Chapter 12. Headquarters Return (1)

Paaat—

My vision turned white, and then the world flipped.

I raised my head and saw a massive spire that seemed to pierce the heavens.

Broken sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating the spire.

Layer upon layer of pitch-black exterior walls, impervious to even a single speck of light, were stacked high, engraved with indecipherable symbols in every nook and cranny.

I glanced around casually.

There were only gloomy trees all around, offering no real information, but having read the original novel, I knew exactly where this was.

'This is the Headquarters, isn't it?'

This was the Headquarters.

The First Lord's Territory, the very heart of the Arkan Monarch Society.

The most powerful military force on the continent, surviving steadfastly until the latter half of the original story, even through countless calamities.

This was the territory of Witch Arkan, their leader.

To think I'd see this place in person.

From the ominous atmosphere to the inky black sky…

Every detail matched the descriptions from the original novel.

“…”

Honestly, I was a little impressed.

It was a place I’d always wanted to visit, at least once, while reading the original.

But now that I'm actually here, it feels strange for some reason.

I was invited, sure, but when I think about what lies ahead, a sense of dread washes over me.

While I was observing my surroundings with these mixed feelings…

"This way, please."

Cheong, who was leading the way, guided me.

His voice still trembled slightly, and it seemed his attitude towards me had become more cautious after the previous incident.

'Why did they invite me in the first place?'

I was an ordinary human, but if I had to pick a side, I was affiliated with the Imperial Family.

From the perspective of those at odds with the Imperial Family, I could never be their ally.

So why invite me?

If it was revenge for the Dark Shadow Society's destruction, there would be no need to resort to such a roundabout method.

'None of this makes sense.'

The sudden annihilation of the Dark Shadow Society.

The deceased executives muttering my unfamiliar name.

And then, abruptly inviting me here.

Everything that had happened was utterly absurd.

'I don't get it anymore.'

From the moment I accepted the invitation, I had no other choice.

I had to use my wits to escape this place safely.

Whether that was even possible, I didn't know.

'I need to know what they want so I can at least react...'

Above all, the biggest problem was that I had absolutely no idea what they wanted from me.

It was only natural, as I was just an ordinary official.

I had no connection to a massive power like the Arkan Monarch Society.

*Thud, thud.*

I felt like I had been walking for about ten minutes, but I was still wandering around the first floor, nowhere near my destination. Just how big was this place? I was starting to get annoyed, but a huge stone door came into view up ahead. At least a few dozen knights stood in formation before the door.

*Clank, clank.*

They turned towards me and simultaneously stepped aside.

Cheong, looking accustomed to this, proceeded down the opened path.

After walking for a while, the seemingly distant, massive stone door was now right in front of me.

And then…

*Creeeak.*

The door opened, revealing a massive circular hall.

Long pillars stretched up to the ceiling, and statues were arranged in rows between them.

A red carpet was laid out in the center of the floor, and at the end of it—

'...Arkan.'

Witch Arkan.

The leader of the massive power that divided the continent sat upon a throne.

As our eyes met, a faint smile played on her lips.

"You've arrived?"

Her voice echoed through the hall.

It was a cool yet beautiful voice, like the dawn breeze.

"Luke Richter."

Simply uttering my name brought a chilling silence.

Immediately afterward, an indescribable, immense pressure seized the space.

"I'll give you credit for your courage."

*Kugugugugu.*

As the Killing Intent, compressed to its limit, surged forth, Rudine, standing beside me, grabbed her shaking legs and broke out in a cold sweat.

Cheong, seemingly accustomed to this, bowed his head, but drew his Mana to its limit to defend himself against the erupting Killing Intent.

But me?

'What is she doing?'

I was completely unaffected.

Naturally, because I couldn't feel the Killing Intent.

The most basic energy source in this world was Mana.

And when will was projected onto this Mana, it transformed into things like Aura, Power, or Killing Intent.

The type of energy she was emitting towards me was Killing Intent.

An ordinary human, faced with malevolent Killing Intent, would have their internal Mana resonate, inducing a state of extreme tension.

But I was an exception.

I had lost my Mana as a price for absorbing the Rune.

I needed Mana to resonate with the emanating Killing Intent to have any reaction.

I felt the pressure bearing down on the space, but I wasn't particularly afraid.

Arkan, unaware of this, stretched her lips into a wide grin.

From her perspective, it would appear as though I was withstanding her Killing Intent head-on.

However…

'...How long does she intend to keep this up?'

Showing no signs of withdrawing her killing intent, it seems her pride was piqued.

Moreover, the pressure was steadily intensifying.

Honestly, I didn't care, but I opened my mouth, tired of wasting time.

"Worst possible welcome for a guest."

"..."

The woman seated on the throne chuckled and snapped her fingers.

The pressure that had been bearing down on the space vanished in an instant, as if it had never been there.

"You're the second."

"...The second?"

"The second person who hasn't even flinched."

She seemed to be seriously mistaken about something, but I saw no reason to correct her.

There were more important matters at hand.

"What's your business?"

I asked her for her purpose.

Cheong frowned slightly at my somewhat impertinent attitude, but that was all.

Arkan, with an expression of intense amusement, innocently asked back,

"Well? Why do you think I summoned you?"

"..."

"Ah, don't misunderstand. I was just checking to see if you really didn't know."

She grinned, as if trying to lighten the mood.

But contrary to her smiling lips, her eyes weren't smiling at all.

"Dark Shadow Society."

A heavy voice, unlike before.

Arkan slowly leaned forward, meeting my gaze.

Her eyes, fixed on me, flashed menacingly.

"Ten executives are dead."

She scrutinized my face as if to devour it, then twisted her lips into a smirk.

"They died… *pop*, like balloons."

She said, giggling.

It wasn't particularly surprising, as I had anticipated it.

"So I've been thinking. What could have possibly happened to make perfectly healthy people suddenly explode without any warning?"

Uncontrolled glee spread across her face.

She was clearly enjoying this situation.

'She's supposed to be crazy, and she really *is* crazy.'

Of course, having read the original story, I already knew that she was crazy in more ways than one.

That's why I simply stood there and listened to her words.

"You killed them, didn't you?"

"What?"

"True Ancestor Arkantilla."

"...!"

Something unexpected escaped her lips.

"No need to play dumb. I'm not going to hold you responsible. But no matter how much I think about it, there's no other explanation. Someone killed a True Ancestor, and as a result, the lesser Demons all popped! at once."

"...What?"

…It certainly made sense.

Come to think of it, the True Ancestor seemed to have muttered my name before dying.

Probably because Adina had rushed towards it while calling my name.

"Right?"

Interpreting my silence as affirmation, she straightened up.

Her luscious violet hair, which had been obscured by the backlight, fluttered in the wind.

"It's truly amazing. To kill one of that forgotten Monster’s lineage. And how did you even know the True Ancestor’s location?"

"..."

I read it in a novel.

I bit back the words that were on the tip of my tongue.

"Too bad. I really wanted to kill that Arkantilla Monster myself."

…So what?

Do you think I killed it for fun?

"I know that look. The look of utter boredom, right?"

"..."

"Fine, I'll get straight to the point."

By this point, I was genuinely curious.

What was her purpose in summoning me?

Lost in thought, I listened intently.

"The Book of Pindal."

What?

"If you killed it, you must also know the whereabouts of that cursed Forbidden Book, right?"

Of course, I do.

The Labyrinth Tartazan’s core was none other than that Forbidden Book.

It's currently safely stored in the Treasury of my office.

"That… even though that damn hag stole it, it was originally mine."

…I had no idea.

Was that in the original?

At least, it wasn't in my memory.

"Did you summon me just for that?"

"Yes. So I'd appreciate it if you'd return it. Just hand over the Forbidden Book, and I won't pursue the matter any further."

Oh ho. Is that so?

Judging by the way she's even asking so nicely, it must be something quite valuable.

Then the story changes.

I conquered the Labyrinth.

Therefore, the Book of Pindal is rightfully one of my spoils of war.

The initiative in this negotiation belongs to me.

So.

"Empty-handed?"