Chapter 136: The Trick(?)

The celestial pillar that bridges heaven and earth.

The legendary blade, soaked in a thousand bloods, forged in a hundred battles, and engraved with ten glories.

The bottomless pouch that spews forth endless gold.

The endless silk vast enough to cover the world.

The supreme being before whom even ruling sovereigns kneel and kiss the ground.

It all read like some passage from mythology, utterly unreal.

They couldn’t make sense of it.

What exactly was the Asking Left Hand demanding?

It was beyond comprehension.

How were they supposed to fulfill those requests?

Heroes and Holy Sword.

Even those lofty, exalted titles meant nothing here.

Their fears had been right.

The price for a destroyed city was not something they could possibly pay.

…Yet somehow, all the demands had been fulfilled.

All but the last.

Amid their confusion, the Asking Left Hand spoke its final demand.

—Bring forth a being who wields the power of black magic with untainted, pure energy!

Was it just their imagination?

The voice seemed firmer, more petty, as though dead set on not being tricked again.

The lofty, metaphorical tone had shifted to blunt and direct.

It carried the vibe of someone vowing, “Not this time.”

And so, the Asking Left Hand gave its final demand.

The tension that had briefly lightened now returned with full force.

Every gaze turned toward one man.

Risir.

The one who had, by some unknown means, fulfilled all the other demands.

Would he manage it again this time?

“…”

But the hand that had shot up so often before… stayed down.

After a brief hesitation, Risir shook his head.

—…

“””…”””

They knew they shouldn’t feel it, but… relief crept in.

Moments later, the Asking Left Hand spoke.

—I grant you three days. Three days’ reprieve.

Black blotches appeared on everyone’s necks.

A sentence.

A curse.

Their faces grew complex as they noticed the marks on each other.

Three days.

A short time for such an impossible task.

But compared to the moments they had been living on before, it was a gift of breathing room.

And all thanks to him.

Felix’s party exchanged glances and nodded.

No more doubt.

Now they understood why the Hero of Ideals Jane had praised Risir so highly.

Now they understood why the Sword of Enhancement had chosen him instead of Jane.

Their eyes all turned back to Risir.

“…Hm?”

That’s when they noticed the difference.

Risir.

He alone bore no black mark on his neck.

They thought little of it.

After all, he had fulfilled nearly all the demands himself.

Surely the Asking Left Hand was giving him special treatment.

—Three days…

“?”

But then the Asking Left Hand did something strange.

Lying on the table, it feebly reached toward Risir.

—Three days…!

Its fingers trembled violently, as though squeezing out the last of its strength.

“Yes. Three days.”

Risir calmly answered.

The mark never appeared on his neck.

—…

The Asking Left Hand went limp.

“””…”””

Special treatment.

That must be it, right?

They pushed away needless questions.

There were more pressing matters to attend to.

“Phew…”

With the tension finally lifting, sighs of relief spread through the room.

“Risir!”

Felix moved first, rushing to grasp Risir’s shoulder.

“Thank you! It’s all thanks to you! If Tilla had been lost, I… I don’t know what I would’ve done…!”

Then Tilla herself stepped up, her normally fierce face softened.

“…Thank you.”

She bowed deeply.

“If not for you, I— no, all of us would’ve been doomed.”

Hearing her, Felix’s smile faded.

That cocky grin of his was gone.

“Damn it… I’m sorry. I dragged you into this mess…”

“…”

Jane tried to muster his trademark immaculate smile.

It came out awkward.

“It’s alright.”

No, it wasn’t.

The mood was far too heavy for that.

Because of Felix’s “gift,” they had suffered a nightmare.

And—

“…A being who uses black magic with pure energy… could such a thing even exist?”

Camilla, the elf, muttered.

Their faces darkened further.

Could they really find such a being in just three days?

“…Hm.”

Even the Hero of Ideals, who had never doubted himself, couldn’t speak confidently of the odds.

No one dared offer Felix comfort.

Not when even their own parties were under threat.

Silence was all they could manage.

That was when—

“Let’s think positively.”

Their drifting gazes all turned to the same man again.

“If we survive this, it’ll be thanks to us all being here together. Felix, be glad you didn’t attempt this relic alone.”

“””…!”””

The Sword of Enhancement no longer shone.

Yet their eyes shone brightly as they looked at Risir.

“…Ha.”

Jane chuckled.

“Risir, if you put it that way, what does that make me?”

He clapped Felix on the shoulder.

“Sorry, Felix. I showed a shameful side. You offered this relic in good faith, and I was the one who agreed—”

“…No. It’s my fault. It’s an ancient relic. I should’ve taken more precautions. I was arrogant, blinded by greed.”

“Tilla, are you alright?”

“Yes… thanks to Mr. Risir, the Left Hand’s curse feels weaker.”

“Just in case, let’s check. Verlotta?”

“On it.”

The oppressive mood eased slightly.

Felix gave a weak laugh, self-deprecation in his grin.

“Jane, you know… at first, I thought you’d given up the Sword of Enhancement for Risir.”

“What? Why would I—”

“Because you’d totally do something like that. And more than that… because he looked so unworthy in my eyes. But I admit it… I was wrong. You, all of you, were right.”

He looked at Risir again and smiled faintly.

Then turned back to Jane.

“You knew, didn’t you? That Risir had this kind of talent. Right?”

“….”

“What was that, anyway? What did you just do?”

“….”

“?”

Jane’s eyes trembled.

I don’t know!

I’m scared!

Was that just their imagination?

Felix glanced at Camilla.

“…”

She looked away.

Then at Verlotta.

“…”

She, too, looked away.

“…?”

Felix tilted his head.

Oh. That?

It had just… happened, somehow?

He’d thought Jane’s party would explain clearly, having seen Risir’s power in the sword trial.

Instead, they looked more bewildered than anyone.

So Felix turned back to Risir to ask directly.

How had he satisfied the Left Hand?

What trick had he used?

“…Black magic, huh.”

But Risir was already lost in thought.

He was busy pondering how to fulfill the demand.

“…!”

The heroes’ eyes widened.

Even now, he pressed forward without wavering.

“…Yeah.”

They couldn’t afford to give up because there were only three days.

And they couldn’t afford to relax because there were still three days.

To them, Risir now looked like a guiding star.

“Pochena!”

Felix summoned the full force of Insight’s power.

—…!

The elemental, already searching for an answer in her inner world, flared brightly.

Black magic.

A power of corruption that tainted everything it touched.

It should’ve been impossible for someone wielding it to remain pure.

A blatant contradiction.

—I don’t know…!

Maybe this time, the Left Hand really had asked for the impossible.

“…Not even you?”

If anyone here had vast knowledge, it was her.

Maybe even more than all the others combined.

And yet, even she had no answer.

“….”

Normally, that would’ve driven them all to despair.

But—

“….”

Risir.

He still thought deeply, refusing to give up.

“….”

Felix and Jane exchanged a nod.

“Jane, any ideas? Anyone we can turn to for help—”

The Hero of Insight swallowed his pride.

“…The Frozen Breath and the Collector.”

Verlotta, the scholar, answered.

“They might know something…!”

Consensus came quickly.

They hurried off to seek help from the two figures staying at Goose Mansion.

“Risir?”

Only one remained still.

“You’re not coming?”

“Ah. I’ll stay here and… look for an answer in my own way.”

“….”

They didn’t press him.

They only nodded, full of trust towards the strange man.

Soon, Risir was alone.

He muttered, as though consulting someone unseen.

“The others’ marks… My power didn’t affect them. Must be the result of the magical contract. If that’s the case, shortcuts won’t work…”

He assumed it was Zarak speaking and answered.

—Risir! Do you think you can trick it again? If there’s anything I can do, say the word! I, Zarak, would burn my very existence to aid you!

There was worry in the Holy Sword’s voice, but even more, immense expectation.

Trickery.

That’s what Zarak thought.

Like the others, he believed Risir had used some mysterious method to deceive the Left Hand.

But then—

—Wha!? What are you—!?

Zarak recoiled in shock.

A pale fire elemental had appeared without warning.

—How!? I didn’t sense a thing… Risir! Snap out of it! This isn’t the time for pondering! Some suspicious being—

“It’s fine, Zarak. Don’t worry. I summoned him.”

—What…!?

—You insolent wretch! How dare mere item speak the glorious Mastah’s name!

—M-Mastah…!?

As Zarak struggled to catch up, Risir spoke to the pale fire elemental, Dan’Galeon.

“Dan’Galeon.”

—Yes, Mastah!!! Speak but a whisper, and I, Dan’Galeon, shall divine your will!!!

“You once asked if I’d learn your power. Remember?”

—Mastah!? Could it be!!! RAAAAHHHH!!!

The elemental flared wildly in ecstasy.

—At last! Even if I, the Divine Flame that Shone Upon the World, fade to nothingness here, I have no regrets!!!

Zarak could only watch, bewildered.

-…What is going on…!?

At the same time, the two hero parties arrived in Goose Mansion’s guest chamber, where two figures were already meeting.

The high noble and the Archmage.

The Collector and the Frozen Breath.

By fortune, they were together.

The heroes were granted immediate audience.

Felix explained everything on behalf of his group.

“Risir’s with you?”

That was the part that drew their sharpest interest.

Drey shrugged.

“Well, then I wouldn’t worry. If he’s there, while we’re still talking, he’ll already have solved it.”

Pallarg stroked his heavy beard and nodded.

Their reaction reassured Felix’s party.

Surely these two, though not wielders of Holy Swords, were extraordinary enough.

Confident and calm, they seemed unshaken.

If they had been present, would they not have handled it just as smoothly?

Felix, encouraged, continued.

“As you said, Risir already saved us once. Tremendously.”

They nodded knowingly.

“But even he seems to have hit a wall. His tricks that satisfied every demand… they failed on the last one.”

Thud.

Drey and Pallarg sprang to their feet.

“You mean Risir himself can’t act!?”

The Archmage’s eyes went wide with shock.

What the—?

The easy confidence they’d shown was gone in an instant.

“There’s no time to waste!”

“We must act immediately!”

They began speaking urgently, their composure shattered.

Felix’s party, though surprised, felt oddly reassured.

At least these two recognized the gravity of the situation, and seemed ready to help.

“Wait, why not include Pochena in the discussion? She’s the Sword of Insight elemental.”

But just as they moved to join the talk—

“…Felix?”

Jane stared at him in disbelief.

“…Jane, you…?”

Felix, too, stared back in shock.

The black curse marks were gone from their necks.

Thud.

Now it was the heroes themselves who leapt up.

They rushed from the room.

“….”

“….”

Drey and Pallarg exchanged a look, then hurried after them.

“Risir!?”

“Ah, you’re here.”

Felix’s party, arriving breathless, let out a sigh of relief to see him unharmed.

“Wait, Felix. Look—”

“…!?”

Tilla pointed toward the table.

The Asking Left Hand lay there, stripped of its ominous aura, nothing more than a dried husk.

They quickly understood.

“Risir! By the gods, you did it again! You found a way to deceive it!!!”

—Such an astounding gift…!

The Hero of Insight’s eyes shone as he approached.

Until the very end, Risir had been right.

The Asking Left Hand’s absurd demands were riddles with hidden answers.

And Risir had found the answers.

“….”

Risir smiled faintly.

What had happened in that short time?

His face was lined with fatigue.

“How did you do it!? How did you trick it!?”

The Hero of Ideals asked, stepping close.

Risir answered with a note of relief.

“Fortunately, one of my companions is a devil. I was able to learn black magic.”

“Yes, a companion who’s a devil—”

…Wait.

Something about that felt wrong.

They all sensed it in his words.