Chapter 170: Magus Kailas (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170: Magus Kailas (2)
The Black Leaf.
Their sole purpose was to protect the current Elf Queen—the only High Elf remaining since the forgotten Age of Gods.
Since the organization’s founding, they had never escorted anyone else.
No, that wasn't quite right. They hadn't until today.
“…….”
Two carriages were parked side by side on an unpaved road shrouded in pitch-black darkness.
Draim, the leader of the Black Leaf, let out a small sigh as he kept a close watch on the surroundings.
‘Why on earth am I guarding a human…?’
To be honest, Draim couldn't understand the situation at all. The Black Leaf was a group existing solely to protect Queen Magrina.
Of course, Draim knew that his personal feelings should have no bearing on his "duty." The Black Leaf was a unit under the Queen's direct command, moving according to her will, and he had no intention of ever disobeying her orders.
Still, a sliver of doubt remained. Half of the Black Leaf’s total strength had been deployed just to protect a human noble.
‘No, he’s no ordinary human noble.’
Draim lowered his gaze to look at Marquis Palatio inside the carriage. Though he didn't know the man's exact nature, every member of the Black Leaf guarding him had realized it the moment they first saw the Marquis.
That thing that never left the other world, always clinging to his back.
That entity alone testified that the Marquis was an abnormal existence.
‘The fact that the Queen ordered us to guard him already means he’s no ordinary person, but still…’
While his questions weren't entirely answered, the Queen’s command was absolute.
‘Phew—’
Some time passed. Just as the campfire lit near the carriage began to die down, a man stepped out from the carriage in front of the Marquis.
It was Deus Macallian, who had joined Marquis Palatio at the previous village. Despite it being the dead of night, his eyes shone with sharp clarity.
Suddenly, a very low voice fell from his lips.
“Come out.”
A brief silence followed.
“If you won't come out, I’ll make you.”
The moment his mouth opened again, Draim saw it.
“Urgh—!?”
One of his subordinates was being quietly dragged out, bound by purple threads that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
‘He saw through our stealth?!’
Draim was inwardly appalled. Everyone who joined the Black Leaf possessed above-average talent. Based on that extraordinary talent, they mastered the Black Leaf’s secret arts, which provided a level of stealth that no one could easily detect. It was a high-level technique that even the "Five Strongest" of the demi-human nations would struggle to notice.
And yet, the knight before him had seen through it instantly.
‘This is impossible—’
Draim’s brow furrowed deeply. However, Deus, who had captured a member of the Black Leaf with a calm expression, spoke again.
“Five left, excluding this one. I’ll give you one more chance. Don't run; come out. If you try to flee, I’ll kill this one first.”
He had located the others.
After a moment of deliberation, Draim let out a low groan, deactivated his stealth, and walked forward. Stealth was useless now. He judged that there was nothing to be gained by holding out in this situation.
“……So you’re the leader.”
“I am.”
Deus Macallian showed no change in expression, even after confirming that his opponent was an elf—a race not easily encountered.
“Who are you?”
“……Let me say first that we are not enemies.”
“I will be the judge of whether you are a threat to the Marquis or not.”
Draim fell silent for a moment at the firm response before continuing.
“I have told no lies.”
“Why are you following the Marquis?”
“……We have simply received orders to guard Marquis Palatio.”
“From whom?”
“I cannot say.”
“Then get lost.”
It was a blunt dismissal without a hint of hesitation.
“……Regrettably, that is impossible. I, too, am acting under orders.”
“You must have a death wish.”
“Hardly. Aren't you the one rushing toward your end?”
“What?”
As Deus questioned him, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation. Black blades were already hovering at his throat. Using Draim’s ability, dozens of blades rising from Deus’s own shadow were poised to tear through his flesh at any moment.
“I keep telling you, there is no need for us to clash. We are here to protect Marquis Palatio, not to harm him.”
“That changes nothing. Get lost.”
“……Do you really think you’re in a position to say that?”
As Draim frowned in incomprehension, Deus lightly raised his hand and pointed to his own neck.
And then.
“!”
Draim realized it. A purple thread was already wrapped around his own throat.
That wasn't all. Purple threads were also wound around the necks of the remaining Black Leaf members who were still hidden in stealth.
“It doesn't matter. As long as I can kill all of you who might pose a threat to the Marquis.”
“……!”
Draim instinctively swallowed hard as he saw the vivid madness flickering in Deus’s purple eyes.
Creeeeak—!
At the faint sound of a carriage door opening, the purple threads Deus had created vanished instantly. Draim was bewildered by Deus’s sudden change in stance as he released the entire Black Leaf unit in a heartbeat.
Twitch—
Following a sharp tilt of Deus’s head, Draim and his subordinates immediately hid themselves again.
A moment later, Alon stepped out of the carriage, rubbing his eyes and stifling a yawn as if he had just woken up.
“Deus.”
“Marquis.”
“What were you doing?”
“I was meditating.”
“……Meditating?”
“Yes.”
“……I thought I heard voices.”
“You likely heard me murmuring to myself.”
…Isn't meditation supposed to be done in silence?
Alon scratched his head.
“……I see.”
“Yes.”
“Go to sleep soon. The later you stay up, the more tired you’ll be.”
“Yes. Please rest well, Marquis.”
“Right.”
Looking disheveled, Alon climbed back into the carriage.
Silence returned to the area. Having been awake only briefly, Alon seemed to fall back into a deep sleep almost immediately.
Deus stared at a specific point in the empty air and spoke.
“Come out.”
“…….”
Draim revealed himself once more, but his face was clouded with confusion. From Draim’s perspective—needing to guard the Marquis without being noticed—this wasn't a bad outcome.
But it was strange. Deus had no reason to do the Black Leaf any favors.
“……Why did you bother hiding us?” Draim asked, full of doubt.
The answer he received was—
“Because the Marquis must not be made uncomfortable.”
—far beyond anything he had expected.
“Pardon?”
“If he knew people like you were lurking around, the Marquis might lose sleep.”
“…….”
“Even if I were to deal with you right in front of him, once a threat has manifested, he might not be able to sleep peacefully.”
In other words.
‘He let his enemies go just so Marquis Palatio could get a good night’s sleep?’
Draim’s jaw dropped involuntarily.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Leave. If you don't listen, I will kill you all this time.”
“……Do you think you can?”
Draim snapped back to his senses at the arrogant declaration.
However.
“Do you think I can't?”
“…….”
Draim felt his mind go hazy again.
‘Those eyes again…!’
They were bizarre and dangerous—eyes filled with a fanatical light that sent shivers down his spine the moment he met them. Faced with that burning obsession to achieve a goal no matter what was lost, Draim reflexively took a step back.
“Remember my words.”
Before Draim could even process the surge of shame, Deus turned away without hesitation.
……It was late in the night.
And the next day, Deus’s senses picked up nothing more.
* * *
After traveling for about a week, Alon arrived in Lartania.
“It’s been a while.”
“Hello, Godfather. And it’s been a while for you too, Deus?”
“Indeed.”
He met Line in Merde, a place that felt somewhat familiar now.
“By the way, what brings Deus here?”
“He said he has some business to attend to.”
“Yes, very important business.”
Deus nodded and bowed toward Alon.
“Then, Marquis, I shall head to the Labyrinth for a short while.”
“The Labyrinth was your destination?”
“Yes. There is something I need to obtain inside.”
“……Hmm.”
Behind his unchanging expression, Alon felt a flicker of doubt.
…Does he need something from the Labyrinth to make a gift?
Well, since all sorts of miscellaneous goods came out of the Labyrinth, he didn't think much of it.
“Don't overdo it, and be careful.”
Alon dismissed the thought lightly.
“……! Understood! I will be sure to be careful!”
“……? Right.”
He was almost taken aback again by Deus’s intense reaction.
After Deus left for the Labyrinth.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, of course. And you, Godfather?”
“Nothing special happened on my end.”
“That’s a relief.”
Alon sat in the office and chatted with Line for a while. Then, he remembered the request he had sent to her before arriving in Lartania.
“Line, were you able to find the place I mentioned?”
“If you mean the place from your letter, I’ve found it.”
“……Really? That’s good. Thank you for always working so hard.”
“Don't mention it. Not between us, Godfather.”
Line gave a calm, clear smile and then asked, “But why do you want to go there?”
“There is an item that can only be used in that specific place.”
The reason Alon had specifically asked Line to find a certain location in the underground of Lartania was simple.
It was because the "Feet Running Through the Past" could only be used in that specific spot within Lartania.
“I see.”
Line nodded as if she understood.
“Since it’s late today, please rest, and I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
“Let’s do that.”
The two promised to meet the next day.
* * *
In the land of the Lizardmen, situated next to the elven land of Greinif.
Inside the Great Tribe Kalmak, which ruled that territory.
[Is this… truly the case?]
“……I have delivered Kurak’s letter exactly as it was written.”
The Living God, revered by all Lizardmen and the one who bestowed his own power upon them through Engravings.
[……Is it possible that he is truly alive?]
The mouth hidden behind a veil twisted into a vivid expression of anticipation.