Chapter 322

Chapter 322. Ryanga (4)

“It’s been a long time!”

“Ryanga! You’ve grown so much!”

“Of course I have!”

Right after reuniting with Ryanga, Alon Palatio descended the cliff alongside her.

As soon as Penia and Ryanga saw each other, they greeted one another happily.

After that.

“Let’s go to the hideout first.”

Following Ryanga, Alon arrived at the Hundred Ghosts’ hideout and couldn’t help but make a strange expression.

“…That…”

“What do you think, boss? I carved it myself!”

While he listened to Ryanga’s words—a bit embarrassed but also proud—Alon stared blankly at the mural carved into the cliff wall of the hideout.

More precisely, the mural carved into the rock.

Carvings that showed the figure of a man from behind, his black trench coat fluttering.

“Wow, you did all that?”

“Yep.”

“…It’s incredible.”

Penia let out a small exclamation, impressed.

Alon was also looking at the mural with admiration when—

“Ah.”

Suddenly, he realized something.

‘So that’s why Reinhardt asked me if I had a connection to the Hundred Ghosts.’

He recalled those words Reinhardt said to him when he first came to the Ronovelli jungle years ago, and nodded.

Although it was somewhat idealized, it certainly looked a lot like him using magic.

‘…Though to ask something like that so directly just because of this…’

It was true that the mural looked like him.

Alon admitted it.

But he wasn’t the only mage in the world who wore a trench coat.

He thought it was an exaggeration to deduce his identity just from that, but he immediately shrugged and looked away.

It had been years ago, and it wasn’t anything worth worrying about.

‘Maybe I look too much like myself from behind.’

With that thought, he looked at Ryanga.

“It is well done.”

“Right?! I made it exactly the same!”

“I agree too. It’s impossible not to recognize him.”

At Penia’s opinion, Alon looked back at the mural, wondering if it was really that obvious.

The carving only showed his back.

It still seemed strange to him, but he nodded.

“Well, let’s go inside. Haven’t you eaten dinner yet? I’ll cook.”

“You know how to cook?”

“Of course! I’ve been practicing!”

As they followed Ryanga, Alon asked Penia in a low voice:

“Penia.”

“Yes, Lord Marquis?”

“That mural… can you tell it’s me just by looking at it?”

Penia looked back at the mural with an inquisitive expression.

‘…Even an idiot would recognize it.’

A male figure with a black trench coat wouldn’t be enough to identify Marquis Palatio…

If only the back was visible.

And if one didn’t know that Ryanga carved it.

Then perhaps one could think it was anyone.

But there was something impossible to ignore.

Two pupils.

Two eyes floating above the carved figure’s head.

Although lately Marquis Palatio only showed one…

Penia recognized it immediately.

If one saw those eyes, it was impossible not to identify the Marquis.

“Uh… if someone has seen you use magic even once, they would think it is you.”

Penia replied.

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Alon nodded with interest, feeling strangely proud. Although he didn’t show it, his carved figure looked quite imposing.

‘Maybe I should show my back more in the future.’

Thinking nonsense, he followed Ryanga.

Ganmá, one of the Hundred Ghosts who had been beaten every other day by Ryanga under the excuse of “training” just a few days ago, was losing the ability to react.

‘Is that… the boss?’

He looked at Ryanga, clinging to Marquis Palatio—a human whose name he knew from repeating it so many times.

From this distance, she could be seen smiling innocently.

Ganmá looked at the others.

Some were horrified.

Others, stunned.

Others, about to vomit with rage.

Everyone was looking at Ryanga.

And it was natural.

They had spent centuries with her.

They knew all her facets, and they were proud to know exactly what kind of being she was.

But—

‘Is that… really the boss? Seriously?’

They all remembered the true Ryanga.

Only violent scenes.

She always resolved everything—whether it was hierarchy or fights—with punches.

And when she wasn’t, she spent all day lying down sleeping on the cliff.

So seeing her like this was traumatic.

“Does this make sense?”

“Can the boss smile like a woman like that?”

“…It can’t be, did you see? She hooked onto the Marquis’s arm.”

“Ugh—”

“She’s sitting in front of that human!”

“She’s acting adorable.”

“…I feel sick.”

The Hundred Ghosts, unable to withstand Ryanga’s “falseness”—something she never showed—wore faces of horror.

But then—

In a split second.

Ryanga, leaning on Marquis Palatio’s crossed leg, shot them a razor-sharp glare.

And everyone understood it upon seeing the movement of her lips.

“CUT. THE. CRAP.”

Murmured without sound, syllable by syllable, clearly visible to anyone who was spying on her.

Everyone trembled and retreated silently out of her sight.

The next day.

“Good morning!”

“…Ah, yes…”

As soon as he woke up, Alon was bombarded with overly formal greetings and didn’t understand anything, but soon he met Ryanga, who had a radiant countenance.

“Did you sleep well, boss?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“That’s good— If you’re comfortable, you can stay longer.”

Ryanga said quickly.

But Alon shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t for now.”

“…Really? Well, I don’t care, but…”

Although she said that, she made a small pout of disappointment.

Alon smiled unintentionally.

“Don’t be so sad. I’m busy right now, but I’ll be back soon.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Or you can come too.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ryanga laughed happily and continued:

“So, what will you do now?”

“Mm, I’ll probably stay in the jungle for another week.”

“A week?”

“Yes. I’m looking for something.”

“What thing?”

Alon thought for a moment and replied:

“I’m looking for the Mask of the Forward Walker.”

“The Mask of the Forward Walker?”

“Yes. It’s in some ruins in this jungle. I need it.”

“Hmmm~”

Ryanga nodded and asked:

“Where is it?”

“…Probably where the ruins are clustered.”

“Do you know the location?”

“More or less.”

“Can you show me?”

Although he hesitated for a moment, Alon opened the map the explorers had drawn up and pointed to the approximate area.

Ryanga rubbed her chin.

“Hmm—”

And suddenly she nodded, as if she had understood everything.

“Wait here!”

“Just a moment—”

Without giving him time to stop her, Ryanga disappeared with a deafening explosion.

Alon was left with his hand extended, frozen.

Penia, who was observing him, said:

“…Marquis, I think Ryanga went to get it.”

“It seems so.”

“…Well, based on what you said, she’s going to suffer a bit.”

Alon nodded.

The Mask of the Forward Walker could only be obtained by solving several puzzles inside the ruins.

Without solving them, it was impossible to obtain it.

That’s why—

“…Should we wait?”

“Uh… maybe it’s better to go help her, she must be suffering in there.”

“…Then we’d better get ready.”

Almost an hour had passed, and when Alon was getting up to go help her—

THUM!

Ryanga appeared, making the ground shake.

“I’m back!”

“Ryanga?”

She shouted energetically.

Alon looked at her without understanding, and Ryanga, sure of herself, said:

“Here!”

She handed him the mask.

The Mask of the Forward Walker.

Alon and Penia froze upon seeing it.

“Huh? Wasn’t this it?”

At her innocent voice, Alon regained his composure.

“No, it is the correct one. Thank you.”

“Bah, no need between us!”

While Ryanga smiled like an angel, Alon looked back at the mask in disbelief.

It was authentic.

It was the same one that could only be obtained by solving the puzzles.

Alon examined it several times, incredulous, and asked:

“…So, how did you get this?”

“This?”

“Yes. I understood that it could only be obtained by answering difficult questions.”

‘Don’t tell me Ryanga knew the answers…’

Ryanga thought for a moment.

“Ah, was it for that?”

She murmured, as if remembering something.

“I just ripped it out by force.”

She replied with a radiant smile.

“…You ripped it out?”

“Yes. Just crraack, and that was it.”

A fresh answer, without hesitation.

Alon then remembered the illustrated description of the stone door: several meters thick, reinforced with anti-magic enchantments and dozens of defensive barriers…

And Ryanga broke it like it was nothing.

Alon could only stare at her, stunned.

‘…So this is what they call: if the body is smart, the head can relax…’

He couldn’t think anything else.