Chapter 388 - Old Friend
Without any incident, Verden and Adrian finished their meeting with Ignacia and took the magic elevator down to the first floor of the building.
As they stepped outside, the sun was already beginning to set.
When the glow of dusk descended upon the massive city filled with magic and development, it was a magnificent sight.
"Hm."
Verden let out a light groan.
Was it because the other party was a Transcendent being, or was it because of Ignacia's unique personality?
Just like in Arein, even though they had only exchanged words, he felt mentally exhausted.
Adrian seemed to be in the same condition, pressing hard against his temples as he tried to steady himself.
'Still, it wasn't a bad conversation.'
The correlation between transcendence and madness.
It was a perspective he had never considered before, but since it was a viewpoint derived from a Transcendent themselves, its credibility was sufficient.
As Ignacia had said, she herself was the living proof.
Verden recalled, one by one, the other Transcendents he had encountered up to now, excluding, of course, the Administrator in place of the Demon King himself, or Leonil, who had only achieved incomplete transcendence.
First…
'Bohémirn's tower master, Balrog Bessias.'
Nothing more needed to be said.
He had lived as a test subject for years under the compulsion magic circle of that man.
The horrific sights from those unofficial experiments had been madness in their purest form.
'The leader of Black Hour, Dahit Wethroel.'
He had betrayed his masters and seized power.
With that strength, he destroyed a small nation, transforming Black Hour into a cabal of death mages.
Anyone could see he was no sane man.
And then there was Ryndel Nexleon, tower master of DarkWarton, and Elder Sheorn, the librarian of the Ark.
But it was hard to draw any conclusions about them.
He had no real familiarity with the two Transcendents, and during their meetings he had not sensed anything that could be called madness.
Even if he wanted to judge based on their external activities, they were so shrouded in secrecy that there was simply too little information.
…There was much to think about.
After standing in the street and mulling for a while, Verden finally exhaled and lifted his head.
Adrian, who had been waiting for him to break from his thoughts, spoke.
"What shall we do for the next schedule?"
The next step.
Originally, he had intended to go to the Academy to learn about summoning magic.
After all, one of the figures responsible for creating it was a member of the Ark. As things stood, Verden's hidden identity would not be leaked to the outside.
But his mind had changed.
The main reason was that his head was too cluttered, and he didn't have the space to devote his focus.
'…Yes, it would be better to put off the Academy matter for later.'
It was only curiosity and scholarly pursuit as a Mage, not something urgent.
He wasn't sneaking in, but would eventually have the opportunity to visit formally.
For now, resting and concentrating on the vengeance soon to come was the wiser choice.
"It's a bit early, but let's go for a meal. After that, I'll rest at the lodging."
"Yes, my lord."
***
That leisure did not last long.
After reports began coming in from the Society, Verden spent nearly all day flying in the skies, moving about endlessly.
"So this is the 'Indolent Rift'?"
"That's right, senior."
The ground was split into countless fissures.
And beneath, spread out in the vast underground, lay another world altogether.
Though it was daytime, the whole place was shrouded in mist, and the depth was such that the sunlight crawling in through the ceiling only barely reached the ground.
Verden spread immense magic power in all directions to grasp the area.
Not content with that, he directly entered the Indolent Rift, drawing out all his senses to closely survey the irregular terrain.
'Rugged indeed.'
The interior was vast and labyrinthine.
And beyond the terrain itself, predators had claimed territories all throughout.
Ordinary humans, even seasoned adventurers, would find it nearly impossible to survive if they fell into the Rift.
[Kirruek…]
[Krrrk…]
The native creatures began to cry out at the unfamiliar scents, sounds, and presences.
Soon, sensing an overwhelming presence by instinct, they scrambled away in a panic to hide.
The quaking rift fell silent once more.
In the meantime, Verden reached the lowest layer of the fissure, landing on damp moss.
The thick mist wavered.
Dim light just barely reached inside, making it not completely dark, but perhaps because of that, the atmosphere felt all the more gloomy.
It was also surprisingly spacious.
Magic power waves from a spatial teleportation circle.
Calculating the scale of the Indolent Rift alongside those pulses, Verden stroked his chin.
'Given Rayshen's temperament, this place seems apt for attempting teleportation away from outside eyes.'
Of course, that was under the assumption that the man would come near here, or could be driven here…
Either way, not a bad site.
Verden pulled out the map around Gargant and added the Rift as a candidate for Rayshen's grave.
Not long after, scribbling several notes to draft the framework of a plan, he soared straight out of the gorge.
"That makes the sixth site completed. Where to next?"
"The Atlan Mountains, senior. They're so massive that there are many recorded locations."
Cain slipped him the report, and even a rough glance showed over twenty sites.
No rest in sight.
But he felt hardly any fatigue.
With each preparation, it was as though he was tightening a noose around Rayshen's neck.
The surging anticipation only made his blood burn hotter.
Verden and Cain moved on.
They poured everything into directly inspecting the vast region encompassing the great city and crafting strategies based on every conceivable variable.
Thus about three weeks passed.
***
Even in the absence of Verden and Adrian, Arein remained peaceful.
Kereil was on edge out of caution, but the Sovereign showed no reaction, as if mocking her worry.
Apparently, the rumor about Elves had worked well.
'Phew, then that's a relief…'
Kereil twitched her cat ears and slyly darted her eyes to the side.
There sat a beautiful Elf.
"So this is called pas-ta? It's tangy. And this one's savory. Bring me another bowl of each, with plenty of vegetables."
"Y-yes…!"
"You there, human. Fill my cup with that wine I drank earlier. My throat's dry."
"Right away!"
The employees of the restaurant, rented out entirely, ran about in a frenzy, while chefs, expensively hired from outside, ground their teeth as they devoted themselves to the cooking.
All for the sake of one Elf.
It was treatment surpassing even that of nobles.
'No, that's not quite right. She's one of the four strongest on the Central Continent, so she's higher than nobility.'
At any rate—
The Eye of the Great Forest, Merquien, was living quite well, contrary to worries.
She still despised humans and loathed human society, but at least she was fond of meals that cost hundreds of thousands of Elk per sitting.
'Her vigilance is uncharacteristically low for an Elf… no doubt it's because of Asher, that man. I don't know the reason, but since she called him brother, it must be true.'
A human close with an Elf.
It was something unheard of in all her life, and so, felt strange.
What kind of existence was the Shinseong of the Eastern Continent?
Since he was the one Adrian had pledged loyalty to, he could not be a villain.
Her own experience confirmed it as well.
He was simply overwhelmingly powerful, exceptionally brilliant, and moved without hesitation.
'That such a man seeks vengeance alongside Adrian…'
Who could he be?
She hadn't forced the question, but naturally, she could not help but be curious.
Surely he was not a Transcendent…
Well, whoever he was, she had not the slightest intention of backing away.
As Kereil idly picked at finely cut steak, lost in such thoughts, Merquien, who was waiting for the next dish, turned her gaze toward her.
"Kereil, have you lost your appetite?"
"H-huh?"
"If you don't want it, I could eat it for you."
Relations between Elves and beastkin were not particularly bad. At least enough to remember each other's names.
Kereil silently pushed the plate over.
Merquien hummed softly as she accepted it, savoring the meaty aroma.
The meal was now about halfway done.
Nearly the whole day was being spent together with Merquien. Left alone, no one knew what kind of incident she might cause.
If the Eye of the Great Forest so willed, Arein itself would be annihilated.
'Please, someone hurry back…'
Kereil's tail drooped limply.
***
Gargant, which prided itself on its overwhelming population and was always brimming with vitality, was now more bustling than ever, the entire street shaken with activity.
Massive airships glided through the skies, while crowds of dozens in distinctive uniforms cut through the city as though flaunting their power.
Banners symbolizing each faction fluttered everywhere.
Citizens flocked to witness the rare sight, pulling to the sides of the street to watch the arrival of mighty powers.
"It's practically a festival."
The top-class inn of Gargant.
Verden and Adrian, who had rented its highest floor, gazed down upon the streets through the glass window.
"Ignacia's influence is certainly formidable. Even with the presence of dragon materials, the fact that so many have gathered here from across the world speaks volumes."
"She's a Transcendent, but the fact that her domain is a great city makes it even more so. She's practically the pinnacle of Gargant itself…"
Ignacia did not rule Gargant like a local lord.
Thus, countless factions arose and fell in the great city, spilling blood as they fought over wealth and rights.
Yet in the end, all still watched Ignacia's mood.
For fear of incurring the wrath of a Transcendent, the area around her Illusory Sanctuary was always peaceful.
'If anything, I imagine she would enjoy watching a conflict break out nearby.'
She was such an unpredictable being that it was impossible to know exactly what she disliked.
Just then.
Verden spotted a familiar emblem, a flag with two dragons holding up a crown.
"The Arnak Empire…"
A great power of the Western Continent.
It even possessed a Transcendent, and was also the nation with the position of Warlord.
'So Legrit hasn't come.'
He thought he would, since the man was so curious by nature.
There were War Mages among them, but no Warlord.
Judging by the scale, one of the imperial princes must have come, but Verden had little interest.
Adrian pointed north.
"The Federated States of Iderat are arriving as well."
A nation of many races.
An old man riding on horseback, alongside a beastkin with the lower body of a horse, walked side by side under guard.
A strange pairing indeed.
Then suddenly, a figure behind the federation drew his eye.
"Who is that?"
"A navy robe in the Federation… that should be 'the Blue Terror, Varigant'. One of the four strongest of the Central Continent, famous for wielding the Mado of Lightning. In my active years, I heard he was hired by the Federation and distinguished himself on the battlefield."
A mage of lightning.
If the word 'terror' was part of his title, then his skill must be truly formidable.
Even from afar, his presence felt extraordinary.
'Watching has its amusements after all.'
Verden observed with growing interest.
As expected, no nations from the Eastern Continent appeared.
In many respects, they lagged behind compared to the Central and Western Continents.
And besides, much had happened in the past two years.
'But the absence of the Magocracy is rather odd.'
It wasn't as though they lacked the confidence to acquire dragon materials at auction…
There must be other reasons, but their internal affairs were unknowable.
And then at last, the factions he had been waiting for began to appear.
The Ten Magic Towers.
Verden immediately heightened his sight.
One by one, the banners of the towers came into view, but, as expected, DarkWarton was absent.
After all, Haldirn had already taken the dragon materials himself.
And then.
'Finally.'
A crimson backdrop, an oval formed of golden curves stretching out from the four directions.
The emblem of Bohémirn Magic Tower, ruler of all elements, entered his sight.
Who had come?
The first disciple, Crodon Olentia? Or perhaps one of the tower's elders?
Surely not his third disciple, Lucard Maniacs, the one who had stolen his thesis. This was too important an occasion.
'Whoever it is, this is an official venue. I won't act against them here.'
Unknowingly, Verden clenched his fist.
He resisted the urge to hurl a meteor into the middle of the crowd.
Reminding himself that his only target was Rayshen.
Moments later, the representative of Bohémirn Tower appeared.
At that instant, Verden's eyes widened.
Contrary to his expectation of one of Bohémirn's senior members, the figure was far too unexpected.
To be precise, it was closer to 'bewilderment' than surprise.
"You, why are you…?"
The face was hidden beneath the robe.
But strands of fiery red hair, reminiscent of flame, spilled outside.
Rovellin, who had grown up with Verden in the same orphanage.
She had come to Gargant as Bohémirn Magic Tower's representative.
As the fourth disciple of Balrog Bessias.
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