It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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500 Years as Just an Extra,

 

The Original Story Still Won’t Begin

 

Episode 111

 

“Paralyzed from the waist down?”

 

She knew that removing demonic energy caused a severe shock as a backlash, but this time the severity seemed extreme. Even Termion looked somewhat surprised, as if he hadn’t heard this news either.

 

“We’re speculating it’s a side effect from removing the crystal, but we can’t be certain.”

 

“Where is he now?”

 

“We’ve prepared a separate room for him in the medical room. With his body in that condition, he can’t run away anywhere anyway.”

 

Unlike the other poachers, Zeke was the most important witness at this point. They needed to take care of him so he wouldn’t die.

 

“Can we meet him right now?”

 

“Even if he’s sleeping, we can just wake him up.”

 

Kubera led the way as if it were no big deal.

 

“When did his body become like that?”

 

“He told us himself after the surgery was finished. He said he can feel sensation in his lower body but can’t move it.”

 

“What was his reason for talking?”

 

“How could I know what’s in his mind? However…”

 

Kubera seemed uncertain as he trailed off slightly.

 

“It seems there was some change in his mindset when we removed the crystal from his neck.”

 

“A change in mindset…”

 

“Ailesia, is there any possibility that he was under some kind of mental prohibition curse?”

 

“Well.”

 

At Termion’s question, which recalled a story he had heard before, Ailesia showed an ambiguous reaction.

 

“Mental magic leaves almost no traces the moment it’s dispelled, so it’s not easy to confirm. However, such a situation is possible.”

 

“Did you perhaps obtain some new information?”

 

“Yeah. I’ll explain the details later.”

 

Come to think of it, she hadn’t mentioned going to the Magic Tower to meet Melbarik either. It wasn’t that she was trying to hide it, but various incidents had overlapped and she’d missed the timing to bring it up.

 

“Here we are.”

 

Kubera opened the door immediately without even knocking.

 

The interior of the room wasn’t much different from other hospital rooms. The only difference was the bed positioned close against the window.

 

“Visitors at this late hour.”

 

In Zeke’s eyes as he glanced toward the door, none of the previous venom could be found. His sparsely grown beard added to the haggardness of his gaunt face.

 

However, he soon stiffened when he confirmed the two people who had entered following Kubera. More precisely, it was because he saw Ailesia’s face.

 

“…Do you still have something left to extract from me?”

 

“You speak as if you’ve said something significant. When you haven’t revealed a single piece of important information.”

 

The content of Zeke’s testimony was limited to the purpose of gathering poachers to search the mountain range and information about the necklace. He hadn’t revealed anything about his backers or the crystal that had been embedded in his body.

 

“If it’s about that story, forget it.”

 

Even while having a brief conversation with Termion, Zeke kept glancing at Ailesia.

 

“What? I’m not interested in criminals.”

 

Noticing his gaze, Ailesia narrowed her eyes.

 

From the moment he entered the room, Zeke had been blatantly showing signs that he had business with her. Even Kubera and Termion had noticed it immediately, though they didn’t show it outwardly.

 

“It’s shameless of me, but I wanted to express my gratitude.”

 

“Suddenly?”

 

He gave a straightforward answer to the puzzled Ailesia.

 

“Thanks to you dispelling that energy, we all saved our lives.”

 

“I thought the other poachers were just simple underlings.”

 

“How could that be? They’re all my subordinates.”

 

“I expected as much. Their testimonies were all consistent. One or two people might be one thing, but nine temporarily gathered adventurers or mercenaries coordinating their stories simultaneously would be strange.”

 

He shifted his gaze away from Kubera and continued with a bitter voice.

 

“For reference, those guys know almost nothing. Keeping them around would just be a waste of food.”

 

“You’re going to take all the blame yourself?”

 

Termion’s eyebrows twitched, but Zeke didn’t even make eye contact with him.

 

“There’s nothing to take blame for or not.”

 

He thought his subordinates were doomed to live abnormal lives anyway. Retis wouldn’t easily release them, and since their demonic energy had been removed, something in their bodies was surely damaged.

 

“What those guys know is exactly what I told them. They probably don’t even know what energy they were actually using.”

 

Listening to the conversation, Ailesia suddenly became curious about Zeke.

 

Unlike when he was first captured, he was showing an appropriately polite yet not servile attitude. Moreover, she could sense his care for his subordinates in his blunt manner of speaking.

 

‘I don’t know who’s behind him, but he definitely has loyalty. Though it’s a bit ambiguous to call it devotion…’

 

Could he have been compromised like Noid? If Zeke’s backer was the First Imperial Consort or House Kaif, it was a highly plausible assumption.

 

“You heard that two crystals came out of your body?”

 

“…I saw them myself.”

 

“Did you know about it, or were you completely unaware?”

 

“…Half and half.”

 

“Half and half?”

 

Zeke’s expression grew darker. It didn’t seem like a deliberately fabricated reaction.

 

“I knew they had performed some special procedure on my body. I had agreed to it.”

 

“But?”

 

“I never imagined something like that would be inside.”

 

He spoke as if muttering to himself.

 

“I know exactly two things. That energy allows one to transcend human limits, and as long as you carry those crystals in your body, you become obedient to commands. More precisely, I had to obey in order to survive.”

 

“Since the crystals came out of your body, you no longer need to obey?”

 

Zeke didn’t answer the question and turned his head toward the window.

 

Perhaps because moonlight was reflecting off the pure white snow field, despite it being deep night, it was bright enough to distinguish objects.

 

He silently gazed at the dimly visible outside scenery before letting out a deep sigh.

 

“They have committed countless acts until now. It’s no exaggeration to say it includes all crimes humans can imagine and crimes they cannot imagine.”

 

“We’ll discuss that separately later. So?”

 

“Their methods of winning people over are threefold. Enormous wealth that cannot be refused, abilities that cannot be obtained through ordinary means, and hostages.”

 

“You must be the third type?”

 

Upon hearing Ailesia’s question, Zeke unconsciously gritted his teeth.

 

He had encountered countless mages as both enemy and ally while carrying out missions. However, he had never once seen such an overwhelming presence as Ailesia.

 

‘Even dark mages can’t handle demonic energy so effortlessly.’

 

Zeke decided to throw the gamble of a lifetime. He was going to bet everything not on the Retis Grand Duchy, but on this Mage standing before him.

 

“Kugh…!”

 

He gritted his teeth and forced strength into his waist. His lower body, hardened like stone, showed no sign of movement.

 

Supporting his upper body with only his arms, Zeke twisted his body awkwardly and bowed his head deeply to Ailesia.

 

“Please… save my children.”

 

Zeke had originally been a promising Knight from a provincial Lord’s family.

 

With excellent skills and good character, he naturally caught the Lord’s eye, and after becoming vice-captain of the Knight Order, he married the Lord’s Youngest Daughter who had admired him, enjoying a happy daily life.

 

His tragedy occurred when his Twin Siblings turned five years old. An unknown epidemic spread, killing most of the Territory’s residents including the Lord, and he too lost his Wife.

 

By heaven’s fortune, he and his children barely overcame the disease. However, from that incident, Zeke’s Mana Core was damaged, making him half-disabled, and the twins suffered from aftereffects that gradually hardened their entire bodies.

 

“That’s when they extended their hand.”

 

“They?”

 

“I only learned their organization’s name much later. They called themselves ‘Dusk Talon’.”

 

“What kind of terrible naming sense is that?”

 

There are always insane people wherever you go. Ailesia, who had been listening, let out a short chuckle.

 

“…I don’t know why they chose such a name either.”

 

Zeke, who had hesitated at Ailesia’s laughter, continued his explanation.

 

“They used Dark Magic to treat my children. They also restored my body.”

 

“Of course they didn’t completely cure your children.”

 

Hearing Termion’s guess, Zeke gently shook his head.

 

“No, they said from the beginning that a complete cure was impossible. Instead, they could live normal lives if Demonic Energy was injected at regular intervals.”

 

“So your children are still being held hostage?”

 

“They’re growing up in an ordinary Village. Since they need to receive Demonic Energy once a month anyway, there’s no way to escape.”

 

After hearing the story, Termion and Kubera exchanged glances.

 

Though the specific circumstances and process were slightly different, it was almost identical in context to how Noid had been threatened before.

 

“Do you have any clues about that epidemic?”

 

“I tried to find out somehow but eventually gave up. That was already 4 years ago.”

 

Zeke’s Territory had been wiped out 4 years ago, and the threat against Noid had been about 2 years ago.

 

Having roughly grasped the outline, Termion asked Zeke.

 

“What if Dusk Talon was the one who spread that epidemic in the first place?”

 

“…What do you mean?”

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