Episode 1010 Fourth Guest of Honor (3)
Snowflakes are fluttering.
A magic circle that maintains the internal temperature protects the precise magical devices. It was a tool of the Keeper, personally constructed around an analysis artifact.
In the cold that an ordinary person would find difficult to endure for long, faint waves of magical power occurred regularly.
“…This is the first time I’ve seen a signal like this.”“Is it impossible to analyze?”“It is unfamiliar, so there are no records to refer to. It will take time to determine.”
Acetro Oldin held a recorder in his hand that displayed real-time magic power signals.Breath rose with his breath.
Western ice zone of Prohas.
Acetro and Eres gazed at the Gate of Death sealed by a glacier. They observed the unknown phenomenon related to the Old King not as the Keeper and the King of Prohas, but as the Regulator of Balance and the Watcher of the North.
There are six officially confirmed Gates of Death.
However, according to information from Verden, the conqueror of wonders, there are a total of nine Gates of Death—that is, the Gates from which the Old King’s forces will emerge.
Is it some kind of base?
If a country is the enemy, all that is needed is to surround and overwhelm it across all its territories.Even if the Arnach Empire and the Archenad Magic Kingdom were merely to unite, no existing nation could withstand it; however, if bases are established across the entire continent like this, the situation changes.
Dispersion of forces.Uneven terrain.Strategic traps.… … .Finally, even the bizarre phenomena caused by each of the Gates of Death.
The Xerion Empire cannot be destroyed again with the same military force as eight centuries ago.
The national power of the Xerion Empire has grown even stronger than during the War of the Transcendents. Even the former kings are stronger. Of course, the overall military strength of the present era has also become formidable.Therefore, it is difficult to predict just how massive a conflict might occur.
“I hope this Gate of Death proves soon to be a threat to the survival of humanity.”“Yes, that is the only way the Ark can move.”
Except for the Candidate’s Trials and matters concerning Gluttony, the Ark does not get involved. The policy remained firm, even if thousands or tens of thousands died.Is it a danger to humanity?Basically, that is the only criterion for whether or not the Ark dispatches its forces.
The return of the ancient king.
Thereupon, the leader of the Ark issued an order. Investigate the Four Gates to identify their true nature, and if it concerns the survival of humanity, the Ark will intervene.
I am not committing the captain’s full strength out of respect for the principles of Acetro and Eres, but I wish to minimize casualties as much as possible.I humanly hoped that the higher-ups of the Ark would step forward before the war escalates.
A war on a continental scale.
Eres asked while sharpening Prohas’s precious sword with ice.
“What about the Alliance of Transcendents?”“It is a hastily formed alliance, but its total strength is beyond imagination.”
Acetrodo is also an official transcendent being of the magical world. He accepted Adrian’s proposal and joined the Alliance before Verden returned.
“Talents proven not to be traitors by the Oath-Sworn Contract. Eon’s artificial golem units. Numerous transcendents regardless of the martial arts or magical realms. This alone is enough to call ourselves a World Alliance. However, the Ark’s new captain seems to want more than that.”“At this emergency summit… Haha, I don’t think the great powers will meekly accept the Alliance’s orders. Especially the Theocracy of Luas.”“That is certainly true.”
Acetro paused his analysis of the inquiry for a moment and raised his head.
“Whatever happens, a catastrophe unlike any continent-scale war to date is coming. In this era, there are… too many transcendents.”
A chilling cold.A sky covered in snow clouds.
The second war of the Transcendents will begin.
* * *
The plains of the white night.
The international community agreed to hold an emergency meeting before the messenger of the old king arrived. The forces to attend the summit headed to the solitary North.
Rustle… … .
The snow melted by body heat scatters with the touch of a hand.
“It’s cold.”“Was this your first time in the North?”“Yes, because it is the land directly opposite the Great Mother’s land.”
Most elves live in the Great Forest. Only a tiny fraction of elves stay outside the Great Forest. In fact, as they are effectively unconnected to the upper echelons of international society, elves lack the authority to exercise any real power.
However, no race dares to ignore such elves.
Elves boast extreme collectivism.
If you unknowingly kill or inflict pain on one elf, that memory is accompanied by emotions and is transmitted to all elves through the World Tree.
The enemy of the elves is the enemy of nature.
There were those who used magic to kidnap, imprison, enslave, or kill elves so that other elves would not notice, but in the end, no one lived out their full lifespan.
Breath rises.
Serendia, the guardian of the World Tree who was practically the supreme leader of that elf society, felt the cold of the far north for the first time.
Isabella said.
“The summit might be more violent than the last World Conference. No, it certainly will be. The factions wouldn’t just sit by while Verden tries to seize command of the war. So, be especially careful…”“Only when things clash and break can a gap open for other pieces to enter. It is a process that must be gone through for different heads to unite.”
Serendia gently stroked the trace of ice remaining on her hand.
“When it cannot be resolved by dialogue, by force.”“What?”“The Elves are Eon’s first allies.”
A massive and pure magical power pulsated. It was an amount of magic that momentarily flustered even Isabella, who had inherited a portion of Verden’s infinite power.
“No matter who Eon allies with, he will continue to do so.”
Serendia smiled.
That much will never change.
* * *
The first game of the arcadium depends on chance.
The game is structured so that it starts when two or more intellectuals move around within a limited space inside the mansion and reach an agreement or come into contact with another intellectual in some way.
If you do not lose all of your original knowledge within the time limit—that is, if you survive as an intellectual—you qualify to participate in the second game.
The amount of knowledge that becomes the opponent’s dish after defeat varies each time. If there is knowledge remaining, you can challenge the intellectuals again.Giving up during the game is impossible.In other words, once you enter the stage, if you suffer repeated defeats, you will be helpless and can only leave the mansion after you have been reduced to a ghost of knowledge.
thud.
thud.
thud.
Sometimes, when the door opens, a hallway appears.Sometimes, when the door opens, another room appears.
From room to room, from room to hallway, from hallway to room… Although the space is limited, its scale is vast enough that no games might need to be played.Though those who covet even the knowledge of others would not desire such trivial games.
thud!
“Gasp, gasp, gasp……!”
The thirteenth VIP hurriedly slammed the door shut. He even blocked it with his body. Having no strength left to escape, he had to defend this door at all costs. As a result, his head came close to the door.
Heavy footsteps were heard from beyond the door.
“Coop?!!”
Shock was applied.
The door burst open, sending the thirteenth VIP tumbling to the ground. Trembling, he lifted his head. A quadrupedal golem entered the room.
“Okay, wait a moment. Let’s talk first!”
[There is no need to hold back, so win at all costs. It is His Majesty’s order.]
Still, let’s talk!
The VIP tried to run away, but Beta approached faster.Eventually, Beta’s hand touched the VIP’s leg.
“Confirm contact between the fourth guest of honor and the thirteenth distinguished guest!”
with a splash!
The sound of splashing seawater spread as a butler popped out from the floor. It was the cute butler of Arkadium, who had the body structure of a dolphin.
“Here comes the question!”“No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
With the scream of the thirteenth distinguished guest, a high-level knowledge problem on the subject of magical understanding was presented. As soon as the explanation of the problem was finished, the answer came out.
“Damn, this is so unreasonable───”
The thirteenth distinguished guest, defeated without even a moment to understand the problem, was dragged away. This—this wasn’t a battle of knowledge.It was a massacre of knowledge!
[Secured the right to ask lower-level questions.]
Beta, watching the distinguished guest’s scream fade away, immediately opened another door. Showing off the lofty intelligence bestowed by the Creator solely for His Majesty Verden brought both a sense of fulfillment and pride.
therefore…….
[It’s fun.]
Beta started enjoying the game.
* * *
The fire in the stove without firewood flickers quietly.
The sound of placing objects.The sound of breathing lingering in the air.The inner sound of deepening worry.
───{This board game called Intellectual Conflict was created based on past history. Its origin lies in the Battle of Destiny, where two absolute beings clashed over fate.}
Draven had no choice but to respond to the intellectual clash, yet he continued to repeat the host’s words.
‘Fatalism is the theory of destiny that everything is already set in stone… … What on earth is destiny that they keep mentioning it? And on top of that, an Absolute. It doesn’t seem like a simple… … alias… … .’
My head is a mess. Why am I, a dead person, leisurely playing chess with an octopus head here? It is the first time my thoughts have been this jumbled since my complete defeat in the War of the Transcendents.
{Mate.}
The King of the Draven faction was captured.
{Considering you have only just learned the rules of the game, you have quite a bit of talent. Besides your intelligence, your experience leading the forces of the Xerion Empire must have been helpful.}
“……You seem to know me well.”
There is almost nothing I don’t know.
The host cleared the pieces as the winner. Draven’s camp, which had been devastated, returned to its original state.
Since I have won, I will tell you why you should not have resurrected the old king.
Draven flinched.
“Weren’t you supposed to tell me only if I won?”
It depends on who benefits and who loses the information. Do you think knowing the hidden inside story is to your advantage? Not at all. I can assure you that you will regret it, wishing you hadn’t listened.
The host prepared to start a second intellectual conflict.
It is too late to turn back now. You must pay the price for defeat. However, there is too much information to tell you all at once. If you want to hear just a little, you can stop the game here; if you want everything, you can continue.
Are you telling me to decide for myself?
{It is an era where destiny has crumbled. So that you may enjoy the freedom of choice.}
I will continue.
Draven naturally chose to continue the game. He didn’t know what the host would babble about, but he needed various information.
You’re saying we shouldn’t have resurrected His Majesty? Ha.
It only elicits ridicule.
Draven intended to find out more information about Arcadium from the host while playing this useless board game.
Then, I will speak while continuing the intellectual clash.
In the first game, Jin Draven moved his piece first according to the rules. The host moved his piece next, showing anticipation.
{Draven Lemarque, who was nothing more than a country swordsman in the days before he recognized his talent for black magic, and who ran a shabby training school in his hometown. Since he had not yet awakened his Ki, he considered the title of “teacher” undeserved, but the children in his hometown respected him and called him their teacher.}
“……!”
I was content with such simple happiness. Enough to even lay down my life for my disciples. However, before the War of the Transcendents began in earnest, the clouds of war engulfed my hometown, and it was destroyed. Along with the collapsed village, the children greeted you as corpses.
Draven LeMarque prayed and prayed before the statue of the goddess Luas, hoping that the children would go to a good place.
The host recited Draven’s past.
Draven listened to the host’s story while continuing the intellectual clash. Before he knew it, his mind was already immersed in the past.
However, the desire to manipulate souls that you ‘fatedly’ acquired—the Animus—reflected reality. It was the sight of the souls of children who could not reach the side of the Goddess Luas, distorted and screaming. Hating the religion of Luas from that moment on, you became a Transcendent of the Xerion Empire after belatedly realizing your talent for black magic.
widely.
{Building a world without suffering souls, the transcendent one who pursues such an ideal.}
The piece advanced.
{And you used the Emperor of Xerion as a tool for your ideals. You were convinced that Akhand would create the world you desired. An immortal world. A world where the boundary between life and death disappears, and souls are liberated. But this is your delusion.}
“You mean it’s a misunderstanding?”
{The ancient king values souls but has absolutely no interest in the immortal world. On the contrary, he seeks to establish a world that is the exact opposite of the immortal world. You resurrected the ancient king to ensure there are no suffering souls? Hahahaha.}
The host laughed as if he couldn’t hold back.
{The soul will be exposed to extreme suffering incomparable to anything before. Losing even the self, only the trace of the soul will remain.}
“What… nonsense.”
{Thanks to your weary efforts, the souls of your disciples will be annihilated.}
Boom!
Draven slammed his fist on the table. Standing up, he manifested a blade using magic and held it close to the host’s face.
{The game is in progress. Sit down.}
“……!”
Draven groaned at the sensations binding his whole body and was soon forcibly made to sit down.
{There is no heaven. It is one of the taboos concerning the soul. Did you think it was a coincidence that you came to perceive a fragment of that truth through the animus? No, you merely followed the destiny assigned to you from the beginning. Cleverly manipulated into ideals, you became a transcendent being who aided destiny instead of resisting.}
The host swept the tentacles.
{The Old King is the Apostle of Fate’s Fate, and ‘your’ sixth Apostle. As for the role of the sixth Apostle is… … .}
Host cautiously whispered the duty bestowed upon the former king. Draven, unable to help but hear it, widened his eyes as if they were about to tear.
“That, that’s a lie.”
{Do you think it’s a lie? There is nothing but the truth here. There are only transcendents who wish to regard the truth as a lie. You must know that, too.}
Draven’s pupils trembled.
It is just as the host said.
He already knew that the Host was speaking the truth. It is just that Draven’s head and heart could not accept it.
“That’s impossible, that can’t be, that can’t be…”
Draven trembled and clutched his head.
He acted contrary to his ideals.Even if he was unaware, Draven abandoned the ideals he himself pursued.
Crack.
“What have I done…….”
The fingernails dug into the skin of the face.
“Ughh
Draven’s scream echoed through the room. His mind was on the verge of collapse. His soul convulsed, and the shattered rift began to widen.
{oh.}
The host took out a book.
{Is this how a transcendent being who has abandoned their ideals in a state of ignorance reacts? Mind and body are in turmoil. Is that so, is that so?}
He recorded Draven’s condition and showed a satisfied reaction.
You’ve gained new knowledge.
Meanwhile, the Host continued to move the artifact of intellectual conflict, using invisible tentacles to prevent Draven’s soul from being shattered.
{But it is not over yet. Draven LeMarque. The truth begins now.}
The host is still looking forward to it.
So please show me a different reaction as well.
