Chapter 80: Triple Gain
“Ouch.”
While rummaging inside the dimensional pocket, I abruptly pulled my hand out, as if bitten by some wild snake.
Though my voice remained calm, my eyes — usually sharp — were rounder than usual, suggesting genuine surprise.
“What the heck? What's wrong?”
Gale asked, puzzled.
I closed my mouth for a moment, lost in thought, then tilted my head.
Then, peeking back into the dimensional pocket, I said,
“Hmm. Seems like...”
“Seems like what?”
“It doesn’t want to come out! Looks like it doesn’t want to show itself in front of you, Gale.”
“Whaaaat?!”
“Or maybe it just doesn’t like you?”
I spoke with a doubtful expression, making Gale's eyebrows twitch like trees in a storm.
“What the hell, man! What did you get?! You said you'd show me, and now you're not? You’re killing me here!”
“I intended to show you, but what can I do if it refuses?”
“It refuses?! You’re talking like it’s alive! Is it?”
“It’s not exactly alive, but…”
I thought about the Soul Poison I had tucked away in my personal pocket — the dreadful item I had obtained from the fairy, Gluagaho.
Though the Soul Poison only looked like a sluggish liquid, since it was born from the mythological realm—
“It does have something like a will. It doesn’t seem capable of higher thought, though. If I had to compare, it’s about as smart as a little parrot.”
“What the hell is it… This old man is dying of curiosity here.”
“Haha! You’ll find out soon enough. The day it’s used isn’t far off.”
Thinking about that day, I couldn’t help but curve my lips into a chilling smile.
“When the time comes, when I face my mortal enemy, it will have no choice but to reveal itself. Then you’ll see it too, Gale.”
“Hmmm. So, it’s related to your revenge, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
The Soul Poison — a vile and terrible thing that could erase even immortal souls from existence.
Thus…
It was the only way to kill a being composed purely of spiritual essence — like a fairy.
At last, I have a way to kill her…!
Among the thirteen highest executives of Familia, the sixth: Sesto.
Because she was a fairy.
No matter how powerful I became, without a way to destroy souls, I couldn’t defeat her.
Only three races in this world were granted power over souls:
Fairies.
Witches.
And finally—
Outsiders.
I would meet them soon enough too.
In 「LAMPAS」, the existence of the Outsiders couldn’t be ignored.
At any rate, it seems the Soul Poison has acknowledged me as its master.
Even now, from inside the dimensional pocket, it was rubbing against my fingers affectionately.
Apologizing for its earlier refusal.
The reason it doesn’t resist me must be…
Honestly, I had a rough idea.
“……”
Gale Garav.
“That guy really has a knack for making people curious.”
That lazy-looking man was the reason.
Of course, protagonists in any story needed to be special, distinct from all the bland supporting characters.
And that applied to Gale too, the ‘protagonist’ of 「LAMPAS」.
Poor guy.
His "specialness" was what made him Gale — but it was also what dragged him into endless pain and ruin.
“So, what about that parchment scroll? You peeked at it earlier and didn’t show me.”
“Really, Gale, you’re too curious.”
“Ahem! Ahem-hem~”
Caught red-handed, Gale whistled innocently.
Though we had grown closer after living and traveling together, Gale was still a hired mercenary under me.
Mercenaries should treat curiosity like poison. The less you knew, the safer you were.
Yet lately, Gale’s curiosity had become harder to contain — even he found it strange.
“Well, if it’s troublesome, you don’t have to—”
“Troublesome? Not at all. Here, take a look.”
Opening the jeweled box tucked under my arm, I pulled out the parchment inside.
Swish— I untied the delicate ribbon and revealed its contents.
“…Whoa. This is insane.”
Gale’s eyes widened as he scanned the parchment, and he gasped in shock.
The text written there had immense power!
“Dalton Pactio… That old man wasn’t kidding about showing sincerity, huh.”
Dalton Pactio.
Despite being a direct bloodline member of the Pactio family, he had strangely broken away to become a famous jurist.
Still, that didn’t diminish his power — the current head of the Pactio family held great affection for his estranged younger brother.
And now Dalton had given me a proof document — Allowing me to request one wish from the Pactio family, something they were duty-bound to grant unless it was utterly absurd.
As long as it wasn’t something like demanding the entire family be handed over or declaring war on a country, they had to comply.
“If this is real… you’ve basically got a giant power at your back!”
“Exactly. This piece of paper is the biggest prize I gained from the incident.”
Flicking the parchment lightly, I then rolled it up and sealed it carefully.
I placed it along with the Red Clover back into the jeweled box — And then stored the whole thing safely in my dimensional pocket.
“Safety first!”
The Pactio family held power strong enough to rival kings across the Western Continent.
Now, I possessed a blank check capable of resolving most troublesome problems!
For many people, this paper could be the true ‘universal cure.’
Most troubles in the world boiled down to money, after all.
People liked to say there were things money couldn’t solve, but—
Maybe it wasn’t that money couldn’t solve the problem—
Maybe it was just that they didn’t have enough money.
“So, what are you gonna wish for? You’re already rich and powerful, Mister Top Hunter. I’m dying to know!”
“Hm… Nothing comes to mind right now.”
A lie.
I already had a very clear plan for what I’d use this wish for.
With this, I’ll be able to expand my operations across the Western Continent later.
Preparations for the inevitable clash against Familia.
Familia, who controlled almost all of the Western Continent, would require many precautions.
“Man… Kid, you're something else. I wish I could peek inside your brain. How the hell do you plan all this?”
“Haha! Don’t say that. Anyone could do it.”
“Yeah, sure. If anyone could, the world would be insane by now.”
Gale muttered in awe.
In resolving just one incident with the Clover Trade Company, how many gains did he stack up?
The Red Clover. Dalton Pactio’s proof certificate. And whatever mysterious thing was hidden in his dimensional pocket.
But Gale thought I had earned more than just material gains.
The full trust of the Clover family.
A connection to the Pactio family.
And—
Spero’s growing fame!
In solving a major incident immediately after our founding, we had firmly established Spero’s name as competent and capable.
Given that the Top Hunter of Yellow had been inactive for five years, the world’s attention naturally flocked to Spero.
…Honestly, it’s a little terrifying.
Despite being younger, I — Elwin — had foresight and depth of vision that even veterans would envy.
Gale vowed again never to make an enemy of me.
“So, where to next? You said you had something to finish earlier?”
“Yes! Even though we barged in without permission, since we started it, we should end it properly too.”
I glanced toward the entrance to the deck where Gale had first appeared —
He followed my gaze.
“To settle the score with Depicio.”
And there—
A pure white figure was walking toward us.
“…Right, Jana?”
“Yes, Lewin. But I don’t intend to simply tie up loose ends.”
The woman — Jana — smiled sweetly, her deadly gaze hidden beneath crescent-moon eyes.
“We’ll wipe them out completely. So they can never crawl back.”
“Haha! Ambitious already? Good. You’ll get satisfying results.”
“All thanks to you, Lewin.”
“……”
Watching us chat so cheerfully about something so bloodthirsty, Gale shuddered.
“Ugh! What kind of maniacs are you guys… Just listening is giving me chills.”
First Sercia, now this newly introduced Jana.
Even from a distance, it was obvious — these two women were not ordinary.
And both carry a heavy past and burning revenge in their hearts…
They seemed almost tragically alike.
“So, where exactly are we headed?”
“To the Tunnels.”
Jana answered softly.
“…The Tunnels? Wait, you mean those Tunnels?!”
“Yes, exactly.”
Gale gaped.
The Tunnels were a sanctuary allowed only to non-human races.
“We’re LAMPASians in appearance though… can we even get in?”
“Don’t worry! We already have a plan.”
Elwin’s bright reassurance didn’t ease Gale’s anxiety.
“Man… This is gonna be another rough ride.”
He had a strong premonition that blood would spill again soon.
***
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The airship came to a halt over the Tall Forest of the Batevil Kingdom.
In the towering woods that pierced the heavens, the enormous airship’s shadow was completely concealed.
“Nahr, I leave it to you.”
“Yes, Master. Have a safe journey.”
Leaving the airship under Nahrhan Ferdic’s care, I — along with the Spero members and Jana — set off into the depths of the forest.
As soon as our figures disappeared, the airship vanished too — switching to stealth mode.
Amidst the towering trees deep in the Tall Forest, I explained,
“Near here, our allies for this mission are waiting. We’ll meet up with them before heading to the Tunnels.”
“Allies?”
At that moment, a cautious presence approached from afar.
That person was—
“Whaaat—!?”
“You?!”
“……!!”
It was Hake, who had been presumed dead during the LAMPAS Hunter examinations!