Solo Leveling: Ragnarok - Chapter 286

Chapter 286

‘Skill: Mirage’

A horrifying illusion that pulls out and shows the most horrific or intense moment from the subject’s memory.

Just as Xavier once did, Harmakan created this powerful barrier and trapped all the villains in the city in a pure white blizzard.

Of course, this illusion was a little different from Xavier’s because it was performed by Harmakan’s hands.

Even if it is the same sorcery, the results will vary depending on the taste of the spirit performing it.

In short, Harmakan’s taste is ‘evil spirit’.

Because of this, the illusion of this mirage had a more powerful effect on the evil spirits, and all the villains living in the city were faced with all the evil deeds they had ever committed.

Especially murder.

They now face the wrath of the countless victims who were brutally murdered at their hands.

And of course, it goes without saying… … .

Among them was the harvester Hasul.

“ah….”

Suddenly, when she came to her senses, Ha-seul realized that she was wearing her school uniform.

When I turned around in surprise, it was still winter around me.

But instead of a fiercely swirling blizzard, snowflakes are falling from the sky.

And before that… … .

Hururuk.

There was an orphanage that was burning down.

In front of Hasul.

“…ah.”

Like other villains, Hasul’s reaction to facing her nightmare was a bit bland.

It had to be that way.

For Ha Seul, reminiscing about that day was just a daily routine.

How could I forget?

“… … Is this a dream again?”

Winter of the first year of high school.

Hasul woke up.

and.

Killed the orphanage director.

That woman who always forced the children to smile in front of the sponsors… … .

He was a split personality who would turn into a devil when he turned around.

The old woman who would smile like an angel in front of her sponsors, but then turn around and hysterically abuse the children after they left.

Looking back, she was still a woman who deserved to die.

[I guess this nightmare is familiar.]

Suddenly, someone’s voice chuckled in Hasul’s ear.

[You’re a villain with a story to tell.]

Hasul replied as if entranced by the voice.

“… … I have no intention of selling my story. I’m just a common bad girl. I killed someone and ran away. That’s all.”

Oh, and they set fire to the orphanage.

Anyway, once a new director comes in, the same thing will happen again.

But I had no regrets.

If I went back to that day, I would end up doing the same thing.

But, one thing.

The foolishness remained.

-Choi Ha-seul!

Hasul instinctively trembled at the voice calling her name.

The ‘director’ was now walking towards him with a staggering pace.

Open the door to the burning orphanage.

-I should have laughed more in front of my sponsors!

As always, he shouted at me with a venomous look in his eyes.

“… … .”

But Hasul didn’t back down from that nightmare at all.

Because I was used to this kind of thing.

Because nightmares like this have been repeating themselves every night since that day.

For some reason, today’s nightmare was much more vivid than my usual nightmares, but it was no different.

Is that why?

Perhaps because the nightmare was more vivid than usual, Ha-seul mustered up a little more courage than usual and asked the director.

“… … Were you alive?”

I ended up asking.

Hasul had always been curious.

Did that woman eventually die ‘that day’?

Or maybe he was rescued later and somehow managed to extend his tough life.

“I came over without confirming that… … .”

Yes, that’s right.

The identity of this nightmare was Hasul’s one remaining regret.

What if that director is still alive?

That possibility was truly a terrifying nightmare for Hasul.

“I should have checked… … .”

Regrets always come too late.

There aren’t many people who suddenly gain superpowers and can kill people as if they were waiting for it.

Hasul was just one of them.

So rather than killing the director directly, he chose to set fire to the orphanage.

After evacuating all the children from the orphanage in advance, they set fire to the director’s office.

I didn’t have the courage to kill him myself.

I didn’t even have the courage to go back in and confirm the director’s death.

Because I was scared.

No matter how much strength I had awakened, the moment I made eye contact with the director, I was sure I would freeze like a frog in front of a snake and not be able to move.

And whenever she felt this way, there was something Hasul would mutter compulsively.

Words he would say to his younger siblings who would come to him every night and shed tears, and words he would also say to himself.

That wasn’t comforting or anything.

“It’s okay. It wasn’t our fault. We were just… … unlucky. In fact, there are probably plenty of normal, ordin

ary orphanages out there.”

okay.

Looking back, it was all luck.

It was just bad luck that his own mother, whose face he couldn’t even remember, abandoned him in this terrible orphanage.

The gangsters who ran that orphanage were probably just unlucky.

“Why did a girl like me suddenly have an S-class awakening at the orphanage they run… … .”

[So you killed them all?]

Someone whispered.

Hasul answered.

“Yes, I killed them all. I even went to the buildings of the gangsters involved and killed and burned them all. For the sake of the younger siblings I left behind.”

Shwaaaaak-

Before Ha-seul knew it, the nightmare of the burning orphanage passed before her eyes.

In fact, Hasul’s hell started to get real after that.

After killing everyone involved.

“… … I crossed the 38th parallel without hesitation.”

Towards North Korea, which has become a true hell.

But on the contrary, Ha Seul was not afraid of North Korea at all.

“It seemed easier to live in North Korea, which was already completely ruined, than in that damned South

Korea. And it really was.”

I left with all my fears burned away, so there’s nothing left to be afraid of.

The world seen from inside the orphanage was extremely cold.

A world where you can never live an ordinary life with ordinary effort.

A world where no one dares to dream of a dragon rising from a stream.

I developed the ‘power’ to escape on my own, so there was no reason not to leave.

Natural disaster?

Climate change?

What about strange demons and alien races?

I learned what was truly scary at a young age, so I wasn’t afraid of something as simple as that.

“Humans. In fact, there is nothing as scary as humans.”

Hehe.

As he concluded, the strongest villain living in the city of villains raised the corners of his mouth.

ah.

There is one thing that is regrettable.

Unfortunately, it was before the association was launched, so he didn’t know that the power he had awakened was S-class.

I also learned later from the villains who crossed over to North Korea that becoming an S-class hunter would allow one to enjoy great wealth and honor.

But I only felt regret, not regret.

Things like wealth and honor, if you have the power, you can enjoy them anywhere.

“… … Same here.”

[Then shouldn’t you protect it? Your paradise?]

As if waiting, the voice whispered to Hasul like a devil.

Saaaaaa-

Then, before anyone knew it, a giant sickle made of a foreign stone was once again in Hasul’s hands.

The harvest sickle that was stolen by the black ant demon a while ago has returned.

And the moment he took hold of the weapon, a hot energy suddenly boiled up inside Hasul’s body.

“This power… … .”

Hasul instinctively realized the basis of this power.

The fruits of Alfheim that I have eaten so far.

Aside from the bank guys, you’re probably the most fruit-eating villain in this city.

[I will lend you my strength. Defend this city with your own hands.]

… …Whoosh!

In an instant, a red aura enveloped Hasul’s entire body.

Hasul instinctively swung the sickle of the harvest forward, splitting the air.

Then, the power formed a crescent moon and made a hole in the transparent wall of the ‘Instance Dungeon’ that covered the city.

[Well done.]

The voice laughed.

Swaaaaaaah!

At that moment, the blizzard that had been trapped inside the city began to be sucked out of the barrier through the hole.

It was truly an incredible momentum.

What was revealed then were red fallen leaves buried under a pure white snowfield.

WHHHH!

As Hasul swung the scythe again, colorful autumn leaves fluttered beautifully in the air along its path.

Since those maple leaves were basically fallen leaves with a cognitive impairment effect, at that moment,

Hasul’s presence completely disappeared from the world.

Wheaaa …

Hasul, who had hidden her presence so that no one could notice, jumped high into the sky, stepping on the red fallen leaves like stairs.

Then, at the end, there was a being waiting for Hasul.

[Yeah, you did very well. You’re a good kid.]

Apostle of Paradise.

He was waiting for Hasul outside the instance dungeon.

With a bright smiling face.

[I personally appoint you as my high priest. From this moment on, you are the high priest of the glorious foreign religion!]

Flash!

At that moment, power was concentrated on the scythe made of the outer stone that Hasul was holding.

The Apostle of Paradise gave orders to Hasul as if he was manipulating a puppet.

[Hehehe. Can you feel it? The difference in strength? I will personally give you all the strength that has borne fruit in this city… … !]

Shhh!

At those words, Hasul raised his sickle with his characteristically expressionless face.

A tremendous amount of power began to be concentrated in the scythe.

The Apostle of Paradise smiled happily at that dignified appearance, and pointed his finger toward the center of the city and gave a strong command.

[Now, go! Towards the enemies who dared to destroy your city, my flower pot… …! What, what are you doing?!]

WHHHHH!

The apostle of Paradise could not help but be greatly embarrassed.

Surprisingly, Hasul’s scythe suddenly attacked him.

And that too, using the power he himself gave me!

The Apostle of Paradise barely avoided Hasul’s attack and shouted.

[What the heck?! What are you doing!]

How dare the high priest attack the apostle!

When something so absurd happened, the apostles of Paradise could not help but be shocked.

That was when.

[What’s going on, you ask?]

[… … ?!]

Creepy!

The apostle of Paradise hurriedly turned his gaze towards the voice he had suddenly heard.

Then, Hasul’s ‘shadow’, which was constantly attacking him…

It was stretched out abnormally long and was smiling at itself.

That moment.

[Hey, wait! You’re not… …?!]

The Apostle of Paradise’s eyes widened sharply.

A very ominous yet familiar feeling!

The apostle of Paradise instinctively recalled the identity of this sensation.

[Old, Corps Commander Be… … .]

[Do you know me?]

Ha Seul’s ‘shadow’ opened its eyes in delight at those words.

Then he continued speaking with a smirk.

[But I don’t know you at all. After all, everyone who has encountered me so far is already dead.] 1

Those words ultimately meant one thing.

Ber, the apostle of paradise, slowly rose from Hasul’s shadow and judged him.

[You, you little punk. You just watch me from far behind.]

[… … Ugh! High Priest! Protect me!]

The apostle of Paradise gritted his teeth and tried to control Hasul.

but.

“It’s no use.”

Creepy!

[… … !]

Suho, who had come up behind him without him noticing, continued speaking while raising his fist.

“Just in case, I put water from the spring of the Echo Forest on all of Berbaguette’s breads.”

Tukwaang-!

In that one room, the apostle of paradise was thrown to the ground.