Chapter 320. A New Path (3) (1/2)
[Republic of Leores]
Beyond the Demon Realm Gate was a world full of mystery.
Three kingdoms and one republic stood on the continent of ‘Kruni’. In this unfortunate world soon to be destroyed, Kim Suho was a sword commander of the Republic.
“…So, you’re saying that Baal is going to destroy this world?”
Currently in the office of the sword commander, Aileen, wearing a somewhat worn-out uniform, asked Kim Suho. In this world, she was a maid to a high-ranking politician of the Republic.
“That’s right.”
“And we have to stop Baal to pass the Gate’s test?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Kim Suho nodded and handed Aileen a book. Aileen frowned the moment she saw it.
“What’s this?”
“It’s an item I got as a reward for clearing a quest.”
“Quest? Oh, right, I have a quest, too. What was your quest?”
“I had to enlighten the president’s daughter in the way of the sword.”
“…What kind of a quest is that?”
Aileen grumbled and received the book. The words [Summary of the Past and the Future to Come] were written across its front cover.
“Hmm.”
But the moment she opened the book, her face once again distorted into a frown. There were nothing but blank pages inside.
“What the heck. I don’t see anything.”
“…Huh?”
Kim Suho widened his eyes in surprise, but soon understood what was going on.
“Ah, I guess I’m the only one who can read it.”
“What? Why?”
“…Here, let me read you the most important chapters.”
Kim Suho recited the book slowly enough for Aileen to understand.
“First of all, this world is also currently under the process of Demon Realm Transformation. Fortunately the people of this world discovered a type of ore called ‘purification crystal’ and the progress has slowed down….”
To summarize the ‘past’ part of the book— the people of Kruni had successfully averted Demon Realm Transformation, all thanks to ‘purification crystals’ and ‘devil hunters’.
“…Devil hunters?”
Aileen opened her eyes wide.
“Yes, they’re humans who are particularly strong against devils. Devil hunters can inflict deadly damage to devils, whether the devil has descended or remains in the incarnation body.”
According to the book, devil hunters of this world had already murdered a total of 8 devils.
Aileen shrugged and said, “Well, to me it sounds like stopping Baal would be awfully easy, then.”
“No. The next part is the important part.”
Kim Suho read the next paragraph out loud.
“…As the damage continued to escalate, the devils decided to stir up divisions between humans. Baal possessed the prince of Arunheim and ousted the clan of Leon, whose members had been devil hunters for generations. The eldest daughter of the Leon clan, Harin Von Leon, attempted to escape to the Republic but failed and was murdered…. Two months later, Baal descended.”
‘Baal’, the strongest devil of all.
In the face of the malicious god armed with overwhelming force, the world without its shield—the devil hunters— crumbled easily.
“Baal…,” Aileen muttered, “So, we only have 2 more months left.”
“Two months and three days. The world was destroyed in 3 days after Baal descended.”
“What? 3 days? Seriously?”
Aileen’s expression stiffened.
Even Orden couldn’t have destroyed the world in just 72 hours.
“Yes, it took him 71 hours in total.”
“…”
Aileen started biting her fingernails subconsciously. Kim Suho let out a small sigh as he watched Aileen chew.
“Aileen-ssi, quit your job and become my maid.”
“…What? Your maid? Are you out of your mind?”
“We don’t have any choice here. The most important thing right now is for us to stick together. Also, we have to restore our power and Gifts.”
Kim Suho shrugged. He had only managed to locate Aileen so far, but as sword commander, he could mobilize as many informants as he wanted. That was how he found Aileen in the first place.
With the right composite sketches, he was confident it wouldn’t take him too long to find the others.
“First, I’m going to gather our party and save the eldest daughter of the Leon clan.”
“…Save her? Isn’t she already dead?”
Aileen asked doubtingly, to which Kim Suho grinned.
“Who knows? There are 198 more people like us in this world, after all.”
**
[Lotio Mountains, the peak of Ploriun]
We reached the peak of Ploriun. Due to the severe cold of -50 degrees, we felt as if our bodies were splitting in half but got used to it over time. Harin and I exchanged glances and then started going down the mountain.
“Six more peaks this size and we’ll reach the Republic,” Harin said, leaving footsteps across the white snowfield.
I remarked sarcastically, “Thank god.”
“…Hang in there.”
Harin gave a small smile. She seemed much more comfortable around me after the incident back at the cave.
“Oh, and… the one who murdered your family was probably a Djinn, not a devil.”
Harin whisphered, walking closely behind me. Her tone was cautious.
I threw a glance at Harin.
“…You’ve been thinking about what I said this whole time?”
“Of course I was. How could I not?”
Harin smiled, and I continued to walk.
The climb down was much easier than the climb up.
After 3 hours, I could feel the cold dissipate.
Wild boars, hawks, and monsters such as Yeti began to appear, but Harin and I hunted them down with our sword and crossbow. The boars and the hawks were especially great food items, and we stored them in Harin’s spatial pocket.
“…Wait.”
However, when we reached the midpoint, I felt a faint presence.
The owner of the presence was spying on us, so he or she was definitely not a monster. Or a passerby, for that matter. What kind of person would climb this mountain voluntarily?
There was only one conclusion.
“…Take out your sword.”
Harin did as she was told. sssk— The sound of metal colliding against the sword sheath rang out.
I took out my crossbow and fitted a bolt against the bowstring. Kiiik— The sound of bolt and bowstring rubbing against each other rang out.
There was no such thing as a secret in a place so quiet and so open as this mountain range. Just as we noticed their presences, the enemies must have noticed our hostility.
It was then.
Six assassins in white robes jumped out from below the snow-covered hills and above the barren trees.
Their target was clearly us.
“…It’s Icarus,” Harin muttered as she glared at the enemies. She sounded angry and troubled.
“Icarus? What’s that?”
“They’re a group of assassins who work for Arunheim’s royal family in secret. Looks like they’ve been waiting for us to arrive.”
“…Mm.”
I nodded and looked at the assassins surrounding us.
It would be hard for me in my current state to handle all of them.
…At that moment.
Suddenly something strange happened. One of the assassins looked at me and began trembling.
Confused, I turned my gaze to the assassin.
The assassin was too small to be a man and had black hair poking out of her robe.
Finally she called my name.
“…Kim Hajin?”
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened. I saw through the assassin’s robe.