Chapter 209 – Uninvited Guest (Five)

“Are the people here now trustworthy?”

Solite flinched for a moment.

The voice and gaze, cold enough to freeze, were nothing like the boy he usually knew.

Moreover, what was this suffocating pressure?

‘Trustworthy people…’

His immediate answer to the question was yes.

The eight members of the Seventh Priesthood behind him were longtime friends, subordinates, and comrades who had shared the dream of making the world a better place since childhood.

“They are trustworthy. To the point where I can entrust my life to them without hesitation.”

Solite’s answer was unwavering.

Ray stared intently at the priests’ chests for a moment before speaking.

“That seems to be the case. Their loyalty, affection, and bond with you are surprisingly strong.”

“What is that…? No, first, could you explain what the current situation is?”

Solite and the Seventh Priesthood had been distributing food in the slums, he said.

Then they witnessed the indigo-dyed sky and came to find its source.

A collapsed tower. A boy covered in wounds.

A single corpse sprawled on the snow.

It was a scene that clearly indicated something far from ordinary had occurred.

Ray fell silent for a moment.

‘…If I let these people go without any measures.’

Today’s events, including the indigo sky, would undoubtedly be reported to Bishop Cardio, who would return to the sector in a few days.

That was definitely not good.

Especially if the Bishop was unaware of the Overseers’ visit to the mansion.

Ray steadied his breath and spoke.

“That dead man over there belonged to an organization called the Indigo Dawn Society.”

“The Indigo Dawn Society… you say? It’s an organization I’ve never heard of before.”

Ray explained about the Dawn Society.

Their characteristic was using hybrid rings of immense destructive power with mixed elements.

Three Overseers had visited today to question Binjin, the original owner of the mansion and tower, about his qualifications for membership.

And even the speculation that they intended to use the Order’s artificial sun for some purpose.

Solite seemed confused, having received too much information at once.

“First… first, I understand. The unidentified magic used by that fallen man was the cause of the indigo sky. But the speculation that they intend to use the artificial sun—what is that based on?”

“Bishop Cardio possesses a hybrid ring. He’s a spy planted in the Order by the Indigo Dawn Society. With very high probability.”

Instantly, the priests stirred greatly.

“What…! That’s absurd…!”

“Solite, do you know this child? How long do you intend to listen to such preposterous, even rude, talk?”

“Let’s detain him and take him to the Main Office for interrogation. It’s all clearly lies fabricated by a shameless imagination.”

“Thanks, I’ve been trying hard to cultivate my imagination lately.”

Solite raised his palm to quiet the commotion.

“Rafi, Fiyote, Matani, please be mindful of your remarks. The one holding the initiative in this place right now is not us.”

“Huh? What does that…?”

“Are you saying we’re at a disadvantage?”

Solite did not answer the questions and met Ray’s gaze.

“You’re considering eliminating all of us here in case of the worst, aren’t you?”

“Correct.”

“I’ll express my gratitude for attempting persuasion first.”

Solite, who had been staring intently into Ray’s white pupils, nodded shortly after.

“I had no idea. Bishop Cardio has been a model for others throughout his long time in the Order.”

“You must have had some chance to notice something strange.”

“We’ve never had a conversation while making eye contact. I considered doubting the sincerity of his words itself as disrespect toward him. I took even more care than with others to avoid our gazes meeting, if possible.”

“Have you ever seen him use magic? Hybrid ring users’ magic takes on an indigo hue.”

“I’ve never seen it. Now I understand why Bishop Cardio avoided using magic in front of others.”

The priests listening to the conversation erupted again.

“Solite, are you believing that boy’s words now?”

“Of all people, Bishop Cardio. To say he’s a spy for some mysterious organization is an insult!”

“To lie so calmly…! A child whose imagination runs wild to a vicious degree…!”

“Thanks, I’ve practiced a lot.”

Solite raised his hand again, silencing the priests.

“Please trust me.”

“…….”

A quiet remark.

As silence flowed, the priests exchanged confused glances.

The doubt and dissatisfaction raging in their Vessels quickly subsided and soon hit rock bottom.

It was a part that showed how deep their trust in Solite was.

Confirming the calmed atmosphere, Solite turned to Ray again and asked.

“Aside from Bishop Cardio, were there others who possessed rings with mixed elements?”

“The hybrid rings I saw in the Cathedral were all his.”

“That’s fortunate amidst misfortune. However, reporting directly to the higher-ups will likely be difficult. We must consider the possibility of more spies existing in other Parishes, or worst-case, even in the Main Office.”

It was a reasonable opinion.

There was no guarantee that Cardio was the only spy who had infiltrated the Order.

Ray approached the fallen Kraimer and searched his belongings.

Only the inside of his body was charred black, leaving his exterior relatively intact, and he managed to find a few items, including a wax-sealed envelope.

Solite spoke from beside him.

“I hope it’s something that can give us information about the Dawn Society.”

Rip—

Upon tearing open the envelope, a long letter came out.

「The fact that you have received this invitation sufficiently proves that you are qualified to become a member of the Dawn Society. I sincerely congratulate you on joining the great mission of plotting His resurrection and dyeing the world indigo.」

It seemed to have been an invitation originally intended for Binjin.

Ray skimmed the content, looking for parts that could be informative.

「The first gathering for new members will be held on the date indicated below. It will be a meaningful occasion to confirm each other’s faces and receive the Dawn Society’s great directive for the first time, so ensure you do not miss it and suffer disadvantages.」

After checking the date and location, Ray continued flipping through the letter.

No other important content was visible, and he quickly reached the last page.

「…Ultimately, the most inferior in the world shall become the most superior. Though it rises from the darkest, lowest indigo dawn horizon of the world, it will eventually ascend to the brightest, highest place, like the sun overlooking all things on earth.」

「From your dear Indiago.」

「P.S. – The enclosed ring will serve as both an admission ticket to the gathering place and a token for new members, so ensure it is not lost.」

Inside the envelope, a small ring set with an indigo gemstone was found.

He wondered if it was a Charging Stone like Mercread’s Bloodstone, but it was just an ordinary gem.

Solite, after reading the letter handed to him by Ray, said.

“The gathering place is Sector 28, and the date is about 8 weeks later. From the content, it seems just having the ring allows participation in the gathering. Perhaps, it could be an opportunity to deeply infiltrate the organization called the Indigo Dawn Society.

Disguise our identities and participate in the gathering.

…If the one leading the gathering is Indiago.

“…Revenge.”

The boy, who had unconsciously let slip the word, asked himself a question.

Revenge, can I do it?

About six months ago, Indiago, who controlled Golems and took away precious things, had four rings at the time.

But is that still the case now?

Kraimer, despite being at the tremendous level of the 4th Circle, referred to Indiago as a being superior to himself.

Shouldn’t we assume Indiago has at least five rings?

‘The number of rings has increased, compared to half a year ago.’

Actually, it wasn’t that surprising.

Indiago was a person with such immense desire that he searched for Rainbows even to the farthest corners of sectors where no one went.

He wouldn’t have been idle during the long period of half a year.

At least the 5th Circle.

‘Considering the Dawn Society’s unique magic like the indigo sphere on top of that.’

The combat level likely far surpasses a simple 5th Circle.

But even so, he didn’t feel like giving up, nor did he feel like he would be easily defeated.

Eight weeks was by no means a short time to sharpen his imagination.

Finishing his thoughts, Ray noticed the ring had disappeared from his hand.

Turning his head, he saw Solite putting the ring into his pocket.

Feeling Ray’s intense gaze, Solite turned his head.

“Ah, by any chance, do you intend to transfer the ring to me?”

“Thief.”

“I was merely measuring whether the ring would fit in my pocket.”

“Thief.”

“The time we spent drawing pictures together was not short. Being treated as a thief over such a matter inevitably makes me feel disappointed.”

“Thief.”

“Anyway… it seems you have no intention of transferring it.”

Without any particular change in expression, Solite returned the ring.

“I plan to go myself.”

“Understood. The Order is like a cradle and foundation where I was born and raised. I cannot stand by and watch such impure individuals threaten the Order’s well-being. If there’s anything I can help with, please feel free to tell me anytime.”

Despite his calm exterior, an enormous volume of rage was surging within Solite’s Vessel.

He seemed like a person skilled at controlling emotions.

The next item examined was a bead of unknown exact material.

“I don’t sense any special magical power. It might be a token of the Indigo Dawn Society like the ring, I think.”

“It’s a communication device.”

The answer came from behind.

Turning his head, Curiosa, who had emerged from a Spatial Rift at some point, was standing behind him.

“Since when…!”

“A suspicious person…!”

Solite and the priests quickly raised their guard, drawing up Mana.

“No need to be on guard. This person is my─.”

Ray tried to stop them but couldn’t think of an appropriate term.

“This person is my─.”

Everyone tensed up.

They gulped.

Curiosa pretended not to care, but judging by the emotions in her Vessel, she was secretly expecting something.

And finally.

“─my employee.”

“Tch, I’m an idiot for expecting anything.”

Clicking her tongue, Curiosa opened a Spatial Rift and leaped up.

To be precise, she pretended to leap up, and after Ray closed the rift, she used the time difference to open another rift and actually leaped up.

Thud!

And she fell onto the snow, the rift closed again by the boy whose reaction speed far exceeded expectations.

In Curiosa’s skyward view, a hand holding the bead appeared.

“Explain what this is before you go.”

“Hah, really.”

“It’s a magic tool, right?”

“I’m speechless.”

After laughing hollowly for a while, Curiosa abruptly stood up and said.

“A communication tool often found in Ruins. Comes in a set of two. Inject Mana of a designated Elemental Fusion into one, and the other bead glows the same color. That’s all it does—just glows. Usually used for survival signals or to indicate a task has been completed. However, if it’s not the designated type of Mana, it won’t even react.”

Spitting out the explanation like a rapid-fire gun, Curiosa, with gestures that blatantly showed her displeasure, quickly disappeared into a Spatial Rift.

Solite, who had been blankly watching the scene, asked again.

“…You said employee?”

“She’s also a friend.”

“I see. According to your friend’s words, this bead seems to be a tool to inform the Dawn Society that the matter at the mansion has been completed successfully. I think it would be good to activate it and send the signal.”

Solite tried injecting various combinations of elements he could handle into the bead one after another.

But the bead showed no reaction.

“May I try as well?”

“Let me also try once…”

The priests took turns attempting, but the result was the same.

“It seems unlikely they set an element combination easily handled by others as the code…”

Solite, who had been pondering, turned his gaze with a look of realization.

Around the dead Kraimer.

A chaotic wave of Elemental Composites, spewing from the rings that had lost their sustaining power, could be sensed.

“I think the Elemental Composites detected near there might be the answer.”

Solite concentrated his mind and attempted to control the Elemental Composites.

But with so many elements clumped together, moving them wasn’t easy.

Just as he was sweating and engrossed in the task.

“Ooh!”

“It moved!”

The Elemental Composites moved greatly.

The priests exclaimed in admiration, but seeing Solite’s hollow face, they realized the movement just now wasn’t caused by their superior.

Solite let out a hollow laugh and said to Ray.

“While listening to the story, I thought it was likely, but indeed, you are also a Wizard, Ray. And it seems your level is quite high.”

“I had no intention of hiding it.”

“Yes. I know.”

Ray injected Kraimer’s indigo Mana into the bead.

Then the bead emitted an indigo light before calming down.

“It seems the signal has been sent. I don’t think the Dawn Society will send another Overseer, but I can’t be one hundred percent certain.”

“I think so too.”

Ray, who had been staring intently at the bead, asked.

“Bishop Cardio’s return date, exactly 5 days later, you said?”

“Correct.”

“Don’t report today’s incident; bury it. The indigo sky’s area was small, so not many would have seen it, and rumors would only circulate for about 3 to 4 days at most. It’s entirely possible to conceal the incident.”

“That goes without saying. I plan not to report to the higher-ups and, together with the 7th Priesthood here, work to root out the spy.”

Solite, who spoke with a resolute voice, hesitated for a moment before saying.

“This is said out of concern, but I recommend you relocate your residence. Just in case, I think there’s a possibility the Dawn Society might issue another directive, and Bishop Cardio could be watching this mansion.”

“No, I won’t change where I live.”

Ray’s voice was firm.

His gaze was directed toward the gate.

Veronica, Philip, Ayla, Ain…

And the other mansion children who had evacuated had all returned at some point.

Ray muttered to himself.

Running away and abandoning something, once is enough.