Chapter 545: Archive

Puppet Immortal.

The first time Oliver met the Hand.

The Hand grasped Oliver’s hand.

Oliver, who hadn’t noticed him until he touched his hand, was quite startled by this sudden appearance.

Though he was focused on the Swan Prince, he had not expected to be so unaware of his surroundings.

And that wasn’t the only thing bothering him.

‘That Zombie Puppet… I saw that one back in the Gallos Sewers.’

Sunken cheeks, straw-like hair, a scraggly beard, and clad in ragged clothes… This Zombie Puppet was the same one Oliver saw when the Flesh Cook was causing havoc in Ravely.

It was the beggar he encountered while helping Jane in the sewers.

He had thought even then that it wasn’t just an ordinary Zombie Puppet, but now, with more knowledge, he could confirm it was no ordinary puppet.

The powerful magical energy it emitted and the fact that he hadn’t sensed it until it grabbed his hand were proof of that.

A mixture of surprise and admiration filled Oliver’s heart, followed by a deep curiosity.

He couldn’t understand how Puppet suddenly appeared here.

After all, Oliver hadn’t sensed Puppet anywhere in the Verdant Forest, especially not in the Princess’s domain within the Sleeping Forest.

Though someone of Puppet’s caliber could have hidden, this felt different.

Oliver had thoroughly scanned the entire Sleeping Forest and even used his blood as a medium to call upon the Sleeping Princess.

That allowed him to pull out the castle where the Princess resided. During that moment, there was nowhere for Puppet to hide.

So, there was only one conclusion.

Puppet was outside the Sleeping Forest and used spatial magic to appear here.

But even that wasn’t an easy feat.

Using spatial magic outside the Sleeping Forest to enter it wasn’t at all simple.

Inside and outside the barrier were like different worlds, and the Sleeping Forest was even more unique.

Even if Puppet forced his way into the forest, appearing precisely where he wanted was another matter entirely.

Because the Sleeping Princess was the master of the forest.

However, the twisted magical energy radiating from Puppet soon resolved Oliver’s doubts.

“…Puppet.”

“Yes?”

“Claude, Bay, and the Plague Merchant… They were all your disciples, weren’t they?”

Oliver, gazing at Claude, Bay, and the Plague Merchant, who were now reduced to materials for Summoning Magic, asked while blood dripped from his face.

They were dead, having bled out silently, and their vast amount of blood intermingled to form a living magic circle.

Puppet had appeared through that magic circle.

It was a combination of Blood Magic and Sacrificial Rituals, using the formidable Black Mages as components.

Given the circumstances, Puppet’s appearance made sense.

Puppet was impressed by Oliver’s insight.

“Interesting… You’ve changed.”

“…”

“Normally, you’d have just greeted me with a simple ‘Hello?’.”

It was a brief response, but it conveyed a lot.

Oliver answered.

“I heard why Claude, Bay, and the Plague Merchant came here.”

“What did they say?”

“They said they were here to get a gift for you.”

Oliver recalled the conversation he shared with Claude’s group.

Their reason for risking everything in the Verdant Forest wasn’t just for the Flesh Cook’s legacy.

Though it was indeed true they wanted to obtain the legacy, the real objective was to acquire a gift for Puppet, not for themselves.

It was unusual for Black Mages who typically valued self-preservation above all else. Maybe that’s why it was so memorable.

“Something about a watch, though I didn’t ask for details because I was a bit busy. However…”

Oliver, hesitating for a moment, continued.

“Their feelings for you were sincere.”

“That’s a relief then.”

“…What?”

“Whatever it was, it proved useful to me.”

At that moment, a surge of magical energy erupted from Puppet, and Oliver withdrew his left arm to counter. He was ready to throw a punch.

Both moved so quickly that it was hard to tell who was first. But what was clear was that Oliver’s punch, which had destroyed a colossal fist reminiscent of a giant’s, was stopped by the concentrated air Puppet had summoned through his powerful magic.

CRACK!

When Oliver’s fist collided with the air barrier, it triggered a shockwave resembling an explosion, and the invisible barrier began to crack.

It looked as if the air itself had split. Hundreds of onlookers were both awed and confused.

Whether they should be impressed by the punch Oliver had thrown or by Puppet, who had blocked it.

What was certain was that Puppet and Oliver were now on the same level. They were equals as Black Mages.

CREEAAK…

Oliver pressed harder with his punch, widening the crack in the air.

Just as Oliver was about to wrap his arm with the Black Suit, Puppet, having sensed the shift, increased the output of his magic to push Oliver back.

The force was powerful enough to send the ground into upheaval.

But Oliver only flew a few yards back before landing on both feet.

“I wasn’t mocking you. I was being sincere.”

Puppet suddenly spoke.

“What I meant is that it was useful. I might have a guess at what they were after, but it was a fake.”

“…A fake?”

Oliver was puzzled. After all, Claude had risked his life to get something, and now it was revealed to be fake? The devastating truth was almost too much.

“Yes, it was a watch, wasn’t it? I think I know what it is. But it’s a fake. I can tell because I saw it when the Flesh Cook had it. It’s a fake, but I didn’t mention it.”

“Why didn’t you tell them?”

“What’s the point? Telling that temperamental guy would’ve only caused trouble.”

“No, I meant why didn’t you tell Claude… They wouldn’t have come here.”

Puppet tilted his head, puzzled.

“Why should I have? It wasn’t my business. They acted on their own.”

“…But they were your disciples, weren’t they? And part of your organization.”

“I have many disciples, and they weren’t even part of my organization. I’m not like the Flesh Cook, who controls his people tightly. I let them do whatever they want. If they need help, they ask for it.”

Oliver was beginning to understand what Puppet meant. Unlike the Flesh Cook, Puppet didn’t organize his disciples into a strict hierarchy. They followed a looser, sprawling structure. Still…

“…It was for you, Puppet.”

Oliver remembered the feelings Claude and his comrades had when they spoke about Puppet. Their faces showed genuine care.

Although they claimed it was to continue their learning, they had come to the Verdant Forest sincerely for Puppet’s benefit.

Suddenly, Oliver recalled the Puppeteer Glip, who he had met when he was with the Beggars’ Guild.

Glip was also Puppet’s disciple, but he wasn’t recognized and tried to join the Black Hand on his own. Even though his method included offering beggars as sacrifices to the Black Hand.

Despite all those efforts, Puppet didn’t even remember him. It was understandable, given that Puppet had lived for hundreds of years with countless disciples.

‘That’s not unreasonable, but…’

Oliver found himself agreeing with Puppet, but he also felt a strange, indescribable emotion. Was it regret? Pity? Or maybe…

“…Do you feel sorry for them?”

Puppet suddenly asked.

“…”

“If so, let me tell you that there’s no need. Bay sold bombs to crime organizations, anti-government factions, and warlords. And the Plague Merchant sold diseases instead of bombs. They caused at least four figures worth of deaths. From an objective perspective, they were worthless scum not deserving of any sympathy.”

He was deadly serious.

“As for Claude, instead of dealing with bombs or diseases, he crafted women and children into dolls, selling them to wealthy perverts. So he was also undeserving of any sympathy.”

Puppet’s words were serious and true. From an objective point of view, they were entirely accurate.

In fact, most people who came to this forest were individuals from the underworld. Having mortgaged their lives, they faced no injustice in dying for any reason.

To even ask these questions was strange. Oliver couldn’t understand why he was reacting this way. He didn’t understand why he was even asking this.

Maybe Oliver’s emotions towards Puppet were akin to how the Beggar Guild children viewed Kent.

Like a guardian they held affection for.

“…I heard you raised them in an orphanage until they reached adulthood.”

“Did they really tell you that?”

Oliver nodded.

“Hah… They must have liked you quite a bit. They don’t usually talk about their grim orphanage days.”

“So, it’s true. You once ran an orphanage and raised countless children to adulthood? And did it well.”

“I did it because I wanted to try something. And now I made use of them. Does that answer your question?”

Oliver didn’t know what to say. He had no reason to feel this way.

His interactions with Claude had been few and far between. But yet…

‘Hmm…’

Oliver made a sound to himself, still not fully understanding why he felt this way.

“You’ve really changed. You have more emotions than when I last saw you. Just a little, but still.”

Unable to sense his own emotions, Oliver asked.

“…What emotions are those?”

“Don’t you know? Well, it’s common not to recognize your own emotions. That’s the beauty of emotions. They’re unpredictable. You can hate and love at the same time, which sounds absurd.”

Puppet spoke in riddles, but there was a hidden meaning somewhere.

“Still, I don’t mind… But let’s put this conversation on hold. I came here for a reason.”

Puppet ended the conversation as he pointed to the Swan Prince.

“May I take this thing back with me?”

Despite the fact that Puppet had overpowered hundreds of beings, he referred to the Swan Prince as an object.

Oliver asked.

“Were you acquainted with the Swan Sect?”

“I’m acquainted with a lot of people. From self-proclaimed nobles sitting at the top to the scum at society’s bottom. But that’s not the point. I have some familiarity with the Swan Sect, but we’re not close.”

“Then why?”

“Because I need it.”

“Does this have to do with your research? About humanity-”

“-Didn’t I tell you not to speak carelessly about others? Don’t pry into others if you don’t want to expose yourself.”

“…Apologies.”

Oliver, realizing he was in the wrong, apologized. It was a bad habit of his. Though tough to break, he would work on it.

Puppet then made a request, taking advantage of Oliver’s apology.

“Thank you for the apology. So, may I take this? I need it.”

Puppet pointed at the Swan Prince again.

Although it wasn’t long ago that the Swan Prince, a predator aiming for the Sleeping Princess, was now reduced to mere spoils.

Oliver looked at the Swan Prince and answered.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I also have matters with him.”

“That’s unfortunate. When we have conflicting interests, we must fight. But, unfortunately, I’m afraid to fight you, especially barehanded.”

Puppet looked at the Quarterstaff lodged amidst the remains of the Monster Bird creature.

Following Puppet’s gaze, Oliver also looked at the Quarterstaff. While their attention was diverted, Puppet raised powerful magical energy, more intense than what Oliver had felt before.

The commanding aura caused the nearby air to vibrate so strongly that it seemed to crack the very air around them.

Using the air as a medium, Puppet activated spatial magic. Through the newly formed fractures in the air, many Zombie Puppets emerged.

A black mage Zombie Puppet, swollen like a corpse pulled from water.

A Golem Zombie Puppet, formed using dozens of Black Mages into a gigantic scarecrow.

A mounted Zombie Puppet wearing a human face mask, draped in severed heads like a necklace.

But that wasn’t all.

The swollen Zombie Puppet split from its abdomen up to the throat, spilling out decaying rats, maggots, and flies.

The Golem Zombie Puppet, standing at least 4 meters tall, rang its massive staff adorned with a bell, unleashing multiple weakening curses within the range of the sound.

The mounted Zombie Puppet naturally wielded the flesh sword once held by the Swan Prince as its weapon.

The flesh sword morphed to match its new master, proving this.

Each Zombie Puppet was formidable, with formidable strength and terrifying energy.

But, despite their appearance, Oliver’s gaze remained fixed on the first Zombie Puppet in the beggar’s form.

Because that puppet held a book infused with magic similar to Merlin’s.

That Zombie Puppet was made by the Archive.