Chapter 122 - The Cursed Puppeteer 3 (1/2)
Petos shouted as his heart was moved.
A space domination different from the 72 Demon Kings. The true overlord of the demon world was in front of him.
[Where is this? What the hell did you do... .]
Alphone, who had yet to understand the situation, spoke in a trembling voice.
An unknown space where nothing could be seen.
She couldn’t hide herself anymore because all beings were transported to this place.
Tsssssss...
The witch stigma on the back of Leifina's hand lost its shape and scattered away like dust.
Alphone's magic has lost its effectiveness in Woohyuk’s dense demonic energy that covered the surroundings.
“My, My Lord…?”
Leifina, who tried to swing Argent at Woohyuk again, was surprised as her eyes widened.
Once her mind was freed, Woohyuk summoned Aris.
“Go and capture Alphone.”
“Hihiiih! Alright!”
Alphone was desperately controlling the marionette and facing the undead Amy and Agnes.
However, the stuffed dolls no longer moved as she intended, and she gradually got pushed back.
Aris fluttered her red hair and grabbed Alphone's purple hair.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“So, you’ve created trouble for Lord Asura? You’re gonna need a scolding!”
Slit!
The pitch-black scythe cut off the thin strands of demonic energy that were connecting Alphone to Marionette.
Afterwards, Marionette plunged to the ground and undead Amy and Agnes rushed to Alphone.
Whack!
Thud!
Thwak!
The group of the three women lynched on Alphone, creating scars on her delicate body.
“Urgh...”
“Let’s take her to Lord Asura already. He’s waiting for us.”
“It was fun to mess around for the first time in a while. Amy didn’t let me participate back when I served her.”
Aris and Undead Amy grabbed each of Alphone's arms.
While they dragged Alphone to Woohyuk, Agnes cast Analysis Magic from behind.
“Oooh, this girl… The skill’s name is so unique!”
“What is it, Agnes?”
“Soul Separation Technique. It says that human souls can be broken into pieces and stored in dolls. No, not only dolls, but also in living individuals.”
Fragmented souls continued to question their own identity with imperfect memories.
If a single one of them disappears, the original memory and lifespan cannot be restored to its previous state, even if the remaining pieces are gathered together.
They would have to live the rest of their life in an incomplete state.
“What a gritty ability. There’s the possibility that she uses it on herself.”
Petos, who was by Woohyuk's side, expressed a feeling of concern as he placed his hand on his chin.
As Agnes had explained, they may have yet to subdue Alphone completely.
“Hehehe... That’s right. Before you guys came, I split my soul into five pieces and hid them around the Elrond barony.”
If she divided herself too much, each of her stats would decrease, so five was the appropriate amount.
As Alphone giggled, Woohyuk stared with disinterest.
“So what do you mean? Tracking the rest of them is only a matter of time.”
“No, no. Think carefully. Do you think that I planned it so poorly?”
“…Don’t tell me.”
Woohyuk's gaze turned to Leifina, who was standing blankly.
“Have you noticed now? Your precious vassal was already divided into five fragments like me.”
And each fragment was being held as a hostage.
When Alphone proudly spoke of her plans, Woohyuk immediately went on to confirm.
“Leifina, where did you meet me for the first time?”
“…I can't remember.”
“What is the name of the sword you are holding?”
“That’s…”
Alphone seemed to be telling the truth since Leifina couldn’t remember.
‘Things have gotten complicated.’
Leifina would lose 80% of her memories and lifespan unless the fragments were found and recombined.
It was something Woohyuk couldn’t allow to happen.
'I let my guard down.'
He thought the battle would be over once he found the main body because the enemy was merely a puppeteer.
He was lacking information.
No, it was because he had left Leifina alone.
Woohyuk stared at Alphone, rebuking himself in his mind.
“Where did you put the fragments?”
“Hmm~ Who knows~? It could be in other residents, in a doll I made, or it could be a pet cat... Well, there’s a lot of possibilities.”
“You don’t seem to understand your position right now… .”
This was Asura's absolute space.
It was completely disconnected from the outside, so even if Alphone's body were tortured, the other soul fragments wouldn’t know of it.
And she is the fragment that held her most recent memories.
She should know where the rest of Leifina’s fragments were hidden.
Woohyuk tried to hit Alphone when she quickly opened her mouth.
“Do, don’t hit me! I don't want to be hit anymore!”
“Then spill the beans.”
“…”
Alphone mulled over it.
The plan was to buy time until Angrboda would return, but it had gone down the drain.
At this rate, the other soul fragments would be harmed.
‘If only it weren’t for this goddamned absolute space...’
She would’ve completed the curse magic circle on the second floor.
It was left behind by Angrbodda in the case of an emergency. It would allow her to escape even if the intruder could not be suppressed.
'Let's survive for now.’
The reason she had decided to serve Angrboda in the first place was to survive in this damned world.
Alphone began to speak as she recalled the memory of almost being burned to death by the lord for being a cursed puppeteer.
“The soul fragments were scattered to the north, south, east, and west based on this house. They're all stuffed in dolls so that they don't resist, and their owners are me.”
”I see.”
“I can guide you if you want. Since I’m the original body, we won’t be able to retaliate if you take me as a hostage.”
“That wouldn't be so bad either.”