Xien rested one hand against his chin.
Honestly, he had not expected this at all.
But after thinking it over carefully, it did start to make sense. The power of Abundance was, after all, the power wielded by a cosmic Aeon—and one expressed through vitality itself. If the Dungeon was drawn to it, that was hardly surprising. Looking back, these strange phenomena had only started after he had truly awakened the power of Abundance. He should have realized it sooner.
One question had been answered, but another immediately followed.
Xien lifted his head and looked directly at the great god before him.
"Even if I were willing, as you said, this power is extremely unusual. If it's given to the Dungeon, no one can predict what might happen in the end, can they? The Dungeon already has the capacity to produce disasters as powerful as the Three Great Quests. If it gains this power too, what kind of abomination could it create? Can you predict that? Or have I misunderstood?"
That was precisely why Xien had always been reluctant to use too much of Abundance's power in the Dungeon, and why he would casually reclaim that power afterward whenever he did use it. He feared that if the Dungeon absorbed it and birthed something truly outrageous, the result would likely be world-ending.
One Black Dragon was already enough to bring about an apocalypse. If another monstrosity infused with Abundance appeared, this planet would be finished.
Ouranos nodded in approval.
"You are correct. That is why we intend to use a corresponding method. We are not planning to hand your power directly to the Dungeon. Rather, we intend to set up a 'bait.'"
"Oh? That sounds interesting. Please explain."
Xien thought he understood now.
So this was… temptation?
"In that case, allow me to explain the next part."
At that moment, another voice sounded.
From the darkness beside the altar, a figure slowly emerged—clad in a gray-black hooded robe.
What would have horrified any ordinary person was that the hands and feet showing beneath the hem were not human limbs at all—indeed, not even the limbs of any living creature. They were black, bony claws.
And when he removed his hood, it was exactly as expected: a skull.
That sight left Xien blinking in surprise.
He had known of this person's existence, but seeing him in the flesh was still striking. He had seen skeletal monsters in the Dungeon before, but an articulate human skeleton was a first. And unlike those monsters, this one somehow did not seem frightening. If anything, that smooth, glowing skull looked… oddly stylish.
Naturally, the sage had no way of knowing that Xien was internally making comments about his head. Instead, he introduced himself with a trace of pride.
"Greetings. Our first meeting. I am Fels, and I am both the creator and overseer of the magical ritual I am about to explain."
"Oh, hello. Mr… Skeleton Fels?"
"It is Sage Fels, thank you."
He was quite pleased by Xien's surprise.
He was not pleased by the form of address.
And when Xien followed up with an unmistakable expression that said Please begin your performance, Fels felt an immediate urge to prove just how capable he was.
"Then come with me!"
He turned and beckoned Xien after him.
The two moved past the altar and into the open space behind it, where a large magical formation had already been laid out.
Then the skeleton began his explanation—or, more accurately, his demonstration.
As he spoke, Xien gradually grasped the essence of the formation.
From Xien's current level of magical knowledge, it was exquisitely designed and highly practical, but the principle was actually simple. It was like dangling a carrot in front of a horse to make it keep running forward.
This magic circle was the stick and string.
Xien's power of Abundance was the carrot.
The function of the ritual was to amplify the aura of his Abundance, then let the Dungeon sense it, creating the illusion that as long as it remained quiet, it would eventually receive that power. The purpose was to keep the Dungeon calm.
Overall, it felt like a very practical work of art.
"Wouldn't a trick like this make it angry? Or provoke it into flying into a rage?"
Xien could see it clearly now. This was basically fooling a simpleton. It was efficient, yes—but not exactly noble.
"It will be fine. Leaving aside the fact that no specific time limit is being imposed, the Dungeon itself does not possess a clear consciousness. Precisely because it operates more on instinct, a simple deception like this is the easiest way to influence it."
Fels's answer made Xien nod unconsciously.
So the Dungeon possessed mostly instinct, rather than a distinct self-aware will.
That made sense. If it truly had a clearly defined consciousness, then adventurers—who carried the aura of the gods it hated—should already have been hunted down by every imaginable means.
"So my job is simply to leave a portion of my power in this ritual array, correct?"
By now, Xien fully understood the outline of the plan. Internally, he was already weighing it.
"Correct."
"All right. Then since this is a commission, there should be compensation. Let's hear it."
He was already inclined to agree. After all, a calmer Dungeon would benefit him as someone living in this city. It would not cost much effort, there was pay involved, and there seemed to be no major downside. Under those conditions, there was little reason to refuse.
The god and the sage were not surprised by his question.
This was normal in this city. If Xien had not asked for compensation, that would have been the strange part.
Fels spoke first.
"Then I shall begin. I offer you all of my magical knowledge—the complete magical legacy of Fels, Sage and creator of the Philosopher's Stone. You will become my successor and inherit all my magical achievements."
After watching Xien fight before, Fels had only become more convinced of his desire to make him his heir. A person with such talent and character was far too rare.
The thought of all his life's study vanishing into dust when he was finally gone…
No.
He could not accept that.
Xien, however, was stunned.
Was this man really being so generous?
He knew exactly who stood before him. This was no ordinary scholar of magic. This was someone who had created the impossible Philosopher's Stone, someone who had even cast resurrection magic. Even his current skeletal form was the result of an imperfect immortality ritual after the loss of the Philosopher's Stone. Though he had lost his flesh and no longer felt hunger or thirst, and though his status could no longer improve, he had nonetheless survived for centuries—and seemed fully capable of surviving centuries more.
He was, in every sense, a genius who had brushed against the divine threshold in magic.
And now such a person wanted Xien as his heir?
It felt like a gift had fallen straight from the heavens.
So he asked directly.
"Why? Anyone worthy of being called a 'sage' is already a great authority in magic, and more than that, I've heard you're the one who created the Philosopher's Stone. Someone like you wants me as a successor? I need a reason."
He did not think a little bit of Abundance's power was worth an opportunity like this. He was not that arrogant.
Fels answered, his voice lighter now.
"There are two reasons. First is your magical talent. I imagine you can already guess this—I have been observing you for quite some time. Your magical aptitude is extraordinary enough to stir even my desire to pass something on."
That alone would have been reason enough.
Transmission of knowledge—legacy—was one of the deepest obsessions of humanity.
Before Xien could speak, Fels continued.
"Second is your conduct in all things, including the question you just asked. I have seen your character clearly. At heart, you are a truly upright and kind person. More importantly, you are not rigid. Your reason and your intelligence are both in service to your integrity. A person like you possesses the rarest quality needed for the path of magic—humility. My eyes tell me that if I entrust my magic to you, you will carry it to heights I myself could never reach. That is, perhaps, my truest selfish wish."
His voice trembled.
It was excitement.
A burning desire from the depths of his soul.
Through those hollow eye sockets, Xien felt as though he could see the heat of the man's spirit.
Yes.
This so-called sage, the one whose efforts had once been rejected in full by his own god, had rekindled his ambition.
And the reason was the young man standing before him.
Listening to the trembling in his voice, Xien felt the weight of the man's obsession, and with it, a quiet respect.
He understood now.
This was a lonely martyr walking his chosen road to the end.
"All right. If you're willing to say that much, then I have no right to brush it aside. So let me state my position plainly: if you are willing to teach, then I will call you teacher."
Xien's answer was formal, and it made Fels nod in satisfaction.
This too was one of the reasons he admired the boy: decisiveness, and a fundamental sense of reverence toward all things.
"Excellent. The detailed arrangements can be discussed later…"
Then both of them turned toward the great god beside them.
Ouranos did not disappoint. He, too, got straight to the point.
"In addition, the Guild will provide intelligence support to the Astraea Familia. Any request your familia makes of the Guild will receive the highest level of consideration."
That condition made Xien's eyes sharpen slightly.
This was practically the treatment given to the highest-level allies.
Was this matter truly important enough for the great god to go this far?
No—on second thought, it made sense.
This also meant binding Astraea to his chariot.
Because with Astraea's nature, the more she knew, the more she would act. There would be no need for the Guild to urge them into anything—they would rush forward of their own accord.
The only reason this had not happened before was that the Astraea Familia had not yet reached the necessary level of strength.
A very clean move.
Xien smiled faintly.
Mutual benefit. Nothing wrong with that.
"I see. That really is an enticing reward."
"Then what is your decision?"
The great god's voice carried that same deep, steady gravity.
In truth, the reason he was offering such generous terms was not the familia at all, but the boy.
Having observed countless people, he had seen in Xien the shadow of a hero from the ancient age. That was what he truly wished to invest in.
As for Astraea's other children, bluntly speaking, they had not yet reached the level he required.
By now, there was no reason for Xien to say anything more.
"I accept. To be honest, I'm interested in both the plan and the theory behind it. And anything that can reduce casualties is the kind of thing a healer isn't about to refuse."
"Very good. Then the contract is made. Thank you for your cooperation, Xien."
In that case—
Let us begin.
With Fels activating the array and Ouranos adjusting the basis of prayer, a crystal sphere appeared at the center of the altar.
Xien stepped forward without hesitation and infused it with emerald-green Abundance.
At once, the dim surroundings filled with flickering magical light. The ritual had begun.
The space trembled faintly, magic gathered, and within the invisible workings of the formation, the entire process began operating with the precision of a finely engineered device.
Then the great god closed his eyes and began to murmur.
A steady pulse spread outward, gradually synchronizing with the rhythm of the ritual itself, until finally both settled into stillness.
Everything returned to how it had been—
save for a single crystal sphere, glowing with soft green light.
The entire process had taken only a few minutes.
Watching it, Xien's expression turned thoughtful and interested.
Through his connection to his own power, he could sense that the ritual was functioning exactly as intended. At the same time, he could tell that if he wanted, he could still manipulate that power and make it do other things.
But he did not.
He merely confirmed that everything was stable, then withdrew his attention.
In the end, once Ouranos had seated himself back upon his throne, the ritual was complete.
"It worked exactly as planned. The burden has lessened, and the effect is even better than expected. The Dungeon is… calm now."
After sensing the state of the Dungeon, even Ouranos's expression softened. Plainly, he was pleased with the results.
Receiving that confirmation, Xien nodded and prepared to take his leave.
"Then may I go now? There are still things waiting for me at home."
His straightforwardness had become, by now, an absolute virtue in their eyes. Neither man intended to stop him.
However—
"Of course. Thank you for your assistance, Xien of Astraea. The promised matters will be coordinated with your familia shortly."
"There is one more thing as well. A proposal, perhaps. I wonder whether it might interest you?"
The great god's words halted Xien just as he was about to turn away. He looked back at him.
Seeing the seriousness in the deity's face, Xien gestured for him to continue.
"Oh? Go ahead."
"After some time has passed, would you be willing to accompany the Loki Familia on an expedition? To descend into the deeper levels of the Dungeon?"
"…?"
"There is something lost in the depths of the Dungeon. It is time to retrieve it."
Ouranos's expression remained calm. Xien could not hear any obvious hidden meaning in his tone, and that only made him more curious.
"What is it? Why now? And why me?"
....
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