Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Hero of Liberation - 1
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Hieren said in a trembling voice.
“Lady Idria.”
“What, enough. It’s not like yesterday or today that Maide is amazingly capable.”
“What should I do now?”
“As I said before, just keep hiding. Your disappearance will be Maide’s most painful weakness.”
At that, Hieren’s eyes lit up.
“This is a good chance to test the shadow magic.”
“If possible, don’t enter the territory.”
“Understood. Actually, that’s even better.”
He grinned as he continued.
“This mountain is so densely wooded. There are shadows almost everywhere.”
Click.
The feed cut off there.
As the Eye of Omniscience vanished, time snapped back to normal.
My companions ahead were deep in their own passionate debate.
In the meantime, I mulled over the secret I’d just uncovered.
‘As expected. Hieren’s hiding with the shadow magic he stole from Offense.’
[Right. In the back mountain of this territory.]
‘He must be dying to try out the new weapon he just got. Not like he’s a kid or anything.’
But that childish impulse had saved me.
We’d already broken shadow magic once before.
I gathered my thoughts and looked at my companions.
They were still going strong with their debate.
“The Demon King of Lies is the oldest Demon King? Then what’s the Demon King of Destruction?”
“The Demon King of Destruction showed up roughly 1,500 years ago... Wow. Idria’s pretty old herself.”
“Won’t you shut up?”
“Why’s Neril getting mad? Reflex action?”
“I totally get how Neril feels. Time’s passage is scary, huh.”
“Risel, you shut up too.”
Debate?
I let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“You hear ‘oldest Demon King’ and that’s the best you’ve got—banter about age?”
“I didn’t start it. I was trying to debate seriously.”
“You sure seemed serious when you told them to shut up.”
“Hmph. Fine, I’ll admit it. I was pretty shocked at first...”
Neril shrugged it off as she went on.
“But then I thought, no real need to make a fuss.”
“Huh?”
Jenia answered my puzzled look.
“We already knew Idria was ridiculously stronger than the other Demon Kings. Just tacking on her age—what’s the big deal?”
“...”
“Plus, with Maide here, it feels like everything’ll work out somehow.”
“What.”
“Maide’s the kind of guy who inspires that feeling. Has been, steadily, from the first time we met till now.”
The other party members nodded along in agreement.
I scratched my head.
Adwin asked with a playful grin.
“Anyway, bro. What were you pondering so deeply?”
“Ah. Uh.”
“Lady Lepia said she headed back to the netherworld in the meantime. She was bummed you didn’t respond to her goodbye.”
“I’ll have to treat her to a meal later.”
“She can’t eat.”
“Anyway, let’s focus on the matter at hand.”
I spoke slowly.
“Hieren’s hiding his body with the shadow magic he stole from Offense.”
“...”
“So you know how to flush him out? Same as when we found Lady Ariena.”
“Ah! Use element deletion magic to wipe out all the light.”
“Right.”
“...But unlike back then, it’s a full moon today. And not a cloud in sight.”
“Our forces have been bolstered since then. Unlike back then.”
Serein nodded vigorously.
“Right. I’m here.”
“Risel, I’m counting on you.”
“You’re doing this on purpose...”
Risel clutched the trumpet tight and replied.
“Offense’s magic breaks without light, right?”
“Yeah. You summon clouds to block the moonlight.”
“I’ll give it a shot.”
That was when Offense, who’d been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
“That won’t cut it.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“No matter how many thick layers of clouds you pile on, you can’t erase shadows completely. In Aebis territory, I got caught because I was indoors.”
“...”
“Clouds are just clouds. Even a tiny sliver of light left behind keeps the magic intact.”
He shrugged as he added,
“My take after testing it every which way for over ten years. For reference only.”
“That’s not something you just reference. Whew, guess we need a new plan.”
“While I’m sharing, one more thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Shadow magic has one other weakness.”
Neril cocked her head.
“Got a lot of weaknesses, huh?”
“Spouting it off like it’s nothing.”
“No offense meant.”
“That’s what makes it worse.”
“So what’s the other weakness?”
Offense let out a deep sigh.
“As much as I hate spilling my own weakness...”
That was when it happened.
[Hold up! Stop him from talking.]
‘What? Why?’
[Just do it.]
Trail’s tone was dead serious, so I quickly cut in.
“Wait. Offense.”
“Huh? What’s up?”
“Something just clicked. Everyone, quiet for a sec.”
The group went silent all at once, no questions asked.
I asked Trail,
‘Okay, what’s going on?’
[Idria’s watching us.]
My heart felt like it iced over in an instant.
Trail kept going.
[Been a while now... Ah, yeah. Probably started from your second trip to the imperial palace underground recently.]
‘What about it.’
[Felt like my instincts sharpened up.]
Instincts?
That gut feeling I call intuition.
[Remember how I tracked down Serein’s parents and Risel’s trumpet?]
‘Of course.’
[That’s what I’m talking about. Idria’s using her authority to watch us right now. Keeping tabs, I suppose.]
Coming from Trail, Idria’s near-eternal rival.
No way I could brush that off.
‘The imperial underground must’ve done you some good.’
[Eh. Got stronger out of nowhere, basically. You weren’t thrilled about seeing those blood letters from the dead either.]
‘Still, can’t deny it’s helping right now.’
So what now.
We can’t stay mum forever—Idria’ll get suspicious.
But we can’t strategize with that Demon King watching.
After a moment’s thought, a good idea hit me.
I desperately signaled Adwin with my eyes.
Please pick up on it. You’re sharp.
“...!”
Sure enough, Adwin didn’t let me down.
He dropped his arm and moved his lips.
And before long.
[Bro. This what you wanted, right?]
Adwin’s voice echoed in my mind.
The spell we’d used atop Agril to scheme against Kaild on the sly.
Soul-link secret communication.
Adwin addressed the group.
[Maide bro looked antsy, so I linked our souls. We can talk in secret now.]
[Second time and it’s still wild. Like I said before, this spell’s utility is off the charts.]
[Ehe. Thanks. So bro, why the sudden request?]
To dodge Idria’s watchful eyes, I spoke aloud and through our souls at once.
“Nah, it’s nothing. Anyway, isn’t it about time for dinner?”
[Idria’s watching us.]
My seasoned companions didn’t bat an eye.
Jenia chimed in with casual tone.
“Should I order something? What’re you in the mood for?”
[Using her spatial authority to spy, maybe?]
“I’m good with anything. Nothing I can’t eat.”
[Probably. She’s blocked our path like this up till now.]
“Same here. Makes choosing tougher.”
[If she’s been at it till now, how’d you suddenly notice today?]
All thanks to Trail, but the shy guy’s dead set on hiding his identity, so I let it slide.
[Anyway, her spatial authority can’t eavesdrop on this soul chat.]
[Right.]
[So, back to it? Offense, what’s the second weakness of shadow magic? Keep up normal chatter on the surface.]
Out loud, Offense spouted everyday banalities anyone could overhear.
But through the soul link, he confessed his weakness in a most reluctant tone.
[Shadow magic breaks if the object casting the shadow—the original body—disappears.]
[Hm?]
[Like, if you hide in a building’s shadow and that building collapses, the magic shatters. The shadow’s shape changes.]
Serein sounded baffled.
[What kind of weakness is that? Sounds obvious.]
[Reluctantly shared, and this reaction.]
[If we don’t know which shadow Hieren’s in, we don’t know what to smash.]
No.
Serein had a point on the surface, but Offense had just dropped a crucial hint.
[Don’t know which object? Smash every last one.]
Everyone went quiet, staring at me.
[Hieren’s holed up in this territory’s back mountain. Trees everywhere, shadows all over the place.]
[That, and he wanted max distance from you.]
[Either way works for us. He’s already tucked into his own grave. Time to nail the coffin shut.]
I grinned as I went on.
[Let’s wipe that mountain off the map.]
The next morning.
We stepped out of the inn.
The locals had apparently set up shifts, even pulling all-nighters.
They swarmed us with bloodshot eyes.
“H-Hero, sir. Where you headed?”
“No need to worry. We’re not leaving this place.”
“Whew. Truly grateful. And sorry.”
“I get how you feel. After going through that hellish withdrawal.”
“Sniffle.”
“By the way, where’s the spot in this territory that can hold the most people?”
One local tilted his head and replied.
“There’s the central square.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
We marched straight there.
The locals trailed us like chicks following a mother hen.
After a bit, a massive procession had formed behind us.
Neril remarked.
“Could assemble an army like this. Why not charge the Demon King as is?”
“Don’t even joke.”
“Those guys’ stares are rubbing me wrong.”
Neril glanced back.
The locals flinched and halted for a beat.
But as we kept walking, they fell in behind again, sneaky-like.
Offense said.
“Sad, understandable, but can’t help feeling uneasy all the same.”
“Can’t be a hero who only looks after the likable and good. Gotta earn fame fair and square from everyone.”
“Heh. Would’ve been a solid quote without the back half.”
“More importantly—everyone remember the plan? Move the second I finish my speech.”
All nodded.
Serein asked cautiously.
“But that peeping tom patient—isn’t she watching?”
“Not right now.”
I replied, then checked with Trail.
‘Right?’
[You gotta ask first? Anyway, Idria’s not watching anymore.]
‘Lazy of him. I’d monitor 24/7 with that authority.’
[Idria’s prepping an oracle. That kind of big project takes serious power and focus.]
‘Hm. Fair. He only sent his fourth finger ’cause he’s short on time.’
Snap.
A screen popped up then.
But not the Eye of Omniscience.
The whole thing had a blue glow.
‘What’s this?’
[You’re gonna ask every time, so let’s set a rule.]
‘Huh?’
[Blue means safe. I’ll switch it red if Idria’s spying.]
‘Ah, nice service. Got it.’
Clack.
We took position dead center in the square.
By then, most of the locals had gathered, a total crush of people.
Swipe.
Neril cast voice amplification magic.
I bellowed.
“Everyone! Good morning!”
“...Haha.”
“Mornings should always be met with freshness! Not waking up wailing over filthy addiction and withdrawal.”
“...!”
“That’s why I’m here to guarantee you refreshing mornings forever.”
The locals started murmuring.
“What’s that mean?”
“You gonna stay here forever?”
“Ahh, please.”
I shouted again.
“It all boils down to getting rid of that green smoke. Isn’t that right?”
“Y-Yeah, but... how exactly do we get rid of the smoke?”
Swipe.
I raised a finger.
And pointed at the village’s back mountain.
The locals’ heads swiveled to follow.
“That cursed smoke is sleeping right there in that mountain.”
“Gasp.”
“That’s why we’re going to erase the mountain for you now. Oh, no need to worry—no one lives there.”
We’d already scouted thoroughly via Jenia’s sight-sharing.
Doubt clouded their faces.
Some even laughed it off as a joke.
But I pressed on regardless.
“That said, erasing the mountain’ll need your help.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll wipe out that cursed smoke with your own hands.”
The locals weren’t clinging to us out of joy.
If anything, they hated that green smoke more than we did.
How agonizing it must’ve been.
How despairing.
“I’m giving you the chance. The chance to get revenge on the one who wrecked your happy daily lives and forced bitter misery on you!”
I raised my voice even louder.
“We will liberate you.”