Book 18 Chapter 22
139th Story
Operation to Infiltrate the Bloodline Society!
To deceive the enemy, first deceive your allies (1)
<Belsnarim> means [Breath of the Fire Dragon Bel'Dakhidoon], and true to its etymology, it is famous as a fortress directly built by the Fire Dragon in the northern part of the Adrion continent.
This fortress, sculpted by melting a rock mountain with flames, is one of the [11 Great Wonders of the World], truly boasting extreme defensive power.
Even in the face of the bloodline's great offensive, this fortress stood firm for over a year, defending the main routes connecting the city of origin <Orbhenheim> and the crimson city <Langbard>.
“This is an artifact called a transceiver.”
Niels Blantz said.
He placed something round on the desk in the <Belsnarim> mayor's office.
“It seems the <Ones Who Came> researched technology that allowed communication regardless of the other party's location. It's also said this artifact was militarily supplied.”
"Really?"
Lynn found the principle truly fascinating and put it to her ear, but there was no reaction.
“What, it was a lie after all. How could something like that even be possible?”
“Wait. A signal will come soon.”
Just then, as she tilted her head, a scream that almost tore her eardrums was heard!
[Link, Link, Link!]
Sval too, startled, looked around, but Link was nowhere to be found!
Strange! So very strange!
But if she put it to her ear again, Link's clear and powerful voice continued to be heard.
“Wow, crazy… what is it?”
“Khahahaha! I told you. It’s a transceiver!”
“But why do we need this?”
In response to Lynn's question, Friede exhaled a long puff of cigarette smoke like a sigh. Its trajectory hit Ryuminique's face squarely.
“You might not know, but I don’t think this lecherous, empty-headed playboy can learn the bloodline language in just a month. Arts and physical education truly have no answer, I tell you.”
“Hey, Friede. Even so, isn’t that going too far? You should apologize to all the arts and physical education students nationwide.”
At Ryuminique’s words, Lynn clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“She doesn't hesitate to make regionally discriminatory remarks, would she apologize for that?”
Niels nodded continuously.
“There are also racially discriminatory remarks. She never apologizes. If a war breaks out between humans and demi-humans after this upheaval, know that it's all because of that crazy shaman.”
Friede, instantly bombarded with accusations, hesitated for a moment before deciding to change the subject.
“Shut up, you guys. Whose fault is it that we’re going through all this trouble? Anyway, the name of this operation can be [Leave Everything to Friede]!”
Pipi clapped his feathers together repeatedly in applause! Lynn and Ryuminique simultaneously squinted their eyes like a long-tailed tit.
“What exactly are we entrusting to you?”
“Right. We are the ones infiltrating the bloodline camp.”
“Quiet! Look, if we use this transceiver… I can remotely listen to what the bloodlines say and tell you the answers. So it’s right to leave it to me.”
Ryuminique slammed his palm with his fist, his eyes wide. But Lynn was still in long-tailed tit eye mode!
“I understand that, but why are we entrusting *everything*? Shouldn’t it be revised to [Leave Only Half to Friede]?”
“What nonsense is this stubborn person spouting again! Just vaguely agree and let it pass!”
“No, I think this should be properly divided considering the contribution.”
The battle between the great mage and the shaman, which would later be recorded as a unique feature of the Hero Party, was about to begin!
Announcing the prelude to that battle were, of course, Sval Punch and Pipi Kick!
“Huh? Are you two fighting right now?”
The atmosphere, which was just about to heat up, instantly chilled at Lyrista's single question as she snatched Pipi and Sval who were crossing paths.
This was not a question. It was a dagger pointed at the heart!
Lynn and Friede immediately put their arms around each other's shoulders, smiling brightly. What an instinct for survival! What a master!
“No, what are you talking about? It was because Friede seemed to underestimate her contribution too much. It would be advisable to revise it to [Entrust Everything to Friede, even the movement of celestial bodies].”
“No, no! I think I thought wrong. Let's revise it to [Entrust only 90% to Friede].”
Lyrista then released Sval and Pipi, smiling sweetly.
“Oh my, oh my, were you just joking as usual? Uhuhohohohoho~ Oh no, I guess I misread the mood again.”
“That’s what I mean! Lyrista, you’re unnecessarily sensitive, ahahahaha~!”
Ryuminique trembled and backed away.
“What is it? I feel like I just saw a glimpse of an unfair labor contract within the Hero Party. Is this party’s contract in compliance with the Papal State’s standard labor contract? What kind of autocratic rule is this!”
Lyrista looked back at her comrades as if to ask what kind of question that was, whereupon Friede slammed her fist on the table and shouted.
“What are you talking about! We’re having such a happy-happy journey!”
Next, Lynn, upon receiving Lyrista's gaze, glared at Ryuminique, her eyes shining ominously.
“If you fabricate something like that one more time, I might resort to serious action.”
Taking advantage of Lyrista's attention being drawn to Lynn and Friede, Kies' Serwebon listed the initial consonants and vowels he learned from Lynn!
[S-A-L-L-Y-EO-J-U-O] (Help me)
Of course, there was no way the empty-headed Ryuminique would understand it! Instead, he pointed a finger at Serwebon and laughed.
“What on earth is that supposed to mean? I can’t understand what those country bumpkins from the Empire are saying.”
The moment Lyrista's face hardened and she sharply turned to Kies!
0.2 seconds faster than that moment!
Serwebon, by a mere hair's breadth, wove his branches differently! A crazy master!
[└(>ㅁ<)┘]
As soon as Lyrista saw that, she clapped her hands together and smiled brightly again.
“Ah, that means Kies is happy too. He’s smiling and shouting hooray. Our party is like this. We cherish each other like family, truly a happy party, you could say.”
Friede shed a tear in a deeply meaningful silence.
'It is a cursed party…'
It was then. A witch from <Belsnarim> rushed into the mayor’s office in a hurry!
“Shaman, urgent report from the observation team! The bloodline forces have started moving again!”
Friede put her pipe in her mouth and smiled meaningfully.
“Good, the time has finally come. Let’s begin Operation [Entrust only 90% to Friede]. Disguise team, enter!”
To infiltrate the bloodline, one must first have a bloodline-like appearance, wouldn’t you agree?
“Bloodlines are the most vain of all demon races, you could say. From clothes to accessories, if it's not flashy, they won't even acknowledge it.”
Ryuminique and Lynn wore luxurious silk clothes that reflected the unique culture of the bloodline. These were custom-made by a master for this very day.
“Oh~ they say clothes make the man… Even this rude fellow looks a little noble when properly dressed?”
Friede, who was scrutinizing Lynn from top to bottom, raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“Lyrista, what do you think?”
As Lyrista observed Lynn intently with her golden eyes, Lynn felt awkward from the gaze and averted her eyes to the ceiling.
“What, don’t look at me like that.”
“You look cool, Lynn?”
“Not cool at all. Don’t do that.”
“Really, you look cool! This side of Lynn is new and nice, isn’t it?”
“I said I’m not cool. Stop it.”
Uhohoho…
For some reason, it was a heartwarming sight, and a smile naturally bloomed on the faces of the adults watching.
Friede even managed to quip, "Hey, husband and wife fights should be done where no one is around." However.
“I said you look cool!”
“Your next lie.”
“How can you belittle my sincerity like that! Hiyah!”
“Agh, my nose!”
“Ah, I did it without thinking! I’m sorry! Friede, heal Lynn!”
Ryuminique and Niels, discerning the iron rule of blood and violence hidden beneath the surface of this Hero Party, exchanged sympathetic nods.
“Next, what’s important for bloodlines is the physical difference in appearance. This is something called an artificial iris.”
“Oh, this is… isn’t this what Lyrista used when role-playing 'the hero hiding his power'?”
“That’s right. Anyway, if you use this, your eye color can be the same as the bloodline’s, 'star-blue eyes'. And this is a dental attachment called a laminate. It makes your canines long and sharp like a bloodline’s.”
If what Friede provided was an external disguise, the artifacts Niels provided were for internal disguise.
“This is a magic power transformation device developed during the 'Great Demon Conquest' for battles against the bloodline. If you use this, human magic power will take on an aura similar to the bloodline’s dark arts (邪術).”
Lyrista and Lynn's eyes sparkled simultaneously.
“The Great Demon Conquest, then…!”
It was an operation where the first Pae-Kwaerior and Julark Keffel, recorded in histories as [the strongest among all great mages], left legendary achievements.
It was a joint front where all three races allied under the leadership of the dragon race.
It aimed for the complete subjugation of the remaining demon races in the southern continent, according to the commands left by the <Ones Who Came> to the Three Divine Dragons.
The result, as can be seen from the current situation, ended in failure…
It was a war that became the source of countless heroic tales and martial exploits, along with the appearance of the first Pae-Kwaerior.
“Although the aura has become similar to the bloodline’s, you cannot command blood slaves.”
Niels handed out the equipment to Ryuminique and Lynn as Friede continued her explanation.
“That is to say, you are bloodlines without slaves. To infiltrate the core of bloodline society, you must first join other lesser bloodlines. And by a strange coincidence, Ibika served Lepatra on the same planet as that bloodline, Kijath… so she knows their rendezvous point.”
If Shuan had been present, he would surely have replied nonchalantly, “Hmm~ It’s not a coincidence, merely following the teachings of the scriptures.”
“Lynn! Leave Sval and Geumyeongjang at the city when you leave. Their auras might expose you. If you understand this far, let’s immediately begin the first phase of Operation [Entrust only 90% to Friede]!”
* * *
The Adrion continent, directly exposed to the abyss of Naegalus, the Lizard Lord, one of the <Forgotten Kings>, was engulfed in a sandstorm.
It was a disaster (災害) in itself, something that couldn't even be compared to the yellow dust that covered the Akrad continent.
The sandstorm severely hampered the advance and retreat of armies, and in battle, it blocked the five senses, greatly contributing to the demons' slaughter of humanity.
“Hufufufufufufufufu…”
In the midst of such a sandstorm, in the middle of a deserted wilderness where not a soul was to be seen, at the mention of the bloodline army moving north… there was a boy!
It was a throne made of bones!
Who is this boy sitting and laughing on this throne, built by grinding animal bones to resemble humans as closely as possible! Could it be that crazy mage again! Yes, it is!
“Hufufufufufufufufufufu…!”
Lynn was just laughing.
'A wilderness with not a single blade of grass left, and the [strongest mage] laughing meaningfully on that barren land… this situation is just amazing, isn't it?'
This was the kind of thinking a madman would have!
The boy kept laughing.
Ryuminique leaned back against the throne, clasping his hands behind his head, and sighed.
“Lynn, you’re definitely being deceived. Bloodlines are a species not to be trusted beyond their breath. Since there’s no killing intent nearby, I’m going to sleep.”
With that, Ryuminique began to snore. But Lynn just kept laughing for two whole days straight! The madman!
[He really is the madman himself.]
Friede, who had been concealed about half a day's distance away, shook her head.
[Well, people say even the Nagas ran away when they saw him. They probably ran away because of his madness.]
How did she know!
“Kkueuuuuh…”
“Kkeo-eo-eo…”
It was around that time.
A huge crowd appeared over the horizon, breaking through the storm where even human figures could not form clear images.
These beings, twisting their bodies bizarrely as they moved, were naturally not human. They were once human, but now they are not.
[They’re here, get up, Ryuminique!]
True blood elders (血老)!
Slaves created by bloodlines injecting their blood into humans. An evil deed that corrupts human dignity itself.
[Stop sleeping and get up, you trash!]
Ryuminique got up.
“Crazy, they actually came.”
The blood elders neatly split into two sides.
Through the path thus opened, a palanquin of ultimate splendor entered. Among the blood elders, those with outstanding appearance and elegant attire were selected as palanquin bearers.
Those riding on the palanquin were… as one could tell from their eyes shining star-blue, they were bloodlines!
“Roso de kashi o fitthe ta num (What are you doing here)?”