Episode 898 Magic Festival (1)
Luzak sat down on a stylish chair prepared inside the aquarium.Elegantly, befitting a distinguished guest of the deep sea.
“Ah! An unknown island rising from the inland sea amidst raging wind and rain. What a truly poetic phrase. I suppose I am moved just by imagining it.”“Do you know absolutely nothing? What that island is?”“No. And understandably so, since it was the Host, not me, who told us the time of the annular solar eclipse, wasn’t it? If there had been anything to say, you would have given me a heads-up beforehand. As you can see, I am currently serving as the Guest of Honor’s advisor as well.”
Luzak confidently shrugged his shoulders, claiming he had absolutely no knowledge of the subject.Melad, who had been periodically collecting information about the deep sea and the Arcadium from Luzak, stared silently into Luzak’s eyes.
“Even if you gaze at me so intensely, I have never been insincere. Ever since I came ashore as punishment from the Host, I have always answered with the truth. You know this well, wise wizard.”“If you know nothing, that is fine.”
Heukhae and Tearel sat side by side with Melad and sipped warm black tea.
“So, what do you think will happen?”“Are you asking for a guess? About how the situation on the continent will unfold?”“An intellectual should be able to do at least that much.”
Since I couldn’t get any more information about the current situation, it was advantageous to at least listen to Luzak’s opinion.At least it was better than doing nothing.
“As a resident of Arkadium, I cannot make a definitive statement, but well, isn’t it a predictable answer? Generally, before a major event occurs, many small incidents are bound to be scattered everywhere. If small incidents abound, many major events will follow. Enough to draw the attention of even the Host personally.”
A rough hand leisurely stroked the bumpy trunk, like a walrus.
“Has an island risen above the sea, or has the world sunk beneath it…? The present moment is likely a process of searching for the answer. And as you do so, the time will eventually come when the guest of honor feels ‘hunger.’”
Luzak crossed his legs and placed his clasped hands on his knees.
“Only then will the Banquet of Knowledge—the Arcadium—be held.”“…….”“Ah, of course, perhaps.”
No one can dare to know when the host will eventually hold the Arcadium until the host makes a direct announcement.
Pretending to make definitive judgments on uncertain matters while leaving room for an escape route—that was indeed the virtue of an intellectual.
* * *
The Mado Festival is just one day away.
As darkness fell, the eve of the Magic Festival was held across the continent. Elemental mages in the capitals of each nation created a spectacle.
Even in the array of ownerless land.
Bang! Bang! Boom!
Nine fireballs shot high into the sky exploded in unison.Fire magic cast from a massive airship fell upon the city, and the city’s wizards blocked the flames with a wide-spreading barrier of wind.
Following the flow of the air, flames spread thinly and widely, engulfing the sky. Five small seaplanes cut through the flames and crossed the sky.The embers, twinkling like starlight before fading away, brilliantly colored the pupils.
“Wowww…….”“Hiya…….”
The children who had followed their parents stared blankly, taking in the art of the elements at a glance. The parents, holding their children’s hands tightly, had a similar reaction.
“So pretty…!”“Headmaster! Do my brother and sister know how to do things like that?”“Of course, of course. Your brother and sister are super amazing wizards.”
The children of Lascabell—no, now Arrain Orphanage—chattering away. Myla found the sight of them truly lovely.Wallick silently gazed at the elemental magic being used for a festival rather than for war.
At the pub next door, Butcher Galliac slammed his beer glass down.
“It really is damn flashy. Damn it, if only our party had a small airship… Ah, maybe we should buy one when that Golden Path or whatever opens up? What do you think?”“Not just a ship, but an airship??? Are you going to quit being an adventurer and just go pirate in the skies?”“Mr. Galliac, do you even know how much a small airship costs? Besides, as a Mithril Adventurer, that’s nowhere near enough.”“Do you think we only have money? Huh? We have connections too. How great would it be to go around on adventures in an airship? If you’re an adventurer, have some romance, you bastard.”
Galliac, whose financial situation had greatly improved thanks to the miscellaneous treasures of the Golden Sinner, recently wanted his own means of transportation.After all, being able to move around comfortably allows him to venture more boldly.
As always, Galliac wanted to fight strong opponents and become stronger. His party members, God and Nerien, pondered how to break his stubbornness.
Pffft!
The eve of the festivities heated up considerably with a fireworks display even larger in scale than before.
“…….”
Leila, having returned from Ark with Verden, sat alone on the top floor of the inn, gazing blankly at the city with her head resting on the windowsill. Shehad been invited to visit Arrain Fortress, but she declined, finding the grand festive atmosphere awkward.
Layla thought of the devil who killed her parents and younger brother, as usual.
and.
“Ah! So that’s why there’s a collision at the joints… Okay, then I’ll connect the power to the other side… and if I lower the output a little more…..”
Master Artisan and his friend Tilver Spengear holed up in their private laboratory researching Golem technology, paying no attention to the Magic Festival. Theyhad just begun searching for a clue to solve the task Alpha had assigned them. It was the self-taught work of a wizard, which had its limitations but was by no means meaningless.
Although Tilber was smaller than others due to congenital dwarfism, his effort and passion for Golem were second to none.
It was a night filled with many conflicting emotions.
Isabella thought of her lifelong partner and her younger sister, whose whereabouts were unknown; Callia thought of the man she truly loved; and Lobeline always held her one and only childhood friend in her heart.
The citizens of Tuhar who witnessed the death of the desert god prayed to a new god, and the man who carves statues also prayed to his own god.
The intentionally created beings envisioned in their minds a creator and a young transcendent being chasing after the creator’s traces.
The Milky Way flowing across the night sky might be something created by the gathering of their hearts.
“…….”
Verden did not attend the eve of the Magic Festival and instead guarded Arrain Fortress. Adrian and his party were exploring an island where danger was unknown. Underthese circumstances, as their leader, there was no way he could leisurely enjoy the festivities.
Dismissal. Dismissal.
Verden instantly unleashed a flash of lightning on the [Thalasium] held in one hand.In the blink of an eye, a dark red light stained the metal sphere and then vanished. It had already been countless times this had happened.
Reduce the time of contact with destruction.Make the instantaneous destructive power stronger.
Whether consciously or unconsciously… the more he immersed himself in the destruction of [Telazium], the more Verden’s complex thinking transformed into a single thought, at least for that moment.
Neither a union of concepts.Nor a connection of magic.One that requires no counting.
A single streak of dark red, super-high lightning.
It seems like Mado is whispering.
Mere training alone is insufficient to realize the true intent of destruction. Life and concepts. Destruction, born from the destruction of destiny, demanded a sacrifice.As if [Telazium], which is ultimately nothing more than metal, was not enough to satisfy it.
It’s no different from before.
Verden is far from being a saint who advocates peace and mercy. Revenge instead of forgiveness, domination and freedom by force instead of persuasion.He willingly created and trampled upon blood and corpses to pave his own path.
Verden said.
“You came back early when the eve party is in full swing. Was it not very fun?”“Ah, it was actually a lot of fun…”
Aisha, the fortune teller’s granddaughter, was peeking out from the corner, and as soon as Verden noticed her presence, she quietly approached.
“Did you see something else?”“I’m not really sure, hmm, I mean.”
Aisha hesitated, unsure what to say, then clenched both fists tightly.
“I’ll do my best too, Wizard!”
What exactly are they planning to work hard at?
Aisha’s power, which even Aisha does not know, has not yet been identified.
The vision to see through the presence of the Transcendent hidden by [Einber]’s
The girl before his eyes was also one of the wonders that Verden had to uncover.
Still, I wasn’t wary.
There was not a speck of hostility or malice in Aisha, who had declared she would help Verden. Aisha’s eyes, reflected in her blue eyes, were infinitely pure.
“Alright, work hard.”“Hehehe.”
Verden stroked Aisha’s head as if to encourage her resolve.
Time passed like that.
The light of the eve of the festival faded, dawn passed, and the first day of the Magic Festival dawned.
* * *
We commemorate the first magic tower and hope for the revival of magic.
The Magic Festival that began there originally lasted for a total of 7 days, but in the distant future, it was extended to 9 days to honor the level of the first Magic King.
The official procedures of the Magic Festival are divided into the first, middle, and second halves.
In the first half, various groups other than the Ten Great Magic Towers, such as the Magic Regiment and the Academy, showcased or presented magic on the official stage of the magical world.
In the middle, mid-tier and lower-tier magic towers take the lead.
In the latter half, the leaders of the magical world, who were the Senate of the World Council—including the Akenad Magic Kingdom and the High-Ranking Magic Towers—put an end to the Magic Festival.
Eon and the Magic Kingdom, who had agreed to participate in the Magic Festival together, were assigned the second spot in the second half. The criteria for this order were determined randomly.
Then, where will be the main stage?
It was Gargant again this time.
This was because not only was there no massive city capable of accommodating a flurry of people like Gargant, but lectures on the Verden and Lefragium hierarchy breakthrough incidents were also scheduled at the Academy.
From the World Conference to the Magic Festival! This really is my territory.
Ignacia, having become the center of the world again, became very arrogant.
The center of the central continent.
Certainly, there were no regions or nations comparable to Gargant based solely on their urban foundations.
“Oh my, are you jealous? If you are, tell me anytime. I’ll lend you a special section just for you. I’ll charge you very little.”“I don’t need it.”
Verden rejected her proposal.
“More importantly, is everything alright in Gargant?”“Everything alright? Aha.”
Ignacia picked up a cookie.
“You mean the old man you mentioned back then? Not at all. I just didn’t see him at all. To the point where I doubted he even existed. Why, was there something else?”“No, not yet.”
The old fanatic who had exposed himself to the leader of the Ark vanished again. However, he must be somewhere in Gargant.It was quite irritating that I couldn’t figure out his method of concealment right away.
“Don’t forget why I gave you this communication device.”“I’ll contact you immediately if I encounter the old man. Do you think I wouldn’t remember that?”“You’re only using it for private communication.”“Of course not. I can’t just leave this device unused until an old man I don’t even know shows up, can I? It’s a hassle, but I can’t help it. Since you gave this to me, you have to handle it. Don’t you? Hahaha.”
Ignacia giggled and playfully took a bite of the cookie.
“By the way, I heard a massive island rose in the Hiaremar Inland Sea. What are you going to do now?”“I’ll spend the Magic Festival and wait for the exploration report.”“Wait? Verden?”
The dreamy eyes shone.
“Who would believe that? You’re standing at the center of all sorts of chaos. Adrian, who used to stick by your side like glue, has suddenly disappeared without a trace. The way I see it, it looks like you could vanish like smoke and head to that island at any moment.”“…….”“I’m fine with anything. I’ve had so many fun experiences lately that my threshold for stimulation has gone up. I look forward to seeing what kind of pleasure you’ll give me next. Now then.”
Ignacia got up.
Time to begin, right? The First Tower Master.
A fantastic sanctuary.
From the tallest building in Gargant, where Ignacia resided, Verden looked down at the people who had come out early in the morning.
The origin of the Magic Festival is the first magic tower.
There is no one more qualified than Verden to lead the opening ceremony. For reference, this plan was conceived and pushed forward by Ignacia herself.
Soon, Verden’s voice rang out.
Magic is for everyone.
The congratulatory speech was short and clear.
I declare the holding of the Magic Festival.
Whoaaaaah───!
The crowd cheers.
The Magic Festival has begun around the world.
* * *
The Knights and Bishops of the Ruas Theocracy, officially dispatched to explore Hiaremar, searched the unknown island with heightened vigilance.The leaders of the exploration teams from each country gathered together and divided the areas to be examined efficiently.
The briny scent of the sea.The scent of grass in a dense forest.
The discordant smell permeating the air made it feel unreal. Could the very appearance of this island have been a dream in the first place?
… … Clunk.
Something tripped the foot of the paladin standing at the very front. Its shape and texture were too strange to simply dismiss it as an ordinary stone.
I signaled to stop and carefully examined the inside of the grass that had grown up to my knees.
‘fabric?’
Debris of something artificial.
He immediately reported to the Archbishop and searched the surrounding area thoroughly. The unpleasant dampness of the forest touched his armor, robes, and skin.Just as sweat was settling on his skin and becoming unpleasant, the first discovery was made.
The Archbishop of the Seven—the Archbishop of Hyeon-gwang—was dumbfounded.
“What on earth is the true nature of this island?”
There were old ruins there.
An entrance leading to a dark underground of unfathomable depth, and stairs.
