Chapter 365 - To the Center of the Continent (2)
The capital of the Kingdom of Estiria, Retia.
Deep within Eznoren, the royal castle untouched by outside eyes, a secret meeting was underway.
There were three attendees.
One was the true power who controlled the royal family, one was the vassal loyal to him, and one was the mediator connecting the kingdom and the underworld.
The princess and witch, Silis, set down the newspaper with a soft thud.
It was filled with news spreading rapidly across the world, covering the incident that had occurred in the Republic of Beldirn's Sacrid.
"A large-scale assault, a Stampede, and then suddenly the appearance of an Undead Dragon... Even if it's an official announcement from the Church of Luas, it's still hard to believe."
The Stampede could be explained.
Rare, but not beyond the realm of possibility.
For months, the neighboring state of the Republic, Kailiens, had been suffering a surge in demi-human incidents... the signs were there, even if the location was different, so it was at least somewhat understandable.
But the Bone-Relic Dragon was entirely different.
Even as Undead, Dragons were transcendents so powerful that only a handful of records existed across humanity's long history.
In the present age, they were considered nothing more than legends.
Of course, Silis, who had inherited an ancient bloodline, was not one to speak—but still.
'If the Bone-Relic Dragon had appeared in the Kingdom───'
The scale of the disaster would have been incomparable to the Undead incident caused last year by that group called the Glory of the Dead.
The mere thought sent chills down her spine.
"The Kingdom's honorary count was said to have assassinated a mayor, and Kailiens contacted us not long ago... It seems something far greater happened than we expected."
"That's what I told you, Father. There must have been a justifiable reason why Asher did what he did."
"No, I never once said Asher was at fault."
"Anyway."
Calia tilted her chin slightly.
Her dark crimson hair slid down her shoulders like silk.
"With more and more influx into Roafra, it had already been difficult to manage everything with only Vintert, so this is convenient. No one would dare covet the vacant throne of the underworld's king, the Dragonslayer."
"On the other hand, it is a problem. Because of Asher's title as honorary count, the Kingdom will draw attention. Before long, we'll also have to reveal the absence of Leonil, which we've kept hidden until now."
The death of Leonil, commander of the Kingdom's mages, had not yet been made public.
It was thanks to the witch's bloodline that Silis carried. Within the royal castle, there was no one who could resist her mental interference.
"Well, it's only that the time for the truth to surface is coming, and that's fine. After all, the reason we hid Leonil's death was to prevent external meddling that might exploit his absence. But now, with things as they are... Asher's existence will become a massive deterrent protecting the Kingdom. At least, that's how it will appear to the outside world."
Silis replied calmly.
Once she had lived as the Doll Princess, but now she carried the demeanor of a ruler governing a nation.
Though still an unofficial power behind the throne.
"That's why we should focus on the cleanup. The bounty on Asher in Kailiens will soon be explained, but that doesn't mean we can just sit idly by."
Silis's platinum eyes gleamed.
"If there are those with impure intentions toward Asher, we'll block them at the national level. Even if they pose little real threat to him, it is still our duty—and the best we can do—to spare him such nuisances."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
The father and daughter of the Esperanza family nodded in unison.
"However, given the nature of this incident, the aftermath will be fierce. So, I will represent the Kingdom myself."
"You'll go in person, Father?"
"Yes, most nobles would be unable to handle it. And..."
Duke Esperanza narrowed his eyes and continued.
"While I'm abroad, I intend to reopen exchanges with other nations as well."
The Republic of Beldirn and the Duchy of Riviant.
Relations with them had been half severed after the war some thirty years ago.
It was time to mend those ties.
Change and the future.
That was the new dream Silis pursued, after she had avenged her mother.
Thus, the Kingdom of Estiria sought to escape the mire of corruption and move forward.
At such a longed-for day, Calia's lips curved into a gentle smile.
Silently, she longed for the day she would reunite with Asher, praying sincerely that he would accomplish what he sought.
***
The greatest city built on the Central Continent, Gargant.
At one corner of it stood the academy, and there was a young man with a boyish face.
The Genius student, Theodore.
A Mage wielding a new branch of magic, summoning magic.
And a new recruit of the Ark.
"..."
Since returning from the Ark after the Ark's exchange tournament, Theodore had spent most of his free time lost in thought.
He hadn't neglected his classes or his research.
But because of his absentminded demeanor, unfavorable rumors had begun to spread.
Clatter.
"Phew..."
Just then, someone entered the research room with a weary sigh.
Professor Dale, of General Theoretical Studies.
He was the very one who had created the framework and structure of summoning magic.
Behind him came a woman with sky-blue hair.
With
"Should I put these down here, Professor?"
"Ah... yes. Thank you, Iris."
"Think nothing of it. Call me again if you need help."
Iris bowed politely and left into the corridor.
As her footsteps faded, Professor Dale muttered.
"She went off to be an adventurer after graduation... Her attitude has improved, but more than that, her magic skills have grown tremendously. Yet, the fact that she quit adventuring and returned to the academy... she must have realized reality."
He let out a sigh of regret, then turned his gaze toward Theodore.
"So, when will you come to your senses? Even if I wanted to help, you never say a word."
"..."
Theodore averted his eyes slightly.
Anything related to the Ark was strictly forbidden to reveal.
"Well, if it's that troublesome for you, fine. More importantly, have you read the newspaper?"
The professor placed the paper from his coat onto the desk.
"Ah, yes. I have. From students to professors, the entire academy is abuzz with that news."
"Of course, a Dragon has appeared. And to add to that, a trading company no one has ever heard of, 'Licentia', is said to be selling materials from the slain Dragon. The excitement is natural."
He scratched at his scruffy, short beard.
"Dragon bones... Many will try to acquire them. Blood will flow. Hmph, if only the academy could somehow purchase them for research."
"Would the budget allow it?"
"Of course not. Even if by some miracle we obtained them, immense pressure would come from the magic tower, the Empire, and countless others. The academy would become a cauldron of chaos. And the Headmaster would never permit such a risk."
In short, a Dragon's bones were like a deadly poison.
Once grasped, they would become an addiction.
The only safe choice was to cut off interest completely, or watch from afar.
At that moment, Theodore hesitated, then spoke.
"Professor Dale, I have a question..."
"Speak."
"Is it possible for someone who isn't a Transcendent to completely subdue multiple strong opponents with
"Hm, for example?"
"I mean like a Mage who has reached the 5th tier, or warriors who have awakened their aura."
"The latter would be assumed to be on a level similar to a 5th-tier Mage, right? Let me think..."
After a brief moment of thought, Professor Dale gave his answer.
"It may cause some disturbance, but completely suppressing them is impossible.
"I thought so...?"
"Why are you suddenly asking something so obvious? What happened?"
"N, nothing. It's nothing."
"Ridiculous. Anyway, if you've sorted out your thoughts, then focus on your summoning magic research. The presentation day is coming up. I'll be heading over to the Third Laboratory for a while."
Professor Dale stretched and left the room.
Left alone once again, Theodore picked up the newspaper his professor had left behind.
'If
Several names printed in the newspaper caught his eyes.
"Asher, just what kind of person are you?"
The fellow Ark recruit who had turned the Ark's exchange tournament into a complete wasteland.
At the time, Theodore had been the first to lose consciousness, so he only heard about what happened afterward... but he vividly remembered the overwhelming mana he had felt in that single instant.
The vast sea.
The surging, colossal tidal wave.
It was a thrill that had shaken the life of a young Mage to its very core.
***
Fwooosh...!
The violently swirling mana gradually subsided.
He slowly regained his vision.
What appeared before his eyes was a foreign city, dazzlingly painted like autumn leaves.
Buildings stacked higher than even those in the Republic of Beldirn crowded the streets, far from anything rough or rustic.
Energy pulsed from all around.
Some places looked harmonious, while others clashed in jarring colors.
It was, truly, an exotic landscape.
'So this is the Central Continent.'
His heart pounded.
Verdan himself hadn't changed in the slightest, yet everything felt so new.
It wasn't only because he had stepped onto a new land.
"...Uugh."
Beside him, Leira let out a faint breath.
It was the nausea caused by spatial teleportation.
Adrian staggered slightly but recovered quickly, while Verden wasn't affected at all.
As seen, the differences were stark from person to person.
The three stepped down from the intercontinental spatial teleportation circle, settling at the edge of the street.
By then, Leira had shaken off her sickness.
"Now that we've arrived on the Central Continent, our journey from Kailiens together comes to an end. I never imagined things would become so complicated."
She had accepted a request from the Church of Luas, Verden had helped, and in return, they were granted the use of the intercontinental teleportation circle.
The deal was complete.
It was time to walk their separate paths.
Leira pulled something out, wrapped in thick cloth.
Its thickness was narrower than the opening of a spatial bag, but its length exceeded that of a man's upper body.
"This is the claw of a special creature, the Septa Horn. It was torn to pieces by the Bone-Relic Dragon, but fortunately, some materials remained. I received this as part of the subjugation reward while the Adventurer's Guild was processing it. Take it."
"Why give this to me...?"
"Information on the Demon. That's your advance payment."
Though Verden had said he couldn't guarantee anything, Leira didn't yield.
There was a heavy, dark, all too familiar craving emanating from her.
With no reason to refuse, Verden accepted the Septa Horn's claw.
"Very well. Then I'll keep it."
"Thank you. I'll be waiting for your message."
Her voice brightened as she stepped back.
"See you later, Asher. And... you as well."
Leira gave her farewells in turn, then departed on her journey.
Her golden hair fluttered in the wind, until at last her figure vanished into the crowd.
***
Verdan stored the special creature's material inside his Subspace.
Then he resumed the conversation he had been having with Adrian back in the Eastern Continent.
"In Midros, we said that if the chance arose while moving forward, we'd find Rayshen and eliminate him."
But it was a far-fetched goal.
In this vast land, to come across Rayshen, who hid his identity, was nearly impossible.
Of course, Adrian was fully aware of that reality.
"Yes, we have no means of tracking him. But hearing you say this now... have you found a lead?"
"No, no lead. And no new method either. Searching for him directly is still nothing but a waste of time."
Therefore.
"We'll make him come to us. Dragon bones will be bait enough. He will surely try to secure the material from the Bohemirn magic tower."
"...!"
"Of course, our ultimate goal remains to establish a power base. This is merely an adjustment, according to changing circumstances."
Then Verden declared firmly.
"Within the next three months."
His icy blue eyes blazed with murderous intent.
"We will make the necessary preparations, draw Rayshen out, and kill him."
The second disciple of Balrog Bessias, tower master of the Bohemirn magic tower.
Through countless drug experiments, he had forcibly wrung Verden's magical comprehension to its very limits, turning him into something inhuman.
The mad Magus who had produced great results for the tower at the cost of Verden's life.
Rayshen Tailroad.
The two had chosen their first target on the Central Continent.
And just as Verden expected, the Bohemirn magic tower was in an uproar over the rare Dragon materials that had appeared for the first time in ages.
That wave of chaos also reached Verden's childhood friend, Rovellin.
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