“Sniff, sniff…”
Merdes cried endlessly.
Merdes’ face, boldly struck, had swollen into a bruised mess. Shekina shrugged at the sight.
“Why cry over something like this? Thud.”
“It’s not just a thud; you hit me way too hard!”
The inside of the mouth felt numb.
Thanks to being told to bite down hard on his molars, he didn’t lose any teeth, but his lips had still burst open, and the taste of blood lingered. Merdes sniffled again.
“What’s up, really? Why are you so good at fighting?”
Even in moments like this, curiosity never escaped him.
No, it couldn’t be overlooked. This was truly unbelievable.
Merdes prided himself on being a fairly strong homunculus.
At only five years old, he could already hold an auror in his sword. At this rate, he would be a Sword Expert before the year was out. He had been praised for his progress, having received compliments comparing his growth to even high-level demons.
However…
‘I didn’t even see a fist.’
How could a mere 3-year-old can hit so powerfully?
Merdes liked Shekina, but separate from that, he gazed at Shekina with a cold detachment.
Two years ago, Shekina had summoned a demon, causing a significant impact. However, due to expending her life force at that time, she couldn’t exhibit any notable abilities now. That was the extent of her capabilities.
Since then, there were no stories of her using magic or wielding a sword… Was Shekina not strong? Merdes was perplexed.
“Tell me. I’m good at throwing punches.”
“No, how do you even…”
“Just like this. If I say I’m good, then I’m good.”
Shekina replied nonchalantly.
Despite Merdes’ face becoming increasingly horrified, Shekina remained unfazed. Well, what else was there to say? She didn’t have a special ability for being good at fighting.
Just like when she knocked down Frey before, it was the same. After that, when Arthur asked how she did it, Shekina couldn’t provide an answer.
What should she say?
Should she say that the guy who used to be her blood-related older brother in her past life before getting into the game was a boxing champion, so she learned fighting skills from him after taking so many beatings? Or should she say that it’s been over ten years since she practiced punching, just wanting to land a hit on that guy somehow? Should she say that the memory from that time is still stuck in her head, and that’s why she’s good at boxing even now?
Unable to utter such words, Shekina just shrugged.
“Alright, let’s get going. Don’t drag your feet. It’s wasting time because of you.”
“Okay… Follow me.”
Shekina took Merdes’ outstretched hand and followed behind him.
Seeing Shekina walking cutely, as if asking when she had hit him, Merdes felt a bit more melancholic.
“We even knocked down Frey… What should I say to Shekina… That’s too much.”
Shekina’s ears perked up.
“Frey? That pig-headed guy?”
“Yeah. Me and big brother beat him up. He keeps badmouthing you in front of us!”
Oh.
She thought it was something she didn’t ask for, but even so, it was a good thing because she wanted to hit that guy once more someday.
“Good…”
“I tried to kill him, but the Elder came and I couldn’t. That’s regrettable.”
“…”
“Next time I get a chance, I’ll kill him. So don’t worry.”
This crazy child.
No matter how cute and harmless he looks now, this guy is half crazy. If he grows up here, he’ll probably become that insane murderer I knew from my past life.
Shekina sighed, holding her dizzy head.
How long did they walk like that?
When they reached the back of the annex, Merdes pointed to an old shed and spoke.
“Here it is. If you go out this way and follow the tree with the red ribbon, you’ll find the boundary.”
Behind the shed, there was a small hole big enough for a child’s body to slip through.
She had wished for an opening, and there really was one. Shekina marveled.
“But did Yurian tie the ribbon?”
“Yeah. The big brother tied it so that I wouldn’t get lost.”
“Oh.”
Yurian.
Why did he go out to the boundary? And what could he be thinking now?
Shekina’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“But really, won’t you come with me?”
Merdes casually suggested.
“Nah, I have to go alone.”
“That’s mean.”
“It’s an important matter, dude.”
“Hng.”
Smiling at Merdes, who was pouting, Shekina lightly laughed and then grabbed his arm.
“Hey, Merdes.”
“Yeah?”
“You…”
Shekina, who had been choosing her words carefully, spoke up.
“Do you have any thoughts about killing?”
Merdes smirked.
“Yeah? What kind of thoughts?”
“No, just any thoughts. Like feeling sorry or hating it… something like that.”
“None.”
Oh, a quick response.
It was a bit bitter to see this reaction even though it was expected. Shekina scratched the back of her neck.
“What if I die?”
“You?”
“Yeah. If I die, how would you feel?”
Merdes, with fists clenched, pondered for a moment before answering.
“I’d probably kill the one who killed you in the same way. I’d be angry… Yeah. It’s strange. Why would I get angry thinking about you dying?”
Merdes had killed around ten homunculus so far.
They were guys who would be disposed of due to failing the ‘test,’ so they were going to die anyway. But still, it was Merdes who cut off their lifelines.
Out of anger, annoyance, or just boredom.
That’s how Merdes killed homunculus without much thought.
However…
‘Why does it feel like Shekina shouldn’t die?’
Because we took down our group?
No, no.
There seems to be a more profound reason.
Merdes sighed, lost in thought.
“Think it over.”
Shekina tapped Merdes’ shoulder.
“Not just with my input, but think with your head. You’ll find the right answer.”
“An answer?”
“Yeah.”
What the problem was and what the answer meant were beyond comprehension. However, Merdes nodded for now. Shekina’s lips traced a curve upwards.
“I’ll go. If you follow me, you will die. ”
Shekina disappeared beyond the bushes, and Merdes stood there lost in thought for quite some time.
The answer didn’t come easily.
***
Rustle.
“Hyuuh.”
I peeled the fallen leaves off my face and quickly scanned the surroundings.
Thankfully, there was no one around. I pulled my body out of the bushes completely.
The journey back wasn’t that difficult. As Merdes mentioned, ribbons were tied everywhere. The only challenge was the icy path, making me almost slip multiple times.
“I need to learn magic…”
If I could use magic, icy paths wouldn’t be a problem. I’ll have to make time for it soon; it’s unbearable.
With that thought, I shook off the snow from my feet and continued forward.
‘I came out directly into the commercial district.’
It used to be a residential area when I exited from the Demon King’s Castle.
‘Seems like I took a detour.’
I should use this path more often.
Merdes really showed me something good.
Smirking, I surveyed the surroundings.
When I left with Lyat, I couldn’t relax and observe due to that guy, but not anymore. With no one watching me, I could freely wander around.
“Huung.”
Despite the extremely cold weather, the streets were bustling with people. They wandered around as if the cold was nothing, wearing thin clothes. Considering that none of them had heat-enchanted clothing, it was quite remarkable.
“Aren’t you cold?”
That guy is wearing a sleeveless shirt.
What if he freezes to death?
Human adaptability is something else.
With a sense of awe, I quickly examined the shops.
“Whoa, everything’s gone.”
Bizarrely shaped toys and magic-infused furniture—all gone.
Some shopkeepers had swollen faces, and it seemed like they had gotten into trouble with Lyat. That’s why their faces looked like a mess.
‘I can see some signs of revenge.’
Revenge known as *”환수” in the demon realm.
Some decorations were shaped like these *”환수.”
TL/N : *Get back what was taken or An act of getting something back again.
However, the shop owners explained that these were not for sale. They were just for display, and on the days when priests visited, they put them all in the warehouse after getting permission, so I was allowed to pass.
Anyway, now it seemed that the territory was somewhat organized.
Not only the shops but also the fountain, which was filled with poison, had disappeared, and the streets were noticeably cleaner. The strange flowers that were blooming everywhere were also completely gone.
“They’ve done a decent job. It’s something to be proud of.”
Remembering the confidently spoken words of Lyat, I chuckled.
“Well, I don’t have much to do with this.”
So, I murmured toward the empty space.
“Hey, system. Shouldn’t there be a reward for dealing with this? It’s clear that it will be a success just by looking.”
Ring!
[SYSTEM]
‘Avoiding the suspicion of the high priest’ is a quest.
“No, because, who would think that demons live here? Isn’t this enough?”
[SYSTEM]
‘Avoiding the suspicion of the high priest’ is a quest.
“Annoying….”
Grumbling, I raised my head.
My gaze was on the gigantic ice wall.
The ice-covered mountains connected to the ice wall were truly massive. It felt awe-inspiring, as if it were a natural wonder.
However, that wasn’t created by nature.
“Monsters….”
I slightly furrowed my eyebrows and recalled Sebastian’s words.
– If you’re curious, go check out the ice wall. You might find the answers.
It’s the answers…
“Should we go take a look for now?”
It was the moment when my steps were about to turn towards the ice wall.
“I felt an unusual energy, so I came to check it out, and lo and behold, it’s you.”
A stranger’s voice grabbed my attention.
The owner of that voice had long, flowing white beard…
“Oh, bald head.”
He was bald.
Thankyou for coming to this sites and read my translation, enjoy! Sorry if theres still have any mistake on the translation. See you on the next update!
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