Life Is Cruel (2)
Cheongsanho gave his face a dry rub upon receiving the urgent report that arrived in the dead of night.
Then he rang the bell and informed everyone in the Magic Tower of the news.
The coastal sky was flashing with multicolored fireworks and something was exploding out there—surely they had noticed? That line of thinking was absolutely forbidden.
Especially since, even if he had done nothing, a servant would have come running with the report only for him to go, “Oh, is that so?” once the situation finally sank in.
At this hour the mages were either asleep (the minority) or so buried in research they would not even glance out a window (the majority). Those were the only two possibilities.
“Pipiya, go fetch Meister.”
“Yes.”
“Great Sage! If this is a summons order…!”
“Good timing, Liam. No need to shout, though. Move as usual. Only this time the scale is said to be larger, so take more mages. If they look like they can cast offensive magic, just bring them all.”
“Yes, sir!”
An ordinary Tower Master would have rushed straight to the castle to prepare large-scale magic, but Cheongsanho was different.
His essence-seeing magic was a far cry from combat spells, and Cheongsanho’s true specialty was the former, not the latter.
When it came to the sheer number of formulas he knew, that was one thing—but for actually triggering attack magic, other mages were better.
In short, it was like asking someone who had spent seventy years doing only subtraction to add, versus asking someone who had spent forty years doing both addition and subtraction to add. The latter was clearly preferable.
“The remaining mages, prepare to transport the magic items.”
He calculated the stock of specific items the castle would hold and decided which ones had to be moved first.
Magic arrows and stones engraved with explosive spells were fine, of course, but it was night. What needed priority delivery right now were things that could light up their field of vision.
“What weapons should I handle?”
After quite a while spent directing and coordinating, his grandson finally poked his head in.
He must have grasped the entire situation on the way over; he skipped the greetings and went straight to the point.
“That… monster-like thing you made.”
“Must be pretty bad if you’re even thinking of using that failure.”
“The money that went into it was a full hundred million. No point if we don’t use it now.”
“Fair enough.”
Yet this very attitude was the kind that felt delightfully easy.
Cheongsanho was glad to have a grandson who understood him so well, and he listed off in order the tasks the boy was properly expected to perform.
Most of it involved transporting equipment that required precise, meticulous care. Once everything was moved, or if something urgent erupted at the castle, he was to remain there and handle repairs as well.
“More importantly, Grandfather.”
“What is it?”
“Did you order anything from the merchant caravan?”
“Hm?”
“They’re hauling an unusual amount of stuff today.”
“I didn’t place any particular order.”
But was that really strange? Merchants making a fuss was nothing new, and their fluster was not hard to understand either.
Whenever the water reached deep into the city on days they fought the mermen, news of a basement warehouse bursting always seemed to arrive without fail.
“Must be because a lot of goods have come in recently.”
“Well, yeah. Materials drop in price once they get wet.”
Buildings might not collapse, but water could still leak in. In fact, it leaked often.
And the world was full of goods whose value plummeted the moment they got soaked.
So just put them on higher floors? Impossible.
Because of the frequent flooding and the risk of foundation collapse, Bemyurhen regulated both the height of buildings and the total weight of goods that could be placed on each floor.
“Hmm…”
So there was nothing strange about it. Nothing at all.
Was there?
“…Karl.”
“Yes, Lord Cheongsanho.”
“Take command of the Magic Tower while I am gone.”
“Pardon?”
“You said you were setting up a research institute, did you not? Think of it as a rehearsal. Be prepared for the next Great Sage seat to fly out the window if you mess it up.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Just in case, he summoned the mercenaries stationed inside the Magic Tower.
Since they manufactured and sold expensive magic items, there were times when a show of force was needed—problem customers, thieves, and the like—so they kept mercenaries on retainer.
“You called for me?”
“Come with me somewhere. We need to go quietly, so dress as inconspicuously as possible.”
“Understood.”
A mid-course dropout from knight school, but as an escort that could be used in a hurry he was more than sufficient.
Cheongsanho stepped out of the Magic Tower with his guard. It was time to go check on whatever was nagging at him so oddly.
Thanks to the mermen’s unique arts, the sea level across this entire area had begun to rise. Now free to come and go as they pleased, they attempted a silent, clammy ambush.
It started with blocking their vision first.
“Light the fires!”
But whether they had no intention of going down easily, or whether years of fighting had honed their wits, three soldiers dashed this way and that, lighting the lanterns set around the turret and adjusting something installed beside them. Mirrors.
“I can see them!”
“Fire!”
It was just like a lighthouse. The lantern light bounced and rebounded off the mirrors until at last it shot forth in a straight beam and brightly illuminated the sea.
Screee!
And that setup was not unique. Every piece of equipment installed at regular intervals along the rim of the circular turret spat out light, perfectly illuminating the area around the turret.
At the very least, the mermen targeting the turret could now be confirmed with the naked eye.
“Kill them! Before they bring it down!”
Well, it would not have been a problem even without the lights, really.
Still, having them was better than not. Leaving behind the adventurer yelling at me to pick up a bow already, I flicked my fingers.
It was not a necessary preparatory gesture, but maybe because my head was dull, it felt like the magic flew better when I did it.
“What the hell are you doing instead of attacki—”
Shhhk.
With a clear sound, a mana spear shot forth. Even at night, thanks to the lighthouse, its flight path was perfectly visible.
Every time I registered an enemy, a mana spear formed and punched holes through the mermen’s bodies after piercing the sea surface.
“Holy shit, you were already doing it.”
Of course, of course. I have never once played the salary-lupin in my life.
Though that is only possible because I have never held a regular job and have always been a freelancer. Freelancers, after all, tend to lose their meal ticket the moment they slack off.
“Incoming!”
Something snagged on my senses and came flying toward the very turret I was on. It was on the opposite side from me, and I noticed too late to do a thing about it.
KABOOM!
“Aaaagh!”
Someone’s scream rang out as the turret shook. Looked like we had taken a hit from something magic-like.
“Don’t panic! One hit won’t bring it down!”
Just as one of the adventurers said, the wall showed no real sign of collapsing. Continuous pounding might be another story, but right now there was no need to worry.
BOOM!
Something the soldiers hurled made the sea surface erupt, scattering merman flesh across the water.
“They’re climbing!”
At that moment a merman clung to the turret wall. It was in a position just barely visible from the window I had claimed.
“Shoot the climbers first!”
The legged merman stuck to the wall worked its throat as if preparing to vomit. Leaving it alone was absolutely not an option.
From recon experience I knew that legged mermen could spit acid.
CRUNCH!
“It’s dea—!”
“I’ll handle the ones that stick.”
Given the angle, shooting a merman stuck to the wall required leaning out the window. Uncomfortable and dangerous, in other words.
So it was better if I took exclusive charge of the climbers. I did not even need to stick my body outside, and a single shot was enough, giving me a time advantage as well.
“…Looks like we’re definitely making it back alive this time.”
I considered it a bit of a death-flag remark, but I still hoped it would turn out that way.
It would be sad if someone fighting in the same place died.
BANG BANG BANG!
Meanwhile the naval battle grew even fiercer. Explosions and the sea surface bursting were standard; even the night sea took on a strangely reddish tint.
A nearby turret, thickly plastered with mermen, had one whole side of its wall crumble.
Aaaaaagh!
The sound of someone falling into the sea was chilling.
“Here they come!”
One adventurer let out a cry full of color. Tracing where his “Give ’em a hot one!” came from, I could see lights flashing atop the castle walls.
“Mages, go!”
Rumble, rumble-rumble.
Dark clouds gathered between our turret and the one opposite. The white flashes were exactly those of a thundering sky.
CRASH!
And the moment it slammed into the sea with a roar—close enough that the sound and flash seemed simultaneous—something leapt up.
No. No living thing could react at the speed of light, so it had not jumped after seeing the lightning. Of the dozens that had been leaping continuously in anticipation of the thunderbolts, one simply got hit.
THUD!
“Uh…?”
But that was not the truly astonishing part.
What was truly astonishing, what was truly appalling…
“What, it just kills one and that’s it?”
I swallowed a groan as I watched the creature explode from the inside like a bomb going off, instead of simply being electrocuted.
That was probably… not death by electricity.
“What the hell is that?!”
I recalled a fact I had overheard from a call between the Archmage and White Wind before putting distance between myself and the party—not my fault; it was the Archmage and White Wind’s fault for taking the call in a restaurant.
Another characteristic White Wind had newly uncovered while continuously experimenting with Jahukaya.
Creatures that could eat mana had a limit to the amount of mana they could ingest at once. In other words, if they overate, they died.
Exactly like that—body bursting open.
“…They were here too, huh.”
Right. Once a mob has appeared, it is kind of disappointing if it never shows up again. But did it really have to not leave me disappointed?
What a truly damned world.
[Damn snake bastard.]
Pandemonium expressed full regret over the twisted plan. Originally he had intended to leave more time, but the other side had arbitrarily pulled the schedule forward.
“I apologize.”
[Shut up, you incompetent piece of trash. You’re pissing me off.]
That regret was not directed solely at the “damn snake bastard.”
At the sharp tone the woman closed her mouth. The loyal servant-and-contractor stood silently right beside her, receiving the same punishment.
Thorns embedded throughout their bodies endlessly drew out blood.
Drip.
And the drawn blood turned into jewels that fell to the floor. Pandemonium’s feet were covered in countless bloodstones.
[Get out and guard the door. While I draw up my power, make sure no one interrupts.]
“Yes.”
Once his mood had improved a little, he retracted the thorns.
[Remember this well: this is your last chance.]
“…Of course.”
Having lost too much blood, the one who staggered once or twice bowed her head. Pearls swayed with a smooth luster.
Click.
[Kyle.]
One contractor left, and he called the remaining one.
Even though collective responsibility had been forced on him simply because his master’s mood was foul, not a single flicker of dissatisfaction appeared on the other’s face.
It was only fitting for the one whom Pandemonium—who selected every contractor by the standard of greed—had contracted with purely on the basis of loyalty.
[Come here.]
“Yes.”
Pandemonium stroked the head of the servant with violet-tinged black fur, a large beak, and enormous wings. It was the one he loved most.
[I told you once, didn’t I? That a moment would come when you must offer up everything you are.]
“Yes.”
Yet affection never ranked higher than his own profit. Pandemonium spread wide the long fingers that stood out like spider-leg joints.
The already long fingers grew even longer and sharper.
[That moment is now. May I kill you?]
“Yes.”
The keen fingertips ended the contractor’s life under mutual consent. Because the killing had been permitted, no contractual penalty applied.
Where the heart had been extracted, blood endlessly poured forth. It was not the color of blazing crimson but of something dying.
Less beautiful than any flame he knew, yet the most beautiful color after that exception.
[Haaah.]
Pandemonium ate the heart of the one he had cherished just like that. The power he had shared through the contract returned, and the strength of one more human welled up.
Slither.
In the meantime the flowing blood gathered toward him and climbed his garments. The dress hem vanished as if burning away, revealing the true form of Avarice to the world.
It was a body draped in a veil of molten gold and jewels, yet where a face should have been there existed only endless void, and three pairs of hands that clutched riches. Six ears raised to hear every desire of the world twitched along with a massive tail.
The heat that swallowed everything around it—even the corpse of the former contractor—was spreading in all directions.
Kill them.
Then, just a moment. The body that had been about to melt the door in order to leave paused. The voice that rang out like thunder now dominated Pandemonium’s brain.
With the Hero… that one, without fail.
…Fucking King! What an inconsiderate bastard!
[…Damn it.]
Still on his knees, he clenched his trembling hands.
He was grateful for the right to unleash the full power of his true form, but he really wished the bastard would stop talking straight into his skull. Did this lunatic think this place was their homeland, that they were free of power restrictions?
[Even a bastard with only a soul left endures this…]
Separately, he had thought he had drawn up quite a bit of power by cleaning out the useless contractors, yet it was still only this much. Pandemonium gritted his teeth at the displeasure and stood.
[Still, this time I win.]
“Huh? What’s that? Fire from inside…”
“What? Fire?”
“Bring water right now…!”
Through the door melting and collapsing in flames, hundreds of chests came into view. All of them gold, silver, and jewels.
“What the hell is that?!”
“Run, run…!”
“Hyaaaaagh!”
Tens of millions in riches gathered toward him, and the King’s seal dropped to the floor.
The bodies of the porters who had been working even in the dead of night under orders to move the cargo were swept up in the flames.