Chapter 254 Scheme to Divide -2
Chapter 254 Scheme to Divide -2
The Blue Seal Barracks.
After parting ways with Iroha, Jiha returned directly to the barracks.
He intended to meet briefly with Pairan and then head back to the inn.
As Jiha made his way toward the annex where Pairan was staying, a familiar face approached.
Small in stature but distinctly feminine in figure—it was Narsha.
"We need to talk."
"Talk while you follow."
Jiha kept walking, and Narsha fell in beside him, her expression grim.
"This is important."
"What is it?"
Realizing this wasn't just sulking, Jiha stopped.
Narsha lowered her voice.
"Those corpses... what in the world are they?"
"You found something out?"
He had instructed Narsha to examine the bodies of Heinrich and Quority—specifically, the Magic Stones embedded in their chests.
Narsha only frowned.
"......I, well—the Dirga, when they forge proper weapons, use Magic Stones. I'm no expert, but I can recognize the function of a processed Magic Stone. But I've never seen anything like those before."
"Be specific."
"......They're Converters."
For all her usual willfulness, Narsha seemed inwardly shaken.
"It forcibly converts a person's life force and stamina into Mana, while granting Special Abilities."
"Trading life for power, then...."
Jiha nodded slowly.
Warsland was home to many species, among them beings of considerable longevity. After all, a significant number of veterans from the Thousand-Year War, which had ended centuries ago, were still alive.
How would the men gathered at Alex's party—those who had achieved social success yet possessed no martial power and were scorned by women—react if they learned of this? What if they could trade half of their remaining five hundred years in exchange for Mana?
"That would depend on the individual. More specifically, how much lifespan is lost?"
"It's the first time I've examined one, so I can't say for certain. It depletes with use, and the rate likely varies based on the user's compatibility. Worse, it's unstable—if pushed too hard, it would kill the user...."
Narsha swallowed hard and fixed her gaze on Jiha.
She had been taken in by Jiha, yet she still hadn't fully grasped the shape of the events unfolding around her.
"Answer me. What in the world are those? What is going on?"
"......."
Jiha considered the question for a moment.
This was the first time Narsha had asserted her own will so clearly.
"You never saw Lungtao's corpse. Lungtao had one of those embedded too."
"What? Then...."
Narsha's face went pale.
Even though she had grown up beside him, she hadn't known that Lungtao could wield Mana.
Now that everything clicked into place, Narsha's expression hardened.
"......Lungtao never once mentioned knowing anything about Magic Stones. No—he couldn't have developed something like that on his own. Answer me. Who is it? What is this? Who orchestrated this?"
"......."
"Answer me! Who killed Lungtao!"
Jiha's eyes narrowed.
If he told her about Ouroboros now, Narsha would lose all restraint. She would stake everything on revenge for Lungtao and refuse to listen to reason. That kind of rampage would be useless.
"It's too early for you to hear this."
"What?"
When Jiha moved to walk on, Narsha quickly grabbed his arm.
For the first time, she made a heartfelt plea to him.
"Please...."
"And what would you do even if you knew?"
"......."
At Jiha's sharp tone, Narsha bit down on her lip.
It was a surprising reaction; he had fully expected her to immediately vow revenge.
"......I need to know."
"Know what?"
"I... I knew nothing about Lungtao. I thought he was just using me. I thought he stayed beside me because it attracted Escort Guards, and he wanted to turn them into his own soldiers. And honestly... he did exactly that."
Narsha's voice trembled as she spoke.
"I knew that wasn't everything, but... I still couldn't stand it. If only he'd been honest and asked me directly, I would have been fine with it—even while thinking that, I was still so angry."
"......."
"But now I finally understand. Lungtao wanted me to remain in the dark. He was caught up in something dangerous, so he said nothing to keep me out of it."
Narsha shook her head.
"I know he did it for my sake. I do... I'm grateful for that. But I still need to know. I don't want to be ignorant anymore. Even if it's dangerous, I'll learn it for myself, see it with my own eyes, and decide for myself."
"......."
"So if you're my Helper, then tell me. Tell me what I need to know."
Narsha looked him straight in the eye and spoke with firm resolve... and Jiha smiled.
Now this was far more to his liking.
"The organization is called Ouroboros. Lungtao was once a member, but he broke away. Ouroboros sent Shade to kill him."
"......."
Now that she knew the enemy's name, Narsha fell silent.
Her face showed she was chewing over a tangle of emotions.
"I'm still investigating the organization. Things are coming together bit by bit—once it's clearer, I'll tell you."
"......You're going to fight them, aren't you?"
"Anything blocking my path gets removed."
Narsha nodded.
She reasoned that if she kept following Jiha, an opportunity to take revenge on Ouroboros would present itself.
Then, as if she'd just remembered, she added,
"Those two Magic Stones were developed at different times. The one embedded in the elf's body had more advanced functionality."
"Can you obtain Magic Stones like that easily?"
"......A project like that would've required testing with a massive quantity of Magic Stones. And Magic Stones are precious minerals. Individual bulk purchases are out of the question, and in Purple's territory, they're especially controlled. Someone in a high position siphoned them off."
Under Jiha's gaze, Narsha hesitated, then finally spoke the words.
"At minimum, a Unique—no, a Legend—is involved. There's no other way to explain it. Besides, that kind of research wouldn't be completed in just a day or two."
Having deduced that Ouroboros was a powerful secret society stretching back for a very long time, Narsha's expression grew grave.
For all her pride, the moment she invoked the rank of Legend, tension flickered across her face.
"......Are you still going to fight them?"
"What, should I just not?"
At Jiha's smirk, Narsha closed her mouth.
Jiha changed the subject.
"Now—now that you know, what are you going to do about it?"
"First, I'll examine the Magic Stones a bit further, but since this isn't my specialty, I doubt I'll turn up anything new. And...."
Narsha thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Magic Stones are high-value luxury goods. The species that consume them in large quantities across Warsland are roughly the Dirga, the Dwarves, and the Elves. If I investigate the flow of Magic Stone consumption among the Dirga, and look into the other two species as well... I think I might be able to deduce the source of the leak supplying Ouroboros with theirs."
"Not a bad idea."
Jiha praised Narsha's sharp thinking.
"Do it. Start with the Dirga. I'll handle the Dwarves and the Elves separately."
"Understood. And...."
Narsha hesitated briefly before adding,
"Don't go doing anything dangerous."
"I'm always in danger."
"......."
Narsha stared silently at Jiha as he laughed it off.
Jiha dipped his head and met her eyes.
"......What."
Smack.
Jiha kissed her on the cheek.
Narsha's face went blank, then she pressed a hand to her cheek, jumped in surprise, and stumbled backward.
"Huh? What? What was that?"
"Just a 'good job.' Keep up the good work from now on."
"......I-I was going to handle it anyway, you know?"
Her expression a mask of confusion, Narsha retreated a few more steps backward before turning and dashing away at full speed.
Her face, red as could be.
Jiha nodded once and turned on his heel.
He'd just confirmed that Narsha would be truly useful moving forward.
The corridor.
Passing through the annex entrance and heading inside, Jiha stopped when he noticed an unfamiliar face coming toward him.
It was a man with deep blue hair.
Pale skin, a gaunt face, and coldly sunken eyes—each a different color. One was blue, the other red.
"Who are you?"
The man didn't stop even when Jiha looked directly at him and asked.
When the stranger tried to walk past without so much as a glance, Jiha raised an arm to block his path.
Battle-ready—he'd thrown the arm up while surging his Mana.
"Where the hell did you come from?"
"......."
Pale-skinned and odd-eyed, the man was a Yogwi.
Jiha stared at him and let out a dry laugh.
"Word was that the Yogwi are a rare species, but I've been seeing them pretty often lately. What's your business?"
"My business is done."
"And what business would that be? As the owner of this building, I'd like to know."
The Barracks were Jiha's stronghold. How on earth had security gotten so lax that an outsider could wander in as he pleased?
'He's strong.'
A strong fighter recognizes another.
Jiha deliberately adopted a slouched, off-balance stance, feigning an opening, but the man paid it no mind. Even in a brief exchange like this, an opponent's caliber could be gauged. The man's controlled gaze and composed expression spoke of extensive combat experience and genuine ability.
Jiha was eyeing the two longswords hanging at the man's waist when the man spoke.
"Are you Jiha Shin?"
"Don't mash my family name and given name together—just call me Jiha. Though I'm not sure how many chances you'll have to call me anything in the future...."
Jiha lowered his voice.
"I already asked what your business is."
"I am on my way out, now that it's finished."
"......."
Jiha's smile vanished, and in the same motion, he swung the arm he had raised.
A Hand Blade. The man arched his torso to evade, then struck back a beat later, aiming his arm at Jiha's flank.
Both attacks were sheathed in Mana—nothing to take lightly.
The moment Jiha blocked the counter with his right arm, the man slid backward and reset his stance.
A brief exchange of blows, yet each sensed the other was no easy opponent.
"Where did you come from?"
Jiha asked as he let his hand drift subtly toward his waist.
The man's reply was flat.
"Ouroboros."
"......Ah."
Closing his hand around a knife hilt, Jiha let out a hollow laugh.
"A friend of Alex's, were you?"
"I am simply a comrade who shares his convictions. I was told you shared those convictions as well... but it seems I was misinformed."
"Hm? No, no. I'm looking to join Ouroboros. Preparing to join, actually...."
Even as Jiha spouted words he didn't mean, his eyes remained fixed sharply on the man.
The man's expression was equally grim.
"I'll have to kill you before I join."
"So you're no recruit. I'll have to kill you."
They hadn't even formally introduced themselves, but on one point their intent aligned perfectly: kill the other now, while the opportunity was there.
Does that sound bloodthirsty? Does it seem insane?
'He's seen his fair share of blood, this one. Leave him alive, and he'll be an obstacle later.'
In raw martial strength alone, he was on par with Alex—or perhaps even above him. A gut feeling told Jiha this opponent was stronger than anyone he had faced before.
But if a fight broke out here, Jiha's forces would swarm in like a hive of bees, making elimination far easier.
The man's face reflected exactly the same calculation. Two shared instincts had crossed: eliminate the future threat in front of them, right here and now.
Neither of them feared shedding blood!
Jiha and the man drew their swords simultaneously and lunged at each other.
'The terrain is a corridor. Mobility is limited.'
Jiha immediately cast Blaze Dance. The flames chased his movements with Mana, and in a confined space, the Special Ability was especially effective at restricting an opponent's movement.
CLANG!!
Two Mana-infused blades collided, and a powerful shockwave rippled outward.
CRASH!
An invisible wave burst from the overwhelming clash of Mana, and the corridor's windows exploded. Shards of glass scattered chaotically, yet neither man's eyes so much as flinched.
Shut their eyes here, and the one in front of them would kill them!
'Neither of us knows the other's Special Ability, and the space is tight—so we both thought to seize the initiative immediately. He thought the same thing!'
The man's face betrayed a flicker of inward surprise that Jiha had mirrored his own reasoning.
As Jiha poured still more Mana into Gladius, the man matched the escalation.
So much Mana was concentrated in so short a time that the interlocked blades began to shudder violently.
"That's enough."
A woman's voice cut into the clash between the two men.
Jiha and the Yogwi, each glaring at the other while driving forward with their swords, ignored it entirely—whereupon the voice grew louder.
"Stop it, Brother!!"
Pairan Amaut shouted at the man.