Chapter 114 : Chapter 114
114 Memoir (1)
Peres.
First jumped greatly to the side. Sudden intuition to dodge made him do so.
Kwaang! Something smashed the space where he was originally. Peres confirmed that space while taking a fall.
‘Didn’t they say white?’
They said Simurtr’s magic is pure white.
Opposite color to black symbolizing Mectera.
‘But this?’
That property matches what I heard.
Intense and impressive. Cannot forget once seen.
‘Similar to magic of absolute being?’
Peres recalled the rumor heard with the true culprit of Black Tower collapse.
Of course one of things dismissed as false rumor.
“Sturdy.”
Simurtr nodded as if satisfied.
Stage and seats of auction house were not damaged. They said expensive magic circle is engraved.
“Not running away? I said you are terrorist.”
Simurtr swung his hand once again.
There…… is no sword.
‘With what on earth.’
But holding something.
Shape of that hand. Trace form remaining slightly on defense magic installed in auction house.
‘Stealth……?’
Simurtr is hiding his sword in stealth.
When he lost hair that wasn't much left, Peres realized that fact.
‘If judging presence of vision…… stealth is correct.’
Calming confusion and focusing, I know.
Sword Simurtr is holding and contained magic are felt vividly in senses.
Just hiding appearance, only sword.
Peres moved body again. Jumped up and climbed to middle of auction house seats.
‘Not magic.’
Never heard or seen magic like that.
Furthermore isn’t it Mectera. Magic was something shouldn't be assumed at all.
‘Then how?’
What can be assumed for Mectera is only sword.
But that is? Mectera dealing with such weird technique…… Kwaang! Invisible something hit floor fiercely again.
‘Visual element is hidden but caught in senses.’
Sword too. Sword Aura just now too.
Just not seen, felt vividly.
‘What on earth…….’
Peres struggled to steady vision trying to narrow again.
‘If ordinary person maybe but cannot deceive me.’
Certainly threatening, and panicked but…… that is all. Isn’t it felt even if not seen.
Then no problem. Skill is this side is above.
“Now I will finish you.”
Peres finally drew sword.
***
Auction house is underground.
Peres escaped auction house and ran through passage. Bang. Hit closed door with body and opened. Just before turning to stairs. Looked back once.
‘In senses…… caught.’
Should be in distance visible properly.
But not seen. Stealth. Simurtr who hid only sword and attack, is hiding even his appearance now.
‘F***.’
That fact weaves reality bizarrely.
Confusion tightened Peres’s imagery. Vision and senses differ. Feels like caught in curse distorting senses.
‘Clearly guy is in front there.’
Threw broken sword to that side and jumped greatly.
Broken sword due to clash just before. Clang. Sound of bouncing off heard from back. Peres ran stairs without looking.
‘Should have avoided front.’
Sword broke and suffered internal injury.
Result of not avoiding and meant not opponent in simple power struggle.
Every time stepping foot, feel heart throbbing.
‘Nonsense…….’
Wrong. I was wrong, and rumor was right.
No, don’t know if Simurtr is really skilled person enough to destroy Black Tower but…… at least information recorded in Information Bureau is not correct.
‘This is barely passing?’
Then two direct descendants who came together shouldn't have been selected.
Lived thanks to siblings’ help? Direct descendants must have received Simurtr’s help.
‘Order was correct.’
Now I understand validity of order descended from above. Position where one can die anytime. Peres regretted concluding rashly.
‘Discharged magic consciously to threaten? Judged that as full power?’
Peres Art recalled misjudgment made earlier and resented himself.
That was water drop falling from tightly closed faucet. Not water stream pouring twisting fully. Merely.
‘A little. No, should have grasped much more carefully. Should have found out slowly while proceeding operation…….’
Although there is new sword in subspace, cannot take out now.
No time to rummage subspace pouch leisurely. Distance doesn't get far, nor narrow.
First must go out to ground and hide body.
‘Guy doesn’t know terrain of Poruo.’
Need time to reorganize.
Peres checked equipment. Three each on both ribs, two each on both thighs. Total 10 daggers. Sufficient.
While turning direction, threw 4 daggers at once. Not wide stairs. No space to dodge.
‘Sufficient.’
Threw 4, but noise rose 3 times.
Blocked 3 and dodged one. Distance widened slightly.
‘2 floors ahead.’
Remaining daggers six.
Consume three per floor. Can buy time to climb to ground.
Whoosh! When floor changed, Peres threw daggers again. 3. This time noise rose 2 times. Distance narrowed widened again.
‘Last.’
3.
Clang. Clang. This time too noise rises 2 times.
‘Strong, but clumsy. Fortunate still young.’
Didn’t predict throwing of dagger.
So missed one by one.
Time regained margin in distance that seemed to touch.
Peres ignored pain of heart and increased speed. Throbbing heart beat greatly and supplied magic.
…Light started to touch face. Sunlight. Sunlight transmitted beyond glass door.
‘Now.’
Just passing that door is outside.
Know terrain of Poruo. City of mercenaries and merchants. Naturally back alleys are activated, and places to hide overflow.
Hidden shelter of Information Bureau also exists. Information Simurtr who arrived today doesn’t know.
So if only going out, becoming advantageous is this side…….
“Keo-heok.”
Moment trying to hit door with shoulder.
Suddenly something dug into body. Intense pain rises from part not heart.
Back of both thighs. And right shoulder that was just about to hit door. Peres understood that intense pain belatedly.
‘Thought naturally dodged…….’
Dagger thrown just before. Noise lacking one by one. Three daggers sound of bouncing off wasn't heard.
Throw contained with magic…… Simurtr snatched without dodging.
“Finished?”
Peres looked back.
Simurtr’s voice heard right in front of nose. Distance with Simurtr closer than distance with door.
Possessed senses are clearly informing so.
“Shall prove more?”
Not seen in naked eye.
Clearly whispering in ear, but that mouth and face not seen.
Nothing seen. But voice ringing in ear is vivid. Existence called Simurtr felt vividly to point of horror.
“This…… what technique…….”
Peres who overlapped internal injury and bleeding fainted.
***
“I heard there is a type in the world that makes you think it’s natural death no matter how they die.”
“Who says.”
“Words Senior Kehellan said.”
“Meaning Peres Art dies natural death soon?”
“Correct, sister. He will suffer natural death from Simyun now.”
“What are you talking about.”
Sun set long ago. Siblings returned only when it became midnight.
Simurtr snorted at siblings’ conversation walking down hallway.
“Didn’t kill.”
“Didn’t die?”
“I said didn’t kill.”
Peres was lying in his room.
New flesh sprouted already from spot where dagger was embedded. All Deban’s work.
Found potion in Peres’s bosom, poured on wound, and brought to inn room directly.
“Waking up right?”
“I said didn’t kill.”
Ael.
Knew Simurtr would fight with Peres.
Just thought strangely because that timing was late.
“What on earth did you do?”
Did not doubt victory. Curious thing is the process.
In process of winning, what did Simurtr do to Peres.
Didn’t kill. Then wouldn't have done something equivalent to that.
“Did stab dagger.”
“How many?”
“3.”
“3?”
“3 is small.”
Ael’s eyebrows twitched.
10 daggers are placed on table beside bed.
Certainly. Compared to 10, 3 is on small side.
If sincere, would have driven all those in. Naturally wouldn't have treated either.
“Went easy a lot.”
“Right?”
“Indeed.”
Dagger was quite long.
Similar to Ael’s forearm. Naturally painful. Furthermore stabbed 3.
“Is that end?”
“Yeah.”
But that and mind are separate.
If other person maybe but Peres is Information Bureau’s Investigator. Character is more secret than other groups.
I mean, shouldn't reveal secret no matter what happens. Used to pain, and mind is no different from tempered iron.
I heard Degrate is like that.
“But why not waking up still?”
Shouldn't Information Bureau be like that too?
Furthermore Investigator. Isn’t it position shouldn't faint with mere 3 daggers?
“Maybe he is weak to pain.”
“Investigator?”
“Because parachute.”
“Looked so. Had no eye for people.”
Jahar watching also nodded.
“Peres Art’s nickname is Peres of Painlessness.”
“Simyun. You used that again right?”
At Deban’s words Ael’s eyes narrowed.
“What is that.”
“Thing only you can’t do.”
“Not can’t do, doing like that on purpose.”
“Assuming so. Used, or not.”
“Used.”
“Why do thing you didn’t do?”
From sometime.
Simurtr started practicing stealth suddenly.
“Why suddenly? Simyun. I know you learned that, but I’m telling you it doesn’t suit you?”
Ael called Phantasmal Ability 'that'.
Because here is outside Mectera.
Alliance of Mectera and Degrate was fact not known to outside. Only Imperial Family knows.
“Wasteful. Since obtained anyway, should use until where I can use.”
“No. I said don’t use?”
When Simurtr practices stealth with Phantasmal Ability…… that opponent became Jahar or Ael. Forcing forcibly saying this is all experience.
“Goosebumps rise every time I see that. Like seeing ghost.”
Ael’s body trembled.
“Beden didn’t do that?”
“He resembles you so. Something loose. Didn’t do that in old days.”
“Looked fine.”
“Not fine.”
When dealing first.
Creepy as if dealing with ghost. Know existence but invisible.
Enemy and sword and attack invisible to naked eye, difficult even though caught in senses. Very different from seeing directly.
“Anyway. If doing that, do when we aren’t here.”
“Did when you weren’t here.”
Then if that sensation becomes familiar soon…… becomes very unpleasant.
Cannot erase feeling like provoking. Feeling like teasing arises strongly.
Because doing so even though knowing clearly where hiding.
“Please unknowingly to us too.”
“Will do.”
Simurtr nodded obediently.
Wasn't for actual combat in first place.
***
“Did on purpose right?”
Leaving Peres’s room.
When siblings entered each room, Deban spoke to Simurtr entering Room 201.
“Is it obvious?”
“Yes.”
“This is why you are comfortable.”
When with Deban, feeling like dealing with Degrate.
Understands instantly without need to explain.
“Why did you do so?”
“Why do you think?”
“Hmm.”
Deban saved words once.
Why, why did he. Simurtr is young, but not figure acting on bravado.
Not stupid either. Doesn't insist on clothes not suiting him.
“Showed stealth not suiting on purpose right? Actually handle Phantasmal Ability well.”
“Correct.”
Stealth. Such Degrate’s specialty cannot be mimicked with Star-Breaking Style.
Didn’t Jiaren and Semenu, authorities of Phantasm, say so too.
Practiced even knowing that fact, and executed eventually. Made excuse to siblings that it will be all experience, but reality was Simurtr’s practice.
“Did you intend to show someone definitely even if not strictly Peres Art?”
Deban knew fact Simurtr practiced stealth in main family.
Means expected thing like today will happen.
“Perhaps Basor?”
“Oh. Why?”
Simurtr looked at Deban with interesting eyes.
Deban grasped feeling already.
“There is only one coming to my mind…… this is a bit rude to say with my mouth.”
“What afresh.”
“Perhaps magic?”
Simurtr laughed grinning.
Deban realized that is answer.
“Holding back earlier must be because Heide-ssi was there. Since she is purely Information Bureau’s person.”
“Since cannot ignore if 1st Class Agent.”
“Still. Will they recognize Phantasmal Ability?”
“If used shortly won’t know. But then Peres Art won’t recognize either. Not magician.”
Practicing clumsy Phantasmal Ability on purpose.
Waited for situation remaining alone with Peres Art.
‘Meticulous.’
Every time seeing such Simurtr, Deban feels creepiness often.
Usually seems moving according to mood.
‘Human moving only by instinct finally started rolling head diligently too.’
Deban laughed cook-cook unwittingly.
Because words Aran said someday came to mind.
“But will it be okay? Main family won’t stay still.”
“Now?”
“Still magic feels very different. If Basor, historical rival.”
“It’s okay.”
If desperate just leave Mectera.
‘Anyway such moment comes.’
Even if Mectera doesn't kick out.
Moment leaving Mectera surely comes.
“But didn’t Kua side have Phantasm user already? Will Basor take interest in young master?”
“Of course. Won’t be satisfied with that. Can regard that as fake.”
Phantasm user born with diluted and diluted Degrate blood.
With such pale Phantasmal Ability, won’t even tickle Basor’s liver.
Simurtr possessing Asha could be certain.
“Wasn’t it card you cherish? Didn’t show intentionally to Bahab either.”
“If not this, Basor won’t bite bait.”
White Sword Master.
Being treated only as true culprit of Black Tower collapse is troubling. If so, degrades to simple prey.
‘But if Phantasmal Ability, words change.’
Elf is Dragon’s derived species.
Phantasmal Ability is half Word Spirit.
Basor claims so, and is certain.
Reason they drool seeing only Degrate. Word Spirit is end of spellcasters. Those guys want to take, study Phantasmal Ability.
“And didn’t reveal all completely either.”
Had to look clumsy as possible.
Reason chose stealth, and practiced.
‘Insufficient but…… Phantasm superior to fake Phantasm user made by Kua.’
That, probably will become best answer.
“Even if revealed young master is true culprit of Black Tower, cannot touch rashly. If Degrate’s Phantasmal Ability, it’s what Basor wanted so much.”
“Correct. Those bastards can’t resist. Happening not to know relationship between Mectera and Degrate.”
“Only young master has connection with Degrate?”
“Must pretend so.”
Certainly.
If only deceived like that, no matter how much Remeter wants, Basor cannot touch Simurtr easily.
Even if touch, that will be after extracting information of Phantasmal Ability.
‘Don’t know if young master will suffer that though.’
Deban shook head.
Simurtr surrendering is not imagined. Rather choose death.
Will take at least one Basor together.
Or kill magicians in heaps.
“But isn’t there possibility not recognizing? Peres Art is layman in magic.”
“Person receiving report must be magician.”
“That is true too.”
Bait thrown.
Now just wait.
“So let’s talk mission.”
“Do you have curious thing?”
“Of course.”
Poruo proceeding auction is nothing surprising.
In this neighborhood, thing happening every day.
Although auction hosted directly by Poruo’s mayor opens once a quarter and scale is big, no justification for Empire to intervene there.
“Why did Empire Information Bureau intervene there?”
Poruo is neutral city.
Empire and of course any nation, even Ruo Holy See cannot exercise influence easily.
Carried out everything independently, and receiving outside help counts on hand.
No matter if auction hosted by mayor, not degree to borrow others’ hands.
Poruo is city where rough mercenaries and knights craving freedom and magicians are scattered everywhere.
“Heard Baramant has base in Poruo too.”
“Yes. 3rd Unit there participated in this guard operation too.”
“Free Knight group chasing Doom Species?”
“Because almost no Doom Species.”
In world where Doom Species are that rare, Simurtr has seen Doom Species directly in Hella.
‘Maybe information Degrate doesn't know exists.’
Might have to meet with Baramant someday.
“Is scale big there?”
“I think up to 7th Unit? If 3rd Unit, quite high power. Probably level of decent Knight Order?”
“That degree?”
“Since do other missions a lot too. Just thinking as mercenary is comfortable. Of course main purpose is Doom Species.”
“But receive Knight treatment?”
“Correct. Since everyone has skill. Or have received knight appointment. Probably most people there are like that?”
“But what is regrettable to chase Doom Species. Not many left. Just live peacefully and go.”
“Heard core layer there are all participants.”
“Ah. Then acknowledged.”
War ended but grudge cannot help but remain.
Naturally side buying human grudge is Doom Species.
Or worshipers of Black Land, or traitor.
Simurtr nodded, then tilted.
“But input Information Bureau too? Other mercenary groups participate too.”
Receiving outside help counts on hand means attacked counts on hand too.
Baramant’s 3rd Unit level of decent Knight Order.
Mercenaries rotting in city.
If that degree, would overflow to proceed auction safely.
“Was attacked last quarter?”
“No. Last year too. Heard never suffered terror.”
“Purpose is to check successful bidder of this auction item first. Since doing for free, Poruo side has no reason to refuse. Here is not secret auction house.”
Information Bureau means looking at this auction sensitively.
“Check successful bidder quickly? Why?”
“Heard auction item coming up this time is tremendous.”
“Have list?”
“No. Kept all secret saying reveal on day.”
“Then what do people believe believing tremendous.”
“Released biggest one. So Information Bureau volunteered guard for checking successful bidder.”
Item degree for Information Bureau reluctant to activity in public place to volunteer guard suddenly.
“What is it.”
That stimulated Simurtr’s interest.
Just how big.
“Heard it’s Memoir of Hero Exa Mectera?”
“What?”
Asking back Simurtr’s expression frowned.
“Memoir of Hero Exa Mectera.”
“Is there such thing?”
“Heard there is?”
Soon became bizarre.