Chapter 604


    Matans Shooter 604


    Ha! Is it that gunslinger again? How persistently annoying- huh? Bluebeard, having retrieved his staff, clicked his tongue but was suddenly taken aback.


    Molting?


    He had thought lizardia was dead, only to find that what had fallen to the ground was merely a shell in lizardias shape.


    Ha! Did he molt in the meantime?


    What Biyemi had obtained from the Serpentine paleon tribe wasnt just acidic venom.


    She had also learned another secret technique that utilized lizardias racial traits.


    Bluebeard couldnt help but burst intoughter, kicking at Biyemis shed skin on the ground.


    He knew all too well how futile it was to chase a chameleon in the darkness.


    You said your name was Chiyou.


    Its my first time meeting you, Count, despite these circumstances.


    Chiyou maintained herposure despite the extreme pain she was in.


    Ah, its hard to say were meeting with me looking like this.


    It was her first chance to converse with Bluebeard. She was prepared to face death for this opportunity.


    Curse that damn chameleon. Cant see a thing.


    What expression was Bluebeard wearing? How would he view her act of protecting the jar?


    She wanted to check, but it was hard to find a way.


    Despite consuming a huge amount of healing potions, her vision remained dark and didnt clear up.


    Her vision wasnt just dimming due to fatigue; Biyemis acidic venom hadpletely destroyed her eyes.


    Making such a greeting despite your eyes being ruined? You have more guts than most men.


    Thank you, I appre- Ah?!


    Whoooosh!


    As soon as Bluebeards hand touched Chiyous face, the corrosion and poisoning effects of the acidic venom stopped.


    Her dead eyes did not return to life, but it was still a gesture of goodwill.


    Chiyou felt unexpectedly good about Bluebeards excessive friendliness.


    Thank you, Count.


    No, I should thank you. Even in this situation, you protected it. Let me check the others first.


    That was all Chiyou heard.


    With a whoosh, she could no longer sense any presence of Bluebeard.


    [Where are you, you bastard!]


    All that echoed was the roar of the dinosaur that stirred up the entire fortress.


    The cry, as if to tear down the fortress, vibrated through the air, resonating for a long time.


    So noisy, you pathetic creature.


    [My Lord, the Count.]


    Though the figure was as small as Toons eyeballs, Bluebeards words were enough to shut Toon up.


    tsk tsk to think you couldnt prepare for even this.


    [Im sorry.]


    Toon bowed deeply, almost touching the ground with his head, in apology.


    Bluebeard didnt spare Toon a nce, instead surveying the devastated fortress.


    Igor and Faust twitched every time their eyes met with Bluebeards, but they were too busy hiding their own forms, indicating they had not fully grasped the situation.


    That woman must have a hard time leading these fools Are they still on about that? The gunslinger has been gone for a long time.


    Are you saying Leeha has left


    Faust stepped forward, deactivating his shield in front of Bluebeard.


    Bluebeards eyes suddenly filled with a murderous intent, but he lightly swung his staff, yfully knocking on the white head of lizardia.


    However, at that moment, Faust felt the presence of death.


    Seeing Faust trembling, Igor and Czar adopted a defensive stance, but Bluebeard was not bothered in the least.


    Kukukuku Looks like youve be quite perceptive.


    He stared nkly at the roof of the fortress, the spot where Leeha had just been.


    If it were the old times, you wouldve stayed to kill me. Have you grown smarter Or is it something else-Bluebeard smacked his lips, but the swift disappearance of Leeha and Pietro was not solely due to Viyemis whisperings. Leeha had wanted tond a deadly blow, even if a kill was out of the question. Unsatisfied with having destroyed only three pots, he had resolved to take down at least one more pot before leaving, or possibly eliminate more than two key yers.


    Is there a problem? Like a murmur from Bluebeard, Leehas ns dissolved into nothingness in an instant, starting the moment Toon entered his scope.


    Why on earth The ce Leeha fled to was not Juma City. Without even saying a proper goodbye to Viyemi and Pietro, he had moved to ugrunnsir. Are you alright, Leeha-nim? ugrunn asked, looking at Leeha with concern, but Leeha couldnt find the words to respond.


    Im fine. I wasnt attacked. I havent been affected by any kind of magic, including status ailments. But can I really say Im okay?


    Haah Haah Leeha removed his finger from the trigger of ck Bass. His index finger was trembling.


    Leeha-nim? Never before, not before his enlistment, nor after the incident in the military, and not even throughout all his gamey in Middle Earth, had he been filled with such terror of sniping.


    Why am I like this! Leeha looked down at his still-trembling finger.


    Its just a game. Toon! How many souls are left?


    Well only about two pots full, roughly 20,000-


    No, no. Bluebeard, who had been looking at the fortress roof, turned around and floated toward Toon, pointing his staff at him. Including those inside.


    Toons pupils dted momentarily. The souls transferred into pots amounted to roughly 20,000, but the number Toon absorbed during this third wave far exceeded that.


    [There should be at least 15,000 inside me currently.]


    All together thats 40,000? Bluebeard smacked his lips.


    Dammit, its not enough, but it cant be helped. Lets go.


    [Excuse me?]


    Dont make me repeat myself, you dense dino-brained bastard. Im not in the best of moods.


    [I-Im sorry, Count.]


    Toon immediately mmed his head to the ground, causing a shock akin to a minor earthquake to the surrounding yers.


    Bluebeard climbed onto Toons shoulder, and just as Toon was raising his head, Bluebeard, as if he suddenly remembered something, called out toward an alley. Ah, and  Chiyou!


    As if she had been waiting for the call, Chiyou walked out from the alley. Although the situation had not worsened, her treatment wasntpletely finished either. Some yers frowned at her gruesomely disfigured face, but Chiyou herself seemed not to care.


    Yes, Count.


    Youreing too.


    Its an honor.


    Chiyou bowed her head slightly. She had finally seized the opportunity to form a connection with an NPC who was arguably the strongest entity in the Middle Earth saga. For her, the current situation was the best possible oue she could have orchestrated.


    Chiyou discreetly issuedmands to Faust, Igor, and the other yers. It was a straightforward order: wait and defend the fortress, as this was in everyones best interest to survive. And no yer dared to disobey.


    Perched on Toons shoulder beside Bluebeard, Chiyous presence was a clear testament to who held the highest power at this location.Then, my friends. Until we meet again.


    Bluebeard swung his staff, poking Toons shoulder lightly. That simple action, requiring no casting at all, made both the giant Toon and their existence vanish in an instant.


    Chiyou, still unable to see, had no idea where she was.


    But one thing was certain.


    Ba-bam!


    [Achievement: Suppressed Vitality for 20 Years (S-)]


    You have set foot in the darkest ce of the Erika continent for the first time.


    This ce, known as Demons Core, has never before been entered by someone devoid of demonic energy. All life in Middle Earth awaits your wise choice ining here.


    Reward: Strength +7, Agility +7, Intelligence +7, Holy Resistance +10%


    [Suppressed Vitality for 20 Years]


    You are the first to register this achievement.


    The first three registrants of the achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, and the original effects will be increased by 200%.


    Effects: Strength +14, Agility +14, Intelligence +14, Holy Resistance +20%


    This space has never been visited by any user.


    Even blinded, Chiyou suppressed augh as she viewed the system window.


    Demons Core, indeed And 20 years at that. This ce is certainly-


    Ordered by Bluebeard, why did Toon collect souls?


    Chiyou had a vague idea of his purpose, and naturally, she had predicted their current location as well.


    [This ce is!]


    Ah, yes, Toon. Its been a while since weve seen this guy.


    Toon stared ahead with wide eyes.


    Despite clearly being underground, a corner of the spacious area,rge enough to amodate Toons massive physique, housed a bright red crystal attracting the gaze like that of a dinosaur.


    [Yes.]


    Chiyou found the situation unbearable.


    Judging by Toons low voice, definitely one of those things was in front of her!


    Damned lizard! Did Bluebeard bring me here just to torment me? Shouldnt you let me know whats going on too!


    She felt so frustrated that she wanted to stomp her feet, but Chiyou maintained herposure as much as possible. Right now, the most important thing was to make her presence felt.


    Chiyou did not want to ruin her image by asking frivolous questions during her first meeting with Bluebeard.


    Lets wake this guy up first.


    [But the number of souls-]


    Its fine, its fine. He was always a glutton, wasnt he? Having thirty, forty thousand souls should be enough to open his eyes a bit. Though fully regaining consciousness might take a bit longer


    [-Understood. Chiyou, the jar.]


    Yes,


    Chiyou carefully set down the jar she had been clutching. Bluebeard looked at her fondly and nodded.


    Silent, I like that. Not like that idiot Faust.


    Thank you.


    But theres a difference between keeping quiet because you know something and having nothing to say because youre ignorant. Do you know where you are? Suddenly, Bluebeard, who had been conversing with Toon, threw a question at Chiyou.


    She knew this must be some kind of test. Why else would she have been so quiet up till now if not to answer this moment? Yes.


    Hah, you know?


    I cant see right now, so Im not exactly sure, but I guess its one of two ces.


    Ha-ha-ha! Good. Wait here. Toon, do your job.


    [Understood, Count.]


    Momentster, Chiyou could hear the gurgling effect sound from Toon.


    The task must surely be to extract all the souls within.


    Toon said without the jar, the souls wouldntst more than 3 hours.


    The jars for housing souls arent something you can just find anywhere in the Old Continent.


    Even Chiyou, who had managed to acquire one from the royal pces treasury after roasting Miniss magi squad, knew it was difficult to obtain more.


    Neither Toon nor Bluebeard could be unaware of its rarity.


    Meaning, even if a wave came, keeping more than 20,000 souls would be difficult.


    So is that why try now?


    What was that try?


    Chiyou waited quietly. Bluebeard, who hadpletely vanished, was suddenly in front of her again.