novelraw Chapter 48 : Train Trip (1)
Chapter 48 : Train Trip (1)
Chapter 48: Train Trip (1)
[Time remaining until the start of the second episode 12H : 15M : 33S]
Clatter! Clatter!
The view as the new KTX rode down.
As the city fell away, green rice paddies and fields spread out.
It was peaceful and beautiful.
However. This everyday life would slowly begin to collapse.
As the episode progressed, the basic things that supported civilization would no longer be able to do their jobs.
‘Usually, by the mid-to-late part, the apocalypse accelerates rapidly.’
Survivors dwindled and humanity vanished bit by bit.
Except for a tiny number of megacities, the world became hell itself.
By the way.
‘I wonder how they’re doing over there?’
Scarlet had been sent to a labyrinth in Gangwon-do instead of participating in the episode.
To obtain the skill books and items necessary to grow as a blood practitioner.
To get those, she had to clear the maze ‘Hungry Mansion’ that they had failed to conquer for a year.
It was quite difficult, but since the strategy had been given, it should be possible.”
For the record, Seo Changhee had moved separately.
—I will go my own way. I will definitely repay the favor you did me.
He had insisted he would participate in the second episode no matter what.
And solo, at that.
Given his personality there was no changing it.
They would have chances to meet along the way; when that happened, they could make good use of him.
And the last bit was the biggest problem….
Gulp.
Yohan swallowed dry saliva.
“Is something the matter? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”
Vivian, who was sitting across from him, tilted her head in puzzlement.
Her innocent expression and the way she flapped her legs in the seat made her look unmistakably like a simple country girl seeing city manners for the first time.
But Yohan knew.
He knew that the maple-tree witch in front of him was far more dangerous than the second episode they were heading toward.
“I was a little worried. Whether it was right to have you join this journey.”
If things went wrong, they might end up at war with the entire Administration Bureau.
A divine being or a Champion of the Abyss might intervene.
So how could one be comfortable and endure that?
“Hehe. Don’t worry too much. I’ve already heard several times about Lord Yohan’s amusements and plans. I will adjust my power to the level of humans. I won’t move first until Lord Yohan gives orders.”
“So you said.”
He had gotten that promise verbally.
The problem was whether she could keep that word 100%.
‘Sigh. She was basically a double-edged sword.’
A sharp blade that could cut anything.
A demon sword that could wound even the one who held it.
He was troubled, but the die had already been cast.
Having decided to make use of Vivian for a while, he had to move forward accounting for variables.
“Lord Yohan, I don’t know about you, but I am so happy for this trip. In fact, this kind of journey was my first time.”
Vivian’s face brightened little by little.
“Kiiie!”
“Kiiiii.”
Something black reflected in the window.
The Tams (貪) synchronized with their owner’s emotions and began to bare sharp teeth.
Damn it.
How could someone who promised such a thing pull out that kind of thing in seconds?
Yohan quietly took out a notebook.
[The most important thing on a trip was the guarantee that the two who left went and returned as two. If you accompany someone who might leave as two and return as one, the genre of the trip changed from romantic comedy (X) to thriller (O). Starred ().]
“Kiiiii!”
“Are you very hungry? Wait a moment. This time I’ll feed you not with the usual orc meat but with lots of tasty things.”
More and more strange things were appearing by the window.
He needed to send her somewhere before it was too late.
“Come to think of it, I’m a little peckish too. I heard the new dining car’s food was quite good—could you bring some for me?”
“If it’s food… I could serve you some delicious vitality, how about that? There are plenty of fresh people here.”
No, thanks.
That was absolutely not acceptable.
“Are you going to force your culinary tastes on me too, Vivian Astraia?”
Yohan showed his displeasure.
Then—
“I’m… sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
Vivian bit her lip tightly.
Her excitement deflated in an instant.
Still, she obeyed words well, which was a relief.
Having received a few ten-thousand-won bills, Vivian eagerly went off to find the dining car.
Now he could quietly read his book again.
Yohan placed a novel by author Han Gang on the table.
He couldn’t resist a Nobel Prize-winning book.
How much time passed like that?
Just as he was sinking into his reading, a strange foreigner suddenly approached.
“Hmm.”
He glanced around, then plopped down.
He sat in Vivian’s seat.
“Excuse me, but that seat has an owner….”
“I know. You’re the black-haired lady, right? I saw you standing resolutely in line in front of the restroom thinking it was the dining car.”
“……”
At that, Yohan closed the book he had been reading.
Long blonde hair, slender for a man but with a solid build.
Black glasses lent him an intellectual air.
This aura—could it be…
“My name is Cain Belmaier. I am a mid-level priest affiliated with the Requiem Cult.”
He introduced himself before anyone could probe him.
“Wow, he really came straight in without hesitation.”
He could have at least turned a light on and come.
He nearly stabbed him in the neck.
“Hahaha. We know everything about each other anyway, don’t we? You owe us quite a bit from last time.”
“So. You came for revenge?”
“Calm down. Unless you planned to plant a bomb on the train and blow up every witness, I wouldn’t think to fight in front of so many people.”
So he wanted something, then?
From the Requiem Cult?
This was a little unexpected.
Of course Yohan had expected them to rain down black magic, furious that their grand plan had been ruined.
The Eye of the Prophet probed Cain’s insides.
[Cain Belmaier]
Occupation: Dark Priest
Constellation: 1st Moon (月) 12th Star (星)
Unique Ability: Cause of Death Manipulation
Strength 13 Agility 17 Mana 25
Physical Defense: 45
Magic Defense: 50
Possessed Traits: [Magi] [Thought Extraction]
Notes: He enjoyed devising schemes based on intelligence and had a cold, meticulous personality. He was scheduled to participate in the second episode with a specific purpose.
[You may view ‘Special Information.’ Requires one BBB-rank or higher item.]
1st Moon’s 12th Star, huh.
He possessed two remarkably good traits.
That meant he held a significant position even within the Requiem Cult….
“Well, let’s hear it first.”
“Priest Kim Geunsik spoke highly of you. Said you had truly exceptional skill.”
“Oh? That guy’s still alive? I thought I finished him off for good last time, but looks like he’s got a long life.”
“The wound was deep, but he survived.”
Naturally, he had made sure to submerge him properly so as not to draw suspicion.
That way, he could also prove he had fought with all his might.
“More importantly….”
Cain got to the point.
“What is it that Lord Kang Yohan desires? Judging from how actively you’re participating in the episode, there must be a goal you’re pursuing.”
“And if I said there was?”
“Then join us. Whatever you wish for, we will make it come true.”
Clatter! Clatter!
The smooth hum of the train replaced the short silence.
The 72 Demon Kings of Solomon.
The powers of those often called Evil Gods were of a supernatural level.
If it were them, many of the things people called ‘wishes’ could indeed be granted.
However—
“I’ll refuse. You lot wouldn’t be able to manage it anyway.”
“My, you’re awfully confident without even seeing what cards we hold.”
Cain clicked his tongue as though in pity.
Then, he pulled something new out.
Tap.
Placed on the table were a yellow badge the size and shape of a coin—and the ‘Finger of the Apostate.’
Yohan’s eyebrow twitched.
He recognized both items.
[Emotion Badge]
Usage Count: 5
Acquisition Difficulty: C
Description: Displays the emotions the target feels exactly as they are. (However, both parties must consent. If a lie is told, no reaction occurs.)
[Finger of the Apostate]
Acquisition Difficulty: A
Description: Reveals a clue that allows you to acquire one of a boss monster’s [Traits]. (However, this item can only be used in Episodes (5) or below.)
To think the Finger of the Apostate would show up here.
It was a special item that could only be found by mastering the black magic category, with an acquisition difficulty rated ‘A.’
That meant they had pulled out something quite valuable from their side.
“With the Emotion Badge activated, we’ll speak about one another. If you can catch your opponent off guard, you earn a win. It’s best of three—if I lose, I’ll hand you the Finger of the Apostate. But if Lord Kang Yohan loses….”
“You want me to join your side?”
“Exactly.”
Cain smiled faintly.
Hmm. Things were getting interesting.
The boss monster of the second episode dropped particularly important [Traits], and by using the Finger of the Apostate, you could obtain one of the top two traits with 100% certainty.
‘But, if he’s that confident, he must have something prepared.’
He hadn’t brought it out yet, but there was no doubt he also had items related to ‘Brainwashing’ or ‘Forced Obedience.’
Catch him off guard, huh.
What kind of information could they have that might actually do that?
After a brief moment of organizing his thoughts, Yohan nodded.
“Fine. I accept.”
Whatever it was, when it came to information warfare, he had the upper hand.
Above all, the ‘Finger of the Apostate’ was an item he absolutely had to secure if possible.
“Then, I’ll start first.”
Cain made the opening move.
[Item ‘Emotion Badge’ has been activated!]
A bright, smiling face appeared on the yellow badge’s surface.
The key to victory was to completely distort that smile.
“I know that Lord Kang Yohan has been posing as an Inquisitor. And that it isn’t true. Of course, I also know that if someone anonymously sent this information to the Cult, you’d be in quite the predicament.”
“……!?”
Well, look at that.
He had found out about what happened in the ‘Withered Garden.’
Most of those who had participated there suffered partial memory loss or cognitive distortion because of Vivian.
There couldn’t have been many who remembered it clearly.
It wasn’t as if the Evil God’s followers could have obtained information from Sa Junhyuk or Pack Bedro either.
‘Confident enough to gamble on it, I see.’
That was a bit surprising.
And to think he’d mix in subtle threats too—how laughable.
However,
Yohan’s expression hadn’t changed much.
‘This was within the expected range.’
He couldn’t keep this fact hidden from the Cult forever.
Besides, he already had countermeasures prepared for the day it was exposed.
The smiling face on the ‘Emotion Badge’ slowly lowered its corners.
About level.
No further change.
“You’re not very… surprised.”
Perhaps he’d thought it was a trump card; disappointment flickered across Cain’s face.
Now it was time to switch turns.
＊
Now then—what should he say to twist that expression?
Yohan slowly parted his lips.
“I know you extracted Morgan’s Thought Essence.”
Information he’d gotten from Kim Geunsik.
And—
“I also know what you intend to do with it.”
That was information he’d gathered as a veteran through repeated runs.
Now it was Cain’s badge’s turn to twist.
[‘Emotion Badge’ is changing.]
Grrrk….
The once-bright smile contorted into an expression of shock.
Anyone could see that it was a perfect strike to the heart.
“How… absurd. It hasn’t even been ten hours—how could you possibly know that?”
That meant he was admitting defeat.
That made one win secured.
However, with Cain’s next words—
“You’re working with that woman, aren’t you?”
Yohan’s eyebrow furrowed sharply.
“That woman…?”
From Kim Geunsik, he’d only heard that Morgan’s Thought Essence had been extracted—was there a hidden story behind it?
“Judging by your reaction, I guess not.”
Cain regained some composure.
Tsk.
Maybe he shouldn’t have reacted at all.
But that had been far too meaningful a statement to ignore.
That woman—
Who could have come to the place where the orcs had been? And for what reason?
Questions spiraled endlessly, but there was no way to find out right now.
The turn passed to Cain, who had one loss stacked.
If he failed again, the match would practically be decided.
Yet Cain’s eyes, fixed on Yohan, brimmed with confidence.
Excessively so.
“One of the reasons Lord Kang Yohan is participating in this episode—
is Reina Blaze. To capture her and take her back to the Empire.”
“……!!”
The shock was like being struck in the head with a hammer.
Even as he struggled to maintain a poker face….
It was no use.
[Emotion Badge is changing.]
The badge’s expression had already completely shifted.
Yohan licked his lips with his tongue.
Ha….
This bastard, huh?