Chapter 151
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Altakas
“Eek! Th-that many?”
Even after two hundred years, the name alone made children cry and people tremble in fear—Altakas, who had left such a vicious scar.
He had suddenly appeared in the empire, slaughtered every living being in a single territory, then used necromancer black magic to turn the dead knights and soldiers into skeletons, plunging the Hildrian Empire into crisis.
The Hildrian Empire, which had no temples, was said to have been thrown into massive shock by the abrupt emergence of these black mages.
On the main continent, priests and holy knights would have taken the lead, but in temple-less Hildrian, loyal knights and mages had to fight the skeletons directly.
But Altakas was no ordinary black mage.
Not only did he wield 8th Circle magic, but he was also a Grand Blade Master in swordsmanship, personally leading the vanguard and butchering mages and knights alike.
And he committed the heinous act of turning those valiant fallen knights and mages into skeletons with black magic and throwing them back into battle.
‘Tsk tsk, if only they’d had temples, they wouldn’t have suffered like that.’
It turned out that two-thirds of the holy water the Kessmire Pirates bought in Neruman had flowed into the empire.
Even now, the empire, unable to forget that past terror, stockpiled holy water as reserves.
“But the fact that Altakas had black hair just like yours fueled the suspicions. And at your age, to be a high-circle magic swordsman? It only deepened the doubts. With over three million imperial citizens dead in just one year, we had to investigate even the slightest suspicion.”
The long, long tale finally came to an end.
Over three million knights, soldiers, and citizens had been killed in less than a year because of that man Altakas.
‘So these guys are the disciples of the mages who came over back then.’
The mages from the continent who had been invited to hunt down Altakas.
The Hildrian Empire had lured a great number of high-circle mages from the continent as mercenaries by offering massive magic stones.
And the surviving mages, who somehow subdued Altakas using holy water imported from the continent, never returned home.
The Hildrian Empire promised them treatment far superior to what they had on the continent.
The fact that mages could rise to duke rank showed just how well they were treated.
And what was most important to mages?
Money mattered, honor mattered, but the top priority was the ample conditions to conduct magical experiments freely.
Thus, the terms aligned perfectly between the Hildrian Empire and the mages, leading to high-circle mages serving at the emperor’s side to this day.
“Such things happened...”
Honestly, it felt like a story from a distant land.
Even though the guardian god of the Temir tribe, the Polymorph Dragon, had mastered black magic, black mages were rare on the continent now.
There was the Shining Tower, a shadowy tower that dealt in black magic, but they were money-driven recluses who lived in the shadows.
On the main continent, where temples dotted every other territory, black mages could never run rampant like that.
Moreover, hadn’t they dealt with it two hundred years ago?
Unless the bastard was a lich—which was just a rumor—he couldn’t possibly still be alive.
“By any chance, is Master Idal still alive?”
Duke Akirion asked cautiously.
“He’s alive, but...”
“Ooo! Really? Master Idal is alive!”
Akirion, who addressed his master with honorifics.
On the main continent, the name Idal struck fear and curses, but here, he seemed to have done quite a few good deeds.
“But he can’t come out. He was gravely wounded in an attack by the towers a hundred years ago...”
“Gasp! Such a thing...”
I couldn’t tell the full truth.
How could I say he was living a utterly luxurious life on Earth, watching satellite TV every day without a care?
That would force me to reveal I was from another world, which I wasn’t ready to do yet.
“What a pity. We need Master Idal here...”
Empress Anatas, who had been listening silently, spoke in a voice heavy with concern.
‘Something’s up?’
If they were searching for my master like this, there had to be a major problem.
“If there’s anything I can help with, I will. What’s going on?”
“Hoo...”
The empress let out a long sigh at my words.
“Your Majesty, if he’s Master Idal’s disciple, he should know.”
“Indeed. Lord Kayer must know eventually anyway.”
‘What the hell am I supposed to know?’
Today had been full of bizarre events.
I’d been accused of being some unknown guy’s disciple amid a tense standoff, and now there was this “something” I had to know as Idal’s disciple.
My instincts told me it was nothing good.
“Then we’ll prepare right away.”
“See to it.”
“Count Kayer, I sincerely apologize for the earlier misunderstanding.”
“Haha, no need. I’m not so small-hearted as to hold a grudge over that.”
After all, I’d called him an old man first and stormed out.
“Thank you.”
The empress used honorifics with me, but the mage spoke casually to me, while revering the emperor—an odd dynamic.
But there was no need to nitpick.
People live by their hearts in this world.
This place was no different.
Ziiiiiing.
‘Eek!’
Something activated, and the chair where Empress Anatas sat slid aside.
“We’ll take the lead.”
“Do so.”
The mages vanished one by one into the spot where the chair had been.
“Tiavel, it’s time you knew too. Enter with Count Kayer.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Not some goblin trick, but a hidden door in the palace—right where the throne was.
I followed Anatas with Tiavel up to the throne’s position.
‘What could be here?’
A secret staircase leading underground, designed for people to walk through.
Whiiiiiing.
A chilling wind sound brushed my shoulders and escaped the hall.
Step, step.
My footsteps followed the mage and the emperor.
Today was a string of strange experiences anyway.
Might as well see it through.
‘A b-barrier spell!’
As we entered the underground, an astonishing sight greeted us.
A space about three meters high and similarly narrow side to side.
Incredibly, the walls were etched with traces of various 8th Circle defensive spell arrays and barrier magic that even I couldn’t use.
Layer upon layer of massive spell arrays, enough to warp space instantly if anything went wrong.
‘Master’s handiwork.’
My master Gandalf, who’d only passed on magical knowledge to me and told me jack shit about the Kaliyan Continent.
I spotted his signature mana formulas on the walls made of mithril and various alloys.
‘Hm?’
After about fifty meters...
A sudden oval stone chamber appeared.
About five meters high and twenty meters across.
‘What’s that?’
In the center, on a stone table the size of a dining table, sat a translucent glass cover.
‘Even a dragon would be in danger if the spell arrays activated once someone entered.’
It was more dangerous than the entrance.
Like some spell array contest, countless arrays were inscribed without encroaching on each other’s domains.
The twisted, re-twisted arrays my master loved.
“Master’s handiwork, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. Master Idal made this place.”
Duke Akirion nodded at my words.
But even as he spoke, the duke and mages stared at the central stone table with fear-soaked eyes—no, even Empress Anatas, who wouldn’t flinch before death, gazed with terrified eyes.
‘It’s not going to eat us...’
The upper part was visible, but the rest opaque under the translucent glass cover.
‘The moment someone touches it, all the spell arrays activate.’
That explained why the mages and empress kept their distance.
The arrays connected to the glass tube.
An ignorant fool touching it would make this place vanish.
“These spell arrays are powered by the empire’s one and only top-grade magic stone.”
“Gasp! T-top-grade magic stone?!”
My heart jolted at the words “top-grade magic stone.”
Top-grade magic stone.
The legendary pinnacle of magic stones.
Even a 1st-grade one could buy a count’s territory.
But top-grade? You couldn’t buy it with money—it was priceless.
On the main continent, only towers or empires held 1st-grades, they were so rare.
Of course, I’d never heard of a top-grade one appearing.
‘What the hell is in there to warrant a top-grade magic stone?’
Its pure, immense mana could spam even 9th Circle spells.
A 1st-grade would suffice, but out of fear, Hildrian had used a top-grade.
“Let me show you. As Master Idal’s disciple, you’ll understand, but touch the glass tube and we all turn to dust—so be careful.”
Duke Akirion warned once more.
I stepped forward cautiously.
“Tiavel, you look too.”
“Yes...”
Tiavel followed behind me at Anatas’s command.
I could clearly hear her pounding heart.
‘What is it?’
As I approached, the translucent glass gave way to a clear view inside.
“...!!!”
Peering in and looking up...
‘Damn! Nearly scared me to death.’
Inside the glass tube was, astonishingly, a human eyeball.
Impaled through the center by a magical needle clearly made of mithril.
‘Huh? This guy!’
Back in Korea, I’d seen exhibits on the mysteries of the human body—corpses and dissections galore—so it wasn’t that shocking.
I’d even seen an eyeball about fist-sized.
But the ones I saw were dead; this one was alive and moving.
‘What the hell is this? Why’s it moving on its own!’
Not some horror flick, but this detached human eyeball was alive, swiveling.
A creepy red pupil focused right on me.
“Aaah!”
Tiavel, following behind, screamed at the grotesque eye staring at her.
Squelch.
I caught her collapsing body.
‘Heh heh.’
Not the moment for atmosphere, but the mature feel of Tiavel against me warmed my heart.
“What is that?”
“That man’s eyeball...”
“Huh? That man?”
The word “that man” flashed a name through my mind.
“The black magic swordsman of ruin, Altakas... the eyeball he left behind.”
“Y-yes?!!!!!”
No way, I thought, but Akirion’s unbelievable words left my mouth agape.
How could an eyeball from two hundred years ago—alone—still live and move?
I wielded magic beyond 21st-century science, but this was another level.
“It was dead until a few decades ago. Then it suddenly revived and now pulses with perfect vitality.”
Akirion continued his unbelievable tale in a fear-trembled voice.
“What...”
“It’s proof he’s reviving. Back then, he fled after we plucked out the eye hit by a mithril arrow coated in holy water. We kept it here just in case. Black magic at its peak turns one into a half-lich, where body parts show life signs like this, so Master and the previous emperor preserved it instead of destroying it—fearing revival.”
“Ah...”
‘Like some resurrected mummy? After two hundred years, go to hell already. What’s worth reviving over!’
Hearing “revival” made my head throb.
An 8th Circle black magic swordsman reviving.
I couldn’t treat it like someone else’s problem.
If he targeted me with malice, what then?
He was a Grand Blade Master and 8th Circle mage; I was just Blade Master and 6th Circle.
‘Nah, why would he target me?’
I forcibly shook off the worry.
What reason would he have to go after me?
He’d never even seen me.
“He’s not in Neruman?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. My spy, holding a high knight position in Neruman, reports Kayer is definitely not there. He personally saw another knight mimicking him flying through the skies.”
“Huhu. He fled in advance.”
“Possibly, Your Majesty. How could he live at ease after wronging you? He’s said to be friendly with the Kessmire Pirates, so he may have fled into exile.”
The imperial palace of the Raviter Empire.
Count Lukens bowed before the emperor, who looked healthier than ever upon hearing the good news.
“What do you need from me?”
“Your Majesty, this is our golden opportunity. No matter how strong Kayer is, he can’t handle it alone in devastated Neruman. Grant me just five hundred Sky Knights, and I’ll crush Neruman in one go.”
Lukens, consumed by grudge.
His venomous eyes gleamed as he demanded five hundred Sky Knights.
“What if he returns while you’re there?”
“No, Your Majesty. There’s this lecherous fool knight named Likel; he said the lord won’t leave his territory for at least twenty days.”
Lukens exuded confident assurance.
“Very well. I grant you 250 Sky Knights from the 2nd Legion stationed in the capital and those from the 6th Legion of the Southern Army. This order takes effect immediately.”
“I shall stake my life to fulfill Your Majesty’s command.”
The emperor’s swift decree.
Contact the Southern Army now, and in a week, they could cross the Kobiran Mountains to strike Neruman’s central city, Denpos.
Lukens knew the fools had dispersed their scant Sky Knights across three locations.
‘Kayer, I’ll raze your Neruman! All of it!’
Lukens ground his teeth.
His eyes turned bloodshot, veins bursting with murderous intent.
“Hehe, glad you’re safe. I was worried you were still lost at sea.”
“Who do you think I am? Lose my way? But what happened? I thought you’d arrive before me.”
“Well... the winds got so strong I missed my takeoff chance. Ended up fighting for my life on the ship and just got here.”
Even monkeys fall from trees; even sea-dwellers aren’t flawless.
Seeing Chrisia blush sheepishly, I sighed in relief.
“Then we can head back right away?”
“Huh? Right now?”
“Yes. The sooner, the better.”
“What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t tell her yet—it was still secret.
About the ruinous black magic swordsman Altakas reviving after two hundred years alive.
Last night, that twitching eyeball trying to meet mine had kept me tossing and turning.
‘Worries on worries. Sigh.’
Neruman already had me on edge, and now Altakas piled on more.
I worried he might sweep through Neruman while I was gone.
“The transport ship took heavy damage? No big deal. But how’d it go with His Majesty...”
“Haha. Who do you think I am? It’s settled, so don’t worry.”
“Oh! Really? Hehe. What a relief.”
Chrisia bounced with joy at my confident words.
The cute antics of this tough sea-woman warmed my heart.
“Then let’s depart. Just pay respects to Her Majesty first.”
“Hehe. As you command.”
Chrisia saluted playfully.
‘Regretful, but next time.’
Staying just one night was a shame, but it wasn’t my last day.
Tiavel had pouted at my promise to return soon, and I vowed a full Hildrian tour.
Right now, priority was Neruman’s safety and peace, not travel.