Power Is There to Be Used
Power is there to be used. The sapling in the Water Realm was the result of a seed germinating—one I had obtained from the ruins where I discovered the Dragon Slayer's Sword-Spear. No functions had been identified yet, so it essentially served as a massive inventory and stood as the only landmark in the Water Realm. It was also a sapling I had left alone because, aside from occasionally rustling its leaves, it didn't seem to know how to do anything else. I had fed it the leftover experience points from skill enhancements now and then, but since it showed no clear changes, I had half given up on it. Seeing how it reacted to the World Tree Branch, however, I had a feeling that feeding it this would bring a reward that would make all the invested experience worth it.
"If it's something you need, then you should take it."
"We're fine with the Phoenix Feather."
"The sapling in the Water Realm is going to grow? As a mage, that piques my interest."
"If the Water Realm gets bigger, the size of the nests we can build will increase too, right? I'm all for it."
Thanks to the Lucy siblings' party and my companions readily giving their permission, I took the World Tree Branch and placed it into the Water Realm. The sapling absorbed the branch as if it had been waiting for exactly that. When the sapling that had absorbed the World Tree Branch began to glow brightly, the Irregular Laserdon lying nearby watched with curious eyes.
One minute passed, then two... I chatted casually with my companions at the table and waited all the way up to ten minutes, but it remained unchanged in its glowing state. I stared at the radiant sapling with a slightly disappointed look.
"Don't tell me the sapling has entered a metamorphosis state like the Lesser Dragon?"
"It seems that way. Rapid changes are rare in nature, after all."
When I opened a small fissure to peer at the glowing sapling, Neon poked his head through to check on it, adding credibility to the theory. Breaking existing limits and stepping into a new world inevitably came with side effects if rushed. This slow transformation was a way to minimize those repercussions.
"Still, thanks to the experience I invested, the metamorphosis shouldn't take long."
Thanks to my soul connection, I could instinctively sense the sapling's condition. I swallowed my disappointment. We had consumed materials the Flame of Doom had treasured like gold and jewels. There was no turning back now. If they learned of this, they would hunt us by any means necessary. To prevent innocent victims, we would have to eliminate them first.
I smiled as I looked at my companions seated around the table.
"Then shall we prepare how to lure them into our trap?"
"Goddammit, who the hell...!"
Sipherian, an elder of the Blue Tower, walked toward the underground storage with a pale face. The wounds he had suffered in battle against the black mages had not yet healed, but that was not important right now. While receiving treatment from the church's priests, he had been horrified when the signal arrived that the storage's security magic had been broken. After making up some excuse to the priests and leaving the temple, Sipherian hurried into the warehouse where the materials were hidden.
As expected, the space where the concealment magic had vanished contained only traces of the precious materials. Nothing remained.
"What kind of items were those! What thief took them?!"
As a mage, he knew the value of those materials better than anyone. A Phoenix Feather and a World Tree Branch. One was a feather from a great divine beast, the other a byproduct from a tree the elf kingdom held sacred. He did not know who had noticed and stolen them, but if this fact became known, those people would not let it slide.
"What do I tell the Snake? No, I need to find the culprit before that woman notices. That way there won't be any backlash."
He maintained his composure as much as possible while thinking of countermeasures. Why would he, an elder of the Blue Tower, have left such valuable materials untouched and carefully hidden? Sipherian was one of the few who knew fragments of the power the Flame of Doom had concealed. He also knew that if he fled with the materials, they would capture him by any means and subject him to a horrific fate.
"Damn it, nothing goes right!"
His skills had stagnated over time, which was why he had cooperated with the black mages for several years. During that period he had done dirty work and subtly sabotaged rival elders, steadily increasing his influence. But recently, disasters had struck one after another. The talent he had carefully prepared and handed over to the Flame of Doom had defected to become an official black mage. He had suffered severe injuries while subjugating a demon summoned by a suddenly appearing black mage organization. And now the precious materials entrusted to him by the Flame of Doom had been stolen. Compared to his previously smooth life, this was the worst situation imaginable. He clutched his head in rage.
"You're right. Nothing has gone well lately."
"...!"
The voice from behind made Sipherian freeze, his anger forgotten. This storage was sealed with strict security, and the entrance would not open without an elder's authentication. No one should have been inside. Yet the woman behind him answered his mutterings in a relaxed voice as if it were nothing. Sipherian knew exactly who she was.
"...The Snake."
"Correct. And the owner of the stolen goods."
Her words implied she had known everything from the start. Cold sweat ran down Sipherian's forehead. Like prey caught by a snake. The Snake moved behind the now-motionless Sipherian and spoke in a seductive voice.
"I'm truly disappointed. I left them with you to avoid the Judgment Court's pursuit from the North, yet you couldn't even protect them."
"...I didn't expect this either. This is a space that no one below elder rank can enter."
Moreover, he had focused the powerful security magic solely on concealment, considering how concentrated mana might look suspicious. He had even installed elaborate mechanical devices to protect it physically, creating a double-layered secret space. He had never dreamed it could be breached. The Snake knew this, so she said nothing further.
"I know. For an ordinary Blue Tower elder, you hid them rather well."
"Th-then..."
"But a breach is still a breach. Remember the terms in the contract? Even your life won't be enough to pay the price."
He felt the sensation of a cold viper pressing fangs against his neck. The chilling terror of imminent death washed over his entire body, and he shouted desperately.
"A chance! Give me a chance! Just in case, I secretly cast a tracking spell on the materials! I have a way to track them, so give me an opportunity to make up for this!"
"I didn't think you'd be that meticulous. Is that true?"
"Of course it is! How could I feel at ease secretly hiding materials of that caliber!"
The Snake seemed to ponder his sincere words for a moment before retracting her fangs. Sipherian, who had been on the verge of death just moments ago, let out the breath he had been holding.
"Fine. I'll give you one last chance. Track down the thieves, retrieve the materials, and I'll give you half the reward."
"O-of course. I'll lead all the mages in my faction and chase after them."
He had never imagined his usual timid personality would shine in a situation like this. Thanks to the contingency plan he had prepared for a true emergency, he had clung to life. Fresh anger flared within him.
This was all the thief's fault. He did not know their identity, but the moment they failed to notice the magic cast on the materials, their fate was sealed. Sipherian glared at the empty space with burning eyes and strode out of the storage. No presence remained in the warehouse after he left.
A few days later, Sipherian led the Blue Tower mages who followed him and the hastily hired mercenaries on the pursuit. His face was rigid as he scanned the surroundings. The mages who had come with him wore worried expressions at his state.
"Your complexion looks poor. Are you all right?"
"I heard your wounds from the black mages haven't healed yet."
"Why don't you leave this to us and rest..."
"Enough! We've come this far—what's the point in giving up! I will reclaim the stolen goods no matter what!"
At Sipherian's words, the mages' expressions hardened. If the elder was in such bad condition yet still insisted on coming personally, just how valuable were those materials? The low-ranking mages knew nothing, but those who had risen to become his close aides knew he was colluding with black mages. They understood that the materials they were to recover belonged to the Flame of Doom. They also knew that if they failed to retrieve them, they would die.
It was only natural. The price of eliminating their rivals had been a poisoned chalice. Having removed their competitors with the Flame of Doom's help, failure to fulfill the organization's demands meant they would be used as experimental materials. Unless their own power surpassed the Flame of Doom's—which it did not, being like a candle before the sun—resistance was impossible. Thus, the mages maintained their tension as they moved deep into the mountains where the tracking magic's energy could be felt.
The path was so rough that the physically weak mages panted and grumbled.
"Huff! The thieves' hideout is in a place this remote?"
"It makes sense if they don't want to be found, but this is too far out."
"I want to rest for a bit."
They had guessed as much when the tracking spell's location registered deep in the mountains, but hardship was still hardship. The mages, whose stamina was already abysmal from constant research, trudged on with grim faces across the treacherous terrain. After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at the thieves' hidden base.
"It's a cave!"
"That must be their hideout!"
"We're finally here!"
Upon reaching their destination, the mages—bodies drenched in sweat—could not hide their joy and sent the mercenaries ahead. While the hired mercenaries slowly advanced into the cave to buy time for the mages to prepare their spells, one of Sipherian's close aides approached.
"I can sense the materials' energy inside."
"I know without you telling me. This puts my mind at ease."
"Since we've succeeded in the cleanup, the Flame of Doom shouldn't complain. We'll dispose of the hired mercenaries as planned."
"Yes. The fewer witnesses, the better, so they must be dealt with."
They were mayflies anyway. Even if they did not kill them, the mercenaries would soon die as expensive shields in territorial wars or from stray monster attacks. There was no hesitation. Their own safety mattered more.
"Advance!"
"Hold until the mages finish casting!"
"Don't let the thieves escape!"
Sipherian watched with satisfaction as the troops entered the cave. He sensed that the plan had succeeded. With this many soldiers, no matter how skilled the thieves were, they would not last. The moment the materials were secured, they would use the prepared magic to eliminate the mercenaries...
"Gaaah!"
"Ugh?!"
...before they could even begin, the mercenaries who had entered the cave were thrown back out. Sipherian's face hardened briefly at the sight of the mages' corpses sliced cleanly in half. Then white-armored knights emerged from the darkness-filled cave, and his expression turned to shock.
"The Holy Knight Order!"
"Why are the church's paladins here?!"
"Look at the emblem! It's the Order of the Sword of Order!"
The knights holding shields decorated in white and gold and pure white longswords strode out imposingly, glaring at Sipherian.
"Sipherian, high-ranking mage of the Blue Tower. We arrest you for heretical acts of colluding with black mages."
"What nonsense is this! I only came to legitimately reclaim the stolen materials!"
"Ridiculous! We already have evidence of your collusion with black mages! Save the details for the underground interrogation room of the Heresy Tribunal!"
Sipherian realized it was too late to shamelessly lie his way out. With a hardened face, he shouted.
"Everyone, take up your weapons! The moment you helped us who colluded with black mages, your fates were sealed!"
"Ridiculous! Those without sin, lay down your weapons and surrender! The Just Furian does not punish the innocent!"
At the two men's shouts, the choice of the low-ranking mages and mercenaries was obvious. Rather than help Sipherian, whose fate was clearly sealed, they decided to rely on the paladins' mercy. Nearly half the force immediately turned or surrendered. Sipherian cried out in a wronged voice.
"Why is the Holy Knight Order here?!"
"The Saintess informed us of your evil deeds."
"The Saintess? You mean the one at Orbis Academy?"
At the mention of the Saintess's involvement, Sipherian wore a dumbfounded expression. He knew that some academy students had visited the Blue Tower. Their extraordinary status had drawn the mages' attention. But why her all of a sudden? Just when had she noticed his cooperation with the black mages? Sipherian's mind spun chaotically.
But the question was easily answered.
"Power is there to be used."
"If the Saintess is fighting on the front lines, how could those below her just sit still?"
"And it's not just any saintess—it's the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom."
A group emerged after pushing through the bushes near the cave. At the appearance of the academy students, adventurers from the North, and yet another Holy Knight Order, Sipherian's face turned deathly pale.
"The materials inside are important, but mobilizing two entire knight orders just for me?"
"That's not why we brought them."
"Why don't you show yourself already? You must know how this is going to play out by now."
The mages looked puzzled at the sudden words directed at empty air. But Sipherian knew exactly why they were speaking that way.
"Our little ones are quick on the uptake, aren't they?"
"Retrieving valuable materials by leaving everything to subcontractors would be too uneasy, after all."
The air distorted, and a group revealed itself. A black knight radiating dark aura, a black mage chanting sinister spells, undead emerging from subspace, and at their center, a woman wearing a snake mask. At the appearance of the Snake and the Flame of Doom, an adventurer from the North laughed.
"Good. Let's skip the small talk and fight already. The winner takes everything anyway."
"Fine by me. I'll kill every last one of you who dared take my belongings, retrieve the materials, and the Saintess's life will make this journey worthwhile."
With those words, the two factions charged toward each other as if by prior agreement.