LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 08 - Heart of Eclipse (4)
Chapter 08 – Heart of Eclipse (4)
At the moment when the two were reminiscing about Revenheim in regret, someone knocked on the door of the captain’s office.
“Come in.”
At Leonhart’s words, one of the gang members entered.
“Boss.”
“Captain.”
“Oh, yes, Captain. So, uh, there are some government officials at the entrance, making a fuss. What should we do?”
“Government officials? You mean the police?”
“Well… They’re from some ASA-something or other. Brother Yang Deuk is dealing with them right now, but it looks like they’re hard to turn away.”
“Got it. I’ll go take a look.”
“Yes, Captain. They’re in the second-floor reception room.”
Leonhart and Bastille immediately headed to the second floor.
The person Yang Deuk was dealing with was a man in his mid-thirties. With his neat appearance that could almost make one think he was a foreign model and the expensive-looking suit he wore, it was clear that he wasn’t easy to handle. Even Yang Deuk, a mid-level boss in the gang, seemed at a loss and was stammering.
“You’re here, Captain. So, um…”
Yang Deuk was about to greet Leonhart and explain the situation when the man interrupted and opened his mouth.
“Revenheim Kanftal―Sädol―Ket―Elark?”
The pronunciation was so strange that it wasn’t just a foreign language—Yang Deuk made a confused sound, unsure how to react.
Leonhart spoke to him.
“Leave us. It seems this is a guest looking for us.”
“Yes, Captain.”
After he left, Leonhart and Bastille each took a seat on the sofa.
The man smiled and said, “As expected, it’s you. Where are you from?”
Leonhart crossed his legs.
“Wouldn’t it be proper for you to introduce yourself first? After all, you’re the guest, not us.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
The man reached into his wallet as if to pull out a business card, but then put it back and spoke.
“I come from the Eastern Wall District. I’m called Judah, the Thunder Sword.”
“Thunder Sword Judah. I’m from the Northern Wall, so I’m not familiar with other regions. My name is Leonhart, the Golden Lion of the Northern Wall.”
“Ah! I see, you’re the Marquis von Ruid.”
“You know me?”
“Of course. You were one of the strongest swordsmen who controlled one of the four warlords of the Northern Wall.”
Leonhart chuckled.
“Sorry I don’t know your name.”
“No need to apologize. I was merely the captain of a small knight order. I didn’t have a high enough aptitude for mana to grow much.”
Judah smiled and clasped his hands on his knees.
“Well then, let’s get to the point. I’m currently affiliated with this group.”
He pulled out the business card he had been reaching for earlier.
The card bore the decorative letters ‘CSA’ at the top, with just the name Judah written below.
“CSA? What’s that?”
“Counter SuperNatural Agency. In simple terms, it’s a government agency that deals with supernatural incidents. Here in Korea, we call it KSA.”
“First time hearing about this.”
“You’ve probably seen something like it in dramas, right? You know, those American FBI agents investigating supernatural occurrences stored in case files called ‘File X,’ or something like that…”
“I don’t watch those shows.”
“Is that so?”
“So you’re telling me that kind of drama exists in real life?”
“Yes. The KSA is a special group under the UN that deals with paranormal events. The Korean government is a signatory of an international agreement supporting the organization, so KSA employees in Korea hold the status of government officials.”
“That doesn’t add up. We just returned from Revenheim yesterday. Are you saying you got a job with this strange group in that short time?”
“I was already a part of them.”
“So you’re saying the KSA has no relation to Revenheim?”
“That’s right. Paranormal phenomena have existed for a long time. UFOs, cryptids, the Loch Ness Monster, spontaneous human combustion. Going even further back, the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant, the Spear of Longinus, and the Shroud of Turin. When so much public interest gathers around these things, there has to be at least one department to manage them, don’t you think?”
“The Evils of Eclipse, you mean.”
Leonhart threw a counter jab.
Judah uncrossed his legs and crossed them the other way.
“As expected, it’s you.”
Leonhart considered introducing Bastille at this point but changed his mind. It seemed wiser to stay silent until Bastille spoke on his own. There was no point in revealing all his cards when it was still unclear whether the visitor was friend or foe.
Judah didn’t seem to care much about Bastille either, probably mistaking him for just another gang member.
“Did you deal with the heart of the Eclipse that escaped to this place?”
“I don’t have to answer that, do I?”
“Based on the direction and depth of the tunnel, I estimated that the heart of the Eclipse had settled in the basement of this Daedong building. Since it escaped by parasitizing a subway car in the Arachne-type form, it wouldn’t be surprising if dozens of Eclipse creatures had surfaced by now.”
“Being from Revenheim, you seem to know quite a lot about the Eclipse.”
“No need to beat around the bush. Let’s speak plainly. Join the KSA. We’re the only organization on Earth capable of dealing with the Eclipse monsters.”
“I refuse. I’ve already established my own knight order.”
“With gang members?”
“And how are government officials any different? I’d bet gang members would fight the Eclipse creatures better than some bureaucrats.”
“The KSA may have the status of government officials, but we’re not mere civil servants. Many awakened individuals with superhuman abilities are already managing supernatural phenomena.”
“As I said, I refuse.”
Judah lightly tapped his clasped hands.
“Name your price. The hidden strength of the KSA is far beyond what you imagine. Since the Age of Exploration, when European nations ruled the world, the Catholic Church has focused on exorcisms and dispelling evil spirits to win the hearts of the people. The ancient traditions of magic and exorcism have been carried forward to the modern day through our KSA. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to face the Eclipse catastrophe with us rather than some gang?”
“Do you know Korean? Hm? Do you not understand what ‘refuse’ means?”
“Leonhart. You know how dangerous the Eclipse breach is, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. I fought those wretched demons on the Northern Wall countless times, without a single day of rest, for decades.”
“We’re serious too. Join the KSA. This is not a suggestion, it’s a demand.”
Leonhart laughed.
“Interesting. Are you trying to threaten me, knowing I’m Leonhart, the Golden Lion of the Northern Wall?”
“I prefer persuasion to threats. Fear pushes people to their limits, but rewards bring out their best. However, if you continue to refuse, we’ll resort to measures far beyond threats to ensure your cooperation with the KSA.”
“Sounds like you’re saying you might kill me.”
“If you refuse to the very end, that’s a possibility.”
“Amusing. Let’s hear this so-called threat, then.”
Judah tapped his clasped hands on his knees again, a habit he seemed to have when deep in thought.
“The KSA is stronger than you think. If you’d come here from Revenheim in your full strength, it might have been a bit more challenging.”
“I’ll give you that. I’m currently less than 5% of my former self. But it seems the same goes for you, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. Just like you, I returned only yesterday.”
“Then isn’t the conversation over?”
“I told you, the KSA is powerful. For example, we can do things like this.”
Judah smiled and stared straight into Leonhart’s eyes.
Right after that, a *pop!* echoed throughout the room, as if something had exploded.
“Ugh!”
Leonhart let out a short cry. His calf had burst open, spraying blood everywhere.
“This isn’t Revenheim; this is Earth,” Judah said as Leonhart turned his head toward the wall.
“A sniper…”
“Yes. A very simple spell—something like clairvoyance to see a distant room combined with a high-powered sniper rifle. What do you think happens then? The sniper is currently 1.5 kilometers away, watching every move inside this room.”
Leonhart pressed down on his bleeding calf with his hand.
He tried to use divine power to stop the bleeding, but it was impossible to restore the shattered muscle fibers and blood vessels in such a short time.
Judah’s smile deepened. It was the smile of a conqueror, if one had to describe it.
“I’ll count to five. If I don’t hear a positive answer by then, the second bullet will land much closer to your heart.”
His tapping fingers stilled, and with a light tone, he added, “This is the ‘threat’ you wanted to hear. Five, four, three…”
Leonhart glared at Judah.
“Do you even know who you’re picking a fight with?”
“Of course. The Golden Lion of the Northern Wall. Guardian of the Northern Wall and master of the Golden Lion Knights, Xeriot. I know you very well. I respect you… but I’m not afraid of you. Now, for the final number: one.”
*Pop!*
Another sharp sound echoed. But this time, Leonhart wasn’t the one hit.
*Bang!* A loud explosion followed as a man’s back burst open. His rib cage shattered, and white bones jutted out through his back, flapping loosely.
If it were a human, he would have died instantly. However, the one who was shot was not a living being.
It was Bastille, master of the Tower of Einshaten and the only survivor of the Southern Wall, glaring at Judah with eyes that had turned blood-red.
“Get out. Before I kill you,” Bastille growled.
Judah chuckled.
“It looks like you’ll be the one dying first.”
Turning to Leonhart, Judah remarked, “You have a loyal subordinate. Throwing away his life like that.”
Leonhart twisted his lips into a smirk and said, “You said you respect me but aren’t afraid of me, right?”
“Yes.”
“But I respect you *and* fear something.”
“Me? But you don’t even know my name—”
“No.”
Leonhart’s firm answer caused Judah’s eyes to naturally shift to the man who had been shot.
Tall and thin, like a walking corpse, his expressionless face gave Judah pause.
‘Could this man also be a returner?’
Leonhart answered his unspoken question.
“Master of Einshaten, Bastille. That’s the name of the man your pitiful sniper hit.”
Judah’s face twisted.
Even someone as ignorant as a simpleton from Revenheim couldn’t be unaware of the master of Einshaten.
In the heart of the Southern Wall’s deserted territory stood the solitary, pristine white magic tower, Einshaten.
The master of that tower was the sole predator when it came to the Evils of Eclipse.
“Shoot! Fire all rounds!” Judah yelled.
*Pop! Pop! Pop!*
The dull sound of the walls being punctured echoed several times.
Bastille’s upper arm exploded, with 80% of his muscle and bone shattered. His arm dangled limply, connected only by a thin layer of flesh, almost dragging on the ground.
Then, bullets tore through his thigh, and a large hole was punched into his abdomen, threatening to spill his insides at any moment.
Yet, despite being hit by the sniper, Judah, who was on the verge of victory, felt fear.
It was because of those eyes.
Bastille’s eyes, glowing with a crimson light, continued to fixate on Judah.
His undead body slowly began to heal itself, and as he recovered, Bastille spoke again.
“I told you to get out. Or do you want to die? Do you want to force me, a returner from Revenheim, to chew you up and swallow you?”
“Aaagh!” Judah screamed, watching Bastille approach slowly.
His steps, once hesitant, grew faster as fear overtook him.
By the time he reached the reception room’s exit, he had already turned his back and was running away.
This incident would be the first humiliation Judah ever experienced. He didn’t stop running until he was completely out of the building. Only then did he collapse to his knees, trembling and screaming.
Shame washed over him. His insides churned as though he might vomit everything he had.
“Ugh, aaargh!”
Judah, consumed by the unforgettable disgrace, remained kneeling and sprawled on the street for quite some time.