Volume 3 Chapter 185 Quest： Black Ice Sudden Rain 2️⃣
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I got my ‘glasses’ now, so I can use vampire skills—especially the power to drain life force,” Kian said, his voice steady. “At first, I only stole magic from the opposite sex when I fought them, but after getting ancient vampire gear, draining life from vampires in the Labyrinth of Roses, and receiving blood from Owls, my powers grew stronger. Mist Form improved too. My senses—sight, hearing, smell—all became sharper. Recently, I finally managed to take down this blood magic armor.”
He looked at Sarah and Linca. They were listening closely, eyes wide with interest.
”I got obsessed with gaining vampire powers,” Kian continued. “Every new skill brought me closer to the swordsman I always wanted to be. Whenever I had time, I searched for vampire equipment across many regions and made it my own.”
Sarah frowned. “Then, what about this armor?”
”‘Silver Ice’ came from the Châtillon coast. ‘Nightshade’ was found in an old fort north of this swamp,” Kian explained as he pulled a strange potion from his pocket. “I found the body of a vampire girl sleeping quietly in that fort. Now, I’m using her blood with this potion Talia made to gain even more power.”
Sarah blinked and raised her hand. “Wait, slow down. I can’t follow this sudden confession.”
She pressed her palm to her forehead, then stretched out her other hand to stop him.
”Step by step. The spirit of the Black Onyx… is that the same one Silverwooloo summoned?”
”Yes,” Kian said quietly. “And it’s the same spirit who sold armor to Rean.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “So, you knew the merchant Rean was dealing with in the back alley?”
”Yes, sorry I kept it from you.”
”You’re unbelievable!” Sarah snapped, then lunged at him, her eyebrows raised. “Why didn’t you tell me? This is huge! It’s super important! I get you couldn’t trust me, but… did you tell Natra and the others?”
”I haven’t told them,” Kian admitted.
”Why not?”
”Because it’s part of my deepest secret,” Kian said. “I want to be the strongest swordsman, so I keep some things hidden. If I said I knew the Black Onyx spirit, or that the man trading with Rean was that spirit, it would lead to the truth about the glasses and the vampire gear. I couldn’t risk that.”
Sarah’s voice rose. “You fool!”
She slapped him across the cheek, then pulled him into a tight hug, tears shining in her eyes.
”Trading with the spirit that destroyed Silverwooloo? Are you crazy? You didn’t offer your soul, did you? I don’t want you turning into someone like Mr. Rean!”
”The price was just one Franz iron coin,” Kian said softly.
Sarah gasped. “No way!” Linca’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the glasses.
Sarah snatched the glasses from Linca and examined them carefully.
”No, I don’t understand. Ms. Linca, try using ‘Penetration’ to scan them,” Sarah said.
”I was about to,” Linca replied. “Hmm, there’s the word ‘spirit’ inside, but I don’t fully get it. When I touched the letters hard,” she paused, “my hand got pushed away like a rubber band.”
”It bounces off like magic,” she explained.
”It feels like a charm that lifts the spirit… is it just a joke item?”
”I told Sarah about my split personality before,” Kian said quietly. “When I wear these glasses, I turn cruel. At first, I thought it was another personality, but now I realize it was always a part of me.”
Sarah shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a joke. Some people change when they drink, though.”
Linca carefully scanned every part of the glasses with ‘Penetration.’
”The word ‘spirit’ looks like a ritual,” she said. “But it’s not the kind that controls the mind. It’s more like a spell used to share information across distances.”
She used a wooden stick to copy the ritual engraved inside the glasses onto the ground.
Kian looked confused, but Sarah muttered, “It’s similar to the magic tool rituals Jibril developed.”
”Ms. Sarah, you think so too?” Linca asked.
”Yes,” Sarah answered. “We should put this magic tool aside for now. We can’t break it here.”
”Right.”
”Now, back to Kian’s personality,” Sarah said, refocusing. “So, the reason you keep putting on and taking off the glasses is—”
”To get rid of hesitation, to switch between personalities. When I fought Linca, I used the cold side of me to win,” Kian said.
Sarah frowned. “You weren’t brainwashed by the spirit, were you?”
”I don’t know,” Kian admitted. “I’ve always been like this. The cold part was inside me all along. I don’t know how you see it, but even when I was with Azrael, I was this way.”
”Why do you see yourself as cold?”
Sarah’s eyes softened, full of sadness.
”I’m not always cold,” Kian said. “I can decide without emotion when I need to. I’ve shown you that a few times, right?”
Sarah fell silent, looking lost for words, while Linca nodded repeatedly.
”There’s a gentle, kind side and a cold, logical side,” Linca said. “The strange charm I felt from Sir Kian came from switching between those sides with the glasses. Now, you can control both sides without wearing them.”
”Yeah, that’s right,” Kian nodded.
Sarah and Linca exchanged looks. Sarah seemed confused, while Linca smiled in satisfaction.
”For now, I’ll keep the glasses,” Sarah said firmly as she took them from Kian. Since Kian didn’t need them now, he didn’t argue.
Kian continued, “I sensed the Black Onyx spirit when I explored the old fortress north of here. That’s when I found the vampire girl’s body. I felt a strong, powerful force and swore not to reveal the spirit’s secrets.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “But you’re telling us now?”
Sarah’s expression changed as she stepped back, calming herself and looking at him carefully.
”I suspected it had something to do with Rean’s lost payment. It seems something happened to the Black Onyx spirit. Even though you told me the secret, he still hasn’t contacted me.”
”This is worse than the war with the Beastmen Alliance,” Linca whispered.
”I’m scared,” Sarah added softly.
”Make up your mind. If you’re going to give up on Kian, you can leave,” Linca said sharply.
”I get it,” Sarah said quietly. “It was ugly. Fine. I’ve heard enough. I’ll brace myself.”
”What matters is, for me, the spirit’s contact only woke up a talent I already had,” Kian said. “I didn’t get a gift like Rean or a magic structure like Silverwooloo’s. What I have was inside me from the start.”
Sarah and Linca looked somewhat relieved.
”You didn’t give up your soul or anything, right?”
”No, it’s not worth that much,” Kian said.
Talia pouted nearby but had warned that if anyone else wore the glasses, it would only cause confusion.
Even with vampire powers, only Kian, who naturally has fewer tachyonian cells, could get the first absorption. If he could beat enemies like Griffin and Burgkain, equipment like ‘Nightshade’ was just a bonus.
’Don’t say that! Didn’t you enjoy talking with this one?’ Talia protested.
(That’s true) Kian said with a faint smirk.
’Right?’ Talia replied, watching him closely.
Kian laughed dryly. “Anyway, even with these glasses, my muscles don’t grow, and my magic power doesn’t increase. It’s just a trick to make me seem arrogant and confident.”
Linca nodded. “Okay, I get it. Still, this isn’t exactly the best place for a serious talk like this—right in the middle of a swamp.”
”Exactly. That’s why I want to discuss the details after we return to Ramsey, including Natra and the others,” Kian said, lowering his voice. “As for Serena… honestly, I’m not sure if we should involve her in this.”
”We should talk about it later, but I’m curious about the spirit of Black Onyx,” Linca said.
”That’s true. But I think I should be the one to talk about it. Isn’t it painful to be left out by those you call companions? For Serena, I think getting caught up in some strange grudge would be worse than staying out of it—especially after what happened.”
Serena had been deliberately kept away from the Silverwooloo incident by Barghest and Mrs. Colinna. That decision led to the abandonment incident three months ago.
If Kian and the others repeat the same mistake, Serena’s trust could break beyond repair.
”How did you get the information about the vampire equipment, the mysterious Elixir, and everything else? Even with those glasses, they only change your personality, right? They don’t give special info?” Linca asked.
”No,” Kian replied. “I learned a lot by wearing these glasses. How exactly? Well, it’s a strange story. If I start now, you’ll only get more confused. After the mission, I’ll explain everything in detail. This isn’t a tale to wrap up in an hour, especially not in a swamp.”
”Yeah, it’s definitely not something to finish in just one hour,” Linca said, resting her cheek on her hand.
Kian lowered his gaze. “Sorry. I knew this would happen. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m only causing you trouble.”
”That would have been worse,” Sarah said softly, tightening her grip on Kian’s shoulder. The silver ice on her hand creaked faintly.
”Ah, it’s going to break! Stop using gorilla strength all of a sudden!” Kian groaned.
”Shut up, idiot! I’m a delicate maiden!” Sarah shot back.
”I don’t think Ms. Sarah is fragile,” Linca said with a smile.
”Then look into my eyes!” Sarah said, bumping her forehead against Kian’s and locking her gaze with his.
”Thank you for telling us,” she added quietly. “For you, revealing your strength like this must be unthinkable.”
”That’s true. And by sharing it, I’m dragging you all into my problems.”
”What are you talking about? From the moment you skillfully talked us into marriage, we’ve already been pulled into your world.” Linca sighed.
”Well, at least you told us,” she continued. “It would be worse if you acted like Mr. Rean. Even though we’ve only just started properly working together, I’m glad you’ve opened up.”
”I should have told you sooner,” Kian admitted.
”For Ms. Sarah, definitely,” Linca added.
”When we get back, we’ll have a meeting. The good news is, most preparations are nearly done,” Kian said.
”Is there anything else we need to discuss now? Or should we wait until we return? More complicated stuff will probably come up later, right?” Sarah asked.
”There is one thing about the Elixir I must mention. It’s dangerous—so dangerous it could change the entire battle.”
Kian explained about the Elixir made from Talia’s blood, a human doll. The ingredients were crucial, and he had already taken three drops. Thanks to that, he could now use blood-based combat abilities.
He described how, on the fourth underground level of the Catacombs, taking two drops drastically boosted his physical power but cost him his sanity for a while, causing chaos.
After he finished, Sarah and Linca stared at him in shock.
”Sir Kian… you’re not normal,” Sarah whispered. “How far will you chase power? That medicine—it’s almost poison. If your story is true, you’ve become something not quite human.”
”Your basic ability is already beyond human,” Linca added softly. “Is that because of your endless desire for strength?”
Kian nodded. “Yes. To explain in a way you’ll understand: I spent days losing everything because I was weak. After being cast out, the only thing holding me together was Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship. I chased strength nonstop but never truly had it. Now, I’m paying the price.”
Kian continued. “I confronted Oswald because I envied his beautiful swordsmanship. I wanted to fight him, no matter the cost. I feel more alive risking my life in battle than in any other way.”
”Well, there are people like that,” Linca said quietly. “I also feel a rush during combat—a strange kind of pleasure. I try to hold back, but it’s addictive.”
”I think I understand what Kian means,” Sarah muttered, staring at her hand. “At first, I worked hard to become a Death Sword User. But as I surpassed humanity, I got hooked on gaining strength. Even in deadly fights, there’s a part of me that enjoys it.”
”A mindless, fight-crazy gorilla, huh? Ow, my head!” Linca complained. “Ms. Sarah, I don’t like people who just fight all the time.”
”Well then, you better start liking it.”
”Eh!? …Fine, I’ll handle it carefully.”
”Don’t handle it roughly! Violence is wrong!”
”For now, I’ll keep this medicine safe,” Sarah reached out her hand. “Rufna and I will analyze the ingredients. After we get the results, you can decide whether to keep taking it.”
”I won’t take it recklessly,” Kian promised. “But unlike the glasses, this bottle is made of ordinary glass. If it breaks and spills on skin, it could be dangerous. I want to store it safely in the Night Wraith for now. Hope that’s okay.”
”Understood. Please hand it over when we get back to Ramsey.”
”Got it.” Kian nodded seriously and looked up at the sky. “One of the Wing Cain units we sent out for scouting has returned. They found Pesta.”
At Kian’s words, Sarah and Linca tightened their expressions. Kian commanded the Wing Cain circling above to guide them toward the monster.
The winged creature flapped its wings and flew northeast.
Kian, Sarah, and Linca followed quickly behind.
* * *
An hour later, they faced Pesta. Kian and the others struck with the power of Talia’s magic sword, combined with Sarah and Linca’s magic, silencing the enemy instantly.
The Wolfmen magician’s staff boosted the witches’ magic power, spell speed, and calculation. Sarah was especially strong—the speed of her magic control was incredible. Speed truly meant everything.
(Could it really be this easy?) Kian wondered, looking down at Pesta’s vanishing body, leaving green powder on the ground. Nearby, Linca gathered the mycorrhiza growing there quickly.
’That’s no surprise. With the right weapons, those two are nearly unbeatable,’ Talia said.
(Could it be that I actually have some real fighting power too?)
’Keep getting stronger. Powerful Blood Servants are always useful.’
Including the Night Wraith carrying their gear, three remained. One would be used for Isthbaran.
It seemed like the perfect time to make a new Night Wraith familiar.
”…Alright, it’s done,” Linca said. “The hot water prep is ready. Throw in anything that can get wet.”
”I’ll burn the leftover fungi, just in case,” Kian said.
”Please do.”
They moved away from Pesta’s remains. Linca waved her hand through the air, wiping out the fungi and flies that had spread from the monster.
After that, they threw their clothes and fabrics into boiling water, while Linca used her ‘Penetration’ ability to kill the fungi stuck to their skin cleanly. For the armor, they washed it carefully with a special detergent.
Kian and the others could handle any infection, but if the fungi from Pesta spread to Ramsey, it would cause a biological disaster. They were extremely careful—there was no such thing as being too careful.
The work was finally finished around 10 PM.
The fight lasted only a second, but over three hours were spent on scouting and cleaning. This was a typical activity for Adventurers.
”──Wait, someone is coming this way,” Linca said as she summoned Nue and prepared to suggest retreat.
Kian suddenly turned to the northwest sky.
Linca frowned. “Magic sensing shows no sign of anything important.”
”No, they’re coming this way. Northwest, about three kilometers out, moving fast,” Kian said.
”Three kilometers is in my sensing range, but I don’t feel anything,” Sarah said, raising her magician staff and tilting her head.
Kian’s eyes narrowed as he watched the three Wing Cain scouts sent for reconnaissance get cut down in one swift strike.
”It’s the Black Panther tribe,” Kian said.
Their speed matched the feeling they had when something approached the ancient temple.
Kian squinted. “It’s Arminus.”
”────! ” Sarah and Linca stiffened.
Kian looked toward the northeast horizon. “They know where we are. They’re coming straight here. As for numbers… except Arminus, I don’t sense any others.”
”A solo charge?” Sarah frowned. “Is he crazy?”
”He probably thinks it’s enough since we three couldn’t react before,” Kian said. “Maybe he judged that any ordinary warrior would just get in the way or become a hostage.”
”Either way, we’ve been underestimated,” Sarah said, glancing between the two female warrior monks.
”I still can’t fully control the blood arts weapon, and I don’t have the speed to match him in a duel,” Kian admitted. “The plan was to trap him before the final battle. So what now? Do we fight?”
”Charging alone is the last thing I want,” Linca said as she put on her combat gloves, her eyes glowing with fierce intent. “Let’s take him down here.”
”The Stone Soldier Formation is useless now,” she added.
”But this works better,” Linca said. “I recommend fighting here.”
”Just to be clear, I can’t keep up with his moves. You have a plan, right?”
”Yes. It mostly follows the plan from the strategy room, but Sarah and I have been practicing our coordination since then, preparing for Arminus.”
Sarah nodded and drew her Wolfmen falchion from her waist. “Leave it to us. This time, we’ll repay what we lost last time.”
”Arminus will regret not cutting off our heads when we met,” Linca said, her voice fierce.
Seeing them fired up, Kian nodded. “Got it. I’ll trust you both. Please handle it. You’ll bring the storm, right?”
”No time, and it’s unnecessary,” Sarah said with narrowed eyes as a small black shadow appeared on the horizon.
Linca pulled out a stone tablet and casually dropped it on the marshy ground. Then she started chanting.
”Kian, stay back. You’re the leader. Keep enough distance to react but don’t get close enough to be beheaded.”
”…Understood,” Kian said, stepping back.
He didn’t like being protected by others, but he couldn’t interfere with their plan.
As he moved back, heavy breathing grew louder, coming closer. A giant warrior with pitch-black skin leapt over the muddy swamp ground, charging under the moonlight.
It took less than a minute for Kian and Arminus to face each other, only a few meters apart.
Arminus jumped high and landed in front of Sarah and Linca, who stood to protect Kian. Her glowing yellow eyes pierced the dark night.
”Kian of Izerland, I’ve come to take your head,” Arminus said.
Kian shouted from behind Sarah and Linca, “Lord Arminus! We are under a truce! Are you going to break the alliance’s decision?”
”The truce is broken,” Arminus said quietly.
”What did you say?” Kian asked.
”The truce for tonight… no, it was already broken,” Arminus said. “Lady Eleonora and the chieftains decided. They and the Adventurer Guild are abandoning the ancient temple. We’ll take it by force, and take Ramsey by force too. To survive the winter well and give young warriors a chance to earn merit.”
”――――.”
Talia sighed. ‘Looks like Eleonora failed.’
Four days after the truce was made. Less than two days since Umar left the ancient temple. The wheat ears still green.
Given no other choice, it was unavoidable, but it happened sooner than expected.
That morning, Eleonora’s letter to Maribel said negotiations were going well, but this—though shocking—was not completely unexpected.
(Given how slow letters are, I shouldn’t have trusted Eleonora’s report fully…)
Still, no matter what about the truce, Arminus charging alone was the fact. If they could stop her here, all problems would end.
”By now, my son Fraus and his elites are attacking Ramsey. Your knights protecting Ramsey will soon go to Valhalla. And you as well.”
Arminus drew a silver greatsword from her back. Sarah and Linca tensed.
”Now, I will send you to the gods.”
With those words, Arminus vanished into the ground, leaving behind a blast of wind.
(Where—)
Before Kian could react, it was too late.
If Kian had been the target, his head would already have fallen.
But since it wasn’t, Sarah—who couldn’t dodge ‘Penetration’—was targeted.
”Gah…!” Sarah gasped.
”――――!?” Linca cried out.
Something unbelievable happened.
Arminus reappeared in the darkness, suddenly tearing open empty space. The void opened diagonally in front of Sarah and Linca.
Sarah dropped her sword, eyes wide in shock.
”Ah… wha…?”
Blood gushed from Arminus’s throat and all over her body.
”Kimon T Ourkou (Divine Gate Tactics),” Linca muttered while calmly flicking her magic.
The stone tablet buried behind Arminus glowed faint blue.
”It distorts the senses of enemies within range and makes them lose their sense of direction.”
”Wha…!?” Arminus gasped.
”You let your guard down, Arminus,” Sarah said as she released a hidden ‘string’ of energy.
In front of them, a net of steel-like threads formed.
Linca made Arminus’s senses confused, then Sarah pushed her into the ‘string’ trap.
Arminus’s body got wrapped tightly in the steel threads, cutting deep into her critical spots, including her throat.
Sarah pulled back her arm, retracting the ‘string’.
The threads tightened fiercely, and Arminus’s neck snapped with a loud crack.
”────…”
Arminus’s heavy body fell into the swamp mud with a splash.
The air filled with the sharp smell of blood.
Notes:
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• tachyonian – a cell that generates magic power, allowing humans to enhance their bodies and perform magic to manipulate the external world. (tachyon: particle that always travels faster than light.)
• Serena – Wolfmen Girl
• Colinna – Serena’s mother.
• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’
• Nue – A Shikigami summoned by Linca. It has the appearance of a monster with a tiger’s limbs and a monkey’s head. Nue is a powerful but dangerous creature that requires a skilled magician to control.
• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.
• Arminus – Male. Leader of the Black Panther Tribe. Possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enhanced by the tribe’s unique technique that repels energy and magic attacks. His speed and strength surpass those of High Warlord Isthbaran. Wields the magic sword Balmung, capable of cleaving through an ice dragon with a single strike. His black fur provides camouflage in low visibility, making him nearly undetectable. Relationship: Leader of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Fraus – Male. Son of Arminus. Member of the Black Panther Tribe. Shares his father’s enhanced physical abilities and combat prowess. Relationship: Subordinate and family to Arminus.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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