Chapter 384 – The Pact
After the duel ended, Verden, at the persuasion of the sages, stayed a night at the Silver Fortress.
It was a delicate situation to demand an immediate answer regarding cooperation, so he did not refuse.
The faint moonlight seeped in through the window.
Seated before it, Verden closed his eyes and sank into deep meditation.
He recalled the duel with Cain and Unia.
'First, Cain.'
From what he grasped thoroughly through the duel, Cain's level was at the lower 6th-tier, yet the output of his mana circuits completely surpassed that domain.
Abnormally expanded mana circuits.
The Mado pioneered by Cain, who bore such a special trait, seemed to allow him to artificially circulate the magic power within his body through ritual, to wield specific spells.
Was there anything he could make use of?
Verden thought through it in detail, but his conclusion was largely negative.
'Because most special traits contain parts that cannot be interpreted through magic.'
For example, the siblings Aiden and Charlotte, once treated as slaves in Roafra.
Among them, Aiden's magic power held healing properties reminiscent of potions or the miracles of the Luas Church.
Its principle could not be discerned.
Hadn't the Administrator once said so?
That special traits manifest magical abilities which do not belong to existing theories of magic.
Verden's Mado
Thus, while he might reproduce spells derived from another's Mado, to directly implement something connected to a special trait was impossible.
Mado itself was impossible for another reason.
Mado, after all, meant life's enlightenment.
In other words, unless one completely understood the entirety of another's life, it was beyond reach to reproduce their Mado.
And even if it were possible, he had no intention of recklessly attempting it. His memories and experiences could intermingle, twisting his very self...
It was important to always be vigilant, never losing his center.
At any rate, Cain's Mado was out of the question.
Not only was it unfeasible, it also did not align with Verden's own methods.
It was a practical conclusion.
'Next is Unia.'
Up to five mana satellites, consumed one or two at a time, to empower tiered spells.
For the same reason as Cain, mimicry was not something to consider.
However, the mechanism of creating external factors through Mado, and then utilizing them as resources, was quite impressive.
Couldn't there be some way to use it?
To put it plainly... perhaps the calculation process of a spell, normally usable only once, could be separately stored, and then activated simultaneously, overlapping the calculations to give birth to a new spell.
If it failed, the price would be steep, but the idea itself seemed worth pursuing.
"..."
Verden still longed for strength.
Though he had already reached a supreme realm incomparable to the days when his limit had been the mere 1st-tier, he still felt lacking.
A sudden memory of his pure past came to him.
Before he had become an unofficial test subject.
The moment when his dream had been simply to be recognized as a Mage...
At that time, he had felt something like happiness, yet he had no desire to return.
He already knew that path had been the wrong one.
Now was the right way.
Building power step by step, rescuing comrades for vengeance, establishing his faction.
Upon that, weakness no longer existed.
But even amid such desperate effort, a lingering question still took root in his heart.
After vengeance was fulfilled, what would he pursue?
He could not say precisely.
It seemed dimly visible, yet he could not grasp it clearly.
Like walking along a path barely seen, in a fog-choked forest.
'I am....'
At that moment.
A sensation as if his whole body was sinking—Verden reflexively opened his eyes.
But it was not the Silver Fortress of the Society. It was pitch-black darkness.
...Familiar.
Of course it was.
He had already been here once.
Verden slowly turned his head.
Then the darkness rippled, giving rise to countless paths beyond number.
Some were struck by lightning, some blazed with fire. Each and every entrance was cast before him, unique and varied.
The Abyss of Mado.
The space where Verden had pioneered Infinite Mado during his fierce battle with the Administrator.
He was unsettled.
What was happening, all of a sudden?
Verden strove to keep his reason, to interpret and understand the meaning of this phenomenon.
Perhaps it was the moment of awakening, and he even felt a trace of expectation.
...
Yet time passed, and no change occurred.
Verden remained where he was, countless Mados spread around him.
Apparently, waiting was not the answer.
Then was he supposed to say something, or act? If so, what?
All was unknown, he could not move rashly.
Suddenly, he sensed another presence.
When Verden turned his head, there stood a brown-haired child, where before there had been nothing.
It was... himself.
The eight-year-old Verden, who had ridden the carriage with Rovellin to Bohemirn's magic tower...
Before Defying the Heavens, his hair and eyes had been of different color than now.
Verden and the child faced one another.
It was silent.
The child's face was expressionless, his lips unmoving. He persisted only in silence.
But his black eyes spoke clearly through their gaze.
You are not yet ready.
Hwaaaak—
The Abyss of Mado was drowned in darkness again.
Before he could resist, all the Mados vanished from sight.
His consciousness was hurled away at uncontrollable speed.
Like being cast out, he could not resist. Darkness swept past on both sides.
Then at last, light flooded his vision.
Verden opened his eyes.
The Silver Fortress once again, the noble moonlight beyond the window greeting him.
At last, his blocked breath burst free.
"Haa, haa..."
Verden's shoulders heaved violently.
Though his breathing quickly steadied, his heart was in utter confusion.
'Not ready, he said.'
What more was needed, to gain the remaining half of enlightenment?
Questions knotted in his chest, yet there was no one to answer them.
Even when he closed his eyes and opened them again, nothing had changed.
...He was weary.
Verden rose from his seat.
To cool his tangled mind, he sought to lie down and sleep, but could not.
He felt faint ripples of magic power from outside.
Someone was deliberately calling him.
He washed his face to erase the fatigue, then leapt from the Silver Fortress, flying through the night sky.
Soon, he reached the island's forest.
When he landed on the ground, there waited an old woman in a wheelchair.
"Forgive me for calling you so late at night, Shinseong."
The Sage of Wisdom, Melard, raised her chin.
"There is an urgent matter to discuss, so I arranged this meeting. I would be grateful if you could spare me some time."
A vast island where a gentle wind blew.
Beneath a night sky brimming with the radiant moon and countless stars, Melard spoke.
"Yesterday's duel... thanks to you, Unia and Cain received a great experience. Their first defeat, not at the hands of their master but by someone they met for the first time, will be an unparalleled nourishment as they step into the world. Thank you."
"I did not seek gratitude. More than that, are you planning to send the two of them into Society's external activities?"
"There is little left for them to learn here. The world is more dangerous than anything, but I will not keep them as goblins inside a cave. Nor should I."
Melard slowly brushed the back of her hand.
"The power you showed at the council and in the duel, Shinseong... was very impressive. Especially that star where traces of Harkan could be seen. I truly wish to hear the process, if you would."
There was no reason at all to refuse.
Verden recalled that moment and explained in detail.
The meeting that began with the Rusty Ring he had received as payment from Mayor Martes.
The dying Harkan brewed a potion with moonlight and starlight, and when Verden consumed it, he obtained a new attribute.
And even received memories, passing down the magical theories of that attribute.
"That gray magic power which drew the constellation... what is its name?"
"I have named it the Celestial attribute."
"Stars, is it. A fine name. The birth of an attribute that never existed before. Not merely through Harkan's Mado, but a miracle that could only come to pass because of you yourself. Surely, none but Shinseong could be its bearer."
Melard continued.
"Separately, the Sage of Power was quite surprised as well. Watching you control magic power and even wield spells fused with the elements, he asked me to find out what relation Shinseong has with the current Warlord of the Arnak Empire."
As expected, one of the sages must have had ties with the Empire.
Verden answered simply.
"I once had a connection."
"Hoho, it seems Shinseong possesses a history far greater than what we know. That would also include your hostility toward the Bohemirn magic tower, yes? May I ask the reason for that?"
"Revenge, nothing more."
Short, yet resolute.
Melard widened her eyes, then nodded with a faint smile.
"Emotion is the strongest driving force, yet also a bomb. Fortunately, Shinseong seems to be controlling it well."
She moved the wheels of her chair.
She stopped at a place where the moonlight poured down brightly, and lifted her gaze.
"...Shinseong, do you know why the Black Hour led by Dahit came to bear the infamous title of Death Mages?"
"I do."
Most Mages had heard of it.
The tale of Dahit, a Transcendent, who led a group of Mages and slaughtered every royal and noble of a small kingdom...
The story of how he destroyed an entire nation was too well-known.
Melard elaborated.
"Dahit was an orphan of that small kingdom. To be precise, he had been a noble, but when factional strife erupted, his entire family was executed. Only young Dahit survived and managed to flee the country."
The dark moon, Dahit Wethroel's past.
It was not among the memories of Harkan that Verden had received, so he listened intently.
"Having barely escaped with his life, Dahit endured day by day in the magic city, Virente. There, my comrade, the former leader of Black Hour, recognized his talent and took him in as a disciple. Afterwards, as you know, he seized control of Black Hour through slaughter, and erased the nation that had annihilated his family. In terrifying fashion. That was the beginning."
Melard furrowed her brows.
"At first, I believed he destroyed that nation out of vengeance... but the more I thought on it, the less certain I became. I do not know why he led a revolt on the eve of becoming the leader of Black Hour, nor what he seeks now."
A deep sigh scattered into the night.
"Though I have watched him for no short time, I do not know who Dahit truly is. Whether the appearance he showed before was wholly false, or if some truth was mixed within. That is how adept he is at concealing his heart. And his transcendent power, needless to say, is immense."
Melard fixed her gaze upon Verden.
Her eyes, tinged with regret, bore straight into him.
"To face Dahit will be like carving your bones. Even so, Shinseong, can you keep the promise you made in the council hall?"
"Of course."
Verden replied at once.
At his unhesitant answer, Melard quietly declared.
"Then, Society will stand with Shinseong."
This was the conclusion of a sage.
Thus, an official alliance was forged.
Verden had achieved his objective.
***
Morning came.
Having gained the cooperation of Society, it was time to return to the Ownerless Land.
Yet, besides Heras, who would use the spatial teleportation scroll, there was now one more companion.
"I look forward to working with you, senior."
Cain, fully prepared, eyes shining.
Though scars from the duel still marked him here and there, Verden had adjusted the power of
Cain's first mission, entrusted by the sages, was to aid Verden as the new generation of Society.
In other words, he was assigned as the one responsible for guiding Society's members.
As for Unia...
"I'm going too!"
"Recover your magic power first, Unia. And education comes before stepping outside. Take it as punishment for activating Ultima in the duel despite being told not to."
For that reason, Unia's external activities were postponed for later.
In time, she would surely join them.
Hwaaaak.
Heras began to chant the contents of the scroll in sequence, preparing for spatial teleportation.
Verden and Cain placed their hands upon his shoulders.
"Please return safely, Cain. And we will see you again soon, Asher."
"See you later."
Ethan and Rebecca offered their farewells.
The three sages stood at a distance, watching and sending them off.
Soon, as the magical formula rearranged, a violet wave engulfed the three.
Verden, Cain, and Heras vanished without a trace.
The Sage of Power, Osgar, stroked his beard.
"I showed Cain glimpses of the world from time to time... but I wonder if he will truly fare well."
"He will manage. He adapts quickly."
"But it will not be safe. He will surely be swept into something great."
Not because of Cain, but because of the man at Cain's side.
There was no need to speak it aloud, they all knew.
If Unia and Cain were to become the next generation's main figures, then that man would be the center.
If he survived while contending against Black Hour and the Bohemirn magic tower in the future.
Without fail.
***
Meanwhile, urgent news spread across the entire Central Continent.
With scarcely any delay, newspapers of similar headlines circulated widely through most cities.
Their contents were as follows.
[Scales of Ignasia: Whereabouts of a Dragon]
[Method of Auction: Labyrinth of Ants]
A great Transcendent would hold a grand auction.
Those who had already heard the rumor that Licentia was heading toward Gargant, had expected this development.
Those seeking to claim a dragon's bones gathered to the great city.
At last, Verden's first revenge began to draw near.
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