Chapter 120. Anomaly (5)
Equistelle’s blunt strategy of “I’ll clean up the city” was no lie.
“Sector beast extermination confird. Moving out.”
“Citizen safety is priority! Move!”
“Injured this way. There’s a relief station.”
Returning to the city to await Sirocco’s treatnt, I reached the outskirts to assess the situation.
The battle was over. Most flying beasts that attacked the city had been exterminated by the guards.
But the city center was still chaotic.
Hearing lively voices, I turned to see guards in combat uniforms reporting to Equistelle.
“Captain Equistelle! Operation complete. Next objective?”
“Focus on maintaining order. Form patrol units.”
“Yes, sir! You hear that? Relaying orders…”
Equistelle, fresh from battle, leaned on her bombardnt lance, still smoking white gunpowder.
She’d clearly helped clear the beasts in record ti. Sensing , she glanced over and approached.
“Oh, direct descendant. Heard you made waves.”
“You look busy.”
“Not as much as you, with an injured follower family. Is the beast-kin okay?”
“The Saintess said she’ll be fine.”
“She’s handling the treatnt herself?”
I nodded silently. It was only natural the Saintess would treat Sirocco’s wounds, given her role.
“Then she’s in good hands. Lucky.”
Equistelle’s words held firm trust in the Saintess. I tilted my head, asking.
“Didn’t you say you don’t think highly of the Order? You seem to view the Saintess differently.”
“The Order’s actions and her skill are separate. Her near-miraculous healing magic is an undeniable truth.”
She distinguished the Saintess from the Order. Perhaps a common view. As I pondered, she crossed her arms, changing the topic.
“By the way, your follower family. For such a strong fighter to get injured, the enemy must’ve been formidable. Vendetta, right?”
I nodded quietly.
Equistelle tilted her head slightly.
“…A secret society of black mages. They’ve never surfaced so boldly in the empire. Definitely an anomaly.”
Then, I felt soone approach and turned.
“Enoch-nim.”
It was the Saintess, Alia.
“W-Wait, that’s her!”
“The Saintess, out in the city outskirts…!”
Guards in combat uniforms, bustling with cleanup, were drawn to the Saintess’s radiant beauty, her white robes and golden hair standing out.
Equistelle gestured, slightly flustered.
“This is a combat zone, Saintess.”
“It’s fine. The guards helped . They even lent a vehicle since my escorts are missing.”
“Still, it’s dangerous.”
“It’s alright.”
Alia glanced at , saying calmly.
“Since I’m here, I have an excellent escort.”
Answering Equistelle, she turned to , her eyes sparkling with excitent.
“I ca to share good news. Sirocco-nim’s treatnt was successful. The healers are finishing up. There’ll be no aftereffects or scars.”
She’d likely asked the guards where I went after treating Sirocco and followed here.
Setting aside the fact that a Saintess, ant to be protected, had wandered to a danger zone, I responded promptly.
“I’ll go now. The hospital, right?”
***
Following the Saintess’s guidance, I headed to a quiet dical facility near the bunker where Sirocco was treated. It seed a sizable hospital.
Opening the door, I saw a lit corridor, the city’s power partially restored.
Walking silently beside , the Saintess glanced at and spoke softly.
“I heard they still haven’t found my escorts.”
“Not yet.”
I replied simply.
“I’m only back for Sirocco’s treatnt. The other guards are checking for remaining beasts in the mine.”
She clasped her slender hands gracefully, bowing slightly.
“Thank you truly. I’m aware you’ve helped far beyond what’s deserved. I hope to repay you sohow.”
“Save the thanks for later. Let’s focus on what’s ahead.”
I glanced at her, hinting at the main issue.
“The negotiations will likely proceed.”
Ixion, who summoned the beasts, was defeated. All that remained was clearing any lingering beasts in the city and mine, a task the guards could handle.
Thus, the negotiations could go forward.
Alia glanced at , saying.
“I’ve been thinking for a while.”
Looking at her, I saw her erald-green eyes shining through her golden hair.
“You’re a bit… unique, Enoch-nim.”
“How so?”
“Even though your mission was to escort, I didn’t expect you to indulge my insistence on pushing the negotiations. Especially as a direct descendant sensitive to mission outcos.”
I didn’t respond.
I had my own reasons, but no need to voice them.
When I stayed silent, she stole glances, then asked softly.
“And, um, you know…”
“Yes?”
She stepped closer.
A faint fragrance hit my nose. I realized her nun-like attire, despite its modesty, was revealing in places, hard to look at directly.
Alia leaned close to my ear, glancing at Sirocco’s room, whispering cautiously.
“This is sudden, but… are you and Sirocco-nim particularly close?”
“What do you an?”
“Well, when Sirocco-nim was treated, the way she looked while ntioning you…”
Alia shook her head, as if realizing sothing.
“No, maybe that’s just how follower families are.”
“…”
To her self-answered musing, I shrugged and opened the hospital room door.
Inside, Sirocco sat on the bed, swinging her bare legs as usual. Seeing , she wagged her tail and grinned.
“Hey, you ca?”
“You okay?”
“Mhm, they said it wasn’t that critical.”
“What?”
“They said my unique magic helped. Even with bleeding, I can unconsciously control it to so extent.”
Sirocco said it casually, as if it were novel. She seed fully recovered. I asked, dumbfounded.
“You didn’t know?”
“Hmph, obviously!”
Unashad, she placed her hands on her hips, declaring proudly.
“I’ve never been hurt like this before!”
“…Right.”
I responded wryly, inwardly surprised by her claim.
Not just enhancing her body for combat, but controlling bleeding to so degree?
“Broken as hell.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing. Talking to myself.”
Given the overwhelming prowess Sirocco showed in the original story after maturing, it made sense.
In reality, unlike ga data, unique magic’s effects and applications kept surprising . Sothing to keep in mind.
“Hey, now that I think about it.”
Her ears perked, and she leaned in, asking.
“During the mine fight, that Ixion guy ntioned [Awakening], right?”
I glanced at her, wondering if she’d read my mind, but she just wagged her tail, waiting.
“Yeah, he did.”
“So, is this Awakening thing necessary to get stronger? What even is it?”
“Hm, like a mage’s enlightennt.”
I paused, choosing words, tilting my head unconsciously.
It was amusing. Not a mage, yet explaining this to Sirocco, a genius among mages.
“Simply, it’s fully understanding and mastering your unique magic.”
“Hmph, that’s vague. Hard to get.”
I mulled over my explanation. Abstract, but not false.
In the original story, those who [Awakened] gained powerful signature moves, enhanced traits, or new abilities, shining brightly.
Sirocco was no exception.
Her unique magic wasn’t just body enhancent. The [Awakened] Sirocco was a true Tier 1 mage, reigning in the original story.
She leaned closer.
“So, how do you do this Awakening?”
“Varies by person. Different thods.”
“But it makes you stronger, right?”
Pointing at herself, I nodded simply. Her eyes sparkled, ears perking.
“Then I wanna do it!”
“Quick decision.”
“It’s the first ti I got beat up this bad.”
She turned her head, puffing her cheeks, muttering.
“…Can’t help you like this.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to beat ?”
“Hmph, that’s different!”
She lifted her chin, concluding.
“You beat that Ixion guy, right? If I get strong enough to beat you, I’ll be way more helpful!”
Was that logic sound? To her straightforward reasoning, I just nodded.
‘There’s more to consider, though.’
Glancing aside, I saw Lien behind , watching politely.
“…”
I gave her a nod of thanks. She’d been a huge help this mission.
Without her stalling and half-destroying the chira, I wouldn’t have won.
The new sword form I inherited fit perfectly, too.
‘Just plain lucky.’
The [Lethal Strike], inherited from the Sword Saint of the Waves.
A special form effective against foes resistant to slashing, strong enough to pierce the chira’s hide.
Had I inherited a different form?
Worst case, Ixion might’ve won.
Yes.
Coldly, this victory was lacking.
I glanced at Sirocco with blue-black eyes. We needed to get stronger. , Sirocco, and the squad I’d yet to assemble.
“…”
Thinking that far, I smirked faintly. Not long ago, I was getting pumled by the Emperor’s Supre Sword in the Inner World.
Now, I craved a decisive victory against a Rank 9 mage, a Vendetta Annihilation Officer, who soared in the original story.
Beep.
My earset chid. Touching it, a familiar voice ca through.
[Direct descendant. Equistelle. You there?]
“I hear you.”
[Got a mont?]
“What’s up?”
A brief silence, then Equistelle’s voice, heavy, continued.
[Seems one of the guards searching in teams found info on the Saintess’s missing escorts.]
“The escorts?”
My eyes sharpened.
Alia asked quietly beside .
“Is it about the escorts?”
I nodded silently.
I’d been piecing together the mine’s events, the Saintess’s situation, and the Order’s stance like a puzzle.
And Alia likely sensed it too. The conclusion of this incident was nearing.
I tilted my head, saying to her.
“Better co along.”
***
When my group reached the bunker’s temporary headquarters where Equistelle waited, Deputy Commander Slen was already there.
“Oh, you’re here.”
He was discussing seriously with Equistelle, arms crossed. Spotting , he bowed.
“Enoch-nim. Thank you for saving my n. It’s been hectic, so I’m greeting you now.”
He scratched his head sheepishly, adding.
“If only those who saw your feats were awake. They all passed out from blood loss, unfortunately.”
“That’s not the important part.”
The guards’ unconsciousness ant they didn’t see my sword. That was enough for .
I looked at him calmly.
“Let’s get to the point.”
Slen nodded gravely, glancing at Alia beside .
“We have data from the guards who woke up. The Saintess is here too…?”
“She needs to know.”
At my words, Slen looked at , letting out a small “ha.”
“You already suspected?”
“To an extent.”
He shook his head, pulling a small storage device from his pocket.
“Yesterday’s mine CCTV footage and recorded conversations.”
Plugging the device into a tablet, he played the footage, placing it on the table. Though grainy, the date and ti were clear.
The night before the beast attack. A cara in the mine’s steel-laden work area.
Slen explained as it played.
“The guards on patrol heard beast noises but were attacked before reporting. Likely by the black mage you faced…”
The critical part followed.
“The Saintess’s escorts witnessed it all but deliberately stood by as the black mage, Vendetta’s Annihilation Officer, subdued the guards.”
The monitor showed a blurry black figure, likely Ixion, moving at high speed, launching beasts. The guards were downed instantly.
Slen manipulated the screen, zooming in on footage from the mine’s entrance and interior caras, capturing the Order’s escorts.
The escorts in the footage retreated slowly, watching Ixion’s attack.
Alia’s face grew pale.
I said calmly beside her.
“I suspected as much.”
I tilted my head, staring at the screen with expressionless eyes.
“Knowing the consequences, standing by is betrayal.”
My emotionless deanor, like a cold blade, drew Lien’s silent gaze.
“What now?”
Equistelle stopped the footage, asking.
I looked at her with blue-black eyes.
“Taking hits like this doesn’t sit right. Plus, my follower family was injured during the mission.”
I added coldly.
“No need to say more about how the escorts betrayed us.”
It wasn’t sudden. Everyone suspected.
The evidence was clear.
Why the city wasn’t warned of the beasts’ precursors. The sudden attack on the mine’s guards, and the escorts’ mysterious disappearance.
And the leverage the escorts would gain at the negotiations, delayed by the beast attack, in the Saintess’s stead.
“So.”
I turned to Alia, staring.
“Let’s end this.”
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