Villain Hides His True Colors

The new figure of Noah wrapped in red mana left a long tail like a comet and collided with Old Drakedog.

Bang–!

Old Drakedog was knocked back as fast as a cannonball and became embedded in the cave walls.

Rumble–!

As a result, the crystals that clung like stalactites fell down little by little in the aftermath that had spread in all directions.

In the middle of a crater that had formed, Old Drakedog had become stuck with his neck bent.

“Euhahaha! Is that all you can do? Why don’t you try harder?”

He burst into laughter and fitted his broken neck in place.

Elizabeth stretched out her hand as a swaying darkness arose and restrained his movements.

“Hoho, what’s this? There was one more interesting guy!”

He looked at the shadow wrapped around him with curiosity.

In that instant, Noah threw a prepared spell.

Swiik–! 

Swiik–!

With a blade of wind that had been compressed to its limit, Old Drakedog’s body was cut so finely that it was impossible to even recognize its shape.

But…

“That’s not going to work. Hehe.”

Even before the cut body had fallen to the ground, his body was engulfed in a black smoke and had regained its original appearance.

A situation in which regeneration was faster than getting injured. Soon, along with a shout, he easily broke the shadow that was restraining him.

“Oraah!”

“Keuhok!”

Due to the backlash of her spell being forcefully broken, Elizabeth gripped her chest as she vomited blood.

Meanwhile, Old Drakedog pulled out his body from the walls. Raising his iron skewer, he leisurely spoke.

“Then, shall I get serious now?”

A murky-colored aura surged above the iron skewer he held in his hand.

An unshakeable will that perfectly embodied qi intent.

It was a technique only martial artists who had reached the Transformation Realm could exhibit.

Noah breathed mana into his sword in response.

A blood red energy climbed up the blade. However, compared to Old Drakedog’s qi intent, it shook very precariously.

Perhaps because of the forced use of mana, thick veins were visible on Noah’s forehead.

Old Drakedog laughed and ridiculed at the sight.

“Haha…Don’t you think you’re overdoing it? Aren’t you pushing yourself?”

“I’ll kill you soon enough, ahjussi, so don’t worry.”

“Oh? I like your guts, brat. Then let’s…see how capable you are.”

At that moment, the two seemed to disappear at the same time…

Bang–!

Along with a deafening sonic boom, Noah and Old Drakedog clashed.

Bang–!

Bang–!

Bang–!

A series of thunderous roars one after another.

Red and black light left afterimages that weaved like a snake.

As such, neither refused to back down even an inch and continued to swing their weapons.

When an arm was cut, the other person’s abdomen was penetrated.

A disregard for defense, they were brutal attacks only aimed at one’s life.

There was blood everywhere, and at the same time, the severed body parts were repeatedly rejoined.

“Euhahaha! Good, good!”

There was no room for anyone to get in between the two.

Elizabeth could only stare helplessly at the fierce battle that continued so fast that it was hard to chase with the eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, at last, the tense balance began to break.

Puk–!

“Keuk!”

Old Drakedog’s skewer penetrated Noah’s shoulder.

Red blood poured from the wound that didn’t heal as quickly as it had been.

Noah quickly widened the distance, holding his pierced shoulder. Old Drakedog burst into laughter.

“Keuhahaha. I guess you’re finally exhausted.”

“Fuck!”

Indeed, like he had said, the qi intent on Noah’s sword had become so faint that it was hard to notice unless you looked closely.

On the other hand, Old Drakedog, like from the start, was still emitting a fearsome aura.

“You did the best you could. I had a good time thanks to you, so I’ll kill you painlessly, hehe…”

Old Drakedog charged straight at Noah. The fight that had stopped for a moment resumed.

But unlike before, Noah was unilaterally driven on the defensive while Old Drakedog still attacked with no regard to his. As a result, Noah had no choice but to pay attention to each attack that came in.

Bang–!

Bang–!

Noah’s body fluctuated roughly each time the monster swung his iron skewer.

As if he had become a candle in the wind, the situation had become very precarious.

And Elizabeth, who was watching, clenched her fists so tightly that her hands had turned pale.

“A-ah…Noah will be in danger if this continues..”

However, there was nothing she could do right now.

In a situation where she could barely chase the figure of the two, she would only hinder Noah if she intervened.

And in the worst case, there might come a situation where he sacrifices himself to protect her…

“If I was a little stronger…”

She felt ashamed of herself.

After all the fuss she had made about following him this time, she couldn’t believe it was like this again when it really mattered.

After learning in earnest from Lady Fortune, she didn’t think she would ever be helpless again…

The result was that she was still not worth a salt and couldn’t do anything on her own.

“No! I can’t give up yet…”

She shook off the negative emotions that were creeping into her mind.

If she gave up here, Noah would really be in danger.

Something…there must be a way. If I can figure out how he’s regenerating…

She racked her brain more than ever before.

The magical knowledge she had learned from Lady Fortune. The contents from the books she had seen while passing by her uncle’s study when she was young. Even the current situation happening right now.

All the bits and pieces of information, one by one, a complete picture slowly formed in her head.

Every power needs a price…So there must be a secret to his regenerative ability.

What had felt like an eternity, she was finally able to reach the truth.

…I have to find the sarcophagus.

***

[ Translator – Yasi ]

[ Proofreader – Karane ]

Earlier, Old Drakedog had sent the sarcophagus that was exuding a sinister energy somewhere.

It had become clear to her that the energy from the very same sarcophagus was powering his regeneration.

And…

With her instinct of a transcendent witch, she was able to immediately guess where the sarcophagus was.

It’s…still in this cave.

At a first glance, it would seem as if it had been transferred to another place, but she was certain.

It was somewhere in this large cave. More precisely, the key to solving this situation lies in the world beyond reality that cannot be seen.

With the eyes of a witch, she looked at the other world that overlapped with reality.

And as a result…

“Found it!”

The place where Noah and Old Drakedog were fighting. There was a sarcophagus in the middle of the bloody place.

And from the arm contained in the sarcophagus, dark and murky energy was flowing out and it could be seen connecting to Old Drakedog.

Every time he was cut down, the dark energy would seep into the wound and restore him.

I have to take that arm away.

She had found the solution.

However, in such a fierce battle, it was impossible to take the arm away without being caught with her current ability.

And, even if she was to tell Noah where the sarcophagus was, there was nothing he could do without the power to interfere with the world beyond.

A-ah…What should I do…?

Was this really the end?

If at least Noah could be saved, she would do anything…

As she thought as such, she caught sight of Jane shivering in a corner of the cave.

Wait…If it’s her…

She had seen it clearly the other day. The figure of Jane freely walking in the world beyond.

Even herself, who was more talented than any other, it was an ability that she couldn’t imitate.

If it was her, she might be able to take the arm out amidst the fierce battle.

She didn’t know if things would work out smoothly like what she thought, but…

There’s no time to be picky about this and that anyway.

She immediately ran towards Jane.

* * * * * * * * * *

It was like she was dreaming. It was a terrible nightmare too.

She couldn’t get a hold of herself after the appearance of the scaly monster.

I-if I stay here, I’m going to die…

Her body trembled against her will and she couldn’t think of anything in her head.

As she had lived a boring life, she thought she had gotten used to death. However, along with the bloody feeling that she felt right now, the thought of death came to her more vividly than she had imagined.

Bang–!

Bang–!

The cave trembled as if it was going to collapse.

And each time she would cower as her hands wrapped around her head.

She thought she would rather have the cave collapse like this, then how great would it be if she could die without even feeling pain?

Rather, she would choose death over the fear of death itself.

How ironic was that?

She knew that was the case, but for now, all she could think about was that it would be okay to die if she could be freed from this nightmare.

Heuk, why did I follow them here? What the hell was I thinking coming all the way here?!

She should have stayed behind when Noah had told her to wait at the entrance.

If she had done that, she wouldn’t be feeling this fear…

The moment she wiped away her tears, she saw Elizabeth running towards her.

Elizabeth shouted with an urgent look.

“Jane! I need your help right now!”

“Wh-what…for what?”

“Only with your help can we save Noah!”

Had this woman gone crazy because she was also afraid? What could they do in the midst of such monsters?

“Wh-what? Wh-what can I do? What’s wrong with your brain…”

“Stop! We don’t have time for jokes! Don’t ask questions and just do what I tell you to do right now.”

Elizabeth shouted, cutting off her words firmly. Unconvinced, Jane stammered and asked.

“Wh-what should I do?”

“You remember when you tried to steal my stuff?”

“No…What are you talking about…”

“Stop and listen to me! You can still use that ability, right?”

“…That’s true. But what about it?”

Elizabeth pointed her finger at one place and spoke.

“Do you remember the dried arm we saw earlier? It’s over there, so bring it to me. You can’t see it now, but if you use your ability, you’ll be able to see its location.”

Jane turned her head in the direction Elizabeth had pointed.

And there, two monsters were fighting at a level that transcended human beings.

Bang–!

Bang–!

Every time they collided, the cave shook as their elaborate attacks broke the thick walls.

“…You want me to go over there? Are you crazy? Never! I won’t!” 

She was already scared to death right now, so what was she talking about?

Jane firmly shook her head.

Elizabeth bowed her head with tears in her eyes.

“Please, I beg of you! You’re the only one who can save Noah now. So please!”

“Y-you…”

Except for things related to Noah, Elizabeth had always been merciless, but now she was shedding tears like a child.

“…”

Jane silently watched her figure for a while. After an unknown time,

“Fuck, all right, leave it to me!”

She cursed and nodded. Only then did Elizabeth straighten her back and smile.

“Th-thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Huu…okay. Let’s just go and die. Die…”

She still didn’t quite understand why she had made such a decision.

As Elizabeth had said, perhaps because it was something only she could do, or if it was something that could really save Noah.

Nevertheless, she thought she could pluck up her courage to some extent.

And, I owe him a debt.

Sighing briefly, she asked.

“Tell me more precisely. What should I do?”

“I’ll quickly explain.”

A moment later, Jane held her breath and permeated into the world beyond.