Nothing was truly clear, and the red mist soon became a haze the closer they approached the library. The Red Barron could not believe that he still had yet to land a scratch on her body. With his long history of getting things his way, whether through coercion, force, or commandments alone – he rejected this reality and shoved his legs into the earth.

It was a futile attempt to stop Frost, who did not even seem the slightest bit concerned about him. He, a proclaimed king of man, was nothing to Frost but a pebble stuck beneath her boots.

She trampled on him as her speed picked up. His legs could no longer touch the ground. The silhouettes of black buildings crumbled upon impact as she charged through with such a speed that it pulverized the beasts the moment they came into contact with her.

“A Color… like you… are fighting for the princess!? For the Empire!? If it’s glory you seek, then we can do it together!”

“I don’t believe in glory. Are you so blind to not realize that you’re completely outmatched? I’ll never understand the hubris of you people, how you’re able to deny the clear-cut outcome like you’ll be granted a miracle. You don’t even know who I am!”

“Then you expect me to drop to my knees and die!?”

“Better that you did than to put up that farce!” Frost retorted sharply, her voice returning to her as she planned to mentally torment the Red Barron. “You’re Iscario’s righthand man! What do you know about Iscario!?”

“You think I’ll tell you!? Haha! Were we to wed and dine tonight, then I’d consider it!”

She needed to unlock his mind, and what better way than to use a Corrupted that perfectly represented fear itself? She didn’t plan to use it just yet.

His body was scorched internally by an immense heat. It went beyond what his mantle was capable of producing, and it caught the attention of the sharpshooter.

< [Legacy of Goodwill] >

< EFFECT: Target a beast and deal 100% more damage. With each beast that is killed, ATT of the unnamed mercenary increases by 1.1x >

< “And they said, “Come forth to the lands beyond the walls. It is safer than the paradise within, because it has been infiltrated by beasts in our flesh. We are all beasts waiting to emerge. Give me the silver bullet, shooter. They will hate you infinitely, but I will be forever grateful.” The bullet was cast into his heart, and the shooter’s infamy increased, but the burden atop his shoulders never disappeared.” >

This was why Frost had taken so much damage. For each beast that the sharpshooter killed, their ATT only continued to increase. It was strange how the sharpshooter was gaining more power, rather than the mantle itself.

Wasn’t the mantle supposed to be the main body of the Corrupted? It was strange, and Frost couldn’t wrap her mind around why it was not the Red Barron that was strengthened. She was not the only one attacked, as more beasts were hailed upon by rapidly firing bullets. Every so often, [Seven At One Blow] would eliminate seven with a single bullet.

“… Does it surprise you?” The Red Barron heaved, his chest nearly fully caved in. It was a miracle that he was still able to speak. “The monsters return to human form when they die… like mere clothing. Because clothing is what governs who we are. In this world, it becomes a skin. A suit of armor we cannot dare to take off. Because this world is hostile… You must have known it too from childhood…”

“But we don’t have to do the same to the next in line. We can make it better.”

“… then how can we justify where we have arrived?

< [The Silver Antidote] >

< EFFECT: When a beast dies, their bodies will revert to their original form >

< “The good doctor, who I loved with all my heart like my mother – the cradle of the stars – offered me medicine to ease the pain. In his infinite regret and penance, he gave his life to me before he himself could rot away. I see him in the reflection of my scope and my pendant. In memory he lives. In texts they will burn in torment, for the world had condemned them wrongly thereafter… All because of what he wore, never because of who he was.” >

//////// < WARNING > ////////

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

< You are not permitted to wear a Corrupted Persona within No Tale’s Land >

< All tales are to be condemned whether by bullet or flames >

To Frost’s shock, the Corrupted Zone prevented her from manifesting a Corrupted Persona. Finally, as they reached the base of the towering library, Nav revealed the Conditions of this Corrupted.

< CONDITION: The Vestment of Goodwill will attach itself to an individual it most strongly resonates with and may not be removed until either the wearer is usurped, the Corrupted is Suppressed, or Subjugated. Double the stats of the wearer >

< SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENT: If the wearer of the Vestment of Goodwill is the last remaining beast, then they will be eliminated by a coup de grace. The Vestment of Goodwill is Suppressed when its wearer perishes. It will be placed into a dormant state until it is worn again. HP immediately replenishes. >

< SUBJUGATION REQUIREMENT: The Vestment of Goodwill is Subjugated when its HP reaches 0 >

Not only that, but this Corrupted saw its wearer as a monster. It was all seen in the perspective of the shooter rather than the Vestment of Goodwill itself, which was a bizarre change that Frost found difficult to fathom.

But she could feel an innate draw to it.

Indeed, like the Unfair Tale, this Corrupted sought to be worn by her. If the Unfair Tale was anything to go by, then it was for the best that she delivered the killing blow before it had the chance.

“Can you hear it speak!? What we wear are truths!” The Red Barron proclaimed, obviously hearing a different kind of voice that advocated for one to wear their tales, whereas the sharpshooter openly despised it. “Black Dove. Moons. Stars. Beholders… All of us have standards that separate us from the lesser! There is a reason why peasants do not wear suits! The disgusting Blessed will wear whatever meets their standards for their needs, rather than to properly showcase to the world where they stand, who they are – and what they mean!”

It was a Corrupted of dualism; of wrath born from those who were condemned to wear things they despised; and those who fought against it. They were judged for these marks and tales that were put upon them without their volition; and Sinder was equally a victim as he was a man who tried to put an end to them.

< [Cycling Rounds] >

< EFFECT: Change to explosive bullets for the next 21 shots. Targets indiscriminately. All shots will kill 7 targets at once. The explosions will claim more.”

< “It was done in an honest effort of goodwill. People twisted it and began burning history and tales out of fear. They could not fathom a world of living tales. If they knew that merely thinking constituted it, then would they all line up to take a silver bullet to the heart?” >

Hell rained upon them. It was a carnage unlike any other. Frost could not imagine how skilled Sinder was in his prime, and if anything, Anna confirmed that this this depiction was but a watered-down version of his feats.

The Red Barron, whilst in midair, clasped his arms around Frost in an attempt to hold her in place. Something was coming. She knew this, and she easily broke away from him by tearing out one of his arms.

“AAAGHHHHHAAA! SHOOT HER! DO IT! KILL HER ALREADY! I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE THE START!”

Finally, the shooter’s gun was aimed back at Frost, and this time, it struck her right in her heart.

< [The First Fairytale Hunter] >

< EFFECT: Bullets will never miss the heart of beasts. Its damage relies on one’s perception of themselves in relation to tales >

Red Barron | HP: 120,000

Vestment of Goodwill | HP: 90,000

Frost | HP: 24,500,000

“DIE!” The Red Barron exclaimed as they broke into the hollow interior of the library, bursting through walls of endless, burning shelves. “That will teach you… manners, Black Dove. Even I wouldn’t be able to survive that. No one will. The Astral Blaze has told me that you… are more fitting of it than me, which is why you were destined to be met with that bullet!”

He croaked from underneath a pile of books, burning them with his mantle as he stared at a plume of red mist that surrounded Frost. Blood pooled beneath her boots, and the sound of patting could be heard, which he mistook for her clasping at her throat for air.

However, his eyes widened with terror when the figure emerged from the mist, her hands simply patting at her chest where bullet had penetrated.

It penetrated her flesh lightly, leaving a small, steaming mark. It was painful and was incredibly powerful considering it was from an Eternal Night Corrupted.

“I didn’t realize that it was capable of this kind of power. Main Sequence Corrupted are something else when they’re up against the very thing they’re designed to kill. Like me, but this isn’t like the last times.”

She spoke, clearly amused and awed by its power. She did not fear the Corrupted at all, and to her, it was but a scratch.

What would have eliminated any being outside of a Beholder was a scratch to this person, and the Red Barron refused to believe that this was possible.

Due to the Corrupted’s Skill that increased its 3,000 ATT by 1.1x per beast killed, it rapidly increased to over 500,000 damage per attack. It was clear that this Corrupted Zone would be a paradise for those who were nothing like Frost.

But she didn’t suffer any additional damage.

Indeed, she should have taken much more than 500,000 damage.

But Frost had already gone through the ropes of the Unfair Tale. Her resolution therefore made her immune to this effect, which seemed to cause the sharpshooter’s black shadow to suddenly glow with a single strand of white flame, as though recognizing Frost’s resolve.

< [Seven At One Blow] >

< [Seven At One Blow] >

< [Seven At One Blow] >

< [Seven At One Blow] >

< [Seven At One Blow] >

< “Those who had the resolve to take the bullet themselves knew that their hearts were not locked to those tales. The antidote of the good doctor was not a killing blow, but a method that tested one’s faith in themselves to be truest to who they were regardless of the mantles, the uniforms, and the tales they wore. That way, when the time came, they would not transform into such hideous beasts.” >

Frost was spared from each bullet this time.

Instead, it was the Red Barron who took the brunt of the bullets, for he was now the largest monster in No Tale’s Land.

She hadn’t noticed it now, but she could clearly hear the sound of a bell ringing with person that died on the battlefield.