Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Spectacular Farewell
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Let's hear it first.
Do you know about the Hero?
I know.
I heard he died, but I want to know where the body is.
Anonymous (1) seemed to take it for granted that I could find that out.
In a way, it might mean my maintained persona was working. Or, giving it more careful thought, perhaps Anonymous (1) had caught on that I knew.
'Did I go too far with that?'
Considering it, there was plenty of chance my identity had been exposed.
When I went to Philip Deran's castle with Parovian, they might have watched from afar.
But the more I mulled it over, the slimmer the odds seemed.
Above all, I'd only just learned the Hero's grave location myself, so they couldn't possibly ask about it right away like this.
Next step, then.
I could give the answer right now. In fact, it would benefit me to do so.
Because knowing the ancient Hero's tomb location in itself reinforced the dignity of the '0' persona I was playing.
Whether they bought it or not was up to Anonymous (1).
I was curious why they wanted the tomb's location, but...
To keep up my '0' disguise even a little longer, it was best not to show any doubts.
Until now, I'd consistently acted like I was looking down from above.
What I really needed to agonize over was something else.
'What price to demand?'
Suddenly, a message from Anonymous (2) long ago flashed in my mind.
The elves' gathering was complete.
'Gathering complete means... they're fully ready for battle.'
The original reason I'd planned to impersonate Philip and stir trouble was to delay their plans.
That way, we'd buy even a little time to prepare.
But if preparations were already done, there was no point dragging things out.
Before they set plans at the next regular assembly...
'Should I decide it for them?'
A perfectly timed day was right in front of us.
Three days from now: the regular assembly.
The day all the Transcendents of evil's forces gathered in one place.
That day, Evanveil, Palewood, Duskwill, beyond the borders... a huge chunk of their forces would be empty.
No better conditions for a surprise attack.
The issue was whether Anonymous (2) would trust my word alone on something this big and act...
For now, to slowly set the plan in motion, I typed on the manaphone.
I could tell you right now.
You already knew?
No need to overthink it.
It's in a place you'd never find even if you wandered the continent your whole life.
A place I could never find in a lifetime?
A place no one else could find in a lifetime either?
Yes.
So it is buried somewhere?
The sword is planted right in front of it too.
Anonymous (1)'s reply was a bit delayed.
I see.
My curiosity is satisfied.
What's the price?
A way to sow even more chaos in evil's forces during the raid.
It was to kill the Gremlin Transcendent wandering around Philip Deran's castle right now.
If the Transcendent who went to handle a problem got taken out instead, evil's forces would plunge into deeper chaos.
Return north again.
Near the home of Philip Deran, whom you killed. A Gremlin tribe Transcendent will be wandering there.
Handle it, got it.
He's a Dragon Rank Transcendent.
No problem.
As expected.
I'd vaguely anticipated it, but Anonymous (1) was a Transcendent higher than Dragon Rank.
You have two days.
No need to recover the body.
I'll fly there at full speed.
...Wings too?
Thinking about it, even just the battle traces left at Philip Deran's castle made it obvious.
His power being stronger than expected didn't disappoint me.
I couldn't very well ask him to crash the regular assembly a few days from now...
I hadn't even grasped their full forces yet, and asking to 'take out all of evil's leaders' as payment for the ancient Hero's tomb was too much.
Not that rejection was the issue, but it might plant seeds of doubt in Anonymous (1) later.
As long as I stuck to the 'absolute being 0' concept, I needed 'reasonably calibrated demands.'
That was for me to handle shrewdly.
Right then.
As if watching our exchange, a message from Anonymous (2) arrived.
The reaction I'd been waiting for.
Gremlins... aren't they the minority race living in Duskwill?
Since she lived in the north too, I figured she'd know that much.
With the three months I'd told her about now passed, she'd be extra sensitive to her surroundings.
Could I ask... why take him out?
I'm curious how the situation is shifting.
If it's to help me...
Of course, it was somewhat for Anonymous (2)'s sake, but I couldn't say that straight out.
Even if my choice seems merciful toward you, don't mistake it for being solely for your benefit.
So there's a greater purpose?
I didn't reply to that.
Anonymous (2) had a habit of interpreting things on her own without a response, so no need to answer tricky questions.
Instead, to draw out her reaction, I decided to poke a bit.
One way to provoke a response was to touch their sensitive spots.
And Anonymous (2)'s current weak point was anxiety.
Gathering is just the beginning, not the end, isn't it?
I said it meaningfully, as if chiding her for complacently thinking the gathering was done.
Truth be told, I was curious too.
Evil's forces had powerful Transcendents like Adr. Maybe even the one called 'That Lord.'
'Does the elf faction have anyone who can stand against Transcendents of that caliber?'
Anonymous (2) picked up on my intent right away.
We've ignored the Transcendents' affairs for so long and had no conflicts. But that's why we have advantages no one else does right now. We're not so pathetic as to be overwhelmed by their forces.
A confident reply. Probably not baseless.
Even Joart and I hadn't noticed evil's forces until late, while the elves were clueless, so I'd worried—but this was reassuring.
Right, they had the World Tree.
No idea how strong it was, though.
Even without the World Tree, elves who joined the covenant didn't go independent even as Transcendents.
Meaning a bunch of Transcendents were gathered there.
'No need to worry, then.'
You misunderstand my intent.
Recall why you gathered as one.
...Battle lies ahead?
Yes.
Your appointed day is three days from now.
Anonymous (2)'s reply came urgently.
Three days? Will the enemy attack then?
No need to wait for the enemy.
Three days from now, evil's forces will be dispersed, their Transcendents away from their posts. No better chance will come to you again.
For such an urgent question, the reply took a while.
How do you...
How the hell do you know that?
Obviously, I couldn't say.
I planned to skip replying again, but Anonymous (1) jumped in.
By the way, I have a question too.
You seem awfully focused on the north, so your influence doesn't reach there?
Ruler of the south?
Given Anonymous (1)'s personality, this wasn't prying into my identity.
Seemed like genuine curiosity.
The south...
I knew the south well.
Where the Vieirn family was.
Of course, relative to the Empire.
Anonymous (1)'s 'south' might mean lands even further beyond the Empire.
'What was down there again...'
A massive river flowed there, beyond which lay various kingdoms.
Other powerful races had territories, and farther still, a vast desert stretched.
Ruler of the south.
No particular name came to mind.
Maybe they knew some other mighty Transcendent I didn't.
Of course, I could play along here and vaguely confirm it.
But plenty of chances remained to maintain my '0' mask.
Pinning it down carelessly might expose flaws.
Especially since Anonymous (1) might be predicting my identity.
You'll learn when the time comes.
I didn't know when that time would be either, but...
Times like this, the maintained persona was convenient.
With the conversation wrapped up, I stowed the stele back in my belt bag.
'Now all that's left... is my spectacular farewell with Philip.'