Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Vessel of Order
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Order's Vessel.
Hearing that name, even Kang Seol couldn't hide his agitation.
'Was this thing here?'
It was such a famous artifact that Kang Seol knew the name well.
Long ago, a massive ruin had been discovered in the central region of Pandea Continent.
At the time, countless factions had clashed fiercely to claim the relics from it, and Order's Vessel was one of the standout treasures unearthed there.
Nothing specific was known about its powers, but the consensus was that it was no ordinary item.
That said, it was an old story—something Kang Seol had only heard secondhand from enthusiasts passing tales mouth to mouth.
'If I play this right...'
Alcatron had been dragged here as collateral for a promise, but after giving his all to help, fortune like this came knocking.
'But how did the Scales get their hands on Order's Vessel?'
Stolen goods?
LOL, so stolen goods are the Scales' symbol now?
They look totally flustered... gotta be real;;
Reidwen and Cartagen spat with fervor, insisting that Bornuil's judgment was flawed.
"Order's Vessel is the symbol of the Scales' power—a treasure we claimed by mustering all our might! How dare a mere..."
"Since when was Order's Vessel the Scales' symbol? It was basically stolen goods that just happened to fall into our hands, wasn't it? Oh ho ho ho..."
Reidwen sat back down and declared,
"Even so, nothing changes. Order's Vessel now resides in our Scales Tower, and it will remain here with us going forward."
Frannan then asked,
"It's just an object. And if no one uses it, it's nothing but a shiny, useless lump taking up space."
"Frannan! An item of value fulfills its role simply by existing in its place!"
"That doesn't align with my values."
"Hmph!"
Bornuil interjected into the frost-chilled atmosphere.
"If this old man may say a word, this expedition drew eyes from many, knowingly or not. We'll do our best to contain the spread of what happened in Alcatron, but we can't stop word of the one who saved everyone from spreading."
"No matter how tightly you grip the wind, it slips through your fingers somehow. Praise or slander, it's all the same."
Frannan backed Bornuil's words.
Bornuil continued, looking pleased.
"The savior of all—and with eyes already fixed here on appointing a new Scale, if it got out that we treated the expedition's greatest contributor stingily, how could the Scales show their faces?"
"Ahem..."
"Please consider it."
Deep furrows formed between Reidwen and Cartagen's brows.
After a moment's deliberation, they asked,
"Frannan, let me ask you this. Does this man truly warrant such value?"
"Value?"
"Handing a treasure the Scales obtained to someone with no faction or clear status—is it worth that much?"
"On that note..."
Swish...
Frannan handed them a tightly rolled scroll, seemingly prepared in advance.
"What's this?"
Kang Seol glanced at the paper's contents, then looked at Frannan in surprise.
"You investigated my background?"
"Not just you—I checked the histories of every expedition member. It's only natural as the leader."
Cartagen scanned the document, growing flustered.
"Th-this... is this real?"
"Surprising, isn't it? Has there ever been an individual—or even a faction—that racked up achievements like this in such a short time?"
Kang Seol's exploits were unusually intense for one man's journey.
Subjugating the Rock Fang Tribe of Pointed Rock Mountain, repelling the Yog-Natun sulfur skeleton invasion, conquering the Labyrinth of Penance, repulsing the black knights who invaded Ilia.
Even excluding lesser-known feats, Kang Seol was already quite famous publicly.
"......"
"That's how this young man has lived. And no one can deny he's wielded that strength wisely to aid us. Order's Vessel? He has several items of equal or greater value already."
"Mm..."
"He probably has little interest in Order's Vessel anyway. The real reason we're giving it to him is to foster friendly ties for the future. He accomplished alone what over half the expedition couldn't. And as a former player with rapid growth, who knows what further help he'll provide down the line."
Frannan's words held just one flaw.
The assumption that Kang Seol had little interest in Order's Vessel.
His eyes are sparkling like crazy lololol
Master... you're mistaken... this disciple is very materialistic...
Bornuil chuckled and said,
"And there's one crucial piece of evidence left, right, Frannan?"
"Indeed. This young man..."
Frannan glanced at Kang Seol before answering.
"Is, for now, my one and only disciple."
The expedition members had to linger in the Scales Tower for quite some time. Beyond the rewards, they had their own reasons to stay longer.
Iron Lion Nil tapped Mael's shoulder.
"No need to report back to the Relic Society?"
"I just need to confirm how the expedition wraps up before reporting."
"Excuses... Truth is, you want to stick around a bit longer, right?"
"Hahaha... Haven't you already claimed your rewards, Nil? No real reason for the Iron Lion to stay, is there? To maintain your fame, you'll need to recruit new members soon..."
"I've already sent a few back to handle things. The guild master can take it slow leaving."
Chamelie, who had been listening quietly, poked both their sides.
Poke...
"Ugh..."
"Ch-Chamelie..."
Chamelie smiled brightly.
"It's a fine day—why keep yapping about nonsense? We stayed to witness this rare sight few ever see, didn't we?"
"Uh, well... I was just..."
"Chamelie, talk like that and we sound like idle bums."
"Aren't you? What's wrong with having nothing to do?"
"......"
"We lost so many. To soothe their grief takes the joy of even more people. Today a new Scale is appointed—everyone, rejoice fully!"
"Then we won't hold back and enjoy ourselves."
"It's a truly rare scene, after all—the moment a new tower lord is named."
"Are the other tower lords all coming?"
"Too far distance-wise, so... I heard they'll possess other mages' bodies via soul plaques. Here they come!"
Mages with badges bearing different emblems filed into the tower.
Mostly older, but few seemed like actual tower lords.
"Whoa! Scorpion... Scorpion's here."
"For real? That's him, right?"
A short, crusty-looking mage appeared, stirring up a buzz.
"Hmph... Bornuil always acted so leisurely, but he bailed in the end. My prediction was spot on, eh?"
Aries mage followed behind Scorpio.
"Aries! It's Aries!"
"Santio!"
Santio, a mage with disheveled hair, adjusted his glasses and replied to Scorpio.
"Odd. My reading showed Bornuil living long..."
"How long will you mages cling to such superstitions?"
"What can you do about innate gifts? Anyway... Hm?"
Suddenly, Santio strayed slightly from the path cleared for guests.
"Hey, Santio?"
"Hmm... Quite the unique aura. Always throwing yourself near death, are you?"
"...Pardon?"
Santio was addressing Kang Seol.
'...What the?'
Kang Seol warily stepped back from the abrupt odd question.
"I see countless deaths around you. No ordinary life ahead."
A Scales mage approached to guide Santio.
"S-Santio... the ceremony's about to..."
"Oh! Sorry. Right away."
Santio backed into the hall, eyes on Kang Seol.
His eccentricity was comical yet chilling.
Other tower lords and high mages bearing their soul plaques entered one by one.
Mael clenched his sweaty hands.
"This is... Zodiac..."
"The mana they exude is immense..."
"They stand at the pinnacle of human knowledge. Never dreamed I'd witness such a spectacle so soon."
"To your seats."
Urga writhed in Kang Seol's shadow space.
- Not bad... for mere thieves...
The ceremony unfolded in a banquet hall near the top floor.
Curiously, stepping inside transformed the scene to an open field—vast plains with drifting clouds and cool breezes tousling hair.
As everyone settled, the appointment began.
Reidwen and Cartagen ascended the podium.
"We thank all you mages for joining us today, on behalf of the Scales."
"You've made time from busy schedules, so before we start, we'll take a few questions."
An unusual order.
Likely to address curiosities about the Alcatron expedition, drawing high mages here.
A stern-faced mage spoke first.
"Did the Alcatron expedition ultimately fail? I hear many lost their lives."
A young mage daring to address a holy seat casually.
But Reidwen took no offense—the speaker was Capricorn Tower Lord via a young mage's body through soul plaque power.
"The expedition achieved its goal from the start, but with heavy losses, it's neither full success nor failure. Given Alcatron's dangers, the safe return of most qualifies as modest success."
"Hmph... Would all expedition members agree?"
Voices rose from spots around.
"Iron Lion guild master here—we deem the expedition a success."
"Relic Society..."
"Pilgrim..."
With such affirmations, Capricorn Tower Lord fell silent.
Next, Scorpio asked,
"I hear Alcatron collapsed in the end... What was there?"
"Well..."
They kept it vague here.
Just that an ancient evil lurked, and the expedition united to banish it back underground.
"Hmm... Something doesn't sit right..."
A few more questions followed, all deftly handled by Reidwen and Cartagen.
"With that, Q&A later... Now, the main event: appointing the new Scale."
Vrrr...
Frannan entered from the banquet hall's entrance, now in tower lord robes.
His eyepatch evoked a wild marauder.
Thud... Thud...
"He really lost the eye..."
"Can't deny his skill, though."
"Aura's shifted a bit?"
He passed the murmuring crowd to the podium.
Reidwen spoke solemnly.
"News of Scale Bornuil's disappearance plunged us Scales mages into chaos. But heroes are born in crises. Holy Seat Frannan led the expedition, confirmed Bornuil's fate, and battled the great evil that slew him, consigning it underground."
A touch embarrassing.
Yet no one laughed.
"We realized we needed a new Scale to safeguard our balance. And that is..."
Reidwen declared,
"You, Frannan."
Cartagen and Reidwen drew badges from their emblems.
"We wish you to maintain our equilibrium. Do you accept?"
Frannan's expression remained unchanged.
He recited the mage's oath bureaucratically.
"Knowledge is the blade, wisdom the hilt. I am omnipotent yet impotent, pursuing truth amid contradictions."
"......"
"I am a mage."
Frannan quirked a faint smile.
"I'll do my deficient best."
Scorpio stood and shouted,
"Scorpio Palace recognizes the new Scale!"
Vwing!
A scorpion emblem appeared in the sky.
"Gemini Palace recognizes the new Scale too!"
"Virgo Palace..."
Emblems rose one after another.
Finally, eleven floated above.
The Scales badge weighed on his emblem.
New Scale Frannan ascended the podium and spoke.
"Ah, finally this boring ceremony's over? I'm the Scale now, right?"
His rogue-like speech after a dignified leader act stunned everyone.
"Now in Zodiac, some may equal me, but none rank higher. Right?"
"...Wh-what?"
"Well, except if Frost Duke, Zodiac's founder, returns."
Most frowned, but not all—especially some tower lords, Scorpio included.
"Kahahaha! Fun guy! We'll get along!"
"Bornuil was dull; this Scale's eccentric."
Reidwen fidgeted awkwardly as tower lords waved him on.
"Go on, you have words. Say your fill."
"No one'll stop you. Perfect timing to liven things up."
Frannan's remaining eye grew serious.
"Then... first thing I want to say is..."
He declared,
"I hate you mages. You damn spoiled brats."
Frannan's gaze turned to an elderly man reliant on mobility aids and the young female mage supporting him.
Unlike the elder, she exuded dark vibes.
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. Mages live off their own hype, don't they? I did too. I... was like that."
His eyes deepened.
Dark memories surfaced.
"Thought I could do anything. Never spared the lagging a glance. Because I was... superior."
"Heh... Everyone has that phase."
"Some stuffy mages tried setting me straight."
Veil, who took him in.
- Because we're mages. People think mages are great, but really, we're all self-important fools.
And Yurin, regressed to childhood.
- Bet you no mage but the first started from rock bottom. Humans are weak, but they accumulate knowledge. That's why magic advanced.
"All so self-righteous... Trying to remake people from the roots."
"Nosy bunch."
"Hahaha! Right, Scale! Still like that?"
Frannan said coldly,
"No."
"......"
"In the end, I lost."
He sighed.
"Felt my limits this expedition. This stubborn mage was always alone."
"......"
"But heaven sent reliable comrades my way."
Frannan's eyes first swept to Kang Seol, then the other expedition members.
"We finished safely not by my paltry magic. Dull story, but thanks to comrades."
"Cliché, Frannan."
"So?"
He said,
"An adult who learned this cliché too late... Now I say it with sincerity."
Frannan addressed Yurin, mentally a child, and her disciple Ebony beside her.
"Ebony."
"...Yes."
"Before Yurin saved you, she left a request with me."
"What..."
Ebony lingered by Yurin with a criminal's guilt. But a message from before her accident?
Frannan squeezed his eyes shut.
- Frannan, if I fail...
- No! I won't!
- No tantrums, then... please.
Yurin's final request.
- Tell her I'm okay? My dear disciple... I'm okay.
"It's okay, Ebony."
"...Pardon?"
"Yurin said it's okay."
"......"
"She asked me to pass it on if something happened to her."
"Ugh..."
"Sorry it took so long. Too long to say it from the heart."
"Wah..."
Finally, she shed her criminal's burden.
The years fretting if wretched Yurin resented her.
Ebony smiled through tears, etching Frannan's new Scale form in her eyes.
Reidwen and Cartagen, gauging the moment, proceeded.
"Now, finally, the award for the expedition's top contributor. Forward march!"
Thud... Thud...
Kang Seol locked eyes with the new Scale Frannan.
Charismatic Being activates. Additional affinity gained.
Ally acquired: 'Crooked Scale Frannan'.
'Crooked Scale Frannan''s rank is Transcendent.
Allies may appear in all adventures.
They provide aid based on affinity.
Scale Frannan addressed the other holy seats.
"That thing."
Frannan proffered something in an ornate box, opening it.
Creeeak...
A vessel radiating mystical energy revealed itself.
Unparalleled: Acquired Order's Vessel.
You have obtained an item that did not exist in the world.
...
With this item as the finale, strength gathered for Kang Seol's next step.
You possess 5+ Unparalleled-rank gear.
Information on hidden adventure 'Glory to Seize' acquired.
Satisfy conditions for random adventure trigger.