Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: John's Greeting
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"No need to stay on guard, it seems."
Kalligo said.
"How did you know to come here?"
Lander asked the old man. The old man approached slowly, not hiding his tension.
"It really happened."
"What do you mean by that?"
"That person said that one day, three people would appear here. That someone seeking the Grand Flow would come, and to pass this on."
The old man held out a box.
"What is this?"
"It's the item that person entrusted to me."
"Who is 'that person'?"
"The one you're looking for."
Lander took the box. Guchi, standing behind him, advised that it might be dangerous.
"You two, stay back."
He told Kalligo and Guchi. Whatever was inside, it couldn't pose a threat to him.
It wasn't mere confidence. It was simply a fact.
After confirming the two had moved away, he opened the box. Inside was a folded, waterproofed leather pouch.
Lifting it revealed paper. Words were written on it.
"What's inside?"
Kalligo shouted from afar.
"Looks like a note."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Seems fine, but just in case, stay there."
He examined the old man before him. The man wavered between tension and relief. What had made the old man tense, and what had brought him relief?
"Did that person you mentioned tell you to deliver this?"
"Yes. When the year changed and winter came, this house would always leak, and that's when I would come here. I don't know how many years passed like that. The promise had faded so much I nearly forgot it, and that's when you appeared. Just as that person said."
The old man clasped his trembling hands together, as if in prayer. Lander pulled out the paper inside. He read the large words at the top.
- It must be confusing, but first, greetings. I am John.
The greeting was underlined.
- The one reading this, are you Kalligo? If not, pass it on to him.
* * *
"Some level of violence was expected. After all, once we got bodies, we've been sparring unreasonably, cutting off comrades' arms and legs."
"I tried to understand. With our sensory domain expanded, maybe the amplitude of our emotions expanded too. But it's too much. I just sparred with Inebil. I nearly killed the kid—not once, but twice."
Dianne pressed the space between her brows to steady her troubled mind.
"Dianne."
Silder approached and embraced her.
"You were worried."
"Uncontrollable violence is useless. I thought I could fully handle this power. But something's off. I feel like I'm losing control more and more."
"Getting drunk on power has always happened. We knew that."
She caught her breath in Silder's arms for a moment before continuing.
"I want to hold off on opening the perfect Realm for now."
"Does it look that serious?"
"It might just be especially bad today. Or maybe I'm being sensitive. But we can't overlook even the smallest things, right? That's what you always said."
"True."
"I don't want delays in the schedule either. But the perfect Realm is our foundation. If there's a problem here, we should halt everything and inspect it."
"Things keep going off track. The two-story house being discovered, and now you saying this."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not for you to apologize."
Silder stroked her back. She wanted to savor the gentle touch longer, but now wasn't the time.
"As a leader, give me your opinion. I'll follow your words."
"Once doubts arise, we can't push forward."
"What about Master?"
"He's preparing. I'll go tell him to stop."
"I'll talk to Inebil again."
Silder nodded.
"How did she react?"
"She showed reluctance."
"A normal response."
"We haven't told her what we're aiming for yet. Once she hears that, Inebil will make a firm decision. We've already shown her the power. She'll agonize over it, but she'll choose us."
"I'll leave the persuading to you. And whatever comes after, of course."
Silder released her.
"I'll head to the basement."
"What about Blue Button?"
"Prepare the 1st Knight Order. I'll explain the situation to Master and get his agreement. Even if there's no direct connection to us, Master said he's left traces there. We should clean it up thoroughly this time."
"What if Master opposes?"
"It's undeniable that man is useful, but we can't be tied to him forever. Besides, all the mages who followed him have come over to our side, so it might be time to tidy things up."
"We haven't found a suitable candidate lately either. Maybe his abilities as a mage have reached their limit."
"That's possible. They say mages who lose everything in an instant are common."
She thought briefly of Master. A man impossible to read.
A guy who always acted as he pleased, beyond all predictions. Silder had reached out solely for his abilities. If he was no longer needed, it was right to eliminate him swiftly.
"I'll prepare the knights. And one more thing. Someone was spying on the mansion."
"Oh?"
"I tried to deal with them, but they were pretty quick. Seems like one of Anke's people."
"He's the only one with the guts to monitor us. Got it. I'll keep it in mind."
She watched Silder descend to the basement, then left the office.
* * *
If everything went according to plan, where's the fun in that?
Silder recalled the words of an old sage and gave a wry smile. He wasn't broad-minded enough to find amusement when things didn't go as intended.
He loved it most when expectations unfolded exactly as predicted.
Lately, nothing had gone right. Inebil running off, no suitable candidates appearing, the two-story house being discovered. Nothing pleased him.
Violence. Dianne's words crawled up his neck. Maybe so. He felt impatience even now.
He wanted to smash something to vent his frustration. But it wasn't unbearable. He could rein it in sufficiently. The side effects were anticipated, so they didn't bother him much.
That said, it wasn't something to ignore. Dianne had brought it up, after all. Would asking Master yield an answer?
Questioning someone who needed to be dealt with wasn't pleasant. It felt like exposing his own shortcomings repeatedly.
He paused midway on the stairs and entered the left entrance. The door was open, likely because Master was inside.
At the entrance, a mage bowed deeply in greeting. A sign of loyalty.
"Where's Master?"
"Inside."
Silder walked in with his hands behind his back. The minty scent grew stronger. He passed women pleading to be spared and headed to the altar.
Master was there.
"We'll have to postpone opening the Realm."
"Do so."
Master never questioned orders. He seemed devoid of will.
But sometimes, Silder wondered. Maybe he knew everything, so he acquiesced without objection.
"The two-story house has been discovered."
"I see."
"We've let it slide until now, but we can no longer. We're cooperating for mutual benefit. We can't keep providing convenience indefinitely."
"Do as you wish. There's no reason to stop now that the agent of the gods has begun to move. An individual can't defy the Grand Flow."
Master removed his hood and passed by. Silder glanced at him sideways and spoke.
"Was the two-story house being discovered also due to the fate you always mention?"
"It became so because it was meant to be."
"One more thing I'd like to ask."
"What is it?"
"The side effects of the perfect Realm. I've seen countless cases of unstable Realms: loss of reason, humans reduced to dolls, beasts left with only fighting instinct. Does the perfect Realm cause similar symptoms?"
"As I told you from the start, the perfect Realm delivers exactly what you desire. If you're worried about the intensifying violence, that's not a question for me."
"Then who should I ask?"
"Ask yourselves. Who desires the violence? Who let go of the reins in indulgence?"
"A matter of will?"
"It seems you're doubting me. I must not be needed anymore."
"That depends on how you respond, Master."
"Do as you wish. That too is part of the Grand Flow, so I have no need to resist or beg."
"Are you abandoning your predecessor's legacy? You clearly told me this: you wish to uphold your master's will and take revenge on the gods. You can't achieve that without your life, can you?"
Master didn't reply. He merely smiled. How long had it been since Silder last saw that expression? He glared at Master's retreating figure, then gathered the mages.
"Any gains?"
Hume, the mages' representative, smiled with confidence.
"We heard everything from Master. We can establish it ourselves now."
"You're certain?"
"Yes. If we find a suitable candidate, we can open the perfect Realm. Of course, it'll take some time. Magic's form depends on how it's envisioned in the mind."
"I need confirmation. Proof that you can perform the same magic as Master and open the perfect Realm."
"We'll show you within ten days."
"Glad to hear it. Need anything?"
"Materials are sufficient."
Hume's gaze turned to the women locked behind iron bars.
"What are Master's future plans? Did he tell you?"
"He said he'll stay at the mansion, awaiting the fate coming for him."
"Entrusting everything to fate until the end."
"A dim-witted fatalist."
Silder studied the mage's face. Pragmatic types who weighed profits. That made them easy to judge. They wouldn't betray while he provided the research environment. If any sign of mischief appeared, killing a couple as examples would suffice.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"We'll establish the magic in the basement. Contact with the outside may be cut off while in the Mental Realm, but don't worry."
"I know. What it means for mages to immerse in research. Meals will be left outside the door—handle it yourselves."
Silder ascended the stairs amid the mages' bows. One nagging issue was on the verge of resolution. Master had value as the only one who could open the Realm.
That premise would soon change. In ten days, the fatalist's fate would be decided.
(To be continued)
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