Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Mysterious Egg
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The Sky Tower was as quiet as ever.
Even though countless mages were holed up inside, endlessly repeating experiments and research, not a single small noise leaked out.
"It's still so quiet here."
Briani muttered softly.
For her, who loved boisterous and lively atmospheres, the Sky Tower was a space that was utterly boring.
After reporting to the imperial palace that she had succeeded in removing the demon tree, Briani had come straight to the Sky Tower.
To find out the identity of the egg that Se Woo-jin had discovered.
"Hmm, what the hell is this?"
She looked at the thick leather pouch in her hand.
In preparation for any possible danger, the pouch containing the egg had been magically treated.
Thanks to that, the warmth it had once emitted was no longer felt.
Briani stared at the pouch for a moment before shrugging her shoulders and starting to walk.
"Better to go inside and ask."
Pondering it alone wouldn't yield any answers anyway.
She had talent for hitting and breaking things, but no interest in research or pursuing knowledge.
Creak—
As Briani approached the Sky Tower, the door opened.
"Oh? Your Grace has arrived?"
"Yeah, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
It was the same boy who always greeted Se Woo-jin.
Briani smiled gladly and exchanged greetings.
"Indeed. How long has it been?"
The two were quite close, chatting away for quite some time right in front of the door.
"Oh, right, look at me."
Suddenly, Briani came to her senses and tapped her forehead.
"Is Marthes inside? I have some business."
"Of course. He's already expecting you."
It seemed he had come out to greet her in advance after hearing from Marthes this time as well.
"I see. Then let's head in."
Briani entered the Sky Tower with the boy.
"It's really the same as ever here."
Peaceful, sparsely populated, and silent.
And infinite mana flowed through, overwhelming anyone who entered.
Briani circulated mana through her body to shake off the inexplicable sense of intimidation.
The vast pressure vanished without end.
"Are you alright?"
The boy asked with concern.
"You think I've only been here once or twice? I'm fine, I'm fine."
As Briani laughed in response, the boy nodded in relief and began guiding her to one side.
"He's in his office."
"His office?"
"He seems unusually busy these days for some reason. Even a lowly one like me can't guess what he's up to."
"Probably just researching something useless again."
Briani joked as she followed the boy into the magic circle.
"If my ability worked here too, it would have been easier for you."
In the Sky Tower, where mana was abnormally condensed, Briani's spatial manipulation didn't work.
Because of that, the boy always came out to greet her during visits.
"I'm fine. It's nice to see you like this."
She patted the head of the boy who grinned and spoke.
"You sure can talk."
As the two chatted idly, the magic circle activated.
Woooong—!
With a bright light, the surrounding scenery changed.
Endless bookshelves.
They were filled with an impossible number of books.
"We've arrived."
As the boy spoke, Briani patted his head and stepped out of the magic circle.
"Thanks. See you next time?"
"It would be an honor. Please take care."
The boy bowed politely and disappeared elsewhere using the magic circle again.
Briani watched him for a moment before turning around.
Then, a large desk and a doll-like girl appeared where there had been none before.
"Long time no see."
The girl, Marthes, greeted her with a beautiful smile.
"Yeah, long time no see. Have you been well?"
Briani greeted her in return.
"This body remains unchanging."
As Marthes spoke and waved her hand, a plush-looking sofa appeared in front of the desk.
Briani naturally flopped down onto it and extended her hand.
"Could you take a look at this?"
Float—
The leather pouch with the egg rose into the air and floated toward Marthes.
"What is it?"
"You know that demon tree the young Dark Elf mentioned before? I removed it. This is the strange egg that came out."
Briani briefly explained the events she had experienced with Se Woo-jin in Heldein.
"Hoo?"
Marthes showed interest.
But what caught her attention wasn't the egg in the pouch, but Se Woo-jin himself.
"I already knew he had reached the Transcendent Realm, but to think it's already to that extent. Hard to believe."
"Right? Even I, who saw it firsthand, couldn't trust my eyes. How on earth did he get so strong..."
Briani trailed off as she agreed with Marthes.
She knew one of Se Woo-jin's secrets, so she held back her words.
Fortunately, Marthes didn't notice and continued nonchalantly.
"Indeed, he was no ordinary child. He possessed something beyond his rank and level. And it seemed he was hiding something suspicious as well."
Briani flinched.
Then she asked cautiously.
"...Something suspicious?"
"Have you not heard? There's talk that the 'Black Existence' which appeared in Jinhan Pass and the Death Forest is connected to that child."
"'Black Existence'?"
Briani's eyes widened as if asking what that meant.
She had heard about the 'Black Existence' too.
As one of the Empire's five guardians, it would be absurd not to know of such a major threat.
But she had never heard it was connected to Se Woo-jin.
"You hadn't heard?"
Seeing Briani's expression, Marthes furrowed her brow.
"Is it reliable information?"
"It came directly from Agna. Quite credible. Apparently, the imperial palace has even imposed restrictions on the child."
At those words, Briani tilted her head.
Restrictions?
She hadn't sensed anything like that.
"They bestowed 'Luden Gardo' upon him."
"What the hell!"
Briani was shocked.
'Luden Gardo'?
The fact that they gave that cursed magic armor to the hero left her dumbfounded beyond belief.
"What the hell are those imperial fools thinking? They're going to discard the hero over unconfirmed info? And one who's reached the Transcendent Realm at that?"
If Se Woo-jin found out...
'He wouldn't fight alongside those who tried to destroy his mind. It'd be no surprise if he became an enemy instead.'
He wouldn't side with those who had tried to shatter his psyche.
If that happened, the Empire might face an enormous enemy.
"I share your thoughts."
Marthes was also displeased with the imperial actions.
Regardless of what Se Woo-jin was hiding, this was needlessly stirring up trouble.
No matter how suspicious, this method was unacceptable.
It was far too dangerous.
"But what can we do? It's the Emperor's direct decree. Neither you nor I can interfere."
In the Empire, the Emperor held absolute power.
Be it the master of the Sky Tower or a transcendent imperial kin.
Before the Emperor, no power could be wielded.
That was how formidable the Emperor and the imperial family's might was.
"...He hasn't noticed yet, has he?"
"The curse of 'Luden Gardo' is so subtle that even the Sky Tower's mana engineers can't easily detect it."
Meaning he would never find out.
Of course, Se Woo-jin had known the truth from the start and had even broken the curse, but neither of them knew that.
"What should we do?"
Briani murmured.
She held a favorable view of Se Woo-jin.
Of course, he was hiding something.
But he wasn't the type to plot world destruction or harbor dark intentions.
Briani trusted her own eyes.
Marthes felt the same.
She possessed eyes that could somewhat grasp the will of the world.
But her eyes rendered a slightly different judgment on Se Woo-jin than Briani's.
Marthes had warned Se Woo-jin before.
That his choices could drastically alter the fate of the world.
It would be good if he made the right decision, but if he chose otherwise?
"That child might destroy the world."
"...What nonsense is that? Se Woo-jin destroying the world?"
Briani let out a hollow laugh.
"I know your prophecies are remarkable. But you're wrong this time, Marthes."
She spoke in a firm tone.
Marthes nodded with a bitter smile.
"I hope so as well."
Silence fell for a moment.
Lost in thoughts of Se Woo-jin, neither felt like continuing the conversation.
Then suddenly.
"But what is this egg?"
Remembering her original purpose, Briani asked.
She decided to resolve the reason for her visit first, even while worrying.
"Hmm—"
Marthes untied the leather pouch Briani had handed her and took out its contents.
A large egg glowing faintly blue.
As it emerged from the pouch, a warm heat began to envelop the surroundings.
"This is..."
Marthes's eyes widened slightly.
"Do you know what it is?"
Seeing her expression, Briani asked with anticipation in her voice.
But Marthes dashed those hopes by shaking her head.
"It's something I've never seen before."
"No, then why did you react like you knew?"
Briani pouted and grumbled.
"But I have one guess."
"What, what is it?"
Regretting her grumbling inwardly, she asked again.
"Have you heard of Divine Beasts?"
Divine Beast (神獸).
The term literally meant a beast chosen by the gods.
It was the exact opposite concept from demonic beasts.
But unlike ordinary animals that absorbed demonic energy to become demonic beasts, the difference in stature was immense.
True existences selected by the gods.
Born embodying the gods' blessings, they were demigods that benefited the world.
"...This is a Divine Beast egg?"
Briani's eyes bulged.
"But the last Divine Beast that appeared..."
According to records, the last one had emerged a whopping 2,000 years ago.
None had been sighted since, and its existence was treated as mere legend, its reality uncertain.
"It's not certain."
To truly prove it was a Divine Beast egg would require extensive research.
"Still, it could be a Divine Beast egg. Why would something so incredible be inside a demon tree instead of the World Tree?"
Briani got chills.
The demon tree was a branch of the World Tree corrupted by demonic energy.
The Dark Elves or other Apostles couldn't have failed to grasp the egg's identity.
She couldn't even guess what they had been planning with it.
But there was a more pressing issue now.
"If they find out we've taken it, they might stir up trouble to reclaim it."
Marthes sighed.
She had a strong premonition that something big might happen soon.