Season 1 Chapter 134: Paragon (3)
The Great Mage Returns after 4000 Years – Chapter 134 – Paragon (3)
Translator: Seven
Editors: Ana_Banana, Yahiko
After they ended their conversation, they allowed Sheryl and Heinz to enter the room. The Orc Shaman, whose name he later found out was Elakut, also came in with them.
Cairo looked at Sheryl with a smile.
“Sheryl Roland, it’s been a long time.”
“…Cairo Wilsemann? Didn’t you die?”
It was no surprise that Sheryl knew Cairo, who was one a Circle Master.
It had been half a century since Cairo had been kicked from the Circle, but for Sheryl, who was a vampire, it wasn’t a very long time.
On the other hand, Heinz, who had only recently joined the Circle, was seeing Cairo for the first time.
“I didn’t have a life.”
“I see. So Paragon is an organisation created and led by you.”
“It’s true that I created it, but it’s a bit incorrect to say I lead it. All the members of Paragon are basically equal. Hmm. I suppose you could say that I get a little more respect than the others.”
Frey was actually surprised to learn that. He’d always had the impression that Cairo was the leader of Paragon.
‘Basically equal.’
In other words, Paragon was probably much smaller than Frey had expected.
It wasn’t a principle that could work for an organisation like the Circle with a large number of members.
“So what do you say?”
“What?”
“Have you given it any more thought about joining Paragon? Our offer still stands. A talented person like you is always welcome here.”
Sheryl responded in a plain tone.
“If Master joins.”
“Hmm. Unfortunately, because of Altan’s personality, I doubt he would join us.”
“I’m not talking about Altan.”
“Hmm…?”
Cairo was shocked when he realised that Sheryl was looking at Frey.
“Are you the ‘Master’ she’s talking about?”
“…”
Frey didn’t answer, but Cairo understood that it was a silent agreement.
“…hoho. You did something that even Altan couldn’t do. You subdued the Vampire Queen.”
Vampire Queen.
Frey had known she had a n.o.ble ident.i.ty among vampires, but he hadn’t known that she was actually the queen.
Sheryl lowered her eyes and shook her head.
“…that’s a t.i.tle I abandoned over a hundred years ago.”
“…”
Frey didn’t pursue it any further.
He was a bit interested, but he didn’t feel the need to ask. It didn’t matter to him if she was a Queen or a Grand Duke.
There was something even more important.
“Sheryl, you have to contact the Phisfounder Armlets’ Circle Master for me.”
“You mean Altan? Hmm…”
Sheryl narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Will that be a problem?”
“…he’s a guy who wouldn’t care even if the world crumbles around him. His head is filled with nothing but black magic, Demons and contracts.”
This meant that even if Sheryl was the one to contact him, it wouldn’t be easy.
After thinking for a while, Frey finally said.
“Tell him I’ll give him Asura’s summoning circle.”
“…are you serious?”
In fact, such an offer wasn’t really attractive for another party. This was because it wasn’t guaranteed that one would be able to sign a contract simply by using the summoning circle. Whether or not the person would be accepted as a Contractor would be purely up to Asura.
But Sheryl was certain that Altan would accept the bait.
“Yes. Understood… excuse me.”
A small bat emerged from Sheryl’s shadow and flew over to Frey before diving into his body.
This was a simple contact method, and knowing that, Frey didn’t try to stop it.
“After I’ve finished talking to Altan, I’ll contact you through the familiar I just gave you.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Please leave it to me.”
Sheryl bowed her head.
Then Frey turned his gaze to Heinz.
“Heinz, there is something I’d like you to do.”
“What is it?”
“Become the head of the Blake family.”
“…what’s that supposed to mean?”
Even the usually expressionless Heinz couldn’t help but make a confused expression when he heard those words.
“You are one of us. It would be a bit of a ha.s.sle since the eldest son, Mischael, is still alive, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. You will receive the full support of the Third Princess to succeed the position of family head.”
This was Frey’s third request to Fiore.
He’d believed that Leita and Isaka, who were the heads of the family, would both die in this incident.
Of course, everything didn’t go exactly according to plan.
Leita was dead, but he wasn’t sure what happened to Isaka.
However, it was true that there was currently no one to lead the Blake family.
Even if Isaka was alive, there was no way he would return to the family in this situation.
“Originally, I intended to take over the position, but now, I think you are much more qualified than I am.” (TL: translation: I originally planned to kill all of you)
He believed it was a waste to destroy the Blake family.
After all, the influence, wealth, fame, power and value of the family name had all acc.u.mulated over a long period of time.
There might be a time in the future when he was in need of these things, and they were not so easily obtained.
After hesitating for a long time, Heinz finally sighed.
“…I suppose it can’t be helped.”
He didn’t think he could ever forgive his parents. And although he was tired of and disappointed in the Blake family, this didn’t mean that he had to get rid of it.
Although the family had been created as an experimental site for the DemiG.o.ds, it was still Heinz’s family. The place where he was born and raised.
Denying the family wouldn’t change the fact that he was Frey Blake.
If he left it as is, what would happen to the innocent staff and Wizards who worked for the family, and their families?
“Cairo, can Heinz stay in Paragon for a while? Just until we figure out what the DemiG.o.ds intend to do.”
“Of course. It’s not a problem.”
Cairo happily agreed.
* * *
Heinz would stay in Paragon for the time being, and Sheryl left to find Altan.
Generally, Circle Masters didn’t stay in one location for too long in order to avoid the DemiG.o.ds’ pursuit. Sheryl seemed to have a way to track him, but she was unsure how long it would take.
Frey, on the other hand, rested and waited for Diablo’s return.
He arrived the next day.
He was a mess. His robe had been torn to shreds, and the flames that blazed in his eyes had dimmed slightly.
There were also many cracks on his white bones.
No matter how great Paragon’s strength was, DemiG.o.ds were definitely not easy opponents.
“Good job, Diablo. What about the casualties?”
[Five serious injuries and two minor injuries. Simone and Ahid died.]
“…hooo.”
Cairo sighed bitterly.
But soon after he shook his head as if to shake off his sorrow, and said.
“We will continue their will, and their souls will always be with us. Until the moment the DemiG.o.ds have been completely removed from this continent.”
Diablo nodded and spoke without any change in his tone.
[Thanks to their sacrifices, the subjugation of the DemiG.o.ds was successful. Here are the spoils.]
“You worked hard.”
What Diablo had just handed over were the DemiG.o.ds’ crystals. Cairo put them away.
After he was finished with what he had to do, Diablo immediately turned around as though he planned to leave, but Cairo hurriedly stopped him.
“Wait, Diablo. I’m sorry, but I need your help for one more thing.”
[What is it?]
“Rescuing Hector.”
[Hoh…]
Interest arose in Diablo’s eyes.
[Tell me in detail.]
Cairo then slowly explained what he heard from Frey, who was leaning against a wall as he listened to them.
Cairo then asked after finishing his explanation.
“You’ll help us, won’t you?”
[Of course. I always thought Hector’s situation was unfortunate.]
“Then when should we leave?”
“Now.”
It was Frey who answered. The sooner they did it, the better.
‘Leyrin has entered hibernation.’
Not only that, three DemiG.o.ds had also died.
Lord would definitely find this out soon, and it was impossible to predict what he would do afterwards.
That’s why they needed to move as fast as they could.
‘Even so.’
Frey glanced over at Diablo’s injured body.
Diablo, who had just returned from a fierce battle, definitely could not leave right away.
[…]
Noticing Frey’s gaze, Diablo thought for a moment then spoke as he left the room.
[I will return in two hours. I, at least, have to refill my mana.]
And with those words, Diablo was gone.
Cairo glanced at Frey and said.
“He agreed, so we’ll be able to leave in about two hours. Go prepare and come back here at that time.”
“Understood.”
Frey then returned to his a.s.signed room.
Then, after activating a magic circle he’d stored in the Great Sage’s Staff, he immediately summoned Asura.
Kooo.
Asura, who had been summoned in a much smaller size, looked at Frey and asked.
[What’s wrong?]
“I want to hear what happened to Apep.”
[…you really summon me for stupid reasons.]
Asura spoke in an annoyed tone.
[He’s dead.]
“…was it hard?”
[No, just annoying.]
This was a bit hard to accept, considering the power Apep had displayed, but Frey knew that ‘overpowered’ was a word that described Asura perfectly.
“…do you think you could defeat an Apocalypse in the Demon World?”
Asura shook his head at Frey’s words.
[I might be able to beat one, but it wouldn’t be an easy battle. That Apep guy couldn’t really do much in the Demon World since there is no day or night.]
“So you mean he wasn’t able to use the power of darkness properly?”
[That’s right. But he was pretty persistent.]
Asura observed Frey for a while before saying.
[I told that vampire chick before as well, I only agreed to do that kind of annoying thing one time.]
When Asura once again a.s.serted his stance, Frey couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
It would have been great if he was able to deal with the DemiG.o.ds without needing much effort, so he had wanted to ask Asura to do it a few more times.
[If that’s all, then I’m leaving.]
“…”
With those words, Asura disappeared.
Two hours later, Frey headed back to Cairo’s room. He was just on time as Diablo was already there when he arrived.
Cairo nodded to Frey and said.
“Everyone’s here. Should we discuss the operation briefly?”
“Sure.”
“According to what Frey told us, Hector is currently in Lufei, in the Luan.o.ble Kingdom.”
Frey and Diablo nodded.
“It’s not that far away, so we can head over there with a Warp spell. And if there is more than one DemiG.o.d guarding it, we will leave immediately.”
Cairo looked around.
“Because this is Paragon’s main hideout, there are numerous barriers surrounding it, so remember that the DemiG.o.ds would never be able to trace us if we return to this place.”
“Understood.”
“Then… let’s go.”
Frey nodded and unleashed his mana as he was the one who would be using the Warp spell. After all, he was the one who knew the coordinates for the back alley where Hector was located, so it was natural.
“Warp.”
Shuk.
In the next moment, their visions twisted, and their figures suddenly appeared above the back alley in Lufei.
Paht.
Frey immediately spread his mana and checked the surroundings.
“I don’t sense anyone.”
[Same here.]
“My side is okay, too. Looks like there aren’t any DemiG.o.ds here. As expected, they couldn’t afford to worry about it.”
Frey then pointed towards the stairs leading downwards.
“Hector is down there.”
“Good. Let’s head over immediately.”
Frey took the lead and headed towards the stairs.
As they headed down the dark staircase without bothering to use any lights, Cairo spoke in a heavy tone.
“…if I’ll be honest, Frey, I’m really happy right now.”
“Why are you happy?”
“Because we actually have an opportunity to save Hector. I always felt sorry for him, no, for the entire Dragon race. They used to be the most powerful together with the DemiG.o.ds, but now, their bodies were taken away and they’re being forced to do ch.o.r.es. They can’t get more unfortunate than that.”
“…”
“They were probably not even allowed to take their own lives. Every breath they take in such a life is like a day in h.e.l.l.”
Frey nodded.
For him, he’d always found the fall of his teacher, who was a mediator on the continent, and his race, who were the best allies against the DemiG.o.ds, to be very unfortunate.
Cairo then spoke with a firm tone.
“Let’s save him.”
Frey nodded again.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the stairs, and Hector’s general store came into view.
“Wait.”
Frey stopped walking. Then he put a finger to his lips.
He could hear voices coming from within the general store.
Was someone there?
“Huhu, huhuhuhuhu.”
“…?”
“This is paradise! Huhahaha!”
It was a silly voice.
And shortly after, he realised it was Hector’s voice.
Frey, Cairo and Diablo all turned to look into the store.
There, they saw Hector sprawled comfortably on a chair with a large smile on his face.
“Aeri, please give me a cookie.”
“Yes, Master.”
At Hector’s words, Aeri, the female Golem wearing a maid outfit, put a cookie in Hector’s mouth.
After chewing a few times, Hector lifted his thumb with a smile.
“Mm. It’s delicious. It seems you are getting better.”
“It’s an honour.”
“Could you get me some tea please? I’d love to have the tea I drank last time.”
“Yes. Please wait a moment.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
Hector then laughed happily and stretched his arms and legs out.
“Ah~ Life is so great I’m going cra-”
Then, his eyes fell upon Frey and the others who were standing at the door.
Only
“…”
“…”
Hector’s expression stiffened like a rock.
After a long period of silence, Cairo finally spoke with a heavy voice.
“…we’re here to save you, Hector.”
(TL: That last part is so funny, Cairo was getting all depressed and talking about Hector’s suffering, and how he’s gonna save him, but Hector’s actually living his best life. I died laughing.
I also like the fact that the author put a bit of comedy in here. There aren’t many scenes like this in the novel.)