Cuckoo (2)
I took a gamble against the mage standing right in front of me. Just blurting out that I wanted to contact the Magic Tower Master—would she even listen? No way.
"The Tower Master said nothing?"
I'd already issued the order through my status window. The Fire Tower was to hold position and await commands. Naturally, that order would have reached the Tower Master's ears too. I figured she'd drop a hint to her subordinates somehow.
"Black Raven."
And with that final word, my bluff paid off. Bella's expression hardened, her stance shifting. She immediately raised her staff and began chanting a spell.
"……!"
The moment the incantation ended, the air itself vibrated faintly. All surrounding sounds faded away—the crowd's murmurs, the whisper of the wind, everything receded into the distance. An eerie silence enveloped just me and Bella, as if we'd been cut off from the world.
"Our conversation won't be heard by anyone else here."
Sound Isolation
More precisely, the space around me had been severed from the existing dimension. It was an advanced spell, far trickier than mere sound blocking.
Impressive.
It was one of Fire Tower Master Adeline von Arknon's exclusive skills. From what I'd seen of Bella's prowess, the Fire Tower was still in strong hands.
Well, who raised her?
Adeline, the Tower Master, was a dealer in Black Raven. She had the firepower to sit on the High Council without question. For someone like that managing a tower, this was the least she'd deliver.
As I pondered briefly, Bella continued.
"Seeing how you know my m-master... you really are from the Black Raven?"
Her demeanor had shifted to deference, her tone polite and formal. "Black Raven" was the code for our group, named after our signature raven emblem.
Master?
Bella had called the Tower Master her master. It was unexpected, and I muttered without thinking.
"Adeline taking a disciple? That's surprising."
Adeline was a character obsessed with magic, the type who wouldn't bother with apprentices. This was genuinely out of left field.
Bella seemed even more convinced by my words.
"Are you... from the High Council, by any chance?"
As Adeline's disciple, she caught on quick. My casual use of the Tower Master's name had her voice trembling.
High Council, huh...
Fair enough, given the situation. Knowing this much suggested Bella was likely part of Black Raven herself—not just aware of it, but privy to our internal divisions.
A member?
Her master, the Tower Master, was definitely one. No way she wasn't connected. But Bella wasn't a character from my memories. Probably recruited after I vanished.
Either way, she knew Black Raven well, so half-assed lies would backfire.
Can't mention the High Council...
The High Council was an elite few. Impersonating them would get exposed fast. Plus, I didn't even know her exact affiliation.
Good thing I prepared for this.
I hadn't just been slacking in the village. I'd simulated scenarios for whatever type of inspecting mage might show up. If she had no Black Raven ties, I'd push for Tower Master contact using her name. But if she seemed connected, like now, I'd drop knowledge only the Captain knew.
Shallow intel wouldn't cut it. Something members knew existed but only the Captain could access.
And I had just the piece: one organization only I know about.
A group solely for experiments, hidden so thoroughly that no one but the Captain knew its true nature.
I named it.
"Phantom."
Bella's face filled with shock.
Before arriving in the village, Bella had been bored out of her mind.
"This is so dull."
She had to trek to some backwater village, not even in the Hailstone Principality. It was bound to take forever. Worse, this commission was a secret between her and her master, Adeline—no other tower mages accompanied her. So Bella rode in a Hartwell family carriage, not a tower one.
No mingling with knights meant she passed the time in silence.
Still, it wasn't all boring.
Black Raven.
The night before, a letter from her master had arrived via magic. Urgent enough for that? The contents were brief.
Black Raven sighted. Exercise caution. Do not suspect them.
A Black Raven sighting meant they were active. She'd heard the lecture endlessly before departing.
If I'm lucky, maybe I'll meet one?
Far from worried, Bella smiled with anticipation. She'd heard plenty about Black Raven from Adeline, but she wasn't a member herself. The thrill was irresistible.
Especially that last line: Do not suspect them.
Talk like that meant a high-up was involved—maybe even the Phantom they warned about most.
Can't wait.
But Bella had no intention of heeding the warning. She was confident in her magic.
Adeline's sole disciple, a genius mage who'd hit 3-star young and now eyed 4-star. Some called her the next Tower Master.
How strong could they be?
She didn't think she could win—Adeline had freaked out warning her, so they had to be monsters. Still, her spells might sniff out if they were Black Raven. And clashing with powerhouses could spark enlightenment, maybe even level her up.
She was cocky right up until seeing the boy in the village.
Definitely.
"……."
Now her face was pure horror, hands trembling faintly.
Wh-why is Phantom here...?
The target was supposed to be the Hartwell bastard. A simple blood test to confirm legitimacy.
But the boy uttered "Phantom."
Bella flinched involuntarily at the word, branded with terror.
Yet the boy's face remained impassive. That indifference pierced her, terrifying.
I felt no aura at all...!
Phantom was the Captain's personal guard, per her master's warning. The issue? No mana, no aura from him. She could've blasted him with a spell and dropped him.
If not for "Phantom," she'd have suspected him first.
But she recalled Adeline's plea: Do not suspect.
Reframing her thoughts, the boy was clearly superior.
Hiding his power this cleanly...
A master of control, no doubt. Maybe that's what qualified him for the Captain's guard.
His looks fit too—handsome if polished, but now utterly ordinary. No one would peg him as Phantom.
"……."
Bella steadied her breath and pulled out a magic tool.
Even with soundproofing, lingering too long risked suspicion.
"This magic tool confirms Hartwell bloodline."
Mentioning it probed his intent. She wasn't naive enough to think he was really the bastard.
Black Raven was targeting House Hartwell somehow—she knew that much.
"……."
As expected, the boy just stared silently.
Then:
"Ethan."
"Pardon?"
"My name's Ethan."
He introduced himself as Ethan. The bastard she knew was Brooks.
This confirmed her hunch. Black Raven was infiltrating as the bastard—for some reason.
What happened to the real Brooks? No need to dwell or ask. Curiosity could kill now that the mood was thawing.
"Handle the name yourself. And there's one more coming with."
Ethan's tone was arrogant, but Bella couldn't call him on it. He was Phantom.
No refusing the Captain's guard.
At least the name was easy—Brooks was an alias; Ethan was real. Commoners had multiples; no big deal.
"Understood, Lord Ethan. Don't worry about the name. I'll adjust the tool too."
She spoke deferentially, infusing magic into the tool. Even without real bastard blood, it'd register as Hartwell lineage.
Ethan drew a small dagger, pricked his finger, and dripped blood onto it.
The tool glowed white: confirmed Hartwell blood.
All checks done.
"I'll dispel the spell now."
Bella released the barrier. Knights, seeing the glow, bowed.
Ethan was now officially Hartwell.
At the same time, the Hailstone Principality's investigation team reached the underground mine entrance. Holding torches that flickered dimly in the dark, they stepped inside cautiously.
But the scene awaiting them was beyond horrific.
Scattered corpses, floors and walls stained with blood. Bodies torn apart like by some beast.
The team meticulously examined traces inside.
"Monster wave?" one investigator muttered dubiously.
Other magic stone mines had been hit too. This was the last, but something stood out.
"For a wave, there are too many survivors," said a woman in black robes among them.
Indeed, this mine differed: children had survived. Quite a few. Including escapees, even more.
Not a monster wave—those wiped everything out.
The woman scanned around. Why survivors here? They'd prepared one countermeasure amid recent attacks. Useless since the culprit was dead, but maybe it helped?
As she probed traces:
"……."
She froze. Voices hushed. The bustling team halted too.
Like time stopped, all motionless.
Two unidentified figures emerged into the silent mine. One wore a red mask, the other black.
They surveyed, then conversed quietly.
"Celestia's hounds have been unleashed," the red mask said first.
The black mask replied firmly.
"Seal it. Captain's will. High Council's solo action."
Masks hid identities, but voices differed: red neutral, black deep bass.
They walked slowly. Red mask lifted a corpse, inspected, then licked the blood with mad laughter.
"Maybe the Captain ordered it."
Black mask nodded at the grinning red mask.
"Captain returns. Our Phantom must resume activity."
Black mask watched briefly as red mask approached an investigator—the black-robed woman—hand on her shoulder.
Blood dripped from red mask's hand, forming a shape that engulfed and devoured her.
"Who'd think a necromancer among investigators."
"Captain's wisdom. Principality must be purged."
But black mask spoke too soon. They moved only on Captain's orders—none yet.
Red mask smiled meaningfully.
"The Captain has other plans. We stay quiet, as now."
"Agreed. Captain grants us power. Absolute loyalty required."
They eyed remaining investigators. No more necromantic aura.
Red mask looked toward the entrance.
"Someone's coming."
Black mask, unmoving:
"Identified: Walter."
Red mask nodded.
"Then we're off. High Council handles their mess."
"Agreed."
With cold, sinister smiles, the two vanished into the shadows.
Time resumed in the mine.