Chapter 167: Sculptor of Chaos (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 167: Sculptor of Chaos (2)
In his past life, Jin’s comrades had also known about the shapeshifter. Back then, he would have simply tracked the man down, forced a confession, and demanded to know how he performed his transformations and what he hoped to gain with that power.
But the situation was different now. Kinzelo was a far more dangerous organization than he had ever imagined. As the world’s only shapeshifter, Bubar was undoubtedly a core figure within their ranks.
If anything happened to Bubar, Kinzelo would never let it slide.
‘What a stroke of luck. I was just planning to teach him a lesson or kill him when the time was right…’
Even in his past life, when the Seven-Colored Bird brought him news that Bubar was a Kinzelo executive, Jin had only found it mildly curious. He hadn't thought dealing with Bubar would be a major problem when the time came.
‘I almost made a fatal mistake. I nearly poked a hornet’s nest without a second thought… I should thank those bastards from the Dark Magic Association.’
In truth, there wasn't much for Jin to gain by meeting Bubar right now.
Still, making light contact couldn't hurt.
After all, his visit to the Dark Magic Association's den—a place he'd entered with few expectations—had yielded significant information.
“Young Master? Um, surely you aren't planning to capture him and treat him like you did Mato Backer…?”
“Of course not, Lady Alisa. I’m thinking of disguising myself as a customer and visiting his sculpting workshop just to see his face. Kinzelo and the Dark Magic Association—it seems their security isn't as impressive as I thought. Who knows? Maybe I’ll stumble upon more information.”
The reason Kinzelo and the Dark Magic Association had leaked information to Jin wasn't actually due to lax security.
They simply hadn't accounted for the variable known as the ‘Magic Swordsman Jin Runcandel.’
In Jin's previous life, the Dark Magic Association's operation against the academy mages had been a success; they had kidnapped the cadets and achieved all their goals.
‘I should milk this for all it’s worth while I can. Once rumors of the Magic Swordsman Jin Gray—or Jin Runcandel—start spreading, more eyes will be on me.’
When that time came, gathering information would inevitably become more difficult. Once the rumor that Jin Runcandel was a magic swordsman broke, the fact that Tikan was his base of operations would also be revealed.
“Well, if that is your wish, Young Master. It wouldn't hurt to get another look at his face. Besides, no one in Kinzelo or the Dark Magic Association should know your face yet… Will you be going alone?” Casimir asked.
Jin shook his head.
“No, I have the perfect person to accompany me. Oh, and Sir Casimir, please have the Seven-Colored Bird look into the relationship between the White Wolf Tribe and Kinzelo.”
Jin flashed a smirk.
*
Meanwhile, the Viment Special Task Force was deep into its investigation, questioning the cadets who had survived the operation against the Dark Magic Association.
The investigation was being handled by Latz, leader of Task Force Unit 3, and 'V,' leader of Task Force Magic Division 1 Squad 3, along with their respective subordinates.
“Is it true that not a single one of you remembers their faces clearly? Pascal Chip, you, Kin Maura, and Moz Orel were the ones who hired them as servants on the spot. And you expect me to believe you don't know?”
“We really don't know, sir…”
“Nearly twenty cadets who were to become mages protecting the Empire were lost, and two 6-star mages and one 7-star mage are dead. If you don't tell the truth, this is a matter that could put even your families at risk,” V said in a low, threatening voice.
The three cadets could only squeeze their eyes shut, completely at a loss.
It was Chip who mustered the courage to speak.
“But sir, we truly remember nothing. Perhaps it was the mana backflow, but our memories are a mess. We’ve told you everything we can recall.”
“You lot, truly…”
“Besides, if it weren't for them, not a single one of us would have survived the operation. If anything, we want to find them ourselves to repay our debt…”
“Th-that’s right, sirs. As we said, we only remember the names Jin Gray and Austin Gray. If you find them, could you please let us know as well?”
“It’s not just the three of us; the other cadets feel the same way. It's an old saying that a proud cadet of the Academy never forgets a kindness…”
Latz and V inwardly swallowed their sighs.
Every single cadet was like this. They clearly knew something, but they were all keeping their mouths shut.
In the case of Maura, Orel, and Chip, they kept quiet out of a genuine desire to repay the favor. They also didn't want it revealed that they'd been fooled by impostors pretending to be from the Special Task Force—though their fear of Jin was the biggest factor.
The other cadets had different reasons. Among those who had witnessed Heaven Reversal, a rumor was already circulating: ‘Kidad of the Reverse Flow has returned from hell.’
To mages, Kidad’s infamy far surpassed that of the Special Task Force. Many from the cadets' parents' generation had experienced Kidad’s terror firsthand.
Consequently, the parents had personally issued gag orders.
This person, whether Kidad reborn or his disciple, had only killed members of the Dark Magic Association, leaving the cadets unharmed. Therefore, the parents saw no reason for the Special Task Force to be hunting him so desperately.
It was better to slightly offend the Special Task Force than to earn Kidad’s resentment.
That was the judgment of the cadets' parents. From their perspective, the targets the Special Task Force should be tracking and punishing were the Dark Magic Association, not Kidad.
“Phew. His Majesty strictly ordered that the cadets must not be tortured, so we can't pressure them any further. It’s not that I don't understand why they’re acting this way. The shock must have been immense. Leader Latz, what do you think?” V asked after the cadets were dismissed.
“…One thing is certain. This man named Jin Gray is either Kidad’s disciple or the man himself. Otherwise, he couldn't have obtained the Tome of Heaven Reversal that was stored in the Vankella Eternal Warehouse.”
“I agree. When I first heard the news that Kidad was dead, I thought he had just been taken out by an assassin. But according to newsletters from various countries, the Tome of Heaven Reversal is still in Vankella’s Eternal Warehouse…”
“Assuming Jin Gray is Kidad, we can't rule out the possibility that he had help from a shapeshifter. He could have faked his own death, using ‘Jin Gray’ as a cover for some reason.”
“Ah, that mysterious shapeshifter that Task Force Units 1 and 3 are tracking… Hmm. Then was it Austin Gray who cut down the White Wolf?”
Latz didn't answer, instead spending a moment looking around the scene of the incident.
‘Unlike Jin Gray, Austin was small in stature and wore an ill-fitting mustache. I heard his voice was strangely husky, too. Estimated age is between mid-teens and early twenties.’
That was the testimony from cadets other than Chip, Maura, and Orel. Even with a gag order from their parents, remaining completely silent to the Special Task Force was a heavy burden.
Though the cuts on Goltep’s body had been mangled by the passage of time, the hammer he wielded had not. Latz could not take his eyes off the weapon, which had been sliced perfectly in two.
‘Dante Hairan.’
A name suddenly crossed Latz’s mind.
‘A boy who is small in stature, has a husky voice, and is capable of slicing a White Wolf’s hammer so perfectly… As far as I know, Dante Hairan is the only one. I should pay a visit to the Hairan family.’
However, that night, when Latz visited the Hairan family with the severed hammer, he heard this directly from Dante:
“I am not yet at a level where I can cut this so cleanly, Sir Latz. Looking at the cross-section, it seems like something only an 8-star knight could achieve. By the way, who did you say wiped out the Dark Magic Association? Jin Gray?”
Thanks to this, Dante now had more to discuss with Veradin, and more questions to ask Jin the next time they met.
*
October 30, 1796.
On his way to the Kurano Duchy to meet Bubar, Jin made a point of passing through the teleport gate of the Con Principality. He even stopped by the tavern where he had once shared beers with Veradin and Dante, drinking alone for a while.
After spending the day like that, he purchased a ticket for the Kurano Duchy at the central teleport gate of the Con Principality around noon.
The teleport gate at midday was bustling with nobles setting off on journeys and merchants traveling for business. With glasses on his face, no sword at his hip, and gloves covering his calloused hands, Jin looked like one of the nobles.
While attendants moved about checking on the passengers, click, clack. The sound of light footsteps echoed. It was the kind of sound made by the low-heeled shoes currently in fashion in the Con Principality.
“Could you move your bag? This is my seat.”
The owner of the footsteps stopped in front of Jin and spoke. He looked up at her—a woman in a formal suit with brilliant red hair—and gave an embarrassed smile.
“Ah, yes. My apologies.”
A moment later, the teleport gate activated, and the passengers were enveloped in the light of mana.
As soon as Jin arrived, he sought out the street where the various workshops were located.
Bubar’s sculpting workshop was not on the main street with the others, but stood alone on the outskirts of the capital. Jin was being cautious, as he didn't want to arouse Kinzelo’s suspicion.
He spent the evening ducking in and out of various workshops for no particular reason.
While doing so, he casually asked the owners about the most outstanding sculptor. Surprisingly, almost everyone brought up Bubar’s name.
“I don't know which family’s young master you are, but it seems you’re looking for a true genius.”
“I’m looking to commission a bust of someone I respect very much…”
“There's a workshop belonging to a man named Bubar Gaston in the western corner of town. Go find him. If you find even Bubar’s skills lacking, it means there isn't a sculptor in all of Kurano who can satisfy you.”
“Actually, I did some research on famous sculptors in Kurano before coming here, but I’ve never heard that name. Bubar Gaston? I don't believe his name has ever been mentioned in the Viment Art Society journals.”
“Being famous doesn't mean you're the best, does it? If that man Bubar had a decent personality, he would have already become the Grand Duke’s personal sculptor. Perhaps he would have even caught the eye of the Viment Emperor.”
“Is he really that great?”
“Among those in the know, people go as far as to say that the God of Sculpture dwells within Bubar. Tsk, I don't know why the heavens bestowed such talent upon such a bizarre man. I’m envious enough to want to kill him!”
“Haha, please calm down. The God of Sculpture, you say…”
“You’re an outsider, so you wouldn't know, but the workshop street in Kurano used to be twice this long. After Bubar appeared, countless sculptors saw his work, fell into despair, and gave up on their craft. That’s why the street is so short now.”
“Hah.”
The Bubar he had seen at the banquet didn't fit that image at all. But at least among the sculptors here, he seemed to be regarded as a genius among geniuses.
‘Is there some connection between shapeshifting and sculpting?’
Harboring such questions, Jin began walking toward Bubar’s workshop. After a long walk that led him to a dark, secluded forest path, he whispered softly.
“I think it’s okay to come out now, don't you, Sister Yona?”