Chapter 129 : Something Feels Off

“The experiment of my direct subordinates, including Taklan, has succeeded. With this, all the information needed to complete the research from 10 years ago has been gathered.”

[Details.]

In a dark room where only the faint light of a crystal sphere dimly illuminated the surroundings.

To the words of the one whose face was nothing but darkness within the hood of his black robe, the voice from within the crystal sphere gave a simple reply.

At that, the black robe bowed his head and continued his report.

“My subordinates succeeded in resurrecting a terminal of the Hydra with the bloodstones created from the sacrifices. There was some interference before and after the process, and the ritual was almost ruined, but fortunately, the summoning was successful….”

[Interference? That should have been within the expected range, yet you were still thwarted?]

“Yes. As you said, the existence of Experiment #13 and the two Red Iron Knights was confirmed in advance. However, unexpectedly, one of the Red Iron Knights was the Blood Knight, and an Imperial inspector also intervened. It was a force that was a bit difficult to handle while conducting the ritual.”

[…An Imperial inspector? How can that be?]

The shadow in the crystal sphere, which had been nodding when the experiment and the Red Iron Knights were mentioned, expressed doubt at the words that followed.

“His unique characteristics made him easy to identify. It was Victon Ares, the Empire’s prodigy known as the Ghost Knight. He has only made a name for himself in the capital so far, but….”

[Ah, you mean the odd one from the Ares family?]

“…Yes.”

[Hmm…. It seems a newcomer in need of achievements ignored his superiors’ instructions and turned his attention to an unexpected place.]

“It would seem so.”

[But this is troublesome. The only one I intended to lure was the Dragon Sword Duke, but the Magician of Lava must not be added to that.]

At the words flowing from the crystal sphere, the black robe answered as if making an assertion.

“The Ghost Knight is known to have severed ties with his family, so you need not worry. Besides, although he is called a prodigy, he is still just a promising up-and-comer known only to a few, a mere fledgling. His position as an inspector was also granted based on his family and future potential; whether his skills match it is….”

At that moment, the shadow in the crystal sphere nonchalantly cut off the black robe’s words.

[Well, it doesn’t matter about a low-ranking inspector at this point. What of the Hydra’s terminal? Did it follow commands well?]

“…Yes. It followed the commands of high-ranking magicians, including Taklan, and even pushed the Blood Knight to his limit, coming close to victory. It was ultimately defeated because the experiment’s, the Black Knight’s artifact, displayed unexpected performance, but we have sufficiently confirmed its potential.”

As the wetness of the black robe’s hands, who had bowed his head, proved, his words were mixed with expressions that distorted the truth.

However, the shadow beyond the crystal sphere could not see the black robe’s hands, and unlike his hands, his tongue, which did not tremble, rattled on like flowing water.

[In that case, wouldn’t things have been easier if you had been there? You might have secured the experiment, and if the Blood Knight had died there, that heavy-bottomed Dragon Sword Duke might have moved immediately.]

Yes, he would have.

But that could not be allowed to happen.

‘For me to obtain the Hydra, immortality, and surpass you, I still need time.’

The black robe bowed his head even deeper to hide his inner thoughts.

“There was a slim chance of failure. Moreover, with news that our tail has been caught, we couldn’t risk losing a talent like me on such a gamble, could we?”

Unlike his inner thoughts, his words, which treated himself as a disposable pawn, showed no hint of trembling.

But on his palm, unseen from the crystal sphere, sweat was flowing profusely.

‘It’s possible enough. I must….’

The magicians who were there are all dead.

That person, who placed restrictions on all his subordinates, would have no way of knowing the truth.

Fortunately, his excuse seemed to have worked.

[…Your problem is that timidity.]

Phew.

“I will make up for it with certain success.”

[One thing.]

“Yes?”

For the first time, the black robe’s words faltered.

[Secure the experiment, alive if possible. You are not to kill the odd one from the Ares family either. Just in case.]

“Ah…. Yes.”

He then let out a sigh of relief inwardly, startled.

‘As long as I can take the Hydra’s body, who cares about the rest.’

A Monster Lord said to be closest to the Outer Gods. Among them, a monster with the characteristic of immortality.

A monster that the Seven-Stars of Iron and Deus from three hundred years ago could not even kill, their best option being to isolate it in a different dimensional space.

If he could obtain the body of that monster, he would no longer have to be controlled by that gloomy specter.

The black robe, Sieran, thought so and bowed his head once more.

The moment I consume the Hydra, you will be the one bowing your head.

Hoping only for that, Sieran repeated words he did not mean.

“I will keep it in mind.”

[Yes, you must keep it in mind.]

Completely oblivious to the fact that the black shadow in the crystal sphere was laughing at him with a white smile.

* * *

By the time the battered party barely escaped from the underground cave, the sun was already setting.

As they looked at the sunset and let out a collective sigh of relief, Victon was the first to move in a different direction.

“Well then, I will be moving separately. I’ll search for that elder, the mastermind, in my own way.”

“Can you do it alone? Why not join us since we’re here?”

Unexpectedly, Anthony showed him goodwill.

“I’m not in a position to do so. And I need to sort out what I’ve gained this time.”

What he gained would be the growth of his state.

‘If only he weren’t an Imperial….’

Anthony couldn’t help but look at the young Corporeal Arts user with strange characteristics, who had once again crossed a wall, with complicated emotions.

“…Right. You must. I hope we meet again on a good occasion next time.”

“I hope so too. You as well, Sir Black Knight, and the black… lady.”

Victon seemed to hesitate slightly when choosing a word to address Rauel, but she simply smiled and accepted the greeting.

“Black Lady. I like it. It suits Sir Muno, too.”

“It’s because of your attire. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“I won’t misunderstand. It’s a fact that I have black blood, after all. You’re more meticulous than you look, Sir White Knight?”

A smile appeared on Victon’s face at Rauel’s playful laughter.

“You were quite a help, Victon. I hope we meet again on a good occasion.”

Muno, who still held little animosity towards Imperials, also offered a friendly greeting.

That is, until the man opened his mouth with a smirk.

“You’re still using informal speech?”

“…If you want to hear me speak formally, reveal your family name.”

“Yes, yes. Well, it’ll happen someday. Good grief….”

Victon, who looked at the party with his red eyes as if he had something to say, soon burst out laughing, scratched his white hair, and simply turned away.

Muno felt he could roughly understand his feelings.

‘It’s a shame….’

They hadn’t known each other for long, but they had fought a great battle together and saved each other’s lives.

As such, a bond couldn’t help but form without them realizing it.

To the point where the Blood Knight, classified as the Empire’s main enemy, showed goodwill to Victon, who was presumed to be a talent of the Empire.

But.

‘If he’s an Imperial, and with such talent and skill on top of that….’

They might meet as enemies someday.

No, it would definitely happen.

That prediction was also being made by everyone in the party.

Muno could only send off the man with a distinctly contrasting color palette with complex and subtle emotions.

* * *

The knights and soldiers of the Osnal family, who had been waiting at the foot of the mountain in case of any unforeseen circumstances, approached with surprised faces the moment they discovered the party.

“Sir Anthony! How did things…!?”

“Just block the entrance, Sir Daniel. The cave is filled with a foul poisonous air. If you go in recklessly, you’ll only increase the number of victims.”

“What you mean is…?”

“We’ve dealt with everything that was inside.”

At Anthony’s single sentence, the Osnal forces cheered.

“Wooooah!”

“As expected of the Blood Knight!”

Although most of the cheers were focused on Anthony, no one in the party cared.

Even Anthony, who looked the most intact, had his energy depleted, and Muno, whose entire body was covered in black armor, was in a state beyond just festering inside.

Rauel, who had recovered from the poison, was staggering slightly, yet she was the one supporting Muno.

“We need to rest first. Please guide us to where Sir Rantor is.”

“Yes, yes. Of course. This way….”

Watching the knight who immediately adopted a subservient posture, Anthony let out a bitter smile.

“Would it have been a little easier if we had brought them along?”

“I wonder….”

His words trailed off, but he knew the answer.

The Osnal marquis family, whose elite forces had left for the succession war.

The only remaining forces were low-ranking knights of the 1st and 2nd Stars and soldiers who weren’t even Corporeal Arts users.

If they had been brought along recklessly, it would have only resulted in a disaster.

‘We might have been discovered from the cave entrance.’

In any case, they had to take solace in the fact that they had dealt with the enemy for now.

But another hurdle remained for the party.

“How should we find that elder? It seems it will take time to search for someone who might spill information, and the temple here doesn’t even have a high priest….”

“Sir Rantor probably reported to the royal family before we left. Then the central temple would have been contacted naturally. In that case….”

“Are you saying support from the central temple will be here soon?”

“Yes. Those whose profession is to hunt magicians are probably riding their horses like mad towards Erundel right now. People who are desperate in a slightly different sense than us.”

“Ah….”

The first person who came to mind at those words was the slit-eyed Holy Knight from the incident in Ruble.

And the amazing tracking skills he and his subordinates had shown.

“…Then it will be possible.”

“Yes. So we just need to focus on recovering until they arrive in a few days. Though it won’t be easy.”

Anthony seemed greatly worried about Muno’s internal injuries.

But that worry was blown away less than an hour after Muno arrived at the Osnal mansion.

Muno’s meal, whose insides were severely twisted, had to start with a thin soup at first.

But as the thin soup gradually changed to a thicker one, and then to food that could be chewed, the Demon ‘Devourer’ revealed a part of its true nature.

As a result.

“Buuuurp~!”

Only after creating a small mountain of plates on the table did Muno announce the end of his meal with a grand burp.

And by that time, his complexion had recovered a great deal of its color.

“…Right, that’s how it was. The Knight of Gluttony. I had forgotten for a moment. Your family’s trait….”

“Good grief. I’m truly envious, of this….”

As Anthony let out a hollow laugh.

Rantor, who had approached him at some point, sighed as he looked at his own leg, which was wrapped in bandages.

“Are you done eating now, Sir Muno?”

“Yes. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“No, no. It’s something to be able to recover even by such a method. Now, we should get to the main point.”

Unlike Muno, Anthony, who had finished his report and had a proper meal as soon as he returned, spoke with a still pale face.

“His Highness is restricting Marquis Deort Osnal’s participation in the succession contest and sending him back to Erundel immediately.”

Tsk.

“I see.”

“I heard you are close with the 3rd Prince, isn’t this a bit of a predicament?”

Muno gave a bitter smile at Rantor’s words.

“It can’t be helped. With the situation being what it is.”

The disappearance case that occurred in Erundel, the largest city in the southern part of this kingdom, was being kept from the public through the efforts of the Osnal marquis family and the royal family.

Although the ominous rumors that spread despite the hush-hush were unavoidable.

The royal family’s intention was not to make a big deal out of it. The resulting disposition was a truly fortunate thing for the Osnal marquis family.

‘Though it must be like a bolt from the blue for the 3rd Prince couple.’

The troubled face of Grand Princess Roanna was vividly drawn in my mind’s eye, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Since the situation has come to this, it must also be an instruction for the Osnal marquis family to directly handle the situation in the south.”

“Yes. That must be it.”

“And as expected, the Inquisitors are rushing towards Erundel. Considering their holy horsemanship, they should arrive tomorrow or the day after. Then….”

“We must chase them together.”

“That’s right.”

If the high-ranking forces of the temple arrived, Sir Anthony’s internal injuries and Sir Rantor’s injuries would also heal quickly.

And if the fully recovered Red Iron Knights joined hands with the Inquisitors.

“Be it an elder or whatever, a 6-Circle magician and the remaining remnants will be no big deal.”

Anthony’s confident assertion didn’t feel like overconfidence at all.

Nevertheless.

‘For some reason, I feel a little uneasy.’

Feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding, Muno could only stare at the moon that had risen outside the window.

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