Chapter 14: Medium (modified)

It took a moment to process the situation. Why was I bound, and where the hell was I?

I glanced around. It was dark. And empty.

Relief washed over me—I wasn’t dead. Honestly, I thought they’d kill me the moment I passed out, but for some reason, they kept me alive and chained.

No, scratch that. I thought I was done for when I took that last Genesis hit. Even I didn’t think I’d survive. How was I still breathing?

“Phew…”

The Black Mage. I never expected to meet him so soon. I’d hoped to stay off his radar, but it looks like I’m firmly on it now.

“…”

For now, I pushed thoughts of the Black Mage aside.

I checked my condition. Fortunately, I was in decent shape.

Not because they healed me. My passive skill, Self Recovery, was slowly patching me up bit by bit.

Clank, clank—!

“Ugh…! Grr—!”

I strained against the shackles with all my might.

But—

“Grrr…!”

What the…!

For some reason, my strength wasn’t responding.

Clank, clank—!

“Ugh… damn… it…!”

Activating buffs made the chains rattle, but they didn’t break. These weren’t just sturdy—they were unnaturally tough. My strength felt like half its usual power.

…Of course. They’re not idiots. They wouldn’t just chain me up without slapping on some debuffs.

Damn it, I was so close to breaking them…

These weren’t the same kind binding Tana. If they were, they wouldn’t be this loose. Still, breaking them would take time.

My heart raced. I didn’t have time to waste. Tana and Shai were in danger. Worst case, Shai might already be dead.

Will of the Warrior could clear these debuffs, but using it now would leave me defenseless against Akairum’s petrification. My weapon was gone, and I had no All-Cure Potions. Will of the Warrior had a one-day cooldown. I didn’t know Akairum’s petrification cooldown, but since my Will was likely reset, his petrification probably was too. Or maybe it had no cooldown at all.

Creak—

A door opened ahead, and someone entered.

“…Akairum?”

It was him, accompanied by soldiers.

“Well, well, awake already.”

“…”

Akairum smirked vilely.

“You look good in chains. Suits you. Heh heh.”

“…What happened to Tana? And Shai?”

“Oh, worrying about others in your state? Shouldn’t you focus on yourself? Life’s precious to everyone, you know.”

“Shut up and answer. Is Shai dead?”

“Shai… hm…”

His expression flickered oddly for a moment.

“…Yes, no reason to keep him alive, so we killed him. Heh heh.”

He sneered, but I caught that brief shift in his face.

This bastard slipped up.

Shai was likely alive, probably escaping through a secret passage like in the original story.

That meant I didn’t need to worry about him. The issue now was Tana.

“And Tana?”

“Oh, you don’t care that Shai’s dead?”

“Should I cry for you?”

“Haha, a guy who doesn’t get swayed by emotions. I like people like you… utterly useless emotions.”

“Akairum. What happened to Tana?”

“Hm… what do you think happened?”

He chuckled and threw the question back.

“Alive? Dead? Who knows, maybe the ritual succeeded, and she’s gone. Heh heh.”

Fcking bastard.

I wanted to gouge out those snake eyes, but with my limbs bound, I was helpless.

For now, I had to play along. Without special measures, Tana’s ritual couldn’t even start, let alone succeed.

…And then.

Clank, clank—

I subtly tugged at the chains, careful not to draw attention.

Just a bit more time, and I could break free.

“You know the ritual hasn’t even started. All talk, no skill…”

“…Watch your mouth. Seems you’ve forgotten your place.”

“My place? If you wanted me dead, you’d have done it already. You kept me alive for a reason, didn’t you?”

“…True. A pity, though. I wanted to see you squirm.”

…Fcking creep. What a twisted guy.

“Let’s get to the point. I have questions for you.”

“…Questions?”

“Where did you come from? Someone like you doesn’t just pop up in Critias.”

“No obligation to tell you.”

“Hm… fine, that’s not important. Then, where did you get that power?”

He pointed his wand at me, continuing.

“Answer. This is why we’ve kept you alive.”

“…Is that so?”

“Depending on your answer, I might let you live. Maybe even get you into His Majesty’s royal guard. How’s that?”

“…”

“Tempting, isn’t it—”

“…Pfft—”

I couldn’t hold back a laugh. Royal guard? Screw that.

“Puhahaha!”

For a guy with a silver tongue, his lies were pathetic. Who’d fall for that arrogant tone?

I mocked him openly.

“Idiot. You think anyone but a child would buy that? Your tone’s all wrong.”

“…”

“Want to know? Get on your knees and beg. Maybe I’ll tell you…”

Boom—!

“Guh…!”

Without warning, Akairum fired an energy bolt. It slammed into my stomach.

“…So, you won’t talk.”

Breathing heavily, as if suppressing rage, he spoke.

“…Bring him. We’re starting the ritual.”

He turned, muttering low.

…Ritual?

“Ritual? …Tana?”

“Yes. You’re essential for it. You’re the key to making the ritual succeed.”

Key.

That word brought Jang to mind.

In the original story, Tana’s ritual failed at the last moment. It got that far because of Jang’s death.

Witnessing his death caused Tana a moment of shock and resignation, creating a gap in her will that suppressed her resistance, allowing the ritual to proceed.

And now, I’m the key?

…Am I Jang now?