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Chapter 214

How can he call that thing a “decent” weapon.... That guy is truly insane.

How high did one’s standards have to be to consider a weapon capable of countering such a tremendous amount of mana as “decent”? Seriously wondering, Luize quickly realized the answer.

He must be comparing himself to the Perfect Ones.

Luize unconsciously let out a deep sigh. To think Se-Hoon was aligning his standards with those of the strongest beings in the world, people who were living in a completely different universe from everyone else.

“Haaa... This is getting way too difficult.”

She was confident she could reach S-rank, but beyond that was a whole different matter. Frustrated, she scratched her head and kicked a stone on the ground.

“Hahaha! You little brat...! Do you truly think you\'ll get away with this?!”

Slowly lifting her head at the furious yell, Luize looked at the two demons she just fought. One had a massive prosthetic right arm, and the other had mechanical tentacles sprouting from his back. They were both A-rank and fairly strong, but they had a terrible matchup this time.

Clank!

The demon with the prosthetic arm was lying on the ground, its own prosthetic impaling its abdomen. The other’s mechanical tentacles had bound himself, piercing through each of their limbs. To a third party, it looked like they were deliberately harming themselves, but in reality, it was all due to Luize’s Incantation Magic.

“Strangle.”

Controlled by Luize’s incantation, the mechanical tentacles quivered and then tightened around the demon’s neck.

“Kugh...!”

Strangled by his own mechanical tentacles, the demon struggled desperately. But with his entire body tightly bound, there was nothing he could do.

Fighting these kinds of guys is so much easier.

Had the battle been a test of strength, she would have struggled to defeat them. But it wasn’t, so she just hijacked control of their prosthetics with her incantations and ended the battle far more easily than she had expected.

It was an experience that allowed Luize to once again realize how impactful one’s magic style was in battle and what her own strengths were.

The ability to synchronize and interfere with others\' mana...

It wasn\'t just the nature of Incantation Magic; it was a talent she was born with. With a new understanding of how formidable her ability was, Luize’s eyes gleamed with determination.

If I polish this a bit more...

If she could, then even if she wasn\'t able to reach the Perfect Ones, she could potentially get close.

“Is it over?”

Breaking Luize out of her thoughts, Se-Hoon approached with a slightly worn expression.

“Yeah, I finished them both.”

“Really? You managed to kill them much faster than I thought.”

At those words, Se-Hoon then glanced at the dead demons and immediately understood how the battle had gone.

“Wow... You\'ve gotten a lot stronger,” he said in admiration.

“Enough of your empty praises. More importantly, are you hurt anywhere? It looked like you were in a pretty intense fight back there.”

Though her words were full of indifference, Luize subtly checked Se-Hoon for injuries. It made Se-Hoon smile.

“I’m all good. Just feeling a little stiff.”

“Hmm. In that case...”

Moving to stand directly in front of Se-Hoon, Luize locked eyes with him and then punched him in the stomach with all her strength.

Thud!

Even without any mana, it was a solid hit that made Se-Hoon’s body bend slightly, forcing their eyes to meet at the same level.

“You know why, right?”

She was furious with Se-Hoon for going through with the plan without consulting her at all. And Se-Hoon knew he was somewhat in the wrong too, so he just took the hit without protest. But...

“You could at least pretend it hurt...” Luize said with a frown.

She pulled back her fist, dissatisfied with Se-Hoon\'s lack of reaction. And it was at that moment that Se-Hoon decided to say something.

“It did hurt.”

“Bullshit...”

“You hurt my heart.”

“...”

At his unexpected words, Luize just stared at him silently before pulling back her fist and delivering another punch to his abdomen, this time with mana.

Smack!

“Ugh...!”

Despite blocking it, the blow shook him to his core. In pain, Se-Hoon grabbed his stomach under Luize’s glare.

“Do that one more time, and I’ll actually kill you. Got it?”

“Why are you always so harsh to me...”

“Hmph. So? What happened?”

Taking a moment to catch his breath after dispersing the pain, Se-Hoon answered, “I’ve got it all handled. I have a few things to tell you, but I’ll explain once I’m done cleaning up.”

“...Alright.”

Though she was obviously still dissatisfied, Luize nodded.

“She’s not bad,” the Seeker whispered.

“Her skills aren’t lacking, that’s for sure.”

With Luize’s talent and ability, he believed even Perfect Ones wouldn’t find her lacking.

But despite Se-Hoon’s sincere response, the Seeker chuckled.

“That’s not what I meant. You’re dodging my words on purpose, aren’t you?”

“...”

“Even though you\'re so mature, you have a cute side too.”

Left speechless by the Seeker’s sly teasing, Se-Hoon seriously began considering burning away the corrupted mana circuit in his body.

“Whoops. Looks like we’re being watched again. You should stay on caution again from now on.”

At the sudden whisper that was filled with wariness, Se-Hoon quickly regained his composure. Immediately after, he felt the eyes on him that likely belonged to either the Dream Demon or Dawn. And since Se-Hoon knew it could even be both, he carefully considered his every move.

With his thoughts sorted, he turned to Luize.

“Let’s get going. There might be stragglers around.”

“Got it.”

Turning, Luize was just about to start walking, but then Se-Hoon moved naturally to her side and supported her body.

Startled, she glanced at him. “If you’re going to do that next time, at least give me a heads-up,” she said, realizing it was just for a cover.

“I’ll do it next time.”

“You always say that...”

Shaking her head, Luize looked at Se-Hoon with discontent.

Then, from out of the blue, she called out to him, “Hey.”

“What?”

“Do you think I’m on the right track?”

Luize couldn’t help but wonder if having Se-Hoon help her with her revenge was holding him back from what he needed to do.

“No one else would be able to do what you’re doing.”

Se-Hoon didn’t even hesitate. If he had brought Sung-Ha along, things would have become even more complicated. And Amir would have made things unnecessarily difficult with his constant suspicion.

Luize felt silent, earing the sincerity in Se-Hoon’s response. Then, after a moment, she smiled and wrapped her arm tighter around his neck.

“You liar.”

***

At the sight of the police cordoning off a house at the top of a hill, curious neighbors whispered among themselves.

“What’s happening over there?”

“They say the homeowner was one of the researchers killed in the recent terror attack.”

“Oh...”

Although most of the nearby neighbors weren’t that close to the man, the news of his death filled them with pity.

After a few minutes, when the whispers and gossip had spread throughout the crowd, a young man slowly walked out from amongst them. With light green hair and a sharp expression, he instantly caught the attention of the nearby police officer.

“What brings you here...?”

“I\'m the homeowner\'s brother.”

According to the records, Allen had no siblings. However, the young man exuded a presence that made the officer shudder, so without another word, he nodded.

“Follow me; I\'ll escort you.”

Forcibly maintaining his calm, the officer led the young man to the front of the house with no one questioning them. Then, once inside the workshop, the officer waited silently outside by the door while the young man walked in and pulled down a prosthetic arm hanging from the ceiling.

Click, click, click!

Descending the hidden staircase that appeared in the wall, the young man took a seat in the basement and surveyed the room slowly. Then, retrieving a right arm from his void pocket, he infused it with mana.

Woong-

Fed by the mana, a crimson glow mixed with a dark blue illuminated the warehouse, creating a view reminiscent of a sunset captured in motion. Soon after, the parts in the storage room began to stir.

Click, click, click, click!

Four puppets—whose left arms, eyes, torsos, and legs respectively had been replaced by the sunset-like glow—began to move. Throughout the process, the young man just sat quietly, saying nothing as a heavy silence filled the room. Eventually, one of the puppets, the one with the replaced eye, broke the silence.

“Who are you?”

The four puppets were already aware of the death of Allen, who had attempted to assimilate Se-Hoon on his own, and the disappearance of the One\'s right arm. Yet the young man in front of them had just used that very right arm to summon them. It made them all wonder who the young man could be.

Seeing how curious the Regions were, the young man responded calmly.

“I’m Lee Se-Hoon.”

Another moment of silence fell as the four puppets trembled faintly—not out of fear, but from a shock so profound that it stirred their emotions to the point it showed even in their puppet forms.

“...How are you able to use that arm?”

The Regions had believed that although Se-Hoon had killed Allen, he had failed to synchronize with the right arm. Yet here he was, skillfully using the One’s right arm. The situation was beyond anything they could comprehend.

“Why do you guys always ask the obvious questions? Of course, it\'s by the One’s grace.”

“His grace?”

“Yes. The One has chosen me, allowing me to draw upon his power. What other explanation could there be?”

“...I still don\'t understand.”

If they hadn’t failed to assimilate Se-Hoon, why did he kill Allen? Vessel’s confusion deepened, flustering them.

“Then this should help you understand.”

Woong!

The sunset-like rays radiated from the right arm once again, causing the Regions to flinch. But then, on closer inspection, the Regions realized Se-Hoon was sharing information via the Akashic link—a method the Regions sometimes used to convey details more precisely than words.

But they hesitated, considering the offerer. Eventually, though, Step stepped up.

“I\'ll accept it.”

Bracing themself, Step absorbed the information Se-Hoon shared and shuddered violently.

“The One’s Advent...?” Step muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.

The atmosphere among the remaining Regions instantly shifted due to those words, and they all rushed to accept the information Se-Hoon was sharing.

“This is...”

“Ahh...”

“Ohh!!”

Utter shock rippled through Left Arm, Vision was filled with awe, and Vessel burst into joyous exclamations.

“Allen had to be dealt with to cover up this situation. You all should claim that everything started with the Pleasure District was his doing and because of that you guys dealt with him yourselves.”

Although it was unlikely that the Dream Demon would fully believe them, if they showed enough sincerity, they might be given a pass this time, especially since there was the upcoming delivery of the Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Devices.

Considering his words, the Regions deliberated among themselves before nodding in agreement.

“Indeed, that would be the best option for now.”

“But why are you so intent on maintaining this alliance with the Dream Demon?”

Even if they received substantial rewards for helping with the Pleasure District’s Expansion project, was it worth killing Right Arm to continue the relationship?

Expecting the question, Se-Hoon answered their doubts with composure. “There are two main reasons. The first is that Lee Se-Hoon is preparing to kill the Dream Demon.”

Killing the Dream Demon—a bold statement that startled the Regions. But then, upon regaining their composure, they realized something else was off.

Lee Se-Hoon?

Why was he suddenly referring to himself in the third person? Confused, the Regions focused on Se-Hoon.

“The second reason is that I need the Dream Demon\'s power to be resurrected.”

Resurrection—at that single word, the Regions’ focus instantly shifted from the right arm to Se-Hoon himself.

Woong-

Se-Hoon’s entire body started giving off a natural crimson-blue glow, and his eyes became filled with knowledge beyond their comprehension. It was a sight that allowed the Regions to instinctively know who they were conversing with.

Thud!

The four knelt in unison, and Se-Hoon—now a vessel of the Seeker—spoke calmly to his believers. “For now, follow this child’s plan and deal with the Dream Demon. Afterward, prepare for my resurrection in Luize Valente\'s body.”

None of the four responded verbally. They were just so devoted that, if ordered, they would gladly take their own lives without hesitation. For such devout believers, vocal confirmation was unnecessary.

“Furthermore, Lee Se-Hoon will inspect all future deliveries to the Pleasure District. Left Arm, you will manage external affairs, but Lee Se-Hoon will review everything before the final shipment.”

Once again, there was no verbal response. Satisfied, the Seeker slowly withdrew her mana.

“I will be descending upon this world soon. Await for that day.”

Whoosh!

The Regions remained motionless until the sunset-like glow fully vanished, seeing off the Seeker.

“Phew... Now, get up.”

Feeling a bit worn out, Se-Hoon sighed and prompted the Regions to rise one by one. Their bodies were trembling nonstop, unable to contain their joy from meeting their deity.

Not bothering to comment on it, Se-Hoon just conveyed the remaining instructions. “Things are pretty chaotic right now, so I\'ll contact you all once everything settles down. Send me your contact methods.”

In their dazed states, the Regions shared their contact information through mana sharing, and Se-Hoon accepted it all without missing a single detail.

“My mana is running low now, so I’ll see you all next time.”

Whoosh!

The glow that had illuminated the warehouse gradually faded, and the prosthetics the Regions controlled returned to their original positions. Now, the warehouse was as quiet as when Se-Hoon first entered.

“What do you think?” Se-Hoon asked, returning the right arm to his void pocket.

“What do I think? I think you were perfect.”

Using the Seeker’s right arm and consciousness, he had managed to turn Dawn into his pawns to pick apart the Pleasure District. Thinking about how everything was falling into place, Se-Hoon smiled in satisfaction. But it only lasted for a brief moment as his expression suddenly twisted in pain.

“Ugh...”

A sharp pain pierced through his head, feeling like a blade was cutting it apart from the inside. He had briefly opened the boundary to let the Seeker’s consciousness in, and now, the aftereffects were kicking in.

Yet despite Se-Hoon’s pain, the Seeker expressed mild admiration.

“I didn’t expect you to get away with just a headache. You’re indeed quite remarkable,” she whispered.

Even if it were just for a brief moment, Se-Hoon had merged with the consciousness of a Perfect One. And considering the inherent dangers of the power of Omniscience, even being an S-rank hero wouldn’t guarantee that sanity would stay intact.

And yet, despite that, Se-Hoon had not only endured but also managed to get by with only a headache. It proved his mental strength and soul were abnormally resilient, far beyond his physical abilities.

“I guess I have a knack for this kind of thing.”

“A knack? It feels like something else to me.”

Ignoring the Seeker’s intrigue, Se-Hoon didn’t respond and scanned the surroundings instead.

The switch should be... there it is.

Approaching one of the warehouse’s walls, Se-Hoon pressed a section with his hand.

Rumble

With a shake, the ground opened up to reveal a chest. Walking up to it, Se-Hoon used the Seeker’s mana to unlock it. Inside it were dozens of tightly packed Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Devices, the faint flickering within indicating they had all already been filled.

“So, how do you plan to use this?”

“Nothing grand.”

Rolling up his sleeve, Se-Hoon conjured a beam of White Light with his left hand and made a small cut on his forearm.

Drip.

As his blood trickled down, it soaked into the Synesthetic Mindscape Storage Devices.

“Ohh...”

Understanding, the Seeker watched with interest. A few moments later, Se-Hoon healed the wound and closed the chest again.

“So, you’re laying the groundwork for your next plan.”

“Something like that.”

“This is going to be interesting to watch. I’m looking forward to it.”

Noting the Seeker’s excitement, Se-Hoon stood quietly without moving for a few seconds before coming to a decision.

“Come to think of it, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“What is it?”

“You’ve been helping me without any reason all this time... why?”

The Seeker had been extremely cooperative, answering all of Se-Hoon’s questions and assisting him without hesitation. While he acknowledged she made things easier, Se-Hoon couldn’t help but wonder why.

“Didn’t I tell you before? I’m like an AI. Even though it might seem like I have freedom of thought, I just follow orders when asked for help,” the Seeker whispered calmly.

Although the voice was a reflection of her former self, its true nature was nothing more than the omniscient power she had held when she was alive.

“But if it’s like that, why are you helping me more than Dawn.”

“Ahh, that’s probably because of my ideology.”

“Ideology?”

Speaking as if it were matter-of-fact, the Seeker whispered, “I had a rather straightforward ideology: mess with the fools, observe the smart ones. I guess that mindset is still with me.”

At the explanation, Se-Hoon couldn’t help but smirk.

“...You really are one nasty person.”

“I think so too. So, has your curiosity been satisfied?”

“Yes. I think I understand now.”

Having figured out why the Seeker was helping him, Se-Hoon brought his hand to his still slightly throbbing head.

Thrust!

Then he inserted two fingers into it without hesitation.

Whoosh.

Engulfed in dream flame, Se-Hoon used his hand to scoured through his mind, searching for something specific.

Woong-

Then, upon finding his target, Se-Hoon pulled out a thin, thread-like strand of mana that was glowing with a familiar sunset hue. Then, at the sight of it wriggling like a living creature, Se-Hoon grabbed it tightly.

Pop!

During the brief moment Se-Hoon had lent the Seeker his body to deceive Dawn, the Seeker had hidden a strand of mana deep in his mind. If he hadn’t realized and destroyed it in time, it could have slowly corroded his brain and potentially caused permanent mental damage.

“Anything you’d like to say?”

Silence followed his question.

Then, a faint chuckle echoed in his ears, tickling him.

And when laughter subsided, the Seeker cheerfully made a remark.

“You’re a smart one, aren’t you?”