The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 289

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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 289
289
0.
Deep within a forest, far removed from Heptarion.
A shadow materialized there, as if teleporting into existence.
That silhouette, dark as a shadow, spoke with evident irritation.
“That wretched Sword Saint claims we should mass-produce Mummified Demons.”
As the shadow-like silhouette grumbled,
the forest that had been empty moments before rippled gently, as if disturbing a still lake, and two more shadow-like silhouettes emerged.
Two of them, no less.
They radiated an unmistakable aura of displeasure.
One gestured for the others to enter.
The newly arrived shadow stepped inside.
Then, a rather well-constructed stone structure—invisible from outside—came into view.
Or should I say, a laboratory?
“That fool thinks Mummified Demons simply materialize on command.”
“Tch, had we not allied with the Grand Duke, we wouldn’t need to obey such a creature’s orders….”
“He was told that naturally spawned Mummified Demons are far stronger, yet he refuses to listen.”
“He cannot wait.”
The three shadows spoke among themselves.
Though their words bordered on complaint,
they all had no choice but to resent the Sword Saint.
A mere human daring to rival the great demon race.
Of course, they acknowledged his strength.
“It cannot be helped. We need him to bring down Overpalace.”
“Khehe, true enough—Overpalace burdens us as well.”
Even with the Grand Duke and various nobles stepping forward, it would not be easy.
“Therefore, strengthening the surface dweller’s army with Mummified Demons is essential.”
They were displeased at having to aid humans.
But Overpalace was even more displeasing.
So they continued their work.
Then, the shadow that had just arrived muttered softly.
“Ah, that Sword Saint will come himself, it seems.”
“We must endure surveillance as well.”
“How humiliating. When does he arrive?”
To that question, the newly arrived shadow replied.
“He said he’d come to the Magic Tower in four days. So he’ll arrive here on the fourth night.”
“We must complete at least one by then.”
“We’ll need to squeeze the heart harder.”
“More importantly—do we have sufficient materials?”
At the question, they all grumbled with irritation.
“We’re running short on capable warriors.”
“We need to grind through them fresh. Kekekeke.”
“Looks like we’ve exhausted the settlement from last time.”
“Those natives? We used them up ages ago.”
“Hmm, we’ll need to procure more materials soon.”
They muttered as if lamenting the shortage.
The very source of the natives’ scenarios that should have existed in Heptarion was right here in this place.
There had been native scenarios in the early days.
But they paid no mind to such things.
Why would demons concern themselves with human welfare?
Then, suddenly.
“What about the Guard Knights from that Tower?”
“Hmm, if the Guard Knights disappear, it’ll raise suspicion.”
“A new recruit did arrive recently—let’s look into it.”
“We should also search for other settlements in this area.”
“We’ve already blocked the path to the city, so concealment is sufficient.”
Thus they laid plans to raid another village.
In the Stone Chamber drenched with human blood, they merely set about grinding the Sword Saint and crafting demonic artifacts.
1.
Work as a Guard Knight at the Caliber Magic Tower wasn’t particularly entertaining.
Accompanying the Tower’s mages when they went to procure materials was somewhat more interesting.
But they didn’t venture out that often.
Most of the time was spent guarding the perimeter and entrance of the Tower.
Tedious and monotonous work.
Yet Yoo Sung-hyun found himself observing his surroundings with considerable interest.
‘Hmm.’
He needed to search for mages who emitted magical energy.
So standing guard or patrolling the Tower’s interior proved far less tedious than expected.
The reason was a presence he’d discovered during his rounds.
A translucent, teal-hued entity visible only to him.
-Gasp!? Y-Your Highness!?
There was no need to navigate the Tower’s depths, nor any reason to worry about infiltrating the basement.
As Yoo Sung-hyun absorbed the ghost’s memories.
[‘Unknown Power’ displayed abilities beyond current stats.]
[Wisdom +3, Intelligence +3 permanently increased.]
‘Excellent.’
Though the ghost had died quite long ago.
Having wandered throughout the Magic Tower after death.
He could read those memories, and the stat increase was a bonus.
The problem is.
‘Hmm. They’re not there, are they?’
I’d entertained the possibility that they might not be at the Magic Tower.
But I never expected them to actually be absent.
Yoo Sung-hyun scratched his cheek somewhat awkwardly after reading Ghost’s memories.
If they’re not at the Magic Tower, how would I know which demons are there?
Ghost had been exceptionally curious by nature.
So there were quite a few memories about what the mages were doing.
Yet it was difficult to find any mage engaged in suspicious activities in Ghost’s memories.
Because of this, the investigation was hitting obstacles.
But I wasn’t particularly anxious or frustrated.
‘This is rather entertaining in its own way.’
There was something enjoyable about piecing together clues one by one like this and reaching a conclusion.
Around the time Yoo Sung-hyun was thinking such thoughts.
-You said there were no disappearances, right?
Helena’s voice came through.
Yoo Sung-hyun tilted his head at the slightly puzzled tone in Helena’s voice.
-Right, from what I’ve learned so far, there weren’t any.
-That’s strange… To create a weapon imbued with demonic energy, a sacrifice is absolutely necessary.
-A sacrifice?
Helena answered affirmatively to his question.
-Naturally, weapons imbued with demonic energy are created when magical weapons that have killed enormous numbers of people or living beings gradually accumulate demonic energy. But demons grind up lives to create weapons and then infuse the demonic energy themselves.
-…I see.
-But the number of lives consumed in that process would be staggering, and the fact that it went unnoticed is strange. So a weapon imbued with demonic energy definitely isn’t being created here.
If they had to grind up that many lives.
The Magic Tower would never attempt such a thing.
I understand they infiltrated this Magic Tower, which specializes in enchantment, because they needed a magical weapon. But then there should be missing persons in this area to create a weapon imbued with demonic energy.
Yet the city had no such reports.
It was truly baffling.
Then suddenly, through the memories I’d just absorbed, I sensed something odd.
‘Wait? The natives?’
-Ah! Yes, that’s right. Lately, it’s been difficult to spot natives in the Forest, or so I’ve heard???
Another clue obtained through Ghost’s memories.
The natives.
Yet Yoo Sung-hyun tilted his head in confusion.
Since users arrived in this city.
No one had ever seen a native.
Though Ghost was an old spirit who had died long ago.
The natives that could frequently be seen in the Forest near the city would have been quite numerous.
Yet not a single native was visible.
‘I don’t recall any extermination orders against the natives in my memory either….’
-Yes!!! That’s exactly what’s strange!!! They vanished as if they evaporated overnight.
‘It’s certain then.’
The demons had undoubtedly eliminated the natives.
Perhaps.
‘I should look into this.’
Rather than rushing blindly into the Forest to search, I should gather information in the city first.
As Yoo Sung-hyun finished his patrol with that thought in mind.
The Guard Knight Commander, who had been wearing a most satisfied expression upon seeing Yoo Sung-hyun show up for work on the second day without fleeing, spoke to him.
“Ah, Yoo Sung, you’re truly diligent.”
“Ah, thank you. I simply did what was required of me.”
“Haha! Such people are quite rare these days! That’s what true diligence is!”
“Thank you.”
It seemed I’d endured quite a lot.
Then the Guard Knight Commander spoke to me.
“That’s enough for today—go ahead and leave early.”
“Oh? Is that really alright?”
“Of course, you’ve worked hard. See you tomorrow.”
“Thank you. You take care as well, Commander.”
“Haha! Of course!”
A truly excellent superior, granting early dismissal so readily.
Yoo Sung-hyun left work cheerfully and stepped outside the Magic Tower.
Seeing that knights still patrolled the streets.
The atmosphere felt tense.
But since becoming a Guard Knight at the Magic Tower, no knight had ever looked at me with suspicion.
I was wearing an armband marking me as belonging to the Caliber Magic Tower, which was as good as an identity badge.
It was only natural.
Yoo Sung-hyun walked through the city and questioned several elderly people.
“I heard there used to be natives near the city.”
“Ah yes! That’s right. Was it last year? I haven’t seen them once, and I wonder if something happened to them.”
“I see.”
If it was last year, it might have been just before the vanguard reached the Seventh City.
As Yoo Sung-hyun gathered this information.
I also observed several ghosts and sifted through their memories.
[You displayed abilities beyond your current stats through ‘Unknown Power’.]
[Wisdom +2 Intelligence +2 permanently increased.]
[You displayed abilities beyond your current stats through ‘Unknown Power’.]
[Wisdom +3 Intelligence +2 permanently increased.]
[You displayed abilities beyond your current stats through ‘Unknown Power’.]
[Wisdom +2 Intelligence +3 permanently increased.]
The information I gathered all pointed to one consistent fact: the natives had originally formed settlements in the Forest and maintained considerable trade with the city.
However, the city’s inhabitants had never particularly welcomed the natives.
So after they disappeared, no one made any serious effort to search for them.
There was also information that some natives had settled and lived within the city itself.
But in the Forest, the natives could no longer be found.
So I began probing around.
[Scenario Quest ‘The Vanished Natives’ has been created.]
A Scenario Quest had been generated.
‘Hmm.’
Judging from this development.
It seemed the scenario here had likely begun with conflict between the city’s people and the natives.
But then the natives suddenly disappeared.
Just as the Scenario Quest shifted, a new quest to find the natives had been created.
Observing this, Yoo Sung-hyun narrowed his eyes and muttered.
‘It’s certain now.’
The Demon Clan must have done something to the natives.
I couldn’t know how many Demons there were.
But I could confirm that at least one had infiltrated the Magic Tower.
I should head to the Forest immediately.
Since I’d left work early today, I had considerable time to spare.
As I rushed toward the Forest like an arrow.
I opened a gate to the Underworld.
Afterward, Minions suited for easy reconnaissance were summoned and scattered in all directions.
Nocturnium in particular appeared and searched the surroundings.
But there were no significant findings.
‘Hmm.’
For some reason, none of my Minions could discover any notable traces in the Forest.
Even Sibren and Nuartein, both assassin-class servants, found no traces.
As I continued probing through the Forest, Helena spoke.
“Those Demon bastards are naturally cunning and skilled at erasing their traces. Even with my current power, it’s not easy for me to find them.”
“Hmm.”
If even Helena found it difficult to discover traces.
Perhaps pursuing the Quest’s clues would be more effective than searching directly like this.
‘The Quest mentioned there were survivors somewhere in the city, didn’t it?’
It seemed I needed to find those survivors first.

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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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