Chapter 101: I Told You I'm Not a Possessor
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: I Told You I'm Not a Possessor
It was a rather embarrassing scene.
To be found hiding under a bed like this.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Caleb.”
“……”
“You can come out now.”
As I crawled out, Mugol moved the bed back to its original position.
“Were you attacked by some slave-hating criminals? You can relax now. We’re here.”
The Spirit Race’s hand patting my shoulder was warm, but his words had a hidden barb.
I hadn’t stayed under the bed because of some slave-hating criminals. If that were the case, it would have been more logical to jump out and ask for help the moment I heard the voices of my two old friends from the Deep Layer.
So why had I lingered under the bed?
To avoid running into Bipa and Mugol.
He must have realized that.
So why was he talking like this?
“Were you worried the slave-hating criminals might still be nearby?”
Bipa’s fingers tightened on my shoulder.
“You’d better have been.”
That was just a blatant threat.
Right.
This was basically the same as when school bullies sidle up to an easy target in class and say, ‘Hey, buddy. Lend me some money. We’re friends, right? No? You’d better hope we are.’
The faculty would be swarming here soon. Until then, we had to be ‘old friends catching up with a friendly chat.’
“Calm down. You’re trembling too much.”
The Spirit Race’s long, white fingers caressed my cheek. It was obviously not a gesture of affection. It was because my jaw was clenched tight.
They had heard the pop sound too.
These guys were no fools. They were veterans who had been through thick and thin, solving all sorts of traps and puzzles in the Deep Layer and fighting monsters from the Abyss.
Just like Krom.
They were among the strongest in this world. Which meant…
“Spit it out.”
Of course, they knew.
It seemed they had instantly recognized the magic I used was Chameleon, realized a message had arrived, and deduced I had hidden it in my mouth.
“It’s better not to resist.”
Bipa’s hand pressed against my cheek.
“Mugol can’t control his strength this delicately. He might just shatter your cheekbone.”
Damn it.
Putting everything else aside, I didn’t want Isel’s name to be exposed. She was an important informant for my future plans.
Gulp!
I tried to swallow the paper whole.
WHAM!
A shockwave, like being hit with a sledgehammer, struck my lower abdomen. Mugol’s massive fist was buried there.
“Keuk!”
What I was swallowing shot back up.
Just as Bipa reached to catch what came out of my mouth, I shot my own hand out.
Rip!
The note was torn in half. I quickly shredded the piece that fell into my hand.
“Hah, this little….”
Bipa slowly read the torn piece of paper.
“After Bipa and Mugol murdered the possessor… …used magic to clean up the scene. …there might be a possessor in the…?”
“Is this about us hunting down and killing possessors?”
Mugol took the note from Bipa’s hand and checked it again.
“Let me explain it to you in detail, Caleb. When we cleaned up the scene after killing a possessor, we used Corpse Explosion and Object Memory Erasure magic.”
“……”
“We did that so no one could examine the process of how we killed them. Then, we use plausible evidence, like a diary, to prove in court that the person was a possessor.”
Now I could guess the missing parts of Isel’s message.
Their excuse for doing things this way was probably something like: There might be a possessor in the Public Security Headquarters. We don’t want our techniques to be exposed.
“Similar to how you killed Hyedam, isn’t it?”
Yes. It was certainly similar.
“You experienced it yourself, so you should know the process well. Why are you so curious?”
Bipa stared intently into my eyes.
“You.”
In the Labyrinth, it’s better to face a Golden Golem and a blacksmith at the same time.
Anything is better than facing two Deep Layer adventurers at once.
“You’ve been possessed, haven’t you?”
*
“Gasp…! Gasp…!”
In the dead of night, an elf was sprinting across the magic university campus.
Yernil.
She felt more rushed than ever. She had to find the professors as quickly as possible.
However…
Where should I go?
Her first thought was to run through the dormitory building, banging on every door and screaming for help.
But that was far more likely to fail.
First, most of the dormitory rooms were empty right now. Second, the students would likely be too scared to come out. And finally, even if they did join the fight, they wouldn’t be of much help to Caleb.
Caleb had told her to ‘bring the professors.’
Because unless it was a professor-level Deep Layer mage, they wouldn’t stand a chance against that Spirit Race and Beastfolk.
He was right.
But…
Where are the professors?!
She knew where the professor’s research offices were, of course. But it was late, well past midnight. The professors would have all gone home.
There might be a professor on duty in the night watch office, but Yernil had no idea where that was.
On the verge of a mental panic, Yernil broke out in a cold sweat. It was difficult to think clearly.
Ah!
A beat too late, something flashed through her mind.
Teramond’s murder scene.
Several hours had passed, but they would still be there with the constables, investigating to find the culprit.
Going there and asking for help would be the fastest way.
Tatadadak!
The way to the scene was in the opposite direction from where she’d been running.
Yernil sprinted with all her might, dashing back into the dormitory. She had to cross the building’s lobby and exit through the back door.
And just as she rounded a corner.
CRASH!
Yernil collided with someone.
“Oww…”
Sprawled on the floor, Yernil rubbed her backside as she got up.
“Sorry, no, please help!”
She quickly grabbed the woman who had fallen opposite her and shouted.
“Help! There are intruders upstairs! Room 308!”
“Room 308…?”
The woman pulled her hood down, hiding her face.
“Yes! I’m going to get the professors!”
And with that, Yernil ran past the woman, pushing herself to her limits.
*
My heart was pounding like crazy.
But surprisingly, I hadn’t fallen into a state of panic. My breathing was steady, and my mind was cold.
Perhaps after crossing the line between life and death so many times, my heart had hardened enough to put on a brave face even in a situation as perilous as this.
“I’m not.”
First, deny it.
They wouldn’t believe me, of course, but that was fine. The important thing was to say no first. Then…
“You’re looking for Ingelam’s Elevator, aren’t you?”
I had to change the topic to something where I could seize the initiative.
“Do you know its location?”
These guys didn’t have much time. Yernil would be back with a professor-level mage soon. They needed to finish this uncomfortable conversation with me before then.
“I do.”
In truth, I had only narrowed it down to a few candidates.
How did I know?
Because I had built them countless times in the game.
The elevator opens a gate connecting to the Labyrinth, so you can’t just dig one anywhere. It’s like how you can’t just drill for oil anywhere in the Middle East, even if it’s plentiful; you have to find an oil field first.
Based on the map of Sohen at this point in time, if I filtered for places far from the Public Security Headquarters, sparsely populated, and good for building a hideout, only two or three candidates remained.
If I checked them one by one, I’d be able to find it.
“Where is it?”
But I couldn’t just give this information away for free.
“Let me meet Hyedam in exchange for telling you.”
“She’s dead.”
“No, she’s not. She’s alive, isn’t she?”
I didn’t know how involved the original me was in their plans, but it seemed Hyedam was alive.
Reason one: No one had properly confirmed Hyedam’s death. She was dealt with in the same way these guys relocated possessors to the Inter-floor Village. They’d even said it to me themselves earlier: ‘Similar to how you killed Hyedam, isn’t it?’
Reason two: These guys held no ill will toward me. If Hyedam had truly been murdered by my hand, they would have lost a Deep Layer colleague with whom they were carrying out a crucial plan. I doubted they’d be smiling at me.
“She’s alive, right?”
Of course, it was a bit of a guess. She might really be dead.
But if that were the case, I could just play the part of a tragic man unable to accept his former lover’s death.
“Yeah. She’s in the Labyrinth,” Mugol answered abruptly.
“Are you sure about this?” Bipa shot him a look.
“We’re going to meet her anyway.”
“……”
“You. You’re a possessor.”
The Beastfolk’s piercing blue eyes stared straight into my face.
“What is Hyedam doing in the Inter-floor Village? Is it related to the ‘living sacrifices’?”
“You have a lot of questions.”
“If you don’t tell me, I won’t tell you about the elevator.”
“We don’t need to make deals with possessors, Caleb.”
Bipa stroked my head.
“There’s always torture.”
“I told you I’m not a possessor.”
I denied it once more.
“That’s not hard to confirm. In this world, there’s a very simple, interesting, and powerful tool of judgment called Lie Detection Magic.”
“It’s illegal to use that on just anyone.”
“Killing a possessor active as a Labyrinth adventurer was also illegal in Wyndham, but we didn’t hesitate for a moment.”
I couldn’t back down.
“You’re the ones running out of time. This is your last chance.”
Honestly, I felt like I could collapse from fear at any moment, but I threw out my final offer.
“Tell me straight about Hyedam and the living sacrifices. Then I’ll tell you about the elevator.”
I was serious.
I needed to know exactly what they were planning to do with the possessors they called ‘living sacrifices’ in the Inter-floor Village.
If it could be of use to me, I might be willing to cooperate with them to some extent.
But if not…
“Forget it. We’re not making a deal with you.”
“Fine.”
Then I’m cutting my losses with you.
I didn’t want to get involved in something that sounded as dangerous as ‘living sacrifices’ just from its name. From now on, I would tentatively classify them as enemies.
“Yernil knows you broke in.”
“Yernil?”
“The elf archer in my party. She went to call the professors. They’ll be here soon.”
“We expected a professor-level mage would come here. In fact, that’s even better.”
Bipa gripped my shoulder tightly.
“Let’s wait together, Caleb.”
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Outside the door, a pale-faced Meldini and Isilof rushed over, filled with rage.
“You disrespectful bastards…!”
Meldini drew his wand first.
“Calm down.”
Bipa unfolded his fan.
*
“We have nothing to do with the chaos here. Nor with the death of your magic student.”
Bipa began to persuade Meldini.
“But we are interested in possessors. We hunt them down. I heard you do as well, Professor Meldini.”
“A possessor?”
“Caleb here is a possessor.”
“……”
“You can check for yourself. After that, we’ll be taking this friend with us. It wouldn’t matter if we ‘kidnapped’ him, would it? Since possessors aren’t guaranteed human rights under Sohen law…”
“Ha!”
Meldini snorted.
“I was wondering what kind of bullshit you were spouting, and it’s just this? I’ve already vetted every bright student in this university. Do you really think I wouldn’t have checked Caleb for being a possessor by now?”
“You checked him?”
Bipa looked at me, startled.
Yeah.
I bet you’re surprised.
I never mentioned it before.
Did you think I was safe all this time just because that magic is illegal?
“That’s right, you pale, ghost-like bastard. I already confirmed it with Lie Detection Magic long ago.”
“What…”
“Should I show you again? Caleb, what do you say? Are you okay with it?”
“Yes.”
I nodded firmly.
“Please cast the spell on me, Professor.”
“Haaah.”
Isilof, uncomfortable with the rampant use of this magic, pressed a hand to his forehead, while Meldini aimed his wand at me.
“Lie Detection Magic.”
I confirmed the spell took effect and flipped the hourglass.
[It is your turn. Time remaining: 60 seconds]
[Action Points: ■■■■■■]
*
It’s definitely a nuisance.
Not Bipa and Mugol.
Not the Spider Doctor either.
I’m talking about Lie Detection Magic.
The biggest threat to my life in Sohen is, without a doubt, Lie Detection Magic.
I’ve passed the magic’s test once before with the ‘I’m a possessor! Happy now?!’ show, but I’ve never sworn with my own mouth that I am not a possessor.
The same threat could come at me again at any time.
I needed a perfect solution, a way to escape the situation whenever it arose.
That’s why I chose that skill at the fountain.
‘Time Trader.’
I dispel the Lie Detection Magic.
I remember the first time I was hit with that spell.
After finishing the slave’s contribution evaluation, I came out and was walking with Clorence when the magic wore off.
The time spent inside the room for the evaluation was 43 minutes. Meldini came and pitched his snake oil to me for 5 minutes.
Then we walked down the hallway for about 10 minutes.
The duration of Lie Detection Magic is 60 minutes.
With Time Trader’s 60 seconds, I can dispel it at the perfect moment.
And one more thing.
Back then, Clorence had asked me if the Lie Detection Magic had worn off. He said if it had, the sensation on the tip of my tongue would have returned.
What did that mean?
The dispelling of this magic is not outwardly noticeable.
It only validates statements made within the 60-minute duration as truth.
Therefore…
*
“I am not a possessor. Obviously.”
Even after I finished my answer, no rash appeared on my skin.
The sensation on the tip of my tongue had already returned. Within my turn.
A spell cast by a professor-level mage on a student doesn’t fail. Meldini himself would have been able to feel whether the spell was successful.
However, no one would have ever predicted that it would be dispelled in a single second.
Time Trader is invincible, and the Hourglass is a god.
Even the faces of the masters who roamed the Deep Layer showed bewilderment.
“B-But…”
Their faces showed they were having a total meltdown.
I pushed away Bipa’s hand, which was still gripping my shoulder.
“May I go over to the professors’ side now?”
As I moved, I added one more thing.
“Professor. When those people were going around killing possessors…”
In any case, you guys are a risk factor for me, so I need to make sure you’re tied up.
Bipa. Mugol.
I’m already overwhelmed dealing with just one slave-hating criminal.
“They said they used Corpse Explosion and Object Memory Erasure magic.”
So you two can go spend some time in a Sohen Public Security holding cell.
“Isn’t that similar to the scene of Teramond’s murder?”
“This… son of a bitch…”
“Haha!”
Meldini brandished his wand.
“I knew it.”
“Come forth.”
Isilof aimed his wand forward.
“Lord of the Spirit Tower.”