novelraw Chapter 94 : Chapter 94
Chapter 94 : Chapter 94
Chapter 94: Resurrection of the Dead (1)
Those who were quietly listening to Elwin and Calix's conversation tilted their heads.
Elwin chuckled softly at their expressions, which clearly showed their difficulty in grasping the idea.
“They were trying to tie me down politically so I couldn't move freely.”
And he kindly explained.
“First, they cause an incident in Mediale. Big events like the Hunter exam attract many people, and the attention is high. At that time...!”
Paang! Elwin made a sound effect, brought his fists together, then pulled them upwards and apart. As if depicting an erupting volcano.
“They cause a major accident. To make people wary of potential dangers, preventing the Top Hunter of Yellow, who has the duty to protect the central island Mediale, from going outside.”
“Ah...!”
“I see! Now I get it!”
Those listening to Elwin exclaimed. Hearing it, everything clicked into place!
Since the assembled faces were smart and adept individuals, they understood perfectly even with just this much explanation.
They just hadn't immediately thought of such a concept because they were largely ignorant of politics.
“Now I understand why they tried to release Salamosa into Nevera Valley too. Think about it! The Gnaude tribe has the ability to return things derived from nature back to nature, right? Purifying polluted areas...!”
“Right! Depicio's goal was stated as the overthrow of the Batevil Kingdom, so after that, they intended to release the poison and let it spread throughout the Northern Continent...!”
As soon as Sercia opened her mouth, Gale followed up rapidly. Calix also swallowed hard and added.
“Spreading chaos within other countries to prevent them from paying attention to foreign affairs, while simultaneously.”
“Putting political pressure on the Northern Continent nations, which need Depicio's cooperation for water purification, to request the World Hunter Association and the Top Hunter of Yellow not to intervene! If the parties involved refuse, Hunters will have no room to intervene!”
“...Meaning Depicio can purify even deadly poisons like Salamosa.”
The Spero members excitedly poured out their words. Jana and Hake also participated in the conversation, nodding firmly.
“There might be someone with a related ability. Depicio had many ethnic minorities with unusual abilities.”
“Yes, yes! Lady Jana is right. Even we didn't know in detail what abilities our other colleagues we worked with had. Only the executives had the right to know that!”
Nahrhan and Nero watched them with fond expressions.
“Aren't they cute, nya? Like little kids gathering and playing house, nya.”
“Indeed. It is heartwarming and pleasant to see.”
Those two hadn't explicitly voiced it, but they had roughly guessed the situation.
“Haha! Everyone is so cute~”
Of course, Elwin was also among those two, sending a look of pride, like watching a grandchild who had excellently completed their first errand.
...For reference, the youngest person here was still Elwin.
“Besides, didn't we hear from Candela earlier?”
-Depicio, those bastards who've clearly lost their minds...
Another bizarre act Depicio planned to commit, confessed by Candela, whose bold and tenacious nature was overcome with fear.
-They're trying to resurrect the Beastkin King, Balan!
“They intend to attempt resurrection of the dead.”
How dare they.
“Trying to release the Manticore in Mediale was, in a way, a rehearsal.”
They intend to defy the natural order.
“The question is, by what method do they intend to achieve the feat of reviving the dead... That's another problem, though.”
But this time, it seemed clear what Depicio was thinking.
The attempt to resurrect and use the Beastkin King was an episode already featured in the original work.
‘Although the main agent has changed.’
He also had a rough idea of how they planned to resurrect him.
—The Gnaude tribe.
They intended to utilize the 'peculiarity' possessed only by the ancient ethnic minority, the Gnaude tribe.
‘That won't happen.’
Of course, the battle with the Beastkin King was something he looked forward to a little, just a tiiiiny bit...!
But dealing with the aftermath, including the bindings of the Top Hunter of that era, was cumbersome in many ways.
Then let's use another method.
‘I'll do the same to them.’
If Depicio could do it, Elwin certainly could too.
The resurrection of the dead.
“...Hey, kid. Why are you smiling so suspiciously?”
“Haha! Just because. It feels like I'll be able to mess with Depicio soon.”
Gale, sensing something ominous, asked with an uneasy expression, and Elwin replied, humming and smiling brightly.
“I guess I have a strong rebellious streak. I just feel like ruining well-laid plans~”
Gale was genuinely puzzled.
“Kid, why are you a rebel?”
To be called a rebel, wasn't Elwin already one of the world's foremost 'high-ranking people'?
He was one of only five Top Hunters in the world!
“Hmm? No. I’m quite the rebel.”
Perhaps due to the influence of living in an infinitely competitive society in his past life, Elwin had a disposition where he couldn't stand oppression.
“Tearing down painstakingly built towers, overturning firmly established existing systems... Doesn't just imagining it feel good?”
“Wow!”
At that seemingly twisted remark, Gale let out a quiet exclamation.
“Kid, your personality is really weird!”
Hard to believe given Gale's usual attitude, but surprisingly, this remark wasn't sarcastic but genuine, pure admiration.
“...”
But that point made Elwin feel even worse.
“I’m sorry.”
Facing Elwin's coldly frozen expression, Gale backed down faster than anyone.
Soon they would return to the airship, and the hellish training would begin again.
He didn't want to voluntarily suffer hardships by getting on the bad side of a boss who held grudges.
“Well, fine. I'll let it slide just this once.”
“Phew...”
Gale let out a sigh of relief.
“Let's return to the surface.”
By then, Elwin's group had reached the front of the portal.
“Hwaaah. Finally going back! Home! My sweet home!”
“How long were we underground? I already miss the warm sunlight.”
“When we arrive at the airship, I will prepare a delicious meal. Please eat to your heart's content and rest comfortably.”
“Oh my! May I request lamb stew?”
“...Hmph. More importantly, I feel stiff because I couldn't properly loosen up my body this time. I need additional training.”
Unlike his colleagues, who seemed excited about returning to the airship, Elwin was busy reviewing the next plan in his head.
There was so much to do.
‘It’s about time to prepare.’
The gain obtained from the Mediale underground labyrinth.
He had expected the day would come to use it, but he didn't think it would be this soon.
‘Manticore’s core.’
A deep smile spread across Elwin’s lips.
If Gale had seen it, it was a sinister smile worthy of causing a commotion, shouting ‘His intentions are black! Warning, warning! Everyone run away...!’
‘It’s a perfect time for resurrection.’
Smiling faintly as he thought of someone, Elwin strode confidently into the cave interior. His chattering colleagues followed him inside.
Wooooong!
As if sensing the people, he felt the peculiar sensation of the portal's mana enveloping his body.
The golden cloak fluttered greatly.
‘What might Depicio be doing right now.’
Whatever they planned to do next, it wouldn't end up as they intended anyway.
* * *
A mystical space surrounded on all sides by vibrant tree trunks.
But this vast place, which seemed full of life, was filled only with viscous blood and terror.
“What? What did you just say?”
The man with pure white hair turned around indifferently.
Every member within his line of sight naturally knelt and bowed their heads.
“Th-That is...!”
The subordinate reporting to the man turned deathly pale. His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably, and cold sweat dripped down.
It couldn't be helped!
No matter how hardened Depicio assassins became to emotions through harsh training, the instinct they couldn't completely shed remained.
—Survival instinct!
They couldn't help but feel fear towards that man, the one closest to death, the one who seemed to embody the very concept of death.
“We found the bodies of Yellow Moon and other elite members in the wreckage of the crashed airship, but...”
The silence of the dark mountain forest, how tense does that silence make a traveler on the road?
In the darkness where one couldn't see an inch ahead and in the forest where anything could jump out, humans were bound to be terrified and afraid.
...Yes. It was fear!
The primal emotion towards death, that eternal unknown!
It wasn't just Geoma who enjoyed such negative emotions.
The celestial god LAMPAS preached that you humans were forged from light and goodness, but.
...Isn't it originally humans who can become the most evil depending on their mindset?
Therefore, Depicio. The leader of the reapers who sustained their lives by harvesting the deaths of others was traditionally called the 'Mountain Elder'.
As a name symbolizing the fear of death that comes from night, mountains, and aging.
“We couldn't find White Moon's body anywhere. Even though it’s certain she would have been killed if Spero, the Top Hunter of Yellow, took action personally.”
“So what you mean is...”
Blink, blink.
Bottomless pit-like black pupils closed and opened between eyelids.
Just blinking his eyes seemed to make the air several times heavier.
The subordinate gasped for breath raggedly.
“White Moon betrayed us?”
“I-I apologize for saying so... but yes.”
“Is that so.”
The subordinate, head bowed, couldn't read the emotion on the Mountain Elder's face.
Of course, even if he had faced him directly, he wouldn't have been able to read it.
Because the Mountain Elder's face was devoid of any emotion. Like a doll sculpted from wax.
“Are you all who went to investigate the airship wreckage gathered here?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“I see.”
The expressionless Mountain Elder smiled, pulling only the corners of his mouth.
The sight was bizarre, like a doll mimicking a human.
“Then you are the witnesses who saw and heard White Moon's disgrace?”
“...Yes?”
The moment the subordinate tried to raise his head.
Fwoooosh—!
His upper and lower body, along with everyone else in the space, separated and fell. Fountains of bright red blood erupted everywhere.
But strangely, the area around the Mountain Elder remained clean.
“Sorry to trouble you.”
The Mountain Elder wiped the blood that had uniquely splattered on his cheek with his sleeve and said.
“I could have done it myself.”
“That wouldn't be right.”
Then, a voice came from beneath his shadow.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, the shadow surged up, rapidly coalescing, and eventually formed a human shape.
What appeared was a man who looked as if sculpted from black coal from head to toe. Black and desiccated, that was the impression he gave.
“Black Moon.”
He knelt on one knee before the Mountain Elder.
“Soon, the day our great cause will be realized is coming... Only two Batevil royal bloodlines remain!”
Shwaaaak!
As the Mountain Elder kicked towards the pool of blood, the tree trunks forming the space squirmed and began to devour all the blood and corpses.
“Soon, the time when our great cause will be realized is coming! But all the schemes to immobilize the Top Hunter of Yellow have failed. If we confront him directly, it's our certain defeat.”
“...”
“But there is a way. Resurrect the Beastkin King... and kill the Top Hunter of Yellow!”
The Mountain Elder's emotionless eyes flickered with a strangely peculiar light.
“For the future of Depicio, for the grand plan we so longed for, even my own life is not too precious! I will discard it first!”
Its name was madness.
“However! To do so... White Moon, that child is needed! Only that child can realize our Depicio's great cause! Without a single flaw, perfectly!”
The Mountain Elder, eyes blazing with madness, gripped the Black Moon's shoulders tightly.
Crack. A sound like breaking bone was heard.
“Therefore, that child must be utterly flawless. ...You, being clever, must understand what I mean, right?”
“Yes. Of course.”
The Black Moon immediately bowed his head deeply with a salute.
“Please leave it to me, Leader. I will safely bring White Moon back and educate her well.”
The Black Moon smiled gently.
“Manipulating minds is my specialty, after all. I will make her beautiful and present her. To satisfy you, Leader.”
A horrifying smile, as if blood would drip from it at any moment.