Chapter 464: Where Promises Intersect (5)

“He really left.”

Reiya, who had been fiddling with her phone, craned her neck out of the helicopter to watch Lennok disappear into the distance.

The robed figure, rapidly descending towards the edge of the jungle, seemed to stretch out threads of magic and sway erratically, then instantly blurred and vanished from sight.

Seeing Lennok instantly disappear using his specialty, a spatial leap spell, Reiya muttered with a sense of wonder.

“I knew Myeong was turning the continent upside down, but I never thought he’d actually bring in someone like that. Where in the world was such a powerful specialty-type sorcerer hiding?”

Freya Kalins wasn’t an official member of Pandemonium, but she wasn’t completely unaware of how the organization operated.

Because of her vast tonal magic, when cooperating with Pandemonium, she couldn’t help but overhear various stories, even if she didn’t want to.

For Reiya, who was also acquainted with Agneta, it was simply remarkable to see such a sorcerer appear in Pandemonium, an organization already struggling with rare talent acquisition.

The Clown, who was pulling out the IV drips stuck in his arm one by one, chuckled.

“Myeong is not one to waste time on trivial matters. Even if he couldn’t bring Victor, he must have thought there was enough value in it.”

“Hey, do you think I don’t know that?”

Reiya snapped her head around with an annoyed expression.

“Regardless of his ability, it’s strange to think someone like him, who’s done this dozens of times, just appeared out of nowhere.”

If Victor hadn’t taken over the operation The Clown was performing at the last moment, things would have gone seriously awry.

It was astonishing that he not only perfectly controlled the Ascendant’s Geas in that critical moment but also finished the job faster than The Clown.

What was even stranger was Victor’s own attitude, as if he didn’t consider the work particularly remarkable.

It was a continuous gamble, like walking a tightrope, where a single mistake could easily cost him his life.

How accustomed to such schemes must one be to so casually dust themselves off and leave?

That was what bothered Reiya, but The Clown seemed to have little interest in that fact.

“Why are you thinking so hard? It’s obvious that both the name Victor and his identity are completely aliases.”

“What?”

At her retort, The Clown shrugged.

“With that level of skill, Myeong certainly, and probably even the Director, approved bringing him in. Considering his arrogant nature, it’s not impossible that, despite appearances, he’s an old monster who’s rolled around on battlefields for a long time.”

“This is seriously…! You think I don’t know anything just because I’m preparing for a concert.”

Thwack!!

Reiya, who had smacked The Clown over the head with a nearby microphone stand, said,

“If a spatial specialty-type sorcerer appeared on the central front, there’s no way the rumors wouldn’t have reached Torquepaz. Gamblers betting on the outcomes of battles are all over the city, do you think they’d miss that news?”

“Hehe, now that you mention it, I can participate in a ouija board betting session for the first time in a while. Let’s see, I hid some pocket money around here somewhere…”

Reiya sighed deeply at The Clown’s pathetic sight, as he licked his lips and rummaged through a box under the stretcher.

What was the point of continuing the conversation when he clearly wasn’t going to have a proper one?

Her phone was already being flooded with calls from her company.

Just as Reiya raised her phone again to send a quick reply saying she’d be back soon before communications cut out, The Clown spoke.

“You won’t have to wait long. I expected it when Myeong said he brought him, but his capabilities are beyond expectations. He’ll climb to the top in an instant.”

The young man, who was casually wiping the sagging skin back onto his face, his eyes suddenly gleamed coldly.

“You’ll soon see just how dangerous he is.”

“…That’s rich. In my eyes, you’re the craziest bastard of them all.”

While Reiya and The Clown bickered, Glen, who had been silently piloting the airship, suddenly made a sharp turn.

At the same time, countless flashes of light streamed past the wide-open entrance.

The Clown slowly rose from the stretcher, having seen the countless interceptor weapons arrayed on the ground below the airship, which had already left the jungle.

“It’s the final operation. Reiya, can you still sing?”

“Took two lozenges, so I should be fine?”

At Reiya’s calm reply, as she fiddled with the speaker, The Clown beckoned with a finger to the two Glens standing nearby.

“With about two hearts, I think I can still use illusions well enough for combat.”

“Understood.”

Seeing Glen unhesitatingly draw a knife from his robe, The Clown immediately pulled out two dice from his own.

Clatter!

The Clown rolled the dice onto the airship floor, and without even checking the outcome, he threw himself out of the airship.

Holding two twisted blades that sprang from his robe in a reverse grip, he slit his own throat on both sides.

Licking the spreading blood in the air with his tongue, The Clown let out a bizarre laugh.

“Hahahahaha!!! If I’d known this, maybe I should’ve sent him a little later…?!”

As The Clown’s body plummeted like a meteor into the heart of the air force artillery unit, a massive commotion spread out like a wave in all directions.

It was two hours later that news spread: the anti-air network of the impregnable Redding Revolutionary Army had been breached, and the engine chief’s throat had been slit.

The standoff between the cult and the magic tower in the outskirts of the jungle.

In this somewhat sudden series of confrontations, it was hard to believe that the cult was unilaterally clinging to a position of power.

What if the reason was to make Tatiana Chiglet, one of the Five Flame Pillars of Blaiver Magic Tower, an Apostle of the cult?

Even Lennok, upon hearing that, simply looked back at Tatiana with a somewhat bewildered expression.

But she, as if Lennok’s gaze itself was unpleasant, raised an eyebrow and snapped.

“Pandemonium, if you don’t plan to fight, get out of the way.”

Whoosh!!

As she lightly swung her magic, the air in the area heated up, and a breath of burning red flame swept through.

“Given that kind of nonsense she’s spouting, it seems the cult’s High Priestess herself has graced us with her presence here.”

Tatiana muttered this, surveying her surroundings with a sharp gaze.

“I don’t know why such a noble person, who supposedly never leaves the cult’s main sanctuary, traveled all the way to the jungle, but if I kill you, the number of Apostles born into the cult will surely decrease.”

“Hehe, it’s no use venting your anger on me here.”

The woman called High Priestess smiled with a peculiar expression.

“This child is merely my avatar, after all. I am still sitting in the main sanctuary, simply letting fate unfold.”

“…”

“Pandemonium?”

The High Priestess turned to Lennok and smiled sweetly.

“If you help us capture her alive here, we’ll reward you handsomely. We could even arrange a visit to the cult’s main sanctuary’s artifact vault, if you wish.”

“The main sanctuary’s artifact vault?”

“There are many items that people from Pandemonium would covet. For instance, an artifact related to the Archangel’s energy residing within your body?”

“…”

“I dislike obvious ploys, but opportunities like this don’t come often. To think I’d meet someone with the aptitude of an Apostle near the well connected to the Outer Sea…”

Seeing Lennok not reply, the High Priestess crossed her arms.

“Perhaps the empty spot of the 6th Apostle could be filled before a day passes; it’s not something I can easily overlook.”

“…I see.”

Lennok, quickly reviewing the interwoven conversation between Tatiana and the High Priestess, nodded.

All this conversation contained information that could not possibly exist unless one assumption was true.

The power held by this female priestess called the High Priestess.

“Can the cult’s High Priestess turn humans into Apostles?”

“Not at all. I merely receive and convey revelations on their behalf.”

The High Priestess smiled.

“When the time, place, and aptitude align perfectly, as they do now, it can happen regardless of the individual’s will.”

“…”

Does that mean Pyeonram found an aptitude candidate near the well, and thus can forcibly awaken the target as an Apostle?

That was tantamount to an assertion that the High Priestess’s power grew stronger near the world’s fissures.

“What do you say, Pandemonium? Will you make a quick decision before she burns us all to ash?”

Before answering, Lennok gazed at Tatiana and the wizards of the magic tower standing behind her.

All of them were raising their magical power with tense expressions, but their faces were filled with more fear than fighting spirit.

Even the survivors who had watched the Ascendants’ brawl in the square had keenly realized just how absurdly skilled the wizard before them was.

Although Tatiana, the Flame Pillar of the magic tower, was leading them, everyone was exhausted from prolonged mission performance.

Even if Tatiana were perfectly fine, victory would be difficult to guarantee, so what about now, when she’s pushed herself to save the other wizards?

If the cult began supporting from the rear and assisting Pandemonium’s wizard, there was no certainty they could escape this place alive.

It was a situation where, in fact, the balance of the scales would tilt depending on Lennok’s decision.

“…”

Tatiana didn’t bother trying to persuade Lennok at this point.

Since they had no cards to play anyway, useless words would just be a waste of time.

Instead, Lennok, who had been silently watching her wring out magic to its limit to ignite flames, slowly shook his head.

“I refuse.”

“Ah…”

“…What?”

Tatiana faintly furrowed her brow in disbelief, and the High Priestess let out a low gasp.

Lennok, ignoring their reactions, tilted his gaze through his robe.

“I’m not inclined to increase the cult’s power, and how can I trust your promise of payment from the main sanctuary vault?”

“If you wish, there are other ways…”

“Other ways? A way to make me an Apostle, not her?”

At Lennok’s indifferent retort, the High Priestess’s eyes narrowed.

After observing Lennok carefully through his robe for a moment, she chuckled and shook her head.

“Indeed. You’re not entirely without aptitude yourself.”

“…”

“Very well. If you’re disinclined, we shall retreat. It seems you didn’t appear here to help us after all.”

Given that they were already confronting Tatiana before Lennok arrived, it was evidence that the cult had some means of subduing Tatiana.

However, the High Priestess cleanly giving up that opportunity and retreating meant she realized Lennok’s presence here was solely to interfere with the cult.

‘There’s a chance Tatiana Chiglet can be drawn to our side later.’

When Lennok visited the Western Continent branch of Blaiver Magic Tower under the name Van, Tatiana had come to deal with the White Lion Turan incident.

At that time, Tatiana had felt strong skepticism about the magic tower’s affairs and, conversely, had shown interest in Lennok’s recruitment offer, hadn’t she?

Her power, specialized in heat-type bombardment spells, had the potential to be used efficiently and powerfully in any organization.

Lennok had decided to save the life of a capable wizard here rather than accept the cult’s unreliable offer, and thus intervened.

As the High Priestess turned to leave, the sharp gazes of the priests standing behind her clung to Lennok’s robe.

“The fact that Pandemonium worked with us will be buried here today.”

The High Priestess, with her back turned, raised her head slightly and murmured.

“Although this matter clearly goes against our doctrine, it was ordered by that person as a necessary act.”

“…”

“They told me to keep an eye on you. It was just as they said.”

The High Priestess, letting out a strange laugh, uttered some enigmatic words and then departed.

The silent footsteps of the priests followed, and they vanished so quickly that it was as if they had never been there.

Lennok gazed silently at the spot where the cult had disappeared for a while, lost in thought.

From the perspective of a cult that worshipped the Outer Sea’s demise as a god, it was natural for them to be disinclined to participate in an operation to launch Kebaek and embed him in the apocalypse.

Yet he had wondered why they cooperated, even reinforcing the 6th Apostle, but it seemed the Pontiff himself had simply dismissed it as a necessary task.

Was there a different reason for the cult, beyond simply serving foreign gods and hoping for their favor?

Lennok swallowed such unknown doubts and shifted his gaze.

Tatiana, approaching him with a weary expression, extinguished the flames she had conjured in her hand.

The wizard, idly sweeping her red hair back, murmured,

“I never thought I’d get help from Pandemonium’s puppet.”

“I just avoided creating more mad monsters.”

Lennok snorted from behind his mask.

Here, he needed to portray Victor’s somewhat arrogant nature.

“If you want to die, do it outside the cult’s sight. Now take your subordinates and leave.”

“…Right. I suppose so. This is the last time, anyway.”

Tatiana smiled with a tired expression.

“When I said I was quitting as a Flame Pillar, my master told me this would be my last mission. I realized too late that it was essentially a discarded one.”

“…”

“Still, I should send the kids who followed me back to the magic tower… Are you going to help?”

Instead of answering, Lennok chuckled.

Tatiana also shook her head, as if she hadn’t even expected a positive answer.

She turned and walked towards where the other wizards were gathered, muttering,

“Right… I remembered a place to go once I left the magic tower.”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Seeing a wizard like you reminds me of someone.”

Her fiery red eyes glowed sharply.

“I owe you one. I’ll remember this.”

“…”

After confirming that the Blaiver Magic Tower wizards had vanished, following the cult, Lennok started walking out of the jungle.

Though he didn’t know what had happened to Tatiana Chiglet, it was clear she had been planning to leave the magic tower for a long time.

It might not be long before he saw her again near a mega-city.

Pandemonium’s business, which was short if short and infinitely long if long, had ended.

At this point, those who had stepped into the chaos, whether willingly or unwillingly, began to retreat one by one.

Having finished the matter that had been on his mind, Lennok had no intention of lingering in the jungle any longer.

It was time to return to Vulcan.

After leaving the jungle, Lennok rode his bike and was able to leave the Southern Continent within a few days.

Although he ran out of food along the way, there were plenty of outlaws to keep a lone rider from feeling lonely.

It was easy to beat up the ones who picked a fight first and receive their food as a gift.

The expressions on the faces of the gang members, dumbfounded as their cherished smoked sausages were taken from them, were quite amusing to watch.

Lennok, having inadvertently consumed plenty of long-lasting fatty meats and salty smoked foods in this manner, arrived near Vulcan.

Vroom!!

Lennok, who had instantly reached near the cathedral in District 21, stowed his bike and began walking on foot.

Although he was tired from having camped outdoors and ridden for several days, it would be much more convenient to take care of things before returning to being Lennok.

As he adjusted his mask and opened the cathedral door, a nun sat perched on the organ pipes above the chapel, looking down at him.

“I’ve been waiting.”

“…”

“The mental network is buzzing because of the operation in the Southern Continent. You know about it?”

Instead of replying, Lennok sat on a chapel chair and snapped his fingers.

At the same time, a circular wave of sound spread out, instantly enveloping the cathedral’s space and forming an intangible barrier.

Hylaea’s eyes glowed strangely.

“A barrier spell using sound waves as a medium, then. I hadn’t heard you mastered such a spell…”

“Did you know from the beginning?”

Lennok, cutting her off, adjusted his mask and abruptly asked.

Hylaea paused slightly before answering.

“The Well operation was a highly classified plan conducted by the Director, so I was only informed recently. There was no reason for a manager like me to participate in that in the first place…”

“I’m talking about Soryu. He almost caused a disaster by moving outside the plan.”

Lennok nodded and said,

“Considering when the operation was planned, he must have been moving before you were.”

“…”

“I wonder if you knew that fact and didn’t tell me, or if you were completely unaware.”

Soryu had acted as if he would confront Hylaea about Lennok’s presence, but it was Lennok’s place to question her.

Was it reasonable that she, who had received a direct hint from Myeong and arranged the job for Lennok, had not properly explained the variables of this situation?

Lennok seeking out Hylaea immediately upon arriving in Vulcan, putting aside other matters, was not merely to hear the inside story of what had transpired.

“It seems I’ll be getting Pandemonium’s assignments through you for a while, and it would be troublesome if things like this keep happening, wouldn’t it?”

Lennok stared intently at Hylaea’s slightly stiff face and asked again.

“To a manager who can’t even inform me about the sudden actions of a fellow organization member, let alone other variables… What value do you have?”

As Lennok said that, he subtly raised his index finger.

Shink!!

At the same time, several threads of magic stretched taut around Hylaea’s neck, beginning to emit a sharp aura.

Lennok smiled, seeing her bite her lip slightly.

“If this happens one more time, it won’t just be a warning.”

“…Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As soon as he heard Hylaea’s reply, Lennok immediately released the magic threads.

Originally, if he were in Van’s identity, he wouldn’t have protested so aggressively.

Threatening Hylaea like this now was groundwork to imprint upon Pandemonium that his way of handling things was very different from Adamant Thunder’s.

However, it was true that, separate from that, Lennok felt a certain amount of annoyance towards Hylaea due to Soryu’s actions.

Ultimately, Soryu didn’t obsess too much over the Archangel’s Tear, so it passed, but if things had gone awry, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to end up empty-handed and suffering.

Hylaea, rubbing her neck with a sour expression, asked,

“The Archangel’s Tear?”

“I destroyed it. It likely won’t ever appear in the world again.”

At Lennok’s barefaced lie, Hylaea let out a small sigh.

“There’s plenty of evidence that Yanikus Barbaria returned to Kaiushyu empty-handed, so what… Haa, fine. The objective was acquisition or destruction from the start. This will make it easier to operate in Kaiushyu. That’s enough.”

“Operating in Kaiushyu, huh.”

Lennok’s eyes glinted sharply from behind his mask.

“Soryu also mentioned a Kaiushyu subversion plan. It seems there’s more than just Old World Relics hidden in that city.”

“…I’m sorry, but even if you say that, I can’t give you specific information.”

Hylaea replied calmly, undeterred by Lennok’s sharp remark.

“It’s one of the linked operations that have been ongoing in the Western Continent for quite some time, and Soryu was probably moving in preparation for it as well.”

“…”

“The miscommunication during information transfer was certainly my mistake, but I absolutely did not deliberately withhold information. I just want you to know that.”

It was strange how easily Yanikus Barbaria was let go; perhaps there was no need to kill him after all.

In that case, did Soryu appear during the operation because he assessed the situation on his own and acted accordingly?

However, it was definitely a matter to consider why Kaiushyu held such importance, with something else hidden within it.

While Lennok was lost in thought and remained silent, Hylaea quietly stood up and reached into the organ pipes, rummaging around.

Thump!!

She pulled out a long sack, placed it on the chapel table, and slid it straight towards Lennok.

“This is your success bonus for this operation. Myeong specifically told me to give it to you, including The Clown’s share for the jungle incident.”

Hylaea smiled, gazing at Lennok’s mask as he stared blankly at the sack.

“Why don’t you open it? You’ve been casually destroying other cities, and you’ve managed to get some pretty good stuff.”