Episode 411. Secret Magic Society (4)

“Right. I knew something was off. Even if it’s about me, it doesn’t make sense that only three people went to Sol-i, right?”

“Yes, sir. It was my own decision. In my haste to seize control of the Mage Association….”

“Hmm….”

Somehow, something felt off.

It was one thing that only one person came to me, but only three people going to Im Sol was tantamount to ignoring her. Even if my information wasn’t fully out, Im Sol’s information would surely be sufficient.

Heh- heh-

With my arms crossed, I nudged Zero’s body repeatedly with my foot. Zero had been knocked down repeatedly by my magic, his whole body scorched. He lay collapsed, without even the strength to regenerate.

“Right. What’s the connection between Pandemic and Aiden?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Hurry up and answer. Do you want to fight more?”

“It’s a cooperative relationship! We intended to put the Association into Pandemic’s hands after making him the Association President!”

I nodded, looking at Zero. Since he didn’t seem to have any more will to fight, it was quite convenient that he answered smoothly after I asked a few questions to extract information. As expected, people only listen when they’re beaten.

The report to the Association President was already finished, so people from the Association would probably arrive soon. As for Pandemic’s terrorism, it was such a common occurrence that it could have been passed off as a mere incident, but something seemed suspicious.

‘Has the brainwashing weakened?’

In fact, the fact that a Pandemic executive acted unilaterally was strange in itself. Acting like that, even though they should be brainwashed, meant something unusual had happened to Maestro. Maestro’s magic power isn’t infinite, so if a lot of it was used elsewhere, this kind of situation might arise.

‘Aren’t these guys starting something weird again?’

I looked at Zero and spoke.

“Got any good intel? About Pandemic.”

“I, I don’t know. This is all I know….”

“Tsk. If you keep this up, I won’t hand you over to the Association. I’ll take you in.”

“I, I’ll think about it right now!”

While Zero was racking his brain, I turned my head to look at Im Sol. Im Sol was frowning as she drank her Claire Rose Latte. Judging by her expression, she seemed to dislike it, but more than half the drink was already gone.

“After drinking some, isn’t it okay?”

“…I guess so. But it hurts my pride.”

Im Sol sipped the Claire Rose Latte with a displeased expression.

“I’ll have one too.”

“Sure. Here.”

Slurp-

I tasted it too, for the first time in a while. My body tingled. Indeed, I could never forget this special taste. I’m really glad there’s a place that sells it even in America.

“Im Sol noona. When is the Association President coming?”

“Let’s see. I heard he’s on a business trip because of today’s incident. The Association’s investigation team will probably come, though?”

“Aha. Then…”

“Ah, ah! Right! I remembered!”

“….”

I looked at Zero, who had suddenly shouted, with cold eyes. Why was this bastard butting in while I was talking to Im Sol? I felt like hitting him, but Zero, not noticing my expression, started chattering excitedly.

“It’s the plan for human extinction. I finally remembered!”

“….”

But I couldn’t ignore terrifying words like human extinction. I sighed and replied.

“What is that?”

“It’s Maestro’s plan to destroy humanity.”

“So what is it? Explain it in detail.”

“I don’t really know the details… Pandemic executives only know information about their own tasks.”

What was this guy even trying to do? I kicked Zero’s side a few more times. Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked why he tried to seize the Association so quickly.

“Right. What was the reason for trying to seize the Association quickly?”

“To make them stop tracking us before the fact that I possessed Entropy was discovered….”

“Entropy? What’s that?”

“Seems like you’re talking about Infinite Entropy.”

“Infinite Entropy?”

I turned my head at Im Sol’s words. Infinite Entropy? I had never heard of it before. Fortunately, Im Sol seemed to know about it.

“What is it?”

“Uncle told me the day you were engrossed in magic research. He said it was a high-grade magic material stolen from the Association.”

“It’s not just a high-grade magic material. It’s like a miraculous material, emitting almost infinite energy.”

Zero answered Im Sol, putting on a serious expression. I didn’t really know, but it seemed like an incredible item. But why did you have it?

“What did you plan to use that miraculous material for? Did you steal it? Do you have it?”

“We planned to use it for Maestro’s Apostle summoning ritual…. But since Maestro’s contact never came, Aiden is currently keeping the Entropy.”

“By Aiden?”

“Yes. But I don’t know exactly where it’s being kept either….”

Tadadadak-

Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard. As I looked in the direction of the sound, a group of mages was rushing over, their eyes wide.

“There! It’s a fiend! Restrain him immediately!”

“P-please save me! It’s me!”

“…Huh?”

Zero, who had been lying face down on the floor, quickly sprang up and knelt before the Association mages. That bastard pretended he couldn’t move, but it was a lie.

“It, it’s me! It’s me! Zero, an executive of Pandemic! I’ll do anything you ask, so please….”

“Uh… Mage Lee Hoyeon?”

“Yes. Take him away. That’s the guy.”

I waved my hand dismissively, as if annoyed, and handed Zero over. I’d extracted all the information, so they should take him. I turned and looked at Im Sol, who was checking her smartwatch.

“Sol… Professor Im Sol. Shall we go to the beach?”

“Uncle is apparently coming this way urgently. I have to go meet him.”

“…Haa.”

I figured as much. These fiend bastards really are useless. I let out a sigh of disappointment and followed behind Im Sol.

*

The hotel’s first-floor lobby, just like always. Im Sol and I checked the news Arthur was showing us.

• S-class fiends attack Mage Im Sol and Mage Lee Hoyeon.

• Promising young mages of the Association also exposed to terrorism. A declaration of war by Pandemic?

“At the same time you were attacked, the Association was also attacked. Several mages on Aiden’s side died, I see.”

“…Is that so.”

“Student Lee Hoyeon seems more sensitive than you look. You look upset.”

“…Yes. Well, people died.”

I didn’t disagree with Arthur’s words. To be honest, I wasn’t sad that unknown mages died. I was just in a bad mood because I couldn’t go to the beach with Im Sol. Arthur smiled proudly at me, then put on a stern expression again.

“Purely my opinion, but… I suspect the deaths of the mages on Aiden’s side might be a fabrication.”

“Uncle, a fabrication?”

“It’s simple. Four S-class fiends were deployed against you, but not a single S-class fiend appeared on their side, and the mages who died were low-profile individuals. It’s an obvious ploy.”

I shook my head watching their conversation.

“Trying to use even their own side for a public opinion war… they’re truly crazy bastards.”

“Yeah. But there’s no proof.”

Anyone could see it was strange, but I couldn’t point it out. It wasn’t easy to argue that the mages who died weren’t famous enough, especially when someone had died.

“Come to think of it, Uncle. That Infinite Entropy? Tell me about it again.”

“Infinite Entropy? Didn’t you refuse when I asked for your help, saying you didn’t have time?”

“That was then. Things are different now.”

Im Sol asked Arthur about Infinite Entropy. She seemed to remember that I had been curious about it earlier.

“To put it simply, you can think of it as an infinite mass of energy. Of course, it’s not truly infinite, but it’s called Infinite Entropy because it can be used for several thousand years.”

“And it’s currently stolen?”

“Yes. We’re searching for it even now. The Association is pouring its full strength into it. No matter what happens, I will find it again before I retire….”

“I found it.”

“…What?”

Arthur’s eyes widened as he looked at me, cutting into the conversation. You’re doing it again, just like last time. I smiled and continued speaking.

“I heard Aiden has it. It’s information I heard directly from Zero, whom I caught today.”

“…Is that true? But you haven’t even started the interrogation yet. Pandemic fiends have a reputation for enduring torture well. And if it’s not a confirmed testimony, it’ll be hard to prove Aiden’s connection.”

“You’ll know if you contact them. I trained them well.”

Beep- beep-

Hearing my confident words, Arthur connected the phone call right in front of us.

“Nix. What’s the condition of the executives captured this time?”

“- They’re still the same. The one I’m in charge of is a fiend named Zero… he’s still not saying anything.”

“Tell him that if he doesn’t talk right now, Mage Lee Hoyeon will visit.”

I said calmly.

“Ahem. Nix. Tell him that if he doesn’t testify, Mage Lee Hoyeon will visit.”

Arthur looked at me doubtfully, but relayed the message just as I said.

“- Mage Lee Hoyeon…? I’ll try telling him. Hey. If you don’t talk right now, Mage Lee Hoyeon will come….”

“- Aaaargh! I’ll tell you everything, so please!”

As soon as the man named Nix mentioned my name, a terrible scream rang out from the smartwatch. Arthur looked at me with surprised eyes and gave a thumbs-up.

“You look gentle, but your combat style seems quite fierce. I see you in a new light.”

“Thank you.”

This was also possible because the brainwashing had weakened. Of course, speaking the brainwashing words would completely undo it, but since I didn’t know what kind of thoughts that fiend originally had, leaving them be was often better. There are so many crazy bastards among fiends, you know.

“- Ah, Mr. President! Zero has started confessing. He admitted his relationship with Aiden!”

“Understood. For now, don’t inform the higher-ups and stand by. I’ll contact you again.”

Arthur calmed his subordinate and hung up the phone. Then, he immediately stood up from his seat.

“Evidence has appeared. I’ll make sure Sol-i and you get a reward after this is over.”

“Uncle, are you going right now?”

“Yes. Now that we have proof, it’s time to strike back. Waiting for investigation permits might be too late, so I plan to charge in with only my trusted subordinates for now.”

I looked at Arthur, burning with enthusiasm, and thought. “It doesn’t matter much to me whether Aiden is caught or not.” But at that moment, Infinite Entropy flashed through my mind.

‘Didn’t they say Aiden had it?’

If I could obtain it, wouldn’t it be helpful for the magic Rebecca and I are creating? Since it’s magic of such immense scale, we often said we lacked the magic power.

Ahem.

I said, controlling my expression.

“Mr. President. If you need people, Professor Im Sol and I will help too.”

“…Me too?”

Im Sol tilted her head, surprised to hear her name called out of the blue.

*

“Damn it. Damn it…!”

Aiden’s mansion. Hearing the news that Im Sol and Lee Hoyeon had survived the attack, he moved busily.

“I shouldn’t have trusted those crazy fiends.”

Click-

The empty space beneath the work desk. He checked the secret storage, protected by several layers of magic circles. Infinite Entropy. He had somehow managed to get it from the Association as the Pandemic fiends requested, but…

“Should I hide it somewhere, even now?”

He didn’t know what their plan was for such an item, but Aiden had no use for Infinite Entropy.

“…No. Let’s calm down.”

Aiden took a deep breath and re-sealed the Infinite Entropy. He couldn’t give up on Pandemic yet. Even though this attack failed, their power was real. Pandemic fiends are famous for not yielding to torture. They’d rather die than leak their information. Besides, even if his name came up, his connections in the investigation team would pass on the information in advance.

“For now, I need to watch and see for a few days.”

He had even become a candidate for the next Association President by borrowing Pandemic’s power. Once he became Association President, he could incorporate his own secret magic order into the Association in exchange for giving the fiends some power. From then on, he could legalize magic experiments using humans. His dream would come true.

“I can’t give up now….”

There were too many things he had accomplished to give up now. In the end, Aiden couldn’t give up his greed until the very end, and

KWAAAAANG-!

That was his last chance.