A chill wind swept across the land, and Solion's head, which had been rolling down the sloping floor, came to a stop when it hit a rock.
“……”
Obern took in the scene with wide eyes.
‘What... did I just see?’
Standing still, Shin gazed down at Solion.
His back, though not broad, seemed immense at that moment, like a towering Taishan mountain.
An overwhelming presence.
As the oppressive feeling made it hard to breathe, their eyes met at that very moment.
‘……!’
Startled, Obern took an involuntary step back.
It felt like a storm was about to hit, a suffocating pressure. In the face of this unprecedented awe, Obern thought,
‘...A monster.’
Yes, a monster.
Despite his eyes showing no trace of malice, how could they be so terrifying?
A voice was heard at that moment.
[Scared?]
“……”
[Heh, yeah. You should be. This is Transcendence. Well, just a half, but still.]
Shin chuckled and turned his gaze.
However, Obern, looking at him, could not help but feel uneasy.
‘How...’
Should he say consistent? No, rather, the word 'crazy' would be more fitting.
When he was spewing out boiling anger, and now, how could he be so ridiculously cocky?
It was a flow of emotions that a person in a normal state of mind could never produce.
- Obern, remember. The most dangerous ones are those who act calmly crazy.
The words of his master came to mind!
However, regardless of that, Shin picked up the coffin of the dead and handed it to Aster.
[Here, you wicked one. This is what you were looking for.]
“……”
Aster looked at Shin without a word.
[What? Not taking it?]
His teasing posture, his slanted stance, his condescending gaze despite his small stature—everything was just like the usual Shin.
The same, yet...
‘...Stupid. Just showing off.’
What? A half Transcendence? What? Scared?
He chuckled and sneered as usual, but could his boiling emotions really calm down so easily?
No.
Emotions are harder to extinguish after they burst out than to prevent them from bursting out in the first place.
If they had not burst out, it would be one thing, but once they did, they should be completely resolved.
Just like in the Chamber of Trials. All the festering had to be expelled to prevent it from festering again.
But Shin, how could he pretend to be so calm...
Perhaps, he did not know how.
He had never reflected on his own emotions or taken care of himself. He had just endured, endured, and endured, constantly suppressing and berating himself to remain unshaken.
So, he was stupid. What other expression was needed?
“You...”
[You...]
Trying to say something, their voices overlapped coincidentally.
“...You go first.”
Aster, feeling awkward, yielded the initiative. Shin did not refuse.
But the words that came out of his mouth were truly infuriating.
[Maybe, are you scared too?]
“...”
Aster tightly closed his mouth. Or rather, he tried to close it but could not.
“Hah.”
A smirk. An uncontrollable, exasperated laugh.
[No need to pretend to be tough. Yeah? If you're scared, just say it. Still, with all the time we've spent together, I wouldn't beat you up...]
“F*ck you.”
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound echoed around.
A louder impact than usual. Shin, momentarily dazed by the blow, could not regain his composure, and the humiliation was just beginning.
“You little brat... If you think about it, can't you hold it in and crawl up, huh?”
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
Uninterrupted metallic sounds. Shin curled up, covering his head.
[Shields, shields! The helmet is going to dent. You f*cking bastard,]
For a moment.
The cries of the dead echoed through the Hamern Great Forest.
* * *
After the commotion.
I put the groaning Shin into the Subjugation Bracelet and looked at Obern.
But, why?
“Junior.”
“Y-Yes? Senior?”
The guy flinched at my call.
“Contact the 4th Base Camp.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
For some reason, his determination was higher than usual.
Was he scared by the sight of me beating up Shin earlier? It could be.
After all, if there's a strong guy, and someone who can handle the strong guy, that someone looks even stronger.
Looking at Obern, what could I say?
‘Should I say he's kind, or stupid? In the end, he's the best here.’
Think about it.
Shin is bound by the Subjugation Bracelet, so that's one thing, but what is the relationship between me and Obern?
Senior and junior.
On the surface, I am the superior, but let's dig deeper.
Then, who is my senior?
‘Reheim, of course.’
And Reheim has Obern as a disciple.
If I were the disciple of the principal senior, I wouldn't have to bow much to Obern...
‘But that would be too terrible.’
Anyway, with Obern having Reheim as a backer, he is, in a sense, the highest authority here!
Of course, if someone heard my thoughts, they might say, “No, that's not true.”
Then, I can confidently say that person has never been in a difficult situation.
Either they have a solid backer or have lived a peaceful life without any trouble.
That's how the world works.
The world is ruled by noble families, academic cliques, or regional alliances.
Even if Reheim and I are seniors and juniors, or part of an academic clique, how can that compare to the bond between a master and disciple?
So, what am I saying?
‘Obern... probably won't ever have to face me in his life.’
I am a troubleshooter.
A person who submits to authority.
If things go wrong, I'll use authority, but I generally respect it.
Especially if the person is stronger than me.
In that sense, Obern deserved respect.
Anyway.
“Take your time, take your time.”
“Y-Yes, sir...!”
I looked at the determined Obern and rubbed my fist.
Thinking I might never have a chance to hit him, I felt a strange sense of regret.
Anyway.
‘The Golden Horse Demon was dealt with faster than expected.’
Should I say the situation was good?
Initially, I thought the expected battle time would be about an hour at the shortest, and two to three hours at the longest.
But, excluding the travel time, the battle time was not that long.
So, was there any leeway?
‘No, not really.’
The leeway I'm talking about is not time.
Let's say... yes. Power leeway.
‘That bastard... did he really pull out Transcendence there?’
What was the reason for supporting Shin with precious elixirs in this battle?
The Coffin of the Dead
The artifact in my hand.
My plan was this.
Even if I consumed some elixirs and wasted mana, getting the Coffin of the Dead would make it possible to use Shin as a power.
Look at him now.
The small amount of black mana infused by the Golden Horse Demon. He's regaining his strength from it!
I don't know the speed of the black mana charging in the Coffin of the Dead, but I thought it was possible.
But.
‘He could use his strength until just before he died.’
As a spectator, his body seemed like a porcelain vase about to shatter.
This was the price of manifesting Transcendence in a Death Knight's body, even if it was only half.
The anger in his heart was so great that it burned him to ashes.
So, could a person go crazy? Or not?
Well, the battle ended earlier than expected, so the loss of mana and fatigue were not that great.
“Sigh...”
A sigh.
“Sigh...”
A second sigh.
I didn't take a third breath.
“Senior, the communication is over.”
“Oh, really? What did he say?”
“Well... I didn't hear it clearly, but Commander Phlenn said the situation is fine. We don't need to hurry.”
“...?”
It was a confusing statement.
Why is it fine?
‘Is he about to die?’
After all, if there are two friends poisoned, and only one antidote, and while they argue over it, one friend says,
‘Actually, I had an antidote. I'm fine, so you take it.’
‘Are you fine?’
‘Of course, I'm fine!’
The friend, believing it firmly, takes the antidote.
But it turns out the friend who said he was fine was not fine. He pretended to be fine to let the other friend have the antidote!
It was a beautiful story.
‘If it weren't for the lack of realism. It's hard to believe.’
If my friend... well, I don't have such a friend, but let's assume I do.
If my friend gives up the antidote like that?
‘I'd beat him up.’
Isn't it suspicious?
What was the intention behind giving up the antidote? Could it be a pure intention? The world is not that pure.
The purest thing is two fists. Only that.
That's why.
“Not a lie?”
“W-Well... Why are you asking?”
Was my gaze too obvious?
Obern, looking serious, I shook my head slightly.
“No. Anyway, the situation is fine?”
“Yes. He didn't seem to be lying. He said more, but the communication was cut off...”
“Hmm, I see.”
It was truly a mystery.
I wanted to run and check if he was selling something, but the situation being what it is, I suppressed my desire.
Anyway...
‘The situation at the 4th Base Camp is quite good...’
“There's plenty of time to recover mana.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“Then, what should we do...”
“...?”
I crossed my arms and scanned Obern with my eyes.
After a moment.
“Give me the communication crystal.”
“...? Yes.”
Obern readily handed me the communication crystal. I took it and gave him what I was holding.
“Take this.”
“This is...”
“The Coffin of the Dead. Inject mana into it. And... put this on.”
“...?”
Swoosh—
As Obern's mana was accepted, the Coffin of the Dead changed color.
‘The owner recognition is complete. Now, what's left...’
I handed the Subjugation Bracelet to Obern.
But, why?
“...”
He didn't take the bracelet and just stared at me.
“This is... Isn't this the bracelet bound to Death Knight? Why are you giving it to me?”
“Ah, I didn't want to transfer it without his consent? It's fine. It's all specified in the contract. It might be better for him too.”
Shin, despite being a crude swordsman, was meticulous about contracts.
One of the agreed terms when making a subjugation contract with the Subjugation Bracelet.
If the 'Party A' transfers the Subjugation Bracelet without the consent of 'Party B', 'Party B' can arbitrarily terminate the subjugation relationship with the new owner (hereafter referred to as 'Party C'). This clause also applies to 'Party C'.
In this case, Obern is 'Party C'. Not the disease, but the 'C' in the contract.
Anyway, it's not a bad situation for Shin.
“But, what...”
“Tsk.”
“...No matter the reason, you must have a plan.”
Obern, quickly taking the Subjugation Bracelet as I slightly frowned.
I confirmed that Obern had recognized himself as the owner of the Subjugation Bracelet and subtly turned my head.
Swoosh—
The withered leaves and undead corpses swaying in the Hamern Great Forest. The ominous aura felt from inside.
Distracted by that aura for a moment.
A voice was heard.
[You f*cking bastard, what's your plan? Again? You haven't forgotten our contract, have you?]