Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Thwarting the Enemy's Plan
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"I'm going to explain how we're going to stop the enemy's plan."
The scale of the reinforcements Yuliana had mentioned was beyond imagination. No, it wasn't about scale—it was about their sheer stature.
Three censers sat atop the altar in the sanctuary's chapel, each one levitating a spirit body.
Datan Karain, headmaster of Rivendel Academy.
Rekkaire, leader of the investigation team dispatched from the Martial God Alliance.
And... Peykurier Milone Alter Gaumris, the strongest soldier of humanity, exuding an overwhelming presence that made him seem less than human.
Yuliana had left the Myth Staff to cross the continent personally and meet these three.
-There was no one I could trust.
That meant not only did she lack reliable subordinate witches, but no witch could have escaped Luja hien's demonic beasts to reach their destinations.
Yuliana shared the detailed enemy force compositions and magic circle placements she'd received from Valensidis with these three key figures.
Combining Yuliana's Northern Republic witches, Datan's Rivendel Academy mages, Peykurier's 300-strong unit, and the 30-odd ronin from the Martial God Alliance investigation team would make for a formidable number.
[But is the enemy really her?]
Headmaster Datan Karain asked in a voice full of disbelief.
"Only the gods know her exact identity."
Yuliana drew a light line and began her explanation.
"The auxiliary formations are set up in three locations: the northwest Jiseon Peak, the southern Hwayeon Peak, and the southeast Yeomgyeong Peak."
[...!]
"The ritual begins at midnight on the new moon, when the moonlight is at its dimmest—in other words, 14 hours from now. Once it starts, nothing can stop it. We have to end it before then."
Yuliana didn't say it outright. That the baby dragon would serve as the core power source activating the magic barrier.
Only Yuliana, who had received the Water Dragon's oracle, and Milone, commanded by the College of Cardinals, knew for certain about the dragon's guardian.
"Once the ritual proceeds, Nariaduk, kin of the Queen of Time, will awaken. She's one of the ancient nobles called the Triad of Illusions. A catastrophe will unfold."
[...!]
"We must neutralize all three magic barriers to halt the ritual. If even one functions normally, it will continue..."
I bit my lip powerlessly.
It would be the same tragedy as when Shar'kas awakened—brought about by Tureina's hand.
Peykurier Milone Alter Gaumris spoke up.
[They say nearly half the Northern Republic witches have joined the enemy. Is that true?]
"It's true. To be precise, it's about two-thirds. They'll be guarding the formations. Even if it's not certain, Tureina is like a goddess to us."
[Hah, they say the age of dragons is over, but is the age of witches ending too? So many empty-headed witches chasing the ghosts of the past and becoming puppets of the abyss?]
Rekkaire, leader of the Martial God Alliance investigation team, snorted provocatively, and Yuliana gave a wry smile before responding calmly.
"Rekkaire, you're still young. You never lived through Tureina's era yourself—just heard the stories."
[So what?]
"Tureina used her power for everyone, just as befitting Lady Fride's disciple. Even after stepping down as shrine maiden. She drove off monsters, devised cures for plagues, and soothed the heavens to bring rain during famines."
[...?]
"All the witches of my generation grew up benefiting from those miracles. Most of us became witches dreaming of living such a great life someday. That's why they follow her—not the abyss, but the person Tureina."
[But the odds it's really Tureina are next to zero. The real one died over ten years ago! Following her when there's a 99% chance it's a fake?]
Somehow, it was Milone who cut through the hovering conversation and hit the core.
[So how do you plan to deal with Tureina? What if it is the real one?]
Yuliana glanced at me.
Since I wasn't using spirit body separation magic, they couldn't see my movements or hear my voice.
Yuliana was making one final confirmation now, of the intentions I'd shared before the meeting began.
"...We'll capture her first."
Yuliana relayed my words to the spirit bodies as if they were her own. There was no real objection.
"We won't interrogate or kill her."
[Pardon?]
"Interrogating and breaking her body, or burning her at the stake—it'd be wasting her talent and achievements."
A brief silence fell.
The spirit bodies stared at Yuliana, each showing signs of confusion.
"First off, as I said earlier, Tureina's influence is absolute. I believe we can use it to reunify the fractured Republic."
I know.
I know what Tureina has done. I know, and yet...
[Sure, that's fair, but... is it really that simple? The Southern Republic is a total mess—I'm not even sure it can be reunified. And if it's the real Tureina, everything she's done so far...!]
I'm such a selfish bastard.
I want to see her again, talk to her, save her somehow... These feelings outweigh even my anger.
I even feel disgust at myself.
"That's why we'll keep her alive. Killing or interrogating her is too easy. We'll make her atone to the world with that power, then leave the judgment to the Water Dragon."
[...!]
"Of course, if she's fallen so far that even redemption is impossible, then with my own hands..."
I couldn't bring myself to say, "I'll kill her." Yuliana bit her lip in pain, just like me, and said only this.
"...I'll end it."
The Water Dragon had entrusted me with the final decision. Knowing that, Yuliana didn't challenge my judgment.
Valensidis just stared at me with eyes clouded in bewilderment, showing no particular reaction for now.
Datan Karain responded in an incredulous tone.
[End Tureina? Yuliana, can you really do that on your own? She's a Three Elders witch wielding 5th-circle spells and psalms, who's even reached the realm of archmage.]
Not just Datan Karain—the opposition from Rekkaire, who had confirmed the annihilation of the Heavenly Flower Sect, was fierce, but it was Peykurier Milone who quelled the uproar.
[The Water Dragon commanded the College of Cardinals to delegate primary decision-making authority to Starless Shrine Maiden Yuliana. So let's proceed as she says.]
With the Light Dragon retired from the front lines, the Peykurier's will was the Holy Imperial Court's.
That alone made it overwhelmingly authoritative, but with the Water Dragon's oracle too—opposing the Divine Dragon's will was akin to blasphemy.
It took only an instant for all objections to subside. As silence fell, Milone looked at Yuliana—or rather, at me, invisible to her.
[So what do you need us to do, Yuliana?]
* * *
The temple buzzed with the witches readying themselves for battle in a flurry of activity.
Excluding those like Alene of <Aurelinopl> who had turned to black magic, nearly all of the Northern Republic's elite red witches had assembled here under Starless Shrine Maiden Yuliana's orders. Their number reached a staggering four hundred.
I was barely moving my injured body to don my Seresia when Valensidis approached with a sigh.
"I saw that parrot from <Aurelinopl> casually calling Tureina by name."
"Call, call, call."
Valensidis hesitated longer than usual, uncharacteristically, before offering an amusing guess.
"Your absurd genius, and the emotions you showed talking about Tureina earlier... You must've been one of her disciples too, right?"
No, she was my disciple.
My first disciple.
Left behind on the other side of three hundred years ago... I didn't even have time for such a retort, so I silently bent down and tightened the leather straps on my boots.
"And that sun parrot is probably the real Pipi from the heroic legends of three hundred years ago."
"Genuine, genuine, genuine."
"I know I have no right to say this... but you must've heard it all from Yuliana. The Tureina down there isn't the one you remember."
As I tightened the strap on the other boot without responding, Valensidis couldn't suppress her frustration and spoke up.
"Listen. Tureina isn't embracing the abyss's power—she's just using it, so she has to pay the price in humanity."
"Humanity? Humanity? Humanity?"
"Memories, emotions—all that makes a person human. Tureina uses it for immortality... and in exchange, she can't remember most people. She forgets them after just a month apart."
Yeah, so that's how it was.
I gave a wry smile.
The rift in my soul, forgetting Pipi—it was all because of that. She hasn't fully sold her soul to the abyss yet.
"The current Tureina is just a twisted desire for Lin wrapped in flesh. Decide to kill or spare her after seeing her? I know you've gotten incredibly strong, but this isn't a choice you—"
"—Valensidis, I'm not going to decide whether to kill or spare Tureina."
Was she puzzled by my sudden scoff, or shocked by how coldly I said it?
"I'm going to decide if I myself deserve to live."
With those words and a wretched smile, Valensidis fell silent. Instead, someone else made their presence known.
"You still not done preparing? What are you dawdling for?"
Clanking with miscellaneous metal sounds, strapping a shortsword scabbard to her waist and securing a shield to her wrist, the one who appeared was... Miria.
Valensidis raised an eyebrow.
Even I, who had shown no emotion throughout the conversation with Valensidis, couldn't help tilting my head.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you think? We have to go to the Myth Staff."
"No, you can't."
"No, no, no."
I didn't know why that came out instinctively. Maybe I just didn't want to drag her into a place rife with unknown horrors and dangers.
"You already got paid for repairs. You don't need to do this."
Anywhere, as long as you're alive.
That's enough.
"No? Aki means a lot to me too. You entrusted her to me, and I failed to protect her."
"No, that's... the opponent was who they were. It wasn't your fault."
"Maybe. But if you really want to save Aki, you'll need my help. I know the Red Mountains' terrain like the back of my hand."
At a loss for words, lips stammering, Miria placed a finger to her lips and smirked at me for the first time.
"And in the Empire, high status lets you order people around easily, but this is the Republic, and I'm a lawful free citizen. If you don't like following the Republic's constitution, drag me to some hellhole without one and order me then."