I Became the Narrow-Eyed Henchman of the Evil Boss – Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Proxy War (4)

The meeting between the Mental Parasite and Nastion took place discreetly, yet swiftly. This was possible because each could immediately discern the other’s true identity.

Their discussions and negotiations didn’t involve spoken language. Instead, they communicated through mental images, exposing their thoughts to each other.

They exchanged necessary information, assessed each other’s goals, and repeatedly evaluated each other’s capabilities. Even after multiple exchanges, the time that had passed in the physical world was less than a moment. This efficiency reflected the altered perception of time in beings created to interact through mental realms.

The Mental Parasite’s first question was about the detailed members of Argyrion. As one tasked with supporting Argyrion in summoning the Higher Cause, Nastion couldn’t help but react warily to this question.

The Parasite revealed its intentions, explaining, “I mean no harm; I merely wish to verify the rumors of an alliance between the Divine Cult and Argyrion.”

Nastion was at a loss to understand why the Divine Cult had come up in conversation so suddenly.

However, he was aware that the Parasite’s kind had harbored grudges against the Divine Cult since ancient times. If Argyrion were indeed allied with the Divine Cult, the Parasite would naturally hesitate to work together.

“No. That’s just an excuse the Ten Towers came up with to cover up their own failures.”

“I see. Then what is Argyrion’s real relationship with the Divine Cult?”

“Mages, as a rule, fear anything they cannot understand. Superstition exists outside of their understanding, so they use the Cult’s name to intimidate magical society. But they are nothing more than tools.”

Hearing this answer satisfied the Parasite. Nastion’s explanation mirrored the way the Parasite’s kin had always regarded the Cult: as tools, whether for manifestation or for propaganda.

“You may be wondering why I brought this up. The ‘adversary’ you refer to in Argyrion… that is, the one I confronted…”

*“Connected to the Divine Cult? That doesn’t make sense.”*

Nastion found himself questioning this. He knew that, after centuries of persecution by the Ten Towers, the Divine Cult had been greatly weakened.

According to what Halto and Argyrion’s leaders had told him, one of their two adversaries was a creature created by White Light—a creation of the Ten Towers, albeit treated as a pariah.

The very nature of this being was an affront to the Cult’s beliefs. Would a priest from the Divine Cult ever accept such a creature as an ally?

“…Because he’s a demigod.”

Nastion was taken aback. Was it madness, then, that had caused the Parasite to say this?

No. The Mental Parasite’s very nature shielded it from the decay of time. These beings existed with a rigorous sense of sacrifice, their very existence a foundation for future generations. Such beings did not easily succumb to madness.

“Within that being, I felt a power I couldn’t comprehend. It wasn’t aura, or mana, or even elemental energy. An ability that bore fruit without seeds, an unnatural power. I have only seen such power within the divinity of the Twelve Gods.”

“Has it truly lost its mind?”

If the Divine Cult had possessed a demigod, they wouldn’t have struggled as they had. They would have unleashed the divine power of their bloodline and waged a holy war against the Ten Towers.

But the Parasite was the only witness who had come face-to-face with “what might be the adversary” and retained a clear memory. Nastion could not ignore its testimony.

“…Very well. Let’s assume this Orthes is indeed a demigod. How do you plan to confront him?”

“Even if he’s not a true demigod, he’s undeniably dangerous. I heard Argyrion acquired weaponry from the Ten Towers’ arsenal while preparing for rebellion. So, couldn’t they secure a magic core capable of housing my physical form?”

While there were other ways to contain a Mental Parasite, it wouldn’t be difficult to create a vessel for it using techniques similar to those that produced Silver Threads or Drachmas.

The idea was to complete the Parasite’s transformation, giving it an unexpected and formidable power to strike the adversary. This aligned with Halto’s own plans to confront Orthes. Even if they suffered losses in other battles, one decisive victory would allow them to sever Orthes’s lifeline.

However, creating an artifact or magic core capable of housing a false god would be a massive sacrifice for Argyrion.

But if even half of what Halto feared about Orthes was true, then it was better to eliminate him here and now. After all, even the semi-delirious Mental Parasite considered Orthes to be as dangerous as a demigod.

Nastion quickly promised to retrieve an item with enough magical capacity to contain the Parasite.

***

An hour later.

A group of Divine Cult priests, led by the priests of Agrotera, goddess of the hunt, began exterminating the Parasite’s physical hosts.

***

*“What… what is going on?”*

The moment the attack began, Nastion hid himself within the shadows of one of the priest groups.

The Parasite also reacted swiftly. The body here was only one of many, so it detonated its stored mana, engulfing its surroundings in a blast. The Divine Cult’s first hunt concluded that way.

Nastion continued moving from shadow to shadow, staying close to the enemy forces. He needed to understand why the Cult had pursued them.

Eavesdropping on the priests’ conversation, Nastion realized it wasn’t just Agrotera’s Cult conducting the hunt. At least six other groups from the Divine Cult were collaborating in the Parasite hunt.

“How can this be!”

It was only natural for Nastion to be shocked. When faced with survival threats, groups usually prioritized their own interests.

The same was true for the Twelve Divisions of the Divine Cult. Even if one division faced a crisis, it was unthinkable for the others to unite so quickly.

Only a limited number of authorities could orchestrate such an alliance.

“Could it be…?”

Could it really be a demigod?

In this era, thousands of years after the end of the Mythical Age?

Nastion held his breath in the shadows, observing the hunters. Since the priests believed they were pursuing only the Parasite, Nastion was confident he wouldn’t be targeted.

Moreover, based on what he knew of the Divine Cult, they should not have been able to use divine incantations consecutively. Their weakened state was widely known, with their divine power fading over time.

But he was wrong.

The priests of Teleia, queen of the gods and goddess of the hearth, established a protective barrier, concealing the flow of divine power from mages. Within this barrier, the priests of Agrotera began using their tracking incantations to pursue their target.

The Parasite attempted to disrupt the tracking spells with its own magic, but the priests continued to invoke their spells, unperturbed by the divine power expended.

Such reckless consumption of divine energy wouldn’t have been possible in the age of depleted divine power. Seeing this wasteful yet explosive display gave Nastion an unsettling realization.

For this lavish use of divine power to be possible, the priests must have a new source of divine energy.

Historically, demigods, positioned between gods and humans, served as powerful conduits for divine power.

“Could it be?”

Was it truly a demigod?

Regardless of Nastion’s mounting fear, the Cult’s hunters continued their pursuit. At this rate, the Parasite might truly run out of bodies and perish.

He had to hide the Parasite somehow. If they were to confront the demigod Orthes, they would need the power of an ascended false god.

“If there’s any consolation…”

Perhaps it was that he had planted the gift of grace within the bishop of the Bacchus Cult. He had incited that man’s rampage, likely reducing the Cult of Bacchus to ashes. With one of the only groups able to confront the Parasite eradicated, there was a slight reprieve.

As long as the demigod himself didn’t appear, they had some time.

***

“Well, isn’t this convenient.”

I watched the Divine Cult priests moving in formation. Now I understood why people liked automated hunting.

Right. The Mage King had set up automated hunting for thousands of years; they wouldn’t call it unfair if we took advantage of it here too.

I’d gotten Kynemon’s permission and assigned Demus as her escort. There would be plenty of confrontations with the Ten Towers ahead, so it would be good for the two of them to get acquainted.

In her temporary role as a trainee priest, Kine was receiving rigorous incantation training from the seasoned priests of the Cult.

Though Carisia was skilled in other powers, her specialty was still magic.

Once she received the wisdom of those old-timers, Kine would surely become our trump card against the Parasite.

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