Chapter 269: Do you think you can do it with your power? (4)

Uung-

Mana vibrated around the video communication device.

Cale, after leaving the Church and getting on the carriage, observed the screen with his arms crossed.

The screen was tinted red.

It was an extreme contrast to the blue sky seen through the carriage window.

Paat!

The screen lit up.

- Cale.

“Leader-nim.”

Cale’s eyes met Sui Khan’s.

‘Hmm.’

Although his face was as expressionless as ever, Cale noticed a strange sensation in his eyes.

‘He’s angry.’

The leader was angry.

- Mila will send you the coordinates, so come here as soon as possible.

“Understood.”

Ah.

Cale, who had paused for a moment, asked Sui Khan, who was about to end the communication.

“Should we bring Choi Han and Choi Jung Soo?”

- …….

Sui Khan nodded after a brief silence.

- …Yes.

“They’re in the capital right now. I’ll make sure both Choi Han and Choi Jung Soo move with me.”

The communication ended.

And then, the coordinates that Dragon Mila had sent arrived as a message.

“Human, are you planning to go to both the Black Castle and the Lair?”

At Raon’s question, Cale nodded.

“Yes. We need to move fast.”

He turned his head and looked at Clopeh.

“I leave the capital to you.”

The Pope and the Church.

And the Emperor.

And finally, King Dennis of Har Kingdom.

Three powers were currently in the capital.

Cale wanted Clopeh to handle the coordination among them.

The Indomitable Alliance.

Clopeh Sekka, the man who had created that faction that nearly set the continent ablaze and had enormous support.

Among Cale’s companions, the only one who could handle such a scale was Clopeh Sekka.

“Is it possible?”

At Cale’s question, Clopeh Sekka smiled and slowly nodded.

“Thank you, Cale-nim.”

...What?

Cale felt puzzled by the unexpected response. And Clopeh, raising his head, said with a gentle smile.

“You’ve finally given me a proper task. I’ll shed every drop of my blood to do a good job.”

“…”

“So don’t worry.”

For the first time, Cale wasn’t worried about his companions, but rather about those who would have to deal with Clopeh Sekka.

‘But he does his job well.’

Cale barely concealed his unease and spoke seriously.

“With moderation. Without drawing attention. Understood?”

They shouldn’t attract the attention of the Purple Blood Hunters.

Especially now.

It was better for enemies to clearly know of his existence after destroying the Lair of the First Star Dragon, Ryan.

“Haha.”

Clopeh laughed aloud.

“Of course. Shadows overlap again and again until they become indistinguishable. Don’t worry.”

What is this bastard saying?

Cale decided to let it pass for now, as he was busy.

“Yes, I trust you.”

Cale tapped Clopeh’s shoulder twice.

Clopeh nodded.

‘He still doesn’t fully trust me.’

Cale-nim still doesn’t trust me.

I understand.

My beginning was nothing more than a stumbling block in his path.

‘But at least he trusts me more than before.’

That’s why he has entrusted me with such an important task.

And more importantly, he has shown me the communication process among his companions.

‘Finally-’

Finally, my chance to become part of the Legend has come.

Clopeh’s eyes sparkled.

‘Cale-nim is someone who has fought against a God.’

Even if it was a Sealed God, he has faced a God.

‘I can’t allow someone like that to get involved in greed, power, and politics.’

I don’t want him to waste his energy on such trivial matters.

That’s the job of the shadow.

“Haha.”

Clopeh involuntarily laughed, his heart thrilled.

Cale, with a trembling expression, removed his hand from Clopeh’s shoulder.

Carefully.

‘I have to avoid this crazy guy.’

Cale gestured to Raon.

- Understood, let’s go quickly! Clopeh Sekka is acting strange! He’s getting even crazier!

With a trembling face, Raon quickly expanded the teleportation magic circle.

Cale and the average Ten-year-old children soon left the capital.

“Haah.”

And in the empty carriage, Clopeh Sekka raised his head and let out a brief sigh.

The blue sky was visible.

He murmured.

“I just need to stimulate the Emperor’s greed and jealousy for the Dragons and Cale-nim, and then manipulate him.”

He organized everything in his head.

“Those who choose conviction over pride, like King Dennis, will naturally follow if we emphasize heroism or good beliefs.”

His smile widened.

“The Pope seems weak-hearted now that her death is approaching. I need to take advantage of that opportunity. Raon-nim has done an excellent job setting everything up.”

Hiss~

Wrapped in the shadow inside the carriage, Clopeh Sekka moistened his lips with his tongue like a snake. His gaze fixed on the blue sky.

“It’s fun.”

Indeed.

“It’s more fun to play politics than to wield a sword.”

The knight, who soon adorned his face with a saintly smile, emerged from the shadow of the carriage and walked out the door.

And he infiltrated the Holy Empire under the blue sky.

***

Paaat-!

Cale opened his eyes at the place where the black light had appeared and disappeared.

The southern part of the continent was a vast jungle.

No proper country had been established here.

“You’ve arrived.”

Leader Sui Khan was waiting.

Choi Jung Soo, who had accompanied Cale, opened his mouth.

“Hmm? I don’t see any temple here.”

Choi Jung Soo spoke with a calm and relaxed smile.

Cale looked around.

Tall trees and various unidentified plants.

An environment that resembled more of a jungle than a forest stretched out.

A small stream also ran by their side.

Dragon Mila was washing fruit there.

“Have you arrived?”

She smiled and offered fruit to Raon.

“This is the fruit of this world, it’s very sweet. Raon, have some.”

Raon looked at Cale, and Cale nodded.

“Go and come back.”

“I’ll eat and also bring something for the Human! Haha!”

At the moment Raon laughed and approached Mila, Dragon Mila’s voice reached Cale’s mind.

- I’ll take Raon with me.

In that instant, Cale knew.

‘Something has definitely happened.’

And it wasn’t anything good.

Choi Han’s voice sounded.

“It seems Zopf-nim is nowhere to be seen.”

The Dragon who sees the past.

Not even his shadow was visible.

“….”

Leader Sui Khan looked at Choi Jung Soo and Choi Han before turning his gaze back to Cale and saying.

“Follow me.”

There was a narrow path next to the stream.

A path leading into the depths of the jungle, obscured by towering trees and lush plants.

Cale silently followed.

Of course, leaving Raon behind.

He stood just behind the leader, followed by Choi Jung Soo and Choi Han.

“Ah.”

As if he had just remembered, the leader asked Cale.

“Release a bit of your aura.”

“Why?”

“To prevent beasts from attacking us without reason.”

Cale shook his head.

“This place is chaotic. If you give them the slightest opportunity, they will attack. But at least they run away if you use Dragon Fear. Your aura should have a similar effect, right, Cale?”

“That’s true.”

Cale coolly released his aura.

And followed the leader.

‘It’s slow.’

But he was walking too slowly.

“Isn’t this too slow?”

The leader glanced at Cale sideways at Choi Jung Soo’s comment from the back of the group.

“Why?”

Why do you say that?

“Are you alright, Cale?”

The leader looked Cale up and down quietly.

“You’re too weak.”

And at his murmured words, Cale circulated Wind Sound around his ankles.

Whoosh-

The wind swirled, and upon seeing it, Sui Khan said.

“At this rate, we’ll arrive in five minutes.”

Whoosh.

The wind dissipated.

“Let’s walk as if we’re taking a stroll.”

The leader said calmly.

“Cale, you need to walk yourself to be healthy.”

Chuckle~

Choi Jung Soo chuckled from behind. Choi Han nodded seriously.

“That’s right.”

“It seems Han knows something after all.”

While Cale listened to the leader and Choi Han converse, Choi Jung Soo suddenly spoke.

His tone was playful, with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Judging by the way the leader is walking so slowly and joking for no reason, it seems something really bad has happened, doesn’t it?”

Choi Han looked forward at those words.

The leader said nothing, and Cale remained silent for a moment before speaking.

“Let’s take it slow.”

After that, everyone walked in silence.

Choi Han’s expression hardened.

Choi Jung Gun.

He was Choi Han’s missing younger uncle.

He was also the author of the novel “Birth of the Hero,” the first Dragon Slayer, and now a Wanderer working with the God of Death.

‘What happened to him?’

He still struggled to call him uncle. However, his concern grew.

Boom, boom, boom.

His heart was pounding hard. In such cases, the outcome could only be good or bad. And, cruelly, time passed quickly.

Without seeming to have walked much, a treeless space became visible in the distance.

The blue sky and an open space entered their field of vision.

Tap, tap.

Cale followed the leader and moved closer to that place.

‘What happened?’

He wanted to ask the leader, but he restrained himself.

He would say soon.

That place at the end of this dense forest must be their destination.

Before reaching there.

“I found the Temple of the God of Chaos.”

The leader stopped and spoke.

“That temple was in ruins.”

He turned around.

“There were many signs of a fierce battle.”

“And then?”

At Choi Jung Soo’s question, the leader paused for a moment before speaking.

“I found traces of Choi Jung Gun.”

Choi Jung Gun was not here.

But there were traces.

As Choi Han’s expression began to brighten slightly, Choi Jung Soo’s firm voice resonated.

“What kind of traces?”

Ah.

Choi Han’s pupils flickered.

The leader looked at Choi Jung Soo. At Choi Jung Soo’s question, with unwavering eyes, the leader calmly responded.

“An arm.”

Ah.

Cale held back a sigh and closed his eyes tightly.

“Follow me.”

The leader resumed his march, quickly followed by Choi Jung Soo. Of course, Choi Han too.

In no time, the two men outpaced the leader.

Cale also walked as fast as he could and reached the point where the path ended and opened into a wide open space.

“They arrived.”

Zopf, the Dragon who sees the past, greeted Cale.

Cale didn’t respond and kept walking.

‘It’s a mess.’

Desolate.

The wide open space was of considerable size and was surrounded by dense forest.

And the open space was charred with the remains of collapsed buildings.

There were signs that the earth had been upheaved everywhere, and not a single pillar remained standing in the buildings.

Only the shape and materials of the fragmented remains indicated that this place was a temple.

“Ha!”

Choi Jung Soo’s dry laughter was heard. Cale headed towards where the Choi Family had stopped. And he stood by their side. He raised his head. There was something that hadn’t broken in this place.

It was an altar.

“It’s the altar of the God of Chaos.”

Zopf, who had approached, said calmly.

“Judging by the traces, it seems they tried to perform a ritual here.”

Red patterns could be seen around the altar. Although they looked faded and cracked, it was possible to identify them as something akin to a magic circle.

“However, I can’t interpret those patterns. It’s the first time I’ve seen them. It doesn’t seem to be from the divine side.”

“Then—”

The laughter-less voice came from Choi Jung Soo’s lips.

“Whose red blood is that?”

“…”

Zopf remained silent for a moment. But no one scolded him. Only the weight of silence grew deeper.

Zopf opened his mouth.

“The arm on the altar.”

The altar, the only one that hadn’t collapsed in the midst of the destroyed formation.

A single arm rested upon it.

It was unknown when it had been severed, but it did not decay and retained its shape.

“That bracelet, and that arm, even the clothes covering it.”

Zopf’s voice trembled slightly.

Choi Jung Gun. He was their comrade.

A Wanderer who had stayed by Zopf’s side for a while as he roamed alone.

“It’s Choi Jung Gun’s.”

Zopf said with a trembling voice.

“That formation was drawn with Choi Jung Gun’s blood.”

Sui Khan’s soft voice filled the desolate space.

“After examining the surroundings, it is deduced that a fierce battle took place here for a while. It was a fight among a few, but judging by the scale, their power must have been considerable.”

The temple had not collapsed long ago. It was something that could be deduced from the state of the broken sections, the earth, and the vegetation covering them.

“And there are traces of blood everywhere. It’s not the blood of just one person.”

Sui Khan stopped speaking.

Choi Jung Soo and Choi Han. The two men said nothing, just stared at the altar. But seeing Choi Jung Soo not smiling and Choi Han’s serious expression turned his stomach.

If it were just Choi Jung Gun’s arm or just the patterns of the ritual, no one would have said anything.

But with the arm placed as an offering on the altar where the ritual was performed, it became a situation where one had to worry about Choi Jung Gun’s life.

“So.”

Choi Jung Soo opened his mouth.

“Do you think the ritual was a success?”

“I don’t know. I can’t interpret that formation.”

At Zopf’s words, Choi Jung Soo continued to mockingly laugh.

“Hey. Anyway, the formation was drawn with the blood of ancestor Choi Jung Gun, the ritual was performed, and only the severed arm remains, right?”

He covered his eyes with his hand and spat.

“Damn.”

No one dared to speak hastily. However, the Dragon Zopf, even in this situation, showed the lack of tact to open his mouth.

“... My guess is that his body was offered as a sacrifice and only the arm remained. If not, there’s no reason for only the arm—”

“Wait a moment.”

Choi Jung Soo interrupted him.

And looked at Cale.

“Rok Soo, what do you think?”

Choi Han’s gaze also turned to Cale.

He met Cale’s eyes. His pupils, coldly sunken, seemed to gleam with a strange fire.

“Zopf-nim.”

“Yes.”

Cale approached the damaged patterns and formation and said.

“Doesn’t this have anything to do with magic?”

“According to my knowledge, this has no relation to mana or any ritual of this world.”

“I see.”

“Leader.”

“Hmm.”

“Isn’t it from the World of the Gods?”

Leader Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo should know the language of the Divine World.

“I don’t know the methods of all the Gods, but it doesn’t smell like the Divine World.”

Cale raised his head. Looking at the blue sky, he said.

“Then, there are two possibilities.”

The answer was simple.

“The Demon World or the Divine World.”

And if he had to choose one of the two.

The place related to this battlefield.

“I think it’s the Demon World.”

The gazes of Cale and Choi Han, who lowered his head, met.

They were two people who knew that the Demon World was also involved in this chaos.

At that moment.

“Human!”

Raon flew quickly, flapping his wings forcefully.

“This fruit tastes delicious! Let’s all eat together!”

Cale gestured for Raon not to come closer and immediately said.

“Raon. Cotton, contact her.”

The Deputy Chief Priest Cotton.

If she had even rummaged through the current Demon King’s bathroom, she should know the language of the Demon World.

He looked at the arm lying on the altar and thought.

‘It’s not yet time to draw conclusions.’

And Cotton’s face appeared on the video call screen.

- What’s up? I still haven’t been able to contact our boss!

Cale showed her the ritual formation.

- Eh? Is this from the Demon World?

She said calmly.

- This isn’t a ritual formation, it’s just writing.

“Just writing?”

- Yes. It’s like a letter.

The Deputy Chief Priest Cotton spoke with an overly calm and soft voice.

- Hmm, it’s blurry, and I can’t read it well. Let me try.

A clear and pure voice, worthy of an ex-Holy Maiden, resonated.

- I’ll take the owner of this arm with me. Don’t worry because I’ll save his life. Since his arm has already been cut off, I’ll leave it behind. That’s the only way to find traces, right? If you’re worried, come see me... Eh?

The Deputy Chief Priest Cotton was baffled.

- Eh, um. Well, I...

Confused, she continued.

- If you’re worried, come see me.

- Great Thief of the Night.

Great Thief of the Night?

Cale’s eyebrows raised slightly as Cotton looked at him and she awkwardly smiled.

- Well, why is our Boss’s nickname there? Haha!

The only descendant of the previous Demon King. Cotton’s Boss was “The Great Thief of the Night.”

“This is incredible.”

Behind him, Zopf’s voice, a mix of relief and sigh, was heard.

“... How could she leave a message like this written with Choi Jung Gun’s blood? These demons from the Demon World! And here I was thinking it was a ritual!”

Cale, ignoring the Dragon’s sigh mixed with anger, looked at Cotton, who still smiled awkwardly and avoided his gaze, murmuring.

“Uh, there’s a postscript.”

She muttered quickly.

- I wanted to leave a message, but I didn’t have ink, so I used a bit of the blood dripping from the already severed arm. I didn’t cut off the arm. Don’t worry.”

Cotton finally bowed deeply.

- Haha, our Boss is a really unique person. Haha!

And her laughter spread through the emptiness.

Cale sighed silently and closed his eyes.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]