Chapter 107
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107
Fifteen days had passed since he first donned Onil’s skin.
While Turan played the part of a profligate young noble, he spent his spare time prowling the family estate and spying on its inhabitants. His primary concern, naturally, was the movement of Talis Zahar.
Talis had taken up residence in a guest room near the Carmine Family Head’s quarters. However, after their initial meeting, he seemed to lose interest in Turan, making no further attempts to contact him.
Wary that the man might barge in again in the middle of the night, Turan stayed awake almost every night in preparation for an intrusion, only catching snatches of sleep after dawn broke. Yet, as if mocking his vigilance, Talis chose one of those brief windows of slumber to slip away from Abacha.
Turan briefly considered giving chase but quickly abandoned the idea.
‘Even if I caught him, I doubt it would do any good.’
Turan’s first impression of Talis was that of a persistent, paranoid, snake-like man. He didn’t seem like someone who could be tricked or intimidated into giving up meaningful information, unlike Ymir. If anything, Talis’s presence only served to confirm one thing: there was indeed a mysterious entity targeting them.
Regardless, with Talis gone, Turan was left with two choices.
First, he could continue posing as Onil, infiltrate the Carmine family further, and involve himself in the war against Arabion that was set to break out in a few months or years.
Second, he could seize a suitable opportunity to cast off his current disguise and regain his freedom.
When the opportunity finally presented itself, Turan chose the latter without hesitation. Maintaining Onil’s identity had become an exhausting burden.
“My Lord, please! If I have done something wrong, tell me. I will fix anything...”
“I’m not in the mood. Leave. I’ll call for you next time.”
“My Lord—!”
Turan practically shoved the concubine out of the room as she tried to cling to him, naked and pleading. Through the door, which he had locked with telekinesis, he could hear her sorrowful weeping.
It had been several days since he had taken over Onil’s life. Unlike the original, Turan used every excuse imaginable to avoid sleeping with the concubines. At first, the women—who had suffered under the original Onil’s voracious appetite—were relieved. But as time passed, their relief turned to anxiety. They began to seek him out, assuming Onil had grown bored of them and was planning to replace them.
Turan had no choice but to reject them. What if he slept with these women—who didn't love him and didn't even know his real face—and one of them ended up pregnant? He wasn't in a position to take responsibility for a child carrying the Zahar or Arabion bloodline.
The weight of that reality felt even heavier now, especially since he had recently seen his own flesh and blood—the face of his grandfather, who looked so much like him.
Of course, it was rare for mages, especially nobles, to conceive. If their fertility were the same as that of ordinary humans, the number of nobles—who lived for centuries and actively tried to increase their ranks—would have surpassed the commoner population long ago. A one-night stand or two wouldn't usually be an issue unless one was exceptionally unlucky, but...
Whenever he considered the option, Meisa’s face would flicker across his mind, making it impossible for him to go through with it.
*
“Everyone, fall in!”
Time passed, and the day of the expedition arrived. On the coast near Abacha, fifty-five knights and four nobles stood in orderly ranks, awaiting Turan’s command. They were the force mobilized to subjugate a magical beast that had reportedly appeared north of the city.
“Assembly complete, Captain.”
“Mm.”
Turan acknowledged the polite report from his young noble adjutant with a mere tilt of his head. He saw several faces twist at his arrogant attitude, but he didn't care. He wouldn't be seeing them again after a few days anyway, and he didn't want to leave behind a reputation that Onil had suddenly become a different person right before his death.
“Where is the beast we’re using for transport?”
“It should have arrived by now, but it seems to be running a bit late. If you’ll allow me to check...”
As the woman stammered in embarrassment, a massive orca suddenly breached the surface a short distance away with a thunderous splash. It was a magical beast with mana equivalent to a mid-ranking noble, and a mage of similar strength was riding atop it.
“Is this the subjugation squad? My apologies for the delay!”
“You’re late.”
“This fellow overslept. Just because I’m a Tamer doesn't mean I can just give orders to a magical beast, you know. We’re more like friends.”
The man muttering excuses to the adjutant was a noble of the Tamer bloodline belonging to the Carmine family. He was a close relative of a young noble named Gil, who had once been with Visen—though this man was far more mature in his mana and possessed a much more powerful beast.
A short while later, the subjugation squad connected a pre-prepared vessel to the orca’s body. It was a simple wooden structure carved into the shape of a ship, lacking masts, anchors, or any other nautical necessities.
“We’re heading out!”
At the Tamer’s shout, the orca began to swim, towing the large vessel behind it. True to its nature as a magical beast, it showed no sign of strain despite pulling a ship carrying sixty people. Then again, back when Bije had a similar level of mana, hadn't she been able to fly while carrying several people?
Among magical beasts with the same amount of mana, the smaller ones were faster, while the larger ones were stronger. It wasn't surprising that this orca, thousands of times heavier, possessed such monstrous strength.
Turan watched the orca pull the ship for a moment before turning his attention to the voices behind him. The noblewoman assigned as his adjutant was busy lecturing her colleagues and subordinate knights.
“The beast that appeared this time is reported to be an octopus type. Usually, octopus magical beasts spit ink containing toxic components. It won't have much effect on nobles, but it can be damaging to knights, so avoid it if possible...”
Turan stood behind the adjutant and listened intently.
‘An octopus... The Mermaid King’s eldest son could also transform into an octopus. Though he died during the hunt for the Great Sea Serpent.’
Perhaps because they assumed the original Onil wouldn't care about information on his prey, no one had given him a detailed briefing. He had no information at all. It was difficult to ask for a detailed explanation now, as it would seem suspiciously out of character.
Sensing a gaze from behind, the adjutant suddenly turned around.
“Captain, is there a problem...?”
“Just keep explaining.”
“My apologies.”
At his blunt tone, the adjutant resumed her explanation with a stiff expression. Turan, pretending to take a swig of strong liquor while listening, realized she wasn't explaining the cause of the beast’s attacks.
‘Does she not know, or is she keeping it a secret?’
Magical beasts were essentially just ordinary animals imbued with mana. Therefore, they didn't blindly antagonize humans without a specific reason.
Of course, there were exceptions. The most prominent were predators classified as 'felines.' The leopard magical beast Turan had first hunted was a prime example; such creatures had an instinct to hunt weaker beings for sport. Once they became magical beasts, they would often slaughter humans by the hundreds just for fun.
Next were animals with high intelligence, like monkeys, whales, or crows. The higher the intelligence, the more likely they were to enjoy cruelty as a form of play. The monkey magical beast that had appeared north of Orem City was likely such a case.
Finally, there were cases where harmless herbivores, like rabbits or squirrels, became magical beasts while retaining memories of being harmed by humans and sought revenge.
‘This case might be something else entirely, though...’
There was a high possibility that this was an extension of the recent reports of marine magical beasts attacking coastal areas, so he needed to consider causes related to that as well.
While he was retracing the knowledge he had read in the magical beast encyclopedias, the ship, which had been surging northward, began to slow down.
“We’ve arrived!”
Traveling along the open coast was certainly simpler and faster than traveling by land. Though, of course, it didn't compare to flying on Bije’s back.
In just two hours, the subjugation squad arrived at Savis, a city 150 kilometers north of Abacha. They landed immediately and passed through the half-ruined harbor. Judging by the sounds of wailing as people gathered bodies and cleared debris, the attack seemed to have happened recently. The citizens’ eyes widened when they saw the subjugation squad, whose attire clearly marked them as high-ranking.
“Lords of the Sea!”
“Please, avenge us!”
As word spread that they were mages from the Carmine main house, blood-curdling cries erupted from all around. Perhaps the noise reached the lord’s manor, for the Lord of Savis soon rushed out, not even having time to put on his shoes properly, to greet Turan.
“Ah, Lord Onil! It has been decades. It feels like only yesterday you were a toddler, yet you have grown so magnificent. I, Ahiba, am simply grateful that you have come so proactively to our rescue.”
“Ah, well... It’s been a while, Mr. Ahiba.”
When the old noble, who looked to be at least two hundred and fifty years old, began to flatter him shamelessly, Turan used honorifics while appearing annoyed. It seemed to be the right move, as the lord didn't find anything unusual about his behavior.
“So, where is the beast?”
“It swept through here once just this morning. It usually attacks about twice a day, and the hardship is indescribable...”
It didn't seem like an empty statement; the old lord’s body was covered in wounds. Judging by the amount of his mana, he was likely a mid-to-high-ranking noble. Turan inwardly gave him a high score for being a 'shepherd' who had personally put his body on the line to protect the 'lambs' of his territory.
“You look injured, so go rest. We’ll handle the hunt ourselves.”
“Ah, I appreciate the sentiment, but as the lord...”
“Rest. That thing’s mana belongs to me.”
When Turan issued the command with blatant greed, the old noble stepped back with a look of regret. Regardless, considering that the beast had done this to a lord who was perfectly capable as the head of an ordinary family, it seemed the creature possessed mana at least at the level of a high-ranking noble. Since it hadn't managed to kill the lord, it likely wasn't at the very top tier.
It seemed Jemel had indeed prepared the perfect prey for his son.
Turan began to plot how he would fake his own death.
*
After a brief greeting, the subjugation squad didn't rest at the lord’s manor but instead immediately set up camp near the coast to prepare for the beast’s attack.
The adjutant watched Turan with a nervous expression, expecting him to protest, but she breathed a sigh of relief when he told her, “It’s a hassle, so you handle all the commanding from now on.”
Surprisingly, the orca and the Tamer who brought it declared they would not participate in the battle. The reason was that the creature lacked aggression and hadn't received proper combat training.
“No, even just assisting with movement next to the beast would be useful...”
“Absolutely not! This was agreed upon with Lord Jemel. This fellow isn't just my partner; he is a precious transport asset for the Carmine family.”
“Do whatever you want,” Turan cut in.
The adjutant was clearly dissatisfied with the refusal of a capable asset, but since the captain, Turan, had let it slide, she had no choice but to move on. Naturally, this decision drew ire from the other members of the squad.
“I heard he was a notorious scoundrel, but seeing him in person, I can see why.”
“Is he actually skilled?”
“With a personality like that, he would have been cast out long ago if he didn't have the skills to back it up. Let’s just trust him.”
Between his blunt attitude, problematic leadership, and the fact that he had kicked over a table because the food at the temporary camp was poor, Onil’s reputation had plummeted. Unlike the servants at the main house who were used to the original’s tyranny, most of the knights dispatched here only knew him by rumor, so his behavior was unfamiliar and fueled their resentment.
They spent a few hours watching the ruins being rebuilt. As dusk approached, Turan’s eyes narrowed at a signal transmitted through the Holy Relic’s senses.
‘It’s here.’
The mana he felt was between high and mid-tier—exactly the same level as the original Onil. A massive octopus, each leg about ten meters long, was crawling up onto the land. Seeing this, the squad members swallowed hard, gripped their weapons, and stood up.
“Everyone, maintain formation as trained! Perform your support duties thoroughly! We will handle the main combat!”
At the adjutant’s shout, the Carmine mages took up offensive stances. The knights were the first to act, drawing a massive amount of water from the nearby shore and bringing it under their control. Although they hadn't manifested the power of the Shoal Bloodline, their high proficiency allowed them to manipulate water more smoothly than other mages, and a vast amount of seawater gathered.
The nobles, including the adjutant, distributed this water appropriately to create their own ice weapons. Naturally, Turan also took control of the largest remaining portion of seawater to create a massive ice whip. After setting the Holy Relic to the Carmine bloodline and using exactly the amount of mana a high-ranking noble would possess, he was able to exert the kind of power the real Onil would have used.
“It’s coming!”
Sensing the mages’ momentum, the octopus struck first. A large tube poked out from near its eyes, and a massive amount of ink came gushing out.
“Aaaargh!”
“Gah, my eyes! My eyes!”
A few unlucky knights at the front were drenched and screamed in pain, but fortunately, most were able to dodge or use fluid manipulation magic to control the ink and block the attack. As for Turan, he was at the safest spot in the rear of the formation and didn't even need to move a foot.
“Kill it!”
“You damn octopus!”
Enraged by the beast’s preemptive strike, the Carmine mages immediately launched a counterattack. Long ice spears pierced one of its legs, and several arrows fired from ice bows—much like the ones Visen used to make—narrowly grazed its eyes. Several ice blades from the adjutant, the strongest among the nobles, dug into its large head, making it writhe in agony.
And the massive whip Turan had created, nearly thirty meters long, instantly severed one of its legs.
“Ooh!”
“As expected of the Captain!”
The shout from a knight who had been badmouthing him just moments ago was laughable, but Turan suppressed his amusement and faced the beast with a serious expression.
The key here was the distribution of offense and defense. Attacking too powerfully and killing it would be forgetting his original purpose, but appearing too powerless would invite suspicion. At the same time, he didn't want to see the squad he was commanding die, so as time passed, he shifted more toward defense.
“Get back!”
“Th-thank you, Captain!”
The ice whip quickly snatched up a knight who was about to be swept away by an octopus leg and tossed him to safety. Letting the thanks go in one ear and out the other, Turan watched the Carmine nobles fiercely attack the octopus. None of them could have faced the octopus one-on-one, but since Turan was intercepting most of its attacks, the beast was forced to take a one-sided beating.
A short while later, the octopus, bleeding blue blood from its entire body, spun around and began to move toward the sea.
“Wait, it’s running away!”
“Catch it!”
Realizing it couldn't win, the octopus charged toward the sea, trampling and crushing the frost spike traps appearing before it. The Carmine nobles tried desperately to stop it, but with their mid-to-low-tier mana, they were unable to halt a beast with high-ranking noble mana.
The problem was that the strongest among them, the high-ranking noble Onil, was just letting it go.
“Captain! We can’t just let it go!”
“Don’t give me orders! I’m the captain!”
The adjutant, who had shouted in desperation, gasped in shock at the absurdly childish response. Unlike the low-ranking knights, she knew exactly how base a human Onil was. She knew he was more than capable of letting a beast go simply because his pride was wounded.
“I’m sorry! It was my fault! Please, use your strength to stop that thing—!”
But before the adjutant could apologize and try to persuade him, Turan immediately ran toward the sea after the fleeing octopus.
“None of you interfere! I’ll finish it myself! I’ll kill anyone who follows me!”
“Wh-what...?”
The squad members were stunned, but none dared to follow him. It was an order from Onil, a close relative of the Family Head, a powerful noble, and the captain of the squad. Disobeying him would only lead to trouble, even if they were risking their lives.
Thanks to that, Turan was able to dive into the sea alone after the octopus, leaving the squad behind. As the seawater filled his mouth, he felt a refreshing sensation, as if he had taken a deep breath of air. This was the sub-ability that came with the Shoal Bloodline: underwater breathing.
Chasing the octopus without any breathing issues, he soon saw the creature spin around as it sensed his presence. Realizing that only one enemy was following it, did it think it had a chance? Its remaining five legs spread wide and surrounded him.
The real high-ranking Carmine noble, Onil, might have panicked or been afraid in this situation, but...
‘Goodbye.’
The moment Turan reached out and projected his mana at full strength, over a dozen ice whips—identical to the ones Onil used—erupted, tearing through the octopus’s body and crushing its brain, ending its life. Its legs twitched a bit more due to their independent nerves, but it was merely a meaningless death throe.
The struggle of the squad members earlier paled in comparison to how easily he had dispatched it.
Having killed the beast so effortlessly, Turan immediately pulled Onil’s body out of his high-capacity pouch. Having kept it frozen since the day he killed him, the corpse was still in relatively good condition. Though it was slightly worse than when it was fresh—
‘That much won't be noticeable once it’s bloated with water.’
*
“Where is the Captain?”
“Not yet...”
“Damn it, should we have followed him?”
“That scoundrel! Just so he could hog all the credit...”
“He’s a madman.”
Several hours after the battle, the Carmine squad members were pacing the shore in a state of exhaustion and anxiety. Their leader, Onil, had jumped into the sea alone to catch the octopus. The nobles had eventually dived in to look for him, but it was impossible to find a trace of someone who had vanished into the night sea. In the end, they could only light a bonfire and search the surrounding area, hoping Onil would emerge.
Just then, a knight ran toward them from a distance, his face pale with shock.
“I-I found them! Both the octopus and the Captain!”
“Where!”
The Carmine nobles rushed to the location the knight pointed out and froze at the sight before them. The carcass of the octopus magical beast was mangled by something sharp, proving that a tremendous struggle had taken place. And entangled in one of its legs, as if washed up by the waves, was the headless torso of Onil.