Chapter 150
-No, what in the world... how.
A flustered voice could be heard from beyond the pattern.
Just as I had recognized my opponent, they had recognized me. Since we had met just a few days ago, we would at least recognize each other's voices.
But to suddenly hear that voice through her communication network, she was understandably surprised.
-You... how are you contacting me?
"Well, should I say I was lucky enough to acquire it?"
-...
A brief silence followed.
To be honest, it was because I didn't really have anything to say.
I had just tried it because I had the means to contact her, not because I had any particular purpose.
Of course, I had a mountain of things to ask her, but it didn't seem like she would answer anyway.
Still, as I kept thinking about what to say, a pretty good guess came to mind.
"You guys must live near the Ruryeon Kingdom, right?"
-...What are you talking about?
The 2nd Branch Leader quietly asked back.
It was a very calm tone, but she couldn't hide all the agitation within it.
That agitation could be felt even more clearly, perhaps because I couldn't see her.
I organized my thoughts as I spoke.
"Because it's strange when you think about it."
Up to that point, I could understand that there was an unknown thief.
Since they said they were short on living expenses, a Ruined Kingdom would be no different from a gold mine to them.
Especially since Otherworlders sometimes died and dropped items.
But why was a branch leader there?
It was questionable whether a high-ranking executive like a branch leader needed to come out just to scrape together some pocket money. She had also said, “I came out because of the commotion.”
"The thief we were tailing wasn't looking for something, but moving in one direction, as if toward a destination."
I already knew that they had secretly built a residence somewhere.
It was information I had from before. Lemegeton was always coming out and causing trouble somewhere, but when you actually looked for it, it was nowhere to be seen, as if it were hiding.
But looking at it now, their residence was near the kingdom.
It was just something I brought up to break the silence.
But as I organized my thoughts while speaking, it made a lot more sense than I thought.
After sharing my guess like that, I caught my breath and asked my opponent.
"So, am I right?"
-...You're smarter than I thought. I figured you'd be stupid since you only live in the forest.
Of course, I was someone who had even gotten accepted into a university.
Sure, it wasn't a very good university, and I died with my head crushed before I could even enroll.
But wouldn't someone of my level be in the top 10% of the Middle Ages?
Anyway, I continued speaking.
"That's unexpected. I thought you'd deny it and call it nonsense."
-What's the point of hiding it when you've already guessed everything? And even if you know, can the knights invade this place?
"..."
She was right. I still didn't know the exact location. And that place was already occupied by Imps.
It wouldn't be easy to break through. No matter how many knights from each country were gathered, facing both the Imps and Lemegeton at the same time would be a bit tough.
Perhaps she was fully aware of that as well, because confidence could be felt in her calm voice.
As I was convincing myself of this, my opponent spoke up.
-Since it's come to this, let's introduce ourselves. You're Yor, right?
"You seem to know me."
-How could I not? The 3rd, 4th, and 5th Branch Leaders all know you. It was just my first time seeing you in person, so I didn't recognize you. When I went back and thought about it, all your characteristics matched.
"I am somewhat of a famous person."
-Anyway, nice to meet you. I am Isolde. I'm busy, so can I hang up now? This communication network takes quite a bit of effort to maintain.
From the opponent speaking like that, I could strongly feel Isolde's annoyance.
She was incredibly busy, but some weird guy was contacting her, so she just wanted to hang up.
Looking at such an opponent, I added one more thing.
"You're a Manifestor, aren't you?"
Flinch.
At those words, everything about my opponent stopped—her husky and dry voice, and even the quiet sound of her breathing that had been coming through the communication network.
Although I couldn't see her, I could easily tell that Isolde was flustered.
Regardless, I calmly continued speaking.
"Usually, those who use abilities that defy common sense turn out to be Manifestors."
To be honest, it was something I was half-certain of.
To be exact, it was from the moment I contacted her using this pattern.
When I made contact with my blood earlier, I felt a familiar energy from beyond the pattern.
It was similar to mana, but a bit more murky and ominous. It was demonic energy.
"Teleportation, and making contact like this, your ability is probably related to space... right?"
-...You're sharper than I thought. Is your Sense that good?
This time as well, she readily admitted it.
However, she seemed a bit more surprised than before.
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
-The 3rd and 5th Branch Leaders seem to look upon you favorably, but I am different. You have no intention of joining Lemegeton anyway, do you?
"...Right."
-I can't just sit back and watch a useless guy just because he's a Manifestor. If next time you cause Interference with our work again..., then I will truly eliminate you.
It was quite a vicious and very resolute statement.
Thanks to that, the tone coming from my mouth wasn't very pleasant either.
"You speak as if you went easy on me a few days ago. It seemed like you were really trying to kill me back then too."
To be honest, her resolute attitude actually felt more comfortable.
Because her hostility was intuitive.
Come to think of it, I had maintained a lukewarm relationship with Lemegeton for a long time.
There were quite a few people I knew there, and they had tried to help me before. Of course, it was probably for their own benefit...
Anyway, it wasn't like I completely disliked them.
But fundamentally speaking, they were ultimately enemies. They had sided with the Demons and were trying to sell out the world for their own gain.
It wasn't that I couldn't understand their feelings at all... but I couldn't accept such a future.
Because of that, I spoke to Isolde in a somewhat sarcastic tone.
"What should we do about this? I think I'll probably keep causing Interference."
-If that's the case... it can't be helped. We'll just have to see each other bleed.
The demonic energy felt from the pattern faded. The opponent had abruptly cut off the connection with those final words. The presence that had been felt until just a moment ago was gone, leaving only a quiet silence in its place.
"..."
*Inside the empty cave, I thought quietly to myself.*
It seemed like I wouldn't have a very good relationship with this branch leader.
*
Time passed after that.
Roughly enough time passed for my berserk state to trigger twice.
What I did during that time was... simple. I was just living my ordinary daily life.
If I was needed, someone would call for me anyway, so I just quietly lived my life.
Of course, just because I was staying still didn't mean the Outside World was quiet.
News continued to reach me steadily during that time.
The Imp Hunting Ground was still booming. From what I heard, it seemed the situation would continue for quite a long time.
They still didn't know how to cover the Pit, and it wasn't even easy to get there in the first place. But to proceed with everything secretly, they had only one orb I had managed to bring back.
Ah, speaking of the orb, I remembered something. It seemed the orb had been analyzed to some extent.
I thought back to the conversation I recently had with Odelia.
"This was handcrafted by someone."
She had said that while showing me the orb.
I had answered with a bright expression.
"Oh, really? Then we could craft them ourselves and distribute them."
"...No, unfortunately, that seems like it'll be difficult."
I tilted my head. If it was a crafted item, couldn't it usually be made decently well as long as you knew the materials and the blueprint?
Odelia answered my question.
"The level of technology inside this small orb is too high. The circuits connected by mana are also complex. They said they could make the shape similar..., but unless they know the principles applied inside, it would be difficult to expect the same effect."
"...I see."
Simply put, it was Over-Technology. What kind of technology was in this small orb... honestly, I didn't really know.
Odelia probably didn't know either.
However, she must have felt the severity of it differently, because Odelia's face didn't relax easily at the time. I asked for the reason.
"Why?"
"It's a serious matter. People capable of making such an item are extremely rare in the first place."
It was an item that even the Magic Tower Masters of most Magic Towers couldn't craft.
She explained that it would only be possible for a truly outstanding Great Mage of those Magic Towers, or perhaps a Sage.
That meant there was a Mage with that level of ability on the enemy's side.
It was indeed a matter worth taking seriously.
"Well... I also heard it from a Mage inside the Imperial Palace, so it's not exact. Just saying."
"..."
After making the atmosphere serious for a while, she forced a smile and left.
It was probably her way of showing consideration, a way of telling me not to think too deeply about it.
...A few days later, another piece of news reached me.
It was somewhat unexpected news.
"Mr. Yor! An official notice has been posted at the Adventurer Guild. They say another Altar has appeared?"
However, they said it was a slightly unusual altar this time.
The demon already had its upper body halfway out, and it would attack anyone who approached.
Its power was so strong that they were currently recruiting an extermination squad.
‘It seems like it's a case like Barbatos.’
This was a case where it completed a partial Summoning on its own to gather the Sacrifice needed for its resurrection.
It might be unfamiliar to others, but it was a method I was somewhat used to.
Even now, I am occasionally stealing and eating the spirit herbs that Barbatos gathered.
Nodding to myself, I asked Chaerin, who had come to deliver the information to me.
"Did you happen to hear the Demon's name too?"
"Yes, they said it was Amon."
"...What?"
7th Rank Amon.
He was the King of Fire who ruled over one region of the Demon Realm.
That was the owner of the Altar discovered this time.