Chapter 190

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍location changed again.

This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍time, it was a dark prison.

Inside ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were Kim Yuseong and Cha Jaehee, and iron bars that were too sturdy to be a prison in the village basement caught my eye.

How ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍much time had passed since they were caught going out by the people of the shrine?

Exactly ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as that question occurred, the awareness of one day came into my mind.

Surely, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the memory of the past that had seized my consciousness had answered.

"Yuseong, what will have happened to Hye?"

"Nothing big will happen. She is the Head of the Shrine, after all."

"Right?"

The reason the two, who were supposed to be kicked out of the village immediately, were locked in the basement prison was to seal their mana.

Even if they were half-bloods, since they possessed the power of a Demonic Being, it would be difficult to hastily use magic to seal their mana.

Therefore, they were being held in the prison for the appropriate time.

Their mana would be sealed as soon as the conditions were met.

"What will become of us now?"

"...We will be kicked out."

"That's a given."

Cha Jaehee continued his words while furrowing his brow irritably.

"Could it be that they're using us as experimental subjects?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I accidentally overheard something the shrine people were saying last time. They said that beyond the rift, they sometimes used bodies as sacrifices to use magic."

"There's such magic? So what would they gain?"

"How should I know. They might summon a massive Golem... or they might absorb the target's power and become stronger."

"I understand what you're saying. But such magic is impossible from the start."

"Why?"

"Our—no, the adults' magic is based on asceticism. The moment they covet something, they are cursed."

"...Mmm. The curse of being unable to go out under the sunlight, you mean?"

Kim Yuseong nodded.

Cha Jaehee tried to continue speaking more, but he discovered a look of fatigue on Kim Yuseong’s face.

Even a warrior of the shrine, said to be chosen from only the top experts, could not help but be exhausted in such an extreme situation.

After a moment, the two turned their heads toward the stairs connected to the prison.

As I shifted my gaze accordingly, a man descended the stairs and revealed himself.

—Gen...

The man was Gen.

A Demonic Being who could change his body arbitrarily.

Gen approached the iron bars.

Then, he looked at Kim Yuseong and Cha Jaehee in turn, and Kim Yuseong narrowed his eyes as if he recognized the man’s face.

"What is your business?"

It was a gaze of suspicion.

Cha Jaehee immediately understood Kim Yuseong’s reaction.

The fact that he, a warrior of the shrine, showed a hostile reaction meant that this was likely a person approaching with an eye on the Witch.

Gen spoke leisurely.

"Are you the half-breeds who are close to the Head of the Shrine?"

Cha Jaehee flared up.

"I do not know where you rolled in from, but let's speak clearly, shall we? We are also strictly members of this village."

"It seems you are no longer so?"

"You bastard...!"

Cha Jaehee looked ready to break the bars and rush at him at any moment.

However, Kim Yuseong quickly cut in.

"I asked you, didn't I? What is your business."

"You have better eyes than your friend. Well, it's just curiosity. I only wanted to see who the fools staying by the side of a piteous being who will never be loved by anyone are."

"You've seen us, so that's enough. If you have no more business, go."

"How cold. Unfortunately, I have one more business. I've brought quite a plausible condition for you two."

Cha Jaehee shouted.

"We do not need such a thing!"

"You do not need it? You would be able to come out of this prison right now."

"Wh-What?"

Cha Jaehee was flustered.

Gen showed a sneer.

"This one evaluates you two more highly than the other Demonic Beings. In other words, you have higher value than the cowardly Demonic Beings of the village."

"...Does that mean you want us to come under you?"

"Similar. As expected, you are more intelligent than the ill-tempered fellow next to you."

"What? This bastard! You're not even a handful!"

"Do not flare up. I haven't stated all the conditions yet."

Kim Yuseong placed his hand on Cha Jaehee’s shoulder.

A sign to calm down.

Cha Jaehee snorted harshly toward Gen and glared, but Gen continued his words unconcernedly.

"This one likes this world. Thus, I plan to dominate all humans."

"..."

"..."

Gen’s words were shocking.

This was because domination was an action directly linked to desire.

The people of the shrine could not be said to be doing right things, but they were basically Demonic Beings of asceticism who had crossed the rift.

The fact that they lived together in only a small village even while possessing extraordinary talents like mana was also because of that.

In the first place, if they had wanted wealth and fame, they would have already been burned by the sunlight.

Realizing that fact, Kim Yuseong asked with killing intent in his voice.

"You are... a Demonic Being who remained beyond the rift."

"A Demonic Being who remained... That is a bit disappointing. This one is more open-minded than those fellows."

"The villagers must not know. Otherwise, you would not be able to enter and leave the village so casually."

"Hmph, I told you, didn't I? They are stupider fellows than you."

Were the adults of the village truly stupid?

The shrine not only serves the Head of the Shrine but is also lined with books related to the world beyond the rift.

Would the people of the shrine, whose main purpose is preserving and learning their own history, be unable to distinguish a Demonic Being from beyond the rift?

There was no way.

In this case, it was one of two things.

They were already stained by desire.

Whether by Gen’s hand or by their own purpose.

Perhaps considering that, Kim Yuseong habitually fiddled with his belt.

That is, the position where a sword should normally have been hanging.

"I will tell this fact to the other adults."

"You won't be able to."

"...?"

"Because you won't be able to come out of here."

Cha Jaehee asked fiercely.

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"It is as I said. The plan has already begun."

"...!"

"Chuseok, otherwise known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. That is, the middle of autumn. It seems it is a very important day for the humans of this region. But surprisingly, tonight is also a very important day for this one. Because the brightest moon rises."

The brightest full moon.

The meaning of those words was simple.

It meant it was the period when the environmental mana was most active.

Kim Yuseong asked warily.

"What are you planning to do?"

"I told you, I will dominate. This one is giving you an opportunity now. If you follow me from now on, in the new world this one will dominate..."

"I refuse."

"Hmm?"

"I have no interest in something like domination. Even less in following someone. All we want is to come out of these bars and cut your throat."

Kim Yuseong’s voice had not the slightest tremor.

Gen was silent for a moment and then belatedly burst into laughter.

A sneer as if it were absurd.

"You are a fellow who cannot be persuaded. Is it because you are mixed with human blood, after all? You are different from the Demonic Beings of the shrine. Fine. It's a waste of talent, but it cannot be helped. Just stay locked in here and watch the destruction. And suffocate in regret."

Gen left the basement as he finished speaking.

He appeared not to have the slightest lingering regret.

Cha Jaehee spat out a curse and kicked the bars.

"Damn it! Why won't these bars budge!"

"Because they are made of something from beyond the rift. Damn it! If only I had my sword, a prison of this level..."

What was the plan Gen mentioned?

I knew that future, but to those two, it would have felt like terror.

To watch destruction while suffocating in regret.

—Bullshit.

About an hour after Kim Yuseong and Cha Jaehee struggled in unexpected terror.

The sound of someone’s footsteps was heard from the stairs again.

This time, they were overtly hurried steps.

As expected, Kim Shinwoo rushed to the front of the bars while shouting.

"Brothers! It's a big trouble! Big trouble!"

How on earth had he dealt with the Demonic Being standing guard outside the building?

My question was soon resolved.

"The shrine priests are attacking the villagers!"

"What?"

"Say that again! What do you mean by that!"

"A battle has broken out in the village! I don't know the reason! I was loitering near the shrine to steal the prison key, and then suddenly!"

THUD.

In an instant, the ground shook greatly.

It was not an earthquake.

In all probability, it was an explosion caused by mana.

Kim Shinwoo shoved the crude sword he had brought instead of a key between the bars.

Then, Kim Yuseong pulled out the sword and cut through the bars in an instant.

As expected of the one who would be called the Sword Saint, the bars revealed perfect cut surfaces.

"Let’s head outside first! Identifying the situation comes first! Shinwoo, you head out of the village for now! You know that hut where we went with me before, right? Hide there!"

"Yeah! I understand! But what about Brother Jaehee?"

The brothers cast their gaze at Cha Jaehee.

Cha Jaehee clicked his tongue as if he felt unpleasant.

It was because they were pointing out his incompetent combat ability.

Gazes that said he should go to the hut with him if he was not helpful.

Naturally, Cha Jaehee shook his head firmly.

"You're going to Hye anyway, aren't you? If you go, I'm going too. Damn it! Do not worry, because I won't ask you to protect me."

"Fine. Instead, if it seems even a little dangerous, run away immediately."

"Run away? I might not be as good at punching as you, but I'm good at surviving in extreme situations. Do not worry unnecessarily and move quickly, will you?"

"...Fine."

They ascended the stairs without delay.

My vision darkened again with that.

I turned to the Elf beside me.

—Gen enticed the people of the shrine, didn't he?

—That is correct.

They would have killed all the Demonic Beings who were not stained by desire and already left the village.

A massive full moon in the sky.

The Witch heading toward death after being caught by the Demonic Beings.

And the Sword Saint and the Phantom Thief who would face a new fate.

It was the prequel to my very crude novel.

—The rift will soon open.

Instead of answering, the Elf made a gesture in the air.

Then, the sight of a light of mana piercing the sky of Seoul in a straight line was visible.

The one emitting that light was naturally the Witch.

Demonic Beings stood looking at the rift with her at the center, and in front of them, Kim Yuseong was collapsed, gasping for breath.

His entire body was dyed in blood.

Since he had not made his skills bloom fully, facing the Demonic Beings must have been difficult.

I gazed at the Witch again.

She was unconscious, her face pained.

Her expression was so desperate I could not watch for long.

But ironically, the light of mana she emitted was close to pure white, more so than anything else.

A noble light of mana that made her sacrifice seem natural for a moment...

Soon, as a massive gray rift cast itself over the sky, the full moon vanished as if fleeing, and the Witch collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.

Death.

Accordingly, the pillar of light vanished, and thousands, tens of thousands of monsters began to pour out from the rift.

Screams erupted all around in an instant.

Flames lit the surroundings like day even though the rift had covered the full moon.

Before long, the Demonic Beings vanished from sight.

Since the Demonic Beings from beyond the rift would soon set foot in this world, they must have intended to execute their plan in earnest.

"Hye..."

When the Demonic Beings vanished, Kim Yuseong began to approach the Witch, dragging his tattered body.

A state where he was nearly crawling.

But at that moment, monsters that had fallen from the rift blocked the way between him and her.

For him, who was born in this world, they were beings called monsters that he was facing for the first time.

However, he stood up while adjusting his grip on his sword and...

"...I, I am the warrior of the shrine who protects the Head of the Shrine."

He faced the monsters without the slightest retreat.

"I am the sword chosen to liberate the clan from the curse."

—...

"And I am...!"

Kim Yuseong’s sword drew a line in the air.

"The one who protects this city that you loved!"

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