Chapter 82
Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Burning Black Flame Dangleon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Tomorrow, those guys are holding a secret meeting in Bondales—"
Rishir was the only one who had gleaned something meaningful from the letter.
And his actions had spurred others into motion—
"Hold on—"
"Let me see that."
It was Balrod and Malddad.
Balrod was one of the foremost adversaries of black magic even within the Crimson Tower.
And Malddad was a demon hunter who had earned recognition by specializing in demons and their followers.
They were usually the ones who led others with their overwhelming knowledge.
But Rishir—a young man who was practically a disciple in terms of age—had extracted crucial information from the White Shadow Cult's letter.
While they had come up empty.
If it had been in front of their disciples, they might have accepted the embarrassment with dignity.
Of course, the absence of disciples didn't spare their pride.
His thick red eyebrows drew into a sharp curve following his expression.
His eyes, shining through his black bangs, gleamed fiercely.
"Malddad. Stay put for a moment! I'll look first and pass it to you!!! Don't act rashly—"
"You're the one who—"
The two burly men, their thick hands callused from battle, grabbed the ends of the letter and leaned in amiably.
"Ugh."
Shakan, who had stepped back to watch the spectacle, felt his ears droop.
It was a sight to behold, in more ways than one.
How much time passed like that?
"..."
Balrod released the letter with a dissatisfied expression.
Now the letter was entirely Malddad's, but he too frowned and set it down instead of rejoicing.
"Did you figure anything out?"
Shakan asked with a smirk.
His face said he wasn't curious at all—he just wanted to tease them.
When else would he get to see those two make faces like they were holding in a fart, and poke fun at them?
As expected.
Balrod and Malddad smacked their lips with displeased looks.
Heh heh heh.
The beastkin warrior bared her sharp fangs in a gleeful laugh.
"..."
Ran's expression, watching the whole scene, was exceedingly complicated.
Who would have thought that among those four, the youngest (or greenest, to put it bluntly) honorary mage would shine the brightest.
She still found the entire situation bewildering.
"Rishir."
Balrod's gaze turned to Rishir.
His angular face trembled, accentuating his already fierce features.
Mages of the Crimson Tower were infamous for their fiery tempers.
It was the result of immersing themselves in fire magic and taking on its nature.
Even among those fire mages, Balrod was a special case.
As a disciple of the Crimson Tower Lord, he was one of the few evaluated as closest to the essence of flame, second only to the Tower Lord himself.
In short, his temper went beyond fiery—it was fire incarnate.
This had been evident just moments ago during the heretics' binding.
-Gaaahhh!!!
-Don't provoke my wrath, you vermin!
When some heretics belatedly assessed the situation and tried to take their own lives, he had erupted in rage, turning their fingers to ash.
For a young mage to outshine such a Balrod in merit?
-Explain in detail how you reached that conclusion, enough to convince me!!! If you acted recklessly without sufficient basis, you'll bear responsibility for your actions!
Normally, it would have required a near-interrogation to prove himself.
"Let me say upfront, this isn't me challenging your opinion at all..."
But now.
Balrod was practically groveling to Rishir.
He trembled like a kettle boiling over with rage, yet ultimately showed respect.
There was just too much he had demonstrated so far to dismiss him as a young mage or prioritize face.
Balrod thought.
If he hadn't been there, could they have uncovered the White Shadow Cult's secret ritual in time and saved the victims?
Probably—
-Of course! You pathetic human! If you did that to Lady Zwinni, I would—
"Ah, quiet down."
...no, it would have been utterly impossible.
And so, this astonishing scene unfolded.
"Would you teach us how you interpreted the letter's contents...?"
The Crimson Tower's red spear sought guidance from the young mage.
"...I dare to ask as well."
Malddad followed with a nod.
And not just them.
Shakan and Ran also looked at Rishir with eyes full of curiosity.
The initial suspicion in their gazes toward him had vanished completely.
"Well, it's nothing special."
Rishir said soon after.
What a plain tone.
They almost believed it truly was nothing, just as he said.
"I recalled something from a book I read before. It happened to cover the script used in this letter."
During his time in Bendel, Rishir had devoured all sorts of miscellaneous books at the Haeren Library annex to earn his keep.
The book he mentioned now was one from that era.
That was why Rishir felt bewildered now.
It was a book and knowledge even a bastard like him had accessed easily.
Yet experts of their caliber acted like they knew nothing of it.
"There's a book like that?"
"If it's all right, could we know the name?"
Balrod and Malddad's eyes sparkled with anticipation and curiosity.
"Let me think... I believe it was a peculiarly named book called Succession Book: Daronan."
"..."
"..."
Balrod and Malddad's sparkling eyes froze in unison.
"...How did you manage to read that book?"
"Pardon? Oh. It was in the annex of the library in my city—"
"No, that's not what I— Wait, why was that book there in the first place— No..."
The demon hunter turned into a parrot repeating "no."
Soon after.
Balrod and Malddad stared at each other in bewilderment.
Why is he fine?
Their faces seemed to say.
"Is there some problem?"
Balrod and Malddad plunged into agony.
How should they react to this?
-As expected of Lady Zwinni!!! To read a Succession Book and emerge unscathed!!!
Conveniently, the demon provided a clear answer.
"No! No problem at all!"
"To have read a Succession Book. You're truly remarkable!"
They spoke brightly, their eyes unfocused.
"..."
Rishir felt an inexplicable unease.
-As expected, Lady Zwinni operates on a different plane from these pathetic humans!
"I'm one of those pathetic humans."
-Do not belittle yourself!
"..."
Rishir ignored Dangleon and addressed the group.
"Shall I just tell you the letter's contents directly?"
"Ah, no!!!"
"Absolutely not! Summarize it for us!"
Balrod and Malddad recoiled in horror, distancing themselves from Rishir.
Ran and Shakan followed suit, stepping back.
Even the heretics rolling on the floor tumbled away from him.
"Agh."
Rishir felt unjustly ostracized.
In the midst of it, Ran spoke.
"For now, shall we head back? I'll arrange for the victims and heretics to be handed over."
Back at Ran's mansion, Rishir immediately summarized the letter's contents for them.
The letter specified the meeting place and time, but no further details.
For instance—
"Can't move rashly on this, huh?"
The others nodded at Shakan's words.
They recalled the White Shadow Cult priest Goldina they had faced in the secret chamber.
He had chosen death before a proper fight.
But that desperate display just before battle.
That power.
What if the group had split for the search?
If one had faced Goldina alone?
Undoubtedly, one of them would have suffered severe damage.
And Goldina's letter had come from "above."
It was likely that forces equal to or greater than Goldina awaited at the meeting spot mentioned.
It was impossible to guarantee the safety of the entire group.
An uncomfortable silence settled briefly.
Shakan spoke cautiously.
"I'd like to bow out around now."
"Same here. Can't get more involved."
"Likewise."
Their commission from Ran was "demon interrogation" and "tracking suspected demon followers."
A "full-scale war with the White Shadow Cult" was an entirely different matter, one that would risk their lives.
"..."
Thus, if Ran wanted further cooperation, she would need to promise greater compensation and formally request support.
But.
Even Councilor Ran had limits.
She couldn't arbitrarily bring such forces into the city.
So, Ran's only option now was one.
Entrust the rest to the guard.
Handing over a meticulously prepared feast to another councilor.
"..."
Damn.
Ran murmured softly, biting her lip.
That was when.
"Hey, Dangleon."
Rishir prodded the black crystal orb.
"Anything else you know?"
-...
"?"
The orb gave no reply.
It had emptied at some point.
Good.
Perfect!
The Burning Black Flame Dangleon inwardly cheered his triumph.
In the moment they let their guard down, he had successfully transferred his essence to another seal stone.
He had to sacrifice most of his power, but it was unavoidable.
Staying near that "Lady Zwinni" might have turned him into "that" thing.
'Damn. Damn! Damn!!!'
Dangleon writhed in humiliation.
For one of his stature to be toyed with in a mere human's palm.
An unacceptable disgrace.
Thus, repayment was in order.
All for revenge.
Dangleon focused his mind.
Information around the seal stone flowed to him.
His weakened power limited his vision, but the voices and presences came clearly.
'One high priest above Goldina's rank, and three at Goldina's level.'
Goldina had said a White Shadow Cult group would soon join, carrying parts of the remaining seal stones.
These were likely the ones Goldina was set to meet.
"Dangleon."
A voice called then.
"Why are you here? What happened to the ritual?"
The speaker was a being higher than Goldina—
A high priest of the White Shadow Cult.
Dangleon felt displeasure at the irreverent tone lacking awe, but soon understood.
The traces from the voice's owner.
He was a priest serving a being of higher rank than Dangleon.
-The ritual—
Dangleon tried to confess the truth.
Councilor Ran.
Shakan of the Thunder Step Tribe.
Balrod of the Crimson Tower.
Demon hunter Malddad.
And honorary mage Rishir of the Gray Tower.
The ritual was thwarted by them, and Goldina was killed (suicide).
-...
But no voice emerged in the end.
Why?
Dangleon realized quickly.
-Lady Zwinni!
An innocent girl's voice came to mind.
-Bow your heads, worms! Embrace the night! I, the Sand Mountain that Shrouds the Sun, strip you of all rights!
Then a thunderous cry from some mighty being.
-Nothing special, I read the Succession Book.
Finally, Lady Zwinni's innocent voice.
'Maltel...'
Dangleon recalled a certain existence.
The one the nearby high priest served.
'Kallas... Golia...'
Above Maltel were two demons.
And above those two—
'...Berbandes.'
Then.
Another priest's voice sounded.
"High Priest. We've found a fragment of Him."
Dangleon realized.
He had been mere bait.
Their true goal was here, in Bondales: manifesting Maltel.
His, Dangleon's, revival was just a means to buy time.
'...'
To that ultimate humiliation, Dangleon's first emotion wasn't humiliation or rage.
It was doubt and concern.
With Berbandes defeated, could Maltel even manifest and withstand "that"?
-Lady Zwinni!
"What? You're back?"
The Burning Black Flame Dangleon.
Having completed calculations faster than light with his omnipotent demonic power.
-Of course I had to return! My place is at Lady Zwinni's feet!
"Where'd you go?"
-I scouted the enemy's camp!
"Wow, you can do that? Impressive."
A gaze looking down from above.
Dangleon trembled at the human's audacity.
'Why... why am I doing this...!'
Yet he also felt a ticklish reverence.
-Lady Zwinni!!!
The black mist swirling in the crystal orb seemed slightly paled, tinged with gray.