Chapter 179: Those Who Noticed (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179: Those Who Noticed (5)
As Shuhtalian V’s face paled with bewilderment, Kurak’s head turned slowly toward him.
“What is the matter?”
It was a calm question.
Shuhtalian V, wondering if he had misheard, asked again.
“...Did you just say Marquis Palatio?”
“I did. Why?”
“...”
His head began to spin.
Even while managing state affairs, had he ever been this flustered?
“What... what does that mean?”
“What are you referring to?”
“I am asking about what you just said.”
“It is exactly as I said. I am going to confirm if Marquis Palatio is truly His Greatness’s friend.”
Silence fell instantly.
To be honest, he needed an explanation, but Shuhtalian V couldn't find the words. He didn't even know where to start or how to phrase the question.
After a long moment of trying to organize his chaotic thoughts, Shuhtalian V spoke cautiously.
“...May I ask one more thing?”
“As you wish,” Kurak replied, waving a hand dismissively.
“...Is the one the lizardmen serve not a Living God?”
“He is. A truly great being.”
“...Then, if the Marquis is his friend, does that mean he is also a Living God?”
In truth, there were countless things he wanted explained. However, he knew that asking wouldn't yield a kind or detailed response. From what he had seen, the lizardman before him wasn't fond of explaining things.
That was why Shuhtalian V had jumped straight to the most important conclusion.
“You are well-informed.”
At Kurak’s answer, Shuhtalian V couldn't help himself.
“...Holy shit.”
The curse slipped out involuntarily. It was the first time he had sworn since he was fifteen, when he had narrowly dodged an assassin’s blade during the struggle for the throne.
And so, he reached a bizarre truth—albeit through a different path than Karmakeses III.
‘...Marquis Palatio is a god?’
* * *
Returning to the upper floor of the tower, Alon picked up the pendant and the letter that had been left there.
A red gem was embedded in the pendant, its interior filled with cracks that looked like branching bolts of lightning.
Alon unfolded the letter.
“Hmm.”
It wasn't particularly long or short, just enough to fill the front page. It contained a brief greeting followed by two necessary pieces of information.
First, the sender had exhausted their strength crafting the gem Alon had requested and would not be able to show themselves for the next six months.
Second, the gem would "speak" to him on its own in a month or two, so he should wait until then to begin.
After reading the letter, Alon felt a small pang of regret.
‘...I had some things I wanted to ask.’
He had intended to ask the Dragonkin about the Mental World, but there was nothing he could do now. Putting the regret aside, Alon tucked the pendant and letter away and headed out.
“Oh? Marquis, you’re out quite early this time.”
Alon gave a light shrug.
“Well, things just turned out that way.”
“Shall we head back immediately, then?”
“Yes. There’s nothing left to do here anyway.”
As he walked, a thought occurred to him.
‘...I was planning to visit Kailas again today, so I’ll just ask him then.’
He organized his schedule in his head as they exited the ruins. Before long, they were back outside under the scorching sun.
“The Marquis looked so cool back then, I’m telling you!”
“Mhm, mhm! I know exactly what you mean!”
He saw Karsem and Seolrang engaged in a heated discussion, their vibes perfectly in sync. They looked like a comedy duo—a two-shot that gave him a strange sense of déjà vu.
Then, his gaze dropped to Seolrang’s busy hands.
[Kyu—]
He locked eyes with Blackie, who was being ruthlessly petted by Seolrang.
...The little creature’s eyes were filled with a pitiful, resentful plea for help.
* * *
By the time the sun reached its zenith, the group had safely returned to the Colony under Karsem’s escort.
Alon immediately went into Seolrang’s guild building and took out the Feet Running Through the Past.
‘I could have used this much sooner.’
By the time they had crossed the desert and reached the merchant guild and the Colony, the artifact had already been fully charged with mana. However, he had waited for a fixed location to use it.
According to Evan’s testimony, the moment Alon used the Feet Running Through the Past, his entire body would vanish and then reappear. If he was simply being pulled into another space, it would be fine, but if he used it while traveling and ended up stranded in the middle of the desert, it would be a disaster.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Yes. I’ll stand guard just in case,” Evan said.
“Me too!”
[Kyu!]
As Alon lifted the Feet Running Through the Past, Seolrang and Evan nodded vigorously. Even Blackie, whose tension seemed higher than usual now that he was free from Seolrang’s hands, wagged his tail energetically.
Watching them, Alon funneled mana into the artifact.
Soon, his vision was engulfed in a brilliant white light.
“...”
He entered the place he had seen before.
A world where everything was in ruins.
According to Kailas, this was the Mental World that seemingly belonged to Alon.
And there, he found him.
“You’ve come, brat.”
Kailas was waiting.
* * *
“...Are you asking if a Mental World can manifest in a different form?”
“Yes.”
As soon as he saw him, Alon went straight to the point.
“It is impossible.”
“Is that so?”
“Brat. If you are walking the path of a Magus, you should understand something this basic the first time it's explained.”
Alon clicked his tongue at Kailas’s light scolding. It wasn't that he didn't understand; he was just checking.
‘In any case, it seems I won’t be getting an answer about this Mental World from Kailas.’
Having reached that conclusion, Alon spoke again.
“...May I ask a few more things following our last conversation?”
“Go ahead. I wouldn't be here if I didn't intend to listen. But keep your questions brief.”
Kailas sat down on a stone mound and gestured for him to continue. Alon organized the questions he hadn't been able to ask last time.
“I want to ask about Formulas.”
“...Formulas?”
“Yes.”
When Alon nodded, Kailas’s expression turned strange.
“...Brat, I have to ask, are you being serious?”
“I am.”
“...A fellow who walks the path of a Magus, even if only halfway, doesn't know about Formulas?”
“Is it wrong not to know?”
“...”
Alon’s attitude was so confident that Kailas’s jaw dropped in disbelief. However, he soon shook his head as if dismissing the annoyance.
“A Formula is exactly what it sounds like: a set equation.”
He began his explanation.
“Every Magus basically utters an activation word to draw out their Heart Image. But as you know, a Magus’s activation words are long and slow.”
“...”
“In battle, speed is directly linked to survival. Not only that, but speed is crucial in everything from research to every application of magic. That is why Magi created Formulas—so they could manifest magic instantly without chanting.”
“So, a Formula is an equation created to implement magic quickly?”
“It cannot be defined that simply. Ultimately, a Formula functions as a Magus’s unique characteristic. Well—”
Kailas added under his breath, ‘Not that it’s something someone who hasn’t even properly acquired a Formula would understand—’
“...How does one obtain a Formula?”
“It is not difficult. If you have a proper understanding of your Heart Image, you weave that image and engrave it onto your body.”
“Weaving and engraving it onto the body...”
“Exactly as it sounds. Like the Heart Image you have—no, wait.”
Kailas stopped mid-explanation and looked around at the ‘ruined world’ surrounding them with a peculiar expression.
“...Now that I think about it, brat. You definitely had a Heart Image, didn't you? Why is your Mental World like this?”
“Ah.”
Alon easily understood the meaning behind the question.
‘Right, I did finish off Kailas with the Ice Crystal Flower Spear before.’
Recalling the memory, Alon hesitated for a moment before telling him the truth: that he could use Phrases and Sentences even without a Heart Image.
“That makes no sense...”
Kailas’s frown deepened. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh.
“So, in conclusion, you can use Sentences without any understanding of a Heart Image.”
“That’s how it is.”
“Ha, ridiculous.”
Kailas let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
“In that case, there is no point in me talking about Formulas or anything else. There is no way you would understand my explanation when you haven't even received a Heart Image.”
“...Just in case, were there no other Magi like that?”
“Of course not. There’s no way a Magus like that would—”
Kailas started to deny it immediately, but then he paused.
“...No, wait. Now that I think about it, there might have been one.”
“Who was it?”
“I only heard stories, but they said one of the elven Magi used magic in that way.”
“...Do you know who it was?”
“I don't. I never had a reason to meet them. However—”
He reached back into his distant memories.
“Right. I believe they were called the Primordial Elf... or something like that.”
“The Primordial Elf?”
“Yes. I know nothing beyond that.”
“...”
It was another reason to visit the elf village.
‘The Primordial Elf also used magic without a Heart Image...’
Perhaps going there would unravel another tangled thread. Having organized his thoughts, Alon decided to ask Kailas one more question—or rather, a favor.
“From what I know, you handled Spirit Dragons. Is that correct?”
“It is.”
“Then, can you teach me how to use a Spirit Dragon?”
“How to use a Spirit Dragon?”
The corners of Kailas’s mouth curled up into a smirk.
“Do you even know what you’re talking about? You can only use a Spirit Dragon if you have a contract.”
His gaze was as if he were looking at a fool. Instead of explaining, Alon simply said:
“I have one.”
He pulled Blackie out from his coat. Kailas looked at the black ball of fluff sitting in Alon’s hand—
[Kyu?]
At the sudden appearance of the Shadow Spirit Dragon, Kailas’s composure shattered.
“What the hell—”
A string of curses escaped his lips in pure shock.
* * *
Kailas, who had been acting cool and composed until now, was utterly flustered the moment he saw Blackie. He looked back and forth between Blackie and Alon as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
“How did you do it?”
“...Do what?”
“How did you form a contract with a Shadow Spirit Dragon, and not just a fragment, but the actual body?!”
Kailas was practically huffing with indignation, but Alon answered nonchalantly.
“It just happened.”
“...Are you trying to brush this off with ‘it just happened’? After pulling off something this insane?!”
Kailas fumed for a moment, then looked behind Alon and let out a sigh.
“Fine, well—I suppose it could happen.”
As Kailas’s reaction calmed down, Alon brought up his curiosity.
“I know Spirit Dragons and Shadow Spirit Dragons are different, but is the difference really that great?”
“There are many differences.”
“...That much?”
“Yes, that much. To begin with, today is the first time I’ve ever heard of someone forming a direct contract with a Shadow Spirit Dragon.”
At Kailas’s exaggeration, Alon looked down at Blackie, who was currently ‘loafing’ in his arms.
[Kyu?]
Blackie tilted his head cutely. Alon knew Blackie was strong, but he had only read about it in documents; he had never actually seen it, so he was genuinely curious.
Wondering if it was really that big of a deal, he stroked Blackie’s back.
“...You really don't understand how much luck you’ve stumbled upon, do you?”
Kailas watched them with a hollow laugh.
“Fine. It should be possible here, so I’ll show you.”
He raised both hands.
“...Show me what?”
“Watch closely. See for yourself what kind of luck you’ve gained.”
Without further explanation, Kailas immediately began forming hand seals. Taking a strange stance with his left hand extended forward and his right hand clasped behind it, he whispered:
“Seat of Empty Mind.”
Rumble—!!!
Something black began to rise from his shadow. Then, as if it had been waiting—
“Illusion Map.”
The shadow began to devour the ruined world.
The ashen sky.
The cracked earth.
The rotten trees.
The twisted grass.
It devoured everything. It was as if every existing thing was being shoved into an abyss.
“Linked Dragon.”
The moment the words left Kailas’s lips, the shadow that had finished devouring everything began to take shape. As if creating something from nothing, life was breathed into the black shadow.
And the final result was...
“Messenger of Sin, Abyssal Void Dragon.”
It was a dragon.
A massive dragon that blanketed the ruined world all on its own.
And then.
“This is the final stage of your Shadow Spirit Dragon.”
“...”
At those words, Alon could only stand there with his mouth agape. In a world where everything seemed to have stopped before this transcendent being—
[Kyu?]
Only Blackie’s cute cry echoed hollowly through the void.