Chapter 621: All Meetings End in Parting |
On the final night at the Dang Clan.
The Clan Head hosted another grand banquet, just like on the first day.
Of course, many things had changed since then.
On that first day, the atmosphere had been so stifling and heavy that people could barely eat.
Now, everyone was laughing, chatting, and enjoying themselves.
The attitudes of the clan members had changed as well.
Regardless of age or gender, they all offered Dang Gyu-young words of encouragement or a kind remark.
Their relationship had improved after the battle against the Blood Cult, and now even the psychological barriers between them seemed to have largely disappeared.
It would be fair to say that she had been accepted back as a member of the clan.
The Clan Head had kept his promise to become a better father.
Not only had he been consistently talking with Dang Gyu-young, but he had also honestly shared things he had previously been too embarrassed or afraid to say.
It seemed that the “last words” he had given that night had opened the floodgates.
Though, as a side effect, he would have to endure the clan members whispering among themselves and trying not to laugh.
The Clan Head looked at his daughter with gentle eyes.
“I wish you could stay a little longer, but if it’s for work, it can’t be helped.”
“I’m disappointed too.”
For reference, Dang Gyu-young had publicly told people that she had taken a job as a guard at Dragon Slayer Academy. Only a very small number of people knew that she was actually returning as a student.
The Clan Head was one of them.
He slowly nodded.
“I believe you’ll do well. If you ever run into difficulties, remember that your family will be standing behind you.”
“…Thank you.”
He then turned his gaze toward me.
“The same goes for you. If the day ever comes when the main family needs to lend its strength, we will gladly do so.”
“Just hearing that is reassuring.”
“Once again, I ask that you take good care of my daughter.”
The next people to approach me were the twins, Dang Il-bi and Dang Han-bi.
“The next time we meet, it may not be at the main family estate.”
“I think so too.”
The twins were active enough to have earned the title of the Twin Heroes of the Dang Clan.
They would continue traveling across various regions on missions, and there would probably be a time or two when their paths crossed with Dragon Slayer Academy’s.
The Dang twins each spoke with a smile.
“You might be stronger than us by then.”
“Gyu-young’s growth rate alone has been incredible.”
“And as for you, that goes without saying.”
In response, I smiled confidently.
“You can look forward to it.”
After that, Uncle Gyu, the head of the Council of Elders, and the siblings Dang Jun-yeop and Dang Hui-yeon came by to see us as well, and the banquet continued late into the night.
The next day, we left the Dang Clan and boarded a train out of Sichuan.
Since everyone was headed in different directions, we exchanged our final farewells.
Seo Ye-in clung to my arm and whined,
“I want to go with you.”
“You need to go to Hye-seong.”
“Ruby Magic Tower.”
“That’s already been decided. I’m the only one going.”
“I regret it……”
“You can’t regret it now. Your parents and the Chairman are waiting for you.”
“So this is what happens when you raise a daughter……”
“You shouldn’t say things like that.”
I gently pried Seo Ye-in off me and patiently talked her into it.
“We’ll see each other again soon anyway. It’s only a week and a few extra days.”
“That’s long……”
“Go get some proper rest and spend some quality time with your family.”
“……Confirmed.”
Only then did Seo Ye-in rejoin the Hye-seong Group escorts.
Though she kept glancing back at me with obvious reluctance.
Lastly, I turned my attention to Dang Gyu-young and Dang Eun-bi.
As for why Dang Eun-bi was here, it was because she had packed her bags the moment she learned about the re-enrollment.
She said the “freshmen” would be entering Dungeon Island together.
“……”
Dang Eun-bi looked at me with less-than-friendly eyes.
The distance between us still hadn’t really changed. Every time we started getting a little closer, Dang Gyu-young, Jegal So-so, and Seo Ye-in would take turns showing affection and reminding her that I was an “Unnie thief”.
Even so, she muttered a parting remark.
“……See you later.”
“Yeah. Take care.”
Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young stepped closer and held out both arms.
I thought she was just going to give me a quick hug, but then she leaned close and whispered into my ear.
“I’ll come say hello later too, Senior.”
“Sure, Dang Gyu-ri.”
“Pfft, hehe.”
Dang Gyu-young giggled and stepped back.
I waved over my shoulder and boarded the train.
Then I started walking through the cars in search of an empty compartment.
***
Boooom!
A massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the entire area.
The red-haired man watched the scene with indifferent eyes.
Another dragon had met its end at the hands of the Blood Cult Leader.
As he slid his sword into the golf bag being held out by the Left Protector, he thought to himself,
Soon it’ll be in the double digits.
He had wandered from place to place, defeating a variety of S-Rank powerhouses.
Among them had been boss monsters such as dragons, reclusive masters living in seclusion, and leaders of guilds and martial factions.
The ways they confronted the Blood Demon had varied as well. Sometimes two or three S-Ranks would coordinate their attacks, while other times entire organizations would form encirclements around him.
In response, the Blood Demon fought sometimes alone, sometimes with the support of the Protectors, and in the end he always emerged victorious.
I’ve gained quite a bit as well.
The path to the realm of Transcendence was still long and distant, but one thing was certain. He was moving in the right direction.
Something that had once been completely beyond his grasp could now, at the very least, be faintly sensed.
However, it is still not enough.
To solidify that insight further, he needed to engage in more life-and-death battles against worthy rivals.
Perhaps the S-Ranks that currently existed were not enough.
That was why he was deliberately encouraging chaos. To increase their numbers by even one more.
As that thought crossed his mind, a recent report from Sichuan surfaced in his memory.
The Blood Sword Commander failed to ascend in the end.
Given the amount of mental cultivation the man had accumulated, the Blood Demon had expected his chances to be quite high.
He had even thought the man might become a worthy rival.
Yet he had perished before crossing the wall into S-Rank.
To the Blood Demon, it was a disappointing outcome.
The one piece of good news was that—
The Dang Clan Head crossed the wall.
Things had not unfolded according to his intentions, but regardless, the number of worthy opponents had increased.
Someday, he would have reason to set foot in Sichuan himself.
He had also received reports that the Ghost Demon and the Blade Demon had died, but the Blood Cult Leader felt nothing upon hearing it.
What did pique his interest, however, was something else.
Hye-seong…
A brief command left his lips.
“Great Protector.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
The man in blood-red robes immediately bowed his head.
“Is the Meteor Dragon still stationed near Hye-seong?”
“According to our information, yes.”
“I hear he has three lizards under his command.”
“Yes. All three are S-Rank.”
The Meteor Dragon, along with the three dragons serving as his Guardians.
A formidable force consisting of no fewer than four S-Ranks.
They had remained free of major incidents only because they were fundamentally neutral and moderate in nature, but as a single faction, they were powerful enough to rank among the very strongest.
Naturally, the Blood Cult was well aware of this.
The Blood Demon posed another question.
“How long can you keep them tied down?”
“If it is myself and the experts of the Protectorate… I believe we can handle two of them.”
“Two, hmm.”
The Great Protector was also an S-Rank.
The Left and Right Protectors were A-Rank, and the remaining experts were not far behind.
If all of them joined forces and deployed a formation—
They could temporarily separate the Guardians and create an opportunity for the Cult Leader to face the Meteor Dragon directly.
After a moment of contemplation, the Blood Cult Leader spoke again.
“…Now that is tempting.”
***
Within endless darkness.
A place so deep underground or perhaps inside a cavern that it was impossible to tell which.
Somewhere in that place, a black, viscous pool lay still.
Splaash—
Suddenly, something thrust itself up from the center of the pool.
Judging by its shape, it appeared to be a human hand.
Splaash—
A second hand emerged moments later, and with awkward, unnatural movements, the figure slowly crawled out of the pool.
Then, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, it drew a breath.
“Ah—!”
I’m back…!
She was the Witch of Corruption.
Her attempt to infiltrate Dungeon Island had ended in failure, and as punishment, she had been executed by the Corpse Dragon.
By being reabsorbed into her master’s body.
She did not know how much time had passed since then, but she had returned to life.
No, I was recreated.
The Witch of Corruption slowly raised a hand with unnatural movements and felt her way across her face.
Next, she circulated mana and wrapped it around her body.
As she examined her own form,
I’ve become younger.
Young enough that no one would question her if she claimed to be a first-year student at the Dragon Slayer Academy.
More importantly,
I’ve become stronger.
After her failure at the Dragon Slayer Academy, she had lost her main body and could only barely deliver information through a spare clone she had prepared in advance.
But now, her body was overflowing with power beyond what she had possessed even in her original form.
At this rate, even S-Rank is within reach…!
With just a little more growth, it might actually be possible.
One thought led to another.
But the Witch of Corruption cut off her train of thought and respectfully bowed toward the darkness.
“Thank you, Master. For granting me a new life and another chance.”
As if in response, a heavy voice echoed throughout the chamber.
[This is your last chance.]
“I will not disappoint you.”
A short while later, the overwhelming presence that had dominated the area gradually faded away.
Only then did the Witch of Corruption rise to her feet and look around.
Two presences approached at a leisurely pace.
She did not even need to look to know they were her sisters.
As her gaze moved between them, a puzzled expression appeared on her face.
“…Where’s Exhaustion?”
“She got taken out.”
“How?”
“She ended up just like you.”
“.……!”
It seemed she had infiltrated the Dragon Slayer Academy as well, only to be exposed and eliminated.
She would need to hear the details, but for some reason, the Witch of Corruption could not shake the feeling that it might have been that guy’s doing.
That first-year brat who had completely ruined her plans.
While her expression darkened, the Witch of Death smiled faintly and said,
“I think I know who you’re thinking about.”
“You even showed us.”
When she had reported her mission failure, she had displayed the footage.
The Witch of Death tilted her chin.
“I even met him in person when I dropped by Hye-seong.”
“…You met him?”
“Mhmm. He’s definitely not ordinary.”
The Witch of Corruption frowned and fell silent.
Then, as if realizing something, she asked,
“I take it you couldn’t kill him?”
“That part was pretty disappointing.”
“That’s it? Just disappointing?”
“Of course not.”
As the smiles on her sisters’ faces deepened, the Witch of Corruption finally understood.
Why her master had given her a second chance despite her failure and had even bestowed greater power upon her.
“So I’m the one who’s supposed to do it.”
“Wouldn’t that make the most sense?”
She was being ordered to infiltrate the Dragon Slayer Academy once again, accomplish her original objective, and eliminate that bastard who was now a second-year student.
This time, as a first-year herself.