Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Jewel in the Palm
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Edward von Glazer.
The next head of the Glazer Family and the strongest mage of the current era. A man who wielded power so immense that even the Emperor could not treat him lightly, capable of turning the entire continent upside down overnight.
'That's me.'
However.
'...Why.'
'Why couldn't I beat him this time either?'
Thud!
"Keurgh!"
Berddin's blade pierced through my abdomen.
I had clearly foreseen the enemy's movements with the ancient magic 'Clairvoyance' and blocked with mana-infused hands.
'Damn it.'
How could his sword pierce through my magic?
I had used an ice barrier impenetrable even by cannon fire and flame fists hot enough to melt iron on contact.
Cough!
Blood surged from my mouth. Some of the sprayed droplets splattered across Berddin's face.
"This is the end, Edward."
I gripped the blade embedded in my abdomen with my right hand frozen like a northern glacier and my left blazing like the sun.
'What the hell is this sword?'
It neither froze nor melted under my magic. I'd never seen anything like it before.
Berddin smirked at me and slowly withdrew the blade.
Ssshh—Splash!
"Gah!"
"The old me probably would have killed you. Leaving you alive would make you a major threat someday."
"Urgh..."
"But today's me will let you live. For the future, not the present."
"F-Future? What the hell are you talking about?"
He didn't answer.
He simply vanished across the canyon with some bizarre flying creature that appeared out of nowhere.
'A bird? No, too big for that. It has wings and four legs, so maybe a monster—'
Edward's aides shouted.
"That's the new head of the Strange Family!"
"Capture him! Use magic on my mark—kill him if you have to!"
"Everyone, charge! Avenge Lord Edward!"
A dozen mages unleashed their spells simultaneously. Water, fire, wind, earth—all sorts of elements hurtled toward Berddin.
Kieeeek!
The bizarre creature that came to fetch him opened its maw wide.
Shiiiiek—
All the magic was sucked in and vanished.
Groooar—Kieeeek!
Back at the castle, I skipped rest and jumped straight into the strategy meeting.
The Glazers had attacked without declaring war, a clear violation of continental war regulations.
The thousand mercenaries they'd brought would serve as witnesses, and with this incident, victory tilted our way.
'Even if the war ends, we're fully prepared to argue our case.'
"Now, cut off their supply lines in your assigned sectors and launch guerrilla strikes to break their will."
The meeting didn't drag on.
We'd rehearsed this dozens, hundreds of times, and everyone knew their roles.
But unexpected variables always cropped up.
Gangradra dumped ten bound figures at my feet and asked,
"Master, before you depart, may I request judgment on these scum?"
From the explanation: two were Strange Family elders, the other eight border traitors plotting with the Glazers.
"Why are they all wearing Glazer cloaks?"
"When I arrived in their territory, they were already mustered in that getup."
"When did you capture them?"
"Yesterday morning."
So the Glazers had planned a decisive strike starting yesterday.
I asked the Strange Family elder known as Charlison,
"Why betray me? I thought you were on my side."
"...I didn't betray you."
"Then what's with the cloak? Anyone can see you're backing the Glazers, not Strange."
"We were just pretending to ally with the Glazers to scout their moves and report to you, Family Head."
"Double agents, you mean?"
"Yes."
Gangradra shook his head.
"Master, these are the secret letters they exchanged with the Glazers. Receipts for spoils promised upon successful operation."
Charlison, trussed up tight, snapped back furiously,
"That was to deceive them too!"
"If you had such a plan, why not tell someone sooner? Acting alone makes it rebellion, nothing more."
"Th-That's—"
"Fail, and claim spy status to dodge the traitor's blade. Succeed, and call it revolution to claim the family. Pick one."
"......"
"With that mindset."
Gangradra pressed his blade tip to the old man's forehead, lightly scoring it as he continued,
"I hate your kind most. Filthy bats scurrying about, sniffing for scraps."
"...W-Wait a moment. What's your name?"
"What do you need my name for?"
"To get to know each other from here on—"
I looked down at Charlison and shook my head.
"Sir Charlison, what intel did you hand over to the enemy?"
Charlison sweated bullets, glancing between me and Gangradra.
"F-Family Head, it's a misunderstanding. I gave them nothing."
"Yet they trusted you enough to join forces?"
"......"
"Last question. What did the Glazers want from you?"
"...Maps."
"Maps?"
"...Yes. Strange territory troop deployments. Knights guarding Strange Castle."
"And you gave it all?"
Charlison bowed his head.
"I'm sorry."
I'd half-expected it.
My spy Gangret had stolen Glazer intel, so they'd planted rebels here too.
"No need to apologize to me. Sister will handle your judgment anyway."
"...?!"
Thud, thud, thud.
Sister Valentine approached and looked down at the kneeling traitor. Meeting her eyes, Charlison shuddered in terror, teeth chattering.
"Hiiiik! Sp-Spa-Spare me! No, kill me!"
Valentine tilted her head with cold eyes and said,
"Both requests granted. Stay quietly in the underground dungeon till this blows over."
Before the next op, a brief sweet respite.
Just time for a meal and tea chat, but precious to me.
I could unpack events with my party.
"So you were with Joanna Ark too, Miss Cynthia?"
Maria Theresia asked Cynthia.
"Yes, though I was too young for you to remember, Lady Theresia."
"I see. Yes, back then I was like a puppet, blindly following Papal orders without seeing around me."
"...Lady Theresia."
"Speak."
"Do you know where Joanna Ark is now?"
Maria Theresia shook her head.
"No."
"I see."
"Yes, but when I was in the dungeon, I heard about her."
"??"
"Not sure if true. A warden said she's in a deep place untouched by light."
"Really?"
"If he spoke true. He claimed to be from her hometown—"
Teresia propped her chin, lost in thought awhile, then nodded curtly.
"He only told me he was infiltrating to rescue her."
"Ah... Why tell you?"
"Asked me to lend my strength."
"To you?"
"Yes, but he vanished soon after, so no op."
Cynthia bowed her head deeply.
"I see."
I sipped my coffee deeply, gazing out the window as I listened.
'Time to tell them the truth.'
War's end meant nonstop climb to the tower top.
"Cynthia."
She looked up at me.
"What if you find Joanna Ark?"
"...Well, take her somewhere safe—"
"Where's safe? Papal reach spans the continent."
"Th-The borders? Or allies against the Papacy—"
"If she's already with Papal foes, living well? Then what?"
"...Me?"
"Yes, you."
Her pupils quivered.
I watched wind-swayed cornflowers outside and pressed,
"Don't overthink. Simple answer: after finding her, do you climb the tower? That's what I want."
This mattered hugely to me. Her power was key to the top.
Spilling Joanna's location now could spell trouble soon.
Cynthia fidgeted with her ringed finger.
"If you go to the tower, I'll follow."
"Why?"
"To meet the god at the summit."
"......"
"I have questions for the holy one too. Like how you seek strength, I want continent-wide peace."
I smiled faintly, unbidden—pure emotion.
"Yeah?"
"Mm. Knowing Joanna's safe would suffice."
"Got it."
"Well—if she's in danger, I could help."
Good enough.
I moved to their table, continuing,
"Then I'll share what I've hidden: my story."
"Hidden story?"
"Yeah, Joanna Ark's whereabouts you've sought."
"??"
"And Rox's secret operation till now."