Chapter 566 - Repetition (1)
Bright, sparkling eyes.
An innocent impression.
Even being generous, her youthful face and slender frame did not go beyond mid-teens.
"…Uh… do you know each other?"
"…It's not our first meeting."
At Isabella's question, Verden answered as he gazed at the girl.
Yes, he had seen her before.
Back in the Duchy of Riviant, at Cohen, when he had been working under commission from the information broker, Pale, before setting out in search of Harkan Dazest, he had first encountered her at the entrance of an inn.
He remembered how, on the bleak streets of Cohen, he had had his fortune told at the girl's suggestion.
Her name was certainly—
"Aisha."
"Yes, that's right! Mage, you even used magic to keep my ice cream from falling, and Grandma read your fortune too. Hehe, hello, Mage!"
Aisha beamed brightly.
It was clear.
The girl recognized the existence called Verden far too clearly.
Her pure gaze dismissed
'How….'
Even when he exercised insight, the mystery was not solved in the least.
Aisha was ordinary.
She had no magical abilities whatsoever, nor did he sense any particular elements that stood out.
Just in case, he checked [Ainber]'s functions, but, as expected, there was no problem with the Demon King's artifact.
By the time Adrian and Isabella belatedly grasped the situation, their eyes widened.
"Lord."
"I know."
Verden walked forward, dropped to one knee, and met Aisha at eye level.
The girl's focus moved with him.
"The last time we met was on the Eastern Continent, yet now it's the Western Continent. You've traveled a long way."
"Grandma has always been traveling, reading fortunes, so she knows geography well. I stayed in the Central Continent until I was five, then met you in the Eastern Continent, crossed the Central again, and came here to the Western Continent. And just a few days ago, we arrived in Daunt… we were going to leave as soon as possible."
"You were going to leave?"
"Well… I felt a really, really ominous future…."
Aisha rubbed the back of her hand and glanced around.
The area had been turned into a wasteland.
The places untouched by Isabella and Adrian's hands were now ruins, and in the underground market, citizens had been slaughtered mercilessly.
This was the minimized damage.
Aisha, her gaze heavy with sorrow, turned back to face Verden. Her bright, light-green eyes gleamed in contrast to his black hair.
"But you know, I also felt a really, really good future. Besides, it wasn't easy to go somewhere else anyway. So I stayed in Daunt, and then, um, I saw the Mage flying over the alley shops! I chased as hard as I could, but I'm not good at running."
Aisha caught her breath.
"Then people started screaming, so I hid over there. And when I came out later, I saw the Mage again! Oh! Grandma is in the safe place to the north! By now, she's probably looking for me."
Though a little disorganized, it was clear enough for others to understand. This was Aisha's best attempt.
Verden lowered his gaze.
'Simply saying she's sensitive or has good instincts is not enough.'
A person who has neither awakened qi, nor sensed mana, nor embraced faith could not possibly perceive a Transcendent being.
Even if it were chance.
All the more so for a girl not yet of age.
What was the cause?
'…A fortune-teller.'
Suddenly, Verden recalled Aisha's grandmother.
A practitioner who foretold a person's destiny in part, gave counsel, and received payment.
It was up to the client to decide whether or not to follow the advice, and in doing so, the fortune-teller guided them toward fate.
A profession born from the theory of "fatalism", that all is predetermined.
'I utterly deny fatalism, but… objectively, its essence is not completely nonexistent.'
After all, Harkan Dazest, one of the original members of Black Hour, had glimpsed fragments of the future by reading the heavens.
Naturally, this teaching had been passed to his disciple, but unlike Harkan, Dahit Wethroel, regardless of the depth of knowledge, had not learned the method of foreseeing the future.
Verden, who inherited that memory intact, was the same.
Then did it mean that Aisha's grandmother, like Harkan, had some qualification that allowed her to glimpse fate?
Something commonly called talent?
"..."
Fate.
The word stuck in his throat.
It had been mentioned repeatedly by the World Tree, spoken by Golden Anvil, who worshipped the First Demon King, the Resister, and it was likely tied to the Great Demon as well.
As his contemplation deepened, Verden severed the chain of thought with a strong will. Now was not the time to weigh such primordial principles.
'For now, what should I do.'
Aisha had identified Verden, and it must not officially come to light who had come to Daunt or what had happened there.
Of course, it was unlikely that Aisha would go blabbing, and even if she did, who would believe her? Still, Verden was not one to leave uncertain factors unattended and leave them to chance.
More than that, the future Aisha said she felt… that superhuman phenomenon piqued the mage and Transcendent's deep curiosity.
There was no reason to neglect it.
There were plenty of reasons to intervene.
He chose.
"Aisha, do you have anywhere to go other than Daunt?"
"Anywhere else? No! Normally, we'd just travel somewhere else, but lately, Grandma hasn't been able to read fortunes well…."
In short, they had no money. Aisha bit her lip with a dejected expression.
Verden spoke.
"Then come with us."
"Eh? With you, Mage?"
"Yes. If you don't want to, that's fine… but if you follow, you won't go hungry."
Truth be told, Aisha looked more shabby than neat.
Skin smeared with dust.
Hair greasy and unkempt.
Her face slightly gaunt.
She may have eaten, but she had not eaten well.
"Uh, um, Grandma told me never to go with strangers… but Mage should be fine, right? Can Grandma come too?"
"Of course."
Taking only Aisha without her guardian would be abduction.
"Then I'll come!"
Aisha was persuaded.
It wouldn't be difficult to convince her grandmother either.
"I'll bring Aisha's family. Come along now."
Isabella slightly lifted her hood, showing a soft smile. Seeing her beauty, Aisha's eyes sparkled.
"Yes! Pretty sister!"
"You've got a good eye. Want some chocolate?"
"Thank you!"
Nom, nom.
Aisha bit off exactly a third of the chocolate. She said she had to give the rest to her grandmother, who always gave up her meals for her.
In response, Isabella pulled out a pile of snacks from the small spatial bag at her waist, and Aisha forgot her hunger.
From a distance, the two walking hand-in-hand through the ruins looked like sisters.
Alpha reported.
[Gluttony's Third Fang, Beldoran secured. Additionally, the two under mental brainwashing were eliminated, and two companions have been added. The overall objective has been achieved.]
And.
[City-state, Daunt 23% destroyed.]
A sudden act of terror in Daunt had left hundreds dead or injured and caused massive property damage.
And this, despite the battle being but a fleeting clash.
Thus ended that brief day.
***
The place Sandir's party arrived at after returning from Daunt was one filled with darkness. They followed a single shaft of light and moved forward.
Not long after they stepped out of the cave, Angelo arrived.
"…How did the securing of Beldoran go?"
"We lost Gluttony's Fang. And as you can see, we lost two of our own."
"Your explanation is too short."
Crackle.
Lightning flickered across Angelo's skin. It was a demand to explain in detail.
Even with Coercion engraved, it was rare for anyone to display such a forceful attitude toward a Transcendent.
'Quite bright, aren't you.'
Sandir eyed the glaring Angelo as though he were a delectable prey… but he did not let his vulgar desire spill outward.
Because he had met a far more radiant, and destined to shine brighter, swordsman.
"A third party, like us aiming for Gluttony, interfered. Three in total. Two of them were a Magus and a swordsman, and the latter had reached the Extreme."
Sandir added.
"And the last one was a Transcendent."
"…!!"
"I didn't face them directly, so I can't say exactly what they are. But I can assert, they are extremely dangerous. Well, that should be summary enough."
As he passed by the bewildered Angelo, he whispered.
"Now, guide me to Balrog Bessias. I will deliver the report myself."
The strange flow diverging from Bohemirn magic tower's intent, the appearance of an unidentified Transcendent whose identity and purpose remained hidden.
Sandir Paen was enjoying the current situation.
***
Aisha and her grandmother were entrusted to the northern unclaimed lands. Liam Arein and Keirel would surely take good care of them.
Curiosities about fortune-tellers or fate could be solved later.
The search and extermination of implant hosts who had fled or remained in Daunt, the aftermath of the incident, was entrusted entirely to the Ark.
Concealing the truth and handling matters quietly was what a secret organization specialized in.
And though it was reported that Gluttony's Third Fang had been captured, his custody was not handed over.
Because no information had yet been extracted.
Listener hesitated for a moment, then soon consented. After all, Verden was a member of the Ark and the one who had accomplished the deed.
Of course, the upper echelon of the Ark would still receive the report.
Thud.
The Black Hour's prison.
Beldoran was confined in a chamber not far from where Lucard Maniacs was held. His limbs completely restrained by the function of the Grand Hall.
The overflowing vitality had nearly run dry after the battle with Verden and the transfer of his mind, leaving not even enough to equal two red fragment.
Chains imbued with high-grade magic bound Beldoran's arms outward and dragged them taut, sealed his ankles, and forced him to kneel.
Opposite him sat Verden.
"In Daunt you poured everything out without even being asked. Now you've gone quiet."
"Now that I'm a prisoner, isn't it only right to act according to my station? But how do you intend to interrogate me? If I reveal any secrets, Gluttony's fragment will shatter me down to the cellular level. I could kill myself right now with just a word."
"Then I'll blow your mouth off before you can."
"Oh, frightening."
Beldoran wet his dry lips.
No fear was visible.
In Gluttony's stomach, he had held a little of such emotion.
'Did something change in his mindset while I was away helping Adrian.'
Well, it didn't change the plan.
"Human experimentation, trafficking, Bohemirn magic tower."
"…?"
At the sudden string of words, Beldoran blinked.
Crunch!
In an instant, Verden clamped Beldoran's jaws shut with his right hand, burning away his tongue and vocal cords so he could not utter needless words.
At the same time.
Through the reflexive association triggered by hearing, one of the five senses. By this, Verden dragged forth memories connected to the words just mentioned.
The price he paid was recalling indistinct scenes of training, carried out like routine for the past three years.
'…I see it.'
The tower master of Bohemirn conversing with a double of Beldoran.
Unofficial dealings.
Even Gluttony's ultimate objective to achieve through Bohemirn magic tower.
'Ha, so this was their goal.'
It was an absurd scheme, utterly fitting for Gluttony.
Whoosh.
Then, resistance grew stronger, the flow of shared memories slowed perceptibly, and soon froze.
The end of
Though not much in volume, Verden had gained the core of what he sought. Information deeply tied to Bohemirn magic tower and to Gluttony's intent.
As Verden lifted his hand to release the spell—
A tremor stirred within.
───…Truly a curious magic. To share memories with one another.
Beldoran's will reached him, using the mind as a medium.
An unforeseen situation.
But the cause of the variable was singular.
"Is it the ability of that brain of yours?"
───It seems so. Gluttony's brain governs not only bodily response but also the core of the mind. Hm, with this, perhaps I could break free of Gluttony's fragment's influence.
The whisper deepened.
───Shall we talk a little longer, you and I?
Beldoran's eyes curved in a sly arc.
Crackle!
Verden clenched harder, adding the pressure of gravity. The lower half of Beldoran's face, charred by flame, was shattered to pieces.
"Ghhk, uhh…."
"Do not dare propose anything."
Verden, his cold gaze shining, once more placed his hand on Beldoran's head.
"The questions, I ask."