Chapter 184
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 184
From the half-elves of Baraha to Harun, the head of the Zahar family, many believed Turan to be the reincarnation of Otas, the Night Hunter.
Of course, Turan had always maintained the stance of "I am simply myself," regardless of what others thought, but he couldn't ignore the rumors entirely. How could he, when everyone claimed his appearance, actions, and even his personality were identical to the legend?
But now, Talis spoke words that shattered that long-held assumption. He claimed that Turan was not the reincarnation of the Night Hunter.
Contrary to expectations, Harun did not snap back or dismiss the claim as nonsense. Instead, she remained silent, her lips pressed thin.
Perhaps interpreting that silence as a denial, Talis added in a low voice, "Badal and I confirmed it ourselves. There is nothing left beyond the Sea of Spirits. Not just Otas, but Pudding, Mike, Tool, and Meb—they’re all gone."
Turan frowned at Talis’s words. Confirmed it beyond the Sea of Spirits?
The Sea of Spirits was not a physical location. In the realm of soul magic, it was a conceptual void where the essence of the dead dissolved and the raw material for new spirits originated. It was called by many names—the Other Side, Hell, the Celestial Palace—but its essence remained the same.
‘They said the Monarch was a master of soul magic... but is he capable of granting his subordinates like Badal the power to experience such a place?’
If that were true, their understanding of souls and the world was likely far deeper than Turan had imagined. But more importantly, there was the content of the claim itself.
If there were no souls of the gods left beyond the Sea of Spirits, then the very foundation of Harun’s hypothesis—that the Night Hunter’s soul had inhabited Turan because of his abnormally large soul vessel—was gone.
"So, because you couldn't find it, it doesn't exist?"
"Exactly. You’ll see for yourself later. The space outside this world isn't a place where a soul can endure for thousands of years, no matter how strong it is—even souls stronger than ours."
As he spoke, Turan felt Talis stealing a glance at him. He could tell the man was gauging his reaction, trying to guess how much he knew. That was likely why he had brought up a topic he had never mentioned to Harun before.
Just then, Badal, standing behind them, gripped Talis’s shoulder firmly.
"That’s enough. You’re talking too much."
Badal muttered that the less a dead man knew, the better, and glared at Turan. More accurately, he glared at both Turan and Harun. His eyes were filled with nothing but negative emotions: jealousy, inferiority, and hatred.
It was clear that even if everyone else let them go, Badal would never lose sight of them. He would hunt them down by any means necessary.
"Give us a little time. Haven't we already proven our willingness to cooperate by capturing Caesar? We’ve already made a huge concession by only torturing her to 'persuade' her," Talis grumbled, sounding genuinely aggrieved.
Before Badal could respond, Harun spat out blood-tinged saliva and spoke.
"Stop the pathetic acting, Jujak. Despite your name, you’ve never been much of a performer."
"What are you talking about?"
"Drop the obvious 'good cop, bad cop' routine. You’re trying to play it like, 'We didn't know the torture would go this far, so it's not our fault. Now, please be the shield that stands against that fraud for us like you used to.' Isn't that the scheme?"
Talis fell silent as Harun fired off the accusations. His previously expressive face went cold in an instant, a transformation that was almost chilling.
"Caught, am I?"
"It’s not like we’ve only known each other for a few decades. I’ve told you before: you’re shallower than you think."
"I usually don't get caught by anyone other than you, though..."
Talis gave a bitter smile and shrugged at Badal. Judging by his attitude, they had likely coordinated this to some extent. Badal would break their spirits with torture, and then Talis would step in with an "I didn't know it would be like this" routine to win them over.
This meant that even Harun, who had lost her power and was now in an ordinary body, was still useful to their plans. The cruelty and hatred Badal showed were likely real, but it was only possible because someone was controlling him perfectly, treating even his emotions as a tool.
Having finished his mental calculations, Turan asked Talis, "Can I hear more about this plan of yours?"
"Hmm? Sorry, but I can't. I wouldn't mind, personally, but my friend here isn't too fond of the idea..."
"I’ve already heard the gist of it. You’re going back to your homeland, right? While keeping your current bodies."
Both Talis and Badal looked surprised at Turan’s words.
"What? You heard that much? Hey, what happened? I thought you just went in and snatched her."
"I did give her a bath. I suppose they had a little chat while I was at it."
"Oh, so your relationship is much more... heated than I thought?"
Turan could feel their killing intent solidifying even as they engaged in idle chatter. At that moment, he delivered his prepared line.
"That being the case, if your story is true, I don't see why we have to fight."
"Hmm?"
"What?"
"If all of you cross over to that world, doesn't this world essentially become mine?"
If the Nagin and Arabion factions led by the Monarch, along with the Zahar gods, all crossed over to the world of the gods, the only ones left would be the 'Lawyer' and his Carmine faction. There might be a few Great Sea Serpent merfolk, but they weren't a significant long-term threat.
If Turan took control of the Zahar family, which would be leaderless, using the authority of his bloodline and installing a suitable proxy, he would indeed be the ruler of the world.
Badal let out a mocking sneer. "But for that to happen, a major prerequisite must be met. You have to return my daughter’s body."
As he said, their plan required Meisa’s body. Naturally, they didn't think Turan would give up his strongest ally and lover. This was the very reason their relationship was at a deadlock.
However, Turan brought up something Badal hadn't expected.
"What if there’s a substitute?"
"A substitute?"
"Yes. It doesn't necessarily have to be Meisa, does it? I don't know exactly what you need it for, but if it's just a powerful vessel, more can be made."
Talis let out a short, surprised laugh. "That’s not what I expected. I thought you’d be outraged at the mere suggestion of such a thing."
"Why would you think that?"
"Why else would you be so hell-bent on killing us? I assumed it was because, like Otas, you believed that manipulating and consuming human souls was unforgivable."
In other words, they were certain Turan wouldn't forgive their actions or commit similar ones because he shared Otas’s values. It was a contradictory stance, considering Talis had just shouted that Turan wasn't Otas’s reincarnation.
"Fighting you to the death would require a great sacrifice on my part as well. If there’s a way to resolve this without that... I can endure a small sacrifice."
"I don't know if that lie is true, but if it is, it’s worth listening to. What do you think?"
Talis glanced back. Badal looked back and forth between Turan and Harun with a dissatisfied expression before snorting. Turan had expected him to scream that it was impossible, just as he had before.
It seemed that while Badal held the initiative, Talis—the one the gods called Jujak—had his own degree of influence. Perhaps the Monarch had told them not to push too hard, as they needed their help. Or perhaps he had a way to communicate with Badal privately and was watching and listening indirectly.
"First, I want to know how you plan to create a body like Meisa’s. You know that’s no easy task, right?"
"Can't we just use the fetus of any noble?"
"It’s not impossible, but the efficiency is abysmal. To raise an ordinary noble child to that level, you’d have to sacrifice—and I’m not joking—about a quarter of the world’s population."
Setting aside the cruelty, Talis shook his head, implying it was simply too much labor. After all, collecting and manipulating souls required a minimum level of knowledge and ability in soul magic. Furthermore, considering that soul prisons, which required the power of a Ruler bloodline, were not easy to create, it wasn't a task that could be easily delegated to subordinates.
To this, Turan spoke the words he had prepared—words that felt filthy just to utter.
"Then I’ll use my own children."
"What?"
"Meisa is unlikely to get pregnant, and there are too many eyes on her anyway. But if I impregnate several capable women among the commoners or knights, at least one suitable body should emerge. It won't take more than thirty or forty years at most. For you, that’s practically a blink of an eye, isn't it?"
At Turan’s words, Badal and Talis—Jujak and the other Zahar gods—looked at each other. If the proposal was sincere, it wasn't a bad deal for them. Turan’s forces had grown threateningly large, making it difficult for them to crush him like a bug as they once had. Moreover, since he was mastering soul magic and had seized a 'Labyrinth,' they couldn't even rely on their immortality if they were caught. One of the reasons the gods feared the Monarch was his ability to strip a spirit body of its immortality.
"Hmm, this is something we might need to discuss seriously... Shall we head back to Axum first? It’s a bit unsightly to talk on the street like this."
"Let’s talk here. We haven't built that much trust yet."
More than anything, the reason they couldn't simply ignore Turan’s words was that everything he said was the truth. As gods of the Zahar bloodline, they could use the skill Eye of Truth. At least until now, there had been no lies in Turan’s words.
"Fine. So, assuming you provide the body... even then, there’s a bit of a problem."
"Hey."
"It’s fine. He’s not an idiot; he probably knows anyway."
Jujak waved off Badal’s attempt to stop him and pointed at him. "As you know, this friend’s lifespan is almost up. He used a trick to get a bit healthier this time, but there’s still a high chance he’ll die within two or three years. It would be troublesome if you changed your mind then."
He meant it would be a problem if Turan attacked as soon as Badal lost his body after they settled things here. This was also a method Turan had considered. If Badal inhabited the body of one of the few remaining high-ranking Arabion nobles, his power would be much weaker than before.
"So, you want a hostage?"
"I’d like to, but I don't think there’s anyone I could ask for. You have no other family, and you won't give up Meisa."
"Naturally. Or, there’s the option of capturing the Carmine heir and using them as a new body."
"Hmm?"
"Of course, since they were raised by the 'Lawyer,' the soul compatibility won't match and the bloodline will be different, but at least the talent itself will be heir-level. Plus, if you feed them the Lawyer’s mana, they’ll be able to play the part of a family head, even if they aren't as strong as you are now."
To offer the body of the Carmine heir, who was still perfectly fine, as compensation? The answer to how he would capture them was even more spectacular.
"If we join forces, do you think the Carmines could even stand a chance? No, if you just stay out of the way, I could probably capture them and hand them over myself."
Jujak burst into laughter at the unexpected statement. "Seriously... I’ve felt this for a while, but you’re more like me than Otas."
"Not at all."
Turan denied it, but he suspected the other man had already seen through his lie. As the man said, Turan had long felt he shared many similarities with the man before him—or rather, the god inhabiting that body. The tenacity, the cruelty, and the calculating nature. Surely his physical traits were merely inherited from the man named Talis Zahar, so why was that?
"Anyway, if we can talk like this, it’s not a bad conclusion... but you still have to return Caesar. We need insurance, too."
While the method of crossing over to the world of the gods was led by the Monarch, meaning they had no choice but to follow him, they had no intention of remaining his subordinates once they arrived. To prevent that, they needed sufficient military force, and the strongest power the Zahar side could offer was her. She was the only one among the remaining Zahar gods who could draw out the full power of the Night Hunter.
"Do you really believe she’ll be on your side? After you betrayed her like this?"
As a master of torture, Turan knew, at least indirectly, how much it could break a person’s heart. The hatred born from such acts would not fade even after a thousand years. On what basis did they believe that Harun-Caesar, once returned to them, would take their side?
"She may look tough, but she’s soft-hearted. If we bow our heads and beg, she’ll give in soon enough. It’s not like we haven't tortured each other before. Caesar is only on your side because she believes you’re Otas’s reincarnation. Once she confirms for herself that you aren't, her mind will change."
"I’ve been curious about that. How exactly did you confirm the Sea of Spirits for yourself?"
At Turan’s question, Jujak glanced at Badal again. But the old man of Arabion blood was now watching their conversation leisurely with his arms crossed. His attitude was one of a bystander, as if saying, 'Do whatever you want.' It seemed that since Turan was being cooperative, he also felt this flow wasn't bad.
"Well, I don't know the details myself, so I can't explain it... but have you ever been outside the world? Beyond the Sky Mountains or the Snow Cloud Zone. Since you’re from around there, I figured you might have seen it at least once."
"I’ve made attempts."
"But you couldn't cross over, could you? The laws of this world block it."
Turan did not reveal that he had crossed over and seen the bizarre sights beyond. By speaking vaguely, the Eye of Truth did not judge it as a lie. The phrase "I’ve made attempts" might carry the nuance of "I failed," but it didn't have a definitive meaning.
"Beyond that is the Sea of Spirits. A space where all creation is converted into 'information'... Anyone who goes there can see for themselves that a mere soul cannot endure it."
"I see."
Turan nodded, agreeing with the man’s words. At that time, Turan had also felt his entire body being dismantled and everything turning into records.
"Then is my resemblance to that man just a coincidence?"
"Well, maybe a tiny fragment made its way in. But if that counts as reincarnation, then there isn't a Zahar noble who isn't Otas’s reincarnation. There are probably several who are my reincarnation, too."
"Since souls ultimately come from the Sea of Spirits," Jujak murmured softly.
As he nodded, Turan looked at his opponent, sensing the presence around them.
"Quite a lot of people are approaching. They’re yours, I assume?"
Dozens, hundreds, perhaps over a thousand. A massive encirclement that must have been closing in from several kilometers away was slowly tightening. It was likely a tactic designed with Turan’s detection abilities in mind.
Hearing this, Talis gave a smirk. "Well, you knew, didn't you?"
Turan nodded at the suggestion that they had both been stalling for their own reasons. This seemed to be the card the other side had prepared. An army of Zahar nobles and knights stationed in Axum, armed with all sorts of magic devices. Earlier, they had been unable to react to an enemy who suddenly appeared in the middle of the city, but in a situation like this, the story was different. A mage who clearly recognized their enemy and was prepared to fight was a burden, even if they were just a knight. Especially if Badal and the Zahar gods were keeping him in check and creating openings to attack.
"Now, in that sense, do you have any intention of surrendering? If you do, we can treat you well. I thought your idea from earlier wasn't half bad. Even if it’s not Meisa, the more good bodies we have, the better."
Jujak spoke in a mocking tone, saying he would let Turan enjoy all sorts of luxury in Axum and indulge in any women he desired.
Turan listened quietly, confirmed that the encirclement was now visible, and nodded.
"Some people might like that, but it’s not really my taste."
"Oh, what a shame..."
Talis was about to finish his sentence when he saw Turan lightly stomp his foot on the ground. As an experienced mage, he knew that was a motion often used to easily cast Earth Manipulation magic.
But why now? Even if he could use the power of the Earthkeeper bloodline through the Mimic’s power, it wouldn't be enough to turn the tide.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, a single stomp caused the ground for hundreds of meters around to sink abruptly.
A massive hollow swallowed them all.