Guild Growth – 10 [End of Volume 5]
“During the encounter with the dwarves, they appeared and disappeared in Incheon. One Flag used that as an excuse to question the guilds representing Incheon. They denied it, saying it was nonsense…” Han Jia was explaining the situation in a trembling voice.
“So they just want to fight?”
“Whether the dwarves were killed or concealed, that is the fact of the matter.”
“Ha.” There were many comments I wanted to make on the dwarves’ disappearance, but I held myself back. My sister’s face was covered in anxiety, and she let out a sigh.
“What happened to the dwarves? If One Flag hadn’t begun to move, and the action so radical, I would’ve cheered.”
“They don’t care about the dwarves, they just want to argue.”
“I know, it’s just that reality is so annoying I want to be delusional.” She grumbled before glancing at me.
“Why’d you arrive so fast?”
“There are only two cases when a person runs fast.” Those were when someone was chasing you, or when you realized your goal was right in front of you.
“…The Chaos Soul will probably attack again sooner or later.”
“Why?”
“The One Flag guys smelled like the Chaos Souls.” I tried not to reveal that they were definitely on the side of the elves. It would be better to clear that up later after the emergency situation was taken care of.
“So if the One Flag moves, the Chaos Souls might as well.”
“What…?!”
“Be careful. You have to keep in mind that they are two groups that may stab you in the back given the chance.”
“I can’t believe they have something to do with the Chaos Souls… we’ve already been stabbed in the back! It’s hard enough when we work together, now we’re just consuming needed resources.” My sister pressed her face close to mine, her cheeks burning red with fury.
“I apologize I keep asking for help, but…help me. Right now, you are the only one in Korea who can stop them by force.”
“Yes, I will.” I already knew what she would ask of me.
“What…?” She didn’t seem to think it would be so easy.
“They’re killing people who care for your guild, aren’t they?”
“Maybe.” Perhaps the elves had started to doubt me directly? No, I didn’t leave any evidence on the scene. Marcocias died without being able to take any information to them. I wondered if they were just wandering around, killing anyone suspicious. It nauseated me to consider it.
[War? Are they waging war in this situation?]
Katsuragi, who had only been listening so far, decided to speak up. I was prepared to prick his eyes out if he looked at her with the same eyes he looked at Mireina with, but there was no sign of that. Perhaps the story was too shocking.
“A fallen?”
“Yeah, a new one. So, what’s the situation of the other guilds?”
“Still complicated.”
“What…?”
“I can’t do anything for them. All attempts to persuade them have failed and trying to use action doesn’t work. The current situation will only continue to spread. But if One Flag’s power is cut off, it puts Korea in jeopardy.” She let out a sigh and looked at me, who was at a loss for words.
“Don’t you see it? Their power is mysteriously massive. Some of their members had prestige before the Great Fusion, but…”
“…”
“But if they’re siding with the Chaos Souls…” To be honest, I didn’t care much about the comfort of Korea. I was hesitant to make any moves myself. But hearing about it, it was clear that each and every One Flag executives exuded the same energy as a higher entity. It didn’t matter if they didn’t actively fight; their existence alone made Korea more secure. But they were just pretending to be an ally that could be trusted. There was no telling when they would reveal their claws, and by that time, the difference between enemies and allies would only widen. I would have to take their lives the moment I recognize them as an enemy.
“I will have to prepare quite a bit to do such a daring thing.” My sister looked at me with anxiety-filled eyes, but I ignored her and looked back at my colleagues.
“Cain, you’re in charge of this place. Lee Chan-yu and Katsuragi, follow me. Mireina, you’ll remain here too.”
“Why?! I’ll protect Fate too!”
“You’re still training.” My merciless words sank her hopes, and my younger sister stood up as well.
“I will go too. I can’t leave it be after asking you.”
“No, you are still not ready.”
“Why…!”
“They’ll need you. I meant what I said, you need to be prepared for a raid from the Chaos Souls.” Lee Chan-yu grabbed my attention; I already knew what he wanted to say, but now wasn’t the time.
“Fate?” She tilted her head, and I wondered if I should reach out to her. Instead, I took a deep breath.
“I have something to say when I get back.”
“…” She stiffened, her cheeks reddening. I had received her sharp gaze and questions several times; perhaps she was already convinced. We may not have been related by blood, but we were siblings.
“That’s ridiculous.” Han Jia was clearly misunderstanding things. I was curious about how they would react if I told them the truth, but I didn’t have the will to tell them everything, not right now.
“So wait quietly, got it?”
“Yes.” She nodded as I gathered Lee Chan-yu and Katsuragi. Lee Chan-yu, however, sighed loudly as we made our way out of the fortress.
“Captain, what sort of love confession did you make? Why are you like this?”
“It’s a troubling confession for me to make. Please understand a little.”
“Well, you’ll just have to endure her anger at finding out you were hiding.” I let out a short laugh and clapped his shoulder lightly.
“Let’s go without worrying about that. It’ll be dangerous, and we won’t know what’s waiting.”
“Alright. You’ll have to live to confess.”
[I’m going to accompany you to such an important thing?]
“Don’t worry, you have an advantage over Cain.” I applied Reaper on us, combining it with Belkena Spell and Lunatic Trickster to hide us.
“The moment I clap, you can act. Until then, they won’t be aware of you. Not One Flag or anyone.” Well, unless there was an executive like Marcocias. But that was unlikely, and even if there was one, it would just mean my prey would increase.
“What was the first magic I taught you?”
[Healing.]
“Yes, and you can use it on the enemy.”
“What are we going to do by healing the enemy?”
“His magic is a bit different than what you would think when hearing the word heal, since it’s based on one’s mana.” I smiled and looked at Lee Chan-yu.
“It’ll be fun, I’m looking forward to it.” We proceeded with Ubiquitous, which increased every day. Even if real long-distance travel was possible, I was proceeding bit by bit by reinforcing it with Belkena Spell. As such, we arrived in Incheon at an unmatched speed.
[Korea is in such ruins…]
I hadn’t known when I was in the forest, but I was able to come face to face with it myself when I arrived in the city for the first time. It certainly was shabby compared to the past, and I could see Katsuragi struggling with his emotions. I wondered how other countries had fared. No doubt he was thinking of Japan as he considered the wreckage around him now.
[I can feel evil energy.]
His head shot up as if he had been shocked.
“…Ah.” I felt it too. A large amount of raging, ugly mana spread into the air. I laughed at the outrageousness of it.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Finally…” I took another step forward with Ubiquitous towards the direction of the battle. Lee Chan-yu muttered something I couldn’t understand, but we arrived before I could ask him what he said. I pushed it out of my mind, hiding the two before approaching the scene of a fierce battle. The battlefield was covered in blood and sweat, people screaming on both sides. Everything stopped as soon as I arrived, however.
“You are…!” A man with a wound in his stomach yelled at me. I swung my hand to manifest healing magic, fixing the man’s wound before responding.
“I’ve heard what happened. Did the thugs argue with you?”
“Looks like you know what happened.” He ground his teeth, but his expression was cool. He was a tough man, holding himself together after such a wound.
“I don’t know where they went…”
“I can feel them hiding nearby.” Magic began to fly in, deadly magic that took the soul as its target. It flew in from dozens of places, and I swung my hand to block it. A black smoke-like blade cut through the air to stop them and continue on beyond the hazy fog.
“Hey, I’ve been helpless here…” By absorbing the skill Demon’s Claw, Reaper became an incomparably sharp blade that cut the soul. These general guild members couldn’t compete.
“Gather your men, I’ll block their magic.”
“Thanks for the help. Damn it, to think you would help us…!”
“Hm.” I waved off his words as he gathered his guild members. Volleys of magic began to fly in as if they had been waiting for this moment. Taking a deep breath, I began to activate my Belkena Spell. The same magic blocked all communication-related magic, the same I used in my first battle against the Elakatra. Then, once I was sure the elves wouldn’t be alerted, I stretched out the power of Predation to swallow all of the magic.
‘Sorry sister, but I never meant to hold back from the beginning.’
“What kind of ability is that…?”
“No way! Damn it!”
Now, it would be a battle against extinction.
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