(EP-233.1) #1

233 – Dawn #1

While I was lost in thought, Balan and the Guide, Theodoros, started talking to each other.

“You must be Basago. There’s no way any of this would be possible otherwise.”

“Professor Balan, you are just like me. I had a vague suspicion, but I couldn’t be sure because you hid your existence so thoroughly.”

“Same with you.”

What was this?

Suddenly, they were acting like they knew each other.

At least the good news was that I was starting to understand what they were talking about.

I decided to join the conversation, pretending I knew everything.

“Basago. Is that the name of the great magic in you?”

“…….”

Then the man, who had been chattering away, stopped talking and alternated his gaze between me and Professor Balan.

He seemed to have something to say, but he was being very cautious.

Balan soon spoke up.

“Basago, all plans have gone awry because of your betrayal. De, the Demon King was torn apart by those hateful, so-called heroes of the four families.”

Then the man snapped.

“Betrayal? Don’t spout such nonsense. Aren’t you the traitor here!?”

His previously calm demeanor had changed drastically. He hadn’t even reacted this strongly when I stuffed garlic into his mouth.

The Guide then continued.

“While I was running around trying to revive our master, what were you doing? Living comfortably as a professor at Ark, parading around in leisure?”

“W, what did you say!?”

Professor Balan and the Guide, Theodoros, began to growl at each other.

As I had suspected, it seemed the Guide harbored a great magic within him as well. This meant he was an Ars Nova, just like Balan.

However, it seemed that Solomon’s death involved the betrayal of one of them.

They had been cautious and concealed their true identities, which was why they hadn’t recognized each other. For the same reason, I hadn’t revealed my true identity either.

This guy could very well be the traitor who was aiming for my neck.

The Guide, however, cried out like a death row inmate who suffered an unfair prison sentence.

“Do not doubt my loyalty, Professor Balan. There hasn’t been a single instance when I wasn’t devoted to my master…!”

Finally, he violently trembled and spat out blood.

“I have always fought for my master…! I have meticulously planned and anticipated every detail, and managed variables without a single error…!”

“But you failed. Our king was torn apart. Who knows if it’s truly something you couldn’t foresee, or simply as you intended.”

“What drivel!”

The man shouted loudly.

Whoosh—

The flames of the bonfire around us flared up fiercely before promptly subsiding as he nodded.

“Now I understand—Balan, no, Gamigin. You were the rat! All the plans I had made went awry because you tipped off this half-fairy…!”

His growl sounded like that of a beast.

“W, what did you say!?”

“You traitor! You shall have no place even in hell! That is my prophecy. The unjustly slain souls of Angmar will tear you to pieces!!!”

‘I see.’

If there was one thing I can be certain of, it would be the fact that the great magic, Basago, within Theodoros was devoted to the Demon King in his own way.

From the first impression, he was incredibly suspicious.

But seeing this, it didn’t seem like he was the Demon King’s betrayer.

The fella didn’t appear to be acting either.

At that moment, Balan, who had been listening beside me, let out a sinister laugh.

“You fool. Who do you think you’re talking to? In both the past and present, it is I who gave the greatest allegiance to the Demon King…!”

“What?”

“And if you truly care about the King’s safety, you should swallow a handful of garlic and die coughing up blood. What’s the point in hiding it now?”

Cheok-.

Balan stretched out her arms towards me.

“This here is none other than the King of all Kings, Theo Gospel-nim…!”

“…….”

Whop, whop-.

Compared to Balan, who was waving her hands like she was celebrating a birthday, the Guide’s expression was not good. He just frowned as if she was speaking an alien language.

Then he said like he just chewed on a bug.

“Isn’t he just a strange half-fairy? No matter how lowly a rank is 4th, one who has been named by the master should not bow their head to another. Know your shame!”

However, Balan laughed calmly.

“Do you really think so? Do you think I would bow my head to just anyone? I, who was the first creation the Demon King made with utmost care, who spent more time with him than anyone else?”

Theodoros kept his mouth shut, seemingly sensing something from Balan’s confident demeanor. Then he jerked as if he realized something.

“It can’t be…!”

“Yes, even a fool like you would understand. Indeed, the man you so despised and rejected is the sole, remaining royal blood.”

“Aaaah━─!”

The man screamed like a broken speaker.

He tried to get up, but his broken limbs hindered him, as he simply crumpled back to the ground.

Of course, even if he hadn’t, Balan would have prevented him from approaching me.

“Don’t come any closer, traitor! You acted disrespectfully without even knowing who this man is! I shudder thinking how you trapped him in your mental space and got tormented by all those traps!”

… Although Balan was speaking confidently now, hadn’t she also tried to attack and kill me? But the man, unaware of this, screamed in utter shock.

“Aaaah! It’s not true! I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t know! How could I have committed such disloyalty…. I offer my utmost apologies….”

Edited by: faker