Chapter 50: Chains of the Wicked

Yurdan looked at Evan in panic.

“W-What is this madness!”

“Shut up and listen. Alan, Reynold, keep watch around here.”

There was no way to let this slide.

Fortunately, there were only the two of them present.

It was the perfect condition to use the Soul Judgment.

“What nonsense are you talking about! I’m reporting this to the higher-ups immediately.”

“You’re stubborn to the end.”

Evan drew the Sword of Jormungand’s Fang embedded with the Soul Judgment jewel.

He pointed the sword straight at Yurdan and activated the Soul Judgment’s power.

Then, a mark began to appear before their eyes.

Soon, the results of the soul investigation were revealed.

[Currently, there are two souls present.]

[Yurdan Garrot is unqualified for judgment.]

[Garhan is a candidate for judgment.]

[Would you like to proceed with judging the murderer Garhan? (Y/N)]

An X mark and a skull symbol appeared above his head.

“Two souls? What on earth is going on?”

The result was astonishing.

It indicated there were two souls within Yurdan’s body.

For now, Evan decided to select Garhan, who could be judged immediately.

[Initiating judgment on murderer Garhan.]

[Attention]

At that moment, a powerful wave radiated from the Soul Judgment jewel embedded in Evan’s sword.

Zzzt!

With a bizarre sound, the scenery shifted.

It was a completely white, circular arena, as if covered in snow.

The Judgment Hall of Souls.

This was the second time Evan used it, the first being after dealing with Hilton.

“Huh? I’m actually controlling this body directly!”

Yurdan muttered confused words, then began to touch his entire body.

Suddenly, he laughed loudly, almost maniacally, as if glowing with joy.

“Finally! The moment has come! I’ve completely taken over the body! I was so tired of waiting…”

He then spotted Evan and grinned slyly, flicking his tongue.

“Well, well, isn’t this the young lord himself?”

Though he pretended to be Yurdan, Evan could tell.

This was not Yurdan.

His personality and gestures were completely different — 180 degrees opposite.

“Are you Garhan?” Evan asked.

For a moment, Garhan’s expression showed surprise.

“Oh! How did you find out my real name? It’s been 50 years since I lost that name.”

Hearing this, Evan was now certain.

‘There really was another soul inside Yurdan’s body.’

Even Evan, who had been through countless battles, had never seen such a case.

He recalled what the other had mumbled earlier.

‘Saying he completely took over the body means he was waiting for a chance to fully possess it, right?’

Just then, a message appeared before Evan’s eyes.

[You have entered the Judgment Hall of Souls.]

[Eliminate the wicked who bring chaos to the world.]

[When judging a target with Chaos Value, Holy Power will randomly increase.]

Evan’s eyes flashed.

Not only would he deal with a nuisance, but Holy Power would also increase as a bonus.

This was excellent news for Evan.

He gripped the Sword of Jormungand’s Fang tightly.

Then, staring at Garhan like prey, he said, “You’re the most impatient one I’ve ever met.”

Seeing Evan’s demeanor, Yurdan flicked his tongue again.

Then, he drew the sword at his waist.

“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve felt this body.”

He admired it while moving his arms this way and that.

Clearly, he was openly disregarding Evan.

But Evan had no intention of entertaining such antics.

Swoosh!

With the sound of wind, Evan suddenly closed the distance to right in front of Garhan.

Slash!

He swung his sword in a wide arc, cutting at him.

“You crazy bastard!”

Garhan recoiled in shock.

The blade narrowly grazed his waist.

His reflexes were incredible, dodging the surprise attack.

“Coward. I was just warming up, and you come at me with a sneak attack.”

Garhan complained to Evan while summoning his aura.

However, he soon felt his entire body stiffening.

He was poisoned.

Completely unaware, Garhan panicked.

“You idiot.”

In the meantime, Evan closed the distance again.

“W-What!”

Startled, Garhan accelerated once more.

As a notorious ruthless killer, he had made a name for himself by slaughtering countless knights, mercenaries, and warriors on his own.

No one could match his speed, so he was never caught.

Though he was eventually captured and executed by the Royal Pursuit Squad, no ordinary opponent could challenge him.

Yet this kid before him surpassed his speed.

“This can’t be. I can’t shake him off?”

He was easily overtaken, then slashed again.

Swish!

“Grah!”

***

While fleeing, Garhan tried to counterattack by stabbing with his sword.

Whoosh!

But his sword cut through empty air. Evan had already retreated and was circling around him.

Like a snake hunting prey, Evan circled Garhan, looking for an opening.

[Due to Predator’s Rush, movement speed increased by 150%.]

Evan was currently benefiting from the sword’s effects.

The reason for his initial surprise attack was exactly this.

If the opponent was poisoned, the sword’s effect would activate.

But it didn’t stop there.

[Attack count x1]

[Temporarily increases attack speed x1]

[Temporarily increases strength x1]

Evan had already activated the Blow skill.

This skill increases attack speed and strengthens each strike with every hit.

By quickly stacking five layers, he could activate the sword’s other effects: Venomous Serpent’s Poison and Paralysis Venom.

The synergy between the Blow skill and the Sword of Jormungand’s Fang was incredible.

“Ugh! What’s wrong with my body now?”

As the poison spread throughout his body, Garhan gradually became sluggish.

Evan seized the opportunity and charged at him.

***

“Kuhak! Cough, cough!”

Garhan was bleeding, collapsed with his hands on the ground.

Evan looked down at him and said, “What exactly are you?”

“Grrk! What else?”

He sneered and spat blood toward Evan’s boot.

“Don’t think you’ve won, kid. After all, this body wasn’t even mine.”

Then, gripping his sword, Garhan stabbed it into his own chest.

Thud!

“Ugh! Damn it! After all that trouble to get this body, to die like this… We’ll meet again, damn brat.”

Bleeding heavily, Garhan collapsed onto the ground.

Suddenly, Rumble!

The ground cracked open beneath them.

“Huh? What is this now! Aaah!”

Countless chains burst out, wrapping around Garhan.

The chains pulled tight, and only Garhan was extracted from Yurdan’s body.

The cracked earth swallowed Garhan whole.

[You have judged murderer Garhan.]

[Garhan’s soul has been cast into hell and bound forever.]

[Judgment completed successfully!]

[Holy Power increased by 15.]

The scenery shifted immediately, and Evan was quickly returned to the original place.

[Quest: Judgment of the Wicked (1/20)]

The quest notification appeared before him.

The branch quest Judgment of the Wicked had begun.

By eliminating an evil with Chaos Value 10 or higher, the count increased.

‘Holy Power increased significantly, and the quest progressed as well.’

Evan turned his gaze to the unconscious Yurdan.

He was unharmed, looking clean and knocked out.

‘What will happen in this case?’

Unlike with Hilton, this time one of the two souls was eliminated.

It remained to be seen what effect this would have on Yurdan.

But despite the passage of time, no message appeared.

‘No Brand of the Sinner was applied, so that makes sense.’

Yurdan was not directly judged.

Evan immediately opened Yurdan’s status window.

[Disposition: Evil]

[Race: Human]

[Gender: Male]

[Affinity: 0%]

[Chaos: 0]

[Potential Abilities: None]

[Known Skills: None]

Everything looked like a blank slate.

Chaos Value had dropped to zero, and all skills were gone.

‘He never had potential abilities, but for all skills to disappear too…’

Even though he wasn’t judged directly, everything was reset.

But thinking about it, it made sense.

‘Garhan’s soul left Yurdan’s body, so all the power gained through him vanished.’

This could either be Yurdan’s original state returning or a side effect of the aftermath.

Either way, what mattered to Evan was something else.

‘How much does this guy remember?’

Evan searched Yurdan’s body for any clues.

He found a small scroll rolled up tightly.

Sealed with unknown symbols and magical forms, it was difficult to inspect immediately.

‘Seems like something important is written here.’

Evan added the scroll to his inventory and continued searching the body.

Judging nothing else would come up, Evan roughly shook the unconscious Yurdan awake.

“Ugh…”

Yurdan’s eyelids slowly opened.

“W-Where am I…”

Evan asked beside him.

“You okay? I saw you trip and fall on a rock.”

“Me? W-Wait a moment.”

Yurdan tried to recall his memories before fainting.

‘Greeting the returning knights…’

He then remembered Evan pointing a sword at his neck.

Yurdan pointed his finger at Evan and shouted, “You were the one who pointed a sword at me!”

“So you remember up to there?”

Evan clicked his tongue, annoyed.

He had expected Yurdan wouldn’t remember the fight with Garhan.

He was right, but Yurdan seemed to recall even that sword-pointing moment.

‘If I leave this as is, news will spread to his gang. I can’t afford to let any information leak…’

Since Yurdan was guarded and questioned about his identity, and the fact that Garhan escaped his body, it wouldn’t be good if word got out.

Evan shouted loudly, “Alan, Reynold! Restrain this guy immediately. He’s a traitor!”

Then Evan decided what to do.

‘Lock him up in prison, that’ll settle it.’

Yurdan scoffed.

“This is ridiculous. You were the one who threatened me with a sword first, sir. And now you call me a traitor? Seriously…”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Evan held up the scroll, and Yurdan’s eyes widened.

His expression became clearly flustered as his lips trembled.

That scroll was the report he was supposed to deliver to “that person” today.

“W-Why… Could it be? You searched my body while I was unconscious!”

“That’s right. Looks like it’s pretty important judging by your face.”

Evan said. Yurdan hastily composed himself and cautiously said, “That’s a mission report. It’s classified, so I was entrusted to keep it myself…”

Evan cut him off.

“Enough. Once we get back, we’ll call the mages and unseal this. Meanwhile, you’re going to have a light interrogation.”

“You bastard! You think…”

Suddenly, Yurdan tried to get up and charge at Evan.

“Young master!”

Alan and Reynold rushed in and quickly subdued him.

Yurdan was defeated helplessly, bewildered.

Even though he wanted to summon his aura, it felt like all his power inside was gone.

“W-Why is my body like this…?”

Yurdan finally realized his condition.

His internal strength was completely depleted.

His eyes trembled as they met Evan’s gaze.

Evan, with a smirk, spoke.

“Do you understand now? There’s nothing you can do.”