Chapter 172

After being defeated by the ‘Black Prince’ and having the geas of absolute obedience engraved upon him, Cardinal Nikolai’s existence as a puppet of Dale was raising considerable suspicion within the Papal States.

Among the nine councils within the Papal Court, an intelligence organization monitoring corruption and heresy within the Church.

The Sacred Congregation of the Inquisition.

As the head of that organization, Cardinal Dimir’s suspicion toward his colleague Cardinal Nikolai was exceptionally persistent.

And after Cardinal Dimir’s relentless pursuit, when he finally obtained the ‘sole evidence’ proving his colleague’s betrayal…

Several blue butterflies fluttered up.

Simultaneously, Cardinal Dimir, as if spellbound, slipped the very evidence into the brazier behind him.

The most crucial aspect of being a spy for the Blue Tower was never becoming aware that one was operating as a ‘Blue Spy’.

The imperial court, countless nobles, the Church, and even the White and Red Towers were no exception.

Moreover, as the head of the Church’s foremost intelligence organization, the Office of Inspection, and as a Elder of the White Mage Tower, Cardinal Dimir knew an awful lot. And every time he got his hands on one of those secret truths, there was someone else who knew about it too.

The blue mastermind.

“What do you know about our clan’s discipline, you worthless creature?”

The dark elf spat coldly, but Dale answered without flinching.

“In the mercy you speak of, does ‘mercy’ that truly considers the position or circumstances of the individual even exist?”

“How dare an imperialist…!”

“As I have repeatedly stated, I am not an agent of the Empire.”

The ‘Black Prince’ enveloping the Shadow Lord’s avatar spoke.

“I am aware that the Mountain Assassins are bestowing ‘mercy’ upon the elves exiled and wandering throughout the Empire. Even to fulfill your duties, you cannot be ignorant of the Empire’s political situation.”

“Right. Then you must also be well aware of the shame that will taint those children within the Golden Empire.”

The dark elf continued coldly.

“Becoming the plaything of powerful nobles, or reborn as whores to pour out men’s lust… Even the near-eternal lifespan of elves must feel to them like an endless hellish sentence.”

Therefore, they believe that taking the lives of the exiles is the only mercy that can alleviate their suffering.

In other words, to fulfill this mission, an intelligence network capable of obtaining information on the exiled elves within the empire is necessary. Furthermore, it requires the skill to infiltrate the deepest recesses of high nobles’ mansions and the insight to understand their movements.

This mission cannot be undertaken in ignorance of the empire.

‘No, I mean, don’t just kick me out from the start.’

Dale opened his mouth, struggling to suppress the words rising to his throat. Telling someone with conviction to change their conviction is meaningless. But it is possible to propose a compromise without violating that conviction.

“Then how about the Empire of Shadows instead of the Golden Empire?”

The northern empire, the frozen land once ruled by the continent’s foremost dark mage. The Duchy of Saxony.

“By the name of the Shadow Lord, if I and Saxony were to say we would take this young elf in… there would be no fear of her being tainted by the golden stain you so worry about. Even so, would you still point your blade at her?”

“Does Saxony’s young upstart dare to presumptuously claim the title of ‘Shadow King’?”

“As I stated, I now request an audience with your leader to prove it. Making your decision afterward would not be too late.”

Master Baro blocked the terrified elf girl’s path, and the Shadow Lord and Lady Shadow, who were deploying their avatars, were no exception.

The situation was what it was. Even for Dark Elves who valued their beliefs above all else, this was a circumstance where compromise was unavoidable.

“Mountain Assassin, surely you are aware that the Mountain Crone also takes an interest in the Shadow Lord.”

Erge, the sorceress of the Blue Magic Tower and a fellow Snow Elf, spoke up.

“In the meantime, I shall take this child under my wing, pledging the honor of my kin.”

“……”

“I trust you’re not so foolish as to not realize that stubbornness is pointless in this situation.”

Ergeza spoke, and finally the dark elf sheathed his sword in his hood as if resigned.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to our land before dawn.”

After she sheathed it, the dark elf added.

“Even if you fall behind or get lost in the desert, that is your burden to bear.”

“Heh heh, sounds like you’re voluntarily leaping into a sandy hell.”

Hearing this, Master Baro muttered a meaningless remark. No one laughed.

They loaded their belongings onto the desert horses prepared by the mountain assassin and slipped out of the city under cover of the early dawn darkness.

Sorceress Erze promised to remain behind in the city alone to care for the young elf.

A damp, parched wind blew, and even the sparse weeds vanished quickly. The desert terrain, glimpsed beyond the horizon as they approached the city, finally revealed itself.

The night’s sandstorm raged, carrying a chill that felt like it was carving into the skin, making the term “land of scorching heat” seem like an understatement. It was a wind frozen solid with cold.

The desert night is cold beyond comparison to the day. The chill dips below freezing. The darkness settles deep.

Far off, beyond the horizon of the endless sand dunes, a bluish darkness settled. When Dale glanced up, countless stars were scattered and shining across the desert night sky.

The desert horses ran on, their hooves stamping out tracks as if they knew exactly where they needed to go, rarely stopping. They weren’t imperial horses; they were bred from the start in the desert regions and thoroughly trained.

‘The fact that there are three means there must be other dark elves as well.’

Their original purpose was to track down exiled elves scattered throughout the empire and show them mercy. Depending on necessity, it wouldn’t be unusual for some to be deeply infiltrated within the empire even now. In a sense, it was an organization bearing many similarities to the Shadow Court.

‘Master Baro unexpectedly became the point of intersection.’

Separate from his pure desire to repay his debt to Sepia, a coldly calculating scale of advantage had already begun moving in Dale’s mind.

No sooner had the footprints been etched than the wind blew in, and the swirling sandstorm covered their tracks.

The darkness settled, and the dawn’s first light peeked over the eastern horizon.

At last, the biting cold and darkness vanished, and the desert worthy of its name, the Hot Sands, began to unfold.

“Damn it all. Just a little while ago it was freezing cold, and now it’s hot as hell.”

“For God’s sake, stop talking like a fucking idiot.”

“Well, if I can’t call something fucking awful ‘fucking awful,’ then what the hell am I supposed to call it?”

“Damn it all.”

Dale cursed again, and Baro shrugged his shoulders in disbelief.

Just then, the dark elf’s desert steed, running ahead of them, came to a halt.

“Ah, my apologies. It’s not that I think you’re anything special, it’s just that… Oh dear.”

Barro tried to continue, but stopped mid-sentence, his mouth closing tight.

Kugung!

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently, and from within, the dark elf spoke.

“It’s a Sand Lurker.”

“Oh dear.”

Seeing it, Master Baro muttered as if it were someone else’s problem.

Right then.

「Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

The black robe draped over Dale’s shoulders billowed, shrouding the surrounding sandy expanse in darkness.

“You seem rather calm for someone facing the desert’s predator.”

Dale spoke as his shadow cloak submerged the area in darkness. The dark elf did not respond.

Amidst the tangled shadows and sand, two lurkers faced each other.

The Shadow Lurkers, loyal to the Shadow Lord’s command, emitted spines made of darkness.

Screams echoed from all directions, and flesh, blood, and bones of creatures floated to the surface of the lake of shadows.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

The dark elf said, watching the scene.

“Even if you fall behind or get stranded in the desert, that is your burden to bear.”

Simultaneously, they spurred their desert steeds into a gallop.

Chasing after the rapidly receding dark elf, Dale and Baro also seized the desert steed’s reins. But unlike before, the two desert steeds couldn’t properly catch up to her running ahead. They were unsettled by the presence of the sand lurkers screaming out from all around.

“Huh, Shiel.”

Watching the dark elf rapidly disappear, Master Baro muttered in disbelief.

“We’re screwed.”

Dale, suddenly left behind, replied.

“I told you not to spout such bullshit.”

They were two people left behind in the scorching desert sun, with only a little water and food.

“Didn’t I tell you? Everyone has a plan that sounds good. Until they get punched in the face.”

The desert sun set, and the darkness of night descended. As if the scorching earth had been a lie, cold and darkness reared their heads, and the pale, glowing dunes stretched endlessly beyond the horizon.

“Water and food for barely a few days.”

Master Baro muttered as he gathered the belongings left behind.

“How much longer can you hold out?”

“And how long do you think you can hold out?”

“Heh heh, I suppose I can hold out long enough for the Seven Swords of the Continent.”

Master Baro replied, and Dale nodded as if satisfied with that.

“The Mountain Old Woman is said to be atop the Desert Mountain, so we’ll just have to search the surrounding area based on that.”

“At least it’s better than looking for a needle in a haystack.”

In the darkness, several blue butterflies were fluttering their wings.

At the end of their flight, they were caught in a spiderweb and stopped moving. Without the slightest resistance.

It was a gloomy, isolated room filled with cobwebs on all sides.

In that room, the blue shadow finally moved ‘her body’. Spider legs wriggled, skillfully crossing between the webs, freeing a butterfly caught there.

A blue butterfly alighted upon her fingertip, and watching this, the naked woman murmured softly.

“Ah, it has brought a new whisper once more.”

The blue spiderwebs taking root throughout the empire. They were no mere metaphor.

“Now, go quickly and illuminate the path before the Shadow Lord.”

The blue butterfly she released fluttered its wings and vanished, and watching it, the blue-clad mastermind ‘Arachne’ smiled quietly.