Chapter 520: The Master of the Ruined Land

“Do you know about the Great Calamity?”

Bartholomew, who was walking ahead, asked.

Oliver, while observing Z-District, followed from behind and answered.

“I don’t know the details, but I know it was the catalyst for what Randa is today.”

A precise answer that hit the core. Bartholomew silently nodded.

Ironically, the Great Calamity, which had once ruined Randa, was also the starting point for the creation of the new Free City version of Randa.

If this land hadn’t been destroyed and contaminated by the Great Calamity’s aftermath, the kingdom wouldn’t have granted self-rule in exchange for development.

“However, I don’t know why the Great Calamity occurred or what exactly it was.”

When they reached the inner part of Z-District, Oliver added.

There were buildings scattered around that appeared to have once been mansions.

Though time and disaster had faded them beyond recognition, Oliver instinctively knew that this place had once been prosperous.

“That’s natural. Just as you can’t cover the sky with your hand, the Great Calamity itself can’t be hidden, but the detailed circumstances are a different story. The reason it happened and what exactly the Great Calamity was, those can be concealed and twisted… through countless lies.”

Oliver nodded in agreement.

Hiding a speck of truth with countless lies was already a common tactic in Randa.

It was somewhat amusing. The manipulations carried out endlessly within Randa were also concealing the very details of the Great Calamity that played a crucial role in Randa’s birth… It was very intriguing.

“By the way, are all the members of the Anti-Development Committee shy?”

Oliver asked while looking at the people hiding within the ruins of buildings.

They all were completely wrapped in bandages, just like those who belonged to the Anti-Development Committee Oliver had seen before. Some of them were so disfigured that it was visible even through the bandages.

They resembled more animals than humans, like lizards or dogs.

“It’s been a long time since they’ve let in an outsider, so it seems they’re all feeling embarrassed.”

Bartholomew gave a suitable excuse and stopped in front of a ruin.

The ruin was the site of a collapsed large building, and in front of it sat an Ogre Man, a type of mutant.

This Ogre Man was also fully wrapped in bandages, just like the other members of the Anti-Development Committee.

“Open the door.”

As soon as Bartholomew gave the order, the Ogre Man stood up. It was roughly 1.5 times larger than a typical Ogre Man. Oliver wondered if its size was due to personal traits or because of that alien yet familiar aura emanating from below.

“Grrrrraaaaahhh!!”

While Oliver was thinking that, the Ogre Man inserted its fingers under the ruin and lifted it.

Surprisingly, a hidden underground entrance was revealed beneath the ruin.

As the entrance came into view, Bartholomew casually descended below, and Oliver followed without hesitation.

Tap. Tap. Tap… After a short while, they came upon an underground passage.

“Do you happen to know about Randa before the Great Calamity?”

“No, I don’t.”

Oliver, while creating a light with magic, looked around and answered. This underground space seemed old, yet it wasn’t just a simple sewer.

The elaborate interior design was proof of that. Additionally, antique shields, swords, armors, and portraits with faces torn or erased were tightly packed on the walls. It made one wonder what this place once was.

“Randa before the Great Calamity was prosperous too, but it was quite different from now. It was thoroughly class-based.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it was a royal dominion, so it’s only natural. All the land belonged to the royal family, and powerful nobles who sought favor with royalty gathered here. It was like a second capital, but with a different meaning.”

“…When you say royalty, do you mean the current royal family ruling over the United Kingdom?”

Oliver asked what had been on his mind for a while.

“Yes, that’s correct. The Great Calamity happened just a few decades ago. In fact, the person who was higher in the line of succession than the current queen was involved.”

Oliver nodded calmly as he listened to Bartholomew’s continued answer.

To think that just a few decades ago, this country’s royalty and influential nobles had caused the Great Calamity by dealing with demons… It was an extremely shocking and surprising story.

But there was no helping it. After all, he had heard a similar story before.

That was the tale of how Edward X, the current heir apparent to the kingdom, worshiped demons—a fact Oliver had learned during a mission outside the City, through dealings with the Kel Free Independence Army a few years ago.

So it wasn’t all that surprising to hear that something similar had happened in Randa a few decades ago.

While decades may seem long from an individual’s perspective, from a historical or epochal viewpoint, it’s nothing but a fleeting moment.

However, separate from that, a question arose.

“Bartholomew, may I ask you a question?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Wasn’t this around the time when the United Kingdom was entering its golden age? I read newspapers and history books, you know.”

“You’re correct. It was just entering the Age of Victory.”

“Then, why would you consider making deals with demons? What could you possibly want?”

Oliver asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. Because he truly didn’t understand.

The kingdom was entering its golden age, and naturally, the royalty and aristocrats were doing the same. As the ruling class of the kingdom, they stood to benefit more than anyone else.

The gold and silver treasures he had seen on the way here could be seen as proof of that.

Why, then, would they negotiate with demons, as if they were lacking something? Oliver’s mind couldn’t wrap itself around it.

To this, Bartholomew provided an answer.

“It may sound like madness, but you don’t necessarily need a desperate reason to make a deal with a demon.”

“I don’t think you’re mad. I don’t consider myself worthy to judge such things… But I am curious. What was the reason behind dealing with demons?”

Bartholomew, deep in thought, tilted his head.

“Hmm… To get rid of the wrinkles on one’s face, or to restore strength to weakened lower bodies?”

“Pardon?”

Oliver incredulously replied. It was an explanation he couldn’t comprehend.

“Uh… Could this be a joke?”

“No, I’m serious.”

Bartholomew’s words were laced with sincerity, which left Oliver quite shocked.

To think they made deals with demons for wrinkles and lower body strength.

“Can’t wrap your head around it, can you?”

“To be honest with you… Yes, I can’t.”

“Try looking at it from a different perspective. Like, take the Blood Elixir, for example.”

“Blood Elixir?”

“Yes. Isn’t it a grotesque act to consume condensed blood and life force just for youth and vigor?”

“Oh…”

Oliver unknowingly nodded in agreement. Indeed, while perhaps not detestable, it did seem somewhat wasteful.

Even now, Oliver regularly concocted Blood Elixir for Edith, so he knew better than anyone how much blood and life force was required to make those crimson pills.

Considering the occasional newspaper articles promoting blood donation due to shortages, he couldn’t dismiss the feeling that, while not outright detestable, it was indeed somewhat wasteful… Although, in Edith’s case, it directly affected her health and survival.

“Others made deals with demons for back pain, toothaches, minor ailments, insomnia, an exhilarating bed experience, obesity, or even life extension.”

“…That’s quite the shocking story.”

Oliver thought of The Burned One he had met in the New Continent. He didn’t think they’d make such deals.

“Deals with demons are like that. Unpredictable and capricious. The demons always hold the upper hand.”

“Hmm… Did you continue making deals with demons?”

“Of course. The first time is difficult, but from then on, it’s easy. Besides, there was always plenty to offer.”

Bartholomew displayed a complex emotion based in regret.

He struggled to resist regretting, yet regret seeped in, mixed with self-loathing, selfishness, and various tangled emotions.

It was enough to make one’s eyes hurt.

“But there was one thing we missed. When you obtain something you want too easily, it’s like drinking saltwater—you just grow thirstier. Easy desires stirred up bigger ones, eventually morphing into more extreme and twisted forms.”

More extreme and twisted forms…

“Did you fulfill those desires?”

“…You could say I did.”

Bartholomew looked at his palm and spoke. His words carried a mix of sincerity, regret, and self-reproach.

“During the process, did you encounter any demons?”

“I don’t know. At the time, there was just too much going on… Ah, is this what you’re here for?”

Bartholomew, leading them deeper underground, suddenly stopped and gazed at Oliver.

Even though his face was completely covered in bandages, except for a slit for his mouth, Oliver felt as if he was staring straight into his heart.

Oliver didn’t bother to deny it.

“I didn’t come here solely for that, but yes, I’m curious personally.”

“Is it because of your right arm?”

Bartholomew subtly glanced at Oliver’s bandaged right arm.

Oliver had thought he wasn’t aware of it since he’d never looked at it; however, no, he knew that Oliver’s arm had been burned by a demon.

“…Yes, something like that.”

Oliver recalled that mysterious hand that had appeared over Marie’s head.

Trying to learn the identity of that hand, which bestowed such enormous power upon Marie was one reason he’d come here.

If anyone had survived the Great Calamity and had deep knowledge of strange rituals, they might also know something about demons.

Of course, there was also his interest in the Anti-Development Committee, but that priority had slid back.

“It’s a bit disappointing.”

Bartholomew sincerely remarked, and Oliver apologized.

“I’m sorry. A lot has happened recently.”

Oliver thought of The Burned One he’d met in the New Continent and the recent encounter with Lilith.

The Burned One who called himself a noble being and Lilith who asked Oliver about his identity.

Oliver had naturally pushed these questions aside but never forgot them, despite wanting to.

‘Just like how I haven’t forgotten when Bartholomew once called me a great being…’

Oliver wanted to ask about that mystery, but he hesitated.

Perhaps because Bartholomew had once said it wasn’t a question he could answer… No, maybe that wasn’t it. Maybe the reason Oliver couldn’t ask was because he was afraid. He wasn’t sure, but it seemed likely.

After all, every time he thought about that question, he wanted to avoid it.

With countless swirling thoughts, suspicions, and unease in his mind, Oliver shook his head.

For now, it wasn’t an urgent issue, so he decided to push it aside again.

What was more pressing was the matter concerning Marie.

Through that mysterious hand, she had invoked the power of the World Tree, using Ideation to transmute reality itself, strong enough even to face Lilith.

Honestly, he should’ve realized this sooner. Since reuniting with Marie, everything about her sudden increase in strength had been awfully odd.

When he returned to Randa and examined Marie’s condition, it didn’t seem like her body was under severe strain, yet Oliver still planned to investigate it thoroughly.

For something whose identity is unknown yet grants such tremendous power is bound to be suspicious.

Once Oliver’s purpose became clear, he brought it up.

“That’s why I wanted to ask, Bartholomew, by any chance, do you have any demonic texts? It’s just that-”

“-Demonic texts? That’s a foolish request.”

A third voice suddenly interrupted. Surprisingly, it wasn’t from in front or behind, but from the wall.

When Oliver and Bartholomew turned their heads, they saw cracks forming in the wall.

CRACK!!

Breaking sounds echoed as a split appeared in the wall.

“Bartholomew, is there another room or corridor beyond this?”

“No, there’s nothing. Just solid ground.”

Oliver accepted this. After all, he hadn’t sensed any emotions or life energies beyond the corridor wall.

However, the breaking sound persisted, and moments later, the wall crumbled, revealing someone against the backdrop of a blue sky.

It was none other than Ewan.

Ewan Bremner.

The master craftsman who created the Big Mouth, Smith’s mentor, a brilliant negotiator who once traded beans for cows, and a consummate debtor.

He appeared wielding a battering ram with a human head at the end, having just emerged through the broken wall.

‘That battering ram… Could it be dark magic that traverses space?’

While Oliver was analyzing the aura emanating from the battering ram, Ewan stepped through the broken wall. Astonishingly, the shattered wall fragments returned to their original positions, as if time had reversed.

It was more magical than actual magic.

Ewan, wielding the battering ram with a human head at the end, spoke.

“Let me say it again. That’s a foolish request.”

“What do you mean?”

“Asking these people to lend you demonic texts is a foolish request. Because all the demonic texts they possessed vanished when the Great Calamity occurred. I know that because I failed to steal them.”

Oliver reflexively looked at Bartholomew. He silently nodded.

It was unclear whether there were really no demonic texts, or if Ewan was referring to his past attempt to steal them.

“But don’t be disappointed. Fortunately for you, I’ve got quite a splendid offer. Consider yourself lucky.”

“I’m not sure I understand?”

“You need demonic texts, right?”

Ewan pointed at Oliver as if poking him with his index finger.

“Yes, but it’s more of a personal…”

“-Ah! Don’t bother explaining to me. I don’t give a damn. I’m here to talk about business. A grown-up trade where we both get what we want.”

As chaotic and abrupt as the offer was, Ewan was serious. Oliver found himself intrigued.

“What’s the offer?”

“It’s simple. You and I go to Gallos and loot the Flesh Cook’s legacy!”

Ewan powerfully raised the battering ram with a human head at the tip and spoke with great enthusiasm. One of the eyes from the crushed head slowly fell out.