C904
A small uninhabited island with sparse gray palm trees rising from the ground.
"Mmm..."
Raon, with his blue-dyed hair, examined the island as he disembarked.
"Have they not arrived yet?"
"Not yet?"
Burren tilted his head and stopped midway.
"Don't tell me we're going to meet Chamber here on this deserted island?"
"Here? Isn't it too far?"
Martha frowned, unable to comprehend the situation.
"That's right."
Raon nodded and turned to look at the bewildered swordsmen.
"We decided to meet at sea since we don't know how far the influence of the Black Tower extends on land."
Meeting in nearby lands was not a good option, as they could not be sure what magic or spells the demonized humans around Montiro might have established.
"A wise decision."
Karoon stroked his chin, with a calm and firm gaze.
"No matter how cautious the Black Tower is, they wouldn't have bothered with this uninhabited island."
He nodded, suggesting that with the magicians present, it might not be a bad idea to establish a temporary base here, away from Montiro.
-Yes, I was thinking the same...
Runaan, seemingly unafraid of Karoon, stood near him and nodded in agreement.
"..."
Karoon glanced sideways at Runaan, but she returned his gaze even more firmly with an expression of "What are you going to do about it?".
"Thank you for your understanding."
Raon expressed his gratitude just as wrinkles began to form on Karoon's forehead. Although it was their first mission together, he strangely felt as if they had been working in harmony for a long time.
"Before Chamber arrives, let's set up camp... huh?"
Raon stopped dead in his tracks as he was about to enter the interior of the island, pushing his way through bushes as tall as a man.
'There's something here.'
Feeling an unusual flow of mana within the island, he immediately turned around.
"Everyone, step back!"
He warned the swordsmen following him and tried to retreat, but the space around him shattered like a kaleidoscope, and his hands and legs became trapped in the cracks of the fractured space, immobilizing him.
'Is this magic?'
Without panicking, he ignited the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. He burned the mana binding his hands and feet with purifying flames. With a metallic sound, he regained freedom in his right hand and drew his sword. Just as he was about to pierce through the barrier dividing the space, a witch's hat appeared from the crack.
"Wait! Don't do it!"
Chamber, who had been hiding inside the witch's hat, revealed her face and waved both hands.
"It was hard to do this! It's just a joke! A prank!"
She shook her head and shouted for him to lower his sword.
"...I was joking too."
Raon lowered his sword with a slight smile.
"Did you know?"
"I could smell Chamber's aroma in the magic."
At first, he hadn’t realized, but when he saw the space splitting, he understood it was Chamber's magic. In truth, if she had decided to, she could have split the space immediately, but she was just playing along until she came out.
-Hmph. That's a relief.
Wrath snorted.
-This king was about to fall to the ground, thinking that the one who had eaten my flesh and blood had fallen into a simple trap.
He frowned, apparently disgusted in any case.
"I didn't exactly eat your flesh and blood."
-For this king, it was worse than that!
Wrath gritted his teeth and shouted that it was even more severe.
'E-It's fine...'
Feeling that saying anything more would really get him bitten, he decided to go along with it for now.
"Now I'm too scared even to joke."
Chamber laughed lightly and snapped her fingers, returning the divided space back to its original island form.
"Master of the Palace! What happened... huh?"
"Huh?"
"C-Chamber!"
Burren, Runaan, and Martha, who were standing right in front of the barrier, opened their eyes wide upon seeing Chamber.
"It’s an honor to meet the great Archmage of Balkar."
Karoon, who had seemingly anticipated this to some extent, bowed to Chamber without surprise. It seemed that his martial prowess was rapidly growing, just like Raon's.
"Karoon?"
Chamber let out a surprised sigh.
—The elder said he would send someone who would get along with Raon, and that was you?
"Get along..."
Karoon slightly frowned, apparently displeased with those words.
"While I respect the Head of House, I don't think that's the case."
He bit his lip and said it had been a misunderstanding.
"I share the same thought. It seems there has been a misunderstanding."
Raon shook his head with the same expression as Karoon.
"But seeing you in person, it seems like you get along quite well?"
Burren smiled and said that Raon and Karoon's teamwork was good.
"What nonsense!"
"That's not true!"
Raon and Karoon frowned and kicked almost simultaneously as soon as Burren finished speaking.
"Well?"
Chamber wore a slight smile as if she understood something.
"Come in for a moment. Let's talk inside."
With a flick of her finger, the space filled with bushes disappeared, revealing luxurious tents and magical equipment. The mages from Balkar had already set up camp and were preparing something unknown.
"This is..."
“I arrived early and set up a barrier.”
Chamber gestured with her chin while popping a red candy into her mouth.
"Is it a barrier to prevent intrusion?"
Raon asked, looking around as he entered the interior of Chamber's barrier.
"That's a fact. I also did it so that the mana and aura emanating from the inside wouldn't escape. And..."
Chamber snapped her fingers and opened a blue window displaying people playing on the beach.
"I also added a device that can see images from Montiro."
"Wow..."
Raon let out a sigh as he looked at the blue window showing Montiro. He hadn't expected Chamber to get ahead and make such preparations. It seemed she truly wanted to reach the Black Tower.
"But for now, only three remain."
"Three..."
"I provided support to the agents in the black market. These images are sent from the artifacts they are wearing."
Chamber pointed to a jewelry box on the table. It contained accessories like necklaces, rings, badges, and bracelets, but no trace of mana could be felt from them.
“I made them all different shapes so they wouldn’t raise suspicion. That was the hardest part.”
She sighed and said it wasn’t an easy task.
"So if we wear those and enter Montiro..."
"Yes. Dozens of images like this will appear here, making the search much easier."
Chamber shrugged as if asking what he thought.
"I'm glad you've prepared so much."
Raon bowed to Chamber. He had asked for her help, but he hadn't expected her to have everything ready so quickly.
"I've been researching these image artifacts for a while, so I mass-produced them quickly."
Chamber waved her hand, saying it wasn't that impressive.
"That's not all. I want to thank you for trusting us."
He was grateful that she trusted them with this information, as those artifacts had to be a secret for Balkar.
"Ah, it's nothing..."
Chamber turned her head slightly, seeming embarrassed.
—So have you been to Montiro?
Raon squinted as he left the bracelet that Chamber had made.
"I was there briefly before coming here."
Chamber nodded, lowering her lollipop.
“I observed from underwater, but I didn’t notice anything unusual.”
She clicked her lips and said she couldn’t feel any demonic energy or death energy.
"I see..."
Raon bit his lip slightly.
«This could be more difficult than I thought...»
If Chamber, who had reached a high level among the Transcendents, couldn’t sense anything even from a distance, it would be hard for him to find anything even if he went there.
I suppose that’s why Roenn couldn’t find it either.
Raon let out a brief sigh and moved closer to Chamber.
-So, did you do that too?
"Of course I did."
Chamber, as if she had been waiting for this, pulled out a yellow candy from her chest.
"If you eat this, the mana in your energy center will disperse, making it impossible for you to be detected by barriers or artifacts."
She shook her head and said it was an enhancement of a pre-existing drug, so even the barriers of the Black Tower would have difficulty detecting it.
"What if we want to use mana?"
"You can use the aura cultivation method. However, after that, the effect of the candy will wear off and you will become detectable."
Chamber moved her finger, saying they shouldn't use mana unless absolutely necessary.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed his head and received the candy that Chamber handed to him.
"It tastes like lemon."
"Indulgence?"
"That candy tastes like lemon."
Chamber smiled cheerfully and said she considered the flavor since it was a candy.
-Lemon flavor?
Wrath's eyes widened, and he stuck out his tongue.
-I love lemons! Eat it right now!
He stuck out his tongue as if he were salivating.
"So this candy is the secret weapon you mentioned."
Karoon nodded calmly, as if he had also anticipated this.
"Yes. With this, we should be able to avoid barriers and artifacts that detect aura."
Unlike him or Karoon, the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace could not avoid being detected by the barriers, so they absolutely had to eat this candy before entering Montiro.
"Bring more candies!"
When Chamber gestured with her hand, a young girl in a robe and a familiar face approached, carrying a basket of candies. It was Jayna, the princess of Balkar.
"Oh, it's been a while... hasn't it?"
Jayna frowned, seemingly not having forgotten what he had done, but still used polite language.
-If I forgot that, I would be a frog, not a human.
Wrath nodded, saying it was natural.
"Why did you come here?"
"The Black Tower... insulted our kingdom. As a princess, it's natural for me to act this way... right?"
Jayna clenched her fist, and her eyes opened wider than before, as if it were natural for her to be there as a princess. It was very different from the days when she was only fleeing.
"I see."
Raon felt that Jayna had also changed a bit when she handed over the basket of candies.
"Not everyone will enter at once, right?"
Chamber shook her head as if that was unthinkable.
"Of course not. We plan to enter in turns."
If so many people entered Montiro at once, it would raise suspicions, so it was necessary to decide who would enter first.
"I know you’re eager to see me in a swimsuit, but I can't go first."
Chamber sighed and waved her hand.
"If the Master of the Black Tower drags me in, it's all over."
She raised an eyebrow and said it would be difficult to fight in the territory of the Master of the Black Tower.
—I understand, of course. And I don't feel very curious about your swimsuit.
As Chamber was the only one capable of facing the Master of the Black Tower, it was better for her to intervene after they discovered the location of the Black Tower.
"Hmph! You don't understand the charm of a mature woman."
Chamber snorted as if feeling offended.
"I'll go in first, and how about the Master of the Central Martial Palace goes in last?"
"That sounds good."
Karoon stroked his chin and said he would stay there and train the swordsmen.
"Then who should..."
"It's a resort and a beach, so wouldn't it be better to disguise ourselves as couples?"
Chamber suggested going in couples, looking at the women beside Raon.
"Huh? Aren't you acting arrogantly anymore? Have you regained common sense? Or is it an act?"
Martha was arguing with Princess Jayna.
"Crab... crab..."
Runaan blinked as she poked at a hermit crab crawling on the ground.
"...That won't work."
Chamber shook her head and said they would catch them immediately.
"Yes, that doesn't seem feasible..."
Raon clicked his tongue as he looked at the swordsmen one by one.
"Wow! This grass is Paron, rarely seen on the continent! I can't believe it's here! Supplies!"
Dorian was pulling up trees and grass and storing them in his bag, oblivious to what was happening around him.
"There he is."
Raon smiled, pointing at Dorian.
"It's not an act, but something real."
* * *
A small cart moved along a dirt path covered with grains of golden sand.
Inside the cart were three people. A young man with blue hair was sitting inside, yawning, while a young man with brown hair counted the luggage, and a red-haired young man, possibly a mercenary, drove the cart with a large sword by his side.
"I understand that you become a third-rate mercenary, but..."
Kerin, disguised as a mercenary, sighed as he glanced slightly back.
"Why did the Master of the Palace become the main merchant instead of being the heir to the merchant association?"
He shook his head and looked at Dorian, who was smiling while counting the items.
"I can't be the one to carry the luggage, can I?"
Raon, disguised as the young head of the merchant association, tilted his chin.
"Huh..."
Kerin let out an exasperated sigh.
—Hey! Say something too! Are you content being a porter as the heir to the merchant association?
He grabbed Dorian's head and shook it.
"I'm happy. I'm curious about what supplies we can find there."
Dorian smiled, seemingly satisfied with the opportunity to buy products in Montiro. It seemed he was there as a genuine merchant, not on a mission.
"Oh, for the love of God!"
"Enough. Focus now. We'll soon see a sign indicating where Montiro is."
Raon continued his act as a carefree merchant while cautioning the two, even though they were still quite far from Montiro.
"Ugh..."
Kerin seemed to have more to say, but he shook his head resignedly and continued driving the cart.
"Yawn..."
Raon let out a long yawn, leaning against the stacked luggage in the cart.
-How curious.
Wrath narrowed his eyes and looked at him.
-It's rare to see you sitting still, but you're surprisingly good at it when you try. Your act has soul.
"I've seen it a lot."
-Ah, so that pointy-eared bastard, I see.
He chuckled as if recalling Rimmer.
-He seems to be your master in many ways.
'That's right.'
Raon nodded with a slight smile. By merely imitating what Rimmer did, he could easily surpass a first-class slacker.
"But I wonder if we’ll be able to find it."
Even though his skill in Death Energy Detection had improved to 3 stars thanks to constant use on the way here, he wasn’t sure he could locate the Black Tower just with that.
-What does it matter if you don't find it? Just go there and eat a lot of seafood, and that's a good life, right?
Wrath gestured with his hand, suggesting they simply enjoy the food.
«That might be a good life for you, but not for me.»
The funds and labor invested in this mission were astronomical. Even if they couldn't find the Black Tower, they needed at least a clue that could lead them to it.
-Still, in the end, what remains is food! Fish! Lobsters! Shrimp! Seaweed! Clams!
As Wrath listed the foods he wanted to eat, the figure of Montiro gradually appeared in his view.
-It's Montiro! And behind... the sea!
Kerin, starting his mercenary act, shouted toward the sea with a bright expression.
"The sea. The supplies we can get there are seafood, water attribute stones, and..."
Dorian recited the items they needed to buy, either acting or genuinely. This time, he seemed to be acting even better than Raon.
"Mmm..."
Raon squinted as he looked at the approaching Montiro.
"I don’t sense any barriers or demonic energy."
As Chamber had said, he couldn't feel any negative energy even when standing in front of Montiro.
'What's wrong with you?'
Raon clicked his tongue briefly and turned to Wrath.
-I don't sense anything like energy for now. However...
Wrath showed his white teeth while examining Montiro.
-It feels dirty.
'Dirty?'
-Indeed. It seems like something is stirring this king's anger.
He shook his chin and said he wasn't sure what it was either.
'The senses of a demon king...'
Wrath usually prioritized instinct over theory. If he said such things, it seemed certain that something dirty, whether the Black Tower or not, was hiding there.
"Ah, I thought I was going to die from pain in my rear. Let's hurry up and enter."
Raon jumped off the cart and spoke in a carefree tone, typical of a merchant.
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Dorian followed him, smiling, while Kerin grinned and drove the cart toward the main gate of Montiro.
"Please present your identification."
They handed over the identification plates corresponding to their current disguises to the guard blocking the main gate of Montiro.
'This part is perfect.'
Their current identity as a small merchant association operating directly from the black market raised no suspicions.
"The purpose of your visit is commercial?"
"Yes!"
Dorian nodded, saying they were obviously there to buy goods.
-Well, among other things.
Raon lightly shook his chin, exuding the air of a carefree merchant.
"Hmm, you may pass. Time is gold in Montiro. Enjoy your stay."
The guard welcomed them and opened the gate.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Raon gave a slight hand gesture as he entered Montiro with the cart. As soon as they entered, he felt the atmosphere change drastically.
Shirtless men and women with exposed legs strolled together through the streets, and music of various colors flowed from the taverns. It immediately became evident that this was a space designed for enjoyment.
"Welcome!"
As Raon, Krein, and Dorian enjoyed the atmosphere of Montiro, a young girl approached them holding necklaces made of sea flowers.
"Is this your first time in Montiro?"
The girl smiled brightly as she handed each of them a necklace made of sea flowers.
"And what about it?"
Raon nodded slightly with a somewhat arrogant look.
—Then you’ll need a guide! Everything here is more complicated and larger than you can imagine!
The girl pounded her chest and said that no one knew Montiro better than her.
-What’s wrong with this little one?
Wrath frowned as he looked at the girl.
"She’s a young guide you can find in any tourist area. She makes money by showing people the tourist spots."
-There was a similar child before. They work hard.
He nodded in approval, as if he were impressed.
"Do you know it well? Well, do you know places like gambling houses or fighting arenas?"
Raon clicked his tongue, pretending to be interested in the entertainment.
"Of course! I even know people at the casino!"
The girl raised her hand and said she could get them there right away.
"What’s your name?"
"It's Rensia!"
"Alright. I leave it to you."
Raon nodded and threw Rensia a silver coin.
"Wow! Thank you!"
Rensia hugged the silver coin preciously.
"So, where do you want to go first?"
"The beach!"
—The restaurant!
"The market!"
Kerin, Wrath, and Dorian each stated their desires and stared at each other.
"Let's unpack the luggage first. It's annoying to carry it back and forth."
Raon let out a short sigh and pointed to the cart behind them.
"Yes! I'll guide you to the most economical lodging!"
—“Forget about cost-effectiveness, take us to the most expensive place.”
"Ah, sure!"
Rensia's eyes shone as if she had caught a big fish, and she began to lead the way, holding the reins of the horse.
'Mmm...'
Raon lowered his gaze slightly as he followed Rensia.
'As expected, I can't sense any demonic energy.'
Just as Roenn had reported, he couldn't sense any aura of demonized humans even inside Montiro.
'Then...'
Just in case, he activated his 3-star Death Energy Detection.
"Eh?"
Raon unintentionally let out a low groan.
"What's wrong?"
Rensia turned her head, as if asking what was wrong.
"Nothing. I just tripped over something."
Raon clicked his tongue as he kicked the ground lightly.
—Be careful. There's a lot of sand and stones on the ground.
Rensia laughed softly and said she also tripped often.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Raon twisted his lips as he looked at the ground.
-Why are you acting like that?
Wrath frowned, unable to understand.
'You said there's demonic energy and death energy wherever people are, right?'
-Indeed. As long as humans exist, negative energy will exist alongside them. Of course, in such small amounts that even this king can barely feel it, it's useless.
He turned his chin as if annoyed that he was being asked about something he had already explained.
'But here...'
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the main road filled with grains of sand.
'Death energy doesn't exist at all.'
-
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