Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Mage Hunt (6)
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Puuk!
The blade of Mosquito, etched with crimson letters, pierced through the fallen bear owl. It greedily sucked up the blood within and offered it to its master.
- Grooo... grooo...
The bear owl let out its death rattle, and faint smoke rose from Kadim's body. The narrow passageway was littered with dozens of monster corpses that had offered their blood to him.
Kadim cracked his neck. His fatigue remained, but his wounds had mostly healed. With his recovery complete, it was time to head back.
He reached the heart of the fortress, a room filled with extinguished candles. In the center lay a massive figure collapsed in ruin.
- Kugh, kill me... Just end it now, kill me quick...
All its tendons had been severed, and rocks stuffed into the gaps. Thanks to a remnant of its heart, it clung to life, but regeneration and movement were impossible. The ogre groaned in agony, repeatedly begging for death.
Of course, Kadim had no intention of granting it a swift end.
"From now on, answer only the questions I ask, straight and true. Once you've answered them all, I'll let you die peacefully."
- Kugh, kuugh...
"If you lie or spout nonsense, I'll extend your suffering that much longer each time."
The ogre's twisted eyes narrowed further. It had already endured Mosquito in Kadim's hand forcing it back to life. It knew those words were no bluff.
Having abandoned its human body, returning to its old life was impossible anyway. It couldn't defeat this barbaric warrior wielding strange powers in this state either. Ymir decided to answer whatever questions came and seek rest as quickly as possible.
Kadim perched on a suitable rock. He glanced at the countless extinguished candles lining the walls and began the interrogation.
"Quite the devout setup. What were you doing gathering monsters here? It was too many just to sabotage the councilors."
- ...Kugh, the monsters have been here since long ago. It was a breeding ground for those captured during the subjugation orders... It only progressed into a 'plan' after I arrived.
"Plan?"
- Yes, a plan to control monster minds on a massive scale and turn them into an army. I was assigned here as an aide precisely to realize that plan. If successful, it would have exterminated the rampant demons and subjugated the other councils and even the Empire... Kugh, but because of you, everything...
"Then why kill the people? I saw rooms piled with corpses."
- ...The more monsters, the harder they are to control. But by extracting human minds with the 'Soul-Squeezing Chains' and injecting them into monster bodies, the human and monster minds clash violently, creating a void in the ego. That allows smoother control over far greater numbers.
"......"
- Kugh, of course, cases like mine where a human fully takes over a monster body had to be disposed of...
Kadim instinctively frowned.
He wasn't in a position to morally condemn anyone. But no matter how he thought about it, that was less human and more demonic. And the words that followed only reinforced it.
- Kugh, you ruined everything... You wasted the sacrifice of all those humans... Valuable sacrifices for the Magic Tower's progress, turned into meaningless deaths because of you alone! Surely even the dead curse you from the afterlife...
Kadim wedged his axe blade between the ogre's claws and ripped it free with a crack.
"......Kuooooh! Kuooooh!!"
"I told you no nonsense."
Enduring far greater pain didn't grant immunity to all suffering. The ogre trembled violently and shut its mouth obediently.
"Now, back to my earlier question. Why use demonic methods for magic? Why dilute demonic energy instead of mana as the source?"
The ogre flinched at 'demon' and 'demonic energy,' then made a guilty face.
- ...Demonic energy? What are you talking about? I've only ever used mana...
"Cut the crap. The 'mana' I mean is the supernatural energy the spirits use, floating in the atmosphere. Not that impure mess of demonic energy."
- Spirits... floating in the atmosphere... Ah, you mean 'ancient mana'?
"......What?"
- Kugh, you're talking ancient history... 'Ancient mana' was completely depleted centuries ago. The spirits died out long ago as relics of the past. Now, the only way mages cast spells is by embedding mana stones in their hearts and drawing from them...
The ogre coughed up blood-laced phlegm. Confusion rippled across the berserker's face. He had no way to verify those words. He couldn't sense even a speck of mana, then or now.
When Kadim spoke again, his voice trembled faintly.
"Why... why was 'ancient mana' depleted?"
- Kugh, I don't know the exact reason... Only the Tower Lord and the elder mages could access that information.
"......"
- But from what I overheard... rumors say someone cast an enormous 'grand magic' that drained all the world's mana at once... Kugh, a 'grand magic' that massive doesn't sound realistic, but...
"[Don't lie. Melissa cast countless 'grand magics' against archdemons without depleting mana.]"
Suddenly, the air in the room shifted.
Kadim's voice echoed like it had sunk into a deep cave. An uncanny sense of a personality switch in an instant. The ogre's facial muscles twitched faintly.
- What? Kugh... What are you saying...
"[Still that sly tongue. I already warned you not to lie.]"
A chilling sensation crawled up its nape. Twisting its head with effort, it saw the barbarian's eyes glowing with eerie red light. Unprecedented terror eroded Ymir's mind.
- Me-Melissa? The First Tower Lord? Kugh, why bring up that name suddenly...
"[Melissa despised demons more than anything. Yet her descendants use demonic energy as magic fuel... Well, that never made sense from the start.]"
- What the hell are you talking about? I haven't lied once! H-Honor the promise and kill me painlessly...
"[Shut up, demon. Your petty tricks end here. I'll tear your flesh and bones to shreds and drink every drop of your blood.]"
His words weren't getting through. The shadow raised its axe solemnly and approached slowly. Ymir's inner pleas for rest vanished entirely. All that remained was fear of this mad barbarian and death.
- Kugh, kuugh, kuugh!!
It thrashed to escape somehow. It didn't move an inch. The rocks in its severed tendons only dug in deeper.
Sss – kkach!
- Quoohaah!!
Finally, the cold axe blade sliced the ogre's throat.
The berserker hacked at the regenerating wound immediately. He shredded the skin and muscle to rags, then yanked out the protruding windpipe and crushed it. The ogre's eyes bulged bloodshot. Its massive body convulsed, shaking the ceiling and floor like an earthquake.
- Quok, quoohaah!
Kuung, kuung, kuuguugu...
Chijak, kwaduk, chii – kkach!
The axe blade dug wider and deeper. Thick, tough arteries snapped easily, and thick blood gushed out. Witnessing the vigorous spray, Kadim's eyes grew even stranger.
He licked the blood splattered on his hands. A rare chance to drink fresh demon blood. He wouldn't stop at a few drops. He bit straight into the artery and drank. Once he started, he tore and ripped relentlessly with teeth, hands, and axe.
Blood sprayed into his eyes, dyeing his vision crimson. Sight, taste, smell—all soaked in the fishy blood as he gulped madly. Still, he didn't stop vampirism. The thirst wouldn't quench, like a hole in his throat. More blood, more blood, more blood...
- Kuooo...
Only after the ogre's breath fully stopped did Kadim regain his senses.
"......"
This wasn't a demon. Just a monster infused with a mage's mind.
The last candle flickered out, leaving solemn silence. Kadim wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve. He suddenly looked up, meeting the dank darkness eye to eye.
'Even without Hydra's blood... this much.'
Like a parasite had gnawed his brain, the aftereffects of frenzy lingered stubbornly.
The great city of Vesta in the Free City Alliance.
Nominally, the council chairman held the highest authority. But everyone in the city—from three-year-olds with runny noses to eighty-year-old elders, even the chairman himself—knew the truth. The city's true master was someone else.
The owner of that white, towering spire.
"......"
The chairman craned his fat neck to gaze up at the lofty Magic Tower. As he gulped dryly with his bulging belly, the entrance doors opened, and a young female mage appeared.
She guided him with a gentle voice.
"Welcome, Chairman. This way, please."
"Yes, thank..."
Wung –
But as soon as he stepped inside, the scenery shifted, and the mage's figure vanished. In its place appeared a dim corridor heavy with air.
"......"
Lights flickered on, revealing the path ahead. At the corridor's end stood a stone door embossed with mystic runes and intricate magic circles.
He should be used to it by now, but he never was. With tense steps, he reached the end. The stone door opened, revealing the Magic Tower's top floor.
"Come in, Chairman. Sit here."
Dazzling rainbow lights embroidered the air, transparent walls allowing views only outward, a space evoking dreams with clouds at its feet. And a voice laced with strange power.
A man in a deep white hood, face hidden, sat on a transparent chair welcoming the chairman. He spoke casually without honorifics, and the chairman took no offense.
"It's been a while, Tower Lord. I hope you've been well?"
"Plenty of troubles. That's why I called you."
"......"
"To the point. There's a problem at the underground fortress near Remtana. All the monsters inside were slaughtered, and Ymir Demil is probably dead too."
"Pardon? What..."
The chairman's eyes widened round.
Ymir was one of the top high mages in the Magic Tower. Powerful alone, he'd recently succeeded in mass monster control, elevating his status to near one-man army. Who could have killed him?
"No force in Remtana could manage that... Did a high demon appear? Or did the Empire's Arch Paladins or 'Decagram' breach the border...?"
"None of that. I don't know the exact identity yet. Maybe Deluta or Galenta pulled out some secret weapon they'd hidden. I had high hopes for Ymir... Shame."
The Tower Lord stroked the translucent crystal orb before him.
'Eye of Callisto.' A magic tool to survey the world from one's seat. Drawbacks: images blur with distance, long reuse cooldown.
When the Tower Lord spoke again, his tone was more grave.
"An unknown enemy appeared, and we've suffered major losses. Thus, I intend to bolster the Magic Tower's forces. Increase next quarter's council support budget and secure as many demon parts as possible. Demons, the Empire's Holy Knights, other cities' weapons... We'll face many foes ahead."
"......Understood. I'll persuade the councilors and issue directives to nearby councilors."
The council already poured most of its budget into the tower, but the chairman had no veto. He knew well what happened to predecessors who refused the Tower Lord. Better to give and probe for gains elsewhere.
"However... Tower Lord. Demons rampant on the 'Golden Highway' still hinder trade with other regions. If I may be bold, could you dispatch more mages...?"
"Haven't I already sent plenty of Invoker-rank mages? Don't misunderstand—the Golden Highway isn't ours alone. You don't expect me to waste Conjurer-level or higher on something other cities will handle if we leave it, do you?"
"......"
Recently, demons infested the Golden Highway linking alliance cities. Not few in number, and omens ill.
'Reports say even two-horned greater demons sighted in numbers... Other cities' forces won't handle it easily...'
Still, the chairman held his tongue. The info came from a scout half-mad from facing demons—truth uncertain. Spreading unverified rumors could cost his head later.
But being endlessly manipulated bruised his pride. He shifted to a topic risky for his neck but one the Tower Lord loathed.
"Understood. It's just regrettable we always lack mages. If a grand mage like the 'First Tower Lord' were still alive, it would ease the current Tower Lord's burden greatly..."
"......"
The chairman glanced slyly. The Tower Lord narrowed his eyes.
"The First Tower Lord died long ago. Didn't you see her tomb in the Magic Tower's lowest level?"
"Yes, of course, Tower Lord. But lately, strange rumors from the southern great forest..."
"Forgot what happened before, Chairman?"
"......"
The voice rang cold as frost. Ghostly light gleamed in the eyes beneath the hood.
"Remember this. Your life was spared by groveling like a mute who seals his lips, an idiot without thoughts, a dog begging obedience. Don't overstep with schemes—stick to your role, Conrad."
"......"
Called by his real name, the chairman dropped his gaze like a pig kicked by its owner. The Tower Lord stared coldly, then snapped his fingers. A flash erupted, and the pot-bellied chairman vanished cleanly outside the tower.
Alone in the open space, the Tower Lord seemed a lonely prophet who had glimpsed the world's secrets. He mulled layered emotions like strata, rose, paced with hands behind his back over the cloud-view floor, gazed south, and murmured bitterly.
"End this meaningless wait. The one you desire will never come, Melissa..."