◈ Episode 186. What Is Engraved in History Is the Empire.
The empire.
In the capital city of Antonium, countless talents gathered. But that was not true of mages. Those with the finest talent on the continent headed for the Magic Tower.
It meant that the common saying floating about the world was true: if one were skilled enough to be a seasoned mage of the Magic Tower, one could be revered as a high-ranking mage outside it.
The empire’s highest-ranking mage, Nash William.
Nash stood in a corner, biting his nails.
He thought of his one and only older brother, Bensh William.
‘Brother…….’
When they were young.
His brother had been evaluated as possessing talent comparable to that of the Fire Dragon.
Even aside from talent, his brother had never been cowed no matter where he went.
Brother Bensh, who had always shown a dignified bearing beyond his years.
Though Nash had not possessed enough talent to enter the Magic Tower like his brother, he had done his utmost.
Day and night, he had devoured books on magic, accumulating knowledge of magic in various fields.
And with his abilities acknowledged, he had risen to the position of the empire’s highest-ranking mage.
But today, Nash
was feeling the limits of his own ability.
‘What should I do, Brother……!’
Today, he missed his brother so terribly.
It was only natural.
Before the emperor’s audience chamber.
The ministers had come to him in the corner and whispered.
“Sir Nash, can you gauge it?”
No.
I have no idea.
Irresponsible words surged up Nash’s throat.
Just what!
What in the world is that spirit currently having an audience with His Majesty?
Elegance itself.
In terms of the dignity flowing from its appearance, it would not be strange to call it a Spirit King.
Fine, let’s concede dozens of times over and assume that a Spirit King has, unusually, revealed itself.
The problem was that its form was visible
to him, and to everyone else!
The basics among the basics of spirit magic.
Spirit magic was the magic of those who had been chosen.
To witness a spirit in its natural state, one had to fulfill difficult conditions.
‘But the fact that everyone can see it means…….’
It was a contracted spirit, a spirit that had formed a contract with someone.
Nash felt as though his heart were collapsing.
‘To make a contract with a Spirit King!’
What mage in the world could possibly do that?
Would Brother Bensh perhaps know?
This foolish younger brother cannot even begin to guess.
Nash, who had been wallowing in misery, came back to his senses.
In any case, this was good news.
Nash cleared his throat and said,
“It seems God has not abandoned the empire.”
The ministers whispered among themselves.
“……
We asked about the spirit, so what is he talking about?”
Brother Bensh!
Unlike you, it seems I still lack presence……
Nash swallowed a sigh and added,
“What the spirit brought was the flag Sir Harkon received from His Majesty before departing on the northern expedition. Most likely, that spirit has come to His Majesty bearing news of Sir Harkon and the Lionheart Knights.”
Only then did the ministers’ faces brighten.
“Goodness, that flag was that important?”
“Does that mean Sir Harkon is alive?”
“Then you should have told us sooner, Sir Nash!”
The ministers’ voices pierced his ears.
Nash’s gaze grew distant.
‘Brother Bensh, where did you disappear to along with the Magic Tower? It seems I am not suited to being a bureaucrat after all. If only you would accept your foolish younger brother Nash, even as an apprentice mage…….’
It was then, as Nash was lamenting his situation.
Wide open—
The doors of the audience chamber opened.
The emperor’s voice flowed out.
“All of you may enter.”
“……!!!”
The generals, the ministers, and finally Nash entered the audience chamber.
There, the spirit still floated in the air with elegant poise.
The emperor opened his mouth.
“The spirit’s name is Hiel…….”
……
Hiel?
Surely, there was no Spirit King by that name in the books.
Even as Nash thought that, the words continued.
“……
Crisiad Four Seasons Leaf.”
W-wait a moment. Your Majesty?
This may be irreverent, but did you truly hear that correctly?
Is that really the spirit’s name?
One could not judge a spirit’s rank by its name, but anyone who saw and heard it would find both its appearance and name extraordinary. A certain possibility began to sprout in his mind.
Nash had no choice but to call upon his brother once more.
‘……
Brother, is there also a Spirit Emperor above a Spirit King?’
Your lacking younger brother does not know.
Nash lowered his head, but the emperor continued speaking calmly. Of course, at the words that followed, Nash soon startled and lifted his head.
“Th-the Magic Tower?”
The Magic Tower.
The Magic Tower where his brother was had survived.
And that was not all.
“Harkon and the Lionheart Knights as well……?”
“So Frost did not vanish without a trace!!”
“Of course. Muon, the holy land of the Goddess, would never collapse!”
Those who had vanished without a trace from the continent were alive.
Even if they were in another world rather than the Arcana Continent.
They were alive and breathing.
The emperor opened his mouth.
“I do not know what you will think of me.”
Hiel, the spirit, had said as much.
The Arcana Continent and the world of adventurers.
There existed a “rift” connecting those two worlds.
He could not understand it immediately, but for now, it was enough.
“Shamefully, I felt relieved.”
As emperor, he should have reproached himself
for failing to protect them.
For failing to realize.
And yet, such overwhelming emotion was boiling up in him that it was difficult to suppress.
However, the emperor did not forget what he had to do.
“Furthermore, the unbelievable tale begins now.”
Yes.
He had to convey the heroic tale that Hiel had brought.
It was too much of a waste for him alone to know.
“Listen. Scribe, record everything without omission.”
Ssssk—
Soon, the emperor’s words began to be engraved upon parchment.
“You mean Frost, which had fallen into the clutches of the Demon King, was saved? By the adventurers who had concealed their identities on the Arcana Continent, risking their lives……?”
“The Magic Tower, those haughty mages, have begun to move? They never obeyed Your Majesty’s words, nor the previous emperor’s orders, nor anyone’s command……!!”
“The dwarves are helping the empire, helping humanity……?”
All of that unbelievable news was becoming history officially recognized by the emperor. Among it were events from only yesterday.
“The dozens of lords under Grand Duke Ymir who surrounded Antonium. And the retreat of Shegwin, the Sword Saint and Grand Sword Master, as well…….”
Ssssssk—
While the quill was writing without pause,
one of the subjects spoke.
He was not daring to doubt the emperor’s words.
“Your Majesty, these are achievements difficult to believe so easily.”
“Mm.”
The emperor nodded.
Indeed, one could think that way.
But there was a guarantee here greater than anything else.
Flutter!
The emperor unfurled the flag.
The flag depicting the symbol of Lionheart, a lion.
On the back, words were written in different hands.
『Yessica Bright.
Enoch Loren.
Kazzet Owner…….』
And the last, the knight commander, Harkon.
They were the names of the Lionheart knights.
The man who had raised the question carefully examined those names.
Soon, his eyes reddened.
He had doubted because he had not wanted to be disappointed by futile hope.
But it was certain.
This handwriting was…….
“……
Kazzet, my son. You are safe.”
It was certainly his son’s.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I withdraw my doubt.”
The emperor examined the final phrase once more.
『I pray that you remain safe, my lord.』
How could I forget your handwriting, Harkon?
The Lionheart Knights had set out on the northern expedition.
After they vanished, the emperor had reproached himself endlessly.
‘I regretted it as I read over the statement of resolve you submitted countless times.’
But now, that very emperor
was smiling.
‘It has become a futile act, but that is why I am glad, Harkon.’
Words continued from his lips.
“And since all these achievements began with a single man, scribe, record his name precisely.”
“……!!!”
Gulp!
Amid the tension.
“The savior of the empire.”
That name
resounded from the emperor’s mouth.
“A single ray of light within boundless, deep darkness.”
“Lee Hoyeol.”
*
Indeed, I could feel that time on the Arcana Continent flowed faster than in reality.
Clink—
The moment I set down the teacup with the teabag steeping in it, my vision flickered.
[Your relationship with the capital city, Antonium, has risen greatly.]
[Your influence in the capital city, Antonium, has risen greatly.]
……
Harkon and the Lionheart Knights’ flag.
It seemed Hiel had safely delivered the news to the emperor.
But Hiel……
What news did you deliver, and how?
I had expected my relationship and influence to rise.
Even if we set aside all the circumstances before and after,
I had, in any case, succeeded in driving out the rebel army, including Shegwin.
As proof of that, the quest objective had also been updated.
[Main Quest: Warring States Period]
A time of upheaval.
Is what they seek mere power?
Is it the emperor’s incompetence?
Or is it an irresistible fate?
The mighty of the continent covet the imperial throne.
Your choice shall create a new current.
—Defend Antonium. (Success)
In the end, I had saved the empire from crisis.
I mean, I expected a quest reward on that level.
But this reward is too much, isn’t it?!
[Your affinity with the Empire has reached its maximum.]
The maximum already?!
Hiel’s past accomplishments suddenly came to mind.
Wasn’t I the one who had ended up with all sorts of inflated rumors, both existent and nonexistent, among the dwarves because Hiel, who took after Grandfell far too much, ran her mouth? I could feel it intuitively.
‘You exaggerated enormously again this time, didn’t you, Hiel?’
……
Fine, now that the milk has already been spilled, let’s think positively.
Simply.
At least Diend didn’t step in, right?
“At last, that hideous plan has gone up in smoke.”
……
You don’t even feel guilty while saying the word “smoke,” huh.
Indeed, your iron mask grows thicker by the day, Grandfell.
But it is not over until it is over.
Another quest that had been updated.
[Quest: A Futile Act]
Shegwin considered demon hunting a futile act.
Converse with Shegwin,
and determine the truth behind his actions.
—Encounter Shegwin. (Success)
—Find the connection between Shegwin and demons. (Success)
—Hunt the true-name demon, Shegwin. (In Progress)
Shegwin had not been possessed by a demon.
He himself had fallen and become a demon.
He seemed to think he had merely regained his youth, but those pitch-black pupils belonged to a demon. Above all, there was no evidence more certain than the fact that [Natural Enemy] had activated.
The Space-Time Social Hall.
Because of its rules, it was impossible to complete the quest.
I spouted,
“Unreasonable rules will need to be amended.”
I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely against that, Grandfell.
Shegwin is a demon.
Even if we say I could somehow scrape by
with the power of [Natural Enemy],
there were other Transcendents there.
This damn personality that says everything it should and shouldn’t!
Above all, there was no reason for Grandfell to view the Transcendents favorably.
To be honest, they looked petty even to me.
Despite being that strong,
they had taken no action
while the Arcana Continent was ravaged by demons.
‘There may be circumstances like with the Magic Tower, but.’
Do you think Grandfell would ever consider those circumstances!!
This time, Shegwin had been the objective.
So let’s say it passed, but next time……?
‘Just imagining it is horrifying.’
If I imagine him bluntly telling the Transcendents that they have no pride
and putting them in their place……!
Once again, I became endlessly grateful for the procedures of the Social Hall.
‘Of course, Shegwin, you are an exception.’
You weren’t possessed and had your body taken over, but became a demon of your own will?
And it wasn’t even for some grand purpose.
Only to regain your youth?!
“How utterly foolish.”
Listen.
There are people who shudder at the mere mention of eternal life,
terrified they might suffer a lifetime of dark history!!
Shegwin, you are…….
‘……
Utterly blessed by fate.’
Even I could not forgive him.
So there was no need to explain how Grandfell felt.
A powerhouse on Shegwin’s level would not lose his life to just anyone.
Which meant we would clash someday.
‘This is no time to get cocky just because I liberated the Circle.’
The Circle amplifies magic manifestation power by 1,000 percent.
However, Shegwin was likewise a Transcendent.
It meant I had no way of knowing what effects he might unleash with his swordsmanship and sword aura. What was certain was that it would likely possess a tremendous effect that would not fall behind the Circle.
‘In the end, I have to prepare.’
In my own way.
I had to be fully prepared in every respect.
Naturally, that included swordsmanship.
Suddenly, Shegwin’s famed sword came to mind.
It did look really good.
Well, I don’t think my own weapon will fall behind it either.
“I look forward to the day we meet again, Gwicheol.”
It was Ego equipment being forged by none other than Walswile, the greatest blacksmith among the dwarves! So what I needed was swordsmanship skill and a physical vessel befitting the equipment.
And I knew excellent teachers who could pass those on to me.
No, they weren’t exactly people I was close enough with to call teachers, but……
I did not delay.
Ssssk—
I immediately set quill to paper.
The recipient was the leader of the Explorers’ Federation, Fabian Delong.
The purpose was the Explorers’ Federation’s magic tool, [Hellfire Torch].
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Akshan’s Legacy: Summons an Akshan demon hunter from the fires of hell.
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