「Purchase the stat ‘Mana’ for 800 pt.」
「Stat ‘Mana’ increases by +80.」
「Purchase the stat ‘Divine Power’ for 1,010 pt.」
「Stat ‘Divine Power’ increases by +101.」
He was experiencing with his whole body why possessors, rather than making a name for themselves in this world, were incessantly logging out every single day.
He had heard that fame points rose tremendously in a short period of time, but… was it originally this steep?
Even after purchasing stats on a large scale, the rate at which they rose did not slow, and the points kept accumulating.
“Finally… I’ve maxed out a stat.”
[Name : zl-Jon☆Cheonma★]
[Strength : 50]
[Agility : 50]
[Stamina : 50]
[Mana : 545 (+45)]
[Spirit Power : 45]
[Divine Power : 121]
[Main Trait : Genius of Mana Affinity]
[Sub Trait : Can’t Live Without Style!]
[Auxiliary Trait : Everything Doubles!]
[Hidden Trait : No Violence Allowed! (Endurance : 0 / 1000)]
[Trait : Eye of the Ghost]
[Trait : Spiritualization]
[Skill : Thunder Emperor (雷帝)]
[Skill : Blue Flame (靑炎)]
[Skill : Death God Summon (死神)]
[Skill : Heaven (天上)]
……
[The tale of the ‘Guardian Knight Who Defeated the Villain’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘Guardian Knight Who Protected Imenia’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘Magician Who Wields Lightning’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘One Who Destroyed the Sky Island’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘Messenger of God’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘True Awakened’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘Archmage’ is spreading.]
[The tale of the ‘Great Korean’ is spreading.]
……
The fame spreading here was slow but steadily rising, and although less than a day had passed since obtaining fame from the outside world, it was raising an enormous amount of fame points all at once.
Thanks to that, he had not only maxed out the Mana stat to its limit, but had also been able to raise his Divine Power significantly.
Which meant it was now possible to set out immediately.
“But… how do we get there?”
The original plan had been to travel on a Phantom Steed. There was simply no better means of transportation.
But since they could not pinpoint where the dragon had headed, Freya’s presence was essential… and needless to say, Freya could not mount a Phantom Steed.
『Wow! My hand just goes right through it?』
Freya looked around the summoned Phantom Steed with curiosity and reached out her hand.
But of course, her hand passed right through the Phantom Steed.
How could a living creature mount a Phantom Steed, a horse of the spirit world?
“There is one way I can think of.”
Watching Freya wave her hands frantically to the point that even her body flickered in and out of the steed, Hio muttered quietly.
“It’s difficult to cast actual magic, but you do have the form of a Circle constructed.”
– It’s a half-baked Circle, but the shape is definitely there. You’re thinking of moving to Tetradia?
“That’s right.”
They would move to Tetradia and take a portal to the southern part of the Empire or the capital.
If possible, it would be best to head to the capital, hear the general situation, and if they could also borrow Eos’s power to move in one go, nothing could be better.
Of course, if Freya could not use Tetradia’s portal, all of this would have to be scrapped.
“Stop that and let’s go, Freya.”
Freya, who had stuck her face out peeking from inside the Phantom Steed, smacked her lips and stuck tightly to Hio’s side as Hio dismissed the steed.
And so Hio and Freya, along with Isidore beside them, immediately headed for the magician’s house.
A heavy silence hung thickly around the group heading to the fourth underground floor.
Hio had his own concerns.
Freya and Isidore also carried many worries of their own.
Their thousand-year mission to protect the dragon had ended in failure.
Far from protecting it, they had unleashed a calamity upon the world, so their hearts were heavy.
“May I… ask this of you once again?”
Therefore, Isidore forcibly opened his mouth, which would not easily part, and asked Hio again.
“Please stop the dragon.”
Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do.
In this situation, his own power was too feeble; he knew it was presumptuous, but he had no choice but to keep asking.
How he would repay this in the future.
He did not know if he could repay it even if he devoted everything, but for now, he had to stop the dragon.
At those words, Freya also looked up at Hio with apology in her eyes.
She was merely a very small fragment of the dragon, knowing nothing and possessing no special abilities.
Yet was this not her own affair?
But was she not continuing to rely solely on Hio?
Receiving that gaze, Hio roughly scratched the back of his head.
“Well… I’m the one who summoned the dragon, so it’s my responsibility to resolve it.”
Hio answered thus, knowing full well how absurd a response it was.
For in the chaotic future, there would surely come a day when he would need to borrow Arileya’s power.
“There will definitely come a time when I ask something of you in return.”
“If it is a request from the Mage… then no matter what it is, I must exert all my strength to fulfill it.”
“Hahaha. You might come to regret those words. Who knows what I’ll ask?”
“At the very least, it should be a more reasonable request than asking to resurrect a dragon or to stop one.”
“…I’ll concede that.”
After the brief conversation, they arrived at the third underground floor, and when they opened the door to the fourth floor with the power of Pavlenko’s necklace, this time Freya looked at Hio with uneasy eyes.
The text that appeared, as if giving voice to her feelings, was trembling as well.
『Will that portal… recognize me as a mage?』
She had heard the explanation from Hio.
That it was a portal connected to the ancient city, and that only mages could use it.
So this little dragon was afraid.
What if it did not recognize her as a mage?
Even if she was but a fragment of a dragon, if even that was denied, what was she to do then?
Such were the feelings arising within her.
“If it doesn’t, then it’s a piece of junk. It’s not your fault.”
『Really?』
“Of course. It’s a bit old, isn’t it? It’s about time it broke down, and the old mages were rather stubborn. So don’t worry too much.”
『Phew… what a relief!』
Freya patted her chest, as if she truly believed Hio’s words.
Hio smirked and went down to the fourth underground floor.
Before the portal, he raised his hand and sent mana surging into it.
「Confirmed mana is 4th Circle.」
「The area connected to the portal is the ancient city Tetradia – ‘Tower of the Magician.’」
「Do you wish to enter the portal?」
At the same time he checked the messages appearing before his eyes, a pure white light surged up.
Holding Freya’s small hand tightly, he entreated:
“Don’t be nervous. Slowly move your Circle’s mana.”
Freya closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
He could even see Isidore’s face watching her with concern.
He gave her a small smile as if to tell her not to worry, then turned his gaze back to Freya.
He could feel the small mana within her small body wriggling earnestly.
He slowly channeled mana through their clasped hands.
“Your Circle has a more complete form than I thought. I was almost fooled at first too, so have confidence and focus all your senses on your mana.”
Freya’s expression grew much more relaxed.
She absolutely trusted anything Hio said regarding magic.
“Then before you know it, you’ll have arrived.”
The light grew brighter and brighter.
Through it, he could see Freya’s concentrating expression, and Isidore standing quietly behind her.
Meeting those noble eyes one last time, Hio also slowly closed his eyes.
“The now-forgotten symbol of the great mage. A mystical land accessible only to mages.”
Feeling the warm light, he spoke softly as if recounting an old tale.
“It is said the building erected there was arrogantly tall, and its grandeur reached eye-level with the gods.”
Freya was completely immersed. Hio wore a faint, pleasant smile.
Pure white light enveloped the two of them.
His consciousness grew distant.
Even with eyes closed, his vision grew brilliantly bright.
“The people of old gazed upon the tallest of those buildings with longing, awe, and fear.”
At the slightly unfamiliar sensation, Freya slowly opened her closed eyes.
What entered her eyes was not the fourth underground floor, but a new, high, and spacious place paved with white tiles.
In place of walls were panes of magic-reinforced glass, and beyond them loomed hideous, massive Abyss monsters.
Hio’s voice continued without ceasing.
“And so, everyone called it:”
The gloomy sky was close enough to touch, while the interior, in contrast, was white and clean.
Countless magic-related books were scattered about.
“Truly, it is the Tower of the Magician.”
They had succeeded in entering Tetradia, the Tower of the Magician.
『Waaah! ヾ(｡ꏿ﹏ꏿ)ﾉﾞ』
* * *
He had wanted to challenge the 5th Circle since they were at the Mage Tower, but there was no time.
Right at this moment, he did not know what crisis the continent where the Abyss Gate had burst was undergoing.
Or what calamity the released dragon was bestowing.
The fact that reaching the 5th Circle required far more time than before was also one of the reasons.
『Waaah! ᑦ(⁎◕ ˕ ◕)ᐣ』
Freya ran about here and there sightseeing, exclamation marks floating above her head.
“Freya. Come here.”
『Yes! ⸜(*’꒳’* )⸝』
Hio called Freya over, then rummaged through his subspace pocket and took out some equipment he had used before.
“It’s something I used before.”
What he took out was a large cone hat similar in shape to the one he was currently wearing.
It was a beginner mage’s hat, worn before obtaining his current set of official mage equipment.
“Coming to Tetradia means you’ve been recognized as a mage, so you now have the qualifications too.”
Of course, it probably didn’t mean much.
Freya ultimately could not use ordinary magic, so such a being could not truly be called a mage.
But so what?
If the last mage remaining in this world wished to recognize her as such, who could say otherwise?
And Freya, who had placed atop her head a hat far bigger than her own—
The hat covered her face so completely that she could hardly see forward, making for a comical sight, yet she was absolutely delighted, was she not?
『A— am I… am I really being recognized as a mage??』
Tears welled up in the eyes peeking up from under the lifted hat—what could be so difficult about a single sentence?
“Yes.”
How long had it been since she had separated from her main soul?
How heavy the burden must have been on a young, immature soul.
The mission of all Arileya rested upon those small shoulders.
A thousand-year duty hung upon her, and everyone placed their hopes on this small child… how difficult it must have been.
How precious was that one word of acknowledgment after such effort?
『(ू˃o˂ू) ૮˃ ֊ ˂ ა (｡˃ ᵕ ˂ ) ╰( ^o^)╮』
And so Freya forgot to speak, expressing only emotions as she excitedly ran about.
Though her vision was blocked by the hat and she tripped, she smiled and got back up without any thought of taking it off.
She straightened the hat, rummaged through scattered magic books pretending to be a solemn mage, then ran to the glass wall to look outside in wonder.
Then suddenly.
『Huh?』
She stopped dead in her tracks, tilting her head as if something was strange.
『I suddenly can’t feel the dragon’s trace!』
She whirled her body around, and the message she showed Hio carried a sense of urgency.
“Isn’t it because we’re far away? Tetradia is in the forgotten north, even within the Empire.”
They had moved in an instant from Arileya Island in the western sea to the distant north, so was that not possible?
But Freya shook her head vigorously.
『If we are in the same world, I should be able to infer at least the direction, no matter where. Because we are the same soul. But I can’t feel even that…….』
Only then did Hio’s expression turn serious.
Freya, who should be able to sense the main body’s existence no matter where it was in the world.
But when he thought about it, there were not that many reasons why he would suddenly be unable to sense it.
It was not something he particularly wanted to assume, but perhaps the dragon had died…
Or.
“Maybe we’re not in the same world as the dragon.”
Freya had assured him that if they were in the same world, she would be able to sense its existence without fail.
If that was true, there were only two assumptions he could make.
Either the dragon was dead, or this place was another world.
“For now… let’s move.”
His thoughts had grown complicated, but what he had to do right now was act.
Whatever the truth was, he would know once he moved with Freya.
Whether the dragon’s presence could be felt again after they moved to Imenia or not.
“First, to Imenia.”
For now, he needed to move there, check whether any trace of the dragon could be felt, and then meet Silvia or Sirbert to hear about the overall state of the continent.
And if possible, it would be even better to get Eos’s help and move straight to wherever the dragon might be.
『…Yes!』
He placed his hand on the portal again and poured mana into it.
His other hand was tightly holding Freya’s.
「Confirmed mana is 4th Circle.」
「There are a total of 22 reachable regions.」
「Imenia Magic Academy (1) - ‘House of the Magician’ has been selected.」
「The portal will activate.」
With a bright flash of light, Hio and Freya moved once more.
When he opened his eyes again, he was on the dim fourth underground floor of the academy, and Hio’s gaze immediately turned to Freya beside him.
“Freya. The dragon?”
Freya, who had been concentrating with her eyes closed, snapped them open and stretched out her hand to point in one direction.
『I can feel it! That way!』
He had no idea where “that way” was, but still.
“For now… that means the dragon isn’t dead.”
The dragon had not died.
There were probably only a handful of beings capable of killing something like that demigod-like existence… so in a way, it was only natural.
Which meant the second of Hio’s assumptions was correct…
He had found it strange even before.
The northernmost end of the Empire, surrounded by high fortress walls.
The forbidden land, Tetradia, located there.
Then why, back when this had been a game, had even the map not been opened?
Other forbidden lands like the Forest of Baal and the Grandina Mountains had all existed, yet only Tetradia had been absent.
And that was not all.
If it was simply located in the northern part of the Empire, that meant it was a place one could reach on foot.
This tall tower that reached the end of the sky, as well as the other buildings, should have been visible from far away.
And yet there had been nothing of the sort at all.
Perhaps the Magic Tower…
Perhaps the ancient city of Tetradia itself had been included in the sacrifice.
Had they sealed the city itself away in some place cut off from this world, while it embraced the deep, deep abyss?
『Mister Hio…?』
His thoughts broke at the feeling of someone carefully tugging at his sleeve.
“Ah, right. We need to hurry.”
Whatever it was, he could think about it while moving.
For now, grasping the situation and responding to it was the urgent priority.
“Let’s go up.”
To move quickly, he scooped Freya up and ran up the stairs.
They left the fourth underground floor and reached the third.
Then, as they headed toward the second floor, a feeling suddenly struck him.
“This… doesn’t it feel kind of familiar?”
- Looks like I wasn’t the only one who felt it.
『I feel like it’s familiar too!』
It was a feeling that was quite familiar, yet extremely irritating.
Yes, it felt exactly like that unpleasant sensation from when they had returned to Arilleia from the outside world.
And when they finally passed the first underground floor and emerged aboveground, the sight they saw was—
“…Sigh.”
- Of course.
Once again, a complete mess.