Chapter 499 – Underestimation
After the infiltration operation into the Great Hall began, the Society, having gathered their maximum strength, never once let down their guard.
The Sage of Guardianship observed the many battlefronts unfolding between Black Hour and the Western Continent Magic Tower Alliance from close by.
The Sage of Wisdom turned his gaze outward, preparing for external variables.
The Sage of Power, leading the Society's finest so they could be deployed at any moment, awaited the contact of the other sages.
It was a watershed moment.
Everything hinged on whether they could successfully secure the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] safely here. Some had staked their very lives on this.
Mistakes or otherwise, failure could never be permitted.
And yet, despite all their thorough preparations... this merciless reality drifted in an unforeseen direction.
"…What? Dahit Wethroel has vanished?"
The Sage of Power, Osgar, raised his voice and shook his head firmly.
"Was there some error? Vanished? He had only just faced the Magic Tower Alliance's strongest forces mere days ago."
───That was true. And yet even now, with Black Hour being pushed back, there was no trace of Amwol's whereabouts. If it were the Dahit of old, he would already have taken the field himself. Something was strange.
Through the communication device, the Sage of Guardianship shared what he had learned from the front.
In summary, the exact time of Dahit's disappearance was unknown.... but at the very least, it happened after the point when Verden's party infiltrated the Great Hall, using the demonic power from Cayman's contract.
"Impossible."
Did Dahit detect Verden's presence in the Great Hall, despite that enormous distance?
And then immediately abandon the frontline, making for the Great Hall?
How?
Even if Dahit moved with urgency, just returning to the Great Hall would take at least a week.
That was Melard's calculation.
'Of course, if he could cross space itself, the return time could be cut dramatically.... but that's impossible.'
For countermeasures had already been prepared against such a possibility.
The Society was an anti-Magic Tower force, in other words, a group equal to the magic towers themselves.
They had already secured a trump-card artifact capable of intercepting long-distance spatial teleportation.
Though limited in number and consumable, it was more than enough to pin down Dahit until the operation concluded.
Yet no spatial disturbances were detected on Black Hour's side. Since the artifact had not responded, it meant Dahit had not used spatial teleportation.
'Then, it must be an ancient artifact.'
Yes. There was no other explanation for how he had so completely evaded the Society's surveillance.
'Damn it...!'
The three sages had not considered the possibility that Dahit might possess a means of returning to the Great Hall other than spatial teleportation.
For if they assumed the enemy perfect, they would never dare execute their plans at all.
The Sage of Wisdom, Melard, spoke in a subdued voice.
───...This is the worst-case scenario. We must devise countermeasures quickly.
Osgar clenched his teeth.
"But, there is no method."
An emergency council was convened via Verden's communication device, yet no clear solution emerged from the sages' knowledge.
Even if they struck at undisclosed Black Hour bases that had not been revealed to the Magic Tower Alliance, in the end, they still could not infiltrate the Great Hall.
Their deliberation deepened.
A nauseating sense of helplessness churned in their stomachs.
And in that moment, an anomaly occurred.
───...What is this?
"What is it?"
───Black Hour... reports say they are retreating from the front lines. I will confirm and contact you again.
Not long after, the Sage of Guardianship reconnected through the device.
───Listen carefully. The situation has shifted dramatically.
Until yesterday, Black Hour had been locked in a fierce magical war against the Magic Tower Alliance centered on Bohemirn Tower. But now came the shocking report that they had vanished.
Black Hour moved only under the command of Amwol's transcendent.
For such an organization to retreat wholesale could only mean it was tied to Dahit.
This indicated only one possibility.
'The Great Hall... no, something has happened to Dahit Wethroel...?'
Could it be that Verden had accomplished something?
Their thoughts naturally leaned toward hope, yet still, the sages could do nothing but prepare to receive the outcome.
Day and night, they awaited Verden's contact.
Weeks passed.
The expected return time elapsed.
Just as pessimistic thoughts began to creep into their minds─── at last, good news arrived.
"He, he returned?"
───A message came from Heras. The entire infiltration team, including Shinseong, returned alive, with no deaths or grave injuries. And...
Melard suddenly trailed off.
Osgar tilted his head, urging him to continue.
"What is it, Melard. Some problem? If the operation failed, it is fine. Considering Dahit noticed so quickly, there was no way to prevent it. That they returned from the Great Hall with bodies intact is blessing enough."
───No, as planned, Shinseong seized the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] from the deep layers of the Great Hall. But... they say they encountered Dahit there, and ended up fighting him head-on.
───...?!
"What…."
The Sage of Guardianship and Osgar were momentarily at a loss for words.
'They clashed with Dahit Wethroel, and yet accomplished their goal, even escaping?'
It was difficult to accept.
Amwol was the transcendent who had reigned as Black Hour's sovereign for decades.
A man powerful enough to annihilate an entire nation outright, disregarding the balance of the continent, a man who had waged war against the Western Continent Magic Tower Alliance for years.
Last year, his magical duel with the master of Bohemirn Tower, ranked second among the towers, had erased the Eternal Cliffs from the map. That incident was well known.
And such a figure, overcome by a newly awakened transcendent?
"…Wait. Haven't we been mistaken all along?"
───What?
"Shinseong, Asher... no, Verden's true aim is to reclaim the throne of Black Hour's sovereign under the pretext of legitimacy. Thus, he sought to bring only Dahit onto the stage. To minimize losses on both the Society's and Black Hour's sides. Inevitably, it was always going to end in a magical duel between transcendentals."
The Sage of Guardianship asked.
───That much, we all knew. What are you suggesting?
"We've been looking at the future too vaguely, that's what."
With a grave expression, Osgar slowly stroked his white beard.
"We interpreted Verden's confidence as him holding some secret card capable of overturning unfavorable odds. We further assumed that, after securing the [Hourglass of Perpetuity], by melting time, he would slowly climb the steps toward victory in the next campaign. But if that premise itself was wrong? What if Verden's own power from the start was already enough to match Dahit? Has anyone here ever considered that?"
Melard's voice wavered.
───But even so, the gap of years is far too...
"Of course, time is important to a mage, but you know there are exceptions. Melard, look at your disciples, Ethan and Rebecca. They are young, yet talented. Compared to others of their age, their rank is at least one tier higher, and their overall magical ability is even more outstanding."
And then.
"The Unia and Cain we taught have transcended the world's standards. Naturally, they were professionally trained in magic from childhood, so their experience is hardly less than that of veteran mages. But even so, before they reached thirty, they attained the position of Magus. Even compared against other prodigies who bore the potential for transcendence, they are overwhelming. And yet... Verden has clearly surpassed even them."
Osgar swallowed hard, then declared firmly.
"…We underestimated him. Even knowing Verden was a transcendent, foolishly, we assumed in some corner of our minds that his youth must still hold immaturity. We were wrong. He is no different from the other 7th Rank transcendentals. Perhaps, the reason Verden has been dwelling in unclaimed lands, building his forces, is..."
He did not finish the thought.
The truth dawning upon them was too heavy even for sages to bear.
Cold sweat trickled in the silence.
"Melard."
───Yes.
Melard replied without delay.
───Let us swiftly wrap up affairs in the Western Continent and return to the Silver Citadel. We must meet Shinseong without delay.
***
[Arrived home, continuing mission.]
General overseer Alpha returned to the golem research facility, to repair the mini golem.
He carried with him a heap of mithril and other metals of high mana receptivity, granted by Verden.
From what Verden heard, Alpha intended to use this opportunity to remodel the mini golem, enhancing its performance.
'Could it be, he's had an inspiration.'
Undoubtedly.
Alpha was advancing.
Not just in spirit, but in practical ability as well.
Otherwise, he could not have defied everyone's expectations, manipulating the Ring of Myriad Transformations so swiftly to locate the [Hourglass of Perpetuity].
Though said to be an artificial existence born from the first Demon King, to Verden, Alpha was nonetheless a true individual, a living being.
Unique, and irreplaceable, as anyone is.
For Verden, Alpha's growth was purely a cause for joy.
***
Having returned from the North, Verden, while awaiting contact from the Society, first received reports concerning the unclaimed lands.
To see if any incidents had occurred during his absence.
Fortunately, nothing had.
'The dwarves of the large composite mines in the North, the East, and the conflict zones... all is smooth.'
Not only had little time passed since the great war of the Competition, but more importantly, Verden's very existence acted as deterrence, making other forces keep themselves in check.
Whoooosh.
Lost in thought, Verden intermittently breathed mana into the [Hourglass of Perpetuity]. His plan was to charge it to its maximum, and only then leisurely study Black Hour's research records.
Knock, knock.
Just then, someone tapped on the window.
He had already sensed their presence, it was Unia and Cain.
"Transcendent senior, are you free right now?"
"What is it?"
"Fight with us!"
Until now, they had only heard of it, but the two had never once witnessed a transcendent of magic with their own eyes.
And with such a being so close, the younger generation could hardly sit still.
"We truly wish to gain insight into 7th Rank magic, senior."
Even Cain, normally so composed compared to Unia, could not restrain himself and urged on.
What should he do.
The deliberation was very brief.
Just as Verden rose from his seat, ready to grant the twins' earnest request, Society's Heras suddenly interrupted.
"Your Excellency, the sages urgently request a meeting."
Much sooner than expected. Evidently, even the sages could not withstand their curiosity.
Verden said.
"The sparring will have to wait until later."
"Ah, why now...."
"..."
The twins visibly wilted.
Since this matter was deeply tied to their own masters, they could not possibly throw a tantrum.
Cain and Unia merely bid him farewell and departed with drooping shoulders.
Verden began moving.
"We leave immediately."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
***
The Society's Silver Citadel.
Verden once again set foot in the council chamber, the very place where, after Black Hour's usurpation, they had declared hostility against Bohemirn Tower.
The Sage of Power, the Sage of Guardianship, the Sage of Wisdom.
This time, all were present, none absent.
"We are truly relieved you have returned safely, Shinseong. Truly. You cannot know how much we worried during your silence."
Melard showed her relief, and the other sages wore the same expression.
"It was not intentional. Tending to my injuries took some time."
"Injuries...?"
"Of course, I am now mostly healed. Even now, recovery continues in real time. Soon, I shall fully regain my strength."
The Society still did not know the details, what had transpired in the Great Hall, and why his return had been delayed.
This meeting was to grasp the process and results of the operation, and to decide their next course.
"In any case, as you see, I am intact, so let us put aside concerns for my well-being. Surely, there are other questions you wish to ask."
"…Indeed, I won't decline."
Osgar asked.
"What of Dahit Wethroel?"
Verden gave a firm answer.
"For the time being, he will not be moving, just as I did."
"...!"
The three sages drew sharp breaths.
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