Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 69

Episode 69: Unsettling Movement (3)

“Why were you at odds with Gluttony?”

“I had no choice but to live. Someone had killed the doctor who held a unique position in Gluttony, and if it had been discovered that I had failed to protect him, I would have suffered a worse fate than death.”

It was a more normal reason than I thought.

It was hard to believe that these words came from a member of a group of lunatics who toyed with human bodies like Gluttony's.

Verden then asked.

“There’s been a recent surge in missing people outside the city. Why are they taking people from Gluttony?”

“Because it is necessary.”

Gulp.

A stream of blood trickled down Theon's neck.

“More clearly.”

“I know that in order to obtain the life force they possess… Not only humans, but also subhumans and beasts are included.”

“Vitality? Then does that mean the Salamander’s heart is also involved?”

The heart of the salamander has a powerful life force of its own.

If vitality is the goal, for whatever reason, it makes sense why the giant of Gluttony was seeking it.

Theon's eyes widened at Verden's words.

“How did you… No, it had to do with the Ark. You leaked information about the Salamander’s Heart to Gray. How on earth did you get that information? It was secretly being transported within Gluttony.”

Verden did not answer.

Because I don't know. I really don't know anything.

“I ask the question. Then the next question is, what are you going to do with that life force?”

“I don’t know exactly either.”

Theon shouted with sincerity at Verden's cold gaze.

“You really don’t know! I’ve been through so much trouble since you killed the Doctor! Do you know how anxious I’ve been living, trying not to let Gluttony catch me and find out that the Doctor was killed!”

“It’s none of my business. And I don’t think that’s something that would come out of the mouth of an assassin who tried to kill me.”

It was an extremely correct theory.

Theon bit his lip at Verden's words and then sighed.

“I don’t know what Gluttony is thinking, since my position is not very high. To be honest, I am also confused. They have been hiding from the eyes of the Ark so far, but now they are moving so openly that even the Duchy can notice.”

“Does that mean there’s been some change internally? That there’s a need to openly kidnap people?”

“Probably so. Anyway, it is certain that something happened after I followed the doctor.”

A purpose that requires people's vitality.

Verden couldn't even guess the reason. He had seen and experienced many experiments on the Magic Tower, but there were no records of experiments dealing with life force in the past.

To begin with, vitality is not a concept of power like qi, magic power, or divine power.

Unless it was a mutant species with bizarre abilities, I had never heard of humans using life forms whose true nature could not be clearly defined.

The question moved on to the next one.

“What are they? They look like giants with human faces sewn onto their bodies, or like beasts with claws growing out of them.”

“Transplanter. That’s what we call it in Gluttony. I understand it to mean someone who has escaped the original human race by transplanting a human, demi-human, or demonic body. There are even those who have transplanted one from a heteromorph.”

Tireless stamina, mad aggression, and bizarre movements.

The strength of the transplants is not something to be taken lightly. Although there may be individual differences, it is clear that they all possess abilities that transcend human capabilities.

'This wizard who killed it so easily… … What on earth is he?'

There is also some information about the Ark within Gluttony.

But I have never heard of the gray-haired wizard. It seems like the Ark secretly raised him… … Even this is just a guess.

Despite holding his own life in his hands, Theon knew nothing about Verden.

“Transplanters, you are literal monsters. Then let me ask you one last question. Where did you take the people?”

“I don’t know either. The unit I was in was in charge of capturing people and handing them over to other units…….”

“Answer carefully, without hiding anything. That answer may be your last.”

“I don’t really know the exact location where the people are gathered, but I know one place where you can get information. Give me a map and I’ll point you right in the right direction.”

Verden handed over the map, looking suspicious.

Theon quickly scanned the map and pointed to the middle of the mountain range.

“There is a cave here. It is a place often used by Gluttony.”

“What’s the evidence?”

“As you said, I answered everything I knew. If I were caught revealing Gluttony’s information to anyone else, I would be dissected alive. From Gluttony’s perspective, I am already a traitor.”

Verden did not trust Theon. He had no intention of trusting him.

But it was worth going to the place he had mentioned. After a moment of thought, Verden released Theon from his bonds.

“Give me guidance.”

"……I?"

“Of course not. You don’t expect me to take your word for it when I’m in a disgusting group like Gluttony, do you?”

'What the fuck.'

Theon cursed inwardly.

If you guide them and Gluttony is there, this wizard will kill them all and your own life or death will be uncertain. He didn't say he would spare your life.

But if you kill Asher in Gluttony, it's a problem.

If you are questioned about why you brought an outsider, there is no way out. The best way to die would be to kill yourself on the spot by stabbing yourself in the heart with a dagger.

Literally a dilemma.

Theon bit his lip and eventually nodded.

* * *

“Is this it?”

"okay."

A natural cave hidden in a dark forest.

Since it was located underground, the entrance barely protruded, and it was located in a place with few people, it seemed like the perfect place to use as a secret residence.

With Theon in the lead, they slowly entered the underground chamber.

I didn't use my magic sense and relied solely on my senses to heighten my alertness to the max. I didn't really intend to let the Gluttony bastards live, so I planned to wipe them all out, leaving only one or two behind.

Knock. Knock.

The water droplets on the ceiling fell to the ground.

After passing through a fairly large space, I finally saw signs that someone had been there.

And then… … the thick smell of blood vibrated. I looked at Theon and saw that he was genuinely confused.

“The smell of blood…? Since we erase all traces of ourselves when we go to Gluttony, this shouldn’t happen.”

That is, a variable has occurred.

Verden and Theon went inside at a slightly faster pace. There were corpses that looked like Gluttony's everywhere.

'It's not black… … Is it a mark from being hit by a blunt object?'

The head is burst or the torso is swollen.

It looks like it's been hit by something, with bones and organs shattered, and it looks like someone who is hostile to Gluttony has invaded.

'It might be an ark.'

As far as Verden knew, they were the only enemies of Gluttony.

We went deeper inside, past the scene full of corpses.

Then a commotion was heard at the end of the cave. Verden and Theon poked their heads inside to peek inside, where they saw a brown-haired young man in his late teens dealing with the transplanter.

The transplanter's axe cuts through the air with a fierce edge.

The man dodged by a sheet of paper and jumped back lightly. Then, as soon as he touched the ground, he approached the transplanter, leaving behind a blurry afterimage.

Thud!

The transplanter's body was slammed into the wall by the man's fist. With his tremendous resilience, the transplanter rushed at the man again. A fierce battle unfolded at close range.

However, the man's attacks shocked the transplanter, and none of the transplanter's attacks reached the man.

“Uh-oh!”

The man's leg struck the transplant recipient's neck.

Thud. An ominous sound from the cervical vertebrae. Then he struck the Adam's apple with the blade of his hand, spun his body around, and flew into the air, kicking the other side of the transplanter's head.

Unable to withstand the continuous shock, the transplant recipient's neck was torn off and his head fell off.

The body of the transplant recipient loses strength and falls.

The man sighed deeply and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Whew, it’s really so dirty to not die. The path to justice is long and arduous. Well, it’s just as the Master said.”

The man, who was smiling contentedly while talking to himself, soon turned his head to one side of the cave.

“But how long are you going to be watching there? I don’t think it’s Gluttony.”

That was what I said to Verden and Theon.

'I guess it's the ark after all. Even though it's the first time I've seen it.'

There was no reason to hide since I had already been caught.

Verden appeared before the man, with Theon hesitating. Then he asked.

“Are you from the ark?”

* * *

“Huh? So you’re from the Ark too? Hmm, it’s my first time seeing you… You don’t look like Gluttony. Oh, are you from the Ordeal side?”

Is there a split between the Trials and Gluttony? Or maybe it's just a guess.

So Verden answered only with the truth, without any lies.

“It’s more related to that. Ask Leila and the listener and they’ll know.”

“Leila and Listener? I guess it’s real since you mentioned those two names. Sorry, I didn’t know since I’ve only been in the principality for a short time. My name is Locke. What about you?”

“My name is Asher.”

“Asher…? Oh, wait! I’ve heard of you! You’re the sidekick wizard who got involved in Sister Leila’s trials?”

'Hangover?'

Verden tilted his head.

Before I could ask what he meant, Locke continued.

“Looking at you again, you definitely look familiar. A wizard with gray hair and blue eyes… Oh, and you look older than me, so don’t be formal with me, I won’t be formal with you either. I don’t speak to people who aren’t stronger than me.”

I don't know what it was, but it seems like the name Asher is known within the Ark.

However, the fact that he did not know that Verden was not part of the Ark meant that the Listener had tacitly approved of Verden's association with the Ark, as had been previously anticipated.

It was convenient because I didn't have to try hard to persuade anyone.

“Well, that’s true.”

“Okay. But who is that guy? Is he the Ark clone I don’t know about?”

Locke pointed to Theon.

Verden shook his head.

“One of the Gluttony. I captured it to get information.”

“Huh? Why are you holding Gluttony to get information?”

Locke tilted his head. So did Verden.

“What does that mean?”

“I guess you didn’t know because it was a trial. Everyone who belongs to Gluttony is implanted with something strange called a ‘Fragment of Gluttony.’ If it’s completely assimilated into your ki or magic, you can never reveal any information about Gluttony. I’ve never seen it myself, but I heard that if you disobey, you’ll just go “Bam!” and explode into pieces at the cell level.”

Verden looked at Theon.

He said he would betray me, but he couldn't betray me in the first place. However, there was no lie in his words. If you look at the residence he guided you to, it is real.

“Then what about this guy?”

“Either he lied, or he wasn’t Gluttony in the first place?”

“Wait a minute, I never lied!”

“Hmm, just wait a minute.”

Locke put his fingers to Theon's neck.

I closed my eyes and checked his physical condition through his pulse, then opened my eyes quietly.

“I don’t feel any unpleasant vibes from Gluttony……”

Locke, who had been pondering, soon came to a conclusion.

“I’ll have to take him to the ark first. It’s probably not likely, but you never know. If it’s true, we might learn more about the inside of Gluttony, or we can deal with it then.”

Theon's face twisted subtly.

I did survive, but it was no different from living with a limited time left.

Verden asked.

“But do you know where the people Gluttony took are?”

“Oh, the information is fast. I came here right after I got that information. Luckily, I got the information here. I’m planning to go there right away. Do you want to come with me?”

An unexpected encounter with Layla and another candidate for the ark.

There was no option to refuse since they had the information on their side.

“Okay.”

Verden accepted Locke's offer.