Ch 137
Bring before me a being who wields the Power of Black Magic with pure, untainted energy.
Within three days.
That was The Asking Left Hand’s final request.
And, it was what happened while he briefly left the scene.
Lisir.
He fulfilled The Asking Left Hand’s final request.
It was a request that was overwhelming to solve even if he poured in all the given time of three days.
Immediately, even if all three days were spent just determining whether such a being exists and its exact identity, there would be nothing strange about it.
But, he solved the request within that short time?
How?
Could it be that he found the being The Asking Left Hand mentioned in the meantime?
No way.
Unless the fact that a friendly neighbor who precisely met the conditions happened to live next door came to mind and he brought them, it was impossible.
Then?
The answer was decided.
Lisir. He deceived The Asking Left Hand with a special talent.
Once again. Just like when he solved the previous request.
In short, an Improvised Method, not the Orthodox Method.
They felt awe at Lisir’s response.
They couldn’t even guess how he deceived that terrible artifact.
Curiosity reached its peak.
With the situation concluded, they unhesitatingly asked Lisir for the secret.
They were prepared to listen to the ingenious and mysterious method by which Lisir deceived The Asking Left Hand, and to express their unstinting admiration and surprise.
“Among comrades…what?”
However, the answer that came back from Lisir was absurd.
Let’s set aside that nonsensical content.
Lisir was talking about the Orthodox Method, not the Improvised Method.
There, they fell into primary confusion.
Their thinking, which had been definitively concluded as an Improvised Method and had not considered the possibility of an Orthodox Method at all, solidified like stone.
“…Yes.”
However, they could be called heroes and their comrades.
Their improvisation, honed through countless hardships, truly shines in unexpected emergencies.
Surprise Attack. Trap. Betrayal.
Everything is just a moment of bewilderment.
They were prepared to maintain composure and respond in any situation.
This is why they were able to succeed the name of the great hero.
Thus, having prepared their hearts, they composed themselves and once again asked Lisir.
“…Among comrades, what?”
Sadly, nothing changed.
It couldn’t be helped, because it wasn’t a matter of whether or not they were mentally prepared.
It’s not like a stone suddenly looks like food just because you change your viewpoint.
Their very thinking was refusing to accept it.
Lisir’s sentence, and the fact that the sentence implied.
It’s natural.
-The Sword’s Owner is comrades with a demon…?
Who in the world could accept that unbelievable story?
Without even mentioning common sense, it was a perfectly natural story unless they were insane.
“Ah~ So that’s how it was.”
“I understand now.”
“?”
But suddenly, the Great Nobles and Archmage understood.
They were dumbfounded.
‘What did they understand?’
-It so happens that there is a demon among my comrades, so I was able to learn Black Magic.
That was Lisir’s immediate reply.
A sentence that gave rise to countless questions, let alone understanding.
They could guarantee that that sentence was more difficult to understand than the metaphorical request that The Asking Left Hand had spoken.
What kind of mental structure do you need to have to understand something after hearing that sentence?
“Haah…”
At that time.
Belota, the scholar of Jane’s Party, sighed wearily and fell into thought.
They understood Jane’s reaction deep in their hearts.
The scholarship and knowledge that Belota possessed as a scholar were truly vast.
Sometimes even Pocena, the Sword of Insight, could be surprised.
Immediately, even if all the scholars Dray and Pallag had consulted to find out the identity of the entity were combined, they were not as good as Belota alone.
Belota was a possessor of unwavering reason and intellect more than anyone else.
How absurd Lisir’s statement and the appearance of the two people accepting it must have seemed to her.
Even if she felt a headache beyond confusion, there would be nothing strange about it.
Reliable!
That was the feeling the two Hero Parties suddenly felt.
If it’s the rational Belota, she will be able to correct this distorted situation!
They looked at Belota with expectant gazes.
After a while, Belota, awakening from her thoughts, spoke to Lisir.
“Let’s say that you have a demon among your comrades.”
Yes, yes.
As Belota said, let’s say that Lisir has a demon among his comrades-…
“Huh? Wait, Belota.”
Felix, sensing something amiss, raised his index finger and interrupted.
-Why, let’s say so?
Pocena, the Sword of Insight, continued the questioning.
-He’s the Sword’s Owner, isn’t he? But how can you just say that he’s comrades with a demon? No. How can he even be comrades with a demon-…
Pocena stopped mid-sentence.
Raising questions one by one without knowing anything was endless.
Like that, Belota’s reaction was far beyond their expectations.
“Why? Well━”
Belota instead looked unconvinced.
-Why are you making such a fuss over nothing?
An expression as if such a voice could be heard.
“Huh?”
At that moment.
Belota’s face became one of realization.
“…Ah.”
Then she took off her glasses and washed her face with both hands.
My head has gone crazy.
It was a look that showed deep self-loathing.
“Belota? Are you alright…?”
Jane cautiously asked about her fellow scholar’s condition.
Belota, having sufficiently savored her self-loathing, was speaking through her expression.
I’m going crazy.
How am I going to explain this again?
Ah. I don’t know.
She said as if she was spitting it out.
“Lisir has spirits. They were originally beings that were demons.”
“””…”””
Their expectations were thoroughly betrayed.
Belota, whom they thought would lift this thick fog of doubt on their behalf, had instead brought about another doubt.
“If they’re spirits, they’re spirits, and if they’re demons, they’re demons. What are you saying?”
Tilla, the wizard of Felix’s Party, spoke cautiously.
She had an expression as if she was worried about Belota’s condition.
“Hehehe.”
Belota laughed helplessly.
Saying she knew this reaction would come.
She raised both hands and said.
“I don’t know~ I guess it could be like that.”
Casually, as if she was feigning ignorance.
There, there was no trace of the scholar who pursued reason and intellect that they knew.
“””…”””
They looked at Belota and felt compassion.
“Belota…is broken…!?”
What happened in the investigation team that made that rational scholar like this?
“Now, now. Friends. Everyone calm down.”
In the meantime, Dray said with his characteristic kind smile.
“I can explain everything.”
“Ah, then Sir Dray will explain instead?”
“There’s no reason why not. It’s worked out well. On this occasion, I can explain what you, Belota, still don’t know.”
“There’s something I still don’t know? Wow. I’m so curious.”
Belota expressed her curiosity and joy with her whole body.
With a soulless expression.
“””…”””
Can we continue to be in this place?
The Hero Party felt an indescribable fear.
✦✦✦
“-So, it’s quite possible for Lisir to receive help from a demon.”
There!
Dray, for some reason looking excited, emphasized that.
“It’s not a strange thing at all. Let’s not unnecessarily suspect Lisir because of this. This is counsel from a senior, so it’s best to take it to heart. Isn’t that right, Duke Pallag? Hahaha!”
“Hehehe, even now, it’s a foolish thing to think about. To suspect Lisir because of being played by a High Priest.”
“””…”””
Although it was disrespectful to Belota, Pocena even wondered if she had suffered from mental contamination（?）.
So, to prevent his comrades from becoming like Belota, he gave them a blessing-
It was a wasted effort.
“Hehe.”
Having heard Lisir’s story from Dray, they became the same as Belota.
“That quasi Power of Advancement…they say it was created in a few days…?”
“Sword Ki…? At that age…?”
“Overload…”
Dray looked at the Hero Party who couldn’t regain their composure and smiled.
It was an expression as if he was looking at his lovely juniors.
“Well, it’s a natural reaction. I understand. Still, don’t worry too much. If you open your heart and accept it, you’ll get used to it like me soon enough.”
Tap tap.
Tap tap.
Dray patted their shoulders encouragingly.
Then, he asked Lisir.
“By the way, Lisir. You learned Black Magic?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“You’re such an unbelievable guy. Even if you have a demon by your side, that’s no excuse. You mastered Black Magic in that short time? What else did you do?”
Dray, with sufficient experience（?）, asked with a natural attitude.
It was the posture of someone prepared to answer ‘Aha!’ no matter what answer came out.
Pallag also listened intently from the side with a similar expression.
“I didn’t know it would be this easy, but Dangaleon said I have talent. Apparently, knowing Daronan was a great help.”
Daronan.
It was a language that deals with the basis of all magic systems, and is particularly specialized in Black Magic.
To casually know that ancient, lost knowledge that can only be obtained restrictively by being engrossed in Black Magic.
However, Pallag and Dray showed a mature attitude worthy of experienced professionals（?）.
They nodded, saying they understood.
“Knowing Daronan. That’s amazing. Even the demon praised it, so it’s not shallow knowledge. Tell me, Lisir. Where did you acquire Daronan? Even this old man has never encountered such knowledge in his life.”
“There was a book on Daronan in the library I used to go to.”
“A book on Daronan…Is such a rare book just kept in a library? It must be an amazing library.”
“Ah. It was an ordinary library. It was an annex where books deemed too low-level to be kept in the main house were kept.”
“Huh. Is such a rare book kept in such a library? It’s a miracle that you read it before someone stole it.”
“I think so too.”
“By the way, I’m curious. Do you happen to remember the name of the book?”
“Yes. It was probably a book called 『Succession Book: Daronan』.”
“?”
This time, even Dray and Pallag doubted their ears.
-Succession Book…? Could it be the seven Succession Books of Yel Kanu’er…?
Elysia, the Holy Sword, spoke in a trembling voice.
The seven phenomenal Succession Books created by the ancient wizard ‘Yel Kanu’er had the nature of overlaying themselves on the target.
Therefore, no one can read the Succession Book.
The moment you open the Succession Book, you become the Succession Book itself.
“Yes. I was lucky.”
He read the Succession Book.
It was good.
Through that concise sentence that simply crushed their brains, the Hero Party felt that they finally understood the character Lisir completely.
They looked at Pallag and Dray.
Pallag and Dray also looked at them.
Nod.
A bond was formed.
Meanwhile, Lisir continued the story to conclude his explanation.
“At first, I didn’t understand Dangaleon’s power. At that time, he advised me to try using Daronan. So I tried using Daronan━ the power of Dangaleon, which was difficult to understand. The incantation that forms its basis was translated into a language I know in my head? After that━ yes. As you know. Thanks to that, I was able to master Black Magic at a rapid pace.”
That’s when Lisir’s explanation ended.
“That means…”
Tilla, the wizard of Felix’s Party, asked in a trembling voice.
“That the incantation that forms the basis of the demon’s power is now in your head in a language we can understand…?”
Two heroes and their comrades.
Even Dray and Pallag.
All of them were looking at Lisir with shining eyes.
There was an undeniable strong curiosity in them.
“Lisir. If you don’t mind, could you show us that Black Magic…?”
Belota asked, unable to fully contain her feelings as a scholar.
“There’s no reason why not.”
Lisir raised his palm.
A grayish-white flame rose from it.
“This is…the demon’s power…?”
The grayish-white flame flickered in their eyes.
Is it right to consider this the demon’s power?
Is it right to consider this Black Magic?
The energy contained within was too pure to be Black Magic.
At the same time, it was alien.
It was perhaps Black Magic, but it was not Black Magic.
Like the flame that was neither white nor black.
It was a mysterious and intense nature that they had never encountered anywhere.
It captivated everyone in the place in an instant.
To be captivated by Black Magic.
It should never happen-
But within them, that grayish-white flame was something other than Black Magic.
Lisir’s condition is proof of that.
He is not consumed by a malicious aura, nor is he under the domination of a demon.
He is now free from all the side effects of Black Magic.
That power.
It was something else born by removing all the impure aspects of Black Magic.
-Kuaaaak!!! How magnificent…! Master! Even seeing it again, it’s truly a beautiful flame! I dare suggest that we name this power ‘Lisir’s Sacred Flame’! Every time you use that power, you shout ‘I, receive Lisir’s Sacred Flame that purifies everything!’! This Dangaleon! Just imagining its magnificent appearance gives me thrills!!!
“I feel a thrill in a different sense too. I’m getting goosebumps.”
Just like that spirit（?）.
-It’s not like some kind of human-shaped filter…
Zallak, who had watched the entire process from the side, muttered with a disgusted expression.
✦✦✦
The next day.
Having had sufficient rest, they gathered again at the scene.
“We went through all that trouble, so we should definitely receive a reward.”
Felix muttered with determination.
They fulfilled all of The Asking Left Hand’s requests.
Now it was their turn to make requests to The Asking Left Hand.
“Tilla?”
Tilla nodded and approached The Asking Left Hand.
The ritual to awaken it resumes.
Creak.
Creak.
The Asking Left Hand shook, making the sound of its joints cracking.
A moment later.
Its movement stopped.
“…?”
Felix felt a sense of unease.
Unlike before, when it immediately stated its business, it was silent.
In the end, Felix was the first to speak.
“We have fulfilled all your requests. Now it’s your turn to fulfill our requests.”
-…You cannot make requests.
“What?”
-I have not received any reward.
“What kind of trick is this!?”
Camila, the elf who was listening to the conversation from the side, spoke in her characteristic irritable voice, representing everyone’s state of mind.
-Oh dear. Has my worry become a reality?
Pocena’s meaningful words followed.
“Pocena?”
Felix was flustered and looked down at his sword.
-Perhaps, what is needed to complete the magical contract that moves this is not the fulfillment of the request, but the non-fulfillment of the request.
“What are you saying?”
-If the user fails to fulfill the request, it makes the user pay a corresponding price. That’s the structure that completes the power that forms the magical contract. We should have failed to fulfill its request and been devoured by its power. We should have become its nourishment.
“Wait. So, it doesn’t have the power to grant the next request now?”
A situation like the dungeon’s vault being empty after risking their lives to explore it.
Felix shouted in horror.
“No.”
Tilla shook her head.
“As Pocena said, its power has greatly weakened because it hasn’t received a reward. But, it still possesses vast power. The power I felt while performing the ritual. It’s clear.”
“Then why!?”
“It’s simple. It’s expressing dissatisfaction. It hasn’t received a reward for destroying the city, so it won’t give anything until it receives that reward.”
“What the hell…”
At that moment.
Whoosh.
Lisir created a grayish-white flame and said.
“Then, shall we destroy it before it plays another trick?”
-Wait.
The Asking Left Hand spoke urgently.
-Although I haven’t received any reward, I will grant your request this once as a special exception.
“””…”””
✦✦✦
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