Chapter 322 – A Different Kind of Reversal (1)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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It finally began to make sense.
A mere few years.
The reason why adventurers were able to shake the Arcana Continent in a fleeting time……! Gremory chewed over the memories of the body digging into her head, more accurately, the knowledge of the player.
‘To think they held such a blessing.’
If such power had been given to her……
She wouldn’t have even needed a long time.
Even with just a few years similar to those adventurer bastards, she would have been able to grasp the power to challenge the Demon Kings of the Ten Seats.
That alone would have been a satisfactory possession.
“Hehe.”
Even her discerning eyes were not wrong.
Even though she had simply chosen the shell while chasing after beauty, there was no windfall like this.
Gremory murmured softly.
“To think she’s a lady of a noble family and more.”
Myth conglomerate group.
She couldn’t guess the meaning of the word itself.
However, she saw an aspect of it within the body’s memories. To think it was a position where she could enjoy a luxurious life while receiving the worship of numerous people. There would be no environment more comfortable for hiding her body than this.
‘Now there’s no time to hesitate.’
Gremory moved her steps as her body led. Now that she had succeeded in possession, she didn’t think the madmen of Akshan would be able to track her. They’d have a hard time just dealing with the slaves of authority. Nevertheless.
‘I won’t let my guard down.’
Furthermore, this land was an existence even worse than those madmen.
The last Demon Hunter.
Wasn’t it the hometown of the silver-haired man?
Let’s see, if he was a man of that level, his reputation would be widespread in this world as well. She would surely be able to find out information about that man even from the memories of the shell’s owner.
Gremory’s prediction hit the mark.
“……Lee Ho-yeol.”
The name popped right out of her mouth.
But something was strange.
Gremory felt a strange sense of déjà vu from the shell.
‘……What is this?’
It was safe to say it was her first possession.
Even if praised generously, it was merely a human body.
The sensations she felt clearly should have been unwelcome.
She felt a strangely familiar feeling.
If it were usual, she would have dismissed it as nothing.
But hadn’t she vowed not to repeat mistakes?
Gremory closed her eyes for a moment.
‘I should examine the inner self.’
And she soon realized the reason.
‘Truly a bizarre life, woman.’
To give up her body to a demon twice.
‘True Name, Baek I-seol.’
Baek I-seol.
The trace of a demon vividly remained inside the woman’s inner self.
And the scent of a tribe that could be considered the same kind as Lust, the lustful bastard.
Gremory clicked her tongue.
‘Succubus.’
A demon race counted on one hand in the Demon Realm for vulgarity. Gremory had taken a liking to Baek I-seol’s body. Therefore, she secretly whispered into Baek I-seol’s inner self.
‘You may consider yourself grateful. I am an existence of a different class than something like a succubus. I will make your shell be reborn as a true Queen, not an evil spirit at best.’
The first step for that would surely be returning to Baek I-seol’s mansion. After that, she planned to dispose of Baek I-seol’s blood relatives and close associates, who would clearly be the first to interfere.
‘Wouldn’t it be annoying if they recognized me?’
Even if she was wearing a human shell, Gremory had no intention of enduring the humiliation of imitating a human. She had to clear away everything that interfered and fill her surroundings only with loyal slaves of authority.
It was the moment Gremory made her resolution.
‘……Huh?’
Step.
“!”
Her feet moved on their own.
At first, she thought the body was reacting to her will, until she looked around.
‘……Why?’
There’s no way something like Baek I-seol’s mansion would exist on top of these precarious stairs, is there? Gremory urgently retraced Baek I-seol’s memories. More accurately, the common sense as a player.
‘A portal exists at the entrance of the Mage Tower. Adventurers freely roam the world through the Mage Tower’s portal. Above the stairs of the Mage Tower, there is a space permitted only to mages……’
Step.
However, no matter how much she retraced her memories, there was no reason to climb the stairs. Was it because of that? Unnecessary attention concentrated on her. The gazes of the human bastards loitering at the Mage Tower’s entrance pursued her.
No, more accurately.
“Uh, Senior. Isn’t that Baek I-seol?”
“……Huh? Holy shit, that’s really Baek I-seol!”
“Why is Baek I-seol at the Mage Tower……”
“Wait a minute, is this an extension of that incident back then?!”
“F-First, get your cameras out!!”
Baek I-seol.
It was directed at the owner of the shell.
Grit.
Gremory ground her teeth.
‘Does she have some connection with the Mage Tower by any chance?’
There was no way the fact that she was wearing the shell would be discovered, but…… The machines those lowly bastards were holding would spread this situation to the world. Facing Akshan, such attention was unwelcome.
‘Do not move on your own, girl.’
Gremory snapped internally and seized control of the body……
No, more accurately, she tried to seize it.
The steps moving again as soon as they paused.
Step.
“……!”
Gremory could not contain her astonishment.
She shouted into her inner self.
To me, a Demon King.
As if that wasn’t enough, even having swallowed the authority of a Great Evil.
Are you saying a mere human is resisting?
‘This is impossible!’
However, that was just the beginning.
Swish.
The one who blocked Gremory as she climbed the stairs was a scrawny man.
His reputation was in the Demon Realm too.
He was so well-known among Demon Kings that she recognized him immediately.
‘Marcelo Simuard……!’
If the fact of possession was discovered, she wouldn’t be able to get away smoothly.
Gremory fell into serious agony. Should she manifest Lust’s authority even now? Even so, could she break down this man’s mental power? No, before that……
‘……Wait, why is she perfectly fine?’
Gremory herself clearly could not control the rampaging authority of Lust. It meant she sometimes messed things up due to the rampaging authority, and sometimes barely saved her life.
And yet.
“It has been a while. Miss Baek I-seol.”
Marcelo was treating her, no, the shell, as if nothing was wrong.
To say he neutralized the authority with his immense mental power.
‘Even the bugs downstairs were fine……’
Gremory deliberately guessed.
‘……Could it be, have I become able to control the authority?’
Of course, it was an impossible guess, but.
Her mouth moved on its own.
Her head bowed without permission.
“It has been a while, Chief Marcelo. First of all, I feel apologetic for breaking the rules of the Mage Tower. I formally apologize for entering the upper floors without permission.”
……Damn it!
Gremory had no intention of spitting out such words. Putting aside the humiliation, it would have been the best move to turn around and leave the Mage Tower during the time to spit out such excuses.
Marcelo shook his head.
“You have nothing to worry about.
For there must clearly be a reason you came seeking. Please come up. It seems we cannot have a proper conversation on the stairs.”
Step.
It wasn’t too late even now.
Do not follow behind that man.
How dare you try to defy me.
Even as she yelled internally, the body still didn’t listen.
Eventually, they reached the top floor of the Mage Tower.
The conversation continued from a point where no one could be seen.
“I can guess the reason you came.
For there is only one connection between Miss Baek I-seol and me. It must be a matter related to the Holy War Allied Forces.”
What, Holy War Allied Forces?
Gremory was astonished. To think an allied force was organized under the name of Holy War in this completely different world. It was a situation she couldn’t even predict when she was on the Arcana Continent.
“That is correct.”
Gremory felt like her lips were drying up.
‘This dog-like.’
Now that she knew of the existence of the Holy War Allied Forces. The situation when Marcelo noticed her existence was drawn incomparably clearly. Gremory now almost begged as she shouted internally.
‘Please, I beg you, shut up.’
However, Baek I-seol’s mouth moved heartlessly.
“It’s none other than, it seems I’ve been possessed by a demon again.”
……She was aware of the possession?!
How on earth?
Gremory, grasping the situation, struggled desperately in her inner self.
Was it thanks to that, she realized it belatedly.
‘Wait……’
This was Baek I-seol’s second possession.
That meant the succubus that had first possessed Baek I-seol no longer existed in her inner self. Gremory recalled the feeling she had when she possessed her.
‘……I witnessed the possibility.’
Revenge was not far away.
The system was indeed authority, an authority beyond authority.
Sitting on the Ten Seats was not a dream……
‘Would I be the only one to dream such a dream?’
Would a succubus not know that fact?
That meant the succubus would never have given up this body of her own will.
‘That was it.’
Gremory finally reached the correct answer.
‘……The succubus was hunted!’
The puzzle pieces began to fit together in her confused mind.
“Possession. Then you must have come looking for Chief Lee Ho-yeol.”
Chief.
And Lee Ho-yeol.
Why Baek I-seol’s body headed to the Mage Tower.
“Yes, it seems I will owe him a debt once again.”
Why the strange déjà vu still hadn’t faded.
It was so.
The subtle déjà vu wasn’t felt from seeing the succubus.
The instinctive reluctance toward the natural enemy engraved in the demon’s genes.
Gremory eventually broke down.
‘……Are you saying even struggling this much won’t work?’
Are you saying the natural enemy relationship can never be opposed. Did the hunt start the moment I stepped onto this land. Once caught by a Demon Hunter, does it mean I couldn’t escape by any means or methods……?
Before long, a bell rang in Gremory’s ears.
“It seems you were waiting just in time as well, Sir.”
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
‘No, I can’t…….’
The whistle of the train heading to hell.
──────
The top floor of the Mage Tower.
The moment I entered, a familiar message welcomed me.
[The skill, ‘Natural Enemy’, is activated.]
I was honestly surprised.
“A rather refreshing reunion.”
The master of the Myth Guild and a member of the Holy War Allied Forces, Baek I-seol.
To think she would be possessed by a demon again.
Even while greeting her casually, I flinched.
‘Are you really okay?’
According to Marcelo’s telepathy, I heard Baek I-seol had entered the Zero Mountain Range and was possessed by a demon. And it seemed she came straight to the Mage Tower where I was most likely to be. Thanks to the concise movement path, the conclusion came out naturally.
‘The one who possessed Baek I-seol is the mixed-blood demon.’
As if it was the correct answer, the quest goal flickered.
– Hunt demons. (Repeatable)
● Follow the bloodstains to track the mixed-blood demon. (Success)
● Subdue the mixed-blood demon. (In Progress)
That was the reason I was surprised.
‘Miss Baek I-seol, you really……’
In terms of suffering, I thought I was the most exhausted, being pestered by Granfel. But even so, I couldn’t grumble in front of Baek I-seol, who had been possessed by a demon twice.
Besides, it wasn’t an ordinary demon this time, right?
However, Baek I-seol was no different from usual.
“Gremory. According to my memory, it was the 56th ranked Demon King. And seeing how it continuously mentioned authority…… It seemed like it had something to believe in.”
I remained silent.
I just stared blankly into Baek I-seol’s pupils. Even if one can deceive the eyes of others, one cannot deceive the eyes of a Demon Hunter. Indeed, Baek I-seol’s eyes were definitely dyed black.
So it was more questionable.
‘How on earth are you perfectly fine?’
Demons feed on negative emotions. Because of that, they drive the possessed human further into ruin. Even just recalling Baek I-seol when she was possessed by a succubus……
‘It was completely different from now.’
Why, they say trials make a person strong.
‘Did the experience of being possessed by a succubus become an advantage?’
I didn’t know well, but it seemed her mental strength had become solid. Since there was a time when stories about Baek I-seol never ceased in the social section, and even in entertainment articles.
I, Lee Ho-yeol.
My head was complicated with various thoughts.
But who was Granfel?
“You have also grown.”
“Pardon?”
“You must have finally realized pride.”
The founder of the noble theory of pride.
At my words, Baek I-seol let out a small sigh.
“Phew, thank you for saying that! Actually, I was worried whether being possessed again would trouble you, General Commander. But was it thanks to not forgetting pride as you said? I was able to not repeat the terrible dark history…… no, the mistake like during the succubus incident.”
……Dark history, I know that feeling well too.
I nodded my head gently, and suddenly, meowing sounds were heard.
“What on earth are you talking about-nya.”
“Please stay still, Tower Master.”
“I still don’t know what pride is-nya.”
Anyway, that thing!
Was it half asleep?
Why was the tone like that?
Did the honorable Tower Master take a nap on the top floor of all places just to watch this embarrassing scene? Anyway, I couldn’t let Baek I-seol’s performance be overshadowed.
“I will get straight to the point.”
Without hesitation, I prepared the [Exorcism Ritual].
Mixed-blood demon.
I still couldn’t grasp what it meant, but if authority was added to a Demon King, it was certain that it was not an ordinary big shot. What was needed to hunt such an existence was exactly a sacrifice, an item of a demon.
And an item of fitting tier, too.
‘I happen to have just the right thing.’
Likewise, loot left by a big shot demon.
[Cocoon Clotted with Jealousy]
[Grade: Legend]
[Restriction: Unknown]
[Effect: Sealed]
[Description: Infused with a demon’s curse, its effect has been sealed. To know its proper effect, it must absolutely be purified.]
That’s right.
It was left by the Seven Deadly Sins Jealousy.
A whopping legendary grade item.
‘It must be an item on par with Ghost Iron, right?’
I was quite expectant.
Due to my incorruptible integrity, I couldn’t show my ulterior motives.
I put on an expression more stern than ever.
I declared toward Baek I-seol. No, the mixed-blood demon.
“From this time forward, I will begin the execution.”
[The ‘Cocoon Clotted with Jealousy’ has been selected as the sacrifice.]
[The skill, ‘Exorcism Ritual’, is activated.]
[You invite the mixed-blood demon, Gremory, to the ‘Ritual’.]