Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Incident in Segorian
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60
1
The city of Segorian, part of Hoiman Viscounty.
This modestly sized city had nothing particularly noteworthy to boast about.
It wasn't a tourist town surviving on visitors, nor did it have any geographical advantages for agriculture or fishing.
However, thanks to its neatly maintained streets, mild weather, and peaceful, cozy atmosphere, it had gained some fame as a healing retreat for those seeking respite.
Segorian was fundamentally a small town where rumors spread like wildfire in a single day.
So, it was only natural that the entire city took notice when a magic circle suddenly appeared on the outskirts of town.
"What's this?"
"It's obviously a magic circle."
"Who doesn't know that? I'm asking what kind it is!"
"Maybe a long-distance teleportation circle? They use those in the capital for transporting goods."
"Or it could be for a barrier. To reinforce one that keeps out beasts or..."
The people surrounding the magic circle exchanged various guesses.
In the midst of this, a squad of armored guards pushed through, blocking the space between the magic circle and the crowd.
The onlookers protested in unison as barricades went up in an instant.
"Why are you suddenly pushing people back?"
"This is an unsecured magic circle. Please step back in case of emergency."
"Do you guards even know what it is?"
"We're investigating now. We'll announce the results, so please return home."
The guards responded with stern, procedural efficiency.
The residents of Segorian nodded and retreated at the mechanical reply.
There was no need to clash with the guards unnecessarily, and they'd learn the circle's nature later anyway—that would suffice.
But there's always a sharp stone wherever you go.
As the crowd began to disperse, a burly middle-aged man named Thomas stepped forward instead.
"Guards, what right do you have to stop me from looking?"
"We have a duty to protect the safety of Segorian's residents."
"Then help me view the magic circle safely."
"We haven't assessed the risks yet, so no."
"That means it might not be dangerous. Guard, I'll take responsibility—just let me watch?"
"No."
Thomas tried to shove past the guards and approach the circle anyway.
The procedural guard, Malcolm, repeated himself while physically holding his ground as best he could.
In truth, arresting Thomas would be the cleanest, safest option.
But Viscount Hoiman disliked causing unnecessary injuries to his subjects.
Even if they tried to arrest him, Thomas wouldn't go quietly into handcuffs.
A struggle would lead to at least a minor injury or two.
And there was a high chance he'd deliberately clash with the guards to injure himself.
That would put the guards at a disadvantage, so Malcolm simply blocked Thomas bodily without further argument.
Thomas knew this full well.
He knew it well enough to exploit it.
Asserting his "rightful rights" to force compliance was Thomas's specialty.
"Argh, get out of the way!"
Thomas shoved Malcolm with force.
He didn't forget to slyly trip him either.
Not only that, but Thomas pretended to have been tripped himself and tackled Malcolm.
The two tumbled onto the magic circle together.
Thomas propped up his upper body with a triumphant smirk and shouted.
"Ow! Tripping a model citizen who pays his taxes on time!?"
It was an obviously intentional attack.
But as if volume wins arguments, Thomas raised his voice even louder.
"I'll petition Viscount Hoiman directly... What, what is this!"
Without any warning, the magic circle began to glow.
Something was wrong.
Instinct told Thomas as much, and he tried to get up—but his strength failed, and he collapsed back onto the circle.
'Huh?'
No voice came out.
He barely managed to turn his gaze, only to see Malcolm already withered like a mummy, reduced to bones and skin.
Even that crumbled into a handful of ash.
He had to escape.
Thomas thrashed his body desperately and reached out an arm to crawl away.
But his arm was as withered as Malcolm's.
"You bastard..."
He couldn't even finish his brief death cry.
As his body rapidly mummified, Thomas's consciousness snapped off there.
2
[Reply to Theo Agrit]
Thanks for your concern. There's no issue in Hilfenberg territory. I'll write again if something happens.
A very Leon-like letter.
Short and concise, yet it covered everything necessary.
A relief... but no room for complacency.
"At least the reply came quickly...."
A normal letter took at least three days for a response, averaging a week.
But using long-distance teleportation allowed back-and-forth for small items like letters in a single day.
Of course, teleportation required a high-rank mage to activate, so it was exorbitantly expensive, had volume limits, and couldn't transport living beings....
Given the situation, and with the Agrit family flush with cash, cost wasn't an issue.
Still, burning through money on single deliveries made his hands tremble.
But right now, that wasn't important.
"Hilfenberg is safe for now."
That left Hoiman territory.
He sent a direct reply to Drei.
With the runes decoded, he'd dismantle the magic circle immediately.
He'd done everything he could.
Even so, to calm his restless heart, he stroked the head of Choco, who had climbed onto his lap.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
He answered the knock right away.
The door opened silently—it was head butler Vangelis.
He held a single letter with a grim expression.
Drei's reply?
Theo scooped up Choco and rose from his seat.
He took the letter from Vangelis... but something was off.
The wax seal bore the Agrit family crest.
The sender's name was Theo Agrit.
"...What is this?"
"It was returned undeliverable, young master."
Vangelis's kindly voice was heavy.
The calm in his chest erupted violently.
A chill ran up his spine, and he swallowed dryly.
"...Undeliverable? What does that mean?"
"Young master, please stay calm and listen."
Vangelis adjusted his glasses and met Theo's eyes.
His deep blue eyes, weighted by years, held concern and worry.
"Segorian in Hoiman Viscounty has been attacked by an unknown entity and is currently sealed off."
3
"Hya!"
Whipping the reins, the horse picked up speed.
Hoiman Viscounty lay to the west of Agrit County.
A normal carriage would take at least two days, but riding alone could get him there faster.
"Damn it, real combat on my first horseback ride!"
-You're handling it quite well. It's fun, isn't it?
"Quiet! I can't focus!"
Horsemanship was basic noble training.
Theo had received lessons since childhood....
That was Theo. I'd never learned to ride.
No way I could do it stone-cold sober, but his body remembered enough to maintain the posture roughly.
Still, the fear of falling every time the horse galloped was unavoidable.
-To think the Demon Sword's user worries about a mere fall....
A fall means injury at best, death at worst?
If his focus kept breaking, he really might tumble.
He forcibly pulled his attention from the Demon Sword.
The attack on Hoiman Viscounty wasn't in the original story.
It couldn't be something that happened off-screen without mention.
The magic circle in Agrit County and the one in Hoiman Viscounty.
Connecting the two made it clear.
Damn it.
He couldn't leave this to Leon.
Hilfenberg would surely have its own incident.
Leon needed to focus on what Leon had to handle.
In the end, he had no choice but to step up.
Peaceful days were slipping further away, but no helping it.
"Damn, this goes beyond variables—it's a whole new event...!"
Unlike prior changes, which were variations within the original framework.
This shattered the frame entirely.
No idea how to handle it or prevent it.
The only info he had: the Precursors were behind it; the circles connected to other dimensions; other-dimensional beings were humanity's enemies.
The Precursors being culprits led nowhere.
He knew the circle's structure, so pre-full-activation, dimensional magic could resolve it.
But what had crossed from the other dimension? Still a mystery.
"Damn those Precursors.... What the hell did they bring...!"
-Hmm, high chance it's Demon Guardians.
"What out of nowhere? Demons?!"
-Not demons—Demon Guardians. Demons' kin and minions. They have mid-tier demon-level strength but no special abilities like demons, not even basic intelligence. Just dumb, brute-force strong but not tricky foes.
Demon Guardians....
How do you know something I don't?
-Right before closing that rift, I sensed a faint demonic presence. So faint I thought it a mistake... but it seems certain.
"You should've said so earlier...!"
-Next time, no mercy. But this one feels wronged. Who'd expect demonic remnants to linger? Apparently, not all demons were exterminated before the seal. They must've hidden in another dimension somehow. Sly and cunning as ever.
Demons... only mentioned in Broken World, never appearing.
No detailed strategies, not even their attack patterns clear.
His grip tightened on the reins.
-You seem worried. But who am I? Deathwise, the Demon Sword that slaughters ten thousand fiends! No need to worry at all!
"You say it so casually—how could I not worry?"
Unclear how the Precursors even knew of demons.
Or why the demons returned here.
The circles only linked dimensions.
Meaning, crossing to this one was the demons' choice.
-Hmm, I know not the Precursors' circumstances, but the demons' reason for coming? Crystal clear.
"What is it?"
-Simple. Because of me.
Because of Deathwise?
What?
-Think. A monster slaughtered your clan. A hated foe impossible to beat—you barely escaped with your life to another dimension. There, you rebuild forces, regain power, plot revenge—then someone opens a door. Especially if that hated archenemy has awakened from a long seal and is active? Could you just shrug it off as past history and stay put?
No....
He couldn't.
If the hatred ran that deep, revenge by any means was natural.
"Wait—so the demons are coming because of you?"
-Hmm, half the blame lies with me. The other half? With Theo—and you.
"Why me?!"
-You're a Demon Sword user too. You're unbinding me, so you bear responsibility.
"Damn...!"
Too late for regrets.
The Demon Sword was awake, and demons had crossed over.
He clenched his teeth hard and whipped the reins sharply.