Chapter 46: The Circle of Sacrifice

“Yes, it was a gift from the king. Is there a problem…?”

Lamu asked, his eyes filled with confusion.

Gaon didn’t respond, instead rapidly analyzing the situation.

There were three possibilities:

1. The Bretan royal family was part of the Abyss.

2. Someone close to the royal family was with the Abyss.

3. Lamu was lying.

If Lamu was lying, the royal family might be uninvolved.

But Lamu had no reason to tell an easily disproved lie, especially since the Ritual of Sacrifice was installed in the Patrin Ducal House.

I should confirm.

Gaon looked at Lamu.

If he was lying, he could be Abyss, and if so, there’d be a seal in his brain or heart.

“Duke Lamu,” Gaon called.

“…Yes?”

Lamu, sensing something ominous, responded warily.

“The magic circles in your estate are designed to sacrifice everyone within their range,” Gaon said.

“What does that mean?!”

Lamu’s face was one of disbelief.

“That’s absurd!” he said, his voice low and filled with distrust.

It was a gift from the king, and the circles had proven effective.

To claim they were meant to sacrifice everyone was unthinkable.

If Gaon weren’t an Archmage, Lamu would’ve exploded in anger and had him imprisoned.

“I figured you’d think that. You won’t believe it until you see it,” Gaon said, understanding his reaction.

He manipulated the magic circle.

Grind!

A circle appeared beneath Lamu, and a tremendous suction force erupted, making it hard to move.

Worse, Lamu felt his energy draining against his will.

Swish!

Gaon deactivated the circle, and the suction vanished.

Lamu stared at Gaon, stunned.

He couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Kreng!

Bresa stepped forward, roaring and exuding energy.

Gaon didn’t intervene—there was no need.

Hop!

Kring leapt from Gaon’s shoulder, reverting to its true form and roaring.

Krung!

Bresa instantly curled its tail, cowering in submission.

Whine…

It let out a pitiful sound.

Krung!

With a single roar, Kring subdued Bresa, then nuzzled Gaon’s hand.

Gaon patted its head, looking at Lamu, who stared at Kring in shock.

“How… the Astarek beast…”

…!

Gaon’s eyes gleamed.

Makes sense, given the location.

The Patrin estate’s city, Elrin, was near the Astarek Mountains.

Kring’s existence wasn’t a secret, so it was natural Lamu knew of it.

“Now do you believe me?” Gaon asked.

The key wasn’t that Lamu recognized Kring but whether he believed Gaon about the magic circle.

“Well…”

Lamu trailed off, his face a mix of confusion.

It was understandable—such a scenario was unimaginable.

Not feeling confused would be stranger.

Gaon decided to give him time.

After a while, Lamu spoke.

“Are you saying the king intended to sacrifice our house? Why…?”

“I don’t know,” Gaon shrugged.

He was curious too—why would the king install the Ritual of Sacrifice here?

“But first, we need to check something.”

“Check?”

“You’re assuming the king orchestrated this. While I doubt you’re lying, we should confirm.”

“…How?”

“By checking for a seal.”

“A seal?”

Lamu was puzzled.

What did seals have to do with this?

“I’ll check if there’s a seal in your body. Those who set up this formation always have one,” Gaon explained.

“You mean injecting energy?”

“Exactly. It might be uncomfortable. It’s risky.”

Gaon smiled and continued, “But if I meant harm, would I need to go this far?”

“…I understand.”

Lamu nodded, convinced.

Gaon could’ve ended him with the circle earlier or with his Archmage powers.

Death was inevitable if Gaon wanted it.

Lamu approached, and Gaon placed a hand on his shoulder, injecting Pacheongi.

As expected.

No seal—Lamu was clean, as anticipated.

Gaon withdrew his energy and said, “I believe you.”

“…What’s your plan now?”

“Check the king for a seal.”

If Lamu had no seal, his words were likely true.

If the king had a seal, he was Abyss. If not, someone close to him was.

The king might resist, but the Ritual of Sacrifice gave Gaon a strong pretext to force the issue.

“If the king has a seal, what will you do?” Lamu asked, swallowing hard.

“Kill him.”

Lamu was speechless.

Gaon’s words implied treason, though as a non-citizen, it technically wasn’t.

The word didn’t matter.

“Many will protect him,” Lamu said.

“Doesn’t matter,” Gaon replied.

Even if they banded together, Gaon was confident he could crush them.

Lamu was at a loss, already reeling from the magic circle revelation, now compounded by Gaon’s bold declaration.

“Did the king gift these circles only to your house?” Gaon asked suddenly.

Lamu had said it was a gift—had others received it?

“No. The Redol Ducal House and all nobles above marquis rank received them. They’re a symbol of high nobility in Bretan,” Lamu replied.

This time, Gaon was speechless.

He’d suspected others might have them, but only a few.

Every duke and marquis?

“The princess is here, right?”

“…You’re checking her too?”

“Of course. If the king has a seal, she might too.”

“But…”

Lamu hesitated.

The circle’s revelation was shocking, but was aiding Gaon right?

What if the king was uninvolved?

“I get it. It’s nothing to me, but it’s treason for you,” Gaon said, understanding.

He moved freely because he saw the Abyss’s hand, but for Lamu, it was pure chaos.

“But I don’t have time or care to worry about that.”

Gaon wasn’t here to persuade.

He released his energy, dominating the area.

…!

Lamu was stunned by its intensity.

He knew Archmages, but none radiated such power.

Bresa stepped forward again, wary of Kring but not cowering this time.

Gaon ignored her—a 6th-grade beast was no threat compared to an 8th-grade.

“Sleep for a bit,” Gaon said, preparing a Sleep spell.

“Wait!” Lamu shouted.

“Two minutes. Give me two minutes to decide.”

“…Fine.”

Gaon nodded at Lamu’s earnest plea.

“Think carefully while I dismantle the circle. If it had activated, everyone would be dead.”

“…Understood.”

Gaon turned to Rotes and Taylor, both visibly shocked.

“Is it true? This circle…” Rotes asked quietly.

“Yes, it’s real,” Gaon confirmed, then asked, “You said Bretan was founded thirty years ago?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell me about its founding?”

Thirty years ago, the Abyss was active, suggesting possible involvement from the start.

Rotes began explaining as Gaon dismantled the Ritual of Sacrifice portion of the circle, leaving its beneficial aspects intact.

When Rotes finished, so did Gaon.

“Decided?” he asked Lamu.

With a resolute expression, Lamu said, “Will you let me join you to confirm?”

“Gaon, you say?” Princess Jarha asked her escort tamer, Bebe.

“Yes, Gaon and Taylor.”

“Commoners?”

“I don’t know about Gaon, but Taylor is the youngest of the Valen Ducal House from the Rios Empire.”

“…Valen Ducal House?!”

Jarha was shocked.

The Valen House was the continent’s premier spirit summoner family.

Why would one of them be a mage?

Knock, knock.

The door opened, and Jarha turned to see Gaon, Lamu, and the beast on Gaon’s shoulder.

She grinned widely, assuming Lamu’s presence meant the deal was settled.

Elder Baren’s absence gave her the upper hand.

Gaon sat across from her.

Jarha frowned—an ordinary mage daring to sit opposite her?

…I don’t like this.

Suppressing her irritation, she forced a smile.

“Let’s cut to the chase. How much do you want?”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

Gaon turned to Lamu, who looked apologetic.

“Well…”

Jarha was puzzled.

She’d assumed this was about selling the beast, but Lamu hadn’t discussed it with Gaon.

Why was he here, then?

Another oddity struck her—Gaon spoke informally to Lamu, who responded respectfully, as if it were natural.

“So, you wanted to buy Kring?” Gaon asked, incredulous, his face now irritated as he looked at Jarha.

Meeting his gaze, Jarha sensed something had gone terribly wrong.