Chapter 44 Part3 (1/2)
<chapter 44.=”” bayran=”” infiltration=”” -=”” 3=””>
”I see you two came as well. It doesn't matter to me… As long as you don't hold me back.”
Once she saw Prince and Kratia, Seira Von Retadane shrugged her shoulders and said. She was being genuine, but she still managed to p.i.s.s Prince off.
”Hold you back!? Didn't you see me use that really strong spell back then? You ever heard of the Fire Demon?”
”Yes, I saw it. It was indeed a powerful spell, but I'm not sure you'll be able to protect yourself with it. A magician is most powerful when protected by several of their allies. However, there aren't that many of us, and we're attempting to infiltrate a city where we don't know how many enemies there are or where they are. I do believe you're not cut out for this.”
”But...!”
”And please call me Retadane.”
”Ugh.”
Retadane pointed out her flaws, being correct from start to finish, and Prince became weak. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo smiled bitterly and added.
”We'll have to move covertly, but I'll take care of it. Since I have just the skill for it.”
”As expected of my Junior! You do the things that Retadane can't do so naturally! It makes me s.h.i.+ver in excitement!”
”That sounds incredibly unpleasant. You're spiteful towards me for some reason, while you're really possessive of Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. ...Though I don't have any complaints if you can deal with the issue of stealth.”
It seemed only natural that she acted this way if he took into consideration that she was a level 8 hero with the highest seniority, but... To Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who knew about all the forces involved with Bayran and the inside story on Retadane, he felt like her actions were foolish, or even a bit cute.
'She must be hoping that Seagald doesn't come.'
He briefly organized his thoughts and then asked Retadane. This was to put the decision he'd made beforehand into motion.
”Retadane, do you have a reason for going to Bayran?”
”Yes. Now that you mention it, I wanted to talk about that.”
Retadane then pulled out a piece of paper from her chest. As he suspected, it was a Bayran Inner Map.
”Ooooooooh!”
”Hm.”
”I got this from the Vulture General. You should remember seeing it when I was distributing the loot. It seems like it's only given to the one who inflicted the most damage to him. In this case, me.”
As expected, that's why the map had automatically come to him when he'd killed the Beast General. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thoroughly looked over the map. While he was a.n.a.lyzing the map and mentally comparing it to the other maps he owned, she continued to speak.
”I wondered why this came off of one of the 12 Generals, and also suspected that it might be a trap... I came to the conclusion that I needed to see for myself. After that, I investigated for two months and prepared my skills and equipment... When I was about to leave, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo mentioned Bayran.”
”So what, you think it was fate?”
Retadane explained calmly, but it seemed like Prince found something unpleasant about it, as she pouted suddenly. Then, Retadane nodded her head seriously.
”Yes. The fact that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was headed to Bayran too means that G.o.d is leading us there. I feel like there's something important in Bayran. Something that's related to our purification of the Underground Empire.”
”...Oh, that's what you were talking about?”
”What else is there?”
”Oh, nothing. Never mind.”
Retadane ignored Prince's clearly suspicious signs (Kratia softly hit the back of Prince's head instead and Lee s.h.i.+n Woo inwardly applauded) and went deeper into her motives.
”Moreover... Moreover, I know this place well.”
”You know this place well... Perhaps...?”
”No. My family wasn't responsible for this area. It's just that... this place was created for a special reason.”
”A special reason...”
”Yes. ...This city was created for spirits.”
For a moment, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo stopped moving. Retadane retained her bitter expression.
”The citizens of the Empire loved spirits. They believed that spirits were G.o.d's representatives and that their forms were far more developed than humans'. Thus, Elementalists, who could commune with spirits and borrow their power, were treated very well.”
”...I see.”
That's only natural. Since only those who loved spirits and the spirits themselves were sent underground. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded his head and Kratia's eyes s.h.i.+ned.
”Most magicians reject Elementalists. Since their power often goes against a magician's reason. Like s.h.i.+n Woo.”
”You didn't have to add that last part.”
”It's strange that the Empire, which had progressed their magic engineering so far, would love spirits so much.”
”There were, of course, some people within the Empire that hated spirits as well.”
Retadane confirmed Kratia's theory with a nod of her head.
”Bayran was created to protect the spirits and the Elementalists from such individuals. It's connected directly to the capital, the lake is clean and beautiful, and there are several mountains around it. It's a place well-suited for the spirits. The palace's Elementalist Order used Bayran as a branch office as well.”
”And what about protecting the spirits?”
”If the spirits are scattered, then there's a chance that they'll be hunted down by humans, but if they're all in one place, then even the entire Knight Order would be no match for them. The Empire wanted to create a place where the spirits could stay and relax. ...Though it was a failure.”
”A failure, huh.”
Perhaps joining up with Retadane had been a good idea. Since there was no other way to obtain such detailed information about the Empire, aside from someone who had actually lived during that time!