Chapter 389 - Found
Unlike a nation sending an envoy, coming forth as a representative in the name of the magic tower means possessing not just authority but also actual power.
That is why, in the case of the magic tower's important affairs, it is usually handled by the tower master's closest disciples or senior elders. At the very least, it has to be someone of that level, because only they can withstand all manner of external pressure and schemes.
'But Rovellin, of all people.'
From the rumors he had heard, Rovellin was a Magus of the lower 5th-tier.
It was said she possessed a special trait, was young for her realm, and had the distinction of being the fourth disciple of Bohemirn, the tower master, but all of that was only relative.
To set out in pursuit of dragon material, she was absolutely lacking in power.
Even if Rayshen were supporting her from behind, it was still baffling.
Why on earth… why had Crodon or an elder not come?
Was it simply because they trusted Rovellin?
'No way.'
In the Verden he knew, there was no such thing as 'human trust' in Balrog Bessias.
If there had been, he would not have carved compulsory magic circles into all those who participated in unofficial experiments. That man trusted neither Crodon, nor Rayshen, nor even the elders.
Which meant…
'Does that mean, for Crodon and the elders, there is something more important than securing dragon material?'
Yes, there was no other explanation.
They had always chosen whatever benefited the magic tower the most.
But what exactly it was, he had no idea.
Verden clenched his teeth.
More than anything else, the fact that Balrog was plotting something with his closest aides was unbearably unpleasant.
It had to be something detestable, surely.
But right now, there was nothing he could do.
He would think about such distractions later.
Recalling his original purpose, Verden let out a deep breath.
Adrian carefully asked.
"My lord, that person at the very front, could it be…?"
"Yes, that's Rovellin."
He had already spoken to Adrian before about his time in the magic tower.
Naturally, Rovellin's existence had been included in that.
"Hm, quite an unexpected variable. Do you have something in mind? Or, perhaps as we proceed with the plan, should we bring Rovellin along? You must be concerned for her, being your friend."
Was he suggesting he overturn the board for the sake of sentiment?
It was meant as Adrian's consideration, but to Verden it was unnecessary advice.
Of course, Adrian knew that too.
"Thank you, but I refuse. If I were to 'directly' make contact with Rovellin right now, the tower I've built up with such effort would surely collapse. What I bear on my shoulders is not only my own life."
Suppressing emotions that might distort the situation, he acted only in accordance with rational thought.
"…Instead, I'll have to add one more item to the plan."
Verden murmured quietly, casting his gaze past the window.
He felt no trace of a compulsory magic circle on Rovellin.
Because she had failed to pass Balrog's standards — outstanding research capacity, value as an experimental subject, and so on.
And because she had not lived in the magic tower, but had mostly been active on battlefields against the Black Hour.
'The compulsory magic circle, Coercion, is Bohemirn's most absolute of secrets.'
As the saying goes, a long tail gets caught, Balrog only carved the circle into those he could fully control.
For example, if he cast Coercion on a 2nd-tier Mage, and that person were captured and dissected by someone outside, his secret would be exposed.
Had there been no chance of exposure, even the workers of the tower would have been bound.
Thus, though Transcendents held absolute power, they were not omnipotent.
'Of course, if Rovellin did have a magic circle, I could simply dismantle it.'
Verden gazed at his childhood friend.
Standing at the lead with her close aides, alongside the Bohemirn branch of the magic tower in Gargant… she indeed looked like the leader of a group.
It seemed not only Verden had grown in those passing years.
'She seems to have been doing well enough.'
Then, Rovellin lifted her robe.
Her familiar face appeared, yet one thing was different.
Crimson eyes.
Within them flickered a heavy killing intent that had not been there before.
'…Not well, after all?'
That seemed to be the case.
Verden immediately corrected his thought.
***
The Labyrinth of Ants, which would be the main stage for the Scales of Ignacia.
Rovellin met the conditions as a participant.
Judging from her nature, she would surely attempt to enter the labyrinth.
And Rayshen would be pushing her from the side.
Verden posed three questions to himself.
'First, can I stop her beforehand?'
Difficult.
Trying might collapse the operation, so exclude that.
'Second, can I help Rovellin?'
Yes, he could.
If he did well, he could greatly reduce her chances of dying in the labyrinth.
'Lastly, third, would helping Rovellin become a great obstacle in capturing Rayshen?'
No, it would not cause any hindrance at all.
There was no intersection between aiding Rovellin and hunting Rayshen.
Alone it might be impossible, but now he had allies and a faction.
Therefore, there was no reason to hesitate.
***
He rose in the mana elevator.
Along the way he encountered followers of the Transcendent, but none blocked his path.
As if they had known he would come.
At last, he reached the top.
He walked down the corridor, then entered the familiar chamber.
Verden spoke.
"I have changed my mind."
Ignacia revealed herself from the empty air.
She had taken the form of a mature woman, smiling slyly as she stood face to face with Verden.
"Hm, suddenly, with the opening ceremony right around the corner, you say you'll join the Labyrinth of Ants. Did something change in your heart? Or did the situation change?"
Step, step.
Ignacia tilted her head, circling him.
"Something happened not long ago, with that scheme of yours, needing to create the fake upper guild, Licentia. And now, to resolve it, you need to enter the labyrinth. Isn't that right?"
As always, her words struck sharply.
But now used to a Transcendent's insight, Verden answered confidently.
"I heard if I change my words before the auction begins, I will be welcomed."
"Yes! You're truly welcome!"
Ignacia's lips arched wide as she spread out five fingers with force.
Whoosh!
Vast magic power surged, and a sphere shimmering like the Milky Way descended into Verden's hands.
"This is a seed of the mental body. Hold it tightly in both hands and vividly imagine the human form you desire, then it will be created exactly so. The connection will also form naturally, according to your will."
"And that mental body, once created, will be sustained independently of you?"
"Yes, exactly right!"
He understood, magically.
As Verden gave thanks, Ignacia hummed, narrowing her eyes.
"Licentia, my auction house, and Adrian not entering the labyrinth but remaining alone… just what purpose does our Shinseong of the Eastern Continent hold?"
"You told me before, there was no need to say."
"Oh, it's just… if you're short of hands, I could help."
Ignacia readily stretched out her hand.
…The aid of a Transcendent.
If that were possible, no plan of his could fail.
Even now, he could likely find and destroy Rayshen in Gargant.
But he must not take that hand.
For Verden, the greatest variable was Ignacia herself.
His sky-blue eyes gleamed as he firmly refused.
"Do not take away my enjoyment."
"...!"
Ignacia's eyes widened.
Of all the expressions he had seen from her, this one carried the greatest emotion.
Then she pressed both hands shyly against her face.
"Oh my, how romantic."
Romantic, my ass.
Verden's face twisted.
***
In a secluded mountain.
At the end of a dirt road stood a modest yet elegant little estate.
There were two servants, and three members in the family that owned it.
But there was no need to make distinctions, they had always lived like family.
───Welcome back, sister! I practiced my music a bit while you were gone, please listen to me!
───Sister, I have a gift!
───Master, please come inside and dine.
───Heh heh! At least when it comes to gardening, I am unmatched, am I not, Master?
Welcoming her with bright smiles, her younger siblings, the butler, and the head maid.
Having lost her parents early, she became the master of a fallen family at a young age, but those days were truly happy ones.
It was enough to be simple.
She wished only to live her remaining years in peace, so despite her talent in magic, she never ventured into the world, choosing instead to stay with her family.
She studied magic day by day, striving to live with everyone without sorrow.
'And yet.'
The once peaceful estate burned in flames.
The long-built memories turned to ash and scattered. Redness filled all around.
And in the middle of the charred garden, her younger brother sat.
His heart pierced by the small dagger he had received as a gift.
His lips moved.
───When will you come, sister?
The voice lingered in her ears.
At that moment, like a curse echoing in her mind, consciousness surged up.
"...!! Hah, hah..."
Isabella's eyes snapped open as she hastily raised her upper body.
Cold sweat drenched her entire body.
Though she barely calmed her breath, her heart still pounded violently.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
When she slowly brushed her eyes, she realized tears were falling unknowingly.
She pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom, covering her face as though to wash it.
Then, a knock came from the coachman's seat.
"We are almost at Gargant. Mm, I am utterly drained from driving through the night. Even our fine steeds, though they drank the stimulant you crafted from a magical beast's blood, show clear signs of fatigue."
The coachman's voice was steeped in exhaustion.
Isabella, barely composed, leaned against the corner of the carriage, lips moving.
"You've done well. We'll be staying in Gargant for some time, so take this chance to rest well. And while you're nearby, make sure to see your family too."
"Haha, I would have even without you saying so. Of course, after your performance. No matter how tired I am, I could never miss a concert held on a stage made by a Transcendent."
That stubbornness, unchanged even with the years.
Isabella chuckled faintly.
Then she felt the loathsome magic circle carved into her unnatural body.
'The tracking of the circle begins exactly every five days, and lasts one hour.'
Once tonight's Scales of Ignacia… once that opening performance ended, there would be about two days before the tracking resumed.
'Within that time, I will find the one tracing the circle.'
It was not difficult.
As long as she drew close, she would feel it. She was not the only one who could sense the circle's trace.
She slowly closed her eyes.
It felt as if her brother's voice from the nightmare still echoed.
She reached into her spatial bag, caressing the two artifacts prepared for today.
The end was approaching.
"…Yes, I will be there soon."
Isabella smiled silently.
She could not help but smile.
***
An indoor theater built in the heart of Gargant.
The whole structure was a half-moon shape, stage facing audience, with special seats for distinguished guests prepared above.
Naturally, Verden, the one who offered the item, was guided to a guest room.
Still concealing his identity as a Shinseong, it felt terribly empty now that quite some time had passed since removing [Ainber].
Verden turned his head.
On the same floor, other guest rooms were occupied by powers such as great nations and the magic tower.
Below, the seats were filled with people dressed in all manner of finery.
"…Though the crowd is large, it is strangely noisy. I would say they seem oddly excited."
Adrian and Cain were waiting outside, preparing for pursuit.
In their place, Heras spoke.
"This time, the performer for the opening ceremony of the Scales of Ignacia is a very famous figure, Your Excellency."
"Performer?"
"They say all call her the 'Melodist of Fortune'. Not only is her skill superb, but she is said to be exceedingly beautiful."
A beautiful musician.
Verden felt no interest.
He was not knowledgeable about music either.
'What matters to me is not that.'
The number of people gathered in the theater was roughly 2,000 to 3,000.
Among them, Rayshen was hiding.
If he had been ordered by Balrog to secure dragon material, he must be here.
Rayshen feared his master.
'And moreover, his direct guards' command authority ultimately lies with the Bohemirn tower master.'
Disobeying orders was impossible.
In any case, if his habits had not changed since about two years ago… then even now, one of his three personal guards would be placed as an external shadow, while he moved with the remaining two.
'Where are you.'
Verden's gaze moved swiftly.
All the guest rooms, including the one Rovellin occupied, were excluded.
Rayshen, hiding his identity, would not be in any conspicuous place.
Tok, tok, tok.
He tapped the table with his finger, scanning the audience below.
If someone wore a robe, he examined their movements in detail.
His senses sharpened.
He drew out every bit of his memory.
Surveying the entire theater, recalling all, Verden's finger stopped.
Instinctively, he focused on a section of the audience arranged in a 7×6 rectangle.
There, sitting at the top-left and bottom-right of the diagonal, two ordinary-looking men…
'Guarding the center subtly.'
Verden immediately shifted his gaze toward the center.
Filtering out the ladies and gentlemen chatting, the armored man, and others, he finally saw.
A young man disguised with an unfamiliar face.
His appearance thoroughly concealed, yet not enough to deceive Verden's eyes.
Every so often, blinking his left eye first, the faint gestures.
Everything was undeniable.
'Rayshen Tailroad.'
Found him.
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