As they returned to their room, Lydia handed Jesper her Telelink Messenger, ensuring he could report to Clay whenever necessary. The following morning, they packed up their belongings, a blend of eagerness and reluctant sighs filling the air as they prepared to embark on their respective journeys. Jesper and the other two Kaya clan orphans moved to the lodging inside the temple to start their new jobs as Arael’s assistants, while the rest of the group was guided by one of the High Elves to a safe distance from the settlement to prevent them from triggering traps intended for unwelcome outsiders.
On their journey back to Bailey, they were full of spirit. Masaki was cured of her depression as she giggled throughout the trip. Their enthusiasm was unwavering, and the long, tiring walk led to lively conversations about random topics to pass the time.
Hikaru glanced at Lydia, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Asura celestials’ abilities, like Arael’s, seem pretty useful. Why isn’t the Asura religion as popular as the others? I don’t quite get it.”
Lydia paused, her expression thoughtful as she contemplated his question. After a moment, she replied: “No matter how useful their skills are, it doesn’t change the fact that the Asura religion is the source of chaos. They’ve created monsters that have killed countless adventurers. Who would want to worship a religion responsible for so much destruction?”
Hideo turned to Masaki and asked: “Is your right hand fully restored, or not quite?”
Masaki’s eyes lit up with excitement as she turned to Hideo, a wide grin spreading across her face. She playfully flexed her fingers and giggled, “Dad, Arael’s spell is amazing! It totally fixed my hand. And guess what? It even made that old scar from archery practice disappear!” She paused, her voice filled with wonder. “Isn't that incredible?”
As the group merrily chatted among themselves, they caught wind of a commotion nearby. Silently, they made their way towards it, only to stumble upon a tense standoff between dozens of High Elf warriors led by Sarya and three individuals clad in light armor. The group led by Hideo decided to halt their journey and observe how the situation would progress instead of avoiding them. Hideo harbored a grudge against Sarya, so when he stumbled upon their standoff, he hoped misfortune would befall her. However, he wouldn’t openly show his hostility, fearing the consequences.
Sarya pointed at the bodies of two dead goblins near the trio, her eyes blazing with fury. “You killed two of our messenger goblins and harvested their cores without any justification! What do you have to say for yourself?” she demanded, her voice echoing with authority.
The leader of the trio, a middle-aged man with a rugged face and piercing eyes, shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t get the reason for your anger. Isn’t it an everyday occurrence for us humans to kill monsters? If you’re mad about me harvesting their cores, then I would gladly give them to you!” He spread his hands in a gesture of indifference. “They’re only Gourmet White Cores anyway.”
One of his subordinates, a younger man with a stern expression, stepped forward and introduced the leader with a respectful bow. “We are from the Ishihara clan. This here is the esteemed patriarch of the Ishihara clan, Ishihara Sadao. We heard there is an Ace Society office in the High Elf settlement inside the Misty Grove, so we decided to visit. We can show you our Ace Society badges if you want.”
The other subordinate, a woman with a sharp gaze and a ready stance, quickly added: “Both of these goblins approached our tent at night, so we killed them. We are sorry if our actions offended you, but I hope you don’t complicate things and allow us in.”
Sarya’s face contorted with rage as she shouted, “ISHIHARA SADAO!” Her voice echoed with authority. “Even if you are a high-level paragon and the patriarch of the Ishihara clan, you can’t just nonchalantly kill the residents of our settlement and expect us to be okay with it! YOU’RE NOT WELCOME IN OUR SETTLEMENT—EVER! You can go back now, and we won’t pursue this matter further!”
Ishihara Sadao gestured for his subordinates to stay in their positions as he stepped forward and said: “You think just because I ask you nicely I am afraid of you guys! You, no-name elf, even dare to order me, ISHIHARA SADAO. Do you think a dragon will turn around when a bunch of small puppies bark? You should pray we don’t find Elvira’s fugitive there, or we might burn your whole settlement to the ground!”
*Shing* Sadao eyes suddenly turned blood-red with a round-cut diamond pattern exactly like Arael.
Sensing Sadao’s intention, Hideo urgently commanded his group: “AVOID SADAO’S GAZE AT ALL COSTS!” With a swift response, Hikaru and the rest of his group turned their eyes away, heeding Hideo's urgent warning.
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Meanwhile, Sarya also issued a similar command to her subordinates: “Do not meet Sadao's gaze!” she ordered, but alas, she was a bit late.
A moment later, the distinct sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed—*plop -thud -plop -plop*—a grim reminder of the peril they faced.
In the aftermath, a brief silence enveloped the scene as half of Sarya’s subordinates collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
In a decisive move, Sarya ordered a retreat: “Fall back, and do not glance back!” Sensing the grim situation, her subordinates swiftly followed her command and retreated, leaving behind the unconscious bodies of their comrades.
After Sarya and her subordinates had retreated far away, Sadao turned his gaze toward them and said: “Come out, I know seven of you are hiding there!”
Hideo emerged from the bushes dozens of meters away, followed closely by the rest of his group. He approached Sadao with cautious respect. “Lord Sadao,” Hideo began, his tone even but wary, “we mean no harm. We were merely passing through.”
Sadao’s piercing eyes narrowed slightly, assessing Hideo and his group. “Passing through, you say?” Sadao replied, his voice dripping with skepticism. “And what brings you so close to our conflict? State your business.”
Hideo met Sadao’s gaze steadily, though he could feel the weight of Sadao’s authority pressing down on him. “We were on our way to Bailey. We stumbled upon the confrontation by chance and decided to observe, not wishing to interfere.”
Sadao’s expression remained inscrutable as he considered Hideo’s words. He then pointed at Hikaru, who was standing behind him. Just as he was about to question Hikaru’s identity, Hideo interrupted. “To prove we mean no harm, I’ll share a crucial piece of information. An Asura celestial named Arael is currently in the High Elf settlement. If you decide to go there now, Lord Sadao, you’ll have to face him. My advice is to leave while you still can.”
Hearing Hideo mention an Asura celestial, Sadao was taken aback. He forgot what he was about to ask as his mind was consumed with the thoughts of his group’s survival. ‘I need to leave as soon as possible,’ he thought, ‘or things might take an unexpected turn! Let’s forget about the fugitive for now, avoiding Arael is our top priority!’
After a moment of contemplation, Sadao nodded. “Very well, thank you for the information,” he acknowledged. “Let us part ways for now. If our paths cross again, I will repay this debt.” With resolve in his demeanor, Sadao chose to retreat, unwilling to risk a confrontation with Arael.
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As Sadao and his group hurriedly packed their tent and belongings, Hideo led his group away from the scene, pressing onward on their journey back to Bailey. On their way back, they continued their lively conversation to cure their boredom away.
Masaki glanced up at her father, curiosity etched on her face. “Dad, why does that Sadao guy have the same eye technique as Arael?” she asked, her voice tinged with both wonder and confusion.
Hideo paused, his brow furrowing in thought as he considered her question. “I’m not sure,” he began, “but innate abilities can stem from various bloodlines. For instance, Fiery Breath could originate from our Fire Sovereign bloodline, the Wolfman bloodline, or even the Fire Salamander bloodline.” He gestured animatedly, trying to illustrate the concept.
Masaki’s eyes widened with realization, but another question quickly surfaced in her mind. “And why did those guys fall down when they looked at Sadao?” she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.
Hideo glanced at her, his expression grave. “Because our clan’s bloodline is closely related to the Ishihara clan, I know a bit about it,” he began. “That eye is called the Abyssal Eye; it’s an innate ability of the Fire Sovereign bloodline.”
He paused, letting the significance of his words sink in. “The Abyssal Eye is highly prized among illusion practitioners because it can perceive and manipulate any kind of energy, making it incredibly effective in both attacking and defending against illusion magic. But there’s more.”
Hideo’s voice lowered slightly. “It grants a divine ability to perform the pinnacle of illusion techniques by mimicking light particles to transmit mana through direct eye contact. Anyone who looks into those eyes experiences intense, torturous scenarios. These illusions are so powerful that they could leave their victims mentally broken.”
Masaki shuddered at the thought, her earlier curiosity now tinged with unease.
Hikaru nodded his head as he listened to their conversation. Lydia then added, “That’s why there is a saying: 'Do not be so foolish as to gaze into the abyss, for the abyss is a treacherous and unforgiving foe. For though it may seem inviting, its insatiable hunger knows no bounds and shall consume thee whole, leaving naught but thy hollow shell.' Those who are captivated by abyssal eyes and gaze upon them will inevitably have their mentality broken to a certain degree.”
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The remainder of their journey back to Bailey was uneventful. They spent a peaceful night camping in Misty Groove, and by the next afternoon, they finally reached their destination. Both Hikaru and Lydia returned to the Purple Walnut, while Hideo and the others went to the Kaya residence.
On their way to the Purple Walnut, Hikaru finally got the chance to ask Lydia a question in his mind without anyone else listening. “Lydia is Kaito also a Paragon?”
Lydia said: “Yes, he is. That’s why getting access to the restricted area inside the High Elf settlement might lead us to his trail.”
Hikaru didn’t ask further, as he knew that even having the information wouldn't make a difference since he still wasn’t a paragon.
That night, Lydia detailed their discoveries and the events at the High Elf settlement to Clay. She recounted all their encounters and their unexpected meeting with Ishihara Sadao, providing a vivid account of the confrontation.
After she finished her report, Clay commented: “Luckily, Sadao didn’t ask about Hikaru, or he might have thought of Hikaru as a threat and eliminated him on the spot!”