Episode 870 Blood Relations? (1)
Locke stretched after satisfying his hunger with a late lunch. The combination of the winter chill and the warmth of the sunlight felt quite good.
“Oh, this looks good.”
Locke entered a noisy cafe, received his ordered drink and dessert in a corner, and naturally activated [Noise].The magic item, sold at a high price at the Artisan Magic Tower, distorted the surrounding air.
With this, the path for the conversation to leak out has been blocked.
“Gluttony has been quiet lately……. I think it’s been like this since Brother Verden and the Captain met with the leader of Gluttony last time. What do you think?”
Theon said as he cut the cake with a fork.
“Why are you asking me that?”“You were Gluttony’s assassin.”“Ah, here we go again. How long are you going to keep whining about being an assassin? It’s been over three years since I switched from Gluttony to the Ark.”“It’s already been three years since I almost died trying to assassinate Brother Verden. Hahaha.”
Theon was about to throw his fork but held back. After all, Locke was stronger. Instead, he resolved to get revenge later and accumulated a desire for vengeance in his heart.
“Gluttony’s third fang was killed, and the one who became the fifth fang after Rupel’s death is also dead, so they have no choice but to feel intimidated. Besides, I heard Eon’s identification golem can distinguish transplanters. I don’t know about other places, but they won’t be able to set foot in Eon’s territory.”“Wow, that’s Verden for you. You’re the absolute nemesis of Gluttony, aren’t you? My foresight was accurate.”
Theon chuckled.
“You were talking rudely at first, but then you changed your attitude after seeing Verden just beat all the transplanters to death. Don’t you remember?”“…….”
When Locke first met Verden in the Principality of Liviant, he acted arrogantly, saying that he does not speak respectfully to anyone who is not stronger than him.
Locke cleared his throat.
“Who would have known you’d be that strong, big brother?”“Damn it, imagine how I felt.”
He recalled the past when he had gone to find Verden following the orders of Gluttony’s doctor. He was talking about the time he hid under the inn bed to assassinate him.
The upper floors of the inn explode, andmagic flies in from the middle of the city.
If he hadn’t been able to escape from that underground shopping mall, he probably would have died. Theon rubbed his neck for no reason, realizing he was alive.
“Anyway. When do you think the Captain’s coronation will be?”“I think it’ll be soon. Well, Master will contact you, so we just need to wait. Hey, behind you.”
A well-dressed middle-aged man is walking toward the table where two people are sitting.
He was not an employee.
Locke turned off the [noise] and closed his mouth, pretending to drink cocoa. Theon concentrated his senses behind him and held the fork backward.
And… … a middle-aged man took off his fancy hat and joined them at their table.
“How have you both been?”“Oh.”
Locke and Theon simultaneously relaxed and turned [Noise] back on.
“You were a Listener. Did you really have to come disguised like that?”“As a member of the Ark, disguise is a given.”
Theon straightened his fork again.
“What is it this time?”“It is a message from the Elder.”
Listener conveyed the words of Locke’s master—Ren Valhag—exactly as they were.
“We plan to hold the coronation ceremony for the Sixth Captain before this year’s Magic Festival. Attendance is, of course, mandatory, and the attendees are all members of the Ark.”“……!”“Lock and Theon.”
The listener spoke in a low voice.
Return to Acro.
* * *
Unless it is a high-altitude
It is a dizzying height.
It was comparable to the Ten Great Magic Towers, consisting of nearly a three-digit number of steps, and its horizontal scale was about three times larger.Throughout all of history and across continents, the Centrum of the Akenad Magic Kingdom was the only castle equipped with both an intercontinental spatial teleportation device and a dock.
Those who walk the path of magic praise and revere the first Demon King. It was a realm of faith that transcended individual likes and dislikes.
Considering that some people worship the first Demon King as the God of Magic, the Akenad Demon Kingdom was fundamentally similar in nature to the Ruas Theocracy.
If there is a difference… … .
Unlike the Sanctuary of Light of the Luas religion, this Centrum was built by the first Demon King himself using his own magic about five centuries ago.This means that the existence of the first Demon King does not need to be explained through myth and faith.
For this reason, some believers of the first Magic King refer to the capital of the Magic Kingdom of Akenad as the ‘Holy Land of Magic’.
“I see that this is your first visit to the Magic Kingdom, Lord Verden. If it is not too much trouble, may I ask for your impressions of Centrum?”
Medrail, with the Director of Investigation by his side, asks with a gentle smile. She was leading the way, maintaining a distance of one step from Verden.
Verden fixed his gaze on the corridor where all kinds of magical elements were harmoniously arranged. He felt a vastness of a kind different from that of the Arcadium.
“It is nearly perfect, both aesthetically and practically. In fact, the rumors surrounding Centrum fail to capture its true value.”“Centrum is the eternal pride of the Magic Kingdom. If our Founder had heard Lord Verden’s sincerity, he would undoubtedly have been delighted—”“Wait.”
Suddenly, Verden stopped walking and tilted his head slightly. Puzzled eyes poured in from the surroundings, as if asking, “What’s wrong?”
… … Swoosh.
Verden placed his hand on the wall of the Centrum. A strange flow of magical energy was felt from within the wall. Medrail and the Director of the Investigation Bureau inwardly flinched at this bizarre act.
Verden said.
“This pure magical power circulating within the Centrum itself. What is its purpose?”“The magical power you just detected, Lord Verden, is used to activate the Centrum’s functions. While the Ten Great Magic Towers are equipped with separate power devices, the Centrum draws its energy from nature.”“It is as if the fortress itself is an artifact.”
The two broke out in a cold sweat, but since they were each wearing concealment artifacts, they were able to keep their true feelings hidden.
“hmm…….”
[Hmm.]
Verden, Alpha, and Beta stared at the wall for a moment, then resumed walking. Adrian, Isabella, and Levana followed behind them.
Medrail and the Director of Magic, having secretly let out a sigh of relief, continued to entertain the state guest without showing any suspicious physical reactions.
“For five centuries since the founding of the Magic Kingdom, the direct descendants of the first Magic King have inherited the throne, yet no one, including my grandfather, has tampered with the functions of the Centrum. To be precise, they couldn’t. All they did was utilize the space to establish docks and the like.”“Are you saying the scene we are witnessing now is not the slightest different from the past?”“It is partly due to a lack of understanding of magical technology, but also because there was no potential to develop it beyond its original form. Ultimately, it was a lack of ability. As a member of the Akenad bloodline, I can only feel apologetic to the Progenitor.”
It is impossible to aspire to the status of a transcendent being of the ninth rank. Common sense dictates, that is.Even so, the reality that we have not even dared to reach, let alone surpass, the achievements of the progenitor for 500 years was painful for me as a blood descendant.
My grandfather, in particular, is paying a lot of attention to that aspect.
[Information. The 7th Demon King. Vangelis Ruin Akenard. The prevailing assessment is that he is the closest to His Majesty the First Demon King among all the Demon Kings of history.]
Medrail smiled faintly at Alpha.
“My grandfather always says it is more than I deserve, but it is actually his favorite compliment. It is my dream to receive such an evaluation someday, too. What about you, Lord Verden?”“Is there really a mage who would not wish to emulate the First Demon King?”“I am truly delighted that you, Lord Verden, would say so.”
She gleamed her distinctive blue eyes.
Really.
Isabella saw a rather familiar hue of emotion in that very look.What was it again?It had been so long that it didn’t come to mind immediately, but… it was clear that it wasn’t the rational way a woman treats a man, at the very least.
* * *
Verden and his party arrived at Centrum quite some time after the sun had risen high in the sky.
Medrail naturally adjusted the schedule to coincide with Verden’s arrival. The directive she issued was the will of the Seven Great Demon Kings.It was an excessive level of courtesy rarely seen, even when treated as a state guest.
The meeting with the Seven Great Demon Kings regarding the Demon Festival will take place over two days, today and tomorrow.
Verden and his party, who had to stay at the Centrum, were guided to a magically luxurious VIP guesthouse before proceeding with their schedule.
Bwaak.
Verden spread his magical power to scan the room. Naturally, there were no jarring elements. There was absolutely no possibility of the story leaking out.
Isabella crossed her arms.
“I don’t see any signs yet. Hmm, judging by the feel of it, it doesn’t seem like they are trying to verify it openly. How on earth do they plan to verify it?”
Vangelis is almost certain that Verden is of the bloodline of the first Demon King. However, this can only be proven with physical evidence, not mere suspicion.
Unless there was a separate means, Vangelis would use
“How about we try a slightly unconventional move, my Lord?”“That might allow us to grasp the intentions of the Akenad royal family, but… I don’t think it is necessary to go that far. It wouldn’t affect the outcome anyway.”
Verden had already made a decision on how to deal with the bloodline of the first Demon King, but he could not readily bring up the topic with the Demon Kingdom.
The important thing is the timing.
Verden wanted to prepare for every possible variable in the unfamiliar space called Centrum. This selection was made specifically for him.
Levana just blinked her eyes blankly, not understanding yet.
Isabella asked.
“You know how to act, but it’s still frustrating not knowing the full story, isn’t it? If you’re curious what’s going on, shall I tell you?”“Hmm…”
Levana glanced slightly.
“May I know?”“As long as you keep your mouth shut.”
[Watch your mouth.]
Did you reveal Eon’s secrets?
Levana is confident that if someone were to ask her that, she would shake her head even if a knife were held to her throat. The same goes for loyalty.Who is the fool who chooses suicide to survive?
Furthermore, Levana was also very ambitious for power. She had absolutely no intention of refusing to gain Verden’s trust.
“Then, I would like to hear it.”“The Magic Kingdom suspects that the Head of the Family is of the bloodline of the First Magic King. And they plan to use this Magic Festival meeting as an excuse to verify it. That is the background.”“……?”
Levana stood still for a moment, wondering if she had misheard. The Demon King? The bloodline of the Demon King? Soon, she opened her eyes wide.
“S-Surely not, the Divine Being of a great bloodline…!!”“No.”“B-But the fact that none other than the 7th Demon King harbored such suspicions implies there is clear evidence to support it, doesn’t it?”“It is evidence based entirely on a misunderstanding. That is precisely why preparations are necessary.”
Adrian added.
“If the misunderstanding is resolved in the wrong direction, there will be no time to think. We must escape the Magic Kingdom. So, never forget your role.”
Ah, I shouldn’t have listened.
Levana nodded, harboring regret welling up from deep within her heart.
“……I will keep that in mind.”
dripping.
Levana flinched at the sound of the knock.
She, the sixth phase of Eon but the lowest rank among them, came face-to-face with the Director of the Investigation Bureau of the Magic Kingdom who had just visited the VIP guesthouse.After a brief conversation, Levana carefully closed the door again.
“Since there is still time before the banquet, the Royal Family of the Magic Kingdom has proposed that we look around the interior of the Centrum in the meantime… What do you think?”“The verification might be completed sooner than expected.”
Verden got up.
There’s no reason to refuse.
* * *
Just as magical power races through human magical circuits and causes magical phenomena, the pure magical power of nature moved and maximized the functions of the Centrum.
Circulation of magical power.
As that ‘specific flow’ repeated, it began to gradually change the environment inside the Centrum.Faintly, yet clearly, so faintly that even Vangelis himself would not dare perceive it unless he pushed his sensing abilities to the limit…
In this way, Centrum’s magical power was concentrated in one place along countless circuits.
Verden has started walking the flow.
Did Zeren lead this well?Or is Verden deliberately going along with it?
Anything is fine.
The process may be different, but the result will not be different.
Vangelis Ruin Akenad left the center of Centrum with a heart full of anticipation.He headed toward Centrum’s ‘training grounds’.
