CYSIAW (60)

Translator: Wan ED/PR: Fan

 

Chapter 60. Secret safe and corrupt ghosts (3)

 

‘Count Roberio was here…’
 

Lucion thought right away:
 

‘Could it mean that the Hand of Void is behind this?’
 

“Young Master?”
 

When Lucion stopped moving for a moment, Hyum called out to him.
 

“Hyum.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Are there any other familiar smells beside this one?”

“No.”
 

Hearing Hyum’s answer, Lucion sliced the door to the safe Hyum had pointed at with the Darkness.
 

Slice.
 

As he expected, it was full of documents.

Lucion picked up and shook the documents.
 

“Does the smell come from these documents?”

“That’s correct.”
 

‘I’m going to axe that villainous bastard first.’
 

The corners of Lucion’s lips twitched.

The taut blue thread was proof that those documents were decisive evidence.
 

‘That’s neat.’
 

While Hyum returned to collecting jewels, Lucion skimmed through the documents.
 

Shuffle.
 

As he flipped through the documents, Lucion’s expression gradually hardened.
 

[I knew it the moment I saw those corrupt ghosts! Those fuckers!]
 

Russell, who was also looking through the documents, shouted so much he spit saliva.

Lucion was startled.
 

“When did You come…?”

[Just now.]

“Did You read it?”
 

Lucion lightly shook the documents.

Unlike its outer appearance of normal business, this place was created for warlocks to experiment with some kind of curse.

There was evidence that Count Roberio prepared the place for the warlocks, and the Pizzat family got money from Count Roberio to buy illegal slaves and act as the middleman.

The business was just a cover-up, but they got a certificate of permission from Count Roberio because they couldn’t let it go to waste.

But that wasn’t important.
 

‘… There is nothing about what kind of warlock bastards they were or where they came from. Could they be different warlocks from the Hand of Void?’
 

Besides the Hand of Void, there were quite a few small groups of warlocks that became the enemies of the world.

What Lucion paid attention to right now was the word ‘curse’.
 

“Master-nim. Is a curse a difficult magic to use?”

[To be precise, it’s a magic that must not be used.]
 

Russell exhaled deeply through his nose.
 

“How is it usually used?”
 

At Lucion’s question, Russell pressed his lips and frowned, as if he hated talking about it.
 

“Master-nim. It’s not that I want to learn it. However, shouldn’t I at least know?”
 

Russell sighed deeply.

What Lucion said was correct.

He had to know something about it at the very least.
 

[A curse is magic which, when used, displays power corresponding to the given price. The curse’s power, distance and range is as big as the price. You can’t even imagine that.]
 

Russell’s expression was twisted like before.
 

[Originally, it was magic used as a sort of group suicide before a warlock died, but it became known that curses can be used at the cost of someone else’s life.]

“Then warlocks accumulate negativity as a price, right?”

[Negativity isn’t the only price. A part of the caster’s lifespan is also needed. But funnily enough, in the cases where several people use a curse together, the accumulated negativity and taken lifespan are divided by the number of casters.]
 

Russell pointed at the ground.
 

[So they keep doing these kinds of things.]

“Even if there is a price, it’s not always successful, right? If it was, the curse casted here would’ve already covered the central region.”
 

Lucion licked his dry lips and asked.

If this place was used by the Hand of Void.

Then that curse had to be big enough to cover at least half of the central region.

In the novel, it was the curse used by Lucion.
 

[Right. A curse is quite difficult black magic. No matter how large the price is, the success rate is 20% at best.]
 

Lucion was momentarily relieved by Russell’s words.
 

[However, when using the curse, the success rate changes depending on who is the leader. The success rate can rise depending on how well they control Darkness.]

“… It gives me goosebumps.”

[Of course, the curses I’m talking about are the curses that need enormous power, so they need a corresponding price. Those curses are mainly related to life. But there are some light curses, different from them, that are worth learning.]

“How light are we talking about?”

[Make them wear out a pair of socks. Make them confuse salt with sugar. Make them wear their clothes backwards.]
 

At last, Russell’s expression relaxed and he chattered with excitement.
 

‘More than a curse… isn’t it a joke?’
 

Lucion made a subtle face.
 

[It’s laughable, but there are curses worth using. Those curses have slightly different rules and are related to the mental category, I should say.]
 

Tap.
 

Russell pointed at the door.
 

[That’s all for the explanation for now. Let’s clean up the things before us.]
 

At last, Lucion looked around him.

Hyum already packed about half of the jewels.

As if Latta liked the top of the reinforced glass container with jewels, she curled up and was dozing off.
 

“Ah, You can leave it to me. I can handle everything alone.”
 

At Lucion’s gaze, Hyum sent him a light smile.
 

“Okay.”
 

Lucion found a good place to sit down and yawned.

Seeing the dozing off Latta made him sleepy too.
 

***
 
[About the thing that happened before… I was wrong…]
 

The Death Knight, who was waiting on the upper floor, hesitated for a while, and then muttered.
 

“What?”
 

Lucion heard her apology, but pretended not to.
 

[I-I asked if you have collected all of the jewels.]

“Yeah. I enjoyed collecting them very much, thanks to you.”
 

Lucion was in a good mood.

The feeling of his pouch getting heavier was welcomed at any time.
 

[Then did Lord achieve his goal?]
 

The Death Knight asked.
 

“Probably. There are no more safes.”

[Can I ask again if you’re ready to grant my request?]

“Lead the way.”
 

Lucion urged the Death Knight.

There was quite some distance between the west region where Cronia was and the central region, so he thought it would be better to remodel this building and to make money by taking rent.

As such, he couldn’t tolerate corrupt ghosts loitering around on his land.

In the end, he had to vanquish the corrupt ghosts not only because of the Death Knight’s request, but also for himself.
 

[Good.]
 

When Lucion didn’t drag it on any longer, the Death Knight’s voice slightly brightened.

The Death Knight pointed towards the room to the side and spoke right away.
 

[Come this way.]
 

Kieek.
 

When Lucion opened the door, it let out a pretty horrible sound, as if it wasn’t oiled properly.
 

[Over there on the bookshelf, pull that book and that book in order. And then pull this.]
 

The Death Knight pointed at the books at the bookshelf.

For a moment, Lucion’s mood soured.
 

“Was it a lie that you didn’t know the way to open the door to the secret safe?”
 

Lucion spoke sarcastically.
 

[No. I swear that though I tested Lord, I never lied. A ghost has nowhere to use money, so I didn’t check it.]
 

The Death Knight shook her head.
 

[Now, if I’ve solved your doubts, will you pull the books to open the door and go down to the secret place?]
 

As if she thought about what the hell she was doing while he was robbing the secret safe, the Death Knight’s attitude towards him was a bit different.

Cautious, and with less of an edge.
 

Scrape.
 

After Lucion pulled the books the Death Knight pointed out to him, the wall moved.

Behind it, he saw a staircase.
 

— Woooo! Secret place!
 

As if Latta thought that consecutive secret places were some kind of play, she looked extremely excited.
 

— Hihi. Latta likes such places a lot. Very exciting!
 

‘Those warlock bastards can’t live without basements.’
 

Lucion already expected it, but having to go underground again for real didn’t feel very good.
 

“Young Master.”
 

Hyum called out to Lucion.
 

“What?”

“How about not going?”
 

Lucion was shocked by Hyum’s dissuasion.
 

“My apologies. It was impudent of me.”
 

Hyum apologized right away, but carefully added.
 

“… I can smell a lot of old blood down there. I believe it’s not a good sight for Young Master to see.”

“I know it, too.”

“I heard that the death of others can deal a great mental shock to a person.”

“Yeah. Thank you for worrying, Hyum. But I’m a Cronia and a warlock. I’m closer to death than you think, and will become even closer in the future.”

“I spoke for no reason. Because of the uncomfortable mood…”

“No. That was an excellent judgment for a valet.”
 

Lucion praised Hyum as he headed down.

Hyum smiled widely for a moment, and then followed after him.

He didn’t know how deep underground it was. The stairs continued endlessly.

After he went down what felt like close to ten floors, Lucion heard the mumbling of ghosts.
 

— Heup! Latta’s right leg is trembling.
 

Latta raised her right paw and showed him the trembling.

He couldn’t tell if it was a reaction to the corrupt ghosts or if she was just trembling.
 

‘That’s much… more than expected?’
 

Lucion stopped in his tracks.

The further down he went, the more certain he became of their existence down there.

Still, he thought he could bear this much.
 

“Did you prevent those ghosts from coming out?”
 

Lucion stared at the ghosts who just hovered in place as if blocked in place and asked.
 

[Yeah. I held them back from coming up the best I could with my power. However, I’m now reaching my limit.]

[It seems you’ve made a barrier with your sword as a medium. As you said, it’s on the verge of breaking.]
 

Russell added and looked at Lucion.

Seeing Lucion’s slightly hardened expression, Russell put strength into his voice.
 

[Don’t worry, Lucion. Even if there are many of them, the current you can easily deal with them.]

“I’m not worried. It’s just a bit burdensome.”
 

If he couldn’t handle it, Russell would stop him from the beginning.
 

[There are no ghosts that can’t be cut with your Darkness.]
 

Russell spoke calmly.

Even if he could teach Lucion how to fight, it was Lucion who had to fight.

Once one became a warlock, there was no turning back.

As such, he had to become a ruler.

The ruler of ghosts, the dead, and the Darkness itself, which no one could look down upon.
 

“I permit it.”
 

Lucion first took out his insurance.
 

[Good thinking.]
 

Russell nodded.
 

“I’m certain that I can catch the ghosts. I’ll support Young Master without interfering with You.”
 

The ghosts were the domain of warlocks.

Even so, Hyum wanted to support Lucion.
 

“No. Stay here so you won’t get swept up. Death Knight, you too.”
 

Lucion shook his head.

He could cut a person with the Darkness that cut the iron wall.
 

[Lord.]
 

Before Lucion moved, the Death Knight hesitated and spoke up.
 

“Speak.”

[… I — died here.]
 

The Death Knight pointed down.
 

[The warlock covered my whole body with curses, made me vomit blood, then was desiccated and rotted.]
 

Lucion’s gaze that looked at her didn’t change.

He just leant his ears to her calm voice.
 

[Thank you.]
 

It seemed that she smiled.
 

“Save those words for later. You will have to do it one more time again.”
 

Lucion smirked and headed down.
 

[Are you a warlock?]
 

They looked at Lucion who was going down for a moment, and then the Death Knight asked Hyum, who was left with her.

Hyum shook his head.
 

“No. I’m just a valet.”

[It seems that everyone around Lord is special.]
 

A strange ghost.

The boy, who can see and touch ghosts, but isn’t a warlock.

A cute, small fox.

She thought that that strange group couldn’t be made without deliberate assembly.
 

***
 
He deliberately didn’t use Shadow Movement.

While descending, Lucion confirmed that his Darkness was pretty much filled up.

If not hit by Light, the Darkness’ recovery speed was fast, and thanks to Latta, it was ready for him to use right away.
 

‘It’s the last step.’
 

Tap.
 

The moment he descended the last step, the red-eyed ghosts all stared at Lucion.

No matter how unmoved he was these days, even an ordinary person would be surprised if dozens of people stared at him at the same time.
 

[It will soon be pulled out.]
 

Russell pointed at the sword that blocked the corrupt ghosts from coming at him.

The sword was gradually being pulled out, and corrupt ghosts struggled to try and rip Lucion apart.

Even when seeing that sight, Lucion was calm.

They were not the target of his fear now.
 

“Please don’t worry. I’m ready.”
 

Lucion looked at the corrupt ghosts and the corners of his lips drew up.

It was the smile of a hunter who found his prey.
 

*~*~*
 
Translator’s note: I was always confused about those ‘pull a book’ mechanisms. Does every place have some OCD master, who has to have their book in a proper order? Also, how is this mechanism supposed to work? By weight?

Editor’s note: Hm. When it’s usually used, you don’t take the whole book out. You tilt it out, so I always assumed it was attached to some kind of switch or lever, but if we’re talking about multiple books, that means you also have to add in a lock requiring a passcode which is a whole other thing…This world has magic, so let’s just go with magic did it. Mmm, maybe even magical engineering. That’s getting popular, right?

 

 

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