Chapter 387 - What a Transcendent Is (2)
A Transcendent is a lunatic...
At the biting words he never expected, Verden fell silent.
Adrian was no different.
Ignacia crossed her legs, enjoying the two men's reactions.
Her brilliant hair slid down her shoulders in a soft cascade.
"To become a Transcendent, one must grow stronger. Among them, in the case of a Transcendent of magic, the common perception is, you must reach the realm of the 7th tier and pioneer Mado before you can 'awaken'. But, is that really true?"
"Are you saying... that is a lie?"
"No, it's true. Theoretically proper, and accurate enough. But only after becoming a Transcendent, do you realize something else."
Heave-ho, Ignacia stood up.
Without warning, her figure vanished, and the presence was suddenly behind them.
Before Adrian could even react. Far faster than back in Arein.
Ignacia placed her hands on Verden's shoulders.
"Some say this."
Awakening is granted only to the chosen.
Transcendence carries the power to interfere, if only in part, with the world itself.
A Transcendent stands outside the bounds of their race...
"These three are phrases recorded in history, written about Transcendents, and indeed they are true. The second, for a warrior, means a stage beyond their techniques, the 'Transcendent Stage', for a Mage, it means 'Transcendent Magic'. And the third, unless you are a saint or a pope, once you become a Transcendent, you can no longer receive buffs or healing from divine power or miracles."
Her white fingers tapped lightly on Verden's body.
"Ah, you know that, right? Asher, who even after fighting the Bone-Relic Dragon, rejected Archbishop Joseph's miracle and recovered on his own, wouldn't you know that?"
When had she picked that up.
Ignacia excelled not only in using her own insight, but also in exploiting collective intelligence.
Truly like a ruling Transcendent.
Then, Verden asked.
"So, what did you feel upon awakening as a Transcendent?"
"Hehe, it's nothing complicated. How should I put it... the reason I must exist as myself, my purpose, dream, or ideal, I came to realize that. Anyway. Asher, do you want to become a Transcendent?"
Verden silently affirmed.
As he was now, he was lacking.
Only by becoming a Transcendent, could he reach goals once thought impossible.
Nothing else mattered.
"I said earlier, didn't I? Theoretically, to become a Transcendent, you must grow strong. That means, raising your tier with physical talent, understanding and embodying magic with magical talent, and pioneering Mado with mental talent, to satisfy the minimum requirements."
She pressed strength into her fingertips.
"But as always, theory does not always lead to conclusion, does it? In reality, one more thing is needed. That is madness."
"Madness?"
"Yes, madness... If you look closely at those called Transcendents, every single one of them has a screw loose somewhere. That's why I called them lunatics."
Her breath drew closer.
"Shall I give you an easy example? Say there's a Mage, whose tier limit is 7th, who has magical talent enough to be called a Genius, and even works hard. Do you think that one day, ta-da, they would just become a Transcendent?"
"..."
"Not at all. If Awakening happened that way, then there would be not just several times, but dozens of times more Transcendents in this world."
Ignacia drew closer still, until she embraced Verden.
Skin touched.
Verden paid it no mind, listening only to Ignacia's voice.
"Especially Transcendents of magic are far more dangerous than the public thinks. Walking the path they pioneered, they simply go insane, throwing away their humanity. And such madness is not something just anyone can have. It is no exaggeration to say, you must be chosen..."
Her whisper lingered at his ear.
"That's why I am so curious. Asher, do you have the qualification to throw away your humanity? To embrace everything, and go mad? I wonder, what about you."
Verden narrowed his eyes.
'Madness, huh....'
The Administrator had only inherited fragments of the Demon King's memories, so the theory and concept remained incomplete.
While studying
This was something even the Demon King's doppelgänger had not explained, and Verden's heart rippled.
Ignacia's presence vanished.
Once more in the form of a girl, she lay back on the bed with a smile.
"To be honest, I truly look forward to it. I think our Asher will, before long, rise to the same rank as me. And I hope Adrian, who follows you, will as well. After all, the most amusing events are born from chaos."
Ignacia clung to amusement.
Perhaps, that very inclination had been the key that made her a Transcendent.
Verden carefully pondered.
Clap!
Ignacia clapped her hands loudly, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"Well, I think your curiosity about what a Transcendent is, is at least partly answered now. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Hehe, I like how you properly show gratitude! Adrian must be sure to learn from this. Now then, shall we get to the main point, and begin talking about the auction?"
***
Ignacia refreshed herself with a cool drink her follower had brought.
"To put it bluntly, I have no plan to sell the Dragon's rib in a conventional manner. There will be no ordinary auction where everyone shouts higher and higher bids."
"Because, that wouldn't be fun?"
"Correct! What joy is there in passing an item like that in such a way? Drag it out tediously, and it would still end in less than an hour. The process is dull. That's why I devised the theme of 'The Ants' Labyrinth'."
Her voice brimmed with excitement as she explained.
"First, the entry fee will be 120 million Elk per person. The maximum limit is about 400 participants. Their origins won't matter. As long as they have money, anyone can join."
120 million Elk per person, with 400 participants...?
At the staggering total, Verden and Adrian flinched.
Even if Dragonbone held high research value, this was an enormous scale.
With capital, technology, and time combined, perhaps something akin to an ancient artifact could be crafted. But for one Dragon material alone, hundreds of billions of Elk was far too much.
"If it were just a purchase, perhaps. But this is a competition. On an individual level, scale doesn't matter. Of course, some factions will try to monopolize the numbers by hiring participants, so group adjustments will be made."
Ignacia spread her arms wide.
"On such an enormous scale, using a labyrinth filled with countless monsters as the stage, participants will undergo a treasure hunt with survival at stake. By slaying monsters or opening treasure chests, they can obtain various equipment, magic items, and treasure. Then, if they meet specific conditions and escape, success! And whatever they obtain from the 'treasure chests', they keep!"
A labyrinth, and treasure.
It was closer to a game.
Adrian crossed his arms and asked.
"So, the Dragonbone is lying asleep in some treasure chest?"
"You'll have to find it, relying on courage and luck. I've prepared all sorts of prizes for the treasure chests, so you might obtain some other rare things. Ah, of course, killing other participants and taking their loot is allowed too. Either way, for an investment of 120 million Elk as the entry fee, it's worth the challenge."
...Indeed, that was true.
If it was a Transcendent who desired fun above all, she must have prepared quite a lot.
The problem was, one had to stake their life.
"Are there rules?"
"Of course there are!"
The first rule.
"Once Ignacia's Scales is held, a 'ban on disputes' will be declared across all of Gargant. If there's noise outside while I'm enjoying myself, it gets on my nerves. Unnecessary external factors ruin immersion."
The second rule.
"As for 'what did you obtain from the labyrinth?', that will never be announced publicly. It concludes anonymously. The auction must end purely as an auction. If battles to snatch treasure break out outside afterward... I think I'd get very, very angry."
The third rule.
"Also, in the labyrinth, everyone is equal. Unless a participant witnessed it themselves, no one can know who killed who. I truly loathe it when kids from magic towers or great nations crush others with authority."
So the conditions would be equal.
As Verden recited the rules in his head, he asked a question.
"But if the difference in individual strength is too great, won't things flow one-sidedly? Even if only those of the 6th tier participate, most of the others would be swept away."
"That's what the next rule is for!"
Ignacia spread her fingers.
The fourth rule.
"The strong may not participate. In magical terms, precisely mid-5th tier and below only. And the moment you enter the labyrinth, both Mado and tier are sealed."
"Sealed...?"
"Mages can use up to only 2nd-tier spells, and warriors cannot use aura at all. Well, if you slay monsters, you can obtain items that grant temporary openings of power, but they won't be easy to get. It's far more fun to see the weak clash with each other."
Quite literally, the Labyrinth of Ants.
The frail ants struggling in a blood-soaked brawl, to seize their morsels...
Verden glimpsed Ignacia's boundless madness there.
"Now, subtract labor costs and the investment for creating the labyrinth... ta-da! Assuming the full quota of 400 participants, here is the bid amount that will fall to you."
Ignacia manipulated magic power finely, projecting the sum into the air.
At the figure, Verden and Adrian swallowed and nodded, as if convinced.
'The auction format aside, it would be wise to amass as much capital as possible.'
One reason being, to someday make use of the 'Permit for Large-Scale Airship Construction' he had received from Silis, the Witch and Princess.
Even if Verden's current wealth was great, it was still far from enough to cover the construction cost entirely.
Ignacia wiped at imaginary sweat, stretching her neck lightly.
"Whew, that concludes the explanation of 'The Labyrinth of Ants'. Hehe, did you like it? Even if you didn't, I won't change a thing. Now, only the final proposal remains."
A proposal?
"Why don't you two join the labyrinth?"
***
'Out of nowhere, she asks us to join the labyrinth.'
Leaving aside the fact that she herself was the one who offered up the auction prize, the two men's realms far exceeded Ignacia's own rules.
When they countered her, Ignacia swung her feet back and forth as she answered.
"With my Mado, I can create spiritual bodies by linking your consciousness. Think of it as controlling a puppet. Without risk to your lives, you could enjoy the labyrinth in weak vessels."
"Does that hold any meaning?"
"Because, you could still obtain treasures from the treasure chests? Surely there'll be things that pique your interest. And the experience of being weakened, that itself would be rare... and thrilling."
From the way she said it so confidently, it did seem like one could indeed acquire valuable items.
'Wait a minute.'
If it was possible to join the labyrinth with a spiritual body...
"Don't tell me, you're planning to join yourself?"
"Having gone to all the trouble of devising this, how could I just watch? Don't worry. As a Transcendent, I won't use my stature, only the strength of a spiritual body. Hehe, it'll be so much fun."
A Transcendent declared she would participate.
And what's more, she truly looked forward to it.
...There was nothing more to say.
Verden turned his gaze aside, considering what benefits they might gain from participating in the labyrinth.
Then, exchanging glances with Adrian, they silently conveyed a mutual refusal.
'We're interested, but we can't afford the distraction.'
Verden's purpose was Rayshen.
He could not turn his attention away, not at a moment when all his focus must be upon that foe.
There was no merit sufficient to justify it.
"Sorry, but we decline."
"I must apologize as well, but I refuse."
"Really? What a pity. Well, if you dislike it, nothing can be done.... Hm, but if you ever change your mind later, tell me. Before the auction begins, you'll still be welcome."
And with that, the conversation ended.
Yawning broadly, Ignacia waved them off with a dismissive gesture.
Just before Verden rose and left with Adrian, he suddenly thought of something and turned his head back.
"But... where in the world is such a vast labyrinth located?"
He had never seen it on any map.
Ignacia raised her index finger and pressed it to her lips.
"That is a sec──ret."
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