"No, what is this... how?"
From beyond the symbol, a voice filled with confusion echoed. Just as I recognized my opponent, they must have recognized as well. After all, it hadn’t been long since we last t, so we would have at least recognized each other's voice.
However, it was still surprising to suddenly hear that voice through their communication network.
"How... how did you get in touch?"
"Well, I guess I got lucky and acquired it."
"........."
After that, there was a brief silence. Honestly, there wasn't much to say. I had simply used a ans of contact when I had it available—no real purpose behind it. Of course, there were a mountain of questions I could ask, but I didn't expect them to answer any of them.
Still, as I pondered what to say next, a rather good guess ca to mind.
"Are you living near the Luren Kingdom? Right?"
"What do you an by that?"
The faction leader quietly asked. His tone was calm, but it was clear that so agitation was slipping through. Perhaps it was the fact that I couldn't see him, but that nervousness felt even more evident.
As I spoke, I began to organize my thoughts.
"It seed strange when I thought about it."
The unknown thief was one thing; I could understand that. They said they were struggling with their living conditions, and to them, a ruined kingdom would be like a treasure trove. After all, sotis even otherworldly beings drop valuable items when they die.
But why was there a faction leader involved? To gather so spare change, why would a high-ranking figure like a faction leader need to be there? Even the thief said sothing about coming out due to the commotion.
"The thief we followed wasn’t looking for sothing specific; they were heading in one direction, as if there was a destination they were aiming for."
I already knew they had so hidden base sowhere. That had been information I had for a while. Regaton always sets up sowhere, but when you look for it, it seems to vanish into hiding.
But now I saw, there was indeed a base near the kingdom.
I had said that just to break the silence, but as I continued speaking, it suddenly seed more plausible than I first thought.
After making my guess, I paused for a mont and then asked the other person.
"Do you think I'm right?"
"You’re sharper than I expected. I thought you were just so fool living in the forest."
Well, I did make it to university, after all. Granted, it wasn’t a prestigious one, and I died before even making it through, but still, I was in the top 10% of dieval society, I’d say.
Anyway, I continued.
"That’s unexpected. I thought you'd just deny it and call it nonsense."
"What’s the point of hiding it now? Besides, even if I knew, could knights really invade this place?"
"........."
That’s true. I didn’t know the exact location yet, and the place was already occupied by Imps. It wouldn’t be easy to break through. No matter how many knights from various countries you gathered, taking on the Imps and Regaton at the sa ti would be quite a challenge.
The other person seed to understand this too, and I could sense confidence in their detached voice. After coming to that conclusion, the other person spoke up.
"Since it’s co to this, let’s introduce ourselves. You’re Yor, right?"
"You know ?"
"How could I not? The 3rd, 4th, and 5th faction leaders all know you. I didn’t recognize you last ti since it was our first ti eting in person. But after thinking it over, all your traits matched."
"I guess I’m a bit of a celebrity."
"Anyway, nice to et you. I’m Ijolde. I’m quite busy, so can I hang up now? This communication network takes quite a bit of effort, you know?"
Ijolde, the person on the other end, sounded obviously annoyed. With how busy they must be, a random person contacting them was just another inconvenience they wanted to shake off.
Seeing that, I added one more thing.
"You're a manifester, right?"
There was a pause. Everything stopped—the husky, dry voice, the calm breathing that had been coming through the communication network.
I couldn’t see Ijolde, but I could tell that they were startled. Regardless, I calmly continued speaking.
"Anyone using abilities that defy common sense is usually a manifester."
To be honest, I had already half-expected this. The mont I contacted them through this symbol, I had felt a familiar energy.
It wasn’t exactly mana, but sothing similar—darker, ominous... it was demonic energy.
"Teleportation, and even using this thod to get in touch... Your ability must be space-related, right?"
"…You're sharper than I expected. Do you have a good sense?"
Once again, they acknowledged it, though this ti it seed like they were more surprised than before.
After a brief silence, Ijolde spoke again.
"The 3rd and 5th faction leaders seem to like you, but I’m different. You’re not planning to join Regaton, are you?"
"…That’s right."
"I can’t just leave a useless manifester around. If you keep getting in the way... next ti, I’ll really eliminate you."
It was a rather harsh, and very firm, statent. The cold tone of their words made my response a bit more biting.
"You’re saying you let go a few days ago, but you really wanted to kill then, didn’t you?"
Honestly, I found their cold and firm attitude more comfortable. At least their hostility was direct.
Thinking back, my relationship with Regaton had been lukewarm for a long ti. I knew a few people there, and I’d tried to help them before. Of course, it was for their own benefit, but still...
They weren’t completely antagonistic.
But fundantally, they were my enemies. They had allied themselves with demons and were trying to sell out the world for their own gain. I didn’t fully understand their mindset, but I couldn’t accept that future.
Because of that, I spoke to Ijolde with a sowhat mocking tone.
"So, what should we do about it? Looks like I’ll keep getting in your way."
"Well, if it’s like that... there’s nothing to be done. We’ll just have to spill blood."
The demonic energy from the symbol faded. With that last word, Ijolde abruptly cut the communication. The presence I had felt earlier disappeared, leaving behind only an eerie silence.
"........."
I silently thought to myself in the empty cave. It seed that my relationship with this faction leader wasn’t going to be a good one.
Ti passed. Roughly enough ti for two more berserk episodes to occur.
During that ti, I had been doing... nothing particularly special. Just living my ordinary life.
Of course, just because I stayed still didn’t an the outside world was quiet. News kept coming in.
The Imp hunting grounds were still booming. It seed like the situation would continue for quite a while.
There was still no way to cover up the pit, and getting there was no easy task. Hiding and trying to carry everything out was no use, especially since I only had one orb.
Speaking of orbs, I rembered sothing. Apparently, the orb had been partially analyzed.
I thought back to the conversation I had recently with Odelia.
"This was hand-made, right?"
She said that as she showed the orb. I responded with excitent.
"Really? So you could make more and distribute them?"
"…Unfortunately, that’s going to be difficult."
I tilted my head. If it was a handmade item, couldn’t you just make it with the right materials and designs?
Odelia responded to my confusion.
"The technology inside this tiny orb is too advanced. The mana circuits are complex. You could try to replicate the shape, but unless you know the principles behind it, you won’t be able to get the sa effects."
"…I see."
Basically, it was over-technology. I wasn’t sure what kind of technology was inside this tiny orb, but I didn’t really understand it myself. Odelia probably didn’t either.
But perhaps because of its seriousness, Odelia’s face didn’t seem to relax. I asked her why.
"Why?"
"It’s serious. Soone who can make sothing like this is extrely rare."
Even the Tower Masters of the usual Mage Towers couldn’t make such an item. She explained that only highly skilled archmages, or even sages, could do it.
This ant that the opposing side had a mage with that kind of ability. It was sothing to take seriously.
"Well… I heard this from a palace mage, so I’m not sure, but... yeah."
"........."
After a while, Odelia tried to ease the tension by forcing a smile and leaving the room. She probably didn’t want to think too much about it.
...A few days later, I received another unexpected piece of news.
"Yor! A public notice just ca up in the Adventurers' Guild. Apparently, a new altar has appeared!"
But this ti, it was a bit different. The demon’s upper body was already partially visible, and it attacked anyone who approached. Its power was so strong that they were recruiting a hunting party.
‘Looks like it’s similar to Barbatos.’
When demons summon part of their body to gather the sacrifices needed for resurrection.
It might be unfamiliar to others, but it was a thod I was quite familiar with. I had been regularly stealing the mana herbs Barbatos was collecting.
Nodding to myself, I turned to Chaerin, who had brought the information.
"Do you know the na of this demon?"
"Yes, it’s Amon."
"...What?"
The 7th-tier Amon.
The King of Fire, ruling over a region of the Demon Realm.
He was the master of the altar that had just been discovered.
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