Episode 980 The Gate of Death (4)
───Where am I… … .
Someone’s voice flowed from the central signal device—or, to be precise, from the communication bracelet that Beta had tuned to an unidentified wavelength frequency.
Is it a human race?A demi-human race?A heteromorphic race?
Even if it was Verden, one could not determine the species by the voice alone. Crackle, crackle, crackle crackle. Moreover, the noise was so severe that one could not distinguish the gender either.However, one could sense through the senses what emotions were embedded in the voice.
───Ah… … Where… … Is this… … ?
The tail of the word begins to tremble.Anxiety and fear.
───Ahhh… … Ahhhhh… … .
Verden’s senses were on edge.
───Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… … !!!! Ah, ahaaaaaaaaaa… … !! Aaaaaa!!!! Kyaaaaaaak!!!!! Ughhhhhhh… … !!! Hwaaaaaaaaaak!!!! Ugh, ughhhhh!!!
Countless screams and shrieks poured out of the bracelet. The noise became so intense that one could not help but frown.The air in the Golem Research Facility seemed to freeze, sinking into a sobbing silence.
───Ah… … Is that so… … .
The faint voice of someone else follows.
───This place is… … .
It was a whisper mixed with joy and terror.
───This is… … Heaven… … .
From then on, no more clearly audible speech could be heard.Countless voices, surging and subsiding ceaselessly like waves in the vast ocean, merely created a bizarre noise.
The sentences conveyed by the waves differed only slightly in form, but the core message was always the same. In particular, the word “heaven” tended to have a high proportion.
Heaven.
It is a not unfamiliar word.
It is not because Heaven was conceptually described in the scriptures of the Luas religion. It was something that a certain transcendent being, who had desperately struggled to somehow break the seal of the ancient king, had mentioned directly.
I never thought I would be the first to reveal the truth to you guys.
Draven Lemarque.The first servant of the old king.
───Going to Luas’s side is Heaven. Not doing so is called Hell. Although this is widely known through the Doctrine of Light, the reality is different. No matter how, no matter how much the filth is washed away───
The single fact the guy leaked for the sake of a double suicide echoed in my head.
Humans cannot go to heaven.
This is a level of secret that goes beyond merely violating the boundaries of the taboo. Had it not been for the existence of Verden, who weakens the price of the taboo, Draven would have achieved the goal of mutual destruction to some extent.
Heaven. Heaven at this point.
Verden stared at the central signal device being modified with his arms crossed.
Pan-continental large-scale undead infestation.Transcendental Dolls.Anomalies in the Southern Eastern Continent.Followers of Fate causing international division.… … .
At the center of all the bizarre events occurring now is the Apostle of Fate. I am the monarch sitting atop a mountain of corpses, the Old King.The unknown waves captured by the central signaling device must ultimately have originated from the Old King’s influence.
What is the connection between the ancient king and Heaven?
Naturally, no matter what hypotheses Verden formulated, there was no way he could find an answer.Thus, one more question regarding the world was added.
[Your Majesty Verden?]
“……There is no need to cling to the truth.”
Verden muttered as he swept across the frames of Alpha and Beta. The answer to the questions surrounding ‘you’ and the First Demon King is merely a passing phase.Freedom through power.Verden has an ideal he must achieve at all costs, even if it means abandoning many other options.
“We must reconnect our sphere as one with a new central signaling device. We need to replace all the existing signals before the Old King returns at the latest, but how long will that take?”
[You can expand the Core Beacon production facility by reassembling the Golem production facility. Additionally, you can mass-produce modified Core Beacons by inputting new blueprints into the production process.]
[Replace all central beacons. Material shortage. Existing central beacons can be recovered and recycled.]
It will take time to restore the previous communication network, but since Beta’s research has enabled us to overcome the communication failure, half the problem is solved.
“Understood. I will try to recover as many central signal units from the outside as possible. In the meantime, you guys manufacture the central signal units as quickly as possible.”
Two artificial golems gleamed their single eyes.
While both Alpha and Beta inherited intelligence from the first Demon King, Alpha is ultimately the overall head of the Golem Research Facility.
[Confirm. Execute command.]
It is Alpha’s turn to shine, having transferred its consciousness from the mini-golem to its main body for the first time in a while.
* * *
Ahem.
Luzak, a nobleman from the deep sea, elegantly sliced and ate raw fish inside his private aquarium.Transparent bubbles rose whenever he moved.
It was dining etiquette that was completely out of place with his deformed face resembling a walrus and the grayish-white brain lying motionless on the back of his head.
“Firm texture, savory flavor, no fishy smell requiring sauce, and freshness even better than yesterday. Ideally, it should be cooked to eat, but isn’t sometimes enjoying the ingredients themselves like this also a part of gourmet dining?”“That’s quite a dramatic appreciation for a mere fish.”
Tearel of the Black Sea, who was still staying in Eon without returning to the Adventurer’s Guild, spoke with his usual expressionless face.
“So when is the Banquet of Knowledge held? After Verden returns?”
News of Verden’s return has not yet reached the Western Continent. This is because the transmission of information was delayed due to disruptions in communication and spatial travel.
“The absence of the guest of honor is indeed a factor delaying the banquet, but seeing that the host hasn’t said anything yet, it is highly likely that the lineup has changed.”“Why?”“It is purely at the host’s whim.”
Luzak put down the knife and ran his hand over his large, rough nose.
“There have been a few times when the Banquet of Knowledge was postponed like this. It was by no means a common occurrence, but it wasn’t unheard of either. Whenever that happened, the quality of the banquet always rose above usual. In proportion to the delay.”“…….”“And the current delay is the longest since the banquet began. Even I have no idea what will come out.”
Luzak laughed heartily.
“Do not be too impatient. Is waiting not the best seasoning to whet your appetite? Since the continent is in turmoil, enjoy the present that will never return, and soothe your boredom by imagining the sublime scenery of Arcadium.”
His eyes flickered with anticipation and obsession for gourmet food. The saliva leaking from his mouth dissolved into the aquarium water.
Before long, the host will treat you to an unparalleled delicacy.
Time flows even in the deep sea.
* * *
Whoosh!
Magical flames, burning fiercely according to emotion, consume the decaying corpse. Fundamentally, the undead are vulnerable to the divine power of light and fire.
“Phew.”
Lobelin, the temporary Lord of the Bohemian Tower, withdrew the magic and calmed the magical power.
“Where is the next destination?”“It is the Kingdom of Itel, but… Lady Robelin, why don’t you take a rest for now…? You have been pushing yourself too hard lately.”
Itium of the Bohemian Tower Elder Council. Spinel, who was eventually appointed as an elder, tried to dissuade Lobelin with a worried expression.
Eight punitive expeditions were carried out over the past three days.
There were times when there were only a few dozen undead, but there were also two instances where I had to face thousands of them.
As the 37-man extermination squad consisted of the Bohemirn Magic Tower, Eon, Artisan Magic Tower, and finally the Helion Magic Tower, there were no issues with their combat power, and being small in number, they were able to respond swiftly to the movements of the undead.With more than one or two Elder-level members, they would be able to handle any special variants that might appear.
Spinel continued speaking.
“I agreed to join the subjugation party because I understood Lady Lobeline’s feelings, but you do not need to come out to the front lines every time like this. You must always keep this in mind. Lady Lobeline is the mistress of the Bohemirn Magic Tower.”“Temporary, Joe.”“Lady Lobeline…….”
Lobelyn spoke calmly.
“It seems to be being delayed due to the current situation, but once the Magic Tower rankings are updated, Bohemirn Magic Tower will fall to the very bottom. It is a foregone conclusion. Furthermore, our tower lacks a power source, and the number of top-tier mages is woefully insufficient. If Eon had not extended a helping hand, Bohemirn Magic Tower would have vanished into history within a few years.”
Consequently, the one responsible for the downfall of the Bohemian Magic Tower was the Holy One, but Spinel could not dare to say a word about it.
The Bohemian Magic Tower committed human experiments.
Unforgivable treason.
The current Magic Tower had to bear the karma of Balok Besias and the former Itium. It was the Divine Being who mitigated that price at the General Assembly of the Magic World.By clearly distinguishing between the past and present Bohemirn Magic Tower…
Is it to swallow up the Bohemian Magic Tower, which is nothing but a shell?
Whatever the will of the Divine, ironically, it was the Divine that killed the Bohemian Magic Tower, and it was the Divine that attached the respirator.
Lobelin said.
“Whether trivial or critical, the Tower of Bohemirn must act, Elder Spinel. We must relentlessly build up achievements to remain as a Tower. That is why I, the least qualified of the Tower Masters, must take the lead.”“…….”“I do not want to be a burden to anyone.”
Is it the responsibility of the temporary Tower Master?Or is it something else?
Lobeline did not hesitate to step to the forefront, as if to say that if she had to die, it had to be a worthwhile death. At least, that was how Spinel saw it.
At a young age…
Spinel, who had been the most opposed when discussing whether Lobelin was suitable as the temporary Tower Master, was now sincerely following her as the Tower Master.If Lobelin had to die, Spinel would willingly take her place.
It was that night.
By the time the extermination squad, who had been guarding the area with security magic circles and magic items, had fallen asleep, Lobeline sat leaning against a tree on the hill and looked up at the night sky.
I am physically and mentally exhausted.
Oldark asked.
“Is it because of Verden?”“Verden…….”
Lobeline simply sat there despite the sudden sound of an unfamiliar voice. She did not even roll her eyes when she sensed a presence right beside her.She blankly parted her lips, as if speaking to herself.
“They say Verden lost consciousness while fighting against the ancient Transcendents.”“It is the result of revealing a fragment of divine power simultaneously with his ascension to the 8th Rank. It is also the backlash from casting Super Rank magic consecutively. After all, Super Rank magic is not meant to be used that way.”“I was in Gargant while Verden fought until he was covered in blood. I couldn’t even grasp the situation and just spent the magic festival… just like in the old days.”“Ignorance is neither an indulgence nor a crime.”“To me, it is a grave sin.”
Lobeline’s red eyes reflected the moon.
“But even if I had known what the situation was, there was nothing I could have done. What could a mere 5th-tier mage with unique traits do against a Transcendent? I would have died in a single blow.”“You are regretting it.”“We have… drifted too far apart.”
She mocked herself.
“It is only natural, isn’t it? Because I couldn’t be by Verden’s side when he needed help the most. Because I couldn’t do anything when he was suffering the most…”“Even if I had known long ago that Verden had been subjected to human experimentation, nothing would have changed. You would have been killed by Balok, or you would have been experimented on alongside him.”“At least I could have died or suffered for Verden. Back then… back then, I could do things that the weak Verden couldn’t.”“…”“But not anymore. There is nothing I can do for Verden that only I can do. I can’t even die for Verden. If someone as weak as me were to die, Verden would be sad. Perhaps doing nothing and staying still would actually be more helpful to Verden. Isn’t that funny? That even dying would be a burden.”
Oldarc stroked his short beard.
“Do you wish to become an irreplaceable person to Verden?”“Yes, just like at the Lascabel Orphanage…”“Do you love him?”“Even when I didn’t know what such feelings were, whenever I turned my head, Verden’s face was right beside me. It was only natural. We were family, even if not by blood. If I hadn’t gone to the Bohemirn Magic Tower, perhaps I would have continued…”
Lobeline shed tears silently.Her suppressed emotions leaked out.
“Verden is truly surrounded by so many people right now. Whether as family, as a woman, as a colleague, as a subordinate, or as a friend, there is no room for me to intervene. I have neither the courage nor the qualifications to do so.”
Her feelings, which she had never told anyone, poured out uncontrollably.
“I really wish my life were short. As for natural death, even Verden wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. They would just accept my death without even bothering to try and save me.”“That can’t be your true feelings.”“I…”
Lobelin muttered.
“I don’t want to be a burden…….”
Oldarc looked down at Lobeline like that, then soon reached out a hand. Lobeline gazed at the hand without questioning Oldarc’s presence.
“Verden’s forces are still weak in the face of the impending ‘War of Death.’ Therefore, I shall grant you strength.”“Strength…?”“It is strength that can give you the chance to survive until the War of Destiny resumes.”
Oldark added.
“If you hone this ‘magic system,’ you will not be a burden.”
An era where fate has collapsed.An opportunity for choice has been given.
