Chapter 165: Remnants of the Dark Magic Association (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Remnants of the Dark Magic Association (6)
Enya bowed deeply, her back forming a perfect ninety-degree angle. She was the sole witness to this historic battle, having watched from start to finish as Jin awakened once more as a Runcandel.
Even to her eyes—unaware that Jin had intentionally fought inefficiently—it had been an utterly overwhelming victory.
“I truly admire you, Brother!”
“Admire? You must have been quite shocked, Austin. Especially from the moment I started thrashing those bastards.”
Jin pointed toward the mages of the Dark Magic Association, who were either unconscious or dead. When Heaven Reversal was unleashed, over eighty percent of the nearly fifty mages had died instantly, while the remaining twenty percent had lost consciousness with fatal injuries.
However, even that twenty percent—excluding the fake Orton—were destined to draw their last breaths soon. Unless they received immediate help from specialized healing mages, low-level mages could not withstand the mana backflow caused by Heaven Reversal.
“Well… I was shocked. In many ways…”
Though she tried to keep a straight face, Enya was a sixteen-year-old girl with zero combat experience. She wasn't accustomed to battle and death like Jin or Siris, who had been smelling blood since childhood.
“It’s your first time seeing so many people die, isn't it?”
“Yes. I feel a bit nauseous. But I’ve realized something—what kind of people I’m with, and what I need to do to avoid being a burden to them.”
Enya recalled the words Quicantel had once said to her.
— Jin Runcandel. Everyone here is your comrade. That means when he becomes a flagbearer and clashes with his siblings in Runcandel, we will fight alongside him. There will be difficult battles at every turn. Do you expect Enya to just be a nuisance every time?
“If you’re not up for it, it’s fine to remain a non-combatant. I think it’s okay for at least one of my comrades to live a peaceful life.”
Jin walked among the fallen mages of the Dark Magic Association.
He checked their necks and wrists one by one. Whenever he found a mage with a pulse, he injected mana into their bodies to accelerate the backflow.
He was finishing them off, ensuring no one survived to report back to the Kinzelo leadership. He chose to use mana backflow instead of a dagger to cause confusion during the future investigation by the Viment Empire.
Enya grit her teeth as she watched Jin carry out the executions with a dry, indifferent expression.
“I have no desire to force this blood-soaked life on you. It’s certainly not a normal life. If you want, you could live a pleasant, warm life as much as you wish.”
As Jin finished the task and offered a bittersweet smile, Enya shook her head.
“You’re right, Brother. It’s definitely not normal. Most people would hate the idea of killing others. Anyone would feel that way if they could choose a comfortable and stable life.”
Enya slowly approached Jin. Then, with a tearful face, she grabbed his hand.
“But I hate the idea of letting you and our other comrades handle those unpleasant things alone even more. I will fight with you.”
To pull one's weight as Jin’s comrade.
That meant committing countless murders in the future. From Jin seizing control of Runcandel to waging war against the Zipple and finally surpassing Cyron.
How many people would lose their lives in the process?
Jin and his comrades were already bound by an inescapable fate.
Even protecting their small sanctuary, the Tikan Free City, was impossible without killing and war. Many great powers existed in the world, and they were all eyeing Tikan.
As time passed, more factions would target them. For now, only Casimir and the Seven-Colored Bird were known, but once the existence of the Black Dragon, the Silver Dragon, and the only Runcandel magic swordsman was revealed…
Tikan could become the eye of the storm at any moment.
“It might be hard right now, but I will definitely pull my weight. I don't want to remain someone who just receives your protection like today. So please, don't tell me it's okay to just live comfortably.”
“Austin.”
Enya stepped back and looked at Jin.
She placed a hand over her heart, her lips curving into a soft arc, and bowed deeply with the utmost respect.
“I am Enya, Contractor of Olta. One day, I will become the Archmage you trust the most.”
Once they returned to Tikan, her daily life would never be the same.
Jin hesitated for a moment at Enya’s sudden formality, but soon returned the gesture with equal respect.
“Thank you. I, too, will resolve to be someone you can always trust and rely on.”
After the exchange, a brief, awkward silence followed. It was inevitable after such a sudden, solemn vow.
“Ahem, cough! Uh, so, should we head back now? Or is there more to do here…?”
“We need to take the fake Orton. I kept him alive on purpose.”
“Ah! Because we’ll have a lot to ask him about the Dark Magic Association and Kinzelo. Hmm… I suppose we’ll have to… torture him, right? Ahaha, I just vowed to pull my weight, but the thought of torture makes me feel a bit… you know.”
Jin let out a short laugh.
“Normally, we’d have to use torture to make him talk, unless he spills everything voluntarily. But we don’t need to do that. We have Lord Latri.”
“Ah! The Dragon of Truth!”
“Yuria can’t exactly conduct the interrogation herself, so it won’t be perfect, but we can use a more humane method to filter out lies to some extent. If Lord Latri borrows some of the power of Yuria’s Absolute Eye through resonance, that is.”
Historically, the reason so many powerful figures coveted the Contractor of Az Mil was not just for their precognitive abilities.
The ‘Absolute Eye’ could read the expressions of those who spoke lies. Unless one was a possessor of incredible mental strength trained to lie perfectly, they could never deceive the Absolute Eye.
“Well, if that doesn't work, we’ll have to consider torture.”
Jin rolled up the unconscious fake Orton, tied him up, and wrapped him in a robe. When he slung the man over his back, he looked more like a sack of potatoes than a person.
Still, it would be noticeable upon close inspection. There was also no telling when he might regain consciousness and start struggling.
It’ll be quite a hassle to get him past the gate guards without being noticed.
Uuuugh.
Suddenly, a low groan echoed from somewhere. Jin whipped around to see the sound coming from among the fallen cadets.
Unlike the mages of the Dark Magic Association, all the cadets were still alive. Jin had taken measures to ensure the mana of Heaven Reversal didn't strike them directly.
Even if they were likely to become enemies one day, killing them all here would likely cause massive problems. Furthermore, as Enya said, there might be at least one decent person among them.
The source of the groan was Chip.
Was his mana capacity surprisingly high? Or was his mental strength superior? Or did the mana of Heaven Reversal just happen to miss him properly?
As Jin strode over, Chip managed to lift his head.
“S-Spe…”
“Do I still look like a member of the Special Task Force to you? And if you think I am, you shouldn't be uttering that word.”
“You weren't… the Special Task Force…”
Chip’s body trembled violently.
In truth, the moment Heaven Reversal was unleashed, he had instinctively realized Jin wasn't from the Special Task Force. That spell contained all the characteristics of the backflow-type magic he had once learned about at the Academy.
Chip didn't know it was specifically Heaven Reversal, but he clearly recognized it as a ‘Great Magic’ that not just anyone could cast. Now, in Chip’s eyes, Jin appeared to be a hidden Archmage of the world.
He also realized that if it weren't for this Archmage, they would all be dead.
“Wh… who… are you? Why did you… save us…?”
His voice was slurred. Though he had regained consciousness, the backflow hadn't completely settled. Chip was in a dazed state, as if drugged.
“Why did I save you? Because my younger brother wished for it. Consider yourself lucky, cadet.”
“Your brother… Austin, Gray…?”
Enya and Jin’s eyes met. She nodded as if she understood without him saying a word.
Riiip!
Enya pulled back her hood, peeled off the fake mustache, and let down her tied-up short hair. When she spat out the cotton balls she had been holding to create a more angular jawline, her true face was revealed.
“Pascal Chip. Do you remember me?”
“En… ya.”
Pascal Chip’s eyes widened as if they might pop out. He could only gasp for breath, unable to tell if he was dreaming or awake.
“I’m… sorry.”
“So you do know you should be sorry. Why on earth did you do that to me?”
“Sorry, I was wrong.”
Tears streamed from Chip’s eyes as he apologized in a mangled voice. It was impossible to tell if they were tears of genuine remorse or simply tears shed to escape the situation.
Either way, Enya decided not to care.
“During our Academy days, you and your gang did nothing but bully and torment me. But I saved you when you were about to die.”
“I… was wrong.”
“I could take my revenge on you as much as I want, but I’m a different person from people like you. I took off my disguise because I wanted to tell you that.”
Gasp, sob. As Chip swallowed his sobs, Enya spoke to him.
“Don't avoid my eyes, even if you’re ashamed and afraid. Just like I didn't when you were tormenting me.”
“Sorry, I’m truly sorry.”
“Remember one thing. That Jin Gray and I saved you. One day, I’ll come back to collect this debt. Understood?”
When Chip managed a weak nod, Jin spoke up this time.
“When the investigation into this matter begins later, feel free to tell them everything about us. That is, if you want to see the Chip family wiped out.”
Whether Chip kept his mouth shut or not, it was inevitable that Viment would eventually start an investigation. All the cadets and mages outside the cave were dead, and the interior was a mess.
The Academy will try to hide and sugarcoat the situation to prevent their reputation from being tarnished. On the other hand, the investigation squad and the Special Task Force will go into a frenzy trying to dig something up. They’ll find out through the cadets' testimonies that Heaven Reversal was used. I’ll have to have the Seven-Colored Bird manipulate the information.
Jin quietly shifted his gaze to Enya.
She had just directly overcome the past that had shackled her for so long. However, unexpectedly, Chip gave an answer that neither Jin nor Enya had anticipated.
“One… day… I will… surely… repay this grace…”
Having squeezed out those words with all his strength, Chip lost consciousness again. Jin and Enya could only look at each other and shrug.
“How unusual.”
“I know. I thought he’d say something more pathetic.”
Jin reached into Chip’s clothes and pulled out a nameplate symbolizing the Chip family.
He figured he could avoid any trouble at the gate by using the nameplate to command Chip’s coachman.
“Now, let’s head back and see what the fake Orton has to say.”
Bubar Gaston.
They would likely hear about him from the fake Orton. Because in this world, only that fat man was capable of a transformation so perfect it could deceive everyone who knew the real Orton.