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Reborn as the Doomed Heir of a Mage Dynasty (Web Novel) - Chapter 441
Chapter 441
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The Young cult leader tried to threaten me by bringing up Heavenly Insight.
At his words, I inwardly scoffed.
'Look at this bastard.'
What the hell is he spouting now? Unbelievable.
He's saying Heavenly Insight is going to die?
― What do you mean?
I responded with a telepathic transmission as well.
Then, as if he'd been waiting, the Young cult leader started speaking.
― If it's collateralized with Heavenly Insight, it shouldn't be a bad choice, right? It's just a duel. Is that not enough?
― No, seriously, who the hell are you to weigh Strategist's life like that?
As I talked, my mind turned. This guy mentioned Heavenly Insight's life. Could it be...?
'Baleful energy? Death curse?'
I recalled the baleful energy the Death King tried to release—and that I had removed it. Is this bastard using that against me now?
'Does he think the death curse worked?'
Absurd.
Then, annoyance flared up.
― Whatever it is, pick one.
Fight him in a duel, or let Heavenly Insight die.
And I was supposed to choose that?
'Ha.'
A sigh slipped out, and I grew hot.
Frustration boiled up.
I had tried to avoid getting tangled up with this guy if possible.
'Why do you keep messing with me?'
He prodded needlessly, more than was necessary.
Even if I stood still, we were bound to get entangled and become a hassle eventually, yet here we were.
'Is it not enough that I screwed him over?'
Or maybe he was trying to use this to vent his anger at me.
Whatever it was, it was pointless.
"Ah."
That's enough.
Seriously.
"You really need a beating."
"What?"
"Get up. Didn't you want a fight?"
『Ha ha.』
At my words, Heavenly Demon laughed.
For some reason, it reminded me of Yu Chun-gil's reactions and a flicker of irritation passed, but I ignored it.
For my part, I felt I couldn't just leave things as they were.
* * *
'This is something I've been thinking about recently.'
My temperament seemed to have gotten worse.
Even I could see it myself. I didn't use to act or explode this emotionally...
'Is it because of the Divine Sword?'
Or was it the Heavenly Demon, or something else?
I wasn't certain, but anyway, this is what I had become.
"I didn't expect you would accept."
The Murim Alliance's sparring ground.
The Young cult leader and I stood atop it. Right as we stood, he spoke.
He didn't expect me to accept? Ridiculous.
"You harassed me just to force me to accept, and now you say you didn't expect it? Stop with the word games already."
"Hahaha. I only put out something tempting."
"Ah, just shut up."
I gripped the sword at my waistband—the Divine Sword.
I paused, wondering if I should really draw it.
The Heavenly Demon told me it was okay, but...
"......"
With doubts rising, I hesitantly drew it. Srrrrng.
The Divine Sword slid out, its blade glinting in the open.
The Young cult leader saw it too.
"......"
But showed no special reaction.
Seriously?
It doesn't even look any different though.
'Hmm.'
I leveled my sword at him.
He also pulled a sword from his own waistband.
Srrrng.
His was a double-edged sword, its blade a shade of black similar to mine.
Was it made of black iron?
It was obvious at a glance—the air around it outstripped other famed swords easily.
While I was looking at it—
"...... What's going on?"
Someone appeared at the sparring ground. It was Divine Spear. His face scrunched up as he stared at us.
"The Alliance leader is here."
The Young cult leader turned to him.
"I challenged Moon Hero to a duel. Thankfully, he accepted."
"... A duel?"
At the word "duel", Divine Spear's expression stiffened even further.
A duel, out of the blue.
"What's going on?"
This time, he spoke to me. It felt like he was asking if I was serious.
"... That's how it ended up."
"......"
Hearing my answer, Divine Spear said nothing more.
"I see."
With that flat reply, he stepped back a few paces. Then he leaned against the wall, folding his arms.
Was he planning to watch? Why would a busy man go out of his way to watch this?
'Ah, this is getting uncomfortable.'
A fight, and now even Divine Spear was watching.
'Anyway, I charged in here hot-headed.'
Can I win? Even so, I'd undergone transformation and my level had risen—maybe I could win?
I didn't know. But—
'Let's just do it.'
The arrow was already off the string. There was no turning back.
"Shall we start?"
The Young cult leader spoke.
"Let me ask just one thing first."
"What?"
"Why do you want to fight me?"
I was curious—about his insistence on a duel.
"Is 'I just wanted to fight' not enough?"
"That's not enough. There's nothing to gain for either of us. Besides—"
He paused, then continued soon after.
"Even without this, I felt like we'd fight someday."
"Ha ha ha—"
Like he was predicting the future. Did he not realize? No, he knew. That bastard was aware of everything.
He still wanted to fight.
"You're right. But we should try a taste first, shouldn't we?"
"... Hmm."
Is that so.
"Alright, then."
I decided not to overthink it. Besides,
'Just once.'
I wanted to try.
"Will you give me the first move?"
The Young cult leader asked.
"Sure."
I didn't refuse.
Immediately, I focused my strength in my dantian, releasing my energy.
Pazzzzzzt—!!! Rumble—!!!!
Moon Heaven.
Instantly, strength burst through my whole body and a sense of euphoria surged.
"Huh..."
The Young cult leader looked on, eyes wide in surprise.
"Here I come."
Without waiting for more of his reaction, I gathered strength in my legs and lunged.
Bang—!!!
I shot forward like a bolt.
I grabbed my sword with a speed nothing like before.
Radiant Moon Annihilation raged violently.
A flash exploded.
A single point of sword-light bore toward him.
Kwagggg—!!!!
The sharp blade halted just before splitting his brows.
"......"
Our eyes met.
He asked, his expression confused.
"...... Why did you stop?"
"If it ends like this, it won't be fun. Do it for real."
"Mm."
The Young cult leader nodded.
"My apologies. I underestimated you."
Just then.
Swoosh—!!!
The sword path was caught with Moon Eye.
A line—so I moved the Divine Sword accordingly.
Clang—!!!
The swords collided.
The Young cult leader attacked, swiftly closing in on me.
Crrrreek—!!!
Close combat began.
I caught his attack by reading with Moon Eye. Using that, I kept rebuffing his attacks.
'Fast.'
Fast.
I moved my eyes to gauge attack range and speed.
For now—
'I'm still faster.'
Creak—!
I deflected his attack diagonally. Using that, I made an opening. An exposed gap.
Twisting my waist, I targeted it.
Moon Wave—
A razor-sharp crescent moon thrust toward the Young cult leader.
If it landed, it would hit dead-on.
Then—
"... This doesn't work either?"
Chill.
Something ominous shuddered from the Young cult leader.
Whooooosh—!!!
Black energy wrapped around his sword.
Kggggg—!!!
The brilliant crescent moon crashed against the black force.
Moon Wave was blocked.
His eyes flushed red.
Thud—!!!
The blocked attack rebounded on me.
I steadied myself.
The mood shifted.
Was he really going all out now?
'If that's the case—'
I'd have to go all out too.
With that, I prepared the Great Moon.
I unleashed a technique.
It was similar to Moon Wave, but the shape was a bit different.
Crrrk—!!
The sword path was sharp and clean.
If the Radiant Moon Annihilation radiated like the moon itself, then the Young cult leader's power was like the night.
A tenacious, dreadful night.
'This is—'
Was this Demonic ki?
Just being near it was enough to make my body tense.
'Even after using Moon Heaven—'
The speed felt almost equal.
Did he not use his full strength at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?
Kang—!
Already the fourth movement.
Even as I used the fourth sword path, he blocked the Great Moon.
Five.
Six.
Then I prepared the final seventh technique.
'Even if it doesn't work—'
I could still unleash a sword strike.
I maximized the condensed Radiant Moon Annihilation.
Light exploded, shooting at the Young cult leader.
"Hrrm."
With a battle cry, he released Demonic ki.
Kwagagagagan—!!!!
Strength clashed and a massive shockwave erupted.
"Aaagh!"
"Kuugh...!"
The martial artists spectating were blown back by the shockwave.
Whoosh—!!
Wind filled the entire arena and exploded out.
It was an immense gale.
Shock only lasted a moment in the face of what had happened in an instant.
'Not yet.'
I instinctively knew it wasn't over.
Through Moon Eye, I focused, reading the dust and wind kicked up by the collision.
I saw red glowing eyes within.
I charged.
'Again—'
It was starting again.
Shiiik—!!!
I swung my sword like a whip.
It was to clear my obscured vision.
The sword's wind swept away the storm.
In that brief moment of clarity, I dashed at him again.
Gradually, my body heated up.
Not bad.
If I kept on this momentum...
"I lost."
"... What?"
I stiffened at the words the Young cult leader uttered.
He raised both hands and admitted defeat.
"You lost?"
"Yeah."
I double-checked, but he confirmed it with his attitude.
Was he crazy?
"... Why?"
The duel's not over yet.
Why admit defeat?
I couldn't understand, so I asked.
"I can't do more, and I've seen what I needed.
No reason to continue. You're really strong, friend."
"Huh?"
"Good work. As expected, the future of the orthodox faction is on another level."
He slid his sword back into his waistband and the onlookers started murmuring. They couldn't believe the duel was truly over.
"Crazy bastard."
"A duel's a duel, as promised... I'll take care of that part."
He turned and walked away.
Watching him, I had to swallow my discontent and recover my Divine Sword.
'That guy.'
Just what was he after?
* * *
Right after the single showdown between the Demonic Cult and the orthodox faction ended.
Beyond the sparring ground where Moon Hero's victory was decided, the Young cult leader returned to the demonic beings.
Amidst the martial artists gathered, one of the demonic beings asked him.
"Young Heaven... are you really alright...?"
"After checking, it doesn't seem like he's the one."
The Young cult leader, now expressionless, clicked his tongue.
He'd examined carefully but found nothing.
'It was a somewhat dangerous method, but...'
He was sure now, so that was enough. He felt no Demonic ki from that man.
'Then who is that bastard?'
The one who claimed to be the Heavenly Demon.
The Young cult leader still harbored suspicion it might be Bang Sung-Yun, but the man had not a trace of Demonic ki.
'... Tch.'
He ground his teeth.
Losing Heavenly Insight's card was unfortunate, but at least he'd confirmed the truth.
Of course—
'I won't lose the card, either.'
He'd keep that precious card.
He'd gone so far as to meet Bow Ghost for it, so he better keep it for now.
However—
'How will that guy act?'
To have even mentioned Heavenly Insight.
From here, Bang Sung-Yun's actions were crucial.
He looked back.
Blue eyes were fixed on him.
Seeing that, the Young cult leader smiled as well.
'Wait.'
Not yet.
He stilled his trembling hand, the aftermath still running through his body.
He hadn't used to be like this.
The guy must have gained some huge fortuitous encounter.
Maybe he'd have to give it his all, after all.
Was it possible?
Was that guy that much of a genius?
He was skeptical, but right now he couldn't know.
He wanted to go all out and cut him down then and there.
But—for now, he had to hold back.
'He'll come for me soon enough.'
The time wasn't far off.
It just wasn't yet.
