Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Carrag's Revelation
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After slipping on the ring and taking the chairman's seat, he knew for certain.
The fake Leonard entering Enricasil, and the members getting trapped inside—it was all Carrag's design.
‘It couldn't have been a simple mistake in the security structure.’
Members could only enter after the chairman had arrived at Enricasil. Even with membership credentials, all records of them were forwarded to the chairman.
In other words, even with credentials, the chairman could block entry in advance. Conversely, even without them, entry was possible with the chairman's permission.
So the claim that they couldn't leave Enricasil was a lie too. If Carrag, as chairman, had allowed it, they could have exited at any time.
The fact that he hadn't meant he had some ulterior motive. Was the terror incident from his past life also Carrag's doing?
Or was there another reason he needed to diminish his own influence within Enricasil?
“I had planned to tell you today anyway.”
Carrag offered him some tea and continued.
“Truly, your instincts are sharper than I expected.”
“Once I put on the ring, how could I not know?”
Damian held up the artifact as he spoke. Carrag merely smiled knowingly.
“That artifact, the ‘Ring of Casille,’ is not an easy item to handle. Even I struggled to adapt when I first wore it.”
He said Damian was the first to master it immediately upon wearing it.
‘Is it because of all the contact with ancient civilizations?’
Starting with his training under Aumfasha, he could wield primal mana, and he'd even entered a world of memories through an artifact before.
These experiences were accelerating his growth in unexpected ways.
“Yes, I already knew Leonard was a fake. I also knew that former chairman Ilya was behind it.”
“Then why didn't you stop it beforehand?”
“I was curious to see what they were plotting. Not to speak ill, but I thought I could handle it within my capabilities.”
The one thing Carrag hadn't anticipated was Damian noticing it in advance and taking preemptive action.
‘Something feels off.’
With his knowledge from his past life, Damian couldn't easily accept those words.
If Damian hadn't stepped in, wouldn't the incident have happened anyway? Or was that part of Carrag's plan too?
‘Did problems arise later?’
Damian only knew about the incident in Enricasil and the resulting drop in Carrag's influence.
He didn't know the details of what happened in between. Perhaps Carrag had fought as best he could but still ended up with an unfavorable outcome.
“Why did you deliberately trap everyone?”
“I wanted to gauge their reactions. Leonard sent a fake in his place, but someone colluding with Ilya might have attended the gathering in person.”
“Any results?”
Carrag shook his head at Damian's question.
“It's regrettable—or perhaps fortunate—but none of the members at this gathering seem connected to the incident.”
In short, he hadn't found any more links. They'd have to track down the vanished Leonard or confront Ilya directly.
“Truthfully, I wanted to handle it quietly internally, but I've changed my mind. I think I'll take a more proactive approach.”
“What changed your mind?”
“You. With Chairman Damian on board, we can uproot this problem entirely.”
Carrag's eyes sparkled. The battle with the thought-form must have left a deep impression on him.
Building a friendly relationship with Carrag wouldn't hurt.
He showed little interest in who would become the next emperor. He was also in a position to mediate between the two sides to some extent.
“Do I have any obligation to help? I'm handing over the chairmanship to you today, Duke Carrag.”
“Hear me out first. This isn't unrelated to you, Chairman Damian.”
Carrag took a sip of tea and caught his breath. The pause suggested he was about to dive into a complicated story.
“The truth is, Ilya died long ago. Even when he served as Enricasil's chairman, it was a fake.”
“What...?”
“The fake's real name is Elgana.”
Unlike his gentle demeanor moments ago, Carrag's expression hardened coldly.
“The empire's worst criminal, still alive today under various disguises. Ilya is the most prominent, and he's also been hiding as the 2nd Prince's butler.”
Damian hadn't expected Carrag to know even Elgana's secret. And for that man to have once posed as Enricasil's chairman under a false identity...
“Judging by your expression, you also suspect the 2nd Prince's butler. Your instincts truly are remarkable.”
“Does Brother Dallas know about this?”
Of course he did. But what Damian really wanted to know was how much Carrag knew about the situation.
“Yes. The 2nd Prince is currently sheltering a criminal in the imperial palace.”
Carrag showed clear anger at this point.
For a prince to condone the empire's worst criminal—it was unbecoming of a ruler.
“When did you learn of this, Duke Carrag?”
“The thought-form that His Majesty the Emperor confronted in the past was Elgana.”
No matter how much magic he used to change his appearance, he couldn't fool Enricasil. But Carrag hadn't immediately identified the thought-form's true nature.
The incident Elgana caused happened when Carrag was young.
Afterward, mentions of it became taboo in the empire, and all records were erased.
Naturally, no one knew the specifics of the magic Elgana used.
“His Majesty, then the crown prince, said something felt off. Our investigation revealed his identity as the empire's worst criminal.”
Afterward, Lucas ordered Carrag to pursue Elgana.
He instructed him to do so as secretly as possible, in case of contingencies.
Years of investigation later, they uncovered that Ilya was Elgana.
And that he had disguised himself as a butler to serve under the 2nd Prince.
“Are you sure about this? Dallas is your son-in-law.”
“Even family can't make wrong right. If it leads to calling off the engagement, my daughter would understand. She's a good girl.”
Damian sensed something peculiar in Carrag's expression as he said it.
There were rumors that his daughter, betrothed to Dallas, was a familiar.
Perhaps the engagement itself was a way to investigate Dallas.
“Is your pursuit of Elgana solely because he's a criminal?”
“That's the first reason. The second is that His Majesty the Emperor—then crown prince—commanded me to do so.”
“Even if you complete the mission, there's likely no reward.”
“That doesn't matter. It's an order from His Majesty back then, and it was utterly just.”
Their conversation made it clear why Carrag hadn't gotten involved in the civil war.
Warring with kin over the throne would have been unjust in his eyes.
So how would he view Damian's plans?
He had no intention of starting a civil war, but he would definitely deal with Michael and Rubia.
Would he see the sibling rivalry itself as wrong? Or view an illegitimate child aiming for the throne as insolent?
‘I don't need him as my man.’
Still, Carrag would be a huge help against Elgana.
“Is my involvement due to Master Ezekiel?”
“Yes. It's also connected to Tower Master Ariella. This isn't certain, but it seems Elgana plans to use Enricasil to sow chaos in the empire again.”
Enricasil hid some power that neither Damian nor Carrag knew about yet.
Carrag speculated that Elgana had become chairman to access that power.
‘There's no reason to refuse his help.’
The answer was decided. Damian extended his hand, and Carrag smiled warmly.
“Let's realize the empire's justice together, Duke Carrag.”
“It's an honor to join you.”
* * *
He arranged to meet Carrag later to discuss Elgana.
But he decided to keep it separate from the operation with Paruzan and Shakiya.
Staying out of the enemy's sight would be more advantageous this way.
“Leave it to me, Damian.”
“Shakiya. Damian. Follow.”
After assigning their tasks, Damian headed to the underground training ground.
To contract with the leprechaun king, Agareth, via the Book of Hell—Ayin.
“□□□. □□. □□□□. □□. □□□□□□. □□. □….”
As Damian chanted from the Book of Hell, black clumps dripped onto the floor.
Fluid like liquid, yet heavy enough to crack the specially honed stone.
[Haaah. It seems I must meet you after all.]
The black mass morphed into a chair, and atop it appeared a black-skinned dwarf.
Pointed ears, bulging eyes, and a nose swollen like a bee sting.
The quintessential leprechaun appearance. The differences were his relatively larger stature and the golden crown on his head.
Agareth.
The object of all leprechauns' reverence.
Hell's noble prince commanding thirty-one legions.
[The Leprechaun King, Agareth, gazes upon the black mage.]
A deep, dignified voice. It carried fear and intimidation on its own, but unlike other demons, it wasn't eerie.
This reflected the leprechauns' affinity for other demon kinds and their benevolence toward humans.
Leprechauns took great interest in human world's amusements. Thus, their trials were games humans often played.
The choice belonged to the contractor. Damian had always bested leprechauns with anytic and never lost once.
[Since I've answered your call, I must give you a trial. But first, one question.]
Hooo. Agareth let out a deep sigh. Unbefitting the leprechaun king, his face was filled with worry.
[Could you not pursue this contract? You've already made pacts with many lords. Whatever you seek, wouldn't it suffice to stop here?]
This wasn't like Kamarris, stubbornly refusing then giving up later.
Agareth was pleading with Damian. A hell lord begging a mere human for understanding before any contract.
“Can you tell me why you wish that?”
[Hell is in great turmoil now.]
Damian could guess the reason. It had to be Ishtar, behind the seeker.
[Other lords have halted their activities as much as possible, and Molech has chosen eternal slumber. The successor of Molech you carry is proof.]
“Kya?”
Sensing she was mentioned, the bone fragment poked out from Damian's bosom. Agareth looked at it and smiled gently.
[How mysterious. A demon, yet unrelated to hell.]
“What exactly is the turmoil?”
[…Everything is in chaos. I haven't seen it myself, but other lords sensed through you a demon that shouldn't exist.]
“Do you know anything about that demon? No—specifically, do you know Ishtar, the Queen of Hell?”
[…….]
Agareth fell silent. But it wasn't because she was a superior being, as in his past life.
He didn't know. Ishtar had been erased from the hell lords' memories.
‘So this is the price….’
The question he'd had since regressing. Ishtar had sent him back without demanding any price.
But turning back time was a miracle beyond ordinary costs.
Today, the price became clear. Ishtar had sacrificed her own existence. Only Damian remembered her.
But it wasn't a sacrifice. It was surely to fully possess him still, or for some other purpose.
To that end, she schemed from behind the seeker.
[Ishtar… A demon's name absent from my memories… Yes, now it all makes sense. Why we take interest in you. It's not just because you speak the demon tongue.]
Though Agareth spoke, it felt like all the lords connected to Damian were conveying the same message.
[You carry that demon's lingering scent. That's what draws us.]
Agareth bowed his head wearily. Unaware of the reason for his expression, the bone fragment flickered its flame.
[Doubts arise from the chaos. What is hell? What are demons? Why do we contract with humans? The lords remain silent. Molech entrusted everything to his successor.]
The bone fragment wasn't a typical infernal.
Molech had given it to him right after clashing with the mountain elder. Doubts had begun then.
[We are afraid. But if you desire the contract, we shall accept. We thought it mere amusement until now… But looking back, it was a kind of shackle.]
Agareth murmured in resignation. Feeling pathos from a demon was a first.
But Damian had decided long ago.
Even after achieving revenge, the battles wouldn't end. Issues with Ishtar and hell would bind him.
It didn't matter. If that was the price of revenge, so be it.
Damian would endure it.