Chapter 222
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Absolutely Impossible
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Labyrinth giggled.
No one in London could have known.
While the shadow monster summoned by the Kaiser rampaged through the city,
deep within a distant dungeon, he had seized the opportunity from the crack in London's great barrier to gather this.
There had been one close call when some witch tracked the missing people and showed up at the dungeon.
And another when Claire came tagging along like a fool with a tail, nearly exposing everything.
[Indeed, if it's that, it might even serve as a substitute for the Seven Arks...]
[Ridiculous. Do you really think something like that could replace the Seven Arks?]
"But it can still be used as a makeshift substitute for now, right?"
Sometimes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush—even if it's someone else's gold.
Labyrinth cackled as she picked up the blood-red gem again, adding,
"We'll just have to offer up some decent mountain sacrifices each time we use it, but that's a minor hassle at worst, isn't it?"
[Sacrifices? At least a hundred, minimum?]
"That's the bare minimum. My skill shows it'll take at least ten thousand to really make use of it."
[That's definitely manageable.]
The idea of grinding people into sacrifices was accepted all too casually.
It was only natural.
They were the specters of the Liberation Brigade.
As the upper echelons of the most infamous criminal organization in this Iron Age, they were already mad criminals who had taken countless lives.
To such beings, Labyrinth said leisurely,
"My toys already have enough power to take on a Monarch. I've been raising them with care for years just for that."
Labyrinth could feel it.
The jealous glints in the eyes of some of her comrades.
It was understandable.
No matter how much power they each wielded against a Monarch, it was only with Descent of the Constellation.
Among them, few specters could confidently face a Monarch without borrowing the stars' power.
That was one reason Labyrinth held the rank of fourth.
"All that's left is the finishing touches."
Savoring her comrades' gazes, Labyrinth cheerfully revealed her plan.
In a dungeon specially crafted inspired by the ancient magic of gu poison, she made her toys fight each other.
And in the end, the last one standing absorbs all the power by devouring the rest.
"Now, if we offer up around a hundred thousand—no, a million—decent sacrifices with this to further empower my toy, what do you think will happen?"
[It would certainly make for a usable trump card.]
"Usable? It'll claim the third rank for me."
The other specters grimaced but couldn't refute her.
Berserker Eugene, who had held third.
Judgment Bellos, who had held fifth.
With those top-ranked among the twelve specters dead, few could stop Labyrinth's solo run now.
All except two.
[No, it's too early to claim that.]
"...What do you mean by that?"
[It means third rank could be mine.]
"What?"
That was one of the two exceptions.
Everyone, including Labyrinth, was stunned by the Magician's words.
Ever since joining the Liberation Brigade, the Magician had never once lost second place—the immovable number two.
For him to say this meant only one thing.
[So, it wasn't just the Magic Monarch preparing to receive the stars' blessing...]
[I recall we agreed to hold off on new recruits until securing the third Seven Ark.]
[We can't leave the spot vacant forever.]
The Magician said softly.
Originally, anyone could become a specter of the Liberation Brigade—but not quite.
They couldn't expand the roster even if they wanted until securing more Seven Arks.
But with four vacancies now, their aggressive recruitment despite the risks was finally bearing fruit.
[Once this recruitment wraps up, not only third, but the remaining spots can be filled soon.]
"Tch, always so annoyingly diligent."
Labyrinth clicked her tongue at missing a chance to slip into what had been an ironclad third place.
But she quickly regained her confidence.
"Fine, then it's even better. I'll take second while I'm at it, so get ready to yield, comrade."
[We'll see.]
The Magician calmly accepted Labyrinth's challenge.
Rank disputes weren't rare among them anyway, and stronger specters were always a good thing.
Especially if Labyrinth's toy completed as planned—it would more than fill the gaps.
In that sense, the Magician spoke again.
[It's good to grind levels like you, Labyrinth, but don't forget your individual missions. Especially anything Seven Arks-related.]
[No worries, comrade. We're all in agreement on that.]
The specters nodded solemnly.
Having failed to secure the third and fourth Seven Arks, and lost four specters,
honestly, the organization's situation hadn't been this dire since the Brigade's founding.
[Three Arks remain... The final one can't be touched yet, and we don't know the sixth's exact location...]
"We must claim the fifth Seven Ark, right?"
Labyrinth nodded, fiddling with the blood-red gem.
This could serve as a Seven Ark substitute, but it was still just that—a substitute.
Nothing compared to the real thing, and above all, to fulfill the great stars' will, they needed every Ark.
[And watch for information leaks.]
"Leaks? You saying there's a traitor among us?"
[We've lost Seven Arks twice already. We have to consider some info might have leaked somehow.]
Once could be coincidence, but twice? No way.
Labyrinth snorted at the Magician's caution.
"Don't worry about nothing, comrade. No one outside us knows about the Seven Arks."
[We've all sworn silence to the stars... Security's airtight, for sure...]
Their confidence wasn't unfounded.
Knowledge of the Seven Arks was forbidden—not just to humans, but even great constellations couldn't mention it lightly.
For that secret to leak? Impossible, and shouldn't happen.
So they sneered and declared,
"Unless the dead come back to life, figuring out the Seven Arks is absolutely impossible."
Vreeeeeng.
Tartarus's secret chamber.
The place, befitting a saint's tomb, had been shrouded in solemn silence.
But now, a single beautiful melody flowed through it.
Blending naturally was a voice just as beautiful as the melody.
The gentle yet profound tune and the clear, pure voice intertwined in the air, forming perfect harmony.
The source, naturally, was Rimon Asfelder and Aynsha.
If tickets were sold, they'd sell out in seconds no matter the venue size—world-class violinist and vocalist showcasing their talents deep underground.
Three peculiarities.
One: Rimon played not the Shadowheart Violin, but the Guarneri Rose had gifted him.
Two: The Shadowheart Violin sat in the empty spot beside the stone coffin.
Three: Yuna Kyung stared intently at that Shadowheart Violin.
"Lure it out? With music?"
[Even if tone-deaf in life, it was a priestess of the Muse, right? She'd naturally be into art and music.]
"Hmm, not illogical... But you really think such a simple trick will work?"
[Personality aside, Team Leader's playing is top-tier. Plus, White Dragon Princess sis is here too.]
Smack!
[Ow!]
"Why do you always add that one line to earn a smack? You got a instinct for it?"
After some back-and-forth, Rimon accepted Yuna Kyung's suggestion.
No other way to summon the saint's ghost, and trying once wouldn't hurt.
They didn't half-ass it either.
Using a different violin on purpose.
Decorating the tomb like a temple.
Aynsha and Rimon brainstorming songs and pieces likely to draw out a ghost.
They'd prepared as best they could and started the performance.
Yuna Kyung's role was the simplest—yet most crucial.
[...You're having me check if the ghost appears? And talk to it if possible?]
"Yeah."
[Me, for something that important?]
"You're the only one here who's seen a ghost before."
London's was the exception.
Spirits generally invisible—even to White Dragon Clan with foresight or Sword Master Rimon.
Handling souls was witches' and priests' domain.
Not swordsmen's.
Star-seeing eyes might work, but a scared ghost hides anyway—pointless.
Yuna Kyung was perfect for it.
She'd seen one before, and her look screamed non-threat.
Knowing that, she'd reluctantly taken the negotiation role, now anxiously watching the Shadowheart Violin.
'It'll come, right?'
Yuna Kyung hadn't suggested it on a whim.
She remembered not seeing the ghost just once.
When she reincarnated and reunited with Rimon.
The first time he played the Shadowheart Violin, she'd vaguely glimpsed a translucent girl watching.
That ghost, unseen otherwise, had appeared only then—before Rimon.
So his playing might summon it again.
'It'll come. It has to...!'
But that made her more anxious as time passed.
Rimon and Aynsha were delivering a performance so enchanting, no god or ghost could resist emerging.
If this failed, summoning was impossible.
As time dragged, their peak hit amid Yuna Kyung's growing dread.
'Ah!'