Chapter 378 – Each One's Battlefield (1)
In the Ownerless Land, there was no such thing as a nation, nor were there many monster habitats, making it the perfect environment for bandits to run rampant.
At most, the only response would be the lord of the harmed territory dealing with the damage.
Most lords, rather than taking losses to launch subjugations, had a very strong tendency to instead fortify their own fences.
If by chance they were unlucky or fell into a trap and were dealt a heavy blow by bandits, their very power would be shaken.
All around, humans like hyenas always swarmed.
The bandit groups, making clever use of these complicated circumstances, blocked roads and collected tolls without issue, sometimes plundering, and steadily grew in size.
In time, the leaders of these entrenched bandit groups went so far as to call themselves lords without cities.
Zais, the leader of a bandit group that had dominated the mountains near Arein for several years, was one such man.
"Kwahahahaha! Damn, when I heard some brat lord was coming at me, I thought he was bringing a Shinseong along and was about to run, but all he did was hire some lowly mercenaries. What's wrong with you, kid? Did your guts spill out, or are you out here looking for a runaway whore? Huh?"
With nearly a hundred subordinates behind him, Zais laughed heartily as he looked at Liam sitting on horseback.
"..."
Even at the crude provocation, Liam did not respond.
Well, it wasn't as if they were on good terms, chatting leisurely.
And the protagonist of this place was not Liam, but the swordsman at his side.
Standing behind, the mercenary of Arein, Gillex, spoke in a low voice.
"Zais usually uses an iron club. He stubbornly enjoys breaking his opponent's weapon and arms, and humiliating them. He is a man of rather foul character."
It was an explanation that singled out only the target's traits.
Step, step.
Adrian, listening halfheartedly, moved his steps forward.
Both arms free, showing himself alone, defenseless.
Zais snorted, spitting to the side.
"Guess it's been too long since I've been active. Some nobody I've never even heard of dares to step up. Hey, hand me that."
"Yes, boss!"
Receiving the iron club from a subordinate, Zais strode forward.
"Covering your whole face like that, are you ugly or something? And why the metal mask?"
"..."
"Oh, maybe you're mute? Damn, you're the most pathetic of the pathetic—"
He entered range.
In an instant, Zais stepped in, drew his arm back, and swung mightily.
The heavy weight whipped the air into a small gust.
Adrian leisurely laid his hand on the Demonic Sword Cadence.
"In a rootless land like this, there are too many who don't know their place."
The two crossed paths.
At some point Adrian had drawn his sword, and simply walked forward.
Thud, thud, thud.
Zais's body was quartered, collapsing into a pool of blood.
In the heavy silence that followed, Adrian rested the demonic sword on his shoulder.
As planned, the leader was eliminated. The bandits' morale would have plummeted.
Liam, swallowing hard, shouted with all his strength as a lord.
"Everyone! Charge!"
A massive cleansing for the sake of the territory began.
***
The three lords who had failed in the peace treaty with Verden immediately reported to the Sovereign, bowing low.
But despite their efforts, there was no promise of protection.
Instead, an order came down to advance into Arein and capture Liam Arein.
The situation had worsened instead.
"This, this means he intends to use us completely, like mere pawns!"
Lord Frol fumed.
It was natural, since in trying to cut off a lump, they were now facing a mortal wound.
In contrast, the other two lords coolly analyzed the situation.
Lord Delgar, groaning, let out a sigh before speaking.
"If we consider the Sovereign's intent, surely it is to provoke Arein and see how the Shinseong responds."
"Damn."
Lord Harsbeg wet his lips again and again with spit.
"But if we do that, we'll become the Shinseong's targets… we might all die. Tell me, Lord Delgar, is there no other way?"
"Since it is the Sovereign's order, there is no avoiding it. If we go against his will, we will surely be executed. In a most painful, brutal way."
Bang!
Lord Frol, gnawing his fingernails, slammed the desk.
"Damn it, but we can't possibly clash with a Shinseong! When high-tier elemental magic comes flying, what in hell are we supposed to block it with?!"
That Shinseong, Asher, was indisputably a national-level force.
The destructive power of 6th-tier elemental magic, the highest tier attainable by humans, was beyond imagination.
If they'd had the power to contend with it in the first place, they would not be bowing as border lords, but lording openly over the Ownerless Land.
But siding with the Shinseong was out of the question.
For the Sovereign's forces and connections combined meant more than just one or two individuals counted as national-level power.
Either way, death awaited them.
It was then, as their troubles deepened.
Clatter.
A man, sweating profusely, suddenly rushed into the council chamber.
After asking pardon, he hurried to Lord Delgar's side and whispered a report in his ear.
Lord Delgar inhaled sharply, stroking his chin and nodding repeatedly.
"I see, yes. In that situation, it may be possible."
"What do you mean by that?"
"A way has appeared."
Lords Harsbeg and Frol leaned forward, listening closely.
"According to information just received from a spy, the Shinseong is currently in the city of Dallehin. Meanwhile, Lord Arein has taken soldiers to subjugate nearby bandit groups."
"Liam is outside…?"
"The Sovereign commanded us to advance with an army, but that does not mean we must necessarily storm the city or conduct a siege. In fact, we need not even wage a territorial war. The Sovereign's ultimate purpose is, after all, simply the capture of Liam Arein, is it not?"
Lord Delgar continued.
"If we use this, we can finish it before word even reaches the Shinseong. We must pour everything into this."
"How?"
"The army moves with only the minimum, and only the elite troops. Meanwhile, we spend a fortune to hire one of the Sovereign's subordinate 'Mercenary King's' costly mercenary corps. To ensure it."
With lips curled in a smirk, Lord Delgar pointed at the map.
There lay the Sovereign's domain.
"Through the mercenary corps, we ambush and kidnap Lord Arein, then without returning to our territories, we head directly to the Sovereign. That way the Shinseong cannot recklessly pursue. That is the essence of the plan."
A swift strike-and-retreat strategy.
The two lords pondered deeply, but could not think of any method with a higher chance of success.
In the end, the proposal passed unanimously.
Lord Frol let out a deep sigh and leaned back weakly.
"But to hire a mercenary corps from the Mercenary King, that will be an astronomical expense."
"Think only of your life."
What did money matter.
The dead could not take it with them.
***
The Society's Silver Citadel was quieter than expected.
Overall, it felt short-staffed. No matter where one looked, it was difficult to find people.
Ethan spoke.
"The Society, because of its ideals, operates covertly across the entire continent. There's no room to leave spare manpower lying around. And this island, being located in the far seas outside the continent, has no reason to leave unnecessary forces behind just for defense."
The surrounding vast ocean itself was the curtain wall and fortress.
A natural iron fortress.
'Though that's not all.'
As Verden climbed the citadel, he gazed down at the unfamiliar scenery.
By following the flow of the mana waves seeping from the ground with only his senses, he felt that it encompassed the entire island.
Its purpose was unknown.
Other than protecting the island from outside eyes.
At any rate, the only way to set foot here seemed to be the special spatial teleportation scrolls crafted by the Society.
'Impressive, indeed.'
The Ark of the Ark.
The headquarters of the Society.
Every one of them hid secrets, and it was the perfect refuge to grow one's power.
Of course, Verden also held ownership of the laboratory left by the Demon King... but to make use of it, he had to wait for contact from the golem, Alpha.
It would not take long, but he did not know the exact time.
Meanwhile, he felt glances being sneaked at him.
Verden asked.
"Do you have something to say, Rebecca?"
"Ah, well, I heard the news. That you subjugated the Bone-Relic Dragon in the Republic of Beldirn... how was it? Was a dragon really as strong as the records in history say?"
The last time a dragon appeared had been about a century ago, and back then several cities were destroyed, not only that, but even the subjugation force suffered devastating losses and collapsed.
And the dragon leisurely flew into the demon lands, disappearing without a trace.
"As an Undead unable to use more than half of its original power, it can hardly be called a dragon... but still, it had the strength befitting a Transcendent species. Were it not for the Saintess of the Church of Luas, I doubt we could have prevailed."
And yet, one of those who had slain such a being was standing before her now.
Even recounting his impression of it firsthand.
"Wow..."
Rebecca's eyes shone as she looked at him with admiration.
Then she began pouring out more questions about dragons.
Ethan, gauging the mood, joined in.
'Well, being Mages, it's natural they would be interested in dragons.'
It was an understandable curiosity.
Verden did not go out of his way to refuse, and gave them simple answers.
Before long, they reached the heart of the citadel.
Heading to the silver terrace at the end of a long corridor, they found an old woman waiting with tea.
That was the end of idle chatter.
"Master."
"As you ordered, we have brought Lord Asher."
"You've done well, Ethan, and you too, Rebecca."
The old woman set down her teacup and slowly turned her head.
"Pleased to meet you, Shinseong."
In Verden's blue eyes, the Sage of Wisdom returned his gaze with a smile and greeting.
***
With their task complete, Ethan and Rebecca quietly withdrew.
Naturally, the two were left to speak alone.
Sitting across, Verden observed the Sage of Wisdom.
An old woman, half-paralyzed, seated in a wheelchair.
She certainly looked aged, but more than that, her body was terribly weakened.
The Sage of Wisdom introduced himself.
"I am called 'Melard', one of the three founders of the Society. Immodestly, they call me the Sage of Wisdom."
"I am Asher."
"Yes, I have heard much. The Shinseong who saved the Republic of Beldirn, and who suddenly appeared in the magical world."
She gave a small nod.
"To achieve such an unbelievable realm at such a young age... without a doubt, I have never seen one who has risen so rapidly into prominence as you."
"You seem to have looked deeply into me."
"As I said, I have heard much. Hoho, perhaps because of that, upon meeting you in person, I feel a strange familiarity."
A soft laugh spread.
"Still, I could not discover your origin. I am curious, but... I will not ask. This is not the place for that."
The Sage of Wisdom, Melard, quieted his breathing, narrowing his eyes.
"To use the Society's mark means you have business. Surely you did not come here simply to chat. What is it that you desire from us?"
She went straight to the point.
Skipping needless preliminaries was also what Verden wanted... but, there was one thing he had to address first.
"Sage of Wisdom, Melard. No matter how many times you have heard rumors about me, in truth we have never once faced each other."
"Yes...?"
"But I have seen you in another's memory, Melard Tastienne."
"?!"
Melard gasped.
It was her true name, long hidden from the world, never spoken aloud, now flowing from Verden's mouth.
Ignoring his shock, Verden asked firmly.
"Why is it that you, one of the very first members who founded the Black Hour, are here now."
***
The Wise Man, Harkan Dazest.
One of the eight who had created the Black Hour, and the very one who had imbued Verden with the Celestial attribute.
At the Bard Mountains of the Duchy of Riviant, Harkan had drawn his last breath, and in his final moment, through
'Most of it was knowledge of the Celestial attribute.'
But inseparable from that were a few collateral memories, which naturally passed along.
And within them was also the rebellion raised by Dahit Wethroel, current leader of the Black Hour, and a Transcendent.
The fates of the original members, who had been Dahit's mentors...
Some sided with Dahit, some were killed, and some barely managed to escape.
'Melard, like Harkan, was one of those who survived despite grievous wounds.'
Verden fixed his gaze on Melard.
"H-how..."
Melard could not hide her bewilderment.
It was a situation wholly outside his expectations, her lips opening but no words coming.
Then.
"To think you know of Melard's history, I had heard nothing of such information."
An old man's voice brushed his ear.
And at once, two figures appeared on the silver terrace.
They occupied the space behind Verden's chair.
Verden moved only his eyes.
At once, one of the old man, holding his staff threateningly, issued a warning.
"Do not move carelessly, Shinseong. Unless you wish to be mistaken as a pawn of the Black Hour."
Their identities were the Sage of Power, and the Sage of Guardianship.
Along with Melard, they were among the three great sages.
Amid the pervasive killing intent, Verden gauged the passage of time.
'Hmm, it's been about four minutes since I arrived at the terrace.'
He had come to the Society's headquarters seeking cooperation.
Yet before he could even begin persuading them, Verden now found himself at odds with the very founders of the Society.
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