Chapter 221: Outer Gods and Defying Heaven (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 221: Outer Gods and Defying Heaven (5)
Thousand Year Ice swallowed hard, staring at the young man who was smiling with an air of complete harmlessness.
His blue eyes were so clear they seemed to sharpen the mind just by looking at them.
The young man, watching him intently with those eyes, didn't look particularly strong at first glance. He wore a simple leather tunic, the kind favored by common mercenaries, and the quality of the weapon he held could hardly be called exceptional.
Yet, the aura radiating from this man—who looked barely twenty—was enough to make even Thousand Year Ice fall silent as goosebumps prickled his skin.
He hesitated.
Should he clash with this youth who stood in his way, weapon in hand? Or should he listen to the young man’s words and quietly turn back?
“…….”
The deliberation didn't last long. Thousand Year Ice spread his hand wide.
Cr-cr-crack!
Small ice crystals gathered beneath his palm, clumping together and taking shape. At first, it was a tiny sphere, but the ice rapidly shifted and expanded, growing larger by the second.
What emerged was—
Thump!
A massive axe, its size easily dwarfing Thousand Year Ice’s own eight-foot stature.
The Divine Axe, Ice Eye Muscle.
It was so gargantuan that one might wonder if it could even be swung properly. Thousand Year Ice hoisted it lightly onto his shoulder and let out a low growl.
“I don’t know who you are, but I’d appreciate it if you moved.”
However, Elivan merely let out a troubled hum and shrugged.
“It seems you still don’t believe me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“When I said I’m doing this for your sake.”
The situation was already lethal. Thousand Year Ice had assumed a combat stance, drawing up his mana until the snow covering the ground swirled violently in the air. Yet, amidst the chilling killing intent, Elivan remained serene.
He acted as if Thousand Year Ice’s genuine bloodlust was nothing at all.
“…….”
Thousand Year Ice’s brow furrowed deeply. No matter how virtuous his nature, he possessed a significant amount of pride in his own strength. It was, after all, a power bestowed upon him by the God he served.
He was well aware that the blue-eyed youth was strong. But Elivan’s calm expression made him feel as though his power was being dismissed far too easily.
Tsk.
The pride and competitive spirit unique to the northern tribes flared up within Thousand Year Ice’s chest.
Then, Elivan spoke again.
“I’m being sincere. I’m stopping you for his sake, but also for yours.”
“And why is that?”
“Because…”
The corners of his mouth, which had been curled in a smile, suddenly turned cold.
“If you go there now, you will die.”
Elivan spoke of his death so casually, as if mentioning a blade of grass by the roadside. Thousand Year Ice could no longer restrain—
Crrruuuuush!
—himself?
At the sudden sound, Thousand Year Ice instinctively whipped his head around.
There stood a cliff. Until a moment ago, it had been a pristine white landscape covered in perennial snow. But now…
“…….”
The center of the cliff was sunken, as if it had been crushed by a giant hand. A massive, unsightly scar remained on the rock face.
And that wasn't the end.
Rumble—!
The impact triggered a massive avalanche on the snow mountain beyond. As Thousand Year Ice stared blankly at the sight—
“You. You already died once just now, didn't you?”
“!”
Startled by Elivan, who had appeared right before his eyes in an instant, Thousand Year Ice recoiled and swung Ice Eye Muscle with all his might.
Whirrrrrrr—!
The air froze along the axe’s path, drawing a trajectory of ruin. Everything in its way was ruthlessly crushed. It was 'destruction' in its purest form.
Then.
BOOM—!!!
A massive crater formed through the white snow. But unfortunately, Thousand Year Ice’s attack hadn't even grazed Elivan.
“Goodness…”
Elivan was already standing behind Thousand Year Ice. He let out a small sigh and whispered into his ear.
“You really don’t listen, do you?”
“!”
Thousand Year Ice reflexively tried to swing his axe again, but—
“Stop.”
Unlike before, a terrifyingly chilling voice fell over the snowy field. At that sound, Thousand Year Ice stopped moving in spite of himself.
No, he was made to stop.
The only thing he could move was his eyes. Thousand Year Ice rolled his eyes to look at Elivan.
The harmless smile, the clear blue eyes. He looked exactly as he had moments ago.
However, Thousand Year Ice felt something entirely different from him now. Something that felt as though it should never be perceived.
His heart hammered frantically against his ribs, and his eyes widened in shock.
“I think I’ve said enough for you to understand by now, Mr. Thousand Year Ice. I don’t believe I’m asking for anything difficult.”
“……If you want to stop me from going, why not just kill me?”
At that question, Elivan let out a cold smile.
“Oh, I’d love to. If it were up to me, I’d kill you right this second.”
“…….”
“But I don’t, simply because he wouldn't want that. That is the only reason you are still breathing. You should be truly grateful, you know?”
Thousand Year Ice opened his mouth to retort—
“……To a guy whose face I don’t even— Gack!!”
He couldn't finish his sentence. His throat was caught in Elivan’s grip.
“Ack—!”
Thousand Year Ice’s physique was far larger than Elivan’s. He was easily two feet taller, and their body mass wasn't even comparable. Yet, Thousand Year Ice was powerless. He was held like a doll, unable to offer even a hint of resistance.
And then, Thousand Year Ice saw it.
Something black shimmering within those blue eyes. He had no trouble identifying that emotion.
It was rage. A thick, viscous rage that seemed to crawl up from the depths of the abyss.
Thousand Year Ice couldn't understand it. How could this young man harbor a rage in his eyes that one could only possess after reaching the very end of hell?
But he wasn't allowed time to think. Soon, Elivan’s voice, saturated with that thick, sticky anger, poured over him.
“Be ashamed of your ignorance, you moron.”
“Guh—”
“Who do you think is responsible for the fact that you people can look at this scenery…”
Snap.
“…and shove delicious food into your mouths…”
Crack!
“…while playing these pathetic little games?”
The words were spat out as if he were grinding them between his teeth. As the sentences piled up, Thousand Year Ice’s movements ceased entirely.
“Urgh—”
In that final moment, staring into the suffocatingly deep fanaticism lurking beneath that viscous rage, Thousand Year Ice was released.
“Hah—! Hah—! Hah—!”
The moment Elivan let go, he collapsed and rolled across the ground. He desperately sucked oxygen into his lungs. Just to live, just to—
“My, my. I’m terribly sorry about that.”
As Thousand Year Ice regained a sliver of composure, the youth entered his vision again. He was wearing that good-natured smile once more, just like when they first met.
“Anyway, it’s really dangerous to go toward the sound of the flute right now, so please try not to go. Understood? If you were to die, he would be very disappointed.”
Pat, pat.
His voice sounded gentle, as if he were truly worried. After patting Thousand Year Ice on the shoulder, Elivan spoke again.
“Well then, I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Thousand Year Ice.”
Showing that picture-perfect smile one last time, he turned away. Within the swirling snow, the blue-eyed youth vanished as if he had never existed in the first place.
Staring at the empty space, Thousand Year Ice muttered blankly.
“……Just who is that man……?”
* * *
After exiting the dome-shaped building, Alon returned to the passage he had used to enter the Horizon and organized the information he had gathered.
An Anomaly and Defying Heaven. And—
Alon recalled the contents of the parchment in his breast pocket.
‘Reach the 5th Tier,’ was it?
Excluding the words that looked strange even to him, despite his ability to read the Ancient Language, Alon wore a peculiar expression as he thought of that first line.
The 5th Tier.
The expression itself wasn't hard to understand. In fact, for Alon, who had no milestones regarding his magic formulas, it wasn't bad to have a goal presented to him.
But regardless of that, he couldn't understand why the term ‘5th Tier’ was used.
“…….”
What Alon had been chasing until now were the traces of a Magus. And while the Magi who existed during the forgotten Age of Gods had a connection to modern magic users, the link was incredibly faint.
Furthermore, as far as he knew, the concept of ‘Tiers’ didn't exist among Magi in the first place. Yet, for that word to appear there…
Sensing an inexplicable dissonance, Alon pondered it for a while before clearing his head.
Well, once I get what I need from the North, I’ll be seeing Kailas often. I should ask him when I return to the Marquis’s estate.
After organizing his thoughts, he recalled the words spoken by that voice that seemed to contain the abyss itself.
Anomaly…….
Alon had heard that word before. He hadn't paid much attention to it then. But the moment he heard it today, a certain hypothesis occurred to him.
Perhaps the ‘Anomaly’ they spoke of referred to those like himself.
Of course, it was only a possibility. But since it wasn't entirely improbable, Alon continued his train of thought until—
“Teacher.”
“Yutia.”
He suddenly spotted Yutia standing at the entrance of the cave in the distance. He had reached the exit without realizing it.
“Teacher, are you alright?”
Her eyes were filled with worry.
“I’m fine.”
“……For someone who’s fine, there are bloodstains.”
At the slight tremor in Yutia’s voice, Alon shook his head to reassure her.
“It’s alright. I didn't get into a fight; something just happened for a moment.”
Despite Alon’s words, Yutia couldn't easily let go of her concern. Alon deliberately changed the subject.
“More importantly, did you finish everything you needed to do?”
“Ah, yes. I’ve finished all the investigations.”
“I see. Did you find everything you were looking for?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Is that so? I was going to tell you to check out an altar-like structure further inside, but I suppose it wasn't that important.”
At Alon’s words, Yutia hesitated for a moment before showing a small smile.
“Hmm— well, that’s true. But should we go investigate it anyway?”
“If you’ve already finished what you needed to do, there’s no need to check it, is there?”
“I suppose, but since you mentioned it, Teacher, I thought it might be worth a look.”
“No, there’s no need. You must be tired from waiting for me anyway. Let’s head back.”
Alon shook his head, thinking of Yutia’s well-being, but—
“…….”
The faint smile that had been on Yutia’s face until a moment ago turned into a bit of a pout.
“?”
Alon looked puzzled by the sudden change. Apparently displeased by his reaction, Yutia’s pout deepened. She let out a small sigh and—
Tug.
She lightly grabbed Alon’s sleeve and looked up at him. She didn't say a word; she just watched him quietly.
“……???”
Alon’s confusion grew so deep that his usual stoic expression began to falter. Yet, Yutia remained silent, her lips pressed firmly together as she stared intently at him.
Tug, tug.
Seeing her subtly and weakly pulling on his sleeve, Alon finally realized that Yutia was staging a silent protest and began to rack his brain.
“…….”
Cold sweat ran down Alon’s back. He realized she was protesting, but he couldn't figure out why.
What is it? What part did I get wrong?
As he replayed the conversation over and over, he suddenly remembered something she had said when they were traveling from Teria to Calliban.
—‘I told you when we went to see the evening primroses last time, so I won’t say it again.’
Looking at Yutia, whose cheeks were slowly puffing out—though she likely didn't realize it herself—Alon cautiously submitted his answer.
“……Then let’s go investigate it before we leave.”
And then.
“Let’s do that, Teacher.”
As if everything had been a lie, a bright smile instantly spread across her face. Seeing her like that, Alon let out a secret sigh of relief.
……So that was the right answer.