The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 320
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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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A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 320
After eliminating Helud, Han Yu-sung made his way toward the Forest.
It was a place near the Portal, teeming with Celestial Forces and monsters.
He reasoned that the Demon Forces would have difficulty finding him in such a location.
Of course, it was equally dangerous for Han Yu-sung.
[You have absorbed the target: Fragment of Wrath.]
[You can now open the ‘path’ to return.]
Since he could open a Portal whenever he wished, it didn’t really matter.
Perched high in a towering tree, Han Yu-sung examined the message before him.
[You have absorbed the ‘Fragment of Wrath’.]
[The Wanderer’s traces are inscribed upon the fragment. You can track the location of that Wanderer.]
[Will you proceed with tracking?]
Kakasha, who had received the message, fell into deep contemplation.
“Kakasha. What do you think?”
[Hmm. I cannot say precisely what location this refers to, but if it means the place where the Wanderer’s Domain exists….]
“Can we attack the Wanderer?”
Kakasha, who had been pondering, slowly nodded.
[It is possible. The Wanderer exists outside the system. If we know the location of the Domain, we can open a path to it. By traversing that path, we can strike directly at the Wanderer’s Domain.]
“Hmm, so it would be a direct invasion of the enemy’s Main Base.”
[Indeed. It is certainly no easy task. It will be extraordinarily perilous.]
It is similar to yet different from the Holy War Battlefield waged between Lords.
In the Holy War Battlefield, one delivers the finishing blow to a Lord who has lost their strength in the previous Lords’ battle, but this would be more like engaging in an all-out war.
A single misstep could result in catastrophic losses.
“If the opponent is the Wanderer, it would be all the more dangerous.”
[It is certainly not a matter to be taken lightly.]
I need to make thorough preparations.
The problem is that my opponent is The Wanderer, which makes it far from simple.
In any case, what matters is that I’ve discovered Salseong’s location.
[Surely you don’t intend to fight Salseong, a Wanderer as well….]
“It wouldn’t be the worst outcome.”
Kakasha shook his head with evident exasperation upon hearing my response.
He looked ready to talk me out of it immediately.
Of course, I wasn’t entirely serious.
“I’m joking. It really depends on the other side. If they remain neutral toward us, there’s no issue, but if they turn hostile, that becomes a problem.”
[Don’t make jokes like that. It sounds like you mean it….]
“Under normal circumstances, perhaps, but the situation isn’t favorable right now.”
Kakasha nodded in agreement.
Salseong, Geomson, and Achiros on top of that—facing three Transcendents in succession was no trivial matter, even for me.
An irreversible catastrophe could unfold.
“If we can avoid it, we should.”
[The problem is that even if we don’t intend to fight, we’ll likely be forced into it… especially considering you eliminated Helud….]
“Salseong’s disposition won’t be favorable toward us.”
I had eliminated Helud, Salseong’s Oath-taker.
Moreover, Helud possessed a ‘Fragment.’ Without question, Salseong was orchestrating something through Helud as well.
That plan has now completely collapsed.
The likelihood of a hostile response was substantial.
[Hmm….]
“Hmm….”
Kakasha and I fell into contemplation.
But Salseong wouldn’t attack us immediately.
Even if they turned hostile, I would have time to eliminate Geomson.
Facing them afterward wouldn’t be too late.
[Then we have no choice but to proceed that way. In any case, we’ve identified Salseong’s location, so we can only remain vigilant and observe their movements.]
“Right. Well, for you….”
Just as I was about to tell Kakasha I’d entrust this to him, my Subspace opened of its own accord.
And something sharp shot out from within it.
It was an item I’d recently obtained.
Salseong’s sacred relic, the 【Soul of Slaughter】.
Kakasha’s eyes widened at the sight of such a precious relic.
Kakasha’s eyes widened at the sight of the precious sacred object.
[A precious relic… No, a relic that speaks! No, that’s not it! This is!]
“A precious relic… No, the relic is speaking! No, wait! This is…!”
Kakasha’s eyes grew even wider upon hearing that voice.
But only for a moment—she quickly regained her composure.
But it was only for a moment; she quickly regained her composure.
“It must be Salseong.”
[Hmph! Wanderer, what scheme are you plotting!]
Hmm! Wanderer, what are you up to?!
There was no reason I should sense any presence other than Salseong’s, the owner.
And indeed, that was the case.
As expected.
[Hmph! Do you expect me to believe what The Wanderer says? But! Your words aren’t wrong either. I nearly forgot this is the Trial of God.]
Hmph! Do you really think I’d believe what The Wanderer says? But! It’s not wrong, either. I had momentarily forgotten that this is the Trial of God.
A damp aura was flowing from the relic.
It was a thick, sticky, and unpleasant aura—resembling the murderous intent of a killer.
It didn’t mean Salseong was revealing murderous intent toward me. Rather, it was as if the killing intent flowed naturally, like breathing.
It doesn’t mean that Salseong is revealing murderous intent to Han Yu-sung. Rather, it’s as if the killing intent flows out as naturally as breathing.
“Salseong. Do you have something to say to us?”
But appearing here meant there was something to say.
My assessment was accurate.
Han Yu-sung’s thoughts were accurate.
[Yes, there’s something I wanted to convey. This time, I killed the Oath-taker I had chosen. One who possessed a ‘Fragment’….]
[Are you saying you’ll settle that grudge later?]
[No, it’s precisely the opposite.]
[…The opposite?]
Kakasha’s brow furrowed at the unexpected response.
Han Yu-sung had killed the Oath-taker that Salseong cherished. On top of that, he’d seized the Fragment, the legacy, and the sacred relic.
Yet he wouldn’t seek vengeance?
And from a transcendent like The Wanderer, no less?
It was a difficult story to comprehend.
[I’m content merely to witness an extinguished spark reignite. It would have been better had that spark been one of my own choosing.]
[…A spark? Are you referring to the one who possessed the Fragment?]
[There’s no reason for me to extinguish a spark with my own hands when it grows by devouring other sparks. Therefore, I won’t inquire into Helud’s death.]
In simple terms, it meant there was no particular will to be hostile.
For Han Yu-sung, it was welcome news.
Simultaneously, it was a story that could only breed suspicion.
‘His own Oath-taker is dead, yet he has no will to fight?’
[It’s a difficult story to believe.]
Han Yu-sung and Kakasha conversed in a manner only they could hear.
I could sense what Salseong was trying to say.
What he desired was for the spark to reignite. He yearned for a complete inferno to rise as the scattered Fragments were absorbed.
If that inferno were Helud, it would be ideal, but he had been defeated.
So he merely hoped that whoever absorbed the spark would become that inferno.
[Whether you believe my words or not is your freedom. You’ll understand eventually by observing, won’t you?]
“That’s not wrong.”
[Well, I suppose….]
I had no intention of completely trusting Salseong’s words anyway.
I would simply watch while remaining appropriately cautious.
In time, I would come to know whether Salseong’s words were sincere or false.
Though the reason remained unclear.
‘It doesn’t feel like a lie.’
It was merely a feeling, so I had no intention of voicing it aloud.
As I thought this, I felt Salseong’s aura within the sacred artifact gradually dissipate.
[If the flames burn, we shall meet again someday. When that time comes, you and I both… we will see each other through different eyes.]
[I will await that moment.]
Those were Salseong’s final words.
The aura of Salseong that had emanated from the sacred artifact vanished completely.
Han Yu-sung gazed quietly at the sacred artifact.
[A curious statement. It seems to suggest that whether you absorb all the fragments or not, you will meet again regardless… though I wonder.]
“Likely so. Hmm, seeing each other through different eyes, is it.”
Perhaps it meant our attitudes toward each other would change.
Han Yu-sung placed the sacred artifact, now restored to its original state, into the Subspace.
In any case.
“I suppose I’ve finished what needed to be done here.”
[If anything remains, it would be inflicting damage upon the Demon Forces, but surely this is sufficient, is it not? I see no need to do more.]
Helud and Berias.
I had slain two Counts who formed the backbone of their military strength.
Once this fact became known, the Demon Forces would surely fall into great chaos.
As Kakasha said, there was no need to do anything further.
[The task is complete, so it would be wise to depart this place. The longer you remain, the greater the likelihood that the Gods will detect your presence.]
The Administrators and Gods were surely observing the Trial.
I had managed to evade their gaze thus far.
But if time dragged on, I would eventually be discovered, so it was best to leave before that happened.
Han Yu-sung nodded.
“Then, let’s return. I need to prepare to deal with Dok-go Cheon as well.”
[A day of great gains indeed.]
That was certainly true.
Han Yu-sung waved his hand lightly, and a familiar Portal appeared before me.
It was the path to return to Earth.
I glanced back toward the place where the Fortress stood.
“I wonder what will become of the Demon Forces.”
Will they truly be able to respond well to this Trial?
With Helud and Berias dead, it won’t be easy.
* * *
The Trial of God, the Battlefield of Good and Evil.
Balak, the Grand Demon Duke commanding all the Demon Forces participating in this Trial, opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
“…Two Counts are dead? How in the world! I told Berias to guard this place and not venture into the Portal assault!”
“It, it seems he disobeyed orders. Using magic and substitutes to deceive us, he appears to have led his forces out on his own.”
“And then he died? This fool…!”
For Balak, it was news that could only provoke fury.
To recklessly charge out and die just as recklessly. Considering that Berias’s objective was to eliminate Helud, it was all the more infuriating.
“Then, did Berias attack Helud? Did they kill each other in mutual combat?”
“N-no, I’m not certain. Count Berias did attack, but it seems both of them died by another’s hand….”
“What?”
It was utterly incomprehensible.
Berias attacked Helud. Yet both died not by each other’s hand, but by another’s.
There was a third party whose identity remained unknown.
“…Any traces? Could it be the work of another Demon Force?”
“We found none. The possibility of another Demon Force being responsible seems low. That’s what the Lords watching that location reported.”
“Then, what in the world…!”
Balak felt an intense headache wash over him.
He couldn’t determine what had transpired.
The only clue was that the two died near the Portal.
Had some unidentified creature emerged from the Portal?
What should he do in this situation?
“…Recall the Demon Forces attempting the Portal assault. Regardless of who is responsible, if they’re capable of killing two Counts, the Demon Forces currently outside cannot handle them. Summon everyone back to the Fortress before we lose everything.”
“Yes? Ah, understood.”
I couldn’t even be certain if this was a wise decision.
But there was no other choice. Two Counts—the second-strongest forces under my command—had fallen in battle, an unprecedented catastrophe that demanded action.
I had to identify the source of this calamity before making my next move.
“This is maddening….”
Countless Celestial Forces and monsters surged forward once more.
Balak exhaled deeply as he surveyed the overwhelming tide.
It felt as though I were sinking into an unfathomable abyss.
A quagmire from which there was no escape.
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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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