Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: Chapter 7. The Land of Blazing Heat
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Lime's spirited words made Judah smile brightly. To be honest, he had already died twice. If Asmodeus hadn't used spatial transfer to pull him out of the labyrinth, it would have been three times—and if he had saved Arhil in the process, he was truly sorry to Lime, but he wouldn't have gone to the lengths of repeatedly dying just to revive him. Probably... yeah, that's how it would have been.
'From the start, I was repeating death to save Arhil.'
He would have been satisfied with saving Arhil and focused on escaping from there. If it had been Iris who died, that would be different. It felt a bit discriminatory now that he thought about it, but he couldn't help how he felt. If he tried to revive every fallen comrade one by one, he worried his senses toward death might grow numb.
In any case, Judah saw no need to tell Lime he had died twice already, so he smiled and continued.
"Right? What else could it be but dying? I came back alive from the empire's Fragment holders and those famous Blue Spear Knights."
"Now that you mention it, yeah! You survived the Blue Spear Knights... Haha, this. If I go back to the Magic Tower and tell this story, no one will believe it. More tales to tell my wife and kids."
Huh?
A sudden thought crossed Judah's mind, and he looked at Lime. The man was eating his cooling food with a carefree expression, smiling as if looking forward to what lay ahead.
'Hold on.'
What if the Byron Empire had figured out their identities?
No, they definitely had. They'd killed the Basilisk, but Karyktheser was alive, and Organ was with them. They knew their names and backgrounds.
What if Metatron used the temple to announce that Judah had allied with demons?
They could publicly reveal to neighboring nations that he held multiple Fragments and was a danger.
If it came not from Metatron's temple but from the Holy Empire's official stance, it would cause massive changes.
The Byron Empire, having lost a national hero and a Fragment, would naturally issue a wanted order. And while they might not pursue relentlessly... if Baekje learned of the Basilisk's death, they wouldn't just sit idly by.
They might see it as an opportunity and start a war to test the waters. In that case, Karyktheser couldn't recklessly chase after revenge; they'd have to prepare for war against unpredictable Baekje forces at the border.
Even if they knew about Iris and that the weapon she wielded was a Fragment in such a volatile situation... they wouldn't dare touch the Shadow Kingdom. If the Shadow Kingdom sided with Baekje, it would spell real trouble for them.
The Adventurer's Guild would be the same.
The Spirit Sword holder was a key symbol for expanding the guild's influence and showcasing strength to the world. They wouldn't carelessly side with a wanted order under imperial pressure. With influence across the First and Second Continents, like the Mercenary Guild, they wouldn't tarnish their reputation by branding a Spirit Sword holder a criminal. Especially one with Fragments—they'd like that.
'If they believe the demon alliance claim... who knows how they'd react.'
Even if the guild abandoned Judah, it wouldn't matter. The platinum badge symbolizing a Spirit Sword holder was just for identity proof anyway. With Iris's help, fake identities were easy to come by.
If the empire sent people to his hometown, Serenia Castle, all they'd learn was that his parents were dead, beastkin lived in the house, his master was Kaseun Sabnak—a Baekje honorary noble and platinum badge holder—and...
'Gentia.'
Hmm.
Gentia was the issue. Her level was only around 50... But what could they do with two Spirit Sword holders there? They couldn't dispatch troops to the neutral southwest continent, so maybe assassins? But unless they were from the Shadow Kingdom, few could assassinate her. It'd still be a hassle, and unforeseen issues could arise.
"Iris."
"?"
"Could we talk for a sec? On paper."
When Judah asked Iris beside him, she readily lent him her notepad and pencil.
-Any way to contact the Shadow Kingdom from here?
-Yes.
With magical parchment, distance didn't matter much. They couldn't reach across continents, but kingdom-to-kingdom communication was fine. Of course, it cost a fortune.
-Then, one favor? I'll pay the fee. My master is in Serenia Castle—please reject any hit requests on her and protect her. Name's Gentia, tiger beastkin... loves smoking. Oh, and paper notes aren't affected by the contract. No pressure if you refuse.
Reading the long note, she understood why. He worried the Byron Empire might target his master for revenge over the Basilisk.
Considering their current location, Iris nodded.
-Sure. Easy enough. No fee—owe me one instead.
-Thanks.
When she asked for her luggage back, Judah pulled it straight from <Bag>. Iris wrote on the parchment, glanced at him, then handed another note.
-Any message? I'll pass it on.
"Ah!"
Judah's eyes widened. He pondered what to write on the proffered notepad. Such chances were rare. His heart raced at her offer. Was it okay to send words like this? But how else could he reach her in this world?
After a moment, he wrote: 'Can't find you now, but I'm doing well and healthy. I'll come see you soon. Tia. If anything happens, go to Kaseun's estate or anywhere—I'll find you.' And passed it to Iris.
Watching her write on the parchment, Judah sighed in relief and gratitude. The Shadow Kingdom was trustworthy, easing his worries about Gentia.
Now, Arhil and Lime remained. For Arhil, no major concerns—Seraphim generally respected each other. Metatron was strongest and most influential, but if the game followed Judah's settings, Yophiel wouldn't oust Arhil. She was Gabriel's Saintess but still registered as Yophiel's priest. Even if Yophiel stripped her holy power, as long as Gabriel didn't revoke her saintess title, she could still wield divine power, the mana of the heavens.
Gabriel's reaction was unknown, but unlikely to reclaim the title given at Metatron's word. That left the Magic Tower...
Would Langgritsa Magic Tower yield to imperial pressure?
Even using black magic like necromancy, as long as no civilians were harmed, they respected individual mages' freedom, like the Adventurer's Guild.
"Lime."
"Yes?"
"Langgritsa Magic Tower isn't weak enough to bow to empire threats, right?"
"...? No idea why you're asking, but... the only empire? With Baekje around, they won't bend easily even with Fragments."
Lime nodded, grasping why Judah brought it up.
"I see. Worried about my wife and kids? No need. My wife's a mage, kids training to be—unless they storm the tower, they can't touch them. Harm them inside? All mages in Langgritsa—no, Calypso—mages everywhere, even in the empire, would revolt."
Unnecessary worry?
Yeah, with Baekje rivalry, they wouldn't open another front stupidly.
'Good call setting up rival empires.'
Added for fun balance, but it worked better than expected. Judah nodded at Lime's words, finished eating, and retired early for rest.
Judah took first watch. The roaring bonfire warmed them through the deep night. He fed it logs, watching the sleeping group. Exhausted, they passed out fast, breathing heavily like the dead.
'Now... Valentine, Carpediem, Altemia, Yakal, Lusen Ardahan... Rudmilan, Gaia. Seven collected?'
One year.
One year and two months?
In that short time, seven Fragments. Leaving Serenia felt like yesterday, yet here he was with seven. Staring at the flames, Judah let out a hollow laugh. Just 14 months for seven—it was astonishing.
'Thought it'd take years at least.'
Faster than expected. With Iris's nearby Fragment, eight. Get [Requiem of the End] here in the Blazing Lands, and nine together.
If it kept going like this...
Without surprises, collecting all 24 wouldn't take over a decade.
'What to do with all 24?'
...Return to the original world?
He'd had that goal, but it faded. Now, with so many, stronger urge to collect all and inherit Perlnen's lordship. Like a sense of duty, as Cyan said.
Settling down wouldn't be an issue now, but natural death or illness... Fragments probably prevented sickness, but death would reset to save point. Eventually, he'd have to collect them all.
Cyan's <Player> trait kept him sane, but he didn't want endless loops wearing down his emotions. Judah sighed softly.
Every collection sparked these thoughts, but no answers. Too early maybe. Better to ponder deeply after all 24.
Even returning, Cyan's power could bring him back... or staying, Cyan would welcome it—he wanted Judah here.
"......"
Judah ended his thoughts. More just bred unease. Fatigue dulled his mind. Staring blankly at the fire like an idiot, feeding logs, he woke Lime and slept.
"Judah! Wake up. Morning."
A pleasant voice called. Melodic, it brought a smile. But persistent, it forced his eyes open.
"Lime's got breakfast ready. Eat and head out?"
Arhil smiled before him, squatting—his gaze naturally dipped to her hips, but feigning sleep, he closed his eyes and nodded.
Nice morning view, good mood, but dawn came too soon. Felt like he'd just shut his eyes.
"Kraaaah—"
Groaning grotesquely, he rose, but strength fled, collapsing into his sleeping bag. Wanted more sleep. Hated leaving it. Blinking at the sky cleared his head. He sat up, ate Lime's breakfast, packed, and headed back to the Blazing Lands.
Through a long canyon, dispatching annoying mid-path monsters and beasts, crossing a river, forest, fields—vegetation thinned, and far off, sand-draped hills revealed a vast desert.
Two weeks after escaping the labyrinth, they arrived in the Land of Blazing Heat.