(EP-229.1) #9

229 – Discovery #9

It was late at night, and the owls started to hoot.

━Hoot hoot.

They were really making a racket.

These birds…

“You seem to have made a decision.”

At that moment, Balan, who had opened the door for me, spoke those words. Though I couldn’t tell what expression I had on my face, but I had indeed resolved myself.

“I think we should deal with the Guide soon.”

“Indeed, you have made up your mind. In that case, I, Balan De Sabrnak, will follow your orders.”

Balan’s red eyes gleamed with a sly chuckle. Her demeanor had a sense of anticipation, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Talking about dealing with someone in the dark and laughing like this made me feel like a villain…

“But, Theo-nim, we still aren’t certain if a great magic is hiding within his body. If we attempt to make contact now, there’s a risk that our position could be exposed….”

“That’s true. However, putting aside the matter of Ars Nova, I have a leverage that would be his leash, so it won’t be a problem.”

I had a rough idea of the Guide’s identity.

It might be a rather radical or forceful method, but if he didn’t comply, I’d reign in that leash and have him “leave Ark.”

However, Balan still seemed anxious.

“What if once cornered, he rushes towards Theo-nim?”

“Well, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, wouldn’t you say?”

If he came at me, I’d just unleash my growing power, which was approaching the 6th Rank, upon him. To be honest, the aura and magic surrounding the Guide were pitiful.

They were on par with what I had before I started learning magic.

He seemed peculiar in some ways, but if we face each other properly, the chances of me losing would be very slim. Additionally, I had Balan to assist me.

“Indeed, Theo-nim has everything planned out. Then, how about taking action tonight?”

“Tonight?”

Wasn’t that too sudden?

Balan’s red eyes gleamed more wickedly in the candlelight.

“The longer we take to prepare, the more likely our opponent will be ready. So, if you’ve made up your mind, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get things done on this quiet, moonless night.”

“Hmm-.”

The sooner we handle this, the better. Seeing Balan’s strangely confident expression, I started to feel more assured myself.

Balan then said.

“And, if possible, bringing that dreadful crop would be very helpful.”

“What dreadful crop?”

“The one used by the Gwangyeong Church for exorcism. It is full of yang energy, so taking it might help in unforeseen situations.”

… What was she talking about?

I thought it might be some flower that spouted holy water. However, what Balan said next was surprising.

“Garlic, I meant.”

“… Garlic?”

“That’s right. The Ars Nova, though being close to perfection, has one weakness: garlic…”

Seriously? Garlic? How could I have known?

Listening to Mirna constantly talk about garlic, I wondered if it was really necessary. It turned out Mirna’s choice was indeed the correct one. Truly a smart woman.

Then again, if those suspicions had been directed towards Aira instead of Elga, it would have effectively caused problems and incidents…

I asked as I felt a sharp smell wafting to my nose.

“… Why garlic?”

“We, we don’t know either. We think it might be because Archmage Solomon had a strong allergy to garlic….”

‘I see.’

It wasn’t information I particularly wanted to know, but it was somewhat useful knowledge nonetheless. Of course, it wasn’t that garlic acted as a fatal weakness to Ars Nova.

It just caused them discomfort.

However, in a close match or duel where the outcome can hinge on a small difference, causing discomfort was a significant weakness.

Therefore, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to have something that could be a variable and a weakness, I decided to store some garlic in my magic storage, the《Squirrel Cache》.

Fortunately, I had some that I received from Mirna.

* * *

“I’m ready. Then, let’s go together.”

Balan, with her conical hat towering high, came out waddling with a load of packed luggage.

Dressed in her purple clothes and hat resembling the gloomy darkness, she eerily looked the part of the black mage or witch from stories.

Not much difference in reality.

Clink, clank-.

As her bundle made noises, I casually asked.

“Don’t you think you’ve packed too much?”

“In the words of King Solomon, you can never be too prepared.”

Did Solomon say that?

“And this is my first experience with Theo-nim… It’s only natural that I want to show you my best!”

… First experience? The term she used made me feel a bit embarrassed. I just responded indifferently.

“Just don’t get too eager and cause any accidents. As you know, the Angmar Family is nearly annihilated and our current power is small. We need to handle everything in secret.”

“Okay.”

Though I received a clear answer, I couldn’t shake the lingering sense of unease. As I had already experienced, Professor Balan had a history of going overboard and causing major incidents.

She seemed quite stable now, though.

Slurrr-.

At that moment, a breeze blew in. It was somewhat tepid and humid, making it uncomfortable.

Sass-.

Once the swaying trees and bushes stilled, a heavy silence fell between me and Professor Balan.

An eerie silence. A moonless night.

Though it was close to midnight, the alley behind us was lively and bustling with vendors, drunkards, and clowns due to the festival.

━The age of nymphs is over-. It’s time for the imp’s-.

━Ugh, I’m not drunk-.

This alley was completely desolate, as if abandoned.

It felt as if all signs had been deliberately cut off.

Just then, Balan, who had been looking around, spoke.

“It’s a barrier.”

“A barrier?”

Edited by: faker