The Grand Mage who transcends by regression Episode 185
“Ah, what a devil is that… ….”
Daedalus’s eyes trembled as if he had heard incomprehensible words.
But I couldn’t deny it.
It was because I immediately witnessed the parasite-like mass I pulled from his arm.
– Ki-kick! gig!
A parasite the size of a fingernail was twisting and screaming in my hand.
A disgusting sight.
It’s hard to see more.
– What?!
I immediately burst the parasite.
“How is it. It won’t feel immediately comfortable, but the tremors should have lessened than before.”
“…Really.”
Daedalus looked at his arm in disbelief.
I still shivered intermittently, but I was considerably better than before.
of course.
All this time, this damned parasite must have been eating away the life force that goes into your arm.
He asked me with a look of disbelief.
“So you mean I was involved with the devil? It’s not my mental problem that my arm became like this… ….”
“Yes, because of the devil.”
In fact, being touched by the devil itself is not strange.
Even at the time of my return, the devil’s touch had already reached all over the world.
In the first place, the world was not destroyed in an instant.
In this way, demons permeated everywhere, and it exploded after such things piled up.
“Most are ignorant of demonic magic. Right now, there aren’t that many priests who can pinpoint the number of demons with certainty. It’s only natural that Daedalus-nim didn’t notice.”
“Wait a minute, I don’t know! I’ve never had anything to do with such ominous things… …!”
“Are you sure you don’t?”
“…!”
His eyes widened unsteadily at my words.
I decided to wait patiently so that he could remember clearly this time.
And about half of the tea in the glass was left.
“…I hope that child… …?”
In disbelief, Daedalus was visibly agitated and his hands trembled.
“You have something to point out.”
“A while ago my arm became like this, I had a brief conflict with my student. The child asked for reconciliation first, so I accepted it as if there was no problem… ….”
“Disciple. It’s a typical tactic.”
The devil enjoys stirring up the emotions of his target by using those close to him.
Because there is nothing easier to dig into than emotions.
“Ha, but that child couldn’t be…No matter how little conflict there was between us, a child who would do this… ….”
“I don’t know. Isn’t there a reason why it came to Daedalus-sama’s mind first?”
“That is….”
Daedalus’ complexion darkened.
there must have been If that’s not the case, the first thing that comes to mind when you hear me can’t be a disciple.
Some more time has passed.
In the first place, Daedalus himself must have needed time to organize his thoughts. This is not something that can be done by pushing.
After waiting a little longer, Daedalus’ mouth finally opened.
“…What do you think about Malien here, Hero?”
“It was a beautiful city.”
“It’s past tense.”
“Isn’t it really like that? I know about you, great craftsman.”
“…He is a craftsman.”
Daedalus lowered his head with a wry smile.
The father-in-law’s shoulder, which once shone more than anyone else, is now very shabby.
I have not seen Daedalus’ past, but I have heard of it.
And what I’ve heard about his past… …It didn’t fit at all with this shabby look.
He said.
“You are right. It was a beautiful city. It was once called a sacred place for the arts, and when it was fine, the songs and sounds of artists and artisans were common.”
“….”
“It was good then. We had freedom.”
freedom.
That means there is no freedom in Malien today.
I briefly remembered the information about Daedalus.
Daedalus, the great craftsman.
…Or a weapon grinder.
Daedalus was a craftsman with unique skills befitting Malien, where personality was valued.
He was a great craftsman and a mighty warrior at the same time.
It seems that he had a reputation as an outstanding warrior in his original hometown of Nidabellir, the kingdom of the dwarves.
He was as good at destroying as he was at building, and most of the knights he faced were defeated with a futile loss of weapons.
He was certainly an excellent fighter in that he rendered the opponent’s weapons useless.
There was only one reason why he dared to give up his honor as a warrior and settle down in this land.
freedom.
It was to achieve the artistic soul that all dwarves have.
But now.
Why is he despairing like this, having settled here even giving up his honor as a warrior?
“Keliboss intervened.”
I looked around the interior, which was so shabby that it could not be seen as a blacksmith’s forge by a great craftsman.
“exactly. Who else could do such an outrageous thing to me?”
Daedalus continued.
“This place in Malien is such a historic city that I feel like I’m a speck of age. Under the motto of ‘freedom’, our ancestors developed this place. There was no lord, but a representative from the city was elected periodically to determine the direction of the city.”
“…Hmm.”
“We were a free city recognized by the imperial family. Well, the premise was that freedom shouldn’t turn into self-indulgence, but… ….”
In short, before that, Malien did not say that a certain family was ruling the city.
The manager of the city changed periodically, and after a certain amount of time was filled, a new manager was again elected through majority consensus.
“It’s pretty unusual. It’s not a decent business, and a city of this size runs like that.”
“It was possible because it was Malien. It would have never happened in any other city. In the first place, we were unique from our origins.”
“…Hmm.”
Certainly in any other city it would have been impossible for it to remain that way.
It is also something that cannot happen in the current system in the first place.
As he said, it must be the result of many things overlapping and overlapping.
But that, too, has become non-existent now.
That special city now belongs to Kellibos and has lost its splendid light.
“Me too…I was a member of the delegates who could elect the Administrator. That’s why it’s incomprehensible. Why did the delegates, who wanted Malien more than anyone else, to give up their rights?”
“In other words, it sounds like the delegates gave up their rights themselves and handed them over to Kelibos….”
“exactly.”
At his words, his face immediately turned into a frown.
Looking at the dark circles found on his arms just now, it seems clear that the devil is involved.
It is also monarch-level.
‘He’s good at deceiving people. If you think about it that way, the scope is considerably reduced… ….’
Of course, we need to find out more.
Because dark circles alone can’t tell everything.
“I understand to some extent. Of course, there is not enough information.”
“Uh um….”
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me more about that student? There must be a clue there.”
“That child….”
It was the time when Daedalus was about to tell me something related to the disciple.
Quaang!
– Hey old man!
Someone knocked on the door from outside.
Just looking at it, it doesn’t seem like it came with such good intentions.
“Do you know someone?”
“after…I am in debt.”
Daedalus lowered his head with a resigned expression.
“hmm?”
“Kelibos dissolved the Parliament and there was only one thing I could do. But as you can see… ….”
Tools rusted because they were used on a cold brazier and not managed properly.
I understood what was going on.
Daedalus was speechless for a moment, probably feeling humiliated by the current situation.
– Old man! I know what’s inside! Even if I die, I must pay back the money and die gracefully!
Never thought this would become the weapon grinder that once had such a reputation.
“Even the hero, do not get involved with the worthless old man and go. To be honest, I don’t have the strength or the will to do anything anymore… ….”
Daedalus said with his droopy shoulders and trudged to open the door.
It’s really pathetic.
I grabbed him by the shoulder as he approached the door and stopped him.
“I’m sorry, but I really need Daedalus.”
“…what is that?”
“The Arcanum of the Beginning.”
“…!”
At that moment, Daedalus’ eyes widened when he heard my words.
“That is….”
“That is what I came here for. I know that you can find the Arcanum.”
At my words, Daedalus’ beard trembled.
Digging and identifying ores must be his specialty.
To be precise, it would be ‘yes’.
At some point, no one would need his help.
Naturally, pushed by the flow of time, he became what he is today.
“…Can I help you?”
“Of course not. I am not stingy in paying the price.”
The value of the Arcanum of the Beginning cannot be quantified.
And I’m never an evil warrior who preys on people.
After all, it’s very kind… ….
‘…How can I see this?’
what.
Why do I attach the premise of ‘even if I see it like this’ to my own goodness? Where in the world is a good warrior like me?
[Actually, I wonder if it’s already broken at the point of attaching the premise like that.]
‘No, I’m not too late yet.’
Anyway, I said while looking at the dwarf artisan staring blankly at me.
“The cost….”
I pretended to be worried for a while, then smiled and continued.
“Shall we use Malien’s salvation?”
* * *
“What are you doing to get a debt from an old man?”
Sampson, the leader of < Placebo >, one of Malien’s underworld guilds, frowned and grumbled.
Behind him stood the men who accompanied him.
“But first of all, you say that ‘weapon crusher’, right? Even if I can’t use it, I just in case you don’t know.”
“Can’t we just pretend we made a fucking mistake and cripple it altogether? Where do you use the retired old man?”
“You know, Captain. blocking it from above. It’s not that there’s still no name value, but it’s going crazy.”
“…Tsk.”
I don’t like it anyway.
Something like an old dwarf.
Isn’t it a waste that can’t even use both arms properly?
It wouldn’t be strange if he died at any time, but to be so vigilant.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter anyway.’
A low smile crept across his lips.
That’s right, you shouldn’t cripple it in any way, because it’s okay to trample on it enough to relieve your anger.
I’m quite used to this, so it’s not even a matter of stepping on it so that it doesn’t show.
Thinking so, he waited for the door to open.
The door opened slowly before long.
“Old man money…huh?”
But when the door opened, it wasn’t the damn old man.
Sampson grimaced and shouted at the sudden surge of irritation.
“What are you doing again, bastard!”
“Baby….”
A young man in a pure white robe.
He smiled and looked at them with benevolent eyes.
“< Magic Missile >.”
At that moment, they slowly raised their heads at the sudden brightening of their vision.
And what they saw… ….
“…ah.”
Magic arrows densely filled the vast sky.
An overwhelming number that seemed like dozens of shots.
Sampson quietly turned his gaze back to the young man.
The young man was still smiling.
“Could you say it again? young?”
“Uh um….”
Sampson turned his head desperately.
It’s pretty clear that something is going terribly wrong.
He said through a cold sweat.
“This once…Shall we speak?”
“Yeah no. I don’t like it.”
With those words, the young man lightly lowered his outstretched arm.
“ah.”
Arrows rained down at the same time.
…Arrows that hurt a lot if hit.
