Chapter 118
Chapter 118
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Confrontation in the Secret Space
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A few days before Erewin went berserk. Damian and Kalrag met in Enricasil.
“Is that the secret space in Enricasil?”
“Yes. It looks like Elganah has already tampered with it.”
Damian had thought that when he became chairman, he had become aware of every area in Enricasil.
That was why he had been able to secure the undead left behind by some necromancer.
But from what Kalrag was saying, there was apparently an area that even Damian hadn’t detected.
“It’s not all that strange. No matter how sharp Damian’s senses are, Elganah isn’t your average mage.”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had reached the ranks of legends.
Though he had been defeated, in his prime, he had stood shoulder to shoulder with Ariella and Ezekiel.
“It seems Elganah made some modifications to Enricasil back when he was chairman. That’s why even I, the current chairman, can’t do anything about that space.”
It was part of Enricasil, yet separated like a separate star.
There was no way to access it through normal means.
“In any case, we can’t avoid a physical clash. So at the very least, we need to decide where the battlefield will be.”
“We fight in Enricasil, in their home base.”
“…Are you sure that’s wise? If we’re preparing for contingencies, it’d be better to draw the battle outside.”
Right now, there was no clear evidence of Elganah’s movements. So they couldn’t borrow the Empire’s official power.
But if the battle spilled outside, that would change things. If they could just buy some time, they might get reinforcements.
“I don’t know much about this man, but judging from his actions so far, he’s extremely cautious. If we try to lure him out for no reason, we might lose his trail.”
He was a man Damian had once fought with his life on the line as an enemy. The current Elganah was no weaker than back then—stronger, if anything.
Elganah was a mage who wielded his greatest power when fighting in his own territory. That was why the guerrilla forces had found it so easy to track him during the civil war.
It would be the same now. Rather than being forcibly dragged out of his domain, he’d choose another option.
‘Fighting in Enricasil is also more advantageous for me.’
There would be no prying eyes. He could handle it with his Death Knights, his sword union, and the forces at his disposal.
Plus, it would make it easier to turn them into undead after the battle.
“Let’s move things along faster. Dallas is away from the palace anyway.”
Dallas had left the capital, leaving his mansion in Elganah’s care.
According to Paruzan’s tailing, everyone in his group was connected to the giant glass snail.
Dallas’s true intentions were still unknown, but by having Damian and Paruzan deal with the monster, they had separated Elganah from Dallas.
“If we can somehow send in a spy to pinpoint the location, we can move within Enricasil physically.”
“…A spy. There’s one perfect candidate.”
“Could you tell me who?”
“That might be difficult. I ask that you trust me on this. Chairman Kalrag, just prepare the tracker. The kind the wearer won’t notice.”
Damian said with a grin.
Kalrag felt a bit puzzled, but since he had decided to go along with Damian, he followed his lead.
‘Who would’ve thought the spy was Princess Erewin….’
This was way beyond Kalrag’s expectations.
He didn’t know the exact details of how it had played out.
After getting contact from Damian, they had pinpointed Elganah’s location via the tracker.
Clearing the path had been Damian’s job too.
Elganah’s familiars had originally tried to smash through the wall, but bizarre rocks sprouting from Damian’s feet shook Enricasil with massive vibrations.
‘This guy…’
Kalrag couldn’t help but feel quite flustered. The initiative had shifted to Damian.
Was this talent too?
Honestly, even if Damian had been targeting Elganah from before they had met, Kalrag would believe it.
“This is our first time meeting like this. Should I call you Count Elganah now?”
A situation where violence could erupt at any moment. Kalrag wanted to start with talk.
A fight was inevitable. This issue was one that would inevitably involve violence.
But they had to try. There might be the slightest chance.
Plus, they needed to ascertain Elganah’s goals.
They knew he was after Enricasil, but the specifics were still unknown.
Damian knew this too, so he followed Kalrag’s lead.
He was also curious about the “greater cause” Elganah kept talking about.
“You don’t need to use honorifics with me anymore.”
“You’re not Count Illiya, but you’re still a senior mage far above me. Even as the Empire’s worst criminal, I should show respect to my elders.”
“Heh heh heh. I’ve been watching you for quite a while. You’re a steadfast one.”
Snap. As Elganah flicked his fingers, a table and chairs appeared before the altar.
“Don’t expect any courtesy from me. You’re not worth it.”
“The face you showed in front of Dallas was just a mask, then. Good, that’s how it should be. A young man overflowing with talent should be arrogant.”
Everyone except Erewin, who had been stripped of her color, took their seats.
“How long are you going to leave my sister like that?”
“……!”
At the mention of her name from Damian’s lips, Erewin’s eyes grew moist.
‘Damian! Damian! Damian!’
Quickly, quickly. She wanted to escape this cursed situation and throw herself into his arms.
‘She still has value to exploit for now.’
Even when he had driven her berserk with high-concentration perfume, he had asked Paruzan to keep watch.
He had told her to halt the plan if her life seemed in danger.
Fortunately, that hadn’t happened, and Erewin had gone to Elganah just as Damian predicted.
But it was clear Elganah intended to do something to her.
If Erewin died here, cleanup would be a mess.
“Tsk tsk. How touching, worrying about your half-sister. Why didn’t you care sooner?”
Elganah said, twisting his lips.
He seemed to have figured out that Erewin’s rampage had been Damian’s doing.
“Damian is right. If you’re willing to talk, you need to guarantee Princess Erewin’s safety.”
“Sadly, I still have business with this young lady. But don’t worry. I’ve got no intention of harming her right now.”
“Then, let me ask first.”
Ahem. Kalrag cleared his throat and took a moment to catch his breath.
“Will you turn yourself in?”
“Pfft hahaha.”
At those words, Elganah threw his head back and laughed.
Damian watched impassively, while Erewin cursed Kalrag with her eyes.
“The massacres you committed in the past, the murder of Count Illiya, and all your other crimes. Death penalty, of course. I think it’s a fairly fair judgment.”
“Is that why you’ve been chasing me on the Emperor’s orders all this time? You’re still as amusing as ever.”
Kalrag wasn’t serious, and Elganah didn’t take it seriously either.
‘I didn’t expect him to ask so directly.’
Still, it was a relief. If Kalrag’s silver tongue had somehow gotten Elganah to repent, it would’ve put Damian in a tough spot.
Thud thud.
──! ──!
Sounds came from beyond the door. Elganah’s subordinates outside must have gathered at the commotion.
“Tch.”
As Elganah clicked his tongue, the sounds stopped. But he hadn’t just calmly quieted his men.
Along with the flow of mana, the scent of blood wafted from beyond the door.
Few of the noisy subordinates were likely still alive.
‘He’s even more ruthless than before.’
When Damian had faced him in the previous timeline, he hadn’t been this brutal.
Since his plan had failed even back then, it must have caused some mental shift.
“So what is Count Elganah trying to do in Enricasil?”
“Save the world.”
Damian and Kalrag both could only stare in stunned silence at those words.
The Empire’s worst criminal talking about salvation? It would’ve been more believable coming from an undead discussing life.
“I don’t expect you to understand. But I’ll explain in more detail. Do you two know the true identity of Enricasil’s first chairman, the founder of the Kasil Council? He was a black mage.”
Both Damian and Kalrag kept their composure. But for different reasons.
Damian already knew, while Kalrag didn’t believe it.
As Enricasil’s chairman, he absolutely couldn’t accept it.
“Have you two never wondered? Why the Empire bans black magic.”
“It’s the power of devils. It corrupts humans and destroys the world.”
“Corrupts? Destroys? Isn’t that true of auras and magic too?”
“What sophistry is this? Those are human powers. Black magic is different—it borrows power from devils and hell.”
“Heh heh heh. Human power, you say…”
Elganah sneered and turned his head toward Damian.
“…….”
Damian showed no particular reaction. He was a black mage himself, and Elganah’s words made a certain degree of sense.
The events from the world in his memories, Shakiya’s talk of pure flesh, and Ishtar behind the seeker.
Lately, he had been realizing that things he once took for common sense might not be true.
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at. What does that have to do with your greater cause?”
“For example, the world is twisted. I’m trying to set it right.”
“Is this also connected to my brother Dallas?”
This was the first question Damian had posed since taking his seat.
Kalrag held back his own questions, curious about the answer too.
It was certain Dallas was hiding Elganah’s existence. But whether willingly or under duress was unclear.
“Dallas and I had aligned interests here and there. We helped each other to a reasonable extent. Why you fought him…”
Elganah suddenly stopped. It seemed he was about to mention Shakiya, but he stroked his chin as if realizing something.
“I see. That barbarian’s been leeching off you. Heh heh heh. Kill me, and you can break the binding.”
“What do you mean, Damian?”
“I cast forbidden magic on a northern barbarian. On Dallas’s orders.”
Kalrag’s expression hardened at those words. Even if Dallas hadn’t been deeply involved in Elganah’s affairs, this was a major issue.
“Does Her Majesty the Empress know about you?”
“She probably doesn’t know precisely who I am. Her son keeps problematic people around, but as long as they’re useful, she doesn’t dig deeper.”
Kalrag hoped this issue wouldn’t reach Empress Abigail. The imperial family, the Empire’s core, was already too corrupt.
“You handled the monster in Mirror Lake too, didn’t you? Honestly, why try to raise something that dangerous in the palace?”
Elganah shook his head with a hollow laugh. The giant glass snail apparently had little connection to his plans.
“Dallas, that guy—he’s capable enough, but his greed is excessive. He believes he can have anything he wants. People, or even the throne.”
Elganah showed no particular loyalty to Dallas. That was odd too.
The Elganah from the previous timeline had, at least, been loyal to the orthodox faction. He had discussed his greater cause within their ranks.
Who had foiled his plan back then?
‘Not something to worry about now.’
This time, it would be Damian’s turn.
“You seem more suited to the throne, actually. That look in your eyes, that spirit. And your face reminds me of Lucas in his youth…”
Sching. Damian drew his sword and cleaved the table in half. All his prior thoughts vanished.
“…….”
“…….”
Kalrag, Elganah, and even Erewin stared in bewilderment.
“You bastard.”
He wasn’t going to spill the beans on his greater cause anyway. No problem.
He hadn’t been able to in the previous timeline, but this time, he’d use Absorption to read his memories.
“Spouting nonsense.”
Above all, he had heard something he couldn’t unhear. This had clearly crossed the line.