#499

Interim Summary (3)

"Settlement and exchange…."

Although it seemed like an excuse to start trouble under the pretense of exchange, Lennok changed his mind when the man mentioned the settlement.

If someone knows about the mid-term settlement of the Pandemonium in this satellite city, Byrutz, isn't it obvious who they are?

That pot-bellied man, who outwardly looks like a drunkard, is undoubtedly a member of Pandemonium as well.

The other party recognized Lennok as a participant in this settlement and proposed an artifact exchange.

"Interesting words."

"Right? That artifact you're holding, too…."

"But I don't need instructions."

With those words, Lennok immediately grasped the "Compassion of the Archangel" once more.

At the same time, light burst forth from inside his robe, pouring equally over the heads of the ghouls fleeing in all directions.

Sizzle!!!

"Uaaaagh!!!"

Without even managing a proper scream, the flesh on their necks melted grotesquely.

The ability inherent in the artifact called "Compassion of the Archangel" isn't limited to inanimate objects or the transference of magical spaces.

It's an augmentation technique of a high caliber, like the one used by Irina Pheffield.

Although Lennok himself had never properly used it due to his mana poisoning, he was well aware that it had a lethal effect on creatures like ghouls.

The Holy Spirit's domain. Especially the augmentation technique, which primarily boosts internal metabolism, regenerative abilities, and overall physical capabilities and condition.

Though this power is manifested through the technique, its foundation lies entirely in the target's own life, energy, and nutrients.

However, for ghouls who can no longer regenerate or heal on their own and survive by sucking the blood of others, forced regeneration and metabolic acceleration are incredibly fatal.

The rapidly regenerated and accelerated cells deplete themselves within the ghoul's body, melting away without recovering.

Without even having the chance to suck the blood of another being, the ghouls fail to regenerate and perish on the spot.

"Damn it!!"

"No one said anything about a Holy Spirit practitioner…!!"

"No, I’m not done yet…!!"

Sizzle!!

The moment the augmentation technique struck the ghouls rushing in, their bodies melted away right then and there.

The outcome felt somewhat alien to Lennok, differing from the rules of the technique he had understood until now.

Perhaps this is precisely why they are investing in collecting artifacts from the Old World in the Pandemonium.

If these artifacts function through a different set of rules than those established in this world, wouldn't a completely different answer exist from what we've seen so far?

Thinking along those lines, it's not impossible to understand the very purpose of the Pandemonium.

Although how far along their plans are and how convincingly they’ve designed concrete measures remains unknown.

At least, at this moment, where they were collecting artifacts and entering the mid-term settlement, it was enough to get a sense of things. Lennok had come to Byrutz without taking a rest, precisely to confirm this.

“What? You already had a sense of things? I made an unnecessary proposal for no reason.”

A raspy voice came from behind Lennok, who was collecting his mana.

“He's even more cunning than I thought. Just like that bland, pitch-black mask of his.”

The man wiped his reddened nose and blew it, then laughed toward Lennok.

“My name’s Vernon. You said your name was Victor, right? I heard you worked with Clown, but I’m not good at remembering people’s names. Drinking tends to mess with my memory.”

His words and behavior were excessively out of place for someone showing up in the middle of this eerie ghost town.

“Enough nonsense.”

Lennok spoke in a bored tone.

“If you don’t intend to explain, I’m leaving.”

“Hehehe, the rumors about your arrogance weren’t entirely untrue.”

Vernon just grinned, completely unfazed by Lennok’s sharp reply.

“Well, it’s not some grand story. In my experience, the people who gather for the settlement are often quite skilled. It wasn’t uncommon for us to trade useful items with each other.”

“……”

“It doesn’t have to be an artifact from the Old World. We still need to save something to submit for the settlement, after all. What do you think?”

In short, he was suggesting that some like-minded members sometimes engage in simple bartering before the official settlement begins.

After all, if someone is skilled enough to join the Pandemonium, it’s highly likely they have accumulated various artifacts, either willingly or by force.

In the public eye, they would have to explain where they acquired and stored such artifacts, but in a criminal organization like this, who cares about such things?

Whether they killed and robbed someone, looted a corpse, or stole from somewhere, no one asks questions.

It was a straightforward proposal to only trade based on the value of the items in possession.

Lennok, though responding sharply, wasn’t entirely disinterested.

Crossing his arms, he adjusted his mask and nodded.

“Show me.”

“Hm?”

“You made a proposal, so you must want something, right?”

Lennok’s eyes gleamed coldly from behind his mask.

“First, let me see if you have anything I need. Then I’ll pick out what you want.”

A declaration so confident it bordered on arrogance. Even Vernon, who had been laughing with a flushed face, was momentarily stunned.

“You’re a much more difficult fellow than I thought. But I suppose that’s not really important.”

Scratching his cheek, Vernon let out a belch and rummaged through his coat.

“Consider yourself lucky that I’ve dealt with people far crazier than you. Do you know how many weirdos there are in secondhand trades? The ones who try to haggle are the polite ones. Some crazy folks just name their price and expect to pick up the item, and then there are lunatics who ask why I’m charging that price.”

“……”

“Last quarter, someone even asked for a 400-year installment plan. What’s crazier is that he sincerely believed he could repay it in 400 years. I mean, if you’re going to do that, go get a loan from a loan shark—why ask me for an installment plan….”

Vernon continued ranting to himself, as though he had accumulated a grudge against secondhand trades.

Listening to him made Lennok’s behavior seem like that of a highly conscientious and intellectual individual in this business.

“Well, that’s not the important thing. Let’s move to a different spot and get started!”

Vernon led Lennok into the closed shop, making a lively gesture as he pulled something out from his coat.

Thud!!

He placed an old document on the leftmost part of a shelf that looked like a counter.

The faint mana flowing between the pages suggested it was quite a powerful magic book.

Vernon took a swig from his bottle and spoke.

“This is a record of a formal magic experiment from the Tower of Glascia. It contains detailed research on unique freezing magic.”

“……”

“It’s a rare document from the Magic Tower, one that hardly ever leaks outside. If you’re interested in studying elemental magic, there’s no better sample than this.”

“A document from the Magic Tower….”

Vernon’s voice sounded as if he was certain he had Lennok hooked already.

“To tell you what I want in return, I generally prefer artifacts related to filters or other junction-type items….”

Thud!

Vernon’s words halted the moment he saw the thick diary that Lennok placed on the table. His eyes widened as he picked it up, noticing the faint currents of electricity flowing from it. Vernon quickly flipped through the pages, his eyelids trembling with undisguised agitation.

“Th-this is the <Magic Research Journal> from the <Thorbane Magic Tower’s Military Magic Division>!! How did those war-crazed maniacs manage to leak something like this…?!”

It was a perfect upper-tier replacement for the document Vernon had offered.

“As you can see, this isn’t enough to satisfy me.”

Lennok spoke as he watched Vernon fall silent, looking at his back.

“Bring out more.”

“Uuugh!!”

With a flushed face, Vernon rummaged through his waistband and pulled out a second item: a respirator shaped like a water bottle. Inside, a bluish gas swirled and drifted within the device.

“It’s a storage device that compresses mana into a gaseous state. You can conveniently use it just by placing it around your mouth,” Vernon said.

“It can store the average amount of mana of a high-ranking Wizard. A device like this, with both capacity and portability, is incredibly rare….”

Before he could even finish, Lennok placed another item next to the respirator. It was a crystal sphere, where a deep blue mana spiraled inside. The magic core emitted a subtle heat, glowing with its own light.

It was a magic core Lennok had modified for his own use, taken from Dyke Corporation’s factory, which had been raided by the Cartel’s execution squad. It had even been used when killing Parden McQueen, capable of handling a Domain’s worth of mana.

Lennok hadn’t used it since obtaining <Papyrus Argenteus>, but it was far superior to most other magic storage devices.

Vernon quickly fell silent, realizing the immense capacity of the magic core.

Lennok tilted his head as he watched Vernon.

“Is that all?”

“…….”

“For someone proposing a trade, you don’t seem to have much in the way of valuable items.”

“No, it’s not over yet!!”

Vernon shot his head up and shouted, eyes wide. His face, which had been flushed from drinking, suddenly looked as sharp as if he had been slapped.

Vernon continued rummaging through his coat, placing artifacts on the shelf one after another, and Lennok matched him with his own items in response.

“This is a priest’s weapon from the mechanical city of ‘Machina’. I couldn’t obtain the blueprint, but….”

“This is a custom weapon blueprint from Gearside, modified from something made in ‘Machina’.”

Vernon’s mouth hung open.

“…The wrist guard from ‘Ataksha’s Workshop’. It’s not as good as ‘Black Palace Workshop’s’ items, but…!!”

“I have the gloves from ‘Black Palace Workshop’ right here.”

Lennok removed his gloves and placed them on the table, causing Vernon to start sweating profusely.

“The ‘Skyhound’s Scoop’. It protects the user with a spell barrier in dangerous situations….”

“I have ‘Enakphil’s Five Fingers’, which helps the user escape. I even have a few spares.”

A deep silence fell between them.

“The ‘Staff of Telomere’. A high-grade artifact that boosts the power of elemental magic….”

“And this is the ‘Heated Book’, gifted to candidates of the ‘Flame Tower’. It greatly improves the speed and manifestation of flame magic.”

“…….”

Lennok placed down items similar to, or better than, every item Vernon offered for trade. Vernon's hands trembled slightly as he swallowed hard, as if he was about to pull out something he didn’t want to reveal. With a determined look, he reached into his coat, eyes squeezed shut, and slammed something onto the shelf.

“This is a charm crafted by the Grand Abbot of Stania Monastery!! It grants the user a semi-permanent and powerful blessing…!!”

“A protective charm crafted by an 8th-level high-ranking talisman artisan. It contains a spell called ‘Immovable Barrier’,” Lennok responded.

“Damn it!!!”

Vernon cursed loudly, shouting at Lennok.

“Are you messing with me?!”

“I was simply suggesting that you offer something more valuable for trade.”

“Damn it, whatever!!” Vernon exclaimed, collapsing to the ground and screaming at the top of his lungs.

“Enough already, just tell me what you want!! Trade for the artifact I need, already!!”

“……”

Vernon, perhaps losing his composure due to the alcohol, began to throw a tantrum. Lennok looked at him with a hint of pity before silently reaching into his coat.

“Is this the kind of filter you were talking about?”

Vernon’s eyes widened as he saw the long, pipe-shaped object that appeared from Lennok’s robe.

“Oooh!!!”

As Vernon shot up to grab it, Lennok tossed it behind him. Vernon stumbled and almost fell, but Lennok, with little effort, used magic to retrieve the filter.

“Tell me,” Lennok demanded.

“Yes, that’s it!! Where did you even find that?!”

It was one of the cigarette filters Lennok had bought for a hefty price from Plumber’s orchard back when he struggled to make his own cigarettes. It was an artifact, but it had no functions related to magic enhancement or support. Lennok was surprised Vernon was so interested in it.

Vernon, now standing, stared at the filter in Lennok’s hand, practically drooling.

“That filter was produced in secret and sold in limited quantities in the underbelly of the giant cities…!! It filters over 56 different flavors of alcohol, making it a prized possession among connoisseurs!!”

“……”

“If you don’t need that item, trade it for one of my artifacts! Or, if you want, I’ll even trade it for an Old World artifact—just tell me what you need!!”

At this point, Vernon’s desperation suggested that his interest in the filter wasn’t purely for recreational purposes. Perhaps it had something to do with an ability or requirement related to alcohol. In that context, it made sense why the filter held such high value for him.

The only problem was that none of Vernon’s artifacts were particularly appealing to Lennok.

After a moment of thought, Lennok turned to Vernon and asked, “You’re saying you’d give me an Old World artifact, even at the cost of giving up the settlement, just to get this filter?”

“That’s right!”

“Then how about this?”

Lennok said as he tucked the filter back into his coat.

“I’ve heard that you can get some kind of reward based on the artifacts or information you submit during the settlement.”

“…That’s true. So what?”

“Explain what kind of reward that is.”

Lennok adjusted his mask, smiling faintly.

“Depending on how I can use that reward, I’ll agree to the trade.”

***

After finalizing the agreement with Vernon, Lennok followed him to their meeting place. The location Vernon led them to was a massive theater, significantly larger than the other buildings in the satellite city.

Its design and scale were striking, even compared to the rest of Byrutz. The sleek, curved roof, resembling a dolphin, was particularly impressive. It was clear that this building had been intended as a landmark during the city’s planning.

Despite being such an obvious location, the members gathering here didn’t seem to mind. They approached the back door of the theater to enter the main hall.

As they passed through a spacious storage area near the back door, Lennok suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Swish!!

A chilling killing intent precisely aimed at the back of his neck surged toward him. Blood-red eyes flickered through the air, twisting back and forth, before stopping right behind Lennok.

Vernon quickly turned his head toward the source of the killing intent. Rather than surprise or fear, his expression was one of irritation.

“Damn it... can’t you take it easy? The stench of blood is ruining the taste of my drink!!”

“Hehehe... My apologies.”

Splat!

With those words, another man emerged from behind the warehouse, dragging a corpse behind him. It was an elderly man with a vacant expression. His appearance was ragged and disheveled, but the blade he held loosely in his hand gleamed coldly.

“I thought I was testing the resolve of a skilled swordsman, but was I wrong…?”

Vernon scoffed at the old man, reprimanding him.

“Using a sword against a specialist sorcerer? You must have killed so many people that your eyes have gone completely blind.”

“Hmmm… Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.”

The old man muttered in a disinterested tone, slowly sliding his blade back into its sheath. What caught Lennok’s attention, however, wasn’t the casual motion but the fact that there wasn’t a single drop of blood on the sword.

Even though he had just been going around killing people indiscriminately, there wasn’t a trace of blood on his weapon. That suggested this old man, despite his shabby appearance, was an accomplished swordsman.

The old man glanced at Lennok, his eyes briefly flashing with a strange light.

“You seem like someone who’s killed quite a few people, but it feels odd...”

“……”

“Hehehe, well, if you’re not a swordsman, never mind…”

The old man used the tip of his sheathed sword to lift the corpse he had killed and dragged it out of the warehouse, leaving a red trail of blood across the floor.

Vernon spat out the drink he had in his mouth and cursed.

“…Crazy old man. We’re running out of time, and he’s wandering around like that?”

“Hunting fresh human flesh for the first time in a while... it’s been quite enjoyable.”

The old man chuckled ominously as he slowly made his way out of the warehouse.

“Don’t get in my way…”

“Damn it, he’s still as disturbing as ever,” Vernon muttered, spitting thickly.

“Forget about him. That old man’s always like that. He’ll be back when the time comes. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here at all.”

Vernon scratched his head in frustration and then turned his back abruptly.

“Let that blood-crazed bastard do whatever he wants. We’re going in.”

They made their way through the complex backdoor storerooms and dressing rooms, eventually entering the interior of the theater.

It was a massive main hall, where thousands of spectators could simultaneously gaze down at the stage. But now, the seats were covered in a thick layer of dust and an unidentified amount of ash.

Yet, what immediately caught Lennok’s attention wasn’t the desolate audience seats, but the vast stage they were facing.

Instead of the usual props and stage equipment, a giant statue that looked like it had been carved from stone loomed over the stage.

Rumble...!

The statue depicted a two-headed, eight-armed figure. The grotesque, demon-like faces and the muscular upper body were imposing, and ancient, indecipherable characters were intricately engraved all over the statue. These characters glowed faintly, radiating a soft light across the entire statue.

It was a figure that seemed utterly out of place in the middle of a theater.

As Lennok paused for a moment to take in the eerie scene, five presences began to emerge from the darkness of the theater.

Four humans, and one peculiar doll-like figure that seemed to be imitating a human.

And, to Lennok’s surprise, two of the people were individuals he already knew.

“……”

Seated in the VIP section for the audience and perched atop the lighting rig near the ceiling were a man and a woman.

They were none other than the royal of the Kabahim clan, Soryu, who carried a cold aura, and the enforcer of the mechanical city, Maya Renslit—two powerful figures Lennok had encountered at Kaiushu and Ganges Sand Labyrinth. They had left a strong impression on him, and now they were here.