Chapter 284
“You’ve got more than just two souls showing, don’t you…?”
When Liam reached the Soul Forge Hall, Kanilisk said this while looking at him.
But it was just a casual mumble; soon, Kanilisk stroked his beard and asked, a line he’d almost made a habit of.
“Right. A child with two souls, huh? What brings you to this Soul Forge Hall?”
“…….”
Liam gave a polite bow and properly greeted him.
Considering most talentless folks who passed through the Fog Mountains often ended up collapsing rather than introducing themselves, a tidy-dressed Liam was quite the sight.
“Nice to meet you, Kanilisk. I’m Liam from the Academia.”
“Oh, sure, sure. The greetings are done, now answer my question.”
“I came to resolve this hardship I’m facing.”
“Oh ho… by hardship, do you mean related to the two souls?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Liam briefly explained his situation, leaving out any info about possession or the outside world.
Even Kanilisk, who had lived a long time, had never encountered such a peculiar situation before.
The more he heard, the more baffling it became, and Kanilisk smirked.
“Haha, that must have been troublesome. I can only imagine the struggles you faced fighting for control of a tiny room.”
“…….”
“Let me ask you something.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Do you want to kill one of your souls?”
Kanilisk’s question was sharp.
Having pondered this deeply before, Liam maintained a moment of silence before shaking his head.
“I don’t know.”
“…You don’t know?”
“…….”
“Speak without hiding your true feelings if you want help from me and the Soul Forge Hall.”
“…….”
As thoughts about someone crossed Liam’s mind, he soon opened his previously closed mouth.
“…I had a friend who was in a similar situation.”
“There was another child with two souls besides you?”
“Yes… but it appeared that my friend removed one of the souls. No, I’m sure of it.”
Kanilisk became curious about this friend of his, but for now, he quietly listened to what Liam had to say next.
I was intrigued by this friend of his, but first, I quietly listened to Liam’s continuing words.
“I can’t even tell how it happened… but I also didn’t completely disagree with that thought. However… whether that is truly the answer for me… I still don’t know.”
“Oh ho… So you came here to find that answer and the key to a solution, huh?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, it’s quite a sight to see. A young one coming to the Soul Forge Hall wanting something other than talent.”
Kanilisk looked over Liam with his amber eyes.
Coming here after wandering through the Misty Mountains essentially meant he lacked talent.
However, judging by his perfectly fine appearance, it was clear that the trials of the Misty Mountains hadn’t gotten to him.
This meant that at such a young age, he had achieved a certain level of success.
With his arms crossed, Kanilisk gazed at the heavily fogged sky and muttered.
“Is my death approaching? I’ve been seeing quite a few unusual kids lately.”
“Excuse me?”
“Did you say you came from the Academia?”
“That’s right.”
“Then Finn… that kid must have told you about this place… Young one, I can’t guarantee what results you’ll get from the Soul Forge Hall, but if you happen to descend, tell that rascal Finn.”
“Finn… ah, yes.”
Kanilisk slowly moved, continuing his speech.
His voice, tinged with notable anger, served as a final warning.
“If you don’t bring me my ‘cloud’ soon, you won’t die a nice death.”
“Then… I….”
“I grant you admission. If you die, I’ll happily have your corpse for dinner, so keep that in mind.”
“Thank you…! Really, thank you, Kanilisk!”
Thus, Liam was able to gain admission to the Soul Forge Hall.
*
“They’ve made such a lovely road for the parade? How pretty.”
As time passed without discovering any traces of the Bishops, night fell.
Emily looked around the wide-open road.
Decorations made of branches and cheap glowstones hung everywhere on the houses on either side.
The shimmering green light gently illuminated the road, creating a beautiful scene.
At this time tomorrow, countless people would gather on this road for the parade.
The Bishops would likely strike then.
If possible, Liam wanted to uproot the Bishops hiding in Rose before that, but it would be a tough task.
Sighing inwardly, Liam looked at Emily.
She was smiling radiantly as if she were excited.
As he watched her quietly, Liam uncrossed his arms.
“Ah, why’d you uncross… not yet…!”
Just as Emily was about to scold him for uncrossing his arms, Liam took her hand instead.
With their fingers interlaced, he deliberately looked elsewhere.
Thanks to that, Emily found herself gazing at the back of Liam’s ear, but it was enough for her to know that he was blushing.
“Your ears are red.”
“Huh? That’s a lie. It’s dark, so you can’t see it.”
“Sorry, but I can see everything, you know? Why do you choose to act so cute?”
“…….”
Emily laughed teasingly while a flustered Liam stood there, awkwardly.
Awkward Liam.
In that fleeting moment of sweet time just for the two of them…
“……!”
“……!”
Both reacted almost simultaneously.
Without anyone saying a word, they exchanged glances, still holding hands.
Soon, they nodded and dashed in the same direction.
Liam shouted.
“I feel like I’m going to miss it! Emily, I’ll run out first!”
“Got it! I’ll follow you soon! Don’t push yourself, Liam!”
“Don’t worry!”
– Boom!
As soon as he finished speaking, Liam charged out, creating a shockwave.
It was like an expression to describe he was fired like a bullet.
Where Liam had passed, traces of faint electricity remained.
His speed was beyond what an ordinary person could even track with their eyes.
Despite a speed that far surpassed human limits, Liam smoothly navigated through a narrow alley.
Thanks to that, the distance to his target quickly shrank.
He sharply turned a corner.
“…Kyaah!”
What appeared was a little girl.
Startled by the suddenly appearing Liam, the girl fell on her backside.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch….”
Liam paused for a moment and expanded his senses.
The mana he had felt around had vanished.
Clearly, just a moment ago, there had been indistinguishable mana, but now it was gone even when he maxed out his range.
Liam approached the fallen girl and extended his hand.
“I’m sorry! Did I scare you? Are you hurt?”
“I’m not hurt. But….”
The girl took Liam’s outstretched hand.
In her arms, something sparkling could be seen.
“You must be the hero, right?”
Zzzzt—!
Liam released a surge of electricity.
The girl, not looking like a child anymore, jumped back with movements difficult for a young one.
Soon, she reformed her body and revealed her true form.
Just moments ago, she had clearly been a child, now she grinned while emitting mana.
“I thought you were a fool. But you’re surprisingly okay?”
“…….”
Liam tossed the dagger he had seized into the surroundings.
Wrapped in a faint aura, his hands bore no scratches.
“So it really is the Goddess Church. Judging by the lack of mana detection, you must have been hiding your form with a blessing.”
“Wow, our hero is quite sharp. You seem to know everything.”
The man drew his longsword.
His posture, familiar with confrontation, prompted Liam to analyze further.
‘This isn’t just some random sword play. The stance is stable, and there’s clearly a style to it. But….’
Clang—!
The swords clashed.
In a matter of seconds, they exchanged dozens of blows as their understanding of each other deepened.
‘I invoked the correctness of swordsmanship, but due to years of wandering and practical experience, he’s been exposed to external influences. I can see traces of that in his breathing and minor techniques.’
Swish—!
The man sidestepped Liam’s blade.
He soon aimed for the now unbalanced Liam but failed.
‘Moreover… his swordsmanship and appearance feel oddly familiar. I must have seen this man in a duel before.’
Grrr—.
Liam, locked in combat, distanced himself for a moment.
He opened his mouth.
Then he asked with eyes that deeply penetrated his opponent.
“Is your name Laban del Tigres?”
“…Hah, who the hell are you? Do you know me?”
“So it was true… After being expelled from the Academia, you ended up wandering and joining the Goddess Church.”
“The Academia… Hah! Man, thanks to you, I haven’t heard that name in ages! Wow, the Academia of Academias! Hah hah hah!”
Laban del Tigres.
Though a small nation, he was the son of a duke and had briefly dabbled in Arbol Frutal.
With a chilling smile, he brandished his sword.
“You were from the Academia too? Right? Hey, how’s that girl doing? Is she still as pretty as before?”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering? I’m talking about the maid who got me expelled! Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of her?”
It was the first semester of first year.
Tigres was challenged by Alicia, an executive from Arbol Frutal, for sexually harassing her.
The two had agreed that the loser would dutifully obey the winner.
Tigres was thoroughly led into an illusion and ended up suffering a humiliating defeat.
“Even now, it really ticks me off. Damn it. Well, my master is fine. Why should I be the one to suffer? What’s wrong with wanting to taste what others are having…!”
“You’re still trash, Tigres.”
Liam’s voice was quiet but thick with suppressed rage.
Originally, he had intended to converse a bit longer to extract information about the Goddess Church from him.
But he didn’t want to hear more.
He didn’t want to listen.
Reading the anger on Liam’s face, Tigres grinned mockingly.
“Shut up. What do you know? You never even talked to me at the Academia.”
“……”
Tigres wrapped azure aura around the blade.
Though rough, it was at a level solidifying elemental control.
Since joining the Goddess Church, he had decapitated and stabbed countless people with this one sword.
If there was a woman who seemed decent, he would play with her before killing her to satisfy his desires.
For him, killing was merely a means to an end.
There was no excitement or thrill in it.
That fool with those straight-laced eyes was a man, so there was nothing to play with.
He should just slice off his head. What’s the best way to dispose of the body…?
In the midst of these thoughts, Tigres found both of his arms neatly sliced off.
“Damn…?”
In a moment so sudden that pain hadn’t even registered, Tigres’ eyes captured the sight of his fallen limbs and that guy.
—Zzt!
A “red current” flowed around Liam’s body.
That was undoubtedly aura that had reached transcendence.
Moreover, it was an aura of a level so high and stable that Tigres couldn’t even fathom, unique to Liam’s swordsmanship.
“Don’t worry, Tigres. I won’t kill you until I extract the information.”
