Half a day had passed since the tragedy that wiped out the entire squad.
In the lava fields on the surface, tower-like mechanisms stood scattered across the continent in a distinct pattern.
These mysterious devices seemed to have merged with the earth itself, radiating an ancient, solemn presence.
As the seconds passed, an age-old poem finally began to resound.
Like music from the heavens, it carried a sacred power that transcended the boundaries of time and space, echoing through the air.
It was a key that opened the gate to another world and guided lost souls home.
Amid the cascading rays of light, Neia and the others gradually took shape and stepped out of the glow.
"Did the Reincarnation Poem activate automatically...?"
Neia first bowed deeply and solemnly to the anchor point.
It was a magical artifact unique to the Sorcerer Kingdom. Such devices were distributed throughout its territory and possessed a wide range of functions, including teleportation and Resurrection.
Their existence not only made adventurers' journeys far more convenient, but also allowed the people to experience the might of the Sorcerer Kingdom and the compassion the Three Majesties showed their subjects.
"So long as you do not forsake your nobility, the entire world will open before you. Praise the Eternal Emperor, the Merciful Supreme One!"
Neia murmured the words devoutly. She knew that without this artifact, many people would have already lost their lives.
That was why she used it with heartfelt gratitude every time.
Once she had finished praying, Neia reached out with her magical power and connected to the anchor point, then checked her current credits.
When she saw that they had surpassed one thousand, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
[Thank goodness.]
[It looks like dying during a hidden side quest doesn't count as a failed expedition.]
She silently rejoiced.
"The defeated are reduced to ashes, while the victors are rekindled. The Incandescent Ode of Resurrection truly is an incredible device..."
Abedo had also finished his prayer, and he could not help feeling deeply moved.
Because they had succeeded in the expedition, they had escaped the abyss of death and been granted a chance at rebirth.
It was a strange and wondrous sensation.
"If the expedition had failed, you'd really have something to cry about. You were the most eager one here, and you invested the most resources, Your Imperial Highness, future Crown Prince of the Empire~"
Nemu lay sprawled on the ground, gazing leisurely up at the sky.
"All or nothing. The Sorcerer Greed King's words are the motto I live by. And thank you for the compliment. I'll do my best."
Had they failed, Abedo would have been forced to pay the exorbitant Resurrection fee himself.
For a student like him, credits were everything.
If he did not have enough, he would have to rely on his parents to cover the cost. Those without parents would automatically be given a loan for their Resurrection.
Just thinking about it made Abedo feel fortunate.
He certainly did not want that to happen.
"It's a shame we couldn't recover the La-Angler's carcass. We could have obtained some rare materials from it. You could've used them in your alchemy experiments, crafted equipment with them, sold them, or turned them over to the academy for extra credits. Any of those would've been worthwhile."
"Tch. That damned stinking bird actually knew how to loot a corpse."
The thought made Nemu stomp her foot in anger.
They had spent half a day working themselves to the bone, only for someone else to swoop in and steal the prize.
Worse still, the thief had not even been a person, but a mere magical beast.
Her anger surged, and she stamped hard on the ground as though trying to vent all her frustration into it.
"Forget it. We were lucky enough to win this time."
"Still, there's apparently a hidden reward for a squad that succeeds on its very first expedition. I heard the Three Majesties established it out of nostalgia for the past."
"We're allowed to make one request of the Three Majesties, as long as it isn't too unreasonable."
The Quagoa beside them joined the conversation.
As a descendant of the Quagoa Beastman King, he naturally had access to certain inside information. That was the true reason he had fought so desperately.
After all, they were the Three Majesties, revered by all races, counted among the Six Great Gods of the Demihumans, and hailed as mighty saviors.
"The Six Great Gods who kill and burn, the Three Supreme Beings who save those in suffering."
That saying was widely known among the Demihuman population of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
As the first Demihuman race to submit beneath the glory of the Three Majesties, the Quagoa took immense pride in that honor.
"I want the Elves removed from the Humanoid Race."
The speaker was a taciturn Forest Elf Archer.
His name was Ulysses Einz, an exceptional archer whose mastery of the bow inspired admiration.
Yet this outstanding elf carried a past few knew about. He had witnessed the fall of the Elf Country with his own eyes, and the homeland that had once been so beautiful was now reduced to ruins.
From that day onward, hatred for the Theocracy burned within his heart.
After Elf Country was conquered by the Theocracy, the once-unbroken Great Forest of Aersha was forcibly divided in two. One half fell under the Theocracy's control, while the other was ruled and administered by the Sorcerer Kingdom.
The Forest Elves and Dark Elves who had once lived throughout the forest were inevitably reduced to slaves at the very bottom of society.
Only endless suffering and torment awaited them.
Compared to the brutal Theocracy, however, the elves living under the Sorcerer Kingdom were undoubtedly far better off.
Although they too had been forced into slavery, they were at least guaranteed the most basic necessities of life.
Furthermore, elves with exceptional gifts or abilities could even be freed from slavery and become full citizens of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
Ulysses himself was one such example.
Because he possessed the Talent known as "Elemental Immunity," which allowed him to negate a portion of elemental damage, he had earned the favor of His Majesty the Black Corrosion King.
As a result, both he and his family had been granted citizenship. He had even been able to take out a loan to attend the Magic Academy, setting foot on the so-called path of the strong.
He was undoubtedly fortunate.
Ulysses had told himself that countless times.
In his eyes, the Six Great Gods were no different from the Eight Greed Kings of old. They were unquestionably evil gods.
They regarded elves with prejudice and contempt, treating them like insects to be trampled underfoot at will.
They had blamed an entire race for the personal failings of a single Elf King, then gone so far as to carry out genocide and enslavement...
It was cruel and unjust.
Since the Six Great Gods were so merciless, elves had no reason to remain attached to the Humanoid Race.
Abandoning humanity, embracing the Demihumans, and basking in the glory of His Majesty was the only path left for the elven race.
He firmly believed that one day, he would make that goal a reality.
The bow in his hands was the weapon with which he would fulfill that mission.
"I want to extend my lifespan. We Crabfolk generally don't live very long. As long as you're alive, you still have everything. Once you're dead, you have nothing."
"I want to cure our racial weakness. Quagoa Beastmen have to wear sunglasses during the day. They look cool, but they're still inconvenient."
"I want to purify my Dragon Blood."
"I'm planning to request a Class Change item for a rare profession."
...
The party members immediately broke into lively discussion.
The Sorcerer Kingdom's unique labor system left no room for favoritism or corruption. Everyone had to rely on their own efforts to obtain what they wanted.
There was no place in the Sorcerer Kingdom for those who served no purpose.
This principle came from the teachings of the Three Majesties.
Survival of the fittest and the supremacy of the strong were not merely the foundations of the Sorcerer Kingdom, but the laws that governed the entire world.
Yet the benevolent Three Majesties had generously granted every race an equal opportunity to compete.
Anyone incapable of seizing even such an opportunity had forfeited the value of continuing to live. They might as well end their own life.
"It seems everyone has already decided what they want."
Abedo's lips curved into a faint, composed smile.
He looked over the members of the Magic Academy gathered before him. Every one of them was an elite student whose strength could not be underestimated.
They each possessed unique skills and potential, and nearly all of them met the standards of an Adamantite Adventurer.
Otherwise, they would never have dared to challenge the World Boss, the Lava Lord.
Establishing good relationships with these people would undoubtedly prove to be an enormous asset.
After all, they were likely to become prominent figures in their respective fields one day.
"What a fake smile. What are you planning to do after we get back?"
Nemu mocked him, then followed up with a curious question.
Perhaps because of her past experiences, combined with the fact that no one at the academy ever kept her in check, she had developed a habit of instinctively provoking anyone she spoke to.
Although she meant no harm, most students still reacted to her like startled birds and chose to keep their distance.
This often left her older sister, Enri, deeply troubled. She was always complaining that Nemu had grown up all wrong.
"I'll probably exchange my credits for an Alchemist Class Change scroll, then use my wish to request a private laboratory."
Abedo was not offended. Instead, he gave her a gentle smile and answered softly.
He did not dare provoke the little brat before him. Although he did not fully understand the reason, he had always kept his father's warning firmly in mind.
All he needed to do was follow his father's advice.
"Alchemist... Are you really planning to follow that path?"
Neia frowned slightly when she heard Abedo's decision and asked with some uncertainty.
Everyone knew that a person had only so much time and energy. That was why every student at the Magic Academy had to plan their future career path before enrolling.
She and Nemu were no exception.
Aside from studying some practical and general magic, they devoted nearly all their time to pursuing the path of the Paladin.
"Why don't you think it over a little more?"
Nemu looked at Abedo and could not resist trying to dissuade him.
She understood all too well how important it was to choose a path suited to one's abilities. A poor decision made on impulse could affect the rest of a person's life.
That was especially true for someone like him, one of the candidates for Crown Prince, with a host of brothers and sisters watching him closely.
"No. This is the path best suited to me."
Abedo shook his head, his gaze firm and unwavering.
"I aspire to become emperor, but direct combat ability is not absolutely necessary for me."
"Besides, superior equipment and powerful Magic Potions can fully compensate for any lack of combat strength."
"As an alchemist, I'll also be able to create Golems and all kinds of magical artifacts."
"As long as I maintain a sufficient reserve of magical power, I can still cast high-level spells through the unique magic skill [Over Magic]."
The higher a class level became, the more difficult it was to advance any further.
The complexity of combining additional classes afterward only made matters worse. The difficulty was almost unimaginable.
In that case, why not take a different approach?
Abedo's reasoning was clear.
He intended to specialize in the Alchemist class, which was already his strength, while replacing all his remaining classes with ones that significantly increased his mana capacity.
Any weakness in direct combat could be offset with equipment, potions, and various items.
Even if he could not learn high-level magic normally, it made little difference.
By using [Over Magic] and consuming an enormous amount of mana, he could forcibly raise the tier of a spell.
In theory, he only needed to master eighth-tier magic. After that, he could perform a ritual to raise its tier and enter the realm of 10th-Tier Magic through a path unique to him.
"It's a strange idea, but I hope it works out."
"I'll take that as a good omen. Everyone here is a comrade who has shared life and death with me. If I ever accomplish anything as an alchemist, all of you will receive a fifty-percent discount."
Even while thanking them, he did not forget to win their favor.
Nobles were skilled at political maneuvering, and as a descendant of the Bloody Emperor, Abedo had been taught such things from an early age.
"Whoa!"
Quite a few people cheered excitedly.
No one refused, because none of them were fools.
The arrangement was mutually beneficial.
As long as there was something to gain, who would turn it down?
The future could be dealt with when it arrived. For now, they only needed to concern themselves with the present.
"What are you planning next? Want to keep up the momentum and try clearing the [Maze of the Dead] dungeon?"
"I'll pass. I think I'll rest for a while first."
Neia felt a flicker of temptation at the suggestion, but still shook her head.
"Fair enough. Send me a Message if anything comes up."
***
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