TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 214
The Crimson Thunderstorm poured light outside the window as it fell.
When the sound of ‘Boom!’ deafened the ears, a mournful cry came from the Monster’s Mouth, and as the Vibration struck the ground, a grotesque voice cried out, “It hurts…!”
Olaf, seeing the distressed beast, revealed the emotion of confusion for the first time.
Until now, no one had harmed that beast. In the novel, I recall even Rowen couldn’t wound that beast.
That Monster was a fragmentary existence that nullified all attacks.
You might wonder how damage could be inflicted on such a Gift of God, but I had no intention of revealing it.
-Limit Break is testing ‘Tirbing’s limits.
Because that was a corporate secret.
I let out a small sigh and looked at the Old Man before me. Looking at the Old Man, whose body was robust despite his age, I took a calm breath and spoke.
“You’ve clearly gone senile. Judging by your foul taste.”
“How dare you… the Angel gifted by God…”
“Angel…?”
I let out a scoff and ignored Olaf’s hatred-filled gaze. No matter how I looked at it, that didn’t look like an Angel but rather a Devil.
“A thing without wings—how is that an Angel? It’s just disgusting and filthy.”
“Do not disrespect the Messenger of God.”
“Devotee wouldn’t like such a messenger.”
Clicking my tongue, I scratched at the Old Man’s pride, which I disliked from top to bottom.
“Ask God what He thinks about it.”
“…Are you not asking for mercy?”
“I tried, but He didn’t grant it. Maybe the calculations aren’t done yet.”
Olaf nodded his head at my jest and let out an Empty Laugh.
“Seeing you speak so bluntly, it seems you’re not afraid of God’s Hammer.”
He thought, like a Puppy unaware of the Rank Difference, playing tricks in front of a tiger.
Olaf shook his shoulders as he laughed.
“Pfft. Hahaha… You’re an amusing one.”
“…”
“If I offer you as a tribute, the Angel will surely be pleased.”
Olaf was staring at me.
While slightly bending his waist and laughing, his eyes lifted sharply, glaring at me menacingly.
Looking at Olaf’s triangular eyes, I spoke.
“Have you also developed dementia?”
“Haha.”
As Olaf’s cold laughter ended, the Warning Bell inside me began to ring slowly. ‘Ding. Ding. Ding.’ Even now, the warning sound, carried by Olaf’s sharp gaze, struck my heart, urging me to run away.
Olaf clasped his hands together and looked up at the sky. Then, in a voice audible to the Heretics standing nearby, he spoke softly.
“Saints, have mercy on this poor Young Man…”
Slowly, the Shadow of the Heretics began to envelop me. Judging that James, barely breathing, was not a threat, they abandoned him and walked toward me.
I glanced at their heads and nodded slightly.
‘One… two… six of them.’
I lightly swung Tirbing.
There was no room to entertain the narrative of small fries. Without even introducing myself, I decapitated them.
With the sound of ‘Sharpening Sound,’ the scattering Red Bloodstain splattered on Olaf’s cheek and soaked the floor.
“…”
Olaf, looking at the falling Devotees, showed not a hint of surprise or shock but gazed at me with a serene expression, wearing a benevolent Smile as he spoke.
“You show no mercy.”
I raised my middle finger, paying my respects to the Old Man.
“Mercy, my foot. I’m too busy surviving to offer such a thing.”
“You truly show no mercy until the end.”
Olaf spread his hands and looked up at the sky. Perhaps intending to tattle to God, Olaf raised his hands in prayer to the dark Night Sky.
“Oh God, what should I do with this Wandering Lamb?”
What do you mean, what to do? You’re going to kill me anyway.
Listening to the prayer of the senile Old Man, I checked on James, who was hiding in the corner.
At least one thing had to be wrapped up. I needed to move James to a safe place.
“Are you alright?”
James nodded weakly and said.
“Thank you, Guest… I will repay this favor with a blind date for my daughter…”
“Shut up.”
“Ack…”
Supporting James, I clicked my tongue as I looked at his heavily bleeding abdomen. Seeing that the wound was worse than expected, it seemed walking alone was out of the question.
Still, what can you do? If you want to live, you have to walk.
-Ah, truly, oh God…! For those who show no mercy, indeed, the Hammer…
I glanced at Olaf, who was spouting gibberish, and whispered to James. I told him coldly that he had to walk even if it hurt, that he wasn’t the only one suffering, and that he had to walk if he wanted to survive.
Fortunately, James, understanding the situation, nodded his head.
“Urgh…! I’ll stand up.”
“Good. Keep going in that state.”
“What about you, Guest?”
“For now…”
-Whoosh
As I supported James to the stairs, a Hand Axe flew through the air with a slicing sound. With a ‘Thud,’ the Hand Axe embedded itself into the wall.
Pushing James onto the stairs, I smiled faintly as I looked at James’ gaze moving further away.
“Run.”
And at that moment.
-Kwoooaaaah!!!
A fierce storm began to rage.
*
Olivia stared blankly at the Inn.
She blinked at the Monster protruding from the ground. Blinked again at the Inn with its roof blown off. And blinked once more at the Mister struggling to emerge from the Inn’s front door.
“Hey.”
Olivia turned her head and spoke to The Man standing beside her.
“How long are you going to keep holding me back?”
“…”
“Ricardo went in there, but he hasn’t come out. Did he lose his way? I need to go find him…”
Olivia’s question received no answer. The Man merely bowed his head silently, his shoulders trembling, lips tightly shut.
“Hmm? I’m asking you.”
Whoosh. The debris from the Intense Battle, flung outward, crumbled against Hans’ Barrier.
Olivia, with a blank expression, watched the disappearing debris and spoke again.
“I told you Ricardo is in there, didn’t I?”
“…Ricardo told me to protect the Young Lady.”
“Ricardo?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“…”
Hans couldn’t answer Olivia’s question. He had received an order.
Hans knew.
He knew what kind of existence an Apostle was. He knew how dangerous they were.
That’s why he remained here, unable to do anything. His premature intervention would undoubtedly hinder that person.
-I will fight the Apostle.
-What do you mean?
-Exactly what you heard. I will fight the Apostle.
-You can’t. Absolutely not. No matter how strong you are, you can’t fight the Apostle.
-I will win.
Hans clenched his fist and did his best to protect Olivia. The only order he had received was to “Protect the Young Lady.” Hans spoke in a voice laced with resentment.
“It’s an order.”
“…”
“I must follow it.”
Olivia placed her hand on the Unbreakable Barrier and lifted her head.
“…Ricardo.”
Slowly, Darkness began to rise.
*
A heavy attack struck Tirbing with a resounding thud.
Axes Floating in the Sky and those continuously appearing from his sleeve danced, aiming for blind spots.
“Filthily fast.”
I spat out profanity and thought to myself that it seemed more manageable than expected.
Though it was fitting of the Name of the Apostle, I was adapting to its simple pattern. Olaf’s attacks were threatening, but as long as I blocked them, that was enough.
-Clang…!
Blocking the Sound of Air Splitting that echoed in my ears, I slowly closed the distance between us while taking deep breaths and began gathering Aura.
“Hooh.”
Seeing my Aura, Olaf gave an eerie smile, staring intently at my sword. With a calm smile, as if finding it interesting, he spoke.
“I’ve never offered an Aura User as a sacrifice before, but this is fascinating. Is this also an Offering given by the Lord?”
Olaf appeared composed.
He faced me with such ease that he even prayed to God. Like a Butcher Shop Owner weighing meat, Olaf observed my hands and feet with a Small Smile, and I smiled inwardly.
‘Got it.’
I knew it too.
That an Apostle was An Existence Beyond Standards.
That they had countless hidden tricks and unimaginable abilities.
But even Apostles had something. I was aiming for that Carelessness.
Even the Sword of the Empire had the weakness of Carelessness.
I knew the Apostle’s Ability.
What kind of Spell Usage he employed.
What habits he had.
I knew them better than anyone.
The problem was knowing and still getting hit. In my mind, I had an Attack Manual prepared about him.
Thus, the only way I could defeat the Apostle was through strategy and exploiting his Carelessness to settle it in one blow. This was the Best Effort I could make and the Secret Technique that would yield Top Efficiency.
Knowing that an All-Out War would put me at a disadvantage, I barely endured the Apostle’s attacks while gathering Mana.
-Limit Break is testing the ‘Limit of Strength.’
-Limit Break is testing the ‘Limit of Mana.’
-Limit Break is testing ‘Swordsmanship Lv. 6.’
.
.
From Olaf’s hand, which had been yawning out of boredom, blood began to flow.
The Red Bloodstain dripping onto the floor spread, drawing a Black Magic Circle on the ground.
Olaf smiled as he looked at the Magic Circle covering the second floor of the Inn.
“Heh heh…”
“Don’t laugh. It’s unsettling.”
“God loves you, you know.”
Spouting nonsense about the Love of God, Olaf spoke to me. Finally, the moment to open the first page had arrived.
I gripped my sword.
I wasn’t kind enough to wait for him to have Time to Transform. Aiming for this moment when he was intoxicated with arrogance, I raised my sword.
Reciting Love of God.
Now, when he wasn’t using his full power, was the perfect Opportunity to pour everything I had into it.
‘It would’ve been nice if Hanna could see this too.’
I thrust Tirbing forward and spoke softly.
“Cut through. [Gaebyeok].”
I opened the gate of the sword.
And then, the sword came to a halt. It stopped powerlessly at the touch of a single finger.
“Puhuhut…”
Olaf was laughing. He let out Maniacal Laughter as he caught my thrusting sword with just his finger.
“Gaebyeok? Puhahahaha! What nonsense is this!”
He poured out ridicule.
Mocking me for giving such a name to a mere sword.
He sneered with Neglect.
“Ha… Truly, I can only offer mercy.”
Olaf, holding my suspended sword in Empty Space, spoke softly.
“Return your sins to you.”
Olaf’s ability was Reflection.
Known as Athena’s Reflector.
The ability to return received attacks as they were while accumulating the damage he received into a massive Monster.
“Cough.”
I knew it too.
That he was a Berserker who roamed the battlefield, Reflecting all damage.
But so what?
“Gaebyeok [World Opening].”
Smiling as I coughed up blood, I spoke.
-Limit Break is testing the ‘Rehabilitation’s Touch.’
I will win.