[On the Eve of Destruction — 8:40 PM]
Valeria felt a measure of relief when he confirmed that all members of the Black Scripture had returned safely. However, the heavy, dispirited expressions on their faces told him that the situation had already deteriorated beyond repair.
"Haven't you found even the slightest trace?"
Will did not answer. He merely shook his head slowly, solemnly.
Sherry spoke instead. "The replay of the magical afterimage abruptly vanished at the critical location. All I could confirm was that the target breached the Elf King's chambers. After that… I tried everything, but I could no longer activate the afterimage."
Valeria knew Sherry well. Several years ago, she had been a core member of the Clearwater Scripture . After reaching the realm of heroes, she had been transferred to the Black Scripture and then assigned to this peculiar unit.
She wore an odd combination of clothing—a fitted blazer, stockings, and something called a miniskirt. According to the knowledge system left behind by the Six Gods, it was a "school uniform," said to dramatically enhance perceptual abilities.
Sherry was a beautiful young woman with short blonde hair. No ordinary person would imagine that she was a fifth-tier magic caster.
Valeria trusted her judgment implicitly; she was not one for careless errors. Having served as the Grand Marshal's right hand, he had seen the Black Scripture in action many times. They were the nation's greatest heroes, yet they were still young. Faced with such a terrifying unknown, Valeria felt it was his duty as their senior to offer them some steadying words.
"Please don't look so dejected. You must have done everything you could."
"Thank you…"
"So the reason the magical afterimage couldn't be released is that someone used higher-tier intelligence magic to erase the traces. Is that the only reasonable conclusion?"
"Yes. That's the only explanation."
"Someone cleaned up the battlefield," Will said, gripping his spear so tightly that it creaked.
"All crucial intelligence was erased. There were no bodies—neither the Elf King's nor the Extra Seat's. Every piece of equipment is gone. Even the Elf King's treasury has been completely emptied."
A desperate defection?
The thought surfaced unbidden in Valeria's mind.
He remembered the words she had spoken before her departure:
When the hatred my mother etched into my soul finally fades… will I be free? I think I will.
Had she truly changed after killing the Elf King? Had she chosen to leave the Theocracy behind? Perhaps she had fled without a word out of fear of the True Artifact—
Valeria shook his head, suppressing the thought.
The probability was vanishingly small. Zesshi Zetsumei simply did not have the time—or the ability—to thoroughly erase the battlefield, let alone empty the Elf King's treasury.
Then—
"… Is it possible that the Elf King killed her, cleaned up the scene, and escaped?"
"We can't rule it out," Will replied. "It's possible we've been underestimating that bastard's strength all along… Ah, my apologies."
He bowed his head slightly, ashamed of his language.
He must be regretting that he hadn't stayed by Zesshi Zetsumei's side.
But it was the Cardinals' decision to send her alone. And she herself insisted on going solo. This was not the fault of this earnest young man.
"It's fine," Valeria said gently. "There's another possibility as well… Someone else may have reaped the benefits."
"… As you say."
The mood grew even heavier as those words settled over the group.
Zesshi Zetsumei and the Elf King were both beings far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. It was entirely possible that a third party had learned of their confrontation and waited for the perfect moment—striking when both sides were weakened.
It was the worst-case scenario. And yet, it was also the most plausible.
Such insidious tactics perfectly matched the meticulous erasure of the battlefield through intelligence magic.
"If it was a third party, then it could only be the Council State or the Sorcerer Kingdom… and the Sorcerer Kingdom is the most likely."
Valeria looked toward the speaker—Tyr.
Once known as the Earthshield, now hailed as the Myriad Barriers, Tyr possessed a personality as steadfast as his defenses. He voiced this terrifying deduction—no, conclusion—without hesitation.
Indeed. Only the Sorcerer Kingdom would act in such a manner.
The Council State also possessed the capability, but the Platinum Dragon Lord was, at least outwardly, a being who adhered to a code of dignity and restraint.
Could it be another Dragon Lord? No… With the Sorcerer King positioned as the "public enemy," it would make no sense for a Dragon Lord to eliminate our trump card at this stage. Kidnapping Zesshi to use her as a pawn…?
Impossible. Even a Dragon Lord could not freely control a being like Zesshi Zetsumei—unless they possessed a form of Wild Magic comparable to the Divine Artifact
Alluring Beauty.
No matter how Valeria examined the situation, the Sorcerer Kingdom remained the most likely culprit.
Which meant only one thing: the Theocracy's greatest hypothetical enemy had already made its move—and it was a decisive strike from the very beginning.
"That despicable undead…" someone muttered. "But surely the Sorcerer King wouldn't personally intervene, right? He likely has subordinates capable of teleportation and high-tier intelligence magic. Perhaps his disciples… or trusted followers."
"It's impossible to say," Will replied. "After what happened in the Holy Kingdom, it would be foolish to judge the Sorcerer King by common sense."
"… You're right."
"We have already contacted the Cardinals," Will continued. "Your Excellency Valeria Ain Obinier, please allow me to relay the orders issued by the Supreme Council before we depart."
"Proceed."
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