Chapter 253

Chapter 253 - An Untimely Infiltration

Youngest ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Son stood alone in the basement.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only ones who had not collapsed flat on the floor and had at least managed to raise their upper bodies were the physical-type sorcerers.

“...What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an absurd power.”

First ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Son knelt on one knee and replayed the scene from moments ago.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had begun with a single mouth. Packed densely with saw-like white teeth, it had made its presence known.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍way it did so was by boasting of its size. The mouth that gaped wide was an abyss beyond its opening.

“That disgusting-looking mouth... It really eats anything.”

Second Daughter, who had collapsed onto the lap of Third Daughter, who had also fallen seated on the floor, gasped for breath.

That was because when the chains of Repentance entered that mouth and were devoured, she had to draw out new chains for as much as had been eaten.

The blood kin had already been strained by maintaining and recreating the Six Paths, which consumed a great deal of mana.

Because they could not use other sorceries midway to catch their breath, their mana and stamina consumption had doubled.

“Hueegh... Haa... My Pig Curses... Haaah... Their bellies... Hrk...”

As Fourth Son spoke, he pointed with a limp gesture toward the summoned beasts of the Path of the Beast.

The four Pig Curses were all in terrible condition. Their bellies, which had been swollen as though they might burst, had been torn away in great chunks, sharply reducing their volume.

At one point, their heads had nearly been eaten as well, but with the regenerative power of the Path of the Beast, the Pig Curses had continued fighting.

However, Fourth Son’s mana hit bottom before the appetite of the Path of the Hungry Ghost did.

“Second-oldest brother, you should build up your stamina first. Even if your mana runs out, you need to move your body with stamina.”

“Huaaah... I told you, I hate moving...”

He opposed it while lying spread-eagle on the floor and merely flailing his arms and legs, but the rest of the siblings did not let it pass.

“Shall we decide by majority vote? I am in favor.”

Nod.

“I am in favor as well.”

“I am also in favor, so next time, we will include stamina training too.”

“Th-this...! This makes no sense! The minority opinion! Guarantee the minority opinion!”

His opposition to stamina training, shouted even while he gasped for breath, was instantly dismissed.

Leaving behind the minority that had been crushed flat, Youngest Son spoke.

“What I showed you is Hungry Ghost, both the foundation and advanced form of the Path of the Hungry Ghost. As you saw, it eats anything... Yes. It eats very well.”

That was all there was to say, but the blood kin accepted the brief explanation.

After all, all the mouths that had appeared in the air had done was eat, eat, and eat again.

“Still, by the end, it seemed my older brothers and sisters noticed the weakness of the Path of the Hungry Ghost.”

“Yes. That Hungry Ghost thing. It eats well, but once you start feeding it, you have to keep feeding it, right?”

“It seems that if there is a pause and you cannot continue feeding it, it devours its master’s mana.”

“And when we were exhausted and collapsed, those mouths tried to bite you, did they not?”

All three observations were correct.

“If I cannot keep feeding the Hungry Ghosts, my mana is eaten. If I refuse that, I am eaten.”

“Oh... Then every time you put the Hungry Ghosts away, you have to fight them and subdue them?”

“For now, yes. Because of that drawback, summoning a large Hungry Ghost becomes something close to suicide.”

“It means you kill the enemy and die yourself.”

“There is a high chance it would turn out that way.”

A single thought crossed the minds of the other blood kin at the same time.

“All of you are thinking that you are fortunate the Six Paths sorcery you received was not the Path of the Hungry Ghost, are you not?”

Silence flowed, and silence was soon affirmation.

With a small laugh, Youngest Son lightly clapped his hands and changed the subject.

“Thank you all for complying with my unreasonable request. Without the foolish assumption that we would use only the Six Paths, when would I ever get to defeat my older brothers and sisters at the same time?”

“If we assume a fight to the death... I wonder whether the result would have been very different.”

That was especially true after they had seen a technique like the Path of the Hungry Ghost, where both sides would die together.

Youngest Son was still smiling, and only then did the blood kin understand the meaning of that smile.

It was both a warning and a declaration.

It was a declaration that, just as it was inside the Black Ship of Millesdusk, even when they were back in the family, the current structure would not change.

Youngest Son’s mouth, which had formed a gentle arc, opened.

“They say nothing in this world is eternal. For now, I have briefly stood above my older brothers and sisters through the Six Paths, but as the words imply, this is thanks to the Six Paths. Do not lose your confidence.”

Youngest Son bowed politely before his siblings.

“I will be going now. I will explain in detail again during tomorrow’s group meeting, but I think our target should be Sky Island.”

The blood kin had no interest in what kind of island Sky Island was, and therefore they did not know. So they could nod.

“Y-yes. All right. Go on.”

“Then.”

Youngest Son disappeared from the Black Ship’s basement. Once only the four of them remained, as before, the tension of battle finally eased.

The physical-type sorcerers, who had barely kept themselves upright, slowly became one with the floor as well. The hard floor felt like a bed right now.

When he left, the subordinates who had been waiting outside to assist them entered. They were Fourth Son’s Chief Secretary, First Son’s Chief Secretary, and the daughters’ ghost butler.

First Son turned only his head to look at Chief Secretary Luda.

“Chief Secretary. What kind of place is Sky Island?”

“If the East has the Polar Night Wall, the West has the Tower of the Sky. Sky Island is a floating island and the heart of Wisdom’s front line, managing the Towers of the Sky.”

“...Youngest Son intends to seize Wisdom’s front line in a single advance?”

As First Son realized that this war of conquest would be no ordinary matter, Fourth Son’s question followed.

“Ch-Chief Secretary! Then what is the Tower of the Sky?”

Instead of First Son’s Chief Secretary, Fourth Son’s Chief Secretary answered.

“It is an unmanned floating tower managed by Sky Island. I heard it is equipped with Mana Cannons capable of monitoring both the ground and the sky and intercepting enemies.”

“Wh-why did you not tell me about something like this?”

“You seemed so absorbed in the Six Paths that there was not the slightest room for you to care.”

“Luda. Are you the same?”

“The same applies.”

Luda, First Son’s Chief Secretary, answered, then stroked his beard with his hand and spoke worriedly.

“More importantly, did Fifth Son say he had chosen Sky Island as the objective of the first advance?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm...”

Luda let out a long breath. His true thoughts were written all over his face as he did.

“Is it impossible?”

“From my narrow perspective... yes.”

In the past, he had been a Demon Hunter and a mercenary, an expert who had experienced ancient ruins and large and small wars many times.

Because of his current position, that expert lowered himself by calling his perspective narrow before giving his opinion.

“Furthermore, there is a high possibility that the new-generation blood kin of the West are all gathered on Sky Island, just as the current blood kin are here.”

“You mean they have prepared for an all-out war in their own way.”

“Yes. Therefore, even if one attacks during the first advance, it would normally be to divert attention while we establish a base in the neutral zone...”

Youngest Son had said he would make that base Sky Island.

“It will not be easy.”

CLACK—

Another attendant entered the basement. It was the Head Maid, who assisted Youngest Son.

Appearing with towels, water bottles, and potions good for restoring energy, she handed one to each of the blood kin.

“My lord also said it would not be easy, and he said he chose Sky Island as the target after the mock battle.”

“...After the mock battle?”

When the Head Maid nodded, the blood kin slowly rose, without anyone needing to go first.

Their faces were covered in sweat, and their soaked hair clung to their skin.

Some had split lips, and some had bruises on their bodies beneath their clothes. But such shallow injuries did not matter.

“Dante, Youngest Son, believes we are ready?”

“That is correct. Therefore, please all attend the meeting tomorrow at ten in the morning.”

The blood kin nodded little by little. In the midst of that, Fourth Son raised his hand.

“If there is anything you would like me to convey to my lord, I will do so.”

“There will be hot chocolate in the meeting room, right? I always drink one cup in the morning.”

“I will prepare it.”

Fourth Son’s Chief Secretary had to clutch her throbbing forehead again today.

***

“Hey, Cos. Even as a Dragon, I think this seems dangerous.”

“Yes. It is dangerous.”

Cos Blue Wisdom, the seven-attribute Wind-Attribute mage, flew on the wind.

She created the air current herself and became a single gale, flying beneath the clouds.

Wind Dragon Ventus, flying beside her, looked back. The West, which had grown farther and farther away, could no longer be seen.

Since they were currently rushing toward the edge of the neutral zone, they would soon reach the Empire’s territory.

However, the place she was heading was not the Empire’s territory.

“The information that came through the scouting unit said the force presumed to be Wisdom’s main force would come between Towers of the Sky No. 34 and No. 37.”

“Is this the place between them?”

“Yes. If we wait here, something will come into view soon.”

“I understand that, but...”

Ventus looked around at the spotless, clear sky.

“You do know that if the two of us just float here like this, we are practically advertising ourselves and asking to be taken away, right?”

“I was waiting for you to make clouds.”

“Ugh... This little human brat. When it comes to causing trouble, you are better at it than a Dragon.”

The troublemaker acknowledged by a Dragon soon hid herself among gray clouds.

After that, they drifted through the sky for about half a day, pretending to be clouds floating in the wind. Before long, real clouds covered the sky as well, layering disguise upon disguise.

And then, something came into view.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—

A massive Skeleton Horse was running across the horizon.

Behind it was an enormous black floating castle, and behind that was an enormous Airship.

The ship was even blacker than the shadows cast on the ground as the black castle and ship passed overhead. It was the ship of the Millesdusk Delegation that Ryan had seen.

Cos focused on that black ship. It would soon be the landing point she had to jump onto.

“Lord Ventus. There is something you must be careful of.”

As the Black Ship drew close in the blink of an eye, Cos spoke quickly.

“Now we are going to fall down there. But if we use mana while going down, we will be detected, so until we are one meter above the floor, you have to simply fall.”

“...And at that one-meter mark, I have to use mana to keep my body from being smashed to pieces.”

“It is easy, right? I will go first, so follow me.”

Cos pierced through the clouds they had created and fell.

There was not a single speck of mana mixed in. It was a free fall that simply entrusted her body to gravity.

WHOOOOOOOOOSH—!!

The wind struck her face and hair, and tears welled in her eyes.

Even so, she could not close them. She had to somehow keep them open and look straight at the Black Ship that would become her new ground.

If she did not, she would either miss the Black Ship because she failed to time it, or even if she timed it correctly, she would fail to stop her body and be crushed.

However, First Daughter of Wisdom and the Wind Dragon were not amateurs.

‘Now.’

BOOOOOM—

With a resonant sound that shook the eardrums, two bodies came to a stop.

However, they could not remain stopped for long. The Black Ship was still moving quickly even at this moment.

Holding Cos in his arms, Ventus rolled several times across the deck, then grabbed a gap and pressed his body tightly against it.

Now it was time to ask.

—Cos. What are you planning to do from here?

—We have to go inside.

—I am asking how.

No next telepathic message came.

Thinking it could not be, Ventus looked at First Daughter, and her amethyst eyes were staring into empty space.

Anyone could see she was thinking right now.

—Damn it. You really are...

—I have an idea.

—You really do, right?

—Yes.

After answering briefly, she took out a regular icosahedron cube from her robes and held it in her hand.

It was a gift for the master of this ship.

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