Chapter 438: New Crossroads (3)

Hylaea sat Lennok on a chair near the chapel, then returned to the organ and began to play again.

“Just a moment. I haven’t been in this city for long, so I need to make some adjustments.”

It was a faint, quiet tone, almost breaking, completely different from the magnificent music her original personality used to play.

Lennok listened quietly to the music, lost in thought.

‘It seems she hasn’t settled in this city for very long.’

He had wondered why he, who had been active in the shadows for a considerable time, had no information about her, but it seemed Hylaea had only recently arrived in Vulcan.

‘Is the organ itself connected to Hylaea’s abilities? No, considering she maintains two personalities, it might be a matter of mental stability.’

Lennok also knew that songs and music could be powerful catalysts and mediums in spellcraft.

Didn’t Jindun also use glowing stones to create a song to hide his Cradle in the Hanghasa Labyrinth?

Perhaps the reason the Guido Cult sings their gospels to the gods so fervently is—

“It’s done. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Clack!

After a short performance, Hylaea stood up and walked down the chapel aisle, asking,

“But it’s been almost three months since Myeong told me, and I didn’t expect you to come now. Are you from somewhere far from Vulcan?”

“What?”

Lennok retorted, taken aback by her unexpected words, then fell silent.

From that brief exchange, Lennok could grasp how much Hylaea knew.

‘She doesn’t know who I am. Did Myeong not tell her my identity?’

It seemed true that Myeong hadn’t revealed his identity to anyone, despite desperately wanting Lennok to join Pandemonium and participate in their mission.

He hadn’t imagined that even this unknown broker, who would arrange his entry into Pandemonium, wouldn’t be aware of Lennok’s true identity.

Hylaea, noticing Lennok’s reaction, subtly changed the subject.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to talk about it. My job is just to confirm your capabilities and whether you have the will and ability to work with us.”

“Those eyes.”

Lennok asked.

“They’re similar to how your spider’s eyes opened. Are you two acquainted?”

“What, you’ve already met Agneta?”

Hylaea chuckled.

“That makes things much easier. She’s the one who linked my mind to this child’s body.”

“……”

“What I do, benefiting from her, isn’t so different from her work either. I find tasks and jobs that Pandemonium needs across the continent and distribute them appropriately to those passing through this area… And it’s also my job to filter and discern those who aren’t qualified.”

“So, to put it another way… you’re acting as the regional branch manager for Pandemonium?”

“I don’t know how much meaning that holds, but if you want to think of it that way.”

Hylaea nodded docilely and said,

“Even though we maintain a decentralized, cell-like structure, intermediate management is necessary. Of course, many people don’t know who they’re working with unless they’ve known from the start like you… but that’s not always crucial information.”

“I see…”

Lennok already knew that Pandemonium was turning the continent upside down to collect artifacts and technologies from the Old World.

It was an organization that freely unleashed transcendent monsters like Myeong and Croken, as well as powerhouses like the Doctor and Maiya.

He had thought their lack of control was strangely disproportionate to their power, but it seemed they were filling their personnel gaps this way.

He hadn’t imagined they would create their own recruitment routes in a completely different way from the underworld of a mega-city.

“In that sense, I’d like to confirm your intentions one last time.”

Hylaea fiddled with the blindfold in her hand as she asked.

“If you intend to work with us, we’ll proceed according to procedure. Even if you come with Myeong’s recommendation, I’m bound by the contract unless the leader’s permission is granted.”

“Qualification verification, huh…”

Lennok understood why Myeong had recommended this method of entry instead of revealing Lennok’s identity.

At this point, the members of Pandemonium only perceived Lennok as an unknown wizard in a mask.

Perhaps Myeong intended for him to see how Pandemonium operated firsthand, without regard for Adamant Thunder’s reputation or status, and then decide.

He couldn’t tell if Myeong truly understood Lennok’s nature and disposition well enough to choose this method of invitation.

But this situation, unintentionally encountered as his fourth identity, didn’t feel entirely bad.

Seeing Pandemonium’s unadulterated true nature with his own eyes was, in a way, what he had always wished for.

Lennok adjusted his mask and nodded.

“Alright. Shall we start with something simple?”

Hylaea, who had been sitting askew, suddenly had her eyes roll back to white. Her raised finger pointed out the church door.

“That man you just ran into. He’s a stooge for the Hedro Military Faction. Subdue him right now and bring him before me.”

“Fuck, fuck!!”

Thump!!

The man, whose four limbs were twisted in unnatural directions, let out incessant curses and writhed, screaming at the top of his lungs.

“You motherfuckers, do you know who I am to do this to me?!”

Though not properly tied, the man’s body, with all its limbs broken, couldn’t move from where it had fallen.

Hylaea spoke, with the man spitting and writhing under her feet.

“Faster than I expected.”

“He was lingering around the area just outside the church, near the exit.”

Lennok said, touching the gap in his mask.

“He probably thought I was an associate and intended to interrogate me once I left the area.”

“Indeed… This child had a hard time pretending not to know. If we want to make things easier going forward, we should get rid of obstacles beforehand.”

Hylaea rubbed her tired eyes.

“I can’t stay out for long either.”

“You despicable bastards… So you were all in on it and just pretending not to know?!”

The man roared, his voice echoing through the church.

“General is working hard in many ways to directly communicate with your Pandemonium, yet you dare betray such grace!!!”

“Sorry, but I’m not interested in playing soldier on the Central Front.”

Crack!!

Hylaea said, pressing down hard on the man’s nape with her foot.

“All you want is to return to Ars Nova and regain your former glory. You don’t care what others think.”

“Fuck, what does that have to do with you bastards?! If the objective is the same, then the means are ultimately…!!”

“Your General, he’s from a Central City noble family, isn’t he?”

The man’s struggle immediately ceased at Hylaea’s chuckling remark.

She looked down at the man’s stiffened expression with a hint of amusement and said,

“A military faction formed by fallen nobles of Ars Nova… yet you still don’t even know what’s sleeping in this city. No need to see any more.”

“What, what do you mean…”

“The Hedro Military Faction won’t make it to the end.”

As Hylaea’s words fell, Lennok’s magical power surged. Magic threads and shadows rose from beneath his feet, transforming into sharp stakes, and she chuckled.

“Well, your General probably wouldn’t know it anyway.”

“Fuuuuck!!!”

Thwack!!

Blood splattered on the old carpet of the church.

“Quite foul-mouthed for someone claiming to be a soldier.”

“Only some of the generals are from Central City noble families; below them, they’re just using career soldiers as pawns.”

Hylaea replied.

“On the Central Front, it’s more profitable to use and discard people like consumables unless they’re truly exceptional. In a way, they’ve played their cards cleverly.”

“I see…”

Lennok said so, yet his mind churned, thinking about Hylaea’s words just now.

Her tone implied that a military faction formed by Central City nobles, yet indifferent to what lay dormant in this city, was disqualified.

Hylaea might have mumbled it, thinking Lennok wouldn’t understand, but Lennok, who knew the truth of the Black Consumer Project, felt a sense of incongruity.

‘Pandemonium knows that the cause of the Central City’s demise lies in Vulcan.’

And they knew it perfectly well, yet showed no interest in the Black Consumer Project.

Was it because the answer their leader sought didn’t exist in Vulcan’s secret, or because he desired an entirely different answer?

To obtain a clear answer to all these questions, he had to pay close attention to where they were headed now.

As Lennok quietly gathered his magic threads, Hylaea subtly watched him and asked,

“Manipulation-type? So you’re a trait-type. No wonder Myeong gave me a heads-up.”

“…I am not a physical ability user. Let’s make that clear.”

How much of his true magic he would reveal depended on the situation.

There was no need to define his lineage here and leave an impression on Hylaea.

Hylaea gave a faint smile at Lennok’s reply and said,

“Good. Your skill is confirmed, and I know your methods aren’t soft. By chance, there’s a job prepared just for you.”

As Hylaea spoke, she waved her finger, and the fallen man’s body blurred and vanished from the spot.

It was proof that she wasn’t just a mere facilitator but possessed considerable power herself.

While Lennok noted that fact, she spoke.

“The southwestern medium city, Kaiushu. It’s practically a small nation ruled and managed by superhumans. Information has come in that an Old World artifact was discovered there.”

“So, your first task is that, as expected?”

It wasn’t surprising, as he knew that not only the leader but also monsters like Croken were involved in searching for Old World artifacts and technologies.

Only Hylaea’s attitude, directly getting to the point after verifying his skills, felt peculiar.

Hylaea smiled and nodded.

“Kaiushu is ruled by Yanikus Barbaria, an 8-level Peak of Extremes ability user. He was a distinguished warrior known as the ‘Rampart,’ but rumors are widespread that he’s critically ill with a chronic disease.”

“If he truly reached the Peak of Extremes, he wouldn’t be weakened by a mere chronic illness.”

As Lennok had just recently fought a genuine Peak of Extremes ability user, her statement was puzzling.

But Hylaea flatly denied Lennok’s words.

“Like all living 8-level superhumans, he’s incredibly old. There’s information that he became critically ill precisely because he consumed elixirs carelessly, without considering side effects.”

“……”

“Kaiushu is located close to the Plateau of Impermanence, where many rare medicinal herbs grow. They’ve amassed considerable wealth from these resources and have reportedly purchased all sorts of rare elixirs.”

He didn’t need to hear the rest.

“So, an Old World artifact somehow ended up among those collected elixirs, you mean?”

“The Archangel’s Tear. It’s one of the rarest treasures, treated as a national treasure even among 2nd World artifacts.”

Hylaea said, touching her eye.

“Vision sharing, just for a moment, alright?”

“Go ahead.”

Flash!!

He thought it might not work on Lennok, who was immune to target-specific spells, but it seemed to be a method of simply overlaying light reflected on his retina.

With her words, a sapphire gem, shaped like a tear, appeared before Lennok’s eyes.

It was about the size of a handful, perfectly fitting into a palm.

“It’s an item said to greatly increase mana recovery speed and bestow miraculous energy just by possessing it. Originally, it should never have fallen into that old man’s hands at this point.”

Hylaea said, rotating the artifact in mid-air.

“The goal of this mission is singular: to retrieve or destroy the Archangel’s Tear before Yanikus Barbaria realizes its presence in his possession.”

“Retrieve or destroy, huh…”

“Naturally, direct confrontation is absolutely forbidden. If you’re discovered, the operation is to be abandoned, and escape is the priority. You wouldn’t want to fight a powerhouse who rules a city, even if his teeth are falling out, would you?”

Hylaea added.

“The worst-case scenario is failing to reach the elixir and having its existence exposed to the Rampart. Not only should Pandemonium’s involvement not be discovered, but the fact that you’re after the elixir shouldn’t be exposed either, understand?”

“I’m sorry, but if you’re planning a heist, you’d better find someone else.”

Lennok replied in a nonchalant tone.

“I’ve done that kind of work a few times, but it was out of unavoidable circumstances, and I didn’t feel any aptitude for it. There’s a very high probability of failure.”

When was the last time he’d attempted to infiltrate somewhere and steal something?

He had once rummaged through a drug lord’s medicine vault in the Pilenom Autonomous Region, but that was only possible because circumstances had somewhat aligned.

While Lennok’s judgment and magical abilities wouldn’t be useless for a heist, it was natural that he lacked skill in physically moving to steal items.

Hylaea, as if she had been waiting for Lennok’s answer, replied,

“You’re not alone. A team has already been assembled to carry out the operation.”

“A team, you say…”

“Your role in Kaiushu isn’t to directly lead and execute the theft of the elixir, but merely to provide the necessary force or spellcraft for it.”

As Hylaea spoke, she pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket.

She scribbled a few characters with a pen nearby and handed it to Lennok.

“This is the team leader’s name and the rendezvous point. Once you arrive, you’ll be briefed on the situation.”

“…Four days from now. I’ll have to leave by tomorrow to make it on time.”

She put on the blindfold she was holding, and her sightless eyes curved into a smile.

“Good luck.”

Her job was merely to arrange the task and explain it simply.

Did this mean that collecting Old World artifacts was a matter to be judged and handled directly in the field?

Although he had made contact with a Pandemonium official, he had no intention of taking her words at face value.

If she arranged such a mission after hearing about Lennok’s existence from Myeong, there must surely be an underlying intention.

He’d check the situation on site and pull out if necessary.

Just as Lennok was about to step out of the church, thinking this.

“I forgot to ask one thing.”

Hylaea, who had been quietly watching his retreating back, asked,

“Your name?”

“…Victor.”

Lennok gave the name he’d used during the Grimoire Gang’s race, then asked in turn,

“Speaking of which, I forgot to ask you something too.”

“What is it?”

“The elixir called Archangel’s Tear. What effect does it have if consumed directly?”

Archangel’s Tear. Was it merely a coincidence that it seemed related to the artifact staff Lennok possessed, Compassion of the Archangel?

The old black wizard, Raoul, who Lennok had helped before, had mentioned artifacts sharing the name ‘Archangel’.

If the Archangel series, which he had known as artifacts of the Cult, were actually treated as 2nd World artifacts, then who truly possessed and obtained them?

Before Lennok could ponder it, Hylaea said,

“It’s nothing special. A simple but very powerful effect. It’s like a ray of light for old hags with not much time left.”

“A ray of light, you say?”

“It greatly increases physical regeneration, slows down the body’s metabolism, and reverses the cellular apoptosis stage. In a word…”

Hylaea smiled.

“It extends lifespan.”