Episode 332
Dorothy stopped confronting Verita. It wasn't because she suddenly recalled the rules she had set. Rather, what had just happened was far beyond her expectations.
Root lost? This fact itself wasn't too surprising. Among the ten Guardians, he had always been the most inconsistent, but he was also the one with the greatest potential for growth. In other words, the weakest Guardian at present was still Root.
However, if she were asked whether Root was an easy opponent, then that wasn't the case. In terms of physical ability, the young hunter ranked at the very top of the Guardians, alongside Verita.
Moreover, the circumstances of his defeat weren't difficult to understand. An open area without terrain or obstacles was unfavorable for hunters, and he couldn't fight at full strength against a priest.
Even so, Dorothy knew that such excuses had no value in real combat. She could defeat Root, but ending the fight quickly would be difficult.
It wouldn't matter if this kid were an S-class hero. The youngest Guardian could endure for a few hours, even a day or two, depending on the compatibility with the opponent. Only a monster like the Iron-Blooded Lord could bring him down swiftly.
Dorothy looked at the unconscious Root, who was twitching in intermittent spasms. The boy had grabbed him by the collar and struck him three times in succession to the head, heart, and dantian. As a result, his internal energy was running out of control.
That was what shocked her most. She had never seen anyone handle Dark Qi with such precision. The same held true for the ten Guardians, including herself, the elite members of the Dark Church and even the priests of other factions. Perhaps only the two church leaders were capable of such control.
He is unusual. As expected of Delac's child.
Dorothy studied the platinum-blond-haired boy. He was probably around Root's age, but he carried himself like a young man. His well-trained physique and natural build gave him the aura of a seasoned warrior.
Only faint traces of youth on his face and his unusually pale skin marked him as a boy. Aside from his demeanor's rough edge, his appearance met Dorothy's standards. That wasn't what mattered right now, however.
"Hahaha." Dorothy couldn't help bursting out into laughter. She was a witch, a church member, and a Middle Name. If she had to pick the one person in the empire she least wanted to provoke, it would definitely be the Iron-Blooded Lord.
Golden Fairy Luan was a Youngblood who had already begun to produce achievements that rivaled those of the Iron-Blooded Lord. For now, only a few rumor-sensitive guilds, the imperial family, and the Hero Society knew his name. Soon, however, the entire empire would come to know the nickname Golden Fairy.
Should I deal with him in advance? Dorothy licked her lips. She was convinced that if she left this child alone, he would soon become a troublesome figure.
It was a precaution, nothing more. Placing a magical restraint on him for obedience, brainwashing, or suppression seemed the wiser course. The fact that her target was a priest didn't matter.
Dorothy didn't cling to her Guardian status. This was just one of the many faces she wore. Yet she refrained for two reasons. The first was the boy's origin as a Badniker.
"Don't touch Luan Badniker."
"Yes."
The second was the order of her dear Dark Pope, which she gladly obeyed. At least, for now.
***
Just like a mage, Dorothy seemed to have many thoughts. The battle's outcome was clear, but she said nothing and remained deep in thought for a long time.
In the meantime, I recalled the sensations I had just experienced.
I fought pretty well, but I still feel it will be difficult to freely use that power unless the situation is special.
Masking it with my First Fire Technique, as I had done when I fought Heero, no longer worked. Behemoth's Dark Qi far surpassed the Dark Qi I had wielded back then. As a result, I could only use the Dark Sky Moonward Peak under two conditions. The first was when I was surrounded solely by people I could truly trust. The second was when I was certain I could eliminate every witness.
Dorothy, who had been staring at me for a long time, suddenly smiled. It looked like she had finished some kind of calculation. Of course, I had no idea what kind.
She asked, "Who taught you how to handle miasma?"
"It is self-taught," I replied flatly.
"What a funny joke.”
"Does it sound like a joke? In the first place, there is no one around me I can learn from."
Dorothy closed her mouth. She couldn't refute that. The only church member around me was Verita, but my control over Dark Qi had already surpassed hers. There was a limit to how much a student could surpass their master. It was impossible to exceed Verita's level in the few months since I had met her.
"Hmm. Well, all right. You may be pretending not to know anything, but I don't have the right to press you any further. I keep my promises." Dorothy snapped her fingers, and the unconscious Root slowly rose into the air.
Is she leaving without another word?
Relief washed over me, but she spoke again. "Ah, right. The leader asked a question."
"What is it?"
"When are you coming?"
Well, she did tell me to meet in Setitus. I had many questions about Leone, but I need a moment to consider my future schedule before giving her an answer.
At last, I said, "I have a packed schedule, so I don't have much time. Tell her to come see me directly if she needs anything."
"Got it." Dorothy smiled. I couldn't tell whether she was mocking me or not. Then she waved her hand. "See you again."
In the next instant, she disappeared along with Root.
"A crazy woman..." I muttered.
Verita was about to speak, but she glanced at me and stopped. Then she said, "Please don't mind Sister Dorothy's words. As long as I am here, it is rare for you to meet another Guardian."
"I see. By the way, did they really leave?" I asked.
"Yes. They left."
I could trust Verita and nodded. I finally relaxed and let out a deep sigh. "Did you see her eyes? She looked like she was deciding how to deal with me until the very end. She is a very dangerous woman."
"Sister Dorothy has the most titles among the Guardians. Even if I mention only the ones that are currently known, she is a Guardian, a member of the Abanaham Witch Society, and a Middle Name. The Dark Pope doesn't even know how many positions she actually holds."
I nodded.
"By the way, when did you become so strong, Brother Luan?" Verita asked.
"I trained for 100 days in one day," I replied.
"W-what?"
"It means that I experienced enlightenment," I fibbed.
Verita looked convinced by the excuse I had blurted out. Her eyes shone brightly as she said, "You truly are a priest."
"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?"
"Not at all. I can't believe you overwhelmed Brother Root like that. I saw it with my own eyes, but I still can't fully grasp the level you have reached," she admitted.
"He doesn't seem like a proper Guardian," I remarked.
"Even so, he is still a legitimate Guardian. Moreover, Brother Root's strength lies in areas other than direct combat," she reasoned.
That was true. I had fought head-on against a hunter, and he absolutely lacked experience in fighting people. He could be twice as strong the next time I saw him. Then, I just needed to become three times stronger.
At that moment, Verita spoke with a serious expression. "Brother Luan, sending away those two people may not be good for you."
"Why?"
"They are fully capable of performing my duties. Since there are two of them, they could assist you much more actively and efficiently."
I laughed bitterly. Only someone ignorant would say that.
I shook my head. "No, no. All I need is you."
Verita hesitated slightly at my words. For some reason, she swallowed hard. "What does that mean? Do you mean that it absolutely has to be me?"
"Yes?"
Dorothy, whose thoughts were impossible to read, and Root, whom I defeated, were both insane. In comparison, Verita could go batshit crazy depending on the situation, but only if a certain line was crossed. Above all, I had known her for a long time and had grown used to her monstrous mindset.
Now I was supposed to take in new Guardians and train them from the beginning? For the sake of my own peace of mind, that was impossible.
Verita gave me a smile I had never seen before. "If that's what you want, then there is nothing I can do. I'll submit a report to the leader."
"Yes. By the way, let's sort out my situation first."
"Your situation? Has something happened?"
"Yes. It's a big problem." I looked at Verita. "Please help me."
***
By the time I explained the situation to Verita and returned to the village, it was almost midnight. It was too late to do anything else, so I washed my hands, brushed my teeth, and went straight to bed.
The next morning, I had breakfast with Mir, whom I hadn't seen in a while. During our meal, I realized that an unexpected visitor had arrived in the village.
"The warden of Utgard Prison?" I repeated.
Mir was happily chewing on a piece of meat, her plump cheeks making her look like a little squirrel. When she noticed me staring, she quickly swallowed and said, "Was he a warden or chief warden? Since yesterday, he has been talking to my father! Other heroes from the Hero Society were there as well.”
"Was he discussing the church or other complicated matters?"
Mir shook her head. "I couldn't understand, even when I listened to it."
"When is he leaving?" I asked.
"I think I heard he will be gone before sunset today," she replied.
That explained why I hadn't met him in the past. Originally, I wouldn't have arrived in this village until tomorrow.
I fell into thought. The decisive reason that I joined Corrupted was the Utgard Camp. More precisely, it was the riot and disaster that would occur there.
Of course, there was still time, as it would occur about four months later. However, a major event that had never happened in my previous life had already taken place. The Golden Horn faction had caused significant upheaval within Ymir's corpse. Even if each faction acted independently, they remained connected to some extent. When something this significant occurred, change was inevitable.
Well, doesn't this work out perfectly? It was time to assess Utgard's situation.
I stood up and asked, "Where is that warden now?"
Mir looked confused. "Are you planning to meet him?"
"I just want to take a look at his face," I replied flatly.
"He is probably staying in the Hero Society's temporary quarters, but it won't be easy," she said.
"Why?"
"He is cold and difficult to deal with. Some of the seniors ended up shouting, their faces red, during their talks with him," she explained.
In other words, tempers had already flared. It clearly wasn't an atmosphere for a pleasant discussion.
"I see. Thank you for the warning. Still, I will handle it myself."
Mir nodded. "Yes! Be strong!"
***
"We can't hand over all the church members to Utgard!"
"Not all of them. We are only demanding ninety percent."
"Hah! It is the same thing! Ninety percent is no different from all of them!"
"I have to question your intelligence after hearing that. How could ninety percent be the same as everything?"
"Are you trying to play word games now?"
"Let's see. Who is the one playing word games here?"
"You bas—"
I could sense the charged atmosphere even before I entered the tent. Raised voices filled the air, and the tension at the entrance made others hesitate. I was not the type to be deterred by such things, so I paid it no mind and stepped inside.
"Uh?"
All eyes turned to me. A large table divided the two groups, and I recognized several people on the left.
This side must be the Hero Society. Then the right side is... I narrowed my eyes slightly.
How should I put it? These people looked very different from the guards I knew. The tent was comfortably warm, yet they stayed tightly bundled in thick coats. Each of them wore a hat, gloves, and, most strikingly, a mask.
Was it made of metal? Its surface had an unusual sheen, and there were no openings that could pass for eyeholes, so I couldn't tell how they saw outside.
They look more like criminals than prison guards. I kept that thought to myself and asked, "Am I late?"
Zach glanced at me, caught my intent, and nodded. "You've finally arrived. Come over here."
As expected of an A-class hero. His senses are sharp.
As I moved toward Zach's side, the other heroes stepped aside with welcoming expressions. I then turned my attention to the warden at the center of the opposing group. The markings on his mask gave the impression of a strange smile. It was unsettling.
I smiled in a similar manner and said, "Can you briefly explain the situation? As you can see, I have just arrived."
"It's nothing major. We are simply trying to do what Utgard should be doing in the north."
Irritation rose inside me. He could have stated it plainly. Why speak in such vague terms?
Then one of the heroes stepped closer and whispered, "You know the church members we captured during the recent Ymir incident? At present, the Hero Society is holding all of them as prisoners. Then these people suddenly barged in and demanded that we transfer the prisoners to Utgard."
I finally grasped the situation, but it only made it seem more absurd. These people hadn't offered help, nor had they played any part in the northern disaster. They arrived afterward and demanded that the church members be handed over.
Are they crazy?
The captured church members were the Hero Society's achievement. The people here had risked their lives to achieve these results, and some had even died. To demand that the prisoners be transferred was an insult to every sacrifice made.
As a member of the Hero Society, I couldn't help but look at these so-called guards with a trace of anger. "Is that absurd demand the will of all of Utgard?"
"That's right. Come to think of it, I don't know much about you. Are you an S-class hero?" asked the man in the smiling mask at the center. He seemed puzzled by the way the other heroes treated me with such deference.
"I am B-class," I replied. "Are you the head of Utgard or something?"
"Oh, I am late in introducing myself. I am Thomas, the deputy director of the Utgard Camp."
I recognized him as the owner of the formal, businesslike voice I had heard before entering the tent.
Deputy director... Then is he the second-in-command of the Utgard Camp? It was no wonder that his presence and demeanor felt so imposing. Even so, his stiff voice didn't match the impression given by the mask at all.
Thomas said, "I know our demand may seem somewhat unreasonable, but please understand that it is made with consideration for you. We know how much effort you have poured into this northern region over the past month since the disaster. As someone who lives on this land, I am grateful. However, church members are ticking time bombs that could explode at any time. They can't be left in a place without iron bars and guards for long."
It did make some sense.
At that moment, one of the guards spoke in a stiff voice. "In the first place, aren't you the ones who refused to accept the outcome?"
"The outcome? What outcome?" I looked at the heroes. They remained silent, their expressions rigid. Some even avoided my gaze.
The young guard continued in a sarcastic tone, "Last night, a representative from each side competed. We agreed that the side that won would take custody of the prisoners. Your side sent out a mage named Zach, and we sent the deputy director. The fight was decided in an instant—"
"Altua, enough."
"I'm sorry," said the man called Altua, and he fell silent.
Thomas said, "The situation can be roughly summarized like this. The outcome of the match was clear, but it was a mistake not to decide in advance how many church members would be transported. We naturally assumed we would take more, but it seems the Hero Society doesn't see it that way."
I finally understood everything behind the dispute. It was a development that made me sigh, but as I listened, I could understand Utgard's position to some extent. Of course, it was only to some extent. The fact that they were being rude didn't change.
"Isn't it a bit unfair?" I asked.
"Unfair?" Thomas echoed.
"Deputy director, you seem to be the strongest on your side. However, Senior Zach isn't our strongest member," I explained.
"I know, but I heard that Heavenly Wind Knight Feed was unfortunately killed in this operation," Thomas replied.
I shook my head. "I'm not talking about Senior Feed."
The guards stared blankly, so I had no choice but to start bragging.
"The key figure in the Ymir corpse recovery operation, the youngest B-class hero whose skills rival or even surpass those of an A-class hero, currently the most active Youngblood, and the youngest member of Corrupted..." I pointed at myself. "I'm talking about me, Luan Badniker."
In the midst of the sudden, awkward silence, I heard applause coming from somewhere. Verita stood at the side of the tent, clapping with an expression of admiration.
"Thank you, thank you." I acknowledged the enthusiastic applause, then turned to Thomas.
"Luan Badniker." Thomas' voice carried a note of surprise. "Are you Golden Fairy Luan, the youngest child of the Iron-Blooded Lord?"