The Cult's Ambition
The personal training room, now occupied only by me and Shan after Burren left for his schedule and Shane for his appointment.
“As your master, I have two things to say to you today, since I don’t have much time.”
Shan spoke while walking with his hands clasped behind his back.
“First.”
“Yes.”
“Repeat after me. Our greatest enemy is the Lion King.”
“……Yes?”
He suddenly said something strange. ‘The Lion King……’ As far as I remembered, it was one of Helen’s many epithets.
“Why so suddenly?”
I recalled the relationship between the heads of the Helen and Crakt families. ‘……Aren’t they on good terms?’ Even with all the information I had, I couldn’t make sense of it.
“Hmph! These are the words of your master, who is like the heavens above you.”
“……”
When I said nothing, he coughed awkwardly, perhaps embarrassed by his own forced master act.
“Ahem.”
“Second.”
He changed the subject. I didn’t press further. It seemed like nonsense he’d said in jest, knowing they were close.
“Two days.”
Shan held up two fingers.
“I’ll complete your martial art within two days.”
“……One day. Besides, isn’t that the final day of the exam?”
I asked, wondering if that wasn’t cutting it too close. His crimson eyes flashed like fire.
“That’s exactly why.”
“……”
“Your martial art is already nearly complete. With a little help, one day is enough. And as you said, that day is the last of the exams. It’s the perfect time to reveal it.”
On the final day of exams, even if there weren’t individual sparring matches between cadets, there was always a battle royale visible to everyone, or a fight against demons. It was a kind of event—an occasion to test the academy cadets while showcasing their skills to visiting guests. A perfect day to make something public.
“That day, you’ll display your martial art, reveal your power, and improve your grades. Three birds with one stone. What could be better?”
“That’s true.”
Shan and I understood each other well. Or rather, our way of thinking aligned closely. After that, we finished discussing matters related to martial arts and tomorrow’s schedule. Shan glanced at his watch.
“Hmm. I should be going now.”
Being the head of a great house meant there was always work to do, even outside the estate.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’ll come find you here at the same time tomorrow.”
Since our schedules ended around the same time tomorrow, it wasn’t a problem.
“Understood. Please take care on your way.”
“Alright.”
Creak.
Shan hurried to the door and disappeared, as if he had urgent business. Left alone, I placed my hands on both cheeks.
‘……This is reality.’
It felt like something unreal had happened in an instant. Thinking back, I had been offered discipleship by the head of one of the Four Great Families and had accepted. It still didn’t feel real.
‘My martial art will be created.’
And it would be mine alone. The help Shan offered wouldn’t give me the answers directly. He would only point me in the right direction. Either way, it came from a Transcendent—and the head of the Crakt family at that—so I couldn’t help but look forward to it.
Now that I thought about training, the day was already over.
‘……Come to think of it, when is the science presentation supposed to happen?’
There had been no announcement yet. It wouldn’t matter if there wasn’t one. If it did happen, it would take time, but it would surely be beneficial. Still, having adapted so well to life here, I found myself thinking there was no need to rush.
‘Well, it’s probably not a big deal.’
Recalling that Avalin had said three days at the earliest made me a little uneasy.
‘Let it go.’
It was fine to think positively. Today had been the same.
‘Nothing went wrong today.’
Meeting Burren and Shan, becoming Shan’s disciple—these were all good things. Nothing bad had happened.
‘There probably won’t be any incidents during exam week either.’
Burren and Shan had said they would stay until the final day of exams. With three Transcendents present at the academy—including Elena—even if someone tried to attack, it would be impossible. Even if two of them were absent.
Whoosh.
I continued training alone, preparing for tomorrow’s exam and lessons.
The highest floor of the Magic Tower. In the space where the Tower Master resided, a man and a woman were present.
One woman lay on a chair with a book covering her face, while the man, his brilliant golden hair gleaming, approached her.
“……Why?”
Avalin, the Vice Tower Master of the Magic Tower, asked in disbelief.
“Why won’t you announce the science presentation?”
He had come asking the same question whenever he had time over the past month. He wanted the presentation to happen. Not only had he been convinced by Adel’s scientific theories, but Avalin himself had come to agree to some extent.
“……”
The woman lying down—the Tower Master—remained silent.
Swish.
After a short while, the Tower Master slowly sat up. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, then swept back her mysterious ash-colored hair that looked as if it had been scorched.
“……”
Avalin watched quietly, thinking she might finally give an answer.
“……I.”
The Tower Master, Haze, spoke in a hoarse voice, as if she had just woken up.
“A month ago, I saw the true nature of the Jakshin Cult.”
“……”
Avalin showed no outward reaction, but he was more shocked than he let on. ‘The true form of a cult that was supposedly unknown?’ All that was known was that the Jakshin Cult’s priests advanced science in their respective fields. Even that was information only high-ranking officials or heads of noble houses were privy to. Only she knew how much effort and hardship Haze had endured to witness it firsthand.
Click.
Haze took a cigarette from her pocket and lit it with a flame at her fingertip.
“Huu……”
Exhaling smoke, she looked at Avalin.
“Ah, you’re a non-smoker, aren’t you? Sorry.”
“……It’s fine. More importantly, what is the true nature of the Jakshin Cult?”
“Right. You’re quite interested in that story.”
Haze took another drag from her cigarette and began to speak.
“You know the Jakshin Cult is divided among several priests, right?”
“Yes.”
It was a slightly abbreviated version of what only high-ranking officials knew.
“Then this will be easy. For example, Gilleon. He’s focused on researching and developing firearms.”
“……”
“So where does all that knowledge go?”
“……”
Avalin thought for a moment before answering.
“To the Cult Leader?”
“Correct. All knowledge flows to the Jakshin Cult Leader. Here’s the question.”
Huu.
Haze exhaled a puff of smoke.
“How will the Jakshin Cult Leader use that knowledge?”
Nothing was known about the Cult Leader. For all anyone knew, he could be an incredibly kind person. Without the priests who knew him, his true nature remained unknowable. After pondering, Avalin answered based on his own standards.
“I think he’ll use it for himself.”
“Is that so?”
Haze gave an ambiguous smile.
“Half right. Want to know why it’s only half?”
“……”
When Avalin didn’t respond, Haze continued.
“It’s for himself, but also for the Jakshin Cult’s priests and followers.”
“……”
Avalin’s expression showed he had another question. Seeing it, Haze chuckled.
“So what’s their goal, you ask? Simple. World conquest. The Cult Leader’s goal is to transcend humanity through science, surpass the current mana system, and conquer the continent.”
“……”
“He calls this his ‘great undertaking.’”
Why he harbored such an ambition was unknown, but there was surely a reason. Haze muttered quietly to herself.
“This information is certain—I obtained it while infiltrating the Dark King and the Jakshin Cult.”
The Dark King, and infiltration. Hearing those words, Avalin understood the source of Haze’s information clearly. If the one who reached the heavens through assassination and the one who reached it through magic had gone together, obtaining such intelligence wouldn’t have been impossible. It was possible because their levels had risen compared to the past.
“……You couldn’t kill the Jakshin Cult Leader?”
“We tried. But the Dark King didn’t think it was possible at all.”
But not all of Avalin’s questions had been resolved.
“……Then why the science presentation?”
“That?”
Haze’s expression twisted slightly. She looked exhausted and strained.
“Simple. So it doesn’t help them even a little. The moment our Magic Tower’s research results benefit them in any way, they’ll get one step closer to their great undertaking.”
“……”
“Science isn’t really necessary, is it? We’ve lived just fine without it until now.”
“……That’s true.”
“You understand, right?”
“Yes.”
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Avalin asked,
“……Are there others who know this?”
“For now, only you. I’ve already sent messenger birds to some family heads, knight order commanders, mages, and heroes. I also sent word to meet at the Helen estate, so they’ll find out soon enough. Probably in about a month.”
Huu.
Having said everything, Haze exhaled cigarette smoke and gazed at the ashen haze. The sunset visible from the highest floor, reflected in the ash-colored smoke, evoked twilight.
‘……Elena.’
For some reason, she found herself wanting to meet the fellow Transcendent mage.