Chapter 500 – From the Past (1)
Amwol, the fact that Dahit Wethroel could not show himself immediately, meant there was inevitably some unavoidable circumstance.
"Th, then…"
Melard's lips trembled.
"Are you saying, Dahit, suffered a serious injury?"
"It's not at a critical level, but he still needs stability until he recovers a full ten-tenths of his power. Unless there's a particular method to deal with his mana circuits, his state would be similar to mine now."
Dahit, whose mana circuits ruptured after failing to endure the endless influx of magic power, and Verden, who was struck head-on by superlative magic focused on a vast range.
Naturally, Verden suffered more damage than Dahit, but thanks to Isabella's efforts, the gap had been narrowed as much as possible.
It was now mid-autumn.
With these two Transcendents recovering their strength without permanent injury, their first magical battle, hidden from the world, ended in a draw.
'Well, to be precise, I was pushed back in the magical aspect, while Dahit was pushed back in the strategic aspect.'
Verden lowered his gaze, replaying his fierce clash with Dahit.
A memory he had gone over dozens of times already.
Imagining what Dahit's fundamental tactics were, and what hidden power he had kept until the very end, while comparing them with the secret means Verden himself had concealed.
And, as always, he delivered as objective a judgment as possible, discarding his own bias.
'The odds of victory in the next magical battle are about six to four.'
The former being Dahit, the latter Verden.
Compared to before entering the Black Hour's Great Hall, when it was roughly eight to two, Verden's share had increased by as much as two points.
Practically within the margin of error.
This conclusion was due to two major factors.
First, information.
'In the Black Hour, Dahit never noticed that I had pioneered two new Mado, nor did he ever even get to witness my superlative magic.'
On the other hand, Verden had clearly witnessed Dahit's Mado
A stark difference.
Especially in a battle between two Transcendents, whose attitudes and thoughts toward magical duels could be said to be similar.
Allowing a fatal counterattack by mistake could mean never being able to overturn the situation.
And second, growth.
'Dahit is close to a completed Transcendent.'
Here, the word "completed" did not mean perfect.
It meant reaching the limits of the 7th tier.
Through Awakening, as a being that had surpassed the framework of humanity, Dahit was reaching the very end of the magical talent he had been given from birth.
'But I, have only just begun.'
His level had risen beyond comparison with when he had only just stepped into the domain of Transcendence. Even in pure attainment, excluding armaments, the same held true.
He had not spent his time idly, but had clashed with multiple national-level forces and fought fiercely against two Transcendents.
Anyone who had tried following in Verden's footsteps would surely cry out one hundred out of one hundred that it was reckless.
He did not deny it.
But this was the only way Verden, once Experiment No. 77, whose only possession was a life with an expiration date, could move forward.
That was why he could assert with confidence.
If he were to clash with Dahit head-on again, the magical duel would be nothing like what it had been in the Great Hall.
At any rate—
"Things turned out in an unexpected direction overall, but the objective was achieved."
Tap.
Verden placed the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] on the table. The gazes of the sages all gathered at once upon the Black Hour's symbol.
***
"Ah…"
Melard instinctively reached out, then quickly drew her hand back.
She didn't need to touch it to know.
How could she fail to recognize the artifact created by the leader of the Black Hour, built upon with everyone's research records?
"…It's certain. This is the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] I know. Except that it's not outside the deep layers of the Great Hall, but right here."
The very first member of the Black Hour affirmed with certainty.
It was proven to be genuine.
Verden asked.
"What will you do with the hourglass?"
"That's not something Society has any right to interfere with. It belongs rightfully to Shinseong. You shed blood to obtain it, after all. We too have a sense of propriety."
"Then I can take it to mean that I may look through the research records the Black Hour has accumulated over a lifetime?"
Melard blinked.
"Eh? Ah, yes. Of course. The owner of the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] is none other than Shinseong himself. What you do with it is entirely your choice. However… to activate the hourglass, won't you need an immense amount of natural magic power? Do you have some means for that?"
"Well, something like that."
The key was his own magic power, but he didn't bother to say it aloud. It was unnecessary information to share with collaborators.
When Verden saw the other two sages nodding in agreement, he stowed the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] away into subspace.
'Good.'
Honestly, he had expected this.
Judging from their personalities, these sages weren't the kind of people to stubbornly insist on claiming ownership of an artifact.
Thus, Verden was now free to leisurely search for Dahit Wethroel's scattered research, stored within the [Hourglass of Perpetuity].
Next was the matter at hand.
"Just as planned, we penetrated the Great Hall's security and secured the symbol of the Black Hour. With this, Melard, it should be sufficient to serve as the 'focal point' you mentioned."
Verden crossed his arms.
"Now I'd like to hear the method by which Dahit himself will be made to ascend the main stage."
It was time to hear the stratagem Melard had prepared.
Long before she began cooperating with Verden, she had been striving tirelessly to reclaim the Black Hour from Dahit.
At that moment—
"Wait a moment. Before that, Shinseong, there's something I want to ask about your path."
The Sage of Power, Osgar, rubbed the calluses on his hand as he spoke.
Verden's eyes turned toward him.
"My path?"
"I know full well that you are now a Transcendent who can rival Dahit. But that only makes me wonder all the more. Why did you establish yourself, of all places, in the Ownerless Land?"
Osgar stroked his beard.
"Of course, the Ownerless Land is the most suitable place for a strong man. Building a power base, I understand your aim. But—"
Only one man's voice resounded in the quiet conference chamber.
"You divided the Ownerless Land, once split three ways, into four, and then, moving beneath the surface, you effectively swallowed the East whole. On top of that, you even relocated, from somewhere—presumably from the volcanic zones of the western continent—an entire dwarven village, to establish it in a large-scale mine in a disputed region… This is excessive, even for mere expansion of power, isn't it?"
Osgar stared straight at Verden, probing him.
"To exaggerate a little, I fear you might be trying to dominate the entire Ownerless Land as a Transcendent, and turn it into your domain."
"…"
"Was I mistaken?"
The reply came instantly.
"No, as you surmised."
Verden affirmed Osgar's suspicion.
***
The Ownerless Land, as the name suggested, was land without an owner—or, more precisely, land that no one could own.
A battlefield created by the needs of the world.
The profit generated and circulated from it surpassed the scale of mere nations, exerting a tremendous influence over the entire continent.
In other words, attempting to seize the Ownerless Land, meant defying the nerves of every nation on the continents, and even some magic towers.
"Are you insane?"
Osgar furrowed his brow, an incredulous look on his face. Transcendent or not, he did not filter his language.
He had always been like that.
"Of all the vast land in the continent, why the Ownerless Land? Tell me. Did becoming a Transcendent make you lose your senses?"
"Now that I've come this far, my 'ideal' has only become clearer, but it wasn't a sudden decision. I intended this from the beginning."
"Hah, so you've been insane from the start."
Osgar gave a dry laugh, shaking his head, before cooling his throat with water.
At that moment, the Sage of Guardianship, still concealing his appearance with a robe, spoke up.
"Despite knowing the danger, you choose to set your sights there. You are taking on a path too distant and arduous. Do you have no intention of changing your mind, even now?"
"If I did, I would never have set foot in the Ownerless Land in the first place."
"I see… but why didn't you say it earlier?"
Verden shrugged, as though it were only natural.
"Because there was no need to."
"What?"
"As I just said, I intend to claim the Ownerless Land as my domain. It is already in progress. But this fact will only be revealed to the world after I have re-seized the Black Hour and annihilated the Bohemirn magic tower."
The Transcendent looked around at the three sages.
"That's the precise extent of our cooperation. Whatever I do with the Ownerless Land, it will not cause any problems during the plan. It is not something the Society has any right to interfere with."
"Shinseong."
"If it displeases you so much, then after we destroy the Bohemirn magic tower, you may reconsider whether our paths should diverge. Our positions are equal. I promise to respect your decision without causing harm. I won't disgracefully attempt to reclaim the artifacts I gave to Unia and Cain, nor the other gifts."
"…!"
Once they accomplished the ultimate purpose they had pledged to each other, if their goals diverged, he would accept the breaking of their alliance.
That declaration came as a shock.
Not only Verden's heartfelt ambition for the Ownerless Land, but also the realization that what tied Verden and the Society together, was nothing more than a single clasped hand.
Verden continued.
"And even if I kept my intentions hidden, the Society is hardly in a position to interrogate me, is it? Two of the sages, aside from Melard, have yet to reveal their true identities."
"That is…"
"Since we're on the subject, shall I make a guess?"
Verden crossed his legs where he sat.
"First, the Sage of Power. You once taught the unique technique of the Arnak Empire's War Mages to the twins, and according to Unia, you are from the western continent. That alone narrows the scope considerably, but it's not conclusive. Perhaps you are the former Warlord, the one before that, or, contrary to expectations, someone in another position entirely."
And so—
"If I were to ask directly to the current Warlord, Legrit Narsilia, I don't think it would be difficult to uncover your identity. Am I wrong?"
"…"
Osgar fell silent.
That was the answer.
Since, during their first meeting on the Society's island, Verden had already heard that he had ties to the current Warlord of the Arnak Empire, it was not so surprising.
The conference hall of the Silver Citadel grew quiet.
Verden, gazing into Osgar's mind, turned his eyes to the last sage.
"Finally, the Sage of Guardianship. Until now there were so few clues that I couldn't even make a guess at your identity, but with this Black Hour matter, it has become clear. To deliberately manipulate those selfish and overly cautious magic towers, only a true handful could manage that."
Then, he listed the positions of every magic tower erected across the continents.
The order followed the 'comprehensive ranking.'
1st, the Lefragium Tower───Unknown.
2nd, the Artison Tower───Central continent.
3rd, the Dark Warton Tower───Eastern continent.
4th, the Bohemirn Tower───Western continent.
5th, the Gentir Tower───Central continent.
6th, the Tower of the Volcanic Island───Eastern continent.
7th, the Diamoon Tower───Western continent.
8th, the Larrian Tower───Eastern continent.
9th, the Helion Tower───Western continent.
10th, the Ostea Tower───Western continent.
Verden extended four fingers, leaving his thumb folded.
"Excluding the Lefragium Tower, which rarely shows itself except during official events like the Magic Festival, there are four towers involved in the western continent's alliance."
"…"
"The Bohemirn Tower is out of the question, the Diamoon tower master was killed by Dahit not long ago. That leaves only the Helion Tower and the Ostea Tower. And among those two, there is only one tower dissatisfied enough with the tower system to create the Society."
As he narrowed the candidates down, only one index finger remained.
"Am I wrong, tower master of Ostea?"
Verden pinpointed the identity.
Shff.
At that, the Sage of Guardianship finally pulled back the hood of his robe, revealing his face. An old man with neatly combed-back hair.
But on the right side of his face was a deep scar, and the eye above it was artificial.
"Correct."
It was a well-known story in the magical world, that the former Ostea tower master had lost one eye in an accident, and wore a special prosthetic.
***
Thus, Verden's deductions struck true without a miss.
"I had no real intention of hiding it, Shinseong. There was simply no opportunity to say it."
"Enough, Melard. The fact remains that we did not reveal ourselves first. This much we must admit."
Osgar cleared his throat softly.
"Hrmm, introductions are overdue, Shinseong. My name is Osgar Fargon. As you said, I am the former Warlord of the Arnak Empire."
"I am the current master of the Ostea Tower, Medrant Keden."
The founder of the Black Hour.
One of the six Lords of the Empire.
A tower master of the Ten.
The ones who created the Society, were without exception, giants of the continent.
Verden narrowed his eyes.
'Aside from the background I had expected… it truly is a strange combination.'
It was so, precisely because no clear connection between them could be seen.
At that moment, Osgar took the lead in conversation.
"Well, since it has come to this, perhaps it's best if we also explain what led to the founding of the Society. That way, it'll be easier for us to trust and understand each other. Shinseong—or rather, Verden. You're not in any hurry, are you?"
"I have plenty of time."
With the change of topic, the heavy atmosphere from before lifted.
The three sages held a brief discussion.
"Who should begin?"
"My past is already known, and since the two of you first painted the background of the Society, it would be better if I held my tongue."
"Then Medrant, you should start."
"Well, I see no reason to explain my motives with my own mouth."
The Sage of Guardianship, the Ostea tower master, cast a sidelong glance.
"Since you seem to have already guessed why a tower master would become the founder of an anti-tower group like the Society."
Verden nodded.
"You have more than enough reason to be dissatisfied with the current magical order."
Currently, the Ostea Tower stood at rank 10 overall, and rank 10 in terms of martial might—the very bottom.
But the reason it was rated so low was not simply because of lacking ability.
From the beginning, the Ostea Tower had focused on pure exploration and inquiry.
They delved deeply into ancient magical texts, sought out ancient ruins that might conceal hidden dangers, and personally investigated them, building knowledge.
Like true Mages.
The number of historical works they had uncovered, was beyond measure.
Even after the hierarchy of towers was established, the Ostea Tower did not change its ways, dismissing such rankings as meaningless games of numbers.
'But the results were disastrous.'
Because their research took long spans of time, the Ostea Tower lagged far behind other towers in results.
Moreover, while most towers sought talent and cultivated powerful Mages, the Ostea Tower raised Mages in line with its own unique character.
When these two factors combined, their decline became unstoppable.
It was around then, that the importance of rankings within the tower system began to be realized across the magical world.
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