Chapter 374
Chapter 374
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 374
>Chapter Title: Kiiiiiing—!
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A monster wave corrupted by black magic.
The mages of Megarium could scarcely hide their shock at this unprecedented event.
“……Is that really true? The monsters were corrupted by black magic?”
“That’s right. It was truly horrifying.”
“Unbelievable, what in the world…….”
Even though the Magic Association of Megarium had made the announcement official, the mages still couldn’t bring themselves to believe it. They sought out those who had participated in the defense and grilled them for the truth.
It was just too hard to accept.
Black magic?
That implied a black mage was behind the monster wave……
“I can’t believe it. Black mages did this? Even for black mages, something like this is…….”
“Monsters corrupted by black magic. Doesn’t this feel just like monsters adapted to the demon realm? I’ve never even heard of anyone being able to create a phenomenon like this.”
“No, it’s possible. It’s even recorded in the archives. What’s surprising is that such forbidden arts still exist.”
No matter how black a mage was, it was hard to believe they could corrupt monsters with black magic to unleash a monster wave.
It had been centuries since the Empire declared the “extermination of black mages,” yet such forbidden arts still lingered.
But the truly unbelievable part was the rumors some of the participants brought back.
Those rumors began like this.
- There is a secret society of black mages that has lurked in the shadows for thousands of years.
And what was the name of that society?
- Salbatium.
Those who spoke up to that point explained the Salbatium society like this.
“It’s not your typical group of black mages. I hear it’s a collective of evil spirits who’ve reached a realm one step above black mages—what they call the ‘Gold Demon Mages.’”
“……Gold Demon Mages? What do you mean by one step above black mages?”
The mages answered the question like this.
“They’re said to have achieved ‘Molting.’ For reference, in our terms, Molting corresponds to half-transcendence.”
“Huh?”
“And……this incident was Salbatium’s declaration of war.”
“……!”
The mages were stunned.
What kind of realm was transcendence?
The supreme realm that every mage dreamed of, even in their sleep.
Half-transcendence? It wasn’t full transcendence, but if it bore the name “transcendence,” there had to be a reason.
And black mages of that caliber had formed a society? One that had endured for thousands of years? And this monster wave was their declaration of war?
Was there any story more absurd?
Naturally, the vast majority of mages didn’t buy it.
“What nonsense is that? Salbatium? Half-transcendence? Don’t make me laugh.”
Some shook their heads with a sneer.
“Haha, back in my day, I loved stories like that too. You might not know, but tales of shadowy forces hiding for millennia and manipulating the eastern continent are a classic among conspiracy theorists.”
Others mocked it as a tired conspiracy theory.
“This guy……yeah, I get it. The battle must’ve been rough. You don’t seem in your right mind—maybe take a break?”
Some even worried about the speaker’s mental state.
But the mages spreading the rumor didn’t bend in the face of their dismissal, mockery, or contempt.
“Believe it or not, that’s your choice. We’re just saying what we heard. Let’s see……three left now.”
“I understand. It’s hard to believe. I’m not asking you to. But think about it seriously. Well……I should get going. Need to spread the word to others too. ……Two left. Almost done.”
The non-combatant mages tilted their heads at their calm responses.
“What’s going on…….”
It was hard to comprehend.
Just moments ago, they’d been raving about Salbatium’s existence and danger like fanatics, but now they turned away as casually as if checking off a task.
And “three left”?
……Most mages just cocked their heads at their comrades’ bizarre behavior before returning to their own affairs.
But one mage in the tavern couldn’t shake off his doubts.
He was known for his unusual curiosity.
‘……Didn’t that guy just say two were left?’
Was there some kind of quota?
The curious mage’s eyes sparkled with intrigue as he watched his departing comrade.
That’s when someone approached him.
“Long time no see.”
“You…….”
“You might not remember, but we exchanged greetings at the Gorkus Society’s research presentation two years and five months ago. You were wearing a navy jacket and a black bowler hat, and I was dressed just like this.”
“……And?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell, huh? What if I say you asked me for a light on the second-floor terrace? For the record, we smoked together and had a deep discussion about how utterly incompetent the first presenter was.”
“What the hell are you…… What?!”
The curious mage shot up from his seat as a memory flashed through his mind.
The intruder smiled in satisfaction at the reaction.
“Looks like you remember. It was memorable, wasn’t it? That first presenter was you.”
“You son of a bitch……! Yeah, you got lucky running into me today. What? Talking shit about my research? You sure ran your mouth back at that banquet hall, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah. Good to see you too. But…….”
The intruder gazed at the excited mage and continued in a subtle tone.
“That’s not important right now. I’ve learned some unbelievable news.”
“Unbelievable……news?”
Calming down at the insinuating tone, the mage looked at the intruder. He recalled the friend who had just left.
And even the last words that friend had said. Clearly……
‘……Three left?’
With a hunch, the mage posed the question to the intruder.
“By any chance, is the news you learned about the secret society of black mages called Salbatium, who’ve lurked in the shadows for thousands of years? You’re not about to say they’re behind this monster wave, are you?”
He spoke half in doubt.
But what happened next?
“Hmm.”
The intruder visibly deflated.
He let out a groan, stroked his goatee in apparent distress, then nodded calmly.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“…….”
“Someone beat me to it. Just one left now…….”
The mage narrowed his eyes at the intruder’s words.
‘One this time? What the hell are they counting?’
“Since you already know, no point. I’ll be off. Oh, and for reference, your presentation seven months ago was still garbage. Wanted to tell you then, but glad I got it off my chest now…….”
“W-Wait!”
The curious mage called out to the intruder turning away without a second thought.
“What is it? If you want to ask how bad your research was, sorry in advance. Regrettably, I don’t have a hobby of chatting with idiots…….”
“You bastard……No, no. That’s not it. I want to ask something else.”
“Something else?”
“Yeah.”
“The time I can spare for a dimwit like you is about 37 seconds. Can you finish in that?”
“You…….”
The curious mage nearly exploded in rage but clenched his teeth and held it back. His curiosity outweighed his anger.
“What I want to ask……is two things. First, where the hell did you hear that story? Every mage who fought in the battle is blabbing about it. And second, what do you mean by ‘one left’?”
Mindful of the 37-second limit, the curious mage spoke a bit faster than usual.
But for some reason.
The intruder, who had seemed ready to bolt, turned back with a sly smile right then.
“You…….”
“……?”
“Are asking a meaningful question for the first time in your life. For the record, the questions you threw at presenters during past conferences were pure trash. Like a beast mimicking human speech.”
“…….”
Was he asking for a fight?
The curious mage clenched his fist, but fortunately—or unfortunately—no punch flew.
Why?
The intruder’s words came faster.
No, faster aside, they were so bizarre they made him forget his anger.
“Fine, if you ask, I’ll answer. The one who told me this is a truly great and righteous soul. Their personal realm has reached transcendence, and even after saving thousands of soldiers and hundreds of mages, they seek no reward—a paragon of integrity.”
“W-What……?”
He spoke fast. No, beyond fast, the words and sentences were incomprehensible.
‘Personal realm? Transcendence?’
And righteous?
Saved thousands of soldiers and hundreds of mages?
Something came to mind as he listened.
‘……There was a mysterious mage who ended the monster wave……Could the rumors be true?’
Context suggested as much……
“Then why count numbers?”
The intruder answered the question.
“That noble one instructed us to spread the word of evil in the world. They set a number and said, ‘Fill ten, and that repays the grace of salvation.’ What a splendid soul! Truly, their mental cultivation matches their realm in depth…….”
The curious mage tuned out around then.
So……
‘The battle mages blabbing crazy nonsense is because of some transcendent mage.’
Did that make sense?
The curious mage gazed out at the darkened streets of Megarium beyond the tavern.
Under the magic streetlamps, battle mages and soldiers roamed the city with bloodied bandages wrapped tight.
Everyone mobile after the battle seemed to be out, all asking the same thing.
“Have you heard the news?”
“Do you know about that?”
“About this monster wave…….”
Soldiers with mad glints in their eyes.
Mages with dry, dutiful stares.
They all seemed insane.
And yet……
‘……One person created this scene?’
The curious mage’s eyelids twitched.
‘Why?’
He couldn’t understand.
If the intruder was telling the truth, and that mage had truly reached transcendence, they could claim wealth, fame, anything in Megarium, the city of mages…… Yet they only asked to spread this ridiculous rumor?
A sudden thought struck the curious mage.
‘Maybe……it’s not just nonsense?’
Otherwise, why would such a great mage go this far!
……And so, starting with the curious mage, the mages of Megarium began to listen one by one.
The “great, righteous, and incorruptible” grand mage, watching the scene from atop one of Megarium’s tall buildings, smiled faintly.
“……As planned.”
Kiiiiiing—!
The full moon blazed fiercely.
……At least, that’s how it seemed to Aster.