Chapter 49: “The Inventor” and “Mystic Python”

“I’ve already checked the Mining District for you.”

The man in the black robe immediately began chatting with the robot in front of him.

As if ending a living life just moments ago hadn’t dirtied his own hands.

“The Enforcement Bureau is still the same—they’ll cover for us.”

“Just a few annoying pests seem to want to meddle in this… We need to hurry…”

The dagger in his right hand was still dripping with blood.

Following the trail of blood, his gaze involuntarily returned to the man lying on the ground.

“And also—”

“The place you chose this time really isn’t that great…”

“To think you let a rat like this sneak in.”

With a disdainful flick of the dagger, scale-like skin inadvertently revealed itself from beneath his sleeve.

The dagger eventually shattered, scattering into deep purple particles that merged into his palm.

If any one of Fen, Elena, or Cole had been present, they would have immediately cried out in shock.

The same attire, the peculiar scaled skin, and the similar mana…

This was the Mysterious Man they had fought before.

“I think you’ve been tinkering with your scrap metal all day… it’s fried your brain.”

“Don’t ask me to come clean up your mess on-site again next time—”

“Our dear ‘Inventor’…”

He emphasized the last few words, making no effort to hide his dissatisfaction and mockery.

Turning slightly, he seemed ready to leave.

The robot stared at the scene before it.

“Click—”

The sound of a neck twisting.

It tilted its head.

As if trying to understand or judge the situation.

Finally, when the innocent man’s groans could no longer be heard, when the person on the ground had drained his last drop of blood, when the still-warm corpse slowly turned cold—a response finally came from that heavy iron body.

“You just killed him like that…? What a waste—”

“I could’ve used this thing as a free lab rat…”

Despite being a robot, despite the fact that the iron face shouldn’t show any emotion—

That face was clearly filled with regret, and the mechanical syllables and rhythm seemed to carry a certain pleasure and cruelty.

“Remember, His Majesty the Demon King said… don’t cause unnecessary trouble.”

An aged, unsettling voice drifted faintly from beneath the cloak.

“And since when do you listen to the Demon King…?”

The creation known as “The Inventor” stepped provocatively in front of the Mysterious Man, clearly retaliating for his earlier transgression.

“A hundred years ago, when the Demon King was surrounded by the Saint and the Hero…”

“Lord ‘Black Knight’ gave his life to protect him.”

The robot’s face had no pupils; from those artificial eyes, his current emotions could not be read.

“If I remember correctly…”

“Aren’t you also one of the Four Demon Generals?”

“Lord ‘Black Python’?”

“Where were you?”

Clearly, the mechanical body couldn’t hide the biting sarcasm in his words.

“I was holding back the entire Knight Order—”

“And so…?”

“Are you running away?”

“Are you that afraid to face the Church’s Hero and Saint?”

“Is that why you fled in disgrace after the Demon King was sealed?”

The man in the black robe tried to argue back, but the Inventor immediately rebutted him.

“Hey… you talk lightly, washing your hands clean of everything…”

As if provoked, Mystic Python raised his withered hands and gently pulled back his hood—

That wasn’t a human head.

There was no human hair on it.

Instead, the flat, triangular head was covered with the same ink-black scales as his body.

Those turbid, narrow eyes—the snake’s characteristic slit pupils—gleamed with a devouring, cunning light.

Snake head, human body.

Elena and Fen’s judgment was correct.

This guy was no human at all.

“And whose experiments were so loud that they drew the Church’s crusade?”

Almost instantly, a Demonic Sword凝聚 from his palm.

Mystic Python’s eyes flashed with a dangerous red light.

“As I recall, in that battle a hundred years ago… someone was utterly defeated by the Hero… so badly he lost his own body…”

He knocked on his iron belly, the sound nearly echoing through the entire alley.

“The poor thing had to pitifully soul-transfer into his own creation…”

He flicked his forked tongue, instantly turning back to face the Inventor in a nearly sarcastic tone.

“Alright.”

“I really can only put my soul in this body.”

The robot shrugged indifferently.

Mystic Python seemed about to laugh.

“Don’t laugh.”

“Your body isn’t much different from useless…”

Mystic Python immediately stopped smiling.

Because looking at his own sluggish, broken body…

He knew he could barely unleash thirty percent of his peak strength.

He had almost been defeated by those three humans in the mine shaft this morning…

“A hundred years ago, who wasn’t in the same boat…”

The robot laughed hollowly.

“Black Knight is dead… Shadow Demon hides like a rat… the Demon King is sealed…”

He counted on his fingers as if listing everyday matters.

“At least in this matter, we’re even.”

Seeing no angry reaction from the man before him, Mystic Python realized his punch had hit cotton.

As expected… crazy scientists like this… you can’t predict their thoughts with normal logic.

“So? The Demon King tasked you with finding Black Knight’s sword. Where’s your progress?”

He chose to continue finding fault with an accusatory tone.

“I’m a very busy man…”

“While completing the Demon King’s mission—”

“I also have to help some idiot restore his strength…”

The Inventor tilted his head, then turned around.

“This was something a certain waste personally begged me to help him with.”

“You!”

The Inventor’s thick mechanical arm pushed Mystic Python away.

“Even though your mouth says ‘help me restore my strength’…”

He leaned in, elbowing the downtrodden man.

“Disgusting oil smell…”

Mystic Python pushed away the iron lump approaching him with distaste.

“I’ve told you many times: stay away from me.”

“Is that so?”

The Inventor “kindly” reminded him.

“This really isn’t the attitude of someone asking for help—”

“Tch…”

His tense back completely slumped.

“Then please, ‘Mr. Inventor,’ be so gracious—”

“I told you… other rats are eyeing our movements.”

The last sentence was practically squeezed out through gritted teeth.

“Move quickly.”

He gritted his teeth.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Don’t forget who controls Novalis now.”

Seeing the man hadn’t moved, the Inventor’s arms began to shift.

“Click-clack—”

His two mechanical arms contracted, then extended again.

In their place appeared a round shield and a sharp sword.

“?”

“What are you standing around for?”

Mystic Python found it absurd.

“?… What do you mean standing around for?”

The Inventor stared at the Demonic Sword in his hand.

“Fight?”

“You summoned your weapon—aren’t you looking for a fight?”

“I’d be happy to oblige…”

The robot excitedly swung his weapons in the air.

“No…”

Mystic Python’s mouth twitched.

Although the Inventor was the weakest among the Four Demon Generals in combat ability…

With his current strength, he couldn’t be sure he’d win.

He couldn’t very well say he summoned the Demonic Sword just to look cool and intimidate him, could he?

“Put away your weird contraptions.”

“The Demon King wouldn’t want to see this scene.”

Mystic Python, trying to salvage his already tattered dignity, could only use the Demon King as an excuse.

“Whoosh—”

The Inventor reluctantly retracted his weapons, his arms returning to normal mechanical limbs.

“Until the Demon King’s grand cause is complete…”

“Superficial unity and friendliness must be maintained.”

Mystic Python sneered.

“My dear colleague.”

“I think it’s best we hold our noses and continue working together…”

He turned around and put his disguise back on.

Mystic Python’s figure vanished at the other end of the alley.

“Hahaha… don’t you agree?”

“Mr. Inventor?”

Only unmasked ridicule came from the alley entrance, echoing endlessly through the alley.

“Or should I call you…”

“Chris?”

But at the very last moment, he threw out a light yet immensely weighty remark.

The speaker may not have meant much by it, but the listener would never forget.

This shocking statement soon faded like the evening wind.

But the Inventor, laughing and chatting just a moment ago, had a layer of gloomy darkness clouding his eyes.

It seemed he had been struck at his greatest secret.

Chris stared at the entrance where the man had disappeared.

Beyond it lay the streets of Novalis—the streets he had once known best.

He said nothing.

He only clenched his fists.

……