Eluard was taken aback when he realized who the old man was.
'Isn't that… Elder Flock?'
The old man appeared to be overjoyed. This piqued Eluard's interest who was about to present himself in front of the archmage.
"Dartex surely have done the demonic creatures a great favor. Their meticulous plans are really something, eh?"
Elder Flock calmly massaged his long white beard, unaware of Eluard's presence on the sides.
"I wouldn't have stumbled upon this discovery was it not for the rumor about the divine frost dragon's sudden aggression."
"Hmm… now, how do I deal with this, huh? Eh?"
Footsteps were heard behind Elder Flock. When he turned around, he was surprised to see a familiar figure he hadn't expected to see in this desolate frozen landscape.
"It is my greatest honor to meet you once again, the disciple of the great master of magic, Mr. Kai.", Elder Flock bowed in sincerity.
He didn't put on airs in front of this young man.
"Hello, Elder Flock. It is unusual of you to be wandering here."
Elder Flock chuckled. He couldn't ask the same of Eluard because he was aware of the Heavenly Magic Academy's responsibilities in these matters.
He reckoned that they must have been able to extract some information from Dartex.
"Ah, would you consider it a coincidental encounter from me?" ", he said solemnly, "But you should know, Mr. Kai, that I, too, do not want to let these atrocious actions go wherever the demonic creatures want them to go."
"I am similarly concerned of the people just as how the Heavenly Magic Academy concerns itself upon this world."
Eluard smiled, "Then I am pleased to hear it from you, Elder Flock. Seeing how elated you are, you must have a plan for this, yes?"
Elder Flock nodded before facing the Arsolo Stronghold.
"I can let us in on that illusionary magic array formation without being detected. The problem is how do we root out the evil that has started this."
"Oh, about that. We can check out the marketplace first.", Eluard suggested.
"I see.", Elder Flock waved his hands.
Eluard immediately utilized his Eye of Fidelity to see what the archmage was up to.
'He is manipulating the light around us. I don't know if the mana disturbance cannot be detected but we'll see.'
Elder Flock gestured at Eluard to continue below.
They quickly arrived in front of the illusionary magic array formation.
"Fascinating. They managed to set up a highly elusive illusionary magic array formation to the point that the structure itself is an illusion.", Elder Flock commended the person who created it.
However, it was still nothing in front of an archmage.
He extended his hands and opened his palm, touching the formation's surface.
Eluard saw golden lines appear in his view. They were pulsating in and out, like the figures detected in a radar back on Earth.
"Imitating this flow is a little difficult.", Elder Flock calmly spoke.
He retracted his hand before gathering both of them in front of his chest. Mana continuously gathered around him.
"In the count of three…"
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three!"
Elder Flock hurled the ball of mana to the illusionary magic array formation. The entire surface rippled and created a hole where the ball of mana hit it.
Lines appeared in the hole where the previous ones had been. Mana flowed through those artificial lines, giving the impression that the structure remained intact despite Elder Flock's interference.
The two saw the opportunity and went in. Just as they passed through, the formation returned normal.
Eluard and Elder Flock continued on their way. They were dumbfounded by the sight as they passed through the streets.
"The undead corruption is worse than expected. I think more than 80% of the population here is already influenced.", Elder Flock remarked.
Eluard nodded in approval.
Since they remained unaffected by the illusionary magic array formation's effects, they were able to see the true situation inside the Arsolo Stronghold.
The people's eyes were lifeless. Some of them either had their skin bruised, or swollen in many different parts.
Others emitted a stinky odor as well. It was comparable to expired food left out in the open for bacteria to grow.
"How disastrous. These poor innocent souls have become the victims of a war that should have been left between the aggressors instead."
"Of course, I won't blame the Heavenly Magic Academy about this. It's those demonic creatures from the Otherworld who must be punished.", Elder Flock angrily voiced out.
"We're in the marketplace, but I don't see any corruption here.", he was confused.
The two of them shared the same thought that the corruption should have originated where the foods and drinks were sourced from.
Eluard looked at his map and saw a lot of red dots displayed on the screen.
"Maybe they are stationed around the taverns or restaurants before planting the corruption in there."
The two agreed in investigating the public establishments.
Eluard walked into a crowded tavern. He used his magical deterrence skill to avoid drawing anyone's attention.
'The demonic creatures are not here. Don't tell me they're inside the kitchen and the storage rooms?'
Eluard quickly donned his robe and mask, concealing his entire presence. He was just around the corner from the kitchen when he noticed some demonic creatures enter it suspiciously without the owner's permission.
Or rather, it looked like the owner did not care to ponder their presence and let them do whatever they wanted.
Eluard followed them downstairs where the drinks were stored. He saw the demonic creatures take out a large drum filled with unknown content.
However, just from the smell alone, Eluard could recognize that this was a foul mixture of whatever was inside.
One of them scooped a small amount from the large drum and poured it into one of the wine barrels. They continued doing the same thing for the rest.
'So not only does the illusionary formation hide the presence of the undead essence and the poison. It also seems to hide the demonic creatures as well.'
Eluard didn't linger any longer and left the tavern. He removed his mask and robe before returning to the marketplace and discussed with Elder Flock his findings.
"Do you want to eradicate them here and now?", Elder Flock asked.
Eluard shook his head, "That will surely attract the demonic creatures' attention."
"Well, they will but aren't we quick enough before they could do anything?", Elder Flock argued.
Eluard still shook his head. He was left with no choice but to explain everything to Elder Flock.
There was no point in hiding things since it has come this way.
Also, Elder Flock has shown him presentable behavior and thoughts, even though such personality only came out when the innocent people were already in danger.
Nevertheless, it was better than not doing anything. Eluard will take whatever he can as long as he and the Heavenly Magic Academy will benefit from it.
"It's not about that, Elder Flock. Since these sorts of things happen in this place, it must be occurring in the other places of Norva Assili, and possibly the entire northern glacial continent as well."
"The worst part is that the demonic creatures implanted a kill-switch on all afflicted undead creatures. I bet they won't hesitate to flip that switch should they be alerted of our intervention here."
That was why Eluard did not meddle with the demonic creatures this time.
He could consider himself fortunate that the ones he had killed the day before were unimportant in the grand scheme of the demonic creatures. Otherwise, he won't be able to forgive himself.
Elder Flock, on the other hand, was equally dismayed. To think that the act of saving people will also result in their death.
It was ironic and annoying just thinking about it.
"However, it's not like there's no way to solve the problem, Elder Flock.", Eluard grinned.
"Tell me what is on your mind, Mr. Kai. I will do my best to assist you with my skills."
Eluard gestured at Elder Flock to leave the area first. He did not want to talk about an important thing inside their enemies' turf.
"Do you know someone who is an expert in spatial magic, Elder Flock?"
Elder Flock caressed his beard, interested in Eluard's plan.
"Oh, yes. I do know one. The problem is it would take a day or two for them to come over here."
"That person is a little… temperamental."
His words made it sound like that person is definitely volatile and not just a little temperamental.
Eluard ignored it and continued.
"Works for me. This is only a theory but what if we cut off this particular place out of the demonic creatures' reach?"
"I'm not asking for it to last long enough for an hour or two, but at least a bit more time so that we could do what you initially suggested, Elder Flock."
The archmage was enlightened. It wasn't because he was unable to think of this, but his methods were far too straightforward compared to Eluard's.
"That person can stretch their muscles for an hour or two which is more than enough of a time for us to finish what is needed to be done."
Eluard nodded, "Then it is settled. I will wait here two days from now and discuss the plan further. My junior brothers and sisters will conduct an operation to oppose the divine frost dragon's aggression."
"I intend to use that timeframe in carrying out this strategy; may I ask if Elder Flock has any other suggestions?"
Elder Flock shook his head. He was surprised to know that the Heavenly Magic Academy deployed an additional unit to deal with Harrtugg Naaw's assault.
"Then see you two days from now, Elder Flock. Happy travels."
The archmage chuckled. He waved his hands before vanishing out of Eluard's sight.
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