Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Sudden Change (3)
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Roseline slowly retraced the events of the past few months.
After the Transcendent's surprise attack on the banquet hall, everything seemed to have been wrapped up on the surface, but the aftermath still lingered in various places.
Most notably, Ivan Vieirn.
Ivan, who had drawn the Transcendent away alone, hadn't shown himself in public even once since that day.
She'd heard whispers that he was safe, but since they weren't close, she had no details on his situation.
The people at the banquet hall breathed a sigh of relief at having survived, yet they were stunned all the same.
How could a mage who had just reached the 7th Circle escape a Transcendent?
Of course, with so few who had ever faced a Transcendent, it was hard to gauge the method.
They could only think that Ivan was remarkable.
Roseline felt the same.
Among those at the banquet hall, she was the most familiar with Transcendents, but having never truly faced one without Cedric's protection, she couldn't measure it properly.
Beyond simply feeling he was impressive, another emotion stirred in Roseline's heart.
What to call it... a competitive spirit? No, it was more complex, tinged with self-deprecation.
She was grateful, of course. Without Ivan, she would have died right there, unable to move.
But the emotion left after the situation was resolved soured into bitterness.
Since that day, Roseline often berated herself.
"Why couldn't I do anything back then?"
Cedric. Seeing him hadn't affected her like this. He was overwhelmingly dominant even among Transcendents.
She had even unconsciously relied on him.
In contrast, Ivan, at the same realm as her—with strength as his only edge—responded to the ambush without a hint of panic.
To protect those around him: his family, his comrades.
What had she been doing all this time?
Ivan, with whom she had no real bond, had felt frustrated enough with her to even scold her.
That meant she'd been that out of it.
Was it because she had nothing to protect? Or because she'd only ever been protected, lacking experience?
No.
That was just an excuse.
What good was a resolute will to grow stronger? Even with her mindset straight, if she wasn't prepared to overcome fear when crisis struck for real, it was worthless.
Her shortcomings were clear.
Mindset. And courage.
Things she'd always believed were her strengths.
That was why.
Facing true courage and feeling her own lack so keenly, the bitterness lingered long.
Of course, she wasn't wallowing in despair.
The black stele she'd recently acquired.
Inside it, powerful Transcendents exchanged views and shared goals.
And while Roseline was caught up in the ambush, lost in chaos, something else had been unfolding there.
She checked it belatedly.
"The first time I saw what 0 said."
The Great Being, was it?
Fittingly, his words were vague, but that vagueness was authority itself. That's how Roseline felt.
Something only "0" knew.
The one gripping the world's flow in their hand.
His words felt like divine prophecy.
Anonymous (2) followed them like immutable truth. This incident involved Anonymous (2), but it was easy to see the other Anonymous existences would follow suit.
As time passed, she grasped the atmosphere.
She realized each of these Anonymous Transcendents was no ordinary figure.
Anonymous (2) commanded a powerful faction. They said it occupied most of the northern lands, and even other Transcendents gathered there in numbers.
Anonymous (3) was a king ruling the deep sea and its other races.
Anonymous (1)... At first, she'd thought them just crude in speech, every word blunt, even arrogant.
But over time, she naturally realized that arrogance stemmed not from empty bravado, but actual power.
Anonymous (1) possessed the greatest martial might among this chat room's Anonymouses.
No, among all Transcendents, save the Great One, none could stand against them.
Her view of Anonymous (1) shifted not just from hearing this.
Before she knew it, Roseline was receiving quite a bit of help from Anonymous (1).
They were a martial Transcendent.
Currently, with their guidance, she was refining her mental image.
Her progress and acquisition speed were swift, yet Anonymous (1) took it in stride, as if it were natural.
Like seeing their younger self.
Anonymous (4), if anything, was similar to her.
While she got help from Anonymous (1), they got it from Anonymous (2).
But the pace was on another level.
Anonymous (1) had once remarked that at least she was within normal bounds—thank goodness.
Anonymous (4) had ascended to Transcendent at an absurd speed.
A freak whose very humanity was in question.
Anonymous (4) was quiet. They rarely spoke in this chat room, tossing short words only when needed, and even those didn't linger long.
Stoic? Or enigmatic?
And "0".
The one called the Great Being.
If hierarchies existed among Transcendents, they transcended them all. A Transcendent among Transcendents. Heavenly Beyond Heaven fit.
The only one without "Anonymous" among this chat room's named existences, whom even the other powerful Anonymous Transcendents followed.
No, served.
Yet serving "0" didn't mean blind loyalty like other organizations.
Here, "transactions" held importance above all.
That was the strangest part.
No one received orders, yet no one dreamed of defying "0"'s will.
His presence was that overwhelming.
Right now, she was receiving help from Anonymous (1) without cost.
Did they not even count that as a transaction?
Meaning they didn't see her as an equal at all.
No need for negative feelings. Thanks to it, she was gaining immensely.
That very gap allowed her to learn.
"But once I become a Transcendent..."
Then, she could make transactions too.
Those who tried to kill her.
Uncovering why they hunted her so relentlessly felt like fate.
These beings could find them easily, right?
Wasn't it unfair to leave it all to Cedric?
But the time wasn't ripe. That came after becoming a Transcendent.
Habitually checking the black stele once more, Roseline closed her eyes and recalled Anonymous (1)'s advice.
Soon, she entered the process of refining her mental image.
"Kuh."
My throat hurts. Maybe from the bad air.
No, it's been quite a while since I've felt this constant stuffiness, like something's caught in my throat off and on.
How long have I been here?
I'd set up in the southern volcanic region, hunkering down until I felt familiarity, and months had already passed.
I'd expected years, but not that it'd drag on from the start.
Familiarity is instinctive, so grasping it took time.
But I'd started feeling familiarity with the fire attribute, and once I got the sense, there were gains.
Regrettably, no Oracle Stele here.
No, finding one in the snow mountains as Anonymous (1) did was more impressive than I'd thought.
Unless I wrecked the whole place, it wouldn't be easy.
Anyway, with fire familiarity achieved, time to actively search for steles.
If nothing turns up, I'll leave. Need to attune to other attributes too.
"Come to think of it, I've never been around here."
Even on past travels, I'd stopped before delving this deep south.
Thus, no Manaphones hidden nearby.
No settlements either.
After a long trek, one village with assorted races.
I'd gone back and forth a few times. Heard some curious tales there.
Something about a witch living nearby.
"Witch"—first I'd heard the term here, so it stuck.
Like Fallen? But that's tied to evil forces.
Never heard witch rumors in the Empire, so I knew little.
"Wonder how the other Manaphones are doing."
No chance entrants after Anonymous (3). Anonymous (4) was natural, Anonymous (5) I deliberately led.
The thought hit suddenly—because of the witch.
Worry that someone tied to evil might stumble on a Manaphone.
Of course, if a true evil affiliate entered, I'd know.
Corrupted ones have warped mana patterns, and as admin, I can check users' via the manager phone.
Good that initial Anonymous (1) and (2) were unrelated.
Didn't even think to check patterns then.
No, never imagined it'd escalate like this...
And just as I was rummaging through the volcanic zone for an Oracle Stele.
The Manaphone buzzed.
Anonymous (6) has entered the chat room.