"Simos! Something happened...it's Delica!"
“Delica? What happened to my sister?! Oi, Aiven!”
Simos cursed, 'what is happening?'
----------------------------------------
On the other side of the runic communicator, Aiven was stocked still, not even moving a muscle. He could feel the rising panic that'll only gave way to a state of blind helplessness. The abrupt silence as the communicator cut off didn't help Aiven's nerves.
Vomer has been silent for awhile. She was using [Mind Grafting] with Malar giving her instructions to stand down.
After all, Infront of Master Aiven was small girl with a bow drawn. A heavy-set arrow was aimed on his small forehead at point blank range. If you thought having a dagger pressed on your chest or a gunmetal aimed at you was scary, then imagine a 2 meter longbow! There was a fleeting terror that the sound of stretching bow string gives as it rests at its full weight, the flexing of strings grating at her ear and sending a sense of uneasiness from anyone who could see. Not to mention the glaring blood lust aimed at the Lesser master.
Even if Vomer was an Undead, she was still very sensitive, even if she was supposed to be an inherent of the great bears. She couldn't even speak! The thin fingers that hold the strings on place looked so fragile that just one slip and Master Aiven would be dead!
And yet the little master's expression didn't change. He was still very calm and continued holding the communication runes in his ears.
And as if unconcerned of the cold metal pressed on his forehead, the lesser master murmured, "I should have handled this more delicately."
----------------------------------------
It all started awhile ago.
The deathly silence of the makeshift command center was all duly because of the small boy crouched on the floor and surrounded by parchments, brush sets and inks. The very epitome of a studious child that any parents would be proud to have. Only, that boy was surrounded by undead creatures clad in dark armors with the ominous design, and the walls that was set as a background was made of stacked up skeletons that was straight out of nightmare. That child was Aiven, and he was in fact the appointed master of these undead creatures, and has full authority over them.
When Vomer was tasked to use the scrolls, the only thoughts on her mind were the parchments placed on her care. Being an Undead Beastial, the only manifestation of her race was the grey fur, the same color as her hair, covering her hand up to her shoulder, making it looked like a glove was fitted perfectly on her arms. Only the palm was left visible from the soft velvets.
Skull Vomer, a familiar of High Mistress Delica under the Command Unit. She could be easily described as beautiful, with her hair tied in a single knot and the distinctive curves on her hips and legs. She was however far too expressive for a corpse even if counted with the likes of The Triplets of the same unit and the far too panicky Right Arm Distal. The infusion of their soul and not merely their shadows to the bodies themselves, came to mind, different to the Mindless Undead summoned with only the remnants of their shadows. This makes her and everyone on Delica's retinue a [Demised], Undead who have forsaken the cycle of rebirth, and which subsequently made their living memories and personality intact. The only time their soul would return to the cycle would be the moment their [Soul Gem] was destroyed.
But who cares?
Right now, she was a little concerned on using the parchments. Her frown was deepening as she studied the scrolls and she can't help but place her gaze back to Aiven again. They were just so pretty. Hyoid, the other Familiar she was with, was left to monitor the discs with no intention of helping her this time.
Afterall Scrollcrafting was a very competitive and secretive knowledge, so she wouldn't also know how impressive these are. But Vomer could still feel that the tendered scrolls were special. In her living memories, she could remember using some while traveling her Path to the Sphere and she even partied to escort a [Scholar].
But that was short-lived. She was never a fighter, a wretched existence to be held in a Beastial. Her race isn't interested in anything that doesn't concerns strengths and training and if there was anything remarkable about Vomer, none of these includes them. So it's still kinda sketchy for her. But if she remembered perfectly those scrolls were never as pretty or colorful as these. And when she looked backed to the Lesser Master, he was still absorbed in creating more. The Lesser Master has this air of detachment, as if he doesn't belong. He was just really silent, the creepy kind of silence. Watching him, she can't help but speculate.
He scares her sometimes.
There was just something about him that makes her want to run away. I fail as an Undead! To be frightened by a child! B-but he was really giving weird aura.
But even with her little knowledge on runes, isn't he just simply writing them? Aren't you suppose to have [Cryptic Magic Tools]? Tools used by runic scriveners that compiles the glyphs you learned? Some could even automatically set the runes on the scrolls. And he was not even taking a break to check for mistakes, or look for any graphs or cheat sheets!
Hm well, that scholar must just be low level. What was his name? Maybe that was why he always has escorts all that time.
As she poured mana on the [Wiretapping Scroll], she was surprised again at how little she consumed. Ararara, being a direct subordinate of the Demon Lord was so amazing. With this much power she could crush the clan that annihilated and sold her family all by herself! No need to trouble Mistress Delica for these little things, you know?
Suddenly it was able to produce sounds but for her they sounded like ants crawling all over which irritates her ears. But when it became audible, Master Aiven went beside her and started tweaking with the circles. Was this all right? There was still running mana there, you know? But even how hard she tried to strain her ear, only the crawling sounds passed through the glyphs.
Maybe it's broken? But it works for her since Vomer just received orders from the Mistress that the young lich doesn't want to be observed. Vomer already delegated the matters to the others, so it's fine. Even Malar didn't show signs that the discs were being messed with. The interference has all the workings of Incus, an Undead Crusaegir or Shellpeople. Incus was quite humanoid in form, despite being a Seafolk though instead of hair, her forehead continues into a black obsidian shell. It extends in a complete coiling mass to her shoulder that has a sheen of violet and blue, and looks more as a hat. She has the specialty for [Illusions] which was a prevalent arts for most Seafolk and now she was using that same arts with little counter from Malar. Women needed their privacy sometimes, yeah?
But somehow the Lesser Master didn't move. He continued revising the circuits and from time to time his eyes would widen. Aiven continued gazing at the ongoing negotiations projected at the [Observer Discs] between Delica and the head of the Rust-Irons without any trace of what's going on his mind.
“Change the Lonely Mountain's perspective to Ulna.”
Malar tensed, miasma continued streaming on his two pair of eyes which was closed shut, but he was still able to support his [Familiar Arts: Observer] if needed. Even his voice was not showing any strains.
“Very well, Master Aiven. Though there was hardly any reason I could account for the change.”
Just when the young Elven Undead started adjusting his skill, a small interval suddenly happened and the observation discs wavered like ripples of water. Then they all felt a sudden release of mana.
The spells were done with so much efficiency they weren't able to react, let alone identify what it was, even with the amount of spirits emitted. Even Hyoid was on high alert and placed her hand on her bow. But Vomer was sure they weren't hostile. She struggled to make sense of what’s happening. Then without any warning, Aiven instructed in his Communicator, shifting immediately to Maou-chan's link.
“Maou, tell that Seafolk to close the Serpent Vent now!”
Unknown to Aiven, stares of concern passed between the Undead in the Command Center. Specially from his uphanded orders. The Serpent Vent was their main source of power, even within this range, the three Familiars could feel their dark mana being regenerated at amazing speed. Why would the Lesser Master want their power to dwindle? Unless, that was his plan all along. A foreboding thought has already taken root in their minds.
“Yes.”
Opened...it? The Serpent Vent?! Ridiculous, just what has Her Highness been doing?
“Then you can close it yourself.” Master Aiven nonchalantly said.
No no no, aren't you being rude? He shouldn't talk to a Demon Lord incarnate like this!
Thank goodness, she's such a benevolent merciful being!
That was when the young master tried contacting Simos. The Familiars were getting uneasy at the instructions from Aiven. And when Aiven mentioned Delica's name, a very angry sheep-inherent Beastial dashed infront of him and draw her bowstrings in his face.
----------------------------------------
“Hyaaah! Hy-Hyoid...please calm down! Calm! Breathe.” Ponytail tried to ease in to quiet things down.
So her name was Hyoid? The Shorty one who has long creamy brown curls and a ram-like horns twining on the side of her head. Thinking it over, aren't the Beastials on Delica's Familiar's too random? We have the big muscular athletic ones, then there's this...fluff. Just plain fluff. What kind of fetish does Simos' family cater with anyway? In any case, this fluff was glaring at him with all the intention of killing him. Escapism over, Aiven struggled to keep his poker face in place.
Aiven checked his mana. He could feel the amount lessen compared before but it was comparatively inconsequential in terms of his overall reserves even if he activated three different spells in succession earlier, [Analyze: Skill], [Detection: Trace Mana], [Scribe: Rune Cipher]. The moment Aiven sensed that the Detection Skill he has and the ones in the disc did not match, he knew something was up. The sudden cut of communication from from the Rust Irons proved it beyond doubt.
And what he saw was Delica with a very maniacal smile on her face while a huge raging negative miasma covers the whole battlefield. Magic script started to form on her arms and neck. Delica doesn't look like herself. It’s like she's being possessed.
Glimpsing the runes on Delica's arms, Aiven was getting more listless. He can't be sure since this was the first time he encountered it, as far as he could read, it mentions something about 'infection' 'soul gem'. It spells bad news for him. Delica was not even picking up the Communicator!
Hyoid started talking, her voice grave “Our mission is to protect High Mistress Delica. Speak your intentions, human.” She almost spat the word human clearly showing how fond she was to that race which was actually close to none.
Her glare was answered by a lofty sigh from Aiven, “And I ask you, why are you here?”
Hyoid flinched but didn't dare to show her surprise at the calmness of this boy. “I received a mission from High Mistress to follow--” her voice trailed.
“To follow all my orders.” Aiven continued for her, “Did Delica told you to raise your weapon at me?”
“No--”
“Did she told you question my command?”
“Noo, but…” Shorty said, frowning, wavering
Then Malar voiced out, “Forgive our actions. Mistress Delica expressed her wishes not to be seen for the moment.”
“Ah so that's the reason, then let's continue.” Aiven moved away slowly as if the arrow doesn't pose any threat. Malar nodded at Hyoid's direction and she lowered her bow.
She could be heard whispering to herself, “what's the point of all this?”
“The point? Isn't it obvious? We're going to stop Delica.”
“““What?!””” The three shouted. What Aiven just said was the same as saying he was going to oppose their Master. Those words were enough for them to kill him on the spot! And did he just said 'we'?
Hyoid was now fuming, “I knew it! Traitor! What makes you think we'll go against High Mistress' wishes?!”
[You don't know one thing...about her wishes.] This statement made them stop. Aiven said the words in a cold calm voice that shouldn't have any effects on them and yet, their instincts have all been alerted.
His very utterance has become infused by mana that they can't help but freeze. Aiven's aura suddenly simmers with hostility. Cold shivers gripped the Undead. Being severely exposed to his [Deranged Status] didn't affected them physically, but the very fact that it did gave chill to their bones disturbs them to no end.
What could this youngling possibly did in twelve years of his life to gain so much karma sins, that an Undead could sense it?
But the oppressing aura was shut off just as easily as it manifest. Aiven sighed again and seated himself in the table, watching the [Observer Discs].
It was few seconds later that they heard his voice again, “Unless Delica asked for my death, the least you could do is respect her orders.”
They were getting confused. Each one was now in doubt, until Aiven said, “Or would you prefer to break that oath?”
He was waiting for them in all seriousness, gauging how they will react when circles started to emit beneath the Familiar's feet. The three was also startled but as if in daze, they calmed down. Hyoid looked at him in the eye, and smiled mockingly, “We just received our orders, Master Aiven. Goodbye.”
Order? Good...bye? Don't tell me-- Aiven instinctively made his move and casted multiple defense scrolls. But he was not yet finish when a blinding light covered the whole area and from where the Familiar's stand, was...nothing.
They are gone?
The makeshift command room was empty aside from him. Tracing the circles, he read the runes still lingering on the ground and was convinced that it was somewhat similar to a [Summoning Circle]. Delica summoned her Familiars to her side. Well, it's better than being attacked and outnumbered by Undead. He really thought that shorty would shot him dead!
Then that means... He scanned the empty room, picked all his things and sprinted outside. Even the Undead Sentinels that stand guard beyond the bone cage were gone.
A more pressing matter came to mind, he has to go to Maou-chan. If Delica summoned all her Summons then that means Maou-chan was all alone right now. What was that girl thinking?!
He checked the perimeter. There was no trace of Delica’s summoned. Determined, he tried to connect to Maou-chan.
When the communicator gave the activation circle, he started talking “Maou, you okay?”
“You alone? Hurt?”
“Stay low. Hide. I'm coming.”
The catacombs should be under the mazes. He used all his speed he could muster and just ran towards the manor. The branches were snapping on his arms and legs but he didn't slowed down. The haunting silence was creeping the hell out of him that he just continued moving.
Nothing stirs. A third of the building has been melted into ruins. Aiven searched the area, scorched marks were everywhere but the grass and remaining walls were was still wet from the flooding. There were no bodies around.
The corpses were obviously used to raise Delica's army.
Knowing Maou-chan was fine, he started contacting Simos.
We have to make sure what is Delica's status right now.
Not wasting time, he just blurted, “Simos, use [Appraisal Scroll] to Delica”
He waited for Simos' report while struggling with his detection to cover the mazes in hope to find the trap door the girls used earlier. Aiven was also starting to feel the miasma numbing his senses, the holy water helps but he was still pressed for time.
Damn it! Where was it? The trap door must have been covered by concealment magic if he can't detect it with his skills. He memorized the damn thing but the maze has been damaged enough that it's almost unrecognizable. He could get the general location but where was it exactly?
Think!
Aiven rushed to a dead end he passed by earlier. A piece of wall that was still at man's height. The trap door exists. That he was sure. This was an open area so a floor trap door was impossible with the rainwater getting sucked in. Upright then. The walls. Aiven studied the vines. The flooding from the hired mage's influx of mana has been almost ten feet high. The vines clinging on the wall's surface has moved along the current. But on this particular spot, the leaves were not in harmony. There was no sway like a comb was run through the greeneries, instead it was spreading from the inside out. An impossible pattern.
Bingo. Maybe he shouldn't have used magic from the beginning. Argh, he just wasted mana.
With the lock system Delica told them in their gatherings, he opened the door, and ventured inside.
It took him a few more minutes until he sensed Maou-chan's presence. The ancestral cemetery of Canary was huge. Five floors under. The first two were renovated with cages. The steel seems new, and the plaster covering the walls was lighter than the bricks its supposed to support. The rest of the floors were for the dead. A singular figure of a bird loomed at the very center, and a circular entombment which divides each section was filled with bones wrappings imbued with prayers and chants.
Not really paying attention to details, Aiven moved on the last floor.
He knows no one else was there aside from Maou-chan and when he stepped down the stairs, someone tackled him.
“Ai-neechan! Ai-neechan! Guwaaahhh!”
“Maou-chan, are you okay?”
“Y-y-yes! But, but…” The little girl tightened her arms on his neck, almost weeping but she slowly pointed at the huge opening, a few meter in diameters, at the center of the circular catacombs. The bottomless hole was rounded with a glazed glass-like surface that emits a pale blue hue. Little stalagmite and stalactites of same substance have also formed on the floor and ceiling, if he was not mistaken these were all mana ores. The biggest piece was a huge stalactite jutting menacingly on the ceiling, creating a chandelier-like fixture that welcomes the mouth of the hole. The Serpent Vent.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
A pure mana liquid that illuminates the whole area was at the tip of the chandelier-like stalactite. It forms a droplet the size of a head that seems to be on the verge of dropping off any seconds but still held on.
“T-there's a ghost!” The little girl didn't raised her head as she buried herself deeper on his collar.
A ghost? He scrunched his eyes to the direction of her finger and tucked on the surface of the hole was a glob of gelatinous stuff. “Maou, have you closed the vent?” When she peeked to look at the Serpent Vent, the glob shook violently. Both Aiven and the girl stiffened and she screamed.
“Kyaaaah! Noooo! Disgusting!”
He has seen these substances before, and just like most things that interests him, he became curious. Aiven was still mesmerized by the scene. He inched closer and produced his Gigant Darner. On the edges of hole were multiple slimy packets of globs of green.
“Get behind me.”
The girl nodded, terrified now that she could see clearly the 'ghosts'.
Ignoring the tears and the begging face of the young demon lord, Aiven latched a thread on the Darner. When it entered the threadhole, the thread that emerged on the other end has thickened into the size of a two finger cord. Leaving it aside as another unexplained aspect of magic items, Aiven continued threading the needle to a tolerable length and secured a knot on his equipment.
Checking the tools, he poised himself and thrown the Darner like a spear. The needle hit the glob and a window appeared.
You have learned
Stitch
A single loop of thread or yarn in the textile arts.
You have learned
Cross Stitch
Combat Craft: ATK: 5
A single loop of thread or yarn in the textile arts. Retrieval weapon engaged.
Lame! Gugh, whatever. But he still cringe at the name of the attack skill. If he has to scream Cross Stitch everytime he use the skill, he will die of embarrassment!
He tugged the cord and the needle went back to his hand. At the needle was a gooey substance. It really was a slime! Using appraisal, it looks like the ore was still in partial form. He used [Harvest] and the remains of the slime was separated and on his hand instead was a more concentrated mana ore.
This is so easy! This'll take him just a minute to clean everything. He aimed his Darner again and started picking on the helpless stationary preys.
Aiven showed the ores to Maou-chan and she backed away, “See? Nothing to be afraid of, these are not ghosts, these are slime.” He has no experience dealing with demon children so he doesn't know how to comfort Maou-chan. Pushing her to cut off the manaline would be problematic until he cleared everything to her.
The little girl shook his head vehemently and stammered, “not them! There is something here! I saw them. And Lacrimal said that there’s really supposed to be ghosts here!”
That pink octopus! Aiven actually want to avoid that one at all cost but if he/she/it just unnecessary scared Maou-chan, he’ll have to confront it earlier than what was expected!
He concentrated on the serpent vent, And with a flick of his wrist, his Darner after attacking a slime, changed direction and hit another one. He continued experimenting until he got the hang of controlling the Darner's trajectory in mid-air.
“You aren't afraid of the Undead.”
“Ghosts are different, I-I can't touch them!”
“No ghost will appear now I'm here.”
Do ghosts exist in this world? Spirits, undead, summoned devils, these things were recorded in the Known history, but he haven't heard of Souls wandering around scaring people. There were instances of named shadows left by the rested ones, but not ghosts.
“Really?” Maou-chan began to relax and was watching him collecting ores.
You have learned
Chain Stitch
Combat Craft: 5 points [+Needlework ++2 every combo]
A series of looped stitches form a chain-like pattern thread or yarn in the textile arts.
Not bad. Not bad. He looked at Maou-chan and offered his needle, “Are you still scared? Want to try?”
The little girl shook her head and signed in relief. Anyway, he has to wrap things up, before he got lost in his experiments. It also looked like the girl has calmed down. That's better than her getting tensed up over nothing. He needed her to focus so they could help Simos and Delica later.
Somehow, he could still communicate with Simos and what happening there was getting graver and graver.
“[Fractured Soul]?”
“Ai-neechan. I think that’s because of her core.”
“What do you mean, Maou?”
“Eh? Um, let me see, I have this link to Delica. But right now, I feel it weakening. Cil said it was because Delica was pulled by the two parts of her [Soul Gem]. The lich body wasn’t supposed to function with only a part of a soul so it integrated to her named shadow. When she was already complete, the soul should not have retained the shadow. So it was trying to reject the Delica’s shadow.”
It’s rejecting Delica!
Souls were pure existence that couldn’t hold on to the material plane without a vessel. Everytime a soul goes from vessel to vessel in the form of rebirth, it leaves a shadow. That shadow was the person’s memories, personalities--the very essence of the life the soul has lived, a named shadow.
No wonder Delica never felt like an Undead Lich. Her essence was pretty much still in her [Phylacteral].
Who is Cil? Argh, it doesn’t matter!
“Can you help her?”
“Um…yes. Yes! I can do it!”
“With her named shadow intact.”
“Eh? But that would…”
“Delica should still be Delica.”
Maou-chan was deep in thought, her expression changes as if she was debating with herself, but in the end she was smiling while saying, “I just might have a solution! You’re right, if my servant can’t remain as herself, I would fail as her master.”
Satisfied, he continued discussing some matters with Simos.
After that Aiven retrieved his wet Darner and wiped them on his trousers. “We need to close the Serpent Vent.”
“Yes! Leave it to me.” She puffed up her chest and went to the side of the now-cleaned serpent vent. When she placed her palms on the mana crystals covering the rim, she hesitated as if remembering something and said, “If I do this, will your loyalty increase?”
Loyalty? What is she talking about?
“I have always been loyal to you, Maou-chan.” His reply was so fast it that he regretted it. The moment he said that, he knew it was a lie.
Does Aiven like the girl? Yes. Will he protect her? Of course. But when things come to a point where he has to sacrifice any of his companions to do so, there was doubt in his mind that he would hesitate. The fact that he couldn't left her here and now was because of conscience, a moral concept still engraved to him. A little girl left alone would put too much guilt on him especially with how much she comes to mean to Delica and Simos. But the rational part of his head would see her as just a means to an end. She got dumped into their lives unceremoniously and so far she has proven to be of some use. As far as Aiven was concerned, this girl was their connection to the people who used Delica and was hunting otherworlders like him.
“You're not loyal,” Maou-chan said, her aura lightens as she draws mana to the crystals and mixing it with her own, “I mean, not yet. But no worries. I'll do my best so you'll become one, one day! Just wait and you'll see!" And she smiled so genuinely that her cheeks were flushed with color.
Seriously, what is this girl thinking? Her title as Demon King, or their Leader (as connection to being called 'minions' everytime), was a far-fetched idea for him. But he can't deny that he still end up smiling because of her weird declaration. “I'll look forward to it then, Demon King.”
“Of course! Who do you think I am?!” she giggled like a child who find a pet project to play with. Well she was a child.
While she's busy with the manipulation of manaline, Aiven went with his scrolls. There was still something he could do.
Activating the [Wiretapping Scrolls], he tried searching for one particular line. He scanned the different connections and was open ears to anything that mentions a name, a very particular name.
Got you. Aiven finally found the Herald's communication link.
There was something about the movements of the Lion Golds that peaked Aiven's interests even before the commencement of their plan. Based on the hacking of communication links, there was a surplus of healing supplies and perishables on their caravans. And instead of information dissemination based on warfare it was more apt to say that the data they're gathering was more for search and survey even if their steady advancing firepower seems to be in line for battle.
This just solidify his speculation the moment he took note of the plain unadorned gold bannermen. The same banners that has no insignia, no pattern, no herald--The very symbol for peace on Heraldry Nobility.
The Lion Golds of House Amdelair has come here, not for conquest, but to aide.
Relying on his instict, Aiven made a gamble.
He hijacked into the identified link and started deciphering the runes they were using. He read the symbols flowing in the Mana Script as it passed on the [Wiretapping Scroll], and tried translating it to his own words and tweaking it enough to change the contents. The action itself took less than minute then he converted a blank scroll and copied everything into it, rune by rune. The runes were more on wind magic. Using sounds, vibrating the air, to carry the message. When he poured mana, the magic circle activated and the runes he just made slowly transferred on the active link.
When he was in, he just left a simple message and tried to make the air vibrate on the same tonal disparity created by vocal chords of the Hero of the Seven Rivers. His spell was already connected to Sir Dalen so going for an extra mile wouldn't cost much.
Ugh, he practically used four spell scrolls just to say a sentence.
Since they were the envoys of Yuusha and was carrying out her last wishes (is that hero dead? Not sure) they might as well use her. In an added effort to mask the communication magic, he regrouped the runes and added visual runes (or light magic as illusion). He projected an image of the hero the last time they saw her parallel to the words from the message. How ever the message was interpreted would be up to the Lion Golds.
The process came to him naturally. For comparison, deciphering and messing with magic sequence was the same as reading and editing a second language. The same as what he routinely do in their [Identity Ring] so he could manipulate what status to show to outsider, only this time, he was messing with a spell that was already active.
At the thought of [Identity Rings], Aiven confirmed the black box on his pouch and was again filled with resentment. Concealment items do exist in this world. In fact, they have six of these items on their inventory. The reason they didn't used these items was because on the on-set, they've went to the Temple Ruins of Sola as legitimate novices of the Training Grounds.
The next thing they've known, their normal identity rings has been left from the inn of the Termina Settlement and was impossible to get back, not only due to fear of being monitored but also due to time constraints. They have only gotten hold of these spare only when Aiven retrieved their account from the Treasury--just after they've already dodged the inquisition from the City Gates and have already been safely inside the Merchant's Districts.
So why haven't they used these rings in the Cessine? The reason was because they can't afford to.
The fact that concealment status enchants hide completely the status of a person makes it a very dubious item. Everyone who uses these rings was like a walking advertisement and will subsequently be spotted either by pickpocketers or the patrols. Good luck to those who even dare use one inside one of the Cornerstone City Fortresses! Especially to those obvious ones likem, as Simos said, novices whose level can't be that high that normal status appraisal would be hindered. And so they opted out.
But what he has were no ordinary [Identity Rings] which just made the blow harder for Aiven. Just as what Aiven has done to the communication link, he could read the [Runestones] attached at these rings. The magic script can be easily rewritten from there and make it possible to show a different class, age, homepoint...whatever setting he desire which deviates from the typical [Identity Rings]. These customized rings have never been reproduced in the market yet.
But that skill he was so proud of was still utterly useless.
Being the cautious paranoid person Aiven is, at the moment of falsely registering from the inn, he had assumed that their status could have been read by anyone. Delica was thankfully hidden in the [Chest Necklace], Aiven has a new class, Maou-chan hasn't reach the age to be bestowed by status contract, and Simos was presumed dead (the best disguise possible).
If for chance the ones that entered in the inn and the ones who checked out suddenly has a different status, they'll definitely garner some unwanted attention.
And if by chance they wear it now, their status as 'non-hostile' from Delica's mindless undead would be covered by their new status and they could be mistakenly attacked by her summoned! To think that his only trump card in concealing their identities could backfire this much. Really really really crappy!
He stashed the partial ores and cleared his scrolls. Trying to bury the painful thoughts he was then submerged by a huge mana wave he have not anticipated. His mana and strength was instantaneously filled. His senses instinctively heightened as he focused on the epicenter but somehow all his senses points at his back.
“Maou…”
He had known she's an impossible existence, but he was still getting surprised at her actions.
The little girl was sweating hard but she persevered. The Serpent Vent was almost covered with the mana ores from the rim, thickening until it was almost reached the center of the opening. The crystal-like thin ores bent upwards at an excruciating slowness towards the ceiling, forming a cone that meets with the huge chandelier-stalactite.
When she mentioned she could do it, he just dumped the impossible work to Maou-chan because he has no other choice. If it worked, good, if she can't then there's always another way out of this. But to see it up close, he didn't know how dangerous and near monstrous it was, her smile however just made the gap seem even greater.
The process was going at a steady pace but the more the opening became smaller, the more rampant the swirling of the light in the suspended mana liquid became. Like watching a bomb getting diffused. Only the fuse was very visible and getting shaken like a freaking snowglobe! He need to check himself if he was still breathing normally. The moment the cone was completed, the rush of the last remnant of mana surge went up and the crystal mound pierced the droplet.
It immediately evaporated forming a smoke screen that fills the room with fumes more potent than the [Superior Mana Potion]. Aiven blinked back the tears forming from the natural alchemical steams as a side effect of Maou-chan's interruption on the surge. He craned his head back to make a better view as he saw Maou-chan reaching for the item where the mana liquid was seconds ago.
Then the little girl lit up and gleefully raised a thumbs-up on his direction. Holding a piece of [Mana Gem] on her hand that was being suspended at the end points of each inverted cones just awhile ago, creating a crystal hourglass-shape with Maou-chan at the center.
But the relief was snuffed out mercilessly when they both heard a stranger's voice, "Finished fishing?"
His body was instantaneously bathed in cold anxiety. The entrance of the lowest floor was blocked by a man wearing an immaculate white doublet, over grey waistcoat and lined with silver revelry.
Where did this man come from? He didn't notice anyone in their vicinity and the place should still be concealed and hidden from any intruders!
There's a youthful appearance on his cheeks, and the arrogance to match. A circular embroidery adorned his vest and unmistakably decorated with two rubies. An expensive gemstones, the pinnacle of magic stones, that could only be found and mandated by the Cessine Regalia.
Emblem. Ah shit. What does the special corps of the Regalia doing here?!
“How rude, and just when I waited for you to finish your...business.” He started walking towards them, releasing an oppressive battle aura, “Introductions, yes, I need to introduce myself, first. If only you were not children then...Ah yes, my name was Emblem Chevalier Larem of Cessine Regalia, Fourth Circles of Sudri and First of Stjarna, positioned under the Banner of Gold.”
“Is knowing the name of our executioner changes anything?” Will he slip? Fuck, he needs an opening.
This man was a strong one and Aiven doesn't know how to deal with him. If he has time to investigate, maybe he'll have a chance. And he's two-star ranked, a 2nd tier magic caster, then that makes him at least between raw levels of 200. He needs to make him keep on talking.
“Of course, polite customs separates casual killing, you are probably new at these, granted your young age.”
“Is there anything on your customs concerning killing helpless children?”
“Children? Probably. Helpless? Tsk tsk. Your karma is screaming with the sins you've committed.” His eyes gleamed with light, a subtle amount of mana film his sight. “But hm a tailor, you really are helpless now little Aiven of House Gallinthe.”
Then his appraisal went beyond him to Maou-chan. Aiven knows he will see nothing suspicious but Aiven almost stilled his heartbeat knowing he can't do anything to shield Maou-chan from the measuring gaze without breaking this little time he has to gather intel, “what a lovely pure aura you have, little girl. No wonder the [Labyrinth's Core] is attracted to you, an incomplete one, but valuable nonetheless.”
He lingered his eyes on Maou-chan until he corrected his gaze to Aiven, “Ah sorry there, Eldest son of Gallinthe. I just gotten excited.” He clapped his hands, “The Superiors would definitely be interested, so be grateful to die peacefully knowing the girl would live.”
“You are not taking me alive?”
This guy doesn't know anything about Maou-chan? Then he's probably not one of those involved in Delica's death. He sounded old but looked young, old money perhaps, when a Magician accepted the Emblem, they stripped their banners to become the Shield of Regalia--a common knowledge recorded in tradition, so that makes him a Noble Banner before.
“You have more value dead than alive.” Ouch, that hurts, you know?!
Arrogant, trying to prove himself, so he tried to make himself sound mature. He probably copied someone. The one he copied…that talk about values…this isn't enough but…
“Wait.”
“Still prolonging your life with small talk? You do know…”
Aiven wrenched his hand and the massive needle flew from to his palm with the Darner aimed at the voice. His other free hand, shoved Maou-chan to safety of his back.
The man didn't dodged, the needle was grabbed barehandedly, “Really rude.” He grabbed the thread and would have yanked Aiven towards him when he got distracted by multiple globs on the ceiling and walls exploding one after another. Aiven cut off the thread and six needles suddenly appeared heading the Chevalier's way.
No, they didn't appear out of nowhere. Aiven has released six normal-sized Darners earlier and flung it in the opposite direction unnoticed. Using [Chain Stitch], he directed the attack to the under-developed slimes at their surroundings to stack up the attack and misdirect, he changed its size in mid-air to deal more damage on the Chevalier.
“Don’t tell me that’s it?” Larem took the attack head on, deflecting each needle with only the tip of his saber, showing his expertise on precision combat. “Come young tailor. Pick up your sword.”
What sword? He can't even equip anything decent!
Damn it! He clenched his teeth.
Humor him, wait a little more. Aiven took another Darner and made its specifics that of Gigants. The meter long needle balanced on his hand and he fitted his fingers inside the threadhole. With no trace of elegance, he sloppily copied the stance of the Chevalier with his outstretched arm extending the needle like a sword.
The older man answered him with a laugh, showing amusement. "Enough of this." The chevalier lunges towards him, Larem hasn't casted any magic or used any protective spells. Whether it’s in confidence or sheer pride, Aiven doesn't care as long as it doesn't give more disadvantages to his side.
Aiven doesn't want to kill him but there was no way he could incapacitate the Emblem without resorting in ending Larem's life.
Aiven's speed helps him dodge most of the attack but just one mistake, a wrong turn of his waist, and he was kicked on the stomach and laid sprawling on the floor with a massive internal hemorrhage and three ribs in the wrong places. Just from a boot and he has his life depleted by half. But he didn't stopped moving, a light came just as he expected and he was healed within moments.
The man only showed his surprise by the split second as his eyes widened. He looked at Maou-chan before it was replaced by a condescending smile. The girl backed away and hid again to the stalagmite half her size.
“A real talent we have here. What a wonderful find.” His attention was full on him now. With a healer in tow--a strong one at that, the best action for the chevalier could do was to incapacitate the cleric first, or kill Aiven with one shot.
The chevalier's saber was covered with red light. He must have thought low of Aiven to think that killing him in one blow was easier than making Maou-chan sleep. Really, this fight was just one insult after another.
Aiven have already calculated that none of his scrolls or active skills could even scratch the surface of his armor so it can’t be helped.
Larem's movement was flawless and precise, and just when Aiven felt another healing spell coming from Maou-chan, he made another gamble.
“Don’t heal me! I will fight him with my own power!” which was like signing his suicide note. Taking one of Simos’ lines, Aiven can’t help but cringe inwardly.
The chevalier also faltered at the bravery (stupidity) of his words. He smiled the same smile Aiven noticed in Musre whenever he visits Simos' training under the Knight’s tutelage, which only made him sure of his assessment of the chevalier.
Aiven put all his speed to his legs, and propelled straight towards the chevalier in a seemingly reckless abandon. Aiven covered the distant faster than the eye can see and just as he hoped…no, better than he hoped…the chevalier let his guard down.
With all that has been said, it was obvious that this man purposely let him pass through his zone of attack. If Aiven has to guess, it was because Larem wanted Aiven to make a last stand to him.
Larem’s defense was two tier’s higher than Aiven. His poison, acid, trap and mental resistance also outrank him. Nothing a boy of Aiven’s status could do to immobilize one of the Emblems.
Show me what you can do. Larem's expression seems to say to him.
If only the chevalier was not fighting Aiven, then maybe that line of thought would be correct.
Seeing the pitying eyes looking down on him, Aiven’s face that was showing despair seconds ago became clear. His dark obsidian eyes, no longer wavering and even his once erratic heartbeat were now steady. The calm breathe, the determined gait--these small adjustments didn’t go unnoticed from Larem’s eyes. The very moment Aiven stepped over his zone, Larem felt something was wrong. At that very second, he lost track of the boy’s presence! Just a second.
Then he felt a palm resting on his back.
On reflex, his body tensed for a retreat but just as muscle started to move, Aiven already activated his command.
[Inventory: Stained Dagger]
Larem felt a paralyzing pain inside his stomach, his mind went blank from the unbearable pain. A child’s arm was already slipping to his neck when the instant blinding pain came. And that was the last thoughts on his mind.
[Inventory: Dark Sword]
[Inventory: Bastard Sword]
[Inventory: Shark-Toothed Sword]
[Inventory: Leithe Sword]
…
Blood spluttered on the chevalier's mouth and all life has escaped from his body. Where his neck was supposed to be came clumps of sharpened metal arranged in vertical and on top of his scalp were the tips of swords like spikes suddenly came under his skin. On his back was Aiven, the boy’s hand, where an inventory bracelet hangs loosely, was casually placed on his back and his other arm was on Larem’s shoulder as if he was merely on a piggy-back ride. Every time Aiven calls out a weapon, the body will jolt in a frenzy but it remains upright as if gravity haven't caught up with the speed he release each equipment.
Aiven just emptied half of his weapon inventory over Larem’s body.
Larem’s lifeless body, or what could be make out of it, collapsed in a deep thud of heavy metal--and it was not because of the chevalier's armor. Aiven braced for the impact. His feet softly touched the ground and between his legs was the corpse. He just stood there staring at the body. Not really a good sight.
Inventory Bracelets uses spatial magic to materialized items from one plane to another. It could bypass, armor, barriers and other instances. They all have in-built safety mechanism to function, but with Aiven’s rune capabilities, it’s easy to disable it. He never used it at this scale yet, and it left a bad taste on his mouth. All his methods always makes him feel wretched even if the other party has all the intention of killing him in turn.
The fact that Larem died because of this method was a testament that the man was a good guy, right? Does that make him the bad guy here?
This world system keeps the balance that hard work was equally rewarded with becoming strong. Strong was a privilege. Even Simos who was a cheat from the beginning needed to train harder than anyone else to master his abnormal status. That’s why a lot of the common sense in this world’s order was focused on status and ranks. This was a viable truth to the people living here. But none of this affects Aiven in any way. From the start he thinks status was stupid. A small bacteria, something without a functioning brain, could kill a grown man. Give a man a cut and he could die of infection in a month. Just spoonfuls of water on a man’s lung and he’ll drown even if he was just sitting in his home.
“Ainee-chan.”
The voice was from Maou-chan. Even hearing his name, he was still in a daze. The reality of how easy murder came to him horrifies him more than the act itself and this just made him in a spiral of guilt, but the very next words he heard from Maou-chan scared him shitless, “I-I can’t feel Delica.”
That night, Aiven didn't care about who was the bad guy or the good guy anymore, or if his actions should lead him to a path he'll regret. Right now, he need to save his friends.
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