Ch.5353. Trick Show

“The dungeon belongs to who?”

Ragnis doubted her own ears.

Dungeons were cursed zones that Ragnis knew all too well.

The horrifying monsters lurking inside—if not subjugated in time, the backflow of contaminated mana would flood the surrounding area, escalating into serious natural disasters.

Although people had gathered because of this and formed groups, eventually developing into a kind of commercial district.

The most fundamental goal of Dungeon City was “disaster prevention.”

‘Escape.’

The first thing Ragnis thought upon hearing the Black Abyss’s master was to hastily leave his order.

“Is that… true?”

“Of course.”

“Then, I—”

“Nothing changes. You can continue your dungeon activities, or pursue your own goals here as you see fit.”

What the Black Abyss’s master wanted was time.

Until forces from other constellations arrived, he hoped his devotee Ragnis would somehow buy time.

“You want me to… deal with the exploration teams?”

“Exactly. That’s it.”

The Black Abyss’s master clapped at Ragnis’s astute response.

‘What exactly is “it”?’

Ragnis felt disoriented.

Claiming ownership of the dungeon, and then dealing with exploration teams.

As the scale of the situation increasingly deviated from her intentions, Ragnis grew anxious.

“Listen carefully. You’re my most valued devotee.”

A statement that would make Lisia and Belladis faint, but the Black Abyss’s master knew the most effective ways to elicit responses from his devotees.

“…”

Looking directly at Ragnis, whose gaze was wavering, he spoke with sincerity.

“Dungeons? They’re dangerous. I know that. But me being the dungeon’s owner? You must think that’s insane.”

“M-my constellation.”

“But I have no one else but you. I want you to hear my story and understand how things got to this point.”

The Black Abyss’s master offered plausible explanations.

The reason he willingly claimed to be the owner of what was essentially a ticking time bomb—

‘Because it’s fun.’

The dungeon? The risk of being discovered and attacked by everyone?

‘This is my world that I created!’

The middle-aged man in prison clothes shouted.

That was exactly it.

The dungeon was his new playground.

Dungeon City—though unintended, his main character’s order was leading the overall flow.

Neither the risk of revealing his identity nor what might follow posed any threat to him.

So—

“Just trust me and follow along.”

The Black Abyss’s master instilled confidence in the uneasy Ragnis, saying so.

“…Am I… necessary to you?”

Ragnis asked from deep confusion.

“I can’t do this without you.”

Beyond the black mask with no eye holes.

Feeling reassured by the constellation’s answer, and—

With a strange sense of trust, Ragnis found herself nodding without realizing it.

#

-At this rate, we’ll lose everything.

One of the constellations watching the situation left a simple comment.

-Must we just watch as that abominable Absolute One’s forces grow even stronger?

-If you’re that worried, deploy your own troops.

-I’m not crazy.

The constellation observing the situation sank into deep skepticism.

To think I joined forces with these bastards.

In the face of the crisis that the Absolute One had returned, rather than uniting, they were all demanding responsibility from each other—

This only raised questions about whether this was truly the appearance of lofty authorities.

In the midst of this desperate situation where everyone was busy checking each other, the approach of an unfamiliar constellation was detected.

-That’s…

In a space made of nothingness, a place difficult even for the Absolute One to find, someone visited as if it were their own home.

A familiar form of divine power that used the sun as its order’s symbol.

-Have you all been well?

-Black Sun…!

At this unexpected visit, the constellations lurking in the place were all astonished.

-You! Surely… by the Absolute One—

-Yes. I was captured. I was even tortured, and truly thought I would be annihilated.

What on earth was happening?

The constellations fell into confusion.

A constellation they thought had been captured and killed had returned.

And in perfect condition, no less.

-Wait.

Among the stars in disarray at this unexpected appearance, a relatively calm constellation asked the Incarnation of the Black Sun.

-What’s your purpose for coming here?

-Purpose? Ha.

The Incarnation of the Black Sun found their brazen attitude truly amusing.

‘I must endure.’

But for the sake of results, he could understand anything.

After all, they would all suffer the same fate in the end.

-The Absolute One has returned, and devotees have been attacked. I suddenly fell into slave status, but somehow managed to escape. Do you know what this means?

-The great constellation has quite a loose tongue. Are you here now on the Absolute One’s orders?

In short, the constellations were suspicious of the Incarnation of the Black Sun.

Understandably so.

One day he was suddenly kidnapped by the Absolute One, and now he had returned unharmed.

Knowing the Absolute One’s usual temperament, they knew very well that this was an absurd story.

Despite being a constellation, he hates other constellations and considers all constellations other than himself as enemies.

During the time of great upheaval in this world, the cruel massacres carried out by the Absolute One were being proven by the existence of constellations that had already turned to dust.

-There’s no way he would spare constellations he captured.

-How would I know that?

-…What?

-How am I supposed to understand what’s in that psychopath’s head! Whether he wants to kill other constellations or enslave them. Does that matter?

-What are you talking about?

-Even if everyone here attacked together, we’d barely stand a chance against the Absolute One’s forces…!

The Incarnation of the Black Sun gave a performance with all his might.

In truth, he wished everyone here would fall into the pit of hell, but now was the time to thoroughly conceal such emotions.

‘I’ll bring it myself! Okay?!’

After his request for status elevation was thoroughly rejected by the Absolute One that day, the Incarnation of the Black Sun kept thinking.

How could he bring down that arrogant Absolute One’s pride?

The answer lay with himself, or rather, with his true self.

The Incarnation of the Black Sun put aside his lofty pride and decided to move directly as his main body, not through his devotee.

If you want something, seize it yourself!

One principle learned through all the humiliation.

Thus, the Incarnation of the Black Sun successfully returned to the hideout of the group he once belonged to.

-Listen carefully.

The Incarnation of the Black Sun willingly spoke to the constellations who were still trying to get their bearings.

-Now that the Absolute One has returned, it’s only a matter of time before we’re hunted.

-Why are you telling us this now?

-Because other constellations must live for me to live!

-What does that even…

I am gladly on your side, he said.

With the Absolute One as a common enemy, they must thoroughly trust him.

-Sophistry! Hunting?! What hunting?! How dare you utter such arrogant words…!

-No, it’s not such a groundless statement. Have you already forgotten? The atrocities committed by the Absolute One throughout our shameful history?

The constellations remembered.

The hellish scenes perpetrated by the Absolute One’s fanatics across numerous holy wars.

-Do you think our devotees can survive if we face ‘them’ again in another holy war?

The Absolute One’s devotees are fundamentally different in some way.

-His devotees are all abnormal.

-Especially that red-haired devotee—it’s impossible to think of her as human.

-And that’s not all. The vampire from the Black Sun Order is even more bizarre and terrible.

-There’s even a devotee who, despite being a dragon, takes the form of a lowly human.

The more they dug, the more horrifying rumors emerged about that order.

The parade of deranged devotees matched to an insane constellation made all the constellations shudder.

-Y-yes! I’m telling you, that bastard’s legion will overwhelm our children!

The Incarnation of the Black Sun, while inwardly agreeing with their statements, skillfully drew out their desires.

Devotees are a constellation’s life and face.

-Y-yes. Perhaps it would be better to listen to Black Sun for now…

-With skills enough to escape from the Absolute One’s grasp, he surely can overcome the current situation.

-No, wait.

Just as it seemed the constellations’ responses had almost all turned favorable, the constellation who had been raising objections from the beginning spoke up.

-If we blindly trust and assign tasks, everyone here could be in danger.

-So you want us to sit around like cowards sucking our thumbs?!

-Who said that? I don’t want to just waste time either. Hey, Black Sun.

Black Sun? Black Suuun?

He was once a constellation of considerable rank among constellations.

When had he fallen so low that even a mere minor constellation could casually call his name?

The Incarnation of the Black Sun lamented his situation but, believing this to be the final hurdle, took the constellation’s question.

-If you want to work, you need to present information that would tempt us.

-…What do you want?

-Proof.

Evidence that he had completely escaped from the Absolute One, or if not that.

There needed to be clear evidence that the Incarnation of the Black Sun was hostile to the Absolute One.

-But even if I present evidence here, Dianon’s laws can be manipulated easily.

-Proving that is your job.

What kind of absurd logic was this?

After being kicked around like a dog in Dianon, had they decided to become dogs themselves and grow stupid?

The constellation’s illogical questioning made the Incarnation of the Black Sun momentarily feel disoriented.

However.

Upon reflection, the Incarnation of the Black Sun had quite a plausible alibi.

After all, once before—

The Incarnation of the Black Sun had his devotee directly attack the Absolute One.

It wasn’t his true self’s will, but rather a situation created by the Absolute One’s threats.

-I have the key.

-What key?

-You must know. The fact that my devotee wounded the Absolute One’s divine manifestation.

-…!!

At the Incarnation of the Black Sun’s statement, the place of nothingness trembled.

It was due to the resonance of numerous constellations.

Wounded the Absolute One.

What an impressive and sublime achievement!

-A lie?

-Do you think I’d come all this way and risk my life just to lie?

The Incarnation of the Black Sun was simply stating the facts.

As taught by “someone” with white hair and an annoying face.

Drop a single clever lie among many truths.

That alone was enough to completely draw the other party to his side—a perfect move.

-Trust me and follow me. Then I’ll tell you the means to attack the Absolute One.

‘You should experience it too.’

The experience of being manipulated and violated according to a constellation’s intentions from the beginning.

‘I’ve played this game before.’

It was like a game.

A very sticky game that plunges the opponent into an unfathomable swamp.