How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 13 (Part 1)

Cupiditas’ face drained of emotion.

It was as if a syringe had been plunged into her, sucking away all expression in an instant, leaving her utterly blank.

Yujin knew well that *this* was her true face.

The flustered expressions, the smiles—they were all nothing but masks.

‘She can’t feel emotions.’

The only time Cupiditas experienced any shift in feeling was a singular moment.

When she lay alone in bed, basking in that damned beam of light.

‘Disgusting wretch.’

Once again, murderous intent surged within him.

But, regrettably, he couldn’t kill Cupiditas now.

No, to be precise, he *wasn’t able* to kill her.

As he’d just acknowledged, he still lacked the strength to take her down.

Yujin glared at Cupiditas with blazing eyes.

“…You really know a lot, don’t you? Administrators, NPCs, the Grand Council. Even the true nature of this light.”

Her face was like a flawless porcelain doll.

Beautiful, yes, but devoid of even a speck of emotion.

That made it all the more chilling.

“I’m curious, but I suppose you wouldn’t answer even if I asked?”

“You’re stating the obvious.”

“Then doesn’t that put me at a disadvantage?”

Cupiditas raised a hand, brushing it lightly across her cheek as she posed the question.

“Disadvantage? Did you even listen to my proposal properly? I clearly said I’d pay a price.”

“Oh, you mean sparing my life?”

“Exactly. Your 『Subspace』 or your life. You don’t need me to explain which is more important, do you? I’m the one losing out in this deal.”

“Hmm.”

A smile crept onto Cupiditas’ face.

She was putting the mask back on.

“Certainly, under those terms, it’s a losing deal for you. But it’s also an impossible one to begin with.”

Yujin couldn’t kill Cupiditas.

Her point was that the proposed terms were inherently absurd.

“Well, that’s true.”

Yujin nodded.

At his current level of merely 9, he wouldn’t even be able to scratch her shadow.

“But here’s the thing.”

Yujin’s eyes narrowed.

“Even if I can’t kill you, I’m pretty sure I could blow this damned place to smithereens.”

Flinch—.

Her hand, which had been caressing her face, froze.

Yujin knew.

He knew what this place meant to Cupiditas.

“That’d be a bit of a problem for you, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s not a very interesting thing to say. Your bluff is too excessive.”

“Bluff?”

Yujin let out a sharp laugh—*Pfft!*

“You really think so?”

His hand moved to his waist.

Not toward the 『Fire Dragon Blade [E]』, but to the hilt of 『Black Wing [C]』.

■ 『Black Wing [C]』: A decent sword imbued with the sealed power of a fallen angel. Its true strength lies dormant.

A sealed blade.

For now, it was merely a 『C』-grade item, but if its true power were unleashed?

‘At the very least, it could unleash 『A』-grade power.’

This wasn’t a guess.

In his first run, the Sword Empress had wielded this black blade, and it had demonstrated that level of formidable power.

‘And I’ve got this.’

■ 『King of All Arms [S]』: Grants the ability to wield any weapon with mastery.

Even the stingy 【Akasha System】 had attached the adjective *mastery* to this trait—an extraordinary characteristic.

It wasn’t just about wielding a sword better or handling an unfamiliar weapon with ease.

If that were all, it wouldn’t have earned an 『S』-grade rating.

Grip—.

He seized 『Black Wing [C]』.

In that moment, the dormant sword awakened.

The power of an unnamed fallen angel.

Whoooosh—!

Black wings unfurled, and a storm began to rage.

■ 『Black Wing [A]』: An exceptional sword imbued with the power of a fallen angel. Its true strength lies dormant.

‘…What?’

Thanks to 『King of All Arms [S]』, the item’s grade had skyrocketed.

Yet its true power was *still* dormant?

‘The seal hasn’t been fully broken?’

It seemed that mere *mastery* wasn’t enough to draw out the sword’s full potential.

‘Wow.’

Perhaps this sword, prepared as a gift for the Sword Empress, was an even more incredible item than he thought.

‘Anyway, that’s for later. For now, this should suffice.’

Feeling the immense power coursing through his body, Yujin locked eyes with Cupiditas.

“So, what do you think? Still think I can’t do it?”

Even with an item of this caliber, killing her remained a distant prospect.

His level and mana were pitifully low.

But when factoring in the synergy of 『Divinely Blessed Body [S]』 and 『Unity of Mind and Body [E]』, he was confident he could at least turn this wretched place into a wasteland.

With that conviction burning in his gaze, Cupiditas clicked her tongue.

“Tch, it seems it’s not just a bluff after all. I didn’t expect you’d already be able to unseal that sword.”

A troubled expression crossed her face.

Of course, it was likely a feigned one, but the situation was probably genuinely troublesome for her.

“But here’s the thing.”

Cupiditas continued.

“Wouldn’t it all be over if I just killed you right here, right now?”

Forget deals or negotiations.

If Yujin died, that was the end of it.

A terrifying wave of killing intent erupted from her.

‘Yikes. Kinda scary.’

She wasn’t one of Terra’s five lords for nothing.

You’d need to be at least level 100 to even stand a chance against her.

Even with Yujin’s traits, he’d need to be at least level 20.

Yet he didn’t back down.

“Then go ahead and try.”

Dangun

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