Episode 844 The Outcast (1)
The morning sun rose.
Haldirn Deiras, the sole successor of the Darkwarton Magic Tower, walked across a snow-covered field far from Gargant—a place he was not destined to walk.A few steps ahead of him walked the Lord of the Darkwarton Magic Tower, Reindel Nexreon.
“The scenery is beautiful, Master.”“It is.”“I assumed you would at least speak with Verden privately before leaving after the World Conference… Do you have urgent business?”“If that were the case, I wouldn’t be taking such a leisurely stroll here.”
As the winter wind blew, snowflakes sitting on the grass fluttered slightly.
I am just organizing my thoughts.
There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, andthe sunlight was clear.
Wherever you look, the sun’s gaze reaches you, directly or indirectly. The same was true for people. No one in the world was an exception.
“…….”
Reindel quietly keeps his gaze fixed on the heavens.
It was not just Haldir; the elders and high-ranking mages of the Darkwarton Magic Tower, who guarded the region, were also puzzled by the Tower Master’s behavior but did not readily ask about it.This was because such eccentric behavior had occurred more than once or twice over the decades.
‘The necromancer of the era is a transcendent being who has mastered death.”I can say with certainty that there must be a profound meaning beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like us.’
Those who had known Reindel for a long time were thinking that. Just as Reindel looked up at the sky, they looked up at Reindel.
The Understander of Death was already regarded as an exceptional being, perhaps comparable to the first Necromancer, among all the Darkwarton Tower Masters of all time.
It became blurry. And clear.
Naturally, no one understood Reindel’s quiet monologue.
“We should prepare as well.”“Are you speaking of the glory of the dead?”“That will probably be the beginning.”
start……?
What on earth is the beginning of?
Haldirn never stopped studying the world, including black magic, but he still could not understand even the fragments of the world his master saw.
Then, Reindel asked.
“In what way do you think existence meets substantial death?”
Haldirn answered immediately.
“If you are referring to the manner of death, there are types like natural death or brutal slaughter; and if you are referring to the emotions of those facing death, they would generally harbor fear. Perhaps, on the contrary, they might feel joy.”“Death is a multifaceted and complex concept.”
Reindel closed his eyes.
“Something as futile as a seasoned warrior tripping over a stone and breaking his neck, yet as noble as the sacrifice made to kill a tyrannical king. What must be kept in mind here lies in that uncertainty.”“Uncertainty…”“Even if I have cast off the shell of lifespan, death follows. I might die tomorrow. But I might also live until the world ends. For the future is not predetermined.”
He opened his eyes.
That will be the death from now on.
Everyone held their breath.
“Return to the Magic Tower. And take 70% of the dragon materials from the treasure vault.”“……!”
In the vault of the Darkwarton Magic Tower, in addition to what Haldirn received during the past Bone Dragon incident, dragon bones secured about five centuries ago are also stored.These were top secrets of the Darkwarton Magic Tower that had been buried for hundreds of years.
“Master, what do you mean by that…”“According to the records left by the first Necromancer, the ancient king wielded a mighty dragon. The Bone Dragon you encountered in the Republic must be a harbinger of it. Therefore, shouldn’t we prepare as well?”
Reindel gave a faint smile.
With a stronger one.
* * *
The Holy Airship Fleet of the Ruas Theocracy cuts across the bright sky. A curve formed on the corners of Ersetia’s mouth as she boarded the flagship.
“It must have been a very difficult and uncomfortable position in many ways. Thank you for your hard work, Saint.”“Ah, no, Saint.”
Leonhardt blushed at the warm praise and scratched the back of his head for no reason. It was the innocence of a farmer with transcendent faith.
Romanus agreed with him.
“I was quite surprised when you charged at the second servant. Especially to use the moves you learned from the Saint immediately in actual combat… Your qualities are outstanding, even when compared to the saints of past generations.”“You are too kind, haha.”
Leonhardt forced a smile to hide his flushed face. He felt overwhelmed to hear such great people call him great.Feeling as though he wouldn’t even be able to lift his head if things continued like this, he soon cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“More than that… is this Gareth really connected to the glory of the dead?”
When Mauler—Gares Cyrilliad—was mentioned, Ersetia and Romanus wore serious expressions befitting the subject.
“As Shinseong said, there might be a point of contact through the blood alliance, but in the end, it is nothing more and nothing less than that. The same goes for the King of Ronia. If that were not the case, Mauler would not have attended the World Conference.”
Gareth is foreshadowing a territorial war with Verden over the Eastern Continent. If one simply compares the number of Transcendents, Eon holds the upper hand.In the midst of this, it is not a sensible action to blatantly show oneself after doing something that is likely to provoke the Luas Theocracy.
Either they didn’t know the details of the glory of the dead,or they merely brushed past the glory of the dead.
Thinking rationally, it would come down to one of two possibilities. Gareth was clearly annoyed by the friction with the Luas religion.
“Of course, we’ll have to investigate. You never know.”“Then, if the investigation finds no issues, is the King of Ronia just going to let it slide? That massacre?”
Leonhardt’s eyes lit up with anger.This, too, was pure.In his eyes, the King of Ronia was an enemy he could never forgive. Both personally and in his faith.
Romanus said.
“If we investigate the King of Ronia’s whereabouts, we will find grounds for the Theocracy of Luas to take issue with, even if it is not the ‘Glory of the Dead.’ However, since the Kingdom of Ronia is under the direct influence of the Transcendent, this could easily lead to a significant escalation of chaos.”“But if it is the Theocracy…!”“Naturally, Mauler’s military strength is weak compared to the Theocracy of Luas. So weak that an all-out war wouldn’t even be possible. That is why Mauler decided to pretend to be defeated and cooperate to prove their innocence as quickly as possible. The more they oppose us, the more disadvantageous it will be in the war of nerves with Eon. However, what the Saint must bear in mind is not power, but the individual.”
Ersetia lowered her voice.
“Even if you have been chosen by the Holy Sword and possess extraordinary talent, the Saint’s body and mind have not yet adapted to the transcendent realm. In that sense, let me ask you: what do you think would happen if the Saint and the Divine were to clash?”
Two scenes flashed through my mind.
It was the sight of Verden blowing away a beastman with a single blow and intervening between the Saint and the Beast King, and the sight of Verden mercilessly killing the aide of the King of Ronia, who had been reduced to the body of a second servant.
Leonhardt swallowed hard, recalling how he had been overwhelmed by that determination.
“……You can’t win. Absolutely not.”“If the Divine unleashes its full power, the Saint could die from that single move. That is the extent of the gap.”
Although there is only a difference of one or two years between the awakening times of Verden and Leonhardt, Verden’s level is somewhat off even by the standards of a transcendent being.
“It is not as if he is a god of the Luas religion who, while unable to escape his inherently given human lifespan, adapts to transcendence and grows rapidly.”
Even considering the absurd experience of killing as many as five transcendent beings, the time she held that strength in her hands was far too short.It was full of strange things, much like the dark red magic clearly etched into her senses.
Through this World Conference, Ersetia recognized Verden as someone to be watched out for and wary of the most, just as much as Reindel Nexreon.All the more so, given that she could not dare to predict what he would do in the future.
It seems the Saint cannot properly deal with other transcendent beings either. Powerless faith does not work against those who do not understand the Holy Light. Therefore, what the Saint must do now is not judgment, but discipline.
Romanus agreed.
“At the very least, you must be at a level capable of fully drawing out the Holy Sword’s power. For a great conflict is bound to occur soon.”“A conflict?”“The last owner of the Dragon Sword, for which the Iderat Alliance proposed a global exploration, was an ancient king. Since this is a part of history the Saint has not yet learned, he would not have known. It is truly a great coincidence that the whereabouts of that thing, which vanished without a trace in the past, have been revealed at this very moment.”
Leonhardt flinched.
“However… if the Leader of the Iderat Alliance is indeed connected to the Glory of the Dead, couldn’t they have simply kept the Dragon Sword hidden from the beginning?”“That is precisely why we cannot immediately doubt the Leader’s intentions. Information regarding the Dragon Sword is detrimental to the Glory of the Dead in every respect.”“Whether by coincidence or not, all paths lead to one.”
Ersetia asserted.
“The servants of the ancient king will stop at nothing to secure the Dragon Sword. And even though it is called a global expedition, other forces will be scheming behind the scenes to get their hands on it as well. Chaos is inevitable. And that is precisely when the Saint must cultivate his strength.”
A gentle hand stroked Leonhardt’s head, as if addressing a much younger brother.
“Complete the basic training prepared by the seven Archbishops and the Cardinals of the Three Estates within one month. Afterward, we will confer upon the Saint the right to judge. That power capable of illuminating not only the King of Ronia but even the darkness of the Transcendent.”
Leonhardt repeated the word “judgment” once and nodded with a determined look in his eyes.
Yes, I will do my best.
To protect his mother and younger sister, and furthermore, to eradicate evil for the sake of countless people—that was Leonhardt’s madness and his mission.Ersetia and Romanus were satisfied and encouraged the young newcomer’s resolve.
Oh.
Cardinal Gregorban of Justice smiled faintly as he glanced at the sight of these three proud newcomers having a friendly conversation.
It is truly a beautiful sight.
The light flickered.
* * *
The sun rose high in the sky.
“……hmm.”
Verden successfully suppressed the
It finished surprisingly early.
I can feel my body gradually adapting to semi-permanent extinction. If I maintain this rate of adaptation on average, I should be able to eliminate a significant portion of the instability within two or three months.
However, since it was only a temporary measure, it would only last a few days, but it wasn’t a problem since I wasn’t going to be in Gargant for long anyway.
Thump, thump.
I left the room and went down the stairs.There was a pleasant smell.I could hear the sound of a large group of people eating from the living room on the first floor.
“Welcome, my lord.”“It looks like the work finished faster than expected. Lord, would you like some soup?”“I’ll leave it to you.”“I also bought some freshly baked bread. Please take a seat before it gets cold, hoho.”
[drinkables?]
With coffee.
[Confirmed.]
Verden took the empty seat of honor.
A tray containing tableware and food crossed the air and landed on the table. Alpha and Beta were making coffee themselves, though I don’t know where they learned it.
“What about the others?”
Isabella also sat in her seat.
“I ate early and went to finish the rest of my schedule. Yunia and Lateon are still sleeping.”“I see.”
[Coffee. Done.]
Alpha, mounted on Beta’s frame adjusted to the perfect height of the dining table, carried a coffee cup. A rather pleasant scent brushed past the tip of the nose.
Verden took a sip of coffee first and turned his gaze away.
“I have come to fulfill the deal made at the Imperial Banquet. Right after the World Conference ended.”“That is correct. Since we have met anyway, it is more efficient to handle it now.”
Artisan, the Tower Master, and Feldianne answered while spreading butter on bread at one side of the table.
Even though they showed up suddenly, I couldn’t sincerely kick them out, so I let them into the mansion in the morning, and they blended in naturally, as if it were their own home.
“…….”“Mmm! This bread is a real treat.”
He appears unfazed by Adrian’s disgruntled gaze.
“So, where is that talented individual you were going to introduce to Alpha?”“He lives right in Gargant. It’s right on the outermost edge. He was planning to go somewhere else, but I persuaded him to move here. That was a few years ago.”“I thought he would be staying right near the Artisan Magic Tower.”“He originally was, but he has a very severe case of social phobia. It’s because of the deformity I mentioned back then. He tried, but he couldn’t overcome it.”
Adrian asked.
“If you can’t mingle with others, shouldn’t you go to a much quieter place? Not the largest city on the continent.”“It is precisely because it is that friend that a huge city is a decent home for him. People have walls. No matter how many people there are, if you don’t cross that wall, you become isolated. After all, relationships are the result of sharing hearts.”
Feldianne savored the coffee.
“Ah, of course, that is assuming you have the financial means and connections to receive regular deliveries of abundant food and research materials without ever having to go outside. To that friend, I am both his money and his connections.”“Tell me your exact location.”
Verden affirmed.
“We will come pick you up ourselves. As per the contract.”“As expected, you speak quickly. Very well. We will let you know as soon as you finish your meal. However…”
Feldianne took a bite of the elegantly baked bread.
“Your presence has weakened again. That intense pressure I saw at the World Conference is gone. I don’t know what it is, but it seems you still can’t perfectly control your power.”“I don’t think that’s something you need to be curious about.”“Hoho, I wasn’t expecting an answer. I’m just asking this and that out of curiosity. Isn’t that what a conversation over the table is all about? Do you dislike it? Then I suppose I should show you at least a small token of my sincerity.”
Feldianne rummaged through her pockets.
“For example… something like an apology from the mage who tried to cause Lord Verden trouble?”
Something was placed next to the bowl. Adrian and Isabella’s expressions hardened at the sight. What Feldianne took out was someone’s finger, frozen cold.
