Weapon Master of the Count’s Family

Chapter 77: Survival

Nidra was granted authority to manage the Citadel and the entire Coast of the Dead beyond it.

After throwing us into the Black Sea, he diligently oversaw the flow of souls entering the Citadel, fulfilling his duties.

Yet, he often turned his gaze to the Black Sea.

Not out of habit, but due to a lingering fragment of hope, despite denying the possibility of our return.

He had declared us lost forever.

But there we were.

Us.

Defying his thoughts, we stood before him.

“What trickery is this?”

He was desperate to know how we’d escaped.

No one had ever returned from the Black Sea.

“Tell me. How did you get out?”

The answer came not from me but from Hel, who appeared behind us.

“How? My brother managing the Black Sea must’ve let them go. Right?”

“Lord Hel!”

At Hel’s unannounced arrival, all Reapers, including Nidra, knelt.

I briefly glanced down, feeling a solid platform-like sensation underfoot, then released Gaiard’s arm.

Raising my head, I calmly answered Hel’s earlier question.

“Yes. I didn’t know he was your brother, though. You do look alike.”

“Alike? Hm, to your eyes, maybe. He’s probably disguised as me. That’s not his true form.”

“Your brother let us go, which is why we’re here.”

“Hm, of course, he’d need to approve it. But my brother wouldn’t just let you go. Maybe he tried to turn you into Sludge and failed?”

I nodded at Hel’s words.

That’s exactly what happened.

“You’re right. Gaiard and I passed his trial.”

“Impressive. No one’s ever come out of there. Honestly, I expected you to make it, but after over a year with no word, I gave up.”

“A year?”

According to Hel, the time spent in the nightmare was real.

“So the time I repeated actually passed?”

“Of course. You’d know best, wouldn’t you, Evan? You seem taller and stronger inside.”

Only then did I slowly examine my body.

Like my inner strength, my physique was noticeably sturdier and more robust.

Even my eye level felt slightly higher.

Gaiard had mentioned I looked taller, and it seemed true.

“Well, that guy looks the same.”

Hel glanced at Gaiard.

Unlike me, who’d changed significantly, Gaiard was largely unchanged.

“Doesn’t matter much. You passed my brother’s and my test, proving your ability.”

More importantly, we’d earned not just Hel’s interest but his trust.

“You’ve proven you’re capable of accepting my proposal, so let’s continue. Follow me.”

Hel invited us to his space inside the colossus statue’s head.

The view outside the window was unchanged from a year ago.

“Humans drink tea when talking, right? Like this.”

He conjured a teapot and cups, serving us tea.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll drink well.”

We marveled at the tangible cups, not illusions, and drank.

“Now, shall we finish our business talk?”

Hel held his cup with both hands, sipping the tea.

“How do you two plan to find that mage?”

Normally, this question would be hard to answer.

How could we find someone even a god couldn’t?

Gaiard glanced at me, but I swallowed my tea and spoke.

“Build us a ship. We’ll cross every coast to find that mage.”

“That’s resolve, not a concrete plan.”

“I’ll figure out the plan later.”

“Oh?”

As I offered no clear method, Nidra, standing far off, showed discomfort.

His look clearly said, What can the likes of you do?

“We plan to investigate the Citadel while the ship’s prepared.”

I wasn’t entirely without ideas.

“Investigate? Why here?”

“There might be souls from Ernst’s era. Right?”

“And?”

If I couldn’t find answers myself, I’d seek them from others.

That was me.

“I’ll ask them about Ernst for clues. There’s a reason he’s stayed here so long.”

“Makes sense. It’s because of some purpose?”

“Yes, without a purpose, he wouldn’t linger for centuries. We might also uncover how he hides.”

Hel had no interest in understanding human minds.

Or rather, he never tried to.

Like not caring what ants crawling at his feet think.

Nidra and the other Reapers were the same.

But I was different.

As a human, I sought to understand Ernst’s mind first.

“Yes, so we’ll investigate the Citadel. But for that, Gaiard and I need authority.”

“Authority? Can’t you just ask?”

“Normal humans don’t open up to strangers. But with undeniable authority or power… Power doesn’t work here, so…”

“You want power?”

I nodded.

Hel, understanding my intent, smiled.

“Reaper authority should do, to make souls talk?”

Pointing his finger, our clothes transformed into Reaper armor.

Our cups turned into the masks Reapers wore.

“I can’t change your essence, so looking like Reapers will suffice.”

“This is enough.”

“It should be. Souls here cower at the sight of that mask.”

The Reaper rank bestowed by Hel.

The armor and masks symbolized power and order itself.

Unable to tolerate this, Nidra, the Reapers’ leader and manager, knelt and pleaded with Hel.

“Lord Hel, why grant them Reaper rank? Wouldn’t it be better if Reapers accompanied them?”

“Oh? That’s a good idea too.”

As Hel seemed to consider Nidra’s suggestion, I countered.

“That’s inconvenient for us. Dragging Reapers around is cumbersome. We only need the rank for investigation, not to wield power.”

“Right?”

“Lord Hel! Don’t be swayed by their words.”

With Hel between us, Nidra and I engaged in a tense standoff.

Gaiard, watching as a third party, spoke leisurely.

“Why not let Hel decide? That’s the cleanest way.”

Both sides refused to yield.

In such a case, the absolute authority here making the call was the best solution.

All eyes turned to Hel, waiting for his decision, his words.

“Both arguments have merit… But I can’t ignore the words of my commander who’s served me for ages.”

A smile crept onto Nidra’s face.

Hel seemed to side with him.

But Hel wasn’t on anyone’s side.

“Here’s the deal. Your issue, commander, is their lack of qualification, right? So prove it. Like I tested them.”

Hel proposed another trial.

To prove our qualification for Reaper rank.

“I accept. I don’t want to wear this armor under such suspicious glares.”

“You heard him. What trial do you have in mind, commander?”

Hel entrusted the trial entirely to Nidra.

Nidra, as if waiting, shared his thoughts.

“Reapers govern order. Let’s see if they have the strength for the rank. If souls disrespect them, it shames all Reapers.”

“Test their strength? How?”

“I’ll evaluate them myself.”

Nidra volunteered to oversee the trial.

But his outward demeanor hid ulterior motives.

I’ll ensure they never dare climb again.

The trial was a mere pretext.

Nidra’s true aim was to crush me thoroughly.

Hiding his intent, he calmly proposed.

“Hm, good. Let’s do it.”

Hel snapped his fingers, and the table vanished.

“Right here.”

Hel stepped back,

sitting on the windowsill, grinning as he watched.

“I’ll judge fairly.”

Only the parties involved were serious.

“My master believes in you, but I don’t. If either of you touches me, I’ll acknowledge you.”

Rising, Nidra exuded clear killing intent.

His eyes seemed ready to kill me, even by mistake.

But I smiled calmly and walked forward.

Step step.

Everyone watched silently,

and I placed my hand on Nidra’s shoulder without hesitation.

“Touched.”

At my bold move, Hel grinned with interest.

Nidra, frowning, shouted.

“Don’t mock me!”

He swatted my arm off and summoned a golden spear.

Using his arm as leverage, I spun and kicked his face.

Thud!

Crashing into the wall, Nidra rubbed his face, furious.

“You bastard…”

“Now I really touched you.”

The me who was helplessly thrown to the coast, grabbed by Nidra a year ago, was gone.

Having survived the Black Sea,

I was a completely different person.

Improved in speed, strength, and every aspect, I was now capable of landing a blow on Nidra, the Reapers’ commander.