novelraw Chapter 214 : Ascension (1)
Chapter 214 : Ascension (1)
Su-hyeon froze at the killing intent emanating from the Queen.
'She's going to kill Yu-jin?'
Setting aside the existence of the Sword God and Sword Warrior behind her.
It was difficult for Su-hyeon to understand that she would act this way out of some kind of jealousy toward him.
'She's really not normal.'
When you think about it, isn't he still a minor?
'Sim Jae-gyeong and Song Yeonhui are doing similar things.'
Of course, she didn't act like this in every playthrough.
'Originally, she would have waited until I became an adult and my abilities fully bloomed.'
But could it be a case where growth that was too rapid became poison?
Due to Su-hyeon showing such a rapid growth rate, the timeline was being distorted, and the Vampire Queen's obsession seemed to be intensifying.
"I won't allow that."
"You won't allow it? You?"
The Queen laughed at Su-hyeon's words.
"I like your boldness, but I hope you won't be too impudent."
"We'll see."
Su-hyeon answered calmly.
"Is that for you to decide?"
"Hmm?"
The Queen smiles.
"Strange. You said you know me, right?"
"Yes. You are the most powerful ruler of the underworld, the Queen of the Night, and the monarch of vampires. You're one of the strongest even among Ma-in."
"My, how embarrassing."
The Queen asked with a charming smile.
"But knowing that, you still have such a stiff neck in front of me?"
"It's because I know that that I'm setting aside the thought of taking your head right now."
"Ahaha!"
The Queen laughed as if slightly dumbfounded.
"I need to ask again. Do you know why I've been watching you and why I'm still keeping you alive?"
"......"
Su-hyeon thought.
'The Queen dislikes men who receive her favor and become arrogant.'
"That's not my business, I think."
'Of course, she also dislikes it when someone acts too disrespectfully.'
Therefore, Su-hyeon continued speaking, with the feeling of walking a tightrope somewhere in between.
"However, I do know that our lives are in your hands right now."
"Hmm."
The Queen's expression became strange at his speech, which alternated between insult and praise.
"Yes. Then you must also know that a price is needed for me to withdraw?"
"Yes. That's why I came here to meet with you alone."
"Hmm. Being protected by a 17-year-old, the Execution Force has really come to its end."
The Queen laughed as she watched the Execution Force members causing a commotion due to Su-hyeon's sudden disappearance.
"If that's what you think, it's fortunate for us. There are few things as welcome as an enemy misjudging our strength."
"My goodness. How bold indeed."
Her anger had dissipated, and the Queen, whose curiosity was rising again, pressed her chin gently with her long finger.
"Hmm. What kind of price should I take then?"
"I'd appreciate it if you could decide quickly."
"Ahaha! You really are interesting."
The Queen's head tilted diagonally.
"Then, would you offer me your nape?"
"...!"
"I'm thinking of making you my subordinate. You've defeated my underling before, haven't you?"
The Queen, enjoying Su-hyeon's expression showing confusion for the first time, said:
"Ahaha, you're so scared. I'm just joking, just..."
"I don't mind."
"What?"
This time, it was the Queen's turn to be surprised.
"But let's limit it to one opportunity."
"...Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. I admire your courage at least. Yes, I went too far with my joke, didn't I?"
The Queen, who had no intention of picking a fruit as delicious as Su-hyeon before it was fully ripe, declined.
"I told you I don't mind. Are you speaking with two mouths?"
"...!"
Far from simply accepting and withdrawing, Su-hyeon instead scratched at her nerve.
"Ahaha."
The Queen's laughter became dry.
"I'll say it one last time. If you nod your head in agreement even now, I'll withdraw it. But if you continue with this useless pride, then you'll realize there are limits to my goodwill."
"I don't understand why you think it's useless pride."
"Then what is it? Did you suddenly want to become a vampire and serve me?"
"Please stop saying things you don't believe yourself."
"Could it be that you have confidence in staying normal even if I bite you?"
"You finally understand."
"Do you know who I am?"
Red magical energy rippled behind Song Yeonhui, who had been calm throughout.
"I am the Vampire Queen. The one standing at the pinnacle of all vampires. You think you'll remain normal after I bite you? I might have found it cute if you had said you could defeat me in battle instead."
"If you can't believe it, why don't you experiment?"
Su-hyeon said, lowering his clothing to reveal his collarbone and nape.
"......"
'Does he really have something to believe in?'
Since she couldn't understand why Su-hyeon was provoking her to this extent, she couldn't help but wonder if he really had the ability to withstand being bitten by her.
'Resistance.'
Su-hyeon activated the skill, Resistance.
'This should be enough.'
With Resistance raised to maximum magical power, and the added characteristic of Unlimited, the current Su-hyeon had enough immunity to block even the Vampire Factors possessed by the Queen.
"Won't you bite me?"
"Fine. I need to verify whether all this is just bluffing, or if it truly stems from your confidence in abilities that even I cannot fathom."
The Queen sank her long, white fangs into Su-hyeon's unresisting nape.
Puhook!
Su-hyeon frowned at the alien sensation like a thick needle entering.
"...Haha."
The Queen, who had removed her mouth and stepped back, laughed dejectedly.
"It's true. You didn't become a vampire."
This was a situation she had never experienced before.
'He can remain normal even after being bitten by me? How on earth?'
To her, who was in confusion, Su-hyeon said:
"I believe you'll keep your promise. A king without credit is no king."
"...Ahaha."
Song Yeonhui showed her most joyful smile of the day.
"Su-hyeon, you really are interesting."
"You think so?"
"Meeting you is even more fun than watching you, which hasn't happened in a long time."
The Queen smiled and turned her back.
"Of course, I should keep my promise. Go."
"I'm grateful, but are you really sure it's okay to let me go like this?"
"Or what? Who can say anything to me?"
"I see."
'Well, considering that Hwang Won-jae isn't stepping in either. It must be because 'that guy' ordered not to kill me.'
Su-hyeon thought.
It was a special situation that occurred when achievement points exceeded a certain value.
"Then, take care on your way back."
"Next time we meet, it won't be like this."
"Yes. It shouldn't be."
The Queen's body transformed into hundreds of bats and disappeared, flying into the sky.
"Blegh!"
Su-hyeon, whose tension suddenly dissolved, couldn't hold back the rising nausea and fell to his knees, vomiting everything he had eaten.
"...That was dangerous."
The 'Vampire Factor'—a different kind of power from immunity to demonic nature.
The effect of the 'Resistance' skill, which had withstood even Min Hae-na's 'Imperial Dominion', was certainly remarkable.
'Without the power of Unlimited, even that would have been broken. As expected of Song Yeonhui. Her power is still unfathomable.'
But anyway.
This time too, mission accomplished.
'...How do I explain this situation?'
Su-hyeon sighed.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
The bats flying through the sky spoke in unison.
"Really fascinating. Despite feeling the overwhelming difference in power, he's not intimidated. As if he doesn't doubt at all that he'll someday surpass me..."
Where does that confidence come from?
Or, do those mysterious eyes of yours, which seem to know so much that it's bewildering, see such a future?
Song Yeonhui couldn't contain her curiosity about that.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
The Execution Force, having successfully thwarted Night Goblin's rampage, was able to boast about their achievements extensively and establish their dignity in front of citizens.
'Additionally, we successfully repelled Little Evil Demon and Battle Maniac, those two bastards.'
The Chief of Staff, who felt at ease for once at the fact that his plan had matched perfectly and achieved outstanding results, took a sip of coffee and smiled.
"Jeong Su-hyeon, that friend is really coveted. No one has ever shown such performance at that age. No, not even half of it."
His strength and combat ability were remarkable.
But even more so, his problem-solving ability in actual combat was at an astonishing level.
"It happens in the sports world sometimes. Those irregulars who perform at MVP level despite being rookies."
Of course, current sports had become very different in both scale and form compared to the pre-Gate era.
"It's right to reward achievements."
This was something already approved by the commander.
'To bring up a matter about a mere 17-year-old boy to the commander. This too is unprecedented.'
The Chief of Staff, who chuckled, instructed his staff.
"Have you completed the wording?"
"Yes."
"Let me see."
"Yes!"
The Chief of Staff, who read through the sentences praising and encouraging Su-hyeon for his achievements, nodded.
"Good. There's nothing that needs to be changed."
"Thank you."
"A reward of 1 billion won. When I was his age, even 100,000 won would have been a huge sum."
The Chief of Staff chuckled and said:
"But compared to what Cadet Jeong Su-hyeon has contributed, even this is a bargain price, making me feel sorry."
"Indeed."
"He's a precious young man. An orphan survivor of the Samcheok Incident who has risen to the top, surpassing geniuses with remarkable parents like Seo Jun-seong, Hwang Ji-su, and Lee Yu-jin. The ways of the world are truly unpredictable."
Anyway.
Now was the time to forget worries for a moment and be happy.
Su-hyeon, who had received the commendation and the reward of 1 billion won, rubbed his abs, saying he was full even without eating.
'I should invest this in Park Min-cheol too.'
To Su-hyeon, he was like a magic pot that doubled whatever money was put in.
'Moreover, with the timeline distorted to this extent, is it time to tell him to accumulate physical assets?'
In times that are not peaceful, things like currency and stocks can easily become trash in an instant.
The time comes when gold, jewels, food, and demonic beast carcass byproducts become necessary.
"Hehehe, congratulations."
Jo Sujin patted Su-hyeon's back.
"How about treating us all later?"
"Come on, noona, you received a bonus too!"
"Shut up, you guys. It feels different when it's from the youngest!"
"That's true!"
Senior Squad Leader Kim Taesung approached Su-hyeon among the members who were in high spirits.
"You really did well. Just like with the Spear Devil, we would have been in big trouble without your performance this time too."
"You flatter me."
"No, your coming to our unit is a blessing for everyone. I thank you again."
"Yes, a blessing indeed! A bringer of fortune has rolled in!"
Jo Sujin snickered.
"Hey, by the way, are you really going to spar with Captain Ahn Byeong-jun?"
"I have no reason to refuse."
Su-hyeon said.
"Damn it, I really don't like that guy. A dwarf of all things..."
"......"
Su-hyeon, who found it awkward to respond, changed the subject.
"I'll go learn a thing or two."
"No, feed him one on the honor of elves."
"...But I'm not an elf."
"Anyway!"
On the way back to the academy.
Yu-jin, who was riding in the vehicle with Su-hyeon, sighed faintly with a gloomy heart as she looked at Su-hyeon's profile, who had fallen asleep from fatigue.
'Again, Su-hyeon was too strong, and I wasn't much help.'
The divine presences of Jo Sujin, Kim Taesung, and Ahn Byeong-jun lingered in her mind.
Especially the way Captain Ahn Byeong-jun handled the war hammer and arming sword was so beautiful and natural that it reminded her of her uncle's and grandfather's swords.
Ahn Byeong-jun.
A man who is considered slightly superior in terms of force to her uncle, Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong, though perhaps not in terms of realm.
Su-hyeon performed his role proudly even among them.
But she could only play a supplementary role.
Of course.
She knows that even her current achievement is exceptional.
'Still, it doesn't make me feel any better.'
Yu-jin looked at Su-hyeon's sleeping face, leaning on her shoulder, and brushed his hair.
'I'm stressed because I'm making comparisons. Feeling diminished and distressed from comparing oneself to a tree one can't climb, a competitor one can't surpass, is perhaps too self-abusive an obsession.'
That's why most people accept their limits.
Knowing contentment, they stop progressing.
'Perhaps that is the wise thing to do.'
But if her uncle, who had too great a father, had been so 'wise,' could he have become as strong as he is now?
'Ji-su, Jun-seong, A-yun, In-hyeon. None of them are giving up.'
And the same was true for Yu-jin herself.
'I won't give up. Someday, I will definitely stand alongside you.'
The sword she had forged in her heart remained steadfast.