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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 189: The Seven Demons of the Myriad Demon Assembly (2)
Darkness.
A single round table, shining brightly amidst the pitch-black darkness that filled the space, as if it existed only in an imaginary world beyond the starry night sky.
Footsteps.
A figure emerged from the darkness and walked towards the round table.
A half-mask, split evenly between male and female, covered the lower half of the face.
The figure briefly checked the nameplates on the round table and sat down at the seat with the nameplate 〈Asura〉.
Whoosh!
Following a rustling sound of wind, a figure with a curvy physique appeared.
A woman with alluring red lips and a fox-like pointed ear mask on her thin lower face sat down on the chair in front of the nameplate that read 〈Thousand-Faced Fox〉, gracefully crossing her legs.
There were a total of 7 nameplates on the round table.
Now, 5 seats remained.
The Asura mask glanced at the Fox mask, and the Fox mask stuck out her tongue and licked her lips.
The sight was quite grotesque.
The thin, long tongue that covered her entire lips was more like that of a reptile than a human.
As the corners of Asura's lips subtly curled upwards…
"You've arrived."
Four masked figures appeared almost simultaneously, shimmering like a mirage around the round table.
They simply walked slowly and sat down at the round table, but in that moment, a suffocating pressure enveloped the surroundings.
Taking a look at them one by one, starting with 〈Clown〉.
This figure was the only one wearing a full-face mask, not a half-mask.
Like a clown's mask, the corners of the eyes and mouth were stretched upwards in a long, smiling expression.
Opposite him sat a giant with the nameplate 〈Carpenter〉, glaring at the Clown.
The man with the wooden mask carried a large, hammer-shaped blunt weapon on his back.
In front of the nameplate that read 〈White Heron〉, a man in white, exuding an almost immortal aura, sat wearing an White Heron mask.
The deep wrinkles etched on his lower face suggested an elderly age.
And 〈Wolf〉.
This was a particularly strange mask.
It was covered in numerous clumps of fur.
The figure was covered in wolf fur from head to toe, making it impossible to discern their appearance.
Once everyone was seated, the White Heron mask spoke.
"It's been a while since we've gathered. But the host is late."
The Asura mask replied,
"The Phantom Thief is never on time."
The Clown sneered with a smiling face.
"He's always acting all high and mighty. I wonder what excuse he'll have today."
The Fox licked her lips with her tongue and said,
"I'm looking forward to it too. This is the first time the Phantom Thief has failed, isn't it?"
The Clown snorted, seemingly displeased with the Fox's reaction.
At that moment, a thick fog rose in the darkness, and a man wearing a white half-mask appeared.
"I apologize for being late."
Ignoring the sneering Clown, the man sat down in the 〈Phantom Thief〉's seat, finally filling the round table.
"..."
What was this strange combination?
〈White Heron〉, 〈Wolf〉, 〈Asura〉, 〈Thousand-Faced Fox〉, 〈Phantom Thief〉, 〈Carpenter〉, 〈Clown〉.
Looking at the masks alone, one might think it was a childish role-playing game, but the atmosphere was anything but that.
An air of oppression hung heavy in the room, enough to suffocate any ordinary knight, yet none of them blinked an eye, their expressions remaining calm and composed.
"Now that everyone's here,"
White Heron slowly looked around and began.
"Perhaps the host should state the agenda."
Clown sneered in response.
"Hmph, it's obvious, isn't it?"
When Phantom Thief didn't answer, Clown sneered again.
"A summons at this time? Are you out of your mind? I'm eager to hear what excuse you've prepared."
Carpenter, seated opposite him, glared at Clown and retorted,
"Be quiet, Clown."
"What?"
"Phantom Thief must have a reason. Unlike you, who makes mistakes all the time."
"Are you boasting because you caught a single defeated swordsman, Carpenter?"
"Shut up."
Just as Clown was about to retort, Fox laughed.
"He told you to be quiet. Are you deaf, Clown?"
"Why, you..."
Just then, thick smoke billowed around them, enveloping the round table. Phantom Thief raised his hand to draw their attention.
"Now, now, you might find it strange that I've called this meeting so close to the summoning. Understandably so. Especially you, White Heron."
White Heron nodded.
"You are probably aware of how long I've been working on the Baltahar Clan. Unfortunately, I failed to lure Black Star. What a shame."
Asura's lips curled upward as he replied,
"You're still as long-winded as ever. Get to the point."
Phantom Thief nodded.
"Here's the issue: There might be a traitor among us."
The air instantly fell silent.
Everyone seemed lost in thought at Phantom Thief's words, then almost simultaneously, their eyes gleamed.
White Heron calmly spoke up.
"You mean a betrayal, not a mistake?"
"It's highly likely."
White Heron muttered,
"You said the one who stopped the attendant was from the Samael clan..."
"They played a crucial role."
"What a coincidence. That clan should have been eliminated long ago by the Revelation."
Fox flicked her tongue.
"That's right. Clown, wasn't that your responsibility?"
Clown replied with a dumbfounded expression.
"Are you suspecting me?"
"Yes."
"Humph, how absurd. Do you have any idea how many things I have to take care of? Who's been providing all the intel on Cecilia and the East? I had already taken measures to ensure that the clan was eradicated."
"But they survived."
Clown glared at Fox and retorted,
"That's why we were going to finish them off this time, weren't we?"
Carpenter pointed at Clown.
"But that failed too."
"It's not my fault that Ardehain dug up No.7."
Clown pointed at Fox and said,
"Speaking of which, I'm suspicious of you. Who was it that was working on Ardehain?"
"You crazy bastard, how dare you suspect me? It's been ages since you stepped away from that."
Carpenter pointed at Clown.
"Watch your mouth, Clown."
"Shut up, Carpenter."
"...You're crossing the line."
"Who's crossing the line now?"
"Don't get cocky just because we're both part of the Seven Demons."
"Cocky? I'll..."
At that moment, Carpenter casually said,
"Clown. Don't get carried away. We've almost figured out your identity."
"...What?"
"Your magic is nothing special. Your demonic energy is pathetic."
Clown's pupils dilated, a stark contrast to his previous composure.
Seeing this, Fox cackled madly.
"Looks like you've been carelessly leaving evidence everywhere. Look at your face. Why? Are you embarrassed?"
Fox licked her lips and said,
"You could die without a trace, you traitorous Clown."
At that moment, an immense pressure poured from the unknown space beyond the round table.
Surprisingly, the facial muscles of most of those gathered at the round table twitched unnaturally.
"Well, well."
Phantom Thief let out a hollow laugh, and White Heron immediately drew everyone's attention and said,
"Stop it. Revealing each other's identities is forbidden by the Revelation."
"..."
A moment later, the immense, unknown pressure that had been swirling around them disappeared, and only then did those gathered at the round table inhale and exhale.
Phantom Thief said,
"Well, there's enough reason to be suspicious, but it's not certain. Relax your faces."
White Heron nodded.
"There was indeed sufficient reason for this summons. We need to be vigilant."
Phantom Thief added,
"Let's quickly deal with the Samael clan and the Dark Light. It was a decent trap, but seeing as they even killed the attendant, we need to keep an eye on them, even if they're not a vassal clan."
"That's right. Clown, you're in charge of that. It's the best way for you to clear your name. Bring us solid evidence."
Clown nodded with a disgruntled look.
As if it were natural, they each began to share information.
Phantom Thief asked Asura,
"How's the situation in the North?"
"We've almost taken over."
"Can we trust you this time?"
"Absolutely."
Carpenter tilted his head.
"What about the Baltahars?"
"No one can disobey the Commander's orders."
"The Commander... You've taken a different approach."
"Just wait and see. I'll show you a war between the noble families."
Fox said with a smile,
"Bellusia is almost finished. We've already secured the Vice clan head. The Blood King Society will come around soon."
Carpenter added,
"The defeated clan head is difficult."
White Heron nodded as if he had expected it.
"Taking control of the defeated swordsman is enough. Let him fight Cecilia. That seems like the best way."
"That's the plan."
Fox looked at Carpenter and smiled.
"It'll be interesting. Will you participate directly?"
"Of course."
While everyone was exchanging information and conversing, two people were particularly quiet.
Clown's expression remained stiff...
And Wolf hadn't said a single word since the meeting began. But strangely, no one seemed to find this odd.
As the conversation was coming to an end, Phantom Thief suddenly looked at White Heron.
"You'll be ascending with this summoning, White Heron."
Fox replied cheerfully,
"Is this finally your third time? If White Heron ascends to the Realm, I wonder who will become the new Seven Demons."
"That's a matter for later."
At that moment, Clown looked at Fox and said,
"Don't get ahead of yourself. We need to choose a attendant first."
"Ha, you still haven't come to your senses, you traitor."
"Chuckle."
It was then that Wolf, who had been silent until now, let out a laugh.
Fox, who was about to hurl insults, quickly closed her mouth.
"Clown is right. Now that the attendant is dead, we need someone to do the chores, chuckle."
White Heron nodded in agreement, and Phantom Thief clapped his hands as if he had been waiting for this.
"That was one of the items I had prepared in advance."
"As expected, Phantom Thief is always prepared."
Suddenly, light spread across the left side of the round table, and the darkness cleared, revealing a large glass window.
Beyond the window, three figures wearing plain gray half-masks were bowing their heads towards the round table.
"These are the candidates to be promoted to attendant."
Phantom Thief looked around and said,
"No. 2, No. 6, No. 18."
"It's going to be an interesting time after a long while, chuckle."
Phantom Thief looked at the three people beyond the window and said,
"No. 6 has the highest rank. If you have anything prepared, now is the time to speak."
As if waiting for this moment, No. 2 raised his head and said,
"I infiltrated the headquarters of the Golden Myriad Trading Guild."
[TL/N: Goldsmith Guildhall→Golden Myriad Trading Guild.]
His voice echoed through the window.
Although he was only a few steps away, his voice sounded as if it were coming through a voice magic circle from a considerable distance.
No. 2 took out the seal of the Golden Myriad Trading Guild's owner from his pocket.
[TL/N: Designation not final]
"Not bad."
Immediately, No. 6 raised his hand and said,
"Three days ago, I poisoned the eldest son of the Ziek clan."
No. 6 pulled out the Ziek clan's eldest son's prized sword, the Time-Splitting Sword, and a sharply cut little finger, stained green.
"Ooh."
Exclamations rippled around the round table as a smile played on No. 6's lips, while in stark contrast, No. 2's expression hardened.
Phantom Thief asked the last man, who was bowing his head,
"You've prepared diligently. What about you, No. 18?"
The man only shook his head, keeping his face lowered.
"Nothing? Lacking at the crucial moment. Oh well, it can't be helped."
White Heron spoke as if delivering a verdict.
"Promote No. 2 to attendant..."
"Ah, f*ck!"
Before White Heron could finish, a sudden curse and scream erupted from beyond the window.
At that very moment, the necks of No. 2 and No. 6 snapped almost simultaneously, their heads cleanly severed.
Black blood gushed from the severed necks.
No. 18 vigorously mimed running with his feet, then lowered his head again, maintaining his posture as if nothing had happened.
The seven masked figures stared beyond the window, momentarily stunned.
"Chuckle."
Wolf let out an amused chuckle, and Phantom Thief, with a dumbfounded look, glanced at No. 18 and then back at White Heron.
"..."
A moment later, White Heron spoke again, as if delivering a verdict.
"Promote No. 18 to attendant. The rest... their disposal was well executed."
With those words, they rose from the round table one by one.
"Let's hold the next meeting after the summoning is over."
Whoosh!
Mirage and fog swirled thickly around the round table.
Like flickering illusions, the seven masked figures vanished without a sound.
[TL/N: Some of the names introduced in the chapter are subjected to change in the future as I get more context]
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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