Chapter 354

Words : 2320 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

A heavy and deep silence lingered in the office. After mulling over Duke Heiback’s words several times, Rudger quietly opened his mouth. “If I haven’t misheard...” “You haven’t misheard. I clearly said that.” “...Are you asking me to commit a contract killing?” Of course, it’s true that Rudger had done various things in the underworld but he could say with certainty that he had never done contract killing. Moreover, the only other identity of Rudger that Heiback knew right now was Oliver. If he was making such a request because of his elimination of gangs and the mafia, he was willing to tell him that he had seriously misunderstood. “Oh my. It seems I was too hasty and my explanation was a bit lacking.” “Not a bit, but very lacking.” “What I meant wasn’t simply because teacher is good at killing people. It’s because there’s no one else I can trust with this task.” “You were suspicious of me until just now, and now you say you trust me.” “Smart people need to be quick to judge each situation. One should be able to change their thoughts and opinions as easily as flipping their palm.” This is not something a noble, who would try to keep their word even for the sake of honor and pride, would say, much less someone who is counted among the most prestigious in the Empire but that’s what makes him remarkable. Duke Heiback isn’t bound by such trivial things that nobles typically care about. His ruthless pursuit of practical benefits is almost alien for a noble. Yet the reason he isn’t ridiculed by other nobles must be because the reputation he has built up until now is that remarkable. “I’ll listen to your detailed explanation.” “Yes. Where did I leave off? I know you’re participating in the [Night of Mystery] because I heard about it.” “Yes. Because I received an invitation.” “I believe that you, as a magician, know better than I do what kind of place the Night of Mystery is.” “The Night of Mystery is a festival held annually where magicians from all over the world gather. Most magic schools participate in the event, exploring unknown mysteries and pursuing the advancement of magic.” “And? Isn’t something missing?” Heiback asked with a look that seemed to ask if there wasn’t anything more. Rudger answered with a sigh. “It’s also a place where the most cunning and practical shadow fights between magicians take place. It’s a magical battleground where everyone is obsessed with solving the secrets of the land where the Night of Mystery is held, interfering with each other and sometimes forming alliances in a fierce struggle for knowledge.” “Correct!” Heiback laughed heartily as if Rudger had scratched exactly the right spot. “Yes. The Night of Mystery isn’t quite as good an event as it’s known to be in public. If you look just a bit deeper, what lurks within is magicians’ endless desire for magic, and their twisted morality coiled like a snake.” “What’s the problem with that?” “Well. There’s no problem. Why would I care if they squabble amongst themselves?” “Then why...” “The story changes if a new impurity enters into it.” As the main point began to emerge in earnest, Rudger also showed serious interest. “You mean impurity?” “Yes. It’s something very dangerous when mixed in. Originally, the Night of Mystery was conducted only among magicians, but that hasn’t caused any major ripples externally. Do you know why?” “It must be because of the characteristics of the place where the Night of Mystery is held.” Heiback nodded. “The land where the Night of Mystery is held every year. Kasar, as it’s called, is a basin surrounded by mountains.” The land of Kasar had a special power. The point was that the power of massive ley lines flowing from all directions gathered there at its center. Like rainwater collecting in a concave bowl, the massive ley lines flowing underground converged at the Kasar Basin. And the mana, far exceeding average levels, caused special phenomena in Kasar itself. Space itself became distorted, becoming another world. It was a space full of all kinds of mysteries still unconfirmed by modern science and magic. That was the Kasar Basin where the [Night of Mystery] is now held. In terms of cause, it’s similar to the ‘Silent Forest’ or ‘Dream Forest’ that exists in Theon but the scale is incomparably larger. Because of this, no one can enter or leave the Kasar Basin carelessly. It’s filled with fog due to the dense mana, and if you enter carelessly, you’ll never come out again. This was true even for fairly capable magicians. Everyone who tried to study the mysterious power of the Kasar Basin went missing without exception. “The only time you can enter the Kasar Basin is during a set period. And that’s only 3 days in a year.” It was as Heiback said. The Kasar Basin could only be entered for 3 days in a year. The moment you exceed that time, entry becomes impossible. If you don’t manage to get out in time, you should essentially consider yourself dead. In some ways, 3 days is a truly tight timeframe but for magicians, that period is as precious as gold. An unknown land holding unsolved mysteries. The main purpose of the Night of Mystery is to somehow uncover these mysteries. “So you’re saying something is going to happen there?” “Not just something, but potentially something that could disturb the entire continent. It’s like bringing a spark to a powder keg.” The Kasar Basin exists outside the Empire’s territory. For Duke Heiback to come looking like this about something happening there... ‘It means this situation will affect the Empire to that extent.’ Given that all sorts of magicians gather there, it certainly won’t be an ordinary incident. “So you’re asking me to extinguish that spark of anxiety? If that’s the case, it doesn’t have to be me specifically, does it?” “What are you saying? I can’t go myself, can I? I’m not a magician.” “I understand that invitations are possible even for non-magicians.” “Even considering that, I’m busy.” “There are other magicians, aren’t there?” “Other magicians? Who? The Old Tower? The New Tower? Or the Magic Association? They’re all people who ‘belong’ somewhere. But you’re different.” “I belong to Theon, though.” “Why try to hide things at this point? I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t treat me like too much of a fool.” For Heiback, Rudger was the most suitable person for this job. He has no particular affiliation yet isn’t an enemy of the Empire. With excellent magical abilities and an invitation to the Night of Mystery, there was no one better even from a critical perspective. “I would like you to stop those who are planning something at the Night of Mystery.” Heiback had come to request a kind of commission from Rudger as an individual. There would be little suspicion, sufficient justification, and excellent ability. “I understand the general outline. But it’s still not an appealing proposal to me.” I understand that something is going to happen. I also understand that it could potentially burst into a huge flame if handled poorly. “But that’s not reason enough for me to do it.” While it’s sufficient reason for Heiback to make the proposal to Rudger... Accepting such a request is entirely Rudger’s freedom. It’s strange to make such a request about something happening in a far-off land in the first place. Of course, the story would be different if Rudger himself was going to participate in the Night of Mystery. Now that he’s heard this news, it wouldn’t matter even if he didn’t go. Rudger didn’t particularly want to move according to someone else’s orders. Heiback nodded as if sympathizing with those words. “I understand. You think I would make such a shameless request empty-handed?” “Then...” “I’ll provide you with sufficient compensation. I stake my name, Heiback Kadatushan, on it.” “I don’t move for ordinary amounts of money though.” “How could I boast about money to an investor who provided massive funding to Theon? However, if I were to name one thing this old man excels at compared to others.” Heiback tapped his head with his finger. “It would be the knowledge and know-how accumulated through a long life of seeing, hearing, and experiencing.” “How does that help me?” “Ask if you’re curious about anything. At least I’ll answer what I can answer. While we’re on the subject, I’ll answer one question.” Setting knowledge as compensation. Normally, one should laugh at such an absurd thing, but given who the other party is, it strangely had some persuasiveness but Rudger still didn’t fully trust Heiback. Even if he says he’ll tell the information he knows, that’s something we could figure out somehow if we put our minds to it. If he really knows something that would be difficult for us to know, then that would be a different story. ‘Even this is a trap.’ Heiback said he would give a definite answer to the question. In cases like this, people usually ask something quite important. For example, ‘Do you know where the Relic fragments are?’ But obviously, the moment you ask something like this, you’re essentially giving Heiback information that you’re looking for the Relic fragments. ‘This cunning old man is not the type to miss such a small detail.’ While it looks like an attractive opportunity, this is a trap. However, even though it’s a trap, it was certainly an attractive proposal that couldn’t be ignored entirely. “Hmm. Still thinking? Whatever question you ask, I won’t go around spreading it. I’m quite good at keeping such things confidential.” “I was just thinking. What information I should ask about that you would definitely know and won’t be wrong about, Duke.” “Ho ho. I didn’t expect this from you, but you’re really planning to milk me dry?” To Heiback’s banter, Rudger asked a question. Something that would be difficult to know even for Heiback. “Duke Heiback, do you know about non-attribute magic power?” “Hmm. Non-attribute magic power. Given that you asked such a question, it’s not just within the realm of basic knowledge.” Heiback smiled at receiving an interesting question. It was a smile that looked as happy as a child receiving candy. “Non-attribute magic power doesn’t have a clearly defined origin. But its users have always existed. Like that student you’re teaching now, and before that too.” “...What kind of person were they?” Heiback spoke without hesitation. “There was a woman who tried her best in every way to overcome the limitations given to her. But at some point, she stopped her research and disappeared. I heard she fell in love with a man and had a child.” Heiback stroked his chin while saying this. “Let’s see. It hasn’t been 20 years yet. It was about 18 years ago.” “...” “After that, I occasionally heard news of seeing that woman. But even that completely stopped about 10 years ago. She’s probably dead. Whether it was the price of not overcoming her limitations, or suicide from despair about life, I don’t know.” At the mention of suicide, Rudger clenched his fist under the desk. Regardless, Heiback’s explanation continued. “Since you’re looking into non-attribute magic power for that student, this might actually be fortunate.” “Why?” “Because the information you’re looking for is at the place where the [Night of Mystery] is held.” Rudger raised his eyebrow. He didn’t ask the formal question of how you know that fact. Rather, it was about how such information about non-attribute magic power could be there. “Ho ho. Could it be this is your first time participating in the Night of Mystery?” Rudger nodded. He had only heard about the Night of Mystery but had never actually been there. Although he had wanted to go, he hadn’t had the time. Until then, Rudger hadn’t been active under the identity of a magician. “Then you probably don’t know much about the origins of the Night of Mystery either?” “Do you know, Duke?” “Of course. This is my bread and butter, how could I not know something like that?” Heiback continued his explanation while grinning as if he had caught something good. “The Night of Mystery is held once every year. Then do you know which number this year’s Night of Mystery is?” “Isn’t it over 100 times?” “Not that much. It hasn’t been 100 years yet. But it has been quite a while. In years, it’s 73. More than my age.” 73 years. It’s a long time if you think about it, but considering the mysterious energy residing there, it’s shorter than expected. “Well, can’t help it if you think it’s short. After the Colonial War, humanity’s interest expanded to unknown lands that hadn’t been discovered yet. That was just 80 years ago. It’s a long time for a human, but short in terms of historical time.” “What does that have to do with non-attribute magic power?” “Have you heard about the mansion inside the Kasar Basin?” Mansion? A mansion in a land that’s only open for 3 days a year? Did the advance team perhaps build it while carrying materials? “Of course, that mansion wasn’t built by people trying to explore the place. Rather, it’s the opposite.” “The opposite means...” “That mansion was there from the beginning. It had been built by someone, from a very long time ago.”

Chapter 354

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