Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: The Eve of the Decisive Battle - 3
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I nodded.
“Yeah. You remember that magic circle drawn beyond one door in the underground of the imperial palace, right?”
The first time we’d gone to the imperial palace underground was to rescue Serein’s parents, but we’d also checked out the room with Bion’s magic circle while we were at it.
Neril nodded along.
“I get what you’re thinking. That magic requires setting clues for the target you’re searching for.”
In fact, the wide-area search spell had been monopolized by the empire in the imperial palace underground right after its development.
So the public only knew its name and effects.
But Neril had deep ties to the Bion family—even carrying around their heirloom grimoire.
It wasn’t strange that she’d figured out the true intent of my plan.
Rather, she looked surprised as she asked me.
“But Maide, how did you know about that? You told Firensha to bite her tongue because of it, right?”
“I had a commission to find a missing person while I was doing mercenary work.”
“……?”
“When I couldn’t find them no matter how hard I searched, I thought of that spell as a last resort. I gathered info on it back then.”
“Ha. You were planning to infiltrate the imperial palace underground from that long ago?”
“I said it was a last resort. I found the missing person right before executing it and canceled.”
Everyone wore impressed expressions.
‘Embarrassing.’
[No. Those are faces stunned by your recklessness.]
‘Whatever. Not important.’
I said to Neril.
“If Firensha spits blood, we can pinpoint their exact location through it, right?”
“That’s true, but we need Firensha’s blood first. The essence of wide-area search magic is ‘find the thing that best matches these conditions.’”
“Then Serein will have to work for it.”
Serein jumped in surprise and asked back.
“Me?”
“She’s your sister.”
“Ah…… So that’s why you made Firensha bite her tongue instead of the other limbs.”
“Yeah. You okay with that?”
“I hate pain, but given the situation, I can’t complain.”
Good.
I nodded and looked at Offens.
“When we first went to the imperial palace underground, Neril, you said this. It’s not just about the magic circle; it needs long-term research.”
“Mm.”
“But that’s not the case anymore. Right, Neril?”
Neril nodded as if it were obvious.
The Witch of Atrocities from back then and the Saintess of Coercion now were worlds apart in magical prowess—at least when it came to skill.
I turned back to Offens.
“In other words, if we wanted to, we could find your parents right now.”
“But doesn’t that require my parents’ blood?”
“It doesn’t have to be blood. Like Neril said earlier, the essence is ‘find the thing that best matches these conditions.’”
“…….”
“For example, if you place a dagger, it finds the sharpest dagger with the matching scabbard patterns. Ring any bells?”
Offens said to wait a moment and turned around.
He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a worn note from the very bottom.
“They said it was in my manger with me.”
The note had scrawled handwriting: ‘Please take care of this child.’
I nodded.
“If we use that as the condition, it’ll search for documents or letters in the exact same handwriting. Tracing back from there might lead to your parents someday.”
Offens wore a complicated expression.
Neril cut in.
“Want to try it right now? It’s possible immediately.”
“……No, it’s fine.”
“Why?”
“Our journey isn’t over yet. No, it’s really just starting now, isn’t it?”
“…….”
“My past can wait until everything’s done.”
His eyes held sincerity.
It was undoubtedly a wish worthy of the name, yet he was holding back for our sake.
Neril said in a somewhat playful tone.
“If you wait too long, I might not be able to do it. The Branch of Corruption’s effect has less than three weeks left.”
“Even without it, it just takes time—it’s not impossible. I’ll ask later.”
“Hmm. Fine.”
Serein cut in with a scrunched-up nose, looking touched.
“How moving. Sorry for teasing you until now, Offens.”
“You were aware.”
“Not saying I won’t tease you from now on, though.”
“Do whatever. I gave up on the old me last night.”
I chuckled and said.
“Then let’s get to the main point.”
“Huh? Wasn’t that the main point already?”
“We’ve barely covered finding Idria and the others with magic. Main point?”
“But…… Bellosian is asleep, and Acteon is absent.”
“That’s no reason to skip preparations.”
I took a light deep breath and said.
“I have a good idea.”
It was a hastily thrown-together plan, and even I wondered if it’d work.
Still, I slowly opened my mouth.
A moment later, after hearing the whole story, the group fell silent.
Risel spoke first.
“Mime.”
Swoosh.
Mime landed on Risel’s shoulder as if he’d been there from the start.
“Yes, Lady Risel.”
“Is what Maide just said possible?”
“It is. I’m actually surprised he even knows that much. Information on spirits is extremely rare in this era.”
That’s thanks to my memories from before regression.
Before regression, when I fought Sobius someday, I’d split space to evacuate the cornered party.
Hiding beyond that space was fine, but there was a problem.
[What problem?]
‘Whether it was safe to go out.’
[Ah.]
‘If Idria or Sobius were waiting outside, it’d be bad. But there was no way to check from inside the space.’
Back then, as I was troubled, Risel had said.
“Maide. Could you make just a tiny hole?”
“I can, but peeking out like that is useless if they’re hiding out of sight.”
“No. Just enough for a spirit to pass through is fine.”
“……?”
“Please, for now.”
Not knowing what she meant, I made a small opening as requested.
And we learned no one was outside.
[How on earth?]
As I tried to explain, Risel spoke.
“Then split it open right away, Mime.”
“Yes.”
The next moment, we witnessed something quite bizarre.
Mime on Risel’s shoulder split his body vertically in half.
The two halves reformed into shapes, ultimately becoming two Mimes.
Adwin blinked and said.
“What’s this…….”
“When you hold a blade to the wind, it splits around the blade. It’s like that.”
“No. I don’t get it at all.”
“These two Mimes are connected. One can share the vision seen by the other.”
If Mime A scouted the special realm from the sky, we could hear about it through Mime B.
It’d be the most suitable way to explore the unknown special realm.
The problem was that doing so couldn’t be called ‘stealth.’
To approach Idria without being detected by anyone, we needed one more condition.
We all looked at Offens without a word.
He closed his eyes for a moment and said.
“We’re executing the plan tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Then give me one night.”
“Got it.”
With that, the strategy meeting ended.
Jenia stretched to lighten the heavy mood.
“Then, midnight snack…….”
“Everyone worked hard today. Let’s sleep.”
“You’re cutting me off so bluntly.”
We stood to head to our rooms.
Then Offens said.
“Maide, got time?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s have a drink.”
I shrugged.
“You’re buying, right?”
Offens and I clinked glasses lightly.
I’d drunk with this guy before regression too.
Back then, he’d told me why he’d joined Kaild.
It was a heavy topic even then, but tonight’s talk was on another level.
Clink.
Offens set down his glass and said.
“My role is crucial in this plan.”
“Yeah. We can’t let Acteon detect us. No one’s more suited for that quest than you.”
“Heh. But with my current abilities, it’s impossible. Though I’ll grant what you asked.”
“No intention of forcing you.”
I chewed on some snacks and continued.
“I felt guilty asking in the first place. I know how big finding your parents is for you.”
“…….”
“Even as leader, telling you to give that up pricks my conscience.”
Offens shook his head.
“With the Branch of Corruption, I can convert all my fame to power without cost.”
“Still…….”
“What worries me is what comes after.”
“Hm?”
“The one-month duration. If we can kill Bellosian and Acteon within that, fine. But if we miss it?”
I was at a loss for words.
I’d thought he was uneasy about giving up his wish.
Offens continued.
“Then I won’t be able to use fame as power, and I won’t be helpful to the party. That’s what I really hate.”
“You’re overthinking.”
“It’s reality. So…… if that time comes, I plan to ‘sincerely’ give up my wish.”
“……!”
“And you were wrong about one thing. My wish isn’t finding my parents.”
I thought I’d misheard.
Offens gulped down his drink and kept going.
“If anything, that’s second.”
“What? Didn’t you join Kaild originally to find your parents?”
“It was my only wish back then. But being in this party planted other thoughts.”
He glanced up at the ceiling.
“‘I don’t want to be alone.’”
“…….”
“After things ended badly with Hiren’s daughter, I always worked solo. I thought the more I mingled, the greater the pain of betrayal.”
“…….”
“But this party’s different. We’re bonding while growing infinitely stronger. Seeing you all cherish and support each other without hesitation, I got jealous.”
I hadn’t known he felt that way.
I hesitated, unsure what to say.
[Just listen.]
‘What?’
[Offens isn’t saying this for your comfort. He needs someone to hear him out.]
‘…….’
[Listen to your senior’s advice.]
I thanked Trail inwardly.
And kept silent.
Sure enough, Offens continued with a flushed, tipsy face.
“At first, I planned to leave the party once our journey ended. No need to keep a goal-achieved party together.”
“…….”
“But before I knew it, I was soaked in this atmosphere. The thought of returning to emptiness horrified me. That’s how my new wish was born.”
“Ah.”
“Don’t worry. Like I said, once the Branch of Corruption expires, I’ll wish sincerely again.”
He seemed done and refilled his glass.
‘Can I chime in now, senior?’
[Yeah. Probably.]
‘Got it.’
I said.
“If that time comes, commission me.”
“What?”
“Commission me. To return the wish the laws of the world took from you.”
“…….”
“I gave up retirement too. But I’ve no intention of honoring it meekly.”
Offens’s eyes widened.
Creak.
I leaned back in my chair and continued.
“Imperium probably sacrificed something for that immense power. But did the guy I saw at the banquet look unhappy?”
“Never.”
“Right. He must’ve reclaimed his stolen wish somehow. I’m certain.”
“……!”
“What Imperium did, I can do too. So don’t worry even if it goes past a month.”
“Maide.”
“Leaders dump headaches on heroes. That’s what heroes are for.”
Swipe.
Offens covered his face with one hand.
I deliberately gulped the drink in front of me noisily.
Clink.
After setting down the glass, I said.
“Pour me another.”
“……You sure? You’re weak to alcohol.”
“Who’s spreading that slander.”
“Heh. Just one more. Don’t want Neril scolding me.”
Offens refilled my glass.
I said in a deliberately light tone.
“Hoping you won’t be left alone.”
“Hoping you retire safely too.”
We clinked glasses lightly.
“Cheers.”