Chapter 156: Grave Part 5

To put it simply, I managed to escape the crisis through sheer shamelessness, stubbornness, and acting like a public menace.

The knight gave up on the inspection and walked away after shooting me a look like I was some kind of bug…but who cares?

The important thing is, I survived.

Of course, the price was that the romance rumor with Lobelia took a step forward.

I also got one step closer to being engaged.

And probably three or four steps closer to the grave of my life.

Though let’s be real, I’ll probably end up in an actual grave before that one.

In any case, the problem was solved.

“Boss, give me a cup of herbal tea. Something good for the nerves.”

I sat back down and ordered a cup.

Earlier, I couldn’t even tell what it tasted like.

Still, since an imperial member personally recommended this place, it must be decent.

Considering it’s one of Lapis’s favorite spots and I probably won’t be able to come back after today, I might as well enjoy it while I can.

“What on earth are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

As I waited after placing my order, instead of the owner, a familiar face appeared carrying the tray.

Cattleya Tales.

So this place was affiliated with the Andvaranaut Merchant Guild too…?

Well, in the Empire these days, it’s probably harder to find a place that isn’t.

“Actually, perfect timing. I was planning to look for you.”

“Let me guess…. you need another favor? Can’t wait to hear what someone who tried to break a contract has to say. Go on, I’m all ears.”

She still hadn’t forgiven me for trying to deal with Loki on my own.

Understandable, really. She had staked her life on revenge.

If anything, the fact that she was even talking to me, even sarcastically, just shows how bold she is.

“I need a place to stay for a while. As you know, that romance rumor with Her Highness Lobelia blew up again recently.”

“From what I heard, you were just now enthusiastically confirming that rumor.”

“The owner might be good at making food, but clearly has no eye for people.”

I grumbled, lifting my teacup.

“So, in the end, you ran away. Funny how I always seem to attract runaways and criminals.”

“I didn’t run away. Yuna and Ariel destroyed my dorm.”

“Then be grateful your head wasn’t what got destroyed.”

“I am grateful.”

If either of them had truly lost their temper and gone after me, I wouldn’t still be alive to complain.

“Still, I did lay the groundwork for catching Loki, didn’t I?”

“Keep talking.”

“I’m serious! I was actually planning to capture him and gift-wrap him for you…but someone else got to him first.”

“Talk is cheap.”

“A-And anyway, your revenge isn’t over yet, is it? I mean, the target’s just shifted. From Loki to the Great Sage, right? Or am I wrong?”

“Hmm.”

Cattleya was a vicious person.

Loki’s death wouldn’t be enough to end her revenge.

If she could’ve brought him back just to make him suffer more, she would’ve.

So there was no way she’d just let it end here.

She’d set her sights on whoever took her “toy” from her.

She lives powered by hatred.

No way this ends now.

“Right. So this time, are you offering to help take down the Great Sage?”

“I’ll be honest.”

I can’t afford to end this cooperation with Cattleya.

Damn it. I should’ve secured some kind of stake when she looked so satisfied after we took down Loki.

Regret from the past hits hard.

“There’s no way I could take down the Great Sage. That’s just impossible.”

“But Loki was possible?”

“That one worked out because I caught him off guard. Good preparation was key.”

Loki’s mood poison—

It was a powerful weapon but also his fatal weakness.

The moment we found a way to counter it, he was basically half-defeated already.

That’s why he was so desperate to erase all traces of the antidote.

“And besides… I did bring you the good news that your little sister’s alive. I’d say that’s reason enough to stay on good terms.”

“You do realize you’re absolute trash, right?”

“Well, with nowhere left to retreat, being a bit trash doesn’t seem so bad.”

“Hmph.”

It’s not like I’m in any position to be picky about dignity right now.

It’s not like I threatened her with Emily or anything. I just emphasized that I was the one who passed along that information.

Honestly, if it weren’t for me, she might’ve never even known Emily was still alive!

“Well, I suppose it’s not a hard request. And since you’ve helped a bit, I’ll be the grown-up and let it go.”

“You truly are a woman of experience.”

“Experience, my ass! I’m still young!”

Seriously, what kind of rhythm am I supposed to follow here?

She was practically married to her job. Why would she care about this kind of flattery?

“Whatever. If you’re done, let’s go.”

“Not yet.”

“Let me guess, one more favor?”

“No, my legs are just shaky.”

I was still feeling the pressure from the Imperial Knights.

The overwhelming intimidation of being surrounded by fully armored knights…

I’ve dealt with all sorts of criminal organizations, but it’s been a while since my legs went weak like this.

Is it because this time, I was up against state authority?

Or… is it because I’m getting too close to being an actual criminal?

Either way, I really need to calm my nerves right now.

I sipped the warm, fragrant herbal tea while listening to the rain outside.

Hmmm…

“Did the rain stop?”

“It’s still drizzling, what are you on about?”

“Huh?”

At Cattleya’s reply, I turned to look out the window.

She’s right. It’s still raining.

Enough that I’d get soaked even with an umbrella.

But then…

“Why can’t I hear it? Is there some kind of soundproofing magic in this place?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? If someone installed something like that without permission, it’d only draw unnecessary suspicion.”

“Then why…?”

I abruptly stood up.

When something this strange happens, you have to assess the situation immediately.

Based on my past experiences, I’ve definitely gotten caught up in something again.

Which bastard is pulling some crap this time?

I walked straight to the door and carefully opened it.

“……”

What I saw wasn’t a rainy cityscape…. but a graveyard stretching endlessly in all directions.

Aside from the path, everything was covered in gray tombstones.

Clack.

I closed the door for now.

Things only go wrong when you think, “This is weird” and step inside.

If this were a cliché, the door would’ve vanished the moment I set foot in that space though.

“Is something out there?”

“Um, give me a moment.”

I asked for Cattleya’s understanding, then immediately moved out of her sight and checked my travel bag.

Where was it again? Ah, found it.

“This son of a bitch doesn’t know when to quit! You bastard! Don’t you know how to read the room?!”

I pulled out the Book of Lemegeton and slammed it onto the floor.

If anyone had the power to pull off something this big, it’d be this guy.

“Hey, I swear I didn’t do it! I’m innocent! I haven’t even recovered my powers yet, and I can’t borrow power from other demons either!”

“Then you should’ve said that immediately.”

“You threw me to the ground before you even asked!”

“Well, maybe if you behaved better, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“You demon…!”

So it’s not Mephistopheles, then?

Who could it be?

There was a graveyard. Could it be the Under Chain?

“Oh, looks like there’s something interesting going on outside.”

“Cattleya, would you please close the door? I’m worried some trouble might spill in here.”

After giving Mephistopheles a piece of my mind and coming back, I saw Cattleya standing by the open door, looking outside.

“You’re wrong about that, Johan Damus. This was aimed at us.”

“What did I ever do to be targeted? You won’t find a more law-abiding citizen than me.”

“I’m not sure about the ‘law-abiding’ part, but it doesn’t seem likely that you could create a space like this on your own.”

“Well… that’s true.”

Unless we’d all fallen for some mass illusion spell, what we were seeing had to be real.

Even the Emperor couldn’t create something on this scale.

Or could he? If he waved his hand and threw enough people at it, maybe it could be done…

Anyway…

This isn’t an artificially created space.

Which means we must have been transported here without even realizing it…

And as far as I know, there are only two people capable of pulling something like that off.

“Could it have been the Wandering Mage?”

“Hard to say.”

Only the wandering archmage with spatial powers or the Oracle could manage a relocation like this.

But no matter how much of a grudge the Oracle might hold against me, even she wouldn’t pull a prank this elaborate.

Hmm.

Probably not.

I hope not.

“Mind if I share my honest opinion?”

“Go ahead.”

“I think this was the great sage’s doing.”

“What a coincidence. That was my guess too.”

I don’t know how he moved us, but the setting fits him perfectly.

The only group that would create and maintain a place like this is the Under Chain.

And considering all the powers he’s collected, it’s not far-fetched to think he might have something like teleportation or a similar ability.

Anyway, he’s got a ridiculous number of tricks up his sleeve, so nothing’s out of the question.

The real problem is…

“By any chance, did you curse him last time you saw the great sage?”

“I was too scared to even say a word.”

“So you waited until after he left to vent your anger.”

“Exactly. I was so upset and hurt, I could barely stand it.”

I understand how that feels.

With insane powerhouses casually roaming around the Empire, it’s become almost routine to feel that kind of frustration.

“What if Loki’s still alive?”

“Didn’t you say you smashed his head in?”

“He’s a dark mage. What does a physical body even mean to someone like that?”

“Fair point. So what you’re saying is…. I got dragged into this mess because of you, Cattleya?”

“Why do you think this isn’t about you? You and I both have given that guy plenty of reasons to hold a grudge, so stop trying to distance yourself and think with me, will you?”

“And what good would thinking do?”

“Better than doing nothing. Anyway, I’m heading out. What about you?”

“I’ll stay here.”

I’m not the type to enjoy reckless adventures.

Honestly, just sitting tight and waiting to be rescued feels safer.

“Really? Well, suit yourself.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Cattleya confidently stepped out the door.

I have to admit. That was kind of cool.

But then…

“What the hell?”

The surroundings began to turn transparent.

More specifically, the cozy café that had been protecting me started to fade away.

It was vanishing, as if melting out of existence.

“Wow… didn’t see that coming.”

I’d stayed put, worried the door might disappear if I stepped outside—

Only for the entire building to start disappearing instead.

“Even the owner’s vanishing.”

The café owner, who had been quietly minding his business in the corner, began to turn transparent as well.

Maybe, from his perspective, we were the ones fading away.

Either way, this proved that Cattleya had been right.

This wasn’t just about me or just about her.

We were being targeted together.

“Let’s go together.”

“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

“Oh, come on. I couldn’t possibly let a lady go alone.”

“If only your words made sense…”

Well, better to stick together than go solo.

***

Walking side by side with Cattleya, we made our way through the graveyard.

It must have been about thirty minutes, yet we hadn’t seen anything other than gravestones.

At this point, I almost wished some undead would pop out instead.

“Oh my.”

“Wh-What is it?”

Cattleya seemed to have spotted something. I quickly slipped behind her back.

“……”

“What? I don’t see the problem. Since I don’t understand what’s happening, isn’t it only natural to rely on the person who does?”

“Honestly, I’m starting to think I should just leave you behind.”

“Please don’t. At least in terms of combat, I’d be more useful than you, wouldn’t I?”

Sure, I might be a deadweight in the Cradle, but out here I can hold my own.

“Is that so? Then it looks like the moment for your combat skills to shine has arrived.”

“…Huh?”

“Over there. Don’t you see it, across the way?”

I followed the direction Cattleya was pointing. Since we’d been walking straight along the path, I hadn’t paid much attention to the gravestones. Honestly, they gave me a bad feeling anyway…

But there it was….beyond the rows of headstones, something massive.

No, not just something. It clearly had the shape of a person.

And before I knew it, that figure crouched as if to leap, then—

Thud!!

With a thunderous crash, it landed right in front of us.

“Imperials… I’ll kill you.”

A barbarian.

Apparently, one of the raiders who had attacked Lapis had managed to survive.

The barbarian, covered head to toe in blood, was clearly not in his right mind.

He was barely clinging to life. He looked driven purely by adrenaline.

“Well? Think you can handle this?”

“…At that level, sure.”

Barbarians were said to be each worth a hundred men, but in that battered condition, even I stood a chance.

“Hey, do you even know who I am?!”

I pulled out the Sun God’s necklace from my pocket and shoved it in front of the barbarian’s face.

Why would I resort to something as crude as fighting? I had the emblem given to me by the Great Warrior himself.

“I’ll have you know, I’ve even had coffee with the Great Warrior!”

“Wh-What…?”

And just like that, I recruited the barbarian as an ally.

Sure, he was technically a criminal, but his strength was undeniable.

In times like these, having a reliable vanguard could only be an advantage.

“All taken care of.”

“Uh… right…”

Cattleya seemed so surprised by my resourcefulness that she could barely speak.

And so, we managed to weather the storm that had struck us.

But of course, the storm didn’t end there…

“Hahahaha! And who are you lot? You want to become sacrifices too?”

“Do you even know who I am?”

“A-Ae you… a Librarian?”

When we ran into a demon worshiper, I simply flashed the Book of Lemegeton.

“Haaaa!”

“Come on, let’s at least keep it civil between business partners.”

“Ah, so you’re a fellow partner. My apologies.”

Then, when confronted by an Ex Machina rampaging inside some mechanical device, I showed my Ex Machina token.

“And just like that, everything was resolved peacefully.”

“Johan, how on earth can you call yourself a law-abiding citizen?”

“Because I solved everything through dialogue and persuasion, without lifting a finger in violence. Doesn’t that practically make me a saint?”

“Well… I guess that’s not technically wrong.”

“If it’s not wrong, then it must be right. So let’s not overthink it.”

One merchant.

One barbarian.

One demon-worshiper.

One researcher.

And one law-abiding citizen to lead them all.

And so, our makeshift party was complete.

If only we could add a priest to the lineup, the balance would be perfect…

Now, if only some stray survivor of Eden would happen to cross our path.