Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Rescue (1)

“For ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍now, things seem to be going alright.”

I ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was inside the Baek family shrine, having quietly infiltrated the building.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that pitch-black space, I calmly surveyed my surroundings with a composed mind. One might ask why I was moving so leisurely in such an urgent situation, but there was a good reason for it.

‘Han ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Seora is being kept in a secret, hidden location.’

Even ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if this was happening at a shrine on land ruled by the Baek family, it did not mean that everyone in the family knew about it. Since this involved walking a path of extreme depravity, it was something that had to be kept strictly hidden even within the family.

Therefore, for now, I needed to focus on finding the hidden passage leading to the basement...

CLICK—

‘...I was going to do that, but I found it faster than I thought?’

Contrary to my expectation that it would take quite some time, I discovered the hidden passage quickly. It was a bit flustering, but it was not an impossible feat. I had started searching based on information from the novel, and perhaps I was just lucky that the search speed was faster than I anticipated.

‘Then, on to the next preparation.’

I could not move immediately just because I had found the passage to the basement. As I have mentioned repeatedly, this was the Baek family’s territory, and it was a place where they carried out deeds that had to be hidden even from their own kin. Naturally, the location was protected by incredibly sophisticated security.

 There were likely dozens of layers of wards that would take a long time even for someone as skilled as Yu-hyeon to dismantle, let alone someone at my level.

‘That is why preparation is necessary.’

With that thought, I opened the spatial storage of the bracelet on my arm to take out the item most suitable for this situation.

‘Well, even so, it is not as if it is some special item I went out of my way to procure.’

The artifact I pulled out was likely a familiar one to most. After all, it was the first artifact I had obtained after coming to this world. I thought about that as I quietly looked over the information of the artifact I had retrieved.

[Suppressing Blade]

Rank: C

Category: Sword

Information: A weapon where the hilt has vanished over the long passage of time, leaving only the ‘blade.’ However, the blade is so keen that no traces of age can be found on its ‘edge.’

Ability 1: Mana cannot interfere with wounds caused by the blade.

Ability 2: It is impossible to shroud the blade in mana.

▶ A reinforcement-type artifact is currently equipped.

‘It is an artifact with quite a history.’

It was the artifact that had forced me to kill someone for the first time in this world. And at the same time, was it not the artifact that helped create my current connection with Yu-hyeon? Many thoughts came to mind whenever I looked at it, but that was not what was important right now.

SLASH—!

Things like these idle thoughts could wait until after I rescued Han Seora. Blood spurted from my arm as I swung the blade against it. I felt a rather heavy thrum of pain, but it was not unbearable.

‘No, even if it were unbearable, I would have to endure it.’

What would happen if I did not endure it? Not only would it be an act of betrayal toward those who believed in me and moved on my behalf, but I would also fail to achieve the bright future I desired.

 Therefore, no matter how painful it was, I simply had to grit my teeth and bear it.

Thus, I began to carve lacerations into my forearms and hands one by one with the Suppressing Blade. As a result...

‘Ugh, I think this should be enough.’

I succeeded in covering my arms and hands entirely with wounds from the blade. Blood was flowing freely and the pain was intense, but I did not mind because I had reached the desired result. With this, the minimum amount of defense was established.

‘Still, it hurts considerably more than I thought it would.’

It was probably because mana could not interfere. One of the reasons a Player’s body can heal faster than an ordinary person’s is that mana naturally dwells within the body. The wounds I just carved were hindering that process, which made it even more painful.

‘...Even though the result is clearly manifested, I am still feeling a bit anxious.’

In truth, it was unavoidable. To begin with, the place I was going to was not a section that had been described in great detail in the novel.

 Although various explanations had been written, the wards guarding this place were only described as "extremely dangerous."

‘But this was the best move I could prepare.’

The wards carved into this basement were not protection-type wards, but attack-type wards. Unlike protection-type wards, attack-type wards read an intruder's mana and launch attacks recorded within the ward. Therefore, using the Suppressing Blade to eliminate the flow of mana while dismantling the wards one by one as I advanced was the best strategy I could have prepared.

‘Furthermore, since I felt the blade alone might not be enough, I even visited the artifact loan office.’

I thought of that as I looked at the scabbard attached to the Suppressing Blade.

[Cursed Universal Scabbard]

Rank: D

Category: Reinforcement-type Artifact

Information: A universal scabbard that can be fitted to any blade. However, a wicked curse placed on the scabbard lowers its value.

Ability: It maximizes the abilities of the blade equipped in the scabbard, but it also maximizes any penalties associated with the blade.

It was an artifact I had received as part of the reward for the medal I was given previously. In fact, the ability itself could be seen as almost identical to my own inherent trait, "Response." The only difference was that the target was limited to blades.

‘To be honest, I did not have high expectations when I first borrowed this artifact.’

Even though it was a reward for a medal, the medal was not of a high rank. Therefore, the maximum rank for artifacts I could borrow was D-Rank, so I simply borrowed the one that seemed most valuable to me. However, they say the products of coincidence can be great. The scabbard I had borrowed without much thought brought about an incredible ripple effect.

‘I never imagined that the Suppressing Blade’s ability would be treated as both an ability and a penalty at the same time.’

Even hearing this much, it might be hard to understand. One might wonder what is so good about being treated as both an ability and a penalty, or what would change even if the ability of mana interference were maximized. It was a perfectly understandable question. I had felt the same way at first. But did I not just say? The products of coincidence can be great.

‘When the blade's ability is maximized, the areas where mana interference is impossible increase.’

To put it simply, if I were to injure my arm, the effect would normally be limited to my arm, but now the effect would appear on my legs as well. On top of that, did I not also have the "Response" ability I mentioned earlier? The scabbard's effect maximized the ability, and then the Response effect doubled that maximized ability. Thanks to that, even though I had only carved lacerations on my hands and arms, my entire body was now in a state where mana could not interfere.

‘In short, it means I can never be hit by the attack-type wards.’

Of course, this was merely a delusion based on the theory in my head. Wards are things that are rarely found even in artifacts and are hard to find as a Player's talent, so I could not put it to the test. That was why some anxiety remained, but looking at it positively, there was nothing to lose.

‘Among the talents I use, there are quite a few that can be used even if mana does not dwell in the body.’

Well, in the first place, they were talents I was borrowing rather than my own. At any rate, what I wanted to say was this: even if this move did not work, it would not be a big problem. Therefore.

‘Let us go without losing heart.’

There was no time to hesitate just because I felt anxious. With that thought, I pushed my body into the basement passage that was glowing with an incredibly ominous light.

***

I entered the basement passage carrying half a sense of duty and half a sense of anxiety. Fortunately, the delusion I had constructed in my head actually came true. The attack-type wards failed to recognize my body. Thanks to that, I was able to dismantle the wards without being hit by them, and I had been able to move safely so far without any issues.

‘But this place is much larger than I thought?’

Looking at the structure, it was definitely not just the size of the white building I had seen earlier. I had not reached my destination yet, but at a rough estimate, was it about three times the size of that building?

‘It seems it became larger because they were setting up defenses against intruders or preparing escape routes.’

Even though it was a place inside the Baek family estate that could not be entered easily, those people were rotten to the core. Do people with something to hide not usually prepare a lot of things? It seemed this basement area was created exactly according to that logic.

‘That is even more reason why I have no time to dawdle.’

I did not know what was happening above right now, but I could tell one thing for certain. The situation was definitely not going smoothly. I mean, it was only natural since the massive sounds from up there were constantly reaching down here, was it not?

‘And not only do I know this, but the Baek family bastards must know it too.’

Especially the few who would be left as security in this basement area. Therefore, I knew I had to be calm at a time like this, but I could not help but feel rushed. As I was thinking that while continuing to move forward, the first obstacle finally appeared to block my path.

“A fork in the road?”

What appeared before me were two paths leading to different places. I was a bit flustered because this was not information I knew, but...

‘Compass of Stars.’

That confusion did not last long. What I had just used was one of Kim Su-hyeok’s talents, the "Compass of Stars." it was a quite good talent that allowed me to know which path I needed to take. Kim Su-hyeok’s talents required a significant number of points, but I was relieved because I could save points by borrowing a specific talent rather than borrowing everything.

‘Is the path to the right?’

When I used the talent and threw a bottle of Blue Nightmare that I had not used up and thrown away before, the bottle immediately flew toward the right. This meant the path I had to take was to the right. Since there was no way a talent would lie, I followed its direction obediently, and as expected, the path the talent showed was the correct one. The further I moved, the more the path was illuminated by bright torches, unlike before. It likely meant I was moving toward the correct location.

‘Let us just keep going like this.’

But as they say, things in life do not always go as one desires. The path that followed was riddled with all sorts of traps. They ranged from classic traps seen in cartoons to all sorts of extraordinary and bizarre traps. However, it was not as if I had come here for a picnic. Since I was in a state of high alert, I was able to overcome them without much trouble. I continued forward, jumping over the obstacles blocking my way, and finally...

“...I have arrived.”

I succeeded in reaching my destination. It was a place where a massive white iron gate stood. It was exactly as described in the novel. Han Seora had to be beyond this gate. Therefore, I was about to push the iron gate open without a moment’s hesitation, but...

“So it was a diversion after all.”

That action was immediately stopped. A voice laced with vileness echoed from near the iron gate. When I immediately turned my gaze toward the sound, a man who looked just as vile as his voice was grinning at me while flicking his tongue.

“Hehehe. I do not know who the hell you are, but you are going to have to die here.”

He spoke while emitting an incredibly threatening pressure, despite his vile appearance. I had expected this, but it was a situation I had desperately hoped would not happen. 

That situation had just begun.