Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Their Secrets - 4
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‘What should we do first, then?'
I pondered for a moment before turning to Offense.
He flinched slightly and asked,
“What?”
“Try getting close to Patrick.”
“Huh?”
“We need to get something out of him. Like the circumstances around how he got the Jewel of Corruption. There might be a clue.”
“You're usually so good at figuring everything out on your own.”
Well, that's because the secrets of Idria and Patrick were too high-level for me to see.
Trail's Eye of Omniscience was a truly perfect and useful ability, but it always fell short by about ten percent.
[Wouldn't it be more accurate to say it's missing one-tenth in context?]
Anyway, Offense nodded.
“Fine, I'll give it a shot.”
Jenia said in surprise,
“What are you planning to do?”
“As I said, I spent quite a bit of time in the capital with Kaild.”
“And?”
“I had nothing better to do, so I scouted the capital's famous figures. Old habit from my assassin days. I can't stand sitting still.”
Swoosh.
Offense began lightly rubbing various parts of his face.
Incredibly, his face transformed.
From something utterly ordinary to a man with fairly bold features.
Offense stroked his Adam's apple one last time and opened his mouth.
“Who do you think?”
Jenia let out an exclamation.
“Breck Bound!”
“Who's that?”
“He's the guy who handles paperwork at Alcahad headquarters. The Knights of Light and Alcahad are always bickering over jurisdictional boundaries, so I've crossed paths with him. Total flavorless bore of a man.”
If Jenia called him flavorless, he must be subhuman-level bland.
Offense said,
“When I was scouting, I saw Patrick having some deep conversations with this guy several times. It should have some effect.”
“Good choice. I'm counting on you.”
“Don't get your hopes up too much.”
He vanished like smoke.
And in the next instant, Offense was behind Patrick.
We perked up our ears and focused on their conversation.
“Patrick.”
A voice completely different from Offense's own.
That sorcery was always so fascinating no matter how many times I saw it.
Patrick jumped in surprise and turned around.
“B-Breck? What the hell. When did you get here?”
“Just now. You seemed really focused.”
“Ahem. Did you hear everything?”
“Why hide anything between us? I know full well how much you hate former Vice-Captain Krotz.”
Oh.
So he was testing the waters to see if they shared even that level of secret?
Fortunately, Patrick nodded.
“Yeah. But pretend you didn't hear it. The world still reveres my grandfather, after all.”
“I'll keep that in mind. Anyway...”
He probed Patrick once more.
“How'd things go with Captain Dame?”
“Kehehe. What could he do if they didn't? His life's on the line.”
“......I've always been curious, but how exactly do you threaten people's lives, Patrick?”
“I can't tell you that. Not even you.”
I clicked my tongue lightly.
Offense took a step back for now.
“Of course. I understand.”
“Ahem. Don't feel too bad about it. I won't forget how you've helped me materially and otherwise. When I become captain, there'll be a reward.”
“Haha.”
“No, really. What do you want? Just so you know, Jenia's off-limits. She's mine.”
Jenia's jaw dropped.
“What the fuck is that bastard saying?”
“Huh? Casual speech?”
“What the hell is he talking about?”
“Well, no need to fix it specifically...”
I'd deliberately omitted that part when explaining to Jenia. Patrick was digging his own grave.
Offense smirked and said,
“That's a shame.”
“Haha. How about the Witch of Atrocities instead?”
“......A joke. From someone we haven't even captured yet.”
“The Witch of Atrocities is the Knights of Light's target, so Alcahad could only sit on our hands. But not anymore. Dame's my puppet now.”
“......”
“My first goal after taking command as captain was always the Witch of Atrocities.”
“Why? Why her specifically?”
Patrick grinned.
A utterly vile smile.
“Eeeh?”
“They say she's a stunning beauty. Enough to make even my grandfather fall at first sight.”
Huh?
“Fall for her?”
“Well, he couldn't go around bragging about it. Loving a witch like that? The backlash would've been obvious.”
“......”
“He pined for years, apparently. And the one who cured him was my grandmother.”
“......”
“Aren't you curious? Just how beautiful must she be to turn that stuffy old man's head at first glance?”
I felt deeply displeased.
Neril said,
“Wow. Never even crossed my mind.”
“......”
“Maide? What's wrong? Tone down the killing intent.”
“My heart is always a serene lake, calm and peaceful. As long as no one throws stones in it.”
A question mark appeared on Neril's face.
That's when Offense spoke up.
“Anyway, be careful. I get that Patrick's using some trump card, but doesn't it have a weakness?”
It was a perfectly timed and decisive remark.
The thrill of becoming captain.
The arrogance of surpassing his grandfather.
And the delusion that he'd soon have Jenia in his grasp—it all made Patrick's lips looser than they should be.
“Weakness? Well, that guy said the same thing.”
“That guy?”
“The one who gave me this trump card. Or whatever he is—person or not.”
“......”
“No one can take this 'weapon' from me, but he said Byond Enerica might be the exception.”
His excitement built as his voice rose.
“Which means no weakness! Byond died ages ago—shows up in history books now and then—and there's no mage in this era who could match him.”
“......”
“Tch. I said too much. Just let it slide.”
Offense bowed his head.
Patrick spat into the grave pit once more.
“I should get going. What about you?”
“I'll stick around a bit longer.”
“Alright. See you later.”
Whoosh.
Patrick waved and turned away.
Once he was completely out of sight, we approached Offense.
Adwin asked,
“He just said Byond Enerica, right?”
Byond Enerica.
The mage who shone during the descent of the Three Great Demon Kings.
Among mages, they held all-night debates over who was greater: the second-era Iori Otics or the third-era Byond Enerica—pointless arguments.
Offense replied,
“Yeah. The hero who developed the ultra-wide-area searching magic circle said to be under the imperial palace.”
Ah.
Offense had been using that searching magic circle to find his parents.
He did have some connection to him, in a way.
But not as much as Neril.
I glanced at Neril.
Ever since Byond Enerica's name came up, her face had gone pale.
-Sinned against May Enerica and 287 others.
Byond Enerica, the founder of the Enerica family.
And now it connected like this.
I deliberately ignored Neril's expression and spoke to Adwin.
“Can we summon Byond's spirit?”
“Hmm. I'll try.”
“Wait. Neril, you okay with this?”
Neril jumped as if burned and replied,
“Okay with what? What do you mean?”
“The graveyard keeper from the Gray incident—the tomb he tended. That was the Enerica family tomb.”
“......”
“Seems pretty connected to you too.”
“I'm not the type to complain about personal stuff at a time like this.”
“I know that.”
“It's fine, summon him. ......Thanks for asking, though.”
No problem.
I looked back at Adwin.
He already had his eyes closed, concentrating.
Whoosh.
His sleeve billowed, and the incantation glowed brightly.
And soon enough.
“Where is this?”
A voice not belonging to a boy came from Adwin's mouth.
Byond Enerica.
I opened my mouth with the respect due a past hero.
“Pleased to meet you. Father of Mana, Byond Enerica.”
“It's been ages since I heard that title.”
“They say you were unparalleled in the art of handling mana. Even Iori Otics couldn't match you.”
“Ho ho. Trying to flatter me? Appreciated, but I can't compare to Iori. Putting my name on his level is embarrassing.”
Unlike the arrogant Iori, Byond was a man of fine character.
The histories recorded him as quite the paragon.
“I'll explain the situation quickly.”
I started from the Jewel of Corruption and covered everything up to now without omission.
Byond listened quietly before asking,
“So what exactly do you want me to do?”
“Patrick mentioned your name. He said as long as you don't come back to life, the Jewel of Corruption is unavoidable.”
“......”
“You were a key player in the Corruption Demon King's descent, after all. If anything comes to mind, please tell us.”
“Hmm. That jewel is inherently ever-changing. What does it look like now?”
“It was embedded in Patrick's eye. In the form of an eyeball.”
Byond shook his head.
“I'd need to see it myself.”
“I'll show you.”
Neril, speaking more formally than usual, formed hand seals.
Our vision shifted soon after.
She'd deployed Apent View, which could store and display desired scenes.
Byond peered intently at the eye before speaking.
“Impressive. Even I feel daunted by the sophistication. This is what the current Great Demon King planted, I take it?”
“Just speculation, but the possibility is high.”
“Well, only a Demon King could pull this off. But it's before the oracle—how did the Demon King descend?”
“Anyway, can you do it? Extract it cleanly without any backlash.”
“It's not impossible. But...”
His expression hardened.
We tensed slightly, watching Byond's mouth.
“On a different note, who developed this Apent View magic? We didn't have it in my time.”
“Me.”
Neril raised her hand lightly.
Byond asked,
“The mana resonance is quite unique.”
“Pardon?”
“The vast majority who went to the Void Realm have no interest in continental affairs. Lady Repia was a special case. And so am I.”
“......”
“I've been watching over the continent all along. Especially watching how my descendants prospered was a great joy.”
His voice grew a bit heavier.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
“Then, in an instant, the family line was wiped out.”
“......”
“By the one called the Witch of Atrocities.”
......
Ah. As expected.
The sin she committed against May Enerica was exterminating the Enerica family.
Including May Enerica herself.
I clicked my tongue lightly.
Our party members looked at Neril.
Evidently caught off guard by Byond's reaction, her eyes wavered.
I quickly interjected.
“Now's not the time for that...”
“Don't interfere. Fifth Hero.”
“......”
“I don't know how posterity recorded it, but I joined to slay the Corruption Demon King for my beloved wife and children. No other reason.”
“......”
“I was a man who valued family and lineage above all. And now, the culprit who exterminated that lineage stands before me.”
Damn.
Shouldn't have summoned Byond?
No, but he's the only one who can handle this.
I signaled Jenia with my eyes.
She carefully drew the holy sword Kesarr, which could strike at souls.
Shing.
Byond glanced sidelong at Jenia and said,
“What's the intent behind drawing that sword?”
“I think holding Neril accountable for what she did to your family can wait. Shouldn't we prioritize extracting the Jewel of Corruption?”
“That's not an answer to my question.”
“If you can't grasp the priorities, we'll make you grasp them.”
“Hahaha.”
He burst into hearty laughter.
Coming from Adwin's young body, it felt wildly mismatched.
“The fifth-gen heroes are a cheeky bunch.”
Snap.
Suddenly, Byond snapped his fingers.
Crack.
The surrounding rocks crumbled and floated into the air.
They sharpened into spears in an instant.
I jumped in alarm and shouted,
“What are you doing!”
“I'll help you extract the Jewel of Corruption. If you kick the Witch of Atrocities out of your party.”
“No need to answer that.”
“You don't need to feel its value. Just say yes.”
Shing.
We were all in battle stance before we knew it.
Everyone except Neril.
“What're you doing, lady? Not fighting?”
“......It's been a while since you called me that.”
“That defeated look doesn't suit you. Snort like you always do.”
Instead of snorting, she smirked.
“Wouldn't it be better just to kick me out?”
“Say that crap one more time, and I'll get mad. Can't imagine a party without you.”
“Maide...”
“If you don't wanna fight, hang back.”
“No.”
Step.
She stepped forward.
And spoke clearly toward Byond.
“My mouth's full of thorns from all the formal speech anyway, so perfect timing. Hey, old man.”
“......”
“You say you've been watching from the Void Realm and blame me? Your descendants had already given up on being human.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“No need to understand my side. You just...”
She grinned.
“Just need to say you'll help.”
Mimicking what Byond had said moments ago.
Byond exploded at that.
“You really wanna die? If that's your wish, I'll grant... it?”
“Sorry. Wasn't gonna butt in, but you're going too far.”
“What, what is this? How...”
“I know Grandpa cut loose back in the day, but once you've crossed the Redby River, you can't beat me.”
Adwin?
He extended his hand and clenched his fist.
No way—was he separating the soul of Byond that he'd summoned into himself?
That was possible so easily?
We'd been geared for battle, but now we lowered our weapons, jaws agape.
Whirr.
Adwin rolled something around in his hand.
I couldn't see souls, but it felt like he was kneading clay, manipulating the soul at will.
Realizing we were staring blankly, he grinned sheepishly.
“Should've summoned him like this from the start.”