Episode 317
On the outside, he didn’t look like a person on the brink of death.
Other than his complexion being a little pale, there were no visible injuries, and he just looked like a person in a deep sleep.
It’s not strange.
If there had been any trauma, it would have been completely cured by pouring in top quality potions. Badnicker’s wealth is as strong as that of most major merchant families.
That’s okay on the outside, but what about on the inside?
I rudely lifted up Iron Blood Ball’s blanket and grabbed his wrist underneath it.
On my wrist, which was thinner than I expected, I felt a cool touch that could not be felt on the skin of a living person.
First of all, I will take a pulse, but my method will be a little different from that of the lawmakers.
I was planning to examine the inside of the Iron Blood Ball through its pulse.
“… … .”
At first, I thought there was no pulse at all. Even though I held it for a while, I couldn’t feel any pulsation.
That wasn’t it.
Very intermittently, I feel a faint pulsation as if it will break at any moment.
Assad’s words suddenly came to mind.
Did you know that your heart beats only 1-2 times per minute?
‘… ‘It’s a miracle I’m alive.’
How on earth did my body end up like this?
I slowly looked into the inside of the Iron Blood Ball to find the reason.
Originally, it would have been impossible to contemplate the inside of an iron-blooded baller even if physical contact had preceded it… … .
Right now, all the defenses in this fortress called body were not working.
As if I was jumping over a shabby castle wall, I explored its interior through the veins of the Iron Blood Ball.
“… … !”
And I realized that Sanghyeolgong’s body was more miserable than I thought.
Twisted whole body veins and messily twisted qi and blood.
The instruments are organically intertwined, with the major organs of the body clinging to each other like leeches.
‘Isn’t this a heart problem?’
Rather, he is still holding on thanks to the iron blood ball’s strong heart, and more than that, his physical condition is in disarray.
It’s a miracle that I’m still alive at this level.
Actually, I had that thought before contemplating the Iron Blood Ball’s body.
It wasn’t my intention, but since I became a priest, I thought I might be able to heal by controlling the musical instruments inside this nobleman.
The moment I faced it, I realized it was difficult.
This wasn’t a problem I could handle with my level of skill. Did I finally understand what Lyserradigos said?
‘If you touch it clumsily, I’ll just urge you on.’
That’s not all.
In order to play this instrument, I inevitably have no choice but to reveal the instrument inside me.
What does that mean?
In this land called Badniker, it’s like advertising in the neighborhood that I am a priest.
‘… … ?’
While feeling at a loss, I discovered something strange.
The instrument inside the body was not one.
Just as the quality of mana varies greatly depending on the owner, the same goes for musical instruments.
It was as if not only the demon lords I had dealt with, but even their subordinates, the corps commanders, had instruments with different feelings.
And now, an instrument deeply engraved on the body of Iron Blood Ball -.
Surprisingly, this instrument was the one that was eating away at Sanghyeolgong’s body.
I thought it was strange.
The Daesa type’s Forest Green Attack and Mokhecheon Sword were not excellent martial arts for inflicting internal injuries… … .
No matter how weakened he was, it was questionable whether the instrument could penetrate the heart of an iron-blooded warrior with dozens of blessings.
However, the moment I felt the instrument nestled in my heart, my doubts were answered.
The fact that it engraved a deeper mark than that of the Daehyeon instrument means that the owner of this instrument had the same status as the least Daehyeon type.
Among demons, there are a very limited number of such worthy beings.
‘Devil.’
Although it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, I encountered the demon lord several times.
The nine demon kings of the black swamp.
Tangtata, the green-tongued demon lord.
Hadenaihar, Demon King of the Blood Moon.
But this instrument I felt now was different from any of them.
The demon lord I haven’t met yet is Kingarodtooth, the golden horned demon lord… … .
It seems a little different from that guy.
I haven’t met Kingarodtooth in person, but I have felt its instrument.
From Ymir’s heart.
But the instrument I felt now was fundamentally different from all of that.
It was dense, dark, and gave me goosebumps.
Even I, who currently have an incredible tolerance for musical instruments, was shaken by the scars all over my body.
‘Behemoth?’
A being called the Great Evil and Disaster, or Demon Chief.
Why was Behemoth’s instrument discovered in the body of the Cheolhyeolgong who headed to Yeongsan?
I can not know.
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There were some unknown, but now clearly known facts.
The Sanghyeolgong will die soon.
“… … .”
At that moment, I was shocked as if a big bell was ringing in my head.
Why?
When I first heard this news from Kayan, when I came to the family and talked to Asad, when I asked Lycerradigos for a favor, when I talked about the future with my brothers and sisters whom I met after a long time… … .
At every moment, I distrusted Sanghyeolgong’s death.
That’s right.
It’s not anyone else, it’s that Iron Blood Ball.
Either I misunderstood something, or the Sanghyeolgong was trying to deceive me, or the elders were up to some kind of trick… … .
It may be that I have a mistrust of humans, but the Badniker was such a conniving family that it was worth it.
But what is this now?
The pale complexion and parched lips that cannot be hidden even by a bronze skin color, and the faint sound of breathing that can only be heard if you listen carefully, as if they will stop at any moment, are vague signs that only the person who is slowly dying can see.
He’s a very weak and weak-willed bastard who doesn’t fit in well with the Iron Blood Ball.
Why?
Seeing it all with my own eyes… … .
“Puhuhuh.”
I laughed.
Iron Blood Ball.
Delac C. Badnicker.
How could it not be funny to see a great man, who is counted on one finger when discussing the strongest people in the empire, confidently heading to Yeongsan, only to fall apart, barely surviving, and acting lazily?
“… “You don’t make any sense.”
I flopped down on the chair next to me and laughed under my breath like a crazy person for a while.
Normally, it wouldn’t be tolerated for someone like me to laugh at Iron Blood Ball, and it shouldn’t happen either.
The person who was supposed to wake up and pay attention to me showed no sign of opening his eyes.
“It’s something I’ll have to live a really long time to see. “I can’t believe they’re all Sanghyeol-Blooded Balls dying.”
I chuckled and continued.
“Isn’t this acting? If you were curious about my reaction or anything like that, please stop now. “Because it’s not fun.”
I continued speaking.
“Please answer me. The head of the family. “Looking like this really doesn’t suit you.”
There are times when I get tired of talking to myself, and that was the case now.
Even if you flap your snout next to the unconscious person, there is no response.
Why is that obvious fact so hard to believe?
Talking to yourself even though you know there won’t be an answer in the first place is probably just talking to yourself.
“… … .”
I slowly withdrew my smile from the smile on my face.
“… Answer me.”
Eventually, what came out of my throat was a thick, wet voice, like crushed food scraps.
“What on earth is this?”
I’ve only seen the strong side.
In my past life, you were someone I couldn’t even come across.
At one time, I wanted to reach it. I wanted to be recognized. If possible, I wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder.
That dream was frustrated at some point.
This is because it was too much of a wish for Luan Badniker, Badniker’s incompetent child and the only blemish on the Iron Blood Ball.
I lost my qualifications, talent, and opportunity.
Even through such frustration, I could not completely let go of my secret admiration for you.
Also, a point of pride.
Iron Blood Prince Delak was the worst father I’ve ever had.
Even when I respected him, I had a vague sense that we were related, and that thought is still ongoing.
Of course, I have never opened up to him or trusted him.
but.
But still… … .
There was only one unwavering belief I had in this person.
It wasn’t about faith, trust, or love between parents and children, and it wasn’t even about the warmth of blood relatives.
When my mother died, I was kicked out of the family, and I wandered the streets without being able to give up my pride in being an aristocrat… … .
On the front page of the wet newspaper I found while snooping through the trash can, you were still there.
In all those moments, only your strength was unwavering.
The appearance of being steadfast and undisturbed, still active on the front lines of the battlefield.
And, absurdly enough, that fact was a bit of comfort to the idiot who was digging through the trash can while clutching his hungry stomach.
He was able to continue his life because of his poor pride and unsightly self-esteem that he was descended from the strongest bloodline.
But what is this?
I didn’t think I would lose to anyone, and I never imagined I would see such a pitiful sight.
A Sanghyeolgong who has been seriously injured, lost his mind, and is on the brink of death in a haggard state?
The combination of words is strange.
Twisting.
At this moment, I realized.
I had blind faith in the strength of Iron Blood Ball beyond my own expectations.
Even if the opponent was a big brother, I didn’t think that this man would be defeated so miserably.
But the future has changed.
You, who had maintained your unwavering position as the strongest, were now unconscious in your bed, the spark of life fading away.
I guess the only one who can change the future is me, a regressor.
So, is it because of me that you ended up like this?
Did I make you like this?
“wake up.”
Is this muttering just a childish tantrum?
The strength went into my tightly clenched fist.
Is my lip torn, or is blood leaking from my compressed gums?
The fishy taste of blood spread in my mouth.
“Get up.”
I don’t know if it’s because of anger, resentment, or some other reason.
I don’t even know the color of the emotions I’m feeling right now.
But it was a voice that let me know that what I was feeling right now was sincere.
“You shouldn’t be like this.”
I poured out my true feelings in a dark room.
“You are the strongest. Humanity is the strongest, the empire is the strongest. “It’s not okay to lie down like this.”
“… … .”
“… So open your eyes.”
Sanghyeolgong didn’t even move.
My voice couldn’t reach me.
And I am.
I couldn’t admit that fact.
