Chapter: 978
Magic works. I had just come to confirm it.
‘Black is corrupt.’
The head of the Black House.
The guy who was called Gubong’s father has been taken over by magic and has fallen into a demon.
When I infused the magic, I was half a mind, but after seeing the state, it seemed to have taken effect.
However.
‘Not completely.’
I don’t quite understand the difference, but the complete subjugation into corruption was a failure.
In terms of results, one might say it was half successful?
Although he became a demon due to magic.
His loyalty towards me doesn’t seem particularly high.
I would say there’s not much of a mental difference. Usually, when someone becomes a demon, they tend to show loyalty to me.
I don’t know if it’s the black one that’s odd, or if it’s the moonlight creatures that are strange.
‘Then I need to test it on some other guys.’
I had hardly considered using magic.
To be precise, it would be more accurate to say I didn’t think there would be a situation where I would use it.
Why would I need to come all the way to another world to employ this?
Thinking about it like that, I had not done that.
‘This isn’t the time to be fussing over such things.’
Now wasn’t the time to deliberate over every little detail. I needed to wrap things up quickly and make full use of everything I had.
“Does it work?”
“Yes. However, it’s not complete; it’s just enough to fit a leash on them.”
Binding the body through magic.
Mental bondage was impossible, but physical bonding was feasible.
“Hmm.”
After hearing that, Noya made a strange expression. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but glance at him with curiosity.
No matter how filthy and vicious Noya’s character is, he’s still a Taoist priest.
After all, in the Central Plains, he was called a hero, so he shouldn’t be fond of corrupting others.
“Halfway… If only I had fully succeeded. Tsk tsk tsk. How can you not even manage that one thing properly?”
Well, I thought so, but it seems I had no need to worry.
“…….”
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“……It’s nothing.”
I shook my head slightly and cleared my throat softly.
“Well, at least… I managed to bind him physically. Even without that, the black one will soon come around on his own.”
Black was an ambitious fellow.
Historically, the easiest ones to handle were the ambitious types.
Especially the higher their ambitions, the more true this becomes.
The higher their ambitions, the more they long for ways to achieve them.
These types generally don’t care how they go about it.
If they can pull it off, they disregard the means and methods.
In that regard.
‘Since I demonstrated my strength.’
Now that magic had shown an unexpected power, changes would surely occur in his mind.
I assessed the situation thusly.
“So this side is roughly done. How about Noya’s side?”
My side was sorted. He was someone I had expected would perform well from the outset. That guess hadn’t shifted much, but what mattered here was the character that Shin Noya was after.
‘Yusa.’
General Yusa. Right now, his situation is more critical.
While conveying this to Noya, Shin Noya adopted a somewhat uneasy expression.
“Hmm.”
“What’s the matter?”
“He said he would talk next time.”
“……Oh.”
That was delightful news to hear.
It would have been troublesome had they kicked up a fuss and insisted on not doing it at all.
“I’ll listen to the story.” I gazed at Noya, attentive to that remark.
However, Noya seemed oddly displeased about something.
What could be making him frown like that?
After considering, I asked.
“Why are you acting like that?”
Noya responded to my question.
“There’s something a bit strange about it.”
“What’s strange?”
“Yusa, that is.”
“Yes?”
“He has a keen sense.”
“I’m aware.”
Yusa does indeed have a sharp intuition. Moreover, I had a vague understanding that he was prideful about it.
But.
“No, it goes beyond that.”
“Oh?”
“His keen sense stems from his power. It’s inadequate to simply describe it as good.”
“……If it’s about power.”
Was it the power of gluttony, perhaps?
The ability to consume anything.
The hungrier one becomes, the more they search for food. Their instincts develop intensely just to locate that food.
In addition, the hungrier they are, the stronger and more regenerative they become. It was a power that requires perpetual extreme hunger.
These are the insights derived from Tam’s gluttony.
Additionally.
‘Tam can consume their powers as well.’
The four individuals dubbed as generals were said to possess powers. Tam could even consume such abilities.
I thought that could only be applied to dragons, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
From the moment Tam devoured and absorbed Yusa’s power.
He conveyed to me information about that ability.
Therefore, I had some knowledge of Yusa’s powers.
“Are you saying there’s a connection between that and the expression Noya’s making right now?”
If his keen sense is derived from his power, I can grasp it.
So what’s the issue? I asked Noya that directly.
“Kiddo.”
“Yes?”
“Yusa is astute and highly intuitive, and he’s somewhat distant from naivety.”
There was a peculiar hint of worry in Shin Noya’s voice.
“Didn’t you say that at the banquet? It would be better to use red as the next target.”
“Indeed, I did.”
That was the part where I had instructed Black.
Upon hearing that, I went to meet Black, while Noya headed to meet Yusa.
And this is the outcome. Noya seemed to find something troubling.
“I aimed at red. It’s true that Yusa heard that, but…”
“Yes?”
“That black color didn’t refer to him directly. Do you think he might find that peculiar?”
“…….”
Upon hearing Noya’s words, a frown creased my brow.
Certainly.
‘Didn’t I tell him to speak explicitly?’
When I secretly met Black and issued orders, I didn’t mention the part about what to say.
‘If I were in his shoes.’
If I were in Black’s position, I would have surely mentioned me first and then tried to shift attention to the red.
‘What if Black didn’t do that?’
How would he handle that situation if he didn’t bring it up?
‘…….’
I doubt Black is so foolish, but you can never be sure.
What if that happens?
‘What would transpire if hefinds it suspicious?’
If Yusa deemed this as strange, would he investigate Black? It was a possibility.
In that scenario, some issues could arise.
‘Though they say he was corrupted by magic, if he has the power of Ming, he might break through it.’
If that power were genuinely absolute, it could be perilous.
I reflect on that thought for a moment.
Pondering what could ensue should a problem arise.
I contemplate and ponder yet again. The time was brief, yet countless concerns swirled through my mind.
Having mulled over it like this.
‘……Hmm.’
The conclusion hadn’t changed much.
“It’s no use crying over spilt milk.”
The milk had already spilled.
I couldn’t scoop it back up. That wasn’t an option available to me.
“Well, let’s give it a shot anyway.”
“That’s a comfortable answer to hear.”
“What do you think, Noya? If Yusa notices something amiss, what do you think he’ll do?”
I reflect on the character known as Yusa. I don’t have in-depth knowledge about him, but if he had seen even a fleeting moment, he would check things out.
‘Rather than telling me immediately.’
Rather than rushing to disclose things for his own benefit.
“Shouldn’t he investigate first?”
“I imagine he will check.”
“…….”
“…….”
Noya and I provided the same response. Since the answers matched, Noya looked a bit awkward.
I chuckled at his reaction.
“He’s ambitious.”
No different from Black. Ambition. He’s a fellow with considerable ambition. I can tell just by looking into his eyes.
How did I survive among those folks in the Central Plains? It wouldn’t make sense for me to be oblivious to such eyes.
“If there is ambition, there’s a quest for hope. Even in the muck, those kinds of people will roll around like madmen searching for opportunities. I doubt he’d throw it away without verifying.”
Didn’t they say to knock on a stone bridge before crossing it?
That’s a phrase likening it to cautious individuals.
To phrase it differently.
‘It means he won’t cross without even checking.’
It’s somewhat cumbersome to relate it to him.
But I didn’t think it differed that much.
‘If any doubts arise, he’ll seek to confirm.’
All I needed to do was act in a way that turned that suspicion into certainty.
“So then, when did you say we’d meet again?”
“It’s in half an hour from now.”
“Hmm.”
Not too far off, it seems.
‘The fact he mentioned needing that much time…’
If Noya’s concerns are accurate, it’s safe to say something is being prepared.
I felt a slight tension.
‘Half an hour…….’
As I considered the time, suddenly.
“And, kiddo.”
“Yes?”
“This task is for you to handle alone.”
“Excuse me?”
Upon hearing that, I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“That guy specified he wanted you to come alone, and I need to head back to the volcano soon. I’m upset, but there’s nothing I can change about it…”
“No, it’s not that I’m upset. Why did you want to come again?”
“……Huh?”
“It’s all settled now. I’ll handle it, so you go.”
“…….”
As I casually stated this, Noya’s expression turned oddly disconcerted.
“Rather, if Noya gets involved from here on, it might just hinder things.”
“……Uh, uh. Sure.”
I was just sending him off since he couldn’t accompany me. Yet Noya’s expression was ambiguous.
He looked somewhat dejected. What’s with that? I told him to go because he couldn’t help me, yet he’s showing such a face?
“If you’ve said all you wanted, I’ll take my leave first. Just let me know the location, and you head back.”
“…….”
At my words, Noya, caught off guard, clicked his tongue.
It seemed he had many things to say, but ultimately, Shin Noya didn’t voice anything.
Afterward, I received the location from him.
Surprisingly, the place Yusa wanted to meet was not Yawol.
It was a forest located a short distance from the castle.
Noya told me to see Tenma there.
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