An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth (1)

Tall stature. Gaunt frame. A face gaunt to the point of emaciation. Yet Marcelo, presiding over the interrogation, exuded an unexpected authority. Enough that I felt no regret whatsoever for passing the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠task off to him. Especially since it involved the Mage Tower. There was no mercy to be found.

"I am asking about Karim Jeba's whereabouts right now."

"I told you I don't know! You think that arrogant old bastard would tell me his hideout?"

"I shall confirm whether those words are sincere."

"Urgh, uurrghh!!"

Crackle─! Magic so intense it made even the onlooker go numb. Marcelo tortured Jang Hyun-do—no, the demon—without so much as a twitch in his expression.

I was reminded once again. Mages of the Mage Tower were not to be trifled with.

'In some ways, I get why they seem to have no blood or tears.'

Of course, that was hardly something for me to say, watching the whole process so calmly.

But I had no choice. Me, Grandfell, feeling pity for a demon? Unthinkable.

"Wh-what, say something...!!"

No use looking at me with those eyes.

I compiled the information gleaned from the interrogation.

'The demon of the true name, Akampatam.'

Akampatam was the demon possessing Jang Hyun-do. "Demon of the true name" sounded grandiose, but it wasn't all that different. They were simply the named monsters among demons.

'Stronger than demons of the same level.'

Named monsters, after all. I'd seen plenty in the [Predator's Swamp] rift. Even ordinary monsters turned into pains in the ass once "named" was slapped on them. Demons? Naturally even worse.

"You must know this already. I never intended to cooperate with Karim Jeba, that old bastard, from the start! Sure, I thought about stabbing him in the back. But I don't want an upper demon king resurrecting either!"

Akampatam was no different.

'Especially that mouth of his. What a pain.'

The Mage Tower wanted small fry like him? No, it was the demon worshipper, Karim Jeba. He'd realized that from Marcelo's questions and was slyly shifting the topic.

"I swear. I've told you everything I know."

Karim Jeba must have fallen for that silver tongue. Nearly got backstabbed on top of it.

Thanks to him, though, we'd grasped Karim Jeba's entire plan.

"Simultaneous rift generation..."

Indeed. Karim Jeba was preparing a summoning ritual for an upper demon king. Just like with Frost and Decarabia. Such resurrections required sacrifices.

Karim Jeba and his demon worshippers planned to open rifts and supply the sacrifices through them.

"So Senior Mage Banggrit nearly became a sacrifice."

Daring to target a senior mage of the Mage Tower... Marcelo's eyes sharpened with killing intent once more.

Marcelo analyzed the situation coolly. "With Karim Jeba the only demon worshipper left free, after the other two were sealed in Mu-gan, he won't have the capacity to control as many rifts as planned."

I agreed. But even fewer rifts than planned...

I could guess their appropriate levels.

Of course, it was a trap for Senior Mage Banggrit, so the level was exceptionally high. But there was a bigger variable than the appropriate level: Karim Jeba himself.

'Worst case, suppose Karim Jeba's waiting in the rift.'

The moment players entered? Straight to becoming sacrifices for an upper demon king.

The problem was how plausible that was. Proof: he'd spilled everything to Akampatam. Karim Jeba was cornered.

"I just couldn't resist the threats...! All I did was hand over info on you, Mr. Lee Ho-yeol. So they'd know how the Mage Tower operates. But damn it. Why a succubus...?"

As Akampatam said, without Baek Isul's contact, we'd have taken a long detour.

But I'd also been the one to free her from possession via the [Exorcism Ritual].

In that sense...

'Well done, Lee Ho-yeol.'

I could praise my past self once more. My skin had thickened to the max. This wasn't even self-congratulation anymore.

As if to prove it, I calmly indulged in sentiment.

'Back then, it would've been horrifying. For real.'

Rifts boasting insane appropriate levels popping up worldwide simultaneously. A monster like Karim Jeba lurking inside. Fail to clear them? Upper demon king summoned.

...Holy shit. Talk about grim?

And my level? A measly 324. Alone, I wouldn't even know where to start. The scale was beyond comprehension.

But I wasn't alone anymore.

Right. At least I had authority.

"From this moment, I authorize senior mages' access to the rifts. Marcelo."

Yes, full authority over mage deployments...!

Karim Jeba was a traitor to the Mage Tower. Securing him was justified. No violation of procedure or pride.

Yes, I could wield the Mage Tower's might more righteously than ever.

'Tower quests are a given.'

Clearing the rifts in the process of capturing him.

'The experience and loot from that will be nothing to sneeze at.'

Of course, my personal motives didn't show.

Marcelo replied, "We'll hurry preparations. Karim Jeba will know soon enough."

I glanced at Jang Hyun-do, who flinched.

Know? What?

Everything was the truth, wasn't it?

Jang Hyun-do—no, Akampatam—wore an expression demanding answers.

I stared him down coldly.

'All that loose talk's useless.'

If you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lack the wits to read the room.

...

Grind─ Akampatam ground his teeth, head bowed.

'...Damn it all.'

Thanks to selling out Karim Jeba, suspicion toward him had eased. Akampatam felt relieved, at least.

'I'll live, at any rate.'

But the rage was unavoidable.

'Insane Mage Tower bastards.'

Karim Jeba, this skeleton—they were all brutes. Wielding such mana without a flicker of emotion. No awareness of the mana they exuded.

In that sense, it didn't add up.

'What the hell?'

Lee Ho-yeol. No mana like Karim Jeba or the skeleton from him.

Akampatam knew mages well. They flaunted their mana, never hid it.

So... hiding it? Or lacking it?

Neither made sense.

'And this bonehead's been polite to him the whole time.'

Using honorifics with Lee Ho-yeol, no less. Posture utterly deferential. No negativity. Genuine respect.

'Whatever. None of my business.'

No point dwelling; it'd just hurt his head. Akampatam shifted to what he knew best.

'Speaking freely in front of Akampatam, no less.'

From Lee Ho-yeol and Marcelo's talk, he'd pieced it together.

'Mage Tower. Sealed in some place called Mu-gan.'

Karim Jeba's demon worshipper allies. Unexpected, even for Akampatam.

They'd rival Karim Jeba in mana.

'Monsters like that subdued?'

What kind of place was the Mage Tower?

Chills again, but... valuable intel gained.

'Good enough to report back.'

After spilling Karim Jeba's plans, no desire to meet him. But he wouldn't stay put.

When Karim Jeba came? He'd need something to offer to survive.

'Of course, keep today's events secret.'

Fooling Karim Jeba? He was confident. Already tricked him once—a mere human. Second time would be easier.

'So shut up for now.'

Akampatam held his breath. Survive and escape this place.

Then a voice: "We'll hurry preparations. Karim Jeba will know soon enough."

"?"

Know what?

I'm keeping quiet about this!

"!"

Akampatam looked up in shock, meeting eyes. With Ho-yeol.

And recalled that passing remark.

-"I do not converse with prey."

Yes. The gaze of a predator eyeing its quarry.

Akampatam's pupils turned pitch black.

"Y-you, you're...?"

Shiver─ His tongue, steady even before Hwarong Karim Jeba, failed him. No sly words now. His mind blanked.

Yes, this uncontrollable tremor. Terror.

To such Akampatam, Ho-yeol spoke.

"I see it."

"...?"

"That foolish delusion."

Delusion. He grasped the meaning instantly.

'Thinking I could escape alive... that was the delusion?'

But he couldn't speak.

Prey doesn't converse. It was a one-sided declaration, no hesitation in Ho-yeol's actions.

Akampatam reeled in horror.

'E-end like this? Me, Akampatam?'

Yes, I'd resolved that much. But this was overkill.

'...Sturdy's one thing. This is burdensome.'

But as always, no sign of it.

I regarded the middle-aged man across from me.

He smiled kindly. "This is our first such conversation. Allow me to introduce myself."

Small stature for a man. Yet the transcendent mana rippling from him reminded me who he was.

No bowing, though.

'Damn this pride.'

Why I quit the company in the first place!

Despite the inner echo of resentment, I opened my mouth arrogantly.

"No need. I know you."

"Oh?"

"Elder Mage, Senios. State your business."

Noblesse oblige. The two elder mages who'd merely watched as the Mage Tower reached its state? Grandfell's pride wouldn't spare them.

No honorifics, no kind words.

I just wanted to close my eyes.

'If I pick a fight with the boss... even firing me would be fair. Really.'

Did the Tower have severance? What would they give? What about loaned magical tools?

But the response differed from expected.

"Simple enough. To request permission."

...Permission? What could an elder mage need from me?

I recalled: My full authority over deployments.

Senios smiled. "Elder Mage Senios formally requests permission to deploy."

Utterly sincere. By procedure. Even stating the purpose.

"The purpose: To slay the traitor to the Mage Tower, Karim Jeba, by my hand."

...You've exceeded backup support, sir.

I was shocked enough for an audible gasp, but no showing it.

Clink─ I calmly set down my teacup.

"I require a more specific reason."