This chapter is brought to you by anubisscans. More updates on our website.
Support us by reading at anubisscans.com.
chapter 49
“What?”
At the near-notification-like words, Ria frowned.
“You’re telling me to run away without doing anything?”
“Yes. Given that Vares even possesses information about the traces of the Spirit King, it wouldn’t be strange if something happened immediately.”
“But we got evidence! If we just steal what my uncle has, won’t we be able to reveal the crime?”
“Even so, the feasibility is uncertain. The city’s key figures have already been replaced to suit Vares’s tastes.”
-I agree.
-Yeah, the judges are all already on Vares’s side.
-101% chance the evidence gets covered up.
-But then what do we even do?
-No idea.
Of course, clearly naming and exposing the crime with definitive evidence was the right thing to do.
However, the people involved in investigation and trial were all part of Vares’s faction.
Rather, presenting the evidence now carried a high risk of disappearing without a trace.
Listening to the conversation, Hanbit decided to resolve the viewers’ earlier question first.
“Does Vares not know what Ria looks like?”
“Very few people know the young lady’s face. Other than Brook, there are hardly any in the city administration who know.”
“Then it’s fine, right? Even the pursuers we’ve seen so far weren’t specifically targeting me!”
Ria raised her voice and interjected.
At a glance, it sounded reasonable, but Cowen simply shook his head.
“They were eliminating candidates by checking faces one by one. If Brook’s description is added, the pursuit team will gradually close in on you.”
“Then I can just cover my face!”
“…That abnormal reaction that appeared on the ring. It may be the effect of a magical tool that tracks spirit power. There was information that such a thing could be implemented with Holy Nation technology, so it wouldn’t be strange for Vares to use it. Can you hide that as well?”
“Ugh…….”
-That’s terrifying;
-Obsession is insane.
-If it’s traces of the Spirit King, that makes sense.
-Can’t Black Dragon use it?
-Would that even work?
-If he could, it’d be crazy.
-Sylph would cry.
Viewers began focusing on the power held by the traces of the Spirit King.
But Ria was just trembling, fists clenched tightly.
“Even if you insist, it can’t be helped. I’ll prepare a place immediately, so please get ready to leave. I’ll handle the fight using this evidence.”
Cowen continued his firm notice.
“S—”
Ria lowered her head and made a sound.
It was hard to hear, so just as Cowen took a step closer—
“I said I don’t want to!”
She shouted and leapt upward.
“Miss!”
With that lightning-fast movement, Ria disappeared upstairs.
Cowen, who had reached out, couldn’t bring himself to chase after her.
But Hanbit kicked the ground in alarm.
“Hurry up and follow!”
Without even waiting for Cowen’s response, he ran upstairs.
Ria was nowhere to be seen in the shabby space.
“What is going on!”
Cowen, who had followed, asked in confusion.
Without time to answer, Hanbit kicked open the door and rushed outside.
‘Where is she?’
An unexpected, sudden action.
Ria was so fast on her feet that even a short moment was enough for her to disappear from sight.
Tap—!
Hanbit quickly used the gaps in the building walls to climb up to the rooftop.
Because of the tangled alleys, it was hard to see everything at once, but there was no other choice.
‘…There!’
Focusing all his senses, Hanbit spotted the blonde girl.
Whoosh—
As if sensing something, the spirit’s wind wrapped around his body.
Hanbit immediately drew his sword and kicked off toward Ria’s position.
Shhk—!
Empowered by the wind, his body shot forward rapidly.
And the moment Ria’s back came right into reach, he swung his sword with all his strength.
Clang—!
“…Huh?”
A sharp sound rang out along with her startled voice.
“Ugh!”
The tremendous impact of colliding with something sent Hanbit’s body flying backward.
But he couldn’t retreat.
Tap—!
“Ah!”
Grabbing Ria’s hand, he pulled her forcefully.
As she was dragged back by the force, Hanbit set his stance and guarded the front.
“So you noticed.”
In front of them stood someone dressed in black-and-white cloth.
A bizarre voice, making even the gender impossible to tell.
In their hand was an impossibly thin and sharp sword.
-Who is that?
-Sent by Vares?
-Isn’t that the Holy Nation?
-They look insanely strong;
As some viewers predicted, that person was an assassin from the Holy Nation.
A group that handled all sorts of matters from the shadows.
Naturally, each one was an extraordinary expert.
“Miss!”
At that moment, Cowen, who had started later, arrived.
“Are you alright!”
“Huh? Uh…….”
Still unable to grasp the situation, Ria slowly nodded.
Cowen, sword in hand, turned his gaze to the unknown enemy.
“Who sent you?”
Clang—
In response, the assassin pointed their sword and spoke.
“Leave the child behind and disappear. Once the objective is achieved, needless sacrifice is unnecessary. That shall be God’s mercy.”
“So it was the Holy Nation scum. What is your objective?”
“The theft of the ring passed down through the Northton family, and the elimination of its owner. That is all that is required.”
“…No need to listen further.”
Cowen ground his teeth and took his stance.
But he wasn’t foolish enough to misjudge the enemy’s level.
“Black Dragon, take the young lady and flee Edlen.”
“Cowen!”
“Miss, I will deal with him and follow after. Please depart first.”
“No!”
-Ah;
-Flag raised.
-Is he going to lose?
-He is.
A conversation that somehow felt like a permanent farewell.
They understood each other’s feelings, but that choice was impossible to make.
“So innocent blood must be spilled after all.”
The assassin’s voice grew even colder.
And the moment the direction of the sword in their hand shifted slightly—
Shhk—!
The assassin’s body surged forward.
“You think I’ll just take it!”
Cowen, who had been on guard, swung his sword with force.
Agile movements that didn’t match his large build.
But the enemy was an expert beyond ordinary standards.
Slip—
Twisting their body mid-charge, the assassin easily evaded Cowen’s attack.
The unabated speed carried directly into the follow-up strike.
Whoosh—!
A blade flying toward the neck at terrifying speed.
Already committed to his attack stance, Cowen couldn’t dodge.
“Cowen!”
Ria’s near-screaming voice rang out.
At that moment—
Clang—!
Hanbit slipped between them and struck the assassin’s sword hard.
Whirl—
Catching the deflected blade, the assassin brought it down toward Hanbit.
The one who reacted to that attack was Cowen.
“Hah!”
Choosing his fist over his sword, he punched toward the assassin’s face.
But the assassin casually raised a hand and blocked it.
“Did you underestimate me?”
Crunch—
Power surged through the hand gripping Cowen’s fist.
“Ugh!”
In crushing pain, Cowen forced his hand free and staggered back.
Srrk—
At that moment, a faint white glow enveloped the assassin’s body.
Hanbit quickly grabbed Cowen’s shoulder and pulled him back.
“Get out!”
Whoosh—!
At the same time, the assassin’s sword surged forward again.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, Hanbit drew in the raging wind toward the blue-white blade.
“Hah!”
He launched himself and brought the sword down in a powerful arc.
And the instant the two blades collided—
Kwaaaang—!
A massive shockwave spread outward.
“Ugh!”
“Miss!”
Cowen grabbed Ria, who was about to be blown away, and shielded her with his body.
When he barely lifted his head, the only thing in his sight was the assassin.
“Shit…….”
Hanbit was flung away and slammed straight into the wall.
There was no pain.
But the overwhelming difference in power he hadn’t felt in a long time tore vividly through his memories.
-Oh damn;
-Is he really losing?
-Black Dragon getting overwhelmed like this;
-How do you even beat that?
-Story —over—
Thud—
Pulling himself free from the wall, Hanbit regained his stance.
Perhaps because the damage had been so severe, his movements had become terribly sluggish.
“An unusual power.”
The assassin muttered while looking at Hanbit’s sword.
However, they didn’t realize it was spirit power.
After the spirit mages were exterminated a hundred years ago,
true spirit power had been almost forgotten in the present era.
“You won’t endure it twice.”
The assassin let their sword hang and began to walk forward.
At that sight, Cowen kicked off the ground.
“You think I’ll just watch!”
Gripping his sword with both hands, he swung with all his might.
But the assassin didn’t even turn their head, merely moving a hand.
Bang—!
A sound impossible to believe came from clashing swords.
“Ugh!”
Cowen was blown away and collapsed to the ground.
The sword in his hand was split cleanly in two.
“Ah…….”
Ria let out a short gasp as she watched, frozen.
Shaking her head as if to snap out of it, she gripped her dagger.
“Every one of you is foolish.”
The assassin’s gaze shifted to Ria.
“Miss……! Run!”
Cowen tried desperately to get up.
But the pain wracking his entire body showed no sign of easing.
“Hoo.”
The still-mobile Hanbit slowly moved to Ria’s side.
“Black Dragon…….”
Ria spoke his name with a trembling voice.
The assassin approached from the front, sword in hand.
Once that arm moved, the two of them would die.
Even with the spirit necklace, it would only buy an instant.
The obvious, hopeless outcome crashed violently into Ria’s mind.
That feeling eventually turned into rage.
“Because of you people……!”
Her father’s unjust accusation and death.
Even if it was her uncle and Vares’s scheme, behind it all was the Holy Nation.
Toward those trying to destroy both her past and present, she felt nothing but fury.
“It’s okay.”
Knowing her feelings well, Hanbit stood firmly in front of her.
Even with a body that barely moved, he gripped his sword.
He had been through situations like this countless times.
“I bear you no ill will. God shall watch over you, so cast away impure emotions and die.”
The assassin kicked off, sword lowered.
And just as that cold blade was about to touch his neck—
Kwaaaang—!
A fierce wind slammed down.
“Ugh!”
Blasted back by a completely different gale than before, the assassin retreated.
“I warned you to be careful.”
A welcome voice rang out from within.
Hearing the long-awaited voice, Hanbit lifted his head.
“Master.”
“Focus on recovering your wounds. I cannot lose the disciple I gained after decades.”
The white-haired old man spoke with heartfelt sincerity.
Appearing at the critical moment was Asla, the Wind Swordsman.
Hanbit’s master, and the strongest individual currently in Edlen.
-Oh my god.
-Why is Asla here?
-Masterㅠㅠㅠ
-So reassuring;
-He hit us.
-Teacher, please kill him.
“Y-you are…….”
The assassin, regaining their stance, glared warily at Asla.
The old man met their gaze calmly and raised his sword.
“Come. I will cut down your twisted faith along with you.”
