Chapter 172 - 172. Cage (1)

"I'll bring Miss Eisel."

Jeto visits Edward from the wind in the morning.

At his words, Edward, who was drinking coffee leisurely, turned his head.

"It's a trip soon... I'll have to bring it before we head east. It's sure to be a fun trip."

"I'll be back soon."

"The unauthorized departure of cadets is also an issue that the instructor should be responsible for... It seems very strange that a blind man sets out to find someone... Well, it's a cadet. Let's believe it."

"Thank you."

Edward opens a drawer of his desk, pulls out a piece of paper, and hands it to Jetto.

"It's a pass. It's a pass, and at the same time, it's a magic object that provides a location to the academy. You'd better carry it around."

"Yes."

Jetto took the pass and put it in his arms.

Soon after, he turned around and was about to leave the instructor's office.

"But why?"

At the end of Edward's question, Jeto quietly turned his head.

"..."

"...Is there any other reason why a permit was needed this time?"

Aizel or Jetona.

After leaving the academy without saying a word, Edward became curious about why he was getting an outing pass this time.

"Well, if it seems like it's taking too long, maybe you'll have to come and find it. Maybe I'm lost."

"..."

Edward raised an eyebrow at Jeto's joke.

"Go ahead."

Soon, Jeto lowered his head and stepped out of the instructor's room.

"Hmm..."

Edward, who was sitting in his chair, drooled.

For some reason, I didn't have a good feeling.

"Why? What's going on?"

Soon, Rayna, who was seated next to Edward, tapped him on the shoulder as he was lost in thought.

"It's nothing special... He said he'd go out and come back."

"Going out? Hey, it won't be an accident, right?"

"Because I thought it might cause an accident."

"...Then shouldn't it be stopped?"

"It's just that feeling. Unless it's an unmanageable accident..."

Edward slurred his words, and immediately said, '...It will be fine.' He muttered.

'You can't stop it anyway, can you? Cadet Zeto.'

Edward had a hunch.

That this is a huge current, and he can't stop it no matter what he does.

That's when Jeto went straight out of the academy's main gate.

There were two people watching this from afar.

It was a young girl and an old man with a long beard.

A combination of the two that just doesn't look right.

No one will notice that the relationship between the two is the 'hero and the wise man' who once set out to catch the demon king.

"To be able to carry the tears of the dead..."

The old man groaned.

"The lunatic is clear."

The little girl added her words.

Tears of the dead are very dangerous items.

To the extent that he, who has the status of the chairman, could not provide any help.

The moment it was discovered that he was carrying it, he would not be able to escape a full-scale investigation.

Traces and proofs of carnage.

It was a matter that could go to jail just for the crime of not reporting it.

All they ask is one thing.

Is the person holding this dangerous item a human or a demon?

It was only natural that he would carry items that the demons could make while the demons' craft was being carried out every moment.

"So don't you like it more? A madman changes the world. Isn't that what you used to say?"

"It's not a word I use at times like this... But anyway, you've put that into your body well enough."

"In the first place, he didn't feel any discomfort that a human would have to hear. He wasn't even a demon."

Yes.

The discomfort they are feeling right now.

The displeasure you feel as soon as you say the word "Tears of the dead".

Jetto was not feeling it.

So he could have put something like that into his heart.

"Well, I'm sure he's human..."

The old man who had been touching his chin nodded his head.

They were the ones who had experienced countless demons, so it was something that could be concluded.

In response, the little girl who was keeping her eyes on the carriage on which Jeto was riding opened her mouth.

"...Yes. Since it's you and me, it's a problem that can be understood. Other humans will show their displeasure first."

"By the way, let's go to 'there' anyway? Do you know anything? It's been more than ten years since the massacre took place. Nothing will be left there anymore..."

"Maybe it will remain. Aren't you curious? The future the Ludwig clan saw."

"..."

The old man, the sage Oberth, stared at the face of the reincarnated hero.

'These eyes...'

The body has changed, but the soul remains the same.

The warrior's eyes full of curiosity, longing for adventure, were still the same.

"He might have left something for me. Let's go soon."

Said Ray as he climbed into the carriage.

This was the carriage that Oberth had called.

Aubert also climbs into the carriage and opens his mouth.

"Did you say you were the first prince of Terrasia?"

"Do you know what kind of guy he is?"

"Ummm... He's just a normal, power-stained bastard. Can I just stop him from coming?"

"Yes, please."

"Well, politics has always been my job. Leave it to me."

Soon after, Ray nodded lightly and looked at the window.

Coincidentally, Zeto sets out to save the last survivor of the Ludwig clan.

'Could the future he saw and the future the Ludwig family see be the same?'

A secret hidden in a huge whirlpool that is about to blow up. The hero, Ray, was curious about that.

***

Jeto left the academy and immediately went to the alchemy guild 'Midas'.

It was for the 'preparation' for the miracle.

By the time Jeto gave me the items I needed and was waiting in the room for a while, a Midas alchemist entered the room.

An alchemist, seated across from him, puts two bottles on the desk.

"Here, this is the item you ordered. It's called the last trick."

Two bottles each contained what appeared to be pills.

"...The last trick. You're not wrong."

"Haha, thank you for the compliment. Chewing it will take effect right away. It will look and feel like a corpse. No heart beating, no breathing. But keep in mind that this is not something that can be used in 'combat'. "

The alchemist peeked at the sword at Jeto's waist and said so.

As Jeto tilted his head, he continued to explain.

"I can't really move my body. Have you ever heard of a basilisk?"

"Speaking of Basilisk... Famous for the Mystic Eye of Petrification..."

"Yes, nothing else. This is a medicine made from the tears of those basilisks. It's more like a poison than a medicine. It literally hardens the insides of the body."

"Hmm... There must be a reason why it's expensive."

"Anyway, ingredients are ingredients... Anyway, if you do something wrong because you are defenseless against confirmation kills, you can become a real corpse. So, if you want to get up before you die, you must chew the antidote."

It wasn't something you would say when selling a product to pretend to be a corpse and become a corpse, but the alchemist was quite honest, so he clearly pointed out the points to be aware of and the shortcomings.

"But don't worry. It's possible to move the jaw. I've tested it myself, so I can guarantee it."

"...You don't spare yourself."

"Haha, all alchemists are like that. Anyway, the antidote takes a little while to be able to move, unlike poison, which spreads in an instant."

Soon after, the alchemist smiled shyly and tapped the lid of the bottle.

"I have drawn a cross on the cap of one bottle in advance for you. The cross-slashed side is the antidote, and the non-slashed side is the poison."

Following the alchemist's words, Jetto puts his hand on the bottle and caresses the lid.

"Can even a saintess be fooled?"

"A saint..."

At Jeto's question, the alchemist tapped the desk.

Soon, the alchemist raised a corner of his mouth and opened his mouth.

"Of course. No matter what I make, it's perfect. That's my philosophy. In case the priests intervene, I also included materials that resist the divine power in the poison. So... There is no antidote. It gets even more dangerous."

Even though the alchemist said that, he thought there was a reason why this didn't sell.

Isn't it a good thing to scream when you're in trouble? However, it was too expensive to use it as a real poison.

Will I live like this

The alchemist, on the contrary, became curious about it.

At this, Jeto smiled brightly and put the money bag on his desk.

"It's going to be a perfect trick. Here, Daegeum."

Jetto then uncapped the vials on his desk and put two of them into his molars.

"Left is poison, right is antidote, right?"

Zeto pointing to his own cheek in order.

"...Exactly."

The alchemist who checked the slash on the lid said so.

"It was a good deal."

Jetto immediately gets up from his seat and leaves the room.

Soon, the alchemist left in the room stares blankly at the door Jeto came through and mutters in a low voice.

"You're an outspoken customer. Where are you going to use something like that..."

He had made it, but hadn't thought it would be sold, so he was rushing out of the warehouse to get the medicine.

"What, is it not my business?"

The alchemist smiled at the money bag lying on the desk.

In any case, I received a large amount of money worthy of the re-royalty.

How many times did he receive criticism from the guild leader when he made medicine?

"How much is all this?"

He was very happy when he sold the bad stock.

***

I sat blankly on the sofa, lost in thought.

The sudden dissolution of the Golden Lion Knights.

When I found out through Blanc, I came across the fact that Zagoras was subjugated by the saintess.

It was impossible to reveal the shocking fact that the deputy leader of the Allied Forces, the Kingdom of Terrasia, and the knights were demons, so they shook it off and started to disband the knights.

Even in repeated regressions, Zagoras has never been subjugated by a saintess.

Was a variable.

It was helpful to me, but the key was who caused the variable.

There was nothing to pinpoint.

A lot of things have changed in this regression, but in the end, the biggest variable is only one person.

'Jetto...'

Coincidentally, he already knew that he and the saintess were related to some extent.

But I had my doubts.

From how he drew the help of the saintess.

How did Delion, or Zagoras, come to know that he was a demon...

There were many possibilities.

Among them, the one that seemed the most probable.

What if he regressed with me?

What if Zeto is a regressor like me?

It was absurd, but unless it was a hypothesis, the events that happened this time couldn't be explained well.

But I didn't believe it.

It's not that common to be a regressor.

Even if it was me, Zeto couldn't understand why he could become a regressor.

I hurriedly went to my 'hometown' to see if there was a key to solving this question.

The place where I was born and the home of the Ludwig clan.

At the same time, it was also the place where they chose to die.

I've never set foot in the process of going through a regression.

I was afraid that there might be traces of them dying. At least I wanted to go back when I got their revenge.

However, after hearing Ekis' story, I changed my mind.

I also have something I want to ask them.

Why did they make that choice, and why did they engrave a return to me even at the cost of their lives?

I thought I would be able to find an answer to this if I went back there.

Perhaps even the answer to Zeto's identity.

"...Eisel, when did you come back?"

Soon, the voice of the woman who opened the door and came in made me break out of her thoughts.

It was Blanc.

Well, this was her house.

After leaving the academy, I was indebted to Blanc for a while.

Opening her door, Blanc takes off her coat and hangs it on her chair in the corner of the room.

I looked at her and opened her mouth.

"It's been a while."

"So... Did you get anything?"

"...Nothing."

"Okay?"

A small village hidden in a forest where no one could reach, with a barrier to impede recognition.

It was the village of the Ludwig clan.

Contrary to my expectations that there might be something, there was nothing there.

It was a quiet village where not a single person could be seen, and it was so quiet that it felt cool.

Everything was intact, as if no one had stepped on it for a long time.

There was not a single broken house that could be called a trace of the massacre.

Was finally able to reach

To the "Altar" Deep in the village.

It was the place that I had seen before, recalling memories through Ekis.

Only then did the memory come back vaguely.

In my memory, the entire clan with me at the center of the altar was holding a short dagger.

'This will break the bridle.'

These were the words they put in their mouths as they chose to commit suicide.

Bridle.

I didn't know what bridle meant.

After examining the area around the altar, a mysterious 'door' appeared, but... It could not be opened.

I recognized that it was a door that could be entered and exited because it was treated magically, but my mana and blood did not open it.

A door that even the last survivor of the clan was not allowed to enter. Then, who the hell is the thing behind this door for?

It was frustrating, but I had no choice but to turn around. It's because I couldn't waste any more time.

Soon Blanc looked at me and carefully opened his mouth.

"Rather than that... I have news."

"Good news? Bad news?"

"I guess I should say good news. He's been looking for the 'Black Hand'."

"...Zeto?"

"Yes. You haven't met me... But after hearing the explanation, you seem to be looking for you? Well, first of all, it's an information guild."

"So you gave me the information?"

"I didn't give it to you. The guild members who dealt with him in the first place don't even know where you are."

"..."

Did you finally find me?

Again at this time.

"So what are you going to do? Are you going to keep playing like this?"

Blanc, naturally sitting next to the sofa, asked.

As for me, I had to stop Jetto from trying to save me.

I didn't want to repeat his death again.

Moreover, his curse has not yet been resolved.

He must be prevented from going into battle.

However, I didn't think he would be able to find me if I left him like this.

He will find me somehow.

Just like it was then

"Where is Jetto now?"

"I knew it... I put someone in advance. I'm staying at an inn not far from here. Want to meet?"

"...I guess so."

Previously, I was defeated by Zeto, but this time I will move first.

There is no option to fight together.

It's not strong enough to protect Zeto during a fight.

There is even less of an option to let him fight alone.

This battle is entirely mine.

I will take responsibility and tie the knot myself.

To do so, I needed a 'cage' to contain the blind bird that flew into my arms without knowing it was dangerous.

Come on Jeto.

Let's go together.

Into a cage prepared for you.