Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Transcendent (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My head hurt.
If the one and only Transcendent I could reach wasn't going to help... then what the hell were we supposed to do?
On the other hand, a hopeful circuit sparked in my mind.
If this Transcendent couldn't interfere easily, maybe the enemy's couldn't either?
But given how confident he was that the golden-haired Transcendent would get involved, there was no guarantee things would flow in the positive direction I imagined.
The golden-haired Transcendent before my eyes answered my questions faithfully.
Did he really believe we could stand against that enemy Transcendent? Or maybe he truly didn't care. Whether we died or miraculously handled it.
...That was fucking awful.
It had been a long time since I'd felt it so keenly—how irrational and unfair society was.
If this were modern society, putting up with it might solve a lot, but this was the medieval era.
Putting up with it led straight to death.
I had to find some way out, no matter what.
Right, just like I'd said... there was magic here that could manifest miracles.
I'd mobilize every method at my disposal to create a possibility.
This was the first time I'd felt such drive since becoming obsessed with making a cellphone. Or maybe it was defiance.
While Parovian lay bedridden, I'd analyzed the trap magic.
It was indeed Vinsen's doing. Or rather, the magic of Vinsen, who had become a Follower of Evil.
The ominous pattern of interlocking gears and wriggling lines had emerged perfectly.
But having seen that trap magic up close, its characteristics of heat and diffusion were still evident.
The pattern had changed, but the properties and attributes remained the same.
What did that mean?
Perhaps the fallen ones... no, the Followers of Evil had their Unique Mana Patterns redefined in this way.
In other words, the gear motifs might represent heat, and the squiggly lines diffusion.
But with insufficient samples, I couldn't be sure.
Vinsen had fully recovered his mana, had enough rationality to set that trap, and with time passed, it wouldn't be too late for him to rejoin his master by now.
I had a guess where that was, but I couldn't just charge in recklessly. That frustration gnawed at me.
No, he might not even be there anymore. The possibility they'd already left was high. It all depended on that master's will now.
I showed Vinsen's Unique Mana Pattern to the Transcendent before me.
He stared at it for a long while, then tilted his head slightly.
"Pattern... pattern, huh..."
He said it dismissively.
"Lots of remnants."
"Got you interested? I'm curious about your Unique Mana Pattern too."
"I'm no mage."
"You use mana. So you must have one."
This Transcendent seemed unfamiliar with the concept of Unique Mana Patterns.
They must be useless for becoming a Transcendent.
It highlighted just how detached my research was from the current magic system.
"Is my pattern needed to solve this?"
"Not right now, maybe later. Since all the lords of evil are Transcendents."
"Hm..."
He was indifferent. Probably hadn't thought of it that way.
But he didn't refuse. He extended a finger and traced a line through the air.
The wood split lightly, like tofu being sliced.
A shimmering trace of mana remained in its place.
"This enough?"
"...Yes."
I stepped into the room, grabbed an artifact, roughly collected the mana, and spoke again.
"Who is Vinsen's master... what kind of Transcendent?"
"One who's slept a very long time. No one put him to sleep; he chose it himself out of boredom with life."
Boredom with life.
How long did one have to live to hibernate through the years like a bear in winter?
"Awoke recently. And he's quite satisfied with the mood among the changed Transcendents lately."
"The atmosphere of ignoring old pacts... like that?"
The Transcendent nodded.
"And through the arrangements he made, the one who became his follower..."
"Vinsen."
"Right."
"If they've met, have they already left?"
This time, he shook his head.
"Doubt it. No reason to leave that place."
"No reason?"
"He uses Fortress Magic. Specializes in turning his location into a fortress."
My temples throbbed painfully.
Then... they're definitely together already. How the hell do I breach that? A place fortified like a fortress by a Transcendent, no less?
If I went after them empty-handed, all I'd be doing was marching to my death.
"...Name. What's that Transcendent's name?"
"Philip Deran."
"Human...?"
"Was once. For a very long time. Whether you could still call him human now... not sure."
Then he added,
"And I am human too."
"..."
I knew that.
My head was too muddled for any more backtalk.
Besides, no matter what I said, this man showed not the slightest emotional ripple.
"So ultimately... what do the evil-corrupted Transcendents want?"
He pondered briefly, then shook his head.
"That might be too much information for you."
"..."
"Survive, and I'll tell you."
He was clearly convinced we'd die. His expressionless delivery only made it more infuriating. Was it just my imagination?
"I won't tell you. Even if I survive."
"What?"
"The magic you're curious about."
He fell silent for a moment, then his lips twitched ever so slightly.
"...That's truly a shame."
For him to react like this, it really was regrettable.
Honestly, I didn't know it all that well either.
I didn't even know Anonymous (2)'s true identity, who had shared that magic.
Of course, if I wanted to, I could find out. Just reverse-trace Anonymous (2)'s Unique Pattern with the admin phone.
But I'd promised myself I wouldn't. I had no desire to break that promise just to share it.
The Transcendent left.
I'd pretended to be as calm as possible in front of him, but reality offered no answers.
I'd gained plenty of information, but it wasn't a solution.
No clear conclusion emerged despite agonizing all night.
As dawn deepened, I reluctantly lay down on the bed.
I held the manaphone in my hand.
The two in the chat room were still deep in conversation despite the late hour.
Tracked where the guy who escaped the forest went. Seems your guess was off? He wasn't heading to his master.
Then where did he go?
There were guys with a similar stench.
Similar stench?
A disgusting smell I never want to smell again. They looked fucked up too. Skin cracked, eyes sunken black and bloodshot all around. Fingers stretched long, wriggling like bugs crawling over them.
Those are the Pale Water Tribe. They wander the borders outside the forest... They have no connection to the tribes living in Palewood. Why would they meet?
How should I know? Catch one and beat answers out of 'em, maybe.
You can't do that. Provoke them rashly and you might bring bigger problems.
Then what?
Anonymous (2) had asked Anonymous (1) to monitor the movements of the Followers of Evil hiding secretly in Palewood, and Anonymous (1) was complying quite diligently.
She hadn't yet explained why they needed to watch the area.
All I knew was that elves had once lived there, but had moved elsewhere.
'Followers of Evil... similar smell.'
A sudden flash of insight hit me, and after a long time, I carved words onto the monument.
They might have formed an alliance.
They didn't reply for a while, perhaps because it had been so long since I'd last posted.
Not that I was embarrassed... I'd pondered it myself after writing.
Wasn't it something obvious everyone knew?
After all, Anonymous (2) knew magic even a 7th-circle mage hadn't seen... magic intriguing enough to interest a Transcendent.
I suspected Anonymous (2) might be a Transcendent.
I'd joined this chat partly hoping for that possibility.
Maybe I could seek cooperation from Anonymous (2). They seemed the type to like deals.
The golden-haired Transcendent who'd come to me directly hadn't bitten on a deal.
But the response was unexpected.
Thanks for the info, but they can't ally. Especially not if some Pale Water Tribe have become Followers of Evil.
...Huh?
She didn't know?
This was info I'd just learned myself.
The evil-corrupted Transcendents forming factions were openly joining forces without hesitation. The old pacts were long discarded, he'd said.
Anonymous (2) seemed unaware they were allying so openly.
As for the golden-haired Transcendent giving false info... everything unfolding matched his premises.
So the chance of misinformation was low.
...Anonymous (2) wasn't a Transcendent?
Or maybe stuck somewhere without current info. Or just a magic expert with no broader knowledge.
...Though the last seemed unlikely.
I moved my fingers and carved a short sentence onto the monument again.
They can.
It sounded a bit like the golden-haired Transcendent's tone, but this curt style conveyed certainty effectively. I'd always been the quiet type here anyway.
How can you be so sure?
It was a question thick with doubt.
I could explain the details. The info I'd gathered backed it up sufficiently.
At that moment, I recalled my goal.
If I tell you, what can you offer in return?
Anonymous (2)'s reply came a bit late.
She must have pondered it.
What do you want?
Philip Deran. Know anything about him?
The question was clearly aimed at Anonymous (2), but an unexpected person answered.
Eh?
That name rings a bell.
What was it again.
Ah.
That timid fuck.
Still alive?
...What the hell was this reaction?