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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 220: Wait, Is That You?
"So... you're saying it felt like floating in a dark night sky?"
"Exactly. That's the feeling. You're definitely standing, but there's no sensation of it."
"It's certainly a peculiar place."
"Do you have any ideas?"
The private room on the sixth floor of the Magic Tower Alliance Headquarters.
Fichte, tilting his head while sitting on a chair, spoke.
"Are there any other distinguishing features?"
"That's all. Wherever I looked, up, down, east, west, it was darkness without a speck of light. Except for that white round table and chair."
"Hmm."
A brief silence followed.
Mahon, who had been silently drinking tea to the left, finally spoke up.
"Is there a possibility it's an artificially created space? Like an illusion magic circle, for example?"
I shook my head.
"There was definitely a magic circle, but it wasn't an illusion spell. I'm sure of it."
It was too elaborate to be an illusion spell.
At my current level, I could sense any anomalies even if a Sword Saint from the past created an illusionary realm.
There was no trace of illusion magic at the round table where the Assembly convened.
Fichte tilted his head with an intrigued expression.
"So, that means such a place exists somewhere on the continent..."
"It seems neither of you has a good hunch. Let me know if you come up with any ideas later."
Fichte and Mahon nodded simultaneously.
"We'll look into it. It's definitely an important location."
I nodded and replied,
"What do you plan to do about the Vassal Clan Banquet?"
"Even if they already know, nothing changes."
"They've seized control of at least three clans."
"It's an opportunity. The non-aggression pact between the Vassal Clans has led to closed-off exchanges. There's a limit to the information we can gather."
"It's a chance to confirm who has sided with the demons."
"Exactly."
It was then that Mahon let out a low groan.
"The Seven Demons..."
His face seemed slightly flushed.
It was easy to tell that this came from an effort to suppress shock.
"It's pathetic. I thought I was looking at the world correctly, but in reality, I had my back turned."
A self-deprecating chuckle.
It was needless to say that this was a painful realization for Mahon, who was responsible for the upper floors of the White Magic Tower, considered the pinnacle of magic.
"Don't blame yourself too much. I couldn't have suspected him either. What's important is what we do now."
"......You're right. It's a weight I must bear."
I had no intention of blaming Mahon at this point.
Could Mahon have grasped a fact that even the Vassal Clans and Divine Clans couldn't properly notice?
Moreover, he was a man who had walked the path of a scholar, dedicating his life to incantations.
The reason why Mahon readily took on the role of the temporary leader of the Magic Tower Alliance showed his determination. The same reason why I told Mahon everything about the Seven Demons without filtering anything.
There was no reason to hide anything now.
"Has the Alliance's situation been sorted out?"
Fichte nodded.
"The Alliance's system will be strengthened rather than weakened. The justification was actually quite good."
"That's a relief to hear."
"It's thanks to you, Floor Master, taking the lead. Now, I think I should slowly return to my main clan."
"Already?"
"It wouldn't look good for outsiders to get too deeply involved in the Alliance. And to be honest, I've been away from my main clan for too long. I also need to prepare for the Vassal Clan Banquet."
"Hmm."
Mahon looked at me.
"What will Dark Light be doing?"
I stood up and walked to the window, where the downtown streets were visible at a glance.
"It's about time for me to return as well."
I started slowly looking down at the streets of Keplan from the window.
The scenery was still magnificent, but I couldn't shake a lingering sense of emptiness.
"I've stayed here for too long. I'll be at my main clan until the Vassal Clan Banquet."
The view of my main clan that I saw from behind when I left Khaoto came to mind.
I wondered if Khaoto had changed as much as I had.
Whoosh—!
As I leaned out the window, a cool breeze hit my face.
I took in the scenery of Keplan, which would be my last for a while. As my eyes gradually widened from the downtown streets, I caught sight of the Magic Towers towering at the Keplan horizon.
While idly turning my gaze from the Blue Magic Tower in the South, I suddenly found myself fixated on one spot.
"......!"
It was far.
It was definitely a distant Magic Tower that was barely visible, but I felt a presence that instinctively grabbed my attention.
I stared intently. I had the illusion that I had definitely made eye contact with someone.
"Lord Ruin, what's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Hector Kart."
"Yes?"
Remembering something I had forgotten, I asked Fichte, who had approached me.
"Hector Kart. Have you looked into him?"
"Ah."
Fichte nodded.
"Crimson Flame was at the Red Magic Tower at the time."
"That commotion happened at the westernmost point of Keplan, and he was in the tower?"
"It was confirmed that he was in seclusion."
"Seclusion?"
I didn't understand.
"Isn't it too much of a coincidence, military commander? He didn't show his face at all, and then he appeared just as the situation seemed to be resolving? If he was really in seclusion, it makes even less sense. How could someone who didn't even know the barrier was breached suddenly appear?"
"That was also a question I had."
"Have you met Crimson Flame?"
"Yes. He wouldn't give me any answers."
"Are you sure he was in seclusion?"
The answer came from an unexpected source.
"Yes, he was."
When I looked at him with a questioning gaze, Mahon replied.
"You don't have to doubt that."
"How are you so sure? You were with me at the westernmost point at that time, Floor Master."
"Because the Crimson Flame was in seclusion at our Magic Tower."
Just as I was about to reply, Fichte interjected.
"We'll keep an eye on Crimson Flame as well."
"......We need to prepare for any possibility."
Crimson Flame wasn't mentioned in the conversation with the Seven Demons, but I couldn't dismiss my suspicions.
They never reveal everything, and their words often conceal hidden meanings.
Even during the conversation, they avoided mentioning anything that could reveal their identities.
I turned away from the window and walked towards the private room door.
"See you at the Banquet, military commander."
At the door, I gave Fichte and Mahon a brief farewell.
"You probably know this already, but the situation in Keplan is uneasy. Many mercenaries are worried because they've run out of work."
Mahon nodded.
"That's a natural consequence. The Demon Realm has practically ended."
"You've already prepared alternatives."
I opened the door to the private room and said goodbye.
"Contact Khaoto if anything happens."
Mahon let out a small sigh.
"You're leaving without even having a proper conversation."
"Farewells don't need to be long. Let's look forward to the day we meet again."
Unexpectedly, in contrast to the serious atmosphere, Mahon gave a faint smile.
"Don't hold your breath. Take care, Floor Master."
I took his jest lightly and stepped outside.
It wasn't until much later that I remembered I hadn't refused the token that the new Alliance Leader had given me.
***
"You're really leaving like this?"
"I have to."
"Right now?"
I looked at Zion, who was staring at me suspiciously as I left the Alliance.
"What's with that reaction? You don't mean...?"
"Don't mean what?"
"Our business manager is out of it. How much honey did you suck in Keplan to not want to go back? You better get ready to hit the ground running as soon as we return."
"That's not it."
Zion replied with an aggrieved expression.
"Let's stay for a few more hours, then."
"The business manager is still out of it."
"......I haven't said goodbye to everyone yet?"
"What?"
"There's Hote, and Uncle Chano too..."
I stopped walking and stared at Zion with renewed curiosity.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm surprised you're saying that."
Zion's face turned slightly red, and he replied,
"Damn it. I actually want to have a drink. It's the last day, so we should have some moonshine. You guys should say something too. You always dump everything on me in situations like this. You're heartless."
Laughter erupted from behind.
"It's better to say goodbye before leaving, isn't it?"
"We don't know when we'll see them again."
I slowly made eye contact with Zion, Palge, Arin, and Makan, and then nodded.
"That's a good idea."
"......What?"
As I stepped out of the Alliance first, the subordinates, who had been staring at each other with curious expressions, followed me simultaneously.
***
"Is, is, is that...?"
"What? What is it?"
"Isn't that him? Dark Light?"
"Whoa, that's right. It's Samael's Crazy Mage Squad!"
As soon as I exited the Alliance's main gate and landed in the heart of downtown Keplan, people started to gather one by one.
It had been quite a while since I had revealed my true appearance, as I usually moved around with my face covered or wearing a hat.
"Don't block the way up front! The Crazy Mage Squad is passing through."
"Show some respect."
Today, the converging gazes didn't feel as burdensome as usual. I walked naturally, and people naturally cleared the way. The subordinates followed behind me in their own ways. The place we arrived at was an alleyway in downtown Keplan, Hote's tavern.
"Why are there so many people... oh, Brother Ruin?"
Hote, who was carrying food, came out to the street because of the crowd and looked at me with a surprised face.
"You're not covering your face today?"
"I wanted to have a drink. Is there any room inside?"
"Wait a moment. We'll make room even if there isn't any."
"It's alright. No need to bother."
I pointed to a makeshift table in the alleyway right in front of the tavern.
"Let's sit here."
The subordinates brought a few chairs from inside and sat in a circle.
"Wait a moment, Brother. I'll bring some fried chicken and moonshine."
Hote went into the kitchen with a beaming smile.
Even while I was sitting on the chair, the gazes of onlookers converged, regardless of whether they were inside or outside the tavern. It felt like I was a monkey in a zoo.
"It's too much. Everyone, either sit down or go."
As if they had been waiting for those words, some of the onlookers got makeshift tables from somewhere and started setting them up around us, and some just plopped down on the alleyway floor.
Hote, who was bringing out the fried chicken and moonshine from the kitchen, looked around with a startled expression.
"Oh no..."
Hote put the fried chicken and moonshine on the table and shouted towards the left and right sides of the alleyway.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accommodate this many people! I can't make enough snacks!"
A burly mercenary who was sitting on the ground shouted.
"We don't need snacks, Hote. Just plenty of alcohol. You know, that drink Dark Light often has!"
When I made eye contact with the man, he winked.
Looking closely, I recognized the man. He was the man I met at the tavern where I was almost scammed when I first arrived in Keplan.
Hote nodded with an ambiguous expression.
"Are you really going to do this, Hote? We'll take care of the snacks ourselves, so just bring out a lot of moonshine!"
After a moment of hesitation, Hote smiled with a resigned expression.
"......Is today the day? I guess I'll have to empty everything out."
"That's what you should have done from the start!"
"A few people who are good at using their strength, follow me."
After a short while, three or four strong men followed Hote into the kitchen.
They started bringing out large barrels of moonshine, easily more than ten of them.
"Wow."
At that moment when everyone's attention was focused.
Zion, unable to contain himself any longer, jumped up from his seat and shouted, looking back and forth along the alleyway.
"I'll buy the drinks!"
"Wait, isn't that...?"
Zion replied to someone's question.
"I don't know if you all remember, but I'm..."
"Samael's business manager! Woo-hoo!"
I was about to hit Zion on the back of his head, but I stopped myself. He was smiling too brightly.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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