Chapter 88: The Reincarnated One Did It All

"Is it really all over now?"

"Probably. Since Lian Chuanwu fell in other places too, the kids who were taken hostage must have been rescued."

The moment Casar moved, it could be said that all the battles were over. Jake sighed in relief at Yi Sehoon's words.

"Thank goodness..."

With this, everything was over.

At this realization, Jake's tension eased, and his gaze suddenly turned to the giant tree he had felled. Reflecting on the battle that had just taken place, he cautiously opened his mouth.

"There's something I want to ask."

"What is it?"

"Did you never think we might fail again?"

While it ultimately succeeded, if the second attack had also failed, it could have been a disaster.

But why did you block the attack by throwing yourself into it? Yi Sehoon fell into deep thought at Jake's question.

'To say I had the confidence to handle it... that's not it.'

It could be a decisive move, but it also raises the possibility of suspicion. Therefore, Yi Sehoon slightly changed his answer.

"To be honest, if I said I didn't, it would be a lie."

"Then why did you do such a dangerous thing..."

"Well, it's just a sense of duty."

"...Sense of duty?"

"Yeah. A blacksmith's sense of duty."

Yi Sehoon, who had submerged his hand in the water, supported Jake's limp right hand with his palm and lifted it up.

The Radiant Sword, glowing blue in the sunlight. Jake stared at it in a daze, amazed that it hadn't broken despite the full force of his swing.

"Who would trust a blacksmith who can't even trust his own work? In that case, I might as well just die."

Yi Sehoon chuckled and pushed Jake's arm to the side, placing the hand holding the Radiant Sword on his chest.

"...I see."

The heavy weight of the Radiant Sword on his chest.

Feeling it heavier than usual, Jake belatedly realized his true feelings.

"I didn't trust you... I didn't trust the Radiant Sword."

Even though he had seen the sword's blade, he unconsciously held back, fearing it might break, and used it half-heartedly.

"And after seeing you risk your life to trust me... I finally believed the Radiant Sword could withstand it."

How could you have frivolous thoughts when your life is on the line? Jake's expression turned bitter as he realized his hidden thoughts.

"I'm really a bastard."

No matter how long the distrust had built up, to only trust it when a life was at stake.

Feeling not just materialistic but even repulsive, Jake felt a sense of self-loathing.

"Isn't that natural?"

Yi Sehoon replied with a nonchalant expression.

"Frankly, how long have we known each other to trust each other so much? Without proper evidence, it's natural to be suspicious."

"But..."

"Of course, if you suspect the things I make, I'd want to hit you with a hammer... but that's just my perspective."

A blacksmith has a blacksmith's perspective, and a customer has a customer's perspective.

"You have the right to doubt and verify as a customer. That's your position and right."

"Right..."

Yi Sehoon's words made Jake recall the blacksmiths he had met in the past.

'This boy doesn't seem to have a knack for swords.'

'Why don't you use your strength in martial arts instead?'

'How can I make a sword for someone with such abilities! You're trying to trick me...'

These blacksmiths, proud of their skills, always blamed external factors.

Recalling their annoying and helpless appearances, Jake slowly spoke.

"Then... can I still doubt in the future?"

"You should. Otherwise, it might break during a fight and cost you your head."

"Can I complain that you could have made it better?"

"If you can buy it elsewhere, why not?"

"Hehe. That's true."

Yi Sehoon's casual answer made Jake burst into laughter, gripping the Radiant Sword on his chest tightly.

"Hey, Yi Sehoon."

"What is it?"

"Swinging it just now, I realized one thing."

And he left a relieved comment to his reliable blacksmith.

"Your sword is the best."

[Target 'Jake Myers' has increased in affinity to Level 2.]

[As the affinity level increases, the relationship is established. The relationship with 'Jake Myers' is 'Trust'.]

[Relationship: Trust 信賴]

It's not easy to trust others when you can't even trust yourself.

While it might be difficult to always repay trust, if you can instill the belief that you will get back up even after failing, this relationship will continue indefinitely.

*When you repay the target's trust, an affinity stone is created.

*When you are trusted by the target, the affinity stone's maturation speed increases.

*Currently created affinity stones: None.

'This guy...'

Yi Sehoon, looking at the notification window that appeared before his eyes, couldn't help but smile.

Some people just complain about making better things, but this one knows how to be grateful.

Feeling like he had met a well-mannered and excellent customer after a long time, Yi Sehoon looked at Jake.

"Let's be grateful... What? Are you sleeping?"

"..."

Jake, who had closed his eyes silently, looked as pale as if he were dead, but his heart was beating normally.

'He must have overused blood magic.'

Since it would be fine with some rest, Yi Sehoon used a black spirit to keep Jake from being washed away.

Feeling the presence of people approaching from the surroundings, he turned his gaze to the remains of the divine tree.

'Now that I think about it, those puppets must have all fled.'

Originally humans or demons, they pledged loyalty to the puppeteer and were modified into 'puppets'.

Among the ten evil's subordinates, they are quite annoying, as they can keep changing their bodies as long as the core of their main body is not destroyed.

'From the way they used the divine tree indirectly, they probably used a temporary body made from a monster.'

By now, they must have returned to their main bodies hidden outside the Black Lotus flood and prepared to flee.

'If I had the time, I could have found and killed them all...'

While it could be done now, Yi Sehoon decided to let it go to prepare for any unforeseen events.

Killing them all would reduce the information flowing to the puppeteer, but if even one was missed, it would only reveal that he could track the puppets.

'Before the reincarnation, they were all used, but not now.'

The puppeteer is a dangerous figure, but he only responds to the extent of his 'interest'. Since he didn't show anything special this time, it's better to step back.

Just as Yi Sehoon was thinking this.

Caw─

A familiar cawing sound from the remains of the divine tree. Yi Sehoon turned his gaze again.

Whoosh!

A crow disappeared into the forest in an instant.

***

In a wild mountain, dozens of kilometers away from the Black Lotus flood.

In a forest where nothing but wild animals existed, the ground trembled slightly, and hands emerged from below.

Squish

Three figures emerged, digging through the earth. The first to come out was a pale Western man, Will, who twisted his eyes.

"Those guys are freshmen... Babel must be going crazy."

He thought it was impressive just to hold out until the Sword of the Army arrived, but he never expected to be knocked down head-on.

Recalling the pain of his body being split in two, Will had an incomprehensible expression.

'Myers' sword's power was absurd, but... the most unbelievable thing is that guy Yi Sehoon.'

The divine tree, rooted throughout the flood, had a regeneration ability of at least B+ level. Even though it was cut by a sword, it had the strength to endure.

But the moment the sword followed the trajectory Yi Sehoon had engraved, the magic circuits tangled and the regeneration ability disappeared without any chance to react.

'Even I, who control the body, couldn't fully understand the divine tree's magic circuits...'

A talent that went beyond just being fast, something abnormal.

Will, realizing why his master had taken an interest in Yi Sehoon as a material, looked at his subordinates.

"The others?"

"No response, so I disposed of them."

Puppets, who can't feel pain due to the suppression of all sensory organs, experience intense pain when their bodies are forcibly destroyed and their consciousness returns to the main body.

If they can endure the pain, they can return to the main body or change bodies to survive; otherwise, they become vegetative with no response.

"Seven... so it was a cheap deal."

It was a gain to return alive from a place guarded by an S-rank hero, even with temporary bodies.

'At least I got information worth reporting.'

Yi Sehoon is a material worth considering even apart from the commission. Recalling this information, Will looked at the two remaining subordinates.

"Let's get out before the search team arrives."

"Yes!"

Since it was an uninhabited area, the three immediately kicked the ground and started running through the forest.

Not as dense as the Black Lotus flood, but the trees were still thick. The sky was cloudy, and the sunlight was barely visible, making Will frown.

'Maybe the aftereffects were worse than I thought.'

Even with a B-level body, it shouldn't be this hard to see in the dark.

Just as Will felt uneasy and curious, a crow's caw echoed from somewhere.

Naturally, Will's gaze followed the sound, looking around.

But the darkness made it hard to see the crow, and Will's eyes narrowed.

'Why would a crow be here...?'

It was annoying, but since he couldn't sense any magic, there was no need to pay attention. As Will nervously scanned the surroundings, he turned his gaze forward again.

Thud.

Far away, a girl walked out in front of the only tree where sunlight was shining.

Black hair with faintly purple eyes. Wearing only a school uniform with a cloak, her defenseless appearance made Will's eyes widen.

'Inoue...?'

Why was the girl who should have been in the flood in front of them?

While Will was surprised by this unrealistic scene, his gaze suddenly turned to the birdcage in the girl's right hand.

"Caw."

A crow standing straight in a silver birdcage.

Seeing the fragments of the puppet used in the temporary body hanging from its beak, Will quickly understood the situation.

'They were reverse-tracked by a broken terminal...?'

Could a freshman who just entered this year do what even S-rank heroes couldn't easily accomplish?

Feeling both shocked and quickly reacting, Will shouted to the subordinates following behind.

"There might be others. Capture her first!"

"Yes!"

She couldn't have come alone. Logically, Will and his subordinates quickly rushed forward.

Swoosh

The birdcage held by Erica was extended forward.

"Caw─"

Crack

The crow's neck bent 180 degrees as it fell weakly to the bottom of the birdcage.

Thud

The limp beak and drooping neck oozed black blood.

At first, the blood dripped in drops, but gradually increased in volume, and soon the birdcage door opened, pouring endlessly onto the ground, covering the surrounding area.

Gurgle

A liquid that felt neither like blood nor water, but rather ominous and unclean.

The black swamp spread endlessly from Erica, and soon the surface began to boil.

Caw─Caw─

Crows emerging from the sticky swamp, flapping their sticky bodies and soaring into the sky.

Will, forgetting his goal of capturing Erica, stared in shock at this bizarre and terrifying scene.

Wu Hun Da Bai (烏魂奪魄)

The