A Covert Meeting (2)
Scratch, scratch.
Warm sunlight streamed into the infirmary room.
Sikan Bauer sat in a chair beside the bed, filling out an investigation report.
He was documenting the emergency mission Jacques von Heibrun had undertaken while Gaon's heresy trial was underway.
"It is almost complete now,"
Sikan Bauer muttered, pausing his writing. He began to review and organize the notes he had taken so far.
"To summarize the final part of your statement, Sir Heibrun..."
The Sky Ocean Forest, a sanctuary located in the unexplored region near Centerium, the central city.
Suspecting activity from the Five Nightmares in that area, Jacques von Heibrun had set out alone on a mission to investigate.
"And you assumed it would take several months for the heresy trial to be convened, which is why you departed for the mission in the meantime?"
"Indeed," Jacques replied curtly.
"I could not afford to lose a lead on the Five Nightmares when I had finally found one."
"..."
Sikan Bauer nodded silently at his words.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been a reasonable judgment.
After all, it usually took months just for a Sword Master to respond to a summons, and the complex procedures typically dragged out the heresy trial itself.
However, that 'reasonable judgment' had gone completely awry this time.
Heukgol had arrived exceptionally early, and the heresy trial had concluded in less than a single day.
"To make matters worse, the rumor of the Five Nightmares appearing turned out to be false... and upon hearing that the trial had ended, you rushed back to Midtemple."
Jacques remained silent.
It seemed he did not find it pleasant to hear from someone else's mouth that his investigation had been a wild goose chase.
Sikan Bauer wrote a few more lines in his notebook before giving a brief nod.
"Everything is in order. Thank you once again for sparing your valuable time."
"...Is that the end of the investigation?"
"Yes. I will close the investigation based on your statement."
"You have done well."
"You as well, Sir Heibrun. Thank you for your cooperation despite your injuries. I shall take my leave now."
With those words, Sikan Bauer bowed politely and stepped out of the infirmary.
Creak, thud.
The moment the door closed, the stoic expression Jacques had maintained crumbled, his brow furrowing deeply.
"Ugh...!"
Jacques von Heibrun clutched his arm.
It had been five days since his severed right arm had been reattached.
Although it caused no major issues in his daily life, the phantom pain that struck him from time to time tortured him relentlessly.
—My child.
Whenever the pain flared, a whisper echoed in Jacques's ears.
It was from the Sky Ocean Forest, where he had gone for his mission.
The temptation of the evil god that had drifted from within that pitch-black mist.
Indeed.
Though he had told the inquisitor that he had found nothing, Jacques had actually encountered one of the Five Nightmares and the evil god itself in that forest.
—Take my hand. Then, you shall grasp what you desire.
Recalling that sweet whisper, Jacques bit his lip hard.
I...
Jacques had harbored a long-held dream.
...I wanted to become a Sword Master.
His fellow paladins had realized their limits early on and given up.
But Jacques was different.
He possessed undeniable talent.
"..."
Unfortunately, that talent had instead become a shackle that bound him.
The final step to becoming a transcendent being.
For decades, he had tried to scale that high wall, but he could only run in place, unable to advance.
Even so, he had never let go of hope, believing that one day he would bridge the narrow gap.
...But that hope had been shattered in an instant.
Gaon.
Every time he recalled his battle with that boy, his body shuddered involuntarily.
A sword strike unleashed in a fraction of a second.
A speed that his own eyes could not possibly track.
—Disappointing.
For the first time, doubt crept in.
—Is this truly the strength of the one called the pillar of Midtemple?
Even if he dedicated the rest of his life, could he ever reach the realm of a transcendent?
No...
It was impossible.
Jacques realized it instinctively. With the lifespan he had left, he could never catch up to that boy's level.
The moment he realized that the gap he thought was a mere speck was actually as vast as the distance between heaven and earth,
it felt as though all the effort he had built up over his lifetime had collapsed in an instant.
But...
Jacques clenched his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
...It doesn't mean there is no way at all.
The voice he had heard in the forest echoed in his ears once more.
If his own talent was not enough, he would scale that wall even if it meant borrowing someone else's power.
Without fail.
The laws of causality are warping.
Jacques von Heibrun's corruption has been accelerated.
The dark city of Dawnguard.
The free city of Vertas.
The magic city of Wintersield.
The central city of Centerium.
These were the Four Great Cities situated across this vast continent.
However, unlike the other major cities known to the public, very few knew of Midtemple's existence.
Because the Holy Families thoroughly concealed the city's identity.
They say power exerts its greatest force when hidden in the shadows.
The Holy Families knew this truth all too well.
The more veiled an existence, the greater the awe it inspires; the more hidden the influence, the more powerfully it operates.
The sole channel of direct communication with the Elder. To maintain this monopoly, Midtemple hid its existence.
This was why the members of the Holy Families controlled information, protected their bloodlines, and carried out covert operations.
All the high-sounding pretexts they put forward were nothing but excuses. In the end, Midtemple hid the sanctuary city simply to protect their vested interests.
Anyway...
Step, step.
Reflecting on that fact, I walked forward and scanned my surroundings.
...It took five days to get here.
Centerium, the central city.
While nominally one of the Four Great Cities, it was in truth little more than a satellite city of Midtemple.
It served as a veil to hide the sanctuary city, and at the same time, a gateway connecting Midtemple to the outside world.
The streets of Centerium hummed with the peaceful bustle of any ordinary metropolis.
Merchants peddled their wares, and children ran around playing.
"Fresh fruit for sale!"
"Aha-ha!"
These people had no idea that the city they lived in was merely a camouflage to hide a massive secret.
I glanced at Adelia.
Usually, she would look around with curious eyes, but today her expression was unusually flat.
"It seems you have visited Centerium often."
"Yes," Adelia nodded.
"Since it is close to the Holy City, I often came here on outings when I was a child. Even then, it was only once or twice a year, and the places I could go were limited."
I already knew that. You naturally pick up this level of lore after playing the game two hundred times.
Adelia knew the geography of Midtemple and Centerium inside out.
Therefore, it was better to let her guide the way. I might get confused due to the discrepancies between the game map and reality.
"Adelia."
"Yes?"
"Do you know of any quiet back alleys where people don't go?"
"...?"
Adelia tilted her head, her expression asking why I was suddenly bringing that up.
"I know of a few, of course..."
"Lead the way."
Before Adelia could ask why, I added,
"Someone has been tailing us for the past few days."
"...!"
The moment the words left my mouth, Adelia flinched, her eyes widening in surprise.
There was no further conversation.
Without a word, Adelia took the lead and began guiding me.
"..."
I pretended to browse the market stalls while casually glancing back.
Amidst the ordinary citizens, a discordant level window stood out in stark relief.
The level window floated in empty space.
This meant only one thing: the stalker tracking us was currently maintaining stealth.
...They've been persistently tailing us ever since we left Midtemple's territory.
In truth, someone at that level could be considered quite skilled.
Breaking past the level 70 barrier was by no means an easy feat.
After all, the 7th Circle was a realm that even so-called geniuses had to work themselves to the bone to reach.
But...
Even though I knew that logically, facing a level 71 didn't trigger any sense of crisis at all.
...Why do they seem so weak?
Well, to be fair,
I had been dealing with absolute monsters lately.
When level 80 and 90 enemies pop up day in and day out, you tend to feel indifferent when looking at anyone else.
Above all, there was a much bigger reason why I felt absolutely no tension.
You're trying so hard, Isaac Berylof.
...I had already figured out the identity of the person tailing me a long time ago.
—Tail the 13th Sword Master. It would be wise to find out what kind of person he is.
Isaac Berylof recalled the orders given to him by the Blood Empress a few days ago.
To investigate what kind of person this suddenly appeared 13th Sword Master was and what he was after.
And to gather as much information as possible before their meeting.
That was Isaac's mission.
—Take this cloak. And make sure you are not detected.
The Blood Empress had said, handing him a precious item.
The Cloak of Tristan.
It was a sacred relic owned by the Shadow Society, a divine artifact that erased the wearer's presence.
It was impossible to 'perceive' anyone wearing this cloak.
No matter how sharp one's senses were, they would have to focus with all their might just to barely catch a trace of him.
To lend me such a precious relic...
It showed just how seriously the Blood Empress was taking this mission.
...I must not be caught under any circumstances.
The crowded market street bustled with noise.
Isaac, shrouded in the cloak, followed Gaon with a grim expression.
"...!"
He flinched.
In the next moment, Isaac was startled half to death.
Gaon had suddenly turned around.
A pair of fiercely sharp golden eyes stared directly at him.
...It's just a coincidence.
Isaac steadied his racing heart.
As long as he wore the Cloak of Tristan, Gaon could not see through his stealth.
Sure enough, Gaon quickly averted his gaze.
Whew...
Sighing in relief, Isaac continued to tail Gaon.
After some time had passed,
Gaon and Adelia, who had been wandering the streets, began to turn into a deserted back alley.
What?
Isaac panicked.
Why are they suddenly heading into such a secluded place?
After a brief hesitation, he followed them in.
Step.
The moment he stepped into the dim, deserted alleyway,
"How long do you plan on tailing us?"
Isaac froze.
The freezing voice rooted him to the spot.
W-What...!
Looking up, Isaac was struck with sheer horror.
Once again, Gaon was staring directly at him.
"After five days, getting followed is starting to get tedious."
"..."
"Show yourself already."