TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 192
I am feeling scared right now.
“Is it you?”
‘Damn.’
“The person this Little Kid is looking for.”
Because an insurmountable wall was right in front of my eyes.
It was the first time I saw an Archbishop.
No, to be precise, it was the first time I saw the villain who would become an Archbishop.
Name: Jung Lv. 48
Job: Apprentice Priest
Favorability: 10
Preferred conversation topics: Isolation/Revenge/Memory/Killing with the hands of a loved one/Severance/Threat to Life/Unattainable Love/Bloodshed/Hardships.
Such grotesque topics.
The malice emanating from him.
Everything was a first for me.
I thought I had encountered many villains while crawling through the slums, but compared to the man before me, they were nothing.
At least they had the goal of money, but this guy was a villain who killed people purely for his own amusement. The malice he emanated was so overwhelming that even the delinquents roaming the slums seemed laughable in comparison, and my shoulders trembled.
It felt overwhelming.
Neither the way to escape.
Nor the way to resolve this situation came to mind. No matter how much of an Apprentice Priest I was, my power was mere child’s play in front of the man who would become an Archbishop.
For a snot-nosed Young Child like me to face an Archbishop who easily surpassed a Knight was an absurd story. Of course, I was physically and mentally superior compared to other kids, but that was only within the standards of being a child.
I was too weak to do anything, and I knew that no matter what I did, nothing would change. Honestly, I thought running away was the answer.
Otherwise, I would die.
The High Priest of Oblivion was the worst Antagonist to appear in the novel.
He used a fragmentary power that touched upon the imagery of memory, and with that ability, he manipulated people’s memories, forcing them to kill their families with their own hands. Mikhail hated him the most, and even I had listed him as someone I never wanted to meet.
The scales didn’t even need weighing.
I had to run away immediately; it was a dire situation where survival was at stake.
Instead of standing here blankly like this. It was the moment to abandon Mikhail and run, I shouted to myself.
‘Run away.’
‘Anyway, Mikhail is the Protagonist, so he’ll survive….’
‘Damn, you’re just an Extra. You’re nothing.’
‘So, move already….’
The Risk I had to take to protect Mikhail was far too great for me.
But you know.
My damn legs wouldn’t move. Even though my mind was screaming to run away, as if glue had been applied to my soles, my damn legs wouldn’t move and were telling me to stay put.
I let out a Deep Sigh and said.
“Let go.”
I mustered all the petty courage I had within my chest and said as calmly as possible.
“I said, let go.”
No matter how I thought about it, I seemed like a Push-Over. I couldn’t understand why I was doing this for Mikhail, no matter how much I asked myself.
Like a Push-Over.
Even though I had heard hurtful words, I thought that abandoning someone like this and pretending not to know them wasn’t something an adult should do.
Isn’t it a waste? I’ve fed and sheltered him all this time. A future where I could gain great wealth through excellent connections was right in front of me, and letting him go like this felt like a waste.
I stayed put, presenting myself with reasons I could accept. If I didn’t do this, I felt like I would run away right now.
Even if I seemed selfish, I couldn’t help it. This was the only way I could muster courage and find solace.
I suppressed my trembling heart and slowly approached Jung.
“You don’t like it, do you? Let go.”
The only thing in my hand was a thin Wooden Stick.
It wasn’t a Holy Sword or a sharp blade, just a Wooden Stick that seemed like it could snap at any moment, but it didn’t matter. After all, this wasn’t a battle I intended to win.
I held back my trembling breath and gave Mikhail a Gentle Smile.
It’s okay now.
Mikhail’s eyes, which met mine, began to tremble greatly.
“…”
Was it a feeling of relief? I hoped so.
I didn’t know Mikhail’s Emotions right now, but at least it wasn’t a negative emotion, so I thought that was fortunate.
I was relieved.
That he wasn’t sulking at me.
I thought he was sulking because of the harsh words like ‘Do whatever you want,’ but I was relieved that the emotion didn’t last long.
Jung was silently staring at me.
He seemed to be thinking about how to toy with me, only showing an Intriguing Smile as he watched me approach him slowly.
It seemed he found my fearless approach interesting. A normal child would have been frightened or run away at the sight of their Friend being tormented.
I calmly looked at The Man in front of me and said.
“What are you looking at?”
“…Heh.”
“Haven’t you ever seen a handsome guy before?”
“Interesting.”
“I find your face more interesting. No matter how I look at it, you seem like you’re in your 50s.”
“You’re trembling with fear, yet your mouth is still alive.”
“Would it be dead?”
‘Filthily perceptive.’
Judging by the way he was fiddling with the dagger hanging at his waist, it didn’t seem like there was any bright and lively future where he would let me live.
Since I was going to get robbed anyway, I thought I might as well run my mouth to feel a little better, so I eagerly spoke to him with my open mouth.
“Let that kid go.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
-Squeeze…
Jung began to strangle Mikhail’s neck tightly. Mikhail, writhing in pain on the ground, struggled desperately to escape The Man’s grasp.
Mikhail shouted at me.
“Run away…!”
I dug my ear and responded.
“What are you saying? Where would I go without you?”
“I said, run away…!”
“No. I can’t run away.”
I gave a small laugh and looked at The Man emitting Eerie Energy as I spoke.
“It’s already f*cked.”
If I had planned to run away, I should’ve done it earlier. If he was going to tell me, he should’ve said so sooner instead of making me look foolish.
I slowly pointed the tip of the Wooden Stick toward The Man. I had to do my Best Effort with what I could right now.
The Outcome was obvious even without looking, but wasn’t it better than doing nothing? And who am I? I’m the Possessor who makes the impossible possible. As someone who creates many variables, I had already devised ways in my head to overcome this situation.
Of course, sacrifices would come with those variables.
I gripped the Wooden Stick in my hand tightly and gathered my strength.
[Limit Break is testing the limits of ‘Physical Strength.’]
[Limit Break is testing the limits of ‘Genius of Weaponry.’]
[Limit Break is…]
·
·
·
Perhaps the being called God created me as a disposable tool for this very moment.
I mouthed silently to Mikhail.
‘It’s okay.’
I’ll figure something out.
Just as I always have, I’ll find a way.
I spoke briefly to The Man.
“Let go of that hand. This is your last chance.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then I have no choice.”
I kicked off the ground and charged forward.
Adding the weight of my life to the already determined scale, I prayed for it to tilt even slightly in my favor.
*
The Archbishop of Greed, Jung, watched The Boy throwing punches with an Intriguing Smile.
Striking in an awkward stance with his fist.
And sharply moving in to grab the Collar whenever a Small Opening appeared.
Judging by his use of rather tricky Martial Techniques, it seemed he had been learning Martial Arts since childhood.
-Clang.
Jung, unable to fathom how such strength could come from such a small body, let out a faint laugh while observing The Boy.
‘Interesting.’
The Wooden Stick The Boy had been holding had long since broken. Jung had shattered it with a single strike to his wrist.
‘I didn’t expect him to aim for the wrist.’
The Boy had struck the wrist holding down the Kid named Mikhail with the stick. Jung had thought he could easily brush off an attack from a Slum Kid, but his judgment had been gravely mistaken.
-It worked…!
-?!
-Crack…!
It didn’t seem like The Boy had intended to use the stick as a weapon from the start. It appeared he had planned to use it merely as a means to separate Mikhail from Jung.
Jung, wearing a faint Smile, gazed at the panting Mikhail.
“Huff… Huff…”
It seemed he still needed more Time to gather his senses. That was a good sign. After all, the scenario Jung had envisioned required that Kid to be present.
He wanted to feel Extreme Despair.
“Where are you looking? Like some kind of flirt.”
-Smack…!
Jung intercepted The Boy’s incoming fist with a sardonic grin.
The wrist that had been struck by the Kid throbbed with a dull ache. The first attack seemed to have cracked the bone, as Jung found it difficult to exert strength in his right hand, grinding his teeth against the rising Pain.
‘Interesting.’
He wanted to instill despair in The Boy who was fighting him with a blazing determination.
Something even more stimulating.
He wanted to create future repercussions for himself.
Jung had always been fond of the thrill of Revenge. He didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because he had grown up in a place full of Betrayal, but Jung enjoyed being hated by others.
That Hatred served as a Medium that made him stronger and as a source to fuel his Dark Energy. And it gave him something to look forward to.
He imagined the day someone would come to him, saying, ‘You’re my Friend’s Nemesis…,’ only to die miserably at his hands. Jung thought there could be nothing more entertaining.
With a faint Smile, Jung began crafting a scenario in his mind.
To extract even more despair.
As he continued to fight The Boy, he envisioned how to season the despair to make it a more flavorful dish.
“Stop thinking strange thoughts…!”
For now, let’s finish this first.
-Thud.
Jung pulled out a Small Dagger from behind his waist and plunged it into The Boy’s shoulder. He didn’t stab deeply. It would’ve been troublesome if he died.
After all, the main course hadn’t been decided yet.
Should it be that Boy?
Or should it be that Kid named Mikhail?
With a faint Smile, Jung covered The Boy’s mouth and spoke.
“Let’s see how your dish turns out first.”
Just as the Dark Magic began to invade Ricardo’s mind.
-Crackle.
An intense Pain surged through Jung.