Chapter 76
Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Demon's Research
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bison roughly dragged the cultivator and hurled him into his laboratory.
"So, whether it's asleep down there or poisoned by the seeds-either way, if we kill the lord who can't even move, won't that vassal of sin disappear too? Let's just finish it off quick. It's a hassle."
"No. Things seem to be getting complicated."
At Bison's words, Gaon positioned himself behind the cultivator and surveyed the lab. Unlike the gruesome laboratory they'd seen above, nothing horrific was visible here. But the persistent red glow aside, without the candles flickering in spots here and there, it would have been too dark to see a thing.
Of course, the only things in view were all sorts of parchments filled with incomprehensible script, along with countless demon insignias and the central office seal of the Sonain Empire Cathedral.
"A vassal of sin doesn't vanish just because its container disappears. N-no, it doesn't."
The cultivator barely straightened his hunched back and shuffled toward his desk. Bison followed right behind, of course, while Gil held back, ready at any moment to incinerate the whole lot-but only to coax more words from the cultivator about his successful experiments and the way Gaon sought to make the vassals of sin perish.
"That's the reason you're still alive. We've been wandering around, learning that the seeds sprouting in Godel are due to these vassals of sin. But we don't know what they really are. Some say it's a monster in the sea, others an ice pillar in Gehenna. Some claim the one controlling the seed cultivator is the vassal itself, so we figured you'd know, as the man in question."
Gaon placed a hand on his sword hilt with an impassive expression, ignoring the cultivator sprawled on the floor as he wandered among the countless bookshelves holding his research.
He was certain he could kill the cultivator the instant he tried anything, without even registering the moment.
"Myths are written in language, but vassals of sin can't be contained by such things..."
"Explain it in our words. What are the vassals of sin?"
As Gil asked imposingly, a faint feverish heat emanating from him once more, the cultivator answered through filthy tears.
Even as he spoke, he wiped his face with hands smeared from raising seeds in corpse soil, mixing in tears. Old blood smeared across his gaunt face peeking between his fingers.
"Vassals are concepts that existed in this world before the gods were born. Sin. This world was originally filled with chaos. Those sins influence this sun-shrouded realm in various ways. Of course, the gods and the Mir drove them all back when they were born. But the gods died, those two beings lived again, one Mir perished while another awoke from slumber. And after a very long time, those existences are now awakening again through the king's plan. They're gaining will."
Perhaps Gil's demand for an explanation in their words fell short, as he couldn't make heads or tails of the cultivator's tale. But the gist was that vassals of sin weren't tangible beings-they were concepts persisting from before the myths, other 'gods' unwritten in scripture.
Not that the vassals mattered now; what counted was judging those exploiting them. He didn't probe further, merely noting that these evils had awakened through this 'king's' scheme.
"From the moment a vassal gains will, it seeks a vessel to inhabit. We living beings can't grasp what that means, but it's said... the frozen lands of Gehenna, the deep abyssal sea, and the king I serve were vessels for vassals of sin from the start. That's why he bestowed this knowledge upon me."
"So the one you serve is one of those vassals of sin? The one lodged in Godel's lord? Then even if we eliminate him, the vassal just finds another vessel?"
"Yes, Your Highness. A vassal losing its vessel returns to its origin-to the king. S-so you mustn't kill me. I'm the only one who can'take you to him."
Gaon believed him. Even by his own reckoning, the cultivator had no designs on corrupting Godel here; no loyalty to this 'king' he served. He just wanted to nurture seeds out of fear.
"So if we spare you until we kill the lord, you'll take us to the king?"
"Y-yes. Raise the seeds, bide our time, and a knight will come..."
"Good. Then tell us about the experiments your king commanded."
"And... send that knight to Ennaun."
Of course, none present grasped how crucial sending a knight to Ennaun was to the witch and Demon King's plans. But even without parsing that, the cultivator's final words had escaped Bison's ears beside him, so the talk simply flowed to the next revelation.
He pulled out one of his seed samples and said,
"The king commanded me to cultivate seeds-ones that turn humans into beastkin and erase species boundaries. Naturally, I researched that. But realizing the seeds could achieve even greater things, I informed the king and seized Godel. Truly, seeds to make beastkin live longer, as per the original experiment's goal."
Bison stared silently at the vial of seed sample the cultivator handed over.
"This... is that seed?"
"No. Ah, no. That new strain was already taken by the king. Along with word that the empire's princess wouldn't want it."
"What?"
As Gil approached in surprise, the demon let out a vile laugh laced with sobs and produced the princess's edict.
"If beastkin live longer, which of them would desire harmony?"
Twist-the world's twist was inscribed in that edict.
***
The sample has been confirmed. But you remember the seed I spoke of wasn't that one, don't you, King of Lies? I want one thing: a seed that turns humans into demons. Release it in Ennaun. Then I won't care if you build a new cultivation site in that city.
Already, in the Ennaun he's returned to, a festival to sway the Hero's heart is planned.
***
"What is all this..."
"Don't you see? My technique is complete. Now, just establish a new cultivation site in Ennaun, and my perfect strain will be bred. A world where beastkin and humans lose all boundaries and live long, happy lives forever. My... seeds can achieve that!"
The cultivator wept in rapture. But Gil couldn't comprehend it at all. The princess and the Hero? What on earth did this mean? Yet sunk into the abyss already, he didn't despair-only raged.
He crumpled the sacred edict of the one he'd once protected.
"Ever since meeting Agagthur..."
Something deep and foul had taken root across the entire continent, blossoming corruption. And its source was the princess. Moreover, the one planning a festival in Ennaun to sway the Hero's heart-Gil knew him too. The knight order captain with a son in Ennaun.
A man like the black lion: Graveheim.
"We head straight to Ennaun."
"What do you mean, Knight? You're really going to set up a cultivation site in Ennaun?"
Bison asked desperately. Gil met his eyes and nodded to reassure him. Yes, Bison must be the one most tempted now.
This knight who volunteered as one for the beastkin. A good, righteous knight who would abandon seeds to prolong beastkin lives rather than continue this madness. Leaving Bison behind, Gil spoke directly to Gaon.
"We've heard all we need. Let's go."
"Shall we? We've rested well enough."
Gaon closed the book and moved to leave, but seeing Gil stand firm, he caught on and nodded. Gil turned to Bison, raised no sword, but extended his right hand to summon flames.
"Beastkin knight-no, Knight Bison."
Gil scattered the flames throughout the laboratory.
"N-no!"
Blood streamed from the cultivator as he lunged into the blaze, but Bison held him back. Gil smiled steadfastly at Bison and proclaimed his justice once more.
"Now we must move again for the victimized beastkin and Ennaun. We'll burn every evil we encounter on that path. But we can't commit evil ourselves! This mad experiment will leave no results behind and never recur. Once we question Agagthur for the truth, everything ends, and we meet the Hero again-once we expose the princess manipulating him-then I, the great knight of Sonain Empire-no, of Ennaun's Graveheim! I, Gil, will stake everything to find a way to help you. So believe in me and follow now."
Watching Gil speak like the very incarnation of justice amid the roaring flames, Bison replied.
"Of course. Just make sure to pack plenty of guba too."
"Alright, first let's drag this lunatic down. Now we kill the vessel holding the vassal of sin and end this revolution. Of course, if my guess is right, there won't be anything dangerous."
And so the group descended once more, deeper and deeper below.
"You've come."
Godel's lord welcomed the returned prince from the lowest floor of the lord's tower.