WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 124: Muel (2)
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White mist rose throughout the Royal Capital.
It slowly billowed out, spreading across the entire city.
The Royal Capital looked as though it had been swallowed by fog.
Everything was blurred and murky.
Residents who sensed something was wrong emerged from their homes one by one.
“Wake up and look at that! Hurry!”
“Is that all fog?”
“I can't see anything!”
“What is going on...?”
A great commotion broke out in the middle of the night.
Every resident of the Royal Capital was confused.
The strange phenomenon had come far too suddenly.
Mapheltan watched from the air.
Clicking his tongue, he muttered,
“...Muel, what in the world are you doing?”
Muel could not manifest in the Material Realm anyway.
An Archmage conducting a summoning ritual alone could not summon an Archdemon.
Even if the Royal Capital vanished as a Sacrificial Offering, no one would benefit from it.
From Muel's perspective, it would be a loss.
It would damage Muel's relationship with the Apostle.
Mapheltan had made it clear to Muel that he needed the Royal Capital.
Yet, even after hearing that, Muel had caused this disaster.
This was practically a declaration of war against an Apostle.
Why would an Archdemon show hostility toward an Apostle? Mapheltan could not easily understand the reason.
As he pondered in silence, Ilea spoke.
“I don't know much, but one thing is certain. Muel wouldn't commit such an atrocity just out of anger.”
In the Holy Scriptures and the Ominous Book, Muel was described as a highly rational demon.
Muel would not destroy a relationship with an Apostle merely because Mapheltan had refused to help with the summoning ritual.
If Muel had committed such an atrocity, there had to be a valid reason.
After thinking for a moment, Mapheltan spoke.
“I agree. Muel isn't someone who would dig their own grave. This is only a guess, but I believe Muel saw some kind of future. By carrying out this summoning ritual, something that benefits Muel will surely happen.”
Muel was a demon with powerful foresight and would never willingly take a loss.
There was a high chance that clear calculations and intent lay behind this sudden move.
Ilea nodded.
“First, we need to figure out what Muel is planning.”
Mapheltan was skeptical.
“Before that, we must stop this summoning ritual.”
If they allowed the ritual to continue, countless lives would be lost.
The Royal Capital would certainly fall.
Mapheltan could not simply stand by and watch it happen.
Ilea stared at Mapheltan.
“Is that for self-interest, or moral duty?”
Mapheltan answered at once.
“Both. I need the Royal Capital, and I do not wish to watch them be offered as sacrifices. Does that answer your question?”
Ilea smiled calmly.
“More than enough. Then let's stop the ritual first.”
“Do you have a way?”
Ilea sank into thought for a moment.
Before long, she spoke.
“It is possible. However, you will have to accept a certain amount of loss and risk.”
Loss and risk. Mapheltan found it deeply irritating.
Because of Muel, he had to take on risks he had not planned for.
‘Whatever future Muel saw, I will make Muel pay the price.’
Suppressing a groan, he spoke.
“It can't be helped. Let's move.”
Ilea nodded.
“First, let's change locations. There are too many eyes here.”
She flew higher into the sky.
Mapheltan immediately followed her.
They could see the entire Royal Capital at a glance.
The enormous city was shrouded in hazy fog.
“What are you planning to do?”
Without answering, Ilea began casting magic.
Small, complex equations appeared in her eyes.
“I'll first examine the structure of Muel's summoning ritual. If I can identify the formula's weakness and its catalyst, we can minimize the damage.”
Ilea began carefully observing the Royal Capital.
Her expression darkened.
At times, her brow furrowed.
Even for a Witch, it was not easy to analyze an Archmage's spell formula in an instant.
Quite a long time passed.
Mapheltan was anxious, but he silently waited for Ilea.
* * *
The Royal Capital Main Church, Grand Assembly Hall. Countless clergymen rushed inside.
Because of the sudden phenomenon, most people of bishop rank or higher had been summoned.
As soon as they arrived, they took seats in the tiered hall.
Regardless of rank, they sat wherever there was an empty seat.
This was no time to care about seats of honor.
It was an emergency.
Once the briefing ended, they would all have to rush to the scene.
“It seems everyone's here, so begin at once!”
“Archbishop Seirun has not arrived yet!”
“That man's late even at a time like this?!”
“How dare you say such a thing!”
The assembly hall was as noisy as a market.
No one could keep a clear head.
The situation was too urgent to remain calm.
“How far do you intend to drag down the Church's prestige?!”
“Demonic Energy in the heart of the Royal Capital! This is beyond ridiculous!”
The uproar continued.
“Everyone, be silent.”
Amid the chaos, a low, resonant voice echoed through the hall.
A middle-aged person dressed in pure white robes stood on the stage.
As the person appeared, the commotion gradually died down.
Someone shouted toward the stage.
“Director! Everyone's here, so please give us a quick briefing!”
The person standing on the stage was Archbishop Rohagen, Director of the Divine Inquisition Bureau.
Rohagen headed an institution that monitored every form of evil, including demons, heretics, and apostates.
Director Archbishop Rohagen spoke.
“I will dispense with all formalities and briefly explain what we have learned. The fog currently covering the Royal Capital is the Demonic Energy of the Archdemon Muel.”
The moment they heard Muel's name, no one could hide their shock.
“M-Muel?!”
“The Demonic Energy was pure white... So it was Muel after all!”
“What has that traitor come here to do now?!”
Director Rohagen raised a hand to stop them.
“A wicked group is offering the entire Royal Capital as a Sacrificial Offering and conducting a ritual to summon Muel. The associated spell formula has already been inscribed throughout the Royal Capital.”
It was truly absurd and outrageous.
“What has the Divine Inquisition Bureau been doing all this time?!”
“After the Apostle attacked the Royal Capital before, have you still not learned your lesson?!”
“How could you be so negligent!”
Countless rebukes were directed at the Director.
The Divine Inquisition Bureau had failed in its duty.
The Director of the Divine Inquisition Bureau should have noticed the warning signs and prepared countermeasures before the situation came this far.
Instead, the Divine Inquisition Bureau had only rushed into action after the incident erupted.
Even if this matter was resolved, they would probably not escape punishment.
Director Rohagen spoke.
“I acknowledge my incompetence, but now is not the time to blame one another. Within an hour, the Envoys of Hell will set foot in the Royal Capital. The summoning ritual must be destroyed before they appear.”
The Envoys of Hell were beings that dragged living sacrifices to the Lower Realm.
Ordinary people could not resist them.
Most of the Royal Capital would helplessly lose their lives.
Someone spoke toward the stage.
“How far has the investigation into the formula progressed?”
Rohagen looked toward the speaker.
“We have found the center of the formula, but we have not yet reached the catalyst. Even now, many of our comrades are dying because of the magic constructed at its center.”
To stop the ritual, they had to destroy the catalyst.
But they had not yet reached it.
The reason was the high-level magic.
“...If the magic is strong enough to harm agents of the Inquisition Bureau, could an Archmage be involved?”
Rohagen nodded.
“Archmage Lumina. The White Mage has been identified as the mastermind behind this incident.”
Sighs erupted throughout the hall.
An Archmage was truly a Transcendent.
To oppose one, they needed a Transcendent like Wolfgang or one of the Twelve Sacred Insignia.
Fortunately, Flesh-Shredder Azbal, Fourth Seat of the Twelve Sacred Insignia, was stationed in the Royal Capital.
However, even Azbal could not easily break through an Archmage's magic.
It was truly difficult to destroy a thoroughly prepared high-level spell in a short time.
Even clergymen skilled in cursebreaking were struggling now.
Anxiety filled the hall.
“...If this involves an Archmage, resolving it at once may be difficult.”
“It would be better to abandon the Royal Capital.”
There was one hour left until the Envoys appeared.
Before then, the Great Saint Church had to issue an evacuation order.
The Royal Capital would disappear, but countless lives would survive.
Rohagen spoke.
“The evacuation order has already been issued. In truth... the Inquisition Bureau has judged that it cannot protect the Royal Capital.”
There was too little time remaining.
Rather than destroying the formula, leaving the Royal Capital was the right choice.
Most of the clergymen gathered in the hall agreed.
“...Is that truly the best we can do?”
“It is right to plan for what comes after.”
“Five hundred years of the Royal Capital's history will become meaningless.”
Sighs and laments rose from all sides.
Some covered their faces and wept.
The Royal Capital was a city of great historical significance.
Even during the Holy War five hundred years ago, it had not fallen.
Everyone had remained until the end to defend it.
Today, the efforts of their ancestors would come to nothing.
As citizens of the Kingdom, they could not help but be overcome with grief.
Just as everyone fell into bitter resignation, the lights illuminating the assembly hall went out all at once.
The interior was suddenly plunged into darkness.
Nothing could be seen.
“What is happening?!”
“Turn on the lights at once!”
The extinguished lights did not return.
Instead, a faint glow seeped in from outside.
The rear doors of the Grand Assembly Hall flew open, and light from outside poured through the gap.
Everyone turned around.
Demonic Energy darker than night rippled.
Within the darkness, red eyes flickered.
A chilling voice settled over the assembly hall.
“What a thoroughly pathetic lot.”
Several clergymen sprang to their feet.
“W-Who are you?!”
“Could it be...?”
All kinds of Holy spells were unleashed in an instant.
The hall brightened once more.
Cries of shock erupted from every side.
A vicious being stood before them.
A demon holding a black spear, massive wings spread wide. The Thirteenth Apostle of the End.
White Horn slowly opened his mouth.
“Take her. I have done your work in your stead.”
Mapheltan casually threw something.
A woman in white landed on the stage with a thud.
Whether she was dead or merely unconscious, she did not move in the slightest.
As everyone froze at the sudden development, several people shouted.
“An Apostle! Form up!”
They were old now, but they had once been Seekers of Evil's Destruction.
They immediately began preparing to attack.
Countless Holy spells formed across the ceiling of the assembly hall.
Mapheltan gave a snort.
“Do you repay kindness with hostility? You are an unpleasant lot to the end.”
Then he vanished in an instant.
White flames and sharp blades struck the place where he had stood.
A thunderous blast rang out.
Fragments of the shattered floor scattered in every direction.
From within the billowing smoke, someone shouted.
“White Horn! Where did White Horn go, sir?!”
It was Azbal, Fourth Seat of the Twelve Sacred Insignia, wearing a pure white hood.
Director Rohagen spoke to him.
“Azbal! What in the world is going on here?!”
Azbal scratched his head.
“I don't really know, sir. White Horn just helped us. White Horn caught that Archmage too.”
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