Forbidden Master – Part 8/Chapter 418

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Chapter 418 – The Final Bombshell

Whether brainwashed or sane, Norja always makes things complicated when serious discussions happen.

That’s just with Norja, but if this guy gets involved……

　

〔…… that voice…… you…….〕

[Hihahahaha, long time no see~, Chief~]

　

The other Six Supremacy had no idea this guy was alive.

Apparently, even Jamdi’el didn’t know.

That’s why, in this place where Hakuki and Norja were present, and even Granpa Mikado’s was here……

　

“N, no way…… that’s not …….”

“N, ngh…… this man with his totally whack laugh……”

　

Norja and Granpa Mikado also had wide eyes.

　

[Come on, little Norja. You’re back to being a sane pervert ~. And the geezer who bullied me so much back in the day still hasn’t kicked the bucket either? You should be grateful to the Boss.]

“”Eh!??””

　

And with this, the two of them seemed certain of his true identity.

They stared intently at the magic crystal I reluctantly took out of my pocket, then looked back at me.

They’re probably thinking, “Why?”

　

“…You… really … know how to get on people’s nerves, don’t you? And you have zero sense of timing, picking the worst possible moment……”

[Huh? Something’s wrong? What’s up? Hey Boss ♪ Aren’t you being a bit cold to your trusty right-hand man?]

“”〔Boss?? 〕””

　

And deliberately using terms like “Boss” and “right-hand man”… I mean…

　

“I mean, wasn’t the fact that you’re even alive supposed to be a secret?! Why the hell are you suddenly broadcasting your survival like it’s some grand reveal today!?”

　

Right. To begin with, this guy was supposed to have died in the war long ago.

That’s why Granpa Mikado, as well as his former colleagues Norja and Hakuki, were surprised.

And yet, he just casually revealed the secret he had kept for over a decade.

Why?

　

[Hihahaha. Because it’s more fun this way♪.]

“Nuga?!”

　

That’s right, this guy was like this…… But still, don’t just casually spill a secret kept for over a decade……

　

〔Fuhahaha! Ain’t been this bleedin’ chuffed since the war ended… Still, bit of a shame for the world you turned out to be alive, eh…… Paripi.〕

[Hihahahahaha, that’s harsh, Chief! That’s just mean!]

〔Hah, facts is facts, ain’t it? For humans, and for demons… I was gobsmacked, sure, but now it makes perfect sense you ain’t dead after all.〕

　

Hakuki was surprised to learn that Paripi was still alive, but he laughed.

　

〔What a ruddy irony, though. All them ages o’ war—enemy, ally, didn’t matter—loads o’ ‘em bit the dust. Plenty what were too good to waste for the world’s sake. Yet you, o’ all people, pull through—downright tragic, that is.〕

[Oh dear, now that makes it sound like the world would be better off if I were dead!]

“””””〔That’s exactly right!〕”””””

　

Oh, we all chimed in together.

Even so, to get this kind of reaction even from his former comrades in the Six Supremacy… this guy must have been seriously disliked.

　

「…Seriously, Tre’ainar…why did you make this guy your subordinate?」

『Did I not say? Tis more troublesome to have that one out of my sight, so I kept him close by.』

「Haha…… Really…… I’m impressed by your sheer magnanimity…」

　

I gave a wry smile at Tre’ainar’s words, but who’d have thought three of the Six Supremacy would be gathered here…… well, one of them was on the other side of the magic crystal, and the other was speaking through Uncle Ben, so they weren’t physically present.

What’s going to happen?

　

〔Still, calling Earth Lagann ‘Boss’? What’s the game? Plannin’ to make him your new toy or something?〕

　

Hakuki asked Paripi. Of course he’d go there~.

And it seemed that question was exactly what both Norja and Granpa Mikado were wondering about, as they nodded and gulped.

Then, Paripi ……

　

[A toy…? No… He will be the new King! To reign over the Heavens, the Surface World, and the Demon Realm! I will make him the Overlord!]

〔What?〕

“””Bufuu!”””

　

What is that? I don’t know. Everyone had a spit take.

Even Espie and Slayer turned pale and looked at me, but I shook my head, “No”.

　

〔King…… you say?〕

[Hihahaha, that’s right, Chief! This guy is going to be big! And the “Guide by his Side” will elevate the boss to ever greater heights! Humans, demons, and even the Seraphs will all gather around the boss!]

〔Guide by his Side? The hell’s that mean? Folks gatherin’ ‘round him, yeah yeah, I s’pose that tracks……〕

[Right? Compared to you, who only attracts burly demons, human scum, and gangsters, this King’s vessel is way more impressive!]

　

And yet, Paripi kept hyping me up like he’s trying to provoke Hakuki.

Seriously, cut it out! How much more do you have to piss me off before you’re satisfied!?

　

[Hey, Hakuki. Why don’t you stop sneaking around and try fighting the Boss? Well, right now, you might beat everyone here single-handedly, but that’s only for now. The Boss is still in his growth phase. He’ll get stronger, bigger, and more interesting! Maybe as big as Him, Panay!]

　

This guy’s hopeless! I have to do something about it quickly…

　

〔Hoh, interesting.〕

　

Whoa, Hakuki, what the hell is “hoh” supposed to mean!?

　

“Hey, you two aren’t even face-to-face! How dare you talk like this over my head! Hey, Paripi! You bastard, I’m going to smash this magic crystal to pieces, you hear me?!”

[Hahahaha, Boss sure is shy~]

　

I yelled as hard as I could at the magic crystal, but that won’t frighten him.

I never thought it would be frustrating that he wasn’t in front of me right now.

Next time, I’ll end him for good with the Great Magic Spiral.

　

〔Bwahahahaha! Fine then! If Earth Lagann manages to beat me, maybe I’ll do like back when I got whooped by the Great Demon King himself and become his lackey! Bwahahahaha! That’d be a laugh.〕

“”””Eh, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeehh!??”

〔Then, will Jamdi’el and the doll girl come runnin’ with bells on? Young and green as he is, if all us Six Supremacy back him eternal-like, bloodline and all… fuhahaha, what a jolly future! Four o’ the Six movin’ like that, La’iphant’ll fall in line soon enough… fuhahaha! Might be the best kick in the teeth for Hiro yet. Fuhahaha!〕

　

Hakuki was roaring with laughter by himself, completely on board with Paripi’s ridiculous, nonsensical rant.

What’s his deal? Is he actually a huge fan of this kind of bad, chaotic joke?

　

「Hey, Tre’ainar…… How serious is this guy?」

『…… Heh, I would say tis half a joke. Do not take it too seriously.』

「…… So that means he’s half serious?」

　

Damn. Seriously…… I mean, even Granpa Mikado was holding his head. This is getting really dangerous, isn’t it?

Besides, if this keeps up, the Empire’s label on me— “connected to the Demon King Army, blah blah”—might actually become true.

If that happens, I could end up being labeled an enemy of humanity or something……

　

〔That said! Won’t mean squat unless you can beat me—pipe dream otherwise. You get me, Earth Lagann?〕

“I don’t get it!”

〔We’ll have our scrap one day. Till then, grow strong enough to make me sit up and take notice. For that…… I’ve slipped a little toy to that daft Japone King, Umashika…… a Legacy of Shiznautmy, so you best throw down proper with Mikado and Koujiro.〕

「…… Hmm?”

　

Saying that, Hakuki casually mentioned something important, while spouting this completely crazy story, the seriousness of which was hard to gauge.

And……

　

〔Oh, and sorry—but I still need Benlinerve’s body for a bit. So… Sēsḣuṇju Ḧā Cḣippu To Sḣiṇḱāṇ Seṇ……〕

“”””Huh!??””””

〔I’ll lift the great barrier coverin’ the continent, but I’ll be takin’ him back along with me lot.〕

　

Hakuki …… Rather, Uncle Ben, who was under Hakuki’s control, chanted an incantation and a magic circle appeared.

And at the same time, the bodies of the ogres we had knocked down began to glow.

　

“Th, this is… a transfer spell!? Earth Lagann, these people are…….”

　

Larou’iph, who could use similar magic, shouted suddenly.

Then I remembered. This was a technique that Jamdi’el also used.

Don’t mess with me, I’m not going to let you get away.

　

[Chief Hakuki~, before you leave, why not tell us~]

〔Hmm?〕

　

If this continues, Uncle Ben will be taken somewhere.

Just as I braced myself to stop it, Paripi opened his mouth again, and then……

　

[I saw it too~, was it that dear Kron? That’s what Chief Hakuki made in cooperation with Sis Jamdi’el, right?]

〔…… Well, mostly Jamdi’el, truth be told. I just stuck me oar in a bit.〕

[And that bug toys that brainwashed the geezer, Benlinerve, and even little Norja? They were also brought from the ruins, right Chief Hakuki?]

〔Ah, that’s right. Got a problem with that?〕

　

What are you doing in a situation like this? But just as I was about to say that……

　

『Hmm…… tis something I too had been curious of…… never could make sense of it……』

　

For some reason, even Tre’ainar beside me nodded in agreement with what Paripi was saying. Why?

Is there any point in confirming something so obvious?

Just as I thought that, Paripi……

　

[How did you learn to create one… or even how to use it?]

〔…………!〕

[Even with Sis Jamdi’el helping out, creating a doll with the same genes as the Great Demon King shouldn’t be easy…… Normally, it would take decades of trial and error… but from what I can tell, that dear Kron doll is a flawless masterpiece.]

〔…………〕

[Let’s say, for argument’s sake, you used Sis Jamdi’el’s obsession, her Heraldic Eyes, or her brains. That’s fine. But using these bugs so casually… and even granting something to the King of Japone… How did a pure fighter like you manage to wield the legacy of Shiznautmy so well?]

　

It was a question that seemed overdue, yet it must have been quite important, as even Tre’ainar had a serious expression on his face.

And while he was asking that question, the transfer spell was activated and Uncle Ben and the others’ bodies were being sucked into another dimension.

No, I can’t make it in time.

　

〔Heh heh heh, yeah… if I had to say… after the war, I had me own dramas… might make Vasalar all jealous hearin’ this, but……〕

　

Just as I was thinking that, just as Hakuki was leaving……

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

〔Let’s just say… I was put wise on it all by Kaguya’s ghost…〕

　

　

　

　

　

―――――――――― huh?

　

　

　

〔Be seein’ you…… Long-Distance Transfer Spell, 【Jayalū】〕

　

　

　

　

With those words, I couldn’t move a muscle. All I could do was watch as Uncle Ben and the other unconscious ogres disappeared.

　

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