Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The White Book's Guidance
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Allen stared, dumbfounded, at the white book that had appeared before his eyes.
‘What in the world is this?’
Unlike the black book, which he could use from the beginning, why was this one only reacting now, after several months?
『?Three steps to the right. Two steps back. Shockwave 400m above in 8 seconds.』
Despite Allen’s suspicious gaze, the white book remained on the same page, offering no answer.
『8 seconds』
“Allen?”
As if unable to see what was written in the white book, Vestla prompted him.
“What are you going to do? Are you doing it?”
『7 seconds』
“No… wait, just a moment.”
Stay as calm as possible.
Allen narrowed his eyes. There was no time to think, but he had to think as hard as he could.
『6 seconds』
‘What is ■■? Is it the same as what I read last time?’ Why the white book was suddenly reacting.
『5 seconds』
‘What was the condition? The witch? The undead? Vestla? Or was it the situation itself?’ The meaning of this incomprehensible help appearing at such a time.
『4 seconds』
“Decide quickly!”
‘What does the white book want?’
No, the purpose of the one who made him regress…
“Allen!”
『3 seconds』
Allen finally moved.
Three steps to the right.
‘I can escape any trick they throw at me anyway.’ Even without the secret weapon Vestla had prepared.
It might take a little more time, but this situation wasn't an inescapable crisis.
‘So.’
『2 seconds』
Two steps back.
‘What this instruction means….’ I’ll find out.
『1 second』
*Fwang!*
As Allen twisted his hand, a thread spiraled in both directions above his head, flying into the air.
Precisely into the space 400 meters above Allen’s head.
“What are you doing now—!”
The moment the shockwave tore through the air and reached its target.
『0 seconds』
*Clang!*
“…doing! …Huh?”
With the sound of something shattering, the world broke apart.
Allen’s shockwave had ‘coincidentally’ destroyed the central axis in the air, bringing down the barrier. The result was greater than he had anticipated, and Allen’s eyes grew heavy.
They had returned to somewhere in the forest.
Vestla swung the tip of her sword around, scanning their surroundings before making a fuss.
“Wow, I don’t know how you did it, but it worked! That’s a relief! Hooray! If you had a way, why didn't you use it sooner?”
Allen gave a bitter smile and looked at the white book.
“…You’re right. It would have been nice to know I had a way.”
“In any case, what a relief!”
The white book.
『After destroying the barrier's axis, you escaped the barrier.
Though a vast amount of mana was consumed, the mana generated from the pseudo-Dragon's Heart can be replenished immediately….』
Just like last time, it had turned into a blank white page as if nothing had happened.
As always.
* * *
The third-grade witch, Nark, coughed up blood, her face turning red. The magical backlash made her old body tremble, but something else puzzled her more.
‘How did he find the barrier’s central axis?’
Three days ago, sensing someone watching this place, she had immediately prepared for an attack.
As she expected, the magic swordsman appeared today. Though his strength surprised her, she succeeded in trapping him in her prepared snare.
Her plan was to trap him, drain his life force, and then kill him.
‘He found it?’
Nark immediately gave up the thought of facing Allen. From what she had seen through her subordinate's eyes, his power was far beyond what she could handle.
It was fortunate she had put some distance between them just before the barrier completely shattered; otherwise, they would have met the instant the barrier’s core collapsed.
‘I have to run. Now.’
She immediately destroyed the altar at the center of the magic circle and hastily grabbed the red jewel she had created by gathering the forest’s life force.
Please, please, I hope I’m not too late.
She regretted leaving her old, wrinkled body as it was. Damn it. She immediately ran towards the escape route she had prepared beforehand.
As she ran out, panting for breath, and took a few steps.
“Where are you off to in such a rush?”
A voice she shouldn't have heard spoke.
“…You’re the magic swordsman who invaded my barrier.”
“That’s right. And you’re the witch spreading the curse in this domain.”
“…Is there anyone you wish to kill?”
Finding her response amusing, Allen chuckled.
“Why? Are you going to kill them for me?”
“Yes. I have many uses. Like this….”
The ground beneath Allen’s feet stirred, and in an instant, thick roots shot up his legs, enveloping his entire body.
“…Killing one little brat is no trouble at all!”
The roots covering his body began to squeeze, as if to crush him. Allen simply watched, as if observing a child’s antics.
A hideous smile spread across the witch’s wrinkled face, and she spoke as if she had already won.
“It’s useless. I wove this from a hundred ash trees just in case. No matter how strong you are….”
*Crack—*
“What about you?”
“H-how….”
The witch spoke in disbelief, but once Allen was certain she was out of tricks, he acted.
“I checked just in case, but it seems you’re out of cards to play.”
As Allen twisted his body, the roots that could have crushed steel tore apart like paper.
“W-wait a moment! Th-that was a mistake! My value….”
“No,”
*Thud—*
“I make it a rule not to trust witches.”
The witch’s body, split in two, fell to the side. Blood gushed out like a waterfall, creating a pool of red.
Allen used Vestla to slice off the witch’s head and then burst her heart. The corpse, now in four pieces, convulsed one last time as if begging for its life.
Brushing the dirt from his clothes, Allen unleashed a shockwave to obliterate the remains completely, then went to inspect the magic circle he had seen with his Celestial Eyes.
“So this is how she sent the life force gathered in the Divine Beast's forest…”
The broken altar served as a medium, and the blood-drawn magic circle was for collecting life force? It seemed to be a type of ritual magic, so he wasn't sure….
As Allen was looking over the magic circle, Vestla, who had been rummaging around, shouted.
“Hey, look at this!”
When Allen looked up, she flew over with a pouch cleverly hooked on her blade.
“What’s that?”
“It’s the witch’s! Isn't it full of treasure or something?”
As she urged him to open it, Allen extended his senses to check for any abnormalities before opening the pouch. Inside, a single red gem glowed with a brilliant, blood-red light.
“Do you know what this is?”
“…A Lifestone, I presume. A high-quality one at that. Did she gather and condense all the life force of this forest?”
She must have put a lot of effort into it. Allen put it away in his pocket. He didn't know what he would use it for yet, but it had many potential uses.
“Let’s head back now. We might have to walk all the way to the city otherwise.”
“I can fly, so I’m fine.”
“…*I’m* not fine.”
The experience of having to run to the city because he had no ride was something he only needed once.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, yes. I get it.”
* * *
“Lord Julius! Thank you so much.”
“As expected of you, Lord Julius. You truly live up to your reputation.”
“Thanks to you, we were able to protect our goods.”
Julius checked to see if there were any more intruders at the auction house, then accepted their thanks.
“It was nothing. It was only natural to protect my own belongings.”
The final day of the auction.
Today was the day the ancient artifacts transported from his domain were to be auctioned.
If the robbers hadn't broken in at the last minute, he would have already collected the payment and returned to his lodgings.
“Lord Julius, are you alright?”
As he flicked the blood from his sword and turned around, a beautiful woman with a delicate face and worried eyes approached him.
“Irene. Or should I be calling you Head of the Family now?”
“No, no! Between us, there’s no need for such titles. Please, just call me Irene.”
She shook her head, her purple hair shimmering, as if the thought were too much.
“Alright.”
Julius used his Rainbow Mystic Eyes as he watched her smile with delight.
‘A yellow mixed with a faint orange.’
Irene Blest.
He had happened to meet and rescue her when she was being threatened by assassins on her way to the capital.
After hearing her story of being unjustly pursued, he helped her defeat her adversaries and successfully placed her as the heir.
Since then, she had offered to do anything in return and had his party stay at her mansion.
‘With this level of talent, she’s worth the risk.’
She was someone who didn't even appear in the original story.
If he nurtured her well and brought her to the academy, she would become a great asset.
“Then…”
Irene blushed shyly and began to speak carefully.
“Would you do me the honor of having dinner with…”
“No, he already has a prior engagement with me.”
Irene’s face turned cold as she turned her head in the direction of the voice. A woman wearing a dress that looked like it was from a comic book, adorned with armor, was walking towards them with a click-clack of her heels.
“…Greetings to the Third Princess.”
“I told you not to be so formal, didn’t I? Just call me Helena.”
As Irene greeted her with a flat voice, Helena laughed heartily and placed a hand on Julius’s shoulder.
“And you too, Julius.”
“It’s been a while, Princess.”
“Yes, it has been a while since we saw each other at ‘that place’ a few days ago.”
Julius smiled awkwardly and averted his gaze.
‘To think I’d get involved with one of the main heroines from the original story.’
At a black market, no less.
A sudden power struggle had broken out at the black market he had secretly attended with only Reina, and he had joined forces with Helena, who was also there, to escape.
‘Though it was more like I received her help…’
It didn't matter, as long as this eccentric princess considered him a comrade.
Building a friendship with her would be a great help when he went to the academy.
‘And…’
What man would refuse a beautiful woman approaching him?
“Yes. That was the last time we saw each other.”
“Then, you haven't forgotten the promise we made there, have you? We said we’d have a meal together.”
“But…”
Julius glanced over to see Irene glaring daggers at Helena.
“…Could Irene not join us as well?”
“Hmm… I wanted to enjoy a private time, but if it’s your request, I suppose I have no choice. I shall permit it.”
“Thank you.”
Irene suppressed the dark emotions squirming inside her at the princess’s reluctant tone and bowed her head.
“Thank you for your permission, Princess.”
“You should thank Julius.”
“…Yes.”
Irene grit her teeth. She had to endure. She had to. Even if she was angry. Even if there were obstacles. Even if she wanted him all to herself.
‘Act normal.’
“Thank you, Julius.”
Her dark eyes shone with an empty light.
* * *
“Carnel, how is the plan progressing?”
“The plan is always proceeding smoothly. One of the sacrifices did manage to break free from the curse, but… well, that’s just a matter of luck, isn't it?”
“What about the matter of the dead witch?”
“The curse must have accidentally reached the ears of a noble visiting the city.”
Carnel shrugged his shoulders and examined the ritual altar he had painstakingly crafted over several years.
The altar was grotesque. The magic circle drawn around it constantly spewed red smoke, and the blood vessels clinging to it pulsed as if alive.
Dozens of black mages surrounded it, chanting and forming hand signs, continuously adjusting the ritual formula.
“No, there should be no variables. We’ve already been subjugated twice in this same domain. If this gets out…”
“Enough, enough. Malok, you worry too much. Corrupting a Divine Beast? Realistically, who would even imagine such a thing?”
Carnel chuckled, wiping the blood from his lips with his sleeve. Malok, with his hollow eyes, thought of the Divine Beast and conceded.
“…That’s true. But couldn't one of the noble families sense something is amiss?”
“Have you forgotten which domain this is?”
Carnel’s lips curled up as if asking if he truly didn’t know.
“Reinhardt…”
“You know, Malok. It’s impossible. But if you’re that anxious, go fetch some sacrifices. If you think humans will be discovered, use other things. You know?”
“If that’s the only solution… understood.”
Malok lowered the visor of his blackened helmet and pulled the greatsword embedded in the ground.
“The grand plan is not far off, so don’t forget to be careful.”
“…I’ll take your advice. Ah.”
As he was about to stand, Malok spoke as if remembering something.
“A few days ago, most of our branches reported feeling a gaze watching them. What do you think?”
“Hmm…”
He hummed, rolling his eyes, then spoke as if it were simple.
“[Celestial Eyes].”
“What did you say?”
“A relic that could make all branches feel a gaze at once… what else could it be but one of the five lost Divine Artifacts of the Hero?”
“That… I suppose so.”
“Headquarters will take action soon enough, so we don’t need to worry about it. Got it?”
“Understood.”
He slung the greatsword over his heavy armor.
“Bring back as many as you can.”
“I’ll try.”
As Malok’s figure slowly faded into the mist, Carnel popped the heart he was holding into his mouth in one bite.
“Heh, I wonder how long it will be until the time He spoke of arrives.”
He stood up.
There was still much to do. Even if the ritual was near completion, if any variables arose, everything he had prepared for years could crumble.
Carnel hummed a tune as he walked away.
“Hmmmm~”
Did they know, he wondered, that the dawn of a new era was not far away?