Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: The Usefulness of a Traitor
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"Alright, then the first places to visit are... the Necromancy Department and the Dark Arts Department, right?"
Having confirmed Dakken Dyna's existence, the next step was to confirm what kind of 'existence' he had re-established himself as.
He was a grand mage, the type who could live for hundreds of years without anyone batting an eye. There was no reason for him to suddenly fake his death and be reborn. So, it was highly likely he had accepted 'death' due to some limitation and was then resurrected.
'And the ways to escape death are... exactly those two. Ah, there was one more, wasn't there?'
Necromancy to become a lich. Black magic to reject death by making a contract with or dominating a demon race entity and stealing its existence. And there was one more, but it was a method Dakken Dyna couldn't utilize: Alchemy.
Creating an artificial body like a homunculus and transferring into it. While possible given enough research time, Dakken Dyna, who loathed the alchemist Beonald, would absolutely never do it. So, the methods were only the first two.
"Hmm, I'd really rather not meet either of them. Ugh~"
Recalling the two factions he dealt with 500 years ago made Beonald's head ache.
The reason he dealt with them during that peaceful era 500 years ago was because they were officially recognized fields of study within the Magic Tower.
Originally, black magic and necromancy were disciplines that, due to their nature, aroused rejection among common folk because of religious and ethical issues, and were banned by the religious orders throwing a fit. However, within the Magic Tower, which pursued 'truth and research,' they were permitted fields.
'...They were terrifying people.'
And from Beonald's perspective, he knew that even if banned, those types would find a way anyway. It was better to keep them in a visible place, manage them to prevent major incidents, and control their research direction somewhat with research funding as bait, rather than driving them completely underground where they'd join up with strange criminal organizations. That policy was successful, as their research often greatly helped capture other necromancers or black mages running amok among the populace, but the mental fatigue from managing them was immense.
'They were all truly insane. Haaa~'
'Huhuhu, O one who shines as brilliantly as the dawn, I know you are busy orchestrating the world that flows like a constant river, but I believe a larger stride is needed for our ambitions. Through that, we shall draw forth the power slumbering in the darkness and advance further... Gahk!'
'Why must you make a request for more research funding so long-winded and foolishly!'
'This is a mission accomplished through a great contract! The price for accepting the power of darkness, our karma... Gahk!'
Whether practicing black magic messed with one's language center or not, those guys were notorious for speaking in extremely fanciful and verbose ways, raising Beonald's blood pressure.
No matter how many times he said, 'Just get to the point simply,' it went in one ear and out the other. It got so bad he told them to submit written documents, but even those, which should have fit on one sheet of paper, were filled with bizarre rhetoric and cringe-worthy expressions, often bloating to three or four times the length.
'Anyway, 500 years have passed now. Maybe things have changed a little?'
Holding onto a hope he knew was unreasonable even to himself, Beonald first headed towards the Black Magic faction's area.
However, as if proving Beonald's expectations were utterly unfounded, the Black Magic faction's area was flamboyantly proclaiming its own existence.
"...I had futile hopes, it seems."
First, the dark arts district was filled with a pitch-black color, as if trying to signify its 'dark' nature.
The road tiles, various buildings, even the signs—everything was uniformly black. Yet, perhaps to dispel the gloom? Or maybe just to look flashy? On top of that, the fashion of the people walking the streets, who appeared to be dark mages, was beyond description.
"Welcome. You have come to liberate your unfulfilled desires! Speak your wish! The treasure of gold in exchange for your desire!"
The fashion of a mage making and selling kebabs on the street, perhaps as a side job, was also outrageous. Snow-white hair, a pitch-black suit, a monocle with a feather-shaped ornament, a hat, a white rose pinned to his chest, and he was conducting business with elegant gestures, spouting lines even a dungeon demon wouldn't use.
He even held a purple flame in his hand, moving it flamboyantly to sear the freshly sliced meat. Thinking that dark mages were still the same even after 500 years, Beonald walked on.
'If they're going for fashion... I wish they'd establish some diversity. With so many like this, it's complete chaos.'
Beonald, being a noble, did appreciate flashy fashion and adornments, but the biased fashion of these people was beyond his comprehension.
For one, it wasn't like they'd decided to unify in black, yet everything was uniformly black—unfathomable. And the chains, wings, swords, and such were also maddening.
And that exaggerated way of speaking all the time, and whenever there's a chance, even when nothing's happening... they'd laugh 'Kekekekek' in that creepy way.
'Wow... This place is even worse.'
But what he had seen so far was nothing compared to the building that was the den of these people—the 'Dark Arts Department.'
If the 'Elemental Department' evoked clean research labs, the 'Dark Arts Department' was a place sufficient to evoke hell.
No, it was almost a recreation of hell's scenery, as if someone had been there and back.
'I know what hell looks like because I died and was reborn, but... these dark mages, when they die, get dragged off or eaten by demons. How do they know? Ah, maybe because some of them possess demons?'
Recalling his past experiences in hell, Beonald moved his steps towards this pandemonium-like Dark Arts Department.
Various demon-shaped paintings and sculptures, of course, and the dark mages passing by openly leading around demons they had contracted with or were feeding—it was bizarre... Seeing a normal human in this den of theirs naturally drew surrounding gazes to Beonald.
'In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king... No, in a village of one-eyed people, the two-eyed man is abnormal...'
But ignoring them, Beonald entered through the doorway shaped like a demon's head and headed inside the building.
Inside, there was something like a guide board, but the letters were written in red blood, and it was even in the demonic language, making one wonder if they had any intention of welcoming guests.
Perhaps because of that, a dark mage dressed in stylish military-like clothes and boots, who seemed to be working security near the entrance, approached and spoke.
"O one who has come to this Pandemonium, chasing fate! Welcome. Unfortunately, that signpost can only be read by those connected to demons. It seems you, a stranger lost in chaos, require my guidance."
"No. I can read the demonic language just fine. No need."
Beonald firmly refused, paying no heed, and went up the stairs according to the guide board to meet the department head.
The top was the 6th floor. Next to the department head's office entrance was an altar for offerings to demons, and there was a space with terrible taste, hung with many creepy dolls covered in blood. It seemed like a place where the head of the dark mages would be.
Steeling himself, he carefully knocked and waited for a response from inside.
'Please, be someone slightly less insane...'
"Come in."
"Oh my, a precious guest."
'...Two voices? Is someone with him?'
The voices from inside were a man's and a woman's. Beonald found it strange but, since he was told to enter, he carefully opened the door and went in. The moment he did, he was surprised because while there were two voices, only one person was inside.
No, Beonald momentarily wondered if that should be called one person.
"Hmm, please don't be too startled."
"Hi there? Darling~"
It was the form of a middle-aged man's body, with the upper half of a woman with purple skin attached to his right side.
The man had the gaunt look of someone consumed by research and wore glasses. The female body attached to him was beautiful, but the horns on her head and the eerie light emanating from her red demon eyes sharply raised Beonald's guard.
Even for Beonald, who had seen many strange things in the world, this was hard to adapt to.
"Things get complicated, so could you be quiet?"
"That wasn't in the contract, was it?"
"...Is that attached to your body... a demon?"
"Well, you could say that. I am Lirikel, 1st Class Mage and Head of the Dark Arts Department. Huhuhu."
"Darling, be a bit cooler~"
"Just stay still, you! Because of you, I can't uphold the traditions of a dark mage, can I?"
"Oh, the Department Head is surprisingly... um... your way of speaking is different from the students."
In a tone tinged with a touch of emotion, Beonald pointed out that he, the department head, was speaking in a proper manner.
In response, the one who introduced himself as Lirikel sighed and answered.
"Haaaaaa~ Actually, I'd like to do that too, but this demon here keeps talking nonsense on her own... At some point, it all went to hell. So, I just gave up on the tradition."
"How did you... become like that with that demon?"
"...Well, I succeeded in summoning through dark magic, but I messed up the contract and ended up like this. Anyway, Duke Beonald von Neumel, who was in hell and has now returned, what brings you here?"
"Kekekekek! Huhuhuhut~"
"Oh? You know me?"
"Thanks to merging with this one... I can see souls directly now, Duke. Ah, could you please stay still... Huh?"
"No! I'll do as I please!"
Pointing at the demon attached to his body, Lirikel spoke as if he knew about Beonald.
It was a convincing enough reason, so Beonald wasn't particularly surprised or flustered. Instead, thinking the conversation would proceed quickly, he ignored the chattering demon beside him and got straight to the point.
"Anyway, what brings the great Duke Beonald von Neumel here?"
"Did becoming the Goddess's dog improve your living situation? Huh~? You looked like you were suffering a lot when I saw you in hell~"
Seeing this, Beonald felt no further need for respect and began speaking nonchalantly.
"I came about the Dakken Dyna problem. That bastard continued his 'divine magic' research even after I told him not to before I died. And it seems he still exists. But I want to know how he overcame the death problem. Do you know how he was resurrected?"
"Hmm, I don't really know about that. We never had much interaction with him. But... given his personality, he probably wouldn't want to make a contract with a 'demon.' If things go wrong, he could end up like me, or risk having his soul stolen, or fuse incorrectly with a demon and have his mind and knowledge taken."
"Plus, who comes out is also a problem. Huhut~ It might not be someone as pretty, cute, and merciful as me, but a savage and terrifying~ one, right?"
"I see. So, it's not dark magic. Good to know. Then the answer must ultimately be 'lich.'"
By process of elimination, and considering Dakken Dyna's knowledge and ambitions, that was the resulting conclusion.
Anyway, now that he knew Dakken Dyna's identity, he could go back. But going back just like that would make it very difficult to take on the Dyna family alone or even with just the Elemental faction's support.
Therefore, Beonald decided to persuade this fellow named Lirikel.
"Do you happen to know what this 'divine magic' he's researching is?"
"No. Not interested either."
"It's a very fanciful tale. Huhuhut~"
"I wish it had ended as just fanciful talk, but it didn't, which is why that damned goddess sent me here, right? And that too, when I need to stop my daughter from causing trouble down south."
"Hmm, indeed, if it's Duke Beonald, you wouldn't just leave your daughter who sold her soul to the Demon King alone..."
He mentioned his daughter Lara as part of a plausible persuasion attempt. Lirikel showed a convinced reaction, but also uttered something Beonald couldn't just let pass.
"...Wait, what was that just now? Our Lara... sold her soul to the Demon King, you said?"
"Ah, was I not supposed to say that?"
"No, it's fine. That Demon King is an enemy of the one I serve anyway."
"Speak clearly. Our Lara... what happened to her?"
"I really shouldn't just tell you this, but... Hmm, your daughter is the one who summoned the Demon King of Wrath and Hatred to this land. In doing so, she received his blessings and power, and even made an exception for demi-humans in their deal. Of course... if you make such a deal, a price naturally follows."
"A deal with demons always has a price~ Huhut~ The greater the wish, the greater the price that follows~ What do you think your daughter wished for?"
The words of Kel, kindly explaining, and the teasing words of the demon Liri simultaneously pressured Beonald. He sighed, feeling complicated about his daughter's situation, having come to hate the world enough to sell her soul.
But for now, he had to solve the Dakken Dyna problem first. So, Beonald temporarily set aside thoughts about his daughter and began explaining 'divine magic' to Lirikel.