Episode 428
“That’s an interesting rumor. That divine sword… Hmm, what on earth happened to the Holy Kingdom?”
Hearing the old man’s muttering words, the person on the other end of the communication channel quickly lowered his head.
[I’m looking into it, but I think it will take some time. Because Tracy’s hands and feet were already cut off in the previous incident…]
“Find out as soon as possible. I have a funny feeling.”
The old man’s expression was subtle.
After reaching the level of a great mage and living for hundreds and hundreds of years, there were times when I felt strange premonitions. I was able to vaguely sense something that was beyond the scope of intuition or knowledge and was originally unknowable.
The premonition was mostly about his own safety and could be seen as a kind of survival instinct.
‘I never know about the emperor who reached the level of a great mage in a short period of time through the power of tradition.’
What is important is that I recently felt an ominous feeling that had not existed in recent decades.
So, while information was being collected from all directions, especially around the emperor, this rumor broke out.
And the strange thing is that the ominous feeling disappeared right before I heard this rumor.
It made him uneasy that he had no idea why he had such a premonition or why it disappeared again.
‘Did Shingeom do something for me? ‘That’s so funny.’
As the old man was deep in thought, the voice in the communication channel continued.
[The Holy Kingdom considered the rumor to be a fait accompli. Former Pope Austin has returned temporarily, greatly increasing the number of trackers, also known as snake catchers.]
Pisik.
“…If I had been able to brainwash Shingeom, things wouldn’t have gone this far. I don’t need to worry about the insignificant bastards. Make sure to find out the reason and report it.”
As I spat out the words, I vaguely guessed something. The story added to the rumor about the new sword brought to mind a certain possibility.
If it’s something that could threaten one’s safety related to a holy relic…
“Could it be an apostle?”
[Yes?]
“…No, no.”
In fact, it still didn’t make sense.
Does the leader of the Knights Templar have any reason to stop the apostle?
‘I wouldn’t know if they welcomed me with open arms.’
Every time the gods send down an apostle, their divinity will be diminished. If you feel the consciousness taking shape, there is no reason to rush and overdo it.
No, it should be like that.
I felt a little anxious because I thought I was being too hopeful, but I decided to stop worrying about it.
‘Everything is just an assumption anyway. ‘I guess I’ll have to wait for information.’
Because now it is more urgent to manage the enormous variables that have already arisen.
“What about that guy, Logan McLane?”
The old man’s voice was filled with deep irritation.
No matter how much he is said to change fate, I never thought he would defeat that empire.
Not only were superhumans who suddenly appeared with ridiculous weapons, but even the power of the individual who killed the sword spirit and stopped the emperor. Truly enormous variables emerged all at once, completely overturning expectations.
And thanks to that, the energy that should have been gathered in the east did not reach even a third of the target. There were even rumors that the guy who was supposed to be used as a sacrifice had died, so the old man was shocked in many ways.
[I can’t meet Elder Luisa or Gerard right now. The rumor that he is at least in critical condition seems to be credible.]
“…I wonder if the person who changes fate will fall so easily.”
Even as he muttered that, the old man’s expression remained stiff.
If the bastard is truly dead, a lot more sacrifices will be needed.
Probably not.
It shouldn’t be.
“What is the truth behind the rumor that he fought the emperor?”
[Gerard said he saw it himself. However, it is said that they were pushed one-sidedly and barely survived because someone intervened.]
“They said they were pushed one-sidedly…”
I didn’t like that either. The emperor probably wouldn’t have approved of it, so the fact that he was able to endure it was proof that his skills were considerable.
‘He is the strongest among the highest level Auror users… No, he said he defeated Sword Soul. Do we really need to keep Auror Master in mind as rumored? Even if one changes fate, that won’t be the case. At that age…’
It was a pity that the information about the fate changer who came down to the tower was lost.
All they know now is the record ‘The cause of changing the fate of the world.’ and the golden force. It even overlapped with information from their archenemies who had been hostile to them in ancient times, so it took a year just to classify the two.
“It’s such a shame that the information was lost in the fight against the imperial family.”
For example, records of the bloodline of the magic saint have disappeared. If the progenitor’s bloodline could be secured, the preparation for the ceremony would have been much easier, but it was just a shame.
What do you do if there is still information that the three sacred relics of the founder react to the direct lineage? In fact, records of that direct lineage have disappeared.
[Still, didn’t the tower owner restore a lot of knowledge? Otherwise, we wouldn’t have even been prepared to perform the ritual.]
“…Yes. That’s right.”
In fact, the old man was proud. And I believed in it as much as I did with that pride.
When that glorious day comes, he will become His first apostle and have all authority on earth in place of the ascended One.
So now was the time to check all the variables first.
“If a variable arises, you can change your plan accordingly.”
[That’s right.]
“Who is the third party who is said to have stopped the emperor?”
[He is a mercenary named Heyman. In return, it is said that he suffered serious injuries and fainted, but it is said that he woke up and attacked Logan McLane.]
“What? Puh-huh… That’s ridiculous.”
Another strong man capable of stopping the emperor enters the war.
And then they secretly attacked Logan McLaine again?
The front and back do not match.
“Is there a rumor that that guy named Heyman saved King Logan?”
[There is no such thing at all. In fact, if it weren’t for Gerard’s report, we wouldn’t have known. [The battle became too chaotic at the end…]
I burst out laughing at those words.
It was fortunate.
“It’s a tricky gamble. He’ll be fine.”
[Still, many people have seen Logan McLane’s hair turn half-gray. This was not the first time I vomited blood after a battle. It’s never going to be okay.]
“Well, that’s better. We just need him to be alive.”
The only problem was that the superhuman who had secretly attacked him was skilled enough to stop the emperor, and the fact that such a skilled person was in McLane was itself a big variable.
‘There is no way such a talented person is common. ‘But why should Logan McLane postpone his death right now?’
A man who was skilled enough to stop the emperor disappeared after being falsely accused of secretly attacking the king of McLane.
The first thing that came to mind was that Logan McLane had vomited on that guy named Heyman.
Boiled a hunting dog that was no longer needed.
But looking at his actions so far, it wasn’t a very suitable option.
‘After secretly attacking the target, you turn to the empire and become the emperor? No no. It’s too shabby. Above all, it’s a waste to use someone with such talent in that way. Uhm….’
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out the reason. There was too little information to begin with.
As I continued to think about it, a question suddenly arose about the identity of that person named Heyman.
‘How can such a talented person suddenly appear like this?’
If he stopped the emperor, he should also be considered at least the highest level Auror user.
“Heyman, Heyman… Hmm? Really, Heyman?”
Even after spitting it out, I burst into laughter.
It’s not like kids play dress-up, they just have to come up with an alias like that.
But….
‘Is there anyone other than Shingeom who is the highest level Auror user?’
The probability that a top-level Auror user who could compete for the title of the best sword on the continent suddenly emerged from MacLine after remaining unknown.
And the probability that Shingeom Harman disguised himself and helped McLane.
That narrow choice added weight to that absurd guess.
If Heyman is Harmon.
‘So, you’re saying that after Shingeom planned a fake sneak attack in McLane, he went to the temple and paid the messenger? Have you really gone crazy? Why did Logan McLane cooperate with that?’
It was twisted.
Even if it was twisted, it was too twisted.
“The Pope just disappeared… Did you say the saint was from McLane?”
[Yes, that’s right.]
“Hmm, could it be because of that one fate…?”
The old man thought for a while again, and when he still couldn’t come up with an answer, he clicked his tongue and changed his words.
“…I cancel the previous order. Prioritize everything else and find the new sword. The missing person is likely to be the biggest variable.”
It seemed like this tangled question would only be resolved once I found the new sword.
[Yes, I understand.]
“And what is the progress of other matters?”
[The war in the West seems to be a bit of a problem. If the emperor himself participates in the war, there is a high probability that the 10 Western countries will be unilaterally pushed out.]
Tsk.
The old man’s face frowned slightly when the word emperor was mentioned, but the answer came quickly.
“Does not matter.”
[Yes?]
“Our goal is to cause more blood and chaos. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. It just lasts as long as the war lasts.”
[Wouldn’t something be done to achieve that? If left alone, it could be destroyed in an instant.]
“There are as many as 15 corps of troops from the 10 Western countries, unless they are idiots…”
[…It is as if all their commanders have become fools. .]
“What?”
[Watching McLane defeat the empire single-handedly, each of them is preparing for a war of occupation of the empire on their own.]
“Only? Even a war of occupation?”
[yes. There is a widespread feeling within the alliance that it is as if they have already defeated the empire. Perhaps because the distance is so great, the atmosphere prevailing in all ten Western countries is that McLane’s criminal record is treated as nothing more than a rumor, while at the same time looking down on the empire.]
“Hah… Why are there so many stupid people in the world?”
The old man lamented sincerely.
So there were times when it was easy to deal with, but sometimes, when he did something stupid like this, I felt like my stomach was turning.
You put your brain to work and came up with a plan, but the target isn’t smart and he’s too stupid, so it doesn’t work?
What a frustrating situation this is.
Crackling.
My few remaining teeth clenched nervously.
“…Tell it to Banjoni first.”
[That landlady… or the new elder?]
“Yes. Tell him to shake up the underworld of Aserian first. Delay the Emperor’s reign as much as possible, and then mobilize the Magic Knights to fight in the 10 countries as mercenaries. ”
[I’m sorry, but that’s all…]
“His evil black sword is a disaster equivalent to anti-magic for the minions. It will be enough to create sacrifices. It was taught for that purpose in the first place.”
[…I understand]
The man in the communication port still had a suspicious expression on his face, but he did not question it any further.
“And tell Luisa and Gerard to cooperate fully with McLane. Until that day comes, trust must be built. At least they should be able to move him once when they want.”
[You are talking about a place of consciousness. However, it is said that the McLane royal family knows the identity of Elder Luisa, but no matter how
much trust you build, will he really follow it?” “I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who throws things away so easily.”
[Yes?]
“Nothing to know. Just do it.”
The old man smiled faintly and ended the communication.
