Chapter 423
Chapter 423
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 423
>Chapter Title: Please Go to a Good Place
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The sole magical noble house in the Kingdom of Hoaksen.
Kutlan Family.
Patriarch Kahazar dr Kutlan.
The moment he introduced himself as Decullan's lackey, a proverb flashed through my mind.
‘First strike wins.’
The one who hits first comes out on top.
That's how fights always go. No matter if they're patriarchs or grand mages of some stripe—among equals, the first to strike wins.
With that in mind, I was about to enter transcendence—
“Uhahaha! Just kidding, just kidding! You didn't think this body of mine was actually Decullan's lackey, did you?”
“......A joke?”
“That's right. A joke. Well... not entirely a joke. Even someone like me had no choice but to come at Decullan's request.”
“No choice?”
“Exactly. I owed them a debt from before.”
“A debt...”
“Personal circumstances. And you? Why are you looking for Decullan's lackey? Care to explain?”
“Well...”
“See? Not so easy, is it? Let's both keep our secrets.”
No, I could actually say it.
Anyway.
“So, bottom line—you're not the lackey?”
“Mmm, correct. Any problem with that?”
“Problem... No, none.”
Right, no problem.
I had my suspicions for a second... but yeah, what lackey would out himself like that?
Still.
‘There has to be at least one lackey among the observers.’
I'd been mulling it over these past few days, and if Pahren was scheming anything, it'd have to be through the observers.
Think about it.
‘Challengers can't touch the observers... but what if the observers turn on each other?’
No one could complain about a fight between observers.
That's why I was half-convinced one of them was on Pahren's payroll... so why advertise it so openly?
Simple.
‘A little heads-up.’
Pahren couldn't have bought off every observer.
Publicly announcing there's a lackey among them? The bought ones would get nervous.
I mean, come on? A grand mage?
‘A grand mage taking bribes without any pride? Really?’
Guys like Otto. Disgrace to grand mages.
Anyway...
“Hmm.”
Aster leaned back on the sofa, taking in each face one by one. Kahazar, the Kutlan patriarch, was chattering away beside him, but he didn't respond.
‘Let's see...’
Lackey candidate 1.
“Hey, you mad? Heh heh... I knew imperial mages were narrow-minded, but this narrow...”
Kahazar dr Kutlan, patriarch of Kutlan.
For a patriarch, his mouth ran on without a filter, but guys like that often hid their true colors. Like fried food—crispy outside, moist within.
And candidate 2.
“......”
A silver-haired mage with eyes closed. He hadn't introduced himself, but Aster knew who it was.
‘Demeia de Dinai.’
The magical noble house forever in Decullan's shadow, perpetual runner-up.
Dinai Family.
That was their patriarch.
So, on a personal note...
‘Dalia's dad, so like a friend's dad.’
Though he wasn't sure how close he was to Dalia. Thinking back, they'd hung out briefly in first year, but he was really friends with Damian and Chenbi.
The kind of relationship where you'd hesitate on whether to greet them on the street.
Anyway.
‘Being Dalia's dad doesn't clear him from suspicion.’
The deepest cuts come from the axe you trust. Naturally, Dinai's patriarch was a candidate too.
And candidate 3...
‘Who’s that?’
No clue.
He recognized Dinai and Kutlan's patriarchs, but the third mage drew a blank.
For starters, not from any Decullan-affiliated group.
Sanctuary aimed for fairness—no observers from connected factions. So, at least not Decullan proper or their vassals.
‘Me, Dinai, Kutlan patriarch—that leaves four. One of those four...’
“Curious about the old codger? I could tell you.”
Kahazar had sidled up next to Aster, whispering conspiratorially. He seemed bored out of his mind, so Aster glanced at him and nodded.
“That's the ‘Arbiter of Jamal.’”
“Arbiter of Jamal?”
“Yeah, never heard? In the Jamal Desert over there, he's the stuff of legends. Wouldn't be wrong to say he rules half of it.”
“Hmm?”
Come to think of it, Aster recalled hearing something. And yeah, his robes were nothing like imperial style. Aster had pegged him for just an old guy in odd robes, but apparently not.
But why the Arbiter of Jamal?
“Word is, the Jenuri Society's master declined the invite and recommended the Arbiter instead.”
“Ah.”
That explained the weirdness.
Aster hadn't heard about the Arbiter coming. If he had, he might've guessed.
But.
‘The Jenuri Society's master? Recommending the Arbiter?’
What was their connection?
Something smelled off.
Smelled...
‘Anyway, noted.’
So, recap.
1. Kutlan patriarch
2. Dinai patriarch
3. Arbiter of Jamal
Of course, not just these three.
Three more en route.
4. Grand mage Keystone of House Sharon
5. Baron Maroon
6. Imperial mage Parapus
Keystone...
‘Count Sharon's right-hand man.’
Could've claimed his own title but swore loyalty under Sharon—the symbol of honor in this era.
And.
‘Baron Maroon, dragon from the gutters.’
Rose from a lowly baron's house to grand mage through talent alone.
But hopeless at politics, so he didn't reap much reward.
Finally, Parapus...
‘Just an imperial mage.’
Head of imperial mages or something.
Aster just knew it was a lofty position.
That was all that mattered.
‘Imperial mage? High up. End of story.’
Anyway.
Recap again...
1. Kutlan patriarch
2. Dinai patriarch
3. Arbiter of Jamal
4. Grand mage Keystone of House Sharon
5. Baron Maroon
6. Imperial mage Parapus
Six candidates total.
But exclude imperial mage Parapus.
Why?
‘He's imperial. No way an imperial mage is Pahren's lackey.’
And the most suspicious among them? Two.
‘1. Kutlan patriarch.’
And...
‘5. Baron Maroon.’
But if pressed which was more suspect... my sharp instincts said both, but the most—
Baron Maroon.
‘The culprit's you.’
Why?
Simple.
‘Kutlan patriarch said he came due to an old debt. Doesn't prove he's a lackey.’
Patriarch of a noble house, after all.
Would he play assassin over a debt?
Baron Maroon was different.
‘Not a guy without ambition. But screwed up everything and ended up broke.’
With basic political sense, any faction would've welcomed him. But he trusted no one, acted like a thug—got himself blacklisted from every noble clique.
So.
Plenty of reason to take Decullan's hand.
Thus...
‘The culprit is Baron Maroon—’
Aster's thoughts reached that point.
When Hermit opened the door.
“By chance, is there an observer versed in healing magic?”
“Not an expert, but I handle it as well as most. Why? Someone hurt?”
At Kahazar's question, Hermit nodded calmly.
“Baron Maroon is in critical condition.”
“Baron Maroon?”
“Yes, he was attacked. May I explain later? It's urgent...”
Hermit didn't look urgent at all, but Kahazar shot to his feet.
“Lead the way.”
“Right...”
With that, Hermit and Kahazar left the room.
Aster watched their backs intently.
‘Attacked...?’
* * *
Shock was fleeting.
Aster followed Hermit and Kahazar.
He wasn't the only one sensing things were off—Dinai's patriarch and the Arbiter of Jamal stepped out too.
Outside the drawing room, Sanctuary's scenery unfolded at a glance.
Towering alpine heights.
Below the corridor railing flowed not a river, but clouds.
Sanctuary, carved into sheer mountain cliffs like sculpture, was breathtakingly mystical—yet the walkers crossed the space without a flicker of awe.
How much time passed?
Hermit and Kahazar halted ahead.
Before a warp gate.
One middle-aged man, drenched in blood, collapsed.
“......Baron Maroon? Hey, snap out of it! Recognize me?”
“You... are?”
Kahazar tended Maroon's wounds with healing magic while keeping him conscious with chatter.
“Kahazar of Kutlan Family. We met at the conference before.”
“Kaha... zar?”
Baron Maroon blinked, as if remembering.
“Shameless... loudmouth.”
“I'll hold that rudeness against you once you're healed. But what happened? You, of all people, like this...”
A man who'd reached transcendence on raw talent from a humble baron's house. His lineage limited his potential somewhat, but still a proper grand mage.
For such a man to end up like this?
“Ah, ass... ault.”
“Assault, right. Keep talking.”
“......was at... tacked.”
Maroon breathed raggedly, straining with all his might to speak.
But.
“......by De.”
With that.
Thud.
Maroon's head lolled limply.
Aster bowed his head toward him.
“Please go to a good place.”
A stranger, but Aster meant it sincerely. Kahazar, however, stared at him in disbelief.
“He's not dead yet.”
“......”
No grand mage would miss that he was still breathing.
Anyway.
“Assault... what the hell happened?”
Treating the unconscious Maroon, Kahazar eyed Hermit.
Hermit, hood pulled low, met his gaze steadily before speaking.
“I didn't see it myself. Just got word from the Hermits escorting Baron Maroon.”
“Who was the attacker?”
Aster wondered.
‘Decullan?’
No.
“Sir Keystone of House Sharon.”
“Keystone...?”
Kahazar tilted his head.
Aster tilted his too.
‘......What?’
Keystone attacked Baron Maroon.
Why?
Things were spiraling weirdly.
Very weirdly.