I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

To read over 260 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02

"What the hell is this…?"

A file named "List of Magic Towers Affiliated with the Argyrion Alliance" had been anonymously uploaded to the Ether Network. The data inside the file faithfully reflected the title.

It was a list of numerous magic towers that had secretly connected with Argyrion. At a glance, it seemed to include over 100 names.

And these weren't just any magic towers—these were all at least mid-tier or higher, with most being publicly listed, and even some of the most prominent magic towers were included.

"Could that many magic towers have really allied with Argyrion?"

No, it's more likely that these were magic towers that Argyrion had 'attempted' to contact. There's no way that many magic towers would have actually conspired with Argyrion.

If Argyrion had managed to form an alliance of this scale, they would have acted much more boldly.

Rather than recruiting Blasphemia's internal personnel and preparing terrorist statements, they would have made a different choice. Conversely, they could have thoroughly hidden their identity as eroders and, as the leader of a magic tower alliance, applied for the Commandments succession contest.

With that level of power, it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine Argyrion applying for the Commandments succession and obtaining the Commandments.

If every magic tower on the list fully cooperated, they could even contend with one of the Ten Towers.

Even after winning, there would be internal issues regarding the distribution of the Commandments' authority, but such problems are secondary.

If Argyrion's true purpose, like other eroders, was to expand the connection with the extra-dimension, then the issue of distributing authority was meaningless. They probably never intended to give out rewards anyway.

Outwardly, they could make any promises, and once they obtained the Commandments, they could simply use their unfathomable power to break the barrier of the world.

It would be a battle to fulfill their purpose as eroders in a single decisive conflict. Even if they lost, the fact that it was a 'magic tower alliance' meant that responsibility could be spread among the other magic towers, minimizing their losses.

"The very fact that Argyrion didn't choose this method proves the limits of their ability to recruit allies."

So why was this list created in the first place?

First of all, the leaked list came with some semblance of evidence. The evidence was partially erased, seemingly on purpose, to provoke even more suspicion. These allegations, though loosely tied together, would be difficult to refute.

Such evidence existed for every magic tower on the list. The only ones who could possess such widespread evidence simultaneously were Argyrion.

The leaker was Argyrion.

So what could Argyrion gain from throwing the magic society into chaos?

"Argos will mobilize to conduct a large-scale audit of the magic towers. They'll cooperate with Blasphemia to trace Argyrion's tracks. That means the number of people available to suppress Argyrion will be reduced."

Are they planning to throw away all potential allies just to buy a moment of time?

If so, this is an ominous sign. What are they planning to complete with the time they gain?

This situation is clearly abnormal.

"We need a strategy meeting."

Even if we hold a meeting, I can't just disclose all the facts to the directors.

The current "Divine Investigation" is already somewhat unlawful simply by using divine power. The directors have only accepted it because they're under the impression that we're not directly worshipping the vanished gods but merely using their power.

If it's just a matter of using divine power, we won't be labeled as anti-magic reactionaries. We might be viewed with some suspicion among mages, but if it's for the sake of magical research, so be it.

After all, there are occasionally secret weapons in the thunder-aligned magic towers that contain relics of the sky and thunder god, Aigio.

But if we go beyond that, it's a different story.

Research aimed at enhancing magic with divine power has existed quietly.

There have been attempts to steal wisdom from the Ten Towers.

And, of course, there are ambitions to become one of the Ten Towers.

But the destruction of the Commandments—the objective of rebelling against the very structure of the magical society—few mages would accept such a purpose.

"…It's too early to reveal everything to the directors."

Right now, the directors are fully engaged in reorganizing Etna City and preparing it as a potential military force. It's already difficult enough to fill Dimedes's empty seat, so there's no need to force them to choose between the Ten Towers and Hydra Corporation, which would only reduce our manpower further.

Eventually, the time will come when the directors must make a real choice. But not yet.

I began preparing the meeting under the title "Sudden Changes in the Environment Surrounding the Divine Investigation."

I had already texted the Divine Cult to be careful, warning them that Blasphemia might be suspicious about the current situation, right after my conversation with Niobe…

But I hadn't expected the situation to change this quickly. I'll have to talk to them again later.

***

A few days before Hydra Corporation's meeting began, the Divine Cult also held a meeting.

The first to arrive at the empty round table was Demus. The agenda for this meeting was the news that had been warned by the one known as Utis, or L13, a few days prior.

"Blasphemia has detected the excavation of the temple. We should reduce our activities for the time being."

Even while fighting Argyrion, Blasphemia had the resources to monitor the Divine Cult's activities?

Demus knew it was possible because Blasphemia received near-unlimited support from the Ten Towers, but from the perspective of those opposing Blasphemia, their capabilities were nothing short of overwhelming.

Of course, Demus's assumptions were quite different from reality.

Hydra Corporation was conducting the Divine Investigation under the shadow of the Divine Cult.

Salmosia suspected Argos's sabotage when it was actually Hydra Corporation's movement.

And finally, Orthes.

No one had yet realized the hidden hand that was coordinating information between Blasphemia and the Divine Cult.

After Demus, the next to appear at the round table was Hyacinth. As the number of priests seated at the table reached six, Demus spoke up.

"What is the Pope doing? Is he still not willing to use his power for the Cult?"

Demus spoke with a sharp tone, his question aimed at Hyacinth, who was a close associate of the Pope. Hyacinth slowly nodded.

"The Pope is already using his power for the Divine Cult. He is refining the grand plan."

"The grand plan, the grand plan. Isn't that grand plan just a betrayal against the heavenly beings? I'm sickened by the wretchedness of scraping together the glory of the past while preparing for betrayal."

"It is not betrayal; it's independence."

Demus and Hyacinth's gazes clashed across the round table. The conservative young man of faith, Demus, and the radical old man, Hyacinth, had been at odds for quite some time.

"…Don't think that the reason for collecting relics is just an obsession with the glory of the past. The Pope sees a much bigger picture."

As if to defend Hyacinth's explanation, Urania spoke up.

"Did you hear anything else from that person you brought, who doesn't like to give their name? When I contacted him, all he said was, 'Wait for the right time. I'll find a new way soon.'"

"It was the same for me. He just said he'd create an opportunity soon. But no matter how skilled he is, there's a limit to the opportunities someone of his rank can create. I believe our Cult needs to take a more active stance—"

Thud!

The sound of something crashing and rolling, followed by hurried footsteps, echoed through the hallway. The boy who burst in, out of breath, was Proditor.

He was a priest of Pyrrios, the god of gatekeepers and messengers. From nameless remote areas to Elysion, he could open doors connected to every corner of the world.

It was also Proditor who bestowed the Holy Incantation that allowed the Divine Cult's members to open portals leading to the round table.

Therefore, Proditor was the type to either be the first to arrive at such meetings or, if uninterested, not attend at all. It was extremely rare for him to arrive in the middle of a meeting.

"This is rare—so even you can be late. The name of the messenger god's priest will be tarnished, you know."

"Ha… ha. What a harsh thing to say. I've brought the latest news as quickly as possible."

Despite gasping for breath, Proditor winked playfully. Urania, noticing his attempt to appear nonchalant, couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"What news is so urgent that you're late to the meeting?"

"Come on, I'm telling you, I'm not late. You'll have to change the agenda for this meeting, old man Hyacinth."

With a flick, Proditor tossed a mana proxy onto the center of the round table. A few priests grumbled about the use of a magical device being brought into the sacred ground of the Divine Cult, but even they couldn't be bothered by such things after reading the projected hologram.

The most shocked was, of course, Hyacinth. It was an event that didn't exist in the future he had foreseen.

"What is this…?"

"Uncle Demus, you said that 'Nameless' fellow would create an opportunity, right? Looks like this is it."

Numerous magic towers implicated in secret dealings with Argyrion. The magic society reflected on the Ether Network had been thrown into an unprecedented state of chaos.

"How on earth…?"

The murmured voice belonged to Hyacinth. How could such a thing be possible? How could the confidential list of magic towers dealing with Argyrion be leaked so easily?

In just a few days?

'Could it be that Phoibos himself has chosen him?'

Demus was just as bewildered.

Even if Blasphemia had desperately tracked Argyrion and identified all the magic towers they had dealings with, how could a mere agent have accessed that information?

'Just how high up is Utis within Blasphemia…?'

To read over 260 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02