Chapter 490 - Frozen Ground (1)
[Ainber]'s functions had been damaged.
Once the cooldown passed, it was possible to open a
The
And
On top of that—
'Even [Raindia]'s subspace won't open.'
Verden focused his consciousness on the ring engraved with the crest of the Royal Family of Estiria, but all it gave was the faintest reaction.
Neither artifact was permanently broken.
It seemed to be one of the aftereffects of being struck by Dahit's superlative magic, a force that interfered with the world itself.
Considering that [Interis] remained intact, the effect appeared to differ depending on the resistance inherent to each object.
When listing them in order of sheer durability, the ranking was [Interis], [Ainber], then [Raindia].
'…In that case, every artifact aside from the staff is partially paralyzed.'
His insight told him that time would eventually restore their functions, yet precisely when was impossible to predict.
Perhaps once enough of his power returned, they would recover then.
So judged Verden.
***
Crackle, crackle.
Inside a small cave hastily dug into a snow-covered hill, a campfire blazed. The occasional spark leapt out as the logs burned.
Verden and Adrian lay sprawled on soft blankets, resting.
Because subspace could not be opened, no advanced magical items could be retrieved for the time being, so Adrian and Isabella lent him supplies they had kept in their own spatial bags.
Meanwhile, Isabella and Alpha busied themselves with their tasks.
"It really is troublesome with only one arm. Alpha, could you hand me those Leaves of Larne we talked about earlier?"
[Confirmed.]
Alpha hugged several leaves with its left arm and body, then tossed them into the mortar. The Leaves of Larne settled among the contents inside.
With her left hand, Isabella ground them with the pestle. Taking care not to shatter the mortar, she lessened her strength, mashing the mixture evenly.
Next, she dropped it into mana water that had been heated with an alchemist's special tool.
Bubble, bubble.
All the potion ingredients dissolved, changing the liquid's color.
Then, carefully, she pinched off a piece from a Fruit of Lysandro, about the size of a fingertip, and slipped it inside.
After boiling for two hours, she cooled it with 1st-tier ice magic, and a light-green potion was complete.
It was a result entirely different from the usual red-hued potions.
"If the Fruit of Lysandro blended easily with existing potions, this would've been simple. But since it didn't, I had to make a new brew from scratch. Took some time. Drink up."
Without hesitation, Verden and Adrian drank down the special potion.
Thanks to its immediacy, warmth and fullness spread through their bodies at once.
"How is it?"
"…Impressive."
Adrian pressed hard against the bandages wrapped around his abdomen.
The pain that had felt like his flesh was being gouged vanished, leaving only a dull throb.
"The regeneration surpasses top-grade potions, and the analgesic effect is extraordinary. What's more, unlike conventional potions, not a shred of stamina is consumed."
He rose to his feet.
Picking up a thin branch nearby, he began to loosen his body.
Swaaash!
A pale violet blade aura formed, and he performed simple sword movements. The whoosh of his kick splitting the air whistled past his ears.
Though it was still impossible to unleash secret arts, his movements had become far less hindered.
He was able to execute martial techniques with ease.
"Oh, looks like it works even better on burns than expected."
Isabella jotted down notes on Adrian's condition, then turned.
"How about you, Master?"
"Now I can finally move."
Verden slowly clenched and unclenched his right hand. Compared to when he'd been unable to budge without support, this was much improved.
Even so, Isabella's expression was unsatisfied.
"Tch, those wounds from the black flames just don't heal easily. Both I and Master, the potion's effect is heavily diminished. The contrast with Adrian is glaring."
Adrian then asked.
"What if we take it in large amounts?"
"Even though I used the Fruit of Lysandro, in the end it's diluted into potion form. It has an ingestion cycle. Drink too much, and you'll just get a full stomach. If you ate the fruit directly, that would be different, but…"
"There's no need for that."
Both Verden and Isabella were certain they would recover completely—it was only a matter of time.
And now, especially after hearing the eccentric alchemist Lito's lecture, there was no way they could consume the one-and-only Fruit of Lysandro.
Their opinions aligned.
"Still, the quicker you recover the better, so I'll keep making the diluted potions. Using that much won't hinder my research anyway. Since Master is showing some progress, let's leave it at that."
Isabella tilted her head.
"So what now?
"It'll take too long to get within range of a communicator. Besides, we don't even know where we warped to."
"That's true, but… we can't do repeated teleportations to throw off Black Hour's pursuit right now. If their high-ranking officers chase us all the way here, it'll be dangerous."
"Don't worry about that."
Verden gazed into the campfire.
The blazing flames reflected in his blue eyes, a faint smile forming.
"Dahit will be in no condition either."
Had Dahit been unscathed, they wouldn't be resting like this—flight would have been their only focus. But his mana circuits had been ruptured badly by
A loss not to be taken lightly.
Even if he fared better than Verden, ultimately his situation was similar.
Amwol, Dahit Wethroel, would devote himself to recovery rather than risk assembling a reckless pursuit.
Knowing now what kind of madness that Transcendent harbored, Verden was certain.
Then Alpha spoke.
[To evade Black Hour's pursuit, we will take a long detour. His Majesty Verden has already given word to the Society. No need to force contact right now.]
The creature trotted over and nestled at Verden's side.
[All rest.]
Indeed.
They had traversed the Reverse World of the Archdemon, Libereas, as their path into the Great Hall.
And in the end, they succeeded in stealing [Hourglass of Perpetuity], the very symbol of Black Hour.
Now was the time to breathe.
***
Roughly two days passed in the humble cave, uneventful.
Peaceful.
Yet they couldn't stay like that forever.
The most pressing issue now was food shortage caused by the subspace problem.
Even if Transcendent Verden and the abnormal-species Isabella could manage without eating, Adrian was a pure human.
Of course, Alpha was in a category of its own.
Verden leaned on Interis as a staff, taking several steps.
"…Still unsteady, but at least I can walk slowly. We should find a proper place to stay. And secure provisions."
During that time, Isabella had scouted the skies with
But with too few households, it was no place to settle.
If they wanted to resolve food and lodging at once, they needed a properly sized city.
Adrian stepped forward.
"I'll go down to the village to gather information and procure a carriage. Consider it a chance to stretch my body."
Though Isabella, as a mage, might've been more efficient, Adrian's pace was hardly any slower.
"I'll leave it to you."
"Yes, my lord."
Just as Adrian was about to leave the cave, Isabella stopped him.
"Take this."
From her spatial bag, she pulled out a massive double-edged sword and handed it over. It was a trophy obtained when they dealt with the so-called Great Warrior in the Eastern Continent.
"You'd probably be fine bare-handed, but as a swordsman, it feels less empty to have it with you, doesn't it?"
"Well, true enough."
Adrian hefted the Great Warrior's sword, testing its weight and balance. Not his preference, but sharper than most blades.
If Verden could access subspace, he would have simply lent one of the many magical swords stored within.
Verden spoke.
"Once we return to the Ownerless Land, the first thing will be to forge your sword. As soon as the dwarves' facilities are complete, consult with Gharun. You as well, Isabella. If you need materials, I'll personally procure them."
Dragon-material weapons.
That sound was something that Adrian, and Isabella as well, could not help but feel anticipation for.
Kuung!
Soon after, Adrian sprinted off, to procure the carriage that Verden would ride.
***
The northern continent was vast, and barren.
A frozen land.
In some regions, blizzards were daily life, and when a snowstorm began, even natives of the north often perished.
Life had improved somewhat after magic became commonplace, but not drastically so.
The frigid environment, the opposite of the volcanic zone of the Western Continent, was one reason the north had little deep connection with the other continents.
Another was that, in their isolation, many northerners clung stubbornly to tradition.
To put it bluntly… if an ordinary citizen of the great city Gargant were to meet a true-born northerner, the cultural gap was such that mistaking them for a rough barbarian would not be strange.
If not for the fact that the north housed the only kingdom there, exchanges between the north and the other nations would have been severed long ago.
In any case—
The north had few people and a vast landmass, so the distances between each village and city were considerable.
Naturally, it was a structure where there could never be a lack of inns for travelers.
Creak.
The hinges screamed.
Even with a guest arriving, the innkeeper only sat there with indifference, raising his brows.
Clicking his tongue when he saw the approaching man.
'A robe pulled deep over his head, carrying an enormous sword. I don't smell blood, but his presence is off. Why is it always men like this that come?'
The north was full of rough folk.
Nine times out of ten, a fellow swaggering around calling himself a mercenary turned into a bandit before long.
And of course, their pride was always outsized.
Not long ago, such men had come, started a quarrel inside the inn, and ended up killing each other.
The work it took to scrub the blood clean—just the memory of it was bitter.
Thud.
The man, Adrian, sat on a stool at the counter and spoke.
"Answer my question, and I will pay the price."
"A question? This is an inn, and a tavern. Perhaps you've come to the wrong place."
The innkeeper puffed out his chest as he spoke.
Showing intimidation would only mean another blow.
That was the northern way.
Adrian ignored him and continued.
"And I will buy the carriage in the stable. I'll pay extra, so sell it."
"…Did you hear me at all? And when did you even check the stable? I refuse. Do you know how hard it is to get a carriage out here?"
That carriage had belonged to one of the guests who died in that quarrel, but the innkeeper said it boldly.
Tak.
At that moment, Adrian pulled out a proper sum of cash and set it on the table. The currency had long since been unified, so it could be spent anywhere on the continent.
"Not enough?"
A fat bundle of bills.
Thick as fresh pork belly.
"..."
The innkeeper quietly brought out a clean glass and poured liquor with both hands.
"Haha, this one's on me."
The deal was done.
He worried for a moment that once the business was finished the money would be stolen back, but it was needless.
As soon as the matter was settled, the stranger left, driving away with the carriage.
"Now that's a proper guest."
The innkeeper was satisfied as he turned back inside, then blinked.
'Hm? That sword the guest was carrying… isn't that what the 'Great Warriors' use?'
It certainly looked familiar.
Lost in thought, the innkeeper chuckled and shook his head.
No way.
Why would a Great Warrior, chosen by the King of the North, come here asking questions about the north?
Surely a mistake.
***
Adrian returned with the carriage.
The carriage itself looked poor, but the horses seemed sturdy.
"If we travel westward for about four days, there's supposed to be a city. But I heard it's noisy there lately."
"The reason?"
"Refugees, they say. People fleeing from a monster that appeared far to the west. The innkeeper only heard rumors, nothing detailed."
A monster.
It was everyday life on the continent, nothing that stirred them.
All the more so for Verden's group, who had just crossed swords with Transcendent powers.
Verden and Isabella stepped into the carriage and sat facing one another. It was cramped, their legs brushing.
Adrian took the driver's seat, and Alpha perched on his shoulder, watching the north.
[Departure.]
Clatter…
As Alpha tapped him, Adrian flicked the reins to urge the horses forward.
***
A desolate snowfield.
On a small hill, as white and clean as a blank canvas, stood a youth in blue armor, a thick cloak trimmed with beast-fur draped over his shoulders.
"Hmm, a large spatial teleportation wave definitely occurred around here…"
But yesterday's snowfall had erased all tracks.
Wherever he looked, there was nothing but heaps of snow.
"Huff, huff…"
From below the hill, a muscular beauty gasped for breath and shouted.
"Your Majesty! Please don't go off alone, I'm dying here!"
"Haha, sorry. I was in a hurry."
The youth smiled.
The woman who attended him could only sigh, too drained to keep scolding.
"It must have been from here they moved. We don't know where, but we'll continue the pursuit."
"…We'll find out who crossed space into the north. So please, stay back. This isn't Your Majesty's task."
"I can't just stand by."
Golden hair fluttered brightly.
In the youth's blue eyes, gravity stirred.
"Lately, the occurrence points of the 'Trials' have been failing more often. If it were elsewhere, perhaps. But here, I cannot overlook it. Any conspicuous variable, I must confirm with my own eyes."
He declared.
"This is the north."
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