The ancient-looking mirror Adler held aloft began to radiate light. Mist flowed across its surface, and then an image appeared within.
It was something I had never seen before, even after having encountered countless Treasure Weapons.
"I don't recognize this at all... Klein."
Citry murmured in a low voice. But my eyes were completely captivated by the mirror Adler held.
What the mirror displayed was a pitch-black altar. Strange, ominous carvings covered every surface—a profane altar that made one's heart quail just from looking at it. Above it, something resembling black mist swirled in a vortex.
Lapis held her breath, stared intently at the mirror, and said: "This is... could it be? The World Tree—the innermost depths of the Source Temple?"
"The 'Mirror of Manifestation' reflects whatever its bearer seeks."
Adler said it as though it were nothing.
A mirror that showed whatever the user desired. Even I, who had encountered all manner of Treasure Weapons as a collector, had never known of such a thing.
There might be some kind of restriction, but if the performance was as stated, this was an item beyond price. Merchants, knights, hunters—everyone would covet it, and a bloody war would surely erupt.
In terms of utility, it was probably on par with Mimi-kun. These days, encountering a powerful Treasure Weapon was said to be a sign of heroic potential. The ability to subjugate Monsters alone was terrifying enough—yet she possessed a Treasure Weapon of this caliber as well...
Adler's apprenticeship had been half-coerced.
Without any allies and facing the terrifying Thief known as the Mourning Specter, I'd had no choice but to comply when threatened. But to think she had this hidden card up her sleeve besides an army of Monsters...
"Uno, what do you think?"
Adler addressed the girl standing behind her.
When she'd asked to become my apprentice, she'd had the members introduce themselves.
Uno. Uno Silver, a Holy Spirit Wielder. The girl who had used advanced disguise to steal my escort from under my nose now stared at the mirror with eyes opened as wide as they would go, transfixed, and spoke in a trembling voice: "Incredible Mana Material—a torrent of power, I can see it. Terrifying—this concentration of Mana Material, so powerful... I've never seen anything like it."
"!! A human... you can see Mana Material?"
"Uno's eyes are special."
"Farsight and the ability to perceive Mana Material... the things I was lacking... have all come together."
A Treasure Weapon plus special eyes. It seemed accepting Adler and her crew's demands had been the right call.
We needed to deal with a god, so the more members, the better. The fact that they were Thieves was a problem, but... well, I'd worry about that later.
I turned to the last person standing behind Adler.
A black-haired young man about my same age. Same height as me, but with sharp eyes and a lean, hardened physique.
One of the Thousand Demons' March. General Quint Gento—the swordsman Riz had supposedly defeated in our first encounter.
I gave a small cough and addressed the silent Quint.
"So, what can you do?"
"Ugh... shut up."
Ah, okay. Sorry about that.
He glared at me and positioned himself next to Adler as though shoving past me. Apparently he couldn't do anything.
I wasn't going to hold it against him... I was the same way, after all.
Still, even if he said he couldn't do anything, according to Riz's assessment, Quint was a swordsman of considerable ability.
The fact that he had fought through that swarm of Phantoms and survived spoke for itself. If Luke were here, he would have been delighted to spar with him... Good thing he wasn't. In battle, Quint would surely prove useful.
That said, with him standing there, I couldn't see the mirror... but this really wasn't the right atmosphere to bring that up. Well, even if I looked, I probably wouldn't understand anything anyway.
Just as I let a self-deprecating smile cross my face and glanced downward with a small sigh, Adler let out a sharp gasp.
"This—this is—!"
Even someone like me, who had been looking away, could clearly perceive the change.
Everyone's expressions shifted. An indescribable pressure filled the room.
Lapis and the others, who had been standing around watching the mirror, retreated warily.
Then, a small, crisp sound.
The light emanating from the mirror vanished. The frozen atmosphere returned to normal.
Uno staggered and sank to her knees. Adler roughly set the mirror down on the table.
Adler's face had gone white. Her pupils were blown wide open. As if she had broken into a cold sweat in those few seconds, her entire body was now drenched.
What had happened? I had no idea what was going on and could only blink, when Adler spoke in a voice that trembled ever so slightly: "Well, that's that... We've been seen. To think the 'Mirror of Manifestation' would notice our farsight... No, that's not it. I was too careless. I don't know how, but even a human could do it—that man over there could do it. So of course a god wouldn't be unable to."
The mirror, which had been aged but intact moments ago, now bore a large crack.
"That... is our enemy, then. There was no hostility... but—hmph."
"For such a... complete manifestation... for there to already be consciousness..."
Even Lapis, who never lost her composure, had hair sticking to her forehead with sweat. Selen looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
We'd been seen by the god. It seemed I was the only one who hadn't been looking at the mirror.
Even Riz and the others—high-level Hunters who had conquered numerous Treasure Halls and cheated death on countless occasions—wore expressions grimmer than I had ever seen.
I was fortunate not to have witnessed it, but somehow I felt thoroughly left behind.
Everyone was speechless. I waited a while, but no one seemed inclined to open their mouth. Resigned, I gave a small cough and broke the silence.
"Well... that was pretty intense."
"W-weakling! You saw that and that's your reaction!? Yes! Your expression hasn't changed at all, yes!"
"Huh...?"
Though her tone was no different from usual, Cruss was clearly haggard as well. Her breathing was ragged, and her cheeks looked noticeably thinner. It was similar to the reaction she'd had when we visited the Wandering Inn.
Lucia, having steadied her breathing, spoke in a strained voice: "It resembles a... spiritual contamination attack. That it only went this far is a blessing. If an ordinary person had been affected... they might not have retained their sanity."
"This is... somewhat beyond what I had anticipated. We've been fully identified. It may be too late, but I would advise against looking at the god through that mirror again... What shall we do, Klein?"
Citry was taking deep breaths to calm herself.
She was capable, but among the Mourning Specters, her combat ability was on the lower end. That was precisely why she excelled at reading situations. The brain of the Mourning Specter was no idle title.
All eyes turned to me. Looking around more carefully, I could see everyone was in a similar state.
Anthem was the only one I couldn't read through his armor, but just being seen through a Treasure Weapon—a high-level Hunter affected to this degree... I really was sorry I'd been the only one who hadn't properly looked at the mirror. Normally you wouldn't just avert your gaze like that...
I touched the cracked mirror and lifted it. The fractured surface quietly reflected my own dismal face.
Treasure Weapons were reconstructions of the past made from Mana Material—not substances of this world. They were sturdy and practically indestructible, but if they were damaged to the point of losing their power, they would vanish without a trace.
This was the first I'd heard of this particular Treasure Weapon, but the 'Mirror of Manifestation' should be no different. That only a crack had formed was a blessing in disguise.
Where had she obtained it? From what era did this Treasure Weapon originate? As a Treasure Weapon collector, I was curious about any unknown weapon. I definitely wanted to hear all about it later.
I nodded firmly, smiled, and looked at Citry.
"All right, it's still usable. Citry, what's next with the plan?"
At my words, Citry's eyes went wide for an instant, and she answered with her gaze slightly averted: "...Indeed. Perhaps... this time, it might be better for Klein to take command rather than myself. If my theory is correct, that god's Phantom—while not at full power—already possesses considerable strength. At the very least, it has consciousness... intelligence. I may be insufficient for this—"
I widened my eyes at the expression on the face of Citry the Alchemist—one I hadn't seen since she had achieved greatness in her craft. She had been so confident about the things she wanted to test, but it seemed the god glimpsed through the mirror had left an even greater impact.
But asking me to take command would be tantamount to suicide. If the enemy was powerful enough to overwhelm even Citry's plan, what hope was there under my leadership?
I had to convince Citry to take charge somehow.
I'd been silent for a while, but I couldn't think of a convincing argument. At the very least, I'd try to encourage her.
"...Well, if anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility and grovel on your behalf, so just give it a try. Not to brag, but my groveling is effective even against gods."
Most likely, this particular opponent had never been groveled to—only prayed to. I'd proven that much at the Wandering Inn.
Of course, ideally I'd want to escape before reaching that point, but if the worst came to worst, I would grovel without hesitation.
Whether my reluctance to lead had come through, Citry's eyes widened briefly at my words, but she took a deep breath and slapped both her cheeks with her hands.
"...I can't let Klein grovel on my behalf. Besides, now that everyone has been gathered this way, I can't very well say I can't do it."
"Right, right. I'll help if anything comes up, so do your best. And if it looks hopeless, let me know sooner rather than later."
It would take time to go fetch Ark as well.
A tense smile formed at the corners of her lips. Her voice was bright, but slightly forced.
Still, Citry was undeniably a top-tier Hunter who had been through countless life-or-death situations. She would manage.
Citry sat back down, gave a small cough, and resumed her explanation of the plan.
"I would like to entrust the Ley Line investigation to my sister, Elisa, and the members of the Thousand Demons' March. The god has now identified us. Our danger level has increased, but fortunately, with Adler's 'Mirror of Manifestation,' we can survey the Ley Lines without going to the site in person. And since we have Uno, who can perceive Mana Material, I can add Selen to my group. While the investigation team conducts their survey, I will work on calculations and preparations. If we have Yggdra's knowledge regarding Mana Material, the success rate of our plan will improve even further."
"Tch... A damn Thief with a dangerous Treasure Weapon. When this is all over, hand it over to Klein-chan."
Riz's voice dripped with undisguised irritation. She probably resented having to cooperate with someone she'd once fought against.
Treasure Hunters perceived things through all five senses, but visual information remained the most important. Adler's 'Mirror of Manifestation' was a powerful Treasure Weapon that could, depending on the situation, serve as a substitute for a scout all on its own. It could also be misused.
I myself possessed hundreds of Treasure Weapons, yet I didn't have a single one with the same function—or even a similar one. Not even Lucia's magic could replicate it.
Adler furrowed her brow at Riz's words and said with a displeased expression: "Treasure Weapon... Treasure Weapon, you say. Don't go reducing the 'Mirror of Manifestation' to just another Treasure Weapon. It's the same as that treasure chest your leader totes around, isn't it?"
"Huh? Oh, you mean Mimi-kun... Well, I suppose the 'Mirror of Manifestation' might indeed be on par with Mimi-kun."
Apparently Mimi-kun had been seen as well. I had wanted to keep Mimi-kun's extraordinary power hidden as much as possible, but there was nothing I could do against farsight.
She was right, though. The Mirror of Manifestation and Mimi-kun alike were not mere Treasure Weapons.
...They were dangerous Treasure Weapons.
Come to think of it, mirror-type Treasure Weapons tended to carry quite dangerous abilities in general...
Then, as if struck by something in my words, Adler fixed me with a piercing glare and spoke in a stern voice: "Let me be clear so there's no misunderstanding. Thousand Transformations—I'll follow your lead this time. After all, we're the ones who asked... but that doesn't mean I see you as my superior. You're certainly capable. You're the first equal I've found who's truly like me. But your Mimi-kun? Impressive as it is, my 'Mirror of Manifestation' is no less so."
"Ah... right."
Questions poured forth without end.
Was this woman perhaps a little confused about the meaning of apprenticeship? Her attitude wasn't exactly befitting of a disciple toward a master. And... what did she mean by "like me"?
Even I felt a small shock at being called "like" by a Thief... On top of that, I had no idea what she even wanted out of being my apprentice.
She'd said something about wanting to witness my abilities up close—should I just grovel for her?
Even when surrounded by Hunters she had once fought, Adler remained combative, and Uno rushed to mediate: "Now, now, Adler. Let's keep things peaceful this time—Klein seems to be a bit ahead of us, so..."
Right, right, I know. When your Party has strong personalities, it's a handful.
Adler gave a small shrug and said with a serious expression: "...Fine. Let's get back to the topic—incorporating my 'Mirror of Manifestation' into the plan is acceptable. We did ask you to hear us out. The crack will heal soon enough. But there's one problem. The 'Mirror of Manifestation' is powerful, but it's not omnipotent. The only ones who can command the mirror are those with power, like us or the Thousand Transformations over there. And what the mirror can show is limited to a 'target.'"
"A target? What do you mean?"
"The mirror can only show a relatively specific set of things. It can show a person or the god dwelling in the innermost depths of a Treasure Hall, but it can't show a single point on a map. Even when using the mirror for investigation, we need to designate someone—a target for the mirror to focus on."
Adler answered smoothly in response to Citry's question. Understanding a Treasure Weapon's capabilities was the top priority, but she clearly had done her homework.
It wasn't the kind of ability you could casually commission from an appraiser, so she must have verified it herself. I felt a certain kinship, actually.
But then, at that thought, I realized something.
The 'Mirror of Manifestation' was a powerful Treasure Weapon. Given that even Yggdra had been thoroughly tracked, we had probably been under observation the whole time.
And the fact that she called me "like her"—could it be that Adler was actually a Treasure Weapon user?
Could her Monster-controlling ability also stem from a Treasure Weapon?
Come to think of it, I had heard rumors about Treasure Weapons of that nature. It was far more convincing than the story of having personally tamed Monsters.
I was a reasonably well-known Treasure Weapon collector in the Imperial Capital, so thinking about it that way, her request for apprenticeship made sense. Annoying, though...
Riz clicked her tongue and glared at Adler.
"So it's useless after all. You still have to actually go in person—Klein-chan, do we really need to make her your apprentice?"
"Well, it's not like I took her on for the Mirror of Manifestation..."
"...Still, I think it's safer than taking Selen to the site. Now that the enemy has identified us, anything could happen. Taking someone who isn't accustomed to combat along would be dangerous."
The intelligence of a Phantom from a high-level Treasure Hall was nothing to scoff at. The enemy had already deployed advanced barriers utilizing Ley Line power, and was likely considering further measures.
Since it was the Phantom of a god, you could never be too cautious.
"Tch... Fine. A chance for this kind of grueling training doesn't come often—"
"Hold on."
Just as Riz, a Thief to the bone, was about to raise her voice, Adler called for a halt.
She furrowed her brow, looked at me, and said: "I came here to see your leader's abilities for myself. You're not really going to sit on the sidelines in front of that god, are you— Thousand Transformations, what's your first move?"
Were you even listening to me? I said I'd leave it to Citry!
Even though she had been monitoring us, I couldn't fathom why she still had such expectations of me.
Citry spoke on my behalf: "Adler, Klein already said he would leave it to me—moreover, we're still in the investigation phase. Klein only steps in when we're pushed into a corner."
Huh? I have to step in when things become desperate? What about Ark?
Also, it wasn't like I went looking for desperate situations on purpose...
"I think it'll be too late if we're pushed into a corner in front of that Phantom—it's on a completely different level from the Monsters we've been commanding..."
"We'll be helping too. It's not fair if you're the only one hiding your power."
So even a dangerous Hunter Party and a dangerous Thief gathering together still wasn't enough for that thing? Terrifying.
But what was I to do? Even after hearing Citry's words, Adler's expression remained grim... I had never once said I would show my power, though.
I crossed my arms and thought.
Honestly, I figured I had plenty of options. The straightforward approach was to send Riz and the Thief squad, as Riz herself had suggested. I could also have Lucia send her spirits, or have Anthem shrink down and run over unnoticed, or fly across the sky on a carpet for reconnaissance. I was the kind of man who would calmly suggest setting up equipment based on centuries-old information on a whim.
Normally, I would dodge expectations with evasive charm, but... yeah, fine.
I let out a deep sigh, flashed a hard-boiled smile, and said: "What can you do. Adler, I'll show you my power."
"...You seem confident. By all means, show me."
Adler's apprenticeship was honestly something I found less than desirable. Taking a Thief as an apprentice was anathema both as a Hunter and as a person, and I needed to get her to abandon the idea as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, I had brought a great many Treasure Weapons with me this time. If I wanted to earn high praise, that was one thing, but earning low praise was easy. I just had to pull out the most lackluster Treasure Weapon among the ones I'd brought that could be used in this situation. Being looked down upon as a Treasure Weapon user might bruise the ego, but compared to how dangerous Adler and her crew were, I couldn't care less.
I had already decided what to choose. I unclipped the Treasure Weapon from my waist and set it on the table.
"Huh?"
Uno's eyes went wide, and she let out a small voice of surprise.
What I'd set on the table was one of the oldest pieces in my collection. The Dog Chain.
The chain writhed, and true to its name, assumed the form of a dog. A dull-silver chain with a weight at its tip. I still remembered the sense of wonder I felt when I first encountered it.
At first, the Dog Chain had been just as disobedient as Ka-kun and Mimi-kun, but under Lucia's strict training, it had become a loyal servant.
I snapped my fingers, and the Dog Chain rose onto its hind legs and struck a pose. I wanted to say it looked cool, but it wasn't particularly large, so it was more cute than anything.
The Dog Chain was meant to be thrown at enemies. Yet a mere snap of my fingers made it strike a pose.
Living-chain Treasure Weapons were well-known and far from rare, but almost no one could wield the Dog Chain to this degree.
It didn't possess great power, and unless one was a real enthusiast, it wasn't a Treasure Weapon one would use for long.
Adler took a step back with a stunned expression. In that instant, she must have understood the sophistication of what I had just done. And if she was truly "like" me, she would also understand how much time it had taken to master this Treasure Weapon to this extent.
Using it for its original purpose didn't require reaching this level. How many hours I had poured into this Treasure Weapon to achieve this—I honestly couldn't remember.
Waste was entertainment. In the end, Treasure Weapons were nothing more than entertainment to me.
Not only Adler and her crew, but even Star's Holy Thunder and Selen were frozen in place. They clearly hadn't expected me to bring out such a lackluster weapon.
But desperate times called for desperate measures. And depending on how you looked at it, you could say this was achieving maximum results with minimal risk.
I didn't actually need to use the Dog Chain at all.
"Send this thing along the Ley Line, then use the 'Mirror of Manifestation' to observe it and assess the Ley Line's condition. What do you think?"
I've been deliberating so long that the update ended up delayed.
Volume 9 of the book edition is now on sale! (Late, I know.)
Please check it out!
—Tsukikage Update notifications (work progress, etc.): @ktsuki_novel (Twitter)