Chapter 91. Gluttony's Fang (4)
The moment he was swallowed into Gluttony's stomach.
Verden immediately shattered the crystal given by Listener. The wave of magic power spread, but the Ark could not appear right away.
The coordinates were distorted, making it impossible to pinpoint the exact location.
However, Rupel, who was cornered, broke down the barrier himself, and the trapped wave of magic power escaped outside, being detected by the Ark.
The Ark instantly initiated spatial teleportation and succeeded in prying its way through the gap.
An old man and a man standing on the deck gazed into the darkness-filled space.
"An unpleasant space."
"Judging by the aura of Gluttony, this must be an ability of Gluttony's organs. Hah, to think Gluttony would accomplish this much...."
The transplanted organ of Gluttony, five fangs.
They possessed regenerative ability and physical prowess far beyond ordinary transplant bearers, but none had ever reproduced the power of the ancient abnormal species, Gluttony.
Had they realized this fact even a little later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Yes, had it not been for one Mage...
The man lowered his gaze.
Countless eyes fixed upon the Ark. All around lay heaps of abnormal species' remains, and Rupel, presumed to be one of Gluttony's fangs, was in a tattered state.
"I thought, judging from his actions, that he was arrogant for his age... but to think he would stand alone against this many. I can't understand how a 4th-tier Mage could possibly wield such power."
The old man quietly observed Verden.
"Listener once said, he is the Mage most befitting of the word Genius he has ever seen. But seeing him myself, he is more than that."
In the old man's eyes faintly appeared, a vast ocean stretching within Verden.
That is a quantity of magic power humans cannot possess.
Even without having reached the proper level to fully wield that magic power, he was still at this degree. The old man was certain. That one is a being born in a hundred years... no, a thousand years, or perhaps without precedent in history.
The old man then turned his gaze to the man.
"Who would have thought, that the Marquis Gardran would join hands with Gluttony. And that the most promising knight of the Principality, the Captain of the 3rd Central Knight Order, would turn out to be one of Gluttony's fangs."
"...."
"Will you do it yourself?"
"If Elder permits."
The man gave a heavy nod.
It had to be so. That was his duty as a long-time friend.
"Then do so."
"Thank you."
The old man turned his head back.
A boy was stretching his body, loosening up.
"Locke, prepare yourself."
"Yes, Master!"
As the Ark, it was time to execute the old betrayer, Gluttony.
***
'Never thought I would see a flying ship capable of spatial teleportation.'
Verden gazed at the Ark in pure admiration.
Though small in size, by that function alone, its value far exceeded the Principality's Recede ship Verden once boarded.
Truly a flying vessel worthy of the name Ark.
Then, from the Ark, three silhouettes dropped down and landed on the ground.
The old man he had never seen before, the Ark's successor, Locke. And the man with a refined longsword slung over his shoulder was none other than Marquis Ravishrun, whom he had met at the Principality's banquet.
'So that's how he knew so easily of the Principality's secrets.'
Now it all made sense.
So, Marquis Gardran was Gluttony, and Marquis Ravishrun was the Ark.
They must not have known about each other.
Had they known beforehand, something disastrous would already have happened. It was an ironic situation.
Locke approached.
"Sorry we're late, Asher hyung-nim!"
Hyung-nim?
Well, the title aside.
"You're later than expected."
"Ah, that's because the coordinates were distorted, making it hard to specify the position.... Still, I'm glad we arrived at just the right timing."
"That's true, but...."
Isn't the number too few?
At that, Locke smiled brightly.
"No need to worry. I brought my Master."
Master?
Following Listener's gaze, Verden looked.
At some point, the old man had moved behind Locke, hands clasped behind his back. Wearing a pitch-black uniform with white gloves, his face seemed kindly at first glance.
But beneath that was a presence as unyielding as a fortress.
The old man spoke.
"I am 7U, Locke's Master, and Elder of the Ark. So, you are the Mage who dealt with Gluttony's transplant bearers in your disciple's stead."
"They call me Asher."
"My Master usually does not step out to the frontlines, but when I told him about you, hyung-nim, he gladly came to help."
Elder of the Ark...
Just by standing still, he overwhelmed the surroundings.
Even in his defenseless state, the Sweepers did not dare approach.
An undeniable powerhouse among powerhouses.
Against such an existence, mere numbers were meaningless.
"And, just as you mentioned before, the area around the Dark Lake has been completely sealed off. Listener told me to tell you, that no Gluttony here will escape today."
"I see. Then I leave this place to you."
Ren Balhagne asked in a low tone.
"...You seem quite exhausted, are you alright?"
Though tired, he was not at the point of collapse.
Besides, Verden had no thought of handing over prey already within his grasp. As Verden nodded, Ren Balhagne immediately accepted.
"Good spirit. Very well. Then we'll take care of things here."
"Thank you."
Ren Balhagne lightly clenched his fist and stepped forward.
And suddenly, his figure vanished, appearing before one of Gluttony's transplant bearers.
"Huh?"
Kwa-jijik!
In the blink of an eye, with a bursting sound, the bearer's head was obliterated in a single strike. Shattered fragments rained down upon the Sweepers.
[───Kaaaaaaahhh!]
A rough cry echoed.
The halted battle resumed.
***
The battlefield once more thrown into chaos, at its center.
Marquis Gardran and Marquis Ravishrun.
They gripped their respective weapons, facing each other.
"Not long after the delegation ended... I never thought we'd meet again so soon, Gardran."
"I feel the same. Never did I imagine we would turn our swords against each other. We always stood side by side, our blades aimed at the same enemy."
They called each other not by name, but by their family names.
It was not strange. That was the habit inherited since childhood.
Silence stretched as their conversation ceased.
The one to break the stillness was Marquis Ravishrun.
"...Why did you do it?"
"...."
"You were always full of affection. You ruled your territory's people with sincerity, raged against injustice, and bestowed kindness. You even raised your blade against the Kingdom of Estiria, which sacrificed countless citizens with its own hands. Then why, did you fall to the likes of Gluttony?"
Marquis Gardran closed his eyes.
And he spoke quietly.
"Because that was my only hope."
Marquis Gardran's wife had been frail since birth.
She often fell ill with minor ailments and could not even dream of long travels in a carriage. Yet such a woman had given birth to a healthy son.
At least at that time... he had been happy.
Then war broke out with the Republic of Beldirn.
Inevitably, Marquis Gardran went directly to the battlefield, leading his soldiers.
"About two years passed. I barely managed to find time to return to my territory. I headed straight to my residence where my wife was, and what I faced was, the grave of the wife who had sent me a letter only a month prior."
"That is..."
"Well, you know that part, so I'll skip it. Anyway, after that, I followed His Grace Duke Riviant and rose in rebellion against the Kingdom, succeeding in founding the Principality of Riviant. But... tragedy struck mercilessly once more."
The son his wife had left behind, Rupel.
He had inherited her frail constitution, even worse than hers. Sickly enough that it would not have been strange for him to die young.
Marquis Gardran despaired, but he did not give up.
He mobilized all the power of his household to heal his son's body. He begged the King, his old friend, Marquis Ravishrun, and many nobles and merchants.
"But it was useless. His Majesty the King somehow managed to bring a Cardinal of the Church of Luas, but congenital illness, he said, cannot be cured. Unless it were the Saintess who can raise even the dead.... Ah, I know what you are thinking. The Saintess never moves for personal gain. Especially not for a noble of one nation. I understood it as well, that there are things impossible no matter how much one struggles."
But.
"My heart, simply could not accept it."
Honestly, he had wanted to start a war and kidnap the Saintess.
Of course, he knew that was impossible. The moment they clashed with the Holy State of Luas, the Principality would be doomed.
And even if, by some miracle, they managed to bring her, it would be meaningless if she refused to heal him.
Emotion and reason clashed.
Despite all his sacrifices, he resented the Principality that could not save his son, yet at the same time, he understood it.
Watching his dying son, his insides rotted away.
It felt as though the heavens cursed the life he had lived.
"At that time, Gluttony came to me, and extended his hand. And I... took it."
"You knew what they were?"
"They said they would transplant the organ of an abnormal species into my son. At first, rage consumed me, but my desperation was greater. I watched the entire process with my own eyes. I swore, if it failed, I would kill them all and take my own life. But the transplant was a complete success. Whether my son before and after the transplant is the same person... I do not know. But it did not matter. No matter what anyone says, he is my son."
Marquis Gardran opened his eyes.
"Ravishrun, I never imagined you would belong to the Ark, but in hindsight, it makes sense. You always pursued the greater cause. If you had been in my situation, perhaps you would have chosen differently."
"Gardran..."
"But, I will not lose anything more."
Even if everyone points at him as a Demon.
Even if he dies and is eternally cursed.
He would protect the only blood his wife left behind, even if it cost him everything.
"That is my choice. Take your stance, Ravishrun."
Marquis Gardran raised his sword.
The path had already diverged. That was the result of their choices.
Marquis Ravishrun silently gripped his sword with both hands.
A longtime friend with whom he had shared decades. Now he had to kill him. Regret lingered, but there was no hesitation. That way, many lives would be saved, and he could redeem the man who had strayed onto a wrong path.
"...Forgive me."
At the moment emotions crossed.
The two pillars of the Principality kicked off the ground.
***
Rupel's expression twisted.
'Of all people, for him to come....'
One of the Ark's three Elders, Ren Balhagne.
Once the captain who led the Ark, and the one who had spearheaded Gluttony's subjugation. He had grown old and was said to no longer step onto the frontlines.
'Too many unforeseen variables.'
Especially that Mage called Asher. He had tried to move the Sweepers to obstruct him, but the man was slowly advancing. That quantity of magic power defied comprehension.
That was not merely talent.
Even among Mages, even tower masters who had reached the very peak, they had not wielded such power at the 4th tier.
He had to flee.
The foundation he had built in the Principality would be lost, but he had learned that the crimson fragment could reproduce the abilities of Gluttony's organs, so the loss was not too great.
Rupel looked at his father.
Then quickly turned his head and moved. Now, while their attention was distracted, was the chance. At that moment, Locke rushed forward, blocking Rupel's path.
With a sharp front kick, Rupel's body was knocked back.
"Where are you trying to run?"
An obstacle. There was no time.
Rupel gathered his strength, veins bulging.
"Out of my way!"
Rupel swung his sword at Locke.
Despite his fatal wounds, his blade moved too fast for the eye to follow. Locke barely managed to deflect the strike with his palm and elbow, unable to do more.
Then Rupel struck Locke with the sword's hilt.
The brutal force sent Locke flying.
Raising his head, Locke wore a dazed expression for a moment.
"Wow...."
That single blow had cracked his arm. And that was after he had moved to absorb the impact.
So this is Gluttony's Fang?
He could not imagine how Asher hyung-nim had managed to overwhelm such a monster, and so many others, alone.
While Locke was admiring Verden, Rupel felt a piercing gaze.
Verden was almost upon him. Grimacing, Rupel hurriedly tore open space, throwing himself through it.
***
"Huff, huff...."
Having emerged onto the island, Rupel collapsed to the ground.
The starlight flickering in his wounds had vanished, but he lacked the vitality to heal such mortal injuries. Having torn space repeatedly, he had nearly drained the life force contained in the crimson fragment.
'To think, I'd end up like this from just one spell....'
Rupel's fingers dug into the ground.
No, now was not the time for anger.
Soon Gluttony's stomach would vanish. Rupel had no strength left to face an Elder. He had to escape the Dark Lake immediately.
The Ark was surely monitoring the lake's surroundings.
But with dawn yet to break, if he used the heavy fog, he might slip away. Though his regeneration was weak, Rupel was still a formidable warrior.
But it was far too soon to think that way.
"Guh?!"
A massive spear of earth, flying from somewhere, pierced Rupel's side.
He crashed into a nearby boulder. Letting out a pained groan, Rupel turned his gaze toward the direction the magic had come.
"This, can't be...."
Verden.
He emerged from the very rift Rupel had closed.