Episode 1008 The Fourth Guest of Honor (1)
Three Great Legends: Gring Arcanum.
The Forbidden Book of the World of Knowledge-Seeking was not something like an invitation to the Arcadium.The book Verden obtained from the First Magic Tower was a treasure trove of knowledge capable of reviving even records completely lost in the real world.
How could knowledge be forgotten when the soul of the being who recorded it can be summoned?
This is the true nature of the Gring Arcanum.
I finally understood why they are the three greatest legends.
widely.
Verden slapped away the host’s hand. With Alpha and Beta perched on his shoulders, he stepped forward. He faced Draven head-on as he extended his demonic hand.
A soul has entered an artificial body. Is the level not much different from when you were alive?
Draven himself, who does not use the souls of ancient transcendents through super-level magic linkage, is a powerful figure who has built up his strength while shaking off the pursuit of the Luas Theocracy for hundreds of years.
However, Draven is relying on vivid emotions in a situation difficult to understand. His composure was shaken. That unstable inner self led to action.Moreover, the realm of Verden was on a completely different level compared to when he was on the island in the Hiaremar Inland Sea.
‘Draven, you are no longer my match.’
Shadows crossed.
Crack!
Before Draven could even activate his unique magic, Verden’s palm struck the very center of his chest. His magic circuits and heart shook simultaneously.
Verden’s overall physical ability became stronger as he became a divine being in addition to the 8th rank, so Draven, who had adapted to Verden of the 7th rank, could not react in time to his movements that accelerated instantaneously.
“Ugh───”
Sensing that something was wrong, Draven twisted his body as a magic swordsman who had pioneered the path of magic. He tried to fight back, but it was a futile struggle.After all, his physical abilities did not far exceed those of a typical transcendent being of the magic world.
The distance narrowed to the point where there was no room to even utilize magic.
It was as if Draven had unwittingly run into a death trap of his own accord.
Boom!
Immediately after being struck in the vital points of his body in succession, his vision was flipped. There was no time to react. Grabbed by the neck in a strong grip, Draven was slammed headfirst onto the floor of the banquet hall.
[I am arresting you.]
Beta pressed down on his left arm with the weight of the frame, and Verden trampled on his right wrist with a cold gaze, then straightened the edge of his hand.
A killer who pierces between the eyebrows.
Physical killing is forbidden in the Arcadium.
If the invisible transparent tentacles had not happened to grab Verden’s arm, Draven Lemarque would have met his death again.
{That’s a reaction beyond my expectations. And even more ruthless than I expected. To think you would try to kill someone instantly when they are an important figure who might provide you with the information you need.}
“Host.”
Verden cast a cold gaze toward the back of his shoulder.
It seems like it’s more important to you than to me.
The host personally stepped forward to prevent Draven from being killed. It was proof that there was a certain reason why he was introduced as a special guest.Verden showed genuine murderous intent to make that clear.
“You assured us we could look forward to it so much. So you postponed the Arcadium to bring back Draven’s soul.”
Detailed information about the ancient king.
Draven’s knowledge was valuable to Verden, but what on earth did Draven’s existence mean to Host?
The mysteries of the deep sea grow deeper.
Let’s just say it’s important to all of us.
“…….”
Asher.
Verden fell away from Draven with Beta without answering.
Crunch.
Only then did Draven catch his breath. He pressed his hand against the floor tiles engraved with beautiful patterns and barely managed to raise his upper body.He glared at Verden, then turned his eyes toward the Host behind him.
“Explain… what kind of situation this is…!”
{I succeeded in reviving vivid emotions by throwing myself among the specters of knowledge, but I am still not proficient in inner control.}
The host spoke to Verden with his hands behind his back.
{Asher, on that island, you destroyed the servant’s existence both internally and externally. However, despite the nature of destruction, it did not lead to complete annihilation. This is because you were unaware of the soul’s form at the time.}
Verden’s super-level magic,
Lunesica maintained her existence thanks to regaining a body immediately after her soul shattered. Although the side effects were severe, she survived nonetheless. In other words, since her soul was not destroyed, this servant should naturally be revived by the power of the Old King, but… he forfeited the opportunity for resurrection in exchange for completing the release of the Old King’s seal.
Verden was aware of this much as well. After all, there had been a conversation between Lunesica and the former king about the fact that Draven could not be resurrected.
As I watched the whole scene, I came up with an idea that was surprising and interesting to myself. So, I acted.
The host moved.
{I gathered every single fragment of the soul that had scattered away, devoid even of a body… … and after painstakingly stitching together the soul shattered by destruction, stitch by stitch, I provided a temporary body so it could remain in reality. To bring a special guest and the finest material into this Arcadium.}
The eyes of the octopus head, covered in grayish-white, looked down.
{This is the first time I have put this much effort into something since the Battle of Destiny. So never forget what I said before the Arcadium was held, Servant. Your soul is not your own.}
Draven gritted his teeth.
“How dare you…!”
{If the vessel is forcibly shattered in its current state, the soul will be fragmented once again. If that happens, I will have nothing left to do either. It would be a waste of breath to explain further to someone who does not know the fear of eternal annihilation, but anyway.}
Tentacles surged up from the seawater that had suddenly risen to the ankles.
Wait quietly.
The appearance and presence of Draven, covered in tentacles, completely vanished without a trace.
“…….”
The solemn third guest of honor wearing a mask.
[… … .]
The first distinguished guest, a tall woman in a bright red dress and mask, had taken a seat at one side of the banquet hall before anyone realized it.
The two stood at the gallery railings on the left and right, watching the situation.Their eyes, filled with annoyance, fixed on the host’s head. Regardless, the host paid no heed whatsoever.
O greedy intellectuals.
The host received attention once again.
{As you have seen, the special guest is the soul of a transcendent being. And as you have heard, it is also the supreme feast that will mark the finale of the Banquet of Knowledge.}
The VIPs are murmuring.
“If it’s Seongchan…”“No way?”
That is correct.
The host confirmed everyone’s guess.
{To the intellectual who reaches the ‘end’ of this Arcadium, I shall bestow the soul of a Transcendent. If you wish, I will cook it myself.}
The mansion was in great turmoil.
All the guests, except for Thearel and the first guest, trembled.The guests and butlers were also unable to contain their astonishment.
Modern transcendent beings.
No intellectual had ever savored such an existence. The history of the transcendent is short, barely exceeding a thousand years.The system of reaching a transcendent state through awakening, possessing a unique ideal, was established by none other than the primordial sorcerer.
… … Gulp.
Luzak swallowed hard.
With high-ranking VIPs present, there was almost no chance of winning the game. However, despite knowing it was more than I deserved, greed and impulse arose.
Being the first to eat an unknown delicacy that no one has ever tasted before.
The first title.
The host is even cooking for me!
As an intellectual, I could not miss this opportunity. Not even if I died and came back to life, such an opportunity would never come again. If one does not crave new knowledge out of fear of death, that person is not an intellectual.
Gluttony is overflowing from all directions.
The VIP with the moray eel face was drooling. The butlers wiped his saliva away. As an adventurer, Tearel suppressed the urge to hunt.
{Since the fourth guest of honor does not prefer a leisurely dinner, I will respect their wishes and start the games immediately. In that spirit, let the fourth guest of honor choose the theme for the first game themselves.}
The game proceeds in three stages.The topic is random.The host often introduces variables to create unexpected causal flows. There is nothing more predictable and boring than intellectuals obsessed with winning and losing becoming engrossed only in their respective fields of expertise.
{Would you agree?}
The host asks Verden.
There is no reason to refuse.
Verden nodded after confirming Tearel’s intention.
I agree.
{good night.}
A dignified squid butler respectfully brought in a cube roughly the size of a human head from inside the mansion, the interior of which was not visible.It was designed so that one could reach inside and grab a ball inscribed with a specific theme.
The moment the topic is decided, you must play the corresponding game right here, in front of everyone. It is the signal for the opening.
I know, so there is nothing to explain.
Verden, who was about to reach out his hand without hesitation, felt a gaze from the side.
“Alright, you do it.”
[check.]
Alpha slid down the shoulder and landed on the back of Verden’s hand.The cube shrank to fit the creature’s body.
Ooooooh.
He rummaged through the inside of the cube with his small arms and soon pulled out a ball. The host took it and personally checked the topic.
{hmm.}
The host looked momentarily troubled, then raised the ball high. The intellectuals’ attention was focused on the host’s hand.
The first game is a matter of magical understanding.
* * *
Magic is the study of knowledge.
Some intellectuals, full of pride, wore arrogant expressions.The depth of magic is proportional to the time lived.Even if one is the fourth guest, being so young, one is inevitably at a disadvantage when discussing matters of ultra-advanced magic.
Transcendent of the Magic World?
It doesn’t matter.
Because in Arcadium, personal military power does not affect the game. Time. Intellectuals have accumulated knowledge for a much longer period than in Verden.
The host asks.
{Who would be the first to respond?}
According to the rules of Arcadium, up to three intellectuals can challenge the intellectual who opened the game.
If there are no intellectuals, the main game begins immediately.
Most people showed interest because they could challenge the fourth guest of honor immediately. Just then, the person closest to the upper-class VIP raised their hand.
I shall take the challenge.
{The tenth distinguished guest, ‘Ortho’. Forward.}
Ortho is a distinguished guest who takes the form of an old human man one might see on the continent. He showed off his magical side toward Verden.
I look forward to working with you. However, I will not accept any resentment, the fourth guest of honor.
Ortho was situated on the boundary separating the lower and upper classes. With a single-digit number of VIPs right under his nose, his self-esteem was sky-high.At the last Arcadium, he displayed an amazing performance, devouring two lower-class VIPs.
“…….”
Verden responded silently.
{Since this marks the official start of the Arcadium, I will pose this problem.}
The host waved his hand. An endlessly long parchment was given to Verden and Ortho. Also, a fountain pen that never runs dry.It was a tool necessary for calculating very complex magical formulas.
Whoosh.
The waves slowly rising from beneath the host’s feet served as a tablet. Using his fingers as writing tools, he carved letters into the waves while explaining.
This problem requires determining the horsepower efficiency index calculated using only the invisible terms from the standard theory family describing the metastable state of basic horsepower. As the premises, definitions, and derivation processes of each theory are considered to be already shared, they will not be included in the text.
Ancient script so elegant it elicits admiration.
{The observed object satisfies the following five theoretical conditions simultaneously.}
1. The horsepower distribution falls within the region where the re-lima residual hypothesis is valid.2. The flow alignment is in a state where the soluta path formula is fully established.3. The overlap between terms shows natural convergence according to the noedia interferometry model.4. The closing point rewinding principle applies to the entire cycle.5. The observational intervention does not deviate from the single frame assumption.
{The recorded quantitative information is as follows.}
– Number of valid terms under the Reprima residual hypothesis: 8– Recurrence coefficient according to the Soluta path formula: 4.5– Average residual coefficient calculated by the Noedia interference model: 3.75– Residual reduction rate applied after recurrence termination: 0.12– Fine discrepancy reflection coefficient according to the closing point rewinding principle: 0.08
{If the cyclic coefficient is not an integer, the remnant term of the reprima is split without exception at the stage prior to the noedia interference—this is the only appended proviso.}
The host finished the sentence.
{Assuming that both the above conditions and the theoretical proposition are valid, what is the ‘final effective exponent’ in the corresponding base horsepower state?}
Tearel, a transcendent being of the magical world, thought.
‘… … What are you talking about?’
As she is also a sorceress, she is familiar with theories such as the Refreima Remnant Hypothesis and the Soluta Path Formula. Basic magic science of ancient and modern times.Although it is not her major, she is able to explain it roughly.
However, if you combine two or more theories like that, there is no solution.
Moreover, a combination of five theories?
She had never seen such a ridiculous and heinous problem in the magical world. To be honest, she was not confident she could solve it, no matter how much time she was given.
“As expected of the host…”“A problem with minimal explanation. How perplexing…”“Hmm, the calculation should be done like this…”
True to their self-proclaimed intellectual nature, the spectators also struggled to solve the problem as soon as they saw it.Tearel felt relieved inwardly that he was not the only one who found it difficult.
{The time allotted to solve the problem is 60 minutes.}
It was a very short amount of time, considering that the problem at the Arcadium takes as many as several days. The guests let out a deep sigh.This was because they felt that even so, one hour was far too short.
I won… …!
Orto pulled the corners of his mouth.
It was because such complex magical calculation problems were his specialty. He gripped the fountain pen smoothly and aimed it at the beginning of the parchment.The reputation of being the distinguished guest who had defeated the new hostess flickered before his eyes!
The host put his hands behind his back.
{If you have found the value, answer.}
“486.72.”“Haha, a problem like this? It won’t even take an hour; about 53 minutes should be enough.……”
The air became stiff.
Orto paused before he could even touch the pen nib to the parchment. His smiling face froze, and he slowly raised his head.
“yes……?”
{486.72. That is the correct answer.}
The problem was solved as soon as it came out.
{Asher, the fourth guest of honor, defeated Ortho, the tenth guest. By rejecting his opponent’s knowledge under the new rules, Asher acquired the right to ask lower-level questions. However, it goes against the direction of the Arcadium for a defeated intellectual to pay no price.}
“Just a moment.”
{The loser pays a just price for defeat. Take him away.}
“Ho-Hoss. This is impossible……! How could you do that in one go…… There must be some mistake……!!!!! There must be some mistake……!!! Host, Host!!!”
Arcadium’s butlers held Ortho by both arms and headed into the mansion. Ortho’s scream soon faded from the banquet hall.
It was a result with no twists.
Verden’s foundation is an unrivaled and incomprehensible magical understanding. It is no exaggeration to say that his talent in this regard is on par with that of Oldarc.
[Lucky Alpha.]
In other words, the first game was undeniably Verden’s stage.
There are still two chances to take on the challenge. Who will accept the game?
The host transformed waves to create a door engraved with the pattern of an ancient octopus. A single door stood prominently in the center of the banquet hall.
{If you do not agree to the game, pass through this door and proceed to the main stage.}
… … .
Silence fell.
No intellectual took immediate action. It was not that they intended to confront Verden. It would have been a loss for the rest of their lives if they left first and missed the sight of someone challenging the guest of honor.
The overwhelming stature of knowledge that instantly solves the problem posed by the host… … .
As Verden proved why he had been selected as the fourth guest of honor, the intellectuals cast gazes of boundless awe.
“Challenge is suicide.”
The high-ranking guests declared themselves enemies. Even the ninth guest, who had coveted the host’s knowledge, fell silent as if nothing had happened.
Who would challenge with magical understanding?
To that indescribable monster.
It was then.
Thump, thump, thump.
The third guest of honor came down the stairs from the second floor with steady strides. Humanoid. With his face completely concealed by a mask, he approached Verden.
“The third guest of honor stepped forward.”“A clash of knowledge between guests of honor…!”
The VIPs were astonished, yet their eyes sparkled like young girls. Even the first VIP could not take their eyes off it. It was a moment when anticipation was heightened to its peak.
Gulp.
The third guest of honor, who brushed past Verden as if nothing had happened, opened the door prepared by the host himself and disappeared beyond it.
{The third guest of honor, Magion, moved to the stage of the first game.}
The banquet hall fell silent.
Tearel muttered.
“…Did you run away?”
