Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Butterfly's Dream (2)
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*
Beitasser's voice tore through his mind and struck him hard. Fernandez kept his hands clasped together for a moment as he sank into thought.
‘If that voice just now belongs to Beitasser, then the one who altered the statue's inscription at first... wasn't Beitasser trying to communicate with me.’
Assumption 1. At least two transcendent beings are intervening with me right now.
‘And I'm still not sure if this is a dream, or if my past life was some extravagant dream.’
Assumption 2. What if my past life was a dream? Or if this very moment is a dream?
He had to prepare for both. Nothing was certain. He hoped it was just some kind of illusion after leaping into the spirit realm... but Fernandez wouldn't commit to a single assumption.
Fernandez slowly unclasped his hands and stood up. Either way was fine. If all this was Mumto's scheme, the bastard would regret it.
‘Whichever one is the illusion. There's something to gain.’
Fernandez had knowledge of events from this time up to forty years in the future. If his past life had been a dream, fine. Even better. It wasn't too late to change things one by one from now on.
‘I have power.’
Mana circuits. How he'd missed them. No more need to painstakingly tune the imperfect functions of the Bronze Throne. He was confident he could manifest his prime thirty years ahead of schedule.
‘On the other hand, if this moment is my illusion.’
Then it was perfect. He could gather as much information as possible from this era, then find a way back. And on top of that...
‘Proof that Mumto has weakened to the point of resorting to such petty tricks!’
If Mumto's power was intact, a mere glance could incapacitate a teenager with room to spare. If all he could muster after drawing him into his domain was this surprisingly elaborate illusion...
‘If this is all you've got, you're dead.’
Fernandez stood and tilted his head toward the statue. He smirked and raised his middle finger at it.
“Always wanted to do that. What can you do? I'm no priest anymore.”
At that moment, something rolled and fell behind him with a thud. Fernandez turned to see Aria, who had been carrying a basket of potatoes, dropping it in panic.
“Oh my god. Teacher! What was that...! Get out, quick!”
“Huh...?”
“Even if we have different faiths, how could you blaspheme in a church... Really!”
Before he could react, Aria grabbed his hand and dragged him out. He stared at her frightened back for a moment, then glared at the receding statue.
‘Send your dogs, then.’
*
It took nearly an hour of scolding after returning home before he was free. Fernandez sent Aria back to her place and began a simple experiment.
[Morris Ran's Crystal Orb]
The recipe was straightforward. Infuse five spells, mix beast blood with seven reagents into a solution, and submerge a clean cat's-eye stone—or equivalent spherical crystal—in it.
-Sizzle.
The solution bubbled and boiled as mana flowed in. He had no cat's-eye stone, but crystal orbs were essentials for apothecaries, alchemists, or wandering mages. They were artifacts perfectly shaped for holding magic.
He pulled the escape crystal orb from his satchel—the one he treasured at this time. In emergencies, it released disorienting fog and cast acceleration on the user. A valuable item.
‘I don't need escape tools at this time.’
It had saved his life before, but at this point, few heroes could stand against prime Fernandez, and the odds of them finding him were slim. Fernandez dispelled the orb's spells and slowly immersed it in the solution.
-Slush.
The sticky, bubbling solution foamed and enveloped the orb. His fingers wove over it, tracing mantras.
In sequence: [Construct], [Detect], [Designate], [Map], and [Compass]. That completed [Morris Ran's Crystal Orb]. A complex magic item, but trivial with his mana tuning sense and experience.
-Splash!
Blood writhed like snakes across the orb's surface, forming eerie patterns. An eerie red glow emanated from the solution holding the orb.
‘No wonder they call this heresy—you can't pull it out or push it in.’
If someone opened his workshop door now, they'd file for an inquisition trial at the nearest church. Fernandez found his overnight change in status amusing.
But it was necessary. He slowly extended his finger and placed it on the orb's surface. The pulsing remnant of the spell throbbed hotly at his fingertip.
No rush. Plenty of time. He pressed down firmly. With a crunch, his finger sank into the orb's surface.
-Squelch.
It felt like shoving his finger into firm jelly. Focusing on the sensation at his fingertip, he visualized in his mind: carrier pigeon, crow, eagle. Any bird form...
-Crunch.
The blood in the orb bubbled. Spell runes rippled across the surface and seeped into the solution. Morris Ran's Crystal Orb. A magic item that created five familiars for simultaneous control.
A dream tool for summoners. From combat support to uses like this.
-Gurgle.
Red crows crawled out from the bloody water. Fernandez kept his hand in the orb, concentrating his mind. Fly. Fly and check what needs checking.
-Flutter!
After shaking off, the five crows soared through the chimney. All familiars shared their vision with Fernandez. Up to the sky, to the sky. Straight up until the horizon curved round!
-Whoosh!
The feel of wings slicing wind, the roar of high-altitude gales—even all sensations flooded his mind. Ordinary summoners struggled to control more than one with this level of linkage...
‘Go.’
-Flutter!
Fernandez directed the five crows in different directions simultaneously with precise commands. The local geography was familiar. He needed immediate info, and mainly whether this moment was real or not.
‘Gather as much info on this era as possible.’
After issuing flight directions to the crows, Fernandez withdrew his finger from the orb.
‘The Northerners' lands, Dane Kingdom, Western Great Wilderness, Plains of the Baekguk Demons, and Asias High Council.’
He needed to compare the history he remembered, this era's history, and changes after his regression to form strategies. If this was mere illusion and he could return after killing Mumto, this intel would be his strongest weapon.
“Time to prepare for guests.”
He flexed his fingers briefly, then began preparing other items. It had been ages since he'd seen a proper mage's workshop, and there were countless traps he could set here.
*
He'd dozed off. Fernandez blankly stared at Aria, who had entered unnoticed and was now pouring coffee in front of him.
Unlike the ever-vigilant Demonica body during sleep, Feizashi's body at this time was withered, approaching twilight. All-nighters were too much? The very need to sleep every night felt alien.
With the Demonica body, sleeping once every three days sufficed. Fernandez shook his foggy head and grimaced. He had to get used to it. No telling how long he'd be trapped in this twilight.
‘No, thinking like that isn't good.’
Hoping this moment wasn't real was selfish. Maybe, just maybe, he'd foreseen the future... If so, then.
“Oh my. Your house was a mess. Teacher. I tidied up a bit... Is it okay?”
“Of course.”
If this was reality and the past year a dream... I still have a chance, Aria. Fernandez slowly sipped the coffee. The warm, bitter liquid chased away sleep.
“Pulled an all-nighter? I've told you it harms your health... Sometimes it feels like you don't want to live long.”
“As if.”
“Really! You brew tonics for villagers to live long, heal their illnesses, but neglect your own body...”
Fernandez lifted his cup to his lips, gazing at Aria ranting at him. Her voice faded, her face lit by sunlight filtering through. In this moment, she was his entire world.
‘Hoping this is reality?’
His heart was tainted by infernal mana, but he hadn't made a pact with demons yet. Before the Sabbat, there was still a way back. Mana taint could be cured somehow...
Weakened body? With magic's secrets in his grasp, what was the problem? Yes. If this moment was reality, if he'd foreseen the future...
‘Sweet.’
Aria was mid-rant when she noticed his smile and frowned.
“You're not even listening!”
“No, I heard everything.”
“Liar. What did I say?”
“Take care of your health?”
“And after?”
“The priest's dignity has fallen to the ground. Daring to lecture your teacher?”
“Only then!”
Aria yelled in frustration. Fernandez burst out laughing at the sight. At this time, she was just an innocent country girl. He nodded slowly.
“I'll do as you say. Aria.”
“Huh?”
“Since it's come to this. Let's live long. Very long. And...”
At least you'll be happy. You deserve it. Fernandez said, ruffling Aria's hair.
‘If this isn't reality, you're dead, Mumto. But if it is...’
Thank you. Fernandez closed his eyes quietly and drank his coffee. Yes, thank you.
‘I’ll kill your servants last.’
For his and Aria's happiness, demons and heretics had no place in the material world. If this was reality, they’d die by his hand.
*
Night fell. Five people gathered at the village edge slowly raised their weapons and entered.
“Demeter, head west. Veil, take south. Carl, with me—straight through the front.”
“Macto.”
Robes emblazoned with the inverted black key-sword insignia. Beitasser's Inquisitors. Codename Angelo, he drew his sword and pulled a flask from his bosom.
“Mission start. Brothers. For Beitasser's glory!”
-Smash!
The flask flew and shattered noisily. Liquid flame scattered wide, igniting along the village outskirts.
Flame and ash—symbols of this era's Inquisitors. They charged toward the village. But in that instant, the flames devouring the outer palisade vanished.
“What!?”
“Play with fire at night, regret it by morning.”
Ahead of them, crossing the village square in the distance. A lean middle-aged man with short beard walked slowly toward them. Angelo gripped his sword tighter, glaring.
The mission target. Traitor wandering mage Feizashi. Sharp eyes, mocking smirk, ornate tattoos on both arms. Appeared early forties. Confirmed.
“Arrogance or repentance, mage?”
“Deal.”
“Arrogance it is.”
Angelo narrowed his eyes and raised his sword. His turned hand signaled quickly to the Inquisitors behind.
[Surround.]
The other Inquisitors swiftly scaled walls and scattered into the village. Angelo glared at the motionless mage. Charge? Or...
“Tried to negotiate with your god, but he didn't want it. Was going to tell you instead... but seems.”
Now's the chance. Angelo whipped a dagger from his sleeve and hurled it. Demonica muscle propelled astonishing speed; the saint-metal dagger flew like an arrow at the mage's head—
-Clang!
“Easier to tell you after I drop you.”
“Attack!”
The dagger aiming for the mage's head rang loudly and ricocheted in midair. But he hadn't expected the first strike to land anyway. Angelo roared and charged the mage.
Simultaneously, Inquisitors ambushed from everywhere, leaping at the mage.
Fernandez smirked darkly at them.
“You've aged a lot. Fabiano.”
*