Chapter 49: Train Journey (2)
Thump…!
His heart began to beat faster, little by little.
At his opponent’s perfectly tid move that struck a fatal blind spot, every cell in his body sharpened and tensed.
At the sa ti, his brain started spinning at a completely different speed than before, processing the flood of new information about the current situation.
Reina Blaze.
She was the person he was supposed to bring back under the request from Running Rabbit, and one of the tasks that had to be completed in this second episode.
But—
He knew that?
Since the ‘Emotion Badge’ only activated when one spoke the truth, Cain’s words were no bluff.
‘The probability that Mary leaked the request to a third party is extrely low.’
It was their first deal—one ant to build trust. If the information leaked, it would be obvious who had done it.
If she were that careless, she never would’ve been selected as an imperial spy in the first place.
Then that ant…
There was soone among the imperial higher-ups connected to the Requiem Cult.
That must be it.
Damn it. Just how deeply have those bastards infiltrated everything?
What was certain was that among those who could manipulate the commission, there was a traitor.
‘Guess I can’t accept requests so easily anymore.’
As expected of Hell difficulty.
Even in the final round, now turned into reality, things were brutal right from the start.
“This makes it one-to-one, doesn’t it? Just imagining the monts we’ll share already makes my heart race with excitent.”
Cain flashed a radiant smile.
He even took a lollipop from his pocket and popped it into his mouth for good asure.
Anyone looking would think he’d already won.
‘Just one more win to go.’
He knew a great deal about the Requiem Cult, but most of that knowledge belonged to a ti much further into the future.
If he carelessly revealed that information, people might suspect he had a prophetic ability. Moreover, anything too distant might sound vague or unbelievable.
Just like with Murugan earlier—it was crucial to use fresh, imdiate information that struck the opponent’s nerves.
Suddenly, a thought brushed through Yohan’s mind.
‘Special Information…’
He rembered that word appearing in Cain’s status window.
He had dismissed it earlier when Cain ntioned needing a BBB-grade or higher item, but now—
Given the situation, it was worth checking out.
And he just so happened to possess exactly one such item.
[‘Great Blade of Warchief Murugan – BBB Rank’ has been paid as the price.]
Wuuung!
The Glaive stored in his subspace inventory vanished.
[Accessing Special Information.]
Contents: “The person Cain Belmaier t at the Orc gathering site is known by the alias, ‘Witch of the Golden Ring.’”
Not very detailed information, considering the steep price.
That was because the ‘Eyes of the Prophet’ was still at a low level.
However, for soone who had survived over a thousand playthroughs, the alias ‘Witch of the Golden Ring’ was more than enough.
‘Arabella Rosewood.’
A witch belonging to the Grand Witches’ Assembly.
Right.
They had started to move as well.
The Requiem Cult played a major role in the episode, but the Grand Witches’ Assembly was an entirely different scale of influence.
‘This must be the butterfly effect caused by eting Vivian early.’
Normally, such a massive faction wouldn’t start interfering until the mid-section of the story.
Now, in the second episode, he could already feel a storm brewing.
‘I’ll think about that later.’
For now, he had sothing else to deal with.
Yohan looked at Cain, who still had the lollipop between his lips.
“I know the true identity of the woman you t.”
He had been curious since earlier.
Judging by how he asked whether they were allies, it was clear that the Requiem Cult had absolutely no clue.
Not only that…
“I also know why she went there.”
There was only one reason Arabella had acted.
Vivian Astraia.
Because the Witch of the Maple Tree had left her nest.
But that was sothing Cain could never possibly know.
And so—
Yohan dropped a bomb.
“……!!!”
Crack!
The candy in Cain’s mouth split clean in half.
[‘Emotion Badge’ is changing!]
The smiling face twisted far more nacingly than before, nearly crumpling in half.
Cain’s eyes locked on Yohan’s, unblinking.
“…You truly are an amusing man. I concede.”
Surprisingly, Cain accepted his loss without protest.
However—
“To think that Sir Kang Yohan possessed such an imnse information network. Your past records are almost non-existent… and yet you suddenly appear, acting like this. Haha.”
Tch.
He might have obtained the heretic’s finger, but he had also raised Cain’s alertness to the maximum.
The man had sharp instincts—it was going to be a bit troubleso from here on.
“If we’re done, could you leave? My companion will be back soon, and I doubt she’ll be happy to see you.”
If he didn’t want to experience having a yellow rose planted on his head, he’d better get lost.
Seriously—he had no desire to spend his first train trip with a vegetable.
“Just one more thing. Would you be willing to sell information about that woman? I’ll pay handsoly.”
“No.”
Right after saying that, Yohan added—
“Unless you hand over Kim Geunsik, that is.”
“…May I ask why?”
“It’s personal.”
“Hmm. You seed quite stirred when we ntioned Priest Kim Geunsik being alive. So there is sothing there after all. Perhaps it’s information he possesses… or his potential, maybe?”
Cain’s expression turned subtly calculating.
No doubt his mind was now spinning through a dozen possible scenarios.
Either way, this ant that Kim Geunsik’s position within the Cult would beco even more solid.
A mysterious powerhouse appearing out of nowhere and asking for one of their mbers?
Until they figured out the reason, they’d hide him sowhere safe and treat him like a treasure.
“So… is that a yes or a no?”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
Cain rose from his seat.
Finally, he seed ready to leave.
“Ah, do you rember what I said earlier? About not causing a scene, unless I’d planted a bomb sowhere?”
Of course he rembered.
But why bring that up now…?
“Well, leaving empty-handed just doesn’t sit right with . Losing without compensation isn’t really my style.”
There was sothing ominous and malicious in Cain’s grin.
Damn it.
Yohan imdiately began to rearrange his mana.
But Cain moved just a fraction faster.
[AA-rank item ‘Platform 9 and 3/5 – Special-Class Yokai Train’ activates!]
KUKUKUKUNG!
The entire train shook violently.
“Kyahhh!”
“Aaahhh!”
“W-what’s happening? The train—!”
“Is it… derailing?!”
The screams of the passengers echoed from all directions.
Most had buried their heads into the seat in front.
The various belongings left on the tables had fallen to the floor or been destroyed.
However, this was not a simple mishap.
[Chichijik…! Ah, this is an announcent. The announcent is… bound for Daejeon… this train is…. dangerous. Heehee-hit. Ahahaha…!]
It began with the conductor’s maddened announcent.
[‘Seoul → Daejeon KTX Train No. 119’ is becoming yokai-ified!]
The interior had completely transford.
＊＊＊
Kkudeuk…
The train’s floor and windows had turned red.
Kwaang!
He struck the window with a fist wrapped in the [Sacred Fla], but it did not budge.
‘So they even prepared an AA-rank item.’
A special effect that could transmogrify the entire train.
It was not a small thing. An item capable of yokai-ifying a nearly 400 m iron chunk was extrely rare.
‘They wouldn’t have used such a precious thing just for .’
They intended to offer it as a sacrifice to the Evil God.
With this number of passengers, there would be plenty of victims to treat as offerings.
And if they could also snatch the “Egg of Darkness” and eliminate the one marked by the Evil God, all the better.
He was sure the bastard had calculated that when proposing the wager.
For reference, Cain had already fled via the “Steps of the Departed.”
‘That slippery eel of a man.’
He would participate in the second episode anyway, so there would be plenty of opportunities to collect that debt.
More importantly—
‘Not entirely bad.’
If they cleaned up the yokai-ized train properly, it could be put to good use in the second episode.
Of course, Cain had escaped because he had no idea of that.
Just then.
Tuk…!
“Oh my. What a commotion this is.”
With the clack of a staff, Valentina approached.
“There was an assault.”
“Yes…?”
At Yohan’s words, Valentina’s previously radiant expression changed by 180 degrees.
Kukukukuku!
An imnse feeling of pressure.
As anger surged, even the yokai that had been consuming the train faltered and drew back.
[…….]
The conductor’s voice, which had been chuckling through the announcent, fell silent.
One saw all sorts of things — even a yokai being terrified.
“Who dared… to do such a thing? While I was away… soone who wants to die… I will tear them to pieces… alive….”
Madness had crept into her eyes.
Her voice trembled.
Cain would not know.
That a mont before, his na had appeared on the roster.
Yohan changed the subject to calm Valentina.
“By the way, what took you so long to bring?”
“Ah, since it’s my first trip with Mr. Yohan, I chose carefully. I brought everything that looked delicious.”
Valentina smiled broadly and proudly displayed her harvest.
Tuna kimbap, at dumplings, slices of piping-hot pizza, and even popcorn and drinks.
An excellent combination.
Surely, if they had arrived a little sooner they would have been able to enjoy a feast.
However.
“Kieeai!”
“Kieee….”
The food that had already been yokai-ized could no longer be called food.
Dumplings with teeth and popcorn that burst while spewing lava.
There was even cheese pizza with a ghost in a white robe swimming on top.
Eating any of it ant certain death.
“Would you… like so?”
Valentina offered the food she had bought with effort.
Of course—
“I’ll pass.”
Yohan refused outright.
Pouting would change nothing.
Who told her to take all day?
Still—
‘What a sha.’
After an episode began, food and drink beca extrely limited within days.
This had been one of the few chances for a banquet, and it had been snatched away.
“Ughhh”
“Gulp! Kuu.”
Passengers were already being contaminated by yokai influence.
Unless they were awakened hunters, it was unlikely that those without mana could withstand it.
Regrettably, there was nothing he could do about that.
“What do you intend to do now?”
“We’re going to the engine room.”
If they could seize control of the engine room, they could claim ownership of the train.
Then they could at least minimize the number of sacrifices.
＊＊＊
Outside the train, Cain joined a new group that had been waiting for him.
“Good work, Cain.”
“Was everything inside… resolved well?”
A number of priests approached Cain.
“Priest Kim Geunsik has betrayed us.”
The words were short and blunt.
However, their weight was by no ans light.
“What? W-what does that an….”
“Are you speaking seriously?”
At Cain’s announcent, the other priests inhaled sharply.
“It’s certain.”
He was the only one who had survived among the priests.
He knew about the extraction of Murugan’s lingering thought.
If one assud ‘betrayal,’ everything fit together.
That exaggerated reaction to Kim Geunsik’s survival, and asking for him in exchange for information…
‘All arrangents ant to help Kim Geunsik assimilate into the Cult.’
Whether they had fed him sothing like the ‘Solitude’ from martial arts, or lured him with promises of special rewards, there were countless thods.
But one thing bothered him.
‘How did they know about the woman?’
This had been a top secret even not revealed to Kim Geunsik.
When Yohan first asked Kang Yohan, the atmosphere was as if he knew nothing, but by the ti of the second question, he had ntioned information about that woman and activated the Emotion Badge.
This part he could not understand.
What was certain….
‘This would be a terrifying enemy.’
They knew more than a cult that had planted roots in the governnt, the Hunter Association, the Empire, and the major guilds.
Of course, their information might only be superior in certain fields, but that alone made them sufficiently threatening.
“What shall we do with Priest Kim Geunsik?”
“Share only the information that we can safely manage. If we suddenly exclude him from all missions, the other side will beco suspicious.”
Keep him alive.
Use him in reverse.
Kim Geunsik would serve as a very important bait in uncovering Yohan’s true identity.
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