Chapter 1476: Hunt for the First Apostle (10)

Lennok followed Kalion to the rendezvous point where the other collaborators were gathered.

The wreckage of the Nest, half-destroyed and collapsed after a fierce battle. A strange scene caught Lennok’s eye.

“That’s…”

A giant sand worm, dead and oozing a sticky fluid. The corpse of a crab, its carapace crushed and its eyeballs burst.

The grotesquely twisted bodies of monsters, far removed from any human form, were piled on top of each other.

Recognizing them at once, Lennok asked.

“Lesser Apostles who couldn’t overcome their madness and turned into beasts. Did the others do this?”

“No. It wasn’t us.”

Kalion glanced away.

“It was the work of one person.”

Gooooooooo…!!

At that moment, Lennok realized someone was sitting perched atop the pile of Apostle corpses.

It was an old monk in worn-out robes, holding prayer beads, his eyes closed and his hands pressed together in silent prayer.

Though not a single drop of blood stained his shabby clothes, the moment Lennok saw him, he understood.

It wasn’t that the other collaborators from the Alliance had managed to kill the rampaging Apostles during the brief skirmish.

The Eccentric Monk of the Demonic Conflux. That strange figure from the outer continent had single-handedly slaughtered all the mad Lesser Apostles.

So that’s what he was doing. I thought it was strange that I didn’t see him among the others fighting off the attack.

Realizing this, Lennok immediately examined the corpses killed by the Eccentric Monk more closely.

‘The bodies… they’re crushed beyond recognition. Is that the Eccentric Monk’s ability?’

The dead Apostles all looked different, but they were all crushed as if flattened by something enormous.

A brutal and gruesome sight, as if a house-sized club had been used to squash bugs.

Yet, the weapon the Eccentric Monk had used to kill the Apostles was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, the Transcendents who had arrived at the Alliance’s invitation were gathered nearby.

“My apologies for being late.”

Thump!!

At that moment, a man with a rock-solid impression pushed past the spellcasters gathered around and stepped forward.

The man, who exuded an overbearing aura, scanned the area with a grimly set expression and clasped his hands together.

“I am an elder of the Order Alliance, the Preservation Spell Master. I will be taking command of this operation in place of the injured Chroma Spell Master.”

“…”

I suspected as much when I realized the Nest was a decoy, but it seems the Chroma Spell Master really is alive.

I figured a Spell Master whose art involves painting wouldn’t find it impossible to escape. My guess was right.

However, despite having prepared for the attack, her injuries were apparently severe enough that she had to temporarily withdraw from the operation.

What was surprising was that an even more powerful Spell Master had arrived on site to replace the Chroma Spell Master.

“I’m sure you all have many questions about this plan.”

The Preservation Spell Master said, standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back.

“I will explain everything, one by one, until you are satisfied. I will now take questions.”

“Questions? I can’t believe you have the gall to say that right now.”

Clang!

A giant in an iron mask, splattered with blood, the Iron Lion, growled.

He radiated killing intent, not even bothering to wipe the bits of flesh from the iron club he had slammed down.

“The entire Nest was a decoy? What kind of bullshit is that? You’d better explain yourself clearly.”

“We went out of our way to help the Alliance, only for you to lie to us from the start?”

“How disappointing. Is this how the Order Alliance treats its allies?”

The gazes of the other collaborators were just as hostile as the Iron Lion’s as they glared at the Preservation Spell Master.

It was likely because not only had the Alliance lied to them from the very beginning, but they had also been caught up in a huge commotion in the process.

But the Preservation Spell Master’s expression didn’t change one bit, even under the murderous glares of the other collaborators.

“On behalf of the Alliance, I formally apologize for not seeking your understanding in advance.”

He merely replied in a voice as hard as rock.

“However, to deceive the enemy, we first had to deceive our allies. It was a necessary measure against a fanatical group like the Guido Cult.”

“That’s just an excuse. Do you really think that can justify this situation?”

“This outcome is more powerful evidence than any trivial words.”

The Preservation Spell Master replied to Abraham’s words.

“In the end, the Nest was attacked, and the Cult’s forces were so immense that even the prepared Chroma Spell Master was gravely injured. If we had actually been preparing the restoration ritual here, the war would have ended on this spot.”

“…”

“We recruited trustworthy Transcendents, but with the Cult as our opponent, we could not be careless. We could not ignore the slight possibility that one among you was colluding with them.”

The Preservation Spell Master’s gaze grew heavy as he looked at the collaborators standing around him.

“I trust I don’t need to spell out the results for you.”

“Kekeke… You have a plausible way of saying you suspected us from the start.”

The Iron Lion’s voice was chilling as he drew up his mana.

“So what? You expect me to keep participating in this operation while being suspected of a betrayal I didn’t commit? Go to hell-”

“As an apology, after we have rooted out the traitor, those who remain will receive double the promised compensation for this job.”

At that moment, the other collaborators fell silent.

The Preservation Spell Master scanned his surroundings with a heavy gaze and said.

“This matter has already been agreed upon with headquarters. If you are all participating in this war, you must have your own desperate circumstances.”

“…”

“If you truly did not collude with the Cult, the Alliance will promise you its unlimited protection just for letting this matter go.”

“That’s…”

Those gathered here were all people who desperately wanted something from the Alliance, enough to knowingly participate in a war against the Cult.

Having been promised a hefty reward beforehand, it would be difficult to easily ignore the Alliance’s offer to double the payment.

Their situations were quite different from Lennok’s, who had joined to confirm the true objectives of the Alliance Leader and the Pontiff.

“With the Cult falling for the operation to use the Nest as a decoy, the restoration ritual has already begun successfully. That alone has brought the Alliance significantly closer to victory in this war.”

“…”

“However, at a time when the Grand Spell Masters conducting the restoration ritual cannot move, it is an undeniable fact that the Cult’s military power is far greater than the Alliance’s. That is why your cooperation is crucial.”

In the quiet stillness, the Preservation Spell Master spoke in his rock-solid voice.

“The Alliance is not taking the time to explain the situation to you just to use you as disposable pawns. On the contrary, my very presence here is powerful evidence that the Alliance needs your help.”

“…”

“Rooting out the traitor will not take long, and it will be done in a way that is by no means unpleasant for you. More importantly, the Alliance has already secured several clues about the mole.”

The Preservation Spell Master said firmly.

“All that is needed is a little time. After that, I will stake my spellcraft on the promise of double compensation and the honor of being an ally who helped the Alliance in its most desperate hour.”

As soon as the Spell Master finished speaking, a heavy atmosphere settled over the group.

While some Transcendents showed their displeasure at being suspected, quite a few were also convinced by the Preservation Spell Master’s words.

Since the attack on the Nest confirmed the existence of a traitor, the decision to definitively root out the problem here and now was understandable.

“So, how do you plan on rooting out this mole?”

Kalion, who had been listening with his arms crossed, asked.

“You said you already have clues. Can’t you just catch the traitor with those?”

“Separate from the clues the Alliance has secured, there must first be a decision-making process that all of you can clearly accept.”

The Preservation Spell Master said.

“From now on, we must have each other’s backs for the war against the Cult. It would be best to shake off any distrust that might build up right here and now.”

“Hah, all you have are slick words. At this point, what…”

Cynicism flowed from among the collaborators, but the hostile atmosphere had lessened considerably compared to before.

This was likely because, despite the Preservation Spell Master’s rigid demeanor, the nuance that he was trying to respect the other collaborators was clearly conveyed.

“To begin with, the interrogation process will be limited to only a few individuals. Most of the collaborators are not subjects for interrogation. I will now state the reasons one by one.”

“The reasons…?”

“First, Adamant Thunder, you may step back.”

The Preservation Spell Master motioned with his eyes.

“Everyone gathered here saw you single-handedly overwhelm the Third and Fifth Apostles. No one would be foolish enough to doubt you after witnessing that phenomenal power.”

“…”

As he spoke, the crowd standing around Lennok fell silent as if on cue.

After actually seeing Lennok overwhelm two of the highest-ranking Apostles inside the Nest, no one could refute that opinion.

Seeing that even the Elder Druid, Maorn, couldn’t argue and kept his mouth shut, Lennok could guess what kind of conversations had taken place in his absence.

“Adamant Thunder.”

Just as Lennok silently stepped back, the Fairy Conjunction Master quietly approached his side.

Uncharacteristically, she hesitated as if watching Lennok’s reaction before speaking.

“I’m sorry for lying. The restoration ritual is actually-”

“You couldn’t speak about it because you’re personally participating in the restoration ritual.”

Lennok cut the Fairy Conjunction Master off and answered calmly.

“Because of the unique nature of your spellcraft, you can still move about while conducting the ritual. Is that why you were tasked with coming to the Nest to deceive the Cult?”

“That’s not the only reason. There was something about the First Apostle’s abilities that we absolutely had to confirm beforehand.”

The Fairy Conjunction Master whispered, looking up at Lennok.

“There’s something I need to tell you separately about the Second Apostle’s ‘main body.’ I’ll explain in a bit.”

“…Main body?”

While Lennok was talking with the Fairy Conjunction Master, the interrogation continued swiftly.

“Satellite and the Eccentric Monk. The same goes for you two. There’s no need to suspect Apostle-Slayers whom the Cult is red-eyed with fury to kill.”

“Hold on, I object.”

At that moment, Satellite Betagron, who had been named along with Lennok, raised his hand.

The old man lifted his blood-stained goggles and said with a gruff expression.

“The title ‘Apostle-Slayer’ should only be given to those who have subjugated high-ranking Apostles. Killing lesser Apostles who have turned into beasts like that monk did is not enough to qualify-”

“What are you talking about, old man? Are you going to be this clueless even at a time like this?”

While the others were silent, the Fairy Conjunction Master pulled Betagron away with a baffled expression.

As Kalion chuckled and shook his head, the Preservation Spell Master scanned the area with a heavy expression.

“The mole is a spellcaster skilled enough to penetrate the Alliance’s security barriers and contact the Cult as soon as they learned the Nest’s location. The physically-oriented ability users should be excluded from the list of suspects.”

The mercenary, Iron Lion, and Pathfinder Abraham, along with several others, were eliminated one by one.

The Spell Master’s judgment in eliminating suspects was so decisive that even those who had previously complained fell silent.

Naturally, three Transcendents remained.

“The Lord of the Valefor Magic Tower. The Elder Druid. The Young Master of the Twilight Veil.”

The Preservation Spell Master said.

“You three are what’s left.”

“…I don’t understand what kind of reckless method this is.”

The Elder Druid, Maorn, said with a terrifyingly rigid expression.

“The Nest has been completely destroyed, yet instead of dealing with the aftermath, you’re looking for a traitor. And in such a crude manner?”

“The reconstruction of the Great Connection has already begun. Restoring the Nest’s research facilities is not a difficult task for the Alliance.”

The Preservation Spell Master retorted coldly.

“What’s important is to root out the traitor right now to prevent a repeat of today’s events. If something like this happens again on the battlefield, a disaster beyond comparison will unfold.”

“…”

“The traitor is a spellcaster skilled enough to penetrate the complex security barriers inside and outside the Nest and transmit its location to the Cult in a single instance. After excluding the Apostle-Slayers, there aren’t many candidates left.”

The Preservation Spell Master said, standing before Kalion, Maorn, and the Young Master.

“The traitor is among you. All that remains is confirmation and disposal.”

As soon as the Preservation Spell Master finished speaking, a tense air filled the surroundings.

This was because the criteria he stated were extremely simple, yet possessed the minimal logic necessary for everyone to accept.

Since the candidates were filtered based on extremely simple criteria, there was no way to raise an objection or correct it.

“This situation seems to be flowing in a strange direction.”

Kalion, who had been listening with his arms crossed, gave a bitter smile.

“Fine, if that’s what you think, I can’t help it. So, do I have to prove my innocence now?”

“Lord of the Valefor Magic Tower. I’ve heard you are one of the most skilled War-Mages on the continent.”

The Preservation Spell Master stared intently at Kalion.

“With your airflow magic, you could have penetrated the Alliance’s barriers and carried the information on the wind.”

“That’s not wrong, but first, let me make my relationship with the Cult clear.”

Kalion raised a hand.

“I’ve been fighting the Cult for a long time as a mercenary. I was just killing some of their bastards a few days ago. I believe I’ve already told Adamant Thunder this.”

“How can we believe you’ve been fighting the Cult until recently? Conversely, couldn’t that be evidence that you made contact with them a few days ago?”

“If you look through my records as a mercenary, you’ll be able to confirm my history of fighting the Cult. I submit the commission request for participating in the subjugation of the western branch as evidence.”

Kalion said in an unwavering voice.

“Above all, the Valefor Magic Tower has maintained a hostile relationship with the Cult for a long time. The Order Alliance, with its many connections in academia, should be able to confirm if my words are true with just a little investigation.”

“…I will hear no more arguments. Let’s move on to the next one.”

The Preservation Spell Master silently shifted his gaze to the side.

“I have no relationship with the Cult whatsoever.”

The druid, Maorn, who had his arms crossed, replied, unable to hide his displeasure.

“We had no contact or exchanges in Larabelli. I’ve never even met or spoken with these so-called priests of the Cult.”

“How are we supposed to believe that?”

“So am I supposed to say I’ve met them when I haven’t? I don’t know how long I have to put up with this pathetic charade.”

“…”

Finally, all eyes turned to the Young Master of the Twilight Veil.

Standing with a blank face, he spoke in a voice as cold as ice.

“It is true that our family has regularly interacted with the Cult.”

“What?”

Despite the instantly frigid atmosphere, the Young Master spoke nonchalantly.

“We traded with them to use the rare catalysts and holy relics they handle as research materials.”

“…Are you admitting you passed information to the Cult?”

“Unlikely. We have not traded with the Cult within the last two years.”

“…”

The Young Master’s indifferent reply, as if he were talking about someone else’s affairs.

The Preservation Spell Master, frowning as he stared at the Young Master, asked.

“An incomprehensible attitude. Do you not think that statement will work against you?”

“The fact that my family has interacted with the Cult is an open secret. There is no reason to hide something that can be found with a little investigation.”

The Young Master looked at the Preservation Spell Master with empty eyes.

“You have clues to root out the mole. It seems you have already made a judgment in your mind.”

“…”

“Hmm… It seems a conclusion isn’t easily reached. In that case, I have a good idea.”

At that moment, Betagron took a small flask from his coat.

[Kieeeeeeeeek!!!]

“This is an invention of mine, the [Angel in a Bottle]. It’s an item that tells you how many of those Cult bastards you’ve killed, or if you have any connection to them. Would you like to try it?”

“…This is ridiculous. You mean you made another new one in that short time?”

It hadn’t been long since the artificial angel died at the Alliance headquarters, yet here was Betagron, having created a new one.

The Fairy Conjunction Master shook her head in disbelief, but surprisingly, the other spellcasters seemed intrigued.

“An invention made by the continent’s greatest military expert…”

“Bring it here. I think I know what it’s made of.”

At the Preservation Spell Master’s signal, one of the spellcasters standing beside him took the flask from Betagron.

“If it’s an item made by an Apostle-Slayer, there’s no need to doubt its authenticity. Do you consent to its use?”

“How thrilling. Do I have to entrust my life to an object made by an old man I’ve never seen before?”

Kalion shrugged.

“Do as you please. If it’s real, that eyeball monster probably won’t lie.”

“If it means we can end this pathetic charade quickly.”

“It matters not.”

With Maorn’s and the Young Master’s consent, the spellcaster brought the Angel in a Bottle before the three of them.

The bloodshot, winged eyeball flapped inside the bottle, looked around—

And then, it grinned at the Elder Druid standing in the middle.

[Hehet.]

“…Wait.”

Ignoring Maorn, whose expression had vanished, the Preservation Spell Master spoke.

“The decision has been made.”

“No, I did not betray you!! Something’s wrong!!!”

“This judgment was not made based solely on the invention created by Satellite.”

As he said this, the Preservation Spell Master took a photograph from his coat.

“The Alliance has already secured evidence of your suspicious movements. The interrogation until now was merely a process to cross-verify this.”

“This is…”

It was a picture from when the group was entering the Nest, led by the Chroma Spell Master.

In the garden behind the Nest, a familiar made of wood could be seen secretly flying up into the sky.

The moment they saw the photograph of the familiar, created by a druid’s Nature Spellcraft, everyone turned to look at Maorn as if on cue.

Looking at the stiffly frozen Maorn, the Preservation Spell Master said with a blank face.

“You moved your familiar as soon as you confirmed the Nest’s location. Did you think the Alliance would miss that?”

“No!! That wasn’t to collude with the Cult!!!”

“Reasoning is useless. Subdue him.”

The druid gritted his teeth as he saw the Alliance’s spellcasters surrounding him.

“You, you bastards…!!!! I said it wasn’t me!!! Can’t you all just get lost!!!”

KWAAANG!!!

The centaur’s heavy hind leg kicked the approaching spellcaster in the stomach.

A gruesome sight as the spellcaster collapsed, their abdomen bursting and scattering their entrails.

Shaking the blood from his hoof, Maorn shouted in a rage.

“How dare you damn humans suspect me-!!! I’ll never let this go!!!”

“Hmm… I knew it would come to this.”

Betagron shook his head.

“Have you ever seen a traitor obediently admit they’re the culprit? This is going to get noisy.”

“No… here, that won’t be necessary.”

The Fairy Conjunction Master glanced away with a reluctant expression.

“Do you know what happened earlier, when the lesser Apostles stormed the Nest?“

“…What?”

The Eccentric Monk, who had been sitting on the crushed Apostle corpses with his hands in prayer, was now looking down at them, his eyes half-open.

The monk, who had been chanting scriptures while stroking his prayer beads with one hand, slowly rose to his feet and raised his hand.

“Let go of me!!! How dare you-”

The moment the Eccentric Monk extended his hand toward the druid, who was rampaging wildly, kicking and killing the spellcasters.

An enormous hand fell from the empty sky, crushing his body in an instant.

[Buddha’s Palm]

Crunch—

There was no scream.

The giant’s palm that fell upon Maorn’s head pressed down and crushed the druid’s body.

It completely pulverized the tough muscles and bones of the centaur, turning him into a heap of flesh and snuffing out his life.

“Ghk…”

“It is the law that a sinner must fall into the abyss.”

Facing Maorn’s crushed corpse, which let out a final death rattle, the Eccentric Monk pressed his hands together in prayer.

“May you pay for your karma in your next reincarnation.”

“…Crazy.”

The other Transcendents, realizing what had happened a moment too late, froze on the spot as if turned to ice.

A transcendent divine art that had literally crushed a Level 8 Elder Druid with a single gesture.

It wasn’t fast. What was astonishing was the sheer, unbelievable physical power itself.

Even though Maorn had been thrashing about violently, he was crushed by pure force, unable to even resist before he died.

So this is the Eccentric Monk of the Demonic Conflux. The monster said to have gone around killing those who tried to become gods on the outer continent.

“Now that the traitor has been rooted out, we will proceed with the plan.”

In the suffocating atmosphere, the Preservation Spell Master straightened his collar and turned away.

“We cannot delay any longer, so we will move immediately. This took more time than expected.”

“If the Nest was a decoy, there must be another location where the real restoration ritual is taking place.”

Lennok, who had been silently observing the Eccentric Monk and Maorn’s corpse, asked.

“Are we also moving there immediately to participate in the ritual?”

“The Grand Spell Masters will handle the ritual itself. There is a far more important final process remaining.”

“A process more important than the restoration of the Great Connection…”

“It is to put an end to this long-running war. Now that the ritual has begun, there is no reason to drag things out.”

The Preservation Spell Master said in a heavy tone.

“From now on, I will guide you to the place where the Alliance Leader will descend.”