Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Translator: Penny
Chapter 44
Having lifted the Veil of Secrets that had concealed the Transcendent Gallery from the Constellations, I began to move again.
I questioned Carmin and Rengel in turn, asking if they knew anything about the Information Guild.
The answers I sought remained elusive.
However, I immediately learned the location of Belpetor General Store.
It was marked on the map carried by Scout Bern, which had now become my own.
Swish.
Despite the absence of a red dot indicating a place of importance on the map, the store's presence suggested it was indeed a long-established establishment, regardless of whether it still functioned as an Information Guild hub.
Moreover, a promising route to Belpetor seemed to exist.
There was no choice but to confront it head-on.
I made my decision.
We headed straight for the Belpetor General Store.
Of course, "straight" was a figure of speech.
To escape the forest and shake off the Raphael Count Family's pursuers, we might have to take a much longer, circuitous route than we'd anticipated.
Clop-clop
Soon, we reached the edge of the dense forest. It was time to decide what to do next.
Carmin would naturally accompany me to Ventura Academy.
My gaze shifted to Rengel, the mercenary who had helped us escape.
"What are you planning to do?"
Rengel scratched his brown hair.
"If you keep following us like this, your life won't last long, that's for sure," I added.
Rengel chuckled.
"That's already irreversible. I killed the Raphael Count Family's swordsmen and soldiers too."
That was true.
Since Bern had reported our exact numbers, trying to escape alone would likely result in being pursued.
"Then we'll stick together. From now on, we need to move with even more desperation."
Rengel replied without hesitation.
"Yes, understood."
I began tightly binding Bern, who lay unconscious on the ground, with rope.
"Stay still."
After wrapping Bern up like a cocoon, we hoisted him onto a horse.
Rengel looked at me and said, "We should abandon the horses near the edge of the forest. We'll need to use alleyways as our escape routes anyway."
"Agreed. You two walk out first to lower their guard."
As soon as we emerged from the dense forest, a vast plain stretched before us.
I once again expanded my Qi Perception.
Two mansions stood on either side.
Two groups of enemies poured out from behind the mansions on either side, forming parallel lines of three each.
I had no intention of fighting these guys. My only goal was to get past them with minimal damage.
Not only were there enemies in front of me, but I could also sense reinforcements approaching from behind—a mix of mages and archers.
Trying to take them on here would be digging my own grave. My Qi Perception told me that more than twenty additional soldiers were converging on this location.
Analyzing the enemy's formation, I calculated the optimal escape route.
Ahead of me, Bern's body, still draped over the horse, began to twitch. He seemed to be reacting strongly to the arrival of his comrades.
"Bern, you bastard... You dare betray us?"
"B-betrayal?! I was captured! Captured!"
"Shut up, traitor."
Bern raised his right hand high and shouted, "Stop arguing and just save me!"
I watched Bern scream and muttered quietly, "I'll spare you, but you're on your own to survive."
"What...?"
Bern whipped around at my words.
I raised my short spear and slashed the blade across his ankles.
"Ugh!"
Before he could even scream properly, I grabbed him by both hands and hurled him far away.
I saw the enemies' attention shift to Bern.
He was bait to distract them.
I spoke quickly, just loud enough for Carmin and Rengel to hear.
"Run left, now."
Mundum Extinguite, the sword I held, was instantly hurled from my hand.
A thrown blade aimed at its target.
Whoosh!
The targets: incapacitating the Third-Tier and Second-Tier Swordsmen.
Slash!
The sword, having deeply slashed through the Second-Tier Swordsman's shoulder, plunged into the Third-Tier's neck.
Mundum Extinguite's effect activated: Retrieval.
Kiiiing!
Emitting a brilliant azure glow, Mundum Extinguite traced a trajectory guided by my will.
Shwaaak!
"Kuaaaah!"
The blade grazed the first target's collarbone, then plunged deep into the second's abdomen. Finally, it cleaved through the third mercenary's thin helmet, splitting his face in half.
I dismounted my horse, watching Mundum Extinguite approach.
Thunk!
Whizz!
The sword, having shattered the First-Tier Swordsman's hands, arced through the air in a blue streak and embedded itself in my palm.
As soon as I retrieved my sword, I swiftly adjusted my grip and swung it horizontally.
Ting!
After deflecting two volleys of arrows, I caught up with Rengel and Carmin, who had already surged ahead.
Whoosh!
I expanded the Mirror of Vicissitude to its full size, positioning it between us to shield them from the storm of arrows and javelins hurled by the enemy soldiers.
Behind those soldiers lurked another threat: the mages.
Kwarururururung!
A bolt of azure lightning erupted from the clear sky, hurtling toward me.
Simultaneously, crimson flames engulfed arrows and spears that converged from both sides.
I hurled the Binding Talisman from my left hand high into the air.
Having already infused it with mana to activate its effect, I released it.
The magical attacks surged toward the talisman, as if being absorbed into it.
In that instant—
Flash!
A blindingly brilliant light erupted from the Binding Talisman, momentarily blinding all who witnessed it.
A searing blue lightning bolt distorted and fizzled out before it could breach the Binding Talisman's barrier.
Crimson flames fared no better, unable to penetrate the talisman's protective field.
Both lightning and fire merely grazed the circular surface of the barrier, created by the Binding Talisman, before dissipating.
The One Who Inscribed the Runic Circle of Infinity harbors deep suspicions about the item you are using.
The Mana-Bending Ascetic blinks blankly, his eyes unfocused.
These Constellations must have been mages in their past lives.
The Judge with a Thousand Eyes suspects your true identity.
So what if they suspect me?
As Senior Archmage had casually commented, seeing me use items belonging to past Cycle Finishers wouldn't lead anyone to suspect I was using something like the "Transcendent Gallery."
The Saintess Who Chases Light observes the situation with keen interest.
After all, Constellations who had cleared the Tower but failed to escape its confines would have no knowledge of the Transcendent Gallery's existence.
In any case, the Constellations seemed quite astonished to see me effortlessly neutralize magic that appeared to be Fourth-Tier level.
I could even hear the wizards on the other side, who had cast the spells, shouting in frustration:
"Does that bastard have some kind of magic-nullifying artifact?!"
"What are you waiting for? We'll lose him at this rate!"
All I could do was silently thank the Shrine Maiden Senior who had given me the Binding Talisman.
If I even knew which direction to face, I'd offer a bow of gratitude, but I didn't.
The Binding Talisman slowly drifted through the air before flowing back into my grasp like a magnet.
"Increase your speed to the maximum."
We had successfully entered the city.
Thump!
I stomped hard on the ground.
"Head toward the densest crowds."
The two responded immediately, channeling their magical energy to keep up with me at full speed.
I deliberately led Carmin and Rengel toward the most crowded areas.
About five pursuers latched onto us.
Now was the time.
I channeled magical energy into the back of the Binding Talisman.
Swish!
Activating the Veil of Secrets, I distorted the scenery behind me, obscuring the moment we vanished into the crowd.
"They're gone!"
"W-where did they disappear to?!"
"Forget the others—we must secure the woman at all costs!"
"We must find her!"
The voices of the pursuers echoed from the distance.
I steered us toward the area with the fewest pursuers.
It wasn't difficult to discern their positions; I simply needed to frequently activate my Qi Perception.
"This way."
The three of us alternated between walking and running for a long stretch.
Each time I glanced back to check on them, Carmin's complexion grew paler, but she never complained or suggested we stop.
Half a day later, the footsteps of my two companions, who had been struggling to keep up, abruptly halted.
We had finally reached our destination.
Carmin's voice broke the silence.
"The general store is larger than I expected."
She surveyed the surroundings.
Unwilling to rely solely on my eyes, I activated my Qi Perception to confirm.
The dilapidated sign clearly read: "Belpetor General Store."
As the three of us entered, I felt the gazes of two women and two men immediately turn toward us.
I quickly scanned their faces.
Thankfully, none of them seemed to be connected to Carmin Everhart.
A friendly-looking woman behind the counter leaned forward with a smile. She had long, silver hair.
NPC - Asher, Deputy Manager of Belpetor General Store
"Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"No, I'm not looking for anything." I replied, keeping my eyes on Asher. "But I am looking for someone."
"Excuse me?"
I decided to immediately use the passphrase the Senior Archmage had taught me.
"I've come to forge a bond with the strange night."
The moment I finished speaking, I felt the atmosphere in the general store abruptly shift.
Clang-
A square, dark gray lock suddenly appeared on the door, which hadn't been there before.
"If a passphrase used not just years, but decades ago suddenly resurfaces, would we trust it or suspect it?"
Asher slowly raised her right hand, and the three around her drew their weapons.
The murderous intent radiating from the people inside the general store surged toward them.
Yafal.
Do I have to fight again?
I fidgeted with the hilt of Mundum Extinguite.
Click.
The door to the general store creaked open, and a man with a neatly trimmed mustache stepped out.
"The young lady accompanying him is the daughter of the Everhart Family," he announced.
NPC - Maduk, Manager of Belpetor General Store
"She's currently being hunted by Count Raphael's lackeys, who are swarming the streets of Intenes like rats."
Maduk continued, "Let's hear what the young lady has to say about her situation. Isn't that the real reason we're here?"
I nodded.
"Uh, yeah, I agree. That's a great idea."
I could feel the members of the general store, Carmin, and Rengel all glaring at me as if I were some kind of freak.