Chapter 76. Lawless City (2)
The moment I entered the Black Market—
The ground around the street stalls was crowded with people seeking to purchase goods, and they whispered quietly as they conducted various transactions.
People who might have been merchants or Visters were moving something.
People were confined inside display cages and iron cells.
Chains bound their wrists and ankles, and every one of them wore shabby clothing.
The grime covering their bodies and their wildly tangled hair made it difficult even to distinguish their gender.
Some of them were children. They were only about seven or eight years old.
Soon, a tall fence was erected around them, and men who appeared to be Visters stood in front of the cages.
“Gather around! You won’t find an opportunity like this every day!”
After attracting everyone’s attention, the slave trader grabbed the children by their chins and lifted their faces for the crowd to inspect.
“From adolescent girls to little girls too young for you to worry about pregnancy! You can take them home for an excellent price today!”
My fist clenched with a crack.
Anger surpassing even the madness of Predation surged within me, and my rationality momentarily snapped.
If it had not been for Ian—
◆Player’s Will [EX] resists the surging anger!!
I would undoubtedly have torn out that slave trader’s heart.
....Not yet.
It was not time yet.
If I acted rashly now, everything would be ruined. Just as I barely suppressed my anger by relying on Player’s Will [EX]—
At the edge of my vision—
A group wearing ash-gray masks was approaching me. Their masks concealed their faces and expressions.
However, the gazes visible through their masks were focused upon the ring on my index finger.
“Are you perhaps a Devotee?”
They approached me and asked in whispers.
I waited for Player’s Will [EX] to activate once again before answering.
“I am.”
“Your name...?”
“Avarus.”
The masked group visibly flinched in surprise.
Avarus was an Executor-ranked Devotee.
Within the Holy Kingdom of Cordelia, that position corresponded to an Archbishop.
In contrast, the people wearing ash-gray masks were Acatas.
Their position corresponded to ordinary priests within the Holy Kingdom of Cordelia.
The Holy Kingdom had titles such as Head Priest, Assistant Priest, and Monastic Priest.
Just as the word “Priest” was added after each position, the Devotees of the Fallen Souls referred to their ordinary members as “Acatas” of a particular rank.
The senior officers were called Devotees. Everyone beneath them was called an Acata. That was roughly how their hierarchy worked.
Therefore, those recognized as Devotees received separate titles.
Avarus was a high-ranking officer who belonged among those Devotees—
“Lord Executor...?”
The difference between their rank and Avarus’s was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
However, the eyes watching me from behind their masks still contained suspicion.
That was understandable.
My current appearance was entirely different from Avarus’s.
Although a mask also covered my face, they could tell I was not Avarus even without seeing it.
Avarus’s original body had consisted of grotesque masses of flesh and all kinds of mechanical devices.
Nevertheless, there was a reason I had confidently identified myself as Avarus—
“Are you currently in a Transmog state?”
It was because of Transmog, the Transformation Magic used by Avarus.
Transmog differed from Polymorph Magic, which altered only one’s outward appearance.
◆Transmog : This spell is Transformation and Reconstruction Magic. The user can transform by perfectly replicating a designated target’s appearance, traits, abilities, and even mind.
However, maintaining the transformation for an extended period may cause it to become permanent.
Transmog was not merely Transformation Magic.
It was an advanced form of Alchemy magic that required the user to extract the target’s genes.
Consequently, Avarus was the only Devotee capable of using Transmog.
Furthermore, without Predatory Instinct [S], even I would have been completely unable to distinguish a Transmog user from the original person.
Predatory Instinct [S] was an authority possessed by none other than the Monarch of Beasts.
In other words, unless they brought the Monarch of the Abyss here, they could never distinguish me from Avarus.
Even so, perhaps they were unable to dismiss their doubts. Or perhaps they simply intended to verify my identity thoroughly.
“Pardon my discourtesy, but may I ask for the true name bestowed upon you by Him?”
The Ashen Mask Acata questioned me again—
“Z’thulonak.”
When I answered without hesitation—
“....Forgive our discourtesy. Please come this way.”
The final trace of suspicion visible beyond their masks completely disappeared.
I followed the Ashen Mask Acatas to a tent located deep within the Black Market.
It did not appear to be surrounded by any magical barriers, yet it stood in such an isolated location that it was difficult to notice without looking carefully.
As I waited inside the tent—
Someone soon entered.
His mask had large, sharply angled eyeholes.
Dark-red lines extended outward from them, creating the impression that madness and anger were radiating from his gaze—
‘Who is he?’
I possessed Avarus’s genetic information, but not his memories. Therefore, I did not know the identity of the person approaching me.
However, I could learn enough through Predatory Instinct [S].
==< Character Information >==
Name: Iratum
Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Class Mammalia, Family Hominidae, Human
Gender: Male
Age: 45
Trait: Pact of the Abyss [?]
I knew him.
Iratum, the Destroyer of Anger.
Iratum was also one of the Devotees of the Fallen Souls.
Furthermore, he was a Revelator-ranked Devotee, one rank above Avarus.
Revelator meant “one who reveals divine truth”, and the position corresponded to that of a Cardinal.
He could be considered a member of the Dark Merchant Company’s true leadership.
Iratum was a priest of higher rank than Avarus.
In other words, he also possessed more information than Avarus.
That brought me to the Pact of the Abyss [?].
◆Pact of the Abyss [?] : The bound individual’s soul becomes connected to the Negative Dimension. By freely utilizing the energy of the Negative Dimension, the bound individual can use □□MabeOriC, ruic, yuxkzsejk, Gaing HA, ddxiwnzk insik, and other abilities.
The Negative Dimension.
According to something the Archmage of the Coalition Forces had once said—
—You could describe it as a dimension possessing laws and energy properties opposite to those of the ordinary dimension.
Void, Chaos, and the Abyss.
The Negative Dimension was founded upon “uncertainty” and composed of those three elements.
I did not understand it precisely, but—
—It may be easier to understand it as a dimension that does not exist within this world.
Whenever the Archmage explained the Negative Dimension, one particular entity was invariably mentioned.
The Monarch of the Abyss.
The Archmage had once described the Monarch of the Abyss as the “Monarch of the Negative Dimension”.
That was why she could not explain anything related to the Monarch of the Abyss.
The Saintess’ miracles, the Spirit Wielder’s spirits, and the Blacksmith’s armaments were all rendered useless before the Monarch of the Abyss.
An Unknowable Terror Beyond Explanation.
That was the Coalition Forces’ only definition of the Monarch of the Abyss.
Therefore, it would have been natural for me to be unable to understand the Pact of the Abyss as well—
‘Is it because I consumed Avarus through Predation?’
The genetic information I had obtained by using Predation [S+] on Avarus, who was also Z’thulonak—
Perhaps its presence allowed me to understand the ability to some extent.
However, because Predation [S+] had not absorbed it completely, portions of the description appeared corrupted—
“Every time I see you, you truly are impossible to recognize.”
A voice suddenly reached me.
When I dismissed the information before my eyes, I discovered that Iratum had approached until he was standing directly in front of me.
His dark-red eyes were visible beyond his mask. Suspicion briefly flickered within them before quickly subsiding.
“So, why did you come here so suddenly?”
Iratum gestured with his chin, urging me to state my business.
Strict anonymity was not merely a rule of the Black Market. It was also a rule followed by the Dark Merchant Company and the Devotees of the Fallen Souls.
Neither Iratum nor I removed our masks.
“I came to acquire materials for creating Homunculi.”
Iratum’s mask twitched.
“You’ve used them all already?”
“There were certain circumstances.”
“Circumstances?”
I calmly explained what had happened.
I told him about White Wolf County’s attack upon Venenon Viscounty.
Naturally, I did not tell him the truth exactly as it had happened.
I changed the attacker from myself to Kai. I also changed the outcome so that Avarus had emerged victorious.
“I managed to suppress him by activating Infinity Silence, but I lost all my combat-type Homunculi.”
“Hmm....”
Iratum appeared to adopt a grave expression—
“Then what happened to the Predestined One?”
The Predestined One.
That was the term they used to refer to Seraphia.
“There is no need to worry about that. She definitely consumed the Elixir containing His authority.”
“Well, if that is the case.”
Iratum released a small sigh of relief.
I cautiously studied his reaction before asking indirectly—
“But why are we sharing His authority with the Predestined One? What role must the Predestined One fulfill...?”
“I’m not certain of the details either. It appears the order came from the Aucta from Afar.”
The Aucta from Afar.
It was a title referring to none other than the Emperor of the Empire.
The Coalition Forces referred to the Emperor as either the [Emperor] or the [Monarch of All Things].
However, those were merely the names used by the Coalition Forces.
Whenever the Imperial Army referred to the Emperor, they invariably called him the [Aucta from Afar].
Apparently, the title meant one who existed far beyond the boundaries of understanding.
In other words, this confirmed that the Emperor—not the Monarch of the Abyss—had ordered the operation involving Seraphia.
“I vaguely heard that it was preparation for when the Predestined One eventually stands at a crossroads of choice.”
....A crossroads of choice?
“What does that mean?”
“Did I not say that I don’t know the details either?!”
Why was he suddenly losing his temper?
“You have no need to know such things. Just tell me how many Homunculus materials you require.”
Questioning him any further might provoke suspicion.
More importantly, Iratum genuinely did not appear to know the details, so further interrogation would be meaningless.
It was unfortunate, but merely confirming that the Emperor himself had issued the order rather than the Monarch of the Abyss was already a considerable achievement.
“Would it be possible to obtain enough for approximately one hundred?”
“One hundred? Hah. I’m already busy enough as it is…. Tsk.”
Iratum clicked his tongue in displeasure.
Pretending not to know anything, I asked another question.
“Did He give you another order, Lord Iratum?”
“The order came from Him, but judging by its nature, it appears the Aucta from Afar issued it again.”
“What kind of order was it...?”
“Did I not say you have no need to know?!”
Iratum suddenly lost his temper again.
His inability to control his anger appeared to be quite severe.
Iratum, the Destroyer of Anger.
He had not received that epithet without reason. In other words, he had not changed at all since my previous life.
However, I had an excuse to question him further about this matter.
“I merely wondered whether I might be able to assist you.”
“....You?”
“Do you not acquire materials for me every time, Lord Iratum?”
“It is an exceedingly bothersome task.”
“I have completed everything concerning the Predestined One, so I asked because I wished to repay the favor you have shown me....”
I lowered my head slightly as I answered.
“Forgive me if I have overstepped my position.”
“No, well. I wouldn’t say you overstepped.... Ahem.”
Iratum’s hostility immediately softened.
His mask concealed his expression, but—
“If that is your intention, then…. Ahem.”
He sounded quite pleased.
“I was ordered to locate the Valley of Kardun.”
The Valley of Kardun.
An ancient valley where darkness and curses were at their densest. It was a legendary land that existed only within historical records.
However, I knew that it truly existed.
The Emperor was served by the Six Monarchs. One of them was the Monarch of Death.
The Valley of Kardun was the land where the Monarch of Death had been sealed.
Yet the Devotees were searching for the Valley of Kardun?
More precisely, if the Emperor had ordered them to find it—
‘Has the Emperor not yet recruited all the Monarchs?’
Now that I thought about it, Seraphia had not yet become the Monarch of Frost either.
The ten years before the Emperor began his activities in earnest—
Perhaps that was the time required for him to recruit all the Monarchs.
Based upon what I had confirmed thus far—
‘The Monarch of Beasts and the Monarch of the Abyss have definitely been recruited.’
As for the remaining Monarchs, especially—
◆Player’s Will [EX] resists Stolen Cognition!
It was possible that they had not yet begun serving the Emperor.
If that was the case—
“Could you also share the information you have gathered about the Valley of Kardun?”
“We haven’t discovered much, but....”
Perhaps because he now firmly believed I was Avarus, Iratum readily disclosed the information he had struggled to uncover.
In that manner, I easily obtained information regarding the Valley of Kardun.
“In any case, the Aucta from Afar and He are currently unable to act. Therefore, nothing can be allowed to go wrong.”
....Hmm?
What did that mean?
“Oh, right. In that regard, another directive was issued.”
“What was it?”
“We were ordered to locate a particular man....”
Iratum gave a detailed description of the man’s appearance.
As I quietly listened—
“....Ian?”
It was Ian.
The man Iratum described was unquestionably Ian.
That meant—
‘The Emperor is searching for Ian?’
The Emperor was currently trying to find Ian.
But why?
More importantly, how?
“Why is the Aucta from Afar searching for that man?”
“How would I know? When has He ever needed a reason? If the Aucta from Afar decrees that something must be done, then it must be done.”
Unlike before, Iratum responded quite calmly.
He shrugged once—
“Well, perhaps the Vicarius knows.”
The Vicarius.
The title meant “Proxy”.
It was the highest rank among the Devotees of the Fallen Souls and corresponded to the rank of Pope.
As the Special Warfare Unit’s Covert Operations Commander, I had identified every member of the Dark Merchant Company and every Devotee of the Fallen Souls except one.
The Vicarius was the sole exception.
More precisely, I knew the Vicarius’s true identity.
The Monarch of the Abyss.
The Vicarius was the Monarch of the Abyss.
However, it was not the Monarch of the Abyss’s true body.
As befitted the title of Proxy, the Vicarius could be described as an “Avatar” controlled by the Monarch of the Abyss.
Therefore, if we could eliminate the Vicarius, we could obstruct the Monarch of the Abyss.
However, I had never managed to discover the identity of that Avatar.
But what about now?
“Do you happen to know where the Vicarius is currently—”
“Do you not know that information concerning the Vicarius is forbidden to everyone?”
Iratum’s expression hardened as he interrupted me.
He did not lose his temper as he had before, but unfortunately, information concerning the Vicarius was guarded thoroughly.
There was a reason we had failed to uncover the Vicarius’s identity even during the Coalition Forces’ era.
“My apologies. I am currently in a Transmog state.”
“Regardless, acquiring the materials you requested will take approximately five days. Wait until then.”
Iratum turned to leave.
“May I ask one more question?”
“....What is it?”
“Could you tell me which key figures from the various kingdoms have been recruited into our Order thus far?”
“Why would you—”
“As I mentioned, I am currently in a Transmog state.”
Transmog was not merely Transformation Magic.
It was magic capable of perfectly imitating and transforming into a designated target’s appearance, traits, abilities, and even [mind]—
“My memories are somewhat unstable.”
Iratum’s expression initially hardened—
“I will compile a list for you so that you do not forget again.”
Then he thoughtfully and kindly agreed to tell me everything.
* * *
After concluding my conversation with Iratum, I left the Black Market.
I walked into a deserted alleyway and removed my mask. Then I calmly organized everything I had learned.
It was information I had never known in my previous life.
I assembled the individual pieces one by one, gradually completing the puzzle.
First—
Setting everything else aside, the Emperor was searching for Ian.
‘Then the reason Ian hasn’t appeared until now must be—’
That was when it happened.
Flinch!
My instincts suddenly screamed a warning. My lethal instincts were telling me—
If I did not dodge, I would die!
Without even having time to think, I immediately threw myself aside—
Boom—!!!
A massive explosion erupted where I had been standing only an instant earlier.
That had been dangerous.
Truly dangerous.
If I had not increased my agility inside the Infinite Labyrinth, I could never have reacted in time.
Even with my agility raised so tremendously, I had barely managed to respond.
What if I had failed to dodge...?
I unconsciously swallowed.
My entire body became taut with tension.
“....?”
I activated Predatory Instinct [S] upon the attacker concealed within the thick cloud of dust.
The attacker’s information appeared before my eyes—
“Commander Isolde.”
Isolde Cordelia.
She was the commander of the Holy Command—
One of the heroes of the Coalition Forces—
And the Saintess who possessed the most powerful Holy Power in the continent’s history.
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