The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-153

Crumble…

Another auburn-eyed crow crumbled away.

‘Hm… seems like they last an entire day now.’

Seol’s creation was a crow that shared its vision with him.

Even though Seol could create it in an instant now, utilizing it properly was another problem entirely.

‘The most important things I need to fix are... my vision getting blurry and not being able to hear properly when I create a lot of crows.’

Hearing was an ability Seol had recently added, and as expected from a new ability, its performance was rather poor.

If it were just his vision, Seol could still manage to control a few crows, but... he struggled to share hearing with even a single one.

And with that, another problem arose.

Crumble…

“Urgh…”

Seol suffered damage whenever the creation he was focusing on died. Truthfully, this outcome was expected.

Creations relied on the creator's consciousness or will to move, so it made sense that their sudden destruction would also affect the creator.

‘Well, still… this much is still very satisfactory.’

It was only ‘satisfactory’ to Seol because he was a perfectionist. Anyone else would have been ecstatic that they could reach a level like that so quickly. It was incredible, really.

Knock, knock.

"Brother Snowman, Frannan has completed his preparations and sent me to bring you.”

“I’m coming.”

Creaaak…

Snowman, after exiting his room, followed behind the Black Pilgrim.

The branch was completely quiet, as if they were all notified that a ceremony would be taking place soon.

Creak…

After passing through a pair of large doors, Seol entered a large room.

“You’re here,” said Frannan.

“Yeah.”

“Come here, and take out the demonic spirit too.”

Frannan, Markon, and Chameli stood inside the room, guarded by several vigilant pilgrims.

Slide…

Seol placed the bottle containing Agony in the center of the room.

[You idiots! You’re all idiots!]

“Oho… and what exactly makes us idiots?”

[Whatever! I won’t cooperate with you at all! I’ve never cooperated with anyone before either!]

“Why haven’t you cooperated before?”

[Because I used them all!]

“And?”

[And because I’m a demonic spirit!]

Frannan then interjected.

“Oh, you foolish little spirit. That isn’t a reason. Do you want me to tell you the real reason?”

[No! Don’t tell me!]

"It’s because you never learned. You've never learned how to cooperate, and you've never learned that it's better to do so."

[Lies!]

“I plan to start the lesson soon, so follow along, alright?”

Frannan then flipped his hair and lowered Agony.

“I still can’t agree to this,” said Markon. “It is way too dangerous for a human to wield a demonic spirit!”

"And those are simply your opinions."

"Are you certain, then, Frannan?"

"Me?"

"Yes, I'm asking if you're confident that Snowman could make Agony submit to him through this ceremony."

“Well…”

Frannan turned to Seol, who accepted his gaze as if it were nothing.

Frannan then had a thought. He wondered if this was how Veil had felt when he had accepted him into the magic tower a long time ago.

‘No, it’s different from then.’

Frannan was desperate, and there was a good chance that Veil had taken that into consideration more than his potential. In truth, there was even a possibility that Veil wasn't entirely certain about Frannan's talents.

The situation then was completely different from the situation now.

Wielding a demonic spirit was exceptionally rare—so rare, in fact, that it was uncertain if there was ever a precedent.

Was it impossible then? Not necessarily.

While it was theoretically possible, there were too many variables to account for.

However, the young man standing before Frannan possessed the ability to control those variables as well.

‘Even though he’s still just taking baby steps, he understood the principle behind creation over a single night. If he can’t do it, no one can.’

Frannan nodded to Markon.

“I’m sure. So the only thing we have to do is do our job properly.”

“...Understood.”

Frannan then approached Seol.

“Hey, sit down. You’re going to be losing your consciousness during the ceremony.”

“...So what do I have to do after that?”

Karen had already briefed Seol on the succession ceremony process.

But the reason Seol was turning to Frannan now was because he also had to deal with subduing Agony at the same time.

“When the ceremony starts, both you and Agony will go through the pearl’s succession process. By the way, you've learned these things too while learning the power of creation, haven't you? Imagining and dreaming, then simplifying those dreams to draw them out, right?”

“...I have.”

"Succession is similar to that. The issue is Agony, but... it's actually quite straightforward as well. It's similar to enticing someone."

"Enticing… someone?"

"Exactly. Once you step inside, there's a good chance the two of you will fight right away. Its mental world is its territory, so it will go all out to hurt you. Your task is to face it head-on and drain as much power as you can."

“And after that?”

"Lay a trap. Do you know when the best time to pry out a secret from someone you're torturing is?"

“I don’t.”

Frannan gave a big grin.

“When you suddenly stop the torture. That’s when their hearts crumble the fastest.”

“What?”

“Regardless, you’ll get it once you’re inside. I’ll assist you with my magic, so let’s deal with the rest once you’re inside. Now, let’s begin.”

Click, click!

Markon laid out a chain coated in holy oil in the shape of a circle.

“This will prevent the evil energy from escaping. It also ensures that those outside the room remain unaware.”

“Haha… then I guess all that’s left is me. Let’s see here…”

Snap!

Frannan snapped his fingers.

Hummmmm…

With Seol, Agony, and the pearl at its center, a massive magic circle was suddenly drawn out. Even at a glance, the circle was intricate and striking.

“Don’t worry about failing. I’ll kill you quickly and painlessly.” smiled Frannan.

“Thank you.”

“Haha…”

Murmur…

Karen and Karuna began to chant unintelligible words.

Click… Clack…

As they did, the pearl slowly began to contort in shape, gradually increasing in size until it transformed into a massive blanket, which suddenly attempted to wrap around Seol all at once.

As it did, Frannan clapped his hands

Clap!

[Frannan used Exceptional Skill: Large-Scale Magic Circle Amplification.]

[All prepared magic circles activate rapidly.]

Crackle… crackle…

The blanket stopped in place before growing even larger.

“Urgh…”

A vein bulged on Frannan’s forehead.

Mysterious letters began to emerge from the magic circles, inscribing themselves onto Seol, Agony, and the pearl.

“Krgh… that’s it!”

Fwiiirl!

As Frannan let go, the pearl finally engulfed Seol.

[The pearl's test begins.]

[Snowman begins the succession ceremony.]

Seol and Agony disappeared into the pearl.

“Fuu… I don’t know whether it’ll turn out as an Abomination, Holy Relic, or something else entirely, but... we’ll see once he’s out."

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

In this world, certain things are destined from birth.

Just as fish navigate the water and birds soar through the blue sky, some destinies are fated from their very creation.

So, what destiny awaits a newly born, black entity?

‘I…’

It floated around.

In a world that was forever filled with blood and rotting corpses.

“Krgh… Ahhh…”

It witnessed the death of a knight, a knight who did not wish to die just yet.

How unfortunate. Yet, this was the battlefield, and he lay among the defeated.

Surrounded by lifeless bodies, all bearing the scars of war as he did.

He had lost his life on the battlefield.

But on the other hand, the black entity…

‘I… I was born here.’

An entity tainted by the accumulated grudges and regrets of many souls. It was the embodiment of evil, born from the collective weight of their resentment.

That was what it was.

It had neither love, nor hope, nor trust.

The only thing by its side was death and wailings.

“Do you want me to help you?”

“Cough…”

“Accept me. I can help you.”

“Who are…”

“It’s me…”

The fallen knight whispered to himself after seeing the phantasm.

“Ah… you are my sorrow… my regret.”

The knight raised his hand toward the black entity.

“Oh, Agony… Please… Please take me back to my motherland.”

And like that, the black entity was given a name.

Agony enveloped the fallen knight, taking his body in. After it consumed him, it refused the knight’s request.

“Don’t wanna. I don’t know how to do something like that. I’m just going to kill whatever I want now!”

Crackle…

The space around it distorted.

Agony regained consciousness, slowly beginning to grow and swell before eventually returning to its peak.

The demon had grown to a massive size, its body, fearsome and terrifying.

“Ahh… that’s right! I was trapped in here with that damned human!”

“Have you finally arrived?”

“Urgh?”

Seol appeared suddenly behind Agony, causing it to scream.

“Have you been… waiting for me?” asked Agony.

"I was. I've experienced situations like this more often than I care to admit, so it was a piece of cake."

“Hahaha… Look here, I am Agony. And you’re just a human.”

“But I’m a human, and you’re just agony?”

“Don’t mess with me!”

BAAAAAM!

With a swing of its fist, Agony destroyed a large area.

The situation could not have been more different from its time of powerlessness, trapped inside Seol's bottle.

“This power! This amazing power! Can you feel it?”

“You’re excited.”

“Yeah! Have you finally learned the difference between us?!”

Baaaaam!

Fssss…

“Krgh…”

Seol held a pure white sword in his hand.

“Where did you get that?”

“I don’t know…”

"I feel bad for your sword, having a master like you."

"I should be the one feeling that. I think I picked the wrong weapon. Swords aren't for me."

“What?”

Fwirl!

And something incredible happened.

The white sword slowly transformed into a winged staff.

“I’ll destroy you!”

Fwoosh!

Agony’s fist failed to reach Seol, swinging only at the air.

Seol ducked to avoid Agony’s attack, then swiftly swung his staff to cast a spell at Agony.

Fwoosh!

Countless Shadow Hands poured out from the staff.

Bam! Bam!

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

“Urgh… Ahhhh!”

After taking a barrage of attacks, Agony rolled on the floor and swung its fists at Seol once more.

Baaaam!

Seol easily dodged the attack and swung his staff again.

This time, a murder of auburn-eyed crows appeared.

Flap flap…

Peck! Peck!

Peck! Peck!

The murder swarmed Agony, pecking at various parts of its body.

“Argh…. You’re nothing without your summons!”

“But isn’t that the same for you?”

“...What?”

“You’re helpless on your own.”

Those words stunned Agony. Though it swiftly destroyed the crows, it now stared blankly at Seol, unsure of what to do next.

Agony shrank in size, just a little.

It seemed like damage taken in the mental world took effect immediately.

Seol looked at his staff for a moment.

“As expected… that’s so much better,” said Seol to himself.

Fwirl!

The staff changed shape once more, into a pair of gloves.

"...I will corrupt you. I will instill in you a thirst for blood and teach you to relish extinguishing life!"

“I don’t enjoy those, though.”

Baam!

Bam!

Agony began going on the offensive, unleashing an onslaught.

However, most of them missed, and even if one managed to land, Seol successfully blocked it.

Even so, Agony continued to attack.

“You bastarddddddd!”

Fwirl…

Seol spun in the air, before landing a hit on Agony’s cheek.

Baaaaaam!

Clench…

A part of Agony's body flew off, causing it to shrink in size once more.

“Krgh… Argh… It hurtssss!”

"You've committed too many sins. What do you think about doing good, even if it's now?"

"Haha... Don't waste your breath trying to convince me now. I've been like this since I was born!"

“......”

- It’s because you never learned. You've never learned how to cooperate, and you've never learned that it's better to do so.

Agony wailed as it charged.

“D-Don’t lecture me!”

“Haah…”

BAAAAAAM!

While Agony might have been a demonic spirit, unlike some of the more malevolent ones, it was merely large and strong. It lacked the finesse to properly wield its powers.

It fought impulsively and recklessly.

Even so, that crude method was more than enough to work…

until it met Seol.

“Fuu…”

The light in Seol’s eyes changed.

In the end, there was no way for Agony’s haphazard skills to overcome the level that Seol had reached with Jamad’s keen senses and Toki’s training.

Bam.

“This…”

Whaaam…

“Bwrgh…”

Seol was right.

Bam!

“Ahhhh! It hurts!”

Crunch…

“Kieeek…”

Agony really was nothing alone.

Agony was a condensed mass of grudges and regrets. A life that had managed to become strong only through sheer luck.

“Haha… Did you think I’d lose to you?! Come at m—”

Bam! Baam!

Agony refused to give up, even though deep down, it desired to do so.

For if it did, it would mean total defeat.

It wouldn't just be submitting to Seol. Its existence as a demonic spirit would vanish entirely.

‘I can’t… die like this… I need to… keep myself.’

Agony wailed once more.

“Ahhhhhh! You bastardddddd!”

Agony, despite continuously shrinking in size, continued to fight.

It was stubborn. Stubborn to the point of impressing Seol.

How long had they been fighting?

“Gasp… Gasp…”

Each moment Agony lost consciousness, a barrage of blows would follow. Eventually, the world around it turned pitch-black, and it could no longer see Seol.

Agony slowly came to the realization that Seol was no longer attacking him.

“Ha… Haha… Hahahahaha! Yeah, you got tired! Because you’re a human! So I won then, right? Right? Of course! There’s no way a human could beat me here! Just you wait, I’ll corrupt your mind and…”

Twitch…

“Urgh… It hurts too much… He was pretty strong. But who cares? In the end, I, Agony, won… Is he gone because I beat him?”

Twitch…

“Urgh… I need to get some rest, but… huh?”

A warm flame appeared before Agony.

“...A fire?”

And within the demon's chamber, the fire flickered.

A hideous demon statue had been carved on the door to the room.

Click!

The room opened.

It opened as if it had been waiting for Agony.

“Haha… This place is perfect for me. Just you wait, human. After I rest here for a bit… I’ll end you.”

It felt as if the demon statue was whispering to Agony.

Come here.

This room’s for you.

“Then… I’ll see you later.”

Agony tiredly lumbered into the demon’s chamber.

Creaaak…

Click!

The door closed, silence filling the air.

Suddenly, a massive hand appeared, placing itself on the demon statue.

With a twist, the hand began to turn, reshaping the room.

After a few clicks, a new statue revealed itself from the opposite side of the room. It was the statue of a benevolent goddess with her eyes closed.

It was a different energy than what Agony had initially believed. It was a holy energy.

In truth, Seol hadn’t been hiding. Agony had just shrunk to the point that it didn’t recognize where it was.

“...Was turning it into a lamp the best I could do? Well, regardless…”

The 'demon's chamber’ that Agony had entered was, in truth, the interior of a lamp crafted by Seol with the pearl.

Seol smiled faintly as he held the lamp, which radiated with holy energy.

“...Caught you.”