Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Divine Relic of the North

In the wilderness, human life is utterly worthless. Yet back in the Black Coffin, life is so precious it hurts to lose it.

At the settlement counter, a woman tallied up the cost for me. I could choose to pay a lump sum of thirteen and a half million credits in compensation, or spread thirty million over twenty years, in addition to the rental fees for the Euna and Divine Sword rounds.

I chose the pain of a single blow over protracted agony.

The two million I had risked my life to earn, using skills beyond the reach of ordinary men, was spent in a heartbeat. But I was confronting the entire system, and within it, I was powerless to resist.

Now I only wanted to quit my job as a Ranger. Rumor had it there was mercenary work in the lower levels—perhaps more profitable.

As I staggered out of the bank, Michael’s servant found me. “The Marquis requests your immediate presence,” he said.

Was that spoiled heir not satisfied with the ruin he’d already brought me?

“I’m exhausted,” I replied. “I was heading home to rest. I have no desire to see that man.”

“Is that so?” said the servant. “The Marquis is considering buying back your Henry Mansion on the thirtieth floor. He recently collected a debt and is eager to spend the money.”

I hugged the servant. “How could I bear to keep our good friend Michael waiting? Let us hurry on our way.”

The servant asked, “You’re not tired anymore?”

“Of course I’m tired,” I said, “but the moment I see the Marquis, I’ll be invigorated. That’s what friendship is about.”

Michael was not in the study, but in the upstairs drawing room. The room gleamed with classical wooden floors, elegant gilt-trimmed furniture, plush sofas, and a spotless piano. Michael sat at the piano, playing a prelude; Mircea and Vasilisa were on the sofa, while Bella and Le Gang stood leisurely nearby.

Mircea waved to me. I wanted to speak, but the mood was delicate—it was better not to disturb. Michael seemed to be channeling his vampiric powers, and the music moved the soul.

When the piece ended, they applauded. Only then did Michael smile and say, “Longi, we were just talking about you. Who would have thought you and our distinguished guests shared such experiences?”

I wanted to hurry him to the subject of the house, but Michael rambled on. I had little say here, so I had to listen patiently.

Michael said, “To our esteemed guests, may our alliance prosper and endure for all time.”

I hadn’t expected them to settle an alliance treaty in a single day.

Vasilisa said, “Mircea will remain here as the assistant to your next ambassador. I must set out for home soon. I hope your ambassador will arrive before long.”

Michael replied, “Isn’t it dangerous for you to travel alone? Beware the daylight.”

Vasilisa answered, “It’s no trouble for me.”

I had feared they’d ask me to escort her, but thankfully that didn’t happen.

Mircea stood and bid me farewell with an embrace. I still hadn’t found a chance to tell him about Dalia—surely he was eager to know, and I must find a way to tell him.

He had always loved Dalia. At the very least, I owed him the truth of her fate, though I myself was not certain of it.

After they left, Michael became especially warm, his eyes red with excitement. He exclaimed loudly, “Longi, you must help me once more, no matter what!”

I no longer had the strength to rebuke him. “If I help you, you must help me,” I said.

Michael said, “I’ll buy back your house for forty million, and with the forty million Bella promised you, how does that sound?”

Suppressing my wild joy, I replied coolly, “Now, that’s a topic I like.”

Michael said, “The Pan-American Pyramid—this cursed and ominous tower. Even in the last century, I found its sharp spire insufferably arrogant. According to Eastern traditions, it breaks the flow of fortune, an ill omen. Now, I know the third Ikes Goddess statue is inside.”

I nodded. “It’s inside the ‘Epoch Antiquities Auction House.’”

Le Gang remarked, “‘Epoch’—as in the Empire of Epochs. Is that a coincidence?”

“I hope so,” I said, “but that statue is too dangerous. That building isn’t the Black Coffin; it must be crawling with demons and ghosts by now.”

Michael said, “And then there’s the demon Tanchi. Now that he knows about the Pan-American Pyramid, he’ll surely try to interfere.”

Bella nodded. “He can’t break the idol’s spell himself. He has to rely on us, then try to seize it.”

My resolve faltered. If we sent a team of elites and met disaster, even success would bring me little profit. But if I went alone, what were my odds of survival?

Michael said, “I value you too highly, Longi. You’re the human I admire most. I now name you my best human friend.”

I thought, “Or perhaps, the easiest human to exploit.”

Michael said, “Your safety will always come first. Follow me.”

We walked on, eventually arriving at a place like a shooting range. The space was stark and white, as if suspended in a blank universe. A display case rose from the floor. Michael retrieved from it a pure black, wave-shaped rifle. “This is my gift to you,” he said. “With it, you can forget about most useless guns in the world.”

The weapon’s design was strikingly modern, as if an inspired designer had conceived it in a flash. “What does it do?” I asked.

“It’s the highest masterpiece Le Gang managed to extract from the squad’s lab, a reward for my dear friend—you,” Michael said.

I took the rifle. A target rose from the ground. Michael said, “Give it a try.”

The target stood fifty meters away. I aimed and fired. A pale green glow shot from the muzzle. I knew my aim was slightly off—yet it still struck the mark.

Amazed, I fired three more times; each shot hit dead center.

“This gun… are these Divine Sword rounds? Does it have auto-tracking?” I asked.

Michael grinned. “I’ve named it ‘Gungnir,’ after Odin’s spear in Norse myth—it never misses. That’s not strictly true, but as long as your aim isn’t dreadful, it’ll correct your trajectory.” He stroked the gleaming black barrel, beaming with pride. “And its ammunition is infinite.”

For a moment, I was so stunned by the Black Coffin’s technology I could barely speak. “How… how is that possible?” I stammered.

Michael said, “I don’t fully understand it myself. Lady Typhon’s theory made it possible. She posits that today’s sun produces a substance called aether, which can be used to create Divine Sword rounds. She’s eager for someone to test this rifle, to prove her theory. I’ve set the permissions for you and Lamia.”

Staring at the beautiful weapon, I muttered, “Lamia will adore this.”

Michael said, “No need for a manual—I don’t have one myself. Just remember: the magazine has a limit—eight Divine Sword rounds. Once they’re spent, the rifle will refill itself within a day. And these rounds can’t be removed; they can only be fired. So don’t even think about making a profit off them.” He laughed heartily.

“Is there a way to upgrade the magazine’s capacity?” I asked.

Michael smiled. “Not yet, but just in case, we’ve given you a spare mag. You can use regular .45 rounds or Divine Sword rounds. It’s ten thousand times better than anything we currently use.”

I gripped Michael’s hand tightly, too moved for words. In that moment, I almost believed he was a good man, worthy of my help.

“You think that’s all my generosity amounts to?” Michael cried. “No, the Marquis Michael is always extravagantly generous to those he favors!”

A second display case rose from the floor, holding another black weapon, this one resembling the handle of a massive screwdriver.

“This is another Valkyrie Squad experimental weapon. I call it ‘Mjolnir’—named for the Hammer of Thor.” He handed me the heavy handle. “Careful—it’s very heavy.”

It might be nothing to a vampire like him, but I nearly broke my left hand. Only with my Shining Hand could I grasp it; it must have weighed at least twenty kilos.

“I’ve authorized you for its use,” Michael said. “You can activate it with a voice command. Just say: ‘Mjolnir.’” With that, he stepped aside.

I called out, “Mjolnir!” Instantly a bolt of lightning erupted in silence, stabilizing into the shape of a lightsaber.

“Behold the power of thunder,” Michael declared. “It delivers a tremendous electric charge—just a touch will paralyze a person. It’s hot enough to melt through iron, and the surrounding magnetic field can slice through steel like butter. Better still, its energy can be recharged by the sun—twenty-four hours to charge, two hours of use.”

This weapon could rival Gungnir. Michael’s generosity was almost overwhelming. “You… you really mean to give me both?” I asked. “These must be top Black Coffin secrets.”

Michael sighed. “You’re so suspicious. I’ll be honest. My adoptive father asked me to recommend test candidates for the new weapons, and I put your name forward. You were chosen.”

“Me?” I exclaimed. “I never imagined my reputation reached the Consul himself—let alone that he’d favor me.”

Michael said, “There are more new weapons, each with different testers. Le Gang and I chose you and your wife, entrusting you both with the Black Coffin’s mission and future.”

He embraced me, saying, “Friend, go—bring back the Ikes Goddess statue for me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “So, in the end, it’s all for that.”

“That’s what truly matters,” Michael replied. “I’ve always had my doubts about high technology—don’t forget, it was mysterious science that destroyed the world. The ancient relics hold a different, wondrous allure.”

Cradling Gungnir in my left arm and Mjolnir in my right, I felt like a husband returning from the market, arms full of groceries. Lamia greeted me with a long kiss, and I gave her the gifts. Her joy was boundless—no less than on our wedding day.

She held the black rifle, unable to put it down, her usual composure gone. “This is amazing! Why did Michael suddenly change his tune?”

“Maybe Euna gave the Consul confidence,” I said, “or perhaps the arrival of the Sword and Shield Society made him determined to strengthen his forces further.”

Betty said sourly, “I don’t see what’s so great about it—they just want someone to risk their necks for them.”

Lamia and I had no retort.

On reflection, Betty was right. These advanced weapons were meant to send us in place of the nobles into ever greater dangers. They might not make our missions any safer, but they’d certainly ease the nobles’ minds.