Chapter 271
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: Shadows Over Osiris
"...You're saying the Black Wing is behind the Osiris Kingdom?"
Karma's words carved deep furrows into Dwain's brow.
"Do you have any evidence? Even if it's from you, Elder Azure Wing, I can't accept that as your territory's chief of staff if it's just speculation."
Dwain spoke in a firm tone.
"I'm no Black Lion myself, but I do know the tendencies of their factions. The Turbid faction prioritizes their own interests above all else, from what I've heard."
Dwain shared the same thoughts as Jerome.
What could possibly compel the nobles of the Osiris Kingdom—a nation counted among the continent's great powers—to serve under the Black Wing?
There was no reason for it.
"Hmm... reasons, you say. Then let me ask you this instead. What do you think allowed the Osiris Turbid faction to grow so suddenly?"
"They must have revealed powers they'd been hiding all along."
"Why? And if so, the Clear faction couldn't have missed it. Their conflict has been going on for quite some time now, hasn't it?"
"That's true, but..."
"So there you have it. There's only one answer left: outside reinforcements. Nothing else fits."
Smooth.
Karma's gaze shifted to Set.
"For the same reason, if it were ordinary outside help, there'd be no need to phrase it as 'the Turbid faction suddenly grew stronger.' They could've just said foreign powers intervened. Right?"
"......!!"
Exactly.
The people of the Osiris Kingdom were familiar with Heterogenous Powers. If it had been aid from regular foreign forces, its flavor would have differed noticeably from the Black Lions'.
But if it came from forces under Veras's command, the story changed entirely.
Being Black Lions themselves, the Osiris Clear faction might easily overlook it.
"It's obvious, then. The Black Wing's branch faction—them lot. I can't imagine anyone else lending strength to those Yulan or Mulan fellows."
"...That's a logical leap. There may be some possibility as you say, Elder Azure Wing, but it's still just conjecture. You lack solid proof to assert it."
"Hmmm, can't be helped, then."
Flap!
As Dwain refused to yield, Karma shrugged off his outer robe.
A fingernail-sized mineral embedded in his abdomen came into view.
"...What?!"
Mineral poison. That accursed Veras venom still lingered in Karma's gut.
"Heh heh, no need to be so shocked. I've sealed it tight with my natural energies. Keep it bound like this for half a year, and it'll vanish."
Karma spoke casually, but Jerome couldn't smile.
"...Even Paeonia couldn't fully cure it?"
"Heh heh, embarrassing to admit, but yes. Because of this, I can only use about seventy percent of my power for now."
Half a year to dissipate—that was no small matter.
A poison that should have been cured by Paeonia meant only one thing.
"...Veras must have deepened his realm."
Enough to withstand Paeonia and Karma's natural energies, even if just for half a year.
"Precisely. The poisons, so well-managed by the World Tree's roots, started raging just recently. If you'd brought the Paeonia even a little later, I might've ended up a corpse soon enough."
It was terrifying. Karma was the jewel atop the throne—the one hailed as reaching demigod status.
For his energies to hold out for half a year was no trivial feat.
"Then Veras likely overcame your Yggdrasil as well."
"Probably so. Now, Young Lord Dwain. Let me ask once more."
Karma straightened his robe and turned calmly to Dwain.
"Where do you think Veras, with his power restored, will head?"
Veras had chosen the Turbid path from the start to indulge his desires freely outside the shadows.
A man of such nature, armed with power rivaling Karma's—naturally, he'd crave dominion over the world.
And the swiftest path to world mastery was...
'...Seizing the seat of the one already ruling it.'
Yet Dwain held firm to his opposition.
"...Even if that's true, someone so ambitious wouldn't want to lose what he's gained. In the war with the Empire, he'd side with us."
"A smart lad like you, really? Veras would sooner ally with the Empire and strike the alliance. With Rampang's power exposed in Korantos, Veras will target me and him first, no doubt."
"......"
Dwain fell silent at Karma's words, finally letting out a long sigh.
"...Haa. Fine, no helping it."
Dwain, who'd argued to the end, finally nodded.
"I'll handle Olivia's internal affairs and operations with Jeremiah somehow. But before heading to Osiris, stop by the royal family and settle everything about the Mirage Mine. That way, no rumors will leak during development."
"Don't worry."
"And return by winter at the latest. Once full-scale mining starts, the Sword Family will surely interfere. It'll be hard to respond immediately if you're away, my lord."
"Got it."
Smooth.
Dwain glanced at Set and rose.
"...Let me know once the departure date is set. You two sort out the rest. I have work to do, so I'll take my leave."
Pat pat!
I patted Dwain's back wordlessly as he stood.
The guy was surprisingly sentimental. How long had he stood in silent tribute before the fallen navy men's bodies after the Korantos sea battle?
No way he'd coldly refuse Set's plea—the man he'd fought beside—just like that.
His harsh words against Set were purely for the territory and me.
'Karma gave him solid justification to help. He's probably relieved inside.'
"...Don't. I'm not a kid."
Caught red-handed, Dwain shot me a glare and hurried out of the meeting hall.
This guy's a keeper.
* * *
Pipipipit!
Dark projectiles shot from all over the body flew mercilessly at the three knights.
Enough to dominate their space entirely, enough to intimidate anyone.
Clang clang clang!
But the knights resisted the barrage and pushed forward.
No—they advanced toward the front.
"Now! Strike from behind!"
While one knight gritted his teeth and held, the other two aimed for the projectile shooter.
"Not so fast~"
Clunk!
Whoosh!
With a playful voice, Nene erupted from the floor, spewing poison mist at the knights.
Not lethal, of course.
"Ugyagyagyagya!"
"M-My arm!"
But it crippled their combat ability just fine.
"Damn it!"
A knight broke through the rain of darts, inheriting his comrades' strength, and swung at Saladin up close.
Wielding a razor-sharp training blade was frowned upon, but against this foe?
Going easy on Saladin, slayer of the Northern Commander, would be the real insult.
Thud!
The knight's sword bounced off Mimi's slender frame without piercing.
Thwack!
"Kek!"
Mimi lightly struck the nape, and the knight flopped like a frog.
"Okay, that's enough!"
"Phew! Good work!"
"H-Hey! Wake up, man! Breathe!"
The Blizzard Knights sheathed their swords and panted.
Post-war, the recovered Blizzard Knight Order and Saladin often trained like this.
"Hmm, Shooting Star definitely doesn't suit multi-opponent fights like against Young Lord Saladin."
"Agreed. For him, a stealthy encirclement and ambush would be better."
"How about moving with the wind to mask presence?"
While watching the squad's coordination, Beskin and the two knights analyzed Shooting Star's strengths and weaknesses.
"Whew, you all worked hard."
As the mood relaxed for a break, Jerome, who'd been watching fondly, spoke up.
"Eh? What brings you here?"
Saladin, wiping sweat and drinking water, asked back.
"Just checking if you weren't pushing too hard. Your wounds from Gundo aren't fully healed yet."
"Nah, ancient history. Luna's potion fixed me up ages ago."
"Haha, same for us, my lord. No issues now—don't worry."
Beskin chimed in with a laugh at Saladin's words.
"Oh yeah? All better?"
I eyed Saladin—not Beskin—sparkling with intent, and he glared back.
"...Knew it. What's it this time?"
We were in sync now.
I briefly explained the Mirage Mine to Beskin and Saladin.
"Hmm... a shame about the mine, but whatever. If you and Dwain decided, you weighed it properly. But does that mean we all go? Can't we just see Prince Julius in Edirne and head back?"
"Other matters cropped up. Might be away longer this time."
"Why? Side trips?"
"Set's in a bad spot. Actually..."
I shared the Osiris situation, and Saladin and Beskin's faces hardened.
"...Pretty dangerous. And the Black Wing might be involved? You sure about this?"
"My lord, I get it, but isn't it too risky?"
As expected, both voiced strong concerns. If Black Wing was behind it, he'd surely intervene in cornering the Clear faction.
"Then our knight order will go too. Our coordination improved across the board from the sea battle."
Great news that the subordinate knights had grown stronger—and reassuring they'd follow.
But I slowly shook my head at Beskin's offer.
"Sorry, but elite few this time. You and the Blizzard Knights are too conspicuous. Too many, too. Goal's to covertly back Set from the shadows—can't have numbers."
"Then just me..."
"Veto. You're a knight, not a Black Lion fundamentally. That vibe's unmistakable. Plus."
My gaze fell on the sprawled knights.
"You have duties guarding the territory and honing the knights' coordination sharper."
"...Who're you taking, then?"
"Obviously."
Grab!
I snatched the collar of Saladin, who'd been slyly edging away since "elite few."
"L-Let go...!"
Saladin squirmed to free himself, but my grip didn't budge.
"We're heading to Osiris Kingdom. Fighting in Black Lion faction wars. Taking Black Lions minimizes noise."
"Miron too...?"
"Yes. Miron and Misha."
Post-spirit mastery, Misha was hooked on spirit arts, reaching a mature level.
Spirit arts were common knowledge as beyond human grasp.
Her power could pass for Heterogenous at a glance.
Miron was master of Frenzy, a Heterogenous Power, to begin with.
"Me, Saladin, Miron, Misha—that's plenty..."
"Hold on."
A clear, jewel-like voice cut in.
"If Master says so, Veras is likely in Osiris. Given his nature, it's practically certain."
Rampang, who'd followed late.
"Veras... that trash is strong, hate to admit. Even slaying the Pirate King solo's risky. So."
Thud!
"I'll come. Priest's too valuable, right?"
Rampang placed a hand on my shoulder, eyes burning oddly.
"...Aren't you escorting Karma?"
"Fine now. He's recovering well—rest quietly, and he'll shake it off."
No backing down.
"Well, if you insist, no reason for me to refuse."
'Yes.'
At Jerome's approval, Rampang inwardly cheered.
'Sorry, priest. But Veras... I won't yield him to anyone.'
He couldn't forget.
That trash he loathed calling priest ambushing his master.
Couldn't forget.
His master vomiting blood from the poison, silently enduring pain to spare his disciple worry.
'Not likely— he's definitely in Osiris.'
Veras's hideout, undiscovered despite torturing countless pursuers.
Now pinned to one kingdom.
No more hesitation.
Veras, that trash.
I'd tear him apart with my own hands.
Feral killing intent churned in Rampang's eyes, beast-like.