Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Five Pillars (11)
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Naturally, Kadim in the auction house had no way of helping Duncan. The stern expression on his face was just starting to shift into resignation toward death.
Something about the situation felt off.
The two mages scrutinized Duncan's attire closely, then froze in shock.
Suddenly, they bent at right angles, bowing deeply in apology.
"S-Sorry, Conjuror! The smoke was too thick; we didn't recognize you right away!"
"We have no excuses! From now on, we'll make sure to identify you properly and greet you first!"
"……."
……Huh?
Duncan stiffened in confusion at the unexpected reaction—eight seconds of bewilderment, twelve seconds before they lowered their eyes toward him, and twenty-one seconds to finally clock the red robe.
For the two mages in blue robes, the time felt like an eternity. At last, Duncan pieced together what was happening.
'Brown for Apprentice, sky blue for Seeker, blue for Invoker, red for Conjuror…… Ah! I'm higher rank than these guys!'
The info from the stolen book flashed through his mind.
Duncan was small enough to be underestimated anywhere, but among mages, physique didn't matter. Only the robes signifying magical rank—the "tiers"—counted. Plus, his unflinching stern face had fueled their mistake.
He'd lucked out and saved his skin for now…… but bolting would just raise suspicions again. Words carried weight in action. Recalling Kadim's hard-earned wisdom, Duncan cleared his throat and deepened his voice.
"What are you lot doing?"
"……Pardon?"
"Didn't you hear me? I asked what you're doing."
Thinking they'd messed up somehow, the mages broke out in cold sweats.
"A-As you can see, we're producing 'mana stones' for the new Apprentices entering the Tower. We've deployed 32 lesser demons and 2 mid-tier demons, and once the mana furnace stabilizes, we'll add 8 more lesser ones."
"The demonic energy dilution mix follows Formula 2 for mana stones, and the dilution materials are being supplied by Production Team 3. No issues in the process so far. We'll report any anomalies to the higher-ups via telepathy immediately, Conjuror!"
"……."
Duncan glanced past them.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—
A massive, bizarre cauldron bubbled like a kettle. A chute for shoving in demon corpses fed right into it. That must be the "mana furnace."
The rest was gibberish.
'Mana stones? The rocks that supply "mana" from a mage's heart? They make them in that pot? Eek…… But why stuff demon corpses in there……? What's dilution mixing? And those materials……?'
Duncan swallowed his doubts and pressed for more details. The mages, puzzled why he'd ask the obvious, answered readily anyway.
The core of "mana" was demonic energy, so demon corpses supplied it for mana stones. Dilution mixing blended in other stuff to keep mages from going mad from the demonic taint. Materials included monster bones, minerals, body parts imported from demon caves…….
Duncan's face drained of color. The gruesome truth—straight out of a nightmare tale—left him speechless.
Around then, the mages sensed something fishy too. They ventured a cautious question to the suspiciously twitchy high-rank mage.
"But what brings you to the control zone, Conjuror……? You're not from our Production Division, are you……?"
"……If I may be so bold, could you share your name and affiliation? The Tower Lord ordered us to log everyone entering the zone……."
Duncan's eyelids fluttered. Was he about to end up as ingredients in that cauldron? He regretted not running when he had the chance earlier.
But retreat wasn't an option now. He widened his eyes, growled his voice lower, stroked his goatee for faux dignity, and demanded:
"You really don't know who I am?"
"……."
"I asked if you really don't know who I am."
"……Yes, forgive us. If you tell us now, we'll accept any punishment for our ignorance and commit it to memory."
No real apology in the mage's tone. He already half-believed Duncan was legit high-rank.
Duncan let out a nervous chuckle.
"H-Haha, how could you not know who I am…… Y-Young Invokers these days are hopeless. If I have to explain it myself, do you think you can handle the consequences?"
"……."
"……."
Their gleaming eyes pierced him; his desperate bluff fell flat. Duncan felt his ribs quake and his balls shrink. Worse, the mage on the left was already gathering mana, muttering an incantation.
That mortal peril ignited his survival instincts.
Duncan whipped out the "Inferno Dagger" from his belt and slashed.
Whoosh, whoosh—!
Crimson flames cleaved the hazy veil; thick smoke ignited in ferocious blaze. Amid scattering embers, he eyed the mages coolly and murmured:
"……That should be explanation enough."
He had no clue if it was. He just prayed that sloppy swing looked like meaningful magic. If not, he'd have to ram these flames down their throats somehow…….
But it worked.
"……Huh? Those flames……."
"Isn't this…… that Inferno magic Elder Oklamud's been researching with his prized disciples……?"
"What? Then does that mean…… this is someone under the 'Black Flame Inferno'……?"
"……."
It worked too well.
"……Took you long enough."
He rode the wave, clueless on the details. The mages paled, bowing deeply again.
"Forgive us! We had no idea you were sent by Elder Oklamud for inspection! Please overlook our rudeness!"
"We sincerely apologize! We'll never forget your face again! So please, just don't report us to the Elder……."
"……."
Duncan stared down at them, dazed.
He had no idea who Oklamud was or why they feared him so, but the momentum had swung back. Rubbing his chest in relief—like he'd aged ten years—he feigned nonchalance again.
"Hmph, well, better late than never. But that one beside you…… didn't he dare chant in my presence?"
"S-Sorry! It won't happen again! Please, just this once……."
"That depends on how you behave from here."
"G-Give us your orders. We'll do anything we can."
"Good. Then let's test how well you know your jobs."
Duncan cut straight to the chase: Who devised mana stone production? Who figured out substituting "ancient mana" with demonic-tainted mana?
After a brief hesitation, the answer came.
"The previous…… no, current Tower Lord, of course?"
An odd reply.
The current Tower Lord? He'd heard ancient mana ran dry over 200 years ago. And fumbling between previous and current Lords felt suspicious…….
Duncan furrowed his brow deeply and probed further.
"……Right. Then explain what you know of the current Tower Lord's life and achievements."
"……."
The mages gulped nervously, then obediently spilled the details.
*
The dim evening forest.
Twilight had faded without a trace. Gray storm clouds blanketed the sky, heavy as if ready to collapse. On a flat tree trunk sat a girl mage with a face as gloomy as the overcast heavens.
Her red hair whipped in the chill night breeze. Her downcast eyes stayed fixed on the dirt. She kicked the ground in frustration, muttering to herself—Melissa, the mage.
"Yeah, I don't need you…… Some arrogant savage…… I'll just pretend you never existed and head back alone."
Her words said one thing, but she showed no sign of moving. Instead, her face grew even gloomier as she slid down against the trunk, hugging her knees.
Her sole companion, Kadim, had left her. About an hour ago, after she'd told him to get lost right in front of her.
Truth be told, it hadn't warranted that. The spark was trivial: She'd heard him say he'd recruit a "Wilderness Witch" ahead, and asked:
'Hmm, so…… between that person and me, who's more important for reaching your goal?'
'……Can't rank them. You and she have different roles, both irreplaceable.'
'A-h…… So after months traveling together, I'm on the same level as some strangers you've never even met?'
No matter how she sniped, Kadim didn't react. The more she talked, the more her own emotions boiled over, dredging up every past grievance. Finally, she snapped and impulsively told him to scram.
Of course, what she'd really wanted was for him to take it back and apologize…… But the stoic savage took her literally and left.
"Thick-headed brute…… Skull stuffed full of muscle from top to bottom……."
Melissa doodled a dopey savage in the dirt with her staff. Part of her wished he'd never come back; part dreaded he really wouldn't. She couldn't even sort her own feelings.
Then, a sudden rustle.
"……Kadim?"
She whipped toward the bushes.
No hulking savage shadow—just gleaming eyes and bared fangs.
- Grrrrowl…….
- Grrowl…….
Blade Wolves closing in.
"Wh-Wha, wha……."
Her mind blanked. Too close for spell prep. She backed away, stammering one name like an idiot.
"Kadim……? Kadim……? Kadim……? Kadim……."
- Grrowl…….
- Grrowl…….
"Wh-Where are you! Kadim!! Kadim!! Kadiiiiim!!"
- Yelp! Arf!!
"Kyaaah!!!"
Just as fangs lunged, an axe blade sliced through the dark.
Slashslashslash—crunch!
- Yelp!
The wolf crumpled with a final whine. Blood and brains oozed from its crushed temple.
A giant burst from the bushes. He reclaimed his axe and whirled it like a gale, shredding the rest. The pack turned to mangled hides and pulped flesh in seconds.
Kadim wiped blood from near his eye and approached the girl mage.
"Sorry, Melissa. I thought I'd cleared all nearby monsters, but I missed these."
"……."
She'd planned to turn coldly and snap about his timing. But tears welled up against her will; she sprang up and clung to the bloodied giant's chest.
"Waaah…… Wh-Where'd you go, you idiot…… Why so late…… Why'd you leave me alone……."
"……Didn't you tell me to leave?"
"Y-Yeah, but d-don't go…… Fr-From now on, no matter how much I tell you to l-leave, never go…… Stay by my side forever……."
"……Got it. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."
As he promised never to leave, patting the future grand mage's back like a crying child.
The scene before him shifted to some inn room.
The warrior who'd failed that 300-year-old promise stared blankly at the ceiling for a long while.