The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 84: The Law of Betrayal (2) (Part 1)

The lower half of Iratum’s body lay collapsed on the ground.
Even that remaining half was still engulfed in the lingering flames left behind by Dragon Rage Explosion [E], burning fiercely.

‘His heart’s gone.’

It was a shame… but still acceptable.
It was much better than missing the opportunity to finish Iratum just for the sake of using Predation [S+].

Iratum was a formidable opponent.
The fact that he overwhelmed Isolde said it all.

Of course, Isolde hadn’t been in a normal state due to her Divine Ascension…
But considering the Iratum I knew from my previous life—

‘Even if she had been in top condition, it probably wouldn’t have made much difference.’

Even after going back in time, Iratum was still Iratum.
If we had fought him head-on, not even Isolde and I going all out together could have won.

Greed for Predation [S+] wasn’t worth ruining everything.
Besides, Iratum’s ability, Pact of the Abyss [?], didn’t offer any particular benefits even if absorbed.

◆ Pact of the Abyss [?]
: The soul of the bound individual is connected to the Negative Dimension. Through this, the contractor can freely utilize energy from the Negative Dimension, allowing use of ᚛⦸ϻäⓑℰ౦ҭΐ₵, ԋȉ๓, ɏųҝⱪԫἓⅉҝ, Ꮹἁᶇցℌ₳, ⅾƌҝάԝໍռⱬҝ, and ίռѕἰḵ.

I still wasn’t sure what that garbled text meant.
What if using Predation [S+] connected me to the Monarch of the Abyss?

I’d have to keep hearing that whispering presence from him.

Of course, I had Player’s Will [EX], so my mind wouldn’t collapse… but that didn’t mean I was completely immune either.
All things considered, incinerating Iratum was the best move.

Just as I wrapped up that thought—

I felt a peculiar gaze from one side.
Turning my head, I saw Isolde staring silently at me.

“……”

Her face and expression were hidden behind the ogre mask.
But it was obvious she wore a cold, indifferent look.

That was just Isolde—she barely ever showed emotion.
However, with Find Weakness [U], I could pick up her emotions: surprise.

And… worry?

‘Ah.’

Now that I thought about it, both my arms were blown off.

Thankfully (?) Isolde was aware of my Regeneration [B+] ability, so she didn’t seem overly alarmed.
Still, the fact that I wasn’t regenerating must have made her wonder if something was wrong.

‘So she does worry.’

I hadn’t known that about Isolde until now, given how emotionless she was.
If it weren’t for Find Weakness [U], I might never have known—ever.

Anyway.

There wasn’t any real problem, but Dragon Rage Explosion [E] burned up all available calories.
Which meant I couldn’t use Regeneration [B+] until I replenished them.

So, I pulled out some oil from my inventory.

“Could you pick up that oil can on the floor for me?”

“……”

“As you can see, my hands are… not working right now.”

I waved my armless stumps around pathetically, both arms completely severed below the elbows.

‘Still, thanks to increased stamina, I held out better than expected.’

My body had grown tougher from the explosive growth in the Infinite Labyrinth.
Where the damage might have reached my shoulders before, now it had stopped at the elbows.

Of course—

“I hate to ask, but… would you mind feeding me too?”

That didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t do anything by myself.

A red glow stained the alley.
Rough laughter and sultry moans echoed nonstop in the streets of pleasure.

Pleasure District.

“Madam, the Black Grasp has finally broken through the black market’s outer defenses.”

Lyla, the Madam of the Red Banquet, listened to the steady reports from her subordinates.

“The Vister Union’s forces are also marching toward the black market.”
“The Grey Masks are struggling to respond due to the chaos caused by the unknown intruder.”
“Madam, the situation doesn’t look good.”
“Shouldn’t we act now?”
“If either the Black Grasp or that intruder takes the black market…”

The Visters of the Red Banquet voiced their concerns—
But Lyla remained firm.

“No. The Red Banquet will not act.”

True, letting the black market fall into the hands of the Black Grasp or some other unknown force wasn’t ideal—
But—

“What kind of gambler goes all-in on a losing hand?”

“…Pardon?”

“The Black Grasp is finished. That’s what I’m saying.”

Lyla’s eyes gleamed with a knowing look as she continued.

“Who among you has been with the Red Banquet the longest?”

“I’ve been here about four years.”

“Hmm… not bad.”

Four years was indeed impressive.
In a place like Baoless, where killing and violence happened daily, surviving that long was no easy feat.

By comparison—

“I’ve been here for thirty-two.”

Lyla had spent thirty-two years.

“From being a courtesan in the Pleasure District to becoming the Madam of the Red Banquet.”

“……”

“When I was still a courtesan, there was no Red Banquet. Back then, we were called the ‘Crimson Mask.’”

Lyla cast her eyes downward, recalling the past.

“Elenora. She was the Madam of the Crimson Mask. She was truly beautiful. A noblewoman of a Count’s house, though fallen.”

“……”

“Radiant beauty. Razor-sharp intellect. Every movement carried grace.”
“……”

“That’s when I realized—ah, this is what nobles are like. There really are people born different from us.”
“……”

“She was as kind as she was beautiful. She pitied us. Girls like us, who had to spread our legs for nameless men.”
“……”

“She tried to help us live different lives. She taught me textile work herself, so I could leave Baoless one day.”

“……”

“But the black market kept bringing in sex slaves. Madam Elenora wanted to end that cycle. She united all the Visters of Baoless and started a war against the black market.”

And then—

“She vanished. Just like that, without a trace.”

There was a tremor in Lyla’s voice for some reason.

“Are you saying the Grey Masks are that powerful?”

“No.”