Chapter 939: 131. Rotgut

“okillaCrownedoneacrossranks...”

earingMom’sexplanation,Muen’sheartjoltedinstinctively.

ACrownedone.

versincetheWitchofRepentancebeganhuntinghim,thosethreewordshadweighedonhimwithcrushingpressure.nsomeways,theysurpassedtheoppressioncertainvilodshadonceplacedonhim.

Afterall,vilodscouldnotdescendinperson.hepowertheyprojectedintothisworldwasrestricted.

ACrownedonewasdifferent.

heytrulyexistedinthisworld.heycouldstandbeforeyouface-to-facewithoutlimitation,andtheywere“transcendents”whosecombatpowervastlysurpassedordinarypeople.

hedifferencewaslikethedifferenceinfearanordinarypersonfelttowardadragonandatiger.

Adragonwasmoreterrifying,butitexistedonlyinlegend.Untiloneactuallysawit,thefearitinspiredremainedonlyinimagination.

Atigerwasdifferent.nceyouwerealreadyinsideitsterritory,youwereboundtobecomeitsprey,hunteddownanddevouredbyitwithbrutalcertainty.

Andforgetallthatnonsenseaboutwhataslidingtacklecouldsupposedlydo.ncesomeonecrossedthatthreshold,theyhadeffectivelysteppedintoanentirelynewlevel.twasatremendoussublimationfarbeyondeverypreviousstage—aqualitativeleap.

Anyonebeneaththatthreshold,nomatterhowhardtheystruggled,couldscarcelyevenglimpsethebackofsuchaperson.

JustasMuenhadonceexhaustedeverythinghehad,onlytoleavenothingmorethanasinglewoundontheWitchofRepentance.

hatwoundhadlookedimpressiveenough,buttoaCrownedone’slife,itsactualeffect...wasbasicallynoeffectatall.Atmost,itwasablowtopride.

ikebeingunexpectedlystungbyaninsectyouhadlookeddownon.Anyonewouldgetangry.

“Canitreallydoit?fuseit,’llbeabletokillaCrownedone?”

Muengentlyliftedthegoldendaggerfromtheboxwithbothhands.tfeltcoldtothetouch,butitgaveoffnothingespeciallysharpordeadly.nthecontrary,itsexquisiteengravingsandflowinglinesweresobeautifulthatevenatrueartistwouldhavepraisedthem.

hemorecarefullyheexaminedit,themoreitfeltlesslikeaweaponmeanttobringdeathandslaughter,andmorelikearitualimplementusedinsacrifice.Merelyrestingthere,itseemedcapableoflendingseveraldegreesmoresolemnityandsanctitytoanentireceremony.

“Pleaserestassured,mylord.hisblade,Absolution,livesuptoitsname.twillabsolutelyachievetheeffectyoudesire,”Momsaidseriously.

“Absolution?”

“Yes.hatisitsname.WithafragmentoftheolySwordasitsmainmaterialandthepurestolyightpersonallybestowedbytheoddessasitssecondarymaterial,itwasforgedbytheJudgmentArchbishopherself.tsbirthsymbolizesjudgmentandheavenlypunishmentforsinners.Afterall,onlybypassingthistrialcanonetrulywashawayone’ssins...andsoitiscalledAbsolution.”

“tsoundsimpressive.”

“fcourse.”

Momsaid,“nlybyusingsuchanincomparablyprecious‘baseform’weretheyabletoobtainabsolutelethalitythatignoresrealms.RumorsaysthereareonlythreeAbsolutionsintheentireChurch.nlysinnersoftheveryhighestorderarequalifiedtobe‘purified’byone.”

“Sinnersofthehighestorder...tseemsthisresponsecarriesevenmoreweightthanexpected.”

Muendrewinabreath.edidnotlingeronthethoughtforlong.nstead,hesuddenlytightenedhisgriparoundAbsolution’shilt,socolditwasalmostpiercingtothebone,andsaidgravely,

“understand.henpleasetakemyreplybackforme.willdoeverythinginmypowertoaccomplishtheobjective.hopeallofyouwillactaccordingtotheplanaswell.Justasyousaid...weonlyhaveonechance.Weabsolutelycannotfail.”

“Understood!”

Momplacedonehandovertheholycrosshangingathischest,hisexpressionsolemnandreverent.

“verything...fortheoddess!”

...

...

heluxuriousprivateroombecamespaciousandquietagain.

MuenloweredhisheadandsilentlystudiedAbsolutioninhishand,turningitoverandover.

tsexquisitelinesandchiseledpatternsrevolvedthroughhisfingers,graduallytakingonmoredimension,makingitsextraordinaryartistrystandoutallthemore.Andthedeeperhesensedit,themoreMuenunderstoodthatAbsolutiontrulywasexactlyasMomhaddescribed—agenuinekillingweapon.

Aterrifyingpowerlayhiddenwithinitscicada-thinblade,asthoughallitneededwastheslightestsparktoeruptinaninstantandutterlycrusheverythingbeforeit.

“UsingafragmentoftheolySwordasadisposableitem...asexpectedoftheChurch.Whatextravagance,”Muenmurmured.

Clink...

wosnow-whitebladetipspokedoutfromhisspatialmagicdeviceinapparentdispleasure.

“Allright,allright,know.YoutwowereforgedfromacompleteolySwordbaseform,sofragmentslikethiscan’tcompare.’mnotsayingyou’reinferiortoit.Andwouldn’twanttoturnyouintoone-usesuicidetrucksanyway.”

Ashesoothedthem,MuencontinuedfamiliarizinghimselfwithAbsolution.

edidnotknowwhetherasingledaggerwouldtrulybeenoughtowashawaythatfakearchbishop’ssins.

Buthedidknowonething...

“omatterwhetherthissucceedsorfails,it’llallbeoververysoon...”

Unlikethesilenceinsidetheroom,theclamoroutsideonthestreethadnotdiminishedintheleast.venthoughthewelcomingprocessionhadlongsincepassed,thedevoutbelieversstillwaitedthereinferventanticipation.

Muenwatchedthemandlistenedcarefullytotheirprayers.

“oddess,Saintess,pleaseblessmyhusbandandlethimcomebacksafelyfromthebattlefield.”

“oddess,Saintess,pleasesenddownamiracle.Mysonhasbeensickforthreemonthsnow...”

“oddess,Saintess,pleasepunishthosegreedyofficials.Pricesinthecityhavealreadydoubledtwiceover.fthiskeepsup,won’tevenbeabletoaffordblackbread...”

“oddess,Saintess...”

heprayersrepeatedoverandover,mixedintothesurroundingnoise.therthanMuen,whowasdeliberatelylisteningforthem,nooneseemedtocare.

Andyetthatwaspreciselywhytheyfeltso...real.

“ordBruce.”

hedoorsuddenlyopenedagain,andyroncautiouslypokedhisheadinside.

“Allfinishedwithyourbusiness?”

“Business?Whatbusinesscouldpossiblyhavehad?wasjustchattingwithadistantrelativewhohappenedtoarriveunexpectedly.Don’toverthinkit.”

“see.hen’llcomein.”

yronenteredtheroomandploppedhimselfdownacrossfromMuenwitheasyfamiliarity.

“Youlookinagoodmood.”

Muennudgedupthebrimofhishatandgaveyron,wholookedflushedwithsuccessandspringtimeconfidence,ameasuredlook.

“heardyoulaunchedasurpriseattackontheneighboringorosganglastnight.Judgingbythelookofyou,itwentwell?”

“eh.justhappenedtochopobur’sbosstodeathbyaccident.othingmuch,really.”

“henbeforelong,eventhesoutherndistrictwillbegraduallyswallowedupbyyou.”

Muensmiled.

“Congratulations.You’llsoonachieveyourgoalandbecomethebiggestbossintheroyalcapital’sunderworld.”

“h,notatall,notatall.’mjustmakingalittlenoiseundertheprotectionofordBruce’sprestige.”yronscratchedhisheadandsmiled“shyly.”“Youshould’veseenthelookonthatoldbastardobur’sfacebeforehedied,tryingtoguesswhowasbackingme.’veneverfeltsosatisfiedinmylife.Allofitisbecauseofyou,ordBruce...”

“Allright.’vetoldyoubefore—cutdownontheflattery.”

MuenputawayAbsolutionandtappedhisfingersagainstthetable.

“fyouhavesomethingtosay,sayit.”

“t’snothing,reallynothing!”

yron’sgrinimmediatelyturnedbroadandheartyasheraisedwhathewasholding.

“justwantedtohaveadrinkwithyou,ordBruce.”

“Adrink?”

“Afterkilledthatoldbastard,neverexpectedtofindtrulytop-shelfwineinhiscellar.Andfiguredthatwithwinethisgood,ofcourseoughttopresentittoordBruce,right?”

yronpulledouttwowineglassesfromwhoknewwhere.euncorkedthebottleandpouredwithpracticedease,everymovementasfullaseverofdiligenceandgoodsense.

“tdoeslooklikegoodwine.”

nthecrystalglasses,theliquidwasclearandvivid.

ikeblood.

WithMuen’sexperience,oneglancewasenoughtotellhimthisreallywaswineofakindevengreatnoblesrarelyhadachancetodrink.hefactthatithadendedupinthehandsofagangbosswasalmostabsurd.

henagain,consideringhowrottentheKingdomwas,itwasnotallthatstrange.

nsomeblackmarkets,onecouldprobablyevenbuytheking’susedunderwear.

“eh,knewyou’ddefinitelylikethiskindofhigh-endstuff.”

Afterpouring,yronevenswirledthewineseveraltimesinanexaggeratedfashion.ehadheardsomewherethatdoingsoimprovedtheflavor.nlythendidhepresenttheglasstoMuenwithbothhands.

“Please.”

“hankyou.”

Muendidnotbotherwithceremony.esimplydraineditinoneswallow.

Unexpectedly,though,thewinedidnotcarrythemellowbodyandlingeringsweetnesshehadanticipated.nstead...

twassourandharsh.

“Damnit!”

yroncursedaftertakingasiphimself.

“hiswine...it’sgonebad!owlongdidthatoldbastardkeepithidden?”

“Winegoingbadhasnothingtodowithbeingstoredtoolong.”

Muenpickedupthebottleandexaminedit.

“hisbottlewasopenedalongtimeago.Butonlyaverysmallamountwasdrunkbeforeitwassealedagainandstoredaway.”

“uh?”

yronwasstunned.

“knowit’sgoodwine,butnottothatextent...What,hadthatoldbastardgonehundredsofyearswithoutadecentdrink?eranagangthatbigandstillactedlikethis?mbarrassing.”

“Whoknows?Maybehereallycouldn’tbeartopartwithsuchagoodbottle.”

Muensmiledfaintly.

“Peoplearecomplicatedcreatures.Somesitinhighplacesandstillpinchpenniesovereverything.thersownnothingatallandspendwithopenhands.”

“ch.hekindofpersondespisemostisexactlythatsort.”

yronpoundedthetableandspatindisgust.

“faman’salive,heoughttoenjoywhateverdayhecan.What’sthepointintorturingyourselflikethat?,theBeastofPosies,despisepettysmall-fistedpeoplemorethananyone!hey’readisgracetotheunderworld...houghthisbottlestilllooksuseful.atercanfillitwithsomecheapredwineandswindleafewfatpignobles.Maybesomeidiotwillfallforit.eh.”

“...”

WatchingthemightyBeastofPosiespouroutthespoiledwinewithaleeringlook,thentucktheemptybottleintohischestlikeatreasuredpossession,Muenfoundhimselfspeechless.

Wasn’thetheonewhohadjustsaidhedespisedpeoplelikethatmost?

“But...nevermind.”

Muensmiled,setdowntheglass,andturnedtolookoutoncemoreoverthegreatcityintherainymist.

“yron.”

“Y-yeah...’mhere.”

“Whatdoyouthinkofthiscity?”

“Whatdoyoumean,whatdothink?”

“hefeelingitgivesyou.Doyoulikeit,ordoyouhateit?”Muenasked.

“uh?”

yronlookedcompletelybaffled,notunderstandingwhytheDarkmperorhadsuddenlyaskedsuchanunexpectedlyliteraryquestion.

Wasn’tthismakingthingsdifficultforhim?heBeastofPosieshadalwaysdisdained❖оvеl𝚒ght❖(xclusiveonоvеl𝚒ght)solvingwithcultureanyproblemhecouldsolvewithforce...

speciallysincehisculturallevelbarelyextendedtosoundingouthisownname.ewasthesortwhocouldswallowabellyfulofinkandstillhavenoideawhatittastedlike.

“wouldn’tsaylikeit,andwouldn’tsayhateiteither.”...Sincethequestioncamefromthemanbackinghim,yronfeltthatasanenterprisingman,hestillhadtogivesomekindofanswer.

“h?Whatdoyoumean?”

“grewupinthiscity.Mymotherwasawhore.Myfather...whothehellknowswhomyfatherwas?Atherbusiest,mymothertooksevenoreightcustomersanight.ryingtofigureoutwhichofthemwasmyfatherwould’vebeenharderthanpickingapileofpigshitoutfromaheapofcowdung.”

“...”

Muenlookedatyrondeeply.

“’msorry.”

“t’sfine.t’snothing’membarrassedtotalkabout.”yronshruggedindifferently.“nthedarkestpartsofthiscity,thereareplentyofpeoplelikeme.Wegotbullied,humiliated,wenthungryeveryday,hadnothingwarmtowear.Somenights,’dbeoutsidelisteningtomymothergetroughedupbythosebrutalcustomers,and’dthink,maybetheworldoughttojustendrightthere.Butsadly,theworlddoesn’tendjustbecausesomepoorkidcursesit.”

“Backthen,trulyhatedthiscity.thoughtitwasthesourceofallmysuffering.cursediteveryday.cursedeverythinghere.Butlater,learnedhowtomakemyselfstronger.learnedtousemyfistsandmyteethagainstbullyingandhumiliation.learnedhowtokickinthecrotchesofthemenwhohurtmymother.Andstartedtofeel...thatthisplacewasn’tentirelybad.”

“ook.gotmyownterritory.gothordesoffollowers.beateverybastardwholookeddownonmeintothedirt.canevensitinaprivateroominahigh-endrestaurantlikethis—oneworthitsweightingold—anddrinktop-shelfwineneverwould’vedareddreamofbefore.”

“Allofthatalsocamefromthisplace.So...”

yrongazedatthecitywithcompletefocusandansweredinavoicegentlerthanMuenhadeverheardfromhim.

“fhadtocompareittosomething,thenthisplaceisabottleofultimategarbagerotgut—sour,harsh,andawfultodrink.veryonewho’stasteditcan’thelpcursingitwiththefilthiestwordstheyknow.

Butnomatterhowviciouslywecurseit,nomatterhowuglythewords...inoureyes,itstillhasn’tgonecompletelybad.”

“...”

hreadsofraindriftedinthroughthegreatwindowandlandedonthebrimofMuen’shat.

heuproaronthestreetroseanotherlevel,becausewordhadcomefromupaheadthattheSaintesshadsuccessfullyenteredthecityandwouldsoonproceedalongthisroadinprocession,bestowingtheoddess’sgraceonthecrowdsasshewent.

Muenknewthatgracewasonlyabroadsweepoflow-densityolyight.tcouldcureminorailments,makepeoplefeelwarm,andevenallowthemostdevoutbelieverstoheartheoddess’svoicetosomedegree.

Butitcouldnotuprootastubbornillness.

“hat’sagoodmetaphor.”

oodenough...tomakeamanalmostunwillingtoshattertherealfalsehoodbeforehim.

“Drinkyourbestwinetonight.henhaveagooddream.”

Muenpattedyronontheshoulderandpreparedtoleavetheroom.

“You’regoing...”yronaskedinsurprise.

“odosomething.”

“Doyouwantmyhelp?”

“o.”

Muenglancedbackandshookhisheadwithasmile.

“Whatcomesnextissomethingonly,theDarkmperorwhohates‘darkness’mostofall,cando—andmustdo.”