ALL NOVEL Chapter 43 : The beginning of complexity.
"Bastard! Release me!"
Murta resisted, moving randomly in an attempt to break free, but it was in vain. On the other side, Alice observed Murta's futile struggles and then began to squat.
Alice then removed her mask, and Murta was surprised to see Alice's true face. But before Murta could speak, Alice spoke first.
"Look into my eyes!"
Murta's eyes suddenly turned red after meeting Alice's gaze. Meanwhile, Murta was trapped in his subconscious.
In the subconscious, Murta felt bound to a pole, a giant spike above his head ready to crush him if he made a mistake. Two rectangular iron structures on each side of his body were set to clamp and crush him. In front of Murta, a white figure with red eyes resembled a humanoid formed by mist.
"I won't repeat my question. If you answer honestly, that's good. If you lie, then..."
The white figure pointed towards the giant spike and the two giant irons, signaling that Murta would face torture if he lied.
[Ultimate Skill: Subconscious Control.]
Terrified, Murta envisioned the giant spike instantly crushing his head and body. The thought made him nauseous and wanting to vomit. He couldn't distinguish whether this was the subconscious or the real world.
But Murta's awareness in his subconscious slowly faded. His expression turned blank, devoid of hope.
The interrogating white figure was Alice, an illusion infiltrating Murta's subconscious.
"So, what's your purpose in collecting human hearts?"
"To resurrect the demon named Sorrorath."
"Sorrorath? I've never heard of him. Is he powerful?"
"According to legend, he's one of the powerful demon subordinates of the Demon God, Poxiranha. His original power can destroy a small country."
"Demon God? Isn't Sorrorath from this world?"
"Yes, many demons are sealed in hell and need a way to summon them."
Alice pondered again.
(Isn't there a demon country on the map under the leadership of the Demon Lord?)
"Why is there a Demon Country when demons are in hell?"
"I don't know much about it, but demons are divided into two: World Demon and Hell Demon."
"What's the difference between these two types of demons?"
"I don't know much; according to cult teachings, World Demons are the lowest caste."
Alice nodded, intrigued by the mysteries of the world. She suddenly remembered that a victim would die if she revealed a secret—a plot point from a story she read before reincarnation.
"Will you die if you disclose cult information?"
"If I reveal cult secrets, I'll die tragically."
"Alright, I won't ask about that."
Alice's intuition proved right. Though uncertain if Murta's answers were truth or lies, it seemed like the truth.
"Why are demons sealed in hell?"
"I don't know, as I'm not entitled to know the history of it."
Another scenario crossed Alice's mind, fueling her curiosity.
(Was there a war between angels and demons leading to demons being sealed in hell? But if demons are sealed in hell, how is there a demon country led by a Demon Lord?)
Alice was intrigued by the cult but decided to focus on capturing Murta for the knight's office and the reward. She asked more questions.
"If you successfully summon Sorrorath, what will you do?"
"........."
No answer from Murta annoyed Alice, but she tried to calm herself.
"Is it related to the cult?"
"Yes."
"Does summoning Sorrorath with the nine hearts fully unleash his power?"
"No, only a small fraction. If Sorrorath's power is an ocean, I'll just be getting a glass of water."
"What's the connection between Demon Lord and Demon God?"
"I don't know."
Alice pondered again, and numerous questions filled her mind.
(Does the Demon Lord have a connection with the Demon God?)
(Are they two distinct entities?)
(My intuition says the Demon God is at level 150, with power equivalent to or exceeding powerful Mythical Monsters.)
(But I'm not sure; it's just a feeling.)
(Seems like there's nothing more I can ask.)
Alice then vanished into Murta's subconscious.
Back in the real world, Murta was now unconscious after Alice entered his subconscious, even rendering him unconscious within his subconscious. Alice simply stared at the unconscious and bound Murta.
"Fascinating information; it seems this world holds many intriguing secrets."
In short, Alice dragged Murta to the Knight's Office, arriving in the late afternoon. The soldiers were astonished to see Alice bringing in a notoriously difficult-to-capture fugitive. Before reaching the Knight's Office, Alice also dragged Murta through the city's main street, displaying herself as a savior.
"S-Sir, is that the heart hunter fugitive you have there?"
A soldier approached Alice, asking.
"Yes, indeed."
The soldier was surprised and immediately showed respect to Alice for capturing such a challenging fugitive.
"P-Please, come in."
In brief, Alice entered the Knight's Office, answered several questions, and received a reward of 15 gold coins.
Now, Alice was outside the Knight's Office. Dragging a high-class fugitive through the city made her the talk of the town, earning her the nickname "White Masked Hero."
"White Masked Hero, c-can you capture more fugitives?"
A soldier asked Alice. Alice thought for a moment.
(Playing the hero seems quite enjoyable.)
"Of course, I'll start doing that from tomorrow."
"T-Thank you, sir."
The soldier bowed respectfully. Alice then left the Knight's Office.
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Knight's Headquarters, Arclens City, Marquess Reinhard Territory, Igrasian Empire.
Currently, a man with shoulder-length grayish hair sat, contemplating. His face appeared aged, around sixty, but his body looked sturdy, akin to someone in their thirties. He was the head of the knights in Arclens City, named Ashrald.
"Arthur, the person who effortlessly brought in the heart hunter, even dragging the fugitive through the city."
Alice's alias since arriving in Arclens City was a wanderer named Arthur, effectively disguising herself as a man. Despite lacking a gender, Alice leaned towards a feminine appearance.
"I'd like to recruit them into the military, but it seems they're not interested."
Someone knocked on the door, interrupting Ashrald's thoughts.
"Come in."
A young man with glasses entered the knight's headquarters, carrying some documents.
"Sir, Princess Ivy's subordinates, Mikami-sama and Rufus-sama, will arrive tomorrow morning."
"Alright, we should prepare a small welcoming event for them."
"Understood, sir! I suggest a simple and uncomplicated food menu."
"I agree, just proceed."
"Then, is there anything else I should do, sir?"
"Investigate someone named Arthur or the alias 'White Masked Hero,' background, origin, and the like."
"Alright, sir!"
"Okay, you may go."
The young man with glasses then bowed briefly before leaving the room. Ashrald leaned back in his chair, contemplating a few things, his hand running through his shoulder-length hair.
"The empire's situation will become unstable without a leader soon. The kingdoms in the west and east will pose a significant danger to the empire."
"I hope this empire endures for a long time, at least until my time is over."
Ashrald then stood from his chair, walking to stand in front of the window. From there, he could see the beautiful evening cityscape, as his room was on the second floor.
"I don't know why my instincts tell me something is about to happen in this city."
"White Masked Hero, if they join the knights, it would be a considerable force."
"May nothing bad happen."
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Arclens City Gate, June 27, 06:00 AM.
Two men were seen riding white horses. One had a sizable build, while the other had a normal-sized physique and wore glasses. Both donned similar white robes with golden edges. Their clothing was black, complemented by gloves and boot-like shoes.
Having just arrived in Arclens after a long journey, the residents, who were just starting their morning activities, focused their attention on the two men. They were Mikami and Rufus, Princess Ivy's envoys to find the leader of this region, Marquess Reinhard.
As many people were still asleep and the city was relatively quiet, the atmosphere seemed a bit deserted, but those who were already active were fortunate to catch a glimpse.
Mikami and Rufus decided to inspect the condition of the city wall, which had been destroyed by a mysterious explosion in the Abyssal Forest.
"Destroyed."
Mikami was visibly impressed, imagining the destructive power of the explosion. The houses around the city wall had also suffered, resulting in casualties due to collapsing structures.
"Yes, this is a power beyond logic."
Shortly after, an old man on a brown horse approached Mikami and Rufus. He was Arshald, the head of the knights in Arclens City.
"I apologize for my tardiness, Mikami-sama, Rufus-sama," Arshald bowed his head in apology for being late.
"Are you the head of the knights in this city?" Rufus asked Arshald.
Meanwhile, Mikami remained focused on the wall and the ruins, observing some residents beginning to rebuild their homes.
Arshald, upon hearing Rufus's question, promptly responded with enthusiasm.
"Yes, I am the head of the knights in this city, Arshald."
Rufus then approached Arshald, and they shook hands.
"We are envoys from Princess Ivy. Our goal is to meet Marquess Reinhard, along with some other activities."
"Alright, I won't inquire further."
"How many casualties resulted from this explosion, and how extensive was the blast?"
"Well, the death toll from this explosion is around 49 people, with approximately 167 wounded and dozens of houses destroyed."
"I see, but why do some houses just a few meters from here seem to have no damage? It's as if the explosion had a boundary."
Rufus gazed at several undamaged buildings not far away, finding it peculiar.
"I also don't know. According to many victims, what destroyed entire buildings wasn't the explosion itself but the shockwave generated by it."
"I suspected as much, continue."
"Yes, but as far as I know, shockwaves from explosions or magical detonations typically propagate quite far, and the farther they go, the lower their frequency becomes."
"However, strangely, this shockwave was very intense but stopped at a certain point and vanished instantly, turning into a mere gust of wind."
"I see, did you mark the location where the shockwave stopped?"
"Yes, the knights and citizens collectively named that line the 'God's Line.' The plan is to allocate structures outside the God's Line for defense, and the affected residents will be relocated to a safer area."
"Good information, thank you."
"Were you affected by this shockwave?"
"At that time, Princess Ivy and I had just finished a party, and an explosion occurred from the direction of the Abyssal Forest. We only felt a strong wind, but many buildings remained undamaged."
"I see, so the wind reached that far."
"Yes, that's correct. How about the survivors?"
"About 30% of the victims managed to survive, but they experienced severe trauma. Do you have plans to send an investigative team to the Abyssal Forest?"
"There's a possibility. If the shockwave reached this far, Lumeria Kingdom should have also been affected."
"I agree."
Suddenly, Arshald remembered his task to invite Mikami and Rufus to a welcoming party and breakfast in about two hours.
"Oh yes, Mikami-sama and Rufus-sama, we have prepared a simple welcoming party that will be held in two hours. I hope you can come to the knight's office to attend the welcoming party."
"Alright. Mikami, what are your thoughts on this incident?"
"Well, the force of the explosion—no, the shockwave—was so strong that it destroyed one of the cities with the strongest walls in the Igrasian Empire."
"Indeed, it's truly terrifying."
"Oh, Arshald, I heard from the guards that there's someone called the White Masked Hero who successfully captured a serial killer in this city."
"Yes, that's correct, Mikami-sama."
"Why haven't you recruited him?"
"I'm trying to."
"Good, then escort us to the resting place."
"Alright."
The three of them then continued their journey, accompanied by several knights. Many citizens were enthusiastic and curious to catch a glimpse of Princess Ivy's trusted individuals.
"Rufus, I think we should meet this person; my instinct tells me they're someone special."
"True, but let's deal with our matters first."
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On the other side, Alice was currently sitting in a cafe. It was still very early, but Alice couldn't wait to savor the cuisine of the Igrasian Empire. According to Alice, food was a necessity that could alleviate stress and serve as a potent calming remedy.
Facing Alice, Arina, and Clarissa were also seated. They all shared a table, although there was a sense of discomfort and pride within Arina and Clarissa. They didn't deserve to sit at the same table as Alice, but on the other hand, they were quite proud.
The atmosphere seemed awkward, but Alice appeared very relaxed. Several plates of food were on the table, and Alice was leisurely enjoying her meal.
While eating, Alice initiated a conversation.
"I've got information that the child of the noble owner of this city is sick."
"I suggest Alice-sama take advantage of that opportunity to gain some benefits," Arina offered advice.
Alice thought for a moment while enjoying her meal.
"Yes, it seems like something worth exploiting, but I want to finish my food first."
"I understand, Alice-sama."
Suddenly, Alice turned her gaze towards the street as she saw two people riding white horses. The two individuals possessed much greater strength than ordinary people, a fact that Alice could sense.
However, such strength couldn't compare to Alice's. Alice observed the two individuals accompanied by a considerable number of knights.
"Alice-sama, it seems they are important individuals, possibly from the capital of the empire."
"Hmmmm... It does seem that way, but I'm not too concerned. Clarissa, do you know about those two?"
"Mmmmh.. yes, I know. Those two are Princess Ivy's trusted individuals. I don't have the details, only basic information."
"I see. What if I were to kill them?"
"Ehhh!!?? I'm sorry, Alice-sama, but it would likely lead to chaos. Princess Ivy might blame the city's noble, causing an unnecessary conflict."
"Hahahaha, I'm just kidding."
The three of them then continued their conversation until they finished their meal.
===================
June 28, 09:00 AM.
Mikami and Rufus were seen meeting Marquess Reinhard in a rather luxurious room. Before starting their meeting, they shook hands, and then finally took their seats.
"How is your child?"
Rufus asked while looking at Marquess Reinhard, who had a calm expression, and Rufus sensed something peculiar.
On the other hand, Mikami just observed that he wasn't skilled in conversation, but he excelled in combat.
"Are you here to offer a cure for my child?"
Marquess Reinhard asked casually while sipping a cup of tea, and his expression remained very calm.
"Yes, and we offer financial aid for repairing the severely damaged outskirts of the city,"
Rufus confirmed Marquess Reinhard's statement.
"Even the palace physicians and magicians couldn't heal my child, but my child is now cured, no need to worry,"
Instantly, Mikami and Rufus' expressions changed to one of great surprise because, according to reports, Marquess Reinhard's child was still sick yesterday.
A question formed in Rufus's mind.
(How could they recover overnight?)
