Chapter 359 - Alias
Magic of the 7th tier or higher is solely the prerogative of a Transcendent.
Within the bounds of being human, the highest realm a Mage can reasonably reach is the 6th tier.
Thus, in the world of magic, they are called a "Reacher", and if Mado is added to it, they are referred to as a "Reacher of Mado".
The successor of DarkWarton, Haldirn Deiras.
The former strongest of the Kingdom of Estiria, Leonil Bertanas.
Executives of two magic towers whom he had indirectly encountered in the Dominion of Midros.
The Fourth Servant, Kessilus, was one such case.
It literally meant one who had reached the extreme of being a Mage or a Magus, a title imbued with lofty prestige and reverence.
Not a title in common use, one that even ordinary people would recognize.
Rather, it was mainly prevalent in the Central Continent, where the influence of magic was strong, or in certain regions of the Western Continent.
He had never particularly heard of it in the Eastern Continent until now.
However, since the Republic of Beldirn was connected to the Central Continent through a spatial teleportation array, it seemed to be an exceptional case.
"A Reacher of Mado..."
Verden turned the term over in his mind.
If he thought about it, he had been a Magus hardly known to the world.
Simply judging by the scope of his activities, most of his work had been taking on commissions from the Gray of duchies and kingdoms, much like a mercenary.
Though he had directly been involved in the Soul Tree subjugation and the extermination of Marquis Gardran's house in collaboration with Gluttony, it had not led to fame recognizable to just anyone.
That was because Verden was an individual unaffiliated with any organization.
Thus, the only time he had shown his power to a proper number of people was in the underworld of Roafra.
In the end, it had all been matters outside the sight of the public.
But in Sacrid, before countless eyes, he had openly faced the Bone-Relic Dragon, and ultimately succeeded in its subjugation...
During the two weeks Verden had devoted to recovery, it was no wonder his renown had spread.
That he was specified and known as a 6th-tier Magus was a natural conclusion. No one would have recognized that he had used 7th-tier elemental magic.
There might have been a few who doubted the nature of the magic's power, but it was more logical and reasonable to assume it was Mado.
Such was the 7th tier.
After receiving a simple greeting from an unknown Mage, Verden once again walked forward.
His destination, the Church of Sacrid.
Before leaving the building, he had heard that others were staying there.
It was as he was making his way over.
Clop, clop.
From the opposite side, a carriage marked with the emblem of the Republic slowly approached and halted.
The door opened, and a man of refined appearance stepped out.
"I heard you had finished your treatment and left, Count Asher. I am truly relieved to see you safe."
Brillen Keirans.
The Supreme Councilor of the Republic of Beldirn, cooperating with the Church of Luas.
He had been said to be busy, moving around, restoring Sacrid which had fallen into disarray.
"For now, we have succeeded in calming the unnecessary confusion. Thanks to that, we were able to stabilize the city, and I had time to come out and greet you. And aside from that... I came because I have an urgent matter to discuss with you, Count."
Revealing his business, Brillen politely gestured toward the carriage.
"So, would you care to join me for a meal?"
Though it was a sudden invitation, Verden did not refuse.
It happened to be lunchtime.
***
"The corpses piled up in Sacrid's underground, those carried in from Kailiens and elsewhere by Glory of the Dead... we have taken care of them. They were so tainted by demonic energy that, when touched by holy power, they vanished without a trace."
In a chamber suffused with warmth, Verden and Brillen sat together.
Before them lay two medium-rare steaks, while Brillen personally filled the glasses.
From the label, a Central Continent wine worth hundreds of millions.
Brillen, sitting opposite, had no executioners or escorts by his side.
"Among those heaps of corpses, there were presumed to be the bodies of Supreme Councilor Nellonian, the Mayor of Sacrid, councilors loyal to Dumbred, and his direct executioners. Ha, three of the five Supreme Councilors dead... this will go down as the worst event in the history of the Republic."
Brillen could not hide his heavy heart.
It was only natural, when nearly half the nation's leadership had been struck down by one organization.
"Still, compared to the danger of the crisis, I consider it a relatively better outcome."
He had to think that way for peace of mind, and indeed it was the truth.
Had the special entities, Septa Horn and the Bone-Relic Dragon, been left free to rampage nationwide... there would have been no subjugation, and the very survival of the Republic would have been in jeopardy.
Crunch.
Brillen chewed and swallowed a piece of meat before continuing.
"Ah, and I bring good news."
"Good news?"
"As of last night's investigation, we have secured part of the Bone-Relic Dragon's skeleton buried in the ground."
"...!"
At those words, Verden reacted.
Though dragon bone it may have been, to think it retained its form even after being exposed directly to the Saintess's miracle and the explosion of a Supernova...
"Even in death, since it was Undead, demonic energy must have lingered. Was there no problem in transporting it?"
"A few high-ranking adventurers nearly lost their lives, but fortunately, there were no fatalities. Archbishop Joseph himself came forward with Paladins at his side."
"Treatment and purification both. Even for one of the Seven Archbishops, it would have been an unbearable burden."
"Yes, he looked quite exhausted. Even so, he did not postpone the duty that must be done. For someone ordinary like me, such willpower is unimaginable... he is now resting deeply at the Church of Sacrid."
Brillen took a sip of wine and let out a small sigh.
"That concludes the preface. Now, let us move on to the main subject."
The main subject? The Bone-Relic Dragon's bones were not the entirety of it?
Verden held back his questions, continuing his meal, listening in silence.
"To be honest, if not only for the Church of Luas, but also for you, Count, Lord Haldirn, Inspector, and Lady Leira's aid, Sacrid would surely have perished."
Like the others, Brillen had watched the battle, no, the war, within the city's inner quarters.
It was a sight he could never forget in his lifetime.
"...I am a politician who lives by words, but I am also a man who repays the grace owed without fail."
He pushed aside the plate still stained with meat juices.
Placing his hands on the table, Brillen clasped them earnestly.
"I have heard. That you wish to use Lady Leira's adventurer privileges to access the spatial teleportation array leading to the Central Continent. It requires the consent of the other councilors, but I will see to it that a permit is issued to you at the earliest possible date."
"On Kailiens and the Republic, there is a huge bounty placed upon you. Is that not a problem?"
"That too, is currently being settled. From now on, there will be no bounty hunters charging at you as in Southern Pit."
Swift handling.
As he had heard, it seemed Brillen had been moving very busily during these two weeks.
"And, as the stance of the Republic, we would like to present you with a reward."
"A reward..."
"If possible, we would prepare it in coin, but... with the deaths of councilors and the restoration of Sacrid, the budget is severely lacking. So instead, we plan to grant you items from the Republic's treasury. For example, artifacts."
"What of the choice?"
"Of course, on the premise that you may take freely. The reward is, after all, an expression of gratitude. We do not intend to give you anything unnecessary."
To open the treasures collected by the Republic of Beldirn. And to let him choose directly with his own eyes.
They had come out exceedingly generous.
"What does the Count think?"
"I welcome it. But will the other Supreme Councilors accept this?"
Supreme Councilor Angrang, who detested the Kingdom of Estiria.
Even at their first meeting, he had poured out indiscriminate insults, so it was unlikely he would yield so easily.
"...Supreme Councilor Angrang will not obstruct. Absolutely not. So, you need not concern yourself."
It was a resolute attitude.
From the start, Verden had not particularly considered such a reward from the Republic, so there was no reason to refuse, no matter what it was.
Nodding his head, Verden accepted Brillen's proposal.
Soon after, the meal came to an end.
As Verden judged there was no further conversation to be had and was about to rise, Brillen spoke, as though suddenly remembering.
"Ah, by the way, have you heard the rumors? The streets are abuzz with talk of Count Asher."
"...?"
"Some call you Dragonslayer, some call you Archmagus, but most people call you this."
Brillen spoke softly.
"New Star, Asher."
A suddenly appeared new star.
The new alias of Verden, born in Sacrid.
***
After Verden departed, silence filled the chamber.
"..."
Brillen, who had been staring wordlessly at the empty seat, drew a handkerchief from his breast.
With trembling hands, he wiped away the cold sweat trickling down the back of his neck.
Clack.
From outside, a guard entered.
The leader of Brillen Supreme Councilor's personal execution squad, "Woodgurd", stepped in and stood at his side.
"Are you all right, sir?"
"It is a little taxing."
Brillen let out a hollow laugh.
The calm expression he had worn until moments ago collapsed, replaced by a face heavy with tension.
"Still, the conversation went smoothly. It seems he was quite taken with the reward I offered. For the Republic, it is a massive expenditure, however."
"It was unlike you, sir."
Woodgurd's words were true.
Until now, Brillen had always deceived others with clever rhetoric, minimizing losses and maximizing gain.
No matter the situation.
A born politician.
That was Brillen's reputation.
But how had that meal been just now?
He had given the opponent benefits they had not even imagined, and only increased his own losses.
That he should provide a fair reward was agreeable, but to grant multiple artifacts, and freely at that, was far, far too much.
Lost in thought, Brillen let out a heavy sigh.
"...As you know, a 6th-tier Mage is hard to see in these parts. Why? Because the Central Continent is more attractive."
The Kingdom of Estiria, the Duchy of Riviant, the Republic of Beldirn, Kailiens.
The eastern continent's center, where these powers resided, was overall stable.
But what of the Central Continent?
Unstable, chaotic, a land rife with survival of the fittest.
A continent well-suited for strong Reachers who had not lost their vigor to run rampant.
"Asher is a Reacher of Mado who stands higher than those very people. Moreover, he is an honorary Count of the Kingdom of Estiria, a nation at odds with the Republic. He is even on familiar terms with an Archbishop of the Church of Luas, and drinks with DarkWarton's second-in-command."
A weighty status indeed.
And regardless of the Saintess's aid, the fact remained that he had personally ended the breath of an Undead Transcendent.
With a magic so powerful it could have obliterated half of Sacrid.
"Forget the heroic visage of the one who saved Sacrid. Do not even consider his handsome exterior. In the end, he is an existence who can annihilate a city alone."
A principle Brillen had never broken in his life.
He clenched his fist.
"...With a 'Ruler', you do not start calculating."
The tyrant of the underworld.
Another alias of Verden, who had laid waste to Southern Pit, which Brillen had deliberately avoided voicing.
***
After finishing lunch and arriving at the Church of Sacrid, Verden met Adrian, Haldirn, and Leira.
Their appearances were intact, and they could move about, but they were far from normal.
On crutches, with arms bound in slings, or seated in wheelchairs.
It was due to the internal injuries inflicted by the Bone-Relic Dragon.
"...Asher, why have you already recovered? I clearly remember your injuries being severe."
"It is only the appearance that is fine, like you, I still carry internal wounds. Fortunately, the wounds themselves closed thanks to top-grade potions."
"Hmm..."
Haldirn cast him a peculiar look.
Within his robe, only darkness could be seen, his expression unreadable.
Verden shifted his gaze to Adrian.
"By the way, how long since you recovered, and yet again leaning on the church."
"Haha, indeed. Still, it is not as bad as last time when I was half-crippled."
Adrian raised his hand.
The fingers that had once been broken creaked as they moved.
It was while they were conversing.
"..."
Leira, who had remained silent, wearing a white mask covering her entire face, tugged lightly on Verden's sleeve.
The wheelchair shifted.
"Asher, let us speak in private for a moment."
Tap, tap.
Leira knocked gently on her mask.
You can read more chapters in organised way on my website:- https://revengernovel.com