The Darkness Within
Thanatos had already become the Demon King, and the Demon King's army had begun its conquest of the surface world. Even if Urshis, another lesser deity, had reached out, nothing would have changed. Though Urshis opposed destruction, he could not override the authority of a Demon King appointed by the consensus of the gods. No matter how exceptional Neiku might have been among the greatest summoners of this era, he could never have stood against the Demon King's army.
“Urshis tried to gather his strength, but there was nothing he could do. He did become fixated on you, Lord Anak.”
Follow me. Obey my will. I shall guide you. The threat of Nyx will vanish, and the people will sing your name in praise.
Yes. He had said those words. I could not be certain how following a god would allow me to stop Nyx, but there had been no lie in his voice.
Yet the Demon King's army had never found us. Even if Urshis searched the territories under their control, he would never have located us so easily, and even if he had, there would have been no way to reach me while I remained among the strengthened Rowell and his companions.
I looked at Medrup. He was already looking back at me. He had likely pieced together the situation from Neiku's earlier words and the expression on my face.
“But as he continued to hear of the hero and your party's exploits, Urshis soon changed his plans. He realized Nyx's scheme would fail and began preparing for what would come after.”
“So this is that preparation. It must be quite elaborate.”
We had hoped he would tell us everything. Every detail of the plans and preparations Urshis had laid over that long stretch of time. But Neiku, sensing our desire, shook his head with an apologetic expression.
“I did carry out some of the preparations, but Urshis never shared the full scope of his plans with me. I do not know his true intentions. I cannot even say why he abandoned El Nergavil so readily.”
It would have been a lie to claim I felt no disappointment.
“…Then you also know nothing of the monster legion attacks currently striking the various nations? Are they not the work of the dark priests?”
“They are indeed the work of the dark priests. After Ryban's clones revived, Urshis ordered them to attack the nations with monsters.”
“To draw our attention and lure Anak out?”
Medrup's gaze had shifted from Neiku to me as well. The look in his eyes carried a faint reproach, as if to say, So it was like that after all. I found myself averting my gaze without meaning to.
“That is correct.”
“But the scale and method of their appearance were nothing like ordinary summoning spells……”
“…It is thanks to Urshis's mana. Urshis divided the flames he had been nurturing in El Nergavil among several crystals and distributed them to a few exceptional dark priests. Those priests are temporarily wielding Urshis's power through those flames.”
“A god's mana… No wonder we could not trace it. I need to inform John and Sarah at once.”
Medrup glanced briefly toward the crystal orb resting in the corner of the study before turning his steady gaze back to me.
“Anak. Might I have a word with you in private?”
I nodded. His tone was as gentle and kind as ever, yet I understood it was not a simple request or suggestion. It was the only choice left to me.
Medrup inclined his head to the others and stepped out of the study first. Normally he would have guided everyone else to the reception or resting room, but the fact that he did not told me just how angry he was.
I hurried after him so as not to fall behind. He appeared to have headed up the stairs. When I followed, I found him standing by the window, gazing outside. It was something he always did when he was upset—looking off into the distance.
“……”
Seeing him like that made my already uneasy heart begin to churn like a sailor facing a storm at sea.
A moment later, Medrup turned to face me. His expression and gaze remained as calm and benevolent as always, but his voice was different from usual.
“So, Anak. Have you decided to keep secrets from me as well from now on?”
“Lord Medrup, that is not it.”
“Is that why you chose to act separately instead of coming to us?”
“…The nations were under attack by the monster legions, and you were all occupied with responding to them. I simply thought I should do my part as well.”
“Then when you spoke to John, you truly did not know of El Nergavil or Urshis's existence.”
“That is……”
“At the time, was it?”
The question carried absolute certainty. Lying was impossible, and even attempting it would have been too late.
“…Yes. That is correct.”
Medrup offered a bitter smile.
“During the last great war, there were things you did not tell Rowell or the other companions—and not me either. Is that not so?”
Before that quiet, penetrating gaze that seemed to see through everything, I could not speak a single word.
“There was only one such matter.”
It was not a lie. At least during the last great war, the only fact I had hidden was that single thing. The Library of Denatel and Lady Rofena had come after the war.
Medrup nodded. He approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“It is only natural to keep some secrets of your own. Even among companions, there are times when one cannot share everything—not because we distrust one another, but because we care for one another.”
He turned his head back toward the window.
“I am not angry because of that. I am angry because you made a foolish choice unworthy of yourself for that reason. You could have been consumed by Urshis. Am I wrong?”
I said nothing. There was no need. Medrup simply continued staring out the window for a long while.
“…Those moments of hesitation I sometimes saw on your face during the last great war—were they all because of this? And your request to examine the forbidden texts stored in Aphros?”
I nodded silently. Medrup looked me straight in the eye. His gaze was gentle, yet it also held disappointment.
“Then that night when you were so troubled was not merely because a contract had failed. Is that right?”
It was the day I had completed the Soul Link Ritual. After barely escaping Urshis, I had fled from the others and gone to the lakeside. While I stood gazing at the moon and stars floating in the sky, Medrup had approached me.
When he had asked with concern what was wrong, I had only answered that I had failed to form a contract with a higher being. Though he had not believed me, he had not pressed further.
I felt the hand on my shoulder tighten.
“I always knew you were an exceptional summoner, but I never imagined you would reach even Urshis. My, my. To feel proud of you in a situation like this—I truly am a hopeless old man.”
I had never imagined I would reach Urshis either. Though there had once been an era when we were called dark priests, the only one who had ever reached Urshis through their own power was the very first dark priest. No others were recorded.
“…The incident at Brakilmona Plain that you never told us about must have been for the same reason. You summoned Urshis there, did you not?”
He was referring to the time I had been dragged away by Antares. Yes. Since I had claimed there was only one such matter, that answer covered everything.
“As you said, you were truly fortunate. That was what you meant.”
Medrup released my shoulder and walked toward the wall behind me.
“You always told me things you could never tell Rowell or the others. This old man was genuinely glad of that, and secretly proud. So do not blame me too much if I bring up this disappointment more often than is appropriate for my age.”
Those words struck deep. They hurt like tree roots piercing the heart, like thorny vines tightening around the body—not merely because I had disappointed Medrup, but because there were still secrets I continued to keep.
“…I am truly sorry.”
For a long time afterward, only silence filled the room. The one small mercy was that Medrup no longer turned his gaze out the window.
“Very well. Now we know Urshis's target is you, and it is clear this is not the end. You probably do not wish to inform Rowell or the others either. Am I right?”
I felt like a nodding doll, but in truth there was nothing else I could do.
“Then from now on, stay as close to Rowell and Aegina as possible. Contact me before you take any independent action. Leave Urshis and the dark priests to me and the others. Understood?”
“Understood.”
It was something I had already intended to ask of him. No matter what Urshis was plotting, it would never be good for me to move personally. Of course, Urshis likely knew I would respond this way, but I could not simply follow his plan in hopes of avoiding a second scheme.
“Good. Then prepare yourself. We depart tomorrow.”
His tone and voice had returned to normal, and only then did my heart ease somewhat.
“Where to……?”
“Minasid. The monster legion attacks are in truth the work of the dark priests, and even if Ryban's clones have remained quiet until now, there is no guarantee they will continue to do so. If they were willing to attack El Nergavil directly, they may soon come for Rowell themselves.”
I had not yet told him about the clones, but it seemed Granbipra had already mentioned them.
“And they will not be able to wait any longer either.”
His words sounded somehow sorrowful and bitter. Before I could ask what he meant, Medrup had already descended the stairs.
“…As expected, nothing has changed.”
I remained standing there, staring at the stairs Medrup had gone down.
I had kept this secret for quite some time. Of course, I had expected it would be discovered the moment I saw Medrup inside that serpent of light. And I had known that even if it were discovered, nothing would truly change.
Yet now that it had been confirmed so plainly, what I felt was not relief or comfort, but only a heavy weight.
In a situation like this, to feel proud of you—I truly am a hopeless old man.
Proud.
Reaching Urshis meant my soul's color was that dark. That ashen flame. And the darkness that had existed within it. Even if it did not encompass my entire soul or define my true nature, how could such a thing ever be a source of pride?
Throughout history, only one summoner had ever reached Urshis through their own power: the very first dark priest. Perhaps there were others whose names were never recorded, but at least in the written accounts, there was only that one.
The countless atrocities and foolish lust for domination left in history might have been somewhat distorted or exaggerated over time, but they could never be viewed lightly or positively. The most basic facts preserved in the historical records were more than enough to instill hatred and unease toward dark priests—and summoners—in general.
That was the existence I resembled. The vision Urshis had shown me had been no different.
“Consumed by Urshis.” “Merely assimilated by Urshis.”
Even if that were true, what difference did it make? It was he who had accepted Urshis, and it was he who had created the opening for it. Regardless of his true nature, he had ultimately accepted Urshis—and that meant I could do the same.
“I believe in you, Anak.”
“I trust you.”
“I believe in you.”
“Well, you worked hard—for you. You can do it when you try, can't you?”
The words and expressions Rowell and the others had given me during the last great war flashed through my mind. Yes. They had trusted me. Even Orcan had shown a certain degree of trust in his own way.
Yes. It was possible precisely because they believed. Because they believed I would never make such a choice, Medrup could say he was “proud” and let it pass so easily.
How could they believe so completely? I was different from them. I was never righteous, never whole. This was not a matter of ability but of nature—and my connection to Urshis and the color of my soul had proven exactly that.
I was not like Bagloros. This was not immaturity. It was not that I had yet to grow or had yet to be completed. I was already complete—unstable, darkly twisted, and finished.
I looked down at my own hands. The Pope's ring was not on my finger now, nor were any other artifacts. But inside my robe was the crystal leading to the Library of Denatel, where countless secrets were literally piled up.
Not only Lady Rofena, but the forbidden texts, the artifacts, the gold coins and jewels—and the fact that I had tried to hide them all. For no one but myself.
Even if those things were revealed, would Medrup and the others' trust in me remain unchanged?
It would not break. But would they still be able to understand me as completely as they did now? Would that trust and faith remain without even the smallest ripple?
“…How selfish and shameless. To want their trust while still deceiving them?”
Hiding that desolate feeling, I slowly summoned the runes across my body. Since I had been told to prepare, I needed to prepare. Before heading to Minasid, I would have to layer the equipment-type barriers once more, restoring what had weakened and faded.