Chapter 124

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 124

Chapter Title: Kidnapping (2)

"Didn't they say a new apostle was coming?"

At first, I thought the voice was coming from one side only. But besides the direction where the first voice had sounded, three or four more figures emerged from the shadows.

"This scrawny weakling is the new apostle? Didn't you bring the wrong one?"

Among them was a familiar face.

'Ad.'

The Transcendent with thick white fur, who had founded the Moonshadow Assembly and failed to conquer the northern continent.

"Ad, check him out."

"His appearance... matches."

Ad approached closely, inspected the clone, and confirmed it.

Even as he answered, he seemed somehow suspicious.

The clone's movements had become awkwardly stiff once separated from me by distance, so he couldn't be entirely sure.

"I could never treat a guy like this the same way."

At that moment, the man with long black hair who had brought the clone spoke up.

"The Lord hasn't even said he's chosen him as an apostle yet."

"Anyone can see the Lord intends to make him the eleventh apostle. Didn't you notice how pleased he seemed when he ordered us to bring that human?"

"... ."

The black-haired man fell silent.

Silence that couldn't deny it.

Late through the clone's vision, I spotted something hanging on the man's back.

A massive sword hilt.

A swordsman...?

His speed had been unbelievable even with wings, but he didn't have any visible wings.

He spoke like a human and looked somewhat similar.

If not for that matte-colored skin, I might have mistaken him for one.

But looking closely, only the hilt was slung on his back; the crucial blade itself was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed like quite an unusual weapon.

"I can't trust Seiton any more than Asma."

"Don't compare me to that lunatic."

Apparently, the name of this Seiton-like figure who had snatched the clone was Seiton.

The one conversing with him was cloaked entirely, making his true form impossible to discern.

All that was visible were two bizarre, antennae-like protrusions extending long from under the cloak.

Given the bulge on the cloak's back, his form was clearly nothing like a human's.

And Ad, with the familiar face, was still staring intently at the clone. His blood-red eyes pierced ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sharply, as if boring through it.

'Ad might figure it out.'

He even had experience being fooled by Philip Deran's clone.

"Anyway, bringing this one just as Asma finally sets things in motion means it's truly beginning. But looking at him, doesn't it feel too rushed?"

The insect-like Transcendent with protruding antennae turned his gaze to the clone, speaking in clear dissatisfaction.

"Don't jump to conclusions on your own. The Lord never said 'beginning'."

"True. If you do, you'll end up like Ad."

"... ."

It was a jab at Ad, but Ad himself couldn't retort.

From failing to seize the north, to kidnapping me... even using Zmol to assassinate the hero in advance—perhaps all these consecutive failures had weakened his standing?

"Still, messing with Mugan without any preparation seems off."

"That's for Asma to handle."

...Mugan?

Asma?

Asma was probably another apostle they referred to.

But Mugan?

Were they talking about the Mugan I had in mind?

If so, since they said he was finally acting, it would happen soon.

"Do you trust Asma? Feeling a kinship because of similar personalities?"

"His skills are beyond doubt, aren't they? Could you say the same to his face?"

"...What I mean is I'm worried he'll botch it in excitement. Shouldn't one of us have gone along?"

"It's a long-planned operation. Even the Lord anticipates it. Don't overstep."

"Well, they say the warden there is just one person, so..."

In the briefly flowing conversation, I became certain.

It was the Mugan I thought of.

Something was about to happen there soon. Planned by the forces of evil.

Just as the talk seemed about to continue, Ad, who had only been staring at the clone, spoke.

"How long do you plan to stay collapsed in that stupid pose?"

"... ."

I couldn't stand up here.

The clone's current position was the last one that could pass even as a pretense.

Any movement would reveal the awkward, creaky motions plainly.

In truth, the clone had already fulfilled its role just by lasting this long.

Normally, I'd think it had done its utmost as a clone. It had pinpointed their hideout, identified the apostles, and above all, uncovered a clue about the Mugan plan.

So, with minimal motion, I slowly lifted only its head.

To the others' eyes, it would look like fear had frozen its body.

"...Acting? We know a fair bit about you."

"It's natural to feel fear when Seiton brings you like that, but... it still rubs me wrong. The Lord might change his mind."

"As long as we just use him, it doesn't matter."

The insectoid Transcendent nodded to Ad, who then pulled something from amid his white fur.

It was the Essence of Evil.

Seiton immediately stepped in front of the clone.

"We were told to bring him, not feed him that."

"Whether he becomes an apostle or not, he'll need to consume the Essence of Evil either way."

At that point, Seiton cut in firmly again.

"Wait, the Lord is coming."

At those words, the unruly voices instantly quieted.

The Lord. Probably the being they called ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠'That One'.

Would I finally see him in person?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, the screen I was watching went completely black.

The connection to the clone severed.

...What?

Did it cut off because it got too far?

No way.

The clone was designed accounting for all such distance issues. It shouldn't sever so abruptly.

Someone had cut the connection. Or killed the clone.

'They noticed.'

That One. The Lord.

That great existence had seen through it in an instant. That the clone wasn't the real me.

It would have been nice to behold that great being's true form, but... I decided to be satisfied here.

It was certainly a risky endeavor. It revealed to them that I could use clones.

But despite the risk, I'd gained more information than expected.

'This isn't the time.'

I'd obtained info on Mugan.

One of evil's apostles, Asma, was plotting something there.

Given the mentions of Asma's exceptional skill, long preparations, and only one warden...

'I need to warn them.'

I immediately picked up the manaphone.

The conversation was still ongoing there.

I hadn't checked properly due to the sudden kidnapping of the clone, but Blazing Glory was continuing the talk.

He said he'd never once seen Mugan's administrator.

The three were exchanging words like that, but I couldn't wait any longer.

I clearly felt the point where I needed to intervene.