Episode 890 Sixth (3)
As expected, it is not easy.
Although the overall framework was established at the World Conference, conflicts of opinion were quite frequent once the details began to be discussed in depth.This was particularly true regarding the additional development plan for the marine magic stone mine and the magic stone treaty.
Indeed, the focus is on the top 10 magic towers specialized in that technology, and since the resulting profit and loss vary significantly depending on the direction, it is inevitable that there will be a lot of talk about it.
Medrant lightly stroked the deep scar etched on the corner of his right eye.
As the Tower Master, I think I need to salvage a few more pennies, even if it means acting pathetically…
Having been assured that there was no need to meddle in power struggles, I agreed to the negotiations in moderation. I did not act greedily and only took what belonged to Eon.For Verden’s ultimate goal is not such trivial gain, but the unity of the world.
Therefore, Medrant approached the meeting with the mindset of a mediator rather than a participant.However,aside from this, he felt a satisfying sense of ease.
“Is this what it feels like to be well-off?”
Unlike the Artisan Magic Tower, which needed money to conduct various types of magic research, the Ostea Magic Tower struggled day after day purely due to a lack of funds.
Money attracts money.
Ostea Magic Tower lagged the furthest behind the top 10 magic towers in their method of investing astronomical funds to earn even more astronomical profits.No matter how unrivaled one’s skills and knowledge are in the field of ancient magic, there is a separate business that is truly lucrative.
However, with Eon serving as the backdrop, the Ostea Magic Tower was able to maintain a luxurious dignity that it had never dared to imagine in the past.
After the fact that Medrant was one of the founders of the Society and an executive of Eon became known to the world through the World Conference… … .This massive source of funds played a significant role in persuading the mages of the Ostea Magic Tower, who knew nothing of the matter.
Had things gone even slightly wrong, there would have been calls to immediately oust Medrant from the position of Lord of the Ostea Magic Tower.
It’s going too well, which is a problem, though.
Look at the Tower Masters sitting around.
The subtle disdainful glances usually directed at me for being the lowest-ranked magic tower have vanished without a trace. Instead, their attitudeof trying to curry favor is blatant, showing favor and making a blatant attempt to get on my good side. The eye smile of the Magic Tower Master of the Volcanic Island is becoming quite burdensome.
anyway.
The exploration of the Hiaremar Inland Sea, the development plan for the Magic Stone mine, and the Magic Stone Treaty Agreement have already concluded. The Continental Trade Agreement has just been finalized as well.
The only remaining subject is the exploration for the conquest of the Demon Realm.
It has already been more than ten days since the so-called World Conference wrap-up meeting took place.
Since the Maseok Treaty agreement was concluded this morning, the exploration of the Demon Realm is scheduled to proceed this afternoon. The exploration of the Demon Realm will likely take about two days.
Unlike some factions, Medrant was someone who attended every session from beginning to end. Even though he had gotten some sleep, he couldn’t help but feel mentally exhausted.
As Medrant was quenching his dry throat with clean water, he heard a commotion from one side.
“What are you staring at, Northerner?”“Your feather got into the liquor.”“……? So what?”“You’re a beastman, that’s why you don’t know that.”
Humans and beastmen differ from birth, even before considering their upbringing environments. The seemingly obvious notion that feathers are dirty simply because they got into alcohol is not.This is because, to winged beastmen—specifically, winged beastmen—feathers are clean. They devote a great deal of time to keeping their feathers clean.
How many people know the habits of drowning people?
As a Northerner, he didn’t mind greasy hair, but he could not tolerate the thick hair on his body getting into his drink.From his perspective, the feathers of the Iksuin were no different from the hair on his body.
The Northerner and the Drowning Man stared at each other.
Prohas and the Beastmen Great Tribe, who share a border, do not get along well. In fact, they were in conflict during nearly 30% of the time during continental trade agreements.
Prohas’s Grand Master and Flying King. Their intellectual abilities are superior to appearances, but true to their looks, they are rough fellows.
It would be a headache if they went wild, but judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like it would go that far. The two simply looked at each other like idiots.Gregorban of the Luas religion just sipped his tea, intending to mediate immediately if a fight broke out.
It was a relief all over again that the Cardinal of the Three Courts attended the Luas religion instead of the Saint, and the King of the Great Tribes instead of the King of the Water.Moreover, if a conflict were to arise like at the World Council, there would be no Transcendent being here to stop it this time.
“It is a great relief that the Saint and the King did not come here in person. If the two of them had clashed again, there would have been absolutely no way for me to stop them.”
Medrant turned his head as he actually heard the thought.
Terrywen, the leader of the Iderat Alliance, was soothing his weary mind and body from the meeting by sipping on a low-alcohol white wine with that pleasant expression on his face.
“Phew… The Continental Trade Agreement, with the participation of 37 attendees from the World Conference, has finally been concluded. It is a relief that harmony was achieved better than expected. I hope the Conquest of the Demon Realm concludes just as smoothly.”“I just hope we don’t have to raise our voices for days like we did during the Magic Stone Treaty and the Magic Stone Mine development plan. My ears are hurting.”“Hahaha, surely there will be fewer. After all, the Arnach Empire and Eon are leading the Conquest of the Demon Realm. Furthermore, the Dwarves and Elves are supporting the Empire and Eon, respectively. When the center is well-balanced like this, there is bound to be little wavering.”
Terrywen laughs heartily.
Medrant quietly emptied his glass while glancing at Teriwen. Before resuming the meeting this morning, he had obtained new information via his communication device.
“Suspicious circumstances were detected regarding Lennon Bernard in connection with the Dragon Sword and the Glory of the Dead, but Teriwen appears completely innocent, as if unrelated to the matter… … or so.”
I don’t know where the information came from, but since it was said by Verden, it is sufficiently credible. Furthermore, all of Teriwen’s actions up until now have been natural.
The same was true when discussing the timing of the exploration of the Hiaremar Inland Sea at the first meeting.
As of today, there are 8 days left until the annular solar eclipse that was said to begin in about 26 days. No one knows this fact except Eon and the Adventurer’s Guild.
For now.
The Adventurers’ Guild readily suggested conducting an early expedition. Precisely just before or after the annular solar eclipse.Opinions were divided.Some argued it was too early, while others insisted that since things had turned out this way, they should start quickly. Teriwen did not insist on either option from start to finish.
“… … At first, he showed a negative expression, but after listening to the arguments in favor, he leaned toward the affirmative side. Then, while subtly expressing opposition by saying that a cautious approach was needed, he eventually cast one vote in favor.”
It was truly the epitome of hesitation.
It was a reaction from someone who found valid points in both the賛成 (approval) and 反対 (disapproval).It is not strange.Teriwen, being a peace-loving man to begin with, was not particularly harsh. The only times he became resolute were when it came to matters of multi-racial harmony.
But why?
“Then, shall we go have a nice meal?”“Sure.”
Medrant stood up with an expressionless face and followed behind Teriwen.
Leader of the Iderat Alliance.Teriwen.A pacifist.One who desires harmony among all races.
The fact that it was so flawless actually felt like a flaw. It was un-wizard-like, yet baseless, thoughts kept swirling in my head.
indeed.
Did Teriwen really know when an annular solar eclipse would occur? Was he truly completely unrelated to Lennon Bernard’s eccentricities?
That information that Verden and the Black Sea obtained from the dizzying depths, and that clear time when the whereabouts of the Dragon Sword Magras would be revealed.
Medrat Keden began to suspect Teriwen just a little, just a little.
* * *
The time when the morning and afternoon pass, night deepens, and dawn begins on the continent.
Having reached the top floor of the Exodium, Verden stepped into the Ark’s leader’s quarters. The sound of a door closing behind him brushed past his ears.
I sharpened my senses.
As he went a little further inside, the figure of an elder was reflected in the blue walls. The deep, sweet aroma characteristic of wine stimulated Verden’s sense of smell.He approached, moving at a moderate pace—neither too fast nor too slow.
Which seat would you choose?
Solemn voice.
The antique rectangular table was surrounded by a total of ten chairs. The senior person was seated in the seat of honor as if it were only natural.Verden settled into the only chair directly opposite him, rather than to his left or right.
“Hmm, as expected, it’s different.”
The superior poured the same wine into an empty glass and gestured lightly. The glass, having traversed the table, came to a stop in front of Verden.The wine inside remained motionless, like a still lake.
It is Verden.
Verden introduced himself with the attitude of Elder Ren Balhag and Elder Sheorn toward the leader of the Ark to whom they extend boundless respect and loyalty.
The superior nodded.
“He is the one leading the ark.”“Since you have come this far, I thought I would at least be able to see your face.”
A shadow that Verden could not perceive partially obscured the figure of the superior. He was covered in darkness from his neck to his head.Only his outline was barely visible.The only things that could be clearly identified with the eyes were the transcendent physique of a man whose level of mastery was unfathomable, and the wine he held in one hand.
“There are only eight people in the current Ark who know who I am. Of course, since you have already been confirmed as the sixth captain, there is no reason why I cannot reveal my identity to you, but I need to get a promise from you before that.”“A promise not to reveal it?”“Because you are different from the children who have passed the Ark’s official initiation procedures. It only has meaning if the promise is made at that moment.”
It was not at all the Ark’s intention for Verden to come into contact with the Ark and form a connection with it.
The Ark could not find Verden.Verden made the Ark find itself.
That was the biggest difference between Verden and the existing members of the Ark. No, rather than calling it a difference, it was a distinguishing feature.
“Asher. When I first heard it, I thought it was a resonant name.”
The person on top took a sip of wine. The red liquid, tinged with a pale purple, tilted significantly and then regained its balance.
“The Doctor of Gluttony was a being whose physical form we had never properly captured, having only gathered information from the Ark. That is why, regardless of the Watcher of the World’s abilities, the tracking time dragged on for decades. We deployed an intelligence network across suspicious areas to identify the Doctor’s distinct appearance, but to no avail. Then, one day, news arrived from the Principality of Liviant, claiming that an unknown young wizard had executed him.”“He was not young.”“Old age and youth are relative. You must have heard from Valion how long I have lived. Even the Elder of Sheorn is young to me. Always.”
It is certainly hard to find anyone over 300 years old anywhere.
Of course, to Verden, who had faced Kirondar and the first Necromancer in addition to ‘you’ and the first Demon King, it was a number that did not impress much.After all, Alpha’s operating time exceeded 500 years, and the time Gharun and Zeradin have lived until now is nearly three centuries.
The superior continued speaking.
“Is it merely a matter of sheer luck that an individual dealt with the target the Ark was supposed to annihilate? That thought crossed my mind at first, but I soon dismissed it. For the Watcher of the World failed to watch you.”
Didn’t see it with Aerodon’s eyes?
“Are you saying that I have not been seen by the eyes of the world? Just like here on the top floor?”“The Watcher who selects every member of the Ark cannot make any judgment; that is why you are special. So, I decided to test what secret you hold. After making a minimal assessment through Layla’s intervention in the Trial and the subjugation of Gluttony, I will impose an Ancient Trial on you, since you dislike being bound by a group.”
As a result, Verden was able to undergo the Ancient Trials without formally entering the Ark, by fulfilling only the minimum requirements.The Tomb of the Demon King.This was the catalyst for Verden forming connections with the Administrator, Alpha, and furthermore, Beta.
“To be honest, I thought you would eventually give up in the face of this ordeal. I believed you were capable of objectively assessing your own abilities. Since opportunities would come later, planning for the future was a wise choice… But instead, you dared to take on a reckless challenge. And unlike the other candidates, you didn’t fail but even managed to overcome it.”
The superior put down the wine glass he had been slowly spinning.
Having conquered the Tomb of the First Demon King, you have obtained the
Silence enveloped the space.
“Are you a descendant of the first Demon King?”“No. Since you asked first, I will ask you now.”
Not content with simply answering immediately, Verden reversed the roles of questioner and answerer. Both sides were equally curious about each other.
“Is the ancient trial I overcame truly the ‘tomb’ of the First Demon King?”“…….”
The superior remained silent for a moment at Verden’s blunt way of speaking. This was not the time to subtly probe. Verden wanted concrete information.The person holding the relatively recent clues about the First Demon King was right before his eyes.
Then, the superior spoke.
How can it be a tomb when it has not died and been buried?
The name of the tomb was denied.
The two simply answered the question thrown at them with the truth.
“Since it is our first meeting, I intended to keep the conversation brief. As expected of Verden, you always defy my expectations. Fine. There is much we want to learn from each other, and we each have many secrets.”
The superior spoke in a low voice.
“Let’s see who has more secrets. However, before that, it is only proper to reveal my identity. Verden, do you know who I am?”“I have anticipated it. I promise in advance that I will not reveal your identity to the outside world.”
A span of 300 years.An overwhelming transcendent being of the martial arts world.One who seeks to lead only humanity.
In official history, there is only one being who possesses such distinct overlapping characteristics. The one who traversed this world, having arrived at the Eastern Continent after passing through the Silent Desert, the Central Continent, and the Demon Realm from the Western Continent.
Founder of the Adventurer’s Guild.
The shadow concealing the identity of the superior slowly lifted. A figure identical to the statues erected at the Academy and the Adventurer’s Guild was revealed.
Let me introduce it again.
The first adventurer.
“The current leader of the Ark is ‘Lugarth’.”
A transcendent being who ended the war between races by overwhelming beastmen, elves, and dwarves at the time. The ‘strongest being on the continent’ from three centuries ago revealed his true name to Verden.
