Chapter: 158
Time rewound a bit, while Lian and the Duke had just finished their meal. In the deep Forest where Lian wasn’t present, a completely different scene was unfolding.
“Hah… hack…”
Noah felt a mix of sweet and bloody scents rising from deep within his throat. His ragged breath filled his lungs, but he couldn’t stop moving.
As he rolled to the side, a massive horn swept past the spot where he had just stood.
Brrruuumm.
From the Forest Guardian’s back, Corrupted Energy bubbled up like boiling water, creating air bubbles that suddenly shot up like a whip. The chilling energy shot upward, then split thinly before raining down on Noah like arrows.
Crack!
Noah darted between the trees, dodging the downpour of attacks. Each strike was so powerful that trees cracked and fell or melted away completely.
Ssss— even the slightest touch from these attacks caused horrific pain and flesh to melt. Noah clenched his teeth, swallowing his pain while evading attacks and simultaneously closing the distance to the Forest Guardian.
Noah stabbed his sword toward the Forest Guardian. The massive horn blocked his nearly invisible lightning-fast strike.
Bang, BOOM!
A sound erupted that could hardly be imagined as the clash of metal and horn.
“Gah…!”
Noah could feel the Forest Guardian’s formidable strength, as the impact jolted his muscles. This left him vulnerable. The Corrupted Energy that had been writhing near his face sprang out like a tentacle, eyeing his throat.
Time stretched out, and one second began to feel like an hour. Noah pushed magical energy into his legs and leapt up like a soaring dragon.
Thud! Boom!
The Corrupted Energy that skimmed beneath him smashed into the ground and the Lake. The sizzling sound indicated that the spot it touched had melted.
Just before his body fell back down, Noah aimed his sword precisely between the horns and swung it down. Pouring rough, swirling magical energy into the strike, he descended like a meteor crashing down.
CrackaHYACK!
“Ugh…”
The attack that seemed like it would sever the Forest Guardian’s melted head was blocked effortlessly by the Corrupted Energy. Noah pushed against it with his sword and quickly retreated.
“Huff… Haah…”
The creature looked at him, shaking its head nonchalantly, almost like a wild animal. Its front paw kicked at the ground, seeming ready to charge again.
Noah chewed on his ragged lips and his eyes gleamed.
‘It’s not that my attacks don’t hit.’
His gaze fell on the thick hide where her attacks had grazed, noticing the Corrupted Energy seeping out from the gaping wounds.
‘The problem is… that creepy energy.’
Each time Noah managed to land a solid blow, the Corrupted Energy was ready to counter. At first, he thought the Forest Guardian itself had impressive durability, but since he could see the skin being cut, it seemed unlikely.
‘As long as that energy doesn’t weaken, I can’t gain the upper hand.’
He began to process information rapidly and search for answers.
‘The times I managed to land attacks were only when I unleashed strong blows followed by rapid, continuous strikes. When I think about that— it must be gathering its energy in a single spot to block my attacks.’
The Corrupted Energy wasn’t necessarily powerful enough to effortlessly deflect Noah’s strikes; rather, it consolidated its energy to block the incoming attacks every time Noah struck. That explained why he was defenseless against a flurry of continuous attacks.
‘That’s my sole strategy.’
Though he had gone into a frenzy, Noah had depleted most of his magical energy; he barely had half left. In such a dire state, dodging the opponent’s attacks while landing both strong and weak strikes was nearly impossible.
Holding his sword to protect someone, throwing himself into what seemed like an impossible challenge— Noah’s actions were truly ‘heroic.’
Accordingly, this current challenge was regarded as a ‘Trial.’
“Gaaaaah!”
Noah relentlessly charged at the monstrous being as though he had nothing to lose. Even as the horn grazed his left forearm and tore it, or a part of his thigh melted away, he didn’t stop.
Her appearance was noble, yet at the same time, it radiated madness.
As time passed, the wounds multiplied, and the Corrupted Energy burrowed itself deeper into her psyche, disturbing her reason. Thus, the momentum shifted toward the Forest Guardian.
Yet, she wasn’t just helplessly losing ground.
The Forest Guardian was missing one of its horns, and the last remaining eye leaked Corrupted Energy. The energy flowed continuously from the various wounds across its body. All of this was due to the strikes Noah had landed.
“Hah… hack…”
Ragged breaths echoed in her dazed ears. She mechanically dodged the incoming attacks while swinging her sword.
BZZZZ—
A ringing resonated in her ears, and her mind felt fuzzy, but her body continued to move swiftly, evading attacks and exploiting openings.
‘What am I even doing?’
With both body and mind pushed to the brink, such questions shot to the forefront.
‘Why am I fighting this monster?’
The questions that arose in her mind quickly found answers.
To protect Lian. To save him.
‘Why?’
A question she had never considered spilled out reflexively. The thoughts that had been babbling away in her mind now quieted.
‘Why must I protect Lian?’
With her mind pushed to the limit, she was unable to maintain coherent thoughts. As a result, she had to question the obvious to seek answers. The questions Noah was asking stemmed not from anger or doubt, but rather from pure curiosity.
‘Lian is stronger than me, so why?’
Lian hid his negative aspects behind the powers of the Magic Sword; it wasn’t that he was hiding his skill entirely. Throughout the three years spent in Kardishan, Noah had seen Lian’s formidable strength firsthand—through both observation and sparring.
Was that all?
Because of the comedic filter, Lian healed from most wounds almost instantly. Even poisons would only cause him to spit up a bowl of blood before he recovered without any issues.
Noah worrying about and wanting to protect Lian was akin to a rabbit trying to protect a wolf.
Even knowing this, Noah overprotected Lian. He simply thought of him as someone he had to shield.
‘Why?’
The questions thrown into her mind made ripples. They dug into the roots of thoughts that followed one another.
At the end of this contemplation lay— a prison shrouded in darkness, the smell of ashes brushing against her nostrils, the dizzying scent of blood, and your laughter.
Noah realized where her obsessive thoughts began.
Someone who effortlessly used their body for others and smiled brightly— you, while I closed my eyes and plugged my ears, knowing it was the wrong path.
That was the chain of sins that began from the Past.
‘Ah… yes, that’s right.’
She had to pay the price.
‘Lian… I must protect Lian.’
She had to pay for her sins of enjoying comfort while hiding in his shadow.
Her wounds multiplied, and her body swayed unsteadily, but she couldn’t stop.
She had to offer her body for her salvation, for atonement, for selfishness, to wash away her sins.
The moment she recognized the desire embedded deep within her, the Forest Guardian suddenly ceased its movements. Simultaneously, the Corrupted Energy inexplicably shimmered faintly and stopped moving.
It was just as the Necromancer commanded the earth to open.
THUMP!
Noah seized that brief moment and swung her sword ferociously.
Swoosh, CRUNCH!
The thick neck was not just severed but broken. The Forest Guardian’s head, which appeared as if it would never fall, dropped to the ground.
Splash!
Just as the Lake, which had only been solid ground for the Forest Guardian, seemed to regain its form, it swallowed the fallen head. The body faced the same fate.
Simultaneously, Noah tumbled into the Lake. Having drawn on all his magical energy, he fell into the water just like the Forest Guardian.
“Noah!”
Just before being completely submerged, a frantic voice called out. There were sounds following that, but submerged in the water, he could no longer hear them.
Gurgle.
Bubbles of air surged upward, and Noah’s vision blurred. He thought in a daze.
‘Ah, the Lake returned to its original color.’
The once crimson Lake had regained its blue hue, and he could see his blood mixing with the water as it flowed from him.
Gurgle, slosh!
As thoughts drifted like a malfunctioning head, sounds of splashing echoed through the water. Simultaneously, her body began to be pulled by someone.
Her energy drained, she was helplessly dragged away.
“Ugh…!”
“Kek, cough cough…”
Only after being pulled out of the water did she see clearly who had saved her.
“Lian…”
“Don’t speak! Just relax!”
She felt a familiar divine power surging into her body amidst the worry-filled voice. Noah, dazed, thought desperately as she watched Lian fight to save her.
‘Right, I’m… for you…’
In her blurry mind, she recalled her true desire vividly.
‘I want to die for you.’
That was the price of salvation and an atonement to shake off her sins.
‘So I want to become forever tied to your sins.’
Just as she was bound in sin to his salvation, she wished Lian would remember her forever bound to her in exchange for his salvation.
The seed of sin planted in the Past bloomed into pure yet sticky love.
—
Author’s Note: Thank you for joining me today! Have a happy day :3
I’ve messed up the serialization schedule due to medication, so I went to the hospital to get new medicine. This time I’m determined to get back on track… T_T
I’m aiming to upload one chapter in the morning and another in the afternoon on the 13th! This week, I plan to upload without breaks on Wednesday and Sunday (hopefully).
(Unfortunately, my parents were admitted today, so I can only bring one chapter tonight… T_T T_T Tomorrow I’ll definitely get two chapters up…)
+ Just as Lian, the comedic resident, lives like a robot missing a screw,
Noah, the dark fantasy resident, is caught up in a love that feels oddly chilly.
In short, Noah is a person who fits the image of a ‘Knight.’
His actions come from a deep-seated belief in protecting others, trying to maintain his sanity while saving the weak.
For someone like Noah, tolerating Lian’s sacrifice is a clear ‘sin.’
It’s ‘right’ to acknowledge one’s mistakes and apologize to others.
At the same time, it’s also a way to relieve his guilt.
Noah wanting to sacrifice himself to ‘save’ Lian is a form of such apology (atonement).
The mix of guilt and love has twisted into a desire to save Lian, wanting to leave a scar like a vivid memory in him forever.
Indeed, love is a bittersweet syrup… I think it’s rather delicious… how about tasting it together…? ‘ㅂ’9
Recommendations and subscriptions are a form of love. See you next chapter!
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