Ding—!
[ ◆ You were able to prevent the Nocturne Order from taking control of the Eastern Kasha.]
‘Nocturne Order…? Is that what it is…’
I made a mental note to myself while another notification popped in front of me.
[ ◆ Main Quest Activated: Puppet Master]
: Character Progression + 401%
: Game Progression + 17%
Failure
: Aoife K. Megrail 28%
: Kiera Mylne 32%
: Evelyn J. Verlice 26%
It was the quest window.
Looking at it, I suddenly saw a progression bar appeared above it.
◆| Game Progression EXP + 17%
Game Progression : [0%——————[73%]———100%]
I watched as the percentage rose to 73% and pressed my lips tightly at the sight. Just what was going to happen once the progression reached a hundred percent?
For some reason, rather than excitement, all I felt was dread.
…This was especially when I thought about the last time the progression bar increased and Julien’s shackles within me loosened.
I took a deep breath and forced my mind to calm down.
“I’ll need to take some time later to assess my situation properly.”
As of now, I was still weak.
While I was growing stronger, this was far from enough. Especially considering who I was dealing with.
Moments later, a surge of warm energy swept through my mind, and I felt my strength grow. The entire process was surprisingly pleasant, lasting only a few minutes before finally settling into a calm stillness.
Shortly after that, I waved my hand and brought up my status window.
—●
[Julien D. Evenus]
Level : 57 [Tier 5 Magician]
Exp : [0%-[19%]-100%]
Profession: Magician
﹂ Type: Elemental [Curse]
﹂ Type: Mind [Emotive]
Spells:
﹂ Superior type spell [Emotive] : Sadness
﹂ Advanced type spell [Emotive] : Anger
﹂ Superior type spell [Emotive] : Fear
﹂ Advanced type spell [Emotive] : Surprise
﹂ Intermediate type spell [Emotive] : Happiness
﹂ Intermediate type spell [Emotive] : Disgust
﹂ Beginner type spell [Emotive] : Love
﹂ Advanced type spell [Curse] : Hands of Contagion
﹂ Intermediate type spell [Curse] : Shackles of Alakantria
﹂ Intermediate type spell [Curse] : Nightmare Hex
﹂ Intermediate type spell [Curse] : Immersia
Skills:
[Innate] – Eyes of the Seer
[Innate] – Etherweave
[Innate] – Lament of Lies
[Innate] – Step of Suppression
—●
“Hm.”
Staring at my status window, I started to look at all my skills carefully. Alongside my emotive magic and innate skills, I was in possession of my domain which granted me several other unique abilities.
And yet…
“I can’t help but feel like I’m not utilizing my skills to the utmost best.”
After giving it some careful thought, I had to admit the truth—my fighting style was terrible. I relied far too much on my Emotive Magic and Domain, brute-forcing my way through battles with sheer physicality while only occasionally making use of my Curse Magic.
This all seemed to work for me for now, but I knew this was unreliable in the long term.
The stronger someone was the more likely brute force wouldn’t work. Even my Emotive Magic wasn’t going to work as efficiently against stronger people.
I had to quickly think of a way to fight more efficiently.
“But how?”
I carefully looked through my skills and pondered over them.
‘Eyes of the Seer, Etherweave, Lament of Lies, Step of Suppression…’
A vivid image began to form in my mind as I sifted through the skills etched into my memory. The longer I concentrated, the clearer the idea seemed to grow, yet, frustratingly, I couldn’t grasp the full picture no matter how hard I tried.
‘I’m so close, and yet so far…’
I ruffled my hair in frustration before lifting my head to look around me.
The world around me stretched out endlessly, barren and flat, beneath the oppressive gray sky. Above, the pale white sun hung motionless, its harsh light casting rays of light across the surface of the land, segregated by the distant peaks in the distance.
Squelch~
Feeling something touch my ankle, I saw a black root sprout.
The root coiled its way up my leg, spiraling steadily before halting at my shoulder. In a seamless, eerie shift, it morphed, twisting and reshaping itself into the form of an owl.
“Owl-Mighty.”
“….How did it go?” Owl-Mighty asked, its legs firmly grasping my shoulder.
I frowned and pondered for a brief moment.
How could I describe the experience?
“Weird…”
Yeah, it was weird.
“Is that all?”
“It’s hard to describe, but it appears like the barrier is merely there for decoration. Everything about the place is fake.”
“Like some sort of illusion?”
“Yeah, like what you created in the past. I managed to figure out it was all fake—probably because they weren’t even trying to hide it.”
Perhaps my high mental strength helped, but in hindsight, there were probably many more powerful figures than me who had entered the Citadel.
I was sure they’d also notice that it was all a ‘dream’.
“Oh.”
Owl-Mighty seemed to have lost interest from that point.
I took the chance to look at my pocket watch.
“How long was I out for?”
“About half a day.”
“That seems to be in line with the amount of time I spent there.”
I was a little worried that time would flow differently in the Citadel but it didn’t seem like it did. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“If that’s the case then I should take this time to head bac—”
“That might be difficult.”
“Uh?”
Suddenly cut off by Owl-Mighty, I raised my brow.
“What do you mean that might be difficult?”
Without responding, Owl-Mighty swiveled its head to gaze into the distance. Intrigued by the owl’s unusual behavior, I mimicked it and turned my own head to see what had caught its attention.
And yet…
“I don’t see anything.”
Regardless of how hard I tried, all I saw was a vast and barren land.
What exactly was this damn owl looking at?
Nevertheless, I stood up as my body tensed in preparation for what was to come. Owl-Mighty wasn’t one to joke around, despite its newfound understanding of emotions.
“They’re coming.”
“Coming?”
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An idea formed in my mind and my expression changed.
Without thinking twice, I took a deep breath and cast [Lament of Lies]. As I looked down, I watched my body disappear from sight. Lowering my breathing and calming my heart, I blocked out all surrounding noise and retreated slowly.
This was the first time I had tried the skill and as my body faded out of sight, I sensed a certain disturbance in the distance.
It was then that I saw it…
‘Ah.’
As if warping reality itself, they emerged from the very air, their bodies twisting and materializing in unnatural ways.
With vast, tattered black wings and faceless, hollow heads, they loomed before me. Each movement seemed to blend with the faint dry breeze that lingered in the air. Their long white garments rippled, floating eerily in the stillness.
As they hovered in the air, their hollow gazes scanned the surroundings, passing by me as I held onto my breath.
With just one glance, I knew exactly what I was dealing with.
…And my entire body tensed at the realization.
‘Melanchony of Pursuit.’
*
Of the many things that Haven thought, Monster Classification and Recognition was one of them.
The cadets were required to learn the names and properties of over a thousand different monsters found in the Mirror Dimension. Naturally, with such a vast number, memorizing all of them was impossible. However, those few that were essential to memorize belonged to a class where such knowledge was vital.
That was because the few monsters that the cadets needed to remember fell into a category with a clear warning: If you encounter them, run.
Of such monsters, the Melanchonies of Pursuit were one.
They had no eyes, no ears, and no sense of smell—nothing but featureless, smooth, and empty faces. Yet, in spite of their empty forms, they always found their prey.
Nothing could escape their sight, and as Julien looked at them, his breathing nearly stopped as he continuously moved back.
Each of them was Terror Ranked.
He could take them out if he wanted to, but looking ahead, he saw that there were seventeen of them.
Furthermore…
‘I can sense several figures approaching from behind them. They’re all quite strong.’
Owl-Mighty’s words struck Julien like a bucket of icy water, drenching him in a shock of cold that seemed to seep deep into his bones. The chills crawling along his skin intensified as the Melanchonies, without a sound, twisted their heads toward him in unison.
Their faceless visages were empty, yet their gaze—if it could even be called that—pierced through his disguise as though it was but a mere cloth.
Julien’s heart pressed tightly against his throat as he turned around and hastily recalled a green orb in his mind. As his legs tensed, he shot in the opposite direction like an arrow. His speed was quick, and before he knew it, the Melanchonies were but mere dots.
In spite of the distance, Julien didn’t feel safe at all.
He knew.
He understood.
That there was no running away from the Melanchonies.
Regardless of what he did, they would find him.
He couldn’t run.
All he could do was delay the inevitable.
***
Not far from Julien.
Scrunch~
A single foot pressed against the dry ground as several figures materialized beside the hovering Melanchonies.
“He shouldn’t be far off.”
With his hand outstretched, several chains materialized from thin air, each one fastening to the necks of the Melanchonies. A faint, eerie ‘clank’ echoed in the stillness, as the chains scraped and collided with one another.
“….This seems a bit of a waste.”
Appearing beside the man, whose bulky figure towered over her, was a tall woman with long flowing red hair and green eyes. Her sharp eyes gazed into the distance before settling over the Melanchonies.
“We’re hunting a mere twenty-year-old. Using the Melanchonies seems a bit of a waste.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Another figure spoke, his figure relatively short. His eyes were a hollow void, pitch black with no hint of white, like two endless abysses staring into the soul. He blinked slowly, the motion unnatural, as though it pained him, before turning his gaze toward the distance.
“As far as I’m aware, he’s the current Summit winner. He’s certainly talented and it’s not like we’re hunting him.”
“Yeah, yeah. Detaining and hunting… It’s the same thing.”
“No, it isn’t.”
The short figure spoke, turning his head to look at the numerous figures behind him.
“They’ve strictly told us not to kill him. His identity seems to be rather high.”
“Ho, you don’t say?”
Traces of amusement flickered across the woman’s face.
“I wonder what’s so special about him that would make all the Seats pursue him.”
“That’s not for us to care.”
Blinking his eyes, the short figure suddenly began to bleed black tears. His face winced in pain as he turned his head to face the bulky man beside him who silently released his grip over his chains.
Clank, clank—
As the chains clattered to the ground, their heavy echoes reverberating through the air, the Melanchonies suddenly began to dissipate, vanishing from view as if they were never there at all.
Letting go at the same time, the figures stepped forward and similarly vanished.
“Let’s make this quick.”