Reincarnated as the Adopted Son of a Prestigious Swordsmanship Family

Chapter 57: Kua Holy See (1)

‘Captain, what are you doing here?’

‘…What do you mean, what am I doing? Killing people.’

‘What people are you killing? Aren’t we here to catch that Doom Species count bastard?’

‘That bastard is already dead.’

‘Then it’s over, why are you killing people again? People are so precious these days.’

‘Urkel, if you’re done with your work, go and rest.’

‘We came together, we go together, why go separately? Aren’t you going to help the others?

It seems only the area I was in charge of is finished.’

‘Then go and help. I’ll be there soon.’

‘No, I said let’s go together.’

‘I’m busy, you bastard.’

‘For fuck’s sake, where are there people to kill here? There are only monsters. Did that count bastard do this too? Was his authority something like manipulation or brainwashing?’

‘Watch your mouth, they’re not monsters.’

‘Pardon?’

‘They’re chimeras.’

‘…Shall I bury them together?’

***

It wasn't a prosperous Holy See.

But as cults usually are, it was of a considerable size and a tenacious group. However, its intentions were so terrible.

‘Truth. Wanting eternal life to escape from reincarnation.’

The origin that discovered the truth of reincarnation.

He didn't know about that. What Simurtr knew was up to the founder of Kua. That is, the one who oversaw the research and experiments to escape reincarnation.

‘Bahab did it, and now Basor has popped out a kid too?’

Simurtr looked at the brightly smiling Barote.

The Black Tower. The guy introduced this place, engraved with the symbol of Kua, as the Black Tower. On top of that, the warp completed by the one called father.

‘This is a sure thing…….’

Barote was smiling and looking this way.

He was waiting as if asking for praise for the Black Tower, his home. Was that idiot really the son of Basor, of the traitor?

‘That bastard wouldn’t have raised his kid like that.’

The Basor that Simurtr remembered was extremely rational. Befitting the master of the Magic Tower, he was faithful to reason, not emotion.

‘There’s a saying that father and son go astray, but this isn’t it.’

There was no way.

Even while thinking that, when he considered the circumstances, he had no choice but to admit it. Father, warp, Black Tower. No matter how he looked at it, Barote was of Basor’s bloodline.

“You, are you a Basor?”

Simurtr asked openly.

He felt he could handle whatever he blurted out when dealing with Barote.

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if the person you call father is Basor.”

“Hmm, probably… not?”

“If it’s not, it’s not. What do you mean, probably not? Speak clearly.”

“I don’t know either! I’ve never heard my father’s name.”

“Do you think you’re five years old? A grown man……”

“I am five years old.”

Barote tilted his head.

“He was a crazy bastard.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I said you looked like it.”

Even if not a grand mage.

When you look at magicians who have secured a certain position, their surroundings are always distorted.

They equip their bodies with three or four layers of defensive magic.

And they engrave attack spells that would be useful in various situations on their fingers or forearms to be prepared for any situation at all times.

It was a basic requirement for a battle mage. They would flawlessly lay out pre-arranged formulas, so that they could be activated immediately with just a stir of magic.

‘Should I kill him?’

That’s why Barote seemed like a really easy opponent to Simurtr.

The visible hands, fingers, forearms, the calves revealed beyond the robe. No formulas were engraved on any part of his body.

There was also no sign of the strict defensive magic that magicians would have around them when they went out.

The Barote caught in the Sword Net was just a body with a lot of magic, not showing the appearance of a magician.

‘What if I can’t find Beden then?’

What if he killed Barote here?

The Magic Tower that shot up from the ground to the sky was not all there was to it. Due to the space-distorting magic, its interior was several times larger than its exterior.

‘Or should I just kill him and go around breaking everything?’

Simurtr caressed his own forearm.

Three lines of Pagna. Could he destroy the Black Tower with this?

The building was possible, but he didn't know what kind of magicians were stationed inside.

Moreover, the vast Magic Tower. He didn't know how much time and magic it would take.

‘There’s no good in dragging it out.’

If he were to fight, he had to end it quickly. Whether he liked it or not, he had to. When the magic stored in the Pagna ran out, the battle would end too.

“You can wait here.”

“Until when?”

“Until I come back?”

That was the reason he was obediently following Barote’s words.

He needed time to grasp the situation. There was nothing as valuable as information about the enemy. The Black Tower, Kua, Beden. He had to draw out as much information as possible. Causing trouble would come after that.

“You have to give me your weapon. Weapons are forbidden in my house.”

“Weapon? I don’t have a weapon.”

“You had a sword earlier.”

“I gave it to my friends.”

“Lies.”

“It’s true.”

Simurtr spun around once in front of Barote. A single sword was hanging neatly at his waist.

“It’s true? When did you give it?”

But Barote couldn’t see the sword.

He was fooled by Simurtr’s illusion again.

“Earlier.”

Simurtr examined the room Barote had guided him to.

It was a room, but not a place to be given to a guest. A sturdy iron cage, shackles hanging inside. A space meant for confinement.

“Where’s Beden?”

It was quite spacious, but empty. It was natural that there was no bedding, but Beden and Janya were also not there.

“Huh?”

“Beden, the kid you took from Mectera.”

“Oh! Right. How did you know that?”

“You told me earlier.”

“Did I? But Beden is in another room……”

He scratched the bridge of his nose and avoided his gaze. Barote looked quite troubled.

“I want to go there too.”

“Are you close with him?”

“Fucking close.”

“…Sorry. I was told not to put them together. They said it would be troublesome.”

“Fuck.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I said it’s a shame.”

“It didn’t sound like it.”

Who could decide something that even Basor’s son couldn't? As Barote said, perhaps the guy wasn't of Basor’s bloodline.

‘Right. There’s no way that bastard wouldn’t tell his son his own name.’

No, in the first place, it would be an environment where he would have no choice but to hear it.

A Hero Family, no less. If it was Basor, even if he didn't say it himself, those around him would have told him until he was sick of it.

‘Who could it be?’

The one called father was not Basor.

But he used a warp, one of Basor’s symbols. Who on earth? Annoyingly, even the Barote in front of him didn't know.

‘And that’s his son.’

There was no other way.

Simurtr decided to postpone this question for later.

“What about Janya? Is she with Beden?”

“Janya? Who’s Janya?”

“The woman you brought with you from Mectera.”

“Ah! The lady?”

“Yeah, right.”

“She was disposed of.”

As if happy to be able to show off his knowledge, Barote smiled brightly.

“What?”

“Disposed of. Because she wasn't needed.”

“You killed her?”

“Yep!”

Orde’s wish had been right.

Not an escape, but a kidnapping.

***

“How is it? Not bad, right?”

He thought he would just be locked up.

Barote came inside the iron cage with him. Then he put his hand through the bars and locked the padlock.

“Do I look like it?”

“Am I wrong?”

A space for confining prisoners or kidnapped individuals.

This meant that there was no reason for a guard or a kidnapper to go in together. Yet, Barote showed no hesitation. On the contrary, he spread his arms wide as if boasting.

“Are you empty-headed, or are you baiting me?” Chapters fırst released on novel·fıre·net

“Huh?”

“Nothing. When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know. I have to go to my father.”

“Is your father not in the Black Tower?”

“Yep, he’s far away! He’ll open the warp again for me.”

“I’d like to greet your father too.”

“You can’t. My father will hate it.”

Rarely, Barote showed a resolute side.

Not long after, magic condensed in the air.

“Then I’m going! See you later!”

Barote greeted cheerfully.

Should I follow? Simurtr thought but didn't act on it. He was worried about this place to follow now.

‘He said he’ll be back later.’

It would be fine to catch him then. Simurtr smiled and waved at Barote. Barote, pleased, walked backward into the warp, and then.

“Ah, right.”

He came out again.

“Shackles, I need to put on the shackles.”

Simurtr looked at the shackles next to him.

They were the Magic Shackles that Kanan had worn in the past. A magic tool that suppressed magic. They were quite large. It wouldn't be impossible to break them, but it was better to save his magic.

“This? I put it on as soon as I came in.”

Simurtr pointed to the shackles created by his illusion. He gently shook the attached chains.

Clank. Barote couldn't distinguish the auditory illusion.

“You’re really fast, aren’t you? Then I’m really going now.”

“Buy me something to eat when you come back.”

“Do you have a favorite?”

“Something as complicated and time-consuming as possible.”

“Huh?”

“That’s what makes it delicious.”

***

“Shall we go now?”

As soon as the form of the warp disappeared, Simurtr released the illusion he had been maintaining. The shackles disappeared, and his hair and eyes returned to their original color.

“Or should we wait until someone comes?”

“…….”

“What do you think is better?”

“…….”

Simurtr looked at Deban.

The shackles were already off, and like him, there was a sword at his waist. It was thanks to the illusion Simurtr had created.

“Are you busy?”

He was free, and he had a weapon. He could get out of the iron cage at any time. But Deban was just staring blankly at the cage.

“Hey, Deban. Hey.”

“Ah, yes. Shall we go out?”

When he waved his palm in front of his face, he finally reacted. He jumped in surprise and quickly stood up.

“Strange?”

“Isn’t the young master who volunteered to be kidnapped stranger?”

Then he started to grin. But his eyes were bloodshot. Deban hadn’t overworked himself on the way here.

The blood vessels in his eyes bursting meant it was due to emotion.

“You, you know this place, don’t you?”

When they arrived at the Black Tower, Deban had immediately mentioned the Kua Holy See.

Even though Barote had introduced it as the Black Tower, he had focused on the giant mural.

“It’s the Black Tower, isn’t it? Mixed with the Kua Holy See.”

“You only know Kua, right?”

“…Is it obvious?”

Deban rolled his eyes and gave a bitter smile.

Deban was someone who suited Degrate. Someone who maintained a poker face in any situation and didn't reveal his inner thoughts.

“Fucking obvious.”

Simurtr was inwardly surprised.

This was Deban, who had killed his colleague Juyce without showing any emotion. He hadn't expected to be able to glimpse emotion on that face.

“I wanted to come alone, after I got stronger. Let’s go out for now. Since I’m here, there’s probably no need to wait.”

Deban’s sword created an opening in the iron cage.

Simurtr followed behind with widened eyes. It was the first time he had seen Deban take the lead. He was always a person who followed behind.

“I’m not confident since it’s the Black Tower, but actually, Kua is all the same. They’re the types to focus their creativity on one thing. The structure is the same no matter which branch you go to.”

Deban strode between the prisons lined up on both sides. Most were empty prisons, and it was a complex corridor.

After choosing five forks in the road and turning seven corners, there were stairs ahead.

“They lock up the test subjects in the basement. The place I was at was like that. I don’t know about kidnapping, but since the purpose would be experiments, this place would be in the basement too, right? 3rd floor? 4th floor?”

Deban climbed the stairs.

The sight of him walking ahead looked quite awkward in Simurtr’s eyes.

“The laboratory will probably be on the 2nd floor. The 1st floor is the research lab, and from the ground floor up are the successful test subjects. They say they need fresh air. They say they have to grow up in a good environment to grow up well.”

A structure identical to the floor they had been on greeted the two. Deban’s guess seemed to be more or less correct.

“But it’s the Black Tower. I’m not sure. Above ground, wouldn’t it be the Black Tower? All the Kua facilities are underground.”

Whether it was above ground or underground.

Nothing changed. Grrr, grrr. The characteristic cry of a chimera echoed through the corridor.

“…You, were you from Kua?”

“To be precise, I’m from a test subject background. Synthesis, ah, they call it a chimera, right? The generation after that.”

Test subject.

Simurtr thought of Semenu.

Semenu, born through artificial insemination using the ashes of the first Degrate. Nurmakan Degrate, who, before committing that atrocity, had gotten inspiration from somewhere.

“They say I’m an early success, but I don’t know if they still call me that. In my generation, I was the only one who survived. But I escaped.”

“…Escaped?”

“Yes, it was during the Doom War, a hero destroyed that branch. I was lucky then. I secretly got out. I secretly watched, and he was killing the chimeras and burying them. They were my family.”

“…….”

“Ah, not my real family. I call them family because we were in the same situation. Of course, I was born from a different experiment, so I wasn’t in the same boat as a chimera.”

“You want to get stronger for revenge?”

“Right? Since I was born, I should kill the people I want to kill.”

“Even though that hero bastard is already dead?”

He didn't even know that Kua operated multiple branches.

The foolish hero who thought he had completely destroyed the Holy See was no longer here.

He was reincarnated and living in secret.

“How did you know? I didn’t say it was the hero Exa. Ah, right. I guess that makes sense.

They say he was the only one who did other things during the war.”

Chimera.

He couldn’t count them, there were too many. To remember them all, the fact that there were Kua believers among them was quite disgusting.

For fear of confusing them and counting them together. Because there was nothing as sinful as remembering them together.

“So you came to Mectera? Because of Exa Mectera?”

It was possible. A fitting course of action.

It was unbearable just to have the same name. Hadn't he himself gone crazy seeing Haryun Bahab?

“That’s right. It’s a place that treats you well if you have the ability, and they even teach you secret techniques if you become a Head of the Sword. And to give my thanks while I’m at it.”

“…Give your thanks?”

“Yes, of course, I have to. He personally buried my family members.”

“Not the one who killed them?”

“Both. I have to be thankful for that too.”

“Why?”

“Even if it were me, I wouldn’t have wanted to live as a chimera. No ego, can’t recognize my family, no way to go back. They were people who used to give me leftover food when they saw me.”

“…….”

“But they wanted to eat my flesh. People who wouldn’t eat so they could give it to their children. Was it because I had been taking and eating all this time?”

Deban gave a bitter smile and drew his sword.

The cries of the chimeras filled the corridor. To Deban’s ears, they sounded like screams.

“Can I bury all the chimeras here? It would be much faster if you did it, young master, but actually, I wanted to come to Kua alone. With my own hands. Directly.”

Simurtr nodded silently.

“That’s a relief. But if you think I can’t handle it, please help me. I didn’t expect to come here so soon. I was planning to come after becoming at least a deputy, if not a Head of the Sword.”

Clomp, clomp.

Deban walked down the corridor alone.

Simurtr covered and hid his flowing tears of blood with an illusion.