Chapter 504: The Return
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 504: The Return
Muen looked out the window.
The Belland of Shadows beneath the grey mist was silent and profound. Phantasmal shapes occasionally flitted through the darkness, their whispers and murmurs sounding all the more terrifying in the stillness. But then again, such things were native to this world.
A full half-hour had passed. If this place had a direct line to the outside world, the masterminds behind the scenes certainly wouldn't have let the two of them leave so easily; they would be scouring the area by now.
But they weren't.
Even the Indra King had not pursued them.
At first, Muen thought he had hidden well enough, aided by his breath-concealing Alchemy Domain, to make the enemy give up the chase.
But thinking on it now, this fragment of the Belland of Shadows was only a few blocks wide. If they truly wanted to find them, where could they possibly hide?
"Since no one from the outside has come in yet, is it possible that the people inside can't get out?" Muen asked.
According to the information he had read from the sentry’s soul earlier, more than just one or two people had entered this version of Belland. If his guess was correct, there was likely an entire team hiding away, conducting some clandestine operation.
After discovering an intruder, it would be only natural for them to send someone out to report it.
"I don't think that's possible."
Celicia shook her head again.
"Why?"
"It’s simple. If whatever is being kept or done here requires these people to hide it so deeply—going to such lengths to ensure not a single clue reaches the outside—then do you really think..."
Celicia pointed toward the grey mist, her expression meaningful. "They would let the people closest to the secret leave so easily?"
*
"Mr... Mr. Yalur!"
In a laboratory filled with the rhythmic beeping of various instruments, Yalur was focused on examining a parrot he had only been raising for less than an hour. His research was abruptly interrupted by a middle-aged man in a white lab coat who came rushing in.
"Something... something's gone wrong!"
"What are you shouting for?!"
Startled, Yalur flared up in a rage, looking as if he wanted to slap the man. The parrot took the opportunity to fly off, fluttering wildly around the lab.
"Didn't I tell you? No interruptions while I'm experimenting!"
"I... I know, but..." The middle-aged man shrank back, looking cowed. "There was a commotion outside just now. It seems we've been infiltrated!"
"Infiltrated!" Yalur gasped, losing his composure. "Is it... is it those people from the Royal Research Institute?"
"I'm not sure." The man shook his head. "All we know is that there were two of them. We don't know how they snuck in, but they've already engaged the Indra King outside!"
"So the Indra King intercepted them?" Yalur breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me to death. I thought those stiff-necks from the Royal Research Institute were back to preach about 'crimes against humanity' and shut down my research again! As long as it's not them, it's fine. Leave it to the Indra King; he can handle it."
"The Indra King is powerful, so he can certainly handle it. However, since there was an intrusion..." The middle-aged man’s eyes flickered as he looked around. He lowered his voice, feigning anxiety. "With something this big happening, shouldn't we notify the people in the Inner Council?"
"Notify them... You want to go out?" Yalur’s brow twitched.
"No, no, no... I just want to deliver the message. After all, what we're doing can't exactly see the light of day." The man waved his hands in frantic denial.
"Give it a rest. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting," Yalur sneered. "I'm telling you, you aren't getting out. You joined this research—do you really think those people will let you leave? Don't make me laugh. They would blow this place to kingdom come before they let a single person escape. At least, not until their goal is achieved."
The middle-aged man’s expression instantly soured.
"Heh, lighten up." Yalur patted him on the shoulder. "Look on the bright side. At least here, you can conduct whatever research you want without any inhibitions, can't you?"
"..."
The middle-aged man remained silent. He thought to himself that he wasn't a research-obsessed lunatic like Yalur. Having been cooped up here for so long, he had been dying to leave.
But he kept those thoughts to himself. From the moment they followed Yalur to join the Inner Council and laid hands on those things, they knew they would be living in the shadows for the rest of their lives.
*
"It seems there really isn't much to worry about."
After Celicia’s analysis, Muen understood the unique nature of this place.
Before this, he hadn't even known what the Belland of Shadows was. Consequently, his thinking had been governed by his usual caution—if discovered, run.
Celicia, however, was far more familiar with this place and was significantly bolder. She knew exactly what those people could and could not do.
"What? Are you afraid?" Celicia stared at the still-contemplating Muen.
Though she maintained her usual cold, emotionless facade, Muen thought he saw a flicker of playfulness in the depths of her eyes.
It was almost as if they were in the middle of that, and she had suddenly asked, "Is that all?"
No man could stand that.
"You seem... angry?"
"Running away like a stray dog? Of course I'm angry."
"So, you're in a hurry to go back and settle the score?"
"I'm not that childish," Celicia said with a cold smile. "However, Mr. Muen Campbell, have you forgotten something? If we just leave like this, we won't just be losing our progress."
"...What do you mean?"
"I don't know if you're playing dumb or if you truly are. That avatar of the Indra King recognized our true identities. Right now, he can't contact the outside world, but if we just leave... do you think your 'golden cicada shedding its skin' act will hold up?"
Celicia continued meaningfully, "Not only did you openly defy the Imperial mandate, but you also kidnapped the Princess while she was under house arrest. I don't particularly care, but do you think those people will let this go? They'll use it to bleed the Campbell family dry. I don't need to tell you how much impact that would have at a critical time like this."
"..."
Muen’s breath hitched slightly.
Celicia was right. He had been so focused on the secrets of this place that he nearly forgot he had infiltrated Belland under a false identity and made off with the Princess in the middle of the night.
Celicia didn't care; her status was absolute. Would anyone actually punish her for sneaking out? At most, she’d get a scolding from His Majesty.
But the fallout of his exposure would be massive. The Great Nobles of the Inner Council would never let such a weakness go. Those people were like hyenas; once they found a vulnerability, they would tear away chunks of flesh.
Especially at a juncture as sensitive as this... in the end, it might cost more than just a few pieces of flesh.
Muen’s mind raced as he parsed the logic. Indeed, if the Indra King’s true body were here, he would have to accept the loss—after all, if you can't save your life, you can't worry about anything else.
But the current Indra King was only an avatar.
After thinking for a moment, Muen seemed to realize something. He looked at Celicia and blinked, his expression turning equally meaningful.
"My dear Thea, you've said so much. It sounds like you just can't swallow your pride, but why do I get the feeling..." Muen leaned in close and asked in a low, serious voice, "Could it be that you're actually worried about me? That you've put so much thought into this for my sake, even willing to put yourself in danger again?"
"..."
Celicia looked at Muen as he leaned in. Seeing that familiar, wicked grin on his unfamiliar face, her eyelid gave an imperceptible twitch. A terrifying chill suddenly brewed in her cold, soft palm as she placed it gently against Muen’s vulnerable neck.
"My dear Mr. Muen, would you prefer to be frozen into a block of ice and then have your corpse dumped into the Old Rhine, or have your corpse dumped into the Old Rhine and then be frozen into a block of ice?"
"...Is there a difference?"
"Less talk. Give me your choice."
"A choice? Is there even a need for one?" Muen gently took Celicia’s small hand and gallantly kissed the back of her fair hand. "I've said it before: as long as it's an invitation from a lady, I will gladly keep the appointment, even if it costs me my life."
"Let's go, Miss Thea."
*
The dark room was once again illuminated by light.
The old man, sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat like an ascetic, opened his eyes. A hint of surprise flickered in his dull gaze as he saw the two figures slowly walking in through the door.
"You actually dared to come back?"
"Why wouldn't we?"
Muen and Celicia walked in side-by-side. Muen had already kicked the metal door down earlier, so their entrance appeared exceptionally casual and composed.
"You're the one who surprises me, old man. You didn't even come after us. What's the matter? I've made you lose face twice now; do you still look down on me?"
"After being bitten by the same insect twice, even the best-tempered man would feel a thunderous rage," the Indra King said, shaking his head slightly. "Unfortunately, I am merely an avatar. I cannot stray too far from this prayer mat. Therefore, I can only fulfill my duty and stand guard here."
"You're just going to confess that?" Muen raised an eyebrow in surprise, having expected the man to keep up the act. "You really don't take us seriously, do you?"
"No. It is simply that since you dared to return, it means you have already seen through my situation. There is no point in hiding it."
The Indra King rose slowly. Though he was explicitly just an avatar, a mountain-crushing pressure once again bore down on the two of them.
"I simply do not understand. Even if I am just an avatar, you were already defeated by my hand. You fled in pathetic disgrace once before; why do you have the courage to appear before me again?"
"Heh, who knows?" Muen shrugged, the pure white blade spinning in his palm. He said casually, "Maybe I spent that half-hour specifically applying some buffs. My strength might be worlds apart from what it was just now."
"Heh." The Indra King ignored Muen’s nonsense and fixed his gaze on Celicia. "And you, Princess of the Empire? I can understand the boy’s injuries healing quickly, but Divine Blessing is not something that can be recovered in a short time. You overexerted yourself to use that move earlier. Can you still control the power of ice?"
"Naturally, I cannot," Celicia replied bluntly, hiding nothing. "Due to a certain idiot’s tendency to throw his life away at every turn, I have indeed temporarily exhausted my Divine Blessing. However... why do you think the power of Divine Blessing is the only thing I have to offer?"
Celicia still held her parasol, looking like a young lady out for a stroll.
But suddenly—
Zing—!
A sharp, metallic hum rang out.
The rotating canopy of the parasol wobbled and fell softly to the ground.
Celicia held the handle, and extending from it was a flash of cold steel so sharp it almost made one’s eyes sting.
Muen watched in shock as Celicia drew a sword from the parasol.
"It seems being prepared is never a bad thing."
Celicia flicked the blade, and her entire aura shifted. If she had previously been like a vast, snow-covered plain—deep and unfathomable—she was now like a jagged, thousand-foot glacial peak. Sharp and piercing!
"Now, Mr. Indra King."
Celicia pointed the longsword coldly toward the ground at an angle.
"Let us begin round two."