Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Five Pillars (1)
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The boundary between the wilderness and the demon realm, where faint traces of demonic energy finally mingled with the barren wasteland.
There, a group sat around a campfire.
The priest quietly offering prayers, the mage huddled with knees drawn up, the shrine maiden meditating beside the warrior, the warrior impassively polishing his black axe blade, and... the hero gazing toward the setting sun in the west, leaning on his radiant holy sword.
Tomorrow, they would enter the demon realm.
No one showed it openly, but the weight this fact placed on the hero's party was considerable. Their journey so far had been harsh enough, and it was clear they now faced an even thornier path. Amid the solemn silence, distant cries—beast or demon, it was impossible to tell—echoed faintly through the twilight.
The hero, Gale, finished his watch and sat down among his companions. He cleared his throat lightly, trying to lighten the mood with a casual tone.
"Hey, what do you all want to do once the journey's over?"
It was a strangely novel question. They'd always lived only for the crises of today or tomorrow. They'd never had the luxury to discuss such distant futures.
"Gordon, why don't you start? I'm quite curious what plans our steadfast priest has."
Gordon paused his prayers. A good-natured smile played on his lips as he scratched the back of his head like a bear rousing from hibernation.
"Hahaha, well... I suppose we'd have to head back to the holy city first. I need to report the results of our journey to the church. Then compile the information we gathered on the demons, devise countermeasures, and carry out the purification of the demon realm... Huh? Wait, that could tie me up for decades without a break! Hahaha!"
"Hmm, isn't that a bit too rigid? At least take a few years off as a sabbatical. You'll be worn out after the journey..."
"Hahaha, I'd love to, but... who else would take on this mission if not me? Our eternal Lord of Radiance has watched over this world from the beginning of time, and compared to that, this toil is less than a candle before the sun! Hahaha!"
Gale joined in the hearty laughter. The atheist mage, Melissa, huffed and turned away with a pout...
"Alright, next up, Cyril. What do you want to do? Maybe join those wilderness shrine maidens we met before?"
"Me...? Oh, uh, no, not that... I haven't really thought of anything specific yet..."
Her words trailed off. The white-haired shrine maiden blushed and kept stealing glances at the hulking warrior before finally speaking.
"Well, for me... I'll follow Kadim. Wherever Lord Kadim goes. As a shrine maiden of the wilderness, I have to help the Great Warrior of Atala with his work..."
"Haha, I knew it! I sensed it from the first time I saw you two—you make a great pair. Oh, no, don't misunderstand! Not just because you're the same race..."
Gordon seized the opening.
"Ahem, Brother Gale...? Are you saying Atalans should stick to their own kind, as befits their station?"
"No, no! That's not what I meant at all! Don't accuse me like that, Gordon! I mean, let me say it again, it's absolutely not because you're the same race..."
"Heh heh heh, what a disappointment... I thought you were purely virtuous, Hero, but to think you harbored such racial prejudices..."
Gale panicked in earnest at the half-joking remark, sweat beading on his brow. When even Melissa chimed in primly that there were Atalans who paired with outsiders, his fluster doubled.
In the end, the hero bowed his head before the shrine maiden in apology. She waved her hands frantically in response, and the priest and mage both let out light chuckles. The commotion eased the party's tense atmosphere considerably.
But one face remained grim.
Kadim, the Great Warrior of Atala who had gathered them all.
Gale turned to him.
"Ahem, you know I didn't mean it that way, right, Kadim? Your turn now. What do you want to do after the journey? Someone's destination might depend on your answer..."
"...Pass."
He couldn't exactly say he was returning to his original reality. The mood sank instantly, but Gale smoothly changed the subject without losing composure.
"Ah, looks like you've got some secret plans tucked away! We'll save hearing about that for later. Then, Melissa, care to share yours first?"
"...So, you're asking what I'll do after slaying the archdemon?"
The hero's efforts were undone as the atmosphere chilled again. They'd been deliberately avoiding mention of the "archdemon" due to the burden it evoked, and Melissa had just laid it bare.
The one who'd sparked it paid no mind to the cold air. She pondered the question deeply before answering.
"Hmm, well... Maybe build a tower to teach mages?"
"..."
"Or... hmmph, well... like Sister Cyril..."
- Grrrrowl...
A furious growl cut Melissa off.
"Blade wolves! Everyone, up! The rest of you fall back and provide cover. Kadim, you and I take the front line!"
There was no hesitation. At Gale's command, the party moved with crisp efficiency. The shrine maiden drew a ritual circle, the priest unfurled holy spells, and the mage, though looking dissatisfied, steadily chanted her incantation.
- Grrowl...
- Gruff, yelp, grrrowl, gruff!
Just before clashing with the wolf pack, Kadim glanced sidelong at the hero on his right.
"And you? What will you do?"
"...Hm?"
"After slaying the archdemon. If you survive, what then?"
Gale smiled ambiguously.
"Me? Well..."
*
"My lord! My lord! Are you alright? Is something wrong?"
"..."
Kadim tensed his eyes.
His vision filled with pristine white streets and passersby in light attire. The hero and his companions were nowhere to be seen. Still shaking off the haze, he asked Duncan.
"...What happened? Where are we?"
"Pardon? This is Vesta city center, my lord! Weren't we heading to the Magic Tower this morning? We stayed the night at the inn and just stepped out..."
"..."
Thinking back, it did seem that way. But his memories were hazy like afterimages, lacking certainty. Instead, those fragments of the past felt far more vivid.
"..."
He couldn't tell. Was this a lingering effect of his mania, a hallucination from a relaxed mind, or something else...? One thing was clear: now wasn't the time. Kadim pressed his temples hard, banishing the echoes of the vision.
"...Must've dozed off for a bit. I'm fully awake now—don't worry. Let's head to the Magic Tower."
"..."
Duncan tilted his head, then scurried after the barbarian.
Vesta's streets were strikingly beautiful compared to other great cities. Buildings and roads gleamed white as if painted with clouds. Colorful awnings, flower pots at every home, and healthy, sun-tanned pedestrians enriched what might otherwise have been a monotonous palette.
Yet in stark contrast, the passersby's gazes and demeanor were far from kind. They scowled at the sight of Kadim, some even spitting demonstratively or whispering openly behind his back.
Duncan fidgeted, offering excuses.
"M-my lord... I apologize, but I hear Vesta still holds Atalans in contempt... Historically, many Atalan slaves handled dock labor, and they value mystical pursuits like magic over brute strength..."
"..."
"Sigh... If they knew what kind of man you are, they wouldn't dare! Those scum!"
Kadim didn't mind much.
It even felt familiar. The eastern continent had always been hostile to barbarians. Hadn't even Melissa once looked at him like vermin? He had no intention of drawing steel over mere insults.
...Of course, he wouldn't tolerate crossing lines or blocking his path either.
Fortunately, the hostility stayed indirect, sparing Vesta's white streets a crimson makeover.
There was no risk of losing the way. The tower soaring to the clouds stood out from anywhere in the city. And beyond that... the murky magical aura, traces of "mana," grew ever stronger.
Thus, crossing the alabaster streets and disdainful stares, they reached the Magic Tower's entrance.
It was guarded by a translucent barrier, much like the city gates. The difference: brown-robed mages stood watch instead of militia soldiers.
The mages showed little fear at the hulking barbarian—thanks to Kadim stowing his weapons in his inventory to avoid alarming them.
"What's a barbarian...?"
"Why's a barbarian here...?"
"The docks are that way. Wrong turn, barbarian?"
"Don't loiter around. Before I fire a fire arrow and roast you barbarian-style... heh heh heh."
Kadim ignored the unimpressive threats.
"This the Magic Tower?"
"Ha, are those eyes just for show? Where else would you find a tower like this on the continent?"
"Good, we found it. Any letters or messages left by an 'Enrico Turis'? He coordinated with the tower before to assist with my business."
Kadim had two ways to enter the Magic Tower peacefully: through the living and through the dead. He decided to check the "living" route first.
The mages blinked in confusion, tilting their heads.
"Did you hear anything from Lord Gordon beforehand?"
"No, nothing..."
"Me neither... 'Turis'—that's the family from Delutana, right? Doesn't seem like he just wandered in blindly..."
"...Maybe he just overheard the family name somewhere?"
After some bickering, they reached a simple conclusion.
"No messages from anyone like that! Begone, barbarian!"
"..."
Too much hassle to check—just chase the barbarian away.
Kadim stared down the two brown-robed mages. He briefly considered splitting their skulls but decided it was too early for trouble.
Evidently, the consul hadn't relayed anything yet. Time for plan B: the "dead" route.
"Duncan, hand over that bag."
"Pardon? Oh, yes!"
Kadim rummaged through his inventory. Amid the gear, he felt heavy fabric. Pulling it out unleashed a grotesque, headless corpse reeking of decay.
A red-robed mage's body.
The mages' eyes bulged.
"Wha-wha...?"
"Gah! Urp, bleeegh..."
Kadim set the corpse down, about to explain. But he'd overlooked a few things.
Most people lose composure seeing such a mangled body for the first time. These were novice mages with zero corpse-handling experience. And... a red robe marked an elite mage beyond their dreams.
To them, it looked like a barbarian had butchered a high mage and was threatening to do the same to them.
As the terrified mages swallowed bile and began chanting...
"Urp, [Keruna, Bolkar...]."
"Blech, [Graden, Ksan...]."
A hand shot out like lightning.
Their incantations cut off. Kadim gripped each mage's cheek with one hand, hoisting them up. They dangled limply, mouths agape like unhinged jaws.
"Listen first. I didn't kill him. Found the body while demon hunting and brought it here to deliver..."
"Eeeek, eeeek!"
"Grah! Gruuh!"
"..."
No comprehension. One flailed with a blue face, the other gnawed his hand like a rat. Far from freeing them, their teeth only chipped against his iron-hard skin...
Crunch—
"Kiiii! My teeth! Th-theth, my teeth!"
"..."
The situation resolved only when another mage arrived.
A sky-blue-robed one. Her different garb and assertive arrival marked her as their superior.
"What's this commotion? What do you think you're doing? Who are you...? Gasp! N-no, that body..."
"..."
At least she didn't chant immediately. Kadim dropped the mages and swiftly explained.
"...So, I found a body killed by demons and brought it to the tower. No head, but can you identify him?"
"..."
"I'd prefer to speak with the top brass of his organization. Easier to discuss procedures and rewards that way."
The mage looked flustered but didn't peg Kadim as the killer. As she examined the corpse with detection magic, her face drained white.
"Th-there's no one higher than him..."
"...What?"
"H-he... he's the deputy commander of the Anti-Demon and Anti-Monster Battle Mage Unit, Conjurer-rank Mage Ramakren... No Battle Mage outranks him... He boasted he'd capture a greater demon and left... B-but how did he lose his head and return like this..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The squirming mages froze solid. Duncan stared blankly at the distant sea. Kadim scowled fiercely before sighing deeply.
A strong premonition told him things wouldn't go smoothly this time either.