Chapter 113. Underground Canal (2)

Upon hearing the news from the Blood Ghost Squad that they had located 'Aiden's Laboratory' through the 'Resonance Stone', I immediately made my way to the location.

Destroying and eliminating the essence of 'Demon Research' stored there would proactively remove the dangers posed by the subsequent 'event.'

"An underground canal in the slums..."

Even the name conjures up images of filth.

Given that Yulian, my host, suffers from 'obsessive cleanliness', our body reacted vigorously against the idea, and I found myself in agreement.

Honestly, who would want to go to a place with polluted water, foul odors, a filthy waterway, and rats scurrying about?

However, in order to prevent the disaster known as 'Bloody Tuesday'—an event that would leave the system in chaos—I reluctantly set forth.

Yet, there I encountered someone so familiar that I was taken aback.

"... Aileen?"

What was she doing there?

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't figure it out.

There was no situation like this in the game.

Could it be that she was there to guard Aiden de Donatien's laboratory?

The thought occurred to me, but to be honest, it seemed unlikely.

Aileen adhered to a sound moral compass far more than most other mages.

Moreover, Aiden despised the distant relatives to the core, so it's improbable he would have shared the important location of his laboratory with Aileen.

"Come out, now?"

As I was organizing my thoughts, Aileen's voice reached my ears.

Could she sense me?

"If you don't show yourself, you'll regret it. Magic used in such confined spaces makes controlling its power difficult."

Damn! I'd been caught.

'What should I do now?'

Though still hidden in the shadows, my identity remained a secret for now. However, stepping out would raise many questions for Aileen.

If Yulian were present here, anyone would suspect a connection to Aiden's research.

'Seems I have no choice.'

I used 'Sombra' to create a mask to cover my face.

I hadn't planned on using it again for a while.

'Once should be fine.'

Once I felt the mask complete, I stepped into the light, revealing my concealed presence.

Though Aileen was a Donatien in name as a distant relative, it would be better to preemptively subdue her as she could become an obstacle if she sided with Aiden.

***

Or so I considered. Yet, the feeling of a hard gem against my stomach caused me to frown slightly.

'She's not just going to let me be.'

Donatien's primary method of magic involves storing mana within gems and using it when needed.

In other words, the gem held to my stomach was filled with mana, capable of turning into magic at any given moment.

'I could probably defend with Sombra, but the potency of her spell remains uncertain.'

For now, negotiations might be the only way to change the circumstance.

Despite my discomfort, I decided to speak.

'Why are you here?'

Just as I was about to voice my thoughts, Aileen began speaking first.

In her crimson eyes reflecting the 'Black Knight's' mask, there was not a trace of admiration or rigidity, but only mystery.

'Why am I here?'

I felt perplexed by her question as well.

If Aiden's laboratory were truly here, Aileen would know that such a place flouted the Empire's whims and rules.

Thus, any other person found here aside from herself would either be connected to the laboratory or have come to sabotage it.

'Could it be that Aileen is not associated with Aiden?'

Just because they belong to the Donatien family doesn't ensure collaboration.

In fact, Aileen always stands with the Sword Saint at the very end, as one of the righteous mages.

Ah, not the Sword Saint who is currently making odd moves in the Holy Kingdom but the one from the game.

Moreover, Aileen does not align with Aiden's professed 'pureblood ideology.'

"Is it perhaps the aura of the Soul Stone that you're following?"

What was once speculative musings turned into certainty through her query.

"In that case, put that away. I, too, followed the Soul Stone's energy to this place."

After cautiously speaking, Aileen put away the gem she had held against me.

"That's quite reckless."

Seeing her defenseless stance, I clicked my tongue in disbelief.

"Huh?"

"Putting away your weapon without receiving an answer. Even if you had, there would still be a chance I'm lying."

While wearing the 'Black Knight's' mask, its features somehow nullified the effect of the 'Formal Speech'.

Thus, I could express incredulous sentiments distinctly.

"If I were an enemy, you'd be dead now."

"In that case, you wouldn't have said something like that."

The mask of the 'Black Knight' in Aileen's eyes was simply grotesque, even to me.

Yet, unafraid despite this sight—how bold of her.

"Besides, you provided me with the Soul Stone."

"... True."

Once I've sheathed my sword, she took my offered hand and stood up without hesitation.

"Is there a relation between the imperial family and the 'Soul Stone' energy here?"

"No."

Upon denying her question, she fell momentarily silent in her thoughts.

It didn't take her long to speak again.

"In that case, this 'Soul Stone' aura isn't something the imperial family would welcome."

"Why do you think so?"

"You mentioned it yourself, didn't you? 'I work for the imperial family.'"

Indeed, I had. It was a remark made in jest when I handed over the Soul Stone, yet she remembered.

"That was a lie."

Aileen slightly frowned, sensing my teasing demeanor.

"To be quite honest, I wasn't completely convinced either."

Despite her curt words, traces of confusion lingered.

***

"By the way, why are you here?"

As I advanced deeper into the underground canals, I glanced back at Aileen, who followed me.

"I suspect for reasons not too dissimilar from yours?"

"Did you receive orders from the imperial family?"

Revisiting this topic once more, Aileen cleared her throat to diffuse embarrassment.

"The Demon sighting in the slums—my conclusion was that it didn't occur naturally and was artificially induced."

"So, you're here to ascertain what that 'artificial' means?"

"Yes, they presumably conducted human experimentation."

Indeed, a 5th-rank mage Barco hasn't achieved her rank through mere luck.

As she surmised, 'Aiden's Laboratory' conducts human experiments, generating humanoid demons.

The underlying question is whether, upon finding this truth, Aileen will maintain her current stance.

"What if the person conducting these experiments is someone you know?"

"... Someone I know?"

Yes, indeed—Aiden de Donatien himself.

Surely, a name she wouldn't be unfamiliar with.

"Even if it's someone familiar, something has to be done."

"Mages usually prioritize fulfilling their exploratory desires over humanity's morality as they pursue their field, don't they?"

"I'm a huaman before I'm a mage."

A rather pleasant response.

Most others I've encountered are often 'mages' before they consider themselves 'human'.

"By the way, I haven't heard why you're here..."

"Shh."

===

⇒ 〈Remarkable Intuition〉

⇒ 〈Foresight〉

⇒ You have detected a negative gaze observing you.

===

I halted, bringing a finger to my lips, alerting Aileen, who gave me a confused look.

Her expression soon shifted to something serious.

From around the corner appeared a horde of demon that resembled wild dogs.

"... Seeing demons here implies my assumptions held some truth."

Of course.

That's precisely why I made my way here.

"I'll handle it."

Just as I was about to conceal the 'Moonlit Sword' with 'Sombra', Aileen stepped forward, pulling out her wand and jewels.

Her presence elicited low growls from the demon.

Despite their vigilance, the creatures drooled purple slime as they lunged at us, showing no signs of cautiousness.

"Don't even think about it."

Shraaack──!

Jewels illuminated the murky underground canal.

With a flick of her wand, directed at the demon, Aileen made the hovering jewels flicker rapidly.

"Disperse."

Mumbling as if reciting a spell, Aileen's words were followed by the jewels shattering into powder.

Needless to say, it wasn't ordinary dust.

Infused into each particle was Aileen's mana, crafted into minuscule blades.

Unfazed, the demonic dogs charged obliviously, unaware they were about to dive into a storm.

- Krrrkk, krk!

- Kack, kekeng!

Ultimately, they were torn apart, beyond recognition, doomed like minced meat.

'Incredible.'

If she had let it be earlier, my body might have ended up like that.

Just thinking about it sent shivers up my spine as a nervous chuckle escaped me.

"I don't wish to waste time with such insignificant demons."

After executing her spell, Aileen appeared upbeat and confident.

"Let's head further inside. Verifying the truth will take time."

"Let's do that... Hm?"

As I was about to make my way further into the depths as Aileen suggested, the Resonance Stone in my pouch began to emit a faint glow.

Though inelegant as a barrier, it serves excellently in detecting demons, which is why I brought it, just in case.

'The fact it's glowing means...'

There are still demons nearby.

True to my suspicions, sharp killing intent, along with demonic energy, loomed from the crack above.

The same breed of demonic dog Aileen previously dealt with.

'Seems like Aileen hasn't noticed.'

Perhaps due to lack of experience, her cleanup tends to have its lapses.

Resting my hand on the sword sheath, I recalled the duels with the 'Blind Eyes'.

The aura that retains its form and purpose even when distanced from the user.

One revelation from the time spent facing the 'Blind Eyes'.

'Wreathing another layer of aura around the edges of the aura itself.'

Doing so minimizes the mana wasted into thin air while delivering a meaningful blow to the target.

"Hlup."

After a brief concentration, I swung at the demon, barely emerging from the crevice.

Kackang──!

A demonic dog, hit by the sword energy, stumbled, spewing blood before collapsing powerlessly to the floor.

"Wh-what?"

A startled scream escaped Aileen's lips as the demon nearly fell upon her head during her confident stride.

"What... what was that?"

"Isn't it obvious? A demon."

While the baffled Aileen watched, I approached the injured demon, inspecting the wound.

Sharper and more lethal than when I experimentally used the 'sword energy' against Fern, yet—

'I failed to bisect it entirely.'

Still, this much is enough.

Though unable to wield it subconsciously, I began to grasp the essence of 'Single Stroke'.

"That's not what I mean. How did you know the demon was hiding there?"

It was a somewhat familiar question, although I wasn't inclined to reveal information about the Resonance Stone in my possession.

No matter how small, there's a high risk of being traced if the Magic Tower's Resonance Stone is in use.

Besides, the knowledge that the 'Black Knight' is Yulian remains undisclosed to all.

"Why does it matter? It's a secret."

Matters difficult to explain are best deemed secrets.

With that, I resumed my steps towards the direction of the laboratory.

"Hm?"

Strange. Looking back, Aileen appeared lost in thought, staring absentmindedly in my direction.

"Are you reconsidering?"

Could it be that her encounter with the demons had unnerved her?

Though unlikely.

Her magic execution was proficient, and as a 5th degree Barco mage, she should handle such demons with ease.

Once she snapped out of her reverie, Aileen shook her head slightly.

"Ah, no. I'll follow along."

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