Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 82 "Tomorrow those bastards will have a secret meeting in Bondaless-" Risir was the only one who had deduced meaningful content from the letter. There were those who were stimulated by his actions- "Wait-" "Let me see that." They were none other than Valrod and Maldad. Valrod was one of the Red Magic Tower's foremost adversaries of Black Magic. And Maldad was a Demon Hunter whose authority was recognized for his specialized work against demons and their followers. They were usually in positions of leading people with their overwhelming knowledge. But Risir. A young man who, age-wise, would be equivalent to a disciple had extracted crucial information from the White Shadow Cult's letter. While they themselves had come up empty-handed. If it had been in front of their disciples, they would have faced the embarrassment with dignity. Of course, the absence of disciples didn't mean their pride was unscathed. Thick red eyebrows drew sharp curves following his expression. Eyes gleaming through black bangs emitted a fierce light. "Maldad. Wait a moment! I'll look at it first and then pass it to you!!! Don't be so hasty-" "You're the one who-" The two grown men grabbed both ends of the letter with their thick, callused hands and thrust their faces close together. "Ugh." Shakan, who had stepped back to watch the spectacle, let her ears droop. It was quite a sight in many ways. How much time had passed like that? "..." Valrod put the letter down with a dubious expression. Now the letter was entirely Maldad's, but instead of being pleased, he too frowned and put the letter down. "Did you figure something out?" Shakan asked with a grin. Her expression said she wasn't curious at all but was asking just to tease them. When else would she get to see those two with constipated expressions, and when else would she get to tease them? Sure enough, Valrod and Maldad just clicked their tongues with displeased expressions. The beastkin warrior revealed her sharp fangs and drew a delighted smile. "..." Ran's expression as she watched the entire scene was extremely complicated. Who would have thought that among those four people, the most youthful (one could even call him a greenhorn) Honorary Mage would show the greatest achievement. She was still bewildered by this entire situation. "Risir." Valrod's gaze turned toward Risir. His angular face trembled, further accentuating his already fierce impression. The mages of the Red Magic Tower were famous for their fiery temperaments. It was the result of being absorbed in Flame Magic and being influenced by its nature. Even among such flame mages, Valrod was a special case. As a disciple of the Red Tower Master, he was one of those evaluated as being closest to the essence of flame, excluding the Tower Master himself. In other words, his personality went beyond being fiery—it could be considered fire itself. This had been clearly revealed during the cultist capture process just before. -Aaaahhhhh!!! -Don't provoke my anger, you vermin! When some cultists finally assessed the situation and tried to attempt suicide, he had flown into a rage and turned their fingers to ash. A young mage surpassing such a Valrod in achievement? -Explain in detail how you reached such a conclusion, so that it's convincing!!! If you acted recklessly without sufficient grounds, you'll have to take responsibility for your actions! Normally, he would have had to go through a self-proving process close to interrogation. "Let me say in advance, this is absolutely not meant to present objections to your opinion..." But now, Valrod was almost groveling before Risir. He was trembling like a kettle boiling with his own anger, but ultimately showed respect. To dismiss him as just a young mage and prioritize his own dignity—what Risir had shown so far was too much for that. Valrod thought. If he hadn't been there, would they have been able to discover the White Shadow Cult's secret ritual in time and save the victims? Probably- -Of course! You insignificant human! If you did that to my Lord, I would... "Oh come on, stay quiet." ...No, it would have definitely been impossible. Thus, an amazing scene unfolded. "Would you teach us how you interpreted the letter's contents..." The Red Spear of the Red Magic Tower sought teaching from the young mage. "...I dare to ask as well." Following that, Maldad bowed his head and spoke. That wasn't all. Shakan and Ran also looked at Risir with gazes full of curiosity. The suspicious looks initially directed at Risir had completely disappeared. "Well, it's nothing special." Soon, Risir spoke. What a casual tone it was. They really thought that, as Risir said, it might indeed be nothing special. "Among the contents of books I read before, there was related content about the writing system used in this letter. It just happened to come to mind." During his time in Bendel, Risir had devoured all sorts of miscellaneous books at the Hayeren Library annex building to make a living. The book he was referring to now was also one he had encountered during that time. This was why Risir felt bewildered now. It was a book and knowledge that even he, a bastard, had accessed without difficulty. Yet experts of their caliber were acting as if they knew nothing about it. "You're saying such a book exists?" "If it's alright, could we know the name?" Valrod and Maldad's eyes sparkled with anticipation and curiosity. "Let's see... I believe it was a book with the unusual name [Succession Book: Daronan]." "..." "..." The sparkling eyes of Valrod and Maldad froze simultaneously. "...How did you manage to read that book?" "Pardon? Ah. At the library annex building in the city where I lived-" "No, that's not what I mean- No, why was that book in the first place- No..." The Demon Hunter had become a parrot that only repeated "No." Eventually, Valrod and Maldad looked at each other blankly. Their faces seemed to say, "Why is he perfectly fine?" *** A Succession Book? Another tremendous topic has come up. You surely haven't read that Succession Book, have you? Haha! Of course not. You obviously haven't read it. If you had, you wouldn't be standing in front of me now asking about Succession Books with deer-like eyes. Succession Books refer to seven volumes of- phenomena written by the ancient mage 'Yel Kanuer.' Yes. Phenomena. Some people call them grimoires or forbidden books, but I think very differently. What kind of forbidden book or grimoire has the will to wander the world and overlay itself onto other books? These phenomena exist wherever books exist. Even the naughty book you've hidden under your bed could become a Succession Book. The value of the knowledge contained in such Succession Books is beyond what the word "tremendous" can express. Lost ancient knowledge! Ooh, doesn't just imagining it get you excited? For example, [Succession Book: Daronan] deals with the Daronan Language, which forms the foundation of all kinds of magical systems. If you were to learn that Daronan Language, you would gain tremendous understanding of specific magic. To give a representative example- there's Black Magic. In fact, the Daronan Language is the language most specialized for Black Magic. For the same reason, some Dark Mages make the Daronan Language their foundation. But do you know this? The fact that the Daronan Language most Dark Mages know is only half-complete. Do you know why? The book that deals with the Daronan Language in the most detail is none other than [Succession Book: Daronan]. Yes. That's right. Even Dark Mages, who are synonymous with madmen, go insane when they read Succession Books. Succession Books erase everything from the reader's mind except the knowledge contained in the book. How to speak, how to communicate, even how to breathe. They're sometimes found. People who died with notebooks in their hands and their eyes open. Just as books get overlaid by Succession Books, humans also get overlaid by Succession Books. Books overlaid by Succession Books can at least still be read, but what on earth should you do with humans overlaid by Succession Books? So, if you ever discover a Succession Book, it would be best not to harbor any curiosity about it. Then what should you do? Hmm. Ah! How about giving it as a gift to someone you don't like? -Crawling Library Eloran <Conversation Keyword: Succession Book>- *** "Is there some kind of problem?" Valrod and Maldad fell into anguish. How on earth should they react to this problem? -As expected of Master!!! To be perfectly fine even after reading a Succession Book!!! Just then, the demon provided a clear answer to that. "No! No problem at all!" "To have read a Succession Book. You are truly amazing!" They spoke brightly with unfocused eyes. "..." Risir felt an inexplicable uneasiness. -As expected, Master is on a different level from these insignificant humans! "I'm one of those insignificant humans." -Don't lower yourself! "..." Risir ignored Dangaleon and spoke to his companions. "Should I tell you the letter's contents as they are?" "Ah, no!!!" "Absolutely don't do that! Just give us a summary!" Valrod and Maldad backed away from Risir in horror. Following suit, Ran and Shakan also moved away from him. Even the cultists who had been rolling on the floor rolled further away from him. "Geez." Risir felt an unfair sense of isolation. Meanwhile, Ran spoke. "For now, shall we return? I'll have someone handle the handover of the victims and cultists." *** Upon returning to Ran's mansion, Risir immediately summarized the letter's contents and told them. The letter contained the location and time of the secret meeting, but no more detailed information than that. For example- "We can't move rashly, can we?" The others nodded at Shakan's words. They recalled the White Shadow Cult priest Goldina they had encountered at the secret location. She had chosen death before even properly engaging in battle. However, the desperate appearance she had shown just before entering combat. That power. What if their group had been split up for the search? And if an individual had to face Goldina alone? Surely one of their party would have suffered damage that couldn't be ignored. Such a letter from Goldina had been delivered to her from 'above.' There was a high probability that forces greater than Goldina were waiting at the secret meeting location written in the letter. It was a matter where the safety of the entire party couldn't be guaranteed. After an uncomfortable silence filled the place for a moment, Shakan carefully broached the subject. "I'd like to gradually back out around this point." "I too would find it difficult to get involved any deeper than this." "Likewise." The request they had received from Ran was 'demon interrogation' and 'tracking of seditious forces presumed to be demon followers.' 'All-out war with the White Shadow Cult' was a matter of an entirely different dimension from those two things, something that even they would have to risk their lives for. "..." Therefore, if Ran wanted their additional cooperation, she would have to promise them greater compensation and legitimately request support. However, City Councilor Ran also had her limits. Even she couldn't arbitrarily bring that level of military force into the city. Therefore, the only option Ran could choose now was one. To entrust the subsequent matters to the Guard Corps. It would be like handing over a carefully prepared meal to another city councilor. "..." Damn it. Ran muttered quietly and bit her lip. It was then. "Hey, Dangaleon." Risir pressed the black crystal orb. "Don't you know anything more?" -... "?" The crystal orb didn't answer. It had somehow become completely empty. *** Done. It's done! Burning Black Fire Dangaleon shouted victory inwardly. While those guys had let their guard down for a moment, he had succeeded in transferring his ego to another sealing stone. He had to give up most of his power in the process, but it was an unavoidable choice. If he had remained by that 'Master's' side, he might have become like 'that thing' too. 'Damn it. Damn it! Damn it!!!' Dangaleon writhed in humiliation. That someone of his caliber should be played with in the palm of a mere human's hand. It was an absolutely unacceptable humiliation. So, revenge was warranted. Everything was for revenge. Dangaleon concentrated his mind. Then, information about the surroundings of the sealing stone was transmitted directly to Dangaleon. Due to his weakened power, his vision was limited, but the voices and presences were clearly transmitted. 'One high priest of a higher rank than Goldina, and three priests of Goldina's level?' Goldina had said. That the White Shadow Cult group scheduled to join soon possessed part of the remaining sealing stones. Probably, these people now were the targets of the secret meeting Goldina was supposed to have. "Dangaleon." Then a voice was heard. "Why are you here? What happened to the ritual?" The owner of the voice was an existence of higher rank than Goldina- A high priest of the White Shadow Cult. Dangaleon felt displeasure at that irreverent voice that contained no reverence whatsoever, but immediately understood. The traces he felt from the voice's owner. He was a priest who served an existence of higher rank than himself. -The ritual... Dangaleon was about to reveal the truth. City Councilor Ran. Shakan of the Thunder Step Tribe. Valrod of the Red Magic Tower. Demon Hunter Maldad. And Honorary Mage Risir of the Gray Magic Tower. That the ritual had been stopped by them, and Goldina had been killed (suicide). -... However, his voice wouldn't come out in the end. Why? Dangaleon quickly realized the reason. -Master! The voice of some innocent girl came to mind. -Bow your heads, insects! Welcome the night! I, Sand Mountain that Blocks the Sun, hereby strip you of all your rights! Then the thunder-like cry of some mighty existence came to mind. -It's nothing special, I read a Succession Book. Finally, Master's oblivious voice came to mind. 'Martael...' Dangaleon thought of a certain existence. It was the being that the high priest beside him served. 'Kalas... Golia...' Above Martael were two demons. And above those two demons- '...Verdandes.' Then, another priest's voice was heard. "High Priest. We have found fragments of that one." Dangaleon realized. That he was nothing but bait. Their real purpose was to manifest Martael here in Bondaless. His own resurrection as Dangaleon was merely a means to buy time for that. '...' The first emotion Dangaleon felt at that utterly humiliating fact was neither humiliation nor anger. It was doubt and concern. When even Verdandes had been defeated, could Martael's manifestation handle 'that thing'? *** -Master! "What? You're back again?" Burning Black Fire Dangaleon. Completing calculations faster than light with his almighty demonic power. (E/N: Now that's a smart demon. Who said they were stupid?) -Of course I had to come back! Where I belong is at Master's feet, isn't it! "Where did you go?" -I went and scouted their camp! "Wow, that's possible? That's amazing?" A gaze looking down from above. Dangaleon trembled at the human's insolence. 'Why, why am I like this...!' But on the other hand, there was himself feeling a tickling sense of gratitude. -Master!!! The color of the writhing black mist inside the crystal orb seemed to be slightly bleached, taking on a grayish tint.