Chapter 127
Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Collision: Celestia (3)
The Fantasy Repository Celestia housed a massive surveillance system designed to monitor the surface world.
A vast monitoring network I had established so that I, confined to the library, could peer down at the ground—.
It connected to magical devices installed at countless key points across the continent, including the 'Polaris Series' developed by Lua Polaris.
These magical devices, inspired by artificial satellites.
Thanks to the vast sums invested by the Celestia secret society to scatter them far and wide, the area under surveillance had expanded far beyond imagination.
Even the barbarians' territory in the north of the Empire could not escape Celestia's watchful eyes.
- “So, Korkia ordered this altar for the 'Star-Catching Ritual'?”
- “Yes, Great Chieftain! It's a special item the Grand Sorcerer requested for this ritual!”
And now, I sat alone in the library, gazing down at the surface through the surveillance system.
Jagged, treacherous mountains stretched out endlessly.
At the peak of one in the center, a burly warrior inspected an altar.
From the barbarians' conversation, the man speaking there seemed to be the Alliance's Great Chieftain.
Great Chieftain Partlinger.
The very figure the Professor had mentioned while explaining the Ervar Alliance.
- “How much longer until the ritual is ready?”
- “Lady Korkia issued a stern order to complete it at least half a month early, no matter what. We won't be late.”
- “Half a month... Not bad.”
Partlinger surveyed the barbarians preparing the ritual, checking its progress.
The Star-Catching Ritual.
It was essentially a pre-ritual inspection for the ceremony Great Chieftain Partlinger would soon conduct.
Given that the ritual was a make-or-break for the Ervar Alliance, they were preparing thoroughly in their own way.
“The Star-Catching Ritual...”
During the emergency meeting, the Professor had explained that the 'Star-Catching Ritual' was a means to contact entities from the outside world.
Extraterrestrial beings that surface mages called 'the unknowable unknown.'
The ritual was a method to draw those entities into surface affairs.
Just as the secret society's members, including the Professor, sought to summon me, the barbarians clearly aimed to call forth their own patron.
“......”
Since entering Celestia, I had learned much about the library and myself.
From the information brought by the team members, including the Professor, repeated experiments, and the tales the girl in my dreams had shared.
Through it all, I understood that I was bound by countless constraints.
And those watching the surface from beyond were likely similarly restrained.
There would be plenty of other entities eager to intervene on the surface besides me.
“Plenty of others must want direct involvement on the surface besides me. And among them, some won't take kindly to my actions.”
The white-haired girl had said the previous summoning ritual drew too much attention from various fates.
She warned that future rituals might face interference.
However, the forces that might obstruct me wouldn't be limited to outside entities.
The surface had plenty of people aligned with their wills.
“Surely the Church will make a move soon. They've never liked us anyway.”
A prime example was the 'Church.'
They were obsessed with deeming dangerous knowledge taboo and erasing its records.
The Church's priests were pathologically fixated on obliterating any mention of the outside world.
Records of eternal fates, their histories, and the black magic tied to them.
Any materials even remotely related were branded heretical and burned without exception—that was the Church's rule.
“No matter how I think about it, something doesn't sit right with the Church.”
As I pondered the Church, a sudden doubt flashed through my mind.
Why did the Church go to such lengths to erase information about the outside world?
Why suppress the spread of knowledge, even wiping out the names of dangerous entities?
Were all their actions just to monopolize influence on the surface for the 'Guide' they spoke of?
I mulled over the Church's intentions, then let out a hollow chuckle and shook my head.
“......”
It wasn't solely about monopolizing the surface.
Throughout their long history, the Church's actions had aimed to exclude outside influence from the surface.
Yet they never went beyond that.
Summoning their 'Guide' to the surface wasn't the mission claimed by those in the White Church.
“Still, it's puzzling why they're not trying to stop the 'Star-Catching Ritual.'”
That said, I wondered why the Church showed no aggressive moves.
I was certain the entity they called the 'Guide,' leading the Church, was also watching the surface.
Was it simply a lack of information?
Or some deeper intent?
Countless thoughts tangled in my mind.
“Could it be they can't move freely? Having wielded strong influence for so long, they might face restrictions now.”
The Church. The Great Forest. The Alliance. Black mages.
Countless factions seemed like pawns moved by the wills of transcendent beings.
A grand chessboard manipulated by the eternal fates.
That description fit the current situation perfectly.
But it wasn't a fair game.
The Church had more pieces than others, while I held the means to flip the board entirely.
“Either way, things will clarify once this is over.”
As idle thoughts churned in my head,
I waved my hand to close the screen.
It was obvious countless transcendent beings would confront me ahead.
So, I needed magic to kill them.
Just like the 'Great Magic' the girl once mentioned.
“To prepare for that day, I must hasten the magic's completion.”
—Star-Extinguishing Demonic Path.
Having named the first step of the Great Magic, I lifted the open grimoire and inscribed the characters.
When would a new magic take its place in the empty fifth repository?
Even I, the library's master, could not know.
* * * * * *
At the Empire's northernmost border.
Far from Glombart Fortress in the Border White Spirit Mountains, a grotesque creature advanced across the snowy plains, roaring thunderously.
—Multi-Legged Chimera Bug, 'Bug.'
The Professor's prized creation bustled onward today as well, laden with supplies and the motion-sick Raintas.
Thud, boom—.
The hulking mass vibrated the ground as it pressed forward, a ferocious sight.
Amid it, Raintas—pale-faced and staring at the sky—spoke to the Professor beside him.
“Professor... Didn't you say there was a way to fix motion sickness?”
Hoo—
Raintas sighed, a mix of stale breath, and glared at the Professor.
He was inquiring about the chimera modifications the Professor had mentioned during their rift investigation with Raintas.
He assumed it would naturally have been included when repairing his broken body.
“Ah, that?”
The Professor replied to Raintas as if only just remembering.
“Of course, modifications like that are possible.”
“Then why... urk... am I still suffering from motion sickness?”
“It's nothing major. I just forgot to include it.”
Forgot to add the motion sickness blocker—
At the Professor's claim, Raintas shot him a sour glare.
Clank—.
A sharp blade protruded from Raintas's right palm.
“Why didn't you forget to add this damn thing?”
The built-in blade the Professor had installed.
Raintas had never asked for it, never even heard of it before.
Kekekeke—
A chilling laugh burst from the Professor at Raintas's words.
“It was the second most important feature after your treatment. How could I forget that?”
The eerie laughter echoed in his ears.
Watching quietly, Raintas felt curses bubbling up.
“Install something to suppress motion sickness instead of this worthless blade.”
“If the chance arises, we'll do another chimera modification. I'll add whatever features you want then.”
“Shut up! I won't let your hands on my body ever again!”
Trivial banter flew between Raintas gripping the railing and the Professor.
Even as they chatted pointlessly, the Multi-Legged Chimera pressed steadily onward.
Thud, boom—!
Boom! Thuuud—!
Bug, loaded with ritual materials, crossed the borderlands briefly.
Whoosh—.
Soon after, the Professor riding with Raintas whistled sharply.
- ……
Thud! Screeeech—.
The massive frame halted at the whistle, just before Ervar Alliance territory.
“Why'd you stop the chimera suddenly?”
“......”
“We still have time before resting.”
Raintas eyed the Professor questioningly at the abrupt halt.
Perhaps because the shaking Bug had stilled, color returned to Raintas's face.
“People we're meeting here, as promised.”
“A promise...?”
“Yes, comrades joining us this time. Faces you probably don't know, Raintas.”
Raintas straightened from the railing, puzzled by the Professor's cryptic answer.
They were in a vast, barren snowy plain.
Yet no one was visible nearby.
As Raintas caught his breath in confusion, the Professor looked up again.
“Ah, speak of the devil—they're here.”
At the Professor's words,
Raintas's senses picked up unfamiliar presences.
Swish—.
His gaze snapped toward the source.
To confirm the two comrades they were meeting.
“That...?”
Raintas's face filled with bewilderment as he turned.
The Professor's comrades weren't moving on the ground.
A pristine white cloud drifted across the sky.
Below it, a massive crow flew toward them, wings spread wide.
“A c-crow...?”
Far larger than any ordinary crow.
Flap—.
Gliding on its wings, people dangled from its legs.
One wrapped in a black muffler.
Another with flowing black hair.
Raintas's eyes fixed on the black-haired woman.
“One looks like a mercenary from the Eight Swords Guild... Wait, the other one's an elf—!”
“Oh right, I forgot to mention one isn't human.”
“An elf joining this op? Why's a pointy-ear from the Great Forest out here?”
Raintas's flustered voice echoed across the white northern snows.
Beside him, the Professor adjusted his monocle with a smile.
“Since you're all strangers anyway, better to introduce yourselves now.”
“......”
“Allow me, Raintas. The owner of the mobility fortress you shot down in the marquisate last time... Acheronar.”
The elf's identity from the Professor's lips.
Raintas's face stiffened.
“That woman's the Seven Corners...?”
One of the absurd monsters from Alperatz Marquisate.
Castle Lord, Corios Baclier—.
The beast that once dominated the continent's skies now joined as an ally.
* * * * * *
Early evening as the moon rose.
Beneath the full moon of the half-month mark, Barkat's sorcerers bustled about.
Dong, dong—.
Screeeech—.
Various instruments blared, heralding the ritual's day.
A man with two axes at his waist eyed the sorcerer before him.
“The day of the ritual has finally arrived, Korkia.”
One of the ancient rituals passed down among Barkat's warriors, the Star-Catching Ritual—
The time had come for Great Chieftain Partlinger to witness its truth firsthand.
Hoo—.
Cold air piercing his lungs escaped as breath.
Korkia, clad in ornate robes, spread his arms wide to Partlinger.
“Valiant warrior acknowledged by Mother Earth! Today, the day to convey the great warrior's will to the Giant of the Black Sky has come—!”
“The Giant of the Black Sky. A fitting name to bless warriors heading into battle.”
“He truly loves stout warriors. He metes out heavenly punishment to the unworthy, but offers boundless mercy to those who achieve feats—a star of true grace.”
Thud—.
Korkia's staff struck the ground.
The grotesque wooden staff, carved like a human head, gaped as if screaming from his grasp.
Unlike usual, its carved eyes swirled with fierce malice.
“Great Chieftain of the Alliance. Greatest warrior. Great Warrior of Mother Earth. Warrior of warriors who conquered the vast mountains—”
“......”
“Today, I, Korkia, shall conduct the rite to summon the Giant's trial for you.”
After intoning Partlinger's titles at length, Korkia swung his arm.
Roar—.
As if on cue, participating sorcerers ignited the crudely hewn altar.
Signaling the ancient ritual's preparations were complete.
Hah, ha—.
The sorcerers awaiting the ritual all showed tense expressions.
Facing their complex emotions, Great Chieftain Partlinger posed one final question to Korkia.
“Korkia. One last time: no chance of issues during the ritual?”
Kekekeke—.
Instead of answering, Korkia raised his arms skyward with flamboyant flair.
He would demonstrate by proceeding with the ritual.
“——Ahh, stars above.”
Just as Grand Sorcerer Korkia's incantation began,
Kwaaaaang—!
A sudden flash from the sky plummeted toward the warriors on the ridge.
Like a star falling from the night sky, a violet glow crashed onto the patrolling barbarians' heads.
Kwaang! Craaaack—.
The ground shook violently.
As the intense shock rippled outward, Partlinger's eyes fixed on the 'something' that had landed before him.
“......Even so, the response is too quick. No need for the star to crush warriors' skulls to arrive.”
Ziiing—.
Sharp gaze pierced the dust cloud.
The unidentified object that crashed to the surface.
Emerging after mangling countless warriors was a knight in jet-black armor, eyes glowing violet.
- ……
Shaped like an Empire knight carved from black metal.
It mimicked human form, yet felt utterly lifeless.
Great Chieftain Partlinger's senses detected no warrior's fighting spirit from it.
“Korkia, looks like trouble right from the start.”
“......”
“I'll handle this. Don't mind and continue the ritual.”
Clank—.
Partlinger's hand gripped an axe at his waist.
His life had always been one endless struggle.
It seemed this ritual would be no exception.