CHAPTER 8
Sibyle, who was the first to discover this place, said it reminded her of a magic tower’s research lab.
The towering bookshelves stuffed with texts, and all kinds of research materials scattered across the desk—it was easy to agree.
“They’re not really a religious group. They’re scholars trying to restore the lost language of runes.”
Back in the Dark Ages, religious orders treated any attempt to interpret the lost runes as heresy—an act of rebellion against divine authority.
As a result, countless scholars were branded heretics and executed.
“Still, they should be showing up around now.”
With a tense face, she lifted the hem of her dress.
Shhhrk!
She pulled out a whip tucked into a leather holster strapped to her thigh and gave it a good snap.
While investigating the temple, Sibyle had been attacked by the temple’s guardian beasts.
They were probably no threat to someone as naturally gifted as Sibyle—but I was another story.
I couldn’t help but feel nervous at the thought of facing one for the first time.
Clatter clatter.
I heard small stones roll somewhere nearby.
When I looked toward the source of the noise, I saw the outer shell of a grotesque statue embedded in the wall begin to crack.
Gargoyles.
They’re low-level demonic beasts that stay hidden in statue form until they strike.
SKREEEE!
Three gargoyles shed their shells and let out an ear-splitting screech.
Warning! Risk of death has increased.
With their sharp claws and fangs bared, they were far more vicious than any wild beast.
In the real world, I wouldn’t have been able to even meet their eyes.
This is strange. I thought I’d be terrified.
But even as I stared the monsters down, I didn’t tremble or freeze up.
I’m not scared at all.
I had a good guess why.
Body Synchronization Rate.
My soul had merged with Kiana’s body, and that might’ve affected my mental state too.
SKREE!
One gargoyle soared high enough to nearly scrape the ceiling before hurtling straight at me.
It was incredibly fast—but for some reason, it didn’t seem that fast to my eyes.
I used the whip’s momentum and lashed it at the creature’s wings mid-charge.
CRACK!
The leading gargoyle’s wing was torn off with a sickening crunch.
Twisting my wrist, I cracked the whip again and shattered the wings of the remaining two.
Unbalanced, the gargoyles flailed in midair before crashing into a pile of books.
Thud thud thud.
Wingless, the beasts crawled out like giant roaches.
Even their grotesque appearance didn’t faze me—I simply flicked the whip back and brought it down hard.
The one in front took a direct hit to the head and exploded into pieces.
I didn’t stop. Blow after blow, I reduced them into unrecognizable piles of flesh and bone.
“Was that all?”
Staring at the remains, I was stunned.
Notification! You have successfully defeated the gargoyles.
Reward granted. Body Synchronization Rate has increased by 1%.
Your synchronization rate has exceeded 40%. Mana control significantly enhanced.
Current Body Synchronization Rate: 40.9%
As the rate passed 40%, I felt the mana inside me begin to stir wildly, like a carp flipping through water.
With the mana now more vivid and intense, my body felt lighter.
“Glad I pushed myself to come here.”
I circled around the bookshelves and entered the innermost chamber of the temple.
On a small pedestal sat a statue of a black panther, about the size of a human head.
I bit down hard on the tip of my left index finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the statue.
As if triggered by magic, the black panther came to life and let out a deafening roar.
RAWR!
In the next instant, it chomped down on my finger.
“Ow!”
I’d expected it, but it still made my eyes tear up.
Shhh…
The panther statue dissolved into black smoke and seeped into my body through the wound.
Notification! Congratulations. You have obtained Rune Armor.
A status window appeared:
[Rune Armor]
Type: Armor
Description: A parasitic armor created by sealing the ancient demon Mamon within runes. A relic from the Dark Ages.
It dwells in its host’s body and instinctively activates to protect the host in times of danger.
Effect: When used, Mamon’s shell envelops the host for protection.
Passive: Automatically activates when the host is exposed to a threat.
“Let’s test it out.”
I focused and activated the Rune Armor.
An unnatural energy stirred around a geometric tattoo faintly visible near my collarbone.
FWHIP!
A black, translucent barrier unfurled like a folding screen around me.
It was the protective shell of the demon Mamon, which had now made me its host.
“At least now I won’t die a dog’s death somewhere.”
Satisfied with the test, I used a teleportation magic circle to return to the underground sewer.
“Ugh.”
The stench made me gag. It wasn’t just sewage anymore—it was the reek of blood and rot.
Staying any longer would make me puke. I hurried back the way I’d come.
But just as I turned into the first junction—
Someone’s there…
I spotted the silhouette of a man standing in the darkness.
He was holding another man—masked—by the collar and lifting him high above eye level.
Then he rammed a sword straight into the man’s heart.
Wh—what the hell…?
I was so shocked by the murder happening right before my eyes, I couldn’t even breathe.
SHING.
The man noticed my presence and turned to face me.
“……!”
The moment our eyes met, I froze.
He had pitch-black hair like the abyss, and red eyes glowing like pools of blood.
So handsome—no, beautiful, that it was impossible to look away.
No way…
I knew this man.
No, I couldn’t not know him.
Beyond the Gracia Continent—in this world—no one knew this man better than me.
He was the one who had killed me before, and the one who might kill me again.
Now that I had become Kiana, this was the one person I absolutely should not be meeting.
He was the male lead of the novel Returner of the Ruined World.
6.
Yousis de Crois.
The moment the main character appeared, I felt like I was about to combust.
This can’t be real…
Everything about him had been outside the scope of my plans.
I already had more than enough on my plate just trying not to die today or tomorrow. I had no room to worry about him too.
But now, today, right at this moment, in this exact sewer junction—I’d run right into him.
This is way too forced.
It was the kind of absurd, nonsensical development that made you wonder if the author had thrown logic out the window.
There was no reason for the male lead to appear here. None. It made zero sense.
Well… that’s it. I’m dead.
Knowing Yousis de Crois better than anyone else only made the despair worse.
“Everyone I’ve ever met was evil. And even now, after returning… they’re still evil. There’s no need to hesitate when cutting them down.”
He had never once shown mercy to someone he labeled as an enemy.
He’d learned that anyone he spared today would stab him in the back tomorrow.
At that moment, Yousis roughly yanked his sword out of the corpse.
Without anything to support it, the body collapsed into the filthy water.
Ah.
My mind went completely blank. Not a single thought surfaced.
It was shocking enough to meet the male lead—but to see someone murdered so brutally right in front of me?
It was like I was having a panic attack. My limbs went numb.
SHHH.
Yousis turned fully toward me.
His blood-red eyes locked onto mine, dissecting me with terrifying intensity.
He… he recognized me.
I swallowed hard as I saw a flicker of recognition in his gaze.
I had to think of a way out—fast.
If I didn’t…
“……!”
Too late. Yousis gave me no time to think.
He charged forward with deadly intent.
I—I have to run!
He was the male lead.
With less than half synchronization, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I’d just get slaughtered.
I have Rune Armor. I can use that to buy time.
My mind formed a plan:
Just before Yousis’s sword struck, I’d activate Rune Armor and deflect the blow.
The rebound would throw him off balance just enough for me to escape without looking back.
Sibyle had used the armor in a similar way in battle—so it was worth a shot.
But to do that—
I needed to draw him in, as close as possible.
