Krrrrr.
A lid of a sarcophagus in the midst of the dreary grave slid off.
From within, two individuals and a book emerged.
They were Sungchul, Ahmuge, and Bertelgia.
The sound of running water could be heard from nearby.
It was coming from the outlet of the grand sewers of La Grange that expelled the sum total of all the rainfall that befell the great city.
Ahmuge gazed at the water as she spoke in a low tone of voice.
“After the crushing defeat a month ago, the World Parliament Coalition forces retreated all the way to the fortress in the east and have dug in there.”
Something fell on the floor.
It was a carefully folded up white cloth.
On it was drawn a Magic Formation using hard-to erase ink.
“It’s a portable teleportation formation.”
The use of Teleportation Formations to travel long distances were a trademark of the Elves.
But the use of portable Teleportation Formation was not something they did.
Sungchul recalled the face of someone from long ago that he had not thought about in a while.
“It’s the method of the Assassin’s guild.”
.
“It’s something I learned directly from your other comrade, Shamal Rajput.”
Ahmuge carefully unfolded the cloth and secured the four corners down before scattering Magic stones around the vicinity of the Magic Formation that was to act as its power source.
“What is he doing nowadays?”
Sungchul asked while watching Ahmuge work.
“I don’t know. You should already know this as well, but it’s impossible to tell what he’s thinking.”
“You’re right. He’s always been that way.”
One of the members of the Thirteen Champions, Shamal Rajput.
In the prolonged whirlwind of chaos that followed the onset of the Calamities, he has long since kept to himself in secrecy.
But it was unthinkable that he wouldn’t get involved at some point before the end.
Shamal Rajput was the most patient and methodical person Sungchul had ever met.
When time comes for him to make his move, the Sacred Order of Assassins will once again make their appearance on the forefront of the world.
Or so Sungchul thought as he turned to speak to Ahmuge.
“Where is this teleportation formation connected to?”
“Behind the Star Fortress . The exit is separated from the castle where the World Parliament is going to take place by a single wall you can jump.”
“Isn’t that too conspicuous?”
Ahmuge finished preparing the portable Magic Formation and stood up to shake her head left and right.
“There’s a suitable cover on the otherside to hide the Teleportation Formation.”
She said before glancing over at Bertelgia.
“But Now that I think of it, It’s not that great a place for children to be in.”
“In what way?”
Ahmuge moved forward at Sungchul’s question to whisper to him.
“It’s next to a dumping site for corpses.”
“…Then there’s no issue.”
“Or you could wait here until the evening and go all at once. The World Parliament isn’t going to convene until the evening, and as I already told you, it’s going to be one hop over the wall away. It sounded there’s a large number of people who won’t take your return kindly, so showing up at a suitably late moment might serve you better.”
“People who won’t take to my return kindly…”
Order of Extinction.
Sungchul didn’t know what they were up to, but these people were originally supposed to be a target of extermination for the World Parliament. But let alone be enemies, they were blatantly participating and exerting a large mount of influence over the World Parliament as if they were a core constituent.
Sungchul could not tell quite yet if the Order of Extinction were on the Emperor’s side or the Wandering King’s side. Judging by how things played out so far, it seemed more likely that the Order of Extinction were backing the Wandering King, but as is with all things, things shouldn’t be judged by appearances alone.
There was always the possibility that the show of support for the Wandering King was a ruse.
‘What should I do.’
If it was for the sake of the Emperor who was being tormented on a daily basis by the Siege of the Barbarian Horde, then heading as soon as possible into the main camp of the World Parliament Coalition forces would be the right call.
Because only then could he begin working towards bringing the Emperor the reinforcements he so desperately needs.
However, this was also an opportunity.
This was the perfect time to be able to clearly tell apart who were true allies or enemies in hiding.
It would not be easy to read people’s motives from the position of the Chairman of the World Parliament. Because, for as long as Sungchul held the authority and influence, groups possessing sinister and malicious intents were never going to show their hands.
But now that it is believed that Sungchul was either dead nor missing, the enemies from within should be freely exposing their ambitions and showing their true faces.
The one month of absence.
It was a terrible loss for sure, but in some ways, it was a source of an unexpected opportunity that he wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Because time had a way to lessen most forms of caution.
Sungchul finished up his thoughts before turning to Ahmuge to ask a sudden question.
“Are there any good materials around for disguising myself?”
*
Woosh.
There was a weak flame started on the edge of the cloth.
It was a method used by the Assassins to leave no trace of their Teleportation Magic Formations.
The Magic Formation flickered.
Ahmuge used the magic formation first to go ahead to the exit on the other side.
It was Sungchul’s turn next.
But his appearance was different from usual.
Though he was sometimes limp and fatigued, Sungchul typically held his head high and radiated with confidence. But now he truly looked like a begger in abject poverty.
His normally straight back was now bent like a shrimp, and his face that was usually dignified and masked by his emotionless expression was now covered in warts and blisters that made it painful to even gaze upon him.
Sungchul used his Soul Contract Deceiver’s Veil as well a dark robe to cover him from head to toe to finish his disguise.
“Move quickly! The Magic Formation is going to burn up soon!”
Sungchul moved hastily in response to Bertelgia’s warning and moved his body into the portal.
The chaotic gap between dimension passed by like the wind before revealing the dark interior of a tent.
Ahmuge’s figure was visible in what little light was available.
She was standing at the entrance of the tent with her eyes squinted, checking the surroundings.
“The World Parliament usually convenes at evening around sundown. It might be best for us to wait here meanwhile.”
Mid speech, her eyes opened wide in surprise.
It was because Sungchul had changed in appearance so drastically that not even she could recognize him by sight.
“Impressive.”
Ahmuge said with her eyebrows raised.
“…I am quite familiar with disguising or Hiding my Strength.”
Sungchul answered with a croacky voice befitting his wretched form as he left the tent.
A spicy ashen smoke pierced his nose.
He saw a large field of burning corpses.
“Now, shall we begin?”
It was time to begin the infiltration.
*
It was not difficult to find the group of cultists from the Order of Extinction in the Coalition main camp.
Though the color was the same as the robes Sungchul wore, the cultists of the Order of Extinction had a much more luxurious and stylish black robes, spread out across among the tents of the Coalition forces.
Sungchul limped along the chaotic streets filled with refugees and soldiers with his back bent.
“You’re really good at that.”
Bertelgia commented, with praise mixed into her voice.
“Well, there’s a reason why.”
Sungchul had a recollection about his past.
He was on the bus at the time. They were passing by a large crowd of people lined up before a movie theater.
While Sungchul was wondering if there was a famous movie that just released, a man who was also on the bus suddenly opened the windows and shouted out towards the crowd.
“The culprit is the limping man!”
At that moment, Sungchul had simply passed him off as a crazy man. But it wasn’t until much later that Sungchul realized just how purely malicious and sinister that man had truly been in that moment.
Whatever the case may be, this memory of that man on the bus was a big reason for why Sungchul was pretending to have a limp.
Because he wanted to try it out himself, to play the role of the limper who had first introduced Sungchul to the concept of a plot twist.
Thanks to Sungchul’s dedicated acting, he was able to roam wherever he pleased around the fortress city. But to be fair, not many would have recognized him anyway even if he had done nothing more than wear different clothes and keep his face hidden.
It was because the fortress town was embroiled in complete chaos at the moment.
The people had completely lost all faith in the leadership and the morale of the soldiers were all but non-existant.
The entire camp was stewing in inescapable feeling of defeat.
Sungchul who had been roaming the dreary camps heard Ahmuge’s voice suddenly like the wind close to his ears.
“I found Marakia-nim”
“That’s quick. Where is he?”
“He’s next to the airship mooring. Walk straight east until you reach a place where the hot air balloons are arranged.
“You have my thanks.”
Ahmuge didn’t reply and simply vanished once more.
She was definitely a helpful one to have around.
Sungchul walked to the east.
Walking along the road, Sungchul was able to overhear drunken dwarves complaining.
“That accursed Kromgard. He might really become the one King at this rate.”
“How can that be? Our King and the elvan prince are both against it. It won’t be easy.”
“No, that might not be true. The Elves seems to be reevaluating things. To change their stance.”
“What a whole race of ingrates! Ancient Kingdom I get, but the Elves who were able to preserve their race thanks to the Imperial Commander in Chief can’t be doing this to him!”
It was only a glimpse into the current situation, but it was enough for Sungchul to get the gist of what must be going on in the World Parliament.
As the rumors have stated, it seems Kromgard was quickly rising in prominence in Sungchul’s absence.
“…”
Sungchul’s eyes quickly grew cold.
It did not take long for him to arrive at the moorings where the airships were docked, serviced by hot air balloons.
A group of people were gathered there.
Sungchul pushed his way between them.
And soon, Sungchul saw someone familiar.
It was the black feathered Marakia. Marakia, who had once again underwent considerable growth in their time apart, was standing confidently before the crowd.
And next to Marakia and making Sungchul’s heart race was a dear friend whom Sungchul missed so very much.
Fal Garaz.
It had abandoned its role as a weapon as it left his hand and reverted back its form as a decoration.
This divine artifact that had been dumped into the septic ditch of the Barbarians must have been washed and cleaned meticulously, as there was no flaw or blemish to be seen anywhere.
Standing before Marakia were nobles who appeared to be from the Floating Archipelago who were demanding something of Marakia.
“Sir Marakia. Please give us back the Fal Garaz.”
“Fal Garaz was once an artifact of the Dwarven Kingdom, it is now the symbol of the World Parliament. It is not something for you to keep personally.”
To this, Marakia scratched his beak without a care in the world as he spoke bluntly to the nobles of the Floating Archipelago.
“I guess you don’t know but there’s a contract between that troglodyte and myself.”
“A contract?”
The nobles glanced at each other looking confused.
Sungchul was just as surprised as everyone else.
‘That bird brain dares call me a troglodyte? And what’s this bullshit about a contract?’
There was no such thing between them.
With everyone watching, Marakia became incredibly arrogant and haughty as he continued.
“A will of sorts, a contract of succession where I, the great Marakia-nim will inherit everything of his should that ape be killed somehow!”
“A contract of succession?!”
Marakia spread his still-growing wings.
It must have been quite the sight, as there was an exclamation of awe from the crowd.
“You think I followed around that trash cook of an anthropod for no reason?”
Crunch.
Sungchul ground his teeth.
Bertelgia trembled as hard as she could to try and calm him down.
“Don’t. Be nice.”
Marakia continued to speak arrogantly to the crowd, not realizing that Sungchul was there.
“Now that the troglodyte is dead, that ape’s possessions are all mine. That Sylphid over there, the furniture and possessions contained within. And this Fal Garaz, all of it, are my possessions.”
Marakia folded his wings and made a wide grin.
“They’re. All. Mine.”
The nobles were shocked by Marakia’s attitude and took a step back.
It was enough to make even Sungchul take the smallest step backwards.
‘He dares?’
In Sungchul’s case, he was taken aback by just the sheer audacity of Marakia’s bold faced lie.
Marakia sneered as he used his wings and hands to gesture for the nobles to disperse.
“If you understand the situation, then stop bothering me and go away. Consider it your lucky day that this King of Nahak doesn’t have his old personality.”
The nobles of the Floating Archipelago were dissatisfied but couldn’t do anything. Though this black monster bird was tiny, it was already well known that he could take on the Thirteen champions of the continent with ease.
“This isn’t the end of it, Sir Marakia!”
The nobles of the Floating Archipelago left leaving behind some trite words.
While the crowds were murmuring about what they just saw, Sungchul was about to reveal himself.
He felt a strong compulsion to reach out to grab the Fal Garaz.
But then a cold hand reached out from behind to grasp his shoulder.
It was Ahmuge’s hands.
Sungchul stopped and thought to himself.
‘This woman. She sure has a talent in surprising people.’
He heard Ahmuge’s whisper from behind.
“There’s a hidden reason behind Marakia-nim’s refusal to relinquish the hammer.”
“A hidden reason?”
“The Dwarven King had made a condition. That until Fal Garaz is returned to its rightful place, the dwarven King will not support anyone.”
“The Dwarven King?”
Ahmuge looked around as she nodded.
Sungchul’s eyes grew wide in surprise.
“…He’s being stubborn.”
It was a good kind.
If that was the case, then there was no reason not to reciprocate.
Sungchul gave up the thought of giving Marakia a good whack and retrieving the Fal Garaz before melting back into the crowd.