Chapter 127: The Grand Deception (1)

[127] 20. The Grand Deception (1)

We often forget that Shafiq is also an elf. Basically, we forget that he’s older than our great-grandfathers.

Because… Shafiq is just Shafiq.

Seeing him losing an argument to a five-year-old snot-nosed brat,

And seeing him throw a tantrum when he gets seriously pissed,

The fact that he’s actually 200+ years old tends to slip from your mind.

…And also the obvious fact that he has parents.

I grumbled while rubbing the bump on my head.

“Damn it… That hurts like hell…”

“Shut up, Vice-Captain. You have no right to speak.”

Shafiq’s contemptuous gaze shot at me. Clevens too, adds to it, which is rare.

“I never thought the day would come when I’d side with pointy ears, but this time he’s right. You deserved that.”

“That’s why I’m not saying anything…”

I, having run out of things to say, quickly changed the subject.

“So, Shafiq, are you sure your… mother knows anything about this?”

“She must know. After all, she participated in the Great War 200 years ago. And just so you know, in case you were wondering. My mother is not some imaginary being. She definitely exists. Got it?”

“Ah, okay…”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I turned my gaze to the carriage window. Beyond the lush greenery, the magic tower was receding into the distance.

“And by the way, are you really sure this is okay?”

“With what?”

“That girl. We left her at the magic tower.”

I let out a small sound, somewhere between a sigh and a groan. Scratching my head, I recalled what happened this morning.

[Absolutely not.]

[Marianne…]

[I said absolutely not. I’m not going to be left out alone. If you keep this up, I’m going to fuse our hands together. Do you want me to peek at your thing every time you pee?]

[…You wouldn’t look.]

[You never know.]

[Marianne… I’m not doing this without a reason.]

[…I don’t like it. I said no.]

[Marianne, please. I’m begging you.]

[…You’re a real jerk.]

Marianne’s tearful face muddled my mind. But there was no other way.

“Marianne has things she needs to do at the Magic Tower.”

The underground space beneath the Ailleyde Mansion.

That place revealed itself when Marianne, or more precisely, Sage’s body touched it.

In other words, there was some kind of connection between Sage and Irene. And information related to that connection must still be at the Magic Tower.

And Marianne was the only one among us who could possibly access that information.

I was a criminal, and Shafiq and Clevens were outsiders. Marianne was the only suitable person for this task.

…Of course, it would be a lie to say I didn’t have ulterior motives of wanting to keep her somewhere safe.

“Ah, that whole surprise thing?”

“There’s that too, and there are also things about Sage that need to be investigated.”

“Well, those two can only be done at the Magic Tower.”

Clevens nodded as if he understood, but soon frowned as if he was displeased about something.

“So, in the end, it’s this damned trio again?”

Trio, at that word, I couldn’t help but smile. Even back when we were mercenaries, the three of us often worked together.

“Well, what can we do. The rest of the guys are troublemakers.”

“Damn it, how is it that in this damn mercenary group, there are only two of us who actually work…”

“Two of you, why are you excluding me, baldy.”

“You’re fucking useless. You damned pointy ears.”

“…Come at me, baldy. Let’s settle the hierarchy once and for all today.”

“You think I’m scared.”

I turned my gaze away from the two who were bickering with a smile. Suddenly, something flashed through my mind.

I pull out a small glass vial from my pocket.

A blue slime sloshed inside.

It was the legacy left by that strange creature.

I still couldn’t figure out what that creature really was. Its purpose in helping us, or why it came out of my stomach, none of it makes any sense.

But there was one thing I was sure of.

[I had no idea it would survive in such a wretched state, but I’m glad I was able to finally take care of it. Better late than never.]

That the creature was Irene’s enemy.

That alone was more than enough reason to keep this slime with me. It seemed to be dead, but just in case.

*Bzzz-!*

A strange vibration cut through my thoughts. It was a signal coming from the magic tool in my pocket.

“Hey, stop fighting and look out the window. The surprise is about to start.”

At those words, the two who had been grabbing each other by the hair (in Shafiq’s case, his scalp) separated. As if they had never fought, they looked out the window side by side.

“Where? Where did it start?”

“Just wait, you idiot. Any moment now…”

*Pheeeet-*

A tower rising through the forest.

A red light shot out from it.

The light drew a scarlet streak across the sky as it soared upwards. When it finally reached a certain altitude, it began moving freely across the sky.

No, it would be more accurate to say that it started to write in the sky.

Red letters inscribed against the cloudless blue sky.

At that altitude, it should be visible from anywhere on the continent.

[Rem is at the Magic Tower.]

“Let’s see if she can still deceive us after this.”

***

[Rem is at the Magic Tower.]

“…So that’s what you’re going with, Oppa?”

Irene looked up at the sky with cold eyes. The red letters inscribed against the sky were painfully clear.

A short breath escaped Irene’s lips.

It was both the end of a swallowed cry and the beginning of anger.

“You brought this on yourself, Oppa.”

Irene pulled out the communication magic tool.

[Lady Irene, to what do we owe this pleasure? Our deal already ended with Planer’s End…]

“I want to propose a new deal.”

A moment of silence came from the other end. After a while, the voice that came was filled with difficulty.

[I’m sorry, but the last incident was a huge blow to us. Not only did we lose the pocket watch you gave us as payment for the deal, but we also lost the mobile fortress we had built with great effort.]

“I’ll give you everything.”

[…What do you mean?]

Irene replied in a firm voice.

“My assets, my magic tools, my mansion, everything I own and have rights to.”

[In whose name will you swear?]

“It doesn’t matter whether I swear by the name of the Goddess, or your god’s name. I’ll go to hell if I break the contract.”

After all, she would die once this was over anyway.

Irene thought to herself as she heard the excited breathing from the other end.

[The, the terms of the deal…?]

“Rem, bring that man to me. I don’t care what means you use. As long as you keep him alive.”

[And those who get in the way…?]

Irene paused.

For a moment, a flicker of conflict seemed to cross her face.

But that was truly just for a moment.

“Do as you please.”

[…Everything shall be as you wish.]

And then, the connection was cut.

She felt no particular guilt.

Irene had long since drawn a line between family and others. Whatever happened to those who weren’t family didn’t matter to her.

…That’s why she hoped that at least Oppa would be on her side.

“Irene.”

Irene quickly turned around.

Wheat-colored hair and jewel-like blue eyes.

But a sickly pale complexion and dark circles under the eyes.

A woman who looked too miserable to be described with the word ‘decadent beauty.’

Amy was looking at Irene with her sword in hand.

“Why are you out here? And…”

Amy’s gaze turned to the sky.

“What are those letters written in the sky?”

Irene immediately put on a smile.

“It’s just a simple slander. Probably some faction serving the Demon King trying to hinder us.”

“…Really?”

“Why would I lie to you, Amy? And besides…”

Irene turned her gaze to a tent. Amy followed her gaze.

And as if on cue,

A man walked out of the tent.

A man whose body was almost half bronze prosthetics.

His blue lenses shine through his snow-white hair.

“Because Rem Oppa is right here.”

Rem opens his mouth with a weak smile.

“Irene, Amy, what are you all doing out here?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Amy answered curtly and turned away from him. She couldn’t bear to look at him due to the guilt weighing on her chest.

Then, simultaneously, four women burst out of the tent.

“Rem, you! I told you to rest!”

“Clara! Don’t shout at Rem! What if he gets startled and his wounds reopen!”

“Parsley, you be quiet too! Big bro, I’ll help you, so please go back inside…”

“…Vice-Captain, don’t push yourself and go back inside. It hasn’t been long since you barely escaped from the Demon King…”

Irene watched the four women as they helped ‘Rem’ back into the tent. Not one of them even glanced at the words written in the sky.

Because when you’re holding on to what’s most precious to you, your eyes tend to be clouded.

“Irene, you’re sure about this. That the Demon King is still after Rem’s heart.”

Amy speaks up only after Rem has disappeared. Irene nodded with a stern face.

“Yes, because with Oppa’s heart, he’ll be able to regain his full power.”

“…Then a final battle is inevitable.”

Amy looked down at the sword at her waist.

A sword with an elegant pure white blade.

The weapon Alain used to defeat the Demon King 200 years ago.

The Holy Sword, Abraxas.

Irene, who had been following Amy’s gaze to look at the sword, soon spoke with a sad smile.

“It’s alright, you’ve already heard it from Betty.”

“…”

“Once the Demon King is defeated and the Goddess is resurrected, the Goddess will grant all our wishes.”

No matter how impossible that wish may be.

Irene swallowed those words.

***

People often say,

That misfortune is like a clingy woman,

Once it comes, it takes a long time to shake off.

I am now painfully realizing that fact…

“Rem! You stupid bastard! Wake up! If you fall asleep here, you’ll die!!”

What woke me was Clevens’ voice and a blade that grazed past my nose.

[oobm!]

At my barely uttered spell, the cultist who had been about to attack me collapsed. My body, like a puppet, was pulled along by Clevens’ hand.

“You crazy bastard! That’s why I told you to get some damn sleep!”

Through my hazy consciousness, Clevens’ voice stabs like a blade. So do the faces of the cultists approaching through the trees.

Three days since leaving the Magic Tower.

We were being slowly withered away by the endless attacks of the cultists.

This is probably all Irene’s doing…

“Baldy! Wake that stupid bastard up!! He keeps trying to pass out!!”

The lumps of tentacles flying towards my head is skewered by arrows. The dagger stuck in my abdomen feels too unreal.

I was dragged along by Clevens’ hand, like a jellyfish drifting in the ocean.

[nei…fkg!]

At my barely uttered spell, another cultist collapsed. But there were still many glowing eyes in the forest.

They were like mushrooms, constantly multiplying. Or like waves, endlessly crashing down.

“Damn it, we’re almost in elven territory! These damned cultists…!!”

So, being driven into a corner was, in the end, inevitable.

“Fuck.”

With that curse, Clevens’ sprint comes to a halt. At the same time, my body, unable to overcome inertia, crashes to the ground.

But even while lying on the ground, the threat didn’t disappear.

I could read the malice in the starlight pouring down. I felt the cultists who had been chasing us closing in.

“Is this the end…”

Shafiq, who had been shooting arrows from the forest, was somehow sitting beside me now. Clevens too falls to his knees, blood dripping from his bald head.

[Hand over Rem. Then your lives will be spared.]

“Spare our lives my ass. You’ll no doubt tie us up and turn us into lab rats.”

Clevens spat on the ground and stood in front of me. Shafiq naturally guarded my back.

“Don’t worry, kid. I’ll protect you with my body, even if it means becoming a corpse.”

“Don’t say such gross things. I’ll make sure we all get out of here alive. I swear on the name of the Ashwood Tribe’s friend.”

“Bullshit.”

A warm exchange of words.

But reality was too cold to be warmed by the warmth of words. Too many eyes burning with hatred.

I instinctively realize.

That this was the end of our story.

Despite our efforts,

Despite struggling with burning vengeance.

We had ultimately reached a futile end.

Before long, we would be lying nicely together on the ground as cold corpses.

“Hey, that bastard’s thinking up some stupid shit again, isn’t he?”

“What do you expect from a guy who’s been shooting magic tools nonstop for three days without sleep? Shut up and bash their heads in, Baldy!”

“Pointy ears, I’m already doing that without you telling me!!’

Between my drowsy consciousness, screams and the smell of blood that stings my nose pass by. All of them adding weight to my eyelids.

“Damn it! After coming this far, what the hell is this bullshit!”

“Baldy! If you have time to complain…!!”

Ah, my eyes finally close.

It was the end of a difficult life.

A bittersweet farewell.

“Wh-What! Why aren’t they moving all of a sudden? Suddenly… Huh? They’re collapsing? Their heads…”

“…Damn it, it’s the guards.”

“Guards? What do you mean…”

I haven’t finished my revenge yet.

I haven’t said goodbye to them,

I haven’t cleared up the misunderstanding with Amy,

To end like this, like this, so meaninglessly…

“Baldy, listen carefully to what I say. From now on, no matter what happens, don’t panic.”

“What the hell are you talking about, pointy ears! Explain… Ugh… ar-arrow…?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. Trust me. I’ll…”

My vision dark.

Everything is dyed in darkness.

However, there is something blooming in the midst of it.

A beautiful woman, and Shafiq standing before her.

Shafiq looked at the woman with a determined expression and said.

“…Mother.”

And with that, my consciousness sank into darkness.

.

.

.

And when I opened my eyes again.

I found myself locked in a prison cell.

…

“Huh?”

Wait, what, prison?