< Successor of the Emperor (Part 1) >
The lord had no choice but to bring out the Eight Diagrams. He had also realized that it would be better to retrieve the Heavenly Wind after seeing what had happened in the cave of the Heavenly Power Rock.
Afraid of breaking the promise with the emperor, he worriedly revealed the Eight Diagrams. Although the lord was usually calm and collected, he was having quite a rough day due to various circumstances.
He displayed the Eight Diagrams in the temple garden. The Diagrams was a big picture that contained numerous symbols and letters.
"What's all this?" Ramphil asked.
"It's a drawing that detects magical energy in the area." Zin replied.
"Is that similar to radar?"
"Sort of."
Ramphil quickly understood what the drawing was for. The lord positioned it so that the cardinal directions matched the drawing.
"There are many uses, but I'm going to use it now as a compass."
There innumerable spells that could be performed using the Eight Diagrams. It wasn't directly used as part of sorcery, but rather to understand and detect something. Each diagram on the Eight Diagrams displayed the cardinal directions.
As soon as the lord positioned the Eight Diagrams correctly, he cleanly spread it out on the floor. Leona and Ramphil quietly observed from the side.
The Heavenly Power Castle was the home of sorcery. There were few sorcerers who could activate the Eight Diagrams force field perfectly. It was something that could only be done in the Heavenly Power Castle.
The lord sat in the middle of the Eight Diagrams, murmuring. It seemed to be a spell or just some sort of babbling. His voice echoed around the temple.
—Vwwwwooom—
Suddenly, all the letters except the diagrams disappeared from the drawing and ink slowly smeared the yellow paper.
"The location where the lord is sitting is this castle," explained Zin.
It was a map that displayed many characters around the castle. The characters indicated many things—such as harm, small luck, conflict, disaster, spell, etc.—and were drawn in different sizes. They represented different activities going on around the castle. For example, the many "harm" characters in the north represented the Group's territory.
Hostile Reavers occupied the north, so Zin was able to figure out what the characters meant. He planned on using the Eight Diagrams to track the Heavenly Wind, first scanning the drawing and getting a sense of what was happening around the castle.
A particular red character on the southwest corner of the drawing drew his attention. Black characters covered the drawing, so the single red one looked strange.
"Great evil."
That character implied that there was something beyond what the drawing could detect. The lord seemed to feel something. He closed his eyes, sweat dripping from his face.
He wondered what the character "great evil"—not "harm" or "disaster"—meant.
I don't know exactly where she is, but the White Witch is in the southwest.
Although she was very far away from the castle, the ominous energy was powerful enough to be detected by the drawing.
Just like how the White Witch's location was marked on the drawing, Leona's was as well, at the center of the drawing. It was a black "evil" character instead of "great evil." The Eight Diagrams had simply displayed the danger each one posed.
Her power has not fully awakened. That's probably why.
Leona didn't know how to handle her power as a witch, so the drawing didn't warn about her.
Zin believed that Leona not knowing how to interpret the characters on the drawing was a good thing. Her presence was displayed as just a small character. He feared that her presence would be significant due to her innate power.
While there were multiple characters on the Eight Diagrams, Zin focused on the ones around the castle. Confirming the location of the White Witch was just an added bonus, but at the moment, his priority was to determine the location of the Heavenly Wind.
"Heavenly Wind should be displayed as a 'great charm.' Please look for it carefully."
Zin's void storage was displayed as a "charm" and the Treacherous Spirit was a "disaster." The Eight Diagrams drawing portrayed the situation around the castle quite accurately. As Zin looked at the tiny characters around the map, he sighed.
"Mmm…I don't see a "great charm." Could the successor have moved far away?"
The drawing did not show a "great charm." That meant they couldn't use the Eight Diagrams to track the Heavenly Wind. Zin felt helpless.
"So can I assume that each character represents an entity?" Ramphil asked him.
"Yes, that's correct. It acts as a map from the perspective of the Heavenly Power Castle, showing how each entity could affect it."
The drawing determined if something would be beneficial or harmful to the castle. Reading the Eight Diagrams provided some useful information.
Ramphil was amazed and continued to look at the drawing.
"Hmm…how are ordinary people and cities displayed?"
"Well, since they have nothing to do with the castle, they will probably be 'middle' or 'peace.'"
The drawing actually did contain quite a few of those characters. They were relatively small compared to other letters. Ramphil looked at the Eight Diagrams and compared it to his map. He figured that he would be able to understand something by comparing the two.
"Interesting. This seems like science, not sorcery."
The fact that that sorcery could act as a technological radar amazed him.
"Extreme opposites have something in common."
"I suppose…"
Ramphil was mesmerized and couldn't take his eyes off of the drawing. Then he spotted something unusual.
"Something's not right," he said.
"What's wrong?"
"The Eight Diagrams map is displaying areas that cover Manchuria in the south and Russia's Belogorsk in the north. This region is quite large."
He had cross-referenced the two maps by comparing the Eight Diagrams to his map and checking the coordinates of different cities.
The Eight Diagrams covered an area that was slightly larger than the Heilongjiang area. It was impossible for a radar map to cover such wide area with detail.
"All the characters related to the terrain. There are characters that mark the ruins where people live. Even Harbin, the city that we just visited, is displayed over here."
"Sure, that makes sense."
The Harbin Wargrave fortress was marked with a big "neutral." Areas where the Reavers could be living had "harm" characters.
The spot that Ramphil thought was strange was northeast of Yichun city.
"If I remember correctly, this used to be Russia's Birobidzhan. It's not a big city, but there are plenty of ruins where people could live. However, as you can see, the map doesn't display a character there."
Just like he said, there was no letter in that area. Zin nodded, also thinking that to be strange.
"I don't know enough about sorcery," Ramphil began, "but perhaps a skilled sorcerer can hide himself from this map."
Although it was a guess, he was pretty accurate with his analysis.
"Mmm…It's very possible that he could have settled in a place where the power can't be detected."
"The undetectable place is a good place to search. You keep wise company, master hunter."
The lord slowly nodded. Birobidzhan was not large, but it was large enough for several small Points. The Points could have been raided, but if that was the case, then the Eight Diagrams would have detected death and spirits.
However, there was nothing displayed in Birobidzhan.
It seemed like a hole in the map.
"It's not too far away and will be worth traveling there."
Zin accepted Ramphil's analysis. There was no sign of a "great charm" on the Eight Diagrams, and he didn't have any better options.
"Well, if we don't find anything, we can think the trip as a hike or something."
The team would have to start the exorcism if they couldn't find the Heavenly Wind. They had time to spare while the lord prepared the ceremony.
"The lord will begin praying for the ceremony and we will head to Birobidzhan."
As soon as they had arrived at the Heavenly Power Castle, they had more things to do. When the lord stood up from the Eight Diagrams, the numerous characters returned to their original positions in the drawing. It appeared as if keeping the Eight Diagrams active required energy since the lord looked exhausted.
Leona asked an important question. "So how are we going down?"
She was terrified at the idea of climbing down the cliff.
"Yes," Zin answered. "We're going to do what you think we're going to do."
"Damn it."
They had to climb down where they had climbed up. What else were they going to do?
The team spent a night at the castle. It was dark at night because there were no blue chips and no way to get them. There were also no guards since the threat of invasion was nonexistent. The castle was a different environment compared to the wilderness.
"This tastes bland."
Leona didn't hate the food, but she shook her head as she ate it.
"You have been eating salty C-rations this entire time. It's natural for you to find this unsalted food bland."
Leona had been eating salty and sweet food for some time, so she thought that the castle's food was just okay. However, she didn't leave any food on her plate.
"This place isn't too bad."
After finishing the meal, she looked around the calm castle. She liked the abundant life in the fortress, but she also liked the leisurely life at the Heavenly Power Castle. It seemed like the people would welcome her settling down there.
She cast Zin a brief look.
"Well, I am just saying that this place looks nice," she said. "I'm not saying I want to settle here!"
"I didn't say anything."
"…You punk."
Ramphil became interested in sorcery. After checking in at his room, he observed many items and devices related to it, but he was not able to figure out to use them.
The team enjoyed a break for one night. They could gain the power of the seal if they retrieved the Heavenly Wind. Even if they couldn't get the charm, they could get the seal by performing the exorcism to drive away the Treacherous Spirit.
Therefore, there was no reason for them to be nervous. The only thing they needed to look out for was the Group of Reavers. They also didn't know if the emperor's successor was either dangerous or an idiot. In fact, there were quite a few "harm" characters around the castle.
Zin knew that it was better to expect the worst on any given task. Nothing could be resolved easily and taking things lightly was dangerous. He had a feeling that the upcoming trip would not be easy.
"I guess not all devil hunters are like you, mister," Leona remarked.
"Of course not."
People and things changed over time. Devils disappeared and a long time passed since their disappearance. It would be strange for things to remain the same. Zin also thought that it would be strange for people not to change when their circumstances had.
< Successor of the Emperor (Part 2) >
The next day, the team headed to the forest to leave Heavenly Power castle. The residents of the castle continued to do their work, and they briefly said goodbye to the team.
It was a friendly yet reserved response. The residents seemed ready to welcome the team back again, and at the same, they seemed to not care if the team never came back.
Only the castle lord came out to say goodbye. He took out a plated wooden block.
"This…"
"It's an Eight Diagrams compass."
It was a compact device that looked similar to the Eight Diagrams. People used the device to detect the feng shui in a particular region.
"It can't detect the area as accurately as the Eight Diagrams, but it will react to any signs of sorcery or evil spirits. The device will alert you, Master Hunter, if there are any traps or dangers related to sorcery."
The device couldn't detect all the minor details like the Eight Diagrams, but the compass was still a great tool that reacted to nearby sorcery.
Zin felt amazement as he looked at the compass.
"The sorcery of the temple has become quite advanced."
"Haha, we don't have much else to do here. I wish you a safe journey, Master Hunter."
"Thank you. I'll beat that idiot up and bring back the Heavenly Wind."
"That's really not necessary. Well, then, I will start with the prayers today…"
The lord walked away from the team, and Zin put the compass in his pocket.
"So it's like a compass."
"Yes."
The Eight Diagrams compass was certainly a useful device.
"Let's go."
The three started to run past the forest, and they reached the cliff once again. Leona sat down on the ground and peeked at the bottom of the cliff.
"Oh, man… oh man…" Leona started to panic.
It was a cliff with an endless drop, and she couldn't see the ground. It might have been possible to climb up the cliff, but going down it seemed like a crazy thing to do.
However, Ramphil and Zin started preparing their descent.
"Oh, man… reallllllllly…!" Leona yelled and was about to cry, but Ramphil and Zin simply ignored her.
Point Weedle.
It was a small village where about a hundred people lived. However, the village had all the necessities for survival. The farmland was fertile, and there were many houses constructed from the ruins. There was a river flowing nearby, which meant an abundant source for drinking water.
The trash wall around the village served as a defense from enemies, and the guards were armed with crude rifles. Their defenses were strong enough to fend off Reavers or monsters. The village was not the best place, but it was considered a great place for the hundred or so residents living in it.
The village only lacked energy, as well as insufficient manpower to hunt monsters outside. The village couldn't afford to turn on their lanterns during the night, and the problem only grew worse since nobody could go venture out from the Point.
"I hope those guys from the Group don't show up…"
One of the residents of Weedle murmured, feeling worried. The other residents started to talk as well.
"What would they come here for? What reason would they bother with our poor village…?"
"Do you think they kill people to steal things? They kill because there are living people."
"But they must not be interested in this village. Only the other villages ended up raided by the Group."
"That is fortunate…"
Based on the conversation of the residents, it appeared that the northern region was completely occupied by the pack of Reavers called the Group. And the Group was continuing to expand its territory. The two men who were sitting on a rock looked at a staggering drunkard.
"Man, what are the ghosts doing? Why aren't they taking that guy away?"
"He must have drunk a lot."
"He drinks every single day…"
"What a pitiful life. He still looks young."
The young man had long, loose hair, and his eyes were out of focus. He wasn't walking straight as he seemed to be drunk. He was carrying a leather pouch with his right hand, and as he staggered forth he would gulp down alcohol from the pouch.
Everybody at the Point would bring this up, implying that the drunkard would the biggest problem in the village.
He only knew how to ferment grain to make alcohol, and people weren't too happy that he was using up precious grains to make alcohol. But the young man harvested his own grain, so the people couldn't blame him outright. He was quite a character, so much so that the residents didn't know what to do with him.
"It's somewhat amazing that he knows how to efficiently farm the land."
"I know. It would be awesome if he only stopped drinking alcohol."
Even though the young drunkard seemed to barely work on the farmland, his land always yielded a rich harvest. The man even donated a portion of the harvest to the common storage. Except for his habit of drinking too much, he did everything else right.
The residents would suggest to the man to stop drinking, but he always declined and said, 'How would I live past a single day in this damned world without drinking?'
The man was adamant, and the people couldn't continue to rebuke him.
The young man came to the village about two years ago. Initially, he asked for a piece of land where he could farm, and the residents accepted him to the village. But at some point, he started to make alcohol, and he wouldn't stop drinking. There were many incidents involving his drunkenness, but the people gave up on him in the end.
Although the residents hated his drunkenness, they accepted him as one of their own since he was diligent in his farm work. They cared for him, and would occasionally check up on him if he wasn't seen for a couple of days. They were thankful that the man was addicted to cheap drugs. In fact, some villagers would visit his house to drink together.
The residents of Weedle both hated and liked the young man at the same time.
"Hmm…"
"Well…"
It appeared that the two men were hoping to get some drinks from the young man.
The drunkard staggered into his hut and lay down on the floor. The smell of yeast filled his his room. He happily took out a bucket of alcohol from the jar and drank it. The man lived as he wanted, and he seemed to be quite the character as not many people drank in this apocalyptic world.
"Kaaaaah…" The man finished his drink and started to feel tipsy. With his face flushed from alcohol, he was ready to go to sleep.
However, the drunkard was always thinking about something.
You look too comfortable. There's no time to be drinking all day long.
Ah, what's the matter, sis? It's okay. You should take it easy and enjoy your life.
You nasty bastard. It was foolish of me to expect something out of you.
Hahaha, what did you expect? Just go with the flow. Nothing really changes in this world. Why do you try so hard? Why do you worry too much?
Do you have no intention to inherit the relic at all?
Well. I don't need an item that seems useless.
Then, give it to me.
Unfortunately, I can't because of the promise with the master. And I don't even have it.
You always use the master as an excuse.
Haha… is that anything new? Anyway, would you like a drink?
Phew… I don't want to talk to you anymore. It looks like you'll die in this place drinking. I'm so done with you.
Take care, sis. I won't walk out and send you off.
About a year had passed since he saw her. Her eyes were brimming with ambition and greed. The man thought that it would be better to live as a fool. As the man was about to fall asleep, the door of the hut opened.
…Creeeeeaaak…
The hinge creaked, and someone who the drunkard did not recognize entered the hut.
"… You really look pathetic."
The man with a black coat looked like a hunter, and he didn't look friendly at all. The drunkard scratched his stomach and sat against the wall. In response to the visitor's hostility, the drunkard had a hardened face. The young man started to speak in an unfriendly tone.
"This village doesn't welcome visitors."
"The residents sure did welcome me."
The residents had welcomed the visitor's companions after they handed out a couple of chips to the residents. But the drunkard talked as if he didn't care.
"That's the villagers' problems."
The young man continued to stare at the visitor as he seemed to be getting sober.
"If you were able to reach the village by getting through the Disguising Sorcery that was set up at the entrance, you're definitely not welcome."
Weedle Point remained safe from the Group because the Reavers couldn't find this place. The young man activated the Disguising Sorcery in order to keep the village safe from an outsider's attack.
Naturally, no visitors came to the village, and the visitor in front of the young man was someone who had managed to find the hidden village. Therefore the young man could not welcome the mysterious hunter in front of him.
"How did you find the 'Gate of Life'?"
The Disguising Sorcery created several gates, and all the gates led to a 'Gate of Death'. In order to get to the Gate of Life, one would have to avoid the fourteen Gates of Death. It would be impossible for someone to find the Gate of Life by accident.
"I know a little bit about sorcery as well."
The hunter was saying that he knew how to solve the trick behind the Disguising Sorcery. The Eight Diagrams compass had helped Zin big time, but he wasn't about to mention that to the young man.
Zin sat down in front of the drunkard and stared at him. The young man was completely sober at that point.
"Are you the successor of the emperor and the high-level sorcerer?"
Zin looked ready to twist the neck of the young man if he gave a stupid answer.
The young man was astonished to hear the word emperor from the visitor.
Zin browsed the odorous hut and clicked his tongue as he looked at the drunkard in front of him.
"You look like a total bum. You look totally worthless."
"…What do you want?"
"I heard you took the Heavenly Wind. Give it to me."
"You must have come from the Heavenly Power temple."
The drunkard slowly stood up and turned away from Zin.
"I sold it a long time ago to get myself some drinks."
"You think I'm fooling around here?"
—Pow!—
"Arggh!"
Zin grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against the wall. The old hut started to shake and dust fell off the ceiling. Zin was pissed and was ready to kill the man.
"Alright… I will give you one more chance."
—Bam!—
"Owww!"
Zin threw him away and the man rolled on the floor. The young man seemed to be a drunkard, and he didn't look like a high-level sorcerer at all.
"I need the power of the seal."
"What are you talking about? What in the world would you need the power of the seal for…?"
"You call yourself a high-level sorcerer, and you don't even know what's happening in this world?!"
Zin was extremely angry.
Although the young man wasn't like Zin, he was a person with great power. Zin was treating the man differently than other people.
Zin was furious that a person with great power was wasting his abilities. The young man was not even a villain but a drunkard.
Then something unexplainable happened next.
Zin grabbed the young man and threw him out of the hut. Sitting next to him, Zin wanted the young man to sense what was going on in the world. It had been a while since the young man had performed any powerful sorcery.
The sky was clear, and the young man quietly focused his attention to sense the energy of the sky. In a brief moment, he felt as if he a dagger had stabbed him in the heart.
Star of Disaster!
A heinous energy that had never been seen before swirled around the sky.