“…You escaped?”
“Yeah…”
In a location somewhat distant from the Sorcerers’ Association Headquarters, most of the Six Stars fainted, having taken fatal wounds from my counterattack, but Niaz and Ryoko managed to avoid severe injury and stayed conscious.
They seemed to have given up and led me to the Safe House where Ryuin was supposedly trapped, but it had been empty for a long time.
Niaz shook her head in exhaustion.
“I spoiled him too much… I should have finally given him some mental training this time.”
“Cluck cluck… Since it contains a disaster, we couldn’t help it. But I thought he would come to his senses when he grew up…”
Ryoko, who was sticking recovery charms all over herself from behind, sighed in agreement with Niaz’s words.
[Escape?]
[?]
[Going to catch him ㄱㄱㄱㄱ]
[What now then?]
“Where did he go?”
“…It seems quite far. He took advantage of the gap we left and escaped by cutting through the spirit barrier.”
“Are you sure? There’s a way to stop the disaster?”
“I’m sure.”
As long as the Iron Soul Sword comes to me, I can handle the rest myself.
Niaz stared at me intently before reaching out her hand.
When I took her hand, gray magic seeped into my palm.
This is…
“It’s a spell to track Iron Soul’s position. It’s a spell engraved on his soul from before he possessed the Iron Soul Sword, so we can know where he is no matter where he goes.”
He may not realize it, but…
Niaz sat down heavily as she said that.
A tattered ghost approached from behind her and supported her, while Ryoko leaned wearily on her staff and let out a weak laugh.
Niaz looked up at the sky.
“I had… no, we had to make a choice. It may be harsh for him, but as the top of the Sorcerers’ Association, we have the responsibility to maintain the peace and balance of the world.”
“……”
“If the things Iron Soul has to do were ours, four out of six. No, five would have spent too much time on seals every time. If that happened, maintaining the Sorcerers’ Association would have been a difficult task.”
“Keeping him locked up too much wouldn’t have been good either.”
“I know. But what can we do? Our abilities are lacking.”
She chuckled softly, and Ryoko too laughed weakly while resting her hands on her staff.
It was true that they had given Ryuin and Iron Soul a task that was beyond their capabilities.
They had to keep him locked up in a safe place and make him move as instructed, but the situation was not without its challenges.
‘A situation similar yet strangely different from Teshiniria.’
Unlike the priests who only sought to use the pieces of the Dragon Heart as tools for their war, these people were genuinely moving to stop the disaster.
“I think we did everything we could within our capacity. The fiancé, friends, and master all catered to him. And if he wanted something, we brought it to him even if it was on the opposite side of the world. He was allowed to go out, albeit while dealing with the subordinates of the magic array. It may not have been much.”
“He let me go. He even let me out, knowing I had to deal with the magic array’s subordinates. It wasn’t much, but…”
“So, you went to the underground market…”
“He was constantly begging to go out, so I turned a blind eye for a bit. The reason I became the manager of the underground market was because of that… I might have taken him a bit earlier than planned, but I intended to bring him back as soon as the market was over.”
Ryoko let out a deep sigh, looking exhausted.
“So that’s what happened.”
No wonder there was a reason for his sudden appearance in such an outlandish place like the underground market.
Considering the situation and background, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be tied up at the top of the Sorcerers’ Association Headquarters.
[LOL]
[Sounds like Ryuin messed up, huh?]
[Ugh, tsk tsk]
[Level of a gold-digger, lol]
[Iron side, hahaha]
[Looks like he needs a proper lesson]
[Those six stars were like fairies]
[Could be a lie, you know]
[Do you really believe that?]
“It doesn’t sound like a lie.”
It was hard to call it a lie, as they all seemed sincere.
Above all, Ryuin’s reactions and actions were filled with greed.
Ryoko nodded.
“If you don’t believe it, follow the spell and find Cheolhon. You’ll understand when you meet him.”
“Are you planning to take the Iron Soul Sword if I visit?”
“First, let’s have a little chat.”
I didn’t think their words were likely to be false, but it was also necessary to hear Ryuin’s true feelings.
After all, contrary to the rewards mentioned by the Six Stars, he might have been suffering under an unwanted responsibility.
“Of course, I’ll bring the Iron Soul Sword.”
“……”
■
I took off again, keeping an eye on Yena, who looked stunned.
Our destination was the mark at the end of the spell that Niaz had conveyed.
Ryuin was located where the mark was, and I approached him while placing Yena behind me like before.
He seemed less threatening than the Six Stars I had seen earlier, but it would be problematic if the Iron Devourer woke up.
Regardless of whether it was Sorceress Yena or “User Yena,” she would be no match against that existence.
Of course, the Iron Devourer was at best on the level of a Lower Angel or Demon…
“If time has passed, who knows.”
Just like the ‘Five Disasters’ that grew from Intermediate Angel and Demon levels to Upper levels.
Just like Karabus, who once was below Intermediate, grew to above that level.
The Iron Devourer might have similarly reached an Intermediate level after enduring over time.
“It’s better to be cautious.”
If it really unleashed the power of an Intermediate level, then with my current state, facing it might be a bit challenging.
The spiritual power restriction had been lifted, but there were still several limitations in place.
“Ryuin?”
“…! Damn it!”
I got it!
“Wait! Let’s talk a bit…”
“Get lost!”
Seeing Ryuin look at me, he hurriedly fled.
It wasn’t at a fast speed, but perhaps tapping into the power of the Iron Soul Sword, rocks buried in the ground began to rise up, blocking my way.
The speed wasn’t there, but as the power of the Iron Soul Sword was drawn out, rocks buried beneath the ground erupted and blocked my path.
I crushed the rising rocks and approached Ryuin, and each time I did, even more rocks shot up to stop me.
Seeing Ju-eon not shouting, it was clear this was the ability of the Iron Devourer itself, not a spell.
“Hm…”
[No intention to talk?]
[Let’s just kill him.]
[Kill ㄱㄱㄱㄱㄱ]
[Damage?]
[If we don’t talk, we have to kill him.]
[So greedy ㅋㅋ]
“Killing is a bit much.”
The viewers love killing too much; it’s a problem.
Instead of flying or opening a space, I lightly set my foot down.
‘Roar of Acceleration.’
Crackle…!
“?!”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Through hundreds of overlaps, I appeared before Ryuin like lightning.
Ryuin swung his sword at me without hesitation, grabbing it at lightning speed.
“Gah?! Hey, not letting go?”
“I just want to have a little conversation; why are you running away?”
“This is…”
Ryuin grunted, desperately trying to get his sword back, but it was no use.
Crash…!
I already had the sword in my grasp, and Ryuin’s strength couldn’t shake me off.
The only reason he hadn’t completely lost his sword was due to the bond between the Iron Soul Sword and Ryuin.
But that was just a matter of time.
Just a bit longer, and I would have the sword completely…
Boom, boom, boom…!
“?”
The ground suddenly emitted a loud noise.
Before I knew it, a giant monster made of iron ore appeared behind me, and the monster opened its mouth like a catfish, trying to swallow me whole.
Just as Ryuin finally reclaimed his sword, he shouted loudly.
“Good! Just kill him!”
Sharp iron teeth tore at me…
‘Core of Explosion.’
The monster was shattered into pieces.
The debris of the monster rained down like rain, and I stood amid it, swinging my hammer back onto my shoulder.
Ryuin’s expression rapidly soured.
[Wow]
[Seriously]
[No chance ㅋㅋㅋ]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Let’s kill him.]
“Crazy…”
“Are you feeling like talking now?”
“…Why are you doing this to me? I did everything you asked! What more do you want me to do!!”
Ryuin, spewing evil, glared at me as he panted heavily.
The restriction of my spiritual power was lifted, and it became clear.
‘Pushed to the limit.’
The Iron Soul Sword had truly reached a dangerous state.
The seal, already unstable from years of impact, had reached a level where it could break at any moment, and proper suppression of spiritual power wasn’t being achieved.
I didn’t guide you.
Ryuin is not infusing the spiritual power he should.
The reason, of course, is to draw out Iron Devourer’s power even more than the allowed strength.
The more you suppress the Iron Soul Sword, the less ability you can use.
‘I can see traces of wanting to break free… I failed due to lack of spell knowledge.’
Instead of swinging the hammer more, I asked in a calm tone.
“I have a question about that.”
“……”
“The Six Stars say they made the best choice for you. They say they provided everything you wanted and made it as convenient as possible. Is that true?”
“…It’s a lie. I didn’t need that convenience.”
“Then does that mean they lied?”
“Yeah! They’re total liars! It’s just a façade of convenience! I want freedom, not that kind of stuff!”
“So, it’s true they took care of you?”
“…I didn’t need it!”
“That’s true then. Got it.”
It’s a fact that the Six Stars provided for Ryuin.
Friends, betrothed, master, they brought everything he wanted at that time.
But since what Ryuin truly wanted was freedom, his words weren’t entirely wrong.
Yeah, I get it…
“Then why do you want the Iron Soul Sword?”
“Because it’s mine.”
“But it was given to you by the Six Stars?”
“They made me do things in return. And I did those things. So it’s mine.”
“Then why try to get away from it? Is this what they called work?”
“……”
Why won’t he give up the Iron Soul Sword?
If he wanted the Iron Soul Sword, he had to do what they asked. If he wanted freedom, he had to neatly set down the Iron Soul Sword.
But Ryuin didn’t give up anything.
[Looks like the kid’s the problem, lol]
[Ryuin…]
[Wow]
[What’s going to happen to him]
[Just kill him]
[He’s just so greedy, damn lolololol]
[It’s a miracle the older folks didn’t blow up from rage]
[For real, lol]
[Hahaha]
Ryuin seemed to be at a loss for words, grinding his teeth as he stepped back.
“…I’ll handle it! Who says I won’t? I’ll do it freely, okay?”
“I bet that if you just give it a month, it’ll be resolved. You look pretty precarious even now. If it breaks free, can you take responsibility for that?”
A multitude of damages that could occur from the Iron Devourer’s release.
Will he be able to take responsibility for that damage?
Ryuin thought about it deeply and then opened his mouth.
“…Why should I?”
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