Chapter 260: Chaos upon Chaos (9)

Cale opened his eyes upon hearing Raon's cheerful voice.

"Human, it's chaos!"

"...You're smart."

Those words cut straight to the point.

"That's right, Human! I, Great Raon Miru, am smart!"

Cale ignored the words of the seven-year-old dragon and began to organize his thoughts.

"So, let's summarize."

Putting aside the branches and focusing on the core.

The Divine World, the Hunters, and the Demon World are colluding. They all want to change the current situation. And there's an organization trying to stop them.

Cale opened his eyes.

"The Absolute God and the new world? Are those the two pillars the enemies believe will change this situation?"

The Absolute God that the Hunter families want to create.

And a new world based on the virtual reality world created by Transparent Blood.

In any case, they were all moving for those two things.

"Huh?"

Cotton, the Deputy Chief Priest, suddenly stopped.

"You, what you're saying is a bit strange."

She tilted her head to the side.

"...Do you even know what the new world is?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Cale chuckled.

"We know everything about each other, so let's not pretend not to know."

"Huh?"

Cale stopped.

Cotton's reaction was a bit different from what he expected.

"..."

She stared at him silently. Her nonchalant attitude had vanished. Instead, her eyes gleamed intensely.

That was crazy.

Choi Han stopped cleaning his sword and positioned himself behind Cale.

Nyaaa.

On quickly sat beside Cale's leg.

After a strange silence, Cotton opened her mouth.

Meanwhile, her eyes had turned slightly red, as if capillaries had burst.

"Where is the new world?"

H-hi...hi...hi.

The corners of Cotton's mouth lifted into a rather uncomfortable smile.

"Did you find it?"

And her eyes gleamed like those of a hungry animal.

Choi Han's eyes sank.

'She's crazy.'

Cotton, the Deputy Chief Priest. No, the former Holy Maiden.

Though her aura was shrouded in madness, her voice was calm, even cold. That attitude was even tenser for Choi Han.

Because he wasn't sure what crazy things she might do.

'If she does anything foolish...'

I'll stop her.

Choi Han pointed to Lock who was standing behind Cotton. Lock also stood behind Cotton and got ready for anything that might happen.

And Raon had turned invisible.

Cotton opened her mouth again.

"Where is it? Huh? Aren't you going to tell me?"

At that moment, Choi Han looked at the back of his hand. He had goosebumps.

'Cotton.'

A chilling aura emanated from her. Rough, cold, and yet suffocating, as if everything was going crazy.

However, it was a familiar sensation.

'Ah.'

It's the battlefield. The aura of the battlefield emanated from her.

'Despite being excommunicated, can she still exude this aura?'

Truly, she seemed like a true ex-Saint.

'This is...'

I mustn't let my guard down.

A warning sensation stirred within Choi Han. Unconsciously, he tightened the grip on his sword hilt.

Because he saw Lock's pale face and On's slightly rigid body.

And then...

"Heh!"

With a slight laugh, the chilling atmosphere dissipated. No, it was pushed back. In its place, his normal, indifferent voice filled the space.

"Ah. I see."

Choi Han lowered his head. He saw Cale's back. He was very calm.

Seeing this, Choi Han unconsciously relaxed the hand gripping his sword.

Cale continued.

"It seems like they don't know what the new world is. They're searching for it."

Choi Han heard a cheerful voice in his ear.

- Choi Han! It seems like the human is planning a scam!

Choi Han smiled and resumed cleaning his sword, using the cleaning method taught by the butler Ron. Cale laughed cheerfully.

"Cotton."

On the other hand, Cotton's expression hardened. As an intelligent human, she would have understood.

At this precise moment.

"If you're curious about where the new world is, bring your leader."

That Cale now had the upper hand in this relationship.

"There's a leader, isn't there?"

"Well-"

Cotton opened her mouth, but Cale shook his head firmly.

"I can't give you this information unless it's your supreme leader."

A smile formed on Cale's lips.

A group that fought not only against the Hunters but also against the Divine World and the Demon World. Obtaining information about them would be a great advantage for Cale.

"Ah."

Cale asked something he had just remembered.

"How should I address them?"

Those who fought against the three factions. Cotton, who had been staring at the smiling Cale, opened her mouth. Her voice was as harsh as her expression.

"Mediators."

The name of the group to which only Cotton and the fake Hilsman belonged was "Mediators."

"Hmm."

Cale nodded and leaned back in the chair. He muttered to himself quietly.

"It seems they're operating in secret, avoiding the attention of their enemies."

After all, none of the Hunters he had met so far had mentioned the "Mediators."

"And yet, a group that crosses dimensions and plans to monitor and even confront Gods and Demons..."

Mediators.

"Their leader must be at least on par with a God, right?"

Suddenly, Cotton's eyes narrowed. She could see Cale's smiling face, but it was really a cold, sharp look. Cale sat up straighter from his chair.

And he asked Cotton.

"A God?"

The casual question was filled with a strange certainty. Cotton closed her mouth.

"Heh heh-"

Cale gave a slight smile.

"Isn't it fairly obvious?"

So far, only two Gods had played a significant role in this chaos: the God of Balance and the God of Chaos.

"Putting aside the God of War and the God of Death because they're spoilsports."

Cale thought, imagining how the God of Death would be saddened if he heard it.

"If it's a God..."

It would be an Ancient God.

"Then we can also rule out the God of Hope."

Is it one of the Gods of Justice or Injustice?

At that moment...

"Haah."

Cotton exhaled a deep sigh. The aura surrounding her dissipated completely. With a somewhat tired face, she opened her mouth.

"No, it's not a God."

"Then?"

If it wasn't a God, did that mean there was someone leading such a group?

Just as Cale's thoughts were getting complicated...

"...Our benefactor is the former Demon King."

"Damn it!"

Cale suddenly felt dizzy. What more nonsense was this?

"The situation here is complicated too. The current Demon King, who is from the hardline faction, controls the Demon World, but the former Demon King, who was deposed, is from the moderate faction. He believes that Demons should remain in the Demon World."

Damn it! I don't want to hear anymore!

"All of the former Demon King's children were killed, but an illegitimate daughter survived. She is our leader."

Demons! Stop talking! You're irritating me!

"We can travel between dimensions without being detected by the Divine World thanks to the help of the Demon World. That's also the reason why we know so much about the Demon World."

...Ha.

Cale closed his eyes and said.

"...First, I need to talk to your leader."

Cotton, with an expression of inexplicable satisfaction, nodded.

"Ah, that's what I was thinking too. I'll come to see you with the leader soon. Just tell us the location."

Cale nodded, his face turning complex.

"Forget about the Demon World."

That place is none of my concern. I have no reason to go there.

"Forget about the Divine World too."

I have even fewer reasons to go to the Divine World. I just have to deal with the Hunters and return to Roan, and that's the end of the story.

"The hardline and moderate factions of the Demon World can sort out their own problems. And the Ancient Gods of the Divine World can fight among themselves."

Cale's thoughts grew increasingly rough.

"I just have to do what I have to do and then rest."

At least if I take care of the Hunters, there won't be any problems in the Human World.

Cale felt relieved after organizing his thoughts. Suddenly, an idea came to mind.

"Ah."

Cale extended his hand. Cotton looked at him. With a calm face, Cale opened his mouth.

"Information about Ryan's castle."

And he said firmly.

"Give it all to me."

I don't have time.

"And you said you can get into the castle, right?"

Cale's tone was equally firm.

"Lead the way."

Why did suddenly destroying Ryan's Castle seem so easy? Cale didn't want to know the answer.

"Human, you suddenly look tired! Shall I give you an apple pie?"

Cale, chewing on an apple pie, absorbed every detail of the information Cotton had gathered about Ryan's Castle.

Ignoring Wisha's astonished face watching this whole dialogue and process. Or, rather, pretending not to see it.

"...Is he really the savior?"

Wisha pretended not to fervently know.

* * *

"Human, Human! There's a message on the video call device!"

Cale took the video call device handed to him by Raon and read the message.

"There are two messages!"

First.

<I'm heading to the Empire. I will probably meet with the Emperor. Can I ask for his help?>

It was a message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Har Kingdom, Bailey, sent with the help of the Ancient Dragon Eruhaben. Cale read the few important lines below the first sentence and made a decision.

"It looks like I have to go to the capital for a while."

"To the capital of the Empire?"

Cale nodded slightly at Choi Han's question.

"Ah, yes. I have to see the Emperor."

And then he checked the second message.

"Everything will be done according to Cale-nim's will."

"Insane."

The first words of Clopeh Sekka's message made Cale want to stop reading it. But upon reading the next sentence, his determination solidified.

"I have to go to the Empire."

"As expected, you've come up with an idea."

"…"

Cale turned his head. Choi Han was polishing his sword.

'That's Ron's style.'

Cale looked away, feeling an inexplicable unease. He pressed his lips together and looked at the map he had in his hand. It was a map of the interior of Ryan's Castle that Deputy Chief Priest Cotton had created.

Suddenly, Cale asked Raon.

"Raon, haven't you heard from the Crown Prince?"

"No!"

Has this Crown Prince become too engrossed in games? Cale struggled to push that thought out of his head. However, the back of his neck still itched.

* * *

Clatter, clatter~

The carriage stopped.

"Halt."

The Knight extended his hand, and an identification card was placed upon it.

"Proceed."

The Coachman drove the carriage.

"One moment."

However, the carriage couldn't move forward due to the Knight's order.

"Inspect it."

At the Knight's command, the Soldiers accompanying him lifted the tarp at the carriage's entrance and looked inside.

The carriage was filled with provisions.

"Check it."

"Yes."

In a tense atmosphere, the Soldiers inspected the provisions one by one.

"There's nothing unusual."

"Hmm, I see."

Only then did the Knight speak up.

"Proceed."

The Coachman nodded and drove the carriage into the city.

The Knight watched it depart and then spoke.

"We've received an order from above to reinforce surveillance. So, everyone, stay alert and do it well. Understood?"

"Yes!"

Some of the Soldiers who responded energetically halted abruptly, and only then did the Knight sigh and speak.

"Shift change."

It was time for the shift change.

Some of the Soldiers moved to carry out the change.

"Ha, isn't this getting too tough lately?"

"There's nothing to be done. It's an order from above."

"Yes. Don't show your discontent. You'll get into trouble."

The Soldier fell silent at his comrades' words.

To be honest, he was lucky to be able to work as a Soldier here.

"Huh?"

At that moment, he paused.

"What's with those idiots?"

A few Soldiers, staggering but with a considerably intimidating air, followed another Soldier.

The Soldier chuckled and spoke.

"He's a newbie. It's his first day here."

"Ah, I see. Looks like you're the one in charge of showing him the ropes?"

"Yeah. What a hassle."

"Tsk. Good luck with that."

Even with the strict security currently, the Soldier felt sorry for the Soldier who had to handle the new recruits.

He waved his hand in response to his comrade's words and, with a kind smile, hastened to leave.

And then he stopped.

"Who is that?"

Was that someone I've never seen before?

But soon he forgot about it and left, thinking of his retreat.

"Well, I don't think we'll be working together."

The Soldier didn't think much more about it due to the other's natural attitude.

And after the Soldier left, Cale spoke up.

"Why so stiff?"

The First Star, Dragon Ryan.

It was Cale, who had approached the Dragon's lair.

He wore the uniform of a soldier that Cotton had procured for him. Covered in dust, Cale followed the path he had memorized on the map.

A carriage was there.

The coachman slightly tipped his hat.

"Haven't spoken, have you?"

"No."

Choi Han smiled gently. Cale had asked him not to speak, as he stood out in a crowd.

He entered the carriage and lifted a part of the wooden floor.

"Nyaa!"

"Nyaa!"

"Human, this is quite comfortable!"

A hidden space beneath the carriage. A group of children, averaging around Ten years old, huddled together in fluffy blankets.

"Let's go."

Cale remembered Cotton's information.

<Inside the Dragon's Lair, even if you use magic of a certain level, you won't be detected.>

Cale quickly changed into the servant's clothes hidden beneath the carriage. He then took a sack of wheat that was part of the cargo.

In this way, pretending to deliver food, they could enter the Dragon's Lair.

"…"

Cale paused.

Lock, of the Wolf Tribe, stealthily approached and lifted the sack of wheat Cale was holding, still stuck to the ground. Of course, with just one hand.

And with the other hand, he handed Cale a small basket.

"...Thank you."

At Cale's greeting, Lock flashed a kind and docile smile.

Cale sighed at the sack of wheat, which now hung heavily from Lock's hand, and the empty basket in his own.

A few minutes later, Cale's group entered Lair, the inner city of Ryan.

The first objective was set.

Cale set off to find the strange sound signal, the missing Beast People, and the artifact of the blue wolf tribe.

"Follow me."

Of course, Cotton, who had gone to work in the inner city as usual, was in charge of the guidance. They followed her silently, minimizing the use of magic just in case.

This was made possible thanks to some information.

<Before the strange sound signal rings, there will be a moment when the inside of Lair will be quiet, and the number of patrols will decrease.>

And after a while...

"We have to pass through there to get to the underground."

Cale spotted the entrance leading underground.

Of course, the entrance was guarded by knights who looked very strong.

"Elves."

One of them was an elf.

"...They're Beast People."

The knights, clad in armor, were Beast People, just as Wisha had said.

"And there are wolves too."

At those words, Cale looked at Lock. Lock's eyes had sunken deeply.

* * *

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]