Chapter 516 – Fence (1)
A life-or-death duel for the leadership of Black Hour had been set. The process had been long in many ways, but the result could not be better.
As scheduled, in the Capital of Ruin, the stage of the fierce battle, the Sage of Wisdom, Melard, was present as the guarantor of the promise.
As her escort, the Sage of Power, Osgar, along with Alderneys, Grave, Opea, and other high-level forces had been dispatched, standing against Black Hour.
And Unia and Cain, together with Society's support forces, were watching the overall situation from the rear with a broader view.
'Well, there shouldn't be a problem.'
No, surely, Black Hour would not dare to pull any tricks.
Dahit had guaranteed it.
A Transcendent obsessed with external perceptions would loathe more than anyone to be remembered as a base and vile existence by breaking a promise they had personally made.
They might engage in psychological warfare, but no direct clash would occur.
In addition, the Sage of Guardianship, Medrant, as the tower master of Ostea Magic Tower, was keeping watch on the magic tower alliance of the Western Continent, prepared for any contingency.
He did not rule out the possibility of ambitious individuals who might attempt to pursue Black Hour if they withdrew from the front line.
Of course, the magic towers would be satisfied with their victory in the full-scale war, nothing more. They had already gained enough.
Unless someone else took the lead, they were not the sort to rashly step forward and court needless losses.
'Anyway.'
Between the forces dispersed across the continent, thanks to the communication devices developed by Alpha, an organic network had been established.
The moment an unforeseen problem arose on one side, from the nearest point to the farthest, everything would move.
'Variables have been minimized.'
What remained for Verden now was to hone the necessary power.
Not only for himself.
His plans encompassed what lay ahead even after the Usurpation War ended. The decision to schedule the Magic War for the winter had been purely calculated.
"You called for us, my lord."
In the deserted forest of the Ownerless Land──the private place where Verden usually tested magic──he summoned Adrian and Isabella.
"Soon, when the dwarven facility is completed, Gharun will begin full-scale forging of weapons. Before that, I have advice."
The two listened attentively.
"Do not rely on it."
The legendary dwarven blacksmith would craft unique weapons using dragon's claws and dragon's ribs as materials.
Of course, they would not surpass Verden's [Interis], due to differing materials and ownership, but it was obvious that they would be completely different from conventional artifacts.
A dramatic rise in power was a foregone conclusion.
That was why they needed to be qualified themselves.
As Gharun was fond of saying, if the owner were to be swayed by the weapon, nothing could be more disgraceful or poisonous.
"Speaking only in terms of realms, you two are close to the level of Transcendence. Adrian especially. But how to get a little closer to the path of Awakening, I do not know either."
Unlike mages, for those who had awakened aura, the conditions for Transcendence were not clearly known, and Isabella carried the peculiarity of being an abnormal species.
At least within Verden's knowledge, there was no particular method. It was similar to the wandering he had experienced when he had been a Quasi-Transcendent.
"So, there is only one thing I can directly help you with here."
Verden activated his mana circuits.
"Come at me."
Adrian was growing step by step, like climbing a steep mountain.
The one who had been unable to withstand Verden's second Mado as a Transcendent had cut straight through Dahit's innate magic—that was the proof.
'What Adrian needs now is not meditation or ordinary training, but the experience of fierce battles against a strong opponent.'
In contrast, Isabella's Arcane of Corrosion was indeed powerful, but it had clear limits.
She could easily seize control over the life and death of those below a certain level, but against equals or those stronger, it was extremely vulnerable.
If she could not pierce the opponent's magic resistance, her Mado was useless.
'Of course, Isabella's Brilliant Eyes partly supplement that weakness, but it's still insufficient. Her realm and level are not yet balanced. Strengthening her fundamental magical abilities to overcome the weaknesses of her Mado is the best way.'
Unlike Adrian, Isabella did not dream of Transcendence, but she too truly wished to become stronger.
For both of them had lost their families because they had been too weak to protect them. They understood, deep in their bones, how important strength was.
Strengthening Adrian's and Isabella's actual combat power.
For that role, Verden was the right person.
Isabella placed one hand on her hip.
"I get what you mean… but with the battle against Dahit ahead, is it fine for you to spare time for us?"
"I have more than enough leeway. Besides, I have a spell to test as well."
Verden pulled out a book.
A tome of 7th-tier enchantment magic, borrowed through the Sage of Guardianship──the tower master of Ostea Magic Tower.
In principle, information about 7th-tier magic was handled with utmost caution in the magic world and could not be legally obtained, but the magic towers were an exception.
Of course, smuggling it out had not been easy…
But Medrant Keden had judged it worth the effort, for the Transcendent who had risked his life and succeeded in seizing the [Hourglass of Perpetuity].
However, regardless of Verden's understanding of magic, he lacked the foundational knowledge to master the highest enchantment spell of the protection school, so he needed all the related tomes.
He had just finished reading them recently.
"Ah, really? You should've told us earlier. If it helps our lord, we wouldn't have questioned it at all."
Fwaaah.
Then Isabella opened her Mado, her Brilliant Eyes flashing.
"So, I should go all out?"
"I won't hold back."
Adrian slowly drew his blade with a metallic hum. Among the weapons in Verden's subspace, it was the most durable sword.
Verden gripped [Interis] lightly, flicking it up and down.
At his signal, the swordsman and the magus simultaneously unleashed sword energy and magic.
[Your Majesty Verden. Recording.]
Alpha, sitting in his own spectator's seat, lit up his single eye brightly.
The palm-sized mini golem, newly modified, had been implanted and linked with a core of a memory golem, successfully reduced to the extreme.
In other words, Alpha could now record any scene he watched at will, without the trouble of carrying a memory golem around.
After the recording ended, all he had to do was replace the core with another.
Very simple indeed.
[Performance very good. Satisfied.]
Alpha, who had perfected the so-called memory mini golem, captured every moment of Verden's relentless pressure on Adrian and Isabella.
Thus Verden regularly engaged in quite brutal sparring, while devoting the rest of his time to rest and meditation.
It was then.
Rebecca, standing in for Cain and Unia on behalf of Society, suddenly poked her head inside the door.
Her short emerald hair shimmered.
"Um, you have a guest."
From the east of the Ownerless Land, the broker, Serlo Broden, had arrived.
***
"This is the job you entrusted me with."
Serlo, by now, had become somewhat accustomed to the presence of a Transcendent, who lurked so quietly it sent chills down the spine.
But he did not relax his guard.
It was the caution befitting a former Obsidian-rank adventurer and a man of the underworld.
Shrrrak.
Verden spread out dozens of documents in the air, reading through the densely written, neat information.
Contained within them was the life of the Sovereign, who ruled the western Ownerless Land.
Verden calmly scanned the contents, then stored them in his subspace.
"Well done."
"Thank you."
Unlike before, Serlo was no longer in a pitiful position.
He had received fair compensation in return for investigating the Sovereign's background. This was not an order, but a commission.
Having gotten off on the wrong foot with his dealings with the Southern Alliance, Serlo felt deeply relieved as he realized his treatment was gradually improving.
At that moment, Verden asked.
"How goes the matter of the natural golem?"
"Ah, yes. I inquired through the Adventurer's Guild, but have yet to find one. It's such a rare abnormal species to discover… it seems it will take some time."
"Contact me immediately if one is found."
"I will be careful to ensure there is no chance of it being subjugated prematurely."
Verden always kept Alpha's research for Beta in consideration as well.
'Well then, since I've confirmed there are no particular issues in the Sovereign's past… perhaps it's time to pay a visit.'
There was no reason to delay.
Now was the right moment.
[Short trip confirmed.]
With Alpha, Verden headed for the western reaches of the Ownerless Land.
In preparation for emergencies, he would not use
Verden streaked through the skies like a piercing arrow.
D - 46
***
The reason the western city of 'Aidaine' had long been regarded as the safest city in the Ownerless Land was simple.
Unlike the East, where power was fragmented, the West's authority was concentrated in one Sovereign, and he lived there.
[Many citizens present.]
Alpha, his body transparent, whispered while surveying the surroundings.
Verden cloaked himself in
[City name Aidaine. In the ancient tongue, it means independence. Personally, I think the meaning is apt.]
"Indeed."
Unlike the chronic desolation of the Ownerless Land, Aidaine was prosperous and leisurely. Even more so than the North, which was flourishing under Verden.
It was the atmosphere that arose from belief—the conviction that the city, ruled by its Sovereign for so long, would never fall to invasion.
Step, step, step.
Patrol soldiers, armed with longswords and clad in armor, walked the city without a hint of laughter. They were troops enforcing order according to the laws set by the Sovereign.
Though their appearance might seem threatening to common folk, people did not withhold their greetings.
"Alpha, what kind of temperament do you think the lord who rules this city has?"
[Information compiled. Judgment of Sovereign. His attitude differs completely depending on whether one is inside or outside the fence he has set. Clear identification of ally and foe. Outside, he is a cunning serpent, inside, a noble king.]
"You share my opinion. That is why I plan to meet him directly and decide."
Verden looked up at the Sovereign's citadel in the distance.
"Whether to strike the head of the snake, or prepare a jar for the serpent."
***
At the heart of the Sovereign's citadel was a special prison. It was mainly used to confine figures of import, not criminals.
"..."
The Sovereign sat before it.
Perched on a wooden crate, the tip of his cherished sword touching the floor, his hands resting on the hilt, he was lost in deep thought.
A young man's voice rang out.
"…What are you playing at?"
Inside the iron bars, his limbs restrained one by one, a mage leaned against the wall with a fierce glare, growling.
Albert Windirove, only son of the tower master of Diamoon Magic Tower.
"What's your purpose, keeping me locked up for days?"
"..."
"Don't just stare, answer me! If you're going to hand me over to Diamoon Tower, then do it already!"
After the tower master of Diamoon and his first disciple had been slain by Dahit, two factions had arisen within the Diamoon Tower.
One supported the second disciple, whose abilities were already proven.
The other insisted that the master's child, though at a lower realm, had greater talent than the second disciple and therefore rightful claim to succession.
Here, the Sovereign intervened, secretly aiding the second disciple.
His aim was to acquire the secret intelligence of Diamoon Tower, including information on contested regions they had been involved with due to their support of the Southern Alliance.
Though the Southern Alliance had caught on midway and likewise lent aid to the second disciple, he paid it no mind.
As a result, conflict within Diamoon Tower intensified, and through the second disciple's cunning schemes, Albert was separated from the elders who supported him.
Thus, the Sovereign had succeeded in capturing him alone.
With the tower master and half of the tower's leadership slain by a Transcendent overnight, Diamoon Tower was in no condition to function properly.
At this point, handing Albert over to the second disciple would determine the Tower's next master… yet the Sovereign hesitated.
For he had received a warning from the Divinity of the Eastern Continent to keep his hands still.
Normally, he would have sneered and ignored such words, but this time was different.
──You'll die if you meddle.
The warning of the Mercenary King, who had personally met the Divinity.
The expression of the man, who treated countless battlefields as his own home, had been filled with palpable tension.
Sssk.
Once again, the Sovereign, unable to decide, moved silently away. Enraged, Albert roared from behind the bars.
"You bastard!"
"Silence him."
"Yes, my lord Sovereign."
The guard, at his command, entered the cell and forced a gag into Albert's mouth.
Mmph!
Leaving behind the mage's agitated struggles, the Sovereign headed for his audience chamber. The massive doors opened in welcome to their master.
And the moment they closed again—
"…!"
Suddenly, something pricked his senses.
As the Sovereign lifted his gaze, a strange voice slipped into his ear.
"They say that when you have no other business, you usually pass the time on your throne. But you seem very busy, Sovereign."
Someone was seated on the throne.
The hem of a pitch-black robe brushed across his upper vision.
An intruder.
Before even confirming the face, the Sovereign's mind shot straight to action. In an instant, he drew the sword at his waist and charged.
[Probability of dialogue at present: 3%. Seeking solution appropriate.]
Alpha, who had been casually observing the audience chamber, watched the Sovereign rush in at blinding speed and made a rational judgment.
[If he is struck, problem solved.]
Perhaps thanks to what he had learned from Verden—
Alpha was drawing closer to truth.
D - 45
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