Chapter 25: Attending the Assembly

“Huh? Hey! Dragon! Long time no see.”

“Salem Edidia?”

Salem had numerous aliases.

One of them was the Wanderer, a free-spirited individual who couldn’t be easily found.

So it was quite surprising to see Salem riding in our carriage, even for Dragon.

“Hey, am I your friend?”

“I apologize, Elder.”

“Why am I an Elder? Just call me by my name with a polite title.”

“Yes, Salem-nim.”

It was unimaginable for Dragon to crouch like that.

After observing the subdued horses, Salem quickly waved his hand and arranged the mana with a single motion.

At an incredible speed, the curse that had afflicted the horses was lifted, and they returned to their original state.

“So, you’re going to the assembly too? Come with me. Be my companion.”

“Understood.”

Dragon’s ambush ended unexpectedly, leaving him dumbfounded.

Perhaps Salem knew that he had come to ambush them, yet he pretended not to notice.

“I never dreamed that Salem-nim would attend the assembly.”

“Well, I already heard that from Charon. Bring up another topic; that one’s boring.”

“Ah, well, um! Recently, I captured dozens of mermaids and selkies in the Teneria Strait. If you have time later, I would like to offer them as gifts…”

“Hey, you bastard! Why are you tormenting innocent mermaids?”

“What? Oh! I apologize. I will release them as soon as the assembly is over.”

“Why catch them in the first place if you’re going to release them? Are you an idiot?”

Though I couldn’t see what was happening up front, the situation inside the carriage became vividly clear.

Truly a named character.

Not just mischievous, but exceedingly so.

As they continued their banter, they suddenly found themselves in a dense forest.

“Salem-nim, we’re about to enter the forest.”

“Oh, really? Wait a moment.”

For some reason, Charon couldn’t resist Salem’s words, so he stopped the carriage.

Right ahead, the distant forest opened its jaws to greet us, and Salem got off the carriage without saying anything, starting to stretch his body.

“Well, before we enter, let’s have a warm-up.”

Sensing something from Salem’s words, Charon descended from the driver’s seat and drew his staff.

Dragon, who wasn’t inclined to show any reaction, reluctantly got off the carriage.

“Ladies and gentlemen! I know you’re all waiting here. Hurry up and come out before shit hits the fan.”

As Salem finished speaking, he untied the long cloth he had been carrying on his back.

“A wicked serpent.”

Although it appeared to be a staff made of a tree, its twisted end had a sharp, thick spearhead.

Surprisingly, Salem was also a Dual Core, just like me.

But unlike innate talent, his Dual Core was acquired through modification.

Salem, who had transformed his body into a Dual Core, was both a mage and a formidable unarmed fighter.

When he pulled out the wicked serpent, I could finally feel the tension rising in the surroundings.

“No misunderstandings! I was just planning to attend the assembly!”

A man who appeared submissive released an invisibility spell and voluntarily surrendered.

“Fine. Fine, come with us.”

The Black Mage Theus. He wasn’t a boss-level opponent, but I definitely remember him.

He used pathetic magic that really got on my nerves.

I even broke my keyboard because of that guy.

“Is that all?”

As Salem said that, he muttered to himself and slammed his spear into the ground.

“Even though you know who I am, you dare to come out so boldly. I’ll personally take your lives as payment for your audacity.”

Boom!

Mana erupted around Sallem as if the air exploded.

The wave of mana swept through this area, grazing us as well. When the wave brushed past, I felt a strange sensation, as if everything was being analyzed piece by piece.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Salem turned to look at me.

Then he smirked.

“Interesting.”

What? What’s with the sudden remark? Did he figure something out?

Anyway, both Bart and Salem, I hope they don’t find it interesting… Please.

Salem then turned his head again and spoke in a low voice.

“Margaret, Anthony, Horolope, Mandra, Shwartz, Megan. You will all die here.”

It seems that he discovered the identities of the Black Mages hiding in the vicinity with the mana wave earlier.

Margaret, Horolope, and Shwartz were familiar names, but the rest were new to me. What’s important now is whether we actually kill them.

‘They’re not the ones who will die here.’

Because of me, the future will be altered.

Of course, killing the Black Mages is advantageous.

After all, it was because of them that this continent faced a great crisis.

The problem is that I won’t be able to utilize the information about the future that I know.

‘There’s no choice.’

If I analyze it closely, the future has already changed since the moment I became Adrias.

If the future is different, all I can do is do my best in every moment.

Chwack!

A green liquid and ominous energy-filled spheres flew from somewhere.

But with a single gesture, Salem dispelled those attacks and swung his spear.

Boom!

No tricks, no mana arrangement or spellcasting, just a simple release of mana.

But its power was overwhelming.

Crackle!

Thud!

Salem created a hole in the forest on the opposite side, facing the captured forest.

As if a round rock had passed through, the front was abruptly pierced, and the ground was boiling with high pressure and heat.

“Bye, Anthony.”

Salem muttered, and the bushes in another direction rustled.

“Pl-please save me!”

Someone urgently sprang out from there and pleaded, but Salem shook his head.

“It’s too late.”

Bang!

It was a simple spear thrust, but the opponent who had emerged burst and disappeared as it was.

It was impressive how they evaporated without a trace, as if they had never been there in the first place.

“Even if you were blinded by the Codex, this is definitely extremely foolish. Despite that, daring to disregard my kindness. That alone is enough reason for you to die.”

He kills not for targeting the page of Sloth, but because they ignored him.

Indeed, I couldn’t predict the thoughts of a lunatic.

Afterward, Salem casually released a small amount of magical power and effortlessly killed all the people he named.

Six Black Mages vanished in an instant, and they were not mediocre opponents but skilled individuals.

The Empire would be pleased to know.

“Indeed, exercise is the best when you wake up. Good, good.”

It’s unbelievable that such a psychopath is one of the strongest individuals on the continent. I have no idea what this world is coming to.

However, the fortunate thing is that Salem isn’t an indiscriminate mass murderer.

If he had engaged in indiscriminate slaughter with such power, the powerhouses of each country would have joined forces to suppress him.

Of course, there is still a bounty on his head, but that’s a separate matter.

“Now let’s depart quickly. I’m eager to witness ‘Sloth.'”

Among the aliases associated with Salem, the most famous one was the Devil in Pursuit of Truth.

He was originally an ordinary mage but, driven by immense curiosity, he delved into black magic.

Literally, he was an addict of learning, studying, and acquiring knowledge in pursuit of truth.

That’s why he must have come running for the page of Sloth.

We got back on the carriage and finally entered the captured forest.

.

.

.

.

“It’s not interesting. Tell me something else.”

“Um, Salem-nim, my mana is running low, so…”

Sallem looked at the pathetic Theus with a disdainful smile.

“I spared your life, but you’re useless. Should I just kill you?”

“N-No, Salem-nim! I can still say more!”

“It’s a joke. You smell. Keep your mouth shut.”

“Heh!”

When Theus withdrew from Salem’s attention, this time Dragon turned his tense expression and deliberately averted his gaze.

Observing this, Salem couldn’t help but let out a baffled laugh and then opened the window connected to the driver’s seat.

“Hey, Adrias.”

“Yes?”

Adrias turned his head casually and responded.

Salem felt quite impressed that the guy who had clearly seen his abilities wasn’t intimidated and treated him so calmly.

“How old are you now?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Oh? Hm.”

Through his mana scan a while ago, Salem had noticed that Adrias had the same physical characteristics as him.

Although it hadn’t fully manifested yet, it was clear that Adrias had another mana reservoir within him.

Salem paused for a moment, then spoke again.

“Don’t you think you’re a little late?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about taht thing at your waist.”

Adrias’s gaze shifted to the sword at his waist.

Without raising his gaze that he had momentarily lowered, he scratched his head and spoke.

“It’s just for self-defense. I’m not learning swordsmanship or anything…”

“I dislike those who ignore me. And I dislike those who tell lies.”

“I apologize. To tell the truth, I intend to do everything I can.”

“Oh? Even though it’s already too late?”

“Yes. My goal is to live doing my best…”

Salem stared at Adrias’s face for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! Yes, I like you. Hm. I rarely take a liking to anyone, but there’s something about Cromwell that feels familiar. So, I’ll offer you assistance once.”

“Assistance? What do you mean?”

“Yes. I don’t know when it will happen, but I’ll help you once, staking my name on it.”

“Thank you.”

Adrias expressed his gratitude in a nonchalant manner, bowing his head.

The more Salem saw Adrias like this, the more he liked him.

He must have known who Salem was and witnessed the one-sided violence earlier.

How can he be so nonchalant when I offer help?

If it were ordinary people, they would be shocked and overwhelmed.

Is he really just a twenty-one-year-old novice?

“I see the nest.”

Karon’s voice could be heard, and in the distance, a massive spherical nest floating in the air came into view.

Normally, the nest would be concealed by a barrier, but it was open for the assembly.

Confidence in their abilities could be seen in that appearance.

“It’s been a while since I had fun.”

Salem’s smile grew deeper.

.

.

.

.

“Why is it so noisy outside the forest?”

As Morche’s gaze emerged from the nest, it landed on Salem.

“It was because of you.”

“Hey, Morche. Long time no see. Missed me?”

“Even though you’re not affiliated with the assembly, how did you know about it?”

“Hey, keep those dreary remarks to yourself. Let’s enjoy the reunion for now.”

Morche had a unique appearance that suited her nickname as the Witch of the Nest. Branches were growing all over her body, resembling a tree, and her hair was intertwined with branches like a bird’s nest.

‘Isn’t it uncomfortable?’

Well, as a Named character, Morche wouldn’t be entirely normal either.

We stepped onto the roof of the carriage and ascended to Morche’s nest, then entered the nest.

The interior resembled an ordinary home.

Quite different from the image of a witch.

“Salem, I didn’t expect you to come.”

Inside, there were already three necromancers, all formidable black mages worthy of their reputation.

Although they fell slightly short compared to Salem’s reputation.

But that was simply because Salem had an overwhelmingly prestigious name. In the game, these individuals gathered here were like mid-bosses in the later chapters, monsters of a similar level.

“…”

“Wow! That person is Salem?”

The first person to address Salem was Jester Levan, the host of the assembly. And the person sitting in silence was Lago, who appeared to be around my age, and the girl who resembled a crazy Luna Moon, was with them.

Surprisingly, the master of Necromancy, Morne, was absent.

I thought he would naturally be present since it was related to his disciple, Charon.

“It’s been a while for everyone. I’ve never seen the young lady before. Are you a newcomer?”

“I’m Luna! Just Luna! Nice to meet you, demon!”

She’s quite spirited.

But there seem to be fewer people than I expected.

Could this be everyone?

“Due to the hastily arranged assembly, these are all the participants. Now let’s begin the assembly.”

Just as Jester resolved my doubts, he announced the start of the assembly.

“First, let’s check the Pages of Sloth. Bring them out.”

As Jester proceeded with the assembly, Charon gestured to me.

Carefully considering the plan I had set up a few days ago, I cautiously summoned Nickel.

Thunk.

Summoned Nickel held Christopher’s Sword in one hand and the Page of Sloth in the other.

And with his summoning, an unexpected message appeared before my eyes.

Ding!

[Condition has been met.]

[A creature with the potential for evolution has been discovered.]

“What?”

[Skeleton Soldier (Legendary) – Evolution Potential 100%]

[If evolved, there are 66 possible branches.]

[Would you like to evolve it?]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep