Chapter 1387: Variations (26)
After the pursuit battle over the Flame Flower concluded with an unexpected end.
As soon as Martina retracted her power and retreated, the commotion quickly subsided.
Many people were aware that Gateway City was currently guarded by a mighty Transcendent.
Thus, it was not difficult to claim that the explosions and clashes of the Flame Flower were also the Guardian’s doing.
Only after Martina personally handled the Gateway patrol and sent them back could the group finally move locations.
“I never thought we’d end up back at this hotel.”
“…Though we did gain one strange companion.”
“Hmm.”
The top-floor suite of the Red Dragon Hotel.
Soryu leaned against the corridor wall, and Sarin Tribiyer was perched on the ceiling chandelier.
Freya groaned, sprawling on the sofa, while Ermont squatted on a cushion.
The Conjunction Spell Master sat haphazardly on a broken chair, and Maiya Lonsdale stood rigidly, arms crossed.
At the center of their gaze was Martina, sitting on the floor with a serene expression.
“You’ve made quite a mess. Won’t this take a long time to clean?”
“……”
“I don’t mind living inhaling dust, but the other people in Gateway City seem sensitive about such cleanliness issues.”
Perhaps the messy suite, a result of Lennok’s recent havoc, was bothering her.
The female knight calmly swept the floor with her gaze, unperturbed by the harsh stares directed at her from all sides.
Her red hair fell over her forehead, and she impatiently brushed it away, then loosely tied it back.
Her appearance was so unassuming, it was hard to believe she was the Transcendent who had been trying to kill the Pandemonium members just moments ago.
Hylaea looked down at Martina and let out a small sigh.
“Things have gotten strange somehow… Let’s try to summarize it simply first.”
She approached a whiteboard in one corner of the reception room and picked up a pen.
“We gathered in Gateway City to adjust the veil and pinpoint the location of Paradise Lost. To adjust the veil, we needed fragments of the veil that could only be obtained from the Gate.”
“That’s a story even I know by now.”
“But because of Gateway City’s Guardian, it was difficult to approach the Gate rashly. So we secretly infiltrated the Guardian’s residence and stole fragments of the veil, but we were discovered midway.”
“There’s no knight lenient towards a thief stealing their master’s belongings.”
“…It was clear at the point of discovery that we needed to somewhat revise the original plan. In the end, I thought we’d fight the Guardian to the death, but…”
Hylaea glanced aside.
“Just before the Guardian was about to finish us, she suddenly changed her mind and said she’d cooperate fully with us.”
“A neat summary.”
Martina, sitting on the floor with her arms crossed, nodded.
“Is there a problem?”
“Are you seriously asking that?!”
Freya, who had been groaning on the sofa, shrieked.
“How can we trust a monster who was rampaging, trying to kill us, and then changed her mind in one second? Do you really think we’re fools?!!!”
“……”
“What on earth are you thinking? Why won’t you reveal your true intentions right now?”
“Working with untrustworthy beings is nothing new, but this time, it’s different.”
Soryu looked at Martina with cold eyes.
“She reversed her stance completely in the blink of an eye, and we have no idea why. This isn’t even a matter of trust anymore.”
“I don’t know much about the concept of Guardian Spirit Beasts, but are they usually this whimsical?”
Sarin Tribiyer tilted her head.
“She doesn’t seem to be lying, but her attitude is unbelievably different from before, which is fascinating.”
“A typical Guardian Spirit Beast doesn’t take human form, nor do they communicate so smoothly.”
The Conjunction Spell Master perched on a chair, idly touching his scorched hands, and spoke.
“While their intellect is often comparable to humans, communication through language is virtually non-existent.”
“So this isn’t something we can understand by applying the concept of a Guardian Spirit Beast… What do we do then?”
“There’s an efficient way.”
The Conjunction Spell Master, wearing thin surgical gloves over his cleanly washed hands, stood up.
“If we cut her open and dissect her right here, we can immediately confirm whether she’s human or a Guardian Spirit Beast—”
“Wait, waaaaait!”
Martina frowned unpleasantly and glared at the Conjunction Spell Master, conjuring flames, causing Ermont to recoil in horror and step forward to restrain him.
“No, just hold on! She’s offering to cooperate, why are you being such a jerk?”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Isn’t dissection far more valuable than a Guardian Spirit Beast’s cooperation?”
“No, it’s not?!”
“Guardian Spirit Beast. As you might guess, we can’t understand why you’re acting this way.”
Maiya Lonsdale looked down at Martina with a calm expression.
“You yourself must know that your attitude is contradictory. Weren’t you trying to exclude us to protect Gateway City?”
“……”
“At the very least, you need to explain why you suddenly decided to cooperate with us. Otherwise, it seems better to settle our unfinished business here and now.”
“A decision…”
Martina, lost in thought, subtly shifted her gaze.
She scanned the Pandemonium members, then subtly glanced at Lennok, who stood silently among them.
Before the other members could sense anything amiss from her subtle reaction, she sharply averted her gaze and declared confidently,
“My mind changed while fighting.”
“…Is that all?”
“Yes.”
While Maiya Lonsdale, speechless, shook her head, Lennok fell into thought.
Given the circumstances, it was clear that Martina had noticed something about Lennok.
Just as Lennok had read her memories within Martina’s inner self, it wasn’t impossible for Martina to have realized Lennok’s true identity.
In fact, at the moment the path was connected, it might have been possible to prevent Martina from realizing Lennok’s existence.
If he had simply not released his Targeted Resistance, Martina wouldn’t have been able to read anything from within Lennok.
However, Lennok also had something he wanted to confirm with Martina, so he intentionally left room for it.
The various clues about Ban-gung, which he had encountered several times during his journey to Gateway City.
This was because Lennok, too, vaguely suspected that this situation itself might not be a coincidence.
Was it truly a coincidence that the memories of Ban-gung, which he had barely managed to find at the end of Kabahim, kept appearing repeatedly as soon as the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors collapsed?
Even Transcendent beings who remembered Lennok from the past began to approach him, and entities connected to him started awakening and moving, one by one.
However, despite all this, there was one incomprehensible fact.
What he had seen last in Martina’s memories—
“……”
Though his thoughts were extensive, Lennok quickly regained his composure and managed his expression.
These were speculations that didn’t need to be revealed, given that a private conversation with Martina was currently impossible.
Martina, too, likely guessed this, which is why she was feigning ignorance of Lennok and responding so brazenly.
If she couldn’t explain why she changed her stance, it might be better to simply put on a brazen face and push forward like that.
Moreover, Martina, as he had observed her in Gateway City so far, had indeed seemed like a knight utterly devoid of common sense.
“I don’t quite understand why the reason for my changed decision is so important to you.”
Martina, sitting on the reception room floor with her arms crossed, said,
“I merely stopped fighting because I judged that you would not harm Gateway City. If you can achieve your goals smoothly through my cooperation, then other matters are none of your concern, are they not?”
“…This one. She’s suddenly become strangely logical.”
“Even while pursuing me, you did not take others hostage or inflict harm. As the Guardian of Gateway City, I was deeply impressed by that fact!”
Martina declared confidently, ignoring the bewildered members.
“Therefore, I too reflected on causing unnecessary strife and simply decided to cooperate with you. Is this sufficient reason for you to be convinced?”
“……”
At Martina’s words, the others quietly exchanged glances.
“This woman, she definitely ate something wrong during the fight earlier.”
“She’s suddenly saying things that sound several times smarter than before. Is she ill?”
“Is she the type who has a Geas that lowers her intelligence when fighting? There are occasionally such cases among berserkers.”
“I think it might have something to do with Cheonbeon.”
Maiya Lonsdale, staring intently at Martina with an expressionless gaze, spoke.
“If her attitude changed this drastically, it can only be seen as a trigger related to the Guardian Spirit Beast’s master being activated.”
“I don’t understand what you mean. Are you saying Cheonbeon directly placed restrictions on the Guardian Spirit Beast’s actions?”
“Not to that extent, but… there must have been some possibility of feeling Cheonbeon’s intervention during the engagement.”
Maiya Lonsdale cast a sharp gaze as if piercing through the Guardian Spirit Beast’s inner self.
“Either Evan Martinez was nearby, or there was a trigger that reminded her of a command or instruction he left behind… wouldn’t it be one of the two?”
“……”
Martina did not reply.
Instead, she merely looked at Maiya Lonsdale calmly, as if asking what was wrong.
How much time passed as Maiya Lonsdale intently observed the confident expression of the female knight?
“However, yes… strictly speaking, the Guardian Spirit Beast’s assertion isn’t entirely wrong.”
Maiya Lonsdale slowly stepped back and said,
“Debating this might be meaningless in itself. We can’t trust her, but conversely, there’s no reason for her to change her attitude with a lie when she was holding such an advantage.”
“……”
“Whether Cheonbeon intervened or not, it’s clear that there was some variable that caused her to change her mind. It would be best to stick to the original plan.”
“I agree on that point.”
Hylaea nodded.
“We don’t need to rely on the Guardian Spirit Beast’s cooperation, but simply not having her obstruct us makes things easier.”
“Martina? We have something to discuss among ourselves, so would you mind stepping out of the room for a moment?”
Sarin Tribiyer asked.
“If you truly intend to cooperate ‘fully’ with us, as you said, then you wouldn’t fail to grant such a small request, would you? Am I wrong?”
“Don’t worry, vampire, I’ll keep my promise without you needing to be so sarcastic.”
Martina, placing her hands on her knees, stood up and said calmly,
“I have already publicly declared my sincere cooperation with your plans. If it helps in finding Paradise Lost, I will gladly do so.”
“……”
Watching Martina immediately turn to leave, the other members wore expressions difficult to describe.
The monster who had just moments ago been trying to burn them to death was now acting like a friendly collaborator in the blink of an eye.
Soryu, watching Martina’s back as she walked out of the suite without waiting for a reply, said,
“Her thoughts are unfathomable. It really does seem like she intends to cooperate with us.”
“First, let’s organize the existing plan. What was the original intention after obtaining the fragments of the veil?”
“Use the veil as a medium to search for Paradise Lost. Confirm the location of the Nether King’s legacy within Paradise Lost. Divide the personnel and infiltrate. Roughly three things?”
“To put it concretely, it would be something like this.”
Hylaea, listening to the other members, picked up a pen and faced the dressing table mirror.
-
Adjust the movements of the veil to find the location of the hidden Paradise Lost.
-
Approach Paradise Lost and use Ermont’s ability to search for Myeong’s legacy.
-
Recover the legacy and safely retreat without being detected by Jinwa.
“The key will be whether Myeong’s legacy is currently inside or outside Paradise Lost. The conclusion Croken Asylus reached after wandering the Central Front, using Ermont as a detector, was…”
Hylaea tapped the whiteboard and said,
“After defeating the Nether King, Jinwa did not directly take his legacy but attempted to move it out of Paradise Lost. The main point of contention will be whether the legacy has been completely moved out, or if it still remains within Paradise Lost.”
“If Jinwa simply abandoned Myeong’s legacy outside Paradise Lost, then we would just need to pick it up and return, but…”
Agneta tilted her head with a blank expression.
“No matter how I think about it, things won’t be that easy, will they…?”
“Think about it. Why didn’t Jinwa directly take Myeong’s legacy even after defeating him?”
Ermont said, resting his chin on his hand.
“Myeong’s legacy contains something incredibly dangerous… something even Jinwa finds difficult to handle. So he doesn’t want to keep it inside Paradise Lost, but he also wouldn’t simply abandon it.”
“Even though he’s trying to move the legacy outside Paradise Lost, that in itself is proof that Jinwa is extremely concerned about Myeong’s legacy.”
Soryu said in a cold tone,
“It’s clear that instead of destroying or absorbing Myeong’s legacy, he needs to preserve it intact and hand it over to someone.”
“…To the Three Grand Dukes?”
“……”
Silence fell.
How the Nether King’s fate was intertwined with the Three Grand Dukes.
What would befall this world if Myeong’s remains fell into their hands.
Because the members of Pandemonium could easily imagine the consequences.
The remains of the black wizard who had reached the highest pinnacle in the continent’s history, passing into the hands of the Demigods who had corrupted the Empire.
It was no coincidence that, no matter how they thought about how they might use Myeong’s remains, only unpleasant possibilities came to mind.
“The explanation was long, but the gist is this.”
Freya, still sprawled on the sofa, asked in a languid tone,
“Recover Myeong’s remains before they fall into the hands of the Three Grand Dukes. Isn’t that all?”
“If Jinwa is truly preparing to transfer Myeong’s legacy to the Three Grand Dukes, it won’t be easy.”
Hylaea replied.
“We’d have to intercept the legacy midway, while being wary of both the Ascendant and the Three Grand Dukes. Normally, this would be tantamount to a suicide mission, but…”
She slowly turned her gaze to Lennok and said,
“This time, there are two monsters on our side who are on par with the Nether King.”
“……”
All of the Pandemonium members gathered here were formidable individuals with unique talents and supernatural abilities.
In particular, Maiya Lonsdale and the Conjunction Spell Master were mighty superhumans whose names were renowned across the continent.
Yet, there was an overwhelming power that overshadowed all their individuality and renown.
Cheondun and Adamant Thunder.
Now, with two Transcendent beings, whose like would never exist again in the continent’s history, moving simultaneously.
“With this, isn’t it worth taking a chance?”
“Hylaea. Are you serious?”
Ermont said with a smile.
“If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have even gotten involved in this in the first place. Don’t you all feel similarly?”
“I can’t particularly agree with that. I joined Pandemonium because of the Director from the very beginning.”
Soryu said coldly,
“I don’t care if others die or not, but if it’s something that needs to be done, then do it. Wasn’t that why we joined?”
“Uh, excuse me, but I was dragged here by that Enforcer from the Hanghasa Labyrinth?”
While Pandemonium members are often indifferent, even hostile, towards each other, many generally respect the Director.
This is likely because the other members also vaguely understand or at least suspect what level of existence the Director has reached.
No one here gathered for a grand goal or cause like ‘for the organization’.
As they move for what they desire, they will each do their part in their respective fields.
“Enough, call Martina. We need to explain the situation to her and ask for her understanding.”
“She said it herself, so she won’t needlessly obstruct us. That much is enough.”
“Who knows? Isn’t she the one who changed her attitude in the blink of an eye after trying to kill us?”
While Ermont and Freya argued, the reception room door opened, and Martina entered.
The female knight calmly adjusted her attire, as if ready to hear their conclusions.
Seeing her aura, which was unbelievably stable after the recent battle, Hylaea spoke.
“Martina, let’s get straight to the point. As you may have roughly heard, we are planning to recover the Nether King’s legacy from Paradise Lost.”
“The Nether King’s legacy.”
“As you know, Gabihaeng occurred in this Gateway City, and much has changed since the Nether King and Jinwa clashed in Paradise Lost. It seems that both the Three Grand Dukes and the Ascendant are simultaneously moving for something Myeong left behind in that process.”
“……”
“If you grant us a few requests for this plan, we promise not to cause any further problems in Gateway City. Of course, we also intend to pay a small price, but…”
Hylaea, who had been calmly explaining, trailed off.
“Um, are you listening to me?”
“……”
Martina’s reply had been strangely absent for a while now.
The female knight stood perfectly still, showing no reaction as soon as she heard the explanation.
“Guardian Spirit Beast? Does she only respond if we call her Martina?”
“No. I am listening.”
Martina replied with a thoughtful expression.
“However, I have something to ponder regarding this concept of the Nether King’s legacy.”
“Ah, was the explanation a bit lacking in that area? Indeed, this was something I hadn’t even explained to Adamant Thunder yet.”
Hylaea glanced at Lennok.
“We learned about the legacy’s existence immediately after Myeong’s defeat was confirmed. The Doctor became aware of it while experimenting with Ermont’s bio-information, as he is of the same bloodline as the Nether King.”
“……”
“According to the Doctor, a series of very powerful black magic collapse reactions seem to be occurring periodically along Paradise Lost’s trajectory. It’s not something Ermont could ever imitate, and in terms of sheer power, it’s comparable to an Ascendant’s, so it was definitively Myeong’s lingering power.”
“Yes, yes. My apologies for being a mere ‘detector’ and a nobody.”
“Anyway, finding Paradise Lost’s location is important, but the most crucial thing is recovering the legacy. If we could find even more traces of it, we could significantly skip several steps—”
“About that Nether King’s legacy.”
Martina’s face, as she gazed at the members, had somehow changed to a strange expression.
“Are you, by any chance, referring to a black, coffin-like object?”
“…!!!”
Not only the members in the reception room but even Lennok flinched for a moment.
Because they had never imagined such words would come from her mouth.
Hylaea, suppressing her reaction as much as possible, nodded as she replied in a calm tone,
“We can’t be certain, but… it’s highly probable. Have you seen it somewhere?”
“No. It’s not just a matter of having seen it somewhere…”
Martina slowly raised her gaze.
“The first thing I saw when I woke from my sleep was that black coffin.”
“…What?”
“In terms of location, it doesn’t seem that far from here…”
Leaving the speechless people behind, Martina walked to the window of the suite.
She looked out the window, easily pinpointed the location, and gave a slight nod.
“It’s roughly in that vicinity. It should still be where I woke up, would you like to go see it yourselves?”