The Cunning Treasure Hunter-Chapter 153: Resurrection of the Forsaken

Vera had always been a strange child.

At least, that was how Dylan saw it.

She always acted as if she was carrying an enormous burden.

Perhaps she truly had experienced something painful…

Despite possessing such immense strength and boundless talent…

Because of that, she always seemed pitiful.

Jealousy?

That kind of feeling had long faded away.

The more days Dylan spent with Vera, the more impossible it became to envy her.

More than anything, every night, she heard those painful whimpers.

Whatever horrifying dreams Vera had, she sobbed in her sleep without fail.

Of course, Vera had no idea…

But whenever that happened, Dylan would quietly pat her back.

The end of childhood.

The fleeting label of being a child was bound to fall off one day.

However, Vera looked as though…

As if the scabs had peeled off before the wounds had healed, leaving only scars behind.

"Vera."

Hearing her name, Vera tilted her head and turned around.

The tone of Dylan's voice was different from usual.

She was always playful, innocent, or at the very least, cheerful. That was the Dylan she knew.

"Yes, Master?"

"You are my Junior Martial Sister. So if you're struggling, you can always talk to me."

Vera's eyes widened slightly.

Then, she let out a small chuckle and nodded.

"I will."

"Don't just say it! If you ever feel like you can't bear it, you have to tell me. Got it?"

"Of course. Don't worry."

Dylan hesitated for a moment before pulling Vera into a tight embrace.

Vera, in turn, patted her back gently.

"Don't pat me! I'm your Master! I should be the one patting you!"

"Oh… is that so?"

"That's right! So just stay still and let me do my job."

As Vera let her arms hang limply at her sides, only then did Dylan smile in satisfaction, gently patting her back.

She wants to act like a proper Master.

Vera understood that much.

And it wasn't a wrong understanding.

Dylan felt like she owed Vera too much.

She probably wanted to repay it, even if just like this.

Whether such grace could truly be repaid or not…

Still, she must have not wanted to be someone who only leaned on her Junior Martial Sister.

This kind of interaction was part of what made the bond between sect siblings meaningful.

So Vera gladly chose to play the role of the youngest Junior Martial Sister for Dylan.

There was no need to always put up a strong front before allies.

Gideon eventually went to sleep.

Meanwhile, the Cult Leader, who had taken over Magnus's body, stood in the darkness of Scarlet Crown Chamber with a sinister smile.

"What a fool."

Extracting Magnus's memories, he used the subtle footwork of Hidden Fragrance Step to move through the night.

Though slightly less efficient than the original, his steps exuded a presence akin to that of a ruler.

But it was the dead of night.

No one was watching.

Even if they saw, what could they say?

His internal energy flow and footwork were unmistakably Hidden Fragrance Step.

At most, they might find it slightly eerie.

And so, the Cult Leader made his way toward the underground prison beneath Demonic Cult.

The place where a fragment of his true self was imprisoned.

As he lightly stepped onto the foothills below Demonic Cult, he leisurely scanned his surroundings.

Naturally, no one was there.

On the ground, a trail of small footprints remained.

Vera's.

"Celestial Blade Star…"

Curiosity stirred within him.

Had the Heavenly Demon passed away, he would have undoubtedly tried to awaken that child as the next Heavenly Demon.

He knew such things weren't simply achieved through effort…

But a mere attempt was always possible.

However, the Heavenly Demon he had once served was still alive.

"I should find out more."

Depending on the child's past and nature, she might even become an ally.

Like Valen.

He, too, had ultimately been swayed by the Light Emperor's Envoy.

That incident must have caused quite the uproar in the The Martial World.

Now that the Light Emperor's Envoy had openly taken action, only a fool would believe Sipmandae-San would remain silent.

If anything, this eerie calmness must be making them even more anxious.

The Cult Leader, however, had no intention of making a move just yet.

Opportunities never arrived so conveniently.

True opportunity came when no one was paying attention.

Wars erupted between night and dawn, and history was forged in those moments.

The rumors of the Demonic Cult stirring must be dismissed as mere nonsense.

Only when people laughed it off, thinking someone simply saw wrong…

Only when the world truly lowered its guard…

That was the perfect time to ignite the flames of war.

"For that, I must first lay the groundwork."

He strode deeper into the underground prison.

Toward the place where Aetheris's corpse, twisted into a demonic beast, lay still.

A Demonic Beast must always be burned after death.

How much time had passed?

The Cult Leader gathered every last trace of demonic energy that had seeped into the cave walls, leaving nothing behind.

A pitch-black orb floated above his palm.

Why did humans begin burying corpses in the ground long ago?

Logically, it was to prevent the spread of disease through decay.

Conceptually…

It was to ensure they never rose again.

Seal the coffin, nail it shut, and bury it deep in the ground—so that the dead would never return.

By doing so, they prevented the departed from wandering back into the world of the living.

"You should have given him a proper funeral."

No matter how expendable a disciple was,

No matter how much he had been discarded,

Leaving him to rot like this was simply disgraceful.

The Cult Leader smirked as he thought about it.

Of course, such a sentiment was hardly something a member of the Demonic Cult should concern themselves with…

But in the end, it had gifted him with an amusing new toy.

A toy that could shake both Mount Suncrest and its Sect Leader.

The cold, severed body of Aetheris lay still.

The Cult Leader knelt on one knee, pressing his palm against the corpse, and poured demonic energy into it.

Demonic energy—power that defies the natural order, that brings chaos to all creation.

Even a mere rat, once tainted, would be unable to die properly, forced into a grotesque cycle of regeneration and endless suffering.

So how could a human be any different?

"Rise."

From the bisected corpse, tangled veins burst forth, writhing as they latched onto one another.

The severed body began to mend.

The Next Morning – Blooming Peak Pavilion

As soon as Vera stepped into the corridor, an eerie silence enveloped the entire second floor.

Every Senior Brother in the pavilion turned to look at her.

Holding their breath.

"…Why?"

No answer came.

They merely averted their gazes, sneaking glances before slipping away.

At the center of it all, Marcus let out a deep sigh and approached.

"It's because of last night."

"Last night?"

"Yes. The duel you had with Kael."

She had always known they paid attention to her.

Because she was one of only two female disciples among the Three Great Disciples?

No, that couldn't be it.

She had never been particularly sociable, and aside from her direct Senior Brothers, she rarely spoke to others.

There was only one explanation.

All warriors envy those more talented than themselves.

But when the gap between them grows insurmountable…

Envy turns into admiration.

She could see it in their eyes.

Admiration.

And a faint trace of despair.

But that was not her concern.

Their Inner Demons were for them to resolve.

"…I see."

"That's all you have to say?"

"What else is there? Everyone here trains just as diligently as I do."

With that, Vera gave a small bow to her watching Senior Brothers and turned to descend to the first floor.

Behind her, Marcus chuckled and followed.

"You're going to make enemies like that, Vera."

"Whether it's resentment or admiration, it's inevitable. Didn't they all watch the duel from start to finish?"

"That's true."

"Besides, I already had a match with Theron before this. Even after that… unless the other Great Disciples are deaf, they must have heard the rumors.

Even if I were to say some polite, insincere words now, their preconceived notions wouldn't change."

Vera spoke calmly as she put on her shoes.

Just before Marcus burst into laughter.

Hearing the chuckles from behind, Vera narrowed her eyes and turned around.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You? Unable to say the 'right words'? That's the best joke I've heard. You were just now eloquently explaining everything."

"…You find teasing me amusing, don't you?"

"Teasing an adorable Junior Martial Sister is always entertaining. You'll understand when you take on disciples of your own."

Narrowing her eyes even further, Vera sharply turned her back to him.

She strode toward the Training Hall, throwing back a retort.

"No. I don't engage in such pointless pranks. So I'll never understand."

Her 'righteous words' only made Marcus laugh harder.

But his laughter did not last long.

Because Vera's face suddenly hardened.

Standing at the entrance of Blooming Peak Pavilion…

Was Aetheris.