AKM Act 11-11

Act 11-11: The Dark Side of Saria
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :

Part 1

　The magic city of Saria was one of the largest cities in the region.
　Originally, it was an academy and residence founded by Magius, but later, many magicians came to Saria seeking to learn from Magius.
　The mages negotiated with the dwarves to build ramparts, and thus, Saria became a city centered around the academy.

　Naturally, magicians were not the only ones who came to the city.
　Although it's a bit off the main roads, its unique status as a rare city of magicians attracted many people, drawing in those who wished to live there as well.
　In particular, many of those drawn to the city were people who wanted to make a living through magic, or merchants aiming to do business with magicians.

　Moreover, since Magius did not limit his teachings to magicians alone, there were also a fair number of students who were not magicians.
　Eventually, even more people began to arrive, and the swelling population could no longer be contained within the original residential area, making it necessary to build homes outside the ramparts as well.
　In response, the Magician Association built additional walls, expanding the safe residential areas.

　However, even then, the population kept growing, and people eventually began living outside the second rampart as well.
　As expected, building another rampart was difficult due to both the terrain and financial constraints, so a third set of ramparts was never constructed in the end.

　And so, Kuroki had come to the town that had been built outside the second rampart.
　Kuroki walked along the unpaved road.
　Those who lived here were mostly penniless folks, some even with criminal history.

（The atmosphere here is just like the outer districts of other countries.）

　Kuroki looked around.
　The crude buildings made from wood and soil, and the way the people walking by were dressed...
　The only real difference was the presence of people dressed like failed or aspiring magicians.

　The reason for Kuroki’s visit to this place was to see Chijirege.
　According to Katakake, the public security was quite bad in this area.
　Penniless magician students had no choice but to live here, so they formed their own communities to protect themselves. Others chose to ally with shady individuals, relying on cooperation to ensure their safety.
　It seemed that the Magician Association was trying to do something about it, but it was clear that they were too powerless to handle the situation.

　Incidentally, Katakake also supposedly lived here, but since he spent most of his time in the library, he rarely returned.
　Chijirege apparently used to share a room with Katakake, but it seemed he was not living here anymore.

「Uhm, what's that?」

　Something suddenly caught Kuroki's attention.
　It was a building adorned with the holy emblems of Demon King Modes and Demon Chancellor Rugas, displayed side by side.
　In other words, this building was owned by a cult that worshipped Rugas, the god of magic.

「Even if there's no Order of Audis here... I never expected they'd display it so openly...」

Part 2

　Muttered Kuroki with a twitching smile on his face.
　Saria was one of the few cities unaffected by the influence of the Divine King Odis.
　Even in the Holy Republic Lenaria, Rena’s home territory, there were priests of Odis.
　However, it seemed that here in Saria, the influence of Odis had been deliberately excluded.

　And according to the rules of the Magician Association, worship of the Demon King was not prohibited.
　No, in fact, even gods other than those of Elios were not forbidden to be worshipped in Saria.
　This was something unthinkable in an ordinary country.

　The main reason might be because of Totona's influence.
　That’s why the holy crest of the Demon King was openly displayed here.

(Well then, what should we do now?)

　If Kuroki were to reveal his identity, he would likely be able to obtain information from those affiliated with this cult.
　He might learn something about the one controlling the giant vampire bat.

（But let's save that method for when I have no other choice. I mean, even two sages couldn’t uncover that being’s true identity. It’s likely impossible for a mere human to take them on.）

　Kuroki shook his head and decided to walk past without getting involved.
　Revealing his true identity might gain their cooperation, but it would be dangerous.
　They shouldn’t be dragged into this mess.

　Eventually, he made his way into the inner area.
　The section that jutted halfway into the forest was dark and eerie, its layout twisted and entangled.

（What a nasty smell… Is this some kind of drug?）

　As he entered the place where Chijirege lived, a suspicious scent wafted through the air.
　It was similar to scent magic, but the drifting scent seemed to contain something harmful.

　There were many types of magic potions, and some of them could increase magical power.
　Using it temporarily wasn’t too much of a problem, but if taken regularly, it would eventually destroy both the user's body and mind.
　If the quality was poor, it could become addictive and especially dangerous.
　It was something akin to a narcotic.

　As he entered the section, he saw several people sitting on the ground, wearing dusty magician’s robes.

（I’ll report it to the Magician Association just in case, but… I’m not sure if they can be saved.）

　Kuroki frowned as he pondered about that.
　The Magician Association was, at its core, a mutual aid organization. It was not a charity organization, and it wouldn’t take on anything that would become a burden to the Magician Association.
　That’s why those who fall simply continue to fall into ruin.

　Kuroki could save a few of them, but if he tried to help every person who caught his eye, there would be no end to it.
　However, while the Magician Association didn’t go out of its way to save those who had fallen, distributing drugs that were harmful to the human body was a violation of its rules, so they would likely try to track down whoever was behind it.
　If he could cut off the source, the number of those who fell might decrease as well.

（Who the hell distributed this stuff? An alchemist capable of handling such materials is suspicious, so is a spiritualist who can concoct magic scent…）

　With those considerations in mind, Kuroki continued deeper inside.

「According to the map I was given, this should be the place.」

　Kuroki looked at the building he had arrived at.
　It was made of wood and rather shabby, but it was quite a large building, and it gave off a strange smell.
　Kuroki sensed inquisitive gazes from the buildings around him.

　It seemed Katakake once came to this area because he was worried about Chijirege.
　However, he turned back immediately upon sensing the danger around this area.
　After that, since Chijirege went about his days without any particular incident, Katakake felt relieved.

　As he was pondering about that, a man came out through the gate.
　He looked to be about 40 years old, and judging by his clothing, he was not a magician.
　And he didn’t look like an ordinary civilian either.
　The man then glared at Kuroki.

「Who are you? State your business?」

　The man had probably been watching Kuroki from inside the building, questioning him with a harsh tone.

「Uh, ah, sorry. I heard that someone with the nickname Chijirege lives here, do you happen to know that person?」

　The man pondered for a while upon hearing Kuroki's question.

「Yeah, he’s here. I’ll take you to him. Follow me.」

　Saying that, the man turned around and went back into the building.
　Kuroki followed closely behind.

　Upon entering the building, the first floor turned out to be a large hall.
　Inside, there were several men dressed the same as the man who had come out earlier.
　The moment they saw Kuroki, all of them began to move, surrounding him.

「This is?」

　Kuroki scanned the men who surrounded him.

「Idiot. Now tell us who the hell are you? What did you come here for?」

　Kuroki looked at the man who had guided him.

「Haven't I told you before, I'm looking for Chijirege.」
「What's your business with this Chijirege?」
「Well...」

　Kuroki touched his chin, pondering for a while.
　Judging by the movements of the men surrounding him, they were ordinary humans.

　Even if they all came at him at once, they were no match for Kuroki.

「I can't tell you that... Tell me where is he?」

　When Kuroki shook his head and said that, the men responded with visible anger on his face.

「Sorry, but I can’t tell you that. Well, I’m sure a little pain will make you more cooperative. Do it!」
　
　At the command of the man who had led the way, the others attacked from all sides.
　From Kuroki perspective, it was as if they were moving in an extreme slow motion.
　Kuroki stepped slightly to the right, dodging the one coming at him from behind.
　The man Kuroki dodged collided with the one coming from the front, and the two ended up sharing an intense kiss.
　Then, as he stepped back, Kuroki stuck out his right leg and tripped the man coming at him from the side.
　The tripped man fell forward, his face crashing straight into the crth of the man coming from the left.
　
「You bastard! Stop moving around!」

　Two men teamed up to take on Kuroki.
　Kuroki dodged to the right, grabbed the arm of the man coming from that side, and hurled him into the man on the left.
　The two men collided and fell as they embraced each other.
　Kuroki continued to move haphazardly in all directions, forward, back, left, and right, completely outmaneuvering the men coming at him.
　Finally, only one person left standing after everyone collapsed on the floor.
　
「W-What the hell are you!?」

　The last remaining man stared at Kuroki in shock and disbelief.

「Now tell me, where is Chijirege-san? If you don’t answer honestly, I’ll make you regret it.」

　Kuroki used just a bit of fear magic as he questioned the man.

「Eek!? He’s not here right now!? I don’t know where he went!」
「Is that so? Then please show me to his room.」
「U-Understood! This way!」

　The man led the way with unsteady footsteps.

「Here's the place.」

　The room the man led him to had no door; a cloth hung over the entrance instead.

「This is...」

　Kuroki couldn't hide his surprise when he saw the cloth hanging at the entrance.
　On the cloth were two symbols, one was the holy crest of the death god Zarxis, and the other was the crest Kuroki had never seen before.
　Kuroki slipped past the cloth and entered the room.
　There weren’t many personal belongings, just a few books placed here and there.
　The books were about necromancy.

（So... Kyouka-san’s guess was bull's eyes after all?）

　Vampire bats were also servants of Zarxis.
　The possibility had now emerged that Chijirege, who bears the holy crest of Zarxis, was involved in some way.
　It seems Kyouka’s guess was spot on.

「Do you know where Chijirege-san might have gone?」

　Kuroki stepped out of the room and asked the man.

「T-The forest! I often see him went into the forest!」
「I see. By the way, you’re all part of the Cult of Death too, aren’t you? You migth’ve been masking it with magic scent, but...」

　When Kuroki said that, the man looked away.
　It seems this building was owned by the Cult of Death.
　It seems that, aside from the cults worshiping the Demon King, there were also cults devoted to the gods of Elios.
　However, since no one resembling a priest of death had appeared, he guessed that this place might not be their main base.

「Please, keep what I said a secret! If they find out, they’ll kill me!」

　The man made a plea to Kuroki.
　Kuroki had no intention to reveal anything either.
　By now, he had lost all interest in the men who had been in the building.
　
「I have no intention of saying anything. Well then, I’ll be on my way.」

　With those words, Kuroki turned his back to the man.
　He wanted to visit the forest next.
　After leaving the building, Kuroki was heading toward the forest.

「Is this, a barrier?」

　When he was about to reach the forest.
　Kuroki noticed that there was a barrier erected around the forest.
　If anyone enters, they’ll surely be noticed.

（Hmm, what should I do… I could force my way in, but… No, I’ll hold off for now. It’s probably better to report this to Magius-dono anyway.）

　After some hesitation, Kuroki decided to not enter the forest for the time being.
　Unlike the place where Chijirege had been living, there was no doubt that whoever in the forest was using magic.
　The Cult of Death’s main base might be located here.
　Even just confirming that Chijirege had ties to the Cult of Death was a huge discovery.
　Thus, he decided to report this matter to Magius.
　Kuroki turned around and left the forest.