Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Imprisoned in Kazandur
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“Trapped?”
I thought I’d misheard and asked again, but Bagran nodded.
“⋯⋯That’s right. They’re all in Kazandur’s underground prison right now.”
“Wh⋯⋯ Why are they there?”
“Ahem, they caused such a ruckus. It wasn’t intentional.”
“A ruckus?”
In response to my question, Bagran explained that it’d be faster to see for myself and led me somewhere.
Following him down the central stairs in Kazandur, a massive arch-shaped iron door appeared.
It was made of thick material, secured with intricate mechanisms—clearly a door you’d never escape once inside.
‘They’re trapped in a place like this?’
What the hell did they do?
Harboring such doubts, I cautiously followed Bagran.
Kreeeak!
The iron door opened with a grating metallic screech.
Soon, the interior came into view.
A ceiling and walls of rough stone, densely inscribed with ancient runes.
It felt less like a prison and more like a dungeon.
‘Sturdy.’
Dwarves sure knew how to build.
Anyway, that wasn’t the point.
“This way.”
Thud.
Bagran passed numerous cells and stopped in front of one.
At the same moment, a loud crash shook the bars.
Bang!
“Hey, Uncle Barundel! You gonna open this or what? Is this how you treat guests?”
It was Thompson, fuming mad.
Thick manacles on his wrists, eyes blindfolded with some cloth scrap.
He’d clearly thrown a fit.
Bagran sighed at the sight.
“⋯⋯Try to understand. You know it was a dangerous situation.”
“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t lock us up! What if the number one gets hurt by that freak⋯⋯!”
Thompson snorted like he couldn’t take it anymore and stepped back a few paces.
At the same time, brown mana began swirling around him.
Woooong!
“Keep this up, and I’ll bust out. Open it now!”
“Y-You⋯⋯! You planning to wreck the whole place?”
“If I can!”
Swish.
Thompson pulled one foot back, assuming a stance.
He looked ready to charge any second.
I called out to stop him before it was too late.
“Mister!”
“⋯⋯Number one?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Y-You’re okay? Not hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. Perfectly.”
I replied and gestured.
Meaning it was okay to let him out now.
“Got it.”
Clank, clank.
Bagran understood immediately and unlocked the cell.
Moments later, I faced Thompson. His blindfold removed, he rushed over and hugged me fiercely.
Squeeze!
“N-Number one!”
“Ugh⋯⋯ Mister, please⋯⋯!”
My ribs might snap.
Crackle!
“Grahhh-!”
I finally channeled electric magic to pry Thompson off, then explained everything step by step.
From meeting Erebos in the dungeon to contracting with him.
“So⋯⋯ this is that guy from earlier?”
“Yeah.”
Thompson eyed the shrunken Erebos curiously.
“Contractor, is this lump one of your allies too?”
“Yeah, so don’t pull any stunts.”
“Tired⋯⋯ So tired.”
“What? It talks?”
Only after briefing them on everything did I ask my question.
“But where are the others?”
I’d assumed they were all together, but only Thompson was here.
Bagran scratched his head again.
“They’re over there.”
‘⋯⋯They locked them up separately?’
They hadn’t committed any serious crimes—did they need to?
Just then.
“Uncle! You can’t do this to me! Open this now!”
“Open it! I’ll burn everything down?!”
Barundel, followed by Kayla.
That explained why they’d been separated.
‘⋯⋯What a mess.’
***
We reunited as dusk fell, gathering at Kazandur’s tavern, ‘Planari Hammer.’
The hot topic was, naturally, Erebos.
“This guy’s the Primordial Darkness? As strong as Baal?”
“Definitely gives off a powerful vibe, but⋯⋯ really that strong?”
“Looks kinda cute, though⋯⋯.”
Kayla poked Erebos’s chubby cheek.
He exploded in anger.
“⋯⋯How dare this vermin touch me!”
His voice was furious, but he didn’t unleash any darkness.
So it wasn’t all that scary.
“Still cute. This thing’s really as strong as that commander?”
“About the same. Baal’s a bit stronger, if anything.”
“Contractor! What do you⋯⋯!”
“Well, it’s true. Let’s acknowledge what’s true.”
“⋯⋯Grrr!”
Erebos chugged the beer in front of him in frustration.
‘What, it drinks too?’
The thought didn’t last—Erebos belched into the air, exhaling a breath of darkness.
“Graaaah! Wh-What’s this taste! My throat’s burning!”
‘⋯⋯A klutz, huh?’
Kayla was right; he had his cute side.
The more I looked, the cuter he seemed⋯⋯.
Anyway.
“Long story short, we’ll have to stick around Kazandur for a bit.”
“To practice wielding its power?”
“Yeah. Mastering a new power takes time to adapt, and I’ll need to do it alone. Wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt nearby.”
I answered, glancing at the others.
A silent question: You okay with that?
Fortunately, they nodded.
“Perfect timing. I wanted to practice with this anyway.”
Barundel replied, gripping the [Ash Pendant].
Seemed his dungeon performance left him unsatisfied.
“Hmm, then I’ll dive deeper into body transformation magic. I’ve been feeling some changes lately.”
“Changes?”
“Hard to explain⋯⋯ something bigger. Eh, it’s complicated.”
I didn’t get details, but I got the gist.
‘Come to think of it, Mister’s transformed form has been getting bigger lately.’
Thompson’s body transformation magic was advancing too.
“Kayla, you good?”
“For me? Magic practice. Time’s always the scarcest for mages.”
“Yeah?”
Then.
“Oh, Miss Kayla. I have something to tell you.”
Barundel broached the topic with a serious face.
“There’s a dwarf I’d like to introduce you to.”
“Introduce?”
Scribble, scribble.
Barundel sketched a rough map on a scrap of paper and continued.
“As you know, Kazandur is dwarf country. And dwarves have an affinity for fire.”
“⋯⋯And?”
“This dwarf might help with your growth.”
‘⋯⋯No way?’
I’d been listening quietly but flinched reflexively.
I’d instantly grasped what Barundel meant.
‘He’s gonna guide her to the Forge of Fire?’
[Forge of Fire].
Run by Kazandur’s top blacksmith dwarf.
Of course, blacksmiths and mages rarely intersect.
Their fields are totally different.
But Kayla could gain something there.
Namely.
‘Fire comprehension.’
Attribute comprehension.
That’s what Barundel meant.
Sure enough.
“⋯⋯A forge? You want me to go to a forge?”
The map Kayla received clearly depicted a forge-like building.
“Might seem odd, but trust me and check it out. It’ll help, I promise.”
“⋯⋯Okay.”
Kayla nodded, looking a bit dubious.
She didn’t yet realize the opportunity.
But I did.
‘Fire attribute’s my next build after light magic.’
Done right, she could double her strength.
‘Stumbling into Kazandur turned out to be the best choice.’
I was already excited.
To see how much stronger they’d get.
***
That very night.
I dove straight into training with Erebos.
Late hours were better for handling darkness, per his advice.
“Contractor, let’s begin.”
“⋯⋯Yeah.”
The first step: accepting his darkness.
Just the basics to use his power, but I was tense.
This damn Erebos had scared me good.
One slip, and I could die⋯⋯.
Borrowing his power was uncharted territory, even in the game, so his words shook me.
I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
‘It’ll be fine. I’ve used tons of darkness magic.’
I’d built up plenty of darkness resistance.
Proof: I wielded the [Lich’s Wand] without issue.
Erebos’s darkness would be the same.
But that thought vanished fast.
Shhhh!
“Gaaah-!”
As his darkness truly seeped in, I realized it was all delusion.
Darkness magic?
[Lich’s Wand]?
Erebos’s darkness was leagues beyond that.
Vastly⋯⋯ vastly superior.
Amid excruciating pain, questions flooded my mind.
‘This is the darkness I know? Can I even accept it? What if I fail? What if⋯⋯.’
The doubts didn’t last.
Soon, my mind flicked off like a powered-down switch.
“Ugh⋯⋯.”
When I opened my eyes, Erebos’s massive face loomed first.
“Wha—! You scared me!”
My heart nearly stopped.
“You’re awake, Contractor.”
He continued calmly.
“How’s your body?”
“Body? It’s⋯⋯.”
I checked myself—no different from before.
If anything, I felt more energized.
“⋯⋯Fine?”
“Good. Now, bring out your darkness magic.”
“Got it.”
Following his words, I cast darkness magic.
If successful, something should’ve changed.
But.
Whoooosh.
“⋯⋯Same as always?”
No difference in the magic. Process, mana cost, power—all identical.
Disappointed, thinking I’d failed, Erebos spoke.
“That’s expected. My darkness and your magic are entirely different powers. They need to be fused.”
“Fused?”
Nod.
Erebos extended his hand.
A small orb of darkness formed at his fingertip.
“Maintain that spell, and draw out my power.”
“⋯⋯Okay.”
Gulp.
Swallowing dryly, I instinctively pulled on Erebos’s darkness.
No method known—just instinct and feel.
And.
Shhhh!
A thread-like strand of darkness rose from my fingertip.
“Heh heh heh.”
Erebos chuckled slyly, nodding.
“Success, Contractor.”