I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 106

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 106
Kenneth’s imagination had become reality.
A place perfect for unleashing full power, devoid of prying eyes. Muscles taut with eagerness and barely contained fury. Two Fire Bears had discovered their exclusive hunting grounds and were reveling in it.
“Heh, the vigor of youth is admirable.”
Samuel watched with an approving smile as Claire seized a monster by the throat and hurled it away.
‘It’s curious how much she resembles Veronica.’
During my long tenure at the Guild, Veronica and I had shared the same gold rank, yet our fields of expertise and temperaments differed too greatly for deep friendship. But watching her child grow and fight like this stirred something unexpected within me.
“Is it alright for us to remain here?”
Samuel and Ebon, relatively weaker in combat prowess, had positioned themselves in the rear. Ebon, anxious about being excluded from battle, asked Samuel cautiously.
“It is fine. Those with mediocre strength would only prove a hindrance here.”
Grant, Claire, Kenneth, and the elite members of the Vigilante Group that had followed Grant. Based on the combat situation thus far, it appeared they would not be overwhelmed by sheer force, barring any unexpected variables.
Yet even Samuel’s assurance could not easily calm Ebon’s troubled heart.
‘There’s still nothing revealed about Matthew’s abilities.’
Matthew, presumed to have received an ability from Umbra. The fact that I couldn’t precisely grasp his power left me deeply uneasy.
“The Corridor has been cleared. Let us proceed.”
“Yes.”
The two stepped forward into the now-open path. Claire, one of those who had carved the way, gazed down at her fists with lingering unease.
“What troubles you?”
As Grant approached and asked, Claire turned her gaze toward the monster she had just dispatched and answered.
“That creature. What could it be?”
Its form was too bizarre to call it a simple monster. It resembled something closer to the entities that had appeared during the Ball rather than ordinary monsters like orcs.
“Don’t overthink it. What matters is the objective we came here to achieve.”
Grant gave Claire’s shoulder a light push, cutting short her thoughts.
“And if these beings had been released into the Convent as they were, countless people would have been slaughtered.”
For those whose fate could no longer be reversed, sometimes mercy was the greatest gift one could offer.
‘I think I’m beginning to understand the ability of whoever manages this place,’
Grant suppressed his expression, which had grown cold with rage, and took the lead.
* * *
“Do you believe in divine retribution?”
At Kenneth’s sudden question, Matthew’s lips twisted into a crooked smile as though he’d heard something absurd.
“If such a thing existed, how would I still be alive?”
“At least you have decent self-awareness.”
It was a fair point. Had divine retribution truly existed, Matthew would have been struck by lightning dozens of times over and reduced to ash long ago.
Crackle, crackle—
Kenneth stared coldly at the entity crackling before his eyes. The creature that had appeared swiftly the moment he moved to strike Matthew, intercepting his attack.
‘Can this even be called a living being?’
Eight arms, nine heads, a massive lower body in the form of a quadruped.
“I don’t know of any monster in this world that looks like this.”
“Of course not. This one is a masterpiece among masterpieces.”
“Ha.”
Kenneth’s mind immediately recalled the sisters Eris and Erika. The illusion Eris had shown him directly—her younger sister’s body and abilities merged into one.
‘If one ability alone seems a waste, why not simply combine two? Simple, isn’t it?’
That horrifying scene from the past had clearly featured Matthew as well.
‘So that’s how he merged the sisters’ abilities.’
He suppressed the rising nausea and spoke.
“Your ability—is it Fusion?”
An ability that combined life with life to create chimeras. A horrifying application, befitting Umbra. Matthew’s expression twisted into something resembling pride as his mouth split into a grin.
“That’s right. An elegant ability found nowhere else.”
“Elegant?”
“Experience it yourself.”
Matthew snapped his fingers, and the chimera shrieked as it lunged at Kenneth. Kenneth quickly evaded using his ability, then began to engage it directly.
‘What kind of hide is this!’
The creature’s skin was so impenetrably hard that even an ability capable of shattering boulders couldn’t penetrate it.
“Ahhh.”
Matthew gazed at his creation in rapture. The arrogant fool who had been boasting endlessly now twisted his body desperately to survive before his own creation—it was almost amusing.
‘Struggle more. Writhe more.’
His eyes were consumed by madness.
The creatures I shaped were fear itself, despair incarnate. After obtaining this ability, Matthew had first killed his father—the man who abandoned him and took only Ebon—and then all the residents of the alley who had ever looked down on him.
‘Joining the Market and walking alongside Umbra was the best choice I ever made.’
That sense of superiority when watching these wretches scramble desperately to survive. Without Umbra, would I have ever felt the power of the strong? For this, even the wailing of the dead that constantly echoed in my ears had become sweet music.
Crack.
With each movement of the chimera, walls crumbled and the floor trembled.
‘Damn it, at this rate the space where Elliott is will collapse.’
Kenneth decided to lure the creature toward the direction of the theater stage. A wider space would make it easier to evade, and it would minimize the building’s structural damage.
“Running is pointless. Everywhere in this place is within my grasp.”
Having successfully drawn the chimera away, Kenneth hurled himself between the audience seats. The chimera and Matthew, having smashed through the doors to enter, scanned the area for him.
“Resorting to such petty tricks.”
Matthew frowned as if annoyed and gave his command. The chimera shrieked and began to demolish the audience seating, crushing it as it advanced.
The ear-piercing sound of destruction echoed through the vast space, but Matthew, intoxicated by the ecstasy of destruction, paid it no mind.
‘Perfect.’
And that was exactly Kenneth’s intention.
‘This should be enough to reveal my location.’
Had he come alone, he might not have been able to defeat that monster. But he was not alone.
“Kenneth!”
Claire burst through the door and called his name. She was disguised with Ebon’s power, yet Kenneth felt as though he could see her true form—those auburn eyes shining brilliantly clear.
“You’re alive.”
Confirming that Claire and the rest of the group had arrived in succession, Kenneth revealed himself and waved his hand lightly.
“A grotesque doll devoid of all aesthetics.”
Samuel withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and held it to his mouth, his brow furrowing in disgust. Grant nodded in agreement.
A horrifying existence woven together from countless living forms.
“It appears to be a fusion-type ability user. Creating chimeras seems to be their specialty.”
“Yes, though not as large as this one, I’ve already disposed of several on the way here.”
It was precisely the ability Grant had anticipated.
“We’ve confirmed Elliott’s location.”
“Then let’s finish this quickly and take him with us. I find this place utterly repugnant and have no desire to linger.”
Samuel struggled with all his might to suppress the nausea churning in his stomach. As someone born with a mental-type ability, the constant influx of others’ thoughts was commonplace—yet the thoughts emanating from the chimera were different in both their volume and the despair they carried.
‘Save me. Help me. Kill me. Free me. Send me back. Kill me. I want to go home. Save me. Kill me. Help me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me….’
Reason had grown faint. All that remained was a desperate cry for liberation. Even he, who had stepped forward out of loyalty to his Master rather than duty, had developed a hatred for Umbra at the sight of such cruelty.
Everyone began to assume combat positions. The chimera held its breath, and the tension among all present rose to an unbearable peak as the moment of attack approached.
“Matthew…?”
A voice cut through the space.
‘Ebon.’
Only then did Claire get a proper look at the face hidden behind the chimera. Desaturated blonde hair and burgundy eyes. Features that bore a striking resemblance to Ebon.
‘I’ve been searching for my twin brother.’
‘Twin?’
‘Yes, my wretched brother who made poor choices and ended up as a merchant for the Market.’
Thud.
As Ebon removed the wooden mask and let it fall to the ground, everyone’s eyes widened except for Kenneth and Claire. A face that mirrored his own save for the scars—the circumstances of everything became crystal clear without need for explanation.
“Ebon.”
Matthew, having found Ebon, walked out beside the chimera. His expression seemed overwhelmed as he spoke.
“At last I can kill you.”
The emotion crystallized in his eyes as he gazed upon his twin brother for the first time in ages was unmistakably rage.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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