Chapter 271
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: Level 7 (1)
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[I have an important matter from the Imperial Family to convey to you. 3 a.m. Place this letter by the window and wait.]
Placing the letter on the windowsill, Jun quietly gazed up at the sky filled with the moon, stars, and clouds.
A glance at the clock showed it was nearly 3 a.m., just as the letter had instructed.
The moment the hour hand touched the 3, the letter began absorbing the moonlight, emitting a brilliant glow as it formed the shape of a person.
[Hm. It seems the connection is stable.]
A figure made of light spoke to Jun in a familiar voice.
To think there was magic that connected the surface and Blackout like this.
"...Impressive magic."
[Haha, you think so? No need to be so surprised. This is just an ancient technique as well.]
An artifact discovered in Blackout, no doubt.
"It's been a while, Sir Dexter."
[Indeed. It's been nearly a year since you all were wandering through Blackout.]
"Time flies, doesn't it."
[It does. It never waits for us. This time is no different. His Majesty has gone to great lengths.]
With that, Dexter's illusion fixed his gaze on Jun, signaling they were getting to the main point.
[We're grateful for the great aid you've provided the Imperial Family once again.]
"I merely did my best on the commission given. We're mercenaries, after all."
[Haha... True. You always make excellent use of that position. That's what makes it all the more appreciated.]
"Then, may I ask why you've gone to such lengths to contact me?"
[Hm. It's a rather important matter. Ah, rest assured, this conversation is secure and won't leak anywhere.]
"Understood."
Dexter paused for a moment before speaking.
[As you know, the Captain of the Heavenly Dragon Knights, Ben, has made his move.]
"Yes. That's already common knowledge."
[And the Captain of the Heavenly Dragon Knights... is none other than His Majesty himself.]
"......"
Dexter's tone was gravely serious, his eyes filled with intensity.
Yet Jun's expression remained unchanged.
After all... it was something he already knew.
[......?]
Reading Jun's face, Dexter gaped in stunned silence before stammering.
[Y-You... you already knew?]
"It was just speculation on my part, but it turned out correct."
[H-How in the world...?]
"A prophecy, perhaps."
[Prophecy...?]
"That's right."
[...You're saying something similar to what Lord Aden told us.]
Why was Aden, once known as the Empire's Sword, being brought up here?
"Lord Aden spoke of a prophecy...?"
[Yes. He mentioned hearing a prophecy that the Empire would be engulfed in flames.]
One might dismiss it as mere superstition, but Aden didn't take it lightly.
Call it the instinct of a Level 8 swordsman.
'So that's why he descended into Blackout again even after retiring?'
Either way, it worked out well for Jun. Dexter didn't press for more details than necessary.
[Your intense hostility toward the Ascendant Heaven Church must be tied to that prophecy as well.]
"Yes, something like that."
It wasn't exactly a prophecy, but no need to deny it outright.
"Still, why share such crucial information with me?"
[You probably have some idea already, but we of the Imperial Family intend to wield you and your mercenary corps as our sharpest blade.]
"It seems the Ascendant Heaven Church has sunk its hooks deep into many nobles."
The nobles' power was practically essential for the Imperial Family to act.
Yet the current Emperor had been extremely passive in leveraging them.
[As you know, Natalie has gained immense fame in high society through her exceptional artistry. If I may exaggerate, she's even more renowned than His Majesty.]
Thanks to that, even though she spent her nights painting and slept through the days, Natalie was able to gather vital intelligence from social circles.
[And the result? We've discovered far more nobles entangled with the Ascendant Heaven Church than we imagined.]
"Hm... Are you thinking of commissioning us to handle the problem on the surface?"
Uprooting the Ascendant Heaven Church's tendrils on the surface would be no easy task, naturally.
Just like when they joined forces with the Black Guard Knights to purge the church from the Black Market—far from politics, the White Whale Mercenary Corps was ideal for the job.
[Exactly. You catch on quick.]
"You're too kind. So, what are the details of the commission?"
[Merdein. A city destroyed by the Dimension River about 50 years ago. During its reconstruction, we uncovered matters linked to the Ascendant Heaven Church.]
"A place tangled up in a lot of vested interests, then."
[Indeed.]
Merdein, the Empire's largest trading hub, fell 50 years ago.
Even after its fall, many invested heavily, anticipating its revival someday.
This sparked fierce turf wars from all directions, leading to countless incidents—some known, some not.
[But there's one exception. Amid all those squabbling interests, one group remains untouchable.]
"The Sun Church."
The order that had spent decades purifying the ruins of fallen Merdein.
A church with a 'Saintess' ranking above even the Pope—no one dared challenge them as they centered their efforts around her.
[We'll pass the commission to you through them.]
"Commission, you say."
[Stop the schemes of the Ascendant Heaven Church vermin hiding there like cockroaches.]
"We'll take it."
[Good... Now, onto the reward. You'll receive it from the Sun Church.]
"Understood."
With that, the connection severed. The light forming Dexter's illusion fragmented into shards.
Left alone, Jun gazed silently at the moonlight.
'Not much time left.'
The Empire was turning against the Ascendant Heaven Church far faster than in the original game story.
Merdein's arc—where true chaos would engulf the Empire—was beginning ahead of schedule. From here on, preparations were essential.
After a few days' rest, Jun gathered the group.
"So, Captain? Got a new commission?"
"Yeah. But first, there's something we need to handle. Rewards from the last job... and it's about time we prepared to hit Level 7."
"Level 7......"
How long had it been since they reached Level 6? And now Level 7 was on the table.
To the others, it might seem distant, but Jun wasn't looking that far ahead.
"I've been laying the groundwork for this for quite a while."
"We've heard. Expanding influence in the lower strata was for this too."
"Right."
The subjugation force in the lower layers, born from Jun and Cloi's combined wisdom, funds, and strength.
Now, nearly fifty mercenary corps were affiliated with the White Whale Mercenary Corps.
Joseph's band of retired soldiers, formerly part of the undeveloped development team.
Jun and Cloi had sponsored their growth in various ways, showcasing their influence in the lower layers.
On top of that, Colton Carter's basic training academy, run by the Blade Eagle Mercenary Corps leader, had produced many talents. They grew swiftly, securing positions up to Layer 3 with ease.
"Lately, Joseph's groups have expanded into Layers 4 and 5."
"An incredible growth rate......"
There were multiple reasons for such rapid progress in so short a time.
For one, the talents Jun brought to the training academy far exceeded the average.
Cloi's sponsorship amplified that into massive synergy.
And that wasn't all.
Jun shared info on hidden pieces they didn't need themselves, rewarding top performers.
Growth accelerated, rumors spread, and applicants flooded the academy.
They'd even started opening branches recently.
In that whirlwind of expansion, Jun had gathered most of the hidden pieces he required.
"Level 7... Kinda exciting."
"Might not be as big a deal as you think."
This world didn't kindly notify you, 'You've leveled up to 7!'
You simply realized your soul had grown—naturally, as if you'd always been meant to reach this point.
"So... we're doing it right here?"
"No way. I've got a spot prepared. Let's head there."
He'd already informed Cloi.
Jun led the group onto an air carriage bound for the Iriya Plains in Layer 1.
A place where herbivores and carnivores mingled amid decent grasslands.
"This is......"
"An obscure territory in Layer 1. Cloi bought it last year."
"T-Territory, you say?"
Aiden's eyes widened like a surprised puppy.
Territories usually evoked staggering prices.
"Not as pricey as you'd think. As you see, it's not a high-traffic spot."
Tucked in Layer 1's outskirts, connected to only one other Layer 1 area.
Poor liquidity, no steady revenue streams.
At best, byproducts like beast hides.
Who'd pay top coin for that?
"Anyway, our destination's over there."
The Iriya Plains checkpoint.
A nondescript hut squatted plainly amid the fields.
"Originally an emergency shelter. Cloi made it for contingencies."
Inside the rundown hut lay a passage leading underground.
Jun channeled mana to unlock it, illuminating the path ahead.
"Plus, everything we need to reach Level 7 is stored here."
Deeper in, an old wooden door appeared.
Rust coated even the handle, but Jun let a drop of his blood fall upon it.
A complex magic circle formed, scanning his body.
Kiiieee...
The wooden door creaked open on its own.
Jun stepped inside, and the others followed, their eyes bulging at the sight.
"Wh-What's all this?"
"Things Cloi and I prepared over a long time."
Countless skill books, gear, and elixirs of every type imaginable.
The result of scraping together every hidden piece from Layers 1 to 4.
'Doesn't look like as much as I thought.'
Still, enough to fill a massive warehouse.
"All of this is......"
"Yeah. For us to use."
"Th-This many skill books? We learning them all?"
"Yep. But as you know, learning too many skills isn't always good."
"Soul saturation state."
"Exactly."
Soul saturation: a side effect from absorbing too many skill books.
Overwhelmed by the souls' memories within, one became a vegetable.
"But as you all know, there's one way to learn many skills without saturation."
"Learning skills of similar types, right?"
"More precisely, combining multiple skills into a higher one."
A prime example: Aiden's [Bash].
Learned [Charge], then fused it with his swordsmanship and talent into its superior form.
"Eleanor, for you, we'll change your magic aptitude here."
"Aptitude...? Is that possible?"
"It is. With skill book power. And you haven't been slacking, have you?"
"Well, no......"
Even yesterday, the book hadn't left her hands.
Eleanor had diligently studied both magic and divine spells.
"Those will serve as the foundation."
Divine magic from her lifelong study; regular magic elevated by Jun's guidance.
Now, bolstered by skill books and elixirs, Level 7 was within reach.
"Maya, you'll focus on mental skills. Plus a few elixirs suited to you."
Not on par with the 'Simultaneous Flower Grass' from the Cold Breath Earth, but numerous.
"Time to prepare you for the Three Gates."
"Isn't it too fast?"
"It is. That's the result of Cloi and my efforts."
"...Grateful, swordsman."
Maya bowed her head deeply, saying no more.
It felt like yesterday she'd been picked up by Black Forest Guild branch chief Braden, adrift without purpose.
Now, someone charted her path, guiding her true.
"I can only apologize to Sir Bern."
"Hahaha! No need. I'm already Level 7. I know those won't help me grow."
Regrettably, no hidden pieces fit for Bern.
He'd joined recently, and Level 7 needs started from Layer 5 up.
"I'll find you a good shield later."
"That alone bolsters me!"
And finally, the last one.
Aiden.
But from the moment they entered, Aiden's eyes locked on one spot, ignoring everything else.
A jet-black sword, simple with no adornments.
Its blade dyed crimson, evoking a sunset.
"Senior, that one......"
"A sword wielded by one of the greatest Emperors. He commissioned the Iron Tribe himself. Its name: Sunset Blade."
At last, Aiden received his endgame weapon.