Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Transcendent
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“You're Ivan Vieirn... right?”
“That's me. Compared to you, Senior, I'm just a lowly junior.”
“I'm not a mage.”
“I see.”
I was indeed waiting for the Transcendent, but the truth was, I didn't know much about them in detail.
Just... an incredibly amazing existence.
The first time I'd heard that name was back when I attended the Academy.
Just legends floating around. Tales of how becoming a Transcendent overcame the human lifespan or turned you into a god—wild, fantastical stories like that.
I'd learned more specifics later through Raistel. We'd chatted during the boring carriage ride, and that's how I'd picked up bits and pieces.
“You called me.”
“I didn't mean for you to come in person like this.”
“...”
“I'm joking. I did call you for help.”
“Me? You?”
Daring to ask for my help? You?
That's what it felt like, but strangely, his tone didn't change. It just sounded a bit languid, like he wasn't even remotely interested.
A statue come to life, speaking.
But the fact remained: this was someone who could erase me without warning, without a sound, no matter how casual he seemed.
I tried not to show my inner turmoil as I spoke.
“Did you know that the fallen mage we're pursuing is one of the Followers of Evil?”
“I know.”
As expected.
He must have taken interest precisely because he knew they were Followers of Evil from the start.
Followers of Evil were inevitably tied to their master, and that master was likely a Transcendent.
“Then you must know our power alone isn't enough to keep tracking them anymore.”
“I know.”
What is he, some robot? One that doesn't even exist in this world yet.
I started sensing something off and furrowed my brow.
Not just because of the perfunctory replies, but the attitude—like he already knew all this, so what? As if daring me to get anxious for no reason.
“That's why we need your help, Transcendent. This is beyond our reach now.”
“I can't help you.”
My uneasy hunch was right on the money, as always. Damn it.
“Telling us to keep pursuing with our own strength is no different from saying 'go die.'”
“Do that.”
“...Pardon?”
I was speechless.
I'd expected a lack of cooperation, but not this blatant.
He didn't blink. His expression unchanged, his voice steady without a hint of hesitation.
“That's exactly what I want.”
“What you... want?”
“You've heard it before, surely. Transcendents don't interfere in your affairs.”
“But you're the one who took interest and pushed this matter, aren't you, Transcendent?”
“That's not interference.”
What the hell is this bullshit?
What's the difference from wordplay?
Heat rushed to my head, but absurdly enough, I could grasp his intent.
Anything up to that point didn't count as 'interference,' apparently.
“Then... why push us toward death?”
“To create a justification for interference.”
“...”
I understood instantly. And with it, a chill settled in my mind.
So, if they killed us first and crossed the line, then he'd step in.
...What a garbage idea.
I looked at the Transcendent again.
Beauty without a sense of reality, an alien stillness.
A being that had first seemed mystical, overwhelming.
In truth, just trash devoid of humanity.
“If that's the case... you didn't need to come find me yourself.”
“Where did you learn the spell to distinguish Followers?”
Ah, so that's what this is about.
The magic, huh.
“From someone I know.”
“...Is that an answer?”
My attitude turned defiant on instinct.
“I think that's answer enough.”
“You don't value your life, then.”
...I do.
I'd feared him even a little just moments ago because I valued it.
But now my thinking had shifted. The fear was gone.
No interference? Then he couldn't kill me anyway, without that bullshit justification.
“Do you want to die?”
Suddenly, an incomprehensible pressure crushed my entire body.
Even as it squeezed like my body might burst, I forced one corner of my mouth upward.
“You're not silencing me. Curious how I'll babble in terror before dying? You could just kill me first to make it easier.”
Until then expressionless, he twitched an eyebrow ever so slightly.
“......Clever. Or is it luck?”
With that, the pressure lifted.
I staggered, momentarily losing my balance right there.
“You weren't certain I wouldn't kill you?”
“Magic isn't called the art of miracles for nothing. Oh, right—you're not a mage, so you wouldn't know.”
“You must be quite hurt. But that changes nothing.”
“I understand that fully.”
I nodded slowly and continued.
“You've thrown us to the wolves with no intention of lifting a finger for your own pawns, so we'll have to reach over the fence ourselves. You Transcendents know your own kind best.”
“You want information?”
“Yes. What you want is justification, right? Doesn't matter if we die thrashing like dogs or go quietly with our mouths shut.”
Someone might say, just stop the pursuit.
...Impossible.
I might manage, but Parovian and Raistel were soldiers. If orders came down, they had to obey—even if it led straight to death.
I was definitely tangled in a massive hassle.
But even if I regretted choosing this path, I wouldn't run off alone now.
“Very well. What do you want to know?”
“First, Transcendents. Masters of Evil. And their Followers. I want the details on how the three relate.”
The golden-haired Transcendent started to cross his arms, then paused and glanced around.
Come to think of it, we were still talking at the narrow inn doorway.
“Better to go inside than stand here talking.”
“No, it's fine. Speak here. Can't invite a noble guest into such shabby quarters.”
“...A fresh turn of phrase.”
He just nodded like it was nothing. No particular emotion.
A man with not even a speck of humanity.
“The pact we made among ourselves was absolute.”
Having decided to share information, the Transcendent wasted no time.
He seemed impassive at a glance, but was it my imagination that a subtle weariness lurked beneath—not something to dismiss lightly?
“I can't reveal everything, but as you know, one part of the ancient code we established long ago was that Transcendents do not interfere in the affairs of non-Transcendents. But after such a long span of time, Transcendents began overflowing. Especially the long-lived races, and humans too—with their independent advancements in technique—now reach the threshold far more easily than before.”
I knew this well. This world's history was incomparably deeper and older than modern human history.
It wasn't just humans to begin with; it was a world mingled with diverse races.
So civilization advancing, magic and technology intersecting—it was natural for Transcendents to saturate, as he said.
“That's the root of all problems. The promises we upheld have lost meaning. The so-called Transcendents of today are truly...”
The man's words trailed off as if there were no answer.
It was unexpected—not because of the boomer-like complaint, but because this man, who seemed utterly devoid of humanity, showed emotion when it came to issues among Transcendents.
Made me want to interpret it spitefully. Did he truly see non-Transcendents as less than ants?
“The first to cross that line were the beings you call the Masters of Evil. They began flouting one of the taboo clauses: forming factions. Blatantly, for their own purposes.”
“So the Followers of Evil... are part of that faction.”
“Correct. As checks lagged, fools tempted by such paths multiplied.”
“And they're at odds with the established Transcendents.”
“To a certain extent, yes.”
To a certain extent?
Did that mean some established Transcendents had fallen to evil too?
I couldn't be sure, but at least the one before me seemed opposed to the Masters of Evil.
An ally, but not fully—like a complicated, uncomfortable alliance.
If not for him, we wouldn't be tangled with the Followers right now. But if evil-tainted Transcendents were increasingly breaking promises, the ripples would inevitably reach us.
As I pondered the new info, the silent man spoke up again. A somewhat abrupt topic.
“You have ties to elves?”
“...Elves?”
“The spell you used to distinguish Followers. An elf taught you?”
“I have no connection to any elves.”
“You act well.”
Act... well?
I nearly laughed inwardly in disbelief.
First time hearing that.
Even Transcendents had flaws. To think his skills were worse than my maid's.
I wanted to mock him thoroughly, but now wasn't the time.
I shook off the stray thought and pressed on.
“I get the gist of their relationship. Next question...”
“You plan to keep me standing here asking away?”
He cut me off.
“Is there a problem?”
“No matter how I avoid meddling in your world, I've never been treated this way.”
“Really? I'd say this is pretty fresh treatment.”
“Fresh, indeed.”