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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 218: Dare You Doubt the Clown? (1)
Swish, swish—
As evening approached, a cool, driving rain poured down.
Reaching the peak of Black Mountain, I launched myself off the cliff.
Gliding just above the lake's surface as if in low-altitude flight, I then leaped into the cave in one swift motion.
There were no signs of the defensive magic being triggered.
Whoosh—
Fires flickered like candles, illuminating the depths. I stood before the magic circle etched into the furthest wall of the cavern.
"Still not active, huh?"
The flow of mana was completely undetectable.
There was still quite some time before midnight.
I took a seat at a simple table to one side, settling into a meditative posture to pass the time. Having meditated countless times, I found that the most satisfying place to do it was on a flat surface like this table.
There was something about how my legs felt perfectly aligned.
Swish, swish—
The sounds of the driving rain outside, the echoes within the cave, and the natural symphony of raindrops bouncing off the lake created a strangely serene atmosphere.
"The more urgent the situation, the more composed you must be."
As I embraced this ancient wisdom and found my inner peace, I suddenly felt a subtle, artificial warmth near my chest and quickly opened my eyes.
Flash—
The tiny crystal I pulled from my inner pocket emitted a faint light. Looking up, I saw that the magic circle on the wall was also beginning to glow.
'Midnight, huh?'
With all my Circles open, I walked to the magic circle and carefully examined the flow of mana.
Where exactly was the Assembly's base?
Discovering the destination of this magic circle could be a major breakthrough in planning our future actions.
"Hmm."
After studying the magic circle for some time, I let out a low hum. It was on a level far surpassing even the magic circles and barriers of the White Magic Tower.
This was definitely not a teleportation circle for short-range travel. While the mana flow seemed somewhat familiar, it was difficult to pinpoint. I realized it wasn't something I could decipher quickly.
I pulled the Clown Mask from my pocket and pressed it to my face.
With a soft click, the mask adhered to my skin.
Still savoring the tranquil sound of the rain…
I stepped into the magic circle without hesitation.
***
The moment I took that step, pitch-black darkness engulfed my vision, as if I had suddenly gone blind.
I didn't know where I was, but instinctively, I knew.
'It's here.'
A space where darkness filled every direction, like a realm from a dream beyond the night sky.
It was the same place where the Assembly had convened last time.
After taking a few slow steps, a light appeared ahead, followed by a strangely luminous round table.
Someone was already there.
"Clown."
I had expected someone might arrive early, but this was an unexpected figure. I thought 〈Phantom Thief〉 usually appeared last.
Thinking of the dynamic between the Clown and the Phantom Thief, I responded with a mocking tone.
"You're early for once, Phantom Thief."
The Phantom Thief's lips, visible beneath his half-mask, curled into a meaningful smirk as he took a long drag from his cigar.
"Hoo."
As the Phantom Thief remained silent, I naturally took my seat at the round table in front of the 〈Clown〉 nameplate.
The Phantom Thief was positioned directly opposite me at the round table. I tried to catch his gaze through the slits of his half-mask, but he wouldn't even glance my way.
The grayish smoke curling from his cigar, with each inhale, shimmered like a mirage above the table.
Whoosh—!
It was then that two other figures appeared almost simultaneously.
"Heh heh."
The long-haired 〈Wolf〉, letting out an eerie chuckle, took his seat naturally to the Phantom Thief's left, followed by the 〈Asura〉, who sat on the Phantom Thief's right with a somewhat urgent expression.
"Phantom Thief."
Asura glared at the Phantom Thief, a guttural growl escaping from his unnerving, gender-mixed voice.
"Why no response, Phantom Thief? I told you to share the situation."
"I was busy."
"Is that a valid reason?"
Asura exuded a fierce aura.
However, the Phantom Thief remained unresponsive, merely taking another deep drag from his cigar and exhaling the smoke.
A flicker of light, and the Fox Mask appeared. 〈Thousand-Faced Fox〉, licking her lips and scanning the room, widened her eyes slightly.
"Phantom Thief's already here?"
"Couldn't be late today."
"Hah."
With Thousand-Faced Fox taking the seat to my left, a brief, tense silence settled over the room.
The atmosphere was noticeably heavier than last time.
Thousand-Faced Fox, who kept licking her upper lip, finally couldn't contain herself and looked at Asura and the Phantom Thief.
"What's going on?"
"Let's talk when everyone's here."
The only one who hadn't arrived yet was 〈Carpenter〉.
I expanded my sensory perception to its maximum, attempting to discern their true natures.
The air felt suffocating, as if oxygen were scarce.
Up close, each of them emitted an extraordinary aura. It wasn't hard to tell that they were all at least on the level of transcendent beings.
The most unsettling of them was the Phantom Thief.
Not only was he the furthest away, but his true strength was also completely inscrutable.
It was possible that he wasn't even the real body.
Thousand-Faced Fox let out an irritated voice again.
"Isn't this going to affect the Revelation?"
"……."
"You piece of trash."
It was a completely baffling, out-of-the-blue insult.
What's more, Thousand-Faced Fox mouthed another curse. Directed at me, who was sitting quietly like a tame cat.
Reason be damned, this wasn't something the Clown would just let slide.
"What did you just say, you fox bitch?"
"Huh?"
Thousand-Faced Fox's eyes narrowed, and she began to sharpen her claws, but before she could act, Asura released his aura and glared at me.
"Clown. Do you have a death wish?"
"……."
A sudden wave of bitterness washed over me. Perhaps the Clown was the outcast of the Seven Demons.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have killed and impersonated someone else.
"Heh heh."
It was then that an eerie chuckle erupted.
"Heh heh heh."
They all seemed to have a screw loose. Wolf, who had been staring at Thousand-Faced Fox, started laughing uncontrollably, even drooling.
"Wolf. Why are you laughing?"
"Heh heh. Do I need permission to laugh?"
"......Damn it."
Thousand-Faced Fox clearly felt uncomfortable around Wolf.
Unlike how she treated me, her every gesture showed a hint of caution.
This reinforced my previous assumption that the relationship between the Seven Demons was more of an uneasy rivalry than a true comradeship.
Still, the question remained.
Why did that fox bitch curse at me?
Just as I was about to ask again, a light suddenly flared from the left.
"Everyone's here, I see."
As the last of the Seven Demons appeared and walked slowly toward the round table, the atmosphere instantly shifted, as if nothing had happened.
I barely managed to suppress a sudden gasp.
"Looks like I'm the latest today."
"An explanation seems necessary."
"You've all heard the news, haven't you?"
"That's not enough."
"Patience, Asura. I called this Assembly because of that very reason."
I stared silently at the man's mask, forcing my gaze downward to conceal my trembling pupils.
"......Carpenter?"
"He's dead."
Only then did I notice the nameplate on the table where the man had taken his seat.
It read 〈White Heron〉.
***
In the heavy atmosphere, White Heron, seated at the head of the round table, opened his mouth.
"You've all received the letter, haven't you?"
Asura immediately retorted.
"How could it fail?"
"As previously stated, the summoning was successful."
Asura's eyes narrowed.
"Have you forgotten I was holed up in the North? I heard it failed. Do you have other news?"
"It did fail."
"What are you talking about?"
Phantom Thief, inhaling from his cigar, exhaled smoke as he answered instead.
"The summoning succeeded. The ritual failed."
"Explain it so I can understand."
While the Seven Demons continued their conversation, I stared intently at White Heron.
It was White Heron. It was definitely White Heron.
White Heron was alive?
Then who was the White Heron I killed?
The Alliance Head was Carpenter, not White Heron?
[TL/N: As it was established in a previous chapter Leader is the Alliance Head so I’ll Address him as the same.]
My memories were instantly thrown into chaos, and I struggled to piece them back together while trying not to miss the flow of the conversation.
Fortunately, I wasn't the center of attention.
"Explain it so I can understand."
"As Phantom Thief said, the summoning succeeded, but Carpenter died."
"So what exactly does that mean... wait."
Asura's pupils widened beneath his half-mask, as if he had realized something.
"You don't mean... after the 'Roar' manifested?"
White Heron nodded in the heavy silence.
"Most likely."
Asura looked around, his face a picture of disbelief.
"Who in the world?"
As if waiting for this moment, Thousand-Faced Fox interjected.
"Are you sure it was only those two?"
White Heron nodded.
"Those two were all."
Asura pressed further.
"Two people?"
"Ruin Samael, and Black Baltahar. They were the only two who entered the Tomb of the Ritual."
"White Heron. Are you sure I'm understanding this correctly?"
"I'm as baffled as you are. We only have the results."
Asura's voice rang out sharply.
"A mere successor, not even a Clan Head of the Divine Clan? And Ruin Samael? That brat who uses incantations?"
"Correct. That's why the Assembly was delayed. We needed to grasp any details we might have missed."
"And?"
"The conclusion is, there were only two."
"......"
"And Ruin Samael was the one who stopped the expansion of the Tomb in Keplan."
"What?"
"That's probably why the summoning didn't manifest in its complete state."
"......Samael. Always Samael. You mean the Samael you were in charge of, Clown."
All eyes turned to me at once.
I sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. It was as if they had deliberately orchestrated this, an overwhelming pressure bearing down on me.
At this moment, I decided to ask my most pressing question first.
"Wasn't White Heron the target of this summoning?"
I didn't know what effect this question would have.
However, it was a question I had to ask, even if it meant taking a risk. Judging from the situation, it seemed everyone except me knew the answer.
White Heron glanced at Phantom Thief with a meaningful expression before replying.
"There was an unsettling aspect. We changed the ritual order, as Phantom Thief suggested."
Phantom Thief exhaled smoke in my direction. The first time I truly met his gaze, I noticed a subtle twitch in the corner of his lips.
There was definitely something off about him.
What was he anticipating?
White Heron continued.
"Carpenter shared the same mask as me, so changing the ritual order wouldn't have been a problem. In the end, we avoided the worst outcome."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Thousand-Faced Fox snorted and chimed in.
"Was there a reason we needed to?"
"What?"
"See? This makes it clear, doesn't it, White Heron?"
Another wave of immense pressure washed over me.
At that moment, I was certain this wasn't just a meeting to discuss the failed summoning.
This was a rehearsed conversation. This was a setup to gauge my reaction from the start.
"What do you mean?"
Thousand-Faced Fox sneered.
"Where have you been, out of contact all this time, Clown?"
"......"
Phantom Thief exhaled the last of his cigar smoke.
White Heron began to stare intently at me.
"Heh heh."
The moment Wolf scratched his long hair and looked at me,
Asura's aura exploded.
"Clown. Why did you betray the Assembly?"
I let out a dry laugh.
The one I killed, thinking he was White Heron, was Carpenter?
I had taken a blow, but I hadn't revealed my hand yet.
They had no idea. They had no clue how Vassago died. They couldn't even guess what had happened inside.
"You piece of trash. Laughing?"
As I continued to chuckle, Thousand-Faced Fox said with an inscrutable smile.
"The Assembly's rules only apply here."
"So?"
"Number 3 must have told you. Lile. Black Mountain."
"......Oh."
"It's a place you can go to right now."
"A sly fox, as expected."
"What?"
I had no intention of taking any more losses here.
I vividly remembered the Clown's actions in his final moments.
"Are you doubting me, Thousand-Faced Fox?"
"You know the punishment for turning against the Myriad Demons better than anyone."
The moment I locked eyes with Thousand-Faced Fox, who was licking her lips,
Weeeeng—
I countered by slowly rotating the Circle of my Heart and opening the mana of the Yin dimension.
"Now he's openly confessing."
Thousand-Faced Fox's lips curled into a full-blown smile.
All eyes were on me, in that tense moment.
I expanded the Circles of my Heart one by one, releasing the mana of the Yin dimension.
"Hmph, if you're thinking of suicide... what?"
Thousand-Faced Fox's lips twitched unnaturally, as if sensing something amiss.
Her pupils fully dilated a moment later.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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