Chapter 289

0.

In a forest far from Heptarion.

There, a figure appeared as if teleported.

The shadow-like silhouette chattered as if annoyed.

“That vermin of a Sword Saint told us to mass-produce magic weapons.”

As the shadow-like silhouette grumbled.

Although it had been an empty forest just a moment ago, small ripples formed as if on a calm lake, and two more identical, shadow-like silhouettes appeared.

They still exuded an unpleasant aura.

And gestured as if to say, ‘Come in.’

The newly appeared shadow went inside.

Then, a rather well-built stone house, which had been invisible from the outside, was there.

No, to be precise, should it be called a laboratory?

“He's the kind of guy who thinks magic weapons just pop out of nowhere.”

“Kugh, if we hadn't joined hands with the Grand Duke, we wouldn't have to listen to the orders of such a thing……”

“Even though I told him that naturally occurring magic weapons are much stronger, he wouldn't listen.”

“I suppose he can't wait.”

The three shadows spoke.

Although it was a conversation close to complaining.

They all had no choice but to bad-mouth the Sword Saint.

For a mere human to dare to rival the great demons.

Of course, they acknowledged his strength.

“It can't be helped. We need him to take down Over Palace.”

“Kuhuhu, then again, Over Palace is a burden for us as well.”

“Because it's not easy even if the Grand Duke and several other nobles step up.”

“So, strengthening the army of that guy on the surface with magic weapons is essential.”

They were displeased with the fact that they had to help humans.

But there was the even more displeasing Over Palace.

That is why they were doing this work.

Then, the shadow that had just arrived muttered.

“Ah, that Sword Saint said he would come in person.”

“Damn it, to think we have to be monitored as well.”

“Humiliating. When did he say he would come?”

At that question, the shadow that had just arrived answered.

“He said he would come to the magic tower in four days. So he'll come here on the night of the fourth day.”

“We must complete one by then.”

“We'll have to squeeze the heart more.”

“More importantly, are the materials sufficient?”

At that question, they all grumbled in annoyance.

“There's a shortage of usable warriors.”

“We need to grind them up raw. Kehehehe.”

“It seems we've used up the village we had before.”

“You mean those natives? We used them all up long ago.”

“Hrmmm, we'll have to procure more materials soon.”

They muttered as if it were a pity.

The very culprits behind the disappearance of the native scenarios that should have been in Heptarion were right here.

Even in the early days, there was a scenario involving the natives.

But they paid no mind to such things.

Why would demons care about the well-being of humans?

Then, suddenly.

“What about the tower's escort knights?”

“Hrmmm, if the escort knights disappear, it will arouse suspicion.”

“A new recruit just came in, so let’s check him out.”

“Let's also see if there are any other villages in this area.”

“The road to the city has been blocked. The concealment is sufficient.”

And so, with a plan to attack another village.

They simply began the work of making magic weapons in the stone chamber, which was littered with human blood, all while bad-mouthing the Sword Saint.

1.

The job of an escort knight at the Caliber Magic Tower was not very interesting.

The role of accompanying the magic tower's mages when they went to collect materials was at least fun.

But they didn't go out very often.

The main job was much more often to guard around the magic tower or its entrance.

A tedious and boring job.

However, Seonghyun was looking around with considerable interest.

‘Hrmmm.’

Since he had to search for a mage who exuded magic energy.

Standing guard or patrolling inside the tower wasn't as boring as he thought.

The reason for this was a being he discovered while on patrol.

A being visible only to Seonghyun, translucent and turquoise.

-Gasp!? You, you are a noble person!?

There was no need to go through every nook and cranny of the magic tower, nor was there a need to worry about infiltrating the basement.

And so, as Seonghyun absorbed the ghost's memory.

[You have shown abilities beyond your current stats with an ‘unknown power’.]

[Wisdom +3 and Intelligence +3 are permanently increased.]

‘Oho.’

Although it was a ghost that had died quite a long time ago.

Because it had wandered all over the magic tower after death.

He was able to read even those memories, and the stat increase was a bonus.

The problem was.

‘Hrmmm. There’s no one?’

He had thought that perhaps there would be no one in the magic tower.

But to think there was really no one.

Seonghyun read the ghost's memory and scratched his cheek, looking a little troubled.

If there's no one in the magic tower, how would he know who the demon in the magic tower is?

Because it was a ghost with a strong sense of curiosity.

It had quite a few memories of what the mages were doing.

But even in the ghost's memories, it was hard to see any mages doing anything suspicious.

That's why he was having difficulties with the investigation.

But he wasn't particularly anxious or frustrated.

‘This is also kind of fun.’

Because it was also quite fun to reach the goal by finding clues one by one like this.

As Seonghyun was thinking that.

-You said there were no disappearances, right?

Helena's voice was heard.

At Helena's voice, which sounded a bit strange, Seonghyun tilted his head.

-Yeah, from what I've gathered, there haven't been any.

-Strange……. To make magic-infused weapons, you definitely need warriors.

-Warriors?

At Seonghyun's question, Helena answered as if it were a matter of course.

-Originally, naturally magic-infused weapons are created when magic energy slowly gathers in a magic weapon that has killed a tremendous number of people or living beings. But demons create weapons by grinding up living beings and then infuse the magic energy themselves.

-……Hrmmm.

-But the number of living beings that go into it would be enormous, so it's strange that there have been no signs. So there's no way magic-infused weapons are being made here.

Then again, if they had to grind up that many living beings.

It would be absolutely impossible to attempt it in the magic tower.

He knew they had infiltrated this magic tower, which specializes in enchantments, because they needed magic weapons, but in that case, there should be missing people in this area to make magic-infused weapons.

But there was no such news in the city.

It was truly a baffling situation.

Then, Seonghyun suddenly felt something strange from the memory he had just absorbed.

‘Huh? The natives?’

-Ah! That's right. I heard it's been strangely difficult to see natives in the forest lately???

Another clue obtained through the ghost's memory.

The natives.

But Seonghyun tilted his head, looking puzzled.

Ever since the users came to this city.

No one had seen any natives.

Although it was a ghost that had died a long time ago.

If the natives were frequently seen in the forest near the city, their numbers should have been quite large.

But not a single one of those natives could be seen.

‘There's no memory of an order to exterminate the natives or anything like that…….’

-Yes!!! That's why it's strange!!! Because they disappeared as if they had suddenly evaporated.

‘It’s certain.’

The demons must have killed the natives.

Perhaps.

‘I need to look into this.’

Rather than blindly going into the forest to search, he decided to investigate in the city first.

As Seonghyun was thinking that and finished his patrol.

The escort knight captain, who was looking at Seonghyun with a very pleased expression for not running away and showing up for work on the second day, spoke to him.

“Ah, Yoosung, you are truly diligent.”

“Ah, thank you. I was just doing my job.”

“Hahaha! Such people are very rare these days! That’s what it means to be diligent!”

“Thank you.”

It seemed he had been through a lot.

Then, the escort knight captain looked at Seonghyun and said.

“That’s enough for today, you can go home.”

“Oh? Is that alright?”

“Yes, yes, you worked hard. See you tomorrow.”

“Thank you. You too, Captain.”

“Hahaha! Yes, yes!”

Such a good boss, letting him go home early so readily.

Seonghyun left the magic tower, happily clocking out early.

Seeing the knights still roaming the streets.

The atmosphere felt tense.

But since he had gotten a job as an escort knight at the magic tower, no knights looked at him with suspicious eyes.

He was also wearing an armband indicating he belonged to the Caliber Magic Tower, which was as good as an ID.

It was only natural.

And so, Seonghyun strolled through the city and asked a few elderly people.

“I heard there were natives near the city a long time ago.”

“Ah! That’s right, there were. Was it since last year? I haven’t seen them once, I wonder if something happened.”

“I see.”

If it was last year, it might have been just before the advance party reached the seventh city.

As Seonghyun was investigating.

He also saw a few ghosts and skimmed through their memories.

[You have shown abilities beyond your current stats with an ‘unknown power’.]

[Wisdom +2 and Intelligence +2 are permanently increased.]

[You have shown abilities beyond your current stats with an ‘unknown power’.]

[Wisdom +3 and Intelligence +2 are permanently increased.]

[You have shown abilities beyond your current stats with an ‘unknown power’.]

[Wisdom +2 and Intelligence +3 are permanently increased.]

The information he obtained was all the same: that the natives had lived in a village in the forest, and that there had been quite a bit of interaction with them.

However, the people of the city did not particularly welcome the natives.

So after they disappeared, they didn't really look for them.

There was also information that some natives had settled and were living in the city.

But they said that no more natives could be found in the forest.

As he was stirring things up like that.

[Scenario Quest 『The Vanished Natives』 is created.]

A scenario quest was created.

‘Hrmmm.’

Judging by this.

He had a feeling that the scenario here would have started with a conflict between the people of this city and the natives.

But in the midst of that, the natives suddenly disappeared.

So, as if the scenario quest had changed, a scenario to find the natives was created.

Seeing that, Seonghyun narrowed his eyes and muttered.

‘It’s certain.’

The demons must have done something to the natives.

He didn't know how many demons there were.

But he knew that at least one had infiltrated the magic tower.

Let's go to the forest right away.

Since he got off work early today, he had plenty of time.

And so, as Seonghyun shot towards the forest at high speed.

He opened the gate to the underworld.

Then, vassals who were good at searching the surroundings were summoned and scattered in all directions.

In particular, Noctrinium appeared and searched the area.

But there were no significant findings.

‘Hrmmm.’

For some reason, none of the vassals could find any noticeable traces in the forest.

Even Sibren and Noirtain, the assassin-types, couldn't find any traces.

As Helena watched Seonghyun stirring up the forest like that, she said.

“Those demon bastards are naturally sneaky, so they have a knack for erasing their traces. It’s not easy for even me to find their traces now.”

“Hrmmm.”

If even Helena found it difficult to find traces.

It might be better to follow the traces of the quest rather than searching directly like this.

‘The quest said there are survivors somewhere in the city, right?’

It seemed he would have to find those survivors first.