Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
Reunion (2)
"What? What did you just say?"
"A relic? Explain."
"...You can't possibly know nothing. That Julian isn't from our world. And in some worlds... even people are turned into relics."
"...!"
"That's right. That Julian was created by a Majesty from that world. A person transformed into a relic."
"A relic? Explain."
Ju-Heon's eyes widened.
His heart sank.
People... turned into relics?
He stared at Yu Jae-ha in disbelief.
"So you're saying... that Julian... is literally a relic?"
Yu Jae-ha calmly nodded.
"That's right."
With those few words, dozens of memories flooded Ju-Heon's mind.
One of them was from before his regression, when they entered the Crow's Tomb and every one of his teammates had died screaming.
The stench of death that seemed to linger even in memory.
The smell of blood.
The screams echoing through the dark crimson ruins.
Then another memory surfaced.
The day Unknown had invaded during his final battle against Chairman Kwon.
Ju-Heon's eyes turned icy.
They made it.
Unknown.
Silence fell.
Within that silence, Ju-Heon's clenched fist trembled.
Back then, the Unknown created from their corpses had apparently been incomplete, and his teammates had managed to destroy it without much difficulty.
It had been created with the help of Gaia's relic.
Simply put, it was a relic fashioned from human corpses.
Murderous intent naturally filled Ju-Heon's eyes.
Its condition was terrible. It couldn't even last long.
"...Damn it... They're doing that again?"
But the one standing before him now was different.
Just as expected.
Seeing Ju-Heon's expression, Majesty Yu Jae-ha let out a quiet sigh.
"That's right. The Unknown you saw was also created with the advice of that Majesty."
"But this one is complete."
"Even in other worlds, he's feared as a legendary hunter. Attack relics don't work on him. Defensive relics don't work either. There are even Majesties offering enormous bounties to anyone who can kill him."
In other words...
He was the common enemy of all Majesties.
Yu Jae-ha spoke gravely.
"Well... in his world, there's a good chance you've been turned into a relic too."
"Probably something like the Relic of the King of Plunder."
Ju-Heon rubbed the bridge of his nose in disbelief.
A plundering relic?
"...That's really..."
He muttered under his breath.
"...The worst."
"Isn't it funny hearing you say that about yourself?"
Ju-Heon was about to punch him—
Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait."
"If he hunts relic users, then he must have collected plenty of relics, right?"
"Well... that might be one reason the bounty on him is so high."
Ju-Heon's eyes sparkled even brighter.
"Then what's his ability?"
"He's a relic, isn't he?"
"So what makes relic users completely helpless against him?"
Yu Jae-ha bit his lip before speaking quietly.
"Lex Dictum."
"...What?"
"In simple terms... it's a Book of Law."
"It's both the relic's name and the name of its ability."
"...So he crushes people using laws or something?"
"Exactly."
"More precisely, it operates in three stages."
"Detection. Judgment. Execution."
"The first stage detects illegal relic usage."
"It captures people using relics illegally."
"Then comes Judgment."
"Lex Dictum possesses its own code of laws."
"In other words, it has its own list of rules."
"If it determines you've violated one of those laws..."
"It immediately declares your actions illegal."
"...So it just declares things illegal whenever it feels like it?"
"Basically."
"Those spears falling from the sky earlier were the result."
Ju-Heon's eyebrow twitched.
What kind of ridiculous ability is that?
So it's basically a relic that combines a law code with divine punishment.
Seeing the look on his face, Yu Jae-ha continued.
"First, it detects your actions."
"Either Julian witnesses them personally, or his detection relics automatically record them."
"Like a speed camera."
"For example, watching you use an illegal relic."
"Then comes Judgment."
"That's right."
"If you've violated one of its predetermined rules..."
"It delivers legitimate violence in the name of legitimate law."
"That's the ability of the relic known as Julian Miller."
Seriously...
It was such an absurdly Julian-like relic.
Then a voice echoed once more.
Cold.
Precise.
Emotionless, like a machine.
"Damn. That lawyer bastard is playing judge too."
"He can pass judgment not only on people, but on relics as well."
"In other words..."
"If the verdict declares one of your relics illegal..."
"He can forcibly disable it..."
"Or even confiscate it."
"...Damn."
"That's one insane relic."
"Mhm."
"It's especially the worst possible matchup for you."
"Me?"
"What do you mean, me?! Why?!"
"Article 8, Clause 1."
"If the suspect continues to resist after becoming aware of the jurisdiction of the law—"
Golden characters raced across Julian's glasses.
"Proceed to compulsory detention..."
"...and execution."
"What?"
"Execution?!"
"Holy shit, that's insane—"
Yu Jae-ha looked at Ju-Heon as though asking whether he was seriously that clueless.
"Theft."
"Assault."
"Intimidation."
"Fraud."
"Gambling..."
"Shut up!"
Just as Ju-Heon sprang to his feet—
The sky split apart.
A massive golden scale appeared above Ju-Heon's head.
Beneath it descended yet another spear—this one a triple-pronged Spear of Judgment, slowly spinning as it fell.
"Lex Dictum. Severe criminal detected."
"On what grounds am I a severe criminal?!"
"First. Deliberate misuse of relics."
"Second. Destruction of property using relics."
"Third. Attempted assault using relics."
"Hey! If all of that's a crime, how's anyone supposed to live?!"
"...Or you could simply not do any of those things."
"What? Why?"
"An emperor who commands kings holds a higher status, doesn't he?"
"The more Majesties a Majesty commands, the higher their rank becomes."
"So tell me—which is easier to control? A slave that can't resist, or one that fights back?"
So that's why this bastard kept trying to recruit me as his subordinate.
"Anyway, since relics don't work on him, Majesties who are nothing without their relics are easy prey for him."
Ju-Heon kicked Majesty Yu Jae-ha as if asking whose side he was on.
"Damn it!"
"Don't spout nonsense!"
"Either way, he definitely came to kill me and capture you. An unawakened Majesty sells for a good price."
"Then I just need to awaken—"
Before he could finish, Julian cut him off, as though refusing to give him the chance.
[Fortuna's Dice (S-Rank Relic)]
"Resistance nullified."
Just as another golden spear was about to pierce Ju-Heon, Yu Jae-ha quickly reached out.
"Roll... Fortune's blessing."
"It's my relic that can evade any attack."
"And it landed on 3, right?"
Looking at the face showing the number three, Yu Jae-ha spoke.
A blue relic burst from his fingertips like a flame, and the falling golden spear froze in midair.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ju-Heon rolled aside.
Landing smoothly, Yu Jae-ha held up the spinning die.
"You only survived because of me."
"!"
"So that's three."
"It lets you evade three attacks."
"You've already used one just now."
"That means there are two left."
"And since it won't work twice on the same opponent, you've only got two chances."
"Pretty useful."
"Don't even think about stealing it so naturally!"
As Yu Jae-ha stepped back, Ju-Heon frowned.
The Fortuna series...?
Majesty's Death Match Coin was part of that series too.
Ju-Heon glanced sideways at Yu Jae-ha.
Majesty Yu Jae-ha merely shrugged and slipped the die back into his pocket as if nothing had happened.
At the same time, Ju-Heon's gaze sharpened.
Now isn't the time to question him.
More importantly...
Could that bastard... be connected to the Majesty of Gambling?
Two chances...
From what he'd heard, the Majesty of Gambling seemed to have ties to the Twelve Executors.
And there was also the fact that Yu Jae-ha had recognized that ordinary-looking coin as the Death Match Coin immediately.
"So, how are you planning to escape with only two chances?"
"I'm not running."
"What?"
Isn't this bastard connected to the Executors?
Ju-Heon grinned.
"You said he's like a speed camera."
"He has to personally confirm both the lawbreaker and the evidence before he can carry out punishment, right?"
"That's right."
"Then all I have to do is tamper with the process in the middle."
Majesty Yu Jae-ha's eyes went round.
This bastard... don't tell me!
Yu Jae-ha narrowed his eyes.
At that moment, Ju-Heon smiled and moved.
His plan immediately went into motion.
"...The process in the middle?"
"For example, stealing is obviously against the law."
"If I steal something, Julian will naturally try to punish me."
"But..."
The Rope Relic hanging from the side of the building suddenly swung down.
Ju-Heon grabbed hold of it.
Whoosh!
Wiggling a finger, he continued,
"What if I wasn't actually the one who stole it?"
The rope sliced through the air.
Using its momentum, Ju-Heon kicked off the building like a spider climbing a wall.
BOOM!
"Here I come."
At that instant, Julian reacted.
Golden laws materialized in midair, and a razor-sharp beam of light shot toward Ju-Heon.
Twisting in midair, Ju-Heon accelerated.
He dived straight down, reaching toward Julian's waist.
His target was Julian's wallet.
"Lex Dictum. Illegal trespassing."
Julian looked almost dumbfounded.
BOOM!!
"...I wondered what you intended after blocking my attacks."
"And all you could come up with was petty theft?"
But in that split second, Fortuna's power blocked Julian's attack once again.
The golden beam shattered against the power of the die.
This was the opening.
The corners of Julian's lips slowly curled upward.
"Those who break the law must be punished."
"And yet you dare commit such acts before my very eyes?"
His golden eyes flashed as his fingers sliced through the air.
CRACK!!
Then it happened.
Ju-Heon's figure blurred...
...and transformed into someone else.
It was Majesty Yu Jae-ha.
Just as the glowing golden decree was about to activate—
"Sorry. It's me."
Bang!
Julian's power failed to reach Ju-Heon and dispersed into thin air.
Yu Jae-ha raised his middle finger with a smug grin.
Julian's eyes narrowed sharply.
"...Hm?"
"You think a cheap trick like that..."
"...could fool me?"
"Maybe it could."
For a brief instant, Julian's eyes wavered.
Just now... why didn't it activate?
"!"
The voice that came from directly behind Julian—
...was Ju-Heon's.