CHAPTER 109**
The 2nd World. The day I finally set foot in it.

I met the eyes of the Regular Army gatekeeper for the 2nd World.
With an oblivious expression, he granted me entry.
The all-out assault on the Black Dawn headquarters was a secret, even within the Regular Army.
Aside from the special detachment assigned to follow me, the bait, most of the soldiers were unaware of the current situation. They probably just thought an unusual number of troops had gathered for security after the great earthquake.

They were going through a lot of trouble because of me.
Soon, they would have to face Black Dawn in a decisive battle.
And yet, the majority of the Regular Army’s members had no idea it was a secret operation.

War is an act from which no one truly profits.

The only ones who profit from war are those already in power.
War is a chain of suffering written in the blood of the young.
Many among the Regular Army would die this time.
They had to march toward a war, facing a river they could not turn back from.
They had to throw away their lives for the single-minded purpose of protecting the world.

Some, upon hearing of the operation, would surely want to run.
Others would burn with fighting spirit.
The Regular Army was, after all, a collective of many different people, so everyone would have their own thoughts.
But they were soldiers.
Soldiers who had to guard and protect the world.
Because it was the profession they had chosen, fleeing was not an option for them.

Countless deaths flashed before my eyes.
Many of them would surely die in the war against Black Dawn.
There is no such thing as a perfect war where not a single life is lost.
As a clash of forces, casualties were an inevitable part of any war.

And the fuse for this war was, ultimately, me.
That was why I had asked Inferno for one thing.
The price for being used as bait.
I told him to collect their fingers as that price.

The Regular Army soldiers, not understanding the situation, must have been freaking out.
I hadn't told them about the existence of Resurrection magic yet, but I had asked them to collect fingers.
But it was necessary.
It was for the sake of those who would risk their lives to fight Black Dawn.

I won't let a single one of you die. Because the Regular Army's strength must be maintained.

A perfect war certainly doesn't exist.
But I could make this war perfect.
I could force a situation where only Black Dawn suffered a one-sided loss.
At this point, with Black Dawn targeting my Resurrection magic, there was no longer any reason for me to hide it.
Therefore, I had to use my Resurrection magic without restraint.
The people who could protect me were my own power.

Under the gazes of the Regular Army, I set foot into the 2nd World.
The nearby pioneers chatted amongst themselves about how tight security was today, completely unaware of the reason.
Passing them, I finally entered the 2nd World.

My surroundings shifted, and the scenery changed.
The buildings that were there just a moment ago vanished, replaced by a vast, grassy plain.
Snow was falling on the plain.

The 2nd World.
The Snowscape Zone.
It was a frigid place where snowstorms raged all year round.
The medicinal herbs and special rocks that grew only in the Snowscape Zone were traded at extremely high prices.
Moreover, the pelts of the Fantasy Species native to this zone were of the highest quality.
Not only was the quality excellent, but their heat-retaining properties were superb, fetching a good price.

"We're finally in," Aranseol said as she followed me in. I nodded.
We were finally here.

"Ooh, it's been a while for me too, sir!" Lululio, armed with a robe to cover herself, a scarf, and boots, ran around in the snowfield.
Even knowing we were all bait, her cheerfulness was just like her.

"I-It's cold," Horizon shivered, her body seemingly weak to the cold as she exhaled a puff of white air.

"Babiyen, cast a warming spell on Horizon."
"Already on it, for everyone."
I like how quick she is on the uptake.
As Babiyen's warming magic seeped into us, warmth filled our bodies.
Horizon's expression brightened considerably.

"So, what's our objective?"
Just because it's Black Dawn, it doesn't mean they'll attack right away.
In response to Aranseol's question, I pointed to the snowfield.
"We're going to hunt the Blue Wolf, a Fantasy Species native to the Snowscape Zone. That thing sells for a high price."
"So we're still going after something expensive."
"However, the place where Blue Wolves are found is quite far. We'll have to walk for a while. Horizon, can you lead the way?"
"Y-Yes, of course!"

We had to go as far as possible.
That would make it more difficult for the Sins of Black Dawn to return to their headquarters.
This was a forced march for that purpose.
"Everyone's stored up plenty of stamina, right?"

I looked back at everyone and grinned.
"Let's walk 'til we drop."

The world's greatest bait is on the move.
(Translator's Note: Harua uses the slang "Se-Choe-Mi," an abbreviation for "World's Best Bait.")

Three days after entering the 2nd World.
We were warming ourselves by a fire in a nearby cave.
It was our final rest, as we were only a few hours away from the Blue Wolf's known location.
Aranseol was sitting right next to me, sharing the warmth of the fire. Normally I'd say something, but today, the mood was somber.
To be precise, everyone was maintaining a state of tension.
We didn't know when or where Black Dawn would launch their attack.
It was only natural for our bodies to tense up without us even realizing it.
That's why Aranseol was sticking closer than usual.
It was so she could react instantly if anything happened.

"Harua-nim, Harua-nim."
Just then, Lululio sidled up next to me.
"What is it? Could it be..."
Had she sensed Black Dawn's presence?

"Nope. No presence yet, sir. But there's a certain smell."
Lululio denied it while scanning our surroundings with narrowed eyes.
"The kind of strange smell that signals something big is about to happen, sir."
"I feel something similar," Aranseol agreed.
These two were the strongest fighters in our party.
Their instincts were more than just pure human intuition.

"The attack will probably come right after we finish hunting the Blue Wolf, sir," Lululio predicted the timing of the assault.
We would be far from the exit of the 2nd World, and our strength would be depleted from hunting the Blue Wolf.
There couldn't be a better time to attack.

"Hoo..."
Babiyen, as if her throat was parched, pulled at her scarf and took a gulp of water.
It was impossible not to be nervous when dealing with Black Dawn.

Well, this atmosphere is heavy.
Can't be helped.
Time for the mood-maker, Harua, to step up.
"Hey, you guys know what?"
"If you say another weird thing, you're really going to get it."
Hmm, have I overused that line?
I'd told them all sorts of stories on the way here, and Babiyen looked thoroughly fed up.
"Pfft, he's just trying to ease the tension. It's fine. Harua, I enjoy listening," Aranseol said.
See, Aranseol's the best.

"Let's just rest quietly. Why can't your mouth ever take a break, Harua?"
"I'm bored."
"I have to admit, I do respect your nerve, being able to say you're bored in a situation like this."
Seeing Babiyen's dumbfounded expression is one of my greatest joys, so I can't help it.

Just then.
"Awoooooooo!"
The howling of a wolf reached our ears clearly. I stood up, and the others rose in unison.
It seemed the Blue Wolf was closer than we thought.
According to Lululio, Black Dawn's attack would come right after the hunt.
And that moment was now upon us.

"W-We'll have to hunt it without using up too much energy."
"If it were that easy, the Blue Wolf's pelt wouldn't sell for such a high price," I said.
More importantly, if we didn't look exhausted, Black Dawn wouldn't bother attacking.
The final battle was just around the corner.

"Let's put on a spectacular show. Lululio, Aranseol."
"Right. We'll take turns and act accordingly."
"Haha, I'll put on a perfect performance, sir!"
The most important bait here was me.
Therefore, their top priority was to protect my vicinity.
They had to do that while hunting the Blue Wolf, so they had to perform well.

"Horizon, find the Blue Wolf's location."
"I-I'll get right on it."
Horizon spread her shadow across the snowfield.
She must have practiced quite a bit, because her skill with shadows had improved by leaps and bounds.
The shadow scanned the area at high speed and finally located the Blue Wolf.
"Found it!"
"Babiyen."
"Ready when you are."
As Horizon gave her report, Babiyen completed her flame spell.
In that moment, a red flame shot up toward the mountain like a firework.
KABOOOOOM!
An explosion echoed from the mountaintop.
Triggering an avalanche, a single wolf began to run furiously to escape the snow.
It was a massive wolf whose entire body glowed with a blue light.
The Fantasy Species, the Blue Wolf.
It was a slightly lower-grade Fantasy Species than the Arachne, but we were much stronger now than when we had been helpless against the Arachne.

Lululio scattered particles of light, forming a spear.
Then, taking a throwing stance, she powerfully flexed her arm.
"Let's see..."
Her eyes glinted fiercely behind her goggles.

"Let's see just how fast you are, sir!"
The moment Lululio threw the spear, it scattered light and shot straight toward the Blue Wolf.
The Blue Wolf, sensing the spear, tried to evade by kicking off the ground.
But the spear of light didn't just move in a straight line.
It moved freely according to Lululio's will, chasing after the Blue Wolf.

"Grrrrrr!"
The Blue Wolf growled in annoyance and bristled its fur.
Ice formed on its fur, then shot out in all directions as a volley of ice needles.
The ice needles clashed with the spear of light, chipping away at it.
Thanks to that, the spear's power and speed were reduced.
Seizing the opportunity, the Blue Wolf chose to flee rather than fight.

KABOOOOOOOM!
That is, until a pillar of fire crashed down on its escape path. There stood Babiyen, delivered by Horizon's shadow.
"And where do you think you're going?"
Babiyen aimed her staff with a menacing aura.
The Blue Wolf, sensing Babiyen's firepower, quickly turned to flee in the opposite direction.
But that was the wrong direction.
Standing there was the disciple of the world's greatest swordsman.

Red lightning crackled at the tip of Aranseol's sword.
The moment she kicked off the ground, she appeared in front of the Blue Wolf's escape path.
The Blue Wolf bared its teeth, intending to break through Aranseol. Its fangs, leaking a pure white frost, were utterly menacing.
But Aranseol's eyes showed not a hint of fear.
The moment the red electricity pouring from her sword became one with the blade itself...
Aranseol ducked low and thrust her sword forward with all her might.
The Blue Wolf's fangs were sliced clean off, and its head was neatly severed from its neck.
The body of the Blue Wolf, which never expected its life to end in an instant, tumbled to the ground.

Cut down in a single stroke.
It was a clean slash, befitting of the phrase.

"Oh, you've reached the stage of unifying your attribute with your sword, sir. That's an amazing accomplishment!" Lululio exclaimed, impressed by Aranseol's growth.
Aranseol, too, had trained relentlessly since that day to grow this strong.

The Blue Wolf's remaining body rolled to a stop on the ground.
Watching it, I walked up and stood before it.
All that was left was to skin it and head back.
Beneath the wolf...
That is, until a shadow began to stir.
I knew instantly who that shadow belonged to.

He's here.
The Sin of Envy.
The Amyeong Tribe mutant had made his move.
"Everyone."

As I called out, I poured holy magic into my entire body.
Then, gathering more power in my legs than ever before, I stomped down on the ground with all my might.
"Run!"
KRA-BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
With an explosion of snow and dirt shooting into the sky, our escape began.