Chapter 26.1
‘Done, it’s done!!’
It was a gamble of a lifetime.
I manipulated the magic that crumbled the opponent’s mind, as recorded in the grimoire.
To break the mental connection between Puppeteer and the doll.
‘Ha!! Ha!! It worked!! Hah, what does that Puppeteer know?! This Van is the best!’
Of course, the Dark Flame Dragon packaged my antics in a grand way.
“Foul and vile harbinger of evil, your place belongs in hell.”
…It was a bit over the top, but who cares?
I won!
“Master Van!! I believed in you! Truly, you’re destined to become a star in the magical realm! What will you do next? Everyone, let’s all pay homage to the greatness of Master Van! Oh, Lindon?!”
“H-Hail, Professor! Lo-Long live, long live, long live!!”
As Hans exaggerated and Lindon awkwardly joined in the cheers.
Suddenly, a twist of events occurred.
[Fufu, surely you don’t think it’s over like this?]
Eerie laughter.
A creepy shiver ran down the spine.
‘Surely not?’
Turning my gaze slowly, a breathtaking sight unfolded.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The fallen doll was reassembling itself.
It was a failure.
“…It’s over.”
I felt a dizzying sensation.
There was no way out anymore.
Just as despair was settling in, another twist occurred.
[…….]
Puff’s doll didn’t move.
It just stared at me silently.
5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds…
For over a minute.
Just as everyone began to exchange puzzled glances.
[…I suppose I should leave for today.]
“……??”
[Lucky, consider yourself fortunate. I won’t let it slide next time.]
Paaaf!
With swirling darkness, The Puppeteer’s doll disappeared.
I stared at the spot where the doll vanished with a bewildered expression.
‘Why did it just leave? Showing mercy?’
It didn’t seem like that.
On the contrary.
‘…Just now, wasn’t that line from the puppeteer typical of a defeated villain running away from the game?’
I made an awkward face.
‘Nah, it can’t be. The Puppeteer running away?’
Anyway, since I survived, it’s all good.
A congratulatory message popped up.
You have ‘repelled’ Puff’s doll!
Your fame is rising!
The disdainful gazes towards you are easing among some people!
As if to confirm that message, cheers echoed.
Those who barely escaped with their lives were the ones shouting.
“Waaaah!! Hail Master Van!!”
“Thanks to Master Van, we’re alive!!”
“Master Van? I’m a reporter from Gossip Daily! The puppet was so impressed by Master Van’s courage that he retreated. Could you please share your thoughts on this?!”
It wasn’t just them.
As the Puppeteer’s barrier disappeared, the military forces from the guard arrived outside.
“Dark sorcerers?!”
“So, Master Van’s report was true?!”
“Abyss Puppet appeared?”
“But the puppet retreated, impressed by Master Van’s courage?!”
“Master Van’s courage that even impressed the puppet! Please share a few words about it!!”
And so, with the commotion, the events of that day came to a close.
However, a lingering message remained.
You have achieved an impossible miracle!
Some ‘Transcendents’ are now aware of your existence for the first time!
* * *
At that moment.
In a decaying city far from the free city.
It was a shabby attic.
Filled with numerous dolls.
In the midst of the doll forest, a little boy sat.
He had a cute appearance, but his eyes were endlessly eerie.
Eyes filled with crimson, without a trace of whites.
Just like the ‘doll’ that appeared in front of Van earlier.
That’s right.
The true identity of this boy was none other than the Puppeteer!
A 7th star rank Master-level dark sorcerer.
However, the boy’s condition was peculiar.
Thunk!!
Fresh blood poured out.
And not just a little.
Visible injuries that looked unsettling.
“Van…!! How dare you!! Defy me!!”
An astonishing twist.
The reason the Puppeteer ended up like this was because of Van!
In reality, Puff originally intended to kill Van.
However, Van’s maneuver in the grimoire went beyond simply severing the connection of the doll.
It dealt a significant blow to Puff’s main body, forcing him to retreat unavoidably.
What’s even more serious is that this isn’t just a simple injury.
“How did you get me? Aghhh!!”
The Puppeteer moved his hand.
But the dolls lying on the floor didn’t budge.
Whatever Van did, the mental connection with the dolls was severed.
The origin of doll magic took a serious hit.
In an instant, Van’s face came to mind.
You’re a coward.
Profoundly arrogant.
A gaze that makes you feel like you’re beneath contempt.
“Don’t mock me. I am the Abyss Puppet. The great Puppeteer… Ughh!!”
The Puppeteer’s eyes, once again pouring blood, glared eerily.
“I will never forget this, Van. Never!!”
And so.
In a place unknown to Van, a dangerous spark began to grow.
* * *
The events of that day caused quite a stir.
Especially because the association linked to the Rapalt Duchy turned out to be a group of dark sorcerers.
And to top it off, the infamous Abyss Puppet made an appearance.
This gossip coincided with the recent incident where Valic became a warlock, creating quite a buzz.
Is it true that the Rapalt Duchy and dark sorcerers have formed an alliance?
I clicked my tongue.
‘If I want to rectify this, I’ll have to go through some trouble.’
I, too, was facing challenges from a different angle.
I received commendations from the guard.
“Let’s give a round of applause to Master Van for his great achievement!!”
Clap, clap, clap.
The knights of the guard applauded.
“Here, please accept this. It’s your commendation.”
In recognition of the great deeds of Van Ecclesia.
I inwardly cringed at the grandiose statement.
‘Do I really need this commendation?’
Quietly, I became a professor to quietly reap the benefits.
But it seemed like I was attracting unnecessary attention even before becoming a professor.
‘The wording on the commendation is also unpleasant.’
At the end of the statement praising my deeds, the commendation had the following content:
Henceforth, the guard declares you as an eternal ally.
Ally? What’s that supposed to mean?
An ally fights alongside you.
In other words, if the guard is my ally, I should also fight against their enemies.
…Of course, it’s just a formal phrase with no real obligation, but I didn’t like it.
‘They only give a measly reward of 500 penas. Is this a joke to all of you guys?’
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