Chapter 134: Walpurgis Night (1)
The light of the chandelier softly illuminated the room and the faint smoke spread in between. The interior of the room, where the two were harmonized, gave off a strangely alluring atmosphere with wine-colored wallpaper and antique furniture.
It was a bizarre landscape that aroused inner desire just by looking at it. Reflexively, he grunted at the burnt butt. “I’m tired….”
No matter how impossible it was to ignore the proposal, he couldn't have followed it like this. He would be the pillar of his ability if Ahn Seol-ha was by his side, but he was just an asshole suffering from a consumptive disease.
“Tsk.”
Would Ahn Seol-ha be able to come to this room far away from the party? ‘No way.’
It should be possible, but he wouldn’t let it happen. If he was going to let go so easily, he wouldn't have called her out like this. The moment he tried to get a new cigarette out of the cigarette pack, realizing that there was no way to do so, the door that had not been opened even after trying to open it opened, and a woman, no, a man slowly walked in.
“Did you wait?” Her hand gently caressed her shoulder and her voice tickled her ear.
It was a very simple gesture, but it alone sent chills down her spine and fluff all over her body. The expression that people possessed is by no means an exaggeration. He wanted to shake it off right now, but that was impossible. It was because this Mine who possessed her was the witch who hosted the Walpurgis Night, the owner of the banquet held tonight.
‘It wasn't a lie that she had a bad personality.' Her faintly trembling hands soothed and soaked in the smoke she had inhaled. And she recalled memories of her past that she could never forget.
Fuquaak! She felt the feel of the sword piercing her lungs. “… … Whoa.”
She exhaled lightly in excruciating pain, and a chill rushed through her body as her smoke spread. She was not in a good mood, but her mind is clear. “So, what do you want to entrust?”
“… … .”
Perhaps it was an unexpected situation, her demonic body twitched very slightly, and she soon let out a small laugh and moved her steps again. Violet light outlined in her chair across from her.
He gazed at her face naturally so as not to notice her vision, which had become blurry from the pain. “There is someone who wants to pay her debt.”
A serious business story had begun.
* * *
“… … Whoa.” Kang Yoo-sik, who had woken up from his slumber, frowned at his memories of seeing this in his dreams. It was a memory of him that he didn't want to recall, so he brushed it off right away, but it appeared to him as if stimulated all the same.
‘Well, is there anything bad about it?'
Instead of completely forgetting that it was in the past, it reminded him like this so that he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Kang Yoo-sik stared outside. ‘Is it arriving soon?’
It was a view of the city from the airplane window. Arriving in Paris, France, Kang Yoo-sik got off at the airport and exited the departure hall. He found himself inside an airport where many people tended to come and go. Kang Yoo-sik was surrounded by reporters and onlookers if he had only recently been abroad, but today he was out of that interest. That was because Kang Yoo-sik was now disguised as ‘Lee Tae-shik'.
‘Because there is no need to get caught.’ If he were to suddenly disappear at the time of Walpurgis Night, anyone would start to suspect. That was why Kang Yoo-sik asked Archibald, who was hiding in Korea, to be a substitute to avoid such stares, and came to Paris using a false identity.
‘That Archibald… … I don't know if he’ll be able to do it well.'
He said that he could perfectly follow his every move because he had watched his every move in the past, but it was strange that he didn’t like it because he had such an image as an imitator. Still, he asked for cooperation from people he trusted and told him to refrain from outside activities using his studies as an excuse, so there shouldn't be much of a problem.
‘I think he asked me to meet you here….’
While Kang Yoo-sik was fiddling with the ring on his left hand, which he had worn for the first time in a long time…
“Did you wait long?” A woman with red hair naturally approached him. She didn’t really have a special impression, but she was still a woman harboring a soft smile. Kang Yoo-sik smiled the same way instead of being taken aback by the reaction as if he had met his separated family.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome, honey.”
The woman who whispered in her sweet voice hugged Kang Yoo-sik tightly and made a sound on her side alternately on both cheeks. The gaze of the passers-by gathered around him for a moment, but soon they dispersed. It was because the two of them looked like a couple that could be seen everywhere.
“My father is waiting outside. Let's go.”
“Yes, let’s go.” Kang Yoo-sik, who exchanged greetings with the woman, immediately followed her and got into a luxurious black foreign-made car parked outside the airport.
At that moment the foreign car pulled out of the airport, surrounded by her faint magic. The red-haired woman, Lucia di Seta, revealed her true face. "It's been a while, Boss." Lucia lightly bowed her head, placing her hand on her chest.
Unlike the first time he had seen her, her composure overflowed, and he could feel her elegance. Kang Yoo-sik put on a satisfied expression when she saw that she was equipped with virtues as the head of the organization. "It's been a while. Miss Lucia.”
“I’ve told you before, but please be comfortable with me. If the boss does that, the organizational hierarchy will collapse.”
“No one will know, not until the hierarchy collapses….”
“Boss…" Kang Yoo-sik nodded at Lucia's intense gaze as if there was no compromise between her.
“Fine. Yes. Then I will. Lucia.”
“Thank you." Lucia, who had a satisfied expression on her face, handed Kang Yoo-sik an envelope. “This is the invitation I mentioned last time.”
It was a letter envelope with a golden pattern on a black background. In the same form as Ahn Seol-ha before returning, Kang Yoo-sik took out the invitation and read it. ‘It’s similar to what I’ve seen before.’
All kinds of rhetoric were added, but if one were to summarize the core, Cosa Nostra, which had a great influence on the whole of Italy, had been invited to Walpurgis Night. Kang Yoo-sik read all the invitations and handed them over to the content, which was not much different from what he had seen before returning. “It seems that the influence is wider than before. Invitations come from Walpurgis Night.”
“I just got hold of the shaky organization. It's not that great.”
“Even so, it’s like grabbing a country. You might want to invite them over there too.”
Walpurgis Night was both an auction house and a social gathering place. It was also a place where the revelations of the Fallen World expanded their footing by contacting the organizations of the underworld. So, from their point of view, they would definitely want to make friends with the Cosa Nostra, who came to control the entire country of Italy.
‘Then I will contact you directly from there.’
The Violet Mine. Kang Yoo-sik, who recalled the scene for a moment, shook his head slightly and looked at Lucia. “Once we arrive, let’s talk in detail. I have something to prepare for.”
"All right." After the work talk was over, the tense atmosphere in the car eased slightly, and Lucia naturally looked at her with a soft expression. “You hugged me.”
"Well?" Seeing Kang Yoo-sik wondering at the sudden response, Lucia lowered her gaze with her left hand. “You have a ring.”
“Ah. Well, since we met again after a long time…”
Normally, he wore Andvari's Curse and covered himself with magic, but today he was wearing the ring he had received as a gift from Lucia in the past. It was a gift Lucia gave to set the mood, but it seemed like she would be disappointed if he wasn't wearing it by nature.
“I was a little sad that I didn’t see you normally… … I feel relieved.” Lucia smiled and naturally took Kang Yoo-sik's left hand, then leaned over and kissed the back of his hand. It seemed strange because it was usually what a man would do to a woman, but Lucia, the person in charge, even smiled as if nothing was wrong.
‘Last time, but… … I mean, she's not formidable.'
It was clear that she was the same type as Ahn Seol-ha. Feeling like he might be eaten if he did something wrong, Kang Yoo-sik cleared his throat and adjusted his expression. "I'll keep wearing it while I'm over here."
“Ah, it is such an honor.”
“What an honor… … .” While the two were talking, the car arrived at a luxury hotel, changed faces again, and went up to the room.
"Five. Are you here?!” Fiore, who had been waiting in the room, approached with a smile, and Kang Yoo-sik took off his disguise and shook hands. "Long time no see. Miss Fiore.”
“It's only been a few months, but I don't think I've seen you in years. well in the meantime….”
As they were talking, Fiore's eyes widened. She looked at the act of holding hands, and then to Kang Yoo-sik's face. Then he made an expression as if he had seen something unbelievable, and he asked in a slightly trembling voice. "You….”
"Yes?"
“Have you awakened at least a unique skill?”
Kang Yoo-sik, who had a puzzled expression at the sudden question, suddenly remembered one thing. ‘Ah. Come to think of it, he was activating the sword spirit.’
Since he was hiding his identity, he had activated it to use his sword instead of magic in case of a problem, but it seemed that it touched Fiore’s senses. Kang Yoo-sik calmly replied to Fiore, who was confused about what had happened. “It’s not a unique skill, but I did get some skills that are useful for martial arts.”
“Huh… To be able to show this kind of momentum with just that….” Kang Yoo-sik's answer made Fiore exclaim in admiration.
‘What the hell does it look like?' He knew that Sword Soul was one of the most fraudulent skills, but what the hell was it that made her admire it so much? Slightly curious, Kang Yoo-sik asked Fiore, who was looking at him. “Are you that great? I just learned how to learn self-defense.”
“If your level is self-defense, 90% of hunters are ordinary people who don't know anything. If you go somewhere and say something like that, everyone will try to aim for your neck, so don't do that.”
“That, is that enough?”
“To be honest, I thought I was looking at someone else. Enough of this… … It is safe to say that your potential is similar to the potential of Cadet Kim Jin-hyuk.”
Kang Yoo-sik made a slightly admiring expression at Fiore's accurate point. ‘As expected, they aren’t called masters for nothing.’
There was only one person. Except for the Baekcheon Sword Master, who was said to be the strongest of mankind, it was safe to say that he was the pinnacle of swords. Even if their activities had slowed down a bit recently, that strength was not going anywhere.
“Hmm. I haven't used it properly yet, so I can't get a feel for it. Then….”
Fiore, who was examining Kang Yoo-sik's body, looked to see if he had made a decision. “Wouldn’t you like to try sparring?
* * *
Kang Yoo-sik, who came out to a clearing in the mountains slightly away from the city center, looked at Fiore, who was standing opposite him. ‘I didn't know it would turn out like this.'
Kang Yoo-sik, who never thought that he would have a sparring match with Fiore, was a little puzzled but interested. It was because he certainly hadn’t used this skill properly to fight anyone since he got it.
‘I'll be using it often, so I'll have to get used to it.'
Moreover, the opponent was Fiore, who had a lot of experience in teaching others. There was no other opponent who was as good as he was in getting used to the sword spirit. “Are you ready?”
“Ah, yes. All right.”
“First of all, I will fight to the extent of 6. If you see a chance to subdue it, subdue it without hesitation.”
"All right."
In short, this was a sparring match with Fiore, who would only use 60% of her strength. While Kang Yoo-sik grabbed his practice sword and tried to prepare himself for the match…
-Sir.
Percival’s voice reached his ears. -If it's an important match, how about using my swordsmanship?
‘If it's your swordsmanship… … Oh, is this at its source?'
– Yes. you're right.
The first match between Fiore and Kim Jin-hyuk in the past. Percival’s swordsmanship was the basis for finding gaps in Fiore's swordsmanship. Recalling that memory, Yusik Kang made a puzzled expression. ‘But I think he said he couldn’t use it because of the seal. Has it been released now?'
… If it was the talent that Rod had now, he thought he could put it to good use.
‘Hmm. That's right.' The source of all swordsmanship, the swordsman. In addition to this, there was the unidentified swordsmanship at the root of Percival. Kang Yoo-sik smiled at the arrangement, as if the pieces fit together.
‘Great. Then let's try it.'
-Then let's start the transfer. It will naturally seep into your head, so please accept it as it is.
With that, the sword and posture naturally seeped into his head. As Percival had said earlier, it was quite difficult because it was divided into pieces, but Kang Yoo-sik, who accepted it, naturally understood it thanks to his sword spirit.
‘This… … It's crazy.'
Even though he could only see a part of it, he could clearly picture the potential of this swordsmanship and the scene that would happen if he were to swing it with the completed form. From there, Lucia's voice was heard as the referee. "Start!"
Quaang! At the same time as Lucia's cry, Fiore kicked the floor, and at the same time, three circles of sword energy poured out in front of his eyes. Instead of putting a limit of 60%, he poured out sword attacks with all his might from the beginning.
‘What shall I do now…!’
Fiore’s swordsmanship, which had been trained non-stop over the past few months, was now moving toward a new peak. However, would a person who has only mastered such swordsmanship be able to master it?
Fiore widened her eyes at Kang Yoo-sik, who did not move even a single step. Huung!
Kang Yoo-hik's sword passed through Fiore's sword. Pakaang—!
The swinging sword shattered into pieces, and Fiore, who had smashed the pieces with her hands, stopped right in front of her and looked at Kang Yoo-sik's right hand. A sword that was broken without a trace except for the handle. Looking at that alone, it would have looked like Kang Yoo-sik's defeat, but then Fiore looked at her sword next.
A sword with only half the blade left.
Realizing how absurd Kang Yoo-sik's talent truly was, Fiore smiled and began to talk without even realizing it. “Don’t go anywhere. That is something we call absolute self-defense.”
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