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Chapter 69

Baek In-gyeol bore a hatred for the crocodile that killed him, using that to become a Death Knight, while the crocodile, fueled by its hatred for the one who killed Baek In-hwa, turned into an Undead.

Naturally, the curse laid upon Baek In-gyeol upon his death was not severe, leaving him with less worry about Baek In-hwa. The crocodile’s curse, however, was immense; it likely aimed to provoke fury in Baek In-hwa by showing her the crocodile, who had killed her brother, gripping her brother’s leash. That thought was most likely Saturday’s intention.

Gathering more negativity once again into Baek In-gyeol’s body, the curse inflated his form.

A black meteor sitting in the heavens began to move slowly. Like a star rising in the sky, it traced a large circle, gradually accelerating.

Could I catch something like that? A pure mass of curse energy? I doubt it—it’s probably a curse that Saturday painstakingly shaped and refined. Wouldn’t accepting it into my body lead to instant death?

As I thought this, my body was already soaring toward the curse. About 30% of the mana I could muster was supporting my body through Eun-gyeong’s powers. Because of that, Shar’s giant form reverted back to that of a small wolf.

The curse was indeed headed towards the expected target: the skeletal remains of the crocodile.

The angle was good; the speed was touch-and-go. If I didn’t accelerate one more time using my abilities, I wouldn’t reach it. However, saying that was like hanging in the air without any emergency measures.

In a moment too short to even call it deliberation, Yeon-woo swung Eun-gyeong’s mana without hesitation.

Silver mana shaped into a spell in the air, and as Yeon-woo positioned her feet upon it, her body pulled back like a spring before launching forward.

“Ah, Dad, what are you doing!! It’s better for us all to fight together…!!”

“Don’t worry, Shar. Your father isn’t that foolish!!”

Hadn’t I already promised to abandon that reckless fighting style two months ago? It was true that I had the assurance of not dying, but I found it hard to guess what would happen when that mass of curse energy entered the crocodile’s body. The Demon King’s special curses carried risks of that magnitude.

I had to focus. I couldn’t absorb too much nor allow too much to slip away.

‘Just 30%, just 30% to be extracted…!!’

At one point, Yeon-woo’s trajectory perfectly aligned with that of the curse. At a hair’s breadth from touching it, Yeon-woo pulled her left arm back while thrusting her right arm forward with all her might.

I concentrated all my senses on the mana heart. I had gotten familiar with the sensation from using it a few times, but I still felt my proficiency lacked for an urgent situation.

Her arm began to turn dark from the shoulder rooted down. The mass of curse energy and her blackened arm met, carving nearly half of it away in a finger-like shape.

As I anticipated, a prickling sensation didn’t come. Choi Yeon-woo tumbled over a skeleton and crashed into a snowbank, while the remaining half of the curse melted and absorbed into the skeleton.

‘Ah, it’s cold….’

For a moment, with her face buried in the snow, Yeon-woo briefly thought about that when a sudden tremor from the ground made her hurriedly lift her head. If there was an earthquake in this situation, there could only be one reason.

Turning around, she saw a gigantic crocodile skeleton, surrounded by dark mana, staggering to its feet. The severed head, body, limbs, and finally the tail reattached by mana. Strangely, the final form was that of an upright crocodile-headed human.

“No way?”

How in the world did the Frost Alligator suddenly start walking on two legs? Did Baek In-hwa provoke it to start walking like a human?

Suddenly, a massive voice echoed through the space. A deep, masculine voice. Solid as sedimentary rock built up through the ages, yet mixed with a hint of bewilderment.

– Heh, what is this calamity? I came to discipline the young one who recklessly invoked the name of the gods, but to think it would have been a trap!

The voice that chuckled with that line held an air of nonchalance, saying calamity as if it were nothing, despite the daunting presence emanating from its body.

However, the pressure sensed from that essence was no ordinary thing. Judging by the minuscule presence felt through the curses, it must have been something divine. It seemed that it had descended rather suppressed due to the curse and the essence not matching.

While Baek In-hwa and Shar were speechless, Yeon-woo stepped forward, raising her voice loudly. There was a chance they could still communicate. If so, she might extract some information.

“I shall ask!”

– Ho? I see, there are some cute little ones. But, I wonder how much I can answer, so go ahead and ask.

“There’s no time, so please forgive my brevity. Are you a god!?”

– Indeed. My true name is Sebek (SBK). The sharp-toothed one who governs the floods of the Nile and is also a guardian deity. As you can see, I am the god of crocodiles.

So, Sebek, related to the Nile… does that mean he’s an Egyptian deity? Saturday’s Demon King seemed to have ties to Egypt. How tightly had he wrapped his identity that I was only now finding out these small details?

“Do you have any idea why you fell into this trap? If possible, can you assist us?”

– The latter is impossible. Thanks to you lifting the curse, I can speak like this and find some sanity, but the one who controls this body is not my true self, but the lingering desire of this child. You should consider it fortunate that my true power has barely entered due to your actions.

“No, isn’t what I did a lot already?”

– …Hmm, that’s not untrue. I shall bestow a blessing upon you. But considering I can offer little to these children rather than my own followers, I should certainly answer the former.

It’s said that a word can repay a thousand debts, and words can indeed have such power. Of course, I was talking to a god. From Sebek’s manner and attitude, he seemed somewhat benevolent towards humans, but one false word to a hostile god would mean the end.

However, the greater gain was that this god had a clue regarding Saturday. The Demon King, whose identity I couldn’t clarify before my regression. I never expected an opportunity to learn about that identity would arise in a situation like this.

– The cunning and insidious Nephren-Ka. That wicked one who sought to shroud our great lineage in this world. It seems that bastard is still alive. This horrific and familiar magic can only be handled by that individual.

Though full of leisure, that voice was also brimming with rage. There was a twinkle of divine energy mixed within it, hinting at a being of great power.

Though he looked like the calm neighbor next door, his essence was inherently that of a powerful deity. As Yeon-woo swallowed hard, the overwhelming pressure that filled the space dissipated all at once.

– It’s unfortunate, but let’s wrap up the Q&A here. Once this child regains consciousness, the fight shall begin at once, so prepare for battle, children of a foreign land; it is only fair that my true self can bear witness to my followers in such circumstances.

As Sebek finished speaking, his presence immediately shrank, consolidating into the upright crocodile form. It was likely meant to delay the time until they regained consciousness. Yeon-woo showed her gratitude and quickly rushed to Shar and Baek In-hwa.

“Wh-What in the world…?”

“Is this for real…!? What is happening!?”

“I’ll explain everything afterward, but for now, let’s prepare! Baek In-hwa, are you hurt!? Quickly, put on the Ice Seal Armor!”

It was complete chaos.

They had no idea they would encounter an Egyptian deity in such an environment, but they grasped that divine attention and timing were precious, so they hurriedly started assessing the situation.

Though Sebek’s time was short, it allowed for just enough of a break to tidy up and distribute roles. It was a much-needed time for them, exhausted from the previous battle.

The Frost Alligator, still in its prior form, draped its limbs, remaining silent. Wouldn’t it be better to attack during this time? But the curses surrounding them wouldn’t allow that.

Determined not to waste the time given by Sebek, as soon as Yeon-woo finished her preparations, a resounding voice echoed through the air once more.

– Are you ready, young warriors?

After briefly glancing at Baek In-hwa and Shar, Yeon-woo nodded.

“Thanks to you, we are prepared enough. Thank you, Sebek.”

– Think nothing of it. I am both a symbol of the crocodile and a guardian deity protecting humans from crocodiles. So it is only natural for me to fulfill this duty.

Sebek said those words in a slightly bashful tone.

Yeon-woo was momentarily stunned by such a remarkably human-like response from a god, but recalling the sight of the Olympian gods, the most renowned in the world, helped her calm down.

– But, concerning that arm of yours… Will it be alright? It won’t be easy.

“As long as I can move, it’ll be fine.”

While Yeon-woo moved her darkened arm around as though it were perfectly fine, Baek In-hwa and Shar exchanged looks, seemingly full of words but understanding it wasn’t the time to voice them, they nodded at each other.

– In that case, I have nothing more to say. This shall be the end of the time I can grant you, young warriors. From now on, you must navigate through it with your own strength, but feeling pity for you who got entangled in this foreign struggle, I shall bestow one last blessing upon you.

『sbk zȝ N.t

ȝ-pḥty sḫr ḫfty.w=f』

As the incomprehensible voice spoke, dozens of hieroglyphs swirled around the three of them.

Curved staff shapes, foot shapes, vessel shapes… While I couldn’t comprehend the specifics, I could at least recognize that these were commonly known Egyptian hieroglyphs, a form of sacred script.

– Then, should you ever come to find my temple, I shall assist you at least once. That is all I can offer in return for burying this little compatriot.

As Sebek finished his words, a fiery red light flickered in the vacant eye sockets of the crocodile skeleton.

────!!!

The grotesque roar could hardly be considered the cry of life. Simultaneously, the flow of curses and death energy bursting from the skeleton spread out like a wave.

There’d be no standoff. The curses reconnecting the severed arms and legs contracted in an instant, and adopting a form closer to that of a gorilla than a human, it lunged toward them with its newly enhanced size.

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

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