A Momentary Realization (2)
Whew.
It had been about ten minutes since I used the authority skill.
I was finally starting to regain my composure.
The churning in my stomach and the agonizing pain from biting my tongue had faded shortly after the skill's duration ended.
As expected, time was the best medicine.
...Though the problem was that when I used Ritardando, that "time" felt like it barely moved at all.
This is insane.
I had no idea the output of the True form would be this overwhelming.
Before activating it, I hadn't even imagined the time dilation ratio would stretch this far.
If not for the passive effect of Soul of the Sword Master, my mind probably would have shattered.
Only now did I understand the true intention behind the trial set by the Master of the Second Hand and the Moment.
They must have figured that if I couldn't endure the mental agony, I wouldn't be able to handle the authority anyway.
Well, still...
I glanced at the notification window floating in the corner of my vision.
You have obtained the passive skill: [Lesser Pain Resistance].
By enduring the pain of biting my tongue for so long, I had acquired a new skill.
Of course, Lesser Pain Resistance wasn't exactly a top-tier skill, but...
The key takeaway here was the fact that I could obtain skills through specific actions.
The growth mechanics I know are working perfectly.
Hadn't I thought about this before?
If I utilized the system of Lost Elder properly, I could achieve limitless growth using this authority.
I had just confirmed that the mechanism I believed to be theoretically possible actually worked.
Now, it was time to exploit that growth mechanism to its absolute limit.
The only disappointing part is that I don't know the exact ratio between real time and dilated time...
I had been too panicked to measure the time ratio properly.
...Should I try counting in my head next time I use the skill?
It was while I was lost in these thoughts that a voice interrupted me.
"Sword Master."
I flinched. Adelia whispered softly right next to my ear.
Hearing the title "Sword Master" made me tense up. If anyone else overheard her, it would cause a massive misunderstanding.
What if someone hears her...?
I quickly scanned our surroundings.
Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard her.
Her voice was barely a breath, and the rattling of the carriage was loud enough to drown it out.
"This might be an intrusive question, but may I ask why we are heading to the free city of Vertas?"
Oblivious to my inner panic, Adelia continued to press for answers.
Why Vertas?
Because that's the region where I can accomplish the most at this stage.
The free city of Vertas. It was one of the four remaining great cities on the continent and served as the primary stage for the early-to-mid game.
Naturally, Vertas was overflowing with resources and items for players to acquire.
It was also a place where I could encounter several NPCs who would be of great help later in the game.
Even without considering "that" ability to counter the immortals, it was a destination I would have had to visit eventually.
And though I can't be certain yet...
...If my intuition was correct, I would reap a massive harvest from this journey.
Of course, I can't just tell Adelia all of this.
So, I drew my ultimate trump card—implying that all of this was the revelation of the ancient god, Elder.
"Even if you are a member of the sacred Goldheart family, I cannot carelessly reveal His divine will."
"...Ah."
She nodded.
Fortunately, Adelia seemed convinced.
She nodded blankly, her mouth slightly agape. Her expression was like that of a child looking up at a revered hero.
Suppressing a chuckle, I continued.
"Do not worry too much. Even while following His will, I will have plenty of time to instruct you."
"Yes. I understand."
She nodded again.
A strange gleam sparkled in her deep blue eyes.
After all, the only reason she followed me was to gain enlightenment.
As long as that desire was satisfied, she wouldn't question my every move.
To be honest, I don't actually have the ability to teach someone like her...
But she was a genius with the highest potential in the entire world of Lost Elder.
Just by staying near me, she would probably figure things out and gain enlightenment on her own.
"And..."
I let my voice trail off for a moment.
Since we were already talking, I needed to clear up a few things.
First, we had to establish how she addressed me.
Being called "Sword Master" at every turn was incredibly burdensome.
"...Call me Gaon from now on."
Gaon. It was a name derived from my old username in Lost Elder, "Middle Finger."
Come to think of it, we hadn't even properly introduced ourselves. I had struggled to think of what to call myself and just blurted out the first name that came to mind.
Upon hearing my words, Adelia's face brightened, and she nodded vigorously.
"Understood, Sir Gaon."
She seemed remarkably pleased just to learn my name.
Perhaps she felt as though the distance between us had shrunk a little.
Half a day had passed since we left the dark city of Dawnguard.
Everywhere the eye could see, withered weeds and cracked earth stretched out.
The city lights had long vanished, replaced by a desolate landscape that rolled endlessly toward the horizon.
The Uncharted Territory.
That was the name of this place.
Actually, calling it a proper place name was a bit of a stretch.
The Uncharted Territory was simply a collective term for all the areas outside the great cities.
Anyway.
Unlike the great cities protected by barriers, the Uncharted Territory was a dangerous expanse constantly exposed to monster attacks.
Because of this, merchants and adventurers passing through were always on high alert.
In the pitch-black night, where one could barely see an inch ahead, the members of the caravan kept watch with tense, rigid expressions.
"It is quiet," Adelia murmured softly.
They say the calm before the storm is the most terrifying. Adelia seemed uneasy about the unnatural silence.
The bald merchant leader replied with a faint smile.
"That is because we are traveling along the Silk Road. It is only natural for it to be quiet."
Adelia frowned slightly.
"The Silk Road is not entirely safe, is it? I heard that due to unstable mana stone supplies recently, the barriers along the Silk Road have been failing..."
"Our merchant group has mapped out all the danger zones. We are taking detours to avoid them, which is why our arrival will be delayed."
"..."
"So rest easy. Nothing dangerous will happen on this trip, at least."
Indeed. Just as the merchant leader said, not every inch of the Uncharted Territory was perilous.
Even in this hazardous wilderness, safe zones existed here and there.
The Silk Road.
It was the name of the trade network connecting the great cities.
It was named so because the barriers stretching along the paths resembled a road of silk.
But at this point in time, even the Silk Road can't be trusted one hundred percent.
To be sure, just a few years ago, the Silk Road had been an inviolable sanctuary.
But now, as the world's destruction accelerated exponentially, the Silk Road was becoming increasingly unstable.
Especially on days when the supply of mana stones keeping the barriers active fell short...
Ruuuumble!
"Huh?"
"Th-the barrier is down!"
...A disaster like this would unfold, with the Silk Road's barrier temporarily shutting down.
"Ambush! We're under attack!"
Awooooo!
Bark! Bark!
The howling of wolves echoed from all directions.
A pack of beasts surrounded the caravan, slowly tightening their perimeter.
They had gathered to hunt, seizing the moment the barrier flickered out. The wolves glared with bloodshot eyes, thick drool dripping from their jaws.
Scavenger Wolf (Lv. 24 / Lv. 27 / Lv. 26)
They were one of the most common wolf-type monsters found in the Uncharted Territory.
When I had only seen them through a monitor, they hadn't phased me at all...
Damn it. Facing them in reality, they looked terrifying enough to give me goosebumps.
"C-cough!"
The bald merchant leader's face contorted in embarrassment. He stole glances at Adelia, looking highly self-conscious.
"H-how strange. This path has always been completely safe, without a single incident..."
It seemed he was less afraid of the situation and more embarrassed about boasting that nothing would happen.
In the next instant, urgent shouts erupted from the mercenaries.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Damn it, protect the merchants first! Do not let them break the defensive line!"
Awooooo!
The pack of wolves howled and lunged toward us.
The mercenaries' levels ranged from 20 to 30.
While it didn't look like the defensive line would collapse, it was impossible to guarantee there wouldn't be casualties.
Having reached that conclusion, I glanced at Adelia and spoke.
"Adelia."
"Yes."
"Go and assist them. I will remain here to guard the merchant leader."
"...Understood."
Shring!
Without a moment's hesitation, Adelia drew her sword.
She leaped straight into the heart of the battlefield where the mercenaries and wolves were locked in a desperate struggle.
"Wh-what...?"
Before long, bewildered murmurs rose from the mercenaries.
Only a single person had joined the fray.
Yet, astonishingly, the evenly matched battle instantly tilted in our favor.
Slash!
The Scavenger Wolves fell like autumn leaves before Adelia's blade.
It was a dazzling, acrobatic dance of steel.
Witnessing the movements I had only ever seen on a monitor play out in reality, I couldn't help but marvel.
Wow...
Until now, I had only seen Adelia fight alone, so I had nothing to compare her to.
But seeing her sweep through the battlefield alongside dozens of mercenaries made me realize once again just how powerful she truly was.
She was a crane among chickens.
The sheer impact of a Level 77 was enough to instantly overturn the tide of battle.
Swoosh.
Soon, the chaotic battlefield began to settle.
A clear line of demarcation formed between the tangled mass of humans and wolves.
And Adelia did not miss that opening.
"Everyone, step back."
Issuing a brief warning, she immediately lowered her stance.
Rumble!
Her center of gravity shifted to her legs. As strength flooded her lower body, the ground beneath her feet caved in.
A moment later, a cyan Aura enveloped her entire body. Adelia swung her sword with all her might.
"W-what in the...!"
Boom!
The surrounding mercenaries all stared with wide eyes.
It was a single strike.
Yet that "single strike" swept away the pack of wolves the mercenaries had been struggling against in an instant.
A horizontal arc of cyan sword energy cleaved through everything in its path.
The pack of dozens of Scavenger Wolves died instantly, unable to even utter a final whimper.
"Whew."
Adelia exhaled softly and turned around.
"I have dealt with the wolves as you commanded."
"...Well done."
Adelia paused, standing in place and tilting her head.
Her expression was filled with earnest anticipation.
Ah.
Only then did I realize what she wanted.
She was begging for another lesson.
"Get in the carriage first. I will explain the details while we move."
"Yes."
Only then did Adelia's face brighten as she walked back toward the carriage.
Was it just my imagination, or did her light steps seem somewhat cheerful?
Sigh...
I let out a heavy sigh of frustration.
My head was starting to hurt. I had no idea what kind of nonsense I would have to spin to get through this one.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The mercenaries and the bald merchant leader could only watch us in stunned silence.