WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

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◈ I Became the Slit-Eyed Henchman of the Evil Boss

Chapter 7

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A Feast of Empty Words (1)

A huge man with six arms and a witch with flowing white hair sat across a table from each other.

Six-Armed Geryones glared at the emerging powerhouse of Etna City, the nameless witch of the Hydra Corporation.

“Quite insolent.”

Except for his two hands clasped in front of his mouth, mana power gathered in each of his remaining four hands. It was a somewhat threatening sight, but it was not enough to break the witch's expressionless face.

“Your business has started trespassing on our territory. The number of our residents being seduced by the damn drugs you distribute and sold off is only increasing. How do you plan to compensate?”

The witch blinked a couple of times. Beneath her eyelids, ominously shining golden pupils.

The witch, who had been fiddling with the black gauntlet on her hand, slowly opened her mouth.

“Is that so.”

It was not an answer to the question. Just as Geryones was about to rage at the witch's actions, which were close to an incomprehensible mutter, she rose from her seat.

Thud. Thud.

Because no hostility was felt, his reaction was delayed.

The witch's right hand, clad in a black gauntlet, rose above Geryones's head. It looked like a parent stroking a child.

First bewilderment, then rage. It was at that moment that boiling curses were about to burst from Geryones's mouth.

White light gathered in the White Nameless's grip.

The light, connected one strand from each of the five fingers, soon burst out as a white light (白光) that dyed the entire room white.

The moment those momentarily blinded by the flash came to their senses.

In their eyes, the reflection of Geryones, whose upper jaw had evaporated.

Because the blazing heat of the light had cauterized the flesh, not even blood beaded up. His six proud arms hung limply, proving their master's death.

The White Nameless looked around the room.

“Anyone else who objects to the merger?”

…

…This was the entirety of Geryones's description in the original novel I had read.

To obtain clues about the White Nameless, the protagonist's party employs various means. An extra who made a brief appearance in a past scene that began with reading the memories of souls through necromancy.

As he was one of the Magic Tower Masters of Etna City, he must have had some hidden power of his own, and judging by his words, he likely had considerable attachment to his faction.

However, since he was a minor role that only served to emphasize the White Nameless's cruelty and then exit, nothing was known about his personal history.

Comparing the original novel's image of him proudly protesting to the White Nameless with his current appearance, with his arms torn off and cowering, he seems a bit pitiful.

At least in the original he was a role that died, but now he's alive, so should I say that's fortunate?

I looked at Geryones with mixed feelings.

***

“President. Who is that person?”

Ortes, glancing at Geryones, asked Karisia. For someone in the position of the second-in-command overseeing the Hydra Corporation, it was impossible not to know Geryones.

Putting aside various reasons, wasn't Geryones a business competitor of the Hydra Corporation?

“Geryones. He is our guest.”

The Directors accepted that the current exchange, close to a formality, was a plan by the two of them to humiliate Geryones.

Geryones had attacked Karisia while she was registering as a Magic Tower Master, but was counterattacked and taken prisoner. Calling a prisoner a guest while ignoring the top-ranked powerhouse of Etna City as if seeing him for the first time today, what else could that be but an insult?

If Ortes had known the Directors inner thoughts, he would have felt wronged. From his perspective, the conversation just now was merely a way to gauge Karisia's mood.

Ortes had far too many memories of being scolded for acting on his own without asking for Karisia's intentions.

'Does this mean she has no intention of killing him? Well. Judging by how he looks now, he doesn't seem to have any will to fight either.'

“A pleasure to meet you, Geryones. It is an honor to meet such a renowned mage of Etna City.”

It wasn't only the Directors who felt that every word was full of provocation. Geryones felt the same way.

He recalled the rumors about the man standing behind Karisia.

Ortes, just as shrouded in mystery as his master Karisia. The only piece of information worth salvaging was cross-verified testimony that he used a sword.

“But. May I ask what brings you here?”

Ortes asked out of genuine curiosity. He simply could not understand how that man had come to be captured in such a state, and why his own name was given as the reason for the capture.

Not many of the Directors knew the answer to the question.

For most of the Directors, including Cryton, they had come in thinking there was a meeting, only to find Geryones, half of his arms missing, held as a prisoner.

Arabel, who knew some of the circumstances, bit her lip.

'My goodness. To have advised Karisia herself and then act so innocently?'

Arabel remembered a strange remark Ortes had made before Karisia moved to register as a Magic Tower Master.

'Don't be a fool who puts death into your plans', advice so insolent from a subordinate to their master that it was beyond rude, it was insulting.

At first, given the circumstances, she guessed it was a warning directed at the Directors who were trying to plot a rebellion during Karisia's absence.

'But that wasn't all. It was a message to us, but at the same time, it was also advice for Karisia.'

A double implication to capture Geryones, who would soon attack, alive rather than kill him.

The ways to use a corpse are limited. A tragic death only becomes a cause for Geryones's subordinates to unite.

The best option would be to summon a necromancer, take control of the corpse, and manipulate it like a puppet.

In contrast, if you have a living hostage?

It is both a weight that prevents Geryones's remnants from acting recklessly by their very existence, and a bait that can guide their actions. It is also entirely possible to use his subordinates in exchange for Geryones's release. Geryones could become a useful tool.

But Arabel did not explain her deduction to the other Directors. Karisia had gone alone to change the Magic Tower Master registration. If Arabel explained the circumstances, it would be equivilant to confessing that she had had her watched.

“It seems there are still many among the Directors who are unaware of the situation. I will explain.”

As the Directors silence continued, Karisia finally opened her mouth.

***

The governing structure of this world is simple.

The ten Magic Towers that manage the Ten Commandments are the highest tier of the Mage Association. They are, so to speak, akin to royalty. The Magic Towers under them, permitted to access the Ten Commandments, can be compared to high nobility.

Even being a mage is treated as a privileged class, but Magic Towers with a connection to the Ten Commandments are even more special among mages.

These powerful Magic Towers are called the Apex Magic Towers, as they stand at the pinnacle of Magic Towers.

The Magic Tower Master registration procedure begins when a new Magic Tower Master appears before a Apex Magic Tower and reports, "I have come to manage Magic Tower Number ○○ in such-and-such city."

When a report is received, the Apex Magic Tower verifies the qualifications of the Magic Tower Master.

First, whether the mage claiming to be the Magic Tower Master possesses the authority to control the mana core of that Magic Tower.

All mana cores of Magic Towers are connected to the Ten Commandments. Therefore, the Top Magic Tower, which has access rights to the Ten Commandments, can easily determine ownership of the mana core control authority. It is a simple procedure that usually ends within five minutes.

The real test is the second one: Mana Injection Measurement.

The most important function of a Magic Tower is to purify extradimensional mana.

Normally, a Magic Tower's purification magic uses mana that the mana core automatically charges by collecting surplus mana from the atmosphere.

However, in the event of an unexpected accident where all the mana charged in the mana core is depleted, the Magic Tower Master and their subordinate mages must step in to manually recharge the mana.

The core of the Mana Injection Measurement is 'whether sufficient mana can be supplied to the mana core in an emergency.'

In this test, you pass by injecting mana to achieve the required charging amount.

Although the required charging amount varies depending on the grade of the Magic Tower's mana core, the standard that the mana core must be charged with enough mana to use magic for 24 hours remains constant regardless of the grade.

Sustaining an amount of mana sufficient to maintain magic for 24 hours alone is an extremely difficult task.

Therefore, not only the Magic Tower Master themselves but any mage under their command can participate in this test. Because not just the Tower Master, but all affiliated personnel, have an obligation to recharge the mana core.

For a school with many affiliated personnel, it was a test that could be passed through sheer numbers.

However, Karisia appeared for the test alone. Therefore, she had no colleagues to share the mana consumption.

Geryones planned to ambush Karisia as she returned to Etna City after finishing this measurement, easily dealing with the mage who had exhausted her mana.

…And as you can see. Karisia brought Geryones back, barely keeping him alive.

“I remembered the advice you gave. About not putting death into your plans.”

I really didn't mean it that way. I feel like sighing.

Geryones had an expression that said, 'How in the world did that guy know I was going to attack?!'

Let's organize my thoughts.

First of all, while part of the reason Karisia kept Geryones alive is probably due to my words, there must be other reasons as well.

Using my words as an excuse is probably a kind of 'discipline' aimed at the Directors. Specifically, a hint that me and my subordinate already know about unexpected situations like this, so stop any funny business.

Would she really spare the life of an enemy who charged at her just because she believed in my words? Karisia does not live so without a plan. There is definitely something she is aiming for.

What could Karisia's true intentions be?

If I don't figure it out, I'm sure I'll get scolded terribly again later. Praying that my employer's temper improves a little, I began to speak.

***

“A dead enemy is nothing but a corpse, but a living enemy can be used.”

Geryones heard Ortes's cold words. It was clear that his fate as a defeated general rested with Ortes, the President's trusted subordinate.

The hopeful thing was that Ortes had mentioned using him. Wouldn't he need to be alive to be used, after all?

He was thankful that among the Hydra Corporation's Directors, there were no mages who mainly dealt with darkness or lightning. If they had used brainwashing through electrical manipulation or necromancy that kills and then controls the soul, he would have been in a state where he was not alive even if he looked it.

Geryones, holding his breath in anticipation of Ortes's judgment, saw Karisia and Ortes's eyes meet for a moment.

A conversation of glances that ended in an instant. Soon after, Karisia nodded. Karisia had permitted Ortes's actions.

“Dear Directors, I dare to ask.”

Geryones instinctively sensed that he was now hearing something he should not be hearing.

“Do you know the founding purpose of the Hydra Corporation? The goal of our President?”

***

Our eyes just happened to meet, but Karisia nodded. I can tell after watching her for so long. It was a look of intense expectation.

The problem is that I don't know what exactly she expects.

I don't have any mind-reading abilities, so I wish she would just tell me in words.

Damn it.

"She did drag Geryon back here for the reason I'm thinking of... right?"

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