Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Chapter 24 - Peliaru #3
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[Master, a man in a black mask has appeared on the surface of the water.]
[Visibility is poor, but it's definitely the same one who showed up in the High Priestess's mirror!]
It was just as Integra said.
An image of a man wearing a black mask floated above the surface of the pond where Queen Reina had stopped.
"Integra, can you pick up their conversation?"
[I'm sorry, Master.]
[I can't hear any voices to begin with.]
[It seems they're communicating through some special method.]
Given that no voices could be heard in the High Priestess's footage either, they were probably communicating through some non-verbal means.
[Master, can't you identify who that man is?]
[Aside from the mask, he has the characteristic of appearing through places where reflections show, like water surfaces or mirrors.]
[Wasn't there anyone like that in Dragon Hunter Origin?]
"......Sorry. No one comes to mind."
It was a striking trait, revealing himself through reflective surfaces, but even racking his brain, Luther couldn't recall anyone like that.
'Someone who doesn't appear in the original story, or even if they do, they stayed in the shadows and only came forward in a different form than this...?'
Of course, this was all under the assumption that the black-masked man was affiliated with the Hecatoncheires.
He could just as easily be someone from another organization making contact with the High Priestess or the Queen.
[We can narrow it down to three main possibilities.]
[1. The Hecatoncheires are making contact with both the Queen and the High Priestess.]
[2. The black-masked man isn't with the Hecatoncheires, and someone from another organization is contacting the Queen and the High Priestess.]
[3. Both the Queen and the High Priestess are spies for the Hecatoncheires.]
All three were plausible.
Even option 3 deviated from the original story, but the butterfly effect could have altered history.
'No, still, option 3 seems unlikely.'
The butterfly effect would have started from the moment Luther himself awoke in this world—the world of Dragon Hunter Origin.
That meant at most a couple of months had passed, and southern spies weren't the type to be created in such a short time.
'In the end, either neither is a spy, or one is and the other is being newly recruited—those seem more likely?'
There were too many variables.
First, they needed to confirm whether the black-masked man was with the Hecatoncheires or not.
[It's a shame we can't just choose to eliminate the Queen.]
[The fallout from removing her here would be massive.]
Luther nodded reflexively at Integra's words, then shook his head.
"Wait, if there were no fallout, that sounds like you'd just eliminate the Queen outright?"
[Oh, come on.]
Integra laughed it off with a wave, but it was classic trash talk from her.
'Either way, ambushing the Queen isn't an option.'
She was skilled in magic.
She might look defenseless, but who knew what defenses she had prepared.
If she was as ready as she had been against the beast lord Balakia, sure—but rushing in half-cocked would mean Luther was far more likely to lose.
And if she turned out to be innocent, then what?
[But Master, isn't the fact that the Queen sneaks out of the palace alone to have secret meetings with some strange man a problem in itself?]
It wasn't entirely wrong.
The scene unfolding before his eyes was reason enough to suspect her.
But the High Priestess was no different.
She had made contact with the black-masked man through the mirror in her quarters.
If they were judging solely by suspiciousness, there was no difference.
[Master, for now, we need to treat the King quickly to change the situation.]
In the current state, even if they identified the spy, attacking wouldn't be easy.
They needed the King restored, flipping the power dynamics inside the palace, for Luther to have a real shot.
[The black-masked man has disappeared.]
[The Queen is turning around.]
The Queen, who had been sitting by the pond gazing at the water, stood up and slowly turned.
Her face, half-covered by the thin cloth, bore a complex expression.
[She's heading back through the secret passage.]
[Activating stealth mode. Please lower your posture.]
Luther silently crouched, his entire body now covered in the nanocoat that had transformed into a cloak. Its surface shifted to match the surrounding forest colors, concealing him.
[It's not as good as invisibility mode, but it should be enough to reduce visibility.]
Luther mentally praised Integra's proud voice and turned his gaze back to the Queen.
She had already reached the entrance to the secret passage.
'Queen Reina.'
In the original story, she had two versions.
One as a Hecatoncheires spy, and one who wasn't.
'But they have something in common.'
Whether she became a Hecatoncheires spy or not, she was always immersed in profound sorrow.
And right then—
Queen Reina turned her head.
Straight toward Luther's position.
[Master, should we activate invisibility mode now?]
'No, that would draw more attention. Stay still.'
Luther held his breath, closed his eyes, and checked Queen Reina's position via the HUD's life signs.
She might detect his gaze.
A few seconds passed like that.
Queen Reina turned her head back.
Her lips moved a few times beneath the cloth, but Luther, eyes closed, didn't see.
[Queen Reina has entered the secret passage.]
'Alright, let's wait a bit longer.'
[Yeah, rushing in now and getting spotted by the enemy is a total cliché.]
[I think being cautious is the way to go.]
Where on earth did Integra get her cliché knowledge from?
'Still, if I stood up and she looked this way again, it'd be creepy as hell.'
So, wait another five minutes.
And another five.
After confirming no life signs nearby, Luther stood.
[Master, how about investigating the pond?]
"Not a bad idea, but let's pass for now."
[Considering the Queen might have set up some security measure on the pond?]
"Yeah, or the black-masked man might have."
Investigation required some risk, but skipping it for now was wiser.
Their top priority was officially entering the palace to treat the King.
"They'll make their move on the day of the ritual. Which means we have time until then."
Better to proceed steadily than rush anxiously.
[Understood.]
[Then let's hurry back to the inn.]
[Night falls fast in this world.]
Unlike modern inns, so-called "medieval fantasy inns" didn't take guests 24/7, and some areas even had street curfews.
Night was already deepening, so they needed to hurry to avoid sleeping rough.
[Master, do you have a specific inn in mind?]
"Yeah. The Dream of the Albatross."
He planned to start palace entry procedures tomorrow morning, but it might take a day or more.
If they were staying, better a proper place than some dump.
Integra furrowed her brow at Luther's words.
[Will the entry procedures take long?]
[Given the palace's size, meeting the princess won't be simple.]
"Well... Aru might pull some strings from inside?"
[Hmm... Could be.]
[From what we've seen, she seems surprisingly capable— Master, why the face?]
"Nah, just..."
They'd gotten close.
Integra used to grimace at any mention of Aru, but now she praised her casually.
[Well, facts are facts.]
[And they've had chances to bond.]
And then she giggled.
Reacting would lead to trouble, so Luther quickened his pace instead.
[Drone scan confirms our position.]
[Got a rough location on 'Dream of the Albatross,' starting navigation.]
Integra's reliable voice, as always.
Luther crossed the wall between town and palace in invisibility mode, then deactivated the nanosuit and Night Wing.
[As you said, Master, streets are empty.]
[Most shops are closed.]
[We should hurry.]
If things followed the original, curfew was approaching.
Unlike Saint Elena Island, ablaze with colorful lanterns like a city that forgot night, Malkuth's capital quietly embraced the darkness.
Streetlights dotted the roads dimly and softly, the empty streets silent.
[We're here.]
Integra's voice sounded a bit subdued, perhaps by the atmosphere, as the HUD arrow vanished.
Dream of the Albatross.
A large inn with a massive bird-shaped sign, true to its name.
But stepping inside, Luther felt off.
Despite the late hour, the first floor was bustling.
'What the?'
Like most inns, the first floor doubled as a tavern.
But it wasn't a dedicated bar, and in the original, late nights saw few customers.
Yet now, over a dozen people crowded around one table.
[It's... quiet?]
And oddly, no one was rowdy.
Crowded yet silent.
Their expressions were mostly deadly serious.
'What the hell.'
Curiosity piqued, Luther approached the owner but veered toward the group instead of booking a room.
[They're playing Go.]
Just as Integra said.
A Go board sat on the table, a young nun staring at it with a face about to burst into tears.
Her opponent was absent, perhaps stepped away, but one figure behind her caught Luther's eye.
"Ash?"
At Luther's call, not just the nun playing but all the onlookers turned.
Including, naturally, the calm-faced nun with black hair and dark eyes.
"Lord Luther?"
"Yes, Ash. It's me."
Luther smiled, and Ash blinked, sighed in relief, prayed briefly, then approached with a serene yet joyful face.
"I'm so glad you're safe. Thank the Lord once more."
Even after the man dragged into the sea by the Kraken returned, Ash stayed composed.
Of course, she was happy.
Just expressing it calmly and gracefully?
'Now that's more like Ash.'
The cool beauty from the original who never lost her reason.
The chaste lady of the moon contrasting the Sun Maiden.
[Master, what's going on?]
[Did you know Ash would be here?]
Luther nodded slightly at Integra's question.
'Yeah, in the original, Ash only stayed at the Dream of the Albatross.'
It looked like a normal inn, but it was one of the Order of Holy Knights' secret outposts.
'I figured after Trigon’s Nest and Saint Elena Island, she wouldn't head straight to Malkuth without searching for me. Crunch the numbers, and we'd meet here.'
And they had.
'She can't enter the palace depths, but... the meeting matters. She could tip me off about the ritual.'
Either way, as an enforcer of the Order of Holy Knights, she'd be a huge help if she joined on ritual day.
'But.'
What was this situation?
A young nun on the verge of tears before the Go board, onlookers with grim faces.
Most seemed tied to the Order of Holy Knights.
"Ash, what's going on?"
Ash frowned briefly, her face darkening as she spoke.
"It's..."
Normally, explaining Luther's survival would come first, but the mood prioritized her story.
Integra summed it up perfectly, as usual.
[In short, the Order of Holy Knights is getting crushed.]
A member of the Order's unofficial Go club was playing when an outsider challenged them.
Starved for Go, they accepted immediately—
[It turned into a betting game somehow. First player lost badly, the second—this nun—is about to lose, and the last is Ash.]
[Master, putting aside everything else, an unofficial Go club in the Order of Holy Knights? Did I hear that wrong?]
'No, even I find that weird.'
Anyway, the point was Ash was in a tough spot.
"What's the bet?"
"Th-that's..."
Ash hesitated.
Integra pouted.
[Definitely something naughty.]
[This damn 19+ erotic game.]
'Hey, no it's not?'
It was 19+, but not erotic.
Plus, Ash was outwardly a nun, and most Go club members were nuns.
No way it'd be lewd.
'Still, it's odd. A Go club of all nuns in the Order of Holy Knights.'
Not bad, just mismatched.
Especially all nuns—super unbalanced.
"Whatever the bet, losing means trouble, right?"
Ash nodded, and the Go club nuns, hanging on their talk, gazed desperately at Luther.
"Uh... have you mentioned me before?"
"Y-yes... I met the Archangel of Go..."
Ash blushed, and Luther's face heated up too.
Integra's face lit with a huge grin.
[Goㅋㅋㅋ Archangelㅋㅋㅋ]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Why was Luther embarrassed when Ash said the shameful thing?
No, she was embarrassed too—normal then.
"S-sorry."
"N-no. It's f-fine."
Luther steadied his breath, ignored Integra's cackling, and said,
"Can I take Ash's place as the next player?"
Ash swallowed, then nodded slowly.
"Please do."
Her eyes misty with emotion, face flushed in a new way.
Luther placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Trust me. I'll win for sure."
[Master, you do play Go, right?]
[You're doing a bit too much skinship?]
Integra's voice was sharp, but Luther ignored it and approached the Go club.
The teary nuns beamed.
"Ooh, Archangel of Go."
"The Archangel of Go."
"The Archangel will save us."
[Master, embarrassed now?]
[Want to crawl into a hole?]
No need to answer. Luther's face was beet red.
"Archangel of Go?"
"The Archangel of Go?"
Even other onlookers chimed in, making Luther want to bolt despite his promise.
[Master—no, Archangel of Goㅋㅋㅋ—want a maskㅋㅋ?]
Bad girl.
Really bad.
You're the worst.
And right then—
"The opponent is here."
Luther snapped his head up at Ash's words.
A man emerged from the back, smug-faced.
And that man—
"Aren't you...?"
"Lord Sandalphon?"
One of the future Seven Great Heroes, staunch supporter of Princess Peliaru.
The Giant of the Sea, Sandalphon, stood there.