NOVEL NEXT chapter 67
Chapter 67. Clarification
“Astrid Lindell… why are you here?”
Karasuma Tenshin asked, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.
Astrid Lindell was renowned not only for her ‘Regenerator’ abilities but also for her unwavering loyalty to that ‘Kim Do-jin.’
After Kim Do-jin had betrayed Cheonsangseok and met his demise, it was believed she had not aligned herself with any faction. So whose orders was she following now, to be embroiled in such matters?
“…….”
Karasuma Tenshin’s brows twitched, urging for an answer, while Astrid Lindell moistened her lips and cast a fleeting glance at Kim Do-jin.
“Ha…”
Now, concealing Astrid Lindell’s true identity was nearly impossible.
Kim Do-jin stepped forward, standing before Astrid Lindell, and suddenly raised his hand to remove his mask.
“……!?”
Karasuma Tenshin’s eyes widened slowly as he watched.
“That face…”
Coincidentally, he bore the same name as the infamous Kim Do-jin and bore a striking resemblance, making it impossible to forget.
The youngest son of Kim Mu-ho, the head of the ‘Myeongseong Group.’
Though he had been a figure dismissed from consideration due to his poor reputation, to encounter him in such an unexpected situation was beyond belief…
“I am Kim Do-jin.”
As Kim Do-jin slightly bowed his head and revealed his identity, Karasuma Tenshin’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.
The ‘Myeongseong Group’ of South Korea was a force that even the ‘Karasuma Clan’ could not easily disregard.
“…….”
After confirming Kim Do-jin’s identity, Karasuma Tenshin appeared even more composed, yet he had not forgotten his quest for vengeance for his son.
No, if it was indeed the ‘Myeongseong Group’ that had sought to assassinate his child, it would be entirely reasonable to engage them in open conflict.
“Are you saying that the son of Chairman Kim Mu-ho… has killed my son…?”
Those words were delivered with a terrifying aura, yet Kim Do-jin responded without a hint of intimidation.
“That is correct.”
“…What?”
His boldness left Karasuma Tenshin feeling a sense of bewilderment he could not shake off.
In an instant, Karasuma Tenshin’s eyes snapped open, radiating a fierce, bloodthirsty aura as he glared at Kim Do-jin.
The overwhelming presence was enough to make the awakened members of the Karasuma clan flinch and take a step back in surprise.
Yet, the very target of that murderous intent, Kim Do-jin, remained unfazed, continuing his words with calm composure.
“Could you spare some of your subordinates for me?”
With a dismissive snort, Karasuma Tenshin raised a hand in a vague gesture.
“Excuse me!?”
The subordinates, realizing that the gesture meant to retreat, exchanged bewildered glances, hesitating.
“Ah, understood!”
Ultimately, they retreated in a hurried rush, disappearing from sight.
Only then did Kim Do-jin cautiously unveil the words he had prepared.
“I too regret the death of Karasuma Ryota. I never intended for it to come to this… but had I not acted, Misaki Ai would have faced a horrific fate.”
At this, Karasuma Tenshin’s eyebrows twitched, as if he grasped a hint of understanding.
“…What?”
Karasuma Tenshin was well aware of Misaki Ai.
Though she was a victim, she was also the one who had driven his eldest son, Karasuma Ryota, to madness with her ‘Fascination’ ability.
And knowing that Karasuma Ryota had yet to fully escape the madness of that time, he found it hard to dismiss Kim Do-jin’s subsequent explanation.
“Karasuma Ryota was concealing a mind-control ability. He intended to use it to seize his younger brother, Karasuma Seishiro’s body, and ultimately make Misaki Ai his own.”
“…….”
Kim Do-jin’s continued explanation was laced with lies here and there.
The claim that Misaki Ai was in immediate danger of being assaulted if he did not act, among other things.
Yet, those fabrications were cunningly woven, and Karasuma Tenshin could not find a flaw in them.
‘Ryota did such a thing…’
If Kim Do-jin’s words were to be believed, Karasuma Ryota was indeed a villain deserving of death.
Of course, the extent of the truth remained uncertain, but it was hard to refute that Kim Do-jin’s actions against Karasuma Ryota were a matter of unavoidable self-defense.
Karasuma Tenshin ground his teeth at the betrayal and ugliness of his once-believed son, yet still, a child was a child.
“Very well. I will conduct my own verification, but for now, I will take your word for it. However… that does not give me a reason to let you live.”
Few understood as well as Kim Do-jin the extent to which Karasuma Tenshin had brazenly concealed truths that were unfavorable to him.
Revenge for a child was one thing, but a man who would not hesitate to commit murder to protect his child’s shame was another.
“…….”
Kim Do-jin had anticipated this reaction, and he maintained his composure, unruffled as he replied.
“I know. I would have done the same.”
In response, Karasuma Tenshin raised his long eyebrows in surprise, a characteristic gesture of his.
“Really? But to appear so relaxed… what exactly do you believe in? Or are you already prepared to die?”
Of course, there was no thought of dying in vain here.
Kim Do-jin began his explanation, fully aware that his life hung in the balance, without flinching from Karasuma Tenshin’s fearsome gaze.
“The mind control ability possessed by Karasuma Ryota was indeed so formidable that it could not be discerned by the naked eye. However, one cannot be too far from the target, and mana is continuously consumed, making it impossible to maintain a state akin to possession for a long stretch of six months. To achieve that, one would need a device to stabilize the psychic ability over long distances and a permanent mana replenishment device… but who could have possibly created that?”
“……”
“To secretly custom-make such a magical engineering device requires top-tier technological prowess, and the only factions that currently possess or could utilize such capabilities are ‘Ronan Industry’ and perhaps the ‘Top 10 Guilds of the World.’ I chose to infiltrate because I could not completely rule out the possibility of the head of the household being behind it… but I just discovered in the secret space a moment ago who conspired with Karasuma Ryota to create that device, or rather, who sought to use him.”
At this, Karasuma Tenshin displayed a slight but unmistakable reaction that Kim Do-jin had anticipated.
“…And who is it?”
Kim Do-jin understood that Karasuma Tenshin, due to a past trauma, was extremely wary of hostile conspiracies against him.
If indeed some faction was attempting to manipulate even his son, he would want to root them out immediately.
“……”
Kim Do-jin, noticing the growing anger in Karasuma Tenshin’s demeanor, deliberately paused for a moment before continuing.
“From what I have gathered, it is undoubtedly Ronan Industry behind this.”
Karasuma Tenshin furrowed his brow deeply in response.
“Ronan Industry?”
This time, there was no need for deception, as he spoke the truth.
“Yes. There is evidence left in the secret space, so you can verify it later.”
With Kim Do-jin’s confident reply, Karasuma Ryota clenched his lips tightly.
If ‘Ronan Industry’ was indeed the faction using his son, it could be a more troublesome issue than anticipated.
In terms of awakened powers, the other ‘Top 10 Guilds’ clearly held an advantage, but ‘Ronan Industry’ stood at the pinnacle of magical scientific technology.
They had established friendly relations with numerous great powers and massive factions, making a frontal assault against them akin to suicide.
Thus, they would have to fight from the shadows as well, which was no easy task.
“Ugh…”
Karasuma Tenshin, his head throbbing, questioned Kim Do-jin as if hoping it were not true.
“First of all, there’s something you haven’t explained. How did you even find out that my son… Ryota was hiding his mind control ability?”
It was foolish to try to conceal cards from someone who could overturn the entire game.
“I, too, was hiding a psychic ability that could detect magic, such as illusions or engravings. So, while conversing with Mikashi Ai, I happened to discover a magical engraving on Karasuma Seishiro’s neck, and while keeping an eye on him, I learned more until the incident occurred.”
Karasuma Tenshin had several other questions, but Kim Do-jin’s answers flowed without obstruction.
—
Moreover, the conjectures based on information known only to him aligned perfectly with Kim Do-jin’s explanation, leaving him no choice but to accept it.
The ‘Ronan Industry’ had crafted a special magical engineering device for his son, Karasuma Ryota, aiding in their nefarious scheme, and in return, they intended to keep him beneath their heel once Karasuma Ryota seized control of the ‘Karasuma Clan.’
‘Edward Ronan, that scoundrel…’
Karasuma Tenshin bit down hard, his animosity toward Edward Ronan igniting within him, before he turned his gaze back to Kim Do-jin, glaring fiercely.
“Very well. I’ll entertain the notion that Ronan Industry is behind this. But…”
Deep down, Karasuma Tenshin acknowledged that ‘Ronan Industry’ was indeed a true threat, a target that demanded retribution.
Yet, the ones who had actually slain his son were Kim Do-jin and Astrid Lindell, and he could not let them escape unscathed.
“Does that mean you have a reason to let you live?”
At Karasuma Tenshin’s chilling words, Kim Do-jin responded without a hint of intimidation.
“Yes. I can provide significant assistance in defeating Ronan Industry.”
To be honest, it was a tempting proposition.
‘Ronan Industry’ was a formidable adversary, one that even the ‘Karasuma Clan’ would find difficult to confront.
And judging by what had been said thus far, he did not seem like a fool spouting nonsense… it was certainly worth hearing him out.
“Fine. I’ll listen.”
Most of that information had been his before he became possessed by this wretch, but such details mattered little.
What was crucial was that the information Kim Do-jin provided was indeed credible and exceedingly useful to the Karasuma Clan.
“…Is that true?”
After hearing everything, Karasuma Tenshin asked Kim Do-jin with a gaze that had shifted, now filled with intensity.
“Yes. It is true. I will help you make Ronan Industry pay for daring to place the Karasuma Clan under their thumb. I too must pay for the tragedy I did not wish to bring about.”
For a moment, Karasuma Tenshin was silent in response to Kim Do-jin’s words.
He would assist in fighting Ronan Industry, yet wanted him to cover up the murder of his son?
Such a thing was unthinkable for Karasuma Tenshin.
But the need for Kim Do-jin’s help was too great, and ultimately, he nodded in agreement, concealing his true intent to kill him once he had obtained everything he required.