Hyran spoke with a trembling voice.
“Lady Idria.”
“Well, forget it. It’s not like Mide being extraordinary is news.”
“What should I do now?”
“Like I said before, just keep hiding. That’s the best way to wound Mide.”
Hyran’s eyes lit up at that.
“This is the perfect opportunity to test my shadow sorcery.”
“Try not to enter the territory if you can avoid it.”
“Understood. That actually works better for me.”
He grinned and continued.“This mountain is thick with trees. There are shadows almost everywhere.”
Click.
The screen cut off there.
As the vision disappeared, time returned to normal.
In front of me, my companions were each engaged in a passionate discussion.
I took the moment to reflect on the secret I had just uncovered.
‘Just as I thought. Hyran is hiding using the shadow sorcery he took from Offense.’
[Yeah. Somewhere on the mountain behind this territory.]
‘He must be dying to use the weapon he just got his hands on. Like a child.’
But that childish impulse saved me.
We have already broken that shadow sorcery once before.
I collected my thoughts and looked at my companions.
They were still in the middle of a lively debate.
“So the Demon King of Lies is the oldest Demon King? Then what does that make the Demon King of Destruction?”
“The Demon King of Destruction appeared around 1,500 years ago, so… wow. Idria’s ancient.”
“Can you shut up?”
“Why are you mad, Neril? Reflex?”
“I totally get Neril’s feelings. The passage of time is scary.”
“Lisel, you shut up too.”
Is this really a debate?
I let out a dry laugh in disbelief.
“You hear the phrase ‘the oldest Demon King,’ and all you talk about is age?”
“It wasn’t me. I tried to stay serious.”
“Yeah, you sure were serious when you told people to shut up.”
“Hmph. Fine, I admit it. I was surprised at first but…”
Neril continued nonchalantly.
“But then I thought, there’s no need to overreact.”
“Huh?”
Xenia answered my question.
“We already knew Idria was absurdly strong compared to the other demon kings. Now we just know she’s older. What difference does that make?”
“…”
“Plus, with Mide around, I can’t help but feel like everything will work out somehow.”
“What?”
“You’re just that kind of person, Mide. Ever since we first met, you have made us feel that way.”
The others nodded in agreement.
I scratched my head.
Adwin asked with a mischievous expression.
“Anyway, hyung. What were you so deep in thought about?”
“Ah. Well.”
“Lady Lepia already returned to the Underworld while you were zoned out. She said hi, and you ignored her. She was kind of hurt.”
“I will treat her to a meal later.”
“She can’t eat.”
“Anyway, let’s get back to the matter at hand.”
I spoke slowly.
“Hyran is hiding using the shadow sorcery he took from Offense.”
“…”
“Then you know how to find him, right? Same as when we found Lady Ariena.”
“Ah! We just need to erase all the light using element erasure magic!”
“Exactly.”
“…But unlike back then, tonight’s a full moon. Not a single cloud in the sky.”
“And we have strengthened our team since then.”
Serein nodded firmly.
“That’s right. You have me now.”
“Lisel, I’m counting on you.”
“Are you doing this on purpose…?”
Lisel tightly gripped her trumpet and answered.
“Offense’s sorcery breaks if there’s no light, right?”
“Correct. Summon clouds and block the moonlight.”
“I will try.”
Then Offense, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.
“That won’t be enough.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“No matter how thick the clouds, you can’t eliminate all shadows. I was defeated in Avis territory because I was indoors.”
“…”
“Clouds are still just clouds. As long as even a faint light remains, the sorcery won’t break.”
He shrugged.
“That’s my opinion after over ten years of testing. Just take it as a reference.”
“With that much experience, we can’t just take it lightly. Ugh, do we need to revise our whole strategy?”
“While we are at it, let me add one more thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Shadow sorcery has another weakness.”
Neril tilted her head.
“It sure has a lot of weaknesses, huh?”
“You say the harshest things with such a straight face.”
“I didn’t mean anything bad.”
“That makes it worse.”
“Anyway, what’s the other weakness?”
Offense sighed deeply.
“I feel awkward saying this myself, but…”
That’s when it happened.
[Wait! Stop him from talking.]
‘What? Why?’
[Just do it.]
Trail’s voice was unusually serious, so I hurriedly said:
“Hold on, Offense.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Something just occurred to me. Everyone, quiet for a second.”
The party fell silent without asking questions.
I asked Trail.
‘So? What’s going on?’
[Idria is watching us.]
My heart nearly stopped.
Trail continued.
[Since when…? Ah, right. It probably started when we visited the underground of the imperial palace for the second time.]
‘What started?’
[My intuition got sharper. You know how I found Serein’s parents and Lisel’s trumpet?]
‘Of course.’
[I’m using that same sense. Idria is watching us right now using her authority. Or maybe “monitoring” is more accurate.]
Coming from Trail, Idria’s eternal nemesis, this wasn’t something to ignore.
I couldn’t afford to brush it off.
‘So the palace underground must have had some positive effect on you.’
[Maybe. It’s not like I trained it or anything. Same as how you were bothered by seeing the blood script of the dead.]
‘Still, it’s useful now.’
“So… what now?”
If we stay silent for too long, Idria will grow suspicious.
But we also can’t devise a strategy while being watched by that Demon King.
I thought for a moment before coming up with a good idea.
Then I desperately signalled to Adwin with my eyes.
Please, pick up on it. You’re pretty quick-witted, aren’t you?
“…!”
Sure enough, Adwin didn’t let me down.
He lowered his arms and moved his lips slightly.
And a moment later…
[Is this what you were trying to get at, hyung?]
I heard Adwin’s voice in my mind.
It was the same spell we had used before during the confrontation with Kaeld atop Agril, a secret conversation via connected souls, hidden from outside ears.
Adwin looked around at everyone and said:
[Hyung seemed unusually anxious, so I linked our souls. Now we can talk secretly.]
[This is the second time, and it still feels amazing. Just like before, this spell is super handy.]
[Hehe. Thanks. But hyung, why did you ask me to do this?]
To avoid raising suspicion from Idria, who might be watching us, I spoke aloud while continuing the soul conversation:
“It’s nothing. Forget it. Come to think of it, we should probably get some dinner.”
[Idria is watching us.]
Fortunately, my seasoned companions didn’t flinch at all.
Xenia replied in an easy tone:
“Should we order something? What do you feel like eating?”
[Is she spying on us with her authority or something?]
Startled, some of the townspeople paused in their steps.
But when we kept walking, they quietly resumed following.
Offense spoke up:
“It’s tragic, and understandable… yet somehow still uncomfortable.”
“You’re not a real hero if you only care about the likable and kind folks. Fame must be extracted evenly from everyone.”
“Heh. That would have been a great quote, if you had stopped at the first part.”
“Anyway, you all remember the plan, right? As soon as I start my speech, we move.”
Everyone nodded.
Serein asked cautiously:
“Isn’t that stalker still watching?”
“Not right now.”
I confirmed with Trail.
‘That true?’
[You could at least ask before answering. Anyway, yeah, Idria’s not watching right now.]
‘How lazy. If I had that authority, I would watch 24/7.’
[She’s preparing for the oracle, remember? That kind of preparation drains a lot of focus and power.]
‘Yeah, true. She only sent her fourth finger in the first place because she didn’t have time.’
Click.
Just then, a screen appeared. But this wasn’t the Eye of Omniscience.
The screen glowed blue.
‘Now what’s this?’
[Since you will probably keep asking, let’s set a rule.]
‘Huh?’
[If the screen is blue, it’s safe. If Idria’s watching, I will turn it red.]
‘Oh, nice service. Got it.’
Tap.
We stood at the center of the plaza.
Almost half the residents had gathered by now, creating a sea of people.
Fwoosh.
Neril cast a voice amplification spell.
I raised my voice and called out.
“Everyone! Good morning!”
“…Ughh.”
“Mornings should always be refreshing! Not waking up miserable from addiction and withdrawal!”
“…!”
“That’s why we are here to promise you eternally refreshing mornings!”
Murmurs broke out in the crowd.
“What does he mean?”
“Is he saying he will stay here forever?”
“Please, please do…”
I raised my voice again.
“All of this can be solved by getting rid of the green smoke. Isn’t that right?”
“Well, yes, but… how do you plan to remove the smoke?”
Flick.
I raised my finger and pointed to the forested mountain behind the village.
The crowd turned to follow my gesture.
“That cursed smoke lies dormant in that mountain.”
“Gasp!”
“So we’re going to erase the mountain. Oh, don’t worry, no one lives there.”
We had already confirmed that thoroughly through Xenia’s shared vision.
Suspicion flickered across their faces.
Some even gave awkward laughs, assuming I was joking.
But I pressed on.
“That said, removing the mountain will require your help.”
“Huh?”
“You will take part in banishing that cursed smoke yourselves.”
It wasn’t that these people clung to us because they liked us.
In truth, they hated the green smoke far more than we ever could.
How much had they suffered?
How much had they despaired?
“We are giving you a chance. A chance to take revenge on the one who ruined your happy lives and drowned you in misery!”
I raised my voice even louder.
“We will free you!”
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