Return of the Fallen Volume 13 Chapter 110
Verick did not doubt Kazuki’s ability to alter the memories he conjured up. He had quickly found a flaw that even Kauzki had overlooked. The missing memories from the times he had actively used his hidden aura. One of those memories or blank spots in particular coincided with the exact time of the incident inside the smithy. Kazuki had been using his hidden aura and was stealing a Monsuta stone when Runa barged into his room and took his focus away. Because of this, he dropped the stone in the middle of the forging room, which sent alarms shooting up to the highest order.
Right after Verick pointed out this flaw, Kazuki did not hesitate to remedy it. With a thought, he made false memories and filled in those blank spots just in case anyone else took a look inside his soul or mind.
The two both had their own secrets. Kazuki’s had been seen through by Verick but on the opposite side, Kazuki had yet to even begin to dig into Verick’s secret. He had pushed Verick into a compromising position. If Verick exposed him Mefius would obviously still see the disrespect and disloyalty on Verick’s part for not admonishing Kazuki or punishing him after he said Mefiu’s name. A slave was not allowed to speak their master’s name without consequences yet Kazuki had done it a handful of times during their coded talks.
This may not seem like a lot but Verick is supposedly Mefius’s most trusted subordinate. If your own subordinate failed to uphold not just a rule but one that directly affected Mefius’s honor…That would lead to many questions and suspicions.
Kazuki had Verick backed against a corner so to speak but at the same time, this was the most dangerous spot for Kauzki to be in. If Verick was pushed any further, there was always the possibility of him just snapping and killing Kazuki right here right now.
(It seems you have a bit of an advantage. What is it you want?)
To Kazuki’s surprise, Verick admitted he was not holding all the cards. Kazuki though knew how smart Verick was so he did not immediately reveal things. Instead, he poked around a little and tested the waters.
(Before I tell you. There is something I want to know.)
Verick remained calm on the outside.
(Still dancing around huh? Fine, let us see where you are trying to lead. Just be careful for you may regret things if I don’t like the path forward.)
Kazuki cleared his throat.
(If this Realm were no more…What would you do?)
(If there is no Realm, there is no me. Even if I lived on, it would be pointless. My fate is tied to this Realm.)
Kazuki nodded along in understanding.
(So you care about this Realm…Then my next question. What would you do if someone threatened this place? What would you do if someone wished to destroy your reality?)
Verick leaned forward in his chair, not a crack in his expression.
(If there truly was such a threat, you best believe I would do everything and anything in my power to destroy that enemy.)
(Anything you say?)
Verick stared at Kazuki in his eyes. There was not an ounce of hesitation.
(Absolutely. If it cost me everything if my very soul was burned in a blaze made of the primordial flame until I was nothing but ash and dust…To protect this Realm, I would do it.)
This was a satisfactory answer.
(Now let me ask you Kazuki. Digging all around, turning over a stone here or there what exactly do you think you’re doing, what exactly do you think you can accomplish?)
Kazuki shrugged.
(For now, not much. The information I have is incomplete. If things go terribly wrong, at the very least escaping is still an option. After all, this Realm is not my home, these people…you Gerians are not of my blood. At the same time, not everyone is evil here. There are good people…innocent people who just wish to live in peace. Ripping all of that away to fulfill a selfish nightmarish goal and filling oneself with absolute power. In my opinion that is far too greedy for any one man. If I were to know a little bit more…With that information, I know that the chances for a solution, for salvation would not be zero. At least that’s what I and Yidriss believe.)
When Kazuki mentioned Yidriss, Verick gripped the armrest of the chair and almost broke it. Thankfully he restrained himself just in time and let it go without damaging it.
(That name. I have not heard it mentioned for many years. So that thing still exists and you’ve come into contact with it. To communicate with God…how can someone on the side of Yidriss have ill intent for my Realm. Not only that but the mere mention of Yidriss once more confirms that you can alter the memories in your soul. Otherwise, I would have seen your encounter with the Artifact earlier.)
Yidriss was an Artifact that could both communicate with the Primordial being and also somehow summon the Primordial one. Kazuki had seen all of Yidriss’s memories down in the underground secret room but there was nothing about summoning the Primordial one. Mefius though supposedly knew how.
Now that Kazuki mentioned Yidriss, the communicator of God, Verick changed drastically.
(If you have spoken with Yidriss then that confirms it is somewhere trapped within this mansion. You have only been inside of this building and the underground ever since you came here. Mefius ordered you to the underground and later he had Bodock locked away inside of this frozen painting. Bodock guards one room and one room only. Yidriss must be in that secret room. Not only that but Yidriss is the only other being I’ve witnessed that can hide so well, yet you can hide your aura similar to it. You must have picked up this skill from Yidriss directly.)
Thoughts were spinning at a rapid rate in Verick’s mind as he began putting many things together.
(If you have contacted Yidriss and it really is trapped inside the underground, it means Mefius has found a way to do it.)
Kazuki stared blankly at Verick and Verick continued.
(Long ago during the war with the Vazuls the Primordial one descended one time. After gathering the blood of many inhabitants throughout this Hell Realm and sacrificing much much more, the Primordial one took pity upon us and blessed our champions with overwhelming might.)
Kazuki had already heard all of this from Yidriss and relayed that to Verick so Verick skipped ahead.
(After the war, we did not get to keep all of that power. Some managed to keep a portion, Mefius included. At that time he mentioned a dream. Only later did I realize that the so-called dream was actually an ever-consuming waking nightmare.)
(This dream relates to Yidriss?)
(Yes. Even though we pushed the Vazul which later became the shriekers back and forced them underground, there was no peace. Many fights broke out across this realm and Mefius saw this opportunity and took it. He wanted to take control over everything and get rid of those he found…unpleasant. More than that though he became drunk on the Primordial being’s power. One hand leads the other. He kills to gain power and he gains power to kill. He told me long ago, that in order to grab whats rightfully his. He must activate the ritual once more and force Yidriss to summon the primordial being. Mefius knows the way to force Yidriss. Once he does…Everything I know will be gone.)
Kazuki found most of this useless and asked.
(Ok but how will Mefius do it? To force an Artifact of all things is nearly impossible. It’s not like Yidriss is a sla…)
Kazuki’s mind snapped forward as something clicked. He himself had taken control over an Artifact. When he had the Artifact gauntlet in his grasp, he was able to place a salve mark directly inside of it. After that, the Artifact had to bend to his will and it could do nothing to defy him.
Kazuki instinctively wished to grab the slave collar around his neck but resisted.
(A slave collar. This must be the way he will do it!)
Kazuki had mentioned the collar and Verick was truly shocked on the inside. There was still not a 100% absolute trust between the two but it was becoming apparently obvious that neither wished for the destruction of this Hell Realm. The fact that Verick spoke about Mefius’s dream of obtaining absolute power and controlling everything showed that he was not loyal to Mefius at all. If Verick was not loyal to Mefius it meant he was not Kauzki’s enemy. Not exactly his ally either but this was just enough for them to share some information with one another.
(A slave collar that is powerful enough to control an artifact, such a collar is unheard of…It simply doesn’t exist.)
This was Verick’s conclusion but not Kazuki’s.
(The amount of energy it would require to take control of an Artifact, it would have to be insane. We can’t say it doesn’t exist…or actually maybe you’re right. Maybe it doesn’t exist…yet.)
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