Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Cantankerous Master - 2
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We all turned to look at Risel.
Neril spoke up as the representative.
“What are you talking about? And why that face?”
“There are spirits... in this room. Oh, for heaven’s sake. Neaera Brodeau!”
Risel suddenly chanted in the spirit tongue.
The next moment, our mouths fell open in shock.
“What, what is it?”
“Something’s filling up the room? No, has it always been here?”
“I didn’t see a thing.”
“Spirits, right? They’re spirits, aren’t they?”
Risel nodded at Serein’s final question.
She pressed her forehead, as if her head ached from communicating with so many spirits.
“I just ordered them to show themselves to people.”
“...”
“These kids weren’t here until just now. But the moment Maide blew that trumpet, they suddenly appeared.”
“Is that even possible? Spirits are beings dwelling in nature, aren’t they?”
“I don’t get it either. They’re asking me why they were called.”
‘Called’?
Does this trumpet summon spirits?
Spirits had appeared in droves, filling a room barren of even a single blade of grass.
There was no other explanation.
That was when Adwin spoke up.
“It’s impressive, sure... but it’s got nothing to do with the oracle. It’s just something that calls spirits.”
At that moment.
I felt a sharp tingle—or perhaps thrill—run down my spine.
Like lightning striking the crown of my head.
Trail had a hunch and guided me here.
I trusted his hunch.
Which meant.
[Which meant?]
‘Maybe we can summon the heavenly god with that thing.’
[What are you on about? The heavenly god hasn’t descended.]
‘Maybe it needs some extra condition.’
[I’m the one who guided you to this room, but why are you so sure? Isn’t that just a spirit-summoning trumpet?]
...
Perhaps.
Maybe the heavenly god was a spirit all along.
No. Too far-fetched.
I decided to focus on the matter at hand.
“Jenia. Sere... Jenia.”
“Why’d you call me and then back off?”
“You’d be clueless about this one.”
“What question?”
“Where’s a place considered sacred in the scriptures or doctrine? Tell me in terms of continent landmarks.”
As expected, Serein clamped her mouth shut.
Jenia, on the other hand, opened hers without a second thought.
“No need to ask. It’s the ‘Starting Line,’ where the god created humanity and the world. Oh, right. You wanted a place name.”
She pulled a map from her bag.
Jenia pointed to a spot on the map.
The Empire had unified the continent, but that didn’t mean every inch was inhabited by the Empire.
Not every marked area had people living there.
The place Jenia pointed to was one such spot.
A complete wilderness devoid of human presence.
“Kiar Great Plains, huh. I kept calling it the Starting Line and forgot the name.”
“It’s on the western continent. Why doesn’t anyone live there?”
“The path to the great plains is blocked by jungle, but more than that, it’s forbidden. Seeking it out is strictly prohibited by the heavenly god.”
“We’re going.”
“Did you hear me?”
“I’ll blow this trumpet there. Maybe that’ll get a response from the heavenly god.”
Everyone’s mouths gaped wide.
Their faces showed they couldn’t handle the suddenly massive scale.
That was when Serein spoke.
“Uh... even a hero shouldn’t do that. No hero in history has even attempted it.”
“I’m a very special hero.”
“I know that, but what I mean is, doing that’ll tank your reputation!”
“Just go secretly and come back.”
Serein let out a deep sigh.
I looked around at everyone and said firmly.
“If anyone’s uncomfortable, you can sit this out.”
“...”
“I know what the heavenly god means to humanity. If stepping into a god-forbidden zone feels wrong, I’ll go alone.”
Then, starting with Neril, the party replied in unison.
“Are you kidding?”
“If the heavenly god has any conscience, he’ll forgive us. He’s the one not giving an oracle first.”
“Hmm. Should we prepare some offerings, at least?”
“Don’t even think of going alone, bro.”
“But Serein might get struck by lightning the second she steps in, huh?”
“Why pick on me only!”
I smiled from the depths of my heart.
My comrades, who would follow me into a place forbidden by god, human, history, and the world—without a shred of hesitation.
I’m one lucky bastard.
Idria was preparing the oracle.
But unlike low-level humans fumbling with magic circles, sweating buckets without progress, she showed no such signs.
She did what needed doing... though to Kaild, it looked like she was slacking off while preparing the oracle.
“It’s really working out okay, right?”
“I’m starting to regret saving you.”
“What?”
“You talk too much.”
Kaild grimaced.
“Ha. Then find someone else already.”
“But there’s no one quite like you. That’s what pisses me off most.”
“...Look, I hate to say it, but is there really no one on my level? Honestly, my confidence has tanked lately.”
“That’s not a confidence drop. That’s you grasping your place.”
Idria scratched at Kaild’s nerves as always, then continued.
“But you’re someone who can kill a hero.”
“What?”
“The Demon King can’t kill a hero. It’s divine providence set since the beginning.”
“...”
“To be precise, no one can kill a hero. But you proved it’s possible by killing Bion Kunze.”
“How the hell did you pull that off?”
“Don’t ask me. I even researched you behind your back, but I still don’t know why.”
Kaild pondered if being the man who kills heroes was something to boast about.
That was when Idria continued.
“Anyway, the oracle’s coming along fine. Don’t worry... Hm?”
She shot up.
Idria, who’d been lounging, suddenly bolted upright.
Rare anxiety crossed her face as she traced her finger through the air.
Ziiip.
Space tore open, revealing a scene within.
Just like she’d shown Kaild before, she was peeking on Maide’s party with her authority.
Kaild hurriedly said.
“That’s... oh, the imperial palace.”
“Yeah.”
“Meeting the Emperor, maybe? Probably asked him to publicly announce the Dronoer Territory stuff.”
“Who knows.”
Idria couldn’t spy on the imperial palace underground.
Her authority didn’t work there.
But Maide had realized no oracle would come to him, and that Idria was prepping a fake one.
‘If I were Maide, what would I do?’
An oracle—the absolute hidden card.
To counter it, he’d have no choice but to get his own oracle.
‘And heading to the palace at this point.’
No way?
Cold sweat beaded on Idria’s forehead.
Seeing it, Kaild’s eyes widened.
A rare sight he’d want to capture if not for the Demon King involved.
“Trying to summon the heavenly god? No way?”
“What?”
“It’s impossible. Totally impossible, but... it’s Maide. Nothing’s out of character for that guy.”
“...”
“This is bad. I still need two more weeks to issue my oracle. If Maide communicates with the heavenly god in the meantime.”
And if the god gave him an oracle first?
The worst-case scenario flashed through Idria’s mind.
She hurriedly tore open space.
There were the five fingers of deceit... now precisely four.
Idria pulled out the fourth finger and said.
“You need to buy time.”
“...”
“Maide can’t get an oracle first. Stop him.”
Whoosh.
She opened space and tossed the fourth finger through.
Kaild said.
“You sure about sending one of your precious five limbs so casually?”
“The fourth finger isn’t some weakling like Teraname. The others aren’t either.”
“Still... wouldn’t it be better to send the remaining four at once?”
“If I had the leeway, sure. But prepping an oracle while lending power to my limbs is too much, even for me.”
Kaild nodded as if convinced.
Idria stared at him for a moment, then asked.
“Do you believe in the heavenly god?”
“What’s that out of nowhere?”
“If you do, pray or something. That’s how I feel right now.”
Idria continued.
“If Maide gets the oracle first, it’s all over.”
Kiar Great Plains.
But better known as the ‘Starting Line’—that was our destination, and we flew toward it at full speed.
Even with Agril, this ultra-long journey would take over a week.
To appease the finicky Agril, Serein and Jenia took turns feeding it holy power.
“Huff huff. Damn, it eats like its owner—a ton...”
“...”
“Kids need to eat a lot to grow big, right? Ahaha.”
“Agril appeared in the second era, though.”
While those two toiled, Neril and Risel leisurely played cards.
“Check. I win.”
“No way.”
Neril hung her head, genuinely dejected.
She’d never lost to any of us—not once—but against Risel, she kept getting crushed.
‘Risel never joined card games before regression.’
She must’ve wanted to deep down.
I chuckled at the thought.
Neril glared daggers.
“Funny? You think this is funny?”
“Not because of you.”
“Then?”
“Because you lost.”
“That’s the same thing!”
Offense said.
“Looks like experience matters most in this game.”
“You’re asking for it.”
“Does Offense have a hobby of being hated?”
As he shrugged.
“Huh? Bro. Something’s glowing in your bag.”
Incredibly, Adwin—who’d summoned Bion’s soul out of boredom for chit-chat—said that.
I rummaged through my bag.
The communication orb.
“Everyone gather. It’s the Emperor.”
“Just the Emperor? Meh.”
“Eh, whatever. Let’s hear it.”
Once everyone assembled, I activated the orb.
The Emperor’s voice rang out.
-Where are you right now!
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
-Right, right. Are you very busy?
“Not at the moment. But soon.”
-I don’t get what you mean, but perfect timing. I need to issue an emergency quest.
Neril smirked.
She didn’t like the word “issue,” so I cut in quick before she could.
“What quest?”
-A rebellion.
“Pardon? Suddenly?”
-I don’t know what’s going on either, but that’s the report. Just got an official declaration through Alcahad.
He continued in a low voice.
-The pretext is this: Fake hero Maide is deceiving the Empire’s people. To prepare for the soon-descending Demon King, all humanity must rally under Kaild.
“...”
-To that end, the Emperor must formally recognize Kaild as hero. If not, they’ll force it... they say.
I tilted my head.
“Strange. Even Dronoer Territory, Kaild’s faction head, swung to my side.”
-That’s why it’s baffling. Of course, the rebels are from a territory where Kaild was active, and his shadow lingers there still.
“What territory exactly?”
-Atrium Territory.
Atrium.
A familiar name.
Something happened there before regression... but with so many events, it didn’t come to mind right away.
Then Neril spoke.
“Anyway, rebellion means you crush it. You’re good at that.”
-It would be, if it were armed.
“Not armed? But they said they’d force recognition?”
-They’ve pledged themselves as collateral. In the stupidest way.
Ah.
It hit me.
What happened in Atrium before regression.
The Emperor sighed deeply and continued.
-If Kaild isn’t recognized as hero, they’ll commit mass suicide. Lord and all territory folk alike!