𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑: 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧
Siwoo stood at the entrance of a dirty alleyway, his expression involuntarily contorted.
Still the same.
A messy collection of tents and shacks huddled together in disarray.
The ground was littered with broken bottles, cigarette butts, and unidentified syringes, and a pungent smell assailed his senses.
【. . .𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕚𝕥 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖. 𝕀’𝕞 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟. 𝔸 𝕡𝕚𝕘𝕤𝕥𝕪 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖 𝕒 𝕡𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤.】
“No choice.”
A place where everything related to abilities was exchanged.
The only place where the techniques of the underworld and strange abilities were permitted.
‘𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣’.
A gathering place for those with [𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞] powers that deviated from typical skill attributes.
Siwoo walked, aware of the slight changes in location and path, even though it hadn’t changed much from before.
“They’re staring disgustingly.”
Disgusting gazes clung to his body from those sprawled on the streets and those inside the tents.
And not just one or two.
Not mere gazes, but slimy observations using abilities.
How annoying.
They must be gauging the opponent’s skills and strength in their own way.
Siwoo’s eyes turned cold without him realizing it.
He wasn’t physically or manically harmed, but it got on his nerves.
However, this place was a kind of neutral combat zone.
Those who wanted to fight had to fight outside this place.
If they broke the rules, they would have to turn the entire ‘Black Heaven’ into an enemy.
【𝕀𝕥’𝕤 𝕒 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖! 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤-𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤! ℕ𝕠, 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪’𝕣𝕖 𝕔𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤! 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪’𝕣𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕛𝕦𝕟𝕜 𝕗𝕠𝕠𝕕!】
Siwoo walked briskly towards his destination.
He had to get away from these dirty gazes before someone dragged him out and beat him half to death.
“Nothing has changed.”
He stood in front of the black tent in the far corner.
It was an eerie place, with various human bones colorfully decorating the tent.
【𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤? 𝕀𝕥 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖. 𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕖? 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪’𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖.】
“They must be real, given the owner of the tent’s personality.”
Siwoo opened the tent flap and went inside.
The dimly lit interior was filled with the smell of incense, and ominous odds and ends, including dolls, were scattered everywhere.
“Long time no see, you.”
A beautiful, clear, and high-pitched voice rang out.
“Still the same.”
Siwoo sat down on an empty chair without asking.
The figure of the other person gradually emerged from the darkness.
“Your appearance is still the same. Nameless.”
A woman who didn’t seem like she would be in this kind of tent.
A stunning beauty with a sharp nose, deep blue eyes, and long, jet-black hair, she smiled faintly at Siwoo.
The woman’s smile, like a single black flower, seemed to brighten the tent.
It was a strange match.
No, rather, it should be said that she was one of the Ten Leaders of Black Heaven.
The ten Grand Sorcerers who held all the authority of Black Heaven.
Nameless, who was sitting before him, was one of them.
“Has it been ten years? I’ve missed you.”
Nameless modestly straightened her flowing black dress and bowed her head slightly towards Siwoo.
“Enough with that between us. I’m here on business today.”
Siwoo placed the book containing Min-jun’s mana on the old wooden table.
The book, which was locked with a lock, could not be opened without the mana of the person concerned.
“I see. I enjoy this too.”
Nameless took out a silver goblet and a sword from under the table.
Both were strangely shaped with snakes double-carved.
“You know what the medium is, right?”
“Yes.”
Siwoo extended his left arm and rolled up his sleeve.
【𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘. 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘? 𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤? 𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕖 𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘?】
Then he picked up the sword and fearlessly slashed his arm.
With a swoosh, blood flowed out and dripped into the goblet.
【𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝? 𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪? 𝕊𝕖𝕝𝕗-𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕞 𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕒𝕕! 𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕚𝕖, 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕝𝕝 𝕕𝕚𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕞𝕖!!】
The bright red blood flowed endlessly down his hand.
As the blood passed the 2/3 mark of the goblet, the eyes of the double-carved snake began to glow.
“This is enough. Stop the bleeding.”
Nameless handed Siwoo a white cloth.
Siwoo silently took the cloth and first healed his arm with his Heal ability.
Golden patterns spread out, and the wound cut by the sword was instantly repaired.
“You’re still the same, with that beautiful regeneration.”
Nameless’ lips curled up as if she had seen something funny.
“What, so suddenly. Hurry up and extract it.”
At Siwoo’s blunt protest, Nameless giggled and lifted the goblet.
Sniff, sniff.
“It still smells good. It reminds me of well-ripened grapes. It’s not common to find blood with this kind of scent.”
Siwoo opened his mouth to speak at her unexpected compliment.
Well, it wasn’t an insult.
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve been waiting for your blood.”
Without hesitation, Nameless brought the goblet to her mouth.
【𝔼𝕨𝕨! 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘! 𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕥! 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕗𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖 𝕕𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕!!】
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Min-jun’s blood flowed down Nameless’ esophagus.
She acted as calmly as if she were drinking water.
Nameless put down the goblet after drinking every last drop.
She licked the blood from her lips with her tongue.
“What on earth have you been doing for the past ten years? The life force in your blood seems to be dancing in my mouth. How can human blood taste like this. . . .”
Nameless exclaimed with an ecstatic face, as if she had tasted a delicacy.
“Hurry up and get some work done.”
Siwoo tried to shift her appreciation elsewhere, as it was embarrassing.
Nameless made a hand sign and drew something on the table with mana.
Whirr-whirr.
The drawn magic formula soon became a magic circle with complex strokes.
She placed the book Siwoo had brought in the center and poured her magic power into the magic circle.
Boom!!
A crimson magic circle blazed fiercely on the table.
A dark and distant aura poured out without hesitation.
The things in the room were scattered everywhere by the surging force.
【𝔼𝕖𝕜!! 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖’𝕤 𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖! 𝕀𝕥’𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕤𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖! 𝔾𝕖𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕝𝕪, 𝔽𝕠𝕠𝕕!】
The magic power that had risen like strands of a snake soon wrapped around the book and dug into it.
The book shook terribly.
Nameless brought her lips close to the trembling book.
Slurp.
The blue mana contained in the book seeped into her moist lips.
It was a beautiful sight.
It felt like a beautiful witch from a fairy tale was devouring blue magic.
The tail of mana stretched out like a long breath.
Even after her lips were parted, the blue aura lingered around her lips for a long time before slowly entering.
She closed her eyes as if digesting it and poured the aura into her body.
“Can you give me the sword?”
Siwoo gave her the sword he had used to cut his arm.
Nameless took the sword and, like Siwoo, cut her own arm in the same way.
【𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪 𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪?!?!】
However, instead of the bright red blood that Siwoo had shed, blue mana dripped from her wound.
Nameless poured the liquefied mana into a small glass bottle.
The blue liquid glowed faintly.
It was the mana extracted from the book.
It was about the size of an espresso.
She brought a lid and covered it, finishing it off with her magic.
“Here you go.”
She handed the ‘item’ to Siwoo with her arm, which was now bleeding, not mana.
“Thank you.”
Siwoo took the ‘liquid mana’ with one hand and quickly regenerated her wound with Heal with the other.
“Oh my, why are you doing this?”
“It’s service.”
Siwoo took out a bundle of cash from his pocket and placed it in front of her.
“Has the price gone up in ten years?”
“It’s okay, thanks to you, I’ve tasted delicious blood.”
“Okay, then. I’ll come back next time.”
Siwoo smiled and opened the tent flap and went outside.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
【𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥?】
“What?”
【𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖? 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪 𝕗𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕟𝕠𝕨?】
Pre asked in a pointed tone as if something was wrong.
Was it because he hadn’t consulted with him?
Siwoo scratched his cheek and opened his mouth.
“That book contained the mana of a child named Min-jun who was my disciple. It’s a simple magic formula for security purposes. The book will never open unless it has the same mana code.”
【𝕊𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜?】
“Nope.”
【𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥, 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥?! 𝔻𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥! 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕔𝕒𝕟’𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕞𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕕𝕖. 𝕊𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕒 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜, 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦?】
“Reading the book was a minor thing. In other words, it was a bonus. What I wanted was the mana itself that was contained in that book.”
Siwoo said, showing the liquid mana that Nameless had extracted.
It is not easy to return mana that has been implemented with skills or magic to its original pure mana.
No, it is almost impossible.
For example, let’s say that a completed magic is like curry.
People can separate ingredients such as carrots, potatoes, and meat from the already-made curry.
This is the dismantling of magic.
However, it is impossible to return the separated ingredients to their original powdered curry, ingredients, and water.
This is the regression of magic mana.
It goes against the very order of nature.
However, the factor that made such an impossibility possible was the harmony between Nameless, a vessel with enormous mana, taboo sorcery, and blood as a medium.
Therefore, [𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞] Awakeners were the target of caution because of their ability to make the impossible possible.
【𝕊𝕠 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕒?】
“You know that, too.”
Siwoo arrived at his desired destination.
【𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤? 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖’𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕒𝕟𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖.】
“Of course not. It’s a closed place.”
‘𝘼𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙚’
The place where Min-jun was murdered.
It was owned by his younger brother, Si-joon, but it is said that after Min-jun’s death, it was simply closed and not used for any purpose.
His younger brother must have also found it difficult to accept Min-jun’s death.
They were disciples centered around Siwoo, but their relationship was more than brothers.
Min Si-joon, Kang Yeo-hwa, Xiaolong, and Min-jun.
“. . .Let’s go in.”
His emotions were stirred by his useless old thoughts.
He thought he had been worn out a lot over the past 100 years.
He still felt an inexplicable emotion when he thought of his disciples.
The interior was so full of dust and mold that it was difficult to breathe.
Dust billowed up with every step.
Siwoo lightly used his mana to filter out the dust.
He stood in front of a desk cluttered with books.
Dust was piled up on the books and on the desk, like years.
“. . .Here.”
Siwoo’s gaze turned somewhere and soon stopped.
A dark, murky stain visible behind the desk.
The murder scene.
Siwoo let out a small sigh.
【𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖?】
Pre carefully asked, noticing Siwoo’s depressed mood.
“I need to steal his memory of that day.”
【𝔸𝕙.】
Pre understood what he meant.
Siwoo unsealed the glass bottle that Nameless had extracted and placed it on his palm with the lid open.
【𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟?】
“Yes.”
【𝕊𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝 [𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚]】
Woosh!
A light blue circle appeared on his palm, and dozens of strokes were drawn vertically and horizontally.
Twelve letters were quickly engraved from the center of the circle, and soon they scattered dazzling rays of light.
Tremble.
The mana in the glass bottle placed in the center of the magic circle began to boil.
Whoosh━
Mana liquid gushed out as if it were rising into the air.
However, Siwoo stared at the mana without any change in expression.
The mana liquid, which had poured out like a fountain and overflowed, soon slowly gathered in the air and formed a shape.
It was Min-jun’s appearance.
Like an impressionist painting, his experiences at the last moment were expressed and painted over with mana.
“You’re not alone.”
Min-jun, who was on the desk, looked at someone who had entered the research institute with a questioning expression.
However, the other person’s appearance was blurry.
It was difficult to recognize, as if it had been mosaicked.
This was inevitable because this was not a CCTV but a mana that had absorbed Min-jun’s emotions.
In the end, the opponent moves and Min-jun unfolds his skills to confront him.
The movement of the mana being expressed was rough.
“. . .He was strong, the opponent.”
Min-jun was by no means a weak Hunter.
He was on the weaker side compared to Xiaolong or Kang Yeo-hwa, but he was also Siwoo’s disciple.
The opponent’s appearance was seen through the eyes of Min-jun, who had collapsed.
Soon, an assassin who bent down and smiled at Min-jun.
Min-jun’s mouth twitched.
Since [𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚] couldn’t hear the sound, he opened his eyes wide and observed the shape of Min-jun’s mouth instead.
“V. . .I. . .P’s orders?”
Siwoo read the lips slowly.
Min-jun’s mana gradually faded.
The mana that had shaped the enemy became sharper.
His feelings at the moment of death.
And.
The opponent who heard Min-jun’s question answers.
At the last moment, his face was revealed for an instant.
Siwoo read those lips closely as well.
“No, higher up.”