Chapter 25 - Night Outing (4)
Could I really not achieve it perfectly, like the true Poison King?
It was dangerous.
But it was still at a level where I could reverse it.
I just needed to not go any further.
I just needed to maintain this level for a few hours.
So…
It was a success, for now.
My body was overflowing with power.
I hadn't done anything, yet my whole body was dynamic.
It felt as if I could instantly dash through and conquer the mountains and hills before me.
I felt a heat I had never experienced in my life.
This was true power.
A realm of strength and speed that swordsmanship alone could never reach.
A surge of confidence, as if I could do anything.
Do people who wield aura always live feeling like this?
I envied them.
I always had, but now even more so.
While someone like me had to make their body horribly swollen to barely use this precious power, those people used it elegantly and gracefully, without any side effects.
Simply because they were born with high ley line sensitivity.
So this is a bit…
It feels wrong.
Anger surged from within.
I wanted to smash everything.
I wanted to crush all those who had decided the structure of the world with their inherent power…
—Another danger of Poison Arts is being swept away by madness.
—The more you rely on poison, the more you will be dominated by madness. If even your brain fluid is poisoned, it's irreversible. You will try to destroy everything in sight.
Yes, Professor. I think I've just entered that state.
That didn't mean my brain fluid was immediately steeped in poison.
In a way, it could be called a kind of trance state experienced by those deeply engrossed in Poison Arts.
However, how should I put it…
It's trivial.
Madness?
Destruction?
It was just a slight feeling, not a sense of being swept away or dominated at all.
This much is nothing.
Especially for me, it's even less than nothing.
Even in that poison cave where everyone else was going mad, I maintained my sanity.
Of course, it wasn't because I wanted to; it just happened.
Is it more serious now than it was then? No way.
So, am I proud of myself?
"Phew…"
A sigh escaped me naturally.
Even though I was overflowing with power, I felt miserable.
To be handling Potent Poison Enhancement before even handling aura, and to fall into the temptation of madness through Poison Arts before falling into a trance through aura.
Oh, dear.
Am I worthy of protecting the Eight Great Main Families of the Sword King with this?
Well, if not, what can I do about it?
Anyway, I just hope I can return to my original appearance cleanly after this is over.
That's why I chose tonight, as tomorrow is a holiday.
Wouldn't everything work out if I just rested for a day?
I immediately launched myself onto the hill of the graveyard mountain.
Pushing off the ground.
Bang!
I can jump this high and fast?
At this rate, it's faster to go over the mountains than follow the path.
The straight line is shorter this way.
I ascended steep slopes, weaving through dense trees and bushes.
Yet, it felt as light as running on flat ground.
Just how fast am I running right now?
The sense of speed was immense.
I crossed several hills in an instant and arrived at a downhill slope where the city was visible.
"Phew…"
My breathing wasn't even that ragged.
In the distance, the sparkling Bryce 8th Street was visible in the darkness.
Many shops had their lanterns lit and were bustling.
The streets were dangerous.
Even though I was wrapped in a baggy robe, I would easily be caught if I ran into a night inspection.
With this terrible and hideous appearance.
From now on, the actions of my family are crucial.
I looked at the dark sky and emphasized once more.
"Everyone knows, right? Sword King family soldiers, guards, suspicious people, anything that approaches me, send a signal. Always be watching. Understood?"
Woong!
The orb, keeping pace, trembled in the darkness, signaling.
—South.
—A few minutes away.
—Someone's in danger!
It didn't exactly say that.
I just felt it roughly.
But if it's south from here, isn't that… Digi Orphanage?
My body moved before I could even think.
As I ran, the smell of poison grew stronger.
Found it.
A muddy alley not far from the Digi Orphanage.
A masked man had a small girl pressed against a wall, covering her mouth with his hand.
"…"
"Mmph! Mmph!"
The man muttered, raising a knife in his other hand.
"Shhh… Quiet. Don't be sad. This is a noble sacrifice."
I approached slowly and silently.
The man chanted in a hoarse, theatrical voice.
"Everything is for the world ruled by that person. O Poison King. O our savior who fought for those not chosen…"
A familiar tone.
This guy, he's from the Poison King Cult.
"He jumped into the ley lines to transcend death and purify the world. And after 250 years, he has resurrected and returned to us."
"The great undertaking will begin soon. Sweeping away all injustice… Hmm?"
Suddenly, the man flinched and turned around.
Ah, a mistake.
I saw it too just now.
An ethereal blade flying towards his back.
His nonsense was so horrifying that I unconsciously activated Illusory Sword.
Thanks to that, I made eye contact with him.
Too bad.
I had planned a quiet, surprise attack.
It seems it's going to get a little noisy.
But the man immediately knelt on one knee in the mud, prostrating himself.
"For the Poison King."
"…"
"Guardian Protector, what brings you here?"
What?
Guardian Protector?
What's that?
"I heard the news that the cult finally… sent a Guardian Protector to this city of corruption. Hmm, but to possess such a high level of mastery…"
"…"
"To maintain such potent Poison Arts without even a breath, I can't imagine what kind of training the Guardian Protector endured. Just how high-ranking is the person who has come?"
"…"
"And that soundless, intangible energy just now… Intangible Poison? Could it be the Great Guardian Protector? A mere minion like myself dare not contend with such power."
Intangible Poison?
What's that?
Anyway, this guy, he's mistaken me.
When I think about it, it's natural.
To anyone, I look like a Poisoned Human right now.
And what's more, a Poisoned Human who isn't rampaging but perfectly maintaining his sanity.
"Did the Vice-Leader send you directly?"
"…"
"Hmm, indeed. It seems that day has finally come. Long live the Poison King."
The man drew a symbol in the air with his finger and bowed his head.
This is interesting. I haven't said a word, and he's just spilling information.
But unfortunately, I felt a signal from the orb above my head.
—West.
—A few minutes away.
—Soldiers? Patrolmen?
"Not much time left…"
The moment I mumbled this unintentionally, a chill ran down my spine.
Is that really my voice?
It was terrifyingly awful.
Will I really go back to normal later?
"Guardian Protector? What do you mean?"
"…I mean this."
Suddenly, the red orb descended silently and swallowed the man's upper body.
Pwah!
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
The man struggled for a moment, then went limp.
But the orb was still vibrating violently.
"Shhh… Gently. Don't kill him yet. I have a lot to ask him back home."
I patted the orb and sent it back into the sky.
The orb could easily move a person's weight. I had confirmed this with the corpse I found a few nights ago during a night outing.
Anyway, this night's outing was a success.
As I turned to go back the way I came…
"…"
I made eye contact with the little girl plastered against the wall.
"…"
Oh, shoot, I forgot about her.
She looked about twelve years old.
The girl was completely frozen, unable to even blink her wide eyes.
At least against the spy from the Poison King Cult, she had struggled and thrashed.
Am I that scary?
"…"
I felt a little hurt.
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind to just swallow her along with the spy.
Are you crazy?
I sighed internally and approached the girl.
"U-u-uugh…"
"Quiet. I won't hurt you."
I whispered to the girl.
"Do you live at the Digi Orphanage?"
"Th-that…"
"Shhh. Don't speak, just nod."
But the girl didn't move.
It seemed she had clammed up, probably thinking her orphanage siblings were in danger.
How thoughtful.
Indeed, even if blood wasn't shared, she was Phil's sibling.
Without further explanation, I simply put my finger to my lips.
"Shhh."
"…"
"Shhh."
Then the girl also took the same pose as me and nodded.
"…Shhh."
Yes.
That was enough.
I left the girl, who had made a vow of silence, behind and leaped onto a nearby roof.
I had to get back to the dorm as quickly as possible now.
That way, I could extract information from the captured spy before he melted away.