Episode 709
What does it mean to be human?

It was a truly difficult question.

Both High Priest Laju and Rutherford had lived far too long to be considered simply living in the present timeline. They had experienced countless lives beyond the single mortal body granted to humans—so many that even their memories had faded.

And now, seeking the meaning of existence not in the light of the divine but in the shadows of darkness—if they weren’t monsters, then what else could they be?

Swish.

Hearing Ian’s shout, High Priest Laju slowly emerged from the darkness. His white ceremonial robes were impeccably neat, and his facial features betrayed no hint of age.

He smiled faintly as he surveyed the mages before him. One, two, three… Though he said nothing, it was clear he was counting.

“How blunt. How annoying.”

“Yes, sir,” came the reply.

“What are you staring at, fool? Stop that stench right now!”

Hail, Tommy, and Nakina all spoke up at once, challenging the High Priest, but he didn’t respond. Or rather, his attention was fully focused on Ian, so he likely didn’t hear them.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s been a long time…”

He slowly turned and leaned back into the sofa. Ian’s gaze followed the movement.

This place didn’t seem like a mere trap. It looked more like an office, a place for everyday affairs. The furniture, worn subtly by use, suggested as much.

“Sit for a moment. I have much to say.”

The invitation felt out of place. Berrick immediately whispered to Ian.

“Ian, don’t. Stay back. That guy’s a hallucination freak.”

He already knew from reports. Just a snap of his fingers had completely unsettled Berrick’s mind.

But at the same time, he also knew how to break free from hallucinations. Without any physical reaction, Berrick had come to his senses simply at Clark’s call.

Clink.

High Priest Laju dropped a tea bag into a cup on the table and smiled. The liquid spread red in the cup. Berrick sniffed repeatedly, as if recognizing the scent from somewhere. Ah, this—

“Your mother’s fate was truly unfortunate.”

Is he sane? Ian lightly extended his hand and summoned the Idgal sword.

“If only she had come here sooner, her death might have meant something. Don’t you agree?”

Better than dying on some desolate field at the hands of a soulless nobody.

Ian dragged the tip of the Idgal sword along the floor, stepping closer. Berrick urgently whispered from behind.

“Ian, that’s Laromedia.”

That thing he’s sipping? He’s definitely mixed it in!

But Ian didn’t stop. Neither he nor the priests surrounding them moved as he approached, standing like statues.

“My mother met a death more meaningful than anyone’s. You’d do well to pity your own fate instead of wasting breath on empty worries. But if you want to prolong your suffering with pointless words, I won’t stop you.”

“Hahaha! Ha ha!”

The High Priest’s laughter echoed loudly through the room.

It wasn’t just sound—it was a vibration Ian felt throughout his body. He suspected something else was inside this man.

After all, Rutherford had worn countless masks, but High Priest Laju had always appeared as himself. If even his appearance hadn’t changed, then surely something non-human dwelled within.

“Do you think you have the right to decide what is meaningful? The bodies of barbarian tribes dying under desert stars, or your mother’s corpse stained with golden hair soaked in blood—they’re all mixing with the earth and rotting. Who would call that meaningful?”

“You’ve crossed the line.”

Slash!

Ian swung the Idgal sword and lunged forward, as if he had no more patience.

Berrick, Hail, Tommy, and Nakina took battle stances behind him, ready to intercept any attacks from blind spots, prepared to shield Ian or even take a hit for him if necessary.

Shing!

Ping!

But they soon froze. High Priest Laju had blocked Ian’s sword from his seat—just like he had with Berrick—using only a fingertip.

“…!”

Ian’s eyes widened slightly. In that suspended moment, the sword’s tip and the fingertip met with a heavy force.

Clack!

Ian used the recoil to step back, while Berrick casually rubbed his nose.

“It’s okay, Ian. Don’t freak out. I felt it too. But that guy’s nothing special. Really.”

“You felt it too?”

“What? The bullshit?”

Berrick tilted his head in confusion, and High Priest Laju rose from his seat.

“Anyway, thank you. And truly, welcome. I never expected you to come here on your own feet, especially bringing mages along. It’s a bit beneath us, but you are ‘those close to the gods,’ aren’t you? There can be no dispute about your sanctity.”

He looked at Berrick and added,

“Of course, you’re unnecessary. A vulgar swordsman.”

“What the hell are you saying? I don’t need you either, you filthy cultist.”

‘Those close to the gods.’ And sanctity. Ian realized what they truly desired.

“…So that’s why.”

The bastard Ian was a divine avatar. A perfect sacrifice to the underground god. The shadow sought to usurp the god’s place, so naturally, absorbing the god’s avatar would increase its power.

“Was the black seed not enough?”

Sneaking into the royal families of Bariel and Burgos to extract ‘noble blood’ alone wasn’t sufficient.

Though countless descendants of King Damon had come to the Masantar temple, none compared to the royal blood of Bariel, the foundation of the god. Their plan to deal with Jin through Arsen had failed, so they must have been searching for other suitable sacrifices.

‘Bastard Ian. And a soul blessed by the royal family. I’m the best, but it wasn’t easy.’

How could they handle Bariel’s Minister of Magic?

That’s why Filia and Roel became targets of the Masantar temple. Both shared blood with bastard Ian.

“The sooner you came, the clearer it became. Your mother was right.”

She died after protecting Roel.

Because she died under the protection of the mages, her body remained intact. Perhaps she already knew it was better than becoming a foothold for the underground god in a place like this.

“Die willingly, fragments of the gods. You will become pieces that make up our god.”

Swish.

High Priest Laju stretched out both arms. Behind him, a massive shadow appeared on the glass wall. Something was in the water.

“Ian!”

“Damn it, Ian! What the—!”

It was huge. So enormous that the depth of the sea beyond the glass wall was impossible to gauge.

The mysterious black shape repeatedly approached and retreated from the glass. Appeared, disappeared, appeared again…

“What’s it doing?”

“Ian, something’s off.”

Hail snapped his half-smoked cigarette in two. Usually, he’d hold on to it till the end, but this was different…

“Welcome back, I suppose?”

Grinning, High Priest Laju leaned against the glass wall. Behind him, a gigantic fish opened its jaws wide, revealing rows of saw-like teeth, a tongue split into dozens of tendrils, and eyes like a human’s…

“A monster.”

“A fish.”

The mages and Berrick disagreed slightly on what to call it, but all agreed it was a threat.

Thud! Thoom! Thud!

The monster slammed its entire body against the glass wall. Tremors shook the ceiling as if it might collapse. It was trying to break through.

Swish!

Ian quickly lowered his stance and charged at High Priest Laju. Whatever else, it was clear this man was connected to ‘that thing.’ If the water poured in, it would be disastrous. The priority was to knock him unconscious and capture him alive.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Pooom!

“Binding.”

Ian’s eyes glowed gold. Light spread rapidly around them. In the pitch-black darkness, geometric patterns expanded endlessly in all directions, climbing up to the ceiling and converging above High Priest Laju’s head.

Whoosh!

“The vibrations are strong.”

Bang! Crash!

But Laju easily dodged the binding magic falling from the ceiling. At that moment, the priests who had stood like statues suddenly shouted and charged at Ian and his group.

“Crazy bastards!”

They weren’t trying to kill Ian’s group—just holding them back with all their might. Nakina, clearly annoyed, threw a series of punches and kicks while shouting to Ian.

“Ian! Their intentions are obvious! We need to get out of here! You can’t use your full power here!”

But then, High Priest Laju slammed one hand against the glass wall and shouted loudly.

“Aren’t you curious?! Whether Crony was truly the black seed. And if so, where did it all begin?!”

“…!”

It was Berrick who immediately recognized the name “Crony.” A surge of shock and fury rushed through his veins. While Ian hesitated for a moment, Berrick stepped forward and launched a fierce attack at the creature.

“You son of a—! Where the hell did you hear that name?!”

“Then see for yourself! Come at me if you dare!”

“Shut the hell up!”

“Berrick!”

Boom! Thud!

As if riled up by Berrick’s shout, the monster thrashed even more violently. When the deputy Rajoo raised his finger again, Berrick shifted his stance and bit down hard on the creature’s finger.

Crack!

“Aaah!”

Just as Berrick readied himself to slash at its neck, he noticed something strange about Rajoo’s wide-open teeth. Beyond the glass wall, the shape of those teeth was eerily similar to the monster’s. Berrick’s brow twitched.

“Hahaha—!”

He hadn’t screamed in pain. No, the bastard was sneering. Grabbing the creature by the collar, Berrick slammed it against the wall, and a chilling sound echoed.

Craaaack!

The glass cracked.

Water began to seep through the fissure, and Ian watched it all silently. Then, through magical communication, he gave orders to the mages scattered throughout the temple.

“Everyone, get out of the temple immediately.”

“Ian! What about you?”

Tommy shouted, pressing a hand to his ear. Even though he was right beside Ian, his voice seemed to come from a distant place.

“Go out and wait.”

Now fully aware of the abyssal sea and the shifting timelines, Ian knew he wouldn’t be late this time. He conjured a protective barrier around himself and—

Ziiing! Ziiing!

He smiled at Deputy Rajoo.

“You threw quite an interesting bait.”

Crony. The black shadow at the start of his fate.

Ian shed his robe and gripped the Idgal sword. At that moment—

Crackle! Boom! Bang!

The glass wall shattered completely, and everything inside poured out. The shimmering blue water, and the massive monster that lunged forward with its jaws wide open.