Chapter 428
Chapter 428
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 428
>Chapter Title: Why Spread the Shit?
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“If that’s a joke… it’s not a very amusing one.”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
Kahazar scowled at Aster’s question. Then, as if finding it absurd, he burst into laughter.
“Do I look like one of the Gold Demon Society? Unfortunately, no.”
It was the expected answer.
And Aster hadn’t truly suspected Kahazar of being a Gold Demon Society member or their lackey either.
But.
“Proof?”
“…Proof?”
“Yeah, proof. If yes, then yes. If no, then no. Either way, I need evidence to believe it.”
“Ha…”
Kahazar let out a hollow laugh.
“What the hell is this…?”
“What do you think? I’m just playing the same game.”
Aster said that and tapped the armrest of the sofa.
“Come on, let’s see.”
What had Kahazar said just moments ago?
- What is your reason for antagonizing Salvatium? What are you after? No, are you really against Salvatium?
“You definitely asked that. If I said no? Would you have believed me?”
“Of course I…”
“You wouldn’t have. Why? That’s how suspicion works. Once you voice it, no matter how much you scrub, it doesn’t go away. But…”
Aster stared straight at Kahazar. Then he asked.
“Why spread the shit?”
“…”
“What’s your angle? Do you really suspect me that much? If I were a Gold Demon Society lackey, you’d have ways to uncover it, right?”
So what was the point?
“Aren’t you just spinning your wheels? Might as well not bother…”
Honestly, the displeasure wasn’t that great.
In a way, it was a reasonable suspicion from Kahazar’s perspective.
But as mentioned before, the intent behind it was suspicious.
‘Why now, of all times?’
Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t.
…Of course, Kahazar didn’t answer. He had no words to say, even if he had ten mouths.
Aster gazed at him and took a moment to organize his thoughts.
Now, there were two choices here.
One.
‘Crush him as is.’
Of course, without proof that Kahazar was with the Gold Demon Society or their pawn, there was nothing concrete to do. But for this incident, he could shut down any further remarks.
And two.
‘Just let it slide.’
You messed up, right? Yeah, sorry, I was a bit rough. End on good terms.
‘Pros and cons…’
Hard to say.
Personally, though, Aster preferred the first. Grind him into the dirt until he couldn’t utter a peep.
‘In that case.’
A brief deliberation.
It didn’t take Aster long to decide.
“Anyway, it’s a dead-end topic… How about we drop it here?”
Aster chose the latter.
Just let it slide.
That was when Keystone spoke up.
“You want to just move on with suspicions lingering…? The Tower Master is suspicious enough, but Patriarch Kahazar seems no better?”
“Then what? What do you want?”
“Clear the suspicions or take some measures, don’t you think?”
What was this?
…Take measures.
That’s what he meant.
Keystone knew full well there was no evidence to dispel the doubts.
“Heh heh, this old man agrees. The Tower Master is still suspicious… but after hearing him out, Patriarch Kahazar seems dubious too. It’d be nice if you cleared it up or took some action now.”
Parapus said that, glancing at Demea as if seeking agreement. Demea didn’t respond, but didn’t deny it either. Next, Parapus looked to Zamar’s Arbiter.
Receiving the gaze, Zamar’s Arbiter looked at Aster. After a moment, he nodded to Parapus.
With Zamar’s Arbiter’s agreement, Parapus smiled affably.
“Excluding the two parties involved, everyone seems to agree… Well, what can you do? Shall we clear the suspicions?”
It sounded like offering choices, but it meant they’d take measures regardless.
Aster let out a snort.
“Do what you want.”
“Does that mean you accept the sanctions?”
“Whatever… sure.”
“Good, the Tower Master agrees. Now, Patriarch Kahazar. You?”
“…Hm.”
Kahazar stared at Aster with a stiff expression. Then he half-closed his eyes, gazing at the table.
But his deliberation didn’t last long.
“Do what you want.”
An unexpected response.
With both agreeing, Parapus turned to Hermit.
“They say that… What do you think we should do? This old man figures binding your mana is the way.”
“I’ll prepare it.”
Hermit replied and brought over the mana restraints he’d just removed.
Soon—
Click, clank.
Aster looked at the mana restraints now around both wrists. They resembled ordinary bracelets, imposing no physical restrictions on movement, but they were artifacts that suppressed mana.
The same artifact was fitted on Kahazar’s wrists.
And…
“Bear with us. Heh heh. Given the circumstances, it can’t be helped. You understand.”
Ignoring Parapus’s insincere words, Aster turned his gaze to Kahazar.
Then he snorted.
He realized.
‘From the start, this was your aim?’
He’d wondered what the sudden fuss was about, but Kahazar’s goal had been this all along.
Binding their mana.
“You’ll get used to wearing them. It’s not so bad. Advice from experience, haha.”
Aster curled his lips at Kahazar, who now laughed and joked as if he’d never been angry or serious.
He didn’t feel screwed over.
After all.
‘…The principles are all similar.’
Sanctuary’s mana restraints didn’t work on him.
No, not just Sanctuary’s. Any mana restraints that directly interfered with the ‘core’ were ineffective against Aster, who used circles.
Anyway, that wasn’t the point right now.
So what was?
‘What is Salvatium after in Sanctuary?’
The suspicions were plentiful.
How they infiltrated Sanctuary, what happened to the real Baron Maroon, how many Gold Demon Society members had snuck in.
But ultimately…
‘…What they want.’
That was the crux of the situation.
So what exactly…
‘What are they after?’
Aster looked at the Hermits.
They must know what Sanctuary was hiding.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that moment.
In a certain cave in the Sesteraion Mountains where Sanctuary was located.
“Heh, heh heh…”
The 4th Elder let out a hollow laugh as he gazed into the crystal orb in his hand.
Crystal orb? No, it wasn’t quite that. It was a dark, murky sphere carved from stone, its surface cracked like a spiderweb.
This bizarre sphere’s name was…
Unobserved Observer.
An artifact created by modifying an ancient relic with forbidden magic.
…A tool of extreme malevolence that dominated the target’s mind, thanks to which the 4th Elder had controlled Baron Maroon and two Hermits.
Of course, dominating the mind of Baron Maroon, who had reached transcendence, was no easy feat. No, controlling an archmage was impossible.
But this impossible task became possible thanks to this ‘Unobserved Observer.’ It was an artifact infused with forbidden magic… knowledge drawn from entities beyond the abyss.
Even so, it wasn’t easy, and he’d poured all the power within the Unobserved Observer into it.
But…
‘…Keystone.’
The black magic planted in Baron Maroon being discovered was an unforeseen event.
And not just that.
‘Acting like an archmage, with that bloated ego…’
The moment he hastily withdrew the black magic, Baron Maroon’s mind broke free and rampaged. And the result…
- Look. This man is not Baron Maroon, but a Gold Demon…
- Gahk…!
Death from internal injuries.
The opportunity, painstakingly created at the cost of the Unobserved Observer, vanished in vain… Fortunately, it didn’t greatly hinder the plan.
Why?
‘Two Hermits.’
When dominating Baron Maroon’s mind, he’d also taken control of the two accompanying Hermits. An insurance policy just in case, but who knew it’d come to this.
But.
“…Tower Master, that insolent brat is always trouble.”
- …Zamar’s Arbiter has detected traces of the Gold Demon Society—!
The two Hermits controlled by the Unobserved Observer left no traces of black magic. Only Baron Maroon did.
So why?
‘…Detected traces?’
Absurd nonsense.
But he was ‘Zamar’s Arbiter’… lending credibility by invoking the name of those primitive sun-worshipping priests.
That’s why the 4th Elder could only laugh hollowly.
Because of it, he had to discard even the two Hermits.
“Tower Master… you thunderbolt-headed bastard.”
He could’ve manipulated the two Hermits with the Unobserved Observer, but now that they were exposed, they’d become useless cards.
Especially that old ‘Parapus,’ well-versed in countering forbidden magic like a proper imperial mage. He could ride the mind control back and strike.
Better to retreat than stubbornly hold and get hurt.
So.
How could he not feel hollow?
“…Elder, what shall we do? Give your orders.”
“What to do…”
The 4th Elder closed his eyes slowly.
“Tch. No helping it.”
The 4th Elder irritably eyed the cracked ‘Unobserved Observer.’ Then he coldly assessed the situation.
‘I didn’t want to borrow Decullan’s hand…’
But now, no choice.
“It’d be best to inform Pahren too.”
“Is that wise?”
“…No, it isn’t. High chance he’ll snatch the prey. But we can’t let this Sanctuary slip away right before our eyes.”
Sanctuary, the mages’ holy site, only opens when challengers appear.
Miss this one, and who knows when the next will be.
Even if he was used to waiting…
‘…The Rite of Non-Wish could be right around the corner.’
The 4th Elder decided to hurry a bit.
“Inform Pahren.”
Crack.
The 4th Elder crushed the now-useless Unobserved Observer and calmly finished his words. His gleaming eyes and chilling voice echoed through the cave.
“There’s a Fragment of Reverse Heaven in Sanctuary.”
Therefore…
“We must lend a hand.”
With that, the 4th Elder slowly closed his eyes. Even claiming a Fragment of Reverse Heaven, whether Pahren would help was uncertain.
It could turn the seven observers gathered there… no, perhaps all the continent’s mages against him.
But if Pahren did lend a hand.
‘Salvatium will provide even more power.’
…Ominous storm clouds gathered over Sanctuary’s skies.