The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 1 Chapter 103

At those words, the Demigods, including Riki, began entering the castle.

Frey was reluctant to face Lord.

However, some Apostles were already waiting in the castle, so he had no choice but to follow Riki.

[It's a little chilly.]

Lord mumbled quietly to himself before shaking his hand.

Then, the broken wall was restored as if time itself had been reversed.

It was a process that could not be explained with the laws of nature. However, the Demigods present seemed to be used to such things as they showed no reaction.

There was a new Apostle in the castle, who was also wearing a mask.

'When did they get here?'

Except for Agni, the other Apocalypses had not brought their Apostles.

Was that person Lord's Apostle?

Just like himself and Agni's Apostle, this person wore a large robe, which not only hid their appearance but even information about their sex and age.

As Frey thought this, Riki turned to Lord and said.

“It's been a while.”

[Riki, my oldest brother. Have you been well?]

“I have.”

[That's good.]

Lord laughed happily.

Riki kept looking at Lord for a while before opening his mouth once again.

“May I ask what it is you've been doing all this while?”

[It was very important. Of course, you'll find out right now. Leyrin.]

Lord gestured to Leyrin, who smiled and took something from her pocket.

It was a metal ingot.

[Illuminium]

“This is the first time I've heard of this.”

[That's to be expected. After all, it's a metal we discovered and named personally.”

Riki felt a bit anxious.

It seemed the other Demigods knew about this metal already.

Only Riki and Agni were making expressions to show that they hadn't heard of it before.

Leyrin touched the metal before saying.

“At first glance, it's a simple metal without any special properties. It's not that strong, and it does not conduct divine power very well. But.”

Then a shocking sight unfolded.

Leyrin ripped off a small piece of metal with her finger and put it in her mouth.

Crunch crunch.

The piece was about the size of a knuckle, and even if it wasn't hard, per se, it was still a metal.

Even a Drake, which was known for its strong jaws and sharp teeth, would be left with a bloody mouth if it tried the same thing.

Nevertheless, Leyrin moved her jaws as though she was just munching a cookie before swallowing it.

Huk.

Then, at that moment, Riki felt the divine power in Leyrin's body disappear.

“What do you think? Doesn't it feel like my divine power has disappeared?”

“It does.”

“But it's still the same.”

Whoosh.

A small whirlwind formed above Leyrin's hand.

It was clear that her divine power was just as powerful as before.

Nevertheless, it couldn't be felt at all.

Riki's expression stiffened.

“…did you conceal it?”

“Do you think I'd deceive you? You're still too behind the times.”

Leyrin was smug.

Riki looked at her strangely.

“How?

“The power of Illuminium. It's an alloy I created, but I originally made it to conceal our divine power. I was tired of those Circle bastards following me around. But it ended up being more effective than I predicted.”

Leyrin didn't hold back her laughter.

“Just by eating a bit of metal, you could kill as many mortals as you want for a certain period without having to worry about punishment. In other words, we can deceive god's laws.”

“…!”

“Well. It only lasts a few minutes at best, and the more you use divine power, the shorter the duration, but it's better than nothing, right?”

If this was true, then this was catastrophic news for all races on the continent who opposed the Demigods.

Behind the mask, Frey's face was harder than stone.

Only then did he understand why Nozdog had been able to annihilate the Black Dragon Knights without worry.

“Can the metal be produced indefinitely?”

Riki casually pointed out a very important point.

Frey paid close attention to what Leyrin said next.

If this metal could be mass produced, then it wouldn't take more than a few years for the entire continent to completely fall into the Demigods' hands.

“It would be great if I could, but the production process is so complicated that it's no joke. The ingredients are also difficult to acquire. So for now, we need to use it sparingly.”

After saying that, Leyrin threw the Illuminium in her hand to Riki.

“Cut it into small pieces and eat it. I'm also considering making it into a liquid, but I'll have to wait to do research, or our supply might run out.”

“…”

Riki put away the ingot silently.

Nozdog narrowed his eyes.

[You don't look very happy, Riki.]

“…”

[This is an opportunity to destroy the insects that have been troubling us for so long. Aren't you excited?]

“I'm not interested.”

[…You've always said that. No. Not always.]

Nozdog swayed slightly.

[Did you know? Ever since you destroyed Icollium 4,000 years ago, you've been acting very strangely.]

Frey was once again grateful that he was wearing a mask since it was almost impossible for him to conceal the flash of surprise that appeared on his face.

Icollium was Lucid's birthplace.

Was Riki the one who destroyed it?

[The Sword King Lucid met his end together with his country.]

Hruhiral's words once again resounded in Frey's mind.

Then didn't that mean that Riki, the one who destroyed Icollium, was also the one who killed Lucid?

“4,000 years have already passed, Nozdog. That's enough time for things to change.”

[Stop saying disgusting things. Change is something only imperfect beings experience. It doesn't apply to beings like us, who are perfect from birth.]

“I don't think we are perfect.”

[…]

At those words, a terrifying aura suddenly billowed out.

Nozdog had released his full power.

Clear suspicion was visible in his gaze. (TL: aren't his eyes just fire?)

Frey felt a little frustrated by Riki's attitude.

He didn't understand why he was using words and actions that could cause conflict with Nozdog when it was better to lay low.

“Kukuku… come to think of it.”

It was Ananta who began speaking with a grim smile.

His smile made his heavily wrinkled face look even worse as he said.

“Hydra's dead.”

“Huh? Really?”

Leyrin tilted her head since it was the first time she was hearing this news.

It was the same for the others.

Agni spoke bluntly.

“Why are you only saying this now?”

“I only just found out.”

Ananta locked gazes with Riki.

'They're suspicious.'

Riki was convinced at that moment.

Even if the others didn't think the same, these two suspected him.

However, he wasn't too surprised by this. After all, he had done too many suspicious things.

It was clear that they weren't yet certain, but the current atmosphere was already bad.

There was a chance that their suspicion might spread to Agni and Leyrin.

It was then.

[Nozdog, Ananta.]

At Lord's quiet words, Nozdog and Ananta shivered before turning to look at him.

Suddenly, a mouth appeared on Lord's previously featureless face.

As if something that had been buried in a snowfield finally revealed itself, Lord smiled, revealing white teeth.

[What are you doing to your brother?]

[…I'm sorry.]

“I was too hasty.”

The two proud Demigods immediately apologised.

Lord's mouth disappeared again.

This time, he turned to Riki.

[Please understand, Riki. This is proof of how unusual our current situation is.]

“I know.”

Riki responded bluntly, and Nozdog felt angered inwardly by that fact.

'It's so different.'

It was different.

Apocalypse.

That was the term the Circle used to describe the five Demigods gathered here, but Nozdog was the only one who knew that unlike them, Riki was not pressured at all by Lord.

He could guess why.

Lord was the first to separate from the enormous body of energy known as the laws of the world.

And the next Demigod to emerge with self consciousness was Riki.

For this reason, there was a relationship between Lord and Riki that they could not even wish to interfere with.

In fact, there were several instances where Lord was soft to Riki when he would normally be brutal to others.

The Demigods here all controlled large cities or even small countries from the shadows.

And even if they didn't have total control, it was certain that they had some amount of influence.

But this country, Luanoble, was supposed to be completely dominated by Riki.

But Riki didn't do it.

Instead, he built a hut in the woods and started living like a hermit.

It was like blatantly throwing away his responsibility.

But Lord did not reprimand him at all.

Nozdog couldn't understand that.

Riki opened his mouth with a calm expression.

“Let's get down to business. Didn't you call this meeting to find the traitor?”

[Right. But not all the Demigods have arrived yet, so we'll wait a bit longer. Why don't we share a little secret?]

“A secret?”

[Let's reveal our Apostles to each other.]

“…Lord, are you serious?”

It wasn't unreasonable for Leyrin to ask this question with such a strange tone.

She didn't doubt Riki like Ananta and Nozdog did.

She wasn't raising her hand to say one of the people here was the traitor.

Nevertheless, there was still a possibility.

If there really was a traitor among the people gathered here, then revealing the identity of their Apostles was very risky.

[You might be reluctant. I completely understand. It's okay, no need to worry about it.]

As he said this, Lord's voice was very quiet.

He told them not to worry, and he also hadn't given them a reason, but Leyrin's expression softened at his words.

The same was true for the others.

Only Riki's expression remained the same.

[Since I'm the one who brought it up, I'll show you mine first.]

Just as Lord laughed and said this, he was interrupted.

“Wait.”

[What is it, Agni?]

“Lord, I don't think you should reveal your Apostle.”

[Hmmm.]

Lord paused for a moment before saying.

“You are the core of the Demigods. If there really is a traitor here, then your Apostle would be the one they care about the most.”

How accurate.

This thought flashed through Riki's mind, but he didn't show it.

Somehow, Lord managed to show an awkward expression.

[Then I'd be the only one who wouldn't reveal my Apostle, wouldn't I? I'm the one who brought it up, but it has become such a funny situation.]

Lord's head dropped down for a moment before he said.

[If you all agree with Agni's opinion, then I won't reveal mine.]

Riki almost sighed.

It was clear that he had predicted this situation since he was the one who brought it up in the first place.

“I agree.”

Only

“I concur.”

[I am in agreement.]

“Agreed.”

The other four all nodded. Then, as if planned beforehand, they all turned to look at Riki.

“I don't care, but.”

Riki turned to look at Lord.

“If you don't reveal your Apostle, then I won't, either.”

Chapter end