Magister Insanity

According to the Law of Equivalent Exchange, to gain something, one must sacrifice something of equal value. Everything about Blasphemers revolves around this principle.

Cursed for defying the laws of nature, they bear inherent flaws as a supernatural balance.

But what if there were a way to harness such powers without paying the usual price?

Such an individual could advance unnaturally, far faster than anyone else. Naturally, my own curses remained a concern but beyond that, I could wield abilities from other sequences, not just my own. In other words… I would be cheating the system.

'Oh my... Oh my...'

Beneath the silver helm, a wide smile began to spread across my lips. I was so excited that the lingering guilt completely vanished.

How wouldn't I be?

The notion of wielding abilities beyond my shadow was intoxicating. It reminded me of all those overpowered manga characters I had devoured back home, those who bent the rules of the world wherever they went. For a brief moment, I let myself imagine moving through life with that kind of power. Maybe it was even possible to become a king of harems.

But the daydream shattered the instant my ears caught the distant, guttural roars of unseen beasts.

My brows furrowed.

'Ah, right. I'm within the outskirts of Eldergrove. It would be best to get out of here before an unpleasant situation arises.'

So far, there was no reason to use the Silver Casull. With its tremendous recoil, I'd be lucky to even hit my target. True, a single shot could probably obliterate any beast below the Fallen rank, but the noise would be deafening, likely drawing the attention of something far worse than a Fallen Hellion or mere scavengers.

And it didn't help that the Silver Casull was the only Echo within my possession. Any encounter too close to combat quarters would almost certainly lead to my untimely demise.

In the end, the safest choice was simple: leave.

Glancing around, the trails of blood winding through the forest caught my attention. They were glaring evidence of whatever had happened here.

Thankfully, I hadn't been part of such a tragedy.

Countless mysteries dominated the Silver Void, too many to count on one hand. That made it entirely possible that someone with the ability to detect lies might investigate Zephyr's disappearance… or that a lie-detecting Echo might exist.

Whatever the case, I needed assurance that my words wouldn't incriminate me. Still, there was little cause for worry.

After all, I hadn't killed Zephyr. I had only rung a bell.

With a heavy heart, I gazed at the spot where Zephyr's body should have been. Only a pool of blood remained. Resigned, I left it behind and pressed on toward the fortress.

The distance between Eldergrove and Niflheim wasn't too great, roughly within walking distance. One could easily reach the outskirts by passing through the city gates and heading west. The real problem, however, was the grey fog that blanketed the area. Generally, it was a defensive measure the city had deployed to ward off demonic beasts.

But that wasn't all. The fog also served as a barrier against intruders, turning even the simplest approach into a near-impossible task. Any attempt to sneak past it would be met with detection, and any misstep could alert the city's guardians before one even set foot inside.

However, there was one glaring flaw the city had overlooked.

The sewer system.

...Yes, you heard correctly.

Beneath the fortress ran a network of tunnels, or sewer lines, that led both in and out. After all, the city had to dispose of its waste somehow, and these hidden passages provided an unguarded route that few would think to check. Navigating them, however, would normally be nearly impossible from outside the city within the grey fog.

Normally, that is. Fortunately for me, I was one of the rare anomalies with a photographic memory. The layout of the passage was already etched into my mind, mapped out in perfect detail.

Slipping into the sewer entrance was like diving into another world. The stench was unbearable, thick with rot and decay, but it was a small price to pay for invisibility. Water trickled along the uneven stone floors, carrying faint echoes of the fortress above. Any form of careless or unintentional noise could betray me but I moved with calculated caution, letting the rhythm of the tunnels guide me.

Shadows shifted occasionally as though something was present, but I paid them no mind. My focus was singular: reach the heart of the fortress without being detected by the guards.

The deeper I went, the narrower the tunnels became, forcing me to crouch and move carefully. At one point, I paused to listen. The muffled sounds of patrols above were faint, but discernible. It was almost… peaceful, in a twisted way, being this close to the city yet entirely unseen.

And yet, a nagging thought gnawed at the back of my mind: what if someone knew of this passage? What if the city's defenses weren't as ignorant as I assumed?

Shaking off the thought, I pressed onward. Every turn, every intersection, was burned into my memory. I would not get lost here.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity navigating the labyrinthine sewers, I reached a larger chamber. Faint light seeped from a grate above, revealing a ladder that climbed up toward the surface.

This was it.

All that remained was to climb up and make my way to the Imperium Academy at the heart of Niflheim. But I hesitated. This was precisely the place where one wrong move could turn everything upside down.

Cautiously, I coaxed the shadow to stretch upward, probing the area. After a few tense moments of back and forth, it seemed the perimeter was free of wandering guards.

'Well, that's a relief.'

I shifted my weight and began the slow ascent up the ladder. Finally, my hand reached the top rung. Once I pulled myself upwards, the night air washed over me at once.

Curious.

Everything had gone so smoothly. The target was slain, the soul-devouring shadow sated, and the gnawing hunger that once threatened to consume me from within had finally subsided.

My mind was as calm as still water, yet my heart carried a quiet heaviness.

I drew in a long breath, then exhaled slowly, as if I could push the heaviness out with the air.

That was when a voice cut through the silence.

"Oi, you there!"

My body stiffened.

Slowly, I turned my head. A security guard stood behind me, clad in a black uniform reminiscent of old German military wear. The sun was dipping below the horizon, shadows thickening, and the lantern in his hand cast a sharp glow directly in my direction.

'Shit. Not good! Where the hell did this guy even come from?!'

My gaze darted across the street. I'd just stepped out of a narrow alley, and beside it sat a small coffee shop. Most likely, the guard had been on break inside and chose that exact moment to return, only to catch sight of me, a masked figure emerging from the darkness.

Suspicious didn't even begin to cover it.

The guard narrowed his eyes, his lantern swaying slightly as if to peel back the shadows clinging to me.

"What are you doing here? And that mask, take it off."

I remained completely still, my pulse hammering in my ears. Running now would draw more attention. Fighting… well, that would solve the immediate problem, but the noise would carry, and the last thing I needed was the fortress hounds right at my back.

My shadow stirred restlessly at my feet, urging me toward violence, toward silence. The hunger was gone but the instinct to feed was still there.

'Goddamn, think...'

If I complied, he'd see my face and that would be just as damning as fleeing. If I resisted, his shout could alert other guards to the commotion. Either way, the noose would tighten.

The guard took a step forward with the lantern. His other hand drifted toward the weapon at his belt.

Time seemed to slow.

Options flickered through my mind like cards on a table. Then, in a flash, instinct seized me. My body moved before reason could intervene.

I bolted.

"Hey! Oi! Oi! Oi!"

Startled, the guard barked like a dog and gave chase. Of course he did. The situation left me no choice but to run.

By my calculation, it would take two, maybe three minutes before nearby patrols were alerted. All I needed was to shake this one before then. Returning to the academy in this state, however, was out of the question. If Zephyr's death was investigated thoroughly, the trail could very well lead back to me.

No, retreat was the only option. The academy was the last place I should go. That entire decision process took me no more than 0.15 seconds.

On closer look, the security guard bore the air of a someone who had turned away from challenging the Murmur and settled into an ordinary life. Even so, he was still stronger and faster than any ordinary human from Earth.

'No other choice.'

Clicking my tongue, I mentally issued a command. The shadow enveloped my body, increasing my overall strength by twofolds. My pace suddenly exploded into a blistering sprint, and the helpless guard could only bark as the distance between us widened rapidly.

At the next corner, I cut sharply left. In that instant, I dismissed both the Philosopher's Mask and the Survivor's Shroud. Straightening, I slowed into a casual walk, as though I had merely been out for a late stroll.

The timing was perfect.

The guard came barreling around the corner, too frantic to notice, and slammed straight into my shoulder.

"Ouch!"

"Ah, sorry!" he blurted out before rushing past.

Staring at his fleeing back, he soon disappeared from view. Finally, I let out a breath of relief.

"Damn it. That was too close..."

What would've happened if he'd caught me? I didn't even want to imagine. Quick thinking had spared me the headache, nothing more.

I tilted my head upward.

The night sky stretched vast and beautiful, its calm a jarring contrast to my chaotic heart. Maybe a walk wouldn't be such a bad idea.

To cool my nerves, if nothing else. With that thought, I strolled casually toward the academy, while the poor guard, bless his soul, kept chasing the phantom of a ghost he would never catch.