The God of Jesters
Chapter 678 - 10.06.5 I am envious.

Chapter 678: 10.06.5 I am envious.

Mages, there was a certain reason they were hated as well as feared by the common folks, while for the most part of history, they were hunted by the Churches due to their audacity of touching things they shouldn’t in pursuit of more power.

The arrogant bunch that had caused countless tragedies in the name of innovation and progress never took advantage of the poor and needy.

And if there was one in this abyss, then it can only mean one thing. These ones were messing with the Abyss. Touching forces that they shouldn’t and creating things that shouldn’t exist on the material plane.

At the moment, the Third son was in a heavy predicament. The opponent didn’t seem that strong, only Master rank, but he knew he stood no chance. She had already exposed her nature and the power she held here. Not to mention, she was free of any Abyss influence, unlike them who had weakened after falling into this place.

A sign of her knowing the location of sanctuaries, and considering it was the Mages he was dealing with, there should be an entire regiment of them living in a safe house of some sort.

No, with the creation and the Demons they saw before, it won’t be bizarre for these mages to build up a Magic Tower of their own. So, what was going on?

"We have no intention of causing any conflict, I am just here to obtain some riches." The Third Son spoke, although he was passive and the opponent obviously held greater force, one thing can be ascertained. They were probably not overwhelmingly strong, otherwise this dialog between the two parties would not have taken place.

And the Third Son of Alahrun was right, the woman knew that the losses would be greater if the conflict were to break out. Not to mention, a bigger conflict might just annoy the other guys on the other side of the "Seal".

She can’t allow that, nor can her seniors. This is why, she being the youngest and most extroverted among the mages was sent here to talk with these people. Which did give the girl a certain idea.

"Took the words right out of my mouth. So let’s not beat around the bush. As long as you agree to sign a contract, we are ready to let you be, and even provide you directions to some active sanctuaries to make your adventure easier." She spoke, taking out a Contract that she had readied since the start.

After giving it one look, The Third Son Denied it. Although the true name is not needed on a Contract of this level and one can use their blood to sign, the burden a soul suffers remains the same. It will limit your future which the Third Son can’t afford on account of being someone who hopes to rival his father. So he outright refused, but that was not the only way to ensure nothing bad happened. "Mister Ooeti, I would hope you carry this burden for me." At those words, a man came forward, his strength teetering at the edge of Legend, far stronger than his bodyguard had lost his mind.

If not for his advanced age, the man might have a chance to enter the ranks of legend. But it’s already too late. Now all he wants is more money and influence to live the rest of his life in peace. Of course, he also carries hope that this place might be his opportunity to increase his life and enter the ranks of Legend if possible.

Though the latter part of the Third Son was already unaware of.

Which is why he struggled for a bit, looking at the contract. This thing can dash his hopes forever. But knowing the circumstances, which added to how little opportunity he had at hand, the man going by the name of Ooeti Haechal accepted the fate and signed the small contract.

There were not many restrictions. Everything would be fine as long as the other party didn’t create any issues for the mages. That was ensured by either getting the most influential person on the leash or the strongest one, which would limit their options and prevent them from making any stupid moves.

And the Witch who never spoke of her name did as promised, giving out a small map detailing the sanctuaries in certain areas and the danger zones with the demons that were spread about.

As for the location of her own hideout? Obviously, that was not on it. It was hidden for a reason.

*****

"The modified mana in the air... mages are here," I spoke, after getting a sniff of air. And as I expected, lo and behold, came an old man, appearing without an ounce of life in his body holding a contract.

"Sign or die." Spoke to the puppet, and it was not asking us for anything, it was just ordering us. This told me all I wanted to know about this place, why the chances happened, and what was going on with the odd feeling I had since a while ago. ’If only I can access my dream realm.’ The Demons might dream of heaven, but they can never achieve it, for it’s a fleeting dream of theirs ever so far, at the edge that makes them go crazy, makes them mad.

This is what I felt at the moment, I couldn’t touch my home world, all I could feel was its existence at a far distance, making me completely blind. But my nose was still sharp, and with my companions’ own way of looking at things, we understood one thing. "You are from the Cynark military... at least affiliated with them," I spoke from the side, causing the puppet to flutter a bit. Surprised by my words. While Wajih, his suspicions went deeper looking at me coming to a conclusion so easily.

This is not hard to understand. For an operation of such scale to happen, it’s impossible to hide from the Cynark Empire, considering they were in a position of guarding this place. Certain people should always be keeping an eye on this place for any oddities. So, it’s odd that this much has happened and the security above has appeared lax.

Or it’s just that.

"Delay tactics, there should be people coming to hunt us soon enough." The contract was just there to delay us, and as I spoke Wajih’s steps increased, ignoring the puppet that was already surprised by a "child’s" reasoning, he shouted, warning us of death and massacre, hoping to hold us. But that won’t work.

’The Demons here, they are not made out of normal people... ’ It isn’t hard to think what kind of material they used and how they obtained it during such a tight time with wars all over. ’It’s the previous visitors.’ I don’t want to find out what happened and how it happened, or the kind of people that were ready to hunt us down.

’Wait.’

"Go, kill it, and check for any materials on its body," I spoke to Wajih, who after understanding the situation agreed with my words as he with a single slice decapitated the old man’s head that kept shouting even after its head was split apart. And from his headless but still walking corpse, we found a small map, which turned to ashes the moment we opened it. But, that was enough.

The slight we were able to see was enough to tell us all I wanted to know. ’Sanctuary places and the demon spots?’

I saw a few but understood that all of them were probably traps. "The sanctuaries are traps, the demon ones should be correct." But if I were to walk using the safe passages, it would probably make it easier for them to predict our path and set up even more traps.

So where to go? Which path to take?

"Hehehe!" Laughed the head of the old man, looking at me like a fool. "Corrupted, your body is getting rotten, and this is the place you came to look for a cure?" Spoke to the old man, looking at my feeble body that was held on the shoulders of Wajih.

"So what if I am?" I asked, looking at the old man... no, looking at the direction of the head that should be controlled by a mage.

"Fool, there is no treasure like this that exists here. All that exists here is death."

"... And Ores." I completed the sentence. "This place is rich in ores, spiritual and the magical kind... isn’t it?" I continued, looking at the Puppet’s face as if directly looking into his soul. Which made it laugh louder. "So you understand what the riches are. And still dare to come here in that state?"

"Let’s go Wajih..." I ignored the mockery, I ignored the fool who was unaware of what kind of things were sealed in this place.

Or what this place actually was, to begin with.

’The real story is always boring.’ I thought, ignoring the mockery, and then left the area. He was just wasting my time, I know it, but I can’t help but entertain the words of a talking head, that’s just too interesting.

"That map... it could have come in handy," Wajih spoke, his mind holding thoughts of their own that I can’t touch yet.

"My memory is better...." I lied, only being aware of what was stored in the notes I left in case my memories were lost due to damage. Which did happen. Leaving the knowledge I had was a bit archaic and confusing. Though to some extent, I still had a level of pathfinding ability in this odd place where the time and position changes at random.

Through the influence of the Abyss. That was hard to ignore. "Wake up Wajih," I spoke to my ride, who seemed to have gone mute for a bit, looking toward what appeared to be a meat flower. "The visions are not real, you are blind currently," I spoke, making Wajih turn silent and then walk ahead.

Emotion one, he probably saw those who he lost, the things that should be a distant memory to him, but their faces never left his mind.

I...

Why am I immune to this?