Maze Hajatum
【Titan's Book】 and one of the three great Immortality Books, 【Akala's Book】, created by the mad Akala. Hajatum was an architectural marvel built by her, one of the three leaders who ruled the ancient era of Arunasar.
'What a pain in the ass...'
Adel felt a throbbing headache the moment Crul mentioned the name Balroc.
They were demon spirits born from the hellfire of the demon realm. Their skin was tougher than a dragon's, impervious to swords. Their entire bodies were wreathed in flames that rendered magic useless, and shadows cloaked them, nullifying even God's Blessing.
"They're not summoned through magic—they're the demon realm monsters that lingered in the human world."
"When the dimensional gate to the demon realm opened in the ancient era, they poured out. Titan, leader of Arunasar, sealed that gate, and that's what became one of the three great Forbidden Zones: the Forgotten Ones' Temple."
"That's right. The gate closed, but dealing with the Balrocs that remained was the real problem. Born from demon realm hellfire, they were practically half-immortal."
"Even the Arunasar couldn't capture them."
"So they resorted to sealing them away."
"And the place they chose for that seal was Hajatum."
The ornate building, adorned with lavish gold decorations, looked like it might house mountains of treasure. Yet no one dared set foot inside—not even in a place outside the Forbidden Zones.
"Of the eight Balrocs left in the human world, seven are sealed in Hajatum."
Crul nodded at Adel's words.
"And one was being managed in Kaztan. The special collars usable only by its rider could tame even a Balroc—a powerful seal."
"Arund's Tear. An ancient relic."
"Exactly. Akala probably left it behind as a contingency for the one they couldn't catch."
"That doesn't matter. But what happened to that collar? Even in a frenzy, it shouldn't have been able to break it."
"That's what's puzzling me too. No matter how ferocious a Balroc, that collar's thorns are coated in Divine Poison."
He was right. The only weapon capable of subduing hellfire monsters immune to swords, magic, and even God's Blessing was the Divine Poison that seeped into the body of a god's contractor.
'Ironic, isn't it? The same Divine Poison that slowly kills the contractor actually has its uses.'
He hated to admit it, but within his knowledge, there was no other way to take down a Balroc. Even the power of an ancient god like Kalderet couldn't easily overpower them.
Balrocs... Truly annoying bastards. Their hearts are lumps of fire that reform no matter how many times you smash them.
To completely erase a Balroc, you have to oxidize its heart with an even fiercer flame.
Kalderet said.
I hate to admit it, but even my flames can't destroy a Balroc's heart.
The Balrocs were created by Raguma, lord of hellfire. He wields power equal to a high god.
Few on the continent—even among the Eight Lords known as its strongest—could fell a demon realm monster that withstood the heat of a mid god of conflagration like Garon.
"The ones who can deal effective blows, though not melt its heart, are the ardragonkin who inherited dragon blood."
"That explains why the White Fangs run rampant in Zen Kingdom."
"Precisely. And only the high god of conflagration Garuda and the phoenix born of his blood can truly slay a Balroc—which is why the Fury King is heading to Gold Death Gorge."
Now Adel understood the full situation in Zen Kingdom.
"I get it now. Why they were eyeing each other despite having you."
To claim the phoenix egg required not ordinary casting techniques, but the mastery of the red dragonkin. Yet Crul had no intention of aiding the White Fangs.
On the flip side, the Fury King needed someone to protect the kingdom from rampaging monsters while he went for the egg.
'The White Fangs must have promised to safeguard the kingdom in exchange for the egg.'
Their mutual needs had woven this fragile alliance.
'It doesn't add up. Even if the rider dies, the relic's power doesn't vanish. So how did the Balroc remove its collar?'
Adel stroked his chin.
I don't know. It might not have been the Balroc that undid it.
'...The Balroc didn't remove the collar?'
There are possibilities. Someone from outside could have undone it.
'Someone from outside... undid the collar...'
That implied a third party had intervened in the massacre of Kaztan's beast tamers.
Every action has consequences. To someone, that evil deed might bring profit. Releasing a Balroc? Horrific, as you say.
'But the one who freed it stands to gain. Someone who benefits from rampaging monsters...'
Adel pondered.
'The Forgotten Ones?'
It's possible. They serve an ancient god of annihilation. But I doubt it.
'Why?'
I know about Balroc collars. The thorns of Arund's Tear are coated with Divine Poison from three high gods. Extremely potent.
Adel nodded.
To remove it would require an ancient god's blessing at least. No half-baked divine power could do it. And the god of annihilation isn't even here—he was banished to the demon realm.
'Hmm... Then who? If a Balroc rampages, the continent suffers irreparable damage. Only the Forgotten Ones would pull such madness.'
Not necessarily human. Humans may be the most numerous, but...
'Not human...?'
In that instant, like puzzle pieces snapping together, a name flashed in Adel's mind.
White Fang.
Kalderet and Adel uttered the name in perfect unison.
There are other suspects, but they're the most likely. The White Fangs are after the phoenix egg.
'They need your help for that.'
But he won't aid them, so...
'They pressured the Fury King, who protects them. But they know he wouldn't flinch at mere ardragonkin threats.'
Even the toughest have weaknesses. Change the target of the threat, and it's possible.
'His followers aren't just war-crazed mercenaries anymore. He has people to protect now.'
Zen Kingdom was no weakling, fitting among the central nine nations. Mere rampaging monsters posed no threat.
"A Balroc leading three thousand monsters..."
Its might was beyond measure—an overwhelming horde.
'But could the White Fangs really undo the Balroc's collar? They're not adept at metallurgy like the red dragonkin. Tampering with an ancient relic?'
No ardragonkin could, no matter their smithing prowess. Ancient relics can't be broken that way.
'Then?'
But a true dragon? That's different.
'A dragon...'
A name brushed Adel's mind. White Dragon Basif, leader of the White Fangs, lacked the stature. But Adel knew a dragon capable of such audacity.
The ancient dragon backing the white dragon.
"Heavenly Dragon..."
Damn it, that guy again. What the hell is he up to?
"......"
Kalderet roared as if ready to hunt Qunzel down right then, but Adel's thoughts grew complicated.
Adel, you know something, don't you? You've seen what he's doing.
'Who knows. Not in my timeline, at least.'
Hmm...
'Figuring that out is our job. None of the shady bastards are up to any good.'
What the Heavenly Dragon had done so far was unknown to Adel from his previous life. Back then, at this point in time, he was still wandering the desert, scraping by without even discovering his own talents.
'Regression or not, the gaps from my past life are biting me now.'
Adel bit his lip.
No need for self-recrimination. This event didn't happen in your previous life. It's a changed future. Who could've predicted the Balroc seal breaking?
Adel nodded at Kalderet's words.
'Yeah... I know Balrocs are a hassle. But they're not unkillable. What bothers me is Qunzel, not the demon beasts.'
...Huh? You talk like you've killed them before.
'Yeah. There was a similar incident in my past life. Maybe connected to Qunzel... though it was a bit different. This isn't the first time a Balroc seal broke for me.'
What happened?
'Hajatum's seal broke.'
You mean the prison holding the other seven, excluding that one?
Kalderet asked in surprise.
What happened?
'What do you think?'
To the stunned wolf, Adel replied flatly.
'We caught them all.'
With that, Adel turned to Crul.
"I get the picture."
"...And what do you plan to do?"
"I'll meet both sides. Overhearing this is hilarious. I couldn't care less about the White Fangs' greed or the Fury King's predicament."
"Then...?"
"What irks me is something else. They're debating who gets the phoenix egg like it's up for grabs."
"That's..."
"Seems they've forgotten whose land Gold Death Gorge is. Scheming to wander in without the owner's permission."
Adel told Crul.
"Time to etch it into their skulls so they never forget."
Thud—
He lightly pressed a finger onto the casting plate where Crul had drawn the map. Astonishingly, it dented under the pressure.
"White Fangs first."
"...Don't be reckless. You plan to make enemies of the White Fangs, backed by the Heavenly Dragon?"
Crul urgently grabbed at him, shouting.
"What about some dragon?"
Adel smirked.
"Make enemies? Don't worry, Crul. That's not my plan."
He gently lowered Crul's arm.
"......"
But that casual smile felt sharper than killing intent to Crul.
"So prepare your traps. I'll be back before dawn."
"What the hell are you planning?"
Adel, unfazed, set down gold coins before Crul.
"Don't do anything stupid."
"I'm fine. I have zero intention of turning them into enemies."
"...Then?"
"Becoming enemies requires matching ranks."
Adel gripped his wind sword from the table and stood.
"How could rankless fools be my enemies? This isn't war, Crul. Not even a fight."
He said as he left the forge.
"Just cleanup."