LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 43
After a brief moment of situation stabilization.
I scanned Shax’s entire laboratory, hoping to find even a single memo left behind.
Perhaps Shax had left behind a crystal sphere for communicating with the higher-ups.
Maybe there’s a Dimensional Door Scroll to pass over to Zephar.
But there was absolutely nothing of the sort.
All that remained were skeleton bones and broken automatons, and we had not gleaned any results.
“Mr. Morzen, please omit Lucius’s contributions when reporting to the Guild.”
“Understood.”
This time, Lucius had made remarkable achievements.
However, I didn’t want others to know that Lucius had wiped out the enemies with my help—in fact, it was me who possessed him.
“We fought fiercely, did our best, and defeated them all. The Necromancer Shax blew himself up without a word. Please summarize it like that.”
“Understood, Witch. Shall we start wrapping things up…?”
“Clean up what’s here first. I’ll check if there are any traces regarding the masterminds once more.”
“Understood.”
After entrusting the three to tidy the area, I examined what was presumed to be Shax’s workspace.
“Now, everyone, I’ll gather the content for the report to the Adventurer Guild. Given the situation, I will write it down right in front of you for review…”
“Is that alright?”
“Of course not. But the situation is what it is. I’ll sort it out, so please review it.”
Morzen began organizing the report while conversing with Lucius and Rosmas.
Now, just enough information that we desired would be shared.
No matter how much Morzen had feelings for Lucius, such an uproar in a Guild-managed area couldn’t be kept a secret.
‘As long as I conceal the most crucial truths.’
In that case, perhaps it’s best to hide the fact that Lucius could exhibit A-rank adventurer combat power under the right conditions.
That I brought down the enemies’ automatons with fire magic.
Lucius valiantly swung his sword to chop down skeletons.
Rosmas eliminated the foes in unison with an Arrow Rain.
That the examiner Morzen was merely surprised while simply examining from behind.
Those details could definitely go into Morzen’s report.
‘That should have a positive impact on the examination.’
Despite the sudden appearance of the enemy, we successfully managed to repel them.
The multitude of automatons…
“Wow, they were all destroyed without a trace.”
Perhaps it was due to the explosion from a small hole, but the cut surfaces were so melted that they were barely discernible.
It was clear that the internal power source had been destroyed and exploded, but it was unrecognizable as a cut from a sword.
‘I did cut a bit too cleanly.’
From a distance, one wouldn’t recognize it was even cut; perhaps the parts that got severed melted and fused together due to the fire from the explosion.
Look at how well I handle my sword.
Lucius’s body was a perfect canvas to showcase my sword skills.
My technique combined with Lucius’s physicality.
With the two combined, we looked set to clean things up without overly worrying about revealing Lucius’s full strength.
The concern…
“Inside, there’s nothing.”
Shax was thorough.
Even though it had been an abandoned laboratory for a long time, there should at least be traces of recent communication with someone, but he’d cleverly erased everything.
‘Dammit, don’t be so careful in a place like this.’
That arrogant Asydia.
No matter how much the followers of Belphegor the Demon King aimed to blend in, wouldn’t leaving some clumsy traces be okay?
‘At this rate, we can’t track Asydia.’
Only that a member of Asydia came here.
That’s all.
I had no clue why he came, why Shax brought so many automatons, or why he possessed Mammon-type machines.
So…
“Witch, the report is completed.”
“Really? May I take a look?”
“Certainly.”
I checked the brief report Morzen had written.
With cutesy handwriting and a bullet-point format, I easily confirmed what she had seen from the examiner’s perspective, and I also confirmed there were no issues.
“Thank you. I hope this gets widely spread.”
“Um…”
Morzen pointed to the report with a face full of worries.
“Are you sure it’s okay to spread information about Asydia?”
“Yes.”
We were convinced that Shax was part of Asydia.
In the report, regarding Sorceress Bel’s comment about ‘that bastard Belphegor,’ the demon Shax was outraged.
Through my probing, Shax revealed that he was a member of Asydia.
Although we didn’t find any traces leading to other Asydia lackeys here, we could attract other Asydia humans.
“Those who approach us after seeing the report will be the culprits.”
They might come for revenge for the slain Shax.
Or perhaps they’d come to punish me for cursing the Demon King.
In short, we’d put the content in the report to draw the attention of our enemies.
“If we can’t pursue Asydia, then we’ll make them come looking for us.”
“Well…”
“If you’re uneasy or worried about being targeted, you can leave it out. I won’t hold anything against you.”
Drafting the report fell on Morzen’s shoulders.
If she removes the phrase ‘Shax is a member of Asydia’ from the report, Asydia will have quite a tough time finding the one who killed Shax.
If that happens, my revenge will be delayed.
‘But I can’t force her to do that.’
Morzen was just caught up in this.
Even if Asydia knew she omitted Asydia-related content from the report, they wouldn’t make a big fuss.
But if she included information about Asydia, Morzen would end up under their watchful gaze.
Conceal the truth and keep silent?
Reveal the truth and fight against injustice?
“What will you do?”
“…I’ll report it.”
Morzen clenched the report tightly and nodded heavily.
“Asydia is a serious matter for the Adventurer Guild. Remaining silent on it would disqualify you as an adventurer. And…”
“And?”
“If it would help the journey of the Witch and Lucius, even slightly.”
Morzen held the report close to her chest and smiled brightly.
“The Adventurer Guild… the receptionist, Hora Morzen, will assist you with all her might.”
“Thank you, Morzen.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Morzen lightly wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
“I will do my best wherever I can to support you.”
Knowing full well she hadn’t done anything, Morzen had made up her mind.
*
On the way back to the town of Normans.
Lucius walked ahead with a lively stride, gazing at his master, Sorceress Bel, lost in thought.
In his subconscious.
Lucius seemed to be dreaming, yet distinctly saw something extraordinary.
It was someone’s fight.
A desperate and sorrowful memory of a battle against a colossal Black Dragon.
A young man with black hair.
He wielded a sword that was all too familiar to Lucius as he faced the black dragon.
The Holy Wind Sword.
Riding on the Golden Wind, he swung the sword.
No.
He was not just riding the wind; he was commanding it.
The Golden Storm surged forward to the path he aimed for, and the wind that advanced would deflect attacks coming at the young man, guarding him.
Kaaaoooohhhh—!
The dragon roared, attempting to kill the young man.
Gathering immense amounts of mana in its mouth, it unleashed a colossal breath attack towards the young man.
The ominous black gleaming breath seemed poised to swallow and destroy everything.
However, the young man, unfazed by the breath, simply smiled and dashed through the air.
-Technique.
Stepping on the sky.
Stepping on the wind.
The young man raced forward faster than the breath flew toward him, raising the sword high.
And then, he swung the sword forcefully toward the void.
-Whirlwind Strike.
The young man split the air.
He didn’t load his sword with aura, nor did he create a wind blade to deflect the breath.
He merely swung the sword vertically through the air with all his might.
Naturally, the young man’s body tilted downward, and he flipped upside down—
-Returning the Wheel.
Without that, he spun once around.
The sword that had fallen down began to shine even brighter gold as it aimed upward.
Gooohhh—!
The young man’s body started to spin.
As the young man twirled, the gathering Golden Wind around his sword became wilder and started to accelerate.
Kyaoooohhh!!
The dragon hastily lifted its head to target the young man, but he had already arrived near the dragon’s forehead.
-We’ve fought long enough, haven’t we?
Suspended in the air for a moment, the young man, with his sword raised high, aimed to strike the dragon.
-It’s over. Collateral Dragon.
Swish.
The young man swung his sword downward.
The Golden Storm gathered on the sword became a clean strike that precisely hit the black dragon’s forehead.
Slash.
As the breath upsurged, the dragon’s head was split in two.
In that moment.
Lucius locked eyes with the young man.
The young man glanced at him over his shoulder, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.
-You think you can do it?
As if bragging.
As if showing off.
Or perhaps.
As if declaring this was the place you were meant to reach.
With pride in his power, the serious-looking young man fell through the split dragon’s body.
-Become stronger, Hero. And.
As the young man fell downward, he pointed a finger at Lucius.
-You, protect it.
“You are—”
Siiiii.
Everything began to vanish.
The warm golden wind began to envelop Lucius, and the world Lucius was looking at began to change.
And when Lucius regained his senses, his master stood before him.
“…….”
Lucius pondered.
Who was that young man he saw in the dreamlike place since he had held hands with his master?
If he were to wield the Golden Holy Sword, perhaps….
“Arthur, what are you thinking so deeply about?”
“…Master.”
“What…?”
“Master, who were you in the past?”
Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.
A witch who specializes in the magic of flames.
And.
…She knows a surprising amount about the Holy Wind Sword.
“…….”
As Lucius looked at his master marching forward confidently, his mind grew increasingly complex.