaves.
‘He must have been worried about how Moon Poong would attack him once the brainwashing wore off.’
So he planned to discard Moon Poong, who had devoted his entire body to capturing demons, like a used tool. Instead, with Sa-baek appearing to supply demons and Hwan to expand the business with investment money, there was no need to hesitate any longer.
It was a perfect plan. However, Wang Ho-bang had overlooked one thing.
Seon-o’s existence.
Before Seon-o’s eyes, who had finished preparing to shatter that perfect plan, Wang Ho-bang’s once-in-a-lifetime business venture began.
Clang, clang, clang-!
As the bell rang to heighten excitement, two iron cages rose from the floor of the circular, spacious arena. All the spectators held their breath and peered into the cages.
The conditions for demons used in monster fighting were strict. They had to be demons with intermediate-level or higher destructive power, yet with intelligence close to that of beasts. Since they needed to be made to fight, their physical force also had to be intuitive and physical.
Soon the iron cages melted away in all directions, revealing the demons that met those conditions.
Everyone’s gaze turned to the demon whose appearance was so vicious that just looking at it made their knees weak. The demon holding a massive axe in one hand was wearing human clothes and standing on two legs, but the legs protruding below were like those of a grasshopper. It seemed to have become grotesque after a failed attempt at human transformation.
The problem was that its size was enormous, like combining three or four adult men. The character “Gap” was inscribed on the back of the clothes it wore.
Excited by the appearance of an interesting demon from the first match, the spectators’ gazes now turned to the opposing demon.
“…What?”
As someone muttered in a disappointed voice, a bewildered silence fell over the audience seats.
Its opponent was a very small boy. The child, who looked no more than five or six years old at most, had plump flesh on his cheeks.
The child demon, like a wooden doll made to human size, was “Eul” who would face Gap.
“Wait, isn’t that a child!”
Someone pointed out in confusion, but those with keen eyes noticed that the child’s eyes were glowing strangely.
‘Even if it looks like a child, a demon is still just a demon. I mustn’t be fooled…’
Seon-o also tried to steady his bewildered mind by recalling passages from the original work. Unlike Seon-o, who was shaken by the demon’s appearance, Hwan didn’t move an inch even when seeing the child-shaped demon.
“Damn it, I bet my money on Eul! I didn’t know such a stupid little brat would come out!”
At first glance, the small child demon didn’t seem to be a match for that giant demon. While those who had bet on Eul vented their frustration, the Grasshopper Demon, having spotted its prey, raised its axe and charged at the child.
Kiyaaaaaak-!
Along with a spine-chilling sound, breathless tension descended upon the audience seats again. The child demon didn’t dodge and just stared at the Grasshopper Demon charging toward it.
Soon the heavy axe was swung as if to split the boy in half.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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