Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Melissa's Arrival
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Family Head Ketsi Mielphon. She'd clashed with the Kraken for some reason and fallen victim to its mental attack.
In the process, I'd ended up teasing Isna by mistake due to the confusion.
"And we investigated the heretics' hideout you mentioned, but..."
The heretics probably weren't hiding out only in the Kraken's habitat.
Since they were using fragments of the Demon Tree, there had to be others managing them elsewhere.
"Was there a problem?"
"Well..."
After a moment's hesitation, she answered cautiously.
"By the time we found it, they'd already been wiped out."
"Wiped out? Who killed them?"
"Yes. From the traces, it looked like the work of the Watchers of the Moon, that infamous secret organization from the Empire."
Watchers of the Moon.
I'd heard of them. The most notorious criminal group on the continent.
A secret organization whose origins, internal forces, and base were all unknown.
Sure, there were plenty of secret groups on this continent, but the Watchers of the Moon were the newest yet wielded the strongest influence.
The heretics had been up to all sorts of mischief everywhere, so it wasn't surprising they'd crossed paths with the Watchers.
Both were criminal outfits, but this meant the Watchers had done my job for me.
"Did you find the tree there?"
Instead of Head Maid Misha answering my question, someone else spoke up.
"No. There wasn't a single tree or anything like it."
The girl wearing a puppet mask.
I knew who she was.
"Lady Isna, why are you dressed like that again?"
"Oh, it's nothing~ Just thought it'd be fun?"
Yeah, understanding this girl was impossible.
As I stared at her silently, she tilted her head.
"What's wrong?"
The puppet mask covering her from head to toe was similar to the one I'd seen before. It probably worked the same way to block her presence.
"No injuries?"
"Nope~."
"The blood smell was so strong, I thought you were hurt."
My calm reply drew an ambiguous laugh from her.
"Ehehe. Are you worried about me, by any chance?"
"Uh... yeah."
She seemed flustered when I didn't deny it and fell silent.
"Anyway, we have a guest."
"A guest?"
No sooner had she spoken than footsteps approached from beyond.
My expression soured the moment I saw the figure.
Why the hell are you here?
"Hey, what about the territory? Why'd you come all the way here?"
"Lady Isna, sorry, but could I talk to my brother alone for a bit?"
"Sure thing~ I'll get out of your way."
Isna left without hiding her mischievous grin.
After that, the intruder—Melissa Cascadia—strode toward me purposefully, so I raised a hand to stop her and racked my brain.
Something felt off.
"You alone?"
"Yeah, solo."
No, I don't care about your love life, little sis.
She asked me flatly.
"This is Empire territory. You bring troops and start a war or something? More importantly, you hurt?"
"Nah."
"The Kraken?"
"Dead. Was gonna put its core on Arsha's grave with Mom and Dad."
"You have no idea how worried I was. Can I hit you once?"
"No, you can't."
I could understand why Melissa had been so anxious.
Her brother had suddenly left for the Pascalia Empire, saying he'd hunt the Kraken—Sea King species and living calamity—and how could he come back unscathed?
If the roles were reversed, I'd have chased her down and beaten her back raw.
Considering the mental toll on her, maybe one hit...
As if. Why would I let her hit me?
The moment I instinctively stood to bolt out the window—
"Luna, if you catch that bastard, I'll buy a snack fridge for your room."
Luna had more money than me, but she only used ones Melissa bought because shopping was a hassle.
Thwack!!
Bribed in an instant, Luna grabbed me without hesitation. With my current physical abilities, I could've shaken her off easily, but I didn't.
Her small frame against her voluptuous figure made it feel like a cicada clinging to an old tree trunk.
"Hey, Luna Basilyn, think about who stocks those snacks."
"I'll think after I get the fridge."
"Melissa, you been practicing the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword I taught you? If I test you and it's no good..."
"Perfect timing. I was gonna show you anyway."
Boom!!!
"You're ruining my life! Just die already!!"
Her flying kick then slammed into me.
One thing was certain.
Melissa Cascadia. Border Count of House Cascadia and my little sister was a total tomboy, nothing like your typical prim and proper noble lady.
The cave was completely destroyed.
The Kraken's eggs had all been caught in the explosion due to Leon's scheme and vanished.
The cave, devoid of any life force, had mostly collapsed already.
Something began pulsing amid the rubble.
It throbbed slowly, spreading a purple glow, and the shockwave made the piled rocks tremble.
-Fire... light.
An unidentified voice echoed.
Too bizarre for language, but its meaning was clear to all.
-...Call... it...
The purple light waves continued uttering incomprehensible words.
-Call... it...
Finally, a fully audible phrase.
What was it telling them to call?
The voice accelerating in the pitch-black void where nothing existed.
A massive wave erupted, and something emerged from the cracked boulders, floating into the air.
It was none other than the Lion's Book that Leon had burned.
The Necronomicon that summoned ancient gods.
But if Leon were there, he'd have sensed it instinctively.
That's no ancient god.
Something darker and more grotesque.
-Call... my name.
The Lion's Book floating in the empty cave repeated the same words.
About ten minutes passed like that.
[Yo... g.]
Incredibly, a response came from the space where none should.
It emanated from the completely shattered Kraken egg, reduced to a pulp-like mush.
Krakens couldn't speak. Intelligent, but driven more by instinct than intellect.
Especially their offspring, which had only instinct to begin with.
Yet this dead, pulped Kraken egg was responding—and speaking?
Not a normal sight.
Fwoooosh!!!!!
Purple light exploded stronger from the Necronomicon, soon spewing massive chunks of flesh.
The cave turned into a living entity's guts in an instant, sprouting countless tentacles.
Those tentacles pierced and clung to the Necronomicon and the ruined egg.
Thump... thump...
A heartbeat echoed.
-Call... my name.
The call resounded once more.
The lifeless egg pulsed, covered in massive flesh.
Then, craaaack! The flesh beside the egg split open, revealing a gigantic eye.
[Yog.]
With that short word, the heartbeat grew louder.
As if life itself was being born.
And at that exact moment.
Something triggered in the senses of the mysterious entity guarding Leon, [Librarian].
[Red Moon precursor symptoms detected. However, confirmed vanished in an instant. Suspected as temporary error phenomenon. Request log review. Report on hold.]
It had registered for just a fleeting instant in the Librarian's senses.
The Pascalia Empire was home to countless magic towers.
From small ones to colossal ones rivaling great noble houses.
Mages affiliated with them formed their own societies.
Verheim, a 5th Circle mage from the upper-tier Kaifen Magic Tower, was now reporting to his superior.
The report covered the young parachute mage who'd fired magic at the Demon Tree fragment and corpse golem first.
"That concludes the full account of the Kraken subjugation."
-That guy caused trouble, huh...
"The Sword Saint's fury is beyond words. He's not showing it outwardly, but..."
-I know. Everyone my age knows. Hmph, his mage career's done for.
He probably hadn't meant to.
Just panicked and messed up.
Normally, it might not have been such a big deal. But this was a subjugation involving countless lives.
Mistakes from parachute hires weren't tolerated.
Of course, that wasn't their main point.
"As reported, it's about Leon Cascadia, eldest son of the Cascadia Border Count family."
-Yeah, I've heard. Honestly, hard to believe. Even in this massive tower, 6th Circle Master-level mages are rare.
Such huge magic towers had only a handful of 6th Circle, Master-grade mages—precious talents.
And an unaffiliated one? Necromancy specialization didn't matter. Towers specialized in elemental magic but didn't discriminate.
Even more absurd was his age.
-A teen at 6th Circle... Hah. Might need to rewrite the continent's genius list.
"To be frank, his magical prowess is astounding, but what I rate highest is his magitech skills."
-Was gonna ask. Five devices, right? Analysis?
"Shall I be straight?"
Verheim let out a hollow laugh.
"Honestly, I couldn't understand a single one."
-What?
"Bluntly put, it was something far beyond our technology. From structure to components—I don't have much expertise in magitech, but Elder Repal said it felt centuries ahead of us."
-Heh... If even Elder Repal says that... We must secure him. If word gets out, every tower will be after him.
No exaggeration. Thirsty for talent, the towers wouldn't let prey like Leon slip away.
"How much support do you anticipate?"
-6th Circle Archmage. Overwhelming magitech skills. How a boy reached that level is a mystery, but we can't ignore results. We'll offer 1st-grade treatment. Losing him to another tower would be worse.