Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: True Light
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That evening, we had two conversations.
One was about the events that would unfold over the next three days, and the other was to gauge the growth achieved so far.
In simple terms.
Crackle!
The conversation of the body.
Boom—!
Clashing currents and hammer.
It was a battle where a single mistake could cost a life, but perhaps because we'd been through so much already, the sense of crisis felt less intense than expected.
Barundel seemed to feel the same.
“The Aldeon elders have all been hauled off to the Public Safety Department?”
“They're probably finished with the investigation by now and transferred to the detention camp.”
“Even so, they're elders of a major school... sending them to a camp. They sure handle things decisively.”
“With the inner districts turned upside down, they had no other choice.”
With that, Barundel ended the standoff.
His figure suddenly enlarged in my vision.
Whoosh!
The hammer swung once more.
It was as if he'd trained in the interim—somehow, it was much faster than before.
But.
Kwaaaang—!
A pillar of fire erupted from the training hall floor, blocking Barundel's charge.
Having failed his ambush, Barundel frowned and shook off the soot clinging to his body.
“A new spell I've never seen... When did you pick up a trick like this?”
“Who would teach me something like that? I just studied hard.”
“...On your own? Hah, what kind of monster are you?”
“That's not something for someone who comes out unscathed from a direct hit to say.”
“Anyone with a proper body can do it. That's why they say the best armor is your flesh.”
It wasn't unfamiliar information to me.
I'd felt plenty through the zombie knight character that many things could be resolved with the body alone.
But that was just in the game.
Seeing a dwarf shrug off a fire pillar firsthand like this, I couldn't help but be impressed.
It was a bit deflating, too.
Honestly, I'd set it off expecting at least some minor burns...
‘How high is this guy's fire resistance?’
My evaluation of Barundel kept rising day by day.
“So, is that all I need to know?”
“Ah, I almost forgot. That no-good silver-haired knight asked me to pass on a message.”
“...Silver-haired?”
There was only one silver-haired person around.
Shuhan Philedia.
Remembering his existence, I instinctively glanced at my chest—thankfully, my heart was still intact.
“...What message?”
“‘There won't be a next time’... I don't know what it means either. He said you'd understand.”
“Ah.”
It seemed Shuhan had decided against killing me right away.
I had no idea what change of heart had come over the guy who'd been licking his chops at the mere sight of me.
...Well, it could be a reward for closing the rift. Or upholding a knight's honor.
Though he didn't seem the type to care about honor.
“Oh, he also said you won't be hunted by bounty hunters anymore. Were you a wanted man?”
Clearing my bounty too—definitely good for me, but it only made things feel more suspicious.
That bastard wouldn't do me a favor without reason.
Highly dubious.
I'd ponder the reason later and spoke up.
“Yes, something like that... It wasn't a big deal. Asteron's always slapping bounties on people for nothing, right?”
“True enough. I got falsely accused once myself. It was during a hunt, just like any other day...”
Maybe he'd been bored the last few months.
Barundel launched into a long tale of his own experience.
I played along appropriately before deciding to wrap it up.
“Anyway, shall we call it here for today? You must have a good grasp of my body by now.”
“Of course.”
Barundel nodded, his face suddenly serious.
“Brace yourself starting tomorrow. The second stage of training will be truly grueling. Potions won't help either.”
Potions won't work...
“That's welcome news.”
I had no idea how the training I'd only seen in games would proceed, but I wasn't scared off in advance.
Growth always came with pain.
So greater pain meant greater growth.
“...The more I see, the more peculiar you seem.”
“Is that so.”
I flashed a grin and began packing my things.
There wasn't much to pack.
A small amount of gold earned from requests before entering Aldeon, the [Holy Staff], the basic light attribute spellbook from the magic tower.
And the now-shattered [Hard Ladder Armor] set.
It had fulfilled its role against the tower lord's attack, but it still hurt to see it go.
“Heading out right away?”
“Have to. Need to find new lodging, and there are plenty of places to visit.”
“You live such a busy life. I was hoping for that drinking session we missed last time.”
“Haha... Don't be too disappointed. There might be something even better than drinks.”
“...Even better?”
“I'll tell you once it's certain.”
“Hmm, alright.”
“Then I'll be off.”
With that farewell, I left the training hall.
Crisp air, impossible to replicate with the magic tower's cleaning spells, greeted me.
A unique, fresh grass scent I'd never smelled on Earth.
“Nothing beats the outdoors.”
Inhaling the fresh air, I quickly planned my next steps.
‘Find lodging first... Then the information guild. Oh, stop by Lena's on the way. Time to check on Kayla too. She should be in District 6 by now?’
Tasks piling up enough for two bodies.
Of course, one took absolute priority.
‘...Detention camp first.’
Visiting the Aldeon elder.
To grasp the full details of the incident, and above all...
Humm!
“Ha, seriously... What the hell.”
I had to hear why my light magic had become this perfect.
Dispersing the brilliant halo—now flawless, without a single weakness—that I couldn't even use in training with Barundel, I took heavy steps forward.
***
A massive stone building near the Public Safety Department in District 6.
Iron-armored guards were stationed encircling it.
As expected of a facility housing all sorts of criminals, the security was tight.
But with my bounty lifted.
No need for me to shrink back.
“Aidan Tirron. Is he inside?”
“State your business.”
“Visiting hours.”
“Scan your ID first.”
Beep.
The supervisor in pitch-black uniform noted the info on the device by hand, then gestured for me to follow.
The process ending with just an ID scan felt lax, but once inside, that notion vanished.
‘...How many guards do they have?’
Not just outside—inside was fortified too.
At least two standing rigidly at every checkpoint.
Their stance, their aura... All seemed at least quasi-knight level.
No room for funny business unless you were exceptional.
‘It wasn't lax—they're that confident.’
“Wait here.”
Following the supervisor's guidance, I entered the visiting room.
After a short wait, a familiar figure appeared beyond the transparent glass wall.
Long, drooping gray hair and an equally long beard. Gaunt frame, wrinkles, and sallow skin.
Aidan Tirron, Aldeon's sub-tower lord and Second Elder.
‘He looks the same as before, but...’
For some reason, the dignity I'd felt at first sight was gone.
Maybe because of the prison garb.
“...Yoo Han.”
“Take a seat.”
The Second Elder nodded slightly and sat.
“...”
A brief silence followed.
I stared at him—looking somehow frail beyond the glass—before speaking.
“No words?”
The Second Elder seemed to ponder, then spoke with a resolved expression.
“...You were right. I was the fool.”
He lowered his head.
His slightly trembling voice and pale face revealed how deeply guilt gripped him.
It was almost laughable.
Despite countless chances to change his choice, true regret only hit after imprisonment.
Honestly, thinking of the ‘scrutiny’ I endured because of them made me want to barge in and punch him...
“...Enough of that.”
Water under the bridge. No point now.
I decided to use the limited visiting time more efficiently.
“More importantly, explain in detail. What prompted Aldeon, what led to it all, and how it unfolded.”
“You already know, don't you?”
“Sort of. But hearing it from the source is different.”
“...Very well.”
The Second Elder didn't refuse and began recounting the incident.
Most I knew, but some facts were entirely new.
“So, the ‘revelation’ the tower lord mentioned seems like the demon's doing. This one?”
“As embarrassing as it is to admit now... yes.”
“What makes you think that?”
“How else do you explain it? The God of Light wouldn't collude with a mere demon. This must be some demon's work, one that can invade human dreams.”
“Then...”
“Exactly. A legion commander demon. Or at least something on par.”
“...Damn it.”
I wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but I couldn't.
One demon legion commander came to mind who'd do such a thing.
‘If it's dream-related, only that one.’
The Demon of Desire, Asmodeus.
The one who forcibly amplifies innate human desires.
Her power could manifest as dreams.
Through dreams, she shows the target what they crave, plus how to obtain it, maximizing their desire.
More crucially.
‘...What Asmodeus shows isn't an illusion.’
The methods to fulfill the desires she reveals weren't false fantasies.
Follow her guidance, and you'd realize that desire somehow.
Even if the outcome was dire.
Like Dershion, dragged into the abyss of evil.
Anyway.
‘Then my changed light magic...’
Meant Dershion's desire had been realized.
Through summoning Baal, using ‘me’ as the medium.
In short, true ‘light’ had been placed in my hands.
The question was what ‘true light’ meant...
“According to records... Once every 1,000 years, a being appears who conveys tales through light.”
I asked the Second Elder about it—
“And the power surpassing that being... We call it ‘true light.’”
A shocking answer came.
A being conveying tales. And the power beyond.
The moment I realized why the light I'd summoned was so perfect.
“...Whoa.”
It seemed my legendary trait from [Essence of Light].
Had evolved into a mythic trait.