Chapter 223: Omen of the Ruin (5)

Translator: Nadu

Editor: Sephtair & Arya

---

Tacan looked at the sword. 

The sword was broken into two pieces. It was what he received after being defeated by Fraeda. 

Even though Tacan could repair it right away, he did not do so. 

It was to find the reason, as he thought again about his defeat. 

‘Didn't I get stronger?'

He thought he had become stronger. Indeed, he had defeated many strong men and proved his own power. 

However, it seemed like that was only comparable to the standards of 'humans'.

As much as Tacan had gotten stronger, Muyoung and Sungmin had improved even more. 

As Muyoung was such a mysterious man, he felt that this could happen with him, but Sungmin was unexpected. 

Even Tacan was thrilled by seeing how he had taken care of Roosevelt and even Fraeda. 

The numerous deaths that resulted through Sungmin's hands, and the monsters of the void. 

Fraeda was helpless in front of Sungmin. His devils could do nothing but let themselves be attacked helplessly. 

Tacan had no choice but to feel the difference in their 'level' in addition to Muyoung. 

He felt like he was looking at a flower on top of a cliff. 

However much he reached out, he couldn't reach it. 

And with Sungmin, it was an especially great shock to Tacan as he was originally weaker than him. 

When did he get that far ahead of me?

What had happened in just two years? 

And for the last two years, what was Tacan doing? 

‘The tables have turned.'

Even a few years ago, Sungmin was weaker than Tacan. 

Perhaps he had been consumed by conceit. 

‘I'm strong, I've become stronger, and I will get stronger.'

Did he not put in too much thought because he thought it was so obvious? 

Tacan left the territory. 

The territory was celebrating their victory for the moment. 

Either way, since they had stopped their enemy's advance team, there was a bit of time before the rest of their enemies arrived.

He left the territory and entered deep into the woods. 

‘The fight isn't over yet.'

That was right. Nothing would change by reprimanding his actions. 

If Sungmin had gotten stronger, Tacan just needed to get stronger as well. 

The war was the best stage on which to get stronger. Although they had taken care of the demon kings, Enroth still remained. There should be at least a few hundreds of thousands of devils under his command. 

Even having a celebration right now in the territory was to relieve the tension that people felt. 

Swoosh! Swoosh! 

However, Tacan swung his broken sword. 

He was diligently swinging his sword so that he could reduce the gap while others were playing around. 

‘Certainly, I have been a bit lazy.'

He had slightly neglected his training once he felt he had gotten stronger. 

Through this fight and Sungmin's appearance, he realized it more dearly. 

Although he was one of the rulers of Asura's Path, he was lacking strength as a ruler. 

He needed to gain a bit more power to become a true ruler. 

At least until he defeated Sungmin and Muyoung... he couldn't be called a true ruler. 

As a ruler only existed to win and reign! 

Shuffle shuffle. 

He felt someone’s presence. 

Tacan stopped his swinging and carefully turned his body. 

They were skillful people; he would have missed their presence if it wasn't for the sound of wind and grass. 

“Who are you?"

Was it the devils who had escaped? 

Fraeda had tried to escape with his subordinates. 

But if it was Fraeda and his devils who had appeared, it would be very welcoming. 

Then, there two people appeared. 

There were two of them, but they didn't look so good. 

An old man who had glaring eyes but a weary face, and a woman with messy hair and ragged clothing, were on a tree looking down at Tacan. 

“Teacher, it's a death knight. Can we eat it?"

“Stop it. How can you eat a monster that's only bones."

It seemed like the two were starving.

Well, although it was a forest, there weren't a lot of living creatures. 

Even most of the plants were poisonous. 

If a human were to consume it carelessly, they would become sick. 

“Why are humans in a place like this?"

Tacan raised his sword. 

However, he was curious. 

The 'Sky Lord' would never allow intruders into the Demon God's Territory. 

Unless they were humans who normally lived in this place, there was no way for them to pass the Sky Lord to enter this territory. 

The woman and the old man looked at Tacan with astonishment. 

“He seems like he is quite intelligent for a death knight."

“We can capture him and ask him all sorts of questions."

Then, the two took a weird stance and leaped towards Tacan. 

“I don't know who you guys are, but don't think you will come out of this alive since you have attacked me."

This was a good thing since he was feeling down at the moment.

It would have been better if it was Fraeda and the devils, but he couldn't just let visitors who had no authorization trespass in this place. 

Tacan swung his broken sword. 

Slash! 

The magical energy that soared out of the sword sliced through the air. 

As if they had made a prior arrangement, the woman and the old man separated simultaneously. 

It was to attack Tacan from multiple sides. 

‘Quite good.'

They synchronized well. 

Additionally, their skills were also quite good. 

Among humans, he rarely saw people who could move the way they did. 

However, Tacan had already fought with those who were considered to be the 'top 10'.

Thud! 

The woman and the old man weren't able to cause any damage to Tacan. 

They continued to attack and defend at the same time. 

Although they were simple martial arts movements, their proficiency was like none other. And as they synchronized, they were able to exhibit more than their skills normally would allow them to. 

‘But, it still is not enough.'

Tacan wasn't weak. Although he felt that when comparing himself to Muyoung and Sungmin, truthfully, Tacan was strong enough.

Tacan wielded his sword. 

As the woman jumped low to avoid his attack, he twisted his body in a mysterious way to once again attack where she would land. 

A death knight. It was a move that was only possible because he was already a corpse. 

“Tsk!"

Clank! 

Daggers flew out from the woman's body and stopped Tacan's sword. 

“Haa! I caught you, you bastard!"

Then, the old man grabbed Tacan from behind. 

The old man grabbed hold of Tacan's whole body so hard that he could crush it. 

Swoosh! 

But, Tacan vanished. 

As the old man squinted, the woman quickly threw a small thin sword. 

“Teacher! Behind you!"

Swoosh! 

However, he wasn't able to completely defend himself. 

The sword pierced the old man's back. 

With teleportation magic, Tacan was able to move behind the old man. 

“You are quite skilled for a monster!"

The old man yelled as he didn't even tend his injury. 

‘Although we aimed for his head.'

His reaction speed was out of the ordinary. 

If he was just 0.01 seconds late, his head would have been cut off. 

‘Interesting.'

Tacan now felt amused. 

These humans, they were quite skilled. 

Perhaps, they were stronger than most people who were known to be in the 'top 10'. 

* * *

They fought for hours. 

The scene that reminded him once again of war concluded, and the surrounding forest had been destroyed. 

Numerous trees were cut down, the ground was torn up as if an earthquake had occurred, and in the middle of all of this, two humans had collapsed. 

“Humans are definitely not a group whose skills I can easily determine."

He had won, but Tacan was still shocked. 

His broken sword has become dust. 

A few of his bones were also broken. He felt like he needed to rest for at least two days. 

Fraeda had not fought under perfect conditions, but it was the same for the fight with these two humans. 

Their bodies were weakened as they had been unable to consume decent food for a long time. 

But, it still didn't change the fact that these two attacked Tacan first. 

Tacan raised his sword against the two who had fainted from their injuries. 

“Still, I’ll let you die with dignity.”

It was a way show respect to the strong. 

To kill them in one strike, without pain. 

Tacan approached the woman. Then, as he was about to swing his sword, the woman murmured quietly. 

“Dad... mister Muyoung..."

Tacan paused for a moment.

Muyoung?

He didn't hear wrong. 

The woman definitely said 'Muyoung'. 

Tacan only knew of one Muyoung. 

Was she talking about the Muyoung he knew? 

‘Does she know him?'

Tacan shook his head. 

If she was associated with Muyoung, he couldn't just kill them. 

“His name saved your lives."

Tacan carried a person over each shoulder. 

* * *

It felt like she had a long dream. 

Suzy was smiling in a place where her dad was fine, and Muyoung was there. 

However, darkness soon descended, and the two disappeared. 

Suzy cried and that was how the dream ended. 

“Haaaa....!"

She quickly raised her upper body, covered in sweat. 

‘Where am I?'

After she got up, Suzy couldn't help but be surprised once more. 

She was in a place she had never been before, with abig bed, a white ceiling, and antique paintings on the wall. 

“Are you up?"

The woman wearing a maid outfit naturally approached Suzy. 

“Aww, look at all this sweat."

Then, with a wet cloth, she started to wipe Suzy's forehead. 

“Wh, who are you?"

Suzy couldn't help but ask cluelessly. 

The woman who appeared to be a maid smiled brightly. 

“I heard you are the guest of our Lord."

“Guest?"

Then the maid tilted her head. 

“Emperor knight said so."

“Emperor knight...?"

“Ahh, the knight that is made up of all bones. Did you not see him?"

“Death knight..."

“That's what others call him."

Suzy widened her eyes. 

After finding the death knight, Suzy and the Fighting King had attacked him. 

However, they were defeated. 

The one who should have died was being received as a guest. 

It didn't make sense. 

Especially the maid in front of her. She was definitely a human. 

She couldn't feel any aura of death. 

How could a death knight be with a human?

“Could you please wait for a moment? It is impossible to see the lord right now."

“Umm, what about the person who was with me? The bald person."

“Ahh, he is in a different room. He didn't wake up yet."

Whew! 

Suzy let out a sigh. 

Either way, it seemed like she hadn't died yet. 

“Lie down for a while longer. I will bring you something to eat."

“Ah, no. It's okay. I don't know about anything else but I really have a strong body. Rather... could I look around?"

“Will you really be okay? If something happened to the lord's guest, it would be a problem..."

“Ahh! I'm really fine. Look."

Suzy did a handstand. 

Then, with a finger, she moved on top of the bed. 

“I'm strong, right?"

“It seems that way."

The maid laughed and nodded her head. 

“I'll lead you."

This was a castle.

A really huge castle! 

That wasn't the only thing that was surprising. 

‘Do-dokkaebi, elf, dwarf... fire tar! What is this place?'

All kinds of species were gathered at this place. 

Species that would never live together. 

And she couldn't help but gasp when she saw that there were even fire tars. 

“Ah, one moment. Please wait for a bit."

The maid who was guiding her suddenly disappeared as if something had happened. 

Suzy who was left alone pondered for a moment before she started to walk alone. 

‘This is definitely a strange place. I need to look into it.'

It was hard to believe that their intentions were pure. 

It was a world like the ones in a fairy tale, but she needed to stay sharp. 

Suzy moved while remaining as low-key as possible. 

It was when she had reached a room after going up some stairs. 

“Arand, Dontak. I heard that there was a black monster roaming around outside of the territory. I had also heard that there were sights of Fraeda's corpse and his other devils."

“Is there something we must do?"

“Build a team and strengthen the patrol rotations. Although there are about 10 more days before Enroth arrives with his army, we don't know what may happen in the meantime."

“I understand, court magician."

“And...”

Click! 

Someone in the room tapped their staff. 

“A mouse is hiding."

Suzy stopped her breathed. 

Creeak! 

Then, the door opened, and black hands headed towards Suzy. 

But, Suzy saw something when the door opened. 

‘Lich?'

 

Chapter 224: Omen of the Ruin (6)

Translator: Nadu

Editor: Sephtair

---

However, there wasn't even time for her to react. It wasn't that she was simply surprised; the lich's response was really quick. 

Her whole body was instantly tied up by the black hands. 

“Mmmph! Mmmmph!"

She tried to open her mouth forcefully but it was no use. 

Then, the lich approached. The lich was accompanied by a dokkaebi and an elf.

“A human?"

“I've never seen you before?"

Everyone found it strange after seeing Suzy's face. 

It was a good thing they didn't instantly kill her. 

However, Suzy couldn't help but be scared by the massive black magical power she could feel in before her. 

‘He isn't a normal lich!'

These hands that bound her, as well as the presence she felt was beyond that of a normal lich. 

But... 

It was strange. 

While all this was happening, she felt some sort of odd familiarity.

“Are you an outsider who infiltrated the castle?"

The lich spoke icily. He had a very cold tone of voice that made her feel chilly. 

She felt like her head would be separated from the rest of her body if she nodded right now. 

The hands that blocked Suzy's mouth released her. 

She was given the opportunity to respond. 

‘What should I do?'

He seemed oddly familiar but still scary. Liches were normally beings that made others feel instinctive fear. 

Her will to fight disappeared. 

Even if she were to fight, she didn't think she could win. 

‘I need to speak.'

Nothing would be solved by keeping her mouth shut. 

She needed to speak before the lich in front of her sliced her head off with his cold hands. 

“I'm, I'm a guest of the lord. I think."

She spoke what she had heard. 

Of course, she had never even met the lord, but since they said so, she thought she must be. 

Then, the lich hesitated for a moment. 

“The lord's?"

She wasn't sure why but the word 'lord' seemed like a free pass ticket. Since although it was for just a moment, it made the lich reconsider for a moment. 

“But, your words seem a bit ambiguous. What do you mean, 'you think', you don't know it yourself? Speak. Depending on what you say, I may kill you so cruelly that it would be dreadful to remain alive."

Sharp nails touched Suzy's chin. 

At that moment, she felt queasy. Her heart beat fast. 

It felt like the touch of death was stirring up her insides

The lich was currently infiltrating Suzy's mind steadily  to prevent her from lying. 

“After fighting with the death knight... I was at this castle when I work up. Who are you guys? Where am I?"

Suzy was also able to tell. 

That unless she could make up a perfect lie, the lich would figure it out instantly. 

So, she asked him straight out. 

“Are you Tacan's guest?"

Sungmin took his hand off and rubbed his chin. 

It seemed like she wasn't lying. 

Tacan? Was the name of the death knight, Tacan?

But, Suzy shook her head. 

“I'm not anyone's guest. I didn't enter because I wanted to."

“There are no 'humans' who could enter this place without wanting to."

However, the lich spoke in a cold, firm voice, turning his body to speak to the elf beside him. 

“Arand. As I think she came here by mistake, please lead her back."

“Yes, I understand."

The thin male elf bowed and obeyed his orders. 

He then took Suzy's arm, forcibly raising her, and started to drag her out. 

But, even while she was being dragged out, her gaze was fixed on the lich. 

What was this feeling? 

The feeling as if she had seen that lich somewhere...

She felt like that.

Sungmin turned his body once again and reentered the room. 

If Tacan brought a human, there would be a reason. 

As Tacan was one of the few beings he trusted, he couldn't just be hostile to a 'guest' he had brought.

“A huge black beast..."

A few crystals were placed inside the room. 

And within the crystals, traces of a black beast were shown. 

It was the result of search magic that Sungmin had spread around the territory. 

However, as its speed was so great, only a few could capture its figure. 

It was definitely strong. Perhaps more than Sungmin had expected. 

He felt like there wasn't anyone else within the territory who could fight it one on one besides his lord, Muyoung. 

The problem was that he couldn't figure out the monster's intent. 

It just kept roaming around their territory, did it want something else? 

“Hmm."

Sungmin shook his head. 

For some reason, the scenes didn't capture his attention. 

After seeing the woman who he took for a spy, he felt confused. 

‘A feeling as if I had seen her before.'

As he grabbed his staff, a black bison was summoned. 

After sitting on top of it, Sungmin was lost in his thoughts for a while as he rubbed his chin. 

A woman who seemed slightly young to be called a woman, like she was just in her late teenage years. 

But, he felt like he had seen her before. 

Sungmin never forgot anyone who he had seen even once. So, the fact that he couldn't remember... 

‘Did I see her before I lost my memories?'

Sungmin's memories were incomplete. 

He tried to remember, but not everything came into his mind. 

Although he had a strong sense that he 'needed to find something', he didn't know exactly what it was. 

But, what were this familiarity, and this sense of loss?

Was she the one he had been searching for?

‘It’s too coincidental.'

That couldn't be the case. 

If she was, then fate was playing a game on them. 

And Sungmin didn't believe in fate.

There was no way what he was looking for would come and find him. 

Even though she might seem similar, she would be one of many encounters that passed him by.

‘Finding my lost memories is something that I need to do after winning this war.'

Enroth was the strongest among all demon kings. 

If they won against him, it would be like taking a step forward in the fight with the demon gods. 

Muyoung had a lot of expectations of this fight. 

And Sungmin's role was to draw as much time as he could until Enroth arrived. 

‘For his victory.'

The one thing Sungmin, who had lost his memories, knew. 

That he was a pawn for Muyoung's victory. 

* * *

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" 

The maid continuously bowed towards the elf named Arand. 

“The court magician has shown mercy. Be thankful."

“Yes!" 

The maid looked glad as the elf left after telling her this. 

Then, when the elf disappeared from sight, the maid began to talk. 

“Whew, I told you not to go anywhere. We both could have been goners."

“I'm sorry."

Suzy spoke honestly. 

If she had listened to the maid and just stayed put, they wouldn't have been in this sort of situation. 

“But, we were fortunate. As the palace magician is quite a good person. If you were caught by Kalmooh... sigh!"

“Who is Kalmooh?"

“The one who leads the dwarves at this territory. He has exceptional crafting skills!"

Crafting skill...

It seemed like she was talking about the skills of a blacksmith. 

“Since something like this can't happen again, please pay attention and follow me. I'll guide you properly."

“Thank you."

The maid adjusted her clothing and started to move again. 

“Here is the kitchen, this is the stock room, here is the magic research lab, and here is the forge room..."

Suzy's expression continuously changed. 

And in the midst of all her expressions, she seemed 'surprised'. 

First, everything was on a large scale. The facilities were all extremely big. 

Suzy had been living in the Great City. She had seen many large buildings that existed within the Great City. 

But this was on par with the Great City. Rather, there were even areas where they excelled. 

‘What is this place?'

She never expected that a group of this size would live in the Demon God's Territory. 

It was a great culture shock to her, who thought that the Great City was the best there was. 

What was more surprising, was that there were different races living in different parts of the territory. 

Although they respected each other's areas and didn't interfere, they still helped each other out. The scene made her feel like she was dreaming. 

“This is the liquor room. As the name suggests, it's the place where we store liquor."

“The liquor room?"

Of course, the place she showed the most interest in was the liquor room.

“If it is here, you can enter. Do you want to?"

“Yes."

She replied instantly. 

The maid brightly smiled as they entered the liquor room. 

The place was enormous. It was the biggest one Suzy had ever seen. 

“There are so many people who enjoy liquor. So, we had to renovate it many times."

The maid continued to explain excitedly.

Suzy, who was listening carefully to what she said, couldn't help but be nervous when they reached the middle of the room. 

“Who is that giant?"

“Where? Ah, Ogar!"

One huge fire giant was sitting in the corner pouring the liquor in the cask into his mouth. 

It was a fire tar. A monster that was known as the strongest and most obstinatet giant! 

Additionally, the first tar in from of them didn't seem like an ordinary fire tar. 

As Suzy became cautious, the maid seriously approached the fire tar with her hands on her hips. 

“Ogar! You hid in this room again?! I told you you can't drink whatever you want!" 

“Hmph, the liquor made by the elves are the best. It is a sin to not drink it."

The fire tar called Ogar snorted. 

Then Ogar rolled his eyes and looked at Suzy. 

“But, you are a new face. Who is this, is this your kid?"

“What are you saying! I'm a single woman who hasn't even married yet!" 

“I can never tell the age of humans. They all look the same. Muyoung, at least he looks a bit different for me to differentiate him. Why don't you try putting on a horn?"

“Don't change the subject. Get out, quickly!" 

“You're annoying like a fly... I get it, I get it. Damn it, I can't even drink when I want to."

Ogar got up as he smacked his lips. 

A fire tar who was intimidated by a human. Suzy blanked out seeing something like this for the first time. 

Then, she suddenly widened her eyes after thinking about a word Ogar said.

“Muyoung!"

“Huh?"

"Did you just say Muyoung?"

“What, I can't call Muyoung, Muyoung now?"

Ogar scratched his head. 

Suzy's heart raced quickly. 

Worry, surprise, and joy. 

She didn't think there would be anyone else using the name 'Muyoung'.

“Not that... Do you know of Muyoung?"

“Are you making fun of me right now? Muyoung is the king of this place."

The king...! 

When she thought about it, even the maid told her Suzy had come to visit the lord. 

Did the Death Knight Tacan bring her to this place because he realized she was associated with Muyoung?

‘Mister is here at this place.'

She was able to find out he wasn't dead. 

She also knew that he was the one who attacked the Great City. 

When she found him, she was planning to ask him why.

However, she felt dumbfounded after finding out he was nearby. 

If he really was beside her, she would have just hugged him without even thinking about it. 

“Can I meet this lord?"

Then the maid beside her shook her head. 

“Not right now. No one can enter the lord's room right now."

“Why?"

“It's the lord's order. I don't know anything else besides this. Or, you can go ask Kalmooh. He would probably know more details."

After listening to her, Ogar interfered. 

“Ohh, are you going to Kalmooh? Then I'll go with you. I have to see him too."

“You are trying to get some liquor from Kalmooh, aren't you?"

“Ehem."

Ogar cleared his throat. 

***

“No, you can't."

After hearing Suzy's story, Kalmooh shook his head. 

It felt like the word 'never' was written on his face. 

“I must meet him." 

“You can't right now. Besides, he isn't someone who an outsider could just meet."

“Then what must I do to meet him?"

“There is nothing you can do to meet him. How can I let a human who I've never seen before meet him?"

“However, the death knight named Tacan who brought me here..."

“Still no."

Kalmooh was firm. 

He was like a wall. 

Then, Ogar asked. 

“Is Muyoung still not coming out? It has already been 3 days."

“Wait for a bit longer. It's the process of making eternity his own. Even if he is our lord, it won't be easy."

“I'm not really worried. He is a human who really seems to be able to do anything. Anyway, do you have any leftover liquor?" 

“You've become a drunk."

“Liquor is just romantic. I can't talk to those who don't know romance."

“That..."

Thud! 

It was at that moment. 

The whole castle shook. 

However, the sound was heard from outside of the castle. 

Baraag-!

The huge sound of a horn could be heard.

After hearing this sound, Ogar's expression hardened. 

“The enemy has arrived."

“The sound of the horn seems out of the ordinary. Did a monster appear?"

Ogar acted first. 

As if Kalmooh had something to do, he started to move as well. 

“Umm, what about me?"

“Stay here quietly."

That was all the advice they gave. 

In the end, Suzy was left alone. 

Alone...

No one was looking after her. 

‘This is a great opportunity. I can't lose this chance.'

This time, Suzy was planning to be more careful. She had blanked out when she was caught by the lich. 

This time, Suzy reduced her presence as much as she could, and became one with the shadows. 

‘Muyoung is at this place.'

The person who she thought she would never meet again. 

So for her to be told to say put, was no different than torture. 

Suzy moved.

She started her search to locate the room where Muyoung was.