I Became a Gallery Newbie Beloved by Transcendents
Chapter 44
I withdrew the “Veil of Secrecy” that had been concealing the Transcender Gallery from the Constellations and began moving again.
I questioned Carmine and Lengel one after another.
Whether they knew anything about the information guild.
The answers I wanted didn’t come.
However, I quickly learned the location of the Belfetor General Store.
Thanks to the map the scout Bern had been carrying.
The Belfetor General Store was marked on what had now become my map.
SWISH.
Even though there was no red dot indicating its importance, the fact that it was recorded at all suggested it was a long-established store, regardless of whether it still functioned as part of the information guild.
And I also spotted a viable route that could lead me there.
No choice but to charge ahead and see.
I made my decision.
We would head straight for the Belfetor General Store.
Of course, “straight” was a figurative term.
To shake off the pursuers sent by Raphaelo Viscounty after leaving the forest, we might have to take a much longer detour than expected.
CLATTER—
Soon, we reached the edge of the dense forest. It was time to decide our next move.
Carmine, of course, had to go with me to the Ventura Academy.
My gaze shifted to Lengel, the mercenary who had helped her escape.
”What do you plan to do?”
Lengel scratched his brown hair.
”If you keep following us, it’s pretty clear your life won’t last long.”
At my added remark, Lengel let out a dry laugh.
”That’s already unavoidable. I’m just as guilty as you are for killing Raphaelo Viscounty’s knights and soldiers.”
Fair point.
Since Bern had reported our numbers, trying to slip away alone would only make him a prime target for pursuit.
”Then stick with us. From now on, we’ll be moving like our lives depend on it—because they do.”
Lengel answered without hesitation.
”Understood.”
I began tightly binding Bern, who was still sprawled on the ground, with rope.
”Stay quiet.”
After trussing Bern up like a cocoon, I hoisted him onto the horse.
Lengel looked at me and spoke.
”We should ditch the horse near the edge of the forest. We’ll have to use alleyways as escape routes anyway.”
”Right, you two follow on foot. Let them lower their guard.”
The moment we left the dense forest, a vast plain stretched out before us.
I expanded my sensory field once more.
Two mansions stood to the left and right.
From behind each, two groups of enemies poured out.
Three enemies each lined up on either side.
I had no intention of fighting them. My only goal was to get past without taking any damage.
Not just the close-range enemies in front of us—more were visible in the rear.
Several mages and archers among them.
Trying to properly engage them here would be digging my own grave.
According to my sensory field, more troops were gathering—about twenty of them.
I calculated the best path while observing the enemy formation.
Ahead of me, Bern’s body, slung over the horse, began squirming.
Seeing his allies nearby, he seemed to be making an exaggerated display of relief.
”Bern, you bastard… You dare betray us?”
”B-betrayal?! I was captured! Captured!”
”Shut up, traitor.”
Bern raised his right hand high and shouted.
”Stop yapping and just save me!”
I looked at the yelling Bern and spoke softly.
”I’ll let you live, so make sure you keep yourself alive.”
”What…?”
At my words, Bern hurriedly turned his head.
I raised my short spear and slashed the blade across Bern’s ankle.
”GRRROOOAAAH!”
Before he could let out a proper scream, I lifted him with both hands and hurled him far away.
I watched as the enemies’ gazes turned toward Bern.
He was bait to scatter their attention.
I spoke quickly—only loud enough for Carmine and Lengel to hear.
”Run left. Now.”
I threw Mundum Exstinguit, the sword I was holding, in an instant.
A thrown sword aimed at its target.
SHIIIIING!
The goal was to incapacitate the 3rd and 2nd-rank knights.
SHWAAAK!
The sword deeply gouged the 2nd-rank knight’s shoulder before embedding itself in the 3rd-rank knight’s throat.
Mundum Exstinguit’s effect: retrieval activation.
KEEEEN!
The sword, glowing with a cold light, traced a trajectory according to my will.
WHOOSH!
It grazed the first target’s collarbone, plunged deep into the second’s abdomen, and split the third mercenary’s thin helmet—and his face—in half.
I dismounted while keeping my eyes on Mundum Exstinguit as it returned to me.
SCHLICK!
WHEEZE!
Finally, the sword shattered the 1st-rank knight’s hands before arcing back into my grip with a blue trail.
The moment the sword returned, I swiftly adjusted my grip and swung it horizontally.
TING!
After deflecting two arrows, I quickly caught up to Lengel and Carmine, who had rushed ahead.
WHOOSH!
I enlarged the Mirror of Transformation shield and positioned myself beside them, blocking the arrows and spears aimed at them.
Behind the soldiers who had thrown those weapons were more enemies—mages.
CRACKLE-BOOM!
A deep blue lightning bolt descended from the clear sky, streaking toward me.
From both sides, arrows and spears wreathed in crimson flames closed in.
I hurled the talisman high into the air with my left hand.
I had already activated it by channeling mana before throwing it.
The magical attacks surged toward the talisman as if being absorbed.
Then—
FLASH!
A blinding light erupted from the talisman for an instant.
The blue lightning bolt warped, unable to pass through the talisman’s barrier.
The crimson flames, too, failed to breach the talisman’s domain.
Both the lightning and fire merely scraped against the circular surface of the barrier before dissipating.
[The ‘One Who Carves Infinite Runes’ harbors deep suspicion about the items you are using.]
[The ‘Bender of Mana’ blinks blankly, wide-eyed.]
They must be Constellations with mage backgrounds.
[The ‘Judge with a Thousand Eyes’ doubts your true identity.]
What’s it to you if they doubt me?
As the Archmage senior had casually mentioned in a comment, even if they saw me using items similar to those of past Tower conquerors, they wouldn’t suspect I was using something like the Transcender Gallery.
[The ‘Saint Chasing Light’ watches the situation with interest.]
After all, the Constellations who had cleared the Tower but failed to leave it wouldn’t even know of the Transcender Gallery’s existence.
At any rate, they seemed quite startled to see me effortlessly nullify magic attacks of what appeared to be 4th-rank level.
From across the way, the mages who had fired the spells began shouting.
”Does that bastard have some kind of magic-negating artifact?!”
”What are you doing?! We’ll lose them at this rate!”
All I could do was feel grateful to the priestess senior who had given me this talisman.
If I knew where she was, I’d even build a shrine in her honor—but I had no idea.
The talisman floated slowly through the air before magnetically returning to my palm.
”Push your speed to the limit.”
We successfully entered the city.
THUD!
I stomped hard on the ground.
”Head for the crowded areas.”
The two complied. I saw them channeling mana to keep up at full speed.
I deliberately guided Carmine and Lengel toward the busier streets.
About five pursuers were tailing us.
Now was the time.
I sent mana flowing into the back of the talisman.
SWOOSH!
I activated the *Veil of Secrecy*, distorting the scenery behind me to prevent them from clearly seeing the moment we merged into the crowd.
”They’re gone!”
”Wh-where did they disappear to?!”
”I don’t care about the others, but that woman must be secured!”
”We have to find them!”
The voices of the pursuers echoed from afar.
I steered us toward a direction with no pursuers.
It wasn’t hard to tell—I just had to keep my sensory field active.
”This way.”
The three of us alternated between walking and running for a long time.
Every time I glanced back, I noticed Carmine’s complexion growing paler, but she never asked to stop or rest.
Half a day later, the two following me halted, catching their breath.
We had finally reached our destination.
Carmine’s voice reached me.
”The general store is bigger than I expected.”
I looked around.
Since visual confirmation alone wasn’t enough, I expanded my sensory field to be sure.
The shabby sign clearly read: Belfetor General Store.
When the three of us opened the door and entered, I felt the gazes of two women and two men lock onto us.
I quickly scanned their faces.
Fortunately, none seemed connected to Carmine Everhart.
A pleasant-looking woman behind the counter smiled and leaned forward.
She had long silver hair.
[NPC – Belfetor General Store Deputy Manager Asher]
”Looking for anything in particular?”
”Not anything, no.”
I met Asher’s eyes and continued.
”But I am looking for someone.”
”Huh?”
I decided to immediately use the passphrase the Archmage senior had provided.
”I’ve come to forge a bond with the strange night.”
The moment I finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the store shifted abruptly.
CLUNK!
A black square lock suddenly appeared on the door where there had been none.
”If a passphrase unused for decades suddenly pops up, do you think we’d trust it—or suspect it?”
As Asher slowly raised her right hand, the three others drew their weapons.
A palpable killing intent filled the store.
Damn it.
Another fight?
I fiddled with the hilt of Mundum Exstinguit.
CLICK.
The sound of a door opening came from inside the store, and a neatly mustached man stepped out.
”The young lady accompanying you is the daughter of House Everhart.”
[NPC – Belfetor General Store Manager Maduk]
”And you’re currently being chased by Raphaelo Viscounty’s lackeys, who are swarming the streets of Intenes.”
Maduk continued.
”I assume you’re here to discuss the trouble the young lady is in?”
I nodded.
”Yeah, agreed. Great idea.”
I could feel the store staff, Carmine, and Lengel all staring at me like I was some kind of weirdo.
