Episode 1069 Legions (1)
A report came in that Grimmel, who was imprisoned in a different cell from Lunesica, had his nose bone shattered after being severely beaten in the face by Gharun. Itwasn’t a big deal, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.
“Chaos, chaos.”
Bendie and Yurion sat facing each other, mulling over Verden’s words. This was more important. The two were interpreting the advice Verden had left.
“It seems Verden sees a special significance in the essence of the Transcendents. The madness of seeking a new course leading to the ideal without stopping, even when strayed by external forces—that resistance… Verden was emphasizing that.” “Because the ideal is immutable, one will not bend even if it means death; therefore, one will not betray. I had a hunch after hearing about the timing of the Transcendent Alliance’s proposal and the existence of the ‘external enemy,’ but it appears our conjectures were indeed true.”
The traitors to humanity who were the former leader of the Iderat Federation who caused the sanctuary massacre. Verden tentatively called the forces behind them external enemies.
“It seems that an ‘essential’ hostility has existed between the Transcendent and the External Enemy since ancient times.”“Is it innate hostility? A level where one wants to obliterate the other’s very existence the moment they meet—to put it mildly, it’s as if their very species are natural enemies.”“Because essence is innate.”“Ah, damn it. Everything is just full of things that complicate things.”
Yurion leaned his head against the sofa.
“The modern concept of Transcendents never took root in the long history of humanity from the beginning… and among them, Transcendents of the Magical Realm appeared only after the hierarchical magic system was established. There are absolutely no records of Transcendents from the era of Incantation Magic. Above all, the concept of Transcendents is the exclusive property of humans. Given the circumstances, how can one not be suspicious?”
Yurion did not have the paranoia to insist that there was some ulterior motive behind every single coincidence, but that did not mean he was a man who was complacent about everything.
“Judging by the circumstances, it seems someone intervened in humanity and implanted the concept of the Transcendent. At least, that is what Verden seems to think. There might even be physical evidence.”“So that is why he is the first Master of the Magic Tower.”“That is correct.”
Verden is the master of the current First Magic Tower, the root of Hierarchical Magic. Although the First Magic Tower has not yet been verified, the Legendary Elixir served as proof.
Moreover, there is a weight in Verden’s words and actions that is difficult to ignore. It was also a tower of status built upon his past deeds.
Therefore… … if there is truly a deep correlation between the origin of the Transcendents of the Magic World and Hierarchy Magic, there is no way Verden would not know.
“You remember when Verden spoke as if he were giving a speech at the World Conference? That prophecy.”“Of course I remember.”
Whether at world conferences or summits, every remark he deliberately made was so shocking that it was impossible to forget.
───At the height of the Bloodcry Plague’s spread, I conversed with the will of the first Tower Master, ‘Tellor Krendros,’ the foremost of the four Kirondars who founded the Hierarchical Magic System and the First Tower. And I encountered beings from a distant past era entirely different from ours.
───Dragons, Lords of Death, and the Sea.
These three are future threats that will one day have an immeasurable impact on the continent. Unlike before, most of them probably won’t be that unfamiliar to you now.
At the World Council, stories regarding prophecy were raised several times. This was even mentioned by Teriwen, the former leader of the Iderat Alliance, and Lennon Bernard, the appraiser.Even Emperor Zeracl testified that he had seen a prophecy concerning a dragon.
“It looks like the prophecy was just the tip of the iceberg. It seems certain that Verden discovered some unknown secret related to the Transcendents at the First Magic Tower. Of course, the hypothesis that someone artificially constructed the Transcendents is, frankly, too preposterous.”“If that someone exists, it must be some force opposing the external enemy.”“I feel like I’ve found out something I shouldn’t have. Ugh, if someone else had just blabbered that, I would have just dismissed it as nonsense.”
Studying figures is also a legitimate academic discipline.
In Highlandia, a large-scale investigation into Verden was conducted long ago. For he was a being who clearly stood out even among the Transcendents.
Yurion thoroughly read every single report they produced, so he did not doubt the extraordinary nature unique to Verden.
“However, the problem is…….”
Yurion tapped the armrest of the sofa as if he were stuck.
“What on earth does Verden mean by his last piece of advice: ‘The only ones you can entrust your back to are those who have awakened on their own’? It doesn’t feel like he was merely alluding to the gods of the Luas religion.”“This is what I’ve been thinking.”
Bendie did not put down his teacup for even a moment and calmed his gaze.
“Martial arts, magic, and faith. The awakening methods of Transcendents may have a more fundamental branch separate from these three.”“Oh, that’s an interesting perspective. For example?”“The fact that they awakened on their own implies that there are Transcendents who did not awaken on their own. In that case, if an external force intervened during the awakening process without the individual’s knowledge, how should that be classified?”
Bendie boldly broadened the scope of his thinking.
“Is our awakening truly pure?”
The speculation that he was involved in the awakening even suggested the possibility that he had tampered with the formation of the unique ideal. Bendie assumed for the time being that this was true.
I feel nauseous…
Clang!
The teacup burst.The tea soaked my hand.
Bendie looked down at the shattered fragments with eyes that had grown cold. Even Yurion, who boasted of a long friendship with her, looked as though he had never seen such an expression before. Itwas an expression of intense emotion.It was anger and loathing that no one dared to quell.
Yurion slightly straightened his posture.
“So, whether consciously or unconsciously, the moment external intervention entered the awakening process, he is a transcendent being who failed to awaken on his own?”“Because it is difficult to view that as an awakening entirely of his own.”“Then should we consider Verden a transcendent being who awakened on his own… well, there is no way to verify it. Anyway, Verden seems to have concluded that transcendent beings can be trusted to some extent in a world where the boundaries between friend and foe are confused.”
Yurion suddenly rubbed the scar on his arm. It was the mark of a dagger left by an unofficial transcendent being who had invaded Highlandia.
“That dagger-wielding fellow certainly seems to have sided with the external enemy. After all, he contributed to the resurrection of the old king. Is he an exception?”“As you know, Verden did not say to trust every Transcendent. He left the judgment to us, leaving room for ‘at least.’”“If you must take a gamble where you have to entrust your back to others, bet on the Transcendents… Indeed, that must be the most plausible interpretation.”
It seems the Alliance of Transcendents will become a more important force than expected.
“Ah, come to think of it, Tearel kept talking about ‘seeds of resistance’ at the summit.”“He said the same thing to me.”“Don’t the word ‘resistance’ that Verden mentioned and the word ‘resistance’ that Tearel was chattering about overlap blatantly? Besides, they even came to the summit together.”
The Black Sea Thearel the two knew did have some eccentric sides, but not to this extent. The sight of him wandering around chanting seeds and observing other people’s reactions was sheer madness.
“Transcendents, external enemies, resistance, seeds, destiny, souls, the first magic tower… I like riddles, but it’s really frustrating because I can’t quite picture it.”
Yurion let out a deep breath after listing the assertions regarding Verden’s sayings and deeds. Even after gulping down cold water, the stifling sensation did not go away.
“Verden must have a reason for revealing information only in a limited way, so we can’t pry into it.”“I have a hypothesis regarding that.”“Huh?”“The restriction on information might actually be mandatory.”
Bendie looked directly at him.
“The way you know.”“……!”
Yurion opened his eyes wide.It was genuine astonishment.
“Surely not, the information itself is entangled in a forbidden agreement?”
He exerts power by making a contract with the world using language and energy as a medium. His technique possessed the deepest uniqueness even when compared to the transcendent beings of the martial arts world throughout history.
Pledger.
Upon his awakening and realizing his Transcendence, Yurion became aware of the absolute contract he made with the world. He named this concept the “Forbidden Potion.”There are fewer than eight people, including Bendie, who know of Yurion’s Transcendence.
“Certainly… I merely learned how to use that forbidden potion. Since the concept of the potion has existed from the beginning, someone in the past might have handled it. However, even so, it doesn’t make sense. It is impossible to ban information for that long, even on a global scale.”“Verden said so at the World Conference. He said there is a world we do not know about.”
Bendie narrowed his eyes.
“In that world, what is possible, and what is impossible?”
Resistance for the sake of ideals.A hypothesis born of intuition.Assertion regarding the hypothesis.
The transcendents are a little closer to the truth.
* * *
Clues were left for Yurion and Bendie. The intention was to allow them to obtain suitable information through hypotheses, while ensuring that no matter how deeply they dug, they would not violate any taboos.
I cannot control everything as I please. Especially not the stubborn transcendents.
Not sharing key information with Ignacia was in the same vein. As soon as she realized the taboo, she might immediately run beyond it.
Scatter clues, andmake them realize and perceive on their own.
It is a kind of time control.
Because letting one’s attention be diverted to another danger before the immediate danger has even been resolved is the worst kind of waste that must be avoided.
Verden believed that the taboo on information would eventually disappear when the time was right.Or perhaps he would lift it himself…
anyway.
Verden originally intended to see the three treasures brought from the Golden Vigo with Gharun, but he had to change his plans due to sudden news.
There were two pieces of urgent news.
To deal with the two at once, Verden headed to the ownerless land.
“……senior.”
Junia, Cain, and Enette, who should have been in the grand hall, had their eyes drawn to one side. When they opened the door they pointed to and entered, a woman was watching the city, which was constantly developing, through the window.
“I thought I wouldn’t come to my senses until dawn.”“The soul will only settle down at dawn. There is another reason why my consciousness awakened first.”
widely.
Verden closed the door.
At the same time, sensing that she was completely cut off from the outside world, the woman—Eloris, the Knight of Dawn—turned her back and bowed as if offering a prayer.
“The Apostle of the Morning Star pays homage to the Demon God.”“It is good to see you again, Eloris.”
The bond formed in an ancient adventure story was reconnected in reality.
“Do you understand the situation?”“I understand. That my soul was stored in an artifact called the [Gring Arcanum], and that my soul entered the remnants of an evil god I crafted in the past. I suppose you could say I became aware of it not long after waking up.”
Eloris instinctively already knew the background of the resurrection.It was a memory imprinted in her soul.
“It seems the others do not realize that the God of Demons is a god.”“Call me Verden.”“Yes, Lord Verden. That is why I have refrained from mentioning anything related to God for the time being. The same goes for the demons.”“That was an excellent decision.”
Fortunately, Eloris was more perceptive than Verden had expected. If it becomes known in Eon that Verden is the God of Demons, it will cause confusion.
Whoosh.
Verden took out two items from the subspace.
One was the [Starlight of Dawn], the divine artifact of the Morning Star, and the other was the [Sword of Dawn] that Eloris used during her lifetime.
“For now, it would be best for the previous owner to keep them.”“If there happens to be a suitable candidate, may I hand these two over at my discretion?”“……Do you sense something?”“Many things have changed since being resurrected like this.”
Eloris turned her palm upward. Soon, a gray light flickered. A pure sphere of divine power was reflected in his blue eyes.She gave a wry smile and awkwardly scratched her cheek with her other hand.
“It seems that I, Eloris… have become Lord Verden’s priest.”
Eloris embraced Verden’s divine power.
However, the faith of the Morning Star still exists.
The divine power of the Morning Star shimmered like mist over the divine power of Verden.
“I unintentionally became a person of mixed faith, but…”“…….”“What should I do……?”
Verden decided that a very in-depth observation of this change was necessary. Therefore, it was only right to handle urgent matters first and postpone it for a while.
“Let’s go out for now.”“Yes, Lord Verden.”
Verden left the room with Eloris. The Phases were waiting outside.
I will meet the messenger of the old king first.
