Chapter 545 - Deception (3)
From afar, the tremors of an explosion were felt.
The raid led by Revana's 2nd squad had begun. The Mages of the magic tower must have been half out of their minds by now.
After all, they had already heard from the Ostea tower master about the state of the alliance.
'Well then....'
Verden recalled the information about Gluttony's activities and the presumed location of his hideouts, mentioned by Ark's Locke and Theon.
A total of three regions had been selected as candidates, located to the east, west, and north, centering around the magic tower alliance's frontlines.
Each was far enough from the battlefield that the effects of war would not directly reach them.
Somewhere in one of them, perhaps two, lies the answer.
Of course, assuming Ark's intelligence was correct... but given they weren't far from the front, there was credibility.
It would be difficult to physically carry the corpses of Mages killed in the war far away. Even if spatial teleportation was possible, the magical ripples would make detection highly likely.
The magic tower alliance did not consist of the Bohemirn tower alone.
So then, where could it be?
Logically speaking, it would be the most easily concealed place. A deep forest with no people, or a mountaintop, such places.
Considering the hideout found in the duchy, the possibility was high.
But.
───Yes, that is correct. The reason we have not found another hideout yet is because the characteristics of Gluttony, as Ark has understood until now, are no longer clearly visible. To put it simply, his habits have changed.
The Listener mentioned that because Gluttony was moving differently from before, Ark's intelligence network had failed to locate him.
'The main reason is a helper.'
In other words, the Bohemirn tower was concealing Gluttony.
Since they shared a common ground in human experimentation, it was certain that Bohemirn tower was sharing laboratories with Gluttony.
Which meant, within the three candidate regions selected by Ark, there was at least one external, unofficial laboratory belonging to Bohemirn tower.
There lay the clue.
The magical ability of Balrog Bessias, who possessed an extremely arrogant personality, was transcendent.
Objectively speaking, if he truly used his innate magic circles to conceal and protect an unofficial laboratory, the probability of discovery would be none.
'Even if a Transcendent of equal rank stepped forward, it would hardly be different.'
And yet, would Balrog truly bother to scurry like a rat and hide himself?
Not at all.
Instead, he would settle in a place ill-suited for hiding, laugh at the world to his heart's content, and flaunt his power.
Even Verden, who could directly break Balrog's magic circles, would have difficulty piercing through such concealment.
However, there was a way.
There existed a means to clearly locate the hideout Balrog Bessias had concealed. Inside [Ainber], the sensation of a necklace was felt.
The ancient artifact [Pupil of Mahram].
Simply by wearing it, one could constantly pierce through magical concealment, and when activated, even physical camouflage could be seen through, a legacy of Amwol.
From within the collar of his robe, Alpha poked his body out.
[Catch goblins. Shall we begin?]
"Catch goblins, huh...."
It seemed he had learned another phrase he had overheard somewhere. Not incorrect. He had learned well. Though the situation was a bit different.
Verden did not intend to capture the goblins one by one as they emerged from the cave, but to incinerate the entire cave itself.
Whoooosh!
At once, three halos formed around his body, one after another, as his speed exceeded its limit each time.
Verden began full-speed flight, racing through the sky above the clouds.
***
The strongholds of the magic tower alliance, caught off guard, were destroyed one after another.
Though the Mages of the towers belatedly regained their senses, activating their mana circuits and rushing to counterattack, it was meaningless.
Revana, a mid–6th-tier Magus, along with numerous lower-ranking officers, and even the weakest Mage among them was an elite of Black Hour.
To properly wage a magic war, the alliance would have to dispatch at least three lower elders of the tower, or one of the great elders with their main forces.
"Th, this... urgh!"
A general Mage of Bohemirn tower, who was calculating a spell, suddenly collapsed with a thud. His eyes rolled back. He had been struck by mental magic.
Before Revana, who had opened her Mado, none could remain conscious.
This was normal.
The anomaly was that swordsman Adrian, once an enemy fought deep within the Great Hall and now turned ally, could maintain his senses.
'At any rate. Already the sixth stronghold, huh.'
The disruption was progressing smoothly.
With this much commotion at the frontlines, it would be difficult to handle both this and the coming incident at Virente simultaneously.
Though the front, the magic city, and the towers of the western continent were each far apart, carelessness was not allowed. Their communication system was swift.
To underestimate the methods of the towers, which had dominated the continent's magical world for so long, would be madness. Especially those towers that housed Transcendents.
Thus, the 1st and 2nd squads had divided operations, dispersing the enemy's focus.
Should the towers hear the news and attempt immediate spatial teleportation response, hesitation would be forced, and they would not be able to concentrate their forces solely at the magic city or the front.
If things became too dangerous, they would simply retreat in haste. Total victory was not the goal. The only true enemy was Bohemirn tower.
'Whatever grudge the great Shinseong holds against Bohemirn tower....'
Whatever it was, she looked forward to it.
She too had her own ambitions. If the one who had defeated mighty Amwol and inherited its annihilation was a transcendent existence——
Then such a being was worth devoting her loyalty to.
Revana led the 2nd squad toward the seventh stronghold. Glancing at her watch, she then turned her eyes westward.
By now, the 1st squad would also be in full motion.
***
In a grand auditorium within Virente's high district, a single voice echoed.
If one had any interest in elemental magic, it was impossible not to know the man who had stirred the world of elemental Mages.
Lucard Maniacs.
He was the third disciple taught by the Omnipotent Transcendent, and the rising star of the Element school, mastering elemental attributes.
His fame had begun with the announcement of the Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory.
Lucard was the one who had presented the possibility of acquiring and mastering multiple elemental attributes effectively through attribute linkage.
The Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory carried immense pain, and any newly awakened attribute had to be cultivated from the 1st tier upward, so most high-level Mages did not attempt it.
It was more efficient to focus on their original specialty.
But young Mages were different. The younger they were, the more so. Those who understood the importance of foundational design in elemental magic desperately sought to master the theory.
More than half of the challengers failed to endure the process and gave up, but those with perseverance reached the moment of fruition.
Icar de Esperanza.
The second son of the Ducal House of Esperanza of the Kingdom of Estiria, had also experienced this truth.
'But this is... a bit disappointing.'
Seated by the window among the many chairs of the auditorium, Icar let out a silent sigh as he watched Lucard give his lecture from the podium.
The author of the Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory.
After several years of silence, he had published a new thesis last year, but honestly, it was underwhelming. No, it was interesting, yes.
Its level was fairly high as well.
Yet, it lacked something shocking or innovative like the Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory. Coldly speaking, it was simply another magic thesis among many, albeit well-made.
'Still, perhaps hearing the lecture in person would be different, I thought.'
But his rhetoric, expression, and understanding of magic were not much different from other lecturers he had seen.
Not even a mention of the recent, hotly debated incidents of breaking through tier limits.
"───That will conclude my lecture. I am Lucard Maniacs."
As the lecture ended, thunderous applause filled the hall. Icar too clapped politely. Most likely, the majority felt the same.
Yet no one revealed their true feelings, for the other party was none other than the 4th-ranked tower in overall standing. To earn their ire, even by mistake, was dangerous.
Regardless of the massive damage they had suffered from the mana reactor runaway incident and the war against Black Hour, Bohemirn tower was still Bohemirn tower.
Lucard left with his escorts who had been waiting nearby. Only after the sound of their footsteps faded toward the guest room did others begin murmuring as they rose from their seats.
It was fine, but.
Below expectations.
Not very moving.
From every corner came the sound of disappointment that expectations had not been met.
Regardless, Icar remained seated for a while longer, gazing blankly out the window, lost in deep thought.
'...Perhaps it is time to return home.'
His life as a foreign student was not turning out as he had hoped. He felt little inspiration. The enthusiasm he had upon coming here had long since faded.
He thought of his family.
His father had risen from marquis to duke, while his younger sibling, Calia, had taken on the role of mediator between the underworld, Roafra, and the kingdom.
His eldest brother, who had awakened his qi, was studying abroad in the Arnak Empire. Their mother, too, resided in the Empire, using her resourcefulness to passionately support both the eldest son on the western continent and Icar.
Considering that, even pouring himself fully into magic hardly seemed enough... yet with no visible results, it was hard to muster motivation.
And there was one more reason he wished to return to the kingdom.
A name that Calia had mentioned repeatedly in her letters. Asher. A continent-wide celebrity in the magical world, known even more widely than Lucard.
The Dragonslayer.
The Divinity of the Eastern Continent.
The ruler of Roafra.
The power of the Ownerless Land.
An honorary count of the Estiria Kingdom. The number of extraordinary titles was not small. He was, without question, a Magus worthy of respect.
'From what Calia wrote in her letters, it seems they grew close while resolving several incidents together... if I asked, would I be able to meet him?'
He did not like to rely on connections, but there was no other way. Icar was a Mage who had inherited his mother's blood.
It was then.
"...Huh?"
Far away, something flashed for an instant.
At the same time, one of the security towers protecting the Tower Association lurched, then split with a great crack and collapsed without resistance.
───Kwoooong!
The barrier vanished as the bisected security tower toppled. Not just one, but several, collapsing in a chain. Some crashed onto the ground, others fell straight into the artificial river ahead.
The shockwaves from their immense weight reached all the way to the high district.
A beat later, the auditorium shook. Cracks spread across the windows. Screams rang out from the lecture hall and the corridors at the sudden calamity.
"...What the."
Icar fixed his eyes on the Tower Association, where the barrier had been shattered.
Though distant, like mere dots in the air, figures of unknown Mages had formed a line and were charging through the skies straight toward the Association.
Once again, light flickered.
One of the Association's buildings was smashed apart.
Someone was attacking the Tower Association.
***
Half of the security towers crumbling like dominoes was a sight witnessed across the entire magic city. As eyes were drawn to the tremors and the thunderous noise, alarms soon blared.
Someone has committed an act of terror!
Quickly, head to the safety zones!
At the urgent voice, so unlike anything heard in daily life, the residents scattered in panic, all rushing for shelter.
While the streets bustled with people desperately seeking safety, there was one person who cut through the crowd, walking against the flow.
Seemingly relaxed, yet unmistakably swift.
Adrian.
He passed through the now-quiet streets of the high district and reached the area where the auditorium and several luxurious buildings stood side by side.
Two Mages standing guard, watching toward the Tower Association, noticed Adrian approaching and tilted their heads.
"What's this? Someone's coming?"
"I didn't hear of any such guest arriving. I'll handle it. Hey, stop right there! This is not a place for you to just───"
Thwack!
In an instant, he stepped forward, striking the unsuspecting Mages' jaws. Invisible blows sent them flying, knocked out cold.
Their swollen jaws were injuries of no consequence.
Adrian strode confidently through the main gate and into the hallways of the auditorium.
He had already memorized the structure, so there was no chance of losing his way.
Blending naturally into the chaotic crowd, he slipped past the line of security and entered the building reserved for the guest rooms.
Few presences could be felt.
Of course. For in all these guest rooms, only a single group resided. They had rented them out entirely for the Bohemirn tower.
He was almost at his destination.
Turning the corner, seven Mages were waiting.
At the sight of Adrian, a composed Mage—Maron, tasked with guarding Lucard Maniacs—arched his brows.
"You're not one of the guards... who are you?"
Perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere.
Maron narrowed his eyes, clicked his tongue, and drew his staff, while the escort Mages under him also readied themselves.
Adrian, unfazed, circulated his inner qi.
極叡, Extreme Insight.
The moment he heightened his sense of touch, things beyond normal perception became clear. Even the forced magical formulas engraved within those Mages.
'A forced magic circle.'
No mistake.
During preparations for the annihilation of the Bohemirn tower, he had learned, with his lord's help, how to distinctly identify such targets.
With his secret art activated, Adrian could recognize those marked with the forced magic circle, Coercion.
"So, Lucard is an outsider, but his seven escorts are all internal members of the Bohemirn tower. Good. That means I need not spare them."
"...Internal members? How do you know that word."
Decision made, Adrian gripped the handle of [Silendar]. His body leaned slightly forward, then vanished.
The escorts instinctively tried to draw up their mana, but they were far too late.
Already, Adrian had drawn his light-sword, already moved behind Maron.
"Wha...?"
A belated gleam of sword-light cut diagonally across the Mages. Their bodies, wrapped in magical items, were severed along with their arms.
Maron, gaping soundlessly, was sliced through the heart, killed instantly.
Target, Maron. Neutralized.
Crack.
Next, he sliced clean through the narrow gap of the tightly shut door. The security magic circle split before it could even activate.
The lock too was cut apart, and the door slowly swung open.
Inside, Lucard, who had been muttering with a scowl, widened his eyes in shock.
Adrian spoke.
"You're the thief."
"What? Who are you..."
───Crash!
Adrian's front kick slammed into Lucard's solar plexus.