Chapter 28: I Vow (2)

Darkness spread in every direction.

With human eyes alone, nothing could be seen.

Nearly ten people shared the same space, yet they could not recognize one another through sight.

They perceived each other only through breath, body heat, scent, and sound.

The atmosphere was solemn.

In that endless darkness, the people knelt in their designated places, hands pressed together in prayer.

None could see the others, but there was no wavering, no slackness, only unmoving discipline as though enduring a harsh ascetic practice.

The only ones who could look down upon them was the star in the sky.

The light of the Malefic Star.

It was the being that transcended mortal existence.

Thus the executives of the Golden Dawn Society, who did not know each other’s names, ages, genders, or even faces, waited for the Order.

Soon a woman’s voice echoed from the seat of honor, resounding like a cave’s echo.

“The Lord of the Void has fallen.”

“…”

“…”

“…!”

“…?”

No one was permitted to speak. Only the one-sided Order would be delivered.

Though none opened their mouths, each of them could feel that the others were startled and shaken.

Once the Order began, they lowered their hands onto their thighs and listened.

“This happened even without the old hunter Vigo present.”

Her voice carried a trace of anger.

Everyone swallowed nervously.

“If there is a cause, it must be the traitor Morgana Roxana’s doing.”

The woman in the dark furrowed her graceful brows. For those who had once served that witch, the sense of betrayal was too great for words.

“…”

In the silence, a wave of fury spread.

“Our Lord might have had the chance to reach the truth and ascend, but through our incompetence a great being was wasted in vain.”

“…”

“Do you understand?”

Her cold voice echoed through the void.

“Whoever planned this failure must repent at once.”

Swish.

Without the slightest hesitation, a man raised the glass before him and drank. The sound of liquid swallowing rang quietly.

“Krh, uh—”

He suppressed even his groan as he killed himself.

The clear sound of the glass rolling across the floor followed. The woman continued speaking.

“The offering must be recovered, no matter the cost.”

Her eyes, cold and lowered, stared into the dark. She sank into deep thought.

“…”

The moment of descent was approaching. For centuries they had waited and yearned for the great cause. Such a trivial mistake could not be allowed to ruin it.

Next time, no failure would be tolerated.

Excuses meant nothing.

They had already proven their incompetence already.

At last, after consideration, the woman gave her decision.

“We will play a stronger hand.”

Her pupils shimmered with madness in the dark.

“The disciple once devoted to the Lord of the Void will be left alone without being dealt with.”

“…”

“…!”

“Leave that disciple. The same goes for the Ascending Star.”

The leadership immediately grasped the intent behind her words and nodded.

“Let them open their mouths of their own accord.”

The woman allowed a quiet smile.

“Let us welcome our honored guest. As nobles would. With elegance.”

In the darkness came the sound of garments brushing. The woman had risen and was already gone.

Those who remained pressed their palms together and cried out in unison.

“We follow the Order—”

* * *

Mana has grown!

Nike clenched his fists, then released them, and wiggled his toes. His senses were not merely alive, they were sharper than ever.

By focusing, he could even pick up the sound of birds’ wings beating outside the tall building.

With his power increased, his very existence had risen in rank.

A chill raced down his spine.

Nike had always felt more sensitive than others, but now he truly understood what kind of world witches lived in.

All in all, it was a good thing. He rejoiced that he could fight better, harder, and more fiercely than before.

Just then, his eyes snapped open.

The light shining in through the window was refracted strangely.

It did not break in a fixed direction. The light quivered.

His sharpened senses rose, the hair on his head standing on end.

Whoosh!

The chandelier, the weapons mounted on armor, sharp fragments, and metal pieces all shot toward him.

It was clearly telekinesis.

Someone was attacking Nike, controlling objects with psychokinesis.

But it was no ordinary telekinesis.

In that instant, Nike’s red-tinged eyes saw masses of condensed magic.

Blades, shards of glass, the chandelier, every sharp edge bristled with concentrated power, making them far deadlier.

If Nike had simply countered with his own telekinesis, he would have been overwhelmed and killed.

Before he could even think, his body moved first.

“Stop.”

Screeeech!

As if commanding the objects, the moment he spoke, the flying weapons filled with killing intent ground against some invisible force and froze in the air.

It was not over.

The blades spun threateningly in place, as though two opposing strings pulled against each other.

Crack, clang!

The weapons clashed, then shattered in a burst of noise.

Metallic echoes filled the Captain’s office, glass shards rained across the floor like snow.

Nike narrowed his eyes in displeasure and turned toward his attacker.

[As expected… you are impressive.]

The crucified woman’s frail yet dangerous body was revealed faintly. Morgana Roxana hung there like a preserved doll.

Their conversation was carried out through telepathy.

What would have broken an ordinary mind, Nike endured with ease. Morgana used the method most convenient for her.

“…I’ll kill you!”

Nike made no attempt to hide his disgust. The nailed witch gave a faint smile.

[Nike. How does it feel? Now that your senses are more exalted.]

Though her eyes were blindfolded, her snake-like gaze filled the chamber. Nike felt as if stripped bare, as if hundreds of people were staring at him at once.

“…”

He bared sharp fangs and glared at her.

[The old Nike would have died, unable to block those attacks.]

[But your sharpened senses saw through my illusion magic, your body reacted instantly, and your increased power overwhelmed mine.]

Even while glaring, Nike considered her words. She was right. Before, he would have managed to block a few blows before his body was torn apart.

Yet his body had reacted before his mind, and he had defended himself.

He was belatedly impressed by his own reflexes beyond conscious thought.

Morgana explained kindly, making him understand. He truly had grown stronger.

[That attack was to confirm my suspicion. Forgive the discourtesy.]

“Suspicion?”

Nike rarely asked questions, but did this time.  

[Yes. Nike, you probably have no memory.]

His hostility eased as he stepped over broken glass toward her.

“What memory?”

[Do you recall fighting the witch?]

Nike lifted his eyes, chasing fragments of memory. The witch, the fight…

It was during the final test.

He and Hestia wandered a labyrinthine forest.

Suddenly the witch appeared and attacked.

He had died.

Rowen had somehow revived him.

He saw his comrades sacrifice themselves for him, felt an indescribable emotion, and fought again—

“…”

And when he opened his eyes, he was here.

“Hah!?”

Nike pointed at Morgana.

“What did you do to me!”

[I did nothing.]

“Liar! Liar!”

[The liar may be you, Nike. Do you… truly remember nothing? Nothing frightening or dangerous you experienced?]

He stepped back nervously, and replied with his face uneasy.

“N-No…”

[Are you certain? Nike, lying is wrong.]

“…There’s nothing!”

It was true. His memories were blank, as if it was erased.

His anxiety came from the strangeness of that gap, from the fear of not remembering.

[It seems true. I believe you.]

“You better!”

He jumped as if he was truly frustrated. Morgana was sure he was not lying.

She had already guessed. From the moment he emerged from the abyss, she had expected he would not remember.

‘Something else interfered…’

If Nike couldn’t remember, there was no way to uncover what it was.

Not even she, who had built the Ark of Knowledge, could know.

Uneasy but resigned, Morgana continued.

[Nike. Listen well to what I say now.]

“Shut up!”

[You lost control fighting the witch, but in doing so you saved your comrades and even defeated her.]

“…!”

Nike frowned, trying to measure the truth in her words. None of it sounded like a lie.

[But you do not remember that moment. Something must have happened in that missing memory.]

“…What happened.”

Nike searched his memory, but nothing came. He remembered everything from the age of one, but now there was a hole in his memory. He was bewildered.

[My guess is this. When you lost control, you devoured the Witch of Distortion.]

“Hah!?”

Nike’s eyes widened in outrage.

[The proof is the growth of your mana.]

“What about my mana!”

Her nailed body remained expressionless as Nike glared.

[You know how witches grow stronger as I told you before. They kill humans, offer them as sacrifices, and receive magical power in return.]

“I know!”

[To become more powerful, they must kill more than the amount that is needed just to recover. That is the usual way.]

Nike held his tongue, watching her.

[But long ago, there was another way. Witches once grew stronger by eating the hearts of other witches.]

“…!”

[It is one of the three great taboos of witchcraft. Consumption.]

Killing one’s kin aided the hunters, and the gods themselves opposed it. The first three witches had declared it a forbidden act.

[That… is what you did. Sestria’s body was gone, and there is no other explanation for your sudden strength.]

Nike scratched his head and muttered.

“…I see.”

His response was flat.

He had expected something far worse. Devouring an evil witch hardly seemed bad. If anything, he seemed relieved.

[You are calmer than I thought.]

“Hunting prey means eating it!”

[…That is true.]

It was a frightening way of thinking, yet that was Nike. He was the secret weapon of the Order, the talent Morgana coveted.

She had found a way to make his extraordinary gift blossom, and no harm came from it. With Nike unbothered, this was the best outcome for the Order.

This was the moment Nike truly became the Order’s hidden blade.

Morgana felt satisfied as she watched the brilliant talent grow.

[That makes things simpler. Nike, from now on you will be busy.]

“Hah?”

The ones targeting him would never give up after all.  

[It will be dangerous. You will face death again and again.]

“Hmm…”

[But as a hunter of the Order, you cannot run.]

“Fraud!”

Her laugh, laced with allure, rang in his mind.

For a moment Nike’s head went blank, with his eyes nearly rolling back. A witch’s laughter carried a charm. Even Nike could be caught if he let his guard down.

[Defeat witches, ‘consume’ them, and grow stronger. At last, reach the first three witches. That is the Captain’s command to you.]

“I refuse Morgana’s commands!”

Nike rejected her firmly.

She let out a faint sigh and sent another mental wave.

[Then how about revenge instead?]

“Haah?”

Morgana’s voice sank lower.

[A funeral will be held soon. Go out the southern gate of Vilnogos and follow the hill road, Nike.]

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