Chapter 150 : Chapter 150
Chapter : 150
Joker's few short words seemed to have stunned the person on the high platform. She remained stiff for a moment, only reacting after Joker had lightly leaped onto the stage.
"No, I don't know what you're talking about. You're disrupting my master's sacrifice, be careful my master doesn't punish you!"
The tip of her scepter pointed at Joker, her voice somewhat sharp. "Men, seize this clueless fellow! For disrupting my master's sacrifice and angering my master, we'll use his blood to appease my master's wrath!"
Joker narrowed his eyes, his gaze toward the person tinged with inquiry. This person was clearly level forty-seven, which wasn't low, so why did she look so fierce on the outside but timid on the inside?
It seemed she didn't want to confront him at all.
Hearing the command, the black-robed figures who had been eyeing me menacingly became restless, wanting to rush up and capture this culprit who had ruined their important sacrifice.
The corner of my mouth, not covered by the [Face·Masquerade Ball], curled up slightly. Joker raised his hand and threw several [Fire Emblems] toward their location, instantly detonating them.
Along with a few explosions, the few black-robed men who were trying to approach Joker were immediately blown to smithereens, their blood and flesh splattering on those around them.
The unlucky black-robed man who was splattered with blood and flesh couldn't help but tremble.
He opened his mouth but couldn't withstand the terrifying scene. His eyes rolled back, and his whole body went limp and collapsed.
The person holding the scepter seemed to have been frightened as well. Her figure trembled a few times, and her gaze toward Joker was tinged with panic.
And the students who were tied up and closer, directly faced this bloody scene. If their mouths weren't still gagged, they would have probably screamed out loud by now.
Several of the less courageous mages, who were usually pampered and raised, fainted directly.
They were geniuses, that's right, but that didn't mean a genius's psychological endurance was higher than an ordinary person's.
Not to mention them, even Rowena, who was used to death on the battlefield, looked at Joker with a bit of fear in her eyes.
When Rowena saw Joker, she thought someone had finally come to save them. But now, with Joker's series of actions, it was still a question mark as to what he was here for.
Mainly, this man who suddenly appeared, wearing a mask and with strange strength, really didn't look like a good person.
"Please don't act rashly, Miss, who hides her head and shows her tail." Joker wagged his index finger lightly, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.
"I believe you don't want to be like those... um, little black rats, who go 'bang' and become not-so-pretty blood mist, right?"
"Actually, I don't really like using such methods. It's too bloody and violent—not very elegant."
Joker tilted his head. A touch of brilliant red stained his chin. This color, representing blood, unexpectedly added a strange, vibrant beauty to him.
Although his entire face was not revealed, it made people unable to look away, all their attention drawn to him.
"Right."
He seemed to remember something, his smile radiant. "I didn't really like your attitude when you asked for my name just now—but I'm a very magnanimous person, so I will politely answer this question for you."
"My name is—Joker."
["My name is—Joker. You can call me the Fool, or you can call me the Clown."]
["Of course, you can also call me Joker as is. That is your honor."]
Joker's voice rang out, completely overlapping with the voice in William's memory.
Although he couldn't see the expression on the scepter-wielder's face at this moment, William knew that her face must not look good right now.
Just like that night, William saw his always courteous Second Royal Brother Felton reveal such a strange and undignified expression for the first time.
The scepter-wielder's chest heaved violently a few times. Her gaze toward Joker gradually changed from fear and panic to viciousness. "It was you—"
Joker paused in his steps, surprised in his heart. This person actually knew him?
Hmm... maybe this group of little black rats also paid attention to gossip? After all, the trouble he caused in Bartovita was not small.
But in the next second, he heard that person's sharp voice say, "It was you who ruined our plan to annihilate the 'Blood Mist'!"
I was stunned, pulling myself away from the emotions of my role-playing persona for a moment. I immediately understood what the other person was talking about.
That's right, the first time I met this group of masked black-robed people wasn't with that guy who had the same name as 'Demetrius', but in the royal capital of Bartovita.
I had infiltrated the dungeon to rescue the captured Uncle Lane and happened to run into people from the 'Blood Mist'.
Their purpose was the same as mine in a sense; they were both here to destroy one of Augreer's underground strongholds.
Just as the 'Blood Mist' had almost succeeded, another force emerged in the underground stronghold—these masked black-robed people.
At that time, when I looked at them, they had three question marks [???] above their heads.
Now that the plot has progressed, the [???] above these people's heads has become [Eternal God Cult Small Leader], [Eternal God Cult Bottom-level Believer], and so on.
And the only interaction I had with these people was when I broke free from the restraints of that person named Yuchir, rushed out of the dungeon, and conveniently threw all the remaining [Fire Emblems] into the group of black-robed people, blowing the black-robed people waiting outside the dungeon into chaos.
"The same method, the same flames—" The scepter-wielder's gaze swept over the raging purple-red flames that hadn't died out after I had blown up those few people.
The purple-red flames illuminated a small area, reflecting on the other party's mask, bringing a bit of a sinister aura.
"That night, it was you, wasn't it! Are you a member of the 'Blood Mist'?" Her voice was somewhat out of control.
The black-robed people from that night...
If I remembered correctly, those black-robed people were basically red-named. Unlike the mix of red and yellow names I saw today. Seeing this person's strong reaction, I also realized.
So the ones who appeared that night were the elites of this Eternal God Cult. At least, with their all red-named status, it was obvious that they couldn't be ordinary people who had just been brainwashed into the cult.
To be gnashing her teeth at me like this, the cult must have suffered heavy losses that night!
But was it really okay to mistake me for someone from the 'Blood Mist' just like that?
I blinked. Although I did have some connection with the 'Blood Mist', that was the Demon King's business. What did it have to do with me, the righteous and chivalrous Phantom Thief Joker?
"No," Joker still maintained that courteous attitude. "I have no connection with the 'Blood Mist'. I was just passing by that night."
"Do you think I'll believe you?" The scepter-wielder sneered, her voice sounding as if it was squeezed out from between her teeth, wishing she could tear the Joker before her to pieces and devour him.
"You've killed so many of our people, how dare you appear here again? Still trying to ruin our sacrifice?"
"Since you've come, don't think about leaving. Leave your life behind to comfort our dead comrades!"
Her voice was sharp, causing a piercing pain in my ears. At the same time, a system prompt also popped up before my eyes.
『Instance detected [Time-limited Challenge·Underground Altar] about to begin. Enter?』
『Player has entered the instance [Time-limited Challenge·Underground Altar].』
Me: ???
Good heavens, this time the instance didn't even give me the right to choose to enter. It just started directly?
In the next instant, the scepter-wielder's figure twisted, and her whole person was enveloped in black mist.
An extremely ear-piercing, sharp, long cry resounded throughout this underground altar. An ominous black mist gradually spread, occupying the entire underground altar at an extremely fast speed.
I myself didn't feel anything, but below the high platform, the black-robed people who were originally staring blankly at the confrontation between Joker and the scepter-wielder all shed their dazed state, wailing, twisting, and letting out painful groans.
I watched with my own eyes as the yellow names of those people, after coming into contact with this black mist, turned into a bloody red.
Their bodies also emitted an ominous black mist, and even their levels increased threefold.
Although I didn't know what this black mist was, it could change a neutral NPC, causing it to completely change factions, and even change its strength and level. It obviously couldn't be anything good.
I tutted. My current level was already over sixty. Facing these small monsters whose levels had tripled, I obviously wouldn't have an advantage.
After their levels tripled, a few of the black-robed NPC's levels had already surpassed my own. Now I had to fight one against many again, and even challenge a higher level. It was truly a headache.
The scepter-wielder pointed her scepter from afar. The tip of the scepter, shrouded in black mist, pointed in my direction. The black-robed people who had been mutated by the black mist all turned their gazes to me.
Wow.
This is truly something.
I felt like I was in a forest, being stared at by a pack of hungry wolves with glowing green eyes.
This gaze indeed had a considerable sense of pressure. I scanned the area and was slightly relieved to see that the students who had been tied up before had not entered the instance with me.
I hope Rowena outside the instance can be a bit more reliable. At least, while I'm fighting in the instance, she can save that... oh wait, I mean the student who was stabbed several times and hung on the altar to be air-dried.
With a flick of my wrist, a greatsword appeared in my hand.
It even raised a cloud of dust when it hit the ground.
He glanced around, let out a snort, and gripped the greatsword with both hands, assuming an attacking stance.
In that case, let me test the results of my month-long sitting at the Swordsman Academy!
***
Rowena felt a fluctuation in the space around her. She saw a black mist spread out, enveloping Joker who was standing in front of them and the black-robed people, and then disappeared on the spot.
Only a few scattered black-robed people were left on the spot, basically all unconscious.
Rowena reacted very quickly. With a forceful twist of her wrist, she heard two clicks, and the hemp rope tying her fell off.
Rowena moved her wrists, then immediately cut the hemp rope binding her feet, and at the same time, spat out the cloth in her mouth.
Hearing the commotion, William, who was still stunned by the mysterious disappearance of these people, looked at Rowena and his eyes widened again.
What's going on, weren't we all tied up? How did you break free just like that?
However, William also reacted quickly. He made two muffled sounds, signaling Rowena to hurry over and untie the hemp rope on him as well.
Rowena stood up. Having been tied for a long time, the blood circulation in her hands and feet was not smooth. She stumbled and almost knelt down.
Fortunately, she was a swordsman who had experienced battle. She quickly recovered and walked over to William without a word, cutting the hemp rope on William's hands with a single stroke.
With his arms freed, William pulled out the cloth gagging his mouth, spat a few times, caught the blade Rowena threw to him, and began to cut the hemp rope on his legs.
He didn't forget to ask, "Where did you get the blade? Weren't we searched when we were tricked over?"
Yes, this time they were tricked over by Agana, who was also a student of Sigret.
Agana had tricked them by saying that their team had encountered a swamp, and several teammates had fallen into the swamp and needed someone to pull them out.
Swamps were also a potential danger in the forest. Once you stepped into a swamp, it was difficult for anyone to climb out on their own.
And the characteristic of a swamp was that the more you struggled, the faster you sank.
At that time, Agana described the situation as very urgent. Her teammate was about to sink completely into the swamp, with only half a shoulder still above. She couldn't pull her teammate up on her own, so she came out to seek help from others.
Rowena and William were tricked over just like that. Because the situation was urgent, they didn't wait for me and the others to come back and just followed Agana.
When they reached their destination, there were indeed people who had fallen into the swamp. But before Rowena could start the rescue, she and William were both knocked unconscious.
When they woke up again, they found that they had arrived at the border city of Skarn. They were directly loaded into a carriage as cargo and transported over by Agana and a few mercenaries—yes, the ones who knocked them unconscious weren't even black-robed people, just some mercenaries who roamed the border areas.
At that time, Rowena and William had already discovered that all their equipment was gone, especially the space bracelet that Robin had prepared with rich supplies.
It had disappeared completely. All that was left on them were the clothes they were wearing when they arrived.
The ones who were tied up with them were also familiar. They were all students from Sigret.
They were all tied up, their mouths gagged tightly, not even given a chance to call for help. They could only stare at each other.
Not long after, they were moved to a different location again. They were blindfolded and led out of the city, and then brought to this dark and ghostly place.
A group of strange black-robed people surrounded them, sizing them up as if they were evaluating prey.
Then came this strange sacrifice.
Only then did Rowena and William and the others understand that Agana, who had asked them for help, was already a member of this black-robed group. Asking for help was just a means to gain their trust.
To be honest, after discovering this, William was truly a bit desperate. He could only place all his hopes on the other three members of Team A who were not tricked along with them.
He hoped they could realize something was wrong sooner and notify the teachers leading this outdoor training to come and find them.
"The red-caped man threw it to me just now." Rowena untied the ropes of another person in a few strokes and handed him a blade as well.
"While he was creating the explosion, he threw a few blades in my direction. I caught them with my foot."
William was shocked. "Really? I didn't notice at all."
Rowena glanced at him. "You were probably also distracted by the commotion he created. His action of throwing the blades was not obvious."
After speaking, she handed the still-tied students over to William and another swordsman she had already untied, while she herself rushed towards the person who had been stabbed several times first and was hanging on the sacrificial vessel.
Rowena had personally seen how he was hung up by those black-robed people. She copied their actions and deftly took him down.
The person's head was tilted, his eyes were tightly closed, and his face was pale. He was clearly in a state of breathing out more than in, on the verge of dying on the spot.
The few knife wounds on his body were still gushing blood. If he continued to bleed like this, he would really die from excessive blood loss.
Rowena took a deep breath, quickly remained calm, tore off the cleaner parts of her clothes, and bandaged him quickly using the bandaging techniques she had learned on the battlefield.
At the same time, she shouted to the back, "Is there anyone who is good at healing magic? This one here is about to die!"
Among the students who were tied up together, there were many mages. A few of them were still holding on, not having fainted from the bloody scene before. They were all of the mentally stronger type.
A girl heard Rowena's call, turned her head and spat out the cloth in her mouth. While signaling the person cutting her ropes to hurry up, she replied loudly, "Me! I know healing magic! My talent skill is related to healing!"
Seeing this, the person cutting her ropes quickened their actions. The person next to them who was still untying others also let go of the original person and gathered around her, working together to cut the hemp ropes on her.
And the students who were temporarily set aside and still tied up had no objections, silently waiting for their companions' rescue.
Even though they were still facing the situation where an enemy might appear at any time, they did not make a sound to urge them, only praying with pale faces.
Soon, all the ropes on the girl were removed. She didn't have time to move her hands and feet that had gone numb from being tied. She scrambled and ran towards the injured person.
At this moment, Rowena's hands and body were already stained with blood. The amount of blood gushing from the few knife wounds on this injured person was too much. Even though Rowena had already bandaged his wounds, she couldn't completely stop the constantly gushing blood. She could only press her hand on the wound.
The girl stumbled and crawled over. Because of a cramp in her calf, she knelt down directly beside Rowena with a thud.
She didn't care about her painful body and tried hard to get closer to Rowena. "Leave it to me!"
"Can you do it?" Rowena asked.
They were all students of Sigret Academy, and they were all geniuses. Even first-year students would not have low levels. And for these black-robed people to be able to unscrupulously use them as sacrificial livestock, they naturally had the confidence that they couldn't resist.
As soon as Rowena woke up, she found that her hands and feet were limp, and she couldn't use any of her strength.
As a swordsman, she was fine. After all, a swordsman's most powerful weapon was their own body. Not being able to use her strength at most meant she couldn't use some skills.
As long as she had a weapon in hand, they still had the ability to protect themselves.
But those mages were miserable. They themselves relied on magic to fight. As soon as they woke up, all the magic power in their bodies disappeared, and they couldn't even do the most basic elemental sensing.
The girl nodded. "I can. I know we've been given a kind of magic-sealing potion. It's a type of poison potion. My talent skill has a certain resistance to all negative states. So much time has passed, I can already use a little magic power."
However, she never mentioned that this little bit of magic power was what she had worked hard to accumulate after she woke up and found the situation was wrong.
It was only now that she had finally accumulated a little, preparing to use it for self-protection.
Rowena nodded upon hearing this. At a time like this, besides trusting their companions, they had no other choice.
Rowena made way for the girl. The girl quickly took over. Her gaze paused on Rowena's left hand that was pressing on the wound on the injured person's abdomen.
Without showing any extra expression, she immediately focused and used her talent skill on the injured person.
A faint white light appeared in the girl's hand. It spread along her palm onto the injured person's wound. She untied the cloth Rowena had used to bandage the wound.
The wound exposed to the air stopped gushing blood, and under the healing of the white light, it showed a little sign of coagulation.
Rowena felt the skill the other party was using and was secretly surprised.
She also had a little talent as a mage, but it was much weaker than her swordsman talent.
But she could also feel the talent skill this girl was using—even though the white light was faint, the light element it contained made Rowena incredible.
It was actually a talent skill related to the light element?
Rowena's gaze stayed on the girl for a while. She hadn't heard of anyone in the first year who was related to the Church?
The Church of Light's influence spread throughout the Ailman Continent. Although the re-emerged Church of Light was not so conspicuous, based on the Church of Light's thousand-year dominance of light magic, there was still a common understanding to this day: mages with light element affinity had to join the Church of Light.
Because only in the Church of Light could you truly learn all the magic of the light system. Even Sigret Academy's mastery of light magic was not as good as the Church of Light's.
In recent years, the Church of Light's dominance over light mages in the Ailman Continent was on the rise.
Basically, whenever a child with light element affinity appeared in a place, they would be directly recruited by the Church of Light.
Not to mention those whose talent skill was related to light magic. Once someone with this kind of talent was discovered by the Church of Light, they would be taken away no matter what.
The Church of Light had the most priests. Generally, few forces would have a bad relationship with the Church of Light.
If the other party just wanted a child to join the Church, few families would refuse. Even if they refused, they would agree again for some inexplicable reason.
Rowena recalled for a moment. She vaguely remembered that this girl in front of her seemed to have a similar background to her.
It was just that the other party's performance in the magic academy, which was full of the rich and powerful, could not be considered very good.
At least on the surface, it was impossible for her to have any connection with the Church.
Her name seemed to be... Ise?
At this moment, Ise's head was slightly lowered, her gaze focused on the injured person. The white light in her hand illuminated a small patch of darkness, and at the same time, dispersed the entanglement of pain. The wounds on the injured person's body gradually began to heal under her white light.
Seeing this, Rowena remained silent.
Regardless of whether Ise was a member of the Church of Light, or if she was just an ordinary person who didn't want to join the Church of Light and therefore hid her talent skill of the light system from the outside world...
It had nothing to do with the current Rowena. Their most urgent matter now was how to leave this ghostly place safely.
Just as this thought popped into Rowena's head, a rush of footsteps exploded, and countless black-robed people poured out from the passages in all directions.
Rowena's expression tightened.
This is bad. The worst case scenario has happened.
Although she didn't know where the black-robed people from before and that red-caped man had gone, the reinforcements of these black-robed people had now arrived.
And on their side, they had almost no combat power.