Ch.72Hunter, or Prey (3)

“Black magicians and black magic are like a plague.”

“In that they are extremely harmful to people, and if left unchecked, they can spread and devour an entire territory in an instant.”

These were words written in the Empire’s history books.

Countless black magicians who read these words rose up claiming it was slander, but the voices of those magicians never reached the ears of the scribe who had engraved that single line in the history books.

This was because all the black magicians who had risen up were dead.

Killed by whom? By the Empire’s knights and inquisitors.

The Empire applies a zero-tolerance policy to black magic and demons. Whatever the purpose, whoever the subject, without question or investigation, completely annihilate everything related. This rule proclaimed by the Empire disregarded not only social status but even national borders.

Because that was the Empire’s mission.

“Why do you think it’s called black magic?”

Najin, who had been meditating with his eyes closed in the carriage, listened to Merlin’s voice. Sitting on a wall, Merlin spoke in a nonchalant voice while resting her chin on her hand.

“Basically, magic is a discipline that requires an enormous amount of time. If you’re not a genius like me, you have to start with the characters that form the foundation of magic, then the structure of circuits, understanding of circles, the structure of magic, and so on… there’s a lot to learn.”

Merlin shrugged.

“A genius like me can understand just by looking once, but normally that’s not—”

“Let’s skip the Merlin story and get to the point.”

“…Haven’t you been cold to me lately?”

I’ve just learned where to cut you off appropriately.

As Najin muttered this, Merlin grumbled but continued her explanation about black magic.

“The point is this. Black magic ‘shortens’ the complicated process. Tremendously so.”

What is the method?

Merlin answered with a sigh.

“Using living sacrifices. You pass all the costs and processes required for using magic onto others. The more sacrifices, the more powerful it becomes.”

She drew on the dirt ground.

“Human fingers, ornaments made of human bones, and sometimes even flasks ‘containing’ living humans. These are things black magicians always carry around.”

Just hearing about it made Najin’s brow furrow.

He clicked his tongue briefly and muttered.

“So that’s why it’s called black magic.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Anyway, Merlin muttered and continued.

“That’s the key to defeating them. What gives black magicians an advantage over ordinary magicians? It’s the shortening and strengthening of spell casting through sacrifices. If you destroy all the objects they use as sacrifices or mediums, that’s the end of it.”

And then it goes boom boom.

Merlin made a gesture of flicking her fingers as if exploding something.

“This is a precious insight I gained from grinding through several black magicians, so engrave it firmly in your mind.”

Merlin shrugged as she said this, seemingly pleased to be able to show off her knowledge.

2.

Regenoff City.

After getting off the carriage and following the knight’s guidance, Najin arrived at a meeting room where those participating in this operation had gathered. The one who welcomed him was a middle-aged man who appeared to be the employer.

“I’ve heard much about your reputation, Adventurer.”

The man warmly greeted Najin.

The man, who introduced himself as Hite, had been given command of this operation by the lord of Regenoff City.

After Najin’s arrival, people continued to arrive one after another, and finally, when the inquisitors gathered, Hite explained the outline of the operation.

“Our target is the black magician Faube, estimated to be of the fourth circle. A notable characteristic is that he possesses the masterpiece ‘Shadow of Fire’…”

The explanation continued for a while.

The information about Faube was not much different from what Najin had heard from the knight. While half-listening to Hite’s explanation, Najin observed the people gathered in the meeting room.

‘Knights, mercenary captains, and inquisitors.’

Najin’s gaze lingered on the inquisitors for a moment.

They wore pristine white priestly robes with blood-red embroidery.

They were battle priests bearing the symbol of the Order of the Blood Star. Unlike ordinary priests who carried law books and maces, they were equipped with sharply honed longswords and spears.

“Faube was last confirmed to be in the underground waterway. Along with sightings in the waterway, traces of black magic have been continuously discovered.”

“I think we’ve heard enough.”

A priest interrupted Hite’s explanation and stood up.

He appeared to be the leader of the inquisitors, and he briefly explained to Hite.

“We will move independently, focusing on the underground waterway. The Order of the Blood Star has its own methods.”

He didn’t even ask for understanding.

However, neither Hite nor the others gathered seemed to mind, simply nodding their heads. After all, hunting down black magicians had always been the job of the Order of the Blood Star.

They were the experts in this field, and everyone seemed to respect the experts’ opinions. After the Order’s inquisitors left, Hite continued.

“The priests of the Order know this well, but for those of you unfamiliar with black magicians, I’d like to share some precautions and tactics. Does anyone already know something about this?”

Najin raised his hand.

“I’ve heard that destroying the objects black magicians use as sacrifices or mediums is useful for defeating them.”

This was information he had heard from Merlin.

Since it came from an expert who had consumed numerous black magicians, it must be accurate. However, Hite made a somewhat peculiar expression upon hearing Najin’s answer.

“Yes…? That’s not wrong, but… that’s quite an outdated method. It’s hardly used these days.”

He smiled awkwardly, looking troubled.

Though he was trying to put it delicately, it meant that this was an antiquated method from long ago. Najin quietly muttered to himself.

‘I thought you said it was a tactic against black magicians?’

-……

Merlin remained silent.

After a brief silence, Merlin spoke.

-…He doesn’t know any better. That’s how it was in my time.

Najin realized he needed to filter the information from Merlin, who had been active nearly a thousand years ago.

“I’ve summarized information that will be helpful when dealing with black magicians here, so reading it once should be beneficial. And…”

After distributing the documents, Hite took a deep breath.

“Adventurer Ivan, please come this way. I have some matters to discuss with you privately.”

Najin nodded.

After the mercenary captains and knights left, Najin met with Hite alone and learned about the special conditions attached to this request.

“So…”

Najin summarized what he had heard.

“You want me to handle this as quickly as possible, preferably faster than the inquisitors?”

“You understand perfectly.”

Hite nodded.

He promised that the faster the job was completed, the higher the reward would be.

“Why would we hire an adventurer like yourself when we could have just left it to the inquisitors? It’s to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”

The reason he explained was roughly this:

Five inquisitors had already been killed by Faube. If that number increased, or if Faube’s estimated threat level rose, it would become very problematic…

“Problematic how?”

Najin asked about the reason.

Hite answered with a deep sigh.

“The Executioner of the Order of the Blood Star will make an appearance.”

The Executioner of the Order of the Blood Star.

That was a being Najin was familiar with.

“The Executioner… you mean Juel Lazian?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Just as the Order of the Lighthouse has the Lighthouse Keeper and the Order of the Sacred Host has the Sacred Host, the Order of the Blood Star has the Executioner.

The Sword Master, Juel Lazian.

Najin had also encountered some information about this being known as the Murderer. After all, Juel Lazian was one of the candidates who could draw Excalibur.

“She tends to move personally… when there’s a black magician with a danger level above a certain threshold.”

Despite it not being a matter worthy of a Sword Master’s attention, Juel Lazian moves nonetheless. If there’s a justification to bloody her blade, she willingly takes action.

And when that happens, everything is over.

The Executioner of the Order of the Blood Star possesses immunity, extralegal authority, and the right of summary judgment beyond what even the Pope of the Order holds. The moment such a figure sets foot in a territory… it truly becomes chaos.

“It’s not for nothing that they say hunting one black magician can burn down an entire territory. The lord wishes to resolve this matter cleanly before the Executioner of the Order of the Blood Star takes action.”

The moment Juel Lazian moves.

The territory will become a sea of blood, and all business in the growing commercial city will freeze. Hite was explaining that they had hired Najin to prevent such an outcome.

“…Isn’t just me insufficient for this?”

Najin tilted his head as he listened.

While he was confident in his abilities, if what Hite said was true, wouldn’t one person be inadequate? If they were so concerned, shouldn’t they have hired more personnel?

“Ah, you needn’t worry about that.”

Hite smiled at Najin’s question.

“We hired another very skilled adventurer from the adventurer city along with you, didn’t we? You should be able to work together with that person.”

They should be waiting for you.

Saying this, Hite opened the door and went outside. Following him, Najin arrived at a place where a man wearing a deeply pulled-down poncho was standing.

“……”

The man silently looked at Najin.

The moment their eyes met, Najin felt a chill run down his spine. An eerie gaze. Like the eyes of a wild beast. After feeling that eeriness for a moment, Najin narrowed his eyes.

He recognized the man’s appearance.

He had seen it in a portrait hanging in the Central Guild. The moment their eyes met, Najin recalled the man’s name.

‘Kaufman Theosis.’

The Eagle Eye, Kaufman Theosis.

One of the five white-ranked adventurers in the city.

3.

The Eagle Eye, Kaufman Theosis.

Najin was well aware of the stories about this adventurer, a former ranger of the Tetzel Mountains.

The white-ranked adventurers, who stood at the pinnacle of the adventurer city, were all famous, and Najin had a personal interest in the man called Kaufman.

Kaufman Theosis is a ranger.

And when it comes to rangers, the first person Najin thinks of is ‘Horse,’ one of the rulers of the underground city.

‘Though he probably doesn’t compare to Horse.’

Regardless, Najin had some interest in the combat style of those called rangers. As they maintained eye contact, Kaufman approached Najin first. With each step he took, the nameplate hanging from his neck swayed.

A pure white nameplate.

It was proof that he was a white-ranked adventurer, at the pinnacle of Cambria. Confirming that his guess was correct, Najin also stepped toward Kaufman.

Tap.

Stopping at the midpoint, Kaufman extended his hand to Najin first. It seemed like he was offering a handshake, and Najin grasped his hand. Kaufman spoke first.

“I’ve heard about you. Red-ranked adventurer, Ivan. We’ll be working together on this job. I’m Kaufman Theosis. Need an introduction?”

Najin shook his head.

“I’ve heard stories and know about you. I look forward to working with you.”

“Good, you’re quick to understand. First, we’ll infiltrate the underground waterway to pursue the black magician. You’ve heard the request details, right? Our employer says speed is of the essence, so I plan to move quickly.”

Kaufman pointed to the entrance leading to the underground waterway.

“We’ll get ahead of the inquisitors. We’ll quickly eliminate the black magician Faube before he causes more casualties. Understood?”

A quick summary of the key points.

Najin nodded.

“Good. Let’s move.”

No small talk was necessary.

As they were about to pass through the entrance to the underground waterway, Kaufman loaded an arrow into his ballista and asked Najin a question.

“Do you need a lantern? I have good night vision so I don’t need one, but you might.”

“I also have good vision, so I should be fine.”

“Is that so? Well then…”

Looking at the darkness that shrouded the underground waterway, Kaufman let out a slight chuckle.

“Be careful anyway.”

The sound of the crossbow being loaded echoed heavily with a click.

“In such dark underground waterways, no one knows who will become the prey and who will be the hunter.”