Chapter 853: Handover (21)
The special operations agency, Aegis.
The result of the Superhuman Cultivation Project, into which the City Council had poured its heart and soul. A special combat force created to face threats beyond the standard.
The giant demon summoned through black magic by the man known as the captain of the execution squad, Black, was a power that not even Lennok had anticipated.
A summon that Myeong, the most powerful black wizard Lennok knew, used to command, flaunting its dangerous majesty.
Clank!!
Its black chains binding both arms, and a demonic, ferocious appearance even darker than the chains themselves.
Was this what the broken corpse of a giant would look like if it were steeped in thick black magic and utterly corrupted?
Though it had been quite a while since he had last seen it, its malevolence was distinct enough for him to remember its appearance clearly.
However, the Demon Giant’s first action upon being summoned far exceeded everyone’s expectations.
[…….]
Groooowl!!
With a bizarre roar, the giant shattered the chains binding it and turned to Lennok’s side.
“Th-the summon betrayed him the moment it appeared……”
Raphael and Hayward’s jaws dropped at the seamless betrayal, as if it had appeared with this exact intention from the very beginning.
“His opponent may be a great wizard, but is this even allowed?”
“How astounding. A summoning spell shouldn’t even work unless it guarantees the caster’s protection. What in the world is that demon…?”
[…….]
The black-visored man froze, his chanting hands falling silent. A cold silence flowed through Aegis’s communication network.
The summon’s actions baffled everyone—those who had joined the front lines, those observing the situation, and everyone standing in this control room right now.
But the Demon Giant paid no mind to the stares around it, brazenly flicking its fingers from behind Lennok’s back.
A stunning display of attitude, as if it were taunting the black-visored man who had summoned it.
Woong!!
But as if following that gesture, the dark gate the giant had emerged from slammed shut. A strange resonance exploded from the impact, spreading in all directions.
Cracks spread through the control room as if the space itself were about to shatter, before an immense gravitational force crushed everything in its vicinity.
Craaash!!
Every time the jet-black chains hanging from the Demon Giant’s forearms swung slowly through the air, Aegis members and soldiers on standby were helplessly dragged forward.
[Kugh……!!]
[Hold your positions!!]
[It’s no use! The entire facility is electrified, there’s nothing to hold onto!!]
Ch-ch-ch-ch!!
Aegis members were pulled forth, unable to put up any resistance, and sent tumbling powerlessly across the control room, while soldiers who couldn’t endure it turned pale and wretched their guts out.
“Uweghk!!”
“M-my sense of balance……!!”
They hastily tore off their helmets to vomit or stumbled about, unable to stand properly, before smashing their heads on the ground.
At the center of dozens of humans collapsing and kneeling on all sides stood the Demon Giant, arms spread wide, head tilted back.
Grooooowl!!!
It seemed to be reveling in its own actions, utterly intoxicated by the deed itself.
Lennok, too, stared up with a dumbfounded expression at the self-absorbed Demon Giant above him.
‘What a peculiar power. Its personality, too. I can see why Myeong kept it around.’
It seemed to manipulate gravitational force through black magic, yet the method itself was far from simple physical attraction.
To be able to shatter the balance of superhumans and soldiers all at once and subdue them, a simple swing should have normally caused their bodies to burst like balloons.
Regardless of Lennok’s thoughts, the Demon Giant elegantly swung its arms, continuing to toy with the humans.
Its gestures were graceful and leisurely, like a conductor leading an invisible orchestra in the air.
Following its lead, the various superhumans who had fallen nearby were dragged about without resistance, then flung out of the control room like discarded toys.
Fwing!!
The instant it was about to extend its hand and point its sharp, rake-like fingers at the black-visored man…
…the Demon Giant’s movements froze as its gaze met Lennok’s.
[…….]
After tilting its head as if in thought, the giant politely folded its hands and took a slight step back.
Nod.
As Lennok stared at the Demon Giant with a bewildered look, the giant’s unreadable face simply gave a slight nod.
“……”
A strangely unsettling politeness, as if to say it was leaving the tasty prey for Lennok.
It was impossible to tell whether it had simply sided with the one who looked stronger, or if it had changed its actions because it had taken a liking to Lennok.
No, considering it recognized Lennok the moment it was summoned, it must be the same one Myeong used to command.
Perhaps there were ties of blood and region even in the world of summons.
Even as Lennok himself entertained such thoughts, so unconventional was the giant’s behavior, there was something else that concerned him more.
‘Did something… finally happen to Myeong?’
The black wizard Lennok knew was not the kind of man to hand over a summon he commanded to the City Council.
The very fact that this Demon Giant was summoned by another caster might mean something had happened to Myeong personally.
Whether Myeong’s will was involved in this Demon Giant’s appearance and betrayal was a crucial question.
From Lennok’s perspective, it was the first thing to consider, yet also the most difficult causal link to uncover.
To find out, Lennok would have to pick apart not the Demon Giant, but the summoner, that black-visored man.
“The power of archenemies who have threatened the world for ages.”
Having quickly organized his thoughts, Lennok spoke to the silent black-visored man.
“The very fact that you know this is proof that you have deeply understood and wielded black magic.”
[…….]
“A contract of invincibility. A deal with hell… Interesting.”
Lennok muttered, tapping the ash from his cigarette.
He knew that the incantation the black-visored man had declared to control the Demon Giant was by no means a meaningless string of words.
“I knew that black magic operates on different principles from conventional magic, but can it even touch upon concepts that twist victory and defeat itself?”
Among all the spellcraft in the continent’s history, black magic was one of the most exclusive systems.
While technically treated as a branch of magic within spellcraft, the causality that governed it diverged in a different direction from magic.
He knew that high-level black wizards often dealt with unique concepts that conventional mages didn’t, but…
…to manifest the power of invincibility itself was a fascinating prospect even to Lennok.
[Wait a minute, then is this guy siding with you, Master, because—]
Just as Davi, from within his coat, glared suspiciously at the Demon Giant, the silent black-visored man spoke.
[I see. So you don’t know the exact reason for this either.]
“……”
[An unconscious manifestation of subjugation and attraction. Great wizards are all out of their minds.]
Even after having his summon stolen, instead of panicking, he had been trying to grasp the situation.
Lennok had felt it when he first saw him, but it was clear he had a very rational and calm personality.
[It seems we are both trying to understand the situation through each other, but it is a futile effort.]
Click!!
The black-visored man drew a small dagger from his waist, held it in a reverse grip, and without hesitation, brought it to his wrist.
[Now that the Giant of Black Evil has sided with you, no other summon will be of any use. And I have no intention of telling you my theories either.]
“You should speak correctly, Aegis. It’s not that you have no intention, it’s that you have no idea.”
Lennok smiled.
“You seemed to be planning to drag out the battle into a stalemate from the start, but what do you plan to do now?”
Crackle!!!
Lennok’s mana, shimmering at the tip of his silver staff, transformed into a wretchedly twisting bolt of lightning and surged forth.
The moment the lightning coiled around Lennok’s body and he stomped his foot, it spread throughout the control room.
The illusion of a giant toad once again materialized behind Lennok, glaring at the black-visored man.
Ruuuumble!!!
The presence of the Heavenly Dragon Toad Fortress, flashing like a ferocious evil god, was enough to make even the Demon Giant briefly turn its gaze toward it.
Facing the toad’s distorted face, now so much more ferocious and eerie than before, Lennok spoke.
“If you think you’re still standing here perfectly fine purely thanks to your own abilities, then by all means, try again.”
[…….]
“It wouldn’t be so bad to beat your special operations agency half to death and drag you to the City Council before I head over.”
The [Majesty: Heavenly Dragon Toad Fortress] that had fortified the power plant was a provisional spell created by converting the facility’s power.
It was a spell he had automated immediately after casting to focus on data recovery.
In contrast, a fortress spell manipulated based on Lennok’s own mana manifested a construction of a completely different dimension.
Now that he was within his line of sight, he was confident that no living being who entered the facility could escape this place.
The black-visored man must have sensed Lennok’s intent as he slowly gathered his mana and replied.
[……Black magic is a transaction.]
As he pressed the small dagger against his wrist, the blade pierced through his suit, immediately drawing blood.
[To produce a result that goes against the world’s order, one must offer something of equal value.]
He said, catching the blood that dripped from between his suit with one hand.
[Aside from the ancient bloodlines that manipulate the fates of others, no one is free from this rule. However, if it’s merely a matter of imitating that qualification—]
Kiiiiiing!!!
The moment he clenched his blood-soaked palm and drew up his mana, Lennok felt the intense remnants of a Mind Imprint surge from him as the center.
“A Domain. You intend to flip the board in front of me with a transaction of black magic?”
Lennok, who immediately recognized what the tremor meant, let out a cold laugh.
“Even if it’s a transaction, a few drops of blood aren’t enough to perform the miracle of changing your lineage. It would be impossible unless you’re offering something you already possess.”
The special agency Aegis was a human weapon completed by embedding spellcraft into the bodies of physical-type superhumans.
Despite his proficiency with black magic, the black-visored man was likely not originally a black wizard.
Yet his attempt to deploy a Domain now was not something possible by simply offering his blood as a medium.
The blood he just shed was merely a catalyst for the ritual of transaction.
The black-visored man was trying to offer his own Miniature Universe as the price to deploy a black magic Domain.
Did he decide he had no chance of winning the moment the Demon Giant sided with Lennok and chose to throw the dice?
His decision not to flee was surely because he was certain Lennok would not allow it.
No, perhaps the Domain he was deploying was itself a preliminary step to escape from Lennok and survive.
“Interesting. Go on.”
But Lennok, seeing through it all, took a step back and pointedly made space for him.
Staring at the colorless ripple flowing to his feet, Lennok blew out a puff of smoke.
“If it’s a Domain of Transaction deployed by offering a Miniature Universe as a sacrifice, its power must be far greater than what you’re normally allowed. I’d like to see it.”
There was no way he would miss the rare sight of a physical-type superhuman deploying a Domain—something they couldn’t normally use—by sacrificing their Miniature Universe.
The black-visored man’s shoulders twitched as he sensed Lennok’s attitude, but since he had already started, he couldn’t stop.
Just as the visor, having quickly formed a hand seal and finished his chant, focused his mind to fully unfold his im-print…
Kaaang!!
Someone appeared with a sound like shattering glass and seized his wrist.
“That’s far enough.”
[……You.]
A lanky young man wearing a long top hat, white gloves, and holding a cane winked.
The black-visored man’s gaze turned sharply towards the man who had appeared out of thin air.
At his gaze, the young man released the black-visored man’s arm and shrugged with an exaggerated motion.
“My apologies, but if you had deployed your Domain just now, you would have died on the spot without getting to do a thing.”
[…….]
“You’re watching him, aren’t you? You still don’t get it?”
The young man whispered to the black-visored man, subtly gesturing toward Lennok with his eyes.
“He was planning to let you deploy whatever Domain you had, just so he could shatter it immediately. That’s his favorite method.”
As he said, Lennok was watching them without a word, fully aware of the young man’s appearance.
He merely let out an occasional cough, observing them with a transparent gaze that betrayed no emotion.
And behind the wizard, the Giant of Black Evil floated silently, its fingers twitching slightly.
But the black-visored man felt a sliver of eeriness from Lennok’s demeanor and immediately recognized what that feeling was.
[……Right. I understand.]
He stanched the blood dripping from his wrist, pressing one hand against the wound as he stepped back.
Simultaneously, the im-print pulsating around him subsided, and the mana he had drawn up rapidly faded.
Pressing a hand to his wound, the black-visored man calmly conceded.
[My judgment was clouded by the unexpected situation. My mistake.]
“Excellent. You’re easy to talk to.”
The young man patted the black-visored man’s shoulder in satisfaction before immediately turning to Lennok.
Pressing his hands together and bowing respectfully, the young man said with a wide smile.
“It’s been a while, Van. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“……”
“Hmm, have you already forgotten me? Should I perhaps reintroduce myself from the beginning?”
“Still as talkative as ever.”
Lennok replied, rubbing his neck in annoyance.
“Why is the Elder Council’s hound here?”
Of course, Lennok had not forgotten who the young man was.
The flamboyant tuxedo and top hat, unsuited for the time and place. A way of speaking that was strangely grating.
The magician Silford, who had been appointed as the Elder Council’s proxy in Lennok’s stead.
A nobleman from the central city, and a superhuman who had lived long enough to have been an official in the project long ago.
He had first met him right after resolving the Kaiser affair in the closed-off district. The last time was when he attended the Senate summons from the City Council.
While he seemed far too free-spirited to be tied down anywhere, if he, who so diligently stuck to Vulcan, had appeared, there could only be one reason.
“The City Council has decided to revise its policy. I was tasked with delivering the message.”
“Message?”
“Well, it’s best to hear the specifics directly from the person in charge.”
Saying so, Silford grabbed the lapels of his suit and flung it open like a cape.
“I brought a senator to notify you of this matter.”
“Uweghk!!”
At his words, someone fell from Silford’s embrace, dropping to their knees and dry-heaving.
A blond young man with a deathly pale face. He wore a suit of classic design but was trembling too much to even think of straightening his disheveled clothes.
After remaining on the ground for a long time with his head down, the young man finally managed to force out his voice.
“Y-you didn’t say it would be this shaky when we traveled……!!”
“My hands have started trembling with age, you see.”
The magician replied nonchalantly to the young man’s pained protest.
“These kinds of tricks don’t work so well these days.”
“……”
Unlike the young man who was glaring at Silford in disbelief, Lennok carefully observed the technique Silford had used.
‘I had my suspicions, but the feeling is completely different from illusion magic. It’s closer to the realm of artistry.’
If the illusion magic Lennok knew was the epitome of chaos, with no discernible rules or standards, what Silford used was in the realm of extremely elaborate skill.
Perhaps this is what it felt like when a real art was honed and elevated to the concept of a spell.
The blond young man quickly settled his stomach, stood up, and cleared his throat.
“Ahem, my apologies for that disgraceful display. It is an honor to meet the great wizard. I am from the Vulcan City Government’s Central Council—”
“You’re quite young for a senator.”
Lennok cut the young man off.
He wasn’t a superhuman with slowed aging, but literally a young man in his twenties.
Once he composed himself and stood up, it was immediately apparent that he was quite handsome.
The young man glanced around nervously before introducing himself.
“I am Louisen Azamaha, I joined the council this term. I don’t know if you remember, but…”
“Remember?”
Lennok questioned, then immediately realized what the young man was referring to and let out an unconscious laugh.
He realized the young man’s name was remarkably similar to a former senator he knew.
“Are you Leisen Azamaha’s son?”
“…Yes, that is correct.”
Leisen Azamaha, a City Council Senator and the trumpet of the Central Council. The one who appeared in the media to announce the council’s decisions.
He had colluded with the black wizard Craig Tillian to embezzle funds before being caught by the Agents and arrested.
Afterward, he became the host of the Extinct Eye Acrottrinier, an old monster who was reduced to a state of suffering, unable to even die.
The young man who appeared before him was none other than Leisen Azamaha’s son.
Realizing how a young man of his age could have entered the Senate, Lennok shook his head.
“It seems your family has a habit of choosing similar names.”
“No, I changed my name.”
Louisen replied calmly.
“The Central Council placed me in the Senate with the intention of having me take on the same role as my father. Wouldn’t a name that reminds people of my father be better?”
“So you’ve taken on the role of the City Council’s trumpet… I see.”
Lennok, understanding the intent, gave a bitter smile.
Louisen Azamaha had looks that naturally drew the attention of others.
Even if it was a tarnished halo, he had what it took to inherit his father’s fame and continue his work.
“Yes. As this situation also requires the City Council’s official statement, I came in person. However…”
Louisen glanced with a frightened expression at the Demon Giant standing behind Lennok.
The giant stared intently at the newly appeared magician and Louisen, its rake-like, chain-bound fingers moving slowly.
The sight of the Demon Giant, looking like it was about to tear out his throat at any moment, was apparently difficult to ignore, even for a senator.
“Could you please call that thing off? It looks like it wants to eat me right now…”
“It’s not a summon I called.”
Lennok replied indifferently.
“If you have a complaint, take it up with your special operations agency.”
“Ah, I see. Then…”
Looking resigned, Louisen took out a long scroll from his coat and unfurled it.
After briefly checking the contents, he cleared his throat and nodded.
“According to procedure, this should first be delivered to Professor Vylun, but given the circumstances, we will formally send a document to Rebatenon University at a later— “
“Make it short.”
“…I will get straight to the point.”
Thoroughly intimidated, Louisen said.
“The City Council has decided to completely transfer ownership of the Vylun Research Institute to Professor Evan Vylun.”
“And?”
Now that Lennok had come this far himself, taking over ownership of the institute was a matter of course.
Hadn’t he refrained from touching the facility or its researchers with that very outcome in mind?
Slightly flustered by Lennok’s indifferent reaction, Louisen hastily continued.
“Furthermore, the researchers currently under contract at the institute, the research equipment, the facility grounds, and all research findings to date will be transferred in their original state—”
Louisen’s gaze, which had been reading down the scroll, shot toward a corner of the control room.
“As the person responsible for this matter, we appoint Professor Raphael and promise to hand over the entire research process intact.”
Raphael’s expression momentarily went blank.
“…M-me?”