A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 65

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 65. The Conference (1)

Chapter 14. The Conference

The Outer.
They were a faction opposed to the Western Kingdom Alliance and the Hebrion Empire.
Yet they could not be defined as a single organization. The Outer was itself an aggregate—a collection of disparate groups united by their discontent with the Hebrion Empire and Western Kingdom Alliance’s monopoly on conquest of the Shadow World.
They had banded together to oppose the greater powers, but that unity was born of aligned interests alone; their underlying purposes remained distinct.
“We’ve been losing operatives at an alarming rate lately.”
The one wearing the Pierrot Mask began to speak, a Trump Card spinning lazily between his fingers.
From the floor rose a sour stench, and the bar was so dark—barely a point of light to be found—that only the faintest outlines of things were visible.
Four masked figures had gathered in that place.
They were the leaders who commanded the largest factions within the Outer itself.
“Same with our people. It feels as though they somehow know our every plan.”
A woman wearing an ornate mask adorned with gold, silver, crystal, and feathers spoke up.
Her body was strikingly sensuous, and there emanated from her an oddly intoxicating fragrance.
But those gathered there knew better than to be deceived by appearances and approach her. Her epithet—Vampire—was earned.
“Our carefully placed spies keep getting exposed. How can it be…”
“Simple enough—your glorious leader’s direct subordinate was taken alive.”
A playful lilt colored the Pierrot Mask’s voice.
“…”
“Giggle. Caught trying to raid the Magic Tower, no less? And after all that confidence, how’d that happen?”
The one in the Raven Mask fixed him with a stare.
“And alive, too. What kind of training do you put your subordinates through…”
Crack!
Space itself shattered in an instant—High-Tier Magic that interfered with the fabric of space itself.
Yet only the floorboards beneath where the Pierrot Mask had been sitting lay in splinters. Somewhere in that blur of motion, he’d tipped his chair backward and was now sprawled flat against it.
Whether he’d dodged or simply been fortunate was unclear, but given what he was, the latter seemed far less likely.
He was an assassin—the man who had murdered the former monarch of Ioleta, a fragment of the Western Kingdom Alliance. His name was whispered with endless reverence in the darkness where no light could reach.
“The Tower Master might’ve interrogated him personally. With 7th Circle Magic at his disposal, he could’ve cracked open his skull and analyzed the information wholesale. Well, your subordinate’s just a liability even in death. Ha ha ha ha.”
The Raven Mask was about to rise from his seat when—
“Enough… now.”
An old man wearing the Skull Mask brought order to the meeting. He wore a twilight-gray robe drawn up over his head, and save for the mask and the faint gray hairs visible at his temples, he would have appeared as nothing but darkness itself.
“We did not… gather here… to dwell on… the past…….”
His voice was faint and badly fractured, making it difficult to hear. Yet no one present raised any objection. No one dared raise their voice before him.
No one knew his true identity. Not his name, not even whether he was a swordmaster or a mage. The only certainty was that he had been active more than a century ago.
“Revolutionary… we must always… dwell in darkness…. The method you… proposed… was reckless.”
The one in the Raven Mask pushed back.
“The plan was flawless.”
“Yet someone… discovered it…. As you know, we… look only to results…….”
The Raven Mask said nothing more.
The card spinning at the Pierrot Mask’s fingertips fell still.
The old man in the Skull Mask continued.
“But… conversely… this might be… a good opportunity… for us…….”
“What do you mean?”
The woman in the ornate mask spoke.
“We cannot… hide forever…. Before the pressure… upon us begins… in earnest… it would not be… amiss to… make our existence… known…….”
The Pierrot Mask began to applaud.
“Now that’s music to my ears. I’ve been itching while we sat quietly watching all this time. Though we both know we can’t face the Western Kingdom Alliance and the Hebrion Empire at once.”
That was the essential reason the Outer remained hidden.
Currently, the Western Kingdom Alliance and Hebrion Empire stood together, their combined might greater than at any time before.
Those who strayed from their order—the Outer—had no choice but to hold their breath in silence and wait for their moment.
“…Of course not. But…. Well…. You said… a conference… of the Western Kingdom Alliance… is being held soon…….”
“It is.”
“A good opportunity…… The leaders of the Western Kingdom Alliance…… gathered in one place…… If we eliminate them…… perhaps…… we could even collapse the Western Kingdom Alliance itself……”
He turned to look at Raven Mask.
“I’m giving you a chance to make up for your failure. Hand it over…… Pierrot.”
It.
Pierrot Mask objected to Skull Mask’s decision with a tone of displeasure.
“Sir! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get this? It’s something I barely managed to secure after suffering enormous losses!”
“Must I…… say it…… twice?”
“Damn it! Fine, I get it! I’ll hand it over, I’ll hand it over!”
He pulled something from his clothes and hurled it toward Raven Mask.
It was an Artifact. It took the form of a staff, and at first glance, an ominous aura radiated from it.
“The Conference of the Western Kingdom Alliance……. Surely…… all the rulers of the Western Kingdom Alliance will gather there……. Eliminate them all……”
“Can you manage it, Revolutionary?”
Raven Mask was being referred to as a Revolutionary. It was, in truth, a term that captured his position precisely.
The one who wore the Raven Mask had once been revered as the greatest revolutionary, called the finest mage ever produced by Hebrion Academy, and was now a name forgotten by all—the dark chapter of Hebrion’s history itself.
“We will…… set the stage…… for you. We’ll…… see to it that you can handle everything……”
“After that, I hope you won’t forget about Hebrion.”
Raven Mask nodded and spoke.
“Of course. Hebrion is also…… our ancient enemy after all.”
With that, the conference ended.
They filed out of the tavern one by one. The streets were thick with moisture in the early dawn. A gloomy street of poverty.
Pierrot Mask followed behind Raven Mask, who had moved ahead into the distance.
“Hey, listen. Do you mind if I ask a question?”
Raven Mask tried to ignore him and move on.
“At this point, you have to admit it, don’t you? You’re exactly the same type as us.”
That struck a nerve with Raven Mask. He turned toward Pierrot Mask and spoke tersely.
“I’d prefer not to be lumped together with criminals like you.”
“By participating in this gathering, we’re all criminals. You and I alike—we’d all face execution the moment we returned home.”
The Outer was fundamentally a collective of serious offenders, and those gathered now were the ones who led such an organization.
Pierrot Mask gestured toward the Artifact that Raven Mask was holding.
“The very fact that you’d accept it while knowing what that Artifact is proves you have no defense against the charge that you’re evil.”
Raven Mask tucked the Artifact he’d received from Pierrot Mask into his clothes and spoke.
“I have a purpose that must be achieved by any means necessary.”
“By that logic, that crazy old man’s the same way. He has his convictions too.”
Convictions.
Pierrot Mask deliberately mimicked Skull Mask’s manner of speaking in a grotesque mockery.
“Everything shall…… be consumed by…… the Shadow World…… As the Goddess…… wills.”
It wasn’t funny. It was repellent.
“Why are you so determined to drag me down to your level?”
Though one couldn’t see his expression beneath the mask, Pierrot Mask surely smiled—he spoke as if he’d been waiting for that very question.
“Honestly, the purpose you put forward is laughable to me. You talk about creating a world for the common people, all while pretending to be noble. Yet you’re the one who moves for your own selfish gain.”
“Whatever my purpose is, it’s none of your concern.”
“Unfortunately, it is. If you were to say at any point that you’d stop doing this for the sake of the common people, I’d have to cut your throat.”
Pierrot Mask took a step forward. The distance between them had closed considerably. Their separation was well within Raven Mask’s striking range, but conversely, it was also within Pierrot Mask’s range.
“I fail to see how a blade that’s only cut a pig’s neck could cut anyone else’s.”
“Feel free to try if you’d like.”
Somewhere along the way, he had begun juggling short daggers. It was a sleight of hand, running the blades along his fingers with practiced grace.
On the verge of violence, Raven Mask turned away and pivoted his body.
“The sacrifice of the few for the many. I’m well aware of that much.”
Raven Mask’s form dissolved into the darkness.
Left alone, Pierrot Mask muttered softly.
“Ah, it’s no use trying to reach him, is it.”
Pierrot Mask tucked the short dagger away into his clothes.
“Well, I hope the real show happens at the Western Kingdom Alliance Conference.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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