CHAPTER 163: THE OPENING OF THE GRAND LIBRARY

Hugin chose not to recall the Smoke Demon because he needed a presence to converse with, a way to minimize his anger's impact on his thoughts.

Though the smoke demon was a chatterbox, Hugin had long grown accustomed to its presence. He knew that, despite its sharp tongue and fondness for mockery, its thoughts were incisive and truthful.

"So, what exactly do you plan to do? Are you trying to create some fabricated organization? Don't be ridiculous. After all these years with you, don't you think I'm aware how much control the royal family has over the Nightblades?

"The Nightblades are a relic of a bygone era. They may have had some degree of autonomy in the past, but how much of that remains? You should be well aware. How do you intend to get the leverage to pull this off? And if you're exposed, both the nobles and the royal family will target you. Damn it, I don't want to die with you."

The smoke demon's swirling vapors spun relentlessly around Hugin, its grating voice hammering home harsh truths.

"You're right, but I'm still not giving up. You know full well that my potential, Malevolent Possession, is bound to end in tragedy. I won't let this tragedy consume me, even if it costs me my life. I once believed that the Nightblades could help me achieve this goal, but now... I realize I was wrong."

Hugin pulled open a drawer in his desk, retrieving an ordinary-looking piece of paper. Yet, the power imbued within it was strikingly similar to the divine force of the God of Order that had once been present in the contract he had given Charles.

"I won't drag Sieg, Wang Yu, or the others into this storm that may well lead nowhere. I shall face it myself..."

Hugin remained silent for a long time, completely ignoring the smoke demon's incessant chatter. Only after his gaze grew troubled did he finally make a firm decision.

He could not turn a blind eye to these atrocities. Whether or not the nobles were the perpetrators, they deserved to be punished. The Nightblades wouldn't be the ones to deliver that punishment—but the former Nightblades could be.

Pressing the Nightblades's seal of highest authority onto the seemingly plain sheet of paper, Hugin activated the divine power of Order embedded within its unique magitech circuit. This projection of authority triggered a transformation. As the divine power dissipated, it resonated with those connected to it.

In homes across the capital—retired Nightblades, an unassuming tavern owner, even a member of the city guard—an unremarkable piece of white paper appeared before them, displaying changes only they could perceive.

After eliminating a stronghold of the Cult of the Abyss alongside a Nightblades team, Wang Yu left the cleanup to Gilbert and the others. His primary goal had been to help the Nightblades resolve a hidden threat within the capital's shadow while also testing the effectiveness of the prayer network.

The network's ability to mitigate mental contamination was impressive. As the number of followers of the Lady of the Night grew, its effectiveness would only increase, but even in its current state, it allowed the Nightblades to resist most forms of mental corruption.

Following his battle with Morak, Wang Yu had also formed a conclusive opinion on Fury of the Forge. While not particularly effective in one-on-one combat, the alchemical revolver crafted by Avia was nevertheless his most powerful offensive tool, as long as he could create an opportunity to land a charged shot.

After handling affairs in the capital's shadow, Wang Yu returned to his home on Redmaple Street. As he approached, he immediately noticed a familiar figure squatting across from his house.

"What are you doing there, Charles?" Wang Yu frowned as he approached.

"It's me." Charles' voice was unusually calm, lacking his usual lively tone. Wang Yu instantly understood the meaning behind those words. Right now, the one controlling Charles' body was the demon, "One."

"What's the matter? Why are you here?" Wang Yu didn't speak aloud but instead switched to undetectable ripple-based communication. Since "One" had sought him out, Wang Yu, knowing its nature, was certain it wasn't for something trivial.

"I have a warning for you, though I can't guarantee it'll be of much use. For the foreseeable future, my precognitive abilities have been completely obscured by a gray void. That means there is nothing I can foresee during this period.

"This could indicate one of two things—either an entity so powerful that I cannot comprehend it has shrouded the short-term future, or someone with an understanding and mastery of the void that utterly surpasses mine has orchestrated something in secret. In any case, something is likely to happen soon. You should be careful and stay alert."

Though "One's" tone remained level, the implications were anything but trivial. If something was too powerful for "One" to comprehend, just how strong did it have to be? And if someone had greater mastery over the void than a demon, what kind of existence could that be?

"I'll be cautious." Wang Yu nodded. He was never one to lower his guard, and since "One" had provided no concrete details, this warning only reinforced his need to pay attention to happenings in the capital.

"Also, I underestimated you. The corruption blocker... I can sense its effects on Charles as well. It's truly remarkable. In any case, both Charles and I hope things move in a positive direction. Keep at it... Huh? Why am I here?"

As "One" finished speaking, the conversation ended abruptly. Charles' eyelids drooped slightly. When he blinked again, his expression shifted to one of confusion.

"Yeah, why are you here?" Wang Yu naturally had no intention of explaining. Instead, he simply threw the question back at Charles. "One" had altered his memories, and it wouldn't be wise to reveal that his body had just been possessed.

"Ugh... My head's a bit fuzzy. But whatever, let me think... How did I get here?" Charles ruffled his hair, shaking his head slightly. It was clear that "One's" influence had dulled his thinking, causing him to overlook details he would normally find suspicious.

"Go ahead and think about it." Wang Yu leaned against his garden wall, curious to see how "One" would make Charles rationalize his sudden presence here.

"Oh! I remember now—damn it, it was that bastard Edward! He and his catgirl girlfriend were being all lovey-dovey. Even though that coward just sits there sipping tea and chatting, the atmosphere is—you know what I mean?

"That unbearable, suffocating atmosphere—ugh! Just sitting there and watching them, I could practically hear a voice screaming in my ear, 'Get lost! Get lost!'

"What was I supposed to do? Stay there and watch him flaunt his relationship? Don't try to tell me they were ‘just chatting'—damn it, he was blatantly showing off! That traitorous bastard... I—I mean, I'm really happy for him."

Charles gritted his teeth, clearly adding his own dramatic flair to the situation. His jealousy was thinly veiled. Wang Yu imagined the scene Charles had witnessed. Being a third wheel like that would be rough, wouldn't it?

"Honestly, given your looks, talent, and status, wouldn't any noble lady in the capital throw herself at you? Even some married women... You could have them wrapped around your finger in no time."

Wang Yu smirked, teasing Charles with a knowing look. Indeed, given his qualities, most women in the capital would be enamored with him. He really had no reason to envy Edward.

"Don't joke like that! And married noblewomen? Ugh!" Charles shuddered, waving his hand dismissively, clearly uncomfortable with Wang Yu's teasing.

"What about the others, then?" Wang Yu raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, I don't know. I don't really mind, I suppose, but if I actually went through with it, I'd feel like I was betraying someone. It just doesn't feel right." Charles scratched his head, puzzled by his own strange thoughts.

"Alright, go ahead and figure that out on your own. I'm heading home. The capital still isn't very peaceful these days, so be careful. Try not to get caught up in any family disputes—it'd be a huge hassle."

Wang Yu pondered Charles' odd sentiments for a moment before casually waving his hand, opening his door, and stepping inside, leaving Charles outside to contemplate his strange feelings.

"You're back? How did the mission go?" Avia asked.

"Smoothly. Took care of a bunch of beasts, and the effects of the prayer network were as good as could be expected. Are you writing a letter to your mother?" Wang Yu responded as he walked up to the dining table.

Due to distance limitations, long-range communication in this world wasn't well developed. Apart from special large-scale magic arrays supporting key communication channels, such as those between the battlefield and the capital, real-time magical communication currently only covered roughly the range of a single capital city.

Hundreds of kilometers separated Avia and her mother at Villa Mayene, far exceeding the limits of magical communication. Letters were the only option for keeping in touch.

"That's right. Doesn't faith in Lady Darkness allow believers to use the prayer network for real-time communication? I hope my mother will start being a believer of Lady Darkness as well—it would make it much easier for me to talk to her."

Avia waved the pen in her hand with a smile. It was clear that exchanging letters with her mother made her happy—and perhaps the prayer network Wang Yu had created would indeed make that communication more convenient.

"Doesn't your mother already have a faith? Will the deity she worships mind?"

"She did—she used to include praises for that deity in her letters. Lately, however, she hasn't brought it up. I asked her about it in my last letter, and it seems she chose to step away from that faith. It's understandable—she was only ever a casual believer. Her faith was more of a habit from when she lived with my grandfather.

"Since the requirements for believing in Lady Darkness are simple, I don't think my mother would mind adopting this faith herself." Avia pressed a finger to her lips in thought, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Here, will you read this over for me? Wang Yu, you should write something too. My mother and I have been mentioning you in our letters—she's probably curious and would like to hear from you directly."

Avia pushed the letter in front of Wang Yu.

"Do I have to write my own reply, too? I don't really have much to say..."

Wang Yu was caught off guard. Until now, Avia had always handled the letters to Mira by herself. Out of respect for her family affairs, Wang Yu had never read them. Her sudden request for him to write back was unexpected.

"Of course you do! Ugh, you promised me, remember?" Avia pouted and poked Wang Yu's waist with her finger. She looked into his eyes for a moment before turning slightly red.

"Yeah... you're right." It made sense—he was part of her life now, and he should also be included in the letters to her mother.

He scanned the letter. It was relatively lighthearted, containing updates on new spells she was learning at the academy, progress in wizardry, recent happenings in the capital, and a few things about Wang Yu himself. In short, it was much like the letters people wrote home after moving away for work: reassuring and free of bad news, meant to put the recipient at ease.

Mira's responses followed a similar pattern. As an experienced grand wizard, she clearly wanted to guide Avia in her wizardry studies, though the limitations of written communication meant most of her advice was general encouragement. Ah... and then there were some teasing remarks about Wang Yu.

Wang Yu turned to Avia. Though she had grown comfortable around him over time, she still blushed and looked away, embarrassed to meet his gaze.

With a slight chuckle, Wang Yu shook his head and picked up the pen, mentally drafting what he could say to Mira.

There was no need to mention the mess in the capital. While Mira was smart enough to have her own suspicions about the city's true state, there was no point in sharing his burdens with her.

"The capital is doing fine. Mira, you might want to hire some extra guards at the manor—during wartime, safety should always come first. The Nightblades do pay well, after all..."

With his knightly physique enhancing his dexterity, he quickly turned his thoughts into flowing words. The soft scratching of the pen filled the room.

Avia handed him a magic-sealed envelope. Once the letter was secured inside, it would be sent with the thrice-monthly courier service.

"Oh, right! The Grand Library's slated to open in about half a month. Those of us who qualify will enter through the academy's entrance."

"That's sooner than I expected." Wang Yu nodded. The Grand Library's opening was ahead of schedule, a month before the Elder Council would be reconvened. That at least avoided some unnecessary complications.

"Wang Yu, have you thought about what kind of knowledge you want from the library? Given past experience, each of us will likely only be able to get one major piece of knowledge, just like with your Blood Tempest the first time."

"I haven't decided yet, but I'll probably look for something to further enhance my strength—maybe something related to my dormant potential or my stagnating fighting spirit... As for the right to claim a physical possession, I have no idea what that'll be. I'll figure it out when the time comes. What about you?"

Wang Yu had a rough direction in mind but hadn't settled on a specific choice yet.

"For me, I think I'll focus on space-related spells. They'll improve my survivability and mobility. And... you still haven't started working on returning to Earth, have you? We might be weak now, but it's never too early to start preparing."

"Thank you."

"Of course!"