The Sacred City of Midtemple (2)
The room built upon the back of the Heavenly Dragon Bird was remarkably comfortable.
It was a space reserved for the VIPs of Midtemple.
Intricate patterns were carved into the walls, and a cozy armchair sat by the window.
It's much wider and more comfortable than most carriages.
Whoosh!
Clouds drifted past the window.
Despite the incredible speed, there was barely any shaking or noise, thanks to the various spells woven throughout the room.
I scanned the other occupants of the room.
Sikan Bauer was trying his best to maintain a calm expression, but a faint trace of excitement flickered in his eyes.
The other investigators were no different.
Adelia seems fascinated too.
Sitting across from me, Adelia was staring blankly out the window.
She couldn't tear her eyes away. At this rate, she looked ready to press her nose flat against the glass.
Then again, it made sense.
Even for a member of a Holy Family, the chance to ride the Heavenly Dragon Bird was rare.
Flying through the clouds on the back of a Divine Beast soaring through the sky—that alone was a romantic, unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Well, putting that aside...
I withdrew my gaze and lost myself in thought.
...It hasn't even been a month since I was transmigrated, and I'm already heading to Midtemple.
What if everything had gone according to the original path?
That is to say, what if I had been killed by Barba the Human Butcher, and then resurrected by a necromancer who happened to be wandering around the corpse pits?
I probably would have barely managed to crawl out of the pits as a newly turned undead.
From that point, it would have taken at least five years in game-time just to establish any contact with Midtemple.
Yes. Five years.
And that was the minimum time calculated under the assumption that I didn't possess an irregular skill like the Soul of the Sword Master.
But now...
Not only am I already heading to Midtemple, but I've also made contact with the Ruins Merchant Group and the Shadow Society.
...Thinking about it this way, I can really feel how fast I'm progressing through the main scenario.
I shifted my gaze toward Adelia.
As I watched her staring out the window with an enchanted expression, the Adelia I was "familiar" with came to mind.
"Filthy, hypocritical bastards. Save your excuses and accept your deaths with humility."
Those venomous eyes I used to see through the monitor.
A swordsman who was once a member of a Holy Family, but after being excommunicated, lived only for revenge until she finally rose to the rank of Sword Master.
That was the Adelia I had grown sick of seeing while playing Lost Elder.
"U-um...? Why are you suddenly staring at me like that, Sir Gaon?"
"It is nothing."
But what about the current Adelia?
She was still completely innocent.
It was almost hard to believe she was the same person as the "Sword Master Adelia" in my memories.
...But is this actually a good thing?
I wasn't sure.
I couldn't view the change in Adelia's personality due to my intervention as purely positive.
Just as the flap of a butterfly's wings could summon a storm, her transformation could lead to an unpredictable future.
In fact, the same goes for Hakun Durdamel.
Originally, he was fated to die in the attack by the Heavenly Dragon Bird.
But because I was there, he managed to survive.
Thanks to that, Vertas didn't lose a capable merchant, but the future of Lost Elder that I knew had changed.
Things like this will keep happening.
Situations where the lives of key NPCs like Adelia are altered. Moments where a fate hurtling toward death is overcome, and new possibilities unfold.
Of course, that might trigger an unexpected butterfly effect, but...
There was no need to worry.
That, too, was just another "variable" I could exploit.
My encounter with Pokryong, and Barba the Human Butcher turning into an undead—it was all the same.
In the end, everything depended on how I utilized these sudden developments.
In the first place, the future I knew had already changed the moment I walked out of the underground arena alive.
The future I had witnessed nearly two hundred times in the game.
Some of it was absolutely immutable, while other parts could change at any moment.
The immutable and the mutable.
All I had to do was categorize everything I knew into these two types and prepare countermeasures accordingly.
The most important thing for the journey ahead was acquiring the power to control the unpredictable.
There was no need to derail from the tracks entirely. I just had to steadily expand my arsenal of tools, just as I had always done.
"We are about to arrive."
In that sense, every single move I made "here" would be crucial.
After all, I was currently traveling to the absolute best place to expand my tools.
Roaaar!
The roar of the Heavenly Dragon Bird echoed as it sliced through the sky.
As its massive body glowed while gliding above the clouds, I slowly opened my eyes and looked out the window.
Beyond the distant horizon, a city built entirely of white marble came into view.
Spires piercing the heavens, grand temples, and a blue barrier enveloping it all.
"It is the Sacred City, Midtemple."
The Sacred City of Midtemple.
The heart of the continent, and the source of the barrier protecting the Silk Road.
In this city, where the Holy Families and countless monsters lurked...
I would, without fail, achieve what I set out to do.
"He has arrived in Midtemple."
Heukgol stopped caressing his sword.
He already knew.
He had just witnessed the Heavenly Dragon Bird parting the clouds to enter the city through the window.
Clack.
The skull decorations clattered against each other. Slowly rising from his seat, the Death Knight spoke in a low voice, completely stripped of his usual playfulness.
"When are the council members of Midtemple convening?"
"They are already gathered in the Temple."
"..."
He smirked.
Chuckling softly, the Death Knight took a step toward the exit of the parlor.
As he slipped on the skull-shaped helmet he held in his hand, white frost began to seep through the gaps.
A thick layer of frost coated the window glass. The old priest felt goosebumps break out across his entire body from a bone-chilling cold he had never experienced before.
"Then..."
A voice tightly suppressing excitement leaked from the helmet.
"...when will the Seeker's 'trial' take place?"
The old priest answered, trying to keep his voice calm.
"It will be held as soon as the Holy Trial concludes..."
Shiiiing!
The priest's words cut off.
The sword, drawn from its scabbard in a single motion, let out a bizarre cry.
Its blood-red blade shimmered ominously.
Gripping the Zweihander that was as tall as he was, the Death Knight muttered.
"Hey."
His voice was playful as usual, yet chilling at the same time.
"What if... just by some miracle, it's revealed during the Holy Trial that he isn't actually a Sword Master? Hmm?"
The dark red glow shining from inside the skull helmet began to scan the old priest up and down.
"Then what happens to the 'trial'?"
A gentle smile remained on the old priest's face.
However, a faint anxiety began to flicker deep within his eyes.
"If he is deemed lacking the qualifications of a Seeker during the Holy Trial, the subsequent procedures will naturally be canceled."
"Oh?"
Heukgol tilted his head.
"So I just came all the way to Midtemple for nothing?"
The High Priest caressed the staff in his hand and answered in a voice that strove for composure.
"Impersonating a Seeker is a grave crime. A blasphemer must be executed, but considering Gaon's strength, it would be difficult for Midtemple's forces alone to subdue him..."
"I believe I made myself clear?"
Heukgol cut him off, his voice dropping low.
"Stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point."
"..."
Choosing his words carefully, the High Priest replied.
"The moment Gaon is judged not to be a Sword Master, we will leave his execution to you, Seeker. Therefore, regardless of the trial's outcome, you will face him."
Heukgol tilted his head again.
"Oh? Will those council bastards just sit still? Even if I start swinging my sword in the Temple?"
"I will make the necessary arrangements beforehand."
Silence fell. The air in the VIP room grew incredibly heavy.
"Ha..."
And suddenly, the Death Knight burst into laughter.
"...Ha, hahaha! Hahahahat!"
The High Priest swallowed hard at the chilling, mad laughter.
"Right."
Heukgol patted the High Priest on the shoulder.
"Out of all these stuffy priests, you're the only one who talks sense."
With those words, Heukgol left the VIP room. The clattering sound of his black armor gradually faded down the hallway.
The High Priest collapsed into his seat, his knees giving out. He felt all the strength drain from his body.
"Sigh..."
A sigh of relief escaped his lips.
...Thank goodness.
Decades ago.
When Heukgol visited Midtemple, he had taken the lives of five priests simply because they displeased him.
Yet, there was only one reason Midtemple had requested the help of this reckless Death Knight.
Why on earth are all Seekers like this?
It was because Heukgol, despite everything, was actually one of the more "reasonable" Seekers among the Sword Masters.
Boats and ships were flying through the skies of Midtemple.
Navigating past them with ease, the Heavenly Dragon Bird dropped us off at a sky dock.
Roaaar!
The Heavenly Dragon Bird let out a roar and vanished into the distance.
At the same time, the Midtemple investigators surrounded me.
The atmosphere was noticeably heavier than before.
Even Sikan Bauer began to glare at me with a freezing expression.
"Close your eyes."
At Sikan Bauer's command, I closed my eyes.
"We will also take Sir Gaon's weapon for the time being."
One of the investigators approached from behind and blindfolded me.
Then, they took the Feather Sword from my waist.
Since these were mandatory procedures to enter the Temple, I offered no resistance.
"We will now proceed to the Temple."
Sikan Bauer spoke in a cold, subdued voice.
His tone was firmer than ever.
Now that we had arrived in Midtemple, the special treatment was over. Here, he had no choice but to be conscious of the higher-ups.
I didn't say anything this time either, simply following the investigators.
Step, step.
Judging by the echo of our footsteps, we were clearly walking through the corridor of a grand building.
Recalling the layout of Midtemple from the game, I could roughly picture where we were.
We were likely traversing a complex yet magnificent hallway. The floors and walls would be finished in pure white marble, adorned with gold accents here and there.
And right about now, we should be reaching a fork in the road...
"My lady, please come this way."
"...Huh?"
Sure enough, Adelia was led down a different path from me.
"W-wait! I have to go with Sir Gaon...! Mmph, mmmph...!"
From the sound of it, someone had covered her mouth.
Her voice grew distant.
Before long, the only sound left in my ears was the silent, steady footsteps of the investigators.
The corridor grew darker. The flickering light of torches began to bleed through my blindfold.
"Halt."
*Creak...*
Soon, the sound of a massive door opening echoed.
Just from the breathing of dozens of people nearby, I could sense the gravity of this place.
The blindfold was removed.
Light flooded my vision, revealing the grand and magnificent interior of the Temple.
"..."
The scenery I had only seen through the monitor unfolded right before my eyes.
Dozens of pillars rose as if supporting the heavens, with blue holy flames burning between them.
...
...
...
Council members sat in orderly rows along the tiered seating.
However, the blue-green mist rising around them obscured my view, making it impossible to discern their features.
Only blurry silhouettes were visible.
At the highest point in the center, a golden mural engraved with the crest of Midtemple shone brightly, and below it, the High Councilor's podium stood imposingly.
Thud!
The Temple doors slammed shut. Amidst the heavy silence, the High Councilor's majestic voice echoed throughout the hall.
"We shall begin the Holy Trial."
The High Councilor's eyes, hidden behind the blue-green mist, turned toward me.
"O you who claim to be the Thirteenth Seeker."
"..."
"From this moment forth, you must answer the Council's questions with absolute truth. Any false testimony shall be judged before the holy flames."