Chapter 463
Chapter 463
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 463
>Chapter Title: The Gap
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We advance to the deep layer.
With the direction set, it was time to hammer out the details.
"For now, the goal is the warp gate key. And if any Hermits survived, their mana patterns too."
But to do that, there was one problem we had to solve first.
……The 'Hands.'
The question was how to break through them.
"Does anyone know of another passage to the deep layer?"
"……"
"……"
"No one, huh."
Kahazar pressed on with the conversation amid the worst possible audience.
"That means we'll have to punch through the 'Hands' and head down to the deep layer…… Luckily, it's not impossible. Take a look at this part here. Can you see it?"
An image played in the crystal orb.
A blindingly cold chill descended on the center of the 'Hands' cluster. And soon after……
- Craaaack……!
The chill vanished all too easily.
The results weren't great.
But.
"It doesn't damage them, but it can restrict their movements for a bit. And there's an even more effective method than magic."
And what might that be?
Simple.
"A barrier field."
Kahazar manipulated the crystal orb, rewinding the footage. Soon enough, the scene shifted.
In the changed scenery.
A hollow thud echoed out.
- Thud, thump, thud-thud-thud-thud……!
A hemispherical barrier field spread out in the middle of the 'Hands' cluster.
The 'Hands' pounded at it as if trying to shatter it, but the transparent field held firm.
"They shake off magic right away, but they can't do a thing about a barrier field, it seems. Of course, it's not perfect."
No sooner had he said that than the barrier shattered with a 'crash.'
Still, it was meaningful intel.
It meant we couldn't eliminate the 'Hands,' but we could carve a path through them.
"Now, let's decide who's heading to the deep layer. I don't think everyone going is a good idea."
The warp gate key was given only to qualified Hermits with no spares, but there was always an 'if,' so we had to search the current layer too.
We couldn't leave the observers in the drawing room hanging forever.
So, for the deep layer……
'……At least one. At most two.'
He was in the middle of selecting who when.
A voice came from somewhere.
"Going to the deep layer…… is suicide."
A thin voice.
Kahazar's eyes darted wildly the moment he heard it. He slowly turned toward the source.
"You must be out of your mind. Walking right into the lion's den like this."
An uninvited guest had arrived.
The 11th Elder.
* * *
The 11th Elder shuddered under the razor-sharp killing intent. Kahazar's eyes gleamed with a ghostly blue light.
Just one step.
Just one word.
A single breath.
One flick of the finger.
The moment he twitched……
'……I'm dead.'
He'd stood his ground confidently just moments ago, but now that he realized the gap in power, even Kahazar's gaze was too much to bear.
'A monster.'
Yes, Kahazar was a monster.
If they'd met outside, where the white magic circle wasn't suppressing the Sanctuary, he'd have been torn to shreds in an instant.
Dead before he could even activate Curse of Reflection.
But.
'This is nothing.'
Paradoxically, what allowed the 11th Elder to overcome his fear of death was another fear of death.
The 'Hands' and……
The entity in the deep layer.
Recalling the two, the 11th Elder swallowed hard and mustered his courage.
"……I've come to make a deal."
"A deal? Go on, then. I can at least give you a painless death."
"Sorry, but I can't tell you anything without a guarantee of safety. If I wanted to die, I wouldn't have come here."
"Fine, I won't kill you. Spill it."
"……"
The 11th Elder's face hardened.
'Barbarian bastard.'
He might wear the mask of a noble house, but to the 11th Elder, Kahazar was no different from a beast.
The sight of such a creature pretending to be normal among these posers was utterly revolting.
But the 11th Elder suppressed his emotions.
"……Swear it on your family name."
"Hah! You lunatic? You want me to swear on Kutlan's name to protect you?"
"Of course not. Just…… promise you won't kill me."
"What should I do with this bastard."
Kahazar's bright smile made the 11th Elder's heart skip a beat. It sent chills down his spine, like he was about to have his throat ripped out.
That's why the 11th Elder hurriedly spoke up.
"The warp gate key! I have the warp gate key. I know the pattern too."
"Oh…… And?"
Kahazar showed interest in the 11th Elder's outburst. The Elder let out a sigh of relief at that look.
'For now……'
He'd succeeded in piquing his interest.
But.
"……Guh!"
"Tell me straight. You have the key and the mana pattern. So why didn't you leave the Sanctuary? You better explain well. A painless death is off the table now."
"Let…… go…… I can't…… breathe…… Hack! Gasp—!"
The 11th Elder gasped for air through his barely cleared windpipe. Kahazar's icy voice soon drilled into his ear.
"So, why didn't you leave?"
"……Because I couldn't."
"You couldn't?"
Kahazar furrowed his brow.
"You're saying you knew the warp gate key and mana pattern but still couldn't get out?"
"……Yes."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"See for yourself."
The 11th Elder pulled the warp gate key from his robes and tossed it over. Kahazar snatched it and examined it closely.
After a moment.
"Fine. I'll believe you for now."
What the 11th Elder offered was undoubtedly a genuine warp gate key. So, trusting him for the moment wasn't a bad idea.
But if that was true……
"Then going to the deep layer really was a bad choice."
"Bad? It's as good as walking to your death."
"You know something, don't you?"
"Before that……."
The 11th Elder swallowed and scanned the room. Kahazar, Demeia, the Judge of Jamal…… And his eyes lingered briefly on Pahren before returning to Kahazar. He finished right after.
"Isn't this proof enough that I'm useful? So……."
"You want safety?"
"Yes."
Bold, or audacious?
Kahazar let out a snort at the 11th Elder's impudence.
"Fine. I won't kill you with my own hands."
"On your family name……."
"Not good enough?"
"……Understood."
The 11th Elder realized this was the best he'd get and took a step back.
It was a verbal oath, but since he'd proven his worth, Kahazar wouldn't strike now—that was the bet.
"So, what do you know?"
"For starters…… the 'Hands.' They're not something you can define. Not magic, not spirits, nothing. You can't get rid of them with ordinary methods."
"And?"
"The 'entity in the deep layer'…… I don't know much. But one thing's clear: you never want to face it."
"And?"
"And……."
"So what? What do you want me to do about it."
The warp gate was busted. No reason to head to the deep layer, then.
But so what?
Thanks for the tip on the warp gate, but if that's all, there was no reason to let him live.
"……We need to break through the outer barrier."
"I see."
Kahazar curled his lip. The 11th Elder sensed danger in that smile and hurriedly added.
"A gap! I've made a gap."
"A gap?"
"Yes."
"Tell me more."
"It's……."
The 11th Elder swallowed under Kahazar's gleaming eyes. But only for a moment.
Soon, he spilled the whole story.
* * *
After realizing the warp gate was dead.
The despairing 11th Elder racked his brain for a way out.
'I can't die like this.'
He'd only just risen to elder status. He hadn't endured a lifetime just to die here.
But how?
Like the other archmages, the 11th Elder naturally thought of the outer barrier.
If the warp gate didn't work, break through the barrier and escape.
……So, he pushed through the fog toward the barrier.
Actually, 'pushed' wasn't quite right.
The barrier began the moment you stepped outside the Sanctuary.
Anyway.
'……Can I break it?'
No, not 'can I.'
I had to.
It was the only way to live.
……Fortunately, among her artifacts was one perfect for piercing barriers.
Glutton Hippo.
A pottery figurine shaped like a hippo. Despite its shabby appearance, its effect was enough to make any mage drool.
And what was that effect?
Devouring.
Magic if magic, curses if curses, even spirits.
It consumed non-material entities.
The problem was……
'……The cost.'
Yes, the cost was steep.
Unlike other artifacts powered by mana, the Glutton Hippo required feeding it other artifacts to activate.
And not just any artifacts.
Ancient magic.
Only artifacts containing that could activate the Glutton Hippo.
For reference, excluding the Rift Dagger left at the deep layer stairs, she had three artifacts with ancient magic.
Three chances, that's it.
'……Damn it.'
Each one priceless beyond money, but the 11th Elder gritted his teeth and activated it.
And the result……
"……You made a gap, but lacked the firepower?"
"Yes."
The 11th Elder nodded calmly.
Frankly, it was a bitter pill.
Because.
'……Just one. One more would've done it.'
The Glutton Hippo devoured three ancient artifacts and chewed through the Sanctuary's barrier. But the barrier was thick, leaving a thin film.
One more ancient artifact, and he could've escaped.
How could he not feel despair?
If only he'd properly grabbed the Rift Dagger from the deep layer stairs, he could've gotten out of the Sanctuary.
"Hmm."
Kahazar stared at the 11th Elder, judging the truth. It didn't take long to decide.
"Lead the way. I need to see it myself to believe."
"……."
The 11th Elder stared back without answering. Kahazar snorted.
"What, worried?"
"Yes."
It was only natural.
He'd promised no harm, but Kahazar's eyes during their talk said otherwise.
Once he learned about the gap, snapping his neck wouldn't be surprising.
"Show me some trust……."
"Trust? Haha, get this. The ones who break promises when it suits them always whine about trust when it's not."
Kahazar laughed heartily and placed a hand on the 11th Elder's shoulder. He matched eye level.
"Listen here. Why can't you trust me? Easy guess. You've never kept a promise in your life. But you know what? I'm like you. I don't keep promises I don't need to."
What did that mean?
It meant he never intended to keep his promise to the 11th Elder from the start.
"I swear on the Kutlan name I won't kill you. As if that oath means shit. Know your place. You're just a filthy, lowly beast. Still need an oath? Fine, here."
"……."
"On the Kutlan name, I won't harm you. Now lead the way. Right now."
As he spoke, Kahazar crushed down on the 11th Elder's shoulder. Crunch, crunch. Bones cracked, and chilling cold burrowed into the wound.
"Guh, uh……."
The 11th Elder staggered, unable to even groan properly in the agony.
……He'd had no choice to begin with.