C93 - 94
Chapter 93: Conditions of Power (3)
“Remarkable, Delkia! I never imagined the job would be done before I arrived!”
Morris exclaimed with admiration as he arrived on the scene.
The unconscious boy lying there and Delkia looking pleased, and to top it off, the boy’s body was elegantly wrapped in white silk rather than clothes.
“I’ve already removed the item you mentioned. Check over there, it’s placed on top.”
She pointed towards a silver chest.
Without any hesitation, Morris rushed over and opened the chest.
“Wow…!”
The crimson hue of the demonic sword, neatly nestled inside.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Morris let out an indescribable groan.
“To be honest, it was a bit unexpected. It doesn’t matter what the item is to me, but as a merchant, you weren’t buying it; you were stealing it.”
To this, Morris chuckled and said,
“Haha. When a true treasure appears before your eyes, something you’ll never see again, you’d give up your entire fortune to obtain it. If buying isn’t an option, then you must seize it, even if by theft. This sword is that kind of item to me.”
In the way he caressed the sword with his fingertips, his intense obsession was evident.
Delkia felt the same.
Now that they had achieved their goals, what they desired was time alone together.
“Now that we’ve both gotten what we wanted, our contract should be over, right? You can enjoy yourself for a while, but don’t come looking for me for a while.”
“Don’t worry, Delkia. In fact, it’s something I want to tell you.”
Delkia carefully cradled the sleeping boy and left with him in her arms.
Now, only Morris remained in the room.
“Finally, we’re the only ones left. O noble Demonic Sword! You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this moment!”
As if performing a ritual, he knelt down and began murmuring fervently.
Perhaps in acknowledgment of his sincerity, the dormant sword soon emitted a black mist.
– Hiss
Within the fog-filled room, there seemed to be strange movements as if something was trying to emerge, and Morris watched with eager anticipation.
Before long, the black mist began to take the form of someone eagerly awaited.
The moment Morris erupted into ecstatic cheers…
– Snap
The form vanished as if it were a lie.
“…”
Morris, stunned, couldn’t close his mouth.
“Th- the Demonic Sword? What’s happening…?”
The dense fog in the room had disappeared, and in its place, an unfamiliar presence loomed behind him.
It felt like the tip of an unseen blade was aimed at his neck.
More precisely, it felt like the scythe of a hellish demon, encompassing his entire throat.
Morris couldn’t bring himself to turn his head.
It simply wouldn’t turn.
It was as if a nail were driven into his bones, fixing them in place no matter how much effort he exerted.
At that moment, Morris thought to himself.
Behind him right now,
There lurked a demon from hell contemplating when to sever his neck.
“It seems you’re disappointed.”
And the voice of that demon,
“Because it’s not the Demonic Sword you were expecting…”
Strangely, it sounded eerily similar to the voice of the boy.
* * *
From the room where she had put the boy to sleep, exactly one floor below, lay the underground space permitted only for one employee of this entertainment alley.
Delkia, after laying the sleeping boy on the bed, quickly lit the candles.
As each candle was lit, the hidden space started revealing itself in the darkness, but Delkia paid no attention.
“At last! Finally! You and I are here, Zion! No one else can come, and no one can interfere in this place with you!”
Delkia gently brushed the boy’s cheek.
“You wouldn’t understand! How much I longed for you! Your face is truly beautiful and lovely, like nothing else in this world! It would be unthinkable for this face to ever disappear!”
The clown who had ascended showed no signs of coming down, and a bizarre sound of laughter echoed throughout the basement.
“But don’t worry, Zion! I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen! You’ll preserve your current beauty like an eternal jewel! Within my space!”
Like someone preparing to taste the finest cuisine, Delkia slowly began to remove her clothes.
She thought. At this moment, no one could enter this space.
Only the boy and herself were allowed, and she had no doubt they could enjoy this ecstatic moment without any interference.
“…?!”
But soon she had reason to doubt her own eyes.
Upon returning after all the preparations, all that greeted her was nothing but white silk.
The boy who had just been lying there elegantly had disappeared without a trace.
“What, what is this?!”
Frantically searching the bed, the missing boy was nowhere to be found.
Instead, something unfamiliar was caught between the silk that had enveloped the boy’s body.
“…?”
It was a dagger.
A crimson blade with a black jewel embedded in the hilt.
If memory served, this was undoubtedly the same dagger she had taken from the boy’s possession and handed to Morris.
“Why… what is this about?”
[Disappointed, aren’t you?]
As the atmosphere grew colder, her entire body stiffened.
A voice of a strange woman she had never heard before.
Thinking she misheard, Delkia tried to look around hurriedly, but for some reason, her body wouldn’t move.
[A ped*phile, was it? Feeling sexual desires towards the young chicks? Quite an amusing taste.]
Struggling to raise her eyes, Delkia soon realized the presence before her.
Of course, the face wasn’t visible.
All she could see was black hair that fell to her knees.
[Hmm, I’ll admit it! You are in the top three of the countless crazy people I’ve seen.]
——————
——————
The owner of the voice freely roamed around the basement, seeming quite interested in the surroundings.
Delkia couldn’t even bear to watch.
All she could see was the dagger in front of her.
[Feeling sexual desires towards young boys and then preserving them as they are… Quite an art, isn’t it?]
A cold hand swept her cheek and gradually descended.
Then, gently lifting her chin, the countless artworks hanging on the walls finally came into view.
[Still, you’re quite talented. It’s truly a piece that even I would want to applaud.]
Could that really be called art?
The scene was undeniably nauseating, with grotesque postures of bodies taxidermied against the walls in such twisted positions that it was impossible to discern their intent.
They were all boys, some naked, some barely clothed, and others stripped down to their very flesh.
It was beyond eerie, bordering on heinous, raising doubts about whether humans were responsible for such atrocities.
However, Delkia, though taken aback, remained unfazed.
After all, the entity behind this spectacle was none other than herself.
Yet, her trembling pupils spoke volumes about her current state of mind.
“W-What are you? Why are you here…?”
Delkia managed to ask, barely.
A chilling laughter echoed, as if it could cut through nerves.
[I can be jealous. It’s also true that you have good eyes. He may be a bit picky, but he’s so attractive that anyone who sees him would want to eat him, right? But there was a saying back in my day, that touching a man with an owner might lead to utter annihilation…]
“W-What do you mean?”
[You probably didn’t know. Maybe he didn’t either? A few days ago in the cage, and just now, how I gnashed my teeth seeing you gaze at that him……]
The voice, once tinged with curiosity, turned instantly hostile.
[Dare you, such as you… to send such repulsive glances to my master?]
An indescribable negative energy, akin to rage and resentment, surged forth, shaking Delkia’s face so intensely it seemed as if an unknown force held her chin, swaying wildly with her emotions.
“Gah!”
As she regained some semblance of sensation, Delkia pushed away the hand.
She dashed towards the door, desperate to flee the scene, but even the latch eluded her grasp.
An invisible barrier blocked her path completely.
[It’s useless. This place is already sealed by my restrictive barrier.]
A rhythmic tapping drew closer, a prelude to impending doom.
Yet, Delkia saw nothing.
The impending sense of dread, the unknown of what was approaching, crippled her with fear.
[Still, I am a merciful demonic sword. I will grant you your final moments. Say farewell to the children you’ve touched. It may be the last time you see with your own eyes…]
But her surroundings were engulfed in a black mist, obscuring any identity.
[Chin up.]
A bone-chilling hand emerged from the mist, grasping Delkia’s face.
Even her blood froze in its presence.
For an ordinary human, such a sensation would render them senseless.
[No need for that, huh? After all, when you fall into hell, you’ll meet those children again. So, let’s save the joy of reunion for there~]
Delkia finally faced her observer, the owner of the crimson eyes peering from within the black fog.
She was not human, not by any measure, defying all explanation with her otherworldly presence.
Soon, the basement was filled with the piercing cries of death, tearing through the darkness and silence.
* * *
“If you come across something you’ll never see again in your life, seize it no matter what. Well, that’s not wrong. If you want something so badly, even if you have to steal it.”
It’s a problem if the acquisition isn’t rightful.
“But, shouldn’t we think the other way around too? If you want something so desperately that you’re willing to sacrifice everything for it, wouldn’t the person who has it also fiercely protect it?”
To the point of not even allowing approach.
“Why, Zion? Delkia was supposed to have taken you…”
“Oh, it’s nothing. That insane ped*phile had someone she desired more than me…”
If you really want to scrutinize, they’re not even human.
I leaned back in my chair and spoke.
“Well, it’s definitely charming, albeit a bit picky. It’s a unique blade you won’t find anywhere else in this world…”
Flowers attract bees, and jewels attract thieves, they say.
What about a sword?
Martial Artists would gather to feel her touch.
But this case is different.
It’s like some ignorant trash satisfying base desires by coveting something they know nothing about.
How could I not be angry?
Thud
I kicked his ankle, causing him to slump, and grabbed his neck to meet his gaze.
“You’re nothing compared to such a being…”
Coincidentally, the number of targets increased by one or two, but what can I do?
It’s not like it’s something I can’t handle.
I slowly raised my clenched fist.
Honestly, I’m not a big fan of using fists.
The sensation isn’t great, and it’s not easy to control.
But rather than having Kaeram be tainted by a guy like this, wouldn’t it be better for me to be tainted?
So, I only hope he lives long enough.
To experience the utmost agony.
----------------------
Chapter 94: Conditions of Power (4)
– *Whooooosh*
As I wiped the blood away with a towel, the fog in the room dissipated completely.
This room had been enveloped in my barrier since that crazy woman entered.
Utilizing the power of mist rather than mana, there would have been no way for an ordinary person to notice.
Once I finished my task, my gaze naturally drifted downwards.
I had entrusted it to her, but somehow, I felt uneasy.
I descended to the basement where another operation seemed to be underway.
For heaven’s sake…
I almost burst out laughing but quickly covered my nose.
I was standing in front of a basement door.
This place was directly below the room where I had dealt with that perverted merchant.
Though not locked, I couldn’t enter.
Another barrier, created by a presence other than me, blocked the way.
This meant that regardless of what was happening inside, there was no way anyone outside would know.
However, what was the thick smell of blood seeping through the crack in the door?
What kind of act had been committed to breach the barrier and let the scent of blood flow out?
The barrier was soon lifted, and without hesitation, I stepped inside.
[Are you here~?]
Kaeram greeted me with an endlessly innocent face.
But my attention was drawn more to the scene around her.
It could pass for a banquet of monsters.
“What exactly have you done?”
[What? It’s a legitimate purification process!]
Somewhere along the line, the meaning of purification seemed to have gone awry.
The body of that insane woman, which should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.
It wasn’t entirely gone, though.
Perhaps what remained were just chunks and white pieces visible to my eyes, which had become more accustomed to the scene of blood than that of food.
[When you do something, you have to do it right, don’t you think? Being halfway is worse than not doing it at all.]
Kaeram licked the blood off her lips with a shameless grin.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her audacity.
[And aren’t you the same? How much beating did you give that your hands were all torn up? Am I that precious?]
There’s no need to respond to words that clearly reveal intent.
Turning away from Kaeram, I found my gaze drawn to the bodies on the wall.
There were so many, almost enough to fill the entire wall.
I frowned at the bizarre postures, unable to understand what they were trying to express.
They were all young boys, similar in age to myself.
How long had they been here?
Already dead but not decomposed, condemned to eternal suffering.
Yet, even in such a state, they would receive no attention.
They were just like the street urchins, no different from the cigarette-selling kid.
Continuing to watch them only made me feel worse.
It wasn’t like they were worth keeping anyway.
I conjured a small fireball in my hand and hurled it at the wall without hesitation.
*Whoosh*
The flames engulfed the piled bodies, spreading in all directions.
Before long, the raging fire consumed the entire wall.
I wasn’t quite the same anymore.
Whether it was a mission from the Mist or an order from the Empire, I used to just follow orders and leave.
When did I become so nosy about others?
[Looks like those chicks were quite pitiful, huh? You even gave them a proper cremation?]
I said nonchalantly.
“I do it because I can. I have no other intentions.”
It’s better to do it and regret it than not do it at all.
* * *
“W-what do you mean?”
Lisa couldn’t contain her excitement and sprang to her feet.
It had been only a few hours since she saw Gunther’s body.
Before she had time to recover from the shock of seeing something so hideous that she couldn’t believe it was done by a human, new news arrived: a fire had broken out in Delkia’s entertainment alley.
Judging by the seriousness on the guard’s face, it wasn’t a simple fire.
“Well, first, we’re trying to contain the fire and assess the situation in the entertainment alley… but there’s some strange talk going on.”
“Strange talk? What do you mean?”
“There was someone who met Delkia just before the fire broke out…”
The guard hesitated to continue.
“Speak up! Who was she meeting?”
“Well, she was meeting a boy named Zion!”
For a moment, Lisa’s face contorted in disbelief.
“Z-Zion?”
Though she clearly heard the name, she couldn’t help but question it.
Just hearing a name had set her entire body tingling with nerves.
“Zion?”
Her face looked as if she had seen a ghost, but it didn’t last long.
As if something clicked in her mind, Lisa hastily dashed out of the cage.
“Lisa!”
Ignoring the guard’s call, she sprinted away.
Her face was a mix of complex emotions as she raced towards an unknown destination.
*Bam*
Arriving at her destination with an urgency like never before.
As always, a woman sat proudly, waiting to receive her.
“Li-Lindsay, there’s a fire in the entertainment alley! It must be that boy…”
“Calm down. I already know, even without you telling me.”
The woman’s expression was much more serious than before.
“I thought I was the only target, but was I not?”
Seemingly lost in thought, the woman absently stroked her lips with her hand.
There wasn’t much time for speculation.
“Lisa?”
“Yes, Li-Lindsay…”
“Prepare yourself.”
At the word “prepare,” Lisa’s eyes suddenly sparked with murderous intent.
“Because that boy will likely come this way soon…”
The woman’s lips formed a crescent shape.
Simultaneously, an unknown mist began to rise around them.
* * *
The room felt emptier than expected.
Other than a worn desk and chair, there was nothing.
Not even a hint of mana, let alone a barrier.
Calling this place a secret chamber would be embarrassing.
But there was someone here.
A woman with a short haircut, whose presence seemed almost eerie.
She was smiling as if she knew I was coming.
“Welcome. It’s been a while since someone else set foot in this place.”
Not a face I recognize.
She was a complete stranger, passing by without leaving a trace.
Yet, somehow, she didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar.
Though not exactly familiar either, there was a strange sense of connection between us.
“Who sent you here? Morris? Delkia? I doubt it was Gunther….”
“Gunther.”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
——————
——————
“Really? He wouldn’t willingly teach someone like you. But then again, he had no choice in the matter, did he? He may be dead, but somehow, I can’t help but feel a twinge of pity for him.”
What’s the best way for a person to conceal their emotions?
It’s to maintain a constant smile, not out of happiness but to mock the other person, to laugh at them.
And she was a perfect example of that.
I don’t like it.
She’s one of the human types I truly despise.
“Are you Lindsay Nihalov?”
“Well, that’s what I’m called here. I’m not sure if I’m the Lindsay Nihalov you’re looking for…”
“What do you mean?”
In an instant, her crossed arms trembled faintly.
Unless it’s a soul, a healthy human body wouldn’t blur like that.
Which means what I’m seeing isn’t a normal human body.
“You’re corporeal, aren’t you?”
“Well, I can’t just show my true form to an assassin sent to kill me, can I?”
She already knows my purpose, doesn’t she?
“You’re no different, are you? There probably isn’t anyone in this city who remembers your face, is there?”
I furrowed my brow.
“What’s your identity?”
“Seems like you’re lacking in manners for such a young friend. Didn’t that bitch teach you to introduce yourself first before asking who someone else is?”
That bitch?
“Silica Nigriti… is it her? The one who ordered me to kill?”
Silence lingered for about 10 seconds.
Seems like I need a moment to gather my thoughts.
She knows the purpose of assassination, and although I’m not sure, she seems to know what abilities I’m using.
Yes, I guess it can be done up to that point.
The most important thing is that the name of the leader has now come from that unknown woman.
In this situation, there’s only one conclusion I can draw.
This woman is connected to the Mist.
A strange yet familiar black mist spread before me as if to confirm it.
“This is how the world works, full of surprises. That boring woman became the leader of the Mist. It’s almost miraculous that she’s managed to keep it going.”
I felt disgust welling up inside me.
There could be several reasons for it, but the biggest one is probably the woman’s gaze.
The negative emotions she couldn’t hide behind that repulsive smile.
It’s evident to me.
“Come to think of it, it’s a bit puzzling. If you found out where I was through Gunther, why didn’t you come right away? Could it be that they were also included in your list of targets?”
“No, it was just you.”
I thought I had nothing to hide, so I told her, and she ended up laughing out loud.
“Ah, I’m laughing heartily for the first time in a while. So, was it purely for personal reasons that you killed them? How amusing. An assassin openly displaying their presence.”
“I never said I killed them, did I?”
“If you’re going to play dumb, at least clean up the blood smell next time. I don’t know what you did, but right now, the scent of their screams mixed with yours is vibrating.”
Whether it’s her tone or the aura she emanates, she’s not at a mere grunt level when it comes to knowing about the Mist.
At least, she’s above the level of a mere foot soldier.
Perhaps even connected to the leader.
Did the leader know about this and still let me go?
She gazed at my face as if she were contemplating a painting.
“The more I see, the more interesting it gets. You clearly have a ruthless look that shows no hesitation in killing, yet there’s an inexplicable hint of hesitation somewhere.”
Hesitation?
It was so absurd that I couldn’t even laugh.
Regardless of her connection to the organization, my mission ultimately is to kill her.
“So, how long do you plan on hiding in the mist? Don’t you want to tease me a little bit at least? Or are you hoping I’ll keep looking for you until the end?”
“Of course not. I just wanted to confirm a few things! I wanted to see how much power Silica’s child really has. And also…”
A strange smile, tinged with murderous intent, appeared at the corner of her mouth.
“I wonder how my child compares to yours…”
“…!”
Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger surged from under the desk where she was sitting.
– Crash!
Swiftly, I pulled back, and the desk split in half, creating a shockwave.
My view was obscured by the broken desk.
– Thud!
Once again, a dagger sprang out between the split desk, which I blocked with Kaeram.
“Huh?!”
The moment I saw the owner of the dagger, I instinctively squinted my eyes.
The face was familiar, but the atmosphere was completely different.
It felt like seeing a different person with the same face.
“….”
[Lisa]
The golden name tag on the right chest sparkled distinctly.
——————