Chapter 98

Chapter 98

It was the winter of two years ago, when Sung-Ha was on the cusp of entering Babel.

The valley had been painted a stark white by a sheet of snow, and from the wooden platform[1]in the workshop’s yard, the view of the snowy landscape was fully visible.

Watching a small, lonely figure silently gazing at that very sight, Sung-Ha unwittingly spilled the words he was thinking, “Why do you leave Sun Shooter out there, Master?”

Sun Shooter was his master’s spear that pierced through numerous monsters and demons during the chaotic times of the past when Danger Zones weren’t contained and the Pilgrim’s Path wasn’t blocking the Abyss of Demons. Sung-Ha couldn’t understand why his master let such a spear, which his master handled as if it were his own body, rot away in this remote valley.

“Hmm...”

Thinking about Sung-Ha’s question, his master slightly tilted the teacup he was holding and then slowly replied, “Because it has already passed.”

“...I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I mean that both the strength and time to wield the spear have already passed by. Its power and golden hours have passed in my hands.”

Despite having quenched his thirst, his master’s voice when he continued was still dry, “So I sent it back here. Better to melt it down and forge something new out of it than to let it rot quietly.”

“Melt down Sun Shooter... that’s impossible.”

“Ha ha ha! Jin-Hwan also said something along those lines and then had it stuffed like that. It’s truly pitiful... cough, cough!”

“Master!”

At the sight of his master coughing due to a small laugh, Sung-Ha hurried to his side.

“I’m fine...”

But before Sung-Ha could touch him, he was stopped by his master’s wrinkled hand. His master then took a few more moments to settle his cough before getting up from the platform.

“Let’s go see if it’s finished.”

Like nothing happened, he walked past Sung-Ha and headed toward the workshop. Watching him go, Sung-Ha's mind filled with numerous thoughts.

With each passing year, his back seemed smaller and his hair turned more and more white. And within his coughs that burst out in the middle of the night, were specks of red...

***

Clang!

Sung-Ha’s ongoing daydream was suddenly shattered by the sound of metal. Realizing that he got lost in his thoughts looking at the platform, he turned his head toward the sound.

Clang! Clang!

A sharp sound of metal echoed from the workshop, and upon seeing the smoke from the chimney thicken, he furrowed his brows.

Is he forging something?

Since he hadn’t received his spear from Se-Hoon yet, he thought that Se-Hoon might be finishing it right now. As he listened to the continuous sounds of metal, Sung-Ha hesitated before heading toward the workshop.

I was planning to check out the workshop and see Master’s Sun Shooter anyway.

It definitely wasn’t because he was curious about the spear Se-Hoon would give him. Convincing himself, he peeked inside the workshop.

“Hmph...!”

And saw Se-Hoon about to strike a red spear, Sun Shooter, with his hammer.

Bang!

Before Sung-Ha could understand the situation, his body instinctively moved. He quickly closed the distance across the workshop, his fists clenched and ready to strike Se-Hoon’s face.

Meanwhile, the seemingly oblivious Se-Hoon continued to swing down his long-handled hammer with both hands.

“WAIT...!”

A desperate shout came from the side, but it was too late. Sung-Ha’s body was already in motion, his fist swinging with all of his might toward Se-Hoon’s head.

Whoosh-

Suddenly, the trajectory of the descending hammer twisted awkwardly.

Crash!!

In the blink of an eye, Sung-Ha’s body was flying back toward one side of the workshop, smashing a table and scattering the materials and tools on it everywhere. The workshop had become a complete mess.

Recovering a moment later, Sung-Ha saw Se-Hoon hanging from the ceiling. The sight was so bizarre that it briefly paused his thoughts.

“...What.”

Then, he realized he had been sent across the workshop floor.

“What are you doing?”

With the hammer slung over his shoulder, Se-Hoon was looking down at him disdainfully, prompting Sung-Ha to quickly stand up.

What the...

How could it be that he, who had swung his fist first, was the one tumbling across the floor? Trying to understand, his eyes soon drifted to his pants.

The knee of his pants was especially dirty, even among the dirtied clothes. Seeing the knee covered in soot, he realized what happened.

He struck my knee with the hammer to throw off my balance.

The impact from the hammer was so minor that he had barely felt any pain, but it was enough to make his punch miss and completely throw him off balance, causing him to roll across the floor.

Sung-Ha's face grew in disbelief as he looked in front of him at Se-Hoon. Even though he had lost his composure, considering the usual gap in their abilities, such a situation should have been impossible.

How much stronger has he become in that short amount of time...?

On top of his physical abilities, his skills had been honed—he was like a completely different person altogether. It was an absurd level of growth, one that left Sung-Ha absolutely speechless.

Ignorant of Sung-Ha’s thoughts, Se-Hoon suddenly said, “Ah. Is it because of this?”

He picked up Sun Shooter on the anvil.

“There seems to have been some misunderstanding; it’s all...”

Clack!

But before he could finish his sentence, Sung-Ha had swiftly stepped forward and snatched Sun Shooter away.

“What are you doing?”

He was just going to use Sun Shooter to forge Sung-Ha’s spear; what part of that could even be a problem?

It seems like Yeom Jin-Hyun already gave permission too. So why is that guy making such a fuss all by himself? That little piece of sh*t.

Se-Hoon continued muttering curses under his breath all the way down the hill. Then, upon arriving at the empty village—

Swoosh-

His surroundings were suddenly enveloped in darkness. But rather than it being due to his vision being directly blocked, the spell had absorbed all the light in the area. Thus, since it only affected a specific area, he should be able to just quickly step out of it, however, he wasn’t given the chance.

Whoosh!

Skilled assassins had appeared out of nowhere, blocking off all avenues of escape.

Five shadows rushed into the dark curtain surrounding Se-Hoon, their presence melting into the darkness. A split second later, a chilling sound resounded from within.

Shank!

It was the sound of blades piercing through flesh.

While that was going on, a middle-aged man watching the audacious daylight assault from on a mountain calmly said, “Not bad.”

Despite the distance, he was able to clearly watch their movement. Yet even to him, the sensation of their presence was so faint that it was barely noticeable—his A-rank eyes had been deceived by their strange characteristic. The man turned his head to look under the tree’s shadow.

“Those Silent Shadow Squad guys. Did you say their physical abilities were around C-rank?”

“That’s correct.”

“Their skill in hiding their presence could easily deceive even B-rank heroes... the modifications they underwent are truly fascinating.”

However, despite his words of admiration, there was an undertone of discomfort in his tone. Yet, from the unchanging chilly gaze still directed at the assassins, the shadow he spoke to didn’t seem bothered.

“They have other abilities too. They could have shown them, but the target didn’t resist,” the shadow replied.

“Well, we’ll see them eventually. I’ll give a nice report to the Sect Master, so don’t worry.”

The man then glanced back, looking further up the mountain, and questioned the shadow again, “What about the barrier?”

“It activated as soon as the targets ascended the hill.”

“Good. Then I’ll leave the old man in the workshop to you.”

Leaving behind those words, the man began to walk up the mountain. Shortly after, a different voice emanated from within the shadows.

“They don’t even know who they’re dealing with.”

“What would a banished mentor know? They’re all just disposable pawns anyway.”

Appearing like he had always been there, an old man sat on a rock behind the shadow, watching them.

“Once this is over, make sure to clean up that mess too. He had a protective charm on him, so make sure to confirm the kill.”

“Understood.”

Hearing the shadow’s confirmation, the old man gazed back down into the darkness they had created.

“All this for nothing...” the old man muttered briefly before disappearing.

Seeing that the old man had left, the shadow, the masked Silent Shadow Squad leader, turned his gaze toward the village.

The ambush was good, but their cleanup is horrible...

What were they doing, seeing as how they still weren’t out?

Frustrated at how he had shown his subpar side to the old man earlier, he signaled to his other subordinates.

Swoosh-

Appearing out of thin air, a few other shadows that were hidden throughout the village revealed themselves and entered the darkened area.

Slice!

But immediately after their entrance, a sharp noise sounded and a ball wrapped in black cloth rolled out from within. Instantly recognizing that it was the head of one of his subordinates, the squad leader’s eyes widened in shock.

What...

What happened?

Though flustered, he instinctively signaled his remaining subordinates to strike once more.

But at that moment, a black spear shot out from inside the darkness.

Watching the sleek spear, all-black from the blade to the shaft, flying toward him, he was stunned since it suddenly disappeared.

It wasn’t that it had just been hidden briefly, it had apparently vanished from this world.

Did it disappear because he ran out of mana after conjuring the spear?

If so, he judged that it would be better to continue moving stealthily while hiding his presence instead of trying to dodge the spear.

Rustle-

Seemingly taking advantage of his thoughts slowing his reaction time, a narrow line appeared out of thin air in front of him, and the black spear reappeared, striking him.

Shank!!

“Argh...!?”

Though he tried to dodge it, the spear managed to pierce his thigh.

Enduring the searing pain, he urgently turned his gaze back toward the village and was flabbergasted by what he saw. The darkened area had already been cleared, revealing the bodies of his subordinates, all fatally struck or beheaded, scattered in a grim display.

And standing in the middle of it all was Se-Hoon.

Swoosh-

Having never moved an inch from his initial spot, Se-Hoon then pointed the Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx at the squad leader.

“Vision of the Abyss.”

Darkness burst forth from the black spear, engulfing the squad leader.

1. A wooden platform is a traditional piece of furniture in Asia, designed for sitting or lying down on. It is commonly placed in courtyards or gardens, where people frequently use it as a seating area. ☜