Episode 956 Cumulonimbus (1)
“Gharun, you appraise every artifact in the Golden Vigo. Set aside any useful magic items.”“That essentially means I have to look through everything.”
Gharun turned around.His eyes were filled with contents that had moderately densely packed the Golden Vigo.
“Are you telling me to do this all by myself?”“Why do you think I brought you here? If you want to take the Dragon’s Heart and that mysterious stone to the fortress, you must do your best in your assigned role.”“Is this bastard threatening you?”“Unia knows how to properly cast
Yunia flinched.
“Are you only helping me? What about Eon?”“Most of the Phases capable of
There is a separate role to create that path.
“Can you do it, Bank Manager Anonium?”“Given the sheer volume, we need time to minimize the risk of detection.”“If possible, that’s fine. Proceed immediately. Work with Gharun until the path is complete, Junia.”“……Confirmed.”
Adrian turned his gaze.
“Calculate the assets of Hwanggeum Vigo and plan how to spend them. I do not know what the final strength of the Allied forces will be, but it will be easier in the future to at least have a plan in mind. I will send Robert and the finance personnel with the utmost priority.”
[Hahahaha, having once joined the World Alliance, I am the right person for this task. I will do as you command. But what should we do with those people over there? Should we pay them for finding the Golden Skull as Lord Verden promised and send them outside? Of course, we will have to keep them under surveillance for a while.]
Magnus pointed at the adventurers who were freely observing the Golden Vigo. Galliac, who was already listening intently, shouted loudly.
“Hey!!! I’m not trying to get away with this! Give me whatever menial work or whatever! But in return, I’d like you to include us in that so-called Allied Forces!”
God and Nerien opened their eyes wide as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
“What—”“Listen to me before you start bullshitting.”
Galliac bared his fangs.
“Do you think you can just leisurely go on adventures if that damn war or whatever breaks out? You could get tossed around here and there and die without ever getting a chance to do anything. In that case, staying close to command gives you a higher chance of survival. Don’t you agree? Huh?”“Uh, y-is that so?”“It’s not impossible, but…”
Gode was lost in thought.
I cannot even imagine just how massive a war they had in mind, but considering the weapons in this treasury, it was certainly not on the scale of a war between nations.
Did you say he was an old king?
On my way to the Anonium Bank, I happened to overhear some information not found in the outside world; it seems he is a monster that even numerous Transcendents could not kill.To think the Luas Theocracy had even sealed him away for hundreds of years… …Huh?
“Then…… the 2nd, 2nd, 2nd Transcendent War?”
As befits a wizard, God is quite knowledgeable about history.The War of the Transcendents, one of the world’s great catastrophes.If a conflict that ended only after nearly burning down half the continent were to be repeated in the modern era, one could truly be swept away and killed without being able to do anything.
Gode stared blankly at the floor and trembled.
“P-P-Well, maybe standing where the counter-fire is coming from… might be better…….”“God? Are you serious?”“Damn it, I’m telling you, that’s what I’m saying.”
Galliac confirmed the intentions of his two party members with their faces.There was no opposition.
“We can get new equipment fitted here too, right?!!! With the reward for finding the artifact!!”
Magnus shrugged his shoulders.
[They say that is the case, so what should we do?]
Adrian nodded.
Do as you wish.
[Hohoho, since they are overflowing with passion, I’ll put them to the test.]
Thus, Galliac, God, and Nerien became the first Mithril-grade adventurer party to join the (planned) New Continent Alliance,while also serving as Magnus’s workers.
Suddenly, Yunia asks.
“But while we’re working hard here, what are you going to do?”“We have to go out and find an alliance.”“You’re going to negotiate directly with other forces…? Wasn’t that supposed to be left to the Leaders? Like the Sages of our Society.”“I have a plan.”
Adrian rested his arm on the hilt of the lightsaber as if he were quite certain. Then, he made one more request of Gharun.
“I’d like you to pick out a weapon here that can be used as a conciliatory measure.”“Whether it’s useful or useless depends on who is in control. It depends on who the opponent is.”
Adrian recalled one of the strong fighters he had recently fought alongside.
The Transcendent.
* * *
Running an inn and tavern at a main road intersection, you often experience all sorts of things.
It was a common occurrence for customers to get drunk to the point of losing their senses, or for other customers to laugh as they emptied the pockets of such intoxicated guests.There were also thieves who stole horses that were securely tethered outside.
The moans of the prostitutes who practically live at the inn are sickening to the bone.
It is common for guests to get into rough arguments that escalate into fistfights and knife fights. Disposing of corpses is a duty of an innkeeper outside the city.If all the men fighting are killed, the guests will help out on their own initiative and loot everything they have. Some of it ends up in the innkeeper’s pocket.
It is a form of etiquette and custom between an innkeeper and a guest.
Separately, there were instances where adventurers drove demi-humans and mutants to make the inn their final stronghold, and there was even a case where a corpse was discovered in a room.Occasionally, bastards would also show up to rob the inn, disregarding customs and all.
Running an inn in a place without walls like this allows you to encounter all kinds of people, and naturally, you become accustomed to physiognomy. You could say thatjust by looking at a face, you can sense a sense of danger, thinking, “This guy is dangerous,” or “This bastard looks like he’s going to cause trouble.”
however…….
The three people occupying the very center of the tavern today were somehow different from the previous guests. The innkeeper secretly twitched his earlobes, just like the other guests.However, no one could understand even the slightest bit of what was being said.
Where on earth is that?
A hulking man boasting immense muscles and an old man with a bluish beard and hair spoke an unfamiliar language that was not the common language of the continent.Only the woman sitting with them merely nodded vaguely, as if she understood the meaning.
The woman sighed while resting her chin on the back of her hand.
“To think I’d end up cleaning up after old geezers who know nothing but ancient languages. It’s quite a comedy.”“Ramuahar?”“I wasn’t swearing. I’ll go place an order.”
White hair faintly mixed with red hues swayed with every step. The customers’ gazes converged. The woman rested both elbows on the counter.
“I haven’t eaten for quite a while.”“Uh, uh…”“What’s your favorite food?”
The innkeeper’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
It is captivating.I feel like I could drown in those eyes.
Beautiful curves visible through an ordinary dress, and overwhelming beauty I have never seen before in my life. It is dizzying. It is to the point where reality feels like a dream.
“Th-meat and-honey, honey, and-honey wine, uh-uh, th-uh, I-will-bring, it, right away.”“He’s just as bad at speaking as the others. Well, just do your best to do your best.”
The woman—Hithril Del Roharun gave a light wave and returned to her seat. Not only the men, but also the prostitutes’ eyes were still fixed on her.It was a hot and fierce gaze, as if lust and jealousy were about to burst forth at any moment.
An ancient language brushed past my ears.
The base and filthy habits of the lower classes do not change even after hundreds of years.
Lycan Turgard elegantly emptied the entire large water jug. It was unbefitting of his size, but it was a dignity befitting the Great Emperor.
“If it were me, I would have ripped their heads off. You have quite a strong stomach.”
Hisril also answered in ancient language.
“If you react to every single desire of the lower classes, you’ll be exhausted—how are you supposed to live? Just enjoy it. Enjoy it, and when you get tired of it, discard it. Isn’t that better than those two-faced bastards?”“That is a lazy art of kingship. It is your natural duty to deeply engrave the dignity and terror of a monarch into the very bones of the poor.”“It is tiring. Your art of kingship is exhausting.”
The Great Emperor and the Empress.
Despite the difference in eras, both were transcendent beings who ruled their own empires, so even though their personalities didn’t match, they had plenty of topics to chat about.Thanks to that, the road to this inn wasn’t exactly quiet.
At that moment, Lycan and Hisril turned their heads slightly.
“So, which continent is this?”“So, what kind of country is this?”“To think you just blurt out information without even bothering to run around on your own. How shameless. While you were harping on about ‘Emperor,’ I’ve already obtained some rough information.”
Bantoleon ignited electric heat at his fingertips and drew a map of the continent on the table. It was a reproduction of the crude map he had seen in a nearby village.
How were you able to view the map with their cooperation?
Although direct verbal communication with modern people was not possible, that was not a particularly major issue.Since the intentions of a transcendent being are not bound by language, one can convey the precise meaning even if one cannot know exactly what they are saying. Furthermore, by adding body language and hand gestures, communication is roughly achieved.
He pointed to the southeast of the map of the continent.
“They say this is the southernmost part of the Eastern Continent. I heard it is written like this in modern script. What is it called?”“The Kingdom of Ronia.”“That is an ordinary country name. Was it a nation that existed in your time?”“It didn’t exist 300 years ago. In fact, most countries were probably like that. In the past, the southern part of the Eastern Continent was almost entirely ruled by beastkin tribes. Did the Kingdom of Ronia unify it?”“I don’t think so. There was a country like this that shared a border with the Kingdom.”
Bantoreon wrote the characters he had memorized exactly as they were on the map.
Lower Waterman Tribe.
The corners of Hisril’s mouth, who had killed the Water King three centuries ago, curled sharply.Pure ecstasy and madness spread through his smile.
Thump!
Bantoreon snapped his fingers.
“Our objective is to fulfill the promise to open the Four Gates to summon Xerion’s forces. However, opening the Four Gates in the Eastern Continent is not feasible. After all, the distance is too great.”“Crossing the Eastern Continent on foot is troublesome in many ways. It might be convenient for you since you have magic powers,though.” “I certainly have a burning desire to open the magic powers and roam freely. However, doing so would only cause more turmoil before you pay the price for your resurrection.”
A wrinkled but sturdy hand stroked the blue-tinged beard.
“If I unleash even a quarter of my full power, all sorts of wizards will notice.”
Vantoreon’s magic possesses extremely violent characteristics, making it impossible to control the aftermath.The magic that Draven Lemarque had manifested through his soul using Animus and super-level magic was nothing more than an incomplete imitation.
“I haven’t even found the Gate of Death, let alone opened it, so I have no desire to face the Transcendents. At least not until I meet Verden, if possible.”“Do you mean you want to face them in peak condition? A battle-crazed man seeking self-control? Considering your age, that is impossible.”“Well, isn’t that the ideal Transcendents pursue?”
Hisril laughed softly.
“Since we’ve been given this life again, let’s run wild toward our ideals without restraint this time, just like before.”“After keeping my promise as a transcendent being.”“That is only natural.”
The innkeeper brought the food himself.
Distracted by Hisril’s appearance, he failed to see the map Vantereon had drawn and placed a mouthwatering piece of meat and sweet and bitter mead on the table.
“Hmm, it looks better than I thought.”“Um…”“What is it?”“Um, the money first…”“Money?”
Hisril crossed his legs.
“We don’t have any money?”“Yes. Yes? If we don’t have money, that’s a problem…….”
The innkeeper’s greedy gaze naturally turned downwards.
Gulp.
There is no rule that food must be paid for in cash. It is up to the owner. There are countless things that can substitute for money.A beautiful woman, in particular, is as good as rich even if she has nothing.
The guests swallow hard.The group of mercenaries slowly rises.
“If you don’t have the money… I could pay for it.”“But in return…”“Damn, damn… I wonder how a woman like that cries in bed.”“How about killing everyone else and just bringing her over.”
Base desires are overflowing.
Lycan didn’t even glance at them and gripped his knife and fork with precision. As he cut the meat without the slightest hesitation, he spoke.
“We may not have revealed our dignity, but a faint presence remains; to dare bare your fangs.Is that the dignity you possess?” “Perhaps you call it innate charm.”
Hisril draws out the inner thoughts of others simply by its existence. Beings unable to resist are bound to have the same outward appearance as their inner selves.The power to make people honest—this was precisely Hisril’s unique quality.
“I don’t like people who pretend. I’d rather be openly greedy like this. Being fake makes me sick.”
Hisril gently and lengthwise stroked her body with her fingers. The skin slightly pressed through the dress stirred the hearts of the people around her.
Srrrr.
The mercenaries began drawing their swords to kill Vantoreon and Lycan. Their sole determination was to seize the Hythril for themselves.
However, I hate not knowing one’s place the most.
The arm of the nearest mercenary was severed, and an iron sword was placed in Hisril’s hand. Before a fountain of blood erupted from her wrist, she whispered.
“Those lowly things.”
As Heathril swung his sword, a whirlwind raged inside the inn. Fine sword energy mixed with the wind shot out in all directions.
The mercenary captain and the mercenaries were beheaded. The faces of the adventurers, who had been excitedly watching the situation from the corner, were split open.The prostitutes, who had hoped that a beauty like Hythril would fall to the bottom just like them, were severed from the eyes to the back of the heads and turned into corpses.The employees and customers, who had wondered if they could ever covet Hythril after she had been violated like scraps to eat, had their upper bodies severed along with their hearts.
The Slayer of the Beast King.The Cause of the Interspecies War.The Blood Empress.
“They should just live as they were born, fitting into their own vessel. Why do they keep overflowing or trying to forcibly change their vessel? It is utterly disgusting.”
The tip of the knife bent.
Isn’t that right?
The innkeeper’s abdomen was pierced. The sword did not remain stuck but slipped out in an instant. Due to the weakened abdominal pressure, the internal organs popped out with a “Pfft!”
“H-h-h……! Ugh…….”
The innkeeper, who had collapsed pushing the table behind him, rubbed his stomach, but it was already too late to recover. Using the sight of him dying so quickly as his accompaniment, Hisril took a sip of mead.
“What we need is weapons and transportation. I know where to go.”“I’m listening.”“Let’s go to the capital of the Kingdom of Ronia.”
Hisril grabbed the meat with his hands and tore it apart to eat the meat that Lycan had given up on after taking just one bite.
“He is the king of a country, so wouldn’t he have something?”
* * *
It was one day that the farmers of the Western Continent noticed a gap in the forest path they usually traveled.
“What on earth is this?”“It looks like a hole?”“A hole in the air?”
A dark rift had formed in the air at about the men’s eye level. Completely unable to figure out what it was, I brought a farming tool and poked at it.
The crack vibrated briefly.
Bang.
A gray arm suddenly shot out of the darkness and pulled the plow. In an instant, the head of the farmer was dragged away and slammed into the crack.
“Doril?! Are you alright?!”“Ugh, what the heck… all of a sudden…….”
The farmer looked ahead.
“uh?”
Countless arms and heads of the dead rained down on the peasant’s face. Crash, crash. It went further and struck the men outside as well.Their blood, torn from head to toe, soaked the ground.
The outside has become quiet.
The rift flickered and moved slowly as if crossing space.
The beings awakened as the seal of the ancient king is broken are not only the ancient transcendents. Those three are not the only ones to open the Nine Gates.
Originally, the main force of the Xerion Empire is not the human race, but the monstrous race.
A special entity of the undead type.
One of the Old King’s ‘commanders’ began operating in the Western Continent. Additionally, those under the Old King’s rule in the Central Continent were quietly stirring up trouble.
* * *
“then…….”
Olnord, the head of Eon’s research division, cleared his throat briefly and summarized the secret meeting of the Phases and Tower Masters.
The Kingdom of Ronia has been decided as Mauler’s territory to serve as the starting point for the ‘duel.’ Based on this, I will formulate a plan for infiltration and execution.
All the members of the meeting nodded.
Olnord turned his gaze to the presiding officer of the meeting to seek final consent.Beta’s single eye gleamed.
[Confirmed. Please proceed.]
