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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 38
I gently stroked the surface of the mirror in my pocket.
The smooth surface rippled as if it were shattering.
Crack!
In the next moment, the mirror world dissolved, and light returned to the stained glass.
But the light didn't return to our faces.
We came to find the Ghost Princess's Handkerchief, but instead of the handkerchief, we only got a tiara and a scepter.
I forced myself to stay positive.
"Let's consider this a job well done. We closed the Gate, after all."
The Ghost Swordsman also smiled in response.
It was a smile that clearly showed she was forcing herself.
"Yes."
The ownerless castle began to shake.
Rumble!
The throne crumbled, revealing the Gate's core.
A green core, the size of two fists combined, spewed out a frenzy of fog.
In a Gate like this, where the emission had already begun, the core could potentially create a new princess.
I fired an Incineration Ray without hesitation.
It was a good skill that didn't look like Law of Light but still allowed me to absorb mana.
Ziiiing!
The green sphere was pierced by the white heat ray.
Fizzle!
A considerable amount of mana flowed into my body.
It wasn't enough to remove the minus from my rank, but it was a massive amount of mana, befitting the core of a large-scale Gate.
An Itel notification appeared.
【Finale Story: 'Ghost Princess's Castle' cleared】
I had witnessed another ending.
The castle began to collapse.
The stained glass shattered, and the floor of the audience chamber caved in.
We each grabbed an artifact and jumped out the window.
Crash!
The castle completely crumbled.
Countless bricks evaporated into steam.
The fog cleared, and sunlight poured in.
Perhaps 10 minutes had passed?
The reservoir in Seongnam City returned to its peaceful scenery, as if it had never been consumed by the Gate.
We stood at the edge of the reservoir, gazing at the sight.
It was a view that was always beautiful.
I looked down at the jewel-encrusted scepter and smiled, a bittersweet yet definite smile.
Even though I failed to retrieve the handkerchief, I had cleared the Gate.
No one would acknowledge it now, but that was okay.
I had never done any of my past deeds expecting recognition.
I was simply proud to have eliminated a threat to Seongnam City.
It was a shame I couldn't get another handkerchief, but the one I was currently using wasn't damaged, so it wasn't an immediate problem.
If I asked Ryu Haneul, he could probably find a crafting-type Hunter in the shadows who’s skilled in restoring artifact durability.
I awkwardly greeted the Ghost Swordsman.
"Ghost Swordsman, thank you. We were able to succeed thanks to you."
The Ghost Swordsman also gave Baekya an awkward greeting.
"No, if it weren't for you, Pyromancer, we would have been in serious trouble in the audience chamber."
"It seems neither of us found what we were looking for... That's a shame."
"It can't be helped. But this is a Heroic-grade artifact, so we should be able to get some money if we sell it."
"That's true. Then shall we just take them as they are?"
"Yes, let's. The ranks are the same, so there's no need to argue."
The Awakened in the watchtower must be in a frenzy by now, so we had to get out quickly.
We passed through the Artificial Samdocheon and the Eight Trigrams Formation and emerged onto the highway.
Once we were back in civilization, with paved roads and all, I breathed a sigh of relief, and my Constellation spoke up.
【"Let me see the scepter."】
"Alright."
I took out the scepter I had stored in my inventory.
It was a silver staff with a wing emblem and a green gem embedded at the tip.
【Ghost Princess's Scepter (Heroic)】
【The scepter used by the princess to command the ghosts. Grants partial control over spirits.】
【*Additional information will be revealed by using 'Insight.'】
It was the skill my Constellation had given me earlier.
I immediately used Insight.
The text in the artifact description box blurred and then reformed, expanding its content.
【This scepter symbolizes royal authority. The people of the Lake Kingdom obey the scepter's authority even in death.】
【Allows you to command ghost-type monsters.】
I involuntarily narrowed my eyes after reading its description.
Command?
【"Aren't you happy?"】
【"They're subordinates who will never betray you."】
I held the scepter and channeled mana into it.
Whoosh!
Flames rose nearly 2 meters high.
The flames then split into four.
Each divided flame took on a human form.
They looked like Pyromancers using 'Form of Fire.'
The fire ghosts knelt before me.
"We greet the Master of Flames."
【Flame Specter (C+)】
【*The type of ghosts has changed due to the influence of the scepter's owner.】
It seemed that because I was a Pyromancer, the ghosts also embodied flames.
I raised an eyebrow, looking at their rank.
Not bad.
C+ was a decent fighting force.
There were four now, but once I got used to it, I could increase their numbers.
Maybe I could even form an army of fire ghosts.
Countless ideas immediately came to mind.
I could use Descent from the Crimson Flames to change their positions, or use Form of Fire to hide among them.
Using both simultaneously would make it much easier to control the flow of battle.
I wanted to test it out right away, but I held back because this wasn't a Tower or a Gate.
I swung the scepter and recalled the ghosts.
"...."
The Ghost Swordsman watched the scene from the road opposite the reservoir.
Her eyes, hidden under the wide-brimmed hat, curved like a fox's.
It was a success.
* * *
A few days later.
At the reservoir where the Ghost Princess's Castle once stood.
"The Gate was cleared, but you don't know who cleared it?"
"Y-Yes, that's correct."
The Seongnam City official in charge of the Gate couldn't even raise his head in front of Bureau Director Lee Baejeong.
"Let's assume the mental barrier was bypassed. But you're telling me the Eight Trigrams Formation and the Artificial Samdocheon were breached as well? Are you sure you received proper equipment from the Magic Tower and the Holy Church?"
"There were no issues when we checked them."
"There's a problem now, isn't there?! Don't you understand that if someone could get in, something could also get out?"
Lee Baejeong shouted, his bright, mixed gold and mint-colored medium-length hair tousled in frustration.
The official, with a mournful expression, looked towards the 'Ranker' standing at the edge of the reservoir in the distance.
'Please.'
A tall figure with a halo emitting countless swords within a blue circle.
Rank 3, 'Sword Saint' Cheong Siyeol.
The last disciple Hong Baekya had trained, and the one he had spent the most time with.
He too had been in seclusion for a long time after Hong Baekya's death, but resumed his activities after Ryu Haneul's conquest of the 50th floor.
If Cheong Siyeol testified that the surveillance system here couldn't have prevented an intruder, he could escape responsibility.
A moment later, Cheong Siyeol approached with a stiff expression.
His gait, walking with long strides without moving his upper body much, was both intimidating and dignified.
Lee Baejeong left the official behind and approached, asking in a low voice—
"Is it him?"
Cheong Siyeol nodded.
Faintly, but clearly.
Lee Baejeong let out a heated sigh.
"I see. Who else could do something like that but him? And he wasn't alone, was he?"
Cheong Siyeol nodded once more.
The hardliner Regressors knew.
Although all nine of them had sworn to kill Baekya, less than four truly wanted to.
Everyone was subtly trying to keep Baekya alive, making various excuses.
Cheong Siyeol spoke, his voice as calm as the still waters of the reservoir.
"Honestly, I understand."
"Is that so?"
"Even I, if there was even a 1%, no, a 0.1%, no, even the slightest possibility that the Sun could be redeemed..."
As he spoke, a wave of intense emotion washed over his usually impassive face, his eyes turning a deep shade of blue.
Cheong Siyeol whispered into Lee Baejeong's ear—
"I would kill you right now and return to his side."
His voice was like the stirring of a monster lurking beneath the calm surface.
"...."
Lee Baejeong was a Hunter who would have tried to kill Baekya even if he hadn't fallen, while Cheong Siyeol was the Hunter who wished for Baekya's redemption more than anyone else in the world.
The reason these two, who were originally opposed like the two poles of a magnet, ended up forming the core of the hardliners was simple.
Even Cheong Siyeol had given up on Baekya's redemption.
Lee Baejeong now held a distinct tinge of disgust in his eyes.
"So you know, don't you? Why Baekya betrayed humanity."
Cheong Siyeol nodded.
"Of course. I was the most favored disciple of ‘The Sun.’"
His gesture and tone were still dripping with pride.
"That's why we need to find him quickly. He can never walk alongside us."
* * *
Vroom.
I was in the car with Ryu Haneul, heading towards the Tower.
As a contract worker, but officially a member of the Sun-Moon Divine Sect, there was nothing to worry about anymore.
Ryu Haneul turned on the news on his smartphone and showed it to me.
"Senior, this was you, wasn't it?"
[Unidentified Hunter Clears Seongnam City's 'Ghost Princess's Castle'?]
I nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
Ryu Haneul looked at me with pleading eyes.
"Why didn't you take me with you? Am I useless?"
This kid, he should know better...
It was both awkward and irritating.
I opened my mouth wide and retorted—
"I did it in secret! In secret! The Heavenly Demon who just cleared the 50th floor for the first time shouldn't be going to places like that! And, why are you so clingy?"
"Alright, alright. A useless junior like me will just stick to being a money bag."
"Do you have some kind of affection deficiency?!"
"If I've become useless, just put a return sticker on me..."
It seemed he did.
It wasn't uncommon.
Thinking about it, it was understandable for him to feel lonely.
He had turned back time for me, and everyone in this world must seem like colorless supporting characters. And on top of that, I had gone somewhere without him.
I raised a finger to Ryu Haneul's lips, silencing him.
"That's enough."
"...."
"I don't know what happened in the future, but you're the disciple chosen by this Baekya. Belittling yourself is like insulting my judgment."
Ryu Haneul lowered his eyes demurely.
"Of course, if you want to scold me for choosing you and then neglecting you, I can't argue with that."
As if he had been waiting for the opportunity, he continued speaking.
"From now on, I'll at least send you a text message whenever I go somewhere to fight. Thank you for worrying about me."
Ryu Haneul's expression was filled with a myriad of emotions.
His brilliant, amethyst-like eyes lost focus, wavered, and then finally spun.
"You're mean."
"I know."
"Senior, do you actually have telepathy?"
"No?"
"...Jeongwoo hyung says hi."
"Okay."
He handed me an elixir wrapped in luxurious packaging.
【Ancient Tree Ember (Rare)】
It was an elixir that was good for Pyromancers, fire spirits, or flame-type familiars.
Like, for example, ghosts, or ghosts, or ghosts...
Wait…
How did he know?
It must be a coincidence.
I took the elixir.
"Why did I have to hear this news from Jeongwoo hyung?"
But Ryu Haneul didn't let go of the elixir.
I blurted out, as if spitting fire—
"Hey! Are you jealous?!"
"Did you meet anyone else there? You didn't smile at them, did you?"
I burst into laughter at his absurdity.
At the same time, I felt a chill down my spine.
"...I didn't meet anyone! Give it here. You said you were giving it to me!"
"No!"
"Hey!"
I somehow managed to get the ember from him.
The driver parked the car in the Outer Tower Management building's parking lot.
"We've arrived."
We decided to go to the 33rd floor today.
The 33rd floor wasn't solely owned by the Sun-Moon Divine Sect.
It was owned by the 'Murim Alliance' and shared by all guilds that were part of it.
"This is the first time I've seen everyone gathered like this."
"Even my clothes aren't considered flashy here."
As expected, most of the gathered Hunters were martial arts Awakened, and they were all dressed in Eastern-style attire.
I continued power-leveling there, hunting monsters.
I still had some aftereffects from the summoning, so I planned to rest after a bit more hunting.
Just then, a man who seemed to be an executive from another guild shouted loud enough for everyone around to hear.
"Heavenly Demon! That Hunter doesn't seem to be a martial artist, why did you bring him all the way here?"
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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