episode_0193

CLXXXV.

Black tentacle monster.

The sword Caligo said was a plant from the demon world, and it appeared in front of Gray and his group.

If Phoebe and Katniss were shocked by the sight of the demonic plants, and Ella was indifferent to it,

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

The witch and May looked with interest and curiosity at the two demon world man-eating trees.

“Good experimental material.”

“Yeah yeah! Sister! It’s half and half… Yeah!”

“Okay. Exactly, every single bit of flesh, half-half.”

“Deal!”

Something like this.

Oh? The two of them are shaking hands quite seriously.

But isn’t it too easygoing when faced with such a strange plant from the demon world?

“Don’t worry, honey.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know about other people, but to Walpurgis Witch and the sorcerer, that’s just like a vegetable in the garden. It’s like a chef with a slicing knife not being afraid of a fish that looks a little bit fierce.”

I nodded at the words that I understood immediately.

Where are you and what are you doing now?

To explain how we ended up in this situation, we need to go back a couple of hours.

Two hours ago.

To be honest, I was quite surprised to hear Pope Judas’s message. I never thought those suffocating supermen would use the professor to track down money.

Is it true that the saying that talent can be replaced is somewhat true? When Pope Judas was entrusted with the aftermath, he did such a great job.

Anyway, in the case of some noble estates, a large number of fighting forces were transferred to the Clytonic Empire from the temples of the Holy Kingdom, including the Temple of Caligo, which included superhumans.

In the Clytonic Empire, there was even a brief incident where the warp gates were closed due to concerns about war, as considerable forces were moved throughout the Clytonic Empire.

In addition, powerful men were dispatched from the Cradle of the Unmanned to join those from the Temple. A force that was enough to overthrow the Clitean Empire.

In addition, the candidates were joined by Divine Warrior Ella Stone, Divine Bow Katniss Everdeen, Sword Mage Biffy Noah, and Sorceress of Destruction Lina Inverse.

These were candidates who had reached the realm of quasi-superhuman.

From superhuman to quasi-superhuman.

It may be excessive, but the places where at least one superhuman headed were places where the flow of funds was so significant that the superhuman’s joining was a necessary condition.

Furthermore, although the Clytonic Empire may not have been aware of it, each investigation team was supported by at least two Shadows.

Among all this excessive power, the place where the power was most concentrated was our group.

All of the Arcana, and Topp, and me.

However, the place assigned to us was the place where the most funds flowed, and when they heard this name, all the superhumans nodded their heads, saying, ‘That makes sense.’

The Duchy of Bloman.

The head of the Clitec Empire’s noble faction, one of the current Emperor’s father-in-laws, and a Duke of the Empire.

Nearly half of the money flowed here. And it was only natural that I, Arcana, and Topply would take charge of this place.

Oh, Noel, a former Caligo Heresy Judge, decided to wait in the mansion. He judged that he was too weak to do anything with the group.

Although she was called a substitute, she was given the task of preparing the mansion for possible intrusion.

So we headed from Evergreen to Hubble. Why Hubble and not the dukedom?

Because Duke Bloman is in Hubble.

He is a nobleman who is deeply involved in the politics of the capital city, and he leaves the management of his lands to his son.

“Are you here?”

“Yes.”

The Duke of Bloman’s mansion located in Hubble.

Any capital city would naturally boast high land prices, but the fact that he owned a huge mansion in Hubble was a show of grandeur that gave an idea of his power.

Kwaang―.

The door bursts open. He could have gone in silently, but the clown deliberately broke the door open so that a loud bang could be heard.

Infiltration? Surprise?

Why that?

The area around the mansion is already completely surrounded. How?

“The palace. You can’t miss it.”

Now, we have become accustomed to seeing them so often that we can use the Gapjashinjang (甲子神將) and Gungbira. Hundreds of Gungbira and Rat Shinjang surrounded the mansion without any gaps.

Above all, it seems that they had no intention of hiding in the first place. Judging by the number of knights and nobles running towards the main gate.

And as I watched the nobles walking confidently at the very front, I could guess the source of their confidence that allowed them to walk so confidently.

“Ah, Duke Bloman’s realm is Circle 8, right?”

– Yes. And he is also a Spear Master.

A voice comes from behind.

I already knew it, but suddenly hearing a voice above my head, especially from the back of my head, is not a particularly good feeling. Absolutely not.

But I’m trying to understand because Shadow’s life is like that and his actions are engraved in him. I’m such an understanding man.

Of course… . The benefit of getting quality information from Shadow is greater than the feeling of being offended by Shadow’s actions.

“Spear Master… … ? But it’s a little different?”

The closer we got, the more certain I became that the energy I felt from the Count was not normal.

These so-called Sword Mages or Mage Swords, who usually use both magic and weapons, have their Mana Core and Force Core connected in some way.

And it’s bound to show. At least, unless the opponent’s level is significantly higher than mine.

“Isn’t it weird?”

“Yes, Master.”

Just in case, I asked Jingbal to confirm, and Jingbal nodded, agreeing with my opinion that it was strange.

It goes without saying that the four divine powers, although different in their own right, reject each other if they do not have the same attributes.

Therefore, in order to handle Mana and Force simultaneously, a process of agreement between the divine power cores is necessary.

That’s the process by which the cores connect to each other.

How do you know so much?

Because I am a party to the matter.

Although I can’t use magic, I have all four attribute cores. And I also went through the process of coming to an agreement.

But the Duke of Bloomon who is approaching me now has his mana core and force core completely disconnected.

As if one of them wasn’t mine.

“Is candidate Gracie by any chance?”

Duke Bloman, who had come close to me with his men, asked me this.

“That’s right.”

The moment I agree, their faces all distort. Why wouldn’t they? A commoner kid is using informal language.

“That’s good. It seems like there are a lot of nobles here. There’s no need to run around so quickly.”

Hard―.

As we rubbed our fingers together repeatedly, the shadow that had been following us through the air fell from the air.

“Aside from Duke Bloman, are there any other territories around there that we should investigate? Let me know.”

“Yes. Focus self-made.”

“Huh?”

A man who reflexively answered the sound of someone calling him is looking this way.

“If you call, you will be excluded to the left. It would be better to move voluntarily, in a gentlemanly and noble manner.”

“Count Marcel, Viscount Watson, Baron Percy, Baron Cerrone.”

Five people were called in total, and not a single noble was excluded. Even Count Point, who had initially answered unconsciously.

“That’s why I’m saying this. I’m saying that nobles are worse than dogs and pigs?”

“Isn’t that too harsh!”

“No? It’s not that bad? And I’m serious. You have to get hit to listen, right? Punishment.”

Breaking news!

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

“Kwak?!”

“Ouch!”

“Wow!”

.

.

Five bangs and five screams.

And the sound of something rolling on the rough dirt floor.

It was heard almost simultaneously, and of course none of the nobles and his knights detected such a punishment.

Only after the nobles had collapsed on the floor did the knights and wizards start to take out their swords or wield their wands in surprise.

“If you pull that out, you die.”

He hesitated at my continued words and looked at Duke Bloman’s expression.

The reason they can’t say ‘How dare you!’ when they point that out to me, a commoner, when I speak informally is probably because they personally saw or heard that I had once executed a traitor and his family.

It was said that it was already famous among the nobles for various reasons.

“Why do you persecute us?”

People often describe a face that is holding back anger as being ‘on the verge of exploding’. In that sense, Duke Bloman’s face right now is exactly like that.

I could have just said ‘I just want to see that face explode’, but

“Top of Rodwell.”

I told you the real reason.

At least, judging from the gazes I felt from those around me, it didn’t seem like a situation that could be handled that way.

“That… …!”

As expected.

Duke Bloman’s face, which looked like it was about to explode, showed a look of confusion and was not easily calmed down.

“Although it is true that we received cooperation from the top, it was only in exchange for allowing us to establish a branch in the territory.”

Instead of the flustered Duke of Bloman, it was the first Viscount Point who had been called out. He had already picked himself up from his fallen body on the floor and was standing up, looking quite dignified and proud.

– He is the strategist of the Duke of Bloman.

I understood why Shadow was being so blunt in his explanation. I just understood the reason for being blunt.

“You’re not denying that the top of the Rodwell is the devil’s lair, are you?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why I called you aside. Including Duke Bloman. Two professors from Evergreen Academy visited Hubble today. Why? To review the ledgers at the top of Rodwell. So what happened?”

As my playful explanation continued, the face of the clever Point maker became more and more distorted.

“Just bribing them? Oh. No. They are the nobles who have been unilaterally draining more than half of the territory’s budget every year. Right now, you.”

“That’s… … !”

“Ah, the owner of the estate in question stays in the capital for 11 months out of the year, so do I have to mention the money that flowed into the estate?”

“… … .”

“Who wants to make excuses and talk nonsense? I’ll tear your mouth open.”

The nobles who had been called out separately now had pale faces and were looking up only at the face of the Duke of Bloman.

“No? Then shall we go together?”

“Where are you talking about?”

“You’ll know when you go.”

“If… ….”

“Ah, you can refuse. Then just take the corpse or take it half-dead.”

Point’s Count, who was about to open his mouth again, cut him off and shut his mouth as I continued my explanation.

“Huh? Don’t you rebel, instigate, or even act like a tantrum?”

“I have nothing to be afraid of. Go. Anywhere.”

The nobles’ spirits changed in an instant when Duke Bloman regained his bewildered expression and answered confidently.

surely.

He has the title of wire buster.

As someone who has distinguished himself on the front lines, he knows how to turn the tide.

but,

“Really? Then let’s go to Toppula. To the Duke of Bloman’s castle.”

“What?!”

“Yes, sir. Move.”

It was already too late to turn the situation around with shallow tricks. When the bright light passed by and enveloped us, the surrounding scenery had already changed.

“Huh, how!?”

The one who was most surprised by the changed environment was Duke Bloman. There were few beings on the continent who could magically move so many people with the simple word ‘movement’.

“What do you think? Is it Hwang?”

When I asked the Archana Pope, who was the most sensitive to the Demons, toward the Lord’s Castle, I could guess what the Emperor was trying to say even without hearing the answer.

“That’s terrible.”

Because Hwang’s face was distorted as if he had smelled a strong stench.

“Then?”

“Yes. I suspect that human sacrifices have been taking place inside and underground the castle for a long time. My lord.”

When the circumstances of the other candidates are considered later, the reason why the man-eating plant from the Demon World that Katniss, Phoebe, and Ella witnessed and other superhumans encountered was able to operate so vigorously on the continent is first revealed through Huang Yi’s mouth.

Human sacrifice. Another word for it is human sacrifice.

Offering (供養) refers to the act of offering a sacrificial offering to a god or demon using a living human being, rather than a freshly killed animal or food.

“Is this the birthplace of some ancient civilization? They say all sorts of things. Seriously.”

“… … .”

“Don’t you think that guy who’s a wizard is a fool? Do you believe in shamanism? Surely you don’t have trouble sleeping at night because you’re a double-crossing person, right?”

The red-faced Duke of Bloman and his complex inner thoughts were of no interest to me at the time.

“Let’s work!”

“Yeah~! Honey!”

“Yes, Master!”

“Okay, oppa! Hehe. Palace lady! Run! ”

As I watched the clown, the witch, and May each manifest their powers, what I wondered at the time was,

“I wonder what’s in there. It’s like Christmas.”

It was the identity of the thing that had been growing inside me, even to the point of being a human rights activist.

And after about 30 minutes.

The vast, gigantic peacock castle had collapsed, and black tentacles were swarming out from within, which was exactly what was happening.

So, did you deal with the man-eating plant from the Demon World?

“Since there are two, how about having one each?”

“Is that so? Then I’ll take that!”

“No, that’s what I want too.”

Nego, like the negotiation between the witch and May’s skilled merchant, is still in progress.

“I’ll just handle it, Master.”

When the punishment is about to come,

“No way!”

“No! Punishment brother! Such precious materials must be pulled out by the roots!”

These are two women who are protesting together.

“The joke is over. Let’s deal with it quickly. Before they harm the people in charge.”

“… Okay.”

“Yeah… … .”

For a brief moment, it seemed like the witch and May were saying, ‘This isn’t a joke, is it?’ with their eyes? Or was it just my imagination?

Yeah, that’s probably it.

No, it’s not.

This is because of the god who governs magic in the first place.

Huh? What are you talking about out of the blue?

I don’t know either.

It’s just because of the God of Magic.

Anyway, it was the magic god’s fault.