Ch.166Dark Lord. (1)

“The mana pattern is almost identical.”

Makina, the free city with the most advanced civilization on the continent.

In the great cavern located beneath it, two masked figures were walking in.

Countless mechanical devices moved in sync with their footsteps, opening massive iron doors. They seemed to hold quite high positions, as people who had been tense relaxed and bowed their heads whenever the masked figures passed by.

“With whom?”

“Do you remember the explosion incident on Road 9 about a year ago? I recorded the residual mana just in case, and it’s almost a perfect match.”

“Did you confirm their identity?”

“Yes. But… that’s where the problem arose.”

The masked figure hesitated briefly before continuing.

“They’re the Golden Tower Master’s disciple.”

“…What?”

The masked figure’s expression contorted. Even though they were the continent’s premier assassination group, messing with Melina, the Golden Tower Master, was an entirely different matter.

The pinnacle of magic. Confronting that ancient monster who had single-handedly protected the Empire for 200 years was impossible.

“Could they be in disguise?”

“We put on mana restraints and watched until all residual mana dissipated, but there were no external changes.”

“…This is quite the complication.”

The masked figure turned their gaze beyond the iron bars.

In the center sat a woman, crouched and lost in thought.

Around her, professional torturers were giggling as they unpacked their tools.

If left like this, things wouldn’t end well.

Not for the Golden Tower Master’s disciple, nor for themselves.

“…Treat her with utmost respect. We can’t afford to be held accountable by the Empire’s ancient one.”

“Yes.”

Without questioning the superior’s orders, the masked figure dashed out and blocked the torturers’ path. The speed was so fast it was almost like teleportation.

The torturers bowed their heads at the sudden appearance of the masked figure.

“W-what brings you to such a humble place?”

“Remove them.”

“Yes. We were just about to clear out anyway. Usually, delicate women like her talk after just pulling out a few fingernails…”

The masked figure’s expression soured at the torturers’ complete misunderstanding.

“…I misspoke. She’s an important person. Move her to another location.”

“Pardon?”

“Must I repeat myself?”

“N-no, of course not. It’s just… this is so sudden. And we need to know where this ‘other location’ is… hehe.”

The masked figure rubbed their face before speaking.

Their eyes had sunk into an icy coldness.

“Rasia.”

“Yes.”

A voice came from behind the torturers. It belonged to their direct superior, the administrator.

“I apologize. I brought them because they were said to be skilled, but I didn’t realize they were such presumptuous vermin.”

“If you understand, remove them immediately.”

“W-what are you saying all of a sudden…!”

The torturers screamed as they finally sensed Rasia’s presence, but their bodies were already rolling on the ground.

Slash!

Despite killing three people in an instant, not a single drop of blood stained Rasia’s dagger.

Rasia put the dagger back inside their robe and immediately bowed.

“I will ensure this never happens again.”

“…”

The masked figure didn’t respond and simply waved their hand dismissively. Their attention was no longer on the subordinate who had made the mistake.

‘She doesn’t even care.’

Not even blinking when people died right in front of her.

‘I guess she’s not that ancient one’s disciple for nothing.’

Well, the reason Olivia was captured wasn’t ordinary either.

Tap tap.

Olivia looked up at the sound of someone knocking on the iron bars.

“Is the floor cold? It’s dirty too.”

“…”

“It seems there was a misunderstanding. If you wish, I can guide you to a more suitable place immediately.”

Olivia leaned against the iron bars and smirked.

“A suitable place…”

The current time was Imperial Year 995.

Considering that it was 994 when she had confronted Baphomet, who had been inside the serial murderer, using the Devilhunter’s clues, it wasn’t unreasonable for them to be so cautious.

Not knowing the full context, they must have misunderstood that she was responsible based solely on the residual mana at the scene.

The hellfire that Baphomet had continuously spewed. It had incinerated the entire area in an instant, so those based in the free city of Makina must have suffered considerable damage too.

Having roughly grasped the situation, Olivia smiled and stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

The response was slightly delayed, perhaps because they hadn’t expected such immediate acceptance.

With a clank, the thick iron bar door opened. The texture of mana changed as soon as she stepped outside. It seemed that despite appearances, this wasn’t an ordinary cell.

‘Spatial isolation and mana control. It was an artifact designed to hold high-level mages from the start.’

Olivia extended both hands toward the masked figure.

“Would you mind removing these too? As far as I remember, I haven’t killed any of your people.”

“You’re more brazen than I expected. It was just yesterday that you turned our 3rd branch upside down.”

“But nobody died, right?”

“Yes… that’s true.”

Olivia chuckled at the sound of the masked figure grinding their teeth.

This confirmed it. Why she had woken up in such a cell.

There were various ways to meet the Master of Dark, but one particularly brutal method stood out.

Completely overturning an entire branch.

It was an extreme method, but equally effective.

Of course, to use this method, one also needed to have means to appease the Master of Dark’s anger.

Without such means, overturning a branch would result in either immediate beheading or having one’s life held as collateral, spending the rest of one’s days creating artifacts for the assassination group.

“No matter if you’re the Golden Tower Master’s disciple, there won’t be a second chance.”

It was a warning that if she acted out again, they would kill her by any means necessary.

“Understood.”

The masked figure looked down at Olivia for a moment, then took out a key and removed the restraints.

Whoosh…!

In an instant, the entire cavern was dyed with Olivia’s mana—a strange sight. The masked figure flinched momentarily, overwhelmed by its vast quantity.

“This way, please.”

The masked figure led Olivia into an elevator.

The technological prowess was overwhelming, incomparable to other cities still stuck in the medieval era.

‘This amazes me every time I ride it.’

The fact that such technological culmination existed in the headquarters of an underground organization spoke volumes about their status.

Whirr!

After descending at least ten floors underground, the elevator finally stopped.

A completely silent corridor without a single person around.

At the end, a man sat in a leather chair with his back turned.

“You may leave now.”

As soon as he spoke, the masked figure beside Olivia dissolved into shadows and disappeared.

“So, you’re the bold mage who overturned our branch.”

Olivia stared at the back of the Master of Dark.

A fierce aura, seemingly deeply submerged, writhed around him.

A chilling pressure she hadn’t felt from the Master of Dark in reality. Olivia instinctively knew this difference stemmed from their levels.

The current Master of Dark would be higher level than Olivia.

“It was good that you used such an extreme method to meet me. You’re quite aggressive, contrary to rumors. Or perhaps that’s fitting for Melina’s disciple?”

“You know my master, I see.”

“I know her well. That’s why I’m having this conversation with you instead of killing you immediately.”

The Master of Dark crossed his legs and continued.

“Now explain why I should let you live. If you fail to convince me… you won’t meet a pleasant end.”

“You don’t seem afraid of my master.”

“Melina is a dangerous mage. But not beyond assassination. I’m more wary of the King of Martial Arts from the east.”

It was a matter of compatibility.

The Master of Dark wasn’t weak by any means; he just appeared relatively weaker because he’d only been shown facing high-level demons like Agares.

In terms of one-on-one combat, he was among the top three.

“…”

As Olivia remained silent, the Master of Dark shook his head and sighed.

“This is why I hate those who act recklessly, relying solely on their backing…”

“I know you owe my master a debt.”

The Master of Dark, who hadn’t even looked at her until then, slowly turned his chair to face Olivia.

“…To tell me about something that happened over a hundred years ago, you must be quite a cherished disciple.”

The Master of Dark clicked his tongue and flicked his finger. The elevator door behind Olivia, which had been firmly closed, opened with a ding.

“If I use that debt, it would be right to let you go. Leave, and tell her this clears our debt.”

But instead of entering the elevator, Olivia took a step closer to the Master of Dark.

“I’d like to use it in a slightly different way.”

The Master of Dark nodded as if telling her to speak.

“But before that.”

Swish…!

Olivia’s presence vanished, and in an instant, she moved behind the Master of Dark.

Olivia grabbed the hesitating Master of Dark by the nape and smiled as she spoke.

“What do you think you’re doing…?!”

“How long are you going to just watch from the corner?”

Cold energy shimmered from Olivia’s hand. Even so, her gaze never left the direction of the study.

The next moment.

[You’re quite perceptive.]

As the Master of Dark’s form melted like water in Olivia’s grasp, a masked man appeared from a corner of the study.

[Melina would be pleased.]