Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 160
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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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This is a café run by the heir of the Dark Guild.
160
“What did you find?”
That’s when it happened.
The man feinted a charge toward me, then twisted his body and leaped down from the roof.
Raiely and I immediately followed him down. At his pace, we’d catch him in moments.
But then the ground shook violently.
Looking around to see what was happening, I saw the demonic beasts scattered across the territory all rushing toward us at once.
“He bought himself time. Changed the beasts’ target to us.”
“There are too many for the two of us to handle.”
Fire-throwing beasts mixed in among them, which put us at a disadvantage against such numbers.
“Should we regroup with the guards?”
“They don’t seem interested in helping.”
The guards who’d escaped the beasts’ attacks were already fleeing into the distance.
“If you surrender quietly, I’ll let the man next to you live. I promise.”
“You’re after me?”
I muttered in bewilderment, and Raiely gripped her sword tighter, shouting.
“Refused.”
“You’ll regret it.”
The beasts, now completely upon us, surrounded us entirely.
They bared their teeth and charged in unison, and with attacks coming from every direction, it was overwhelming.
“We need to cut through. Make an opening.”
“Right. Better to drive them into a dead end.”
To escape the encirclement, Raiely and I stood back-to-back, facing the beasts front and rear.
But the fire-using beasts were the problem. They aimed precisely at us from a distance, hurling flames.
“Raiely! Dodge!”
I saw the flames coming, but the beasts surrounding us left no room to evade.
Raiely took the fire directly on her arm. I doused it immediately, but her clothes were already singed and her skin badly burned.
“It’s incredibly hot.”
“Be careful.”
I couldn’t let things get worse or lose the man. I racked my brain for another way.
Then a good idea struck me.
I quickly pulled out the Artifact my grandfather had given me from my pocket and gripped it.
‘This should be….’
Flash.
As expected, a portal opened before my eyes, and a familiar silhouette appeared. The sight of those long silver hair set my mind at ease.
‘He’s really dressed to the nines.’
He was dressed formally from head to foot, as if coming straight from work.
Cautious of this grandfather who appeared so suddenly, Raiely moved to shield me.
“We’re no match for someone like that. Let’s run.”
“It’s okay. He’s on our side.”
“What?”
“I called him.”
I showed her the Artifact in my hand, and Raiely asked, bewildered.
“In a situation like this? Who is he?”
“My grandfather.”
I answered matter-of-factly, but Raiely’s eyes went wide as saucers.
“Then you mean Grand Mage Meyson?!”
“Yes.”
“…You really did call him.”
“Didn’t I?”
Watching Raiely’s smirk, I felt my own lips curve upward.
While we were speaking, the demonic beasts around us burst apart and died.
A single spell cast by my grandfather swept through the entire area.
Watching the cores of the dead beasts rain down like drops of water, my body trembled slightly.
“…So this is what a Grand Mage is. Truly a different league.”
I’d felt it when he completed that building, but his magical prowess was awe-inspiring.
Having swiftly dispatched all the beasts, my grandfather turned to look at me.
His presence was completely different from when he spent time at the café—cold and imposing.
But the moment our eyes met, his expression softened, and he hurried toward me.
“Are you alright, little one?”
“Thanks to you arriving so quickly. I’m grateful.”
“How dare he attack my granddaughter… That wretch doesn’t deserve a merciful death.”
My grandfather’s anger turned toward the one who’d controlled the beasts.
Realizing he was outmatched, the man tried to flee but was caught by my grandfather, where he now struggled and thrashed.
“Don’t kill him just yet. We’ll learn a lot from interrogating him.”
“He doesn’t need to be in one piece for questioning.”
My grandfather snapped his fingers, and the sickening crack of the man’s bones breaking echoed out.
Both his legs were bent sideways, and he screamed in agony.
My grandfather silenced him with a gesture, then dragged him over to our side.
“Your clothes are different from usual, aren’t they?”
“Ah! I was in a meeting. I completely forgot to excuse myself.”
“You should get back.”
My grandfather, looking awkward, glanced between Raiely and me before asking.
“Are you busy today?”
“No. I was tracking a demonic beast, but… I’ve finished now.”
With the man who’d summoned the beast captured, there was nothing left to do but head back.
“Then come with me.”
“Where to?”
“The Mage Tower. Everyone’s gathered there right now.”
The moment my grandfather mentioned the Mage Tower, Raiely beside me drew a sharp breath.
The Mage Tower, surrounded by the barrier of mages, could only be visited by those invited.
There was no way to sneak in, no matter how skilled.
And receiving an invitation from that place was nearly impossible for anyone in the Dark Guild.
Perhaps sensing the opportunity, Raiely stepped forward eagerly.
“Rosia, we have time.”
“But Obelia….”
Reading the pleading in Raiely’s eyes, I turned to my grandfather.
“Can Raiely come too?”
“Of course. She’s your comrade.”
“Good.”
Happy to be going to the Mage Tower, Raiely’s lips twitched upward.
Seeing her unguarded expression for the first time in a while, I thought it endearing.
My grandfather produced a Teleportation Magic Stone, which was densely inscribed with intricate markings.
Being a stone for entering the Mage Tower, it seemed equipped with special mechanisms.
Shortly after, I felt my feet touch solid ground. I steadied myself and looked around.
We’d arrived in an interior space.
Luxurious furnishings filled the room, and a long table sat in the center of a space so vast it had no visible end.
The problem was that quite a few people were sitting at that table. I was startled to see familiar faces.
Especially present were the three High Priests I’d met in Helitheria, along with Cayden.
Cayden looked surprised to see me, his eyes widening before breaking into a broad smile.
“Where have you been, and who have you brought with you? Huh??”
An elderly gentleman who’d visited the café before recognized me and stood up abruptly.
“She’s my granddaughter. Didn’t expect to show her off like this.”
Deep sighs came from the people seated on the Mage Tower side.
‘He must have talked about me a lot.’
It was the exact same reaction as when I’d first met Seniel’s colleagues before.
“I apologize for leaving the meeting without notice. My granddaughter was in danger.”
“We didn’t know you had a granddaughter. Did you marry, Grand Mage Meyson?”
High Priest Gregory, who’d tried to see through me in Helitheria, asked with keen interest in his eyes.
It seemed he recognized me, but he didn’t acknowledge that he knew me.
“Ha. That’s a personal matter. First, let’s finish discussing how to dispose of the Sacred Object. Little one, sit at the end.”
I nodded and led Raiely to an empty seat. It was directly across from Cayden.
Cayden didn’t hide his delight, continuing to smile at me, so I warned him with a glance to stop.
“Discussing as equals with Grand Mage Meyson… If the representative of the priests is here, then surely you’re a High Priest?”
“That’s right. The two beside me are as well.”
“…Should we even be here?”
“Weren’t you the one who wanted to come?”
“I didn’t know it would be like this.”
“Shh.”
I hushed Raiely and turned my attention to the conversation between my grandfather and the High Priests.
“We need to know what magic was used six hundred years ago, but we can’t find that book anywhere.”
“If it’s not in the Mage Tower or the Temple, then the Imperial Palace is the only place left….”
“I already checked on the way here, and the Imperial family knows nothing about it.”
“Sigh. Where on earth did Nadia’s records disappear to? If all else fails, we could try mobilizing people.”
Hearing a familiar name in the conversation, I tilted my head.
‘Nadia….’
It was the same name as the author of the book I’d received from Sophia. I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out the book to check.
[Nadia]
This couldn’t be mere coincidence, I thought, standing up and speaking.
“I know I shouldn’t be speaking up, but… would you take a look at this book?”
I handed the book to my grandfather and pointed to the author’s name.
After checking the name, my grandfather stroked his chin.
“The author’s name is Nadia.”
Suddenly, everyone stirred.
“That must be a coincidence. We’ve searched every precious archive and couldn’t find this book.”
“Yes. There’s no way it would appear so easily….”
Everyone’s reaction was one of disbelief.
My grandfather also looked skeptical, but when he opened the book and saw content about demonic beasts, his eyes narrowed.
“Where did you get this?”
I hesitated before answering, unsure if I should tell the truth.
Among those present, only my grandfather knew my true identity.
Cayden, who’d been watching me from the side all this time, might think something was odd about me, but there was no way he could have learned that I was a member of Raven’s guild.
Since where I’d found the book—at Raven—wasn’t critical information, I decided to make something up.
“I happened to find it from an antique merchant on the street. I bought it thinking the content about demonic beasts might be helpful… it’s surprising.”
My grandfather smiled mysteriously and turned the conversation to Gregory.
“I think we should look at it together.”
Gregory accepted the book and, examining its contents, couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“What do you make of it?”
“It emanates an aura similar to what I felt from the Sacred Object.”
“We’ll need to dispel the magic cast on it and restore the contents to be certain, but this appears to be the very book we’ve been searching for.”
“Yes. Such a coincidence… I can only believe it to be the will of Providence.”
“I’ll find a way to restore the text with the elders.”
Since my grandfather undoubtedly knew magic best, Gregory agreed.
“Please show us as well.”
“Is this truly the book written by Nadia?”
Before permission had even fully settled, the elders of the Mage Tower rushed toward the book with animated faces.
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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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