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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 34
“This is troublesome.”
Simon, unlike his usual relaxed demeanor, had a nervous expression on his face.
‘Even if I use Blood Arts to the extreme to move, it will still take at least five minutes.’
Five minutes.
It wasn’t a long time, but would Christian last until then?
Considering the gap in power, the Hellspawn would have enough time to strike Christian’s neck ten times over.
‘Please, just stay alive.’
Even though Simon was a trusted subordinate of the Nordian, it would be troublesome to let the bloodline of the Dark Demonic House die.
Simon used the Blood Arts, hoping the reckless young master would cause a miracle and stay alive, not dying at the hands of the Hellspawn. His body turned into a blood-colored mist and disappeared.
* * *
[The Holy Sword? Good idea, but you’ve misunderstood.]
The Hellspawn laughed leisurely.
[A Holy Sword without the Radiant Mana cannot possibly inflict a fatal wound on us, beings of evil.]
The Holy Sword has a lethal power against the evil beings of Gehenna.
But as the Hellspawn said, a Holy Sword without Radiant Mana was just a half-version.
The energy of nature transformed into dark power was magic, and the energy of light transformed into mana.
Magic and mana are divided into several attributes, with Radiant Mana being the highest among them.
The power of a hero.
Only when the Holy Sword combines with Radiant Mana can it truly unleash its power.
“Right, without Radiant Mana, no matter how much of a Holy Sword it is, I can’t defeat you.”
Christian agreed with the Hellspawn’s words.
However.
“Why do you think I can’t use Radiant Mana?”
[...What?]
Christian paused and reflected inwardly.
He looked beneath his navel, where his mana hole was.
His mana hole was double-layered.
Like an outer core and inner core, the outer ‘magic’ surrounded the inner ‘mana.’
He moved the ‘mana’ deep within.
‘This feeling, it’s been a while.’
Unlike the rough and violent magic, the pure and clear mana energy spread through his body.
As if changing clothes, Christian’s aura completely shifted.
He felt a refreshing sensation and took a step forward.
[W-What…?! This is impossible…?!]
The Hellspawn, realizing what had happened to Christian, screamed in shock.
[How can a demon like you use Radiant Mana?!]
“Because I’m a genius.”
Christian grinned with a bitter smile.
The broken Holy Sword began to quietly scream.
GooOOO.
It sounded like a cheer of joy, the sound of the sword.
The brilliant light that gathered on the Holy Sword.
The power of the Holy Constellation embedded in the Holy Sword manifested through the Radiant Mana.
It was the Shine Blade.
‘There’s only one chance.’
Christian held back the surging blood within him.
With his current strength, it was still impossible to fully manifest the blessing of the Holy Constellation that resided in the Holy Sword.
It was a struggle, but he managed to force it just once.
The overwhelming force beyond his capacity made his mind dizzy, but he endured.
It was a single chance, but that was enough.
[Ugh… Impossible…!]
The Hellspawn recoiled in fear.
It sensed it.
The moment it was hit by that power, it knew what would become of it.
“We made a promise not to dodge, didn’t we?”
Christian raised his sword.
He took a step forward.
With each step he took, astonishingly, the Hellspawn took a step back.
An unbelievable sight.
It was useless.
A promise made with one’s soul to Hellspawns and demons holds an absolute compulsion.
There could be no evasion or retaliation.
Christian narrowed his eyes.
His right foot stepped back.
His left foot stretched forward as he assumed a stance.
A line of light connected from his sword to the Hellspawn.
It wasn’t the swordsmanship of the Dark Mage.
It was a secret technique used by heroes.
The sword technique passed down only to the direct heirs of the "Swordsmanship Family."
Death Sea Flash.
A single streak of light that splits the dead sea.
Christian’s swordsmanship, beyond his limits, surged blood within him again, but he held it in and thrust the sword forward.
The majestic beam of light from the sword crashed into the Hellspawn’s chest.
The brilliant Radiant Mana pierced through the evil.
Fwoooosh.
Light burst from within the Hellspawn's body.
Though the amount of light was limited due to insufficient power, it was enough to prevent it from spilling out of the Hellspawn’s body.
But it was more radiant than any light.
Enough to obliterate low-level Hellspawns.
[T-This… How…?]
The Hellspawn raised its trembling hand.
That was the last act.
Its fingertips began to disintegrate into dust, and in an instant, it vanished.
It had been obliterated.
“Ghh!”
Christian coughed up blood.
His condition was a mess.
‘Luckily, it worked. It was almost a gamble.’
As a member of the alliance, his strength was at 3 stars.
Using the Shine Blade, as well as the advanced sword technique, Death Sea Flash from the Swordsmanship Family, was all beyond his capabilities, but he barely managed to succeed.
‘This is tough.’
Christian’s vision started to fade gradually.
The effects of the dark magic from the Hellspawn and his overuse of power were causing his consciousness to slip away.
‘I can probably rest for a bit.’
He sensed the rapid approach of someone from far away.
It wasn’t an enemy.
It seemed someone had noticed the disturbance and was coming to help.
Just as he was about to close his eyes in relief...
Suddenly, Christian felt a chill run down his entire body.
‘Someone’ was watching him.
Beyond the gap in Gehenna.
He couldn’t see them with his eyes. But he could clearly feel it.
An immense presence, beyond even the Hellspawn, was intently observing him.
[Hmph… how interesting.]
“!!”
Christian’s fingertips trembled violently.
It wasn’t his will.
His body was reacting reflexively.
A deep, piercing malevolence filled his skin.
No, this malevolence wasn’t evil at all, but so pure that it felt more like a law that governs the balance of the world.
[My name is Mefina. I am one of the seven lords of Gehenna.]
In his fading consciousness, a damp, whispering voice reached his ears.
[From now on... I will watch over you.]
It was a distant voice, as if sinking into a swamp, seductively alluring.
[Look forward to it.]
* * *
That day caused a great stir within the Tyramin family.
Karazov’s rampage!
And the subsequent appearance of the Hellspawn!
Both were completely unexpected events.
Normally, it would have been an incident where the young demon children participating in the Black Pill Ritual would have been slaughtered.
But there wasn’t a single death.
It was all thanks to Christian.
The demons of the Tyramin family, who had been scolding him as a reckless young master, were now worried.
“Is young master Christian still not awake?”
“Yeah, they say he’s still unconscious.”
“…I’m worried.”
“…Yeah.”
The demons of the Tyramin family spoke heavily.
“If it weren’t for young master Christian, we would have all been slaughtered by Karazov, right?”
“Karazov isn’t the problem. Young master Christian faced the Hellspawn as well. He fought to protect us.”
They didn’t know how Christian faced the Hellspawn.
By the time they arrived, the Hellspawn had already disappeared.
Probably a reverse summoning.
They assumed it had returned to Gehenna.
Originally, Hellspawn had to return to Gehenna after a certain period due to restrictions.
Anyway, if Christian hadn’t faced the Hellspawn, everyone there would have died at that moment.
Christian was a benefactor to the Tyramin family.
The demons of the Tyramin family, recalling how they had once disregarded him, wore heavy expressions.
* * *
Some time later.
Christian slowly opened his eyes.
It was the bed in the mansion.
‘Where am I? The Tyramin family, I guess?’
It seemed so.
The Tyramin family’s crest was painted on the inside of the room.
He must have been brought here while unconscious.
‘My head hurts a bit from the dark magic’s influence, but my body seems fine. The Black Pill is safely here too.’
Christian quickly checked his condition and let out a sigh of relief.
Considering he unexpectedly ran into Hellspawn, things had ended well.
‘And Mefina… Now I’ve gotten unnecessary attention.’
The interest of the devils.
In truth, this wasn’t a rare occurrence.
Demons or figures from the alliance who quickly stand out often attract the attention of Devils and the Celestial Thrones.
If they become a ‘Contractor,’ they can receive blessings and grow rapidly, but that didn’t apply to Christian.
‘I’m not going to make a contract with a Devil.’
He had no intention of associating with Devils due to his personal beliefs.
Most importantly, Christian didn’t really need a Devil’s blessing.
‘That’s something only weaklings seek.’
He was confident that, without such things, he could reach the pinnacle of the Magus Empire solely on his own talent.
‘Well, it’s not something to worry about. Devils can’t directly affect me.’
The most they could do was try to tempt him into making a contract or offer blessings.
‘A Devil from the 7th realm isn’t even a high-level Devil.’
Christian brushed off the matter of Devils casually.
‘But… is no one coming? I’m hungry. How do I call a servant?’
Just then, the door opened.
It wasn’t a servant.
It was a huge, mountain-like figure.
On the other hand, it gave off a slightly nerdy impression.
It was Count Tyramin!
Christian was slightly surprised and lifted himself up from the bed.
“I greet you, Count.”
“No, it’s fine. Stay lying down.”
Count Tyramin gently pressed Christian’s shoulder with a hand as large as a pot lid, urging him back down onto the bed.
Then, with eyes as large as a tiger’s, he blinked and looked down at Christian.
“??”
At the moment Christian gave a puzzled look, Count Tyramin did something unexpected.
He lowered his head to Christian!
“Thank you.”
“!!”
“I heard the story. You saved Alros and our Tyramin family’s demons. We owe you a great debt.”
Count Tyramin spoke words of apology and gratitude at the same time.
“We oppressed you, but you ended up helping us. Truly, we are ashamed and thankful.”
Christian inwardly felt awkward.
‘The one who saved you from Karazov was actually my own scheme, though.’
Well, there was no need to reveal the truth.
At times like this, it was enough to just take advantage of the situation.
“It was nothing. I just did what anyone would do.”
“Just what anyone would do?”
“Yes, we’re family, aren’t we? Helping each other in times of crisis is only natural.”
Count Tyramin made a face as if he had been struck.
“Family, huh? Well, yes. I suppose we are family.”
Though distantly related, the Khazar family and the Tyramin family were of the same bloodline.
Count Tyramin felt even more ashamed.
‘I was petty towards someone like this.’
“Is there something you desire? If there’s anything you want, I will grant it within my means.”
Christian thought for a moment.
‘What kind of reward would be good?’
He actually had something in mind.
It was the Grey Pill.
He had swapped out the Black Pill for the Grey Pill, and he thought it might be a good idea to take the Grey Pill as a reward.
However, Christian thought of something else.
He stared intently at Count Tyramin’s face.
Although he had a petty, nerdy side, seeing him humbly lower his head made Christian think he wasn’t completely bad after all.
Then it might be better to gain something else.
Something much more important than the Grey Pill.
‘I can always get the Grey Pill again later.’
Christian opened his mouth.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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