MISHA HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE, WATCHING ME ALL THIS TIME.
LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE...
I NEED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY. YOU SHOULD HEAD HOME NOW.
THE LIBRARY? AT THIS HOUR?
SOMEONE WHO READS BOOKS,
WHO KNOWS HOW TO ACT AS A SCOUT,
WHO PLAYS DUMB BUT IS ACTUALLY CUNNING...
I'LL PAY FOR THE TOP-TIER POTION.
HMM, I THINK FIVE MILLION STONE SHOULD COVER IT.
WHO KNOWS THINGS OTHERS DON'T...
...A BARBARIAN.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH LEE BAEKHO MUST HAVE REALLY DRIVEN IT HOME.
...DISAPPEAR? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
WHY WOULD I DISAPPEAR?
OH, NO, IT'S JUST..!
YEAH, I JUST HAD A NIGHTMARE.
A BAD DREAM? I SEE.
IF YOU'RE THAT SCARED, YOU CAN COME SLEEP NEXT TO ME.
AM I A LITTLE KID? I-I'M NOT THAT SCARED, YOU KNOW!
FORGET IT! JUST GO TO SLEEP, YOU SENILE BARBARIAN!
DISAPPEAR, HUH...
I KNOW WHY SHE SAID THAT.
MISHA...?
...HUH?
THIS IS...
EVIL SPIRITS ARE CUNNING AND SKILLED AT ACTING.
HONESTLY, IT WAS A PASSAGE I COULD EASILY RELATE TO.
AFTER ALL, ISN'T RUIN THE ONLY FATE AWAITING ME IF MY IDENTITY IS EXPOSED?
IF THAT HAPPENED, I'D PROBABLY END UP HEADING TO NOARK.
JUST LOOK AT THAT BASTARD, CLOWN...
HE'S FAMOUS FOR HAVING JOINED ORCULUS THE MOMENT HE WAS EXPOSED AS AN EVIL SPIRIT.
IF I WERE EXPOSED AS AN EVIL SPIRIT...
HOW WOULD THE OTHERS REACT?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
MISHA, AT LEAST—
IS MORE AFRAID OF ME DISAPPEARING THAN OF ME BEING AN EVIL SPIRIT.
DAMN THAT BASTARD BAEKHO.
NOW I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ADMIT IT.
I'M MORE AFRAID OF MY TRUE IDENTITY BEING EXPOSED NOW THAN OF BEING DRAGGED AWAY.
EVEN IF IT'S ALL AS FRAGILE AS A SANDCASTLE—
THESE BONDS ARE EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BUILT IN THIS WORLD.
INCOMPATIBILITY
WHISPER-ONLY TOOL
ALLOWS SECRET CONVERSATIONS WITH A DESIGNATED PERSON. CAN ALSO RECORD.
THEN I'LL REVEAL IT!
HANS KRISSEN IS AN EVIL SPIRIT!!
I HAVE PROOF IN MY BAG!
WHY AGONIZE OVER IT? THEY'RE JUST NPCS ANYWAY.
BUT THEY'RE STILL THE COMPANIONS WHO'VE BEEN WITH ME ALL THIS TIME—
WHAT A JOKE.
DO YOU THINK THEY'D FEEL THE SAME WAY IF THEY KNEW WHO YOU REALLY WERE?
W-WELL...
IT'S ALL A LIE. WE DON'T BELONG TO THIS WORLD IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Was he always this naive?
I...
I BELIEVE THEY'RE TRULY MY COMPANIONS.
...BUT HOW HAD HE ACTUALLY ACTED?
AAAAAARGH!!!
...I-I'M SORRY.
I-I'M SO SORRY...
SUDDENLY, TAKELLAN'S WORDS COME TO MIND.
DON'T PITY ME.
ONE DAY, YOU'LL FEEL THE SAME WAY I DO.
WORDS BORN OF PAINFUL, HEARTFELT SINCERITY...
BUT HE WAS WRONG.
IF SUCH A MOMENT OF DESPAIR EVER CAME FOR ME...
MY END WOULD BE EVEN MORE HORRIFIC AND WRETCHED.
ANOTHER TWO DAYS PASSED.
NO MORE CLUES EMERGED REGARDING THE SO-CALLED "ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF BARONET JANDEL,
AND THE INVESTIGATION EVENTUALLY FIZZLED OUT AND WAS CLOSED.
INSTEAD, MY SECURITY DETAIL WAS GREATLY EXPANDED. I NOW HAD THREE GUARDS JUST FOR CLOSE QUARTERS PROTECTION.
ONE OF THEM EVEN SERVED AS MY FOOD TASTER.
YOU THINK I'D PUT POISON IN IT?!
YOUR COOKING IS AS EXCELLENT AS EVER, LADY KARLSTEIN.
POISON RESISTANCE SPECIALIST
L-LADY?
Just give me the pot already! Of course, my lady.
I-I told you, we're not like that! Misha, hurry up with the food!
ANYWAY, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THAT(?), AYNAR AND ERWIN LEFT AS SOON AS BREAKFAST WAS OVER.
MEANWHILE, MISHA AND I-
...THE LEATLAS ORDER?
WHY DID WE COME HERE ALL OF A SUDDEN?
I INTEND TO ASK FOR A PRIEST, IF THEY HAD ANY TO SPARE.
...A SPARE PRIEST? ISN'T OUR TEAM ALREADY FULL?
D-DON'T TELL ME...
Now, now!
I'M NOT LEAVING THE TEAM, AND NEITHER IS ANYONE ELSE. DON'T WORRY.
HUH? THEN WHY DO WE NEED A PRIEST...?
BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO PREPARE TO GO UP TO THE SIXTH FLOOR.
HUH, THE SIXTH FLOOR? OKAY...
...BUT WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?
I'M GOING TO FORM A CLAN.
A CLAN? SO WE'LL BE TRAVELING AS A GROUP OF TEN NOW?
NOT RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S AN HONOR TO MEET YOU.
I'M SVEN PARAV, DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE SECOND PALADIN ORDER.
COMMANDER CROVITS IS CURRENTLY OUT, SO I'M GREETING YOU IN HIS STEAD.
WHAT BRINGS YOU TO OUR ORDER TODAY?
WELL, YOU SEE-
TO CUT TO THE CHASE, I WAS TURNED DOWN ON THE SPOT.
EVEN FOR A BARONET SUCH AS YOURSELF, THE REQUIRED SERVICE...
I'M AFRAID THAT WOULD BE RATHER DIFFICULT.
THEY'RE JUST AS INFLEXIBLE AS IN THE GAME.
IN THE END, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO WAY AROUND GRINDING TEMPLE QUESTS.
PARAV, WAS IT?
THANK YOU FOR TODAY. I'LL COME BACK ANOTHER...
HUH?
THE ACTIVATION CONDITIONS FOR THE STAR'S BLESSING HAVE BEEN FULFILLED.
...FUCK.
IT REALLY WAS ONE HURDLE AFTER ANOTHER.
ALCHEMIST'S WORKSHOP INSIDE THE LORD'S CASTLE, NOARK
TRY SOME OF THESE!
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST POPULAR COOKIES IN RAPHDONIA.
HMM? DON'T TELL ME YOU ASKED AMELIA AGAIN.
MARLIN, AS I'VE TOLD YOU TIME AND AGAIN, THE TWO-WAY SUBSPACE IS ONLY FOR ESSENTIAL-
MMPH!
...THEY ARE TASTY, THOUGH.
RIGHT? SO WHY DID YOU CALL ME?
AH, IT'S BEEN DECIDED THAT WE'LL GIVE THE DRAGONSLAYER AN ELIXIR.
YOU SHOULD COME ALONG TO WATCH AND LEARN.
WHAT? WE ONLY HAVE THREE BOTTLES... AND WE'RE GIVING ONE TO THAT MAN...?
WHY? DO YOU OBJECT?
THAT MAN IS SO RUDE.
HE DOESN'T EVEN SPEAK RESPECTFULLY TO YOU, GRANDPA-I MEAN, MASTER...
You little rascal.
STILL, THE LORD HAS APPROVED IT, SO WE MUST COMPLY.
WE ALSO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILING TO TREAT HIM LAST TIME-
BESIDES, THEY SAY THE CORPSE COLLECTOR'S FORCES WERE GREATLY REDUCED THIS TIME AND NEED TO BE SUPPLEMENTED.
IS THAT MAN REALLY SO STRONG?
YOU SAID HE'D BEEN WEAKENED BY A CURSE.
EVEN SO, HIS DRACONIC TONGUE IS SPECIAL.
THEY EXPECT HE'LL BE ABLE TO USE IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES IF HE TAKES THE ELIXIR NOW.
UGH...
URRRGH...
LET'S BEGIN RIGHT AWAY, THEN.
TEN MINUTES LATER
DAMN IT, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO ME LAST TIME?
I WAS TREATED, SO WHY DID IT GET WORSE...?
THAT'S WHY I GAVE YOU AN ELIXIR THIS TIME. I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.
HAH, IF YOU WEREN'T AN ALCHEMIST...
RUDE BASTARD...
NOW, YOU SEEM TO HAVE FULLY RECOVERED, SO TAKE THIS.
THIS IS A POTION CALLED "LETHE'S CURSE," WHICH WILL RESTORE YOUR MEMORIES.
THAT ONE'S SAFE, RIGHT?
IT MAY FAIL,
BUT IT WON'T CAUSE ANY HARM TO YOUR BODY.
...I'LL TRUST YOU.
HOW IS IT? HAVE YOUR MEMORIES RETURNED?
I DON'T KNOW. NOT YET.
IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME.
...MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOT ANYTHING SWEET?
I'm craving it for some reason.
MARLIN?
...YES, I'LL GET SOME.
...I'VE BROUGHT THEM.
HUH?
THE OLD ALCHEMIST STEPPED OUT. THE LORD SUMMONED HIM.
OH...
SO WHERE'S THE FOOD?
...HERE.
THESE WERE A GIFT FROM LADY AMELIA...
IS THIS ALL?
?!
EEK?!
YOU... WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THE COOKIES...?
WH-WHAT? THEY'RE JUST ORDINARY COOKIES...
...D-DAMN IT.
AAAAH!!
D-DRAGON BLOOD...
IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH CINNAMON...
...THAT'S A SACRED RELIC OF OUR ORDER.
COULD THE ORACLE WE RECEIVED LAST TIME HAVE BEEN...
STOP.
OH... MY APOLOGIES.
B-BJORN...
DON'T WORRY, SIR. CONFIDENTIALITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO BODYGUARD DUTY.
HAH, HOW ANNOYING. YOU'RE GOING TO REPORT EVERYTHING TO YOUR SUPERIOR ANYWAY.
NOW IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS LEAKS.
HOW LONG WILL IT BE UNTIL THE CHIEF HEARS ABOUT IT?
...HE WOULDN'T ACTUALLY KICK ME OUT, WOULD HE?
I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO REACH STAGE-NINE ENGRAVINGS.
RIGHT, WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.
I IMMEDIATELY PARTED WAYS WITH MISHA
AND WENT TO THE SANCTUARY.
OH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE FULLY RECOVERED, HM?
I HAVE. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YOU.
SPEAK.
I'VE COME TO SUCCEED YOU AS CHIEF OF THE TRIBE.
SUCCEED ME, HUH...
ENOUGH FANCY WORDS. COME AT ME.
Bjorn wrestles with fear that his hidden identity as an evil spirit will be exposed, realizing he fears losing his bonds with Misha and his companions more than anything. After the assassination investigation fizzles out, he seeks a priest from the Leatlas Order to form a clan for the sixth floor but is rejected. Meanwhile in Noark, an alchemist treats the Dragonslayer, and Bjorn later heads to the sanctuary to challenge the chief.
Hey! I came across your WEBTOON and really liked your characters! I’m a freelance animator & illustrator and would love to create a short teaser or motion comic for your story. If interested, feel free to contact me! IG: @lunaartsoul | Discord: lunaascribe | Email: [email protected] When messaging, please mention the website and your username/pseudonym so I know who you are.