Chapter 424
Chapter 424
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 424
>Chapter Title: The Culprit Is Among Us
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Keystone had assaulted Baron Maroon.
What did that mean?
‘Count Sharon…… attacked Baron Maroon?’
To properly interpret this situation, one had to look beyond "Keystone" to the "Count Sharon" behind it.
But……
Whether it was Count Sharon or Keystone.
“What the hell?”
It made no sense at all. And for good reason—Count Sharon had no motive to attack Baron Maroon.
‘A personal grudge?’
As Aster pondered that far, Kahazar, who had been treating Baron Maroon, shifted his gaze to Hermit.
“Could you elaborate a bit more? If it was an assault, it sounds like Keystone’s side ambushed Baron Maroon……”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll look into it.”
“I appreciate it.”
Hermit bowed his head and closed his eyes. The necklace glinted, suggesting it was a communication artifact.
Kahazar watched him briefly before refocusing on treating Baron Maroon.
‘……Hm.’
Fortunately, the internal injuries weren’t severe. The external wounds could also be healed with magic.
How much time passed like that?
“I’ve looked into it.”
“And? What did they say?”
“Well……”
Hermit trailed off, glancing toward the gate. He snapped his fingers, and Hermits appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the gate.
Unknown magic circles rose up around them immediately after.
Grrrrr—
Faced with the eerie magical resonance, Kahazar narrowed his eyes.
Nor was he the only one.
“……”
Demeya, patriarch of the Dinai family.
And……
“……”
Even the Arbiter of Zamal.
Under the pressure of the encroaching magic circles from all sides, the three archmages hardened their expressions and stared at Hermit.
It was no ordinary magic circle if even archmages felt the strain.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Kahazar’s question.
Hermit looked at him briefly before averting his gaze. There was no answer.
As Kahazar began to radiate killing intent, a change occurred right then.
Kiiiiing—
The warp gate emitted light.
A man emerged from the rippling barrier.
His body was drenched red as if he’d showered in blood, and he had two bloodied Hermits tucked under his arms.
One of the wary Hermits stepped forward.
“……Sir Keystone.”
“……”
Keystone glanced at Hermit, then set the two under his arms down on the ground. He turned to Kahazar, who was treating Baron Maroon.
“Patriarch Kahazar. Long time no see.”
“……Hmph. Is this shamelessness or what? I’m not sure. I heard about it. You assaulted Baron Maroon? And……”
Kahazar eyed the two Hermits Keystone had just set down.
“You even touched the Hermits.”
“I didn’t kill them.”
“That’s awfully bold for an excuse. Mind telling me why?”
“I’d be happy to explain…… but first, step aside. I’m not finished yet.”
“Hm.”
Kahazar let out a grunt. He realized what Keystone meant by “not finished.”
He was determined to finish off Baron Maroon after all……
Right then, the Hermits who had surrounded the area took a step closer.
“We cannot permit armed conflict within the Sanctuary. Whatever happened outside, you must set aside all hostilities here.”
Keystone scanned the Hermits. Then he murmured lowly.
“Step aside.”
“Impossible.”
“Your comrades are unharmed. These two were escorting Baron Maroon and got caught in the fight—nothing life-threatening. Those who were guiding me will arrive soon. If it’s for your comrades’ sake, stand down.”
“It’s not about our comrades. Even if you sent them to mana’s embrace, that’s a matter outside the Sanctuary. It’s not for us to interfere.”
“So you refuse to yield no matter what?”
Whooooosh—
Chilling killing intent swirled outward. Mana rippled in response to his will. Sparks flew into the air.
Crackle, crackle!
The Sanctuary’s magic circles and the Hermits’ mana clashed against Keystone’s aura.
A hair-trigger situation that could erupt at any moment.
……Aster thought.
‘What’s going on.’
What?
‘He’s too brazen.’
Keystone was far too confident for someone whose ambush had failed. He acted as if he had nothing to hide.
A voice echoed through the tension-filled space.
Crunch, crunch.
Aster took in Keystone and the Hermits facing him while munching on his corn puffs.
Kahazar, who had been treating Baron Maroon, didn’t stay idle either.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but calm down. I don’t care about you and Baron Maroon, but I can’t stand by while an observer drops out.”
There were seven Sanctuary observers in total.
Without all seven, the challenge couldn’t proceed.
That was why Kahazar couldn’t stand by—and Keystone stared at him intently.
It wasn’t long before his mouth opened.
“Ha……”
A deep sigh.
The killing intent dissipated simultaneously.
Then he spoke.
“……Don’t you get it?”
“Get what?”
When Kahazar asked, Keystone looked at Baron Maroon and said.
“That’s not Baron Maroon.”
“……?”
Not Baron Maroon?
Not only Kahazar—Demeya, patriarch of Dinai, narrowed her eyes as well. The fallen Baron Maroon matched the one they knew……
“Look at this.”
Keystone stepped forward and pulled a compass from his pocket.
“This is……?”
“It’s the artifact distributed by the imperial family this time. An ancient relic that reacts to dark magic or demonic energy. Its sensitivity surpasses even an archmage’s senses.”
Naturally, such relics were extremely rare. Only a handful of mages, including Keystone, had received one.
“What does that have to do with……?”
“Look.”
With that, Keystone approached Baron Maroon. Kahazar moved to block him but stepped aside upon sensing no killing intent.
Soon.
“It’ll react.”
Keystone infused mana into the compass.
Zing—
A brief silence followed.
Kahazar stayed silent. The Hermits stayed silent. Demeya, and even Zamal’s Arbiter, kept their mouths shut.
Crunch, crunch.
Only Aster crunched on his corn puffs as the mana-infused compass finally reacted.
‘Is it real?’
That was when it happened.
“See? This guy isn’t Baron Maroon—he’s a gold demon……”
“Gah……!”
Baron Maroon coughed convulsively. Black blood sprayed from his mouth like a fountain. And then—
“Guh, urgh……”
A feeble death rattle.
Thud.
Baron Maroon’s head lolled limply to the side. It was markedly different from moments ago. His breathing had stopped with that final rattle.
“Wh-what……”
As Keystone expressed dismay at Baron Maroon’s sudden death, Kahazar looked at him and curled his lip.
“I see. That was your plan from the start.”
“Misunderstanding. This wasn’t my doing……”
“Didn’t I say clearly? I can’t abide an observer dropping out. Yet why act so recklessly? Even your master couldn’t ignore my words like this.”
Kahazar’s tone was no longer polite. It couldn’t be helped—Keystone had ignored the warning and acted anyway.
Nor was Kahazar the only one whose gaze toward Keystone had soured.
“Tch.”
“……”
Demeya and Zamal’s Arbiter seemed quite irritated by Baron Maroon’s death as well……
Crunch, crunch.
Aster watched the scene unfold.
‘Chaotic.’
Yes, chaotic.
Baron Maroon’s death left even the obstructing Hermits awkward. And not only that—Kahazar, who’d seemed so affable, had lost his cool.
And what?
‘Gold demon?’
Why was Salvatium coming up here?
But……
In this chaotic mess, simply watching wasn’t bad, but there was something to consider now.
‘What exactly is Pahren aiming for?’
……Who his puppet was.
But suppose.
‘What if all this is exactly what Pahren wanted?’
Then what?
Aster pondered briefly.
If the intent was unknown…… disrupt the game itself.
But in a situation where Decullan’s puppet could be Keystone, Kahazar, Zamal’s Arbiter, or anyone.
How to shatter this game.
‘……Right, that’s it.’
Having thought that far, Aster stepped forward and spoke.
“Everyone, freeze.”
“……?”
“……?”
Kahazar and Keystone, locked in confrontation, turned to Aster. Keystone tilted his head.
“Who are you……?”
Kahazar answered instead.
“A madman.”
“Madman……?”
Undeterred by the insult, Aster stared at Keystone and Kahazar while finalizing his thoughts.
For now…… this much was certain.
‘Kahazar and Keystone. These two are the most suspicious.’
But he couldn’t side with either.
So what to do.
The answer was simple.
“Keystone, Kahazar. This isn’t the time for you two to fight.”
“What……?”
“……?”
Both narrowed their eyes at Aster, who suddenly radiated killing intent. It was so fierce that not only the two archmages but even Demeya and Zamal’s Arbiter took a step back.
Of course, it was just a momentary intimidation.
But.
‘That’s enough for now.’
With all eyes sufficiently on him, Aster drove in the wedge.
“Keystone, Kahazar. You’re both suspects.”
“……?”
“……?”
“If Baron Maroon wasn’t a gold demon, then Keystone, you’re an irredeemable scum. But if he was a gold demon? Kahazar, does it make sense that you didn’t notice while treating him?”
This was the path Aster chose.
‘If I don’t know which is the culprit……’
……Round them both up.
Thus—
“Hermits, what are you waiting for? If Keystone killed Baron Maroon, he used force inside the Sanctuary—no way we let that slide. And if Kahazar’s in league with Baron Maroon, that means he’s colluding with a gold demon—we can’t ignore that either.”
Sound logic.
They couldn’t touch Observer Keystone, but they couldn’t let someone flout Sanctuary rules go free.
And if Kahazar was allied with a gold demon, that couldn’t be overlooked.
Perhaps that was why.
“……Excuse us, sirs.”
Hermit sought permission from Kahazar and Keystone as he approached. It wasn’t that he believed Aster. Merely…… to eliminate even the slightest risk.
The two archmages didn’t stay passive, of course……
“Hey! What is this……”
“What do you think you’re……”
“Resisting just proves you have something to hide.”
Aster’s words halted their resistance.
And so.
Clank, clank!
The Hermits bound the two archmages with mana restraints.
Watching the scene, Aster organized his thoughts.
‘Six candidates.’
……One dead, two restrained.
Dead: Baron Maroon
Restrained: Kahazar, Keystone
Surviving: Demeya, Zamal’s Arbiter, Paraphus
He still didn’t know Pahren’s exact goal, but Aster no longer worried.
‘The culprit is among us.’
So……
‘……One by one.’
Eliminate them.
His eyes, pursuing justice, gleamed. Beneath that balanced scale, no one could hide their guilt.
This was……
‘……The great detective.’
Aster.
That’s who he was.