Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Traitor
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[Name is Eddie Junior Howard. The magic he handles is anomaly magic. Born in England, father is a doctor, mother is a writer—]
“Enough. You’re with Laplace, right?”
Ian cut him off. Eddie’s soul hesitated for a moment before responding.
[Yes.]
“What’s your position?”
[Laplace doesn’t have such things. If anything, I was closer to a contractor than a full-time employee.]
“Hmm.”
[My role was to nurture the power of the anomaly provided to me. And to control that anomaly.]
“……Provided to you?”
Ian’s brow furrowed. He’d heard something similar before.
The cruise ship that turned into a game. Hadn’t the captain said the USB causing it was provided by someone?
He’d buried it in his memory since there was no way to investigate further at the time. But now that an opportunity had arisen, there was no need to hold back. Ian delved into his own memories and leaned forward slightly.
“Who provided it?”
[Laplace’s leader, Walter. He’s a mage capable of turning those he kills himself into anomalies.]
“……What?”
Turning dead people into anomalies.
A story about mages so familiar he’d read it multiple times. Others might not care, but for Ian, it was the most crucial piece of history.
‘That’s the magic from the Mystic Apocalypse.’
Mystic Apocalypse.
Among the grimoires of Outer Gods revealed so far, it was the most infamous and the one that caused the most casualties.
“…….”
Every grimoire records signature spells unique to it. There’s some overlap, but most renowned grimoires detail spells only they can perform.
Take Lemegeton, for example.
Known as Solomon’s Lesser Key, it’s the only grimoire that can summon Solomon’s 72 demons without major risks. Other mages can summon demons, but not while protecting the summoner or controlling them like puppets. Only Lemegeton makes that possible.
Others like the Grand Grimoire of Pope Honorius, Necronomicon, Book of the Office of Spirits, Arbatel, Black Pullet, and more.
Renowned grimoires all possess unique spells. The same went for Outer Gods’ grimoires.
Re-creation from the Hand of Recreation.
Summoning magic from the Deep Sea Chronicles.
Likely, the Mystic Apocalypse recorded transformation magic on the same principle.
Turning people into anomalies is a spell only the Mystic Apocalypse’s owner can use. No one else could intervene. So if Eddie was telling the truth, Laplace’s leader clearly possessed an Outer God’s grimoire.
No need to leave it as speculation. Ian asked Eddie directly, and Eddie nodded without hesitation.
[It’s true. He’s the owner of an Outer God’s grimoire.]
Speculation turned to certainty. Ian crossed his arms on the table and stared at the two grimoires. They seemed to squirm shyly under his intense gaze. From his perspective, at least.
Knowing Laplace’s leader was a mage with an Outer God’s grimoire brought no camaraderie or affinity. Only thoughts of how that existence might affect him.
Perhaps they could form a good relationship. But trusting a crime boss with madness from an Outer God’s grimoire was impossible. Best to avoid entanglement from the start.
But he’d already killed Eddie. Like it or not, ties to Laplace were inevitable.
Information was key, then. Ian turned to Eddie, whose form was fading, and ordered him to spill everything he knew about the man named Walter. Eddie obeyed faithfully.
[Blond man born in Germany. Cruel yet benevolent personality, pursues pleasure. Some in Laplace see him as having a split personality because of it. His magic includes anomaly magic, transformation spells, and ritual magic via pentacles.]
“Hmm…… Grimoire affinity?”
[I don’t know that far. But other mages went mad the moment they read its contents.]
“……Read its contents.”
Another unexpected fact. Ian’s grimoires rejected others’ touch entirely, but the Mystic Apocalypse didn’t seem picky.
Regardless, the fact that everyone but Walter went mad reading it suggested his affinity wasn’t low. Not 100 percent maybe, but at least over fifty. Otherwise, he couldn’t have used it.
‘Come to think of it, what determines affinity? Just the Outer God’s whim?’
A sudden question. Ian tapped the table, pondered, then sighed long when no answer came. Honestly, as long as he avoided madness, it didn’t matter.
He didn’t expect the grimoires to suddenly go berserk. If they would, they’d have done it already. Attacking now would be ridiculous.
Of course, he wouldn’t drop his guard completely.
An Outer God’s whim could shift anytime, tampering with the grimoire. The chance was low, but not zero, so caution was necessary.
The whims of gods were always terrifying. Even Outer Gods were no exception.
Still, judging by the grimoires’ attitudes, things should be fine for now.
Ian thought so as he stroked the covers of the two grimoires on the table.
[Whirr.]
[……Whirr.]
The two books, contrasting in color, rubbed against his hand enjoyably. The Deep Sea Chronicles moved sluggishly, not fully recovered, but better than before. A relief.
[No one but his closest aides knows Walter’s goal. But if I had to guess, it’s probably elevating Earth’s level another step.]
Eddie said.
[Continuously creating anomalies and spreading them. Increasing exposure to anomalies. Deeply embedding the concept of anomalies into people’s perceptions to leap the world forward—that’s what I thought back then.]
“……Is that possible?”
[Theoretically, yes. But just theory, so I don’t know if it’s feasible. I didn’t care as long as I got my anomalies…….]
“Quite the boast.”
[I’m sorry.]
Eddie bowed his head. Ian sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair.
Elevating the world’s level.
It sounded abstract.
But he had a rough idea.
Imprint anomalies into everyone’s minds, materializing all weird tales, urban legends, conspiracies, etc., to increase the number of the enlightened and enrich the world…… Something like that, probably.
Of course, still speculation. No certainty.
Eddie didn’t know Walter’s exact goal either. Maybe it was all bullshit.
“……Hoo.”
Ian mulled it over, then raised his head with a long exhale.
No point dwelling on unsolvable issues now. File it away and move to the next question. Only about 30 seconds left.
“Hm.”
A final question. Ian pondered briefly, looked up at Eddie, and spoke coldly.
“How did you know my location? An informant?”
[I figured out the location myself. But yes, I heard from someone about a new grimoire owner in Korea. Asked if any mage got a grimoire in Korea recently, and they sold the info for money.]
“……A mage?”
[Yes. Someone I had past dealings with. Don’t know the name, but a vermin who can only use magic with the blood of the purely chaste.]
“Hmm…… Gender?”
[Male. It’s been years since he was active in Korea—]
Snap.
Eddie’s voice cut off mid-sentence, his faint soul dissolving like smoke. Time limit reached.
‘Disappears right on the dot.’
Ian pursed his lips and leaned back sharply. The chair flexed, supporting him.
Short five minutes, but plenty of info. Solid leads: Laplace’s leader and his grimoire, plus the informant—three in total.
Laplace matters could wait. No need to stir trouble. He didn’t know their full strength, and preferred no further ties. Let them elevate the world or whatever.
Priority: hunt the informant. Ian replayed Eddie’s description and lit a cigarette.
“Mage. Male. Active in Korea years ago. Spells activated with blood of the pure as sacrifice…….”
Vague traits, but major ones—easy to narrow down by elimination. Definitely a Mystery Gallery mage.
No deep thought needed. Every community mage Ian met in reality had been female, intentionally or not.
From Lee Seo-ah to Han Yu-na, Grandmother, and Kim Yul. No males.
A male mage selling info?
No other explanation unless it wasn’t from the community. Ian hadn’t advertised his grimoire anywhere; it had to be from that first post.
‘Knew the community wasn’t all saints, but getting stabbed in the back so openly doesn’t feel great.’
Ian clicked his tongue and headed to the rooftop to smoke slowly.
To be cautious, he could ditch the community. But abandoning Korea’s sole mage hub was silly.
Flee home over one bug? Better to catch and kill it.
“Hoo…….”
Identity not pinpointed yet, but couldn’t leave it alone. Better to catch, interrogate, secure safety fast.
Ian thought so and pulled out his phone.
Luckily, someone useful for community matters: Grandmother. He messaged her right away.
[Me: Grandmother, seems there’s a traitor in the holy mage club. Free to talk now?]
Reply in under five seconds.
[★Grandmother: Please tell me more.]
Ian smiled faintly at her eager response.