chapter 35
35 – Three Ducks (9)
In the struggle between families, there is no bloodshed, no tears.
The desire of the magicians to trample their competitors and climb to the top of the tower grows stronger as their combined magic power becomes deeply intertwined with blood.
The realization of the truth emits even purer magic power, and some of it flows down through the bloodline to future generations.
After countless repetitions of this process, when the mystery beyond ignorance seems to be within reach, one finally ascends to the ranks of the ‘Sage’.
Five years ago, the Franz family, ranked third among the Hundred Families, and the Undra family, ranked ninth, clashed fiercely over the ownership of the common territory.
Lake Traphalga.
It was a precious place where one could endlessly obtain pure freshwater to build a city.
The condition was to channel magic power to the deepest part of the lake, where there is no bottom.
Once owned by the Franz family, the ownership was transferred to the Undra family after the downfall of the former due to the disappearance of Herhe Solorot.
So it was only natural for Salsali, the enemy of the family and the one who trapped Vincent, to want to kill him.
– Kill! Kill! Kill!
“Oh, calm down.”
– Just let me kill him once!
“It doesn’t change anything even if you act like that, you know? Just wait a little longer, I have a plan.”
Unfortunately, when Niflheir decided to send their bloodline to the common territory, their power would also be blocked.
Vina, the interpreter, emitted an overwhelming amount of magical power, causing the entire lake to freeze. Even Christina, who had been nagging beside her, fell silent.
There was a reason why they had tried to prevent the terrorist attack by the Houndra’s cattle herder, so that the train wouldn’t reach the public area. However, not only did they fail to protect their own territory, but they also made a big mistake in the process of preventing it.
“Listen carefully. Most things in the world aren’t considered crimes if you don’t get caught.”
— Crimes?
“If you were going to wear a mask, you should have thought about taking it off from the beginning.”
I thoroughly examined Vincent’s posts under the account ‘Meteor Water Magic’.
There were many posts where he openly pretended to be the Houndra’s magician, deceiving the Baekga’s wizards who didn’t know much about the gallery. He claimed he had created the empty Beehive bulletin board and promised to give them a position of authority if they completed the job properly.
Among them, the most unbearable thing was that he packaged the bullying I had done as if he had done it himself.
—–
— Beloved Grandchild: So, are you saying that you’re also the user ‘ㅇㅇ(1.1)’ and ‘Superconductor Girl’?
— Meteor Water Magic: Yes, that’s correct. I usually rotate between multiple accounts to avoid drawing attention. It’s the same when I talk to all of you.
— Beloved Grandchild: But why did you write a post in the gallery in the early morning like ‘Glecia has trouble getting pregnant? ㅠㅠ’?
— Meteor Water Magic: Um, well, that’s…
— Beloved Grandchild: And why did you put the title ‘Is there no responsibility for the gallery bullying?’ and randomly recommend a lunch menu in the body? Is this also part of your plan?
— Meteor Water Magic: ……
— Beloved Grandchild: Leader?
This side meticulously analyzes even the smallest details when impersonating a Gonic, such as their movements, activity hours, speech, hobbies, defensive measures, and vulnerable points.
On the day they decide to wear a mask and cause chaos, they thoroughly confirm their absence by posting a bell sound on the bulletin board to avoid being caught by the Patak.
But even if they execute every operation perfectly, they can never openly boast about it being their own…
Without even making an effort to hide their identity, they receive adoration from their followers and greedily consume only the most delicious rewards.
“Come to think of it, I’m really fortunate to have you by my side. You must appreciate the effort I put in for the gallery, even if it means resorting to necessary evils, right?”
— Shh…
“Why? Do you want to try it too later?”
— I don’t w-want to…
“Hey, stop trying to poke me.”
Suddenly, I gently put the tip of the sword into the scabbard and turned towards Vina.
She was concentrating on harnessing her magic, ignoring Christina’s words.
“Vina! Don’t ignore me! Who gave you the authority to make such decisions on your own?”
“Decisions? I just told the manager that I’ll give them magic.”
“That’s the same thing!”
“The supervisor is trustworthy, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Did you make some kind of promise?”
“Meteo received proof of ice magic.”
“You judge people based on that… Vina! Where are you going?!”
Giving magic to a pure-blooded family signifies marriage. What is the reason behind this?
It is the unique spell that forms the foundation of all the magic they have created.
That is because it cannot be revealed to outsiders.
I cannot know exactly how the pureblood mage of Niflheim thinks of me.
But it was clear as much as his proposal for the position of a servant and his favor towards me.
It feels like somewhere between a shy crush and an affectionate pet… but the gap was as deep as the Lake Traphalga.
“Here is your coat. Are you finished?”
“Yes, now I have only one purpose left for coming here. Even if it’s late, I can catch the last train departing tomorrow night.”
“The Investigative Committee mentioned it. Regarding that… “
Anyway, thanks to her bringing me to the stage, I was able to confront the wicked mage who pretended to be a benefactor.
It seems like she wants to gently stab my heart, but revenge cannot be perfect with just that.
If she really wants to confront me like that, I was willing to make her wish come true.
I cautiously asked Vina if I could attend the next meeting as a guest.
*
“Then, according to the majority vote, the Investigative Committee decides to establish an organization that will specialize in incidents involving demons in magic tower.”
“In honor of Milone, the Seven Elementalists, the organization will be named ‘Extreme Colors’, and they will be granted the authority to use ‘Express’ to any floor of the tower where traces of demons are found.”
“Since the inaugural chairperson, the pureblood mage Vina Netania, has declined, the next candidate, ranked third in the Baekga family, Udra…”
An organization specializing in demon invasions in magic tower was established.
It was the first time since the establishment of the Information Department due to the founding of the Black Star, a group of dark mages.
The center of Extreme Colors consisted of Elementalists of the Baekga family, who are ranked higher in the hierarchy.
Before the meeting ended, Vincent, who was appointed as the chairperson, received many congratulations.
“Congratulations, Vincent.”
“Thank you.”
“With this, you’re one step closer to pure blood!”
“hahahaha, maybe it’ll be possible in the next generation.”
Even while receiving praise, his smile didn’t come naturally.
And why would it? He had heard the news this morning that the ownership of Lake Trifalga had been transferred to Niphelheim.
He had bowed his head so low, yet they had kicked the ladder over here.
Even though they said there was no need for rivalry once the families were merged, Vina and Netania didn’t hesitate for a second.
His attitude, as if he already had someone in mind, infuriated him even more.
“If only I had done as they told me, this wouldn’t have happened…!”
Vincent took out his location note and checked the bee board.
—–
[A bee covered in yellow pollen struggles to free itself from a pumpkin flower, creating colorful gifs as it moves.]
(Gif)
— Hukhuk, heok, heoheoeok…!
— Wowang, uwawang, buwawaaang!!
— Horororororong, hyaaah!!
— What are those kids doing up there? What are they even saying?
— Ha, damn it, I’m going crazy… I want to bury my face in that butt and wa-ba-ba-bat
ㄴ Watch out, you might get stung.
—–
[These past few days of lurking, I’ve come to the realization that there’s nothing but a bunch of pathetic losers here]
Argh… Kunkung!!
— Animal approved!
— Krrrung! Krrr…
— Did you piss yourself, you son of a b*tch?
ㄴ If you look closely, they’re kind of cute.
ㄴ They’re even less cute if you look closely.
ㄴ Nah, not really~ With their compound eyes, twitching tongues like straws, split claws, and sparkling cuticles at the tips. If I get the chance, I’ll bring them home too, us, u, uaaah!!!
ㄴ Sir.
ㄴ Sir.
—–
—–
[I wondered why it suddenly climbed up the popular board rankings, turns out Judak changed their profile picture]
It’s always a gray background, but now it’s a picture of a honeybee.
But do they have any activity history here?
— Dunno?
— I think they do? The old Gonic members who’ve been active from the beginning started posting their old writings.
ㄴ Isn’t that just a bluff?
ㄴ I don’t know, they keep saying they got hit by Judak.
– Our Jooddak’s taste is so unique…
ㄴ To lead the gallery, one must be immersed in the abyss.
ㄴ Ooh la la~ Boo-ha-ha~!!!
ㄴ Ah, those Honeybee gang members.
—–
Users suddenly flocked to the abandoned bulletin board that hadn’t seen any posts in a day.
It was because rumors had spread that it was the place where Jooddak used to be active.
Most seemed to have been caught by the Information Division, but there were still familiar nicknames that remained and continued their activities.
“Tsk, forget it. I’d rather get involved with the demons next time… What’s this?”
Even though he had become the head of the demon-exclusive organization, something strange caught his eye as he was planning to destroy Glescia more thoroughly.
—–
Gently, gently, gently
[Targeting the true identity of Jooddak, who was active on the Honeybee Bulletin Board!!]
(Photo)
Name: Vincent Ebon de Undra
He lured the members of rival clans into cooperation and trapped them!
There are suspicions that he was involved in this train terror incident too!
This is information I confirmed through a reliable source!
– Ah, Jooddak, it’s you again?
– Season 4572814325, targeting Jooddak
– No, I don’t believe it.
– So, do you have any evidence?
– If you want to snipe, why don’t you do it alone? Why drag me into this?
—–
In an instant, a cold sweat ran down my forehead, but I quickly calmed down.
It didn’t really matter that I had posed as the owner of the gallery to lure in the Baekga wizards.
Ever since I had been active on the Honeybee Bulletin Board, I hadn’t left a single trace of my identity, including the fact that I was from the Undra family.
There was no doubt that I wouldn’t be able to find any connection with anyone.
Above all, there had been countless instances of snipers in the gallery adding famous people to Jooddak’s identity in this manner.
“Is he a survivor from another family? Did he post here to draw a lot of attention?”
Since there were many places for grudges to settle, it wasn’t easy to pinpoint the exact one.
First, I had to get rid of the notes as soon as I left here.
But when I looked up, I sensed something strange in the atmosphere.
The previously lively meeting room was now filled with silence, and everyone was looking at me.
“Uh, Vincent…?”
“Yeah?”
He hurriedly checked the notes upon hearing the words of the magician next to him.
The administrator of the gallery, who had always remained silent in the face of any sniper attacks, had posted the article.
—–
Administrator
This is my stance on the recent sniper attack on the Administrator:
Hm… I’ve been caught.
—–
Just one word from Jude was enough to engulf Vincent in extreme terror.