128th Episode
Demons or the Dark God.
Originally, these transcendental beings from another dimension should not interfere with living creatures in this world.
The relics left behind by their contractors serve as a sort of medium that facilitates communication and contracts with demons.
Moreover, since they are often powerful weapons themselves, it was preferable to prevent them from falling into suspicious hands.
Ray obtained this information from Aptel but acted relatively passively in the Osiris Countdom.
It was difficult to fully understand the overall situation due to insufficient information, there were various risks to consider, and the butterfly effect had to be taken into account.
For instance, if Ray’s actions triggered an abrupt hostile state between the Empire and the Kingdom, Phillip’s County would inevitably face threats.
Such concerns made him cautious, but after failing to dispose of the relic due to Templar interference, Ray changed his mind.
If a family associated with demon worship began expanding its influence within the Empire under the backing of the Duke Matthias family, it would pose a much greater long-term threat.
Ideally, their influence should be confined within the Kingdom.
To achieve this…
‘A strong warning is necessary.’
Rather than allowing them to extend their influence into the Empire, it would be better to make the Empire recognize them as perfect enemies.
He would annihilate all the people who came by ship from the Kingdom.
Even though there would be innocents among those on board, he decided to accept this and completely eliminate them.
Ray reached such a conclusion.
‘But it’s tricky.’
He couldn’t cause bloodshed at the port.
Military forces stationed in the Osiris Countdom would swarm in, and even if he managed to kill everyone, including the innocent, the aftermath would be impossible to handle.
Ray needed to target the ship after it set sail.
‘If I could infiltrate the ship, things would be easier…’
However, once the ship begins its voyage, dealing with problems mid-sea would be difficult.
Therefore, the inspection process before departure was extremely strict, and this applied to people as well.
While it might be different for an ordinary merchant vessel, for a ship from the Tarannis Family deploying elite forces, disguising one’s identity through amateur costumes or magic would be nearly impossible.
In the end, he would have to catch up with the ship after it departed.
Pursuing the Tarannis Family’s ship discreetly was no easy task either.
Even if he somehow succeeded in tracking the ship, if discovered too early, it would create numerous variables.
After much deliberation, Ray devised a plausible plan.
‘If high-speed descent and impact using a consecrated spear is possible, I can solve the problem.’
Upon hearing Ray’s idea, Albert looked pale.
Though the concept of long-range descent strikes using a consecrated spear was novel to Albert, similar ideas had been conceived throughout the long history of the Order.
However, such tactics had never been properly utilized within the Order due to the immense shock one must endure upon landing while gripping the spear.
“That’s more shock than a human can withstand.”
“Listen, Templar. Answer the question. Can someone ride on the spear?”
“…It’s possible.”
“What about range?”
“It should be similar.”
Though the weight capacity isn’t unlimited, a consecrated spear can bear the weight of one person, and as long as it can carry that weight, the range remains unchanged.
Though it defies physics, miracles don’t follow logic.
Albert, biting his lip, continued.
“The spear accelerates twice during flight. The joints will likely struggle to withstand that load.”
“I’m fine. My joints are accustomed to extreme stress.”
Thanks to Overdrive, a really absurd skill.
As Ray muttered to himself, Albert silently showed him the two remaining consecrated spears.
“If you forcibly decelerate the spear mid-flight, the landing point will be off. You’ll only have a very short window to apply deceleration.”
An ordinary person would instantly be torn apart upon hitting the ground.
A knight surpassing the Expert level might survive, but avoiding injury would be difficult.
Fighting with injuries right after landing would be quite disadvantageous.
Ray gazed at the consecrated spear and spoke.
“Can any other functions besides the boundary be overlaid on the spear? Like a healing function for the user.”
“A boundary can be modified to infuse vitality and assist in healing within a certain range.”
“Good. If I hold a potion in my mouth while descending, I won’t lose consciousness.”
He could use magic just before colliding with the ship to disperse the impact.
His knee joints might give out a bit, but divine power and potions would allow for emergency treatment.
“Well, alright. Let me think about how to hang onto the spear and I’ll come back later. Oh, and I’ll send someone tomorrow to engrave some runes. Use the same ones you engraved on me.”
Having already made up his mind, Ray turned around.
After fiddling with the spear for a moment, Albert nodded.
“Understood. I’ll prepare a spear with newly engraved boundaries.”
Changing already engraved boundaries to another type requires a lengthy prayer.
Though the deadline Ray gave was tight, Albert dismissed his unnecessary worries.
If this man truly acts on behalf of El-Lam’s will, blessings will naturally follow.
*
People from Phillip’s County left the Osiris Countdom earlier than expected.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t resolve the issue of Clemens, the head of the Tarannis Family’s merchant guild, but the Osiris Count saw Alesya off with proper decorum.
It was evident that Didier and Jenkins were concerned about the intentions behind their show of force.
After Alesya left, Clemens’ merchant guild set sail the next day.
Just before departure, Clemens, wearing thick gloves, was about to board when a mage employed by the Tarannis Family approached.
The mage stopped Clemens, created a glowing circular ring, and scanned him.
It seemed like some kind of detection magic. After nodding, the mage allowed Clemens aboard.
Clemens clenched his fists, beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
The uncomfortable dampness of his clenched fist was noticeable.
After thorough inspections and identity checks, the ship finally set sail.
Periodically, several mages cast thin protective barriers over the ship to check for any intruders clinging to it.
With the help of the mages, the ship quickly accelerated.
Soon, the port city disappeared beyond the horizon.
As the vast sea spread around them, the faces of the passengers brightened.
At that moment, the door to the crew quarters burst open, revealing someone who hadn’t shown their face once during the ship’s stay at the Osiris Countdom port.
This group’s true leader stepped onto the deck.
Clump-clump.
An old man.
Her gray hair, thinned by age, hung loose as she walked at a relatively fast pace.
However, something was off about her gait; it was as if half her body was paralyzed, and when she moved her right leg, her entire body dragged along with it.
Her right arm remained stiffly attached to her waist like a decoration.
Her name was Brigette.
She was the deputy head of one of the twin magic towers in the Kingdom—a reclusive figure rarely seen in public roles.
Even if she could walk faster using magic, her conspicuous gait made it impossible for her to appear openly.
Brigette silently retrieved what looked like a staff from her A-Space.
Brigette’s staff had marks as if it had been cut, and inside the deep groove, a round object faintly glowed.
“…Bring it here.”
“It’s here.”
One of the mages respectfully approached Brigette and opened a box.
Inside the box was the artifact resembling a broken gem fragment that the Duke Matthias family had handed over.
Brigette took out the artifact resembling a broken gem fragment.
After carefully examining it, Brigette inserted her hand into the staff.
Tzzz-tchik!
A reaction occurred.
The artifact shaped like a broken gem fragment perfectly fit into the cracks of the jewel inside the staff.
Everyone held their breath.
Despite numerous checks, they still couldn’t confirm with absolute certainty that the artifact handed over by the Duke Matthias family was genuine.
It could be a trap, or an unexpected explosion might occur, engulfing everyone.
However, no tragic ending befell them.
The shattered jewel fused together, and after a long wait, the staff now possessed a complete jewel, pulsating with purple light.
The purple energy flowed through Brigette and was soon absorbed.
Crack-crack-crack!!
The muscles of Brigette’s long-stiffened half-body began to twist.
Brigette, swaying in place, stepped forward with her right foot to regain balance. She stepped forward with her right foot to regain balance.
Black pus oozed from her emaciated skin, staining the deck.
Though it wasn’t a pleasant sight, such trivialities were irrelevant to Brigette.
The Blessing of the Dark God granted freedom back to Brigette’s paralyzed side.
Her right leg and arm, which had hardened to the point of necrosis over decades, began to move again.
“Huh, hahaha…”
Laughter involuntarily escaped her.
Looking up at the sky briefly, Brigette let out a rough cry of joy before quickly regaining her composure as a mage.
Brigette, like everyone else, didn’t fully understand the current situation.
The Empire had sent a powerful executor wielding a Spatial Blade to the Sigini Mountain Range.
Yet now, a Duke family from the Empire approached, offering an artifact and seeking a political alliance.
She had expected some kind of trap or scheme, but it wasn’t the case.
There were two major hypotheses in this situation.
Either the Imperial Royal Family hadn’t shared information with their nobles, or the Spatial Blade wielder at the Sigini Mountain Range was from a third party unrelated to the Empire.
The latter didn’t make sense, so the former was more likely.
If the Royal Family concealed the truth to hide their disgrace, it was a great opportunity for the Tarannis Family.
Now allied with the Duke Matthias family, influencing the Empire and obtaining its information would become much smoother.
Before the Royal Family interferes, they need to extend their reach as far as possible.
While Brigette was contemplating, screams erupted from various places.
Knights were swinging their swords at those originally from Clemens’ merchant guild.
Since they had gathered intelligence during this journey, leaving potential troublemakers alive wouldn’t benefit anyone.
After a few sword swings, all of Clemens’ hired personnel were dead.
Clemens, with a sword pointed at his throat, tightly bit his lips.
“Why did the Tarannis Family specifically choose my guild?”
Clemens asked with rising anger.
On reflection, there was no necessity to involve Clemens’ guild in this matter.
However, the Tarannis Family had forced Clemens to lend the guild’s name.
Listening to Clemens’ fiery question with bloodshot eyes, Brigette slowly furrowed her brow.
“Return to your family when we arrive at the Kingdom. Don’t embarrass yourself in public.”
By “embarrassment,” she meant Clemens’ paralyzed half-body.
Even though Clemens had undergone a contract imprint to prevent divulging family secrets, Brigette found his protest childish.
Running a merchant guild inevitably involves meeting many people, and not all of them would fall for the excuse of spirits.
If they realized Clemens suffered from a hereditary disease, that gaze would extend to the Tarannis Family.
Clemens should be grateful the family hadn’t taken his life sooner.
Watching Brigette turn away coldly, Clemens shed tears.
Betrayal? That emotion existed faintly in his heart.
However, Clemens cried because he felt pity and sorrow for the family members bound by the inherited curse flowing in their blood.
He didn’t think they were wrong. He couldn’t criticize Brigette, who now stood on the deck with both legs.
We were simply born into this fate. We were patients deserving sympathy, not blame.
But Clemens lacked the courage to fight the world for the family’s defense, risking his life.
Blood seeped from Clemens’ gloves onto the deck.
Descent (3)
