Chapter 147: Interlude (1)
Niobe was barely alive. The massive explosion Carisia had orchestrated had been meticulously concentrated on the space where the Amimone Tower once stood.
Still, even though it hadn’t hit her directly, she had been within the range of the transcendent heat. Having stayed on the Amimone Tower’s frontlines to distract the parasite, Niobe hadn’t been able to completely escape the blast when the Grand Magic was triggered.
After the battle, it was Orthes who dug Niobe out from the rubble. He had acted on Carisia’s advice.
Her words were clear: “She was fighting the parasite until the very end. Check the vicinity of the wreckage.” Along with a single instruction:
“Are you alright?”
“Senior…”
Niobe smiled suddenly, a faint grin spreading across her face.
“The artifact… That was something else.”
“Oh…”
Niobe seemed to think Carisia’s “magic” was nothing more than an ancient artifact Orthes had prepared in advance. Considering she had been the closest witness to Carisia’s abilities, there was a chance she might have seen through her identity, but thankfully, that hadn’t been the case.
“We got lucky. We overloaded their spatial magic, forcing it to implode. The fact that you got caught up in it was─”
Niobe shook her head, a silent indication that no apology was necessary. Her trust in Orthes seemed deeper than expected. Orthes recalled Carisia’s proposal.
Instead of simply keeping the truth from Niobe and using her as a tool, why not groom her into a friendly ally within Blasphemia who could eventually serve Hydra Corporation’s interests? It was a dangerous gamble.
“Senior, did I live up to my position?”
Orthes nodded. From the days when she was a novice easily fooled by Orthes’ initial schemes to now, Niobe had grown remarkably.
That said, her competence also made her a potential threat if she ever turned against them. After deliberating until the last moment, Orthes decided to trust Carisia’s judgment.
“Yes, Niobe. You performed splendidly. Your decision to evacuate your unit first and then stay on the frontlines to buy time was exemplary.”
Niobe muttered a quiet “That’s a relief” and smiled bashfully. Seizing the moment, Orthes continued.
“However…”
“Hmm?”
“I’m not sure this organization is worthy of you.”
“Senior?”
Niobe’s face showed clear confusion. Orthes carefully weighed his words. How far could he push without alienating her? How deeply did her trust extend?
“Even within Blasphemia, there’s bound to be ongoing suspicion. Why are so many drawn to Argyrion?”
“That’s─”
“It’s something that can’t be explained by mere camaraderie or the pursuit of wealth and power. Having fought Argyrion more than anyone, I’ve come to understand some of the methods they use to persuade other mages.”
This was no lie. Considering the collaboration between Nastion and the parasite, it was evident that the Mage King’s influence had reached Argyrion, at least subconsciously.
Their recruitment methods—half-jokingly referred to by Orthes as a “hypnosis app”—were rooted in a truth that could shake the very foundations of a mage’s mind.
The truth about the origin of the Ten Towers.
The first disciples of the Mage King had betrayed him. That betrayal, and the efforts to hide it for millennia, was a festering wound. Argyrion likely used the guise of serving the Mage King to sway others.
“What are you trying to say?”
“My view of Argyrion hasn’t changed. They’re a dangerous group ensnared by the extra-dimension. But our organization…”
“Senior. Any further, and─”
You’ll become a traitor. Niobe’s gaze pleaded for Orthes to stop.
“Our organization may harbor even darker secrets than we imagine.”
Niobe’s mind was a whirl of confusion. Her face reflected a mix of shock and distress. Orthes played his final card in this gamble.
“You’re welcome to report these thoughts to the higher-ups. I won’t do anything to stop you. If you come to a decision, contact Hydra Corporation.”
Orthes handed Niobe over to another Blasphemia operative. She remained lost in deep turmoil.
***
Kynemon reflected bitterly.
“Those Argyrion bastards…”
One more step, and the Amimone Tower would have been his, but it had been obliterated.
Still, the plan wasn’t a complete failure. Kynemon had earned the highest scores during the final selection round. The one who dealt the decisive blow to Argyrion’s infiltrators during the tower lord selection process was Kine, officially registered under the Tavning faction.
Under Kine’s leadership, they had defeated Nastion—a figure whose name Orthes had provided—securing Kynemon’s reputation and eventually granting him the title of Amimone Tower Lord.
Though now he presided over little more than fragments of the former tower.
“It’s truly unfortunate. Argyrion has caused such devastation,” Orthes said, his voice heavy with regret. Kynemon couldn’t fault Orthes for his grief. He had done everything expected of him.
“Who would’ve guessed? That Argyrion would stoop to wiping out an entire tower. Shortsighted as it is, it’s undeniably an effective show of force.”
“Argyrion! It’s all because of their reckless actions,” Orthes exclaimed, uncharacteristically fervent. Kynemon recalled Lampades’ theory—that Orthes was using Argyrion as a smokescreen for Hydra Corporation.
“So, Argyrion must have realized Orthes’ plans and lashed out first. Things are getting messy.”
Lampades had told him that Orthes intended to use Argyrion to divert the Ten Towers’ attention while plotting to upend the world through Hydra Corporation. The dynamic was simple: Hydra Corporation, hidden behind Argyrion’s facade, versus the Ten Towers.
But after the Algoth City incident, Argyrion had officially severed ties with Orthes.
“It’s a three-way battle now…”
Hydra Corporation seemed to hold the upper hand. Despite Argyrion’s public affiliation with the Divine Cult, the cult’s loyalty lay not with Argyrion but with Orthes personally.
Orthes’ estrangement from Argyrion meant the cult would naturally side with him. Argyrion’s earlier attempt to eliminate the cult’s operatives was likely a preemptive strike to weaken Orthes’ resources.
“But Kine’s retaliation shifted all the blame back onto Argyrion…”
Even though the cult had supported Orthes, the accusations of heresy and fanaticism were redirected entirely to Argyrion. It was a masterful ploy.
Kynemon, having pieced together the situation, nodded at Orthes, who continued to denounce Argyrion.
“No need to dwell on it. You fulfilled my first request, didn’t you?”
“My first request? Oh…”
Kynemon had initially sought the Amimone Tower’s destruction as his reward. With not even a brick remaining, his wish had been granted far beyond expectation.
“And I’m a tower lord now, in name at least. Two plans half-realized—sounds like a win to me.”
Kynemon found himself oddly satisfied with the current state of affairs. It proved that even Orthes’ schemes weren’t flawless.
Perhaps the world wouldn’t end after all.
Orthes’ plans might succeed only halfway, burning away the rot without consuming everything. The vast evil he served might unwittingly stop at a tolerable limit.
Kynemon dared to hope.
Though, as a willing accomplice to that evil, he wasn’t sure he had the right.
Smiling wryly, Kynemon asked Orthes with a lighter heart, “So, what’s next?”
It was obvious to anyone with some insight that Kine, despite her affiliation with Tavning Tower, was more a mercenary than a true member. It wasn’t hard to deduce that Hydra Corporation, Tavning’s benefactor, had provided her services.
Requests for similar “mercenaries” were already flooding Carisia’s way, particularly for those capable of countering Argyrion. Even Panoptes, and by extension the Ten Towers, had taken an interest in Kine.
“For now, we’ll head back to Etna City. A lot has changed, and we have much to prepare.”
“Understandable. Losing a trusted tool would demand some adjustments.”