Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master Chapter 434: They Knew Nothing

“Hold on a moment, Hakuki! Earth… you’re saying you’ve met Earth before? What exactly does that mean?”

“Hakuki! What did you do to Earth! At first, I thought it was Jamdi’el, but… wait, could it be that Earth was able to use the Great Demon King Tre’ainar’s technique because of you!?”

Hiro and Mamu’s voices were raised in disbelief upon learning that Hakuki, their former adversary from the Six Supremacy, had somehow crossed paths with Earth in an unknown location.

First, there was the Jamdi’el incident in Cacretale, and now this encounter with Hakuki.

If what they suspected was true… did Hakuki play a part in everything that transpired during that pivotal tournament match, the very event that irrevocably altered their destinies?

However, Hakuki appeared taken aback by their questions.

“What’s this… it’s been months since that grand match, and you lot still haven’t figured a single thing out, have you……”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

“I didn’t understand it either, you see. Not just the Breakthrough—how the hell that little scamp managed to pull off the Great Demon Spiral. Even Jamdi’el couldn’t do that. Although, one possible explanation did cross my mind the other day when we had a bit of a chat…”

“The other day?! Hey, wait! What’s going on? Explain yourself! What did you do when you met our son? What did you discuss? What happened? Is Earth okay!?”

Despite their magic and movements being sealed, both Hiro and Mamu bellowed with such ferocity that they seemed poised to shatter the very bars separating them.

Even though Earth himself had rejected their advances, he remained their irreplaceable, cherished son.

“Heh-heh-heh, Don’t you worry. Safe and sound? More than that—Earth Lagann has grown even greater than ever, hasn’t he? Right now, he’s probably off in Japone, crafting some new legend. With Espie, Koujiro, and even Mikado joining in. Norja and Paripi might be a terrible influence on his education, mind you, but it’s turning into quite a spectacle.”

“”…… Huh?””

“And on top of that, we’ve got ourselves a little wager going. One day, Earth Lagann will face me properly, and if—a big if, mind you—if I end up getting defeated… then I’ll sign on as his subordinate! Fuhahaha! How’s that for a laugh, eh?”

“”Eh… ah… huh?””

Hakuki chuckled at the memory. Over a decade had passed since the Great Demon King Tre’ainar’s demise, and Hakuki himself hadn’t experienced anything that brought him such unguarded mirth.

The day he met Earth, the day they reunited, and the company that gathered around him—all of it thrilled Hakuki.

Conversely, Hiro and Mamu, hearing this for the very first time, were utterly bewildered, a stark contrast to their earlier agitation.

“N-no, what? E-Espie… what? Now, Koujiro, Mikado, and Japone? N-no, no, then what? Norja… What? And besides, Paripi? Huh? Pa-Paripi of the Six Supremacy? That guy died over fifteen years ago!”

“A-and, if you lose to Earth, you’ll become his subordinate… What? What? Huh?”

Every tidbit of information Hakuki had just shared involved figures and circumstances far beyond Hiro and Mamu’s comprehension. The two exchanged stunned glances repeatedly, completely flabbergasted.

Observing their expressions, Hakuki’s previously jovial mood shifted abruptly. His countenance turned…

“Blimey… you two… you really don’t know a single thing, do you…? You genuinely haven’t got the faintest clue… If anything, I’m the one who’s shocked. With the state Earth Lagann is in now… and you two haven’t had the slightest involvement… you’re completely out of the loop, aren’t you?”

“Ugh!?”

“Which means… Hahahahaha! Stone the crows! You haven’t heard a whisper from Espie, have you? The one we believe knows the entire story! And she’s supposed to be your comrade-in-arms, one of the Seven Heroes alongside you!”

“Espie… knows?”

“Absolutely. That lass knows everything. Because over a decade ago, she was already… heheh… bloody hilarious, wasn’t she… and utterly pitiable.”

Beyond mere surprise or bewilderment, Hakuki’s expression now conveyed a sentiment bordering on pity.

Their comrades, the Seven Heroes, who had already etched their names into history, and their archrivals, the Six Supremacy.

Such powerful figures were operating unbeknownst to them, with their own son at the very epicenter of it all.

And they remained ignorant of the unfolding situation, the underlying reasons, the intricate circumstances, or even what had transpired and what lay ahead.

“W-we’re… completely… out of the loop…”

“Earth… you… What in the blazes is going on…”

Hakuki’s declaration of them being “out of the loop” struck them like a blade, piercing their hearts most profoundly. Neither Hiro nor Mamu could muster a single word in rebuttal; they simply slumped, utterly defeated.

They had harbored profound regret over their actions during that tournament match, to the point of wishing for death.

Even after finally tracking him down in Cacretale, they had gravely underestimated the extent of Earth’s growth, which far surpassed their wildest expectations, ultimately failing to apprehend him.

Despite this setback, they persisted in their pursuit without abandoning hope. Yet, they found themselves immobilized, and during this period, Earth had ventured even further into a realm entirely unknown to them.

The profound astonishment and vexation of Hiro and Mamu, realizing anew that their understanding was utterly incomplete from the very beginning, surged with unprecedented intensity.

“Boss, forgive my intrusion! A message has arrived for you!”

Within the oppressive confines of the dungeon, an ogre burst in with urgency.

“It matters little. What is it?”

“Aye. It concerns that individual, ‘Umashika’ from Japone… They’re inquiring about the sudden abandonment of posts by the Tax Enforcement Unit, their subsequent retreat, and furthermore, the escape of Mikado and the prisoners?”

“Ah, that affair… Despite equipping them with every conceivable weapon, they still grumble. It matters not. Leave them to their own devices. My interest in it has waned. However, do not cease your surveillance of unfolding events. Though this ‘Umashika’ is of no use to me directly, I remain perpetually intrigued by the progression of Japone’s destiny, observing every twist and turn.”

Hakuki offered a nod as the report was delivered. It was, as expected, a formal complaint from Umashika of Japone.

He let out a sigh, remarking, “Good heavens.”

However…

“Furthermore….”

“There is more?”

The subordinate’s report was evidently not concluded.

“Indeed, a message from Shitnei… It states something to the effect of… there being something interesting tomorrow, and that you should ensure your schedule is clear.”

“What is this? From Shitnei? Tomorrow? What are they referring to?”

“I know not, boss… They mentioned it’s a surprise, something to anticipate with excitement….”

This message originated from Shitnei. The mere fact of its arrival was unexpected, causing Hakuki to frown, his brow furrowed in puzzlement.

Yet, what Hakuki could not comprehend was naturally beyond the grasp of his two listeners as well…

“Japone… Umashika, is he the sovereign? Prisoners? …Grandfather Mikado…? Did he manage to flee?”

“And also, concerning Japone… is Earth currently located there…”

The situation was overwhelmingly perplexing. Still, Hiro and Mamu lifted their gazes once more, a flicker of hope igniting as they considered the possibility of their son's involvement.