Chapter 446 - Advance (2)
The Arnak Empire of the Western Continent desired large-scale exchange with the Dwarf race, and so it had secretly gathered and meticulously studied their history and traditions.
The deeper the knowledge, the more methods one gains to employ.
"Hm, it does look even more desolate than I had heard."
The Black Volcano.
This was a barren land regarded by the Dwarves as a cursed land, a place where not a single Dwarf existed.
He had known it only superficially, as knowledge, but did not know it in detail.
Even among the Dwarf clans, there was little related information, and should one rashly pry too deeply, it was highly likely to incur resentment.
A needless sore to scratch.
Thus, there had been no reason to scour beyond the Black Volcano's borders at such risk, and so it was a place of low priority for the Empire.
Until very recently.
"Here."
Fribalt pointed to the immense tracks left in the Black Volcano, apparently by a massive abnormal species. They were not artificial marks, yet they might well be a decisive clue.
For there was scarcely any prey here.
And if so, that an abnormal species like the Stone Eater had led a horde in large-scale movement… it was only reasonable to judge that they had caught scent of something to make their mouths water.
Merisa Fesfield, clad in a black robe adorned with dark violet feathers, stepped forward.
"To think you could find something so barely visible to the eye. Good, let's see what we can find."
The ancient bloodline of House Fesfield, Eldrium.
Within her blood resided the Mystery of wielding the magic power of nature, outwardly resembling the racial traits of Elves.
But in truth, it was wholly different.
While Elven bodies handled pure natural magic power directly, Eldrium distorted the magic power of nature, transmuting it so that the bloodline holder might wield it.
There were hardly any places in the world where magic power did not exist, whether the density was high or low.
Ultimately, one who had awakened to Eldrium could, until their own magic power was exhausted, temporarily unleash output severalfold beyond the limits of their innate mana circuits.
Those who attained such a sublime realm, House Fesfield called them Sorcerers.
Merisa unfolded her magic power.
By Eldrium's method of manipulating magic, the magic power of nature was distorted into what was called Mana.
Her senses surged, brimming.
She stretched her arms, one upward, one downward, then drew them closer in a delicate spiral.
She pressed her left palm against the back of her right hand.
Her tightly overlapped hands slowly separated horizontally. Through the opening between her hands, the inside of the terrain was laid bare.
Whoooosh!
Pouring yet more magic power, she activated the bloodline's unique sorcery in greater depth.
Tracing the path of the abnormal species that no ordinary sight could reach, she arrived at a point of disappearance, at a considerable distance.
Merisa's eyes widened slightly as she interpreted it.
"This…"
"What is it?"
"They overturned the ground itself to erase nearly all traces. On such a large scale that it's hard to distinguish anything. They are extremely cautious."
"It's him."
Fribalt recalled the spear of earth wielded by the intruder in the fortress. That artifact-like weapon had manipulated the terrain, collapsing the passage of the Red Volcano.
"And, seeing as how molten rock and faint scorch marks remain beneath the ground… it's certain they used some wide-area magic belonging to the fire attribute. The intruder is a Mage."
"…A Mage, you say?"
The unwelcome guest of the Red Volcano had fought the Empire's Lord in close combat.
Though Fribalt had pressed the advantage, and though he had not fought with the full strength of a Sword Saint, the truth remained that he had not been able to overwhelm the foe.
And now, to hear that it was a Mage.
"Oho, an unknown Mage who could match blades with a Sword Saint. How fascinating. And not even a Warlord."
Grizzwold showed keen interest, shrugging his shoulders.
His roughly tied long white hair fluttered, the two massive axes strapped to his back swaying slightly.
On his grey-toned skin, where the armor did not cover, veins bulged.
"Have you discovered anything else?"
"Nothing at all. The traces are so scarce that even the opening of Mado is uncertain. Were it not for me, you might not have known they were a Mage at all."
Merisa shook her head.
"At any rate, to summarize, they are certainly at least 6th tier, with above average magic power. If Legrit had seen this, she would have been quite entertained. A pity."
At present, of the six Lords of the Empire, three were dispatched to the volcanic region, two were guarding the Empire, and only the Warlord had gone elsewhere.
Legrit roaming about in her personal airship was hardly unusual.
Unbefitting of a Lord, yet since it had been directly permitted by the Emperor himself, there were scarcely any within the Empire who could censure it.
Fribalt tapped his scabbard slowly.
"The power of this third force is unknown… They already have one state-level combatant, so we cannot say they have no more."
"Well, it's something we had already assumed, isn't it? No problem. I brought half the Warlord's main fleet with me in place of Legrit."
Above the skies of the Black Volcano hovered one colossal airship and three large-scale airships.
Even excluding the medium and small airships aboard them, it was a force that could well risk war.
"And the intruder plans to forge something using the Hammer of Integrity, yes? That's why they raided the vault of the Red Volcano Clan, then moved on to the Black Volcano."
"Yes."
"Judging from the feeling, it's not a task that will end in a day or two. Which means, all we have to do is find them inside. Once their position is fixed, we'll seal all around them with spatial distortion."
"Trap them, corner them, and capture them alive. Gahaha, a most straightforward plan indeed."
Grizzwold laughed, then scratched his brow.
"Ah, did you hear? Just before we disembarked from the airship, I received a report. The Oathkeepers have sent in the vice-captain of the Oath-bound Knight Order."
"The vice-captain, Leona? That foul-mouthed wench has come?"
For it was not only Fribalt who had been trapped in the Red Volcano by the intruder, but the Oath-bound Knight Order as well.
They were seeking the intruder from another direction, under the banner of justification.
"Click, how annoying… Shall we pause the search and deal with the Oath-bound Knight Order first? After all, like the intruder, they are also a hindrance to the Empire."
"Oh, I agree."
Of course, it was only said in jest.
Fribalt began to move.
"Enough idle talk. Let us proceed."
"Don't command me, I'll go as I please."
"Hahahaha! Still, I am most curious who it is that managed to trap a Sword Saint within a volcano!"
The three Lords advanced.
***
The facilities of the Black Volcano Fortress, repaired and recalibrated under the lead of the Hammer of Integrity.
"Heave—ho! Heave—ho! Heave—ho!"
"Uwooooooooh!"
"Time for the shift change!"
"Yes, Chief!"
"Meal time!"
The Dwarves of the village, following their chief Geradin, each played their role in arbitrarily raising the output of the facilities, as if rowing a boat riding on a favorable wind.
Though done in three shifts, it was still grueling labor.
So heavy that many Dwarves had to cling together to barely move it.
Still, perhaps because they were Dwarves, gradually their bodies were adapting, and the burden on their physiques was visibly lessening bit by bit.
"Linus, put in the catalyst."
"Yes!"
A special powder was poured into the furnace.
The temperature of the already scorching heat rose even higher from the stimulus.
"Krgh?!"
Linus, who was assisting, could not endure and staggered back, yet Gharun was wholly unfazed, not moving an inch.
This creation was carried out by a single Dwarf.
The structure had been redesigned such that Gharun was the main lead, with Linus, Geradin, and the village Dwarves providing thorough support.
Whatever the others, at least Gharun must not step back.
"…Even at such heat, not a hint of deformation. Very well, let us see who wins."
Ssssssshhhhhh!
Gharun locked in a contest of nerves with the [Dragon's Skull] within the furnace. Though he felt the agony of the moisture in his body evaporating, he laughed instead.
Even after devouring in an instant the food Linus often brought him, even after staying awake for two nights, Gharun showed no trace of fatigue.
[Progress is slow, but stable. Your Majesty Verden. May I observe from closer?]
"As long as you do not step into the facilities."
[I will keep that in mind.]
As he had always seen, Alpha harbored much interest in Dwarven technology itself.
Perhaps he wanted to adapt it into Golem-crafting.
'I should mention it to Gharun or Linus later.'
They might just teach him.
Verden withdrew supplies from subspace, stacking them neatly by the facility entrance, then sought out a quiet spot where none were present.
For now, there was nothing to do.
And regardless of what happened, once the crafting had begun, he could not leave the Black Volcano.
'Therefore…'
A violet passage was flung open.
Though a trump card prepared for emergencies, until the staff was completed, he was confined to remain in one place, limiting its use.
It temporarily linked to the Ownerless Land of the central continent, connecting with the communication device.
"Can you hear me?"
───Clearly, my lord.
Adrian answered.
After exchanging brief greetings, they relayed their respective situations.
"…Thus, the facilities of the Black Volcano were restored, and the crafting of the staff has begun, but it seems it will take quite some time."
───A staff made of a dragon's blood and skull. I am curious what the result will be. But the problem is, we do not know when the Arnak Empire and the Oathkeepers may intervene.
"By now, they'll have mustered their forces and will be combing the Black Volcano. With the land so vast, they won't easily find me… but we must prepare for collision. Well, it is not bad."
Even with the Empire and the force of a Transcendent drawing near with blades bared, not a hint of anxiety appeared in Verden.
"Anyway, my side is proceeding smoothly. More importantly, what of the Ownerless Land?"
───Yes, the competitive war over the disputed zone is about to begin.
"Competitive war?"
Adrian explained in detail what had happened at the city of Medilon, the Mediation Zone of the disputed land, and what the competitive war was.
"So Isabella seized the neck of the Eastern Archduke to subdue him. Must have been a sight. But as for the competitive war… it does favor us in the north, yet the disadvantages cannot be ignored."
───I agree.
Verden's faction had many high-level combatants, so they would shine in a chaotic melee of many forces entangled… yet they were weak in territorial occupation.
To make active use of the large-scale mines gained, they would need to secure the lands of the disputed zone lying between them and the north.
"The number of mercenaries, and the vast materials needed for war, will be the key. Without me stepping forward, securing them will be difficult."
───Indeed it was… but in truth, the matter has already been resolved.
"Resolved?"
───Yes.
Adrian spoke with confidence.
───Support has come from the Eastern Continent.
***
The Ownerless Land.
The first obstacle for the northern fledgling power was manpower and capital.
The West and East, having long been established forces, had replenished and trained troops during their rule of the region, while amassing vast funds.
Through taxes.
Extorting one million Elk from a single person was an immense burden.
But obligating two hundred people to each pay ten thousand Elk was, compared to one million from one, not a heavy burden, while the lord would gain more total funds.
The larger the territory, the more so.
Such disparity was hard to close with Verden's financial power alone, and too burdensome.
Thus the need for patrons.
Aside from taxation, each faction of the Ownerless Land also received donations, loans, or purchases of magic items and armaments from nations, magic towers, or other groups.
A kind of contract.
In exchange for the support, they shared the gains earned in the Ownerless Land.
In that respect, Liam Arein, despite the recent surge of attention, was a young, inexperienced lord.
With the competitive war of the disputed zone imminent, there were few who would boldly invest in an untested fledgling power with no experience in real war.
Moreover, word spread that the Shinseong of the Eastern Continent would not be joining the competitive war, and Liam's silence confirmed it as truth.
At the same time, rumors that, since the Shinseong was closely tied with the Elf race, the Elves might participate in the war, also fizzled out as mere rumors.
The north, without the Shinseong and the Elves.
Though Isabella's display of might in the council hall was more than enough to whet appetites, it was not enough to open purses.
For similar reasons, few mercenaries were hired by the north.
Though confident of victory even without outside support… since they desired more than just that, the situation left much to be wanted.
But one point they had overlooked.
Even without Verden, Verden's influence still remained.
Beyond the central continent as well.
First, the Duchy of Riviant.
"I am the second prince, Belfons Ruin di Riviant."
Next, the Republic of Beldirn.
"I have been sent by Supreme Councilor Brillen."
Lastly, the Kingdom of Estiria.
"I am Calia de Esperanza, only daughter of House Esperanza. I heard our Honorary Count Asher was in difficulty, I trust I am not too late?"
The three eastern nations had each come, bearing gifts.
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