Chapter 168
“Most of the Noctanium has disappeared in the past two days.”
This was the underground beneath Cannavaro’s mansion.
A basement below the basement, protected by numerous magical security layers.
Cannavaro and thirty black mages were gathered there.
A single flickering candle sat atop the long table where all thirty-one of them sat.
In the dim, gloomy atmosphere, Cannavaro lifted his gaze.
A tiny fruit fly drifted above his hands resting on the table.
“…….”
No intruder should be able to enter this place. How did that fly get in?
Or perhaps fruit flies were creatures that simply materialized from the void for no reason at all.
Even his extensive magical knowledge could not explain it.
But Cannavaro soon dismissed the thought.
A fruit fly didn’t matter.
The Noctanium was gone.
He continued speaking to the black mages.
“As you all know, the placement was decided with every factor in mind. Spots where the eyes and footsteps of those entering Namaran would never reach. Yet places where the mana resonance needed to raise the barrier would be strongest. And yet the Noctanium buried there has all vanished.”
“Has the Count of Namaran noticed something?”
A hooded black mage asked quietly.
Cannavaro shook his head.
“No. He has shown no reaction.”
“Are you saying the skulls and Noctanium buried underground were completely dug up in just a day or two?”
“As unbelievable as it sounds, yes.”
“…….”
A heavy silence fell.
Cannavaro’s voice flowed through it.
“I do not yet know who did it. But clearly an organization or individual whose abilities far exceed our expectations has interfered.”
“That must be it. Those skulls had anti-detection magic and numerous anti-theft spells placed on them.”
It was true.
They had been confident.
No one would find them.
And even if someone did, there was no way to dismantle the spells on the skulls.
They had believed that without doubt.
But reality was different.
‘The spells on the skulls were dismantled. And the Noctanium is gone.’
Absurd.
Emptying.
Was this how a farmer felt when an entire year’s harvest was stolen overnight?
Cannavaro and the thirty black mages clenched their fists in shared fury, recalling the blood, sweat, and tears they had poured into making and burying Noctanium.
But now was not the time to be angry.
Cannavaro calmed himself and looked around.
“Let us think rationally. What is gone is gone. There is no point clinging to what has left our hands.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“We cannot allow such a trivial setback to hinder our grand work.”
“You mean…?”
“We proceed as planned.”
“But… is there a way?”
One black mage asked.
The others nodded.
The Noctanium had required tremendous time and care to install.
The operation was right around the corner.
Final preparations were underway.
“Without Noctanium, we cannot perform the ritual. You know this better than anyone…”
“Of course I know.”
“Then?”
“Instead of installing skulls, we activate the barrier ourselves. That way, we can carry out the plan without delay.”
“But…”
Their mouths twisted with discomfort beneath their hoods.
But they could not voice the objection.
Cannavaro spoke first.
“The skulls were merely proxies so we would not need to act directly to raise the barrier.”
“Yes. That way our identities would not be exposed during the ritual.”
“But consider what matters most.”
“…….”
“Is our anonymity what matters? Or is it ensuring the ritual happens on schedule and our great work is fulfilled?”
“…….”
“Surely no one here believes their personal safety is more important. Isn’t that right?”
“Well…”
“Isn’t that right?”
“…….”
A flash of madness flickered in Cannavaro’s eyes.
Every black mage shut their mouth.
“Under normal circumstances, I would never choose this method. But now we have no choice. The ritual must go on. You all know this is not merely our work. We are a cog in a much greater design. To delay is to cripple the entire operation. We cannot delay. We cannot wait. We must act ourselves. But that does not mean we take unnecessary risks.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“We strike at the safest possible moment.”
“And that would be?”
“When Namaran’s knights and army are all inside the castle.”
“……Ah!”
The black mages gasped.
Yes.
The Noctanium barrier they would create—
It was a massive, powerful curse that absorbed the life force of every living thing trapped inside.
Once raised, no one could cross it.
Not from inside out.
Not from outside in.
Unless one had power equal to or greater than a Swordmaster.
So if the knights and soldiers of Namaran were all inside the city walls when the barrier rose—
No knight.
No army.
Would ever step outside again.
Their life force would be drained entirely.
Their greatest threats would be erased in an instant.
“And if each of us is guarded by enhanced zombies?”
“A fine idea.”
“But I’m still worried. We don’t know who dismantled the Noctanium. If our presence is exposed…”
“Do not worry too much.”
“You have a plan?”
“I will protect you.”
“You intend to personally provide escort?”
“Of course. You all deserve that level of protection.”
“Ohh…”
Relief softened their faces.
If Cannavaro protected them, they could trust.
He was powerful enough to guarantee it.
“Also, once the barrier rises, its defensive spells will protect you further. No one below Swordmaster level could injure even a hair. With that plus my protection, what is there to fear?”
“Your words ease my mind.”
The black mages smiled faintly.
Cannavaro smiled back, satisfied.
‘Fools.’
His promise of protection?
A lie.
They were expendable.
Talented, yes.
But expendable.
Once the barrier was raised, they could die for all he cared.
The curse would never stop unless the barrier itself was destroyed.
“Now, let us refine the details.”
Hiding his snake-like true intentions—
Cannavaro smiled even more pleasantly.
♣
A few days later.
‘Let’s review the plan again.’
Javier thought quietly.
He looked down at his apron.
The bucket of water he had “accidentally” spilled moments ago had soaked it completely.
Not only the apron—his skirt and shoes underneath were drenched.
“Oh dear, what a mess.”
An older woman fretted, thinking she had bumped into him.
Reasonable enough.
He had made contact without being obvious.
He had deliberately pretended to drop the bucket.
Thanks to that—
“Oh my goodness. You need to watch where you’re going, ma’am,” one of the workers scolded.
“You almost hurt Ella! Are you okay, Ella?”
They believed the woman was at fault.
And the woman apologized repeatedly.
Javier smiled faintly.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? Your skirt and shoes are ruined. Oh, I nearly hurt your pretty feet! Do you have spare clothes?”
“That is…”
“You don’t?”
“…….”
The woman grew even more apologetic.
Javier, guilt pricking his conscience, bowed slightly.
He fiddled with his fingers.
That alone was effective enough.
“Then take mine. The ones I left in the side room next to the pantry entrance. Go change. Please. I feel terrible about this.”
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“…….”
My apologies, truly, ma’am.
Javier bowed deeply.
He slipped out of the distribution center.
But he did not go toward the pantry.
Instead, he headed straight for Cannavaro’s mansion.
‘Every day at this time, he goes down to the basement beneath the basement.’
He had discovered this from observation over the past few days.
Had he not disguised himself and worked at the distribution center, he would never have found an excuse to go downstairs, nor learned any of this.
That was why he was here.
Today, he would uncover the second basement.
He had spilled the bucket earlier precisely to slip away unnoticed.
Tadat!
He moved like the wind.
His drenched clothes were no issue.
With a single, powerful squeeze, he expelled nearly all the water.
He reached Cannavaro’s mansion in moments.
He crossed the garden through the blind spots of people’s vision.
He slipped in through the side door at the back.
Fortunately, he ran into no one on the first floor.
Like a shadow, he descended toward the basement.
The basement door blocked him.
It was locked with a magic seal.
He raised his hand.
Kiiiiing!
He rotated a mana circle.
He recalled the mana pattern he had seen—
The mana array embedded in the magical key used by the mansion’s butler.
Tsuzuzuz…
Mana diagrams traced themselves from Javier’s fingertips.
Following the array precisely—
They seeped into the lock.
The lock glowed.
Click.
It opened.
‘Good.’
A glint appeared in Javier’s eyes.
Of course, with his strength, he could destroy or dismantle it easily.
But he must not.
It would leave traces.
It would alert the enemy.
The effort he spent these last few days paid off now.
He entered the basement.
“……”
Crossed the empty dark floor.
Found the staircase to the second basement.
He did not proceed further.
He stopped in the corner.
Stopped breathing.
Calmed his heartbeat and blood flow.
He synchronized his body’s rhythm and energy with the surroundings.
In other words—he erased all presence.
And he waited.
Ten minutes. Thirty.
Nearly an hour passed before an unfamiliar presence entered the basement.
Step, step…
Someone approached cautiously.
Each step paused to observe the surroundings.
Checking for hidden people.
Checking for a tail.
Excessively wary.
‘Cannavaro.’
Javier’s eyes narrowed.
Cannavaro descended into the basement.
He stood before the door to the second basement.
He drew something from his coat.
A magical key.
Wuuung…
Mana flowed from the key to the lock.
The magic circle within the lock resonated.
It rotated.
The lock opened.
Clack.
Cannavaro looked around once more and descended to the lower floor.
The door shut, the magical lock sealing again.
Javier stayed motionless.
Even as thirty minutes passed.
Even as Cannavaro returned, walked past him, and left the basement—
He did not move.
Only when Cannavaro’s presence fully disappeared from the first floor did he finally breathe again.
“Haa…”
He now stood before the second basement door.
He placed his hand on the lock.
And recalled the mana pattern from moments ago.
The mana flow.
The structure of the array.
He reproduced it perfectly.
Click.
The magical lock opened.
“……”
Javier steadied his breath.
What lay beyond?
Was this truly the right thing to do?
Digging through someone’s secrets like this?
“……”
If Cannavaro’s second basement turned out to be nothing more than an ordinary rich man’s vault—
He’d grab Lloyd by the collar and demand the bet be honored.
Thinking that—
Javier grabbed the doorknob.
Turned it.
Opened it.
Creak.
Through the discordant sound, the second basement was revealed.
No—
The truth was revealed.
“Grrr…?”
A zombie with no head wandered aimlessly, then stretched both arms toward him.