Chapter 59…
Before regressing, I had never formed anything like a guild.
Even the seven traitors only ended up traveling together because we’d fought and bled side‑by‑side for so long that we developed a sort of bitter camaraderie. It wasn’t as if we’d gotten along from the start.
I didn’t know it would have this kind of effect…
[Halo of Scars]
That relic had always been meant for my beasts.
Because up until then, I had always been alone.
But to think it would even heal Pyeong‑on…
Apparently, anything recognized as my “subordinate” could be healed.
A new effect I discovered while living my second life.
I felt like an idiot.
Damn it. If I’d known, I should’ve made my own combat unit, like that DracoWarrior Delphiero always carried around.
I sighed, thinking about that muscle‑brained “Dragonkin Warlord.”
But regrets are always too late.
But it’s not too late to start now.
That’s why I was given this regression.
I surveyed the battlefield and gave Freki his order.
“Freki, burn everything.”
“Humph—”
Fwoosh—!
Fire erupted from Freki’s mane and spread across his whole body. In an instant, he dashed in a wide circle around us while engulfed in flames.
—Kkieeeek!!
—Kkieek! A‑a… gah!
—Chik, d‑die… chizzzik!
A swarm of countless Dead Ratmen.
Because they were paralyzed, they couldn’t even twitch as they burned to ash standing upright.
“Damn it, if you had something like this, you should’ve used it earlier!”
“Then you wouldn’t have gotten this dramatic effect.”
“……”
I shut Crather up with a single comment and walked forward.
The sea of flames split to either side, forming a path.
At the end of it stood Maltheon, expressionless.
“……”
“……”
We stared at each other in silence.
Fwoosh—
When the flames rippled once, I kicked off the ground.
And when Maltheon’s gaze darted to the right—
“Over here.”
I was already swinging Blade Sense from his left.
Clang—!
My dagger and his staff‑blade collided, sending sparks flying.
I didn’t stop there and immediately pressed him with White Beast Swordsmanship.
“So you didn’t survive all those years for nothing, huh—mmph!”
“……”
Clang-clang-clang—! Sparks!
We exchanged several blows.
But only a few seconds had passed.
“Old man, say something at least.”
“……”
His heavy lips refused to move.
All he did was swing his weapon, trying to pierce my vital points.
Slice—
When Blade Sense finally cut into his thigh, he spoke.
“…I’m thinking. About how I should kill you.”
“Now? Even after being pushed this far, you still think you can kill me?”
I could sense it.
Behind me, Pyeong‑on, Crather, and my beasts were already charging in.
Maltheon would be dead in two seconds.
Yet his expression was calm.
No—he looked almost enlightened.
“You ruined decades of planning. You’ll pay for it.”
“…?”
Puuk!
Suddenly, Maltheon acted strangely.
He stabbed his own hand into the wound on his thigh.
I realized immediately what he intended.
“Everyone, back!!”
My urgent shout made everyone rushing toward Maltheon stop without hesitation.
The only one who didn’t listen—Crather—was dragged back by Geiri.
“[Dismember Summon].”
Crackkk—!!
With the chant, Maltheon forcibly tore off his own thigh.
He became a cripple, yet didn’t seem to care.
“Geiri, Freki!”
I called out urgently.
It was too late to stop the spell.
And even without magic, his swordsmanship was formidable. Gaining casting time was no issue for him.
“I’ll have to endure the pain again… but I can do it.”
Holding his torn leg like an offering, the limb began to bulge grotesquely.
Then he tossed it high into the air.
Chwarararar—
“…What the—seriously, what is that?!”
“Sir! Be careful!”
“W‑whoaaa—A giant!”
It expanded instantly, taking the form of a blood‑colored humanoid.
A giant nearly the size of a ten‑story building.
—Grrrrrrraaaaah!!
KRAAANG—!!
As it straightened up, the ceiling that had been the basement floor exploded upward.
Morning light streamed through the opening.
“Pyeong‑on!”
“Yes!”
He read my intent immediately and grabbed Rebecca.
He leapt up, climbed the Blood Giant’s body, and disappeared onto the surface.
As they say, thread follows the needle—Crather followed in a panic, with Rebecca on Pyeong‑on’s back.
“Geiri, Freki. Time for you two to work.”
“Grrrr—”
“Woof!”
They nudged me as if telling me not to say stupid things.
“Yeah, yeah. Fine—get ready.”
I activated the skill attached to Halo of Scars.
[Patronage of the Leper King (Enhanced)]
—Rank: A+
—Level: Max
—Effect: Raises the rank of two of the user’s vassals by 1 for one hour.
Originally a power of the Silver Mask of the Leper King, now enhanced.
I used it on Geiri and Freki.
[Geiri and Freki rise from B+ to A‑rank.]
Immediately, their presence changed.
“Awooooo—!”
“Grrrrrrrr—”
Geiri’s silver pupils turned cold as the moon, and his shadow spread like killing intent.
Freki’s breath shimmered with heat, and pressure filled the air as the space around him expanded.
For a moment, they were the king’s shadow and flame.
“Go.”
“Woof!”
“Woof‑woof!”
Fwip—
I jumped onto Geiri’s back, and we shot upward.
From underground to ground.
From ground to sky.
The stale basement air turned to refreshing dawn wind.
“Hoo—nice view.”
The sun was rising in the distance.
Meaning—our height had reached the Blood Giant’s eye level.
—Krrrrrr!
The giant swung its massive fist at us.
The air felt like it was shattering.
“Guys.”
But I wasn’t unprepared.
Geiri and Freki’s bodies grew massively—far beyond their previous limit—thanks to their increased rank.
Whiish—!! BOOM—!!
Geiri’s long tail struck the giant’s fist aside.
Freki used the opening.
—Grrrrr!
Now waist‑high to the giant, Freki lunged, bit into its neck, and unleashed fire.
BWOOM—!!!
A huge explosion erupted.
But the Blood Giant didn’t flinch and swung again at Geiri.
A true battle of monsters.
I’ll leave that to them…
I landed on the ground and joined Pyeong‑on’s group.
Because the Blood Giant wasn’t the only problem.
Even with Ki Sense alone, I could count hundreds of enemies.
“Huff… damn it, they’re early!”
“You should’ve come slowly! I can handle them alone!”
Pyeong‑on swung his long sword leisurely. Crather looked like he might vomit.
They were fighting another wave of armored rat soldiers.
“These damn rats never end!”
“Big guy, did you still not realize we’re supposed to hold them back?”
“I know! I told you that! So why aren’t you—urk, blegh!”
Thud—
My fist sank into Crather’s stomach.
He bent like a folding chair and vomited.
Then Sung‑shik, perched on my shoulder, leaped off and tore into the armored rat attacking him.
“This idiot keeps forgetting every time he gets hit.”
“Indeed. So what will you do now?”
“I’ll leave Sung‑shik with you. With him here, you can handle even special variants.”
Just as I was about to move, Rebecca—who’d been protected—tugged at my pants.
She looked up and asked:
“Meat Owner, alone okay?”
So she already knew what I planned to do.
Sharp kid.
I patted her head.
“When this is over, let’s go get some beef.”
“Mm.”
I turned toward the one glaring at me like I’d killed his parents.
Maltheon, standing before the green gate.
Even while summoning the armored rats, he stared only at me.
So you really were the Gate Boss… you disgusting bastard.
I examined the mana flowing to the gate.
At its center was, of course—his heart.
Time to see if I can copy it…
I recalled the technique Ma Gun‑woo had shown me.
[Your steps contain enlightenment.]
[You have acquired the skill: Shrink Step (A).]
In an instant, I reached Maltheon.
For the first time since he grew serious, his expression changed.
“That skill…”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not part of the Goblin Guild.”
“……”
“Anyway, how about showing your true form? Let’s finish this.”
“You plan on going home alive?”
“As you can see.”
I gestured around.
Geiri and Freki pressuring the Blood Giant.
Sung‑shik and the beasts hunting rats for EXP rather than merely holding the line.
“Fine. Delusion is free.”
Maltheon loosened his tie.
Then he unbuttoned his suit and tossed it aside.
His twisted skin was revealed.
“……”
I swallowed a curse.
He was never human.
His skin shriveled like a dried corpse, with dark red veins crawling on the surface.
Most disgusting of all—his chest was split open, and embedded forcibly within it was a golden heart.
“Heart of Malice…”
A relic I knew all too well.
Maltheon stroked it and muttered:
“Humans all have limits. But with this… one can surpass them.”
Thump—!
The heart burst with golden light.
[Debuff Field <Wave of Erosion> activates.]
Just like the corrupted Gate Boss at the Sheep Ranch.
The surroundings darkened blood‑red, like an infection spreading.
The dawn sky turned pitch black. The ground wriggled like maggots.
Yes. This is what I was waiting for.
The true power of the Heart of Malice.
The armored rats grew noticeably stronger.
Thicker shells, larger bodies, sharper teeth.
If that spreads across the battlefield—it’s over.
Then the tide would turn.
Because Heartbeat and Erosion were different.
The former was mind‑control.
The latter was a debuff.
Angel’s Tear can cure mind‑control, but not debuffs…
Baek Miran had never said it could cure Erosion.
And the difference came from heart transplantation.
When Aries of Steel had a heart implanted, the Erosion started.
Meaning—even with Angel’s Tear—we couldn’t guarantee victory.
So I have to end this first.
I ignored Maltheon’s monologue.
I didn’t care what he was saying.
“…Sigh.”
I reached into my coat and pulled out a small metal case.
It wasn’t meant to be used like this…
But Director Baek will understand…
I gripped Blade Sense and charged Maltheon.
[Warning! Entering Erosion Wave.]
[Status Ailment – Poisoned.]
[Status Ailment – Confusion.]
[Status Ailment – Slowed.]
[Status—]
But such petty debuffs meant nothing to me.
I had the talent to ignore them.
Ding!
[Talent: Demon‑Slaying Body (S) reduces all debuffs by 90%.]
[Title: Pest Killer nullifies poison and infection effects.]
[Current accumulated debuff impact: 2.4%]
[Negligible.]
My newly earned title helped too.
“Impossible…”
Maltheon’s eyes widened as he watched me move unhindered inside the Erosion Field.
The second time he’d shown emotion.
I ignored him and slipped into his guard.
“Impossible!!”
Swish—
He thrust his blade with incredible force.
But I slipped past with Blue Wolf’s Step at level 10 and stood right in front of him.
Got you…
One move.
That was all I needed.
“This is honestly too good for you, but…”
“…!?”
Pshhk—
Five syringes pierced the golden heart.
[Angel’s Tear]
A beautiful liquid, just like its name, flowed into Maltheon’s heart.
“Let’s end this.”
It normally granted immunity to the Heart of Malice’s influence.
But—
It’s enough to destabilize an incomplete transplant.
It was a gamble—since I didn’t design the drug myself.
But judging by his reactions and condition, I was certain:
He was incomplete.
And for someone like that, this drug wasn’t a cure—
but a lethal poison.
