Chapter 693

Chapter 693

“Then Ghibrid, are you ready now?”

“Stop saying that kind of thing! In the end, it’s you who has to step forward if you want to reclaim your power, isn’t it? If the time is right, I’ll send a helper, so don’t worry too much.”

At least in Chiyou’s view, Ghibrid didn’t say anything and was silent. With a mountain of worries outside, it was suffocating to find the situation just as frustrating internally.

“Sigh...”

“Why the sigh, Chiyou? Is it tough?”

“Oh, no, Count.”

Chiyou’s stress had only intensified, enough to let out an involuntary sigh. If Biyemi had seen this scene, she might have given a standing ovation.

“Giggle, well then, you shouldn’t find it hard with this kind of ordeal. You have many things to do ahead.”

“Excuse me?”

“That crazy mage’s welcoming ceremony is going to be handled by your subordinates, isn’t it?”

“That, of course – no, what I mean is, it seems like you’re suggesting there’s another task I need to handle right away, Count.”

Chiyou’s eyes narrowed as she deciphered the intent behind Bluebeard’s words. Bluebeard nodded.

“Well, then. There is indeed a task only you can handle. Well, I’m not sure if you can handle it, but-“

“If it’s something you’re asking of me, I’ll definitely accomplish it.”

“What? Heh, thanking you for saying so feels good! Alright, can you set off right away?”

Whoosh!

As Chiyou looked on with startled eyes, a hologram window appeared in front of her.

[The Bat Hiding in Bransylvania Castle]

Description:

“I’ve finally discovered where that cunning creature is hiding. But, it’s a place I can’t enter directly. You need to go in and deliver ‘My Call’ to it. Oh, and if you die in there, I can’t help you, so remember to be careful, okay?”

Bluebeard had finally found his beloved disciple.

He instructed Chiyou to find “The Blood Maiden” Bathory hiding from the eyes of the United Humanity in Bransylvania Castle and deliver Bluebeard’s will.

Objective: Persuade Bathory inside Bransylvania Castle

Reward: ?

Failure Conditions: Death within Bransylvania Castle or loss of ‘The Call of Bluebeard’ item

Penalty for Failure: ?

Do you accept?

“How about... going there? It’s okay to refuse.”

Bluebeard played with his hat, smiling. He knew very well that Chiyou had no intention of refusing. Shortly after, both Bluebeard and Chiyou disappeared.

Left alone, Ghibrid gazed at the red crystal he was confined in and muttered,

“...”

Though no other player was left behind, the currents of Middle Earth had already been set in motion. The only remaining player here, Chiyou, had heard Bluebeard instruct Ghibrid clearly.

“Prepare yourself, Ghibrid. Your power is yours to find.”

[...]

As the Old Continent plunged into chaos, another Demon King’s Fragment in the New Continent began to stir silently.

“What about Kaztor...”

“Couldn’t find him. Every nation of the continent cooperated to block the warp gates leading to the New Continent. Even the mana relay towers in the center of the Sea of Dawn are all out on a search, but...”

Browless gritted his teeth.

Over the past week that Leeha had logged out, many changes had occurred within Middle Earth. The most significant event was the thorough investigation of all warp gate users.

Especially those headed to the New Continent had to undergo perfect identity verification, including their items, and anyone with even a slight record of wrongdoing was denied access to the warp gates.

“Huh?”

“There’s no trace of him returning to his exclusive lab for the Mage Corps... He couldn’t have gone to the New Continent already.”

“I’m also worried about that. You can tell just by looking at the letters from Elizabeth and Brown. If Kaztor goes to the New Continent, the likelihood that they will be in danger is high.”

“To be exact, it would be more so than the seniors.”

“Hmm, Kyle... That guy will be in danger.”

Browless’s expression darkened. Elizabeth and Brown had taken on an adventure to bring the cursed Kyle to a spot where Kaztor’s mana couldn’t reach.

However, they only succeeded halfway. Moreover, the possibility of provoking further anger had also increased. They, who were confident they could kill anyone who followed, had only one fear, for the blade of danger was not pointed at them, but towards their son.

They were always worried about the possibility of being pursued. It wasn’t just about being unable to speak casually, but the high chance that something with tracking abilities was out there. If that was the case-

Kaztor would pursue Elizabeth and Brown.

For him, who had lost everything, the only thing left was to control Elizabeth and Brown through Kyle, who had become the “Matan’s Shooter.”

The reason Elizabeth and Brown initially went to the eastern part of the New Continent, where space movement didn’t work, and kept moving deeper to hide, was precisely because of this.

‘Then we should pursue the seniors-”

“No, it might be impossible. If they asked me to kill Kaztor, then they must have some way of knowing whether Kaztor is dead or alive.”

“That’s a possibility too.”

Just by looking at Kyle’s condition, one might be able to determine whether Kaztor is alive or not. Browless guessed, and Leeha nodded.

So, what method would Brown and Elizabeth choose upon realizing that Kaztor has not died?

“They will go even further away. I’m not sure if there’s a safe refuge, but at least to the wilds.”

“Yes. They won’t stop. Given Kaztor’s chances of finding them first, they won’t stop moving.”

In other words, the middle path now, as hinted through Browless, was a waste of effort in pursuing Elizabeth and Brown.

‘Then, Kidd, will you stay here?”

“My priority is the investigation of the Mage Corps. To find his traces, to pursue-”

Clack, Kidd fiddled with the Crimson Geckos.

“-I will definitely kill him.”

“I wish I could join you on that journey.”

Browless showed a faint smile upon hearing his beloved disciple’s resolve. Leeha nodded.

That was something Leeha also deeply wished for, but he couldn’t just wait here indefinitely.

“Well then, headmaster, I’ll take a look around in my own way.”

“Hmm. Work hard, Leeha. If you can enter the palace and walk around the Mage Corps’s building or if you discover materials containing information about Kaztor, notify me immediately.”

“Yes, thank you.”

At this moment, Kidd and Leeha were not rivals. Everyone shared a common enemy and had to pursue them together.

There wouldn’t be anyone who’d blandly say ‘I want to see the Matan’s Shooter’ journal by myself’ at this point, except for Luger.

“By the way, what is Luger doing?”

As Leeha was leaving the academy, he opened the friend panel of the Three Musketeers. Luger was in the underground city of the Gorilla paleos.

...Ah! That’s right, -there’s a possibility there?!”

Kaztor’s hideout in the New Continent! If Kaztor had already arrived at the New Continent by some method, wouldn’t it be most likely for him to head to his former dwelling?

“Not in his original body, but judging by his appearance just before disappearing, he must have sustained some injury. Plus, if he caused a big enough incident to end the Pope’s life, then it would naturally make sense for him to lay low for a while. With that in mind... hiding among the beings who had shown him kindness before seems like the most logical thought. Anyway, Luger, that beast of a man!”

At least this time, Leeha too couldn’t help but admire Luger.

Luger, who hasn’t been able to attend the most crucial event.

Given his character, he’d probably feel wronged and launch more than ten cannonballs into the air. But even in the midst of that, he would calmly, almost instinctively, deduce Kaztor’s next destination.