Chapter 418
Chapter 418
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 418
>Chapter Title: Bow Your Head and Ask Again
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“Child, close your eyes.”
The Fourth Elder closed his own eyes first, then covered Sallie’s.
A rift… opened.
Beyond it lay the abyss itself.
A space inhabited by entities far beyond human comprehension, where even a glimpse of their fragments would tear the mind to shreds.
That was why the Fourth Elder kept his eyes squeezed shut as he chanted the final incantation.
“Tu-um ba Maxis Gora Tau-ra-mara….”
Following his lead, the golden-robed magi began chanting the incantation. Soon, dozens of voices merged into one, spreading outward.
Like a hymn, their voices echoed through the air.
And then, the surrounding landscape twisted completely. It was a bizarre sight, as if time and space had become entangled.
This phenomenon had been triggered by the rift alone.
And what they summoned was….
Maxis Gora
…The Seeker with a Thousand Eyes.
The “servant” of an “existence” said to comprehend all truths and principles of the world.
Even as a mere “servant,” its presence was so immense that it could not fully emerge from the rift, but extracting its “consciousness” was more than sufficient.
“Tu-um ba Maxis Gora Tau-ra-mara….”
The hymn repeated. The already resounding hymn, the ongoing hymn, and the yet-to-be-chanted hymn tangled together, enveloping the space, and a change occurred.
“…Keurk!”
The Fourth Elder caught the groan from beside him. He stopped the hymn right then.
“Enough.”
“…….”
“…….”
At that single word, all the golden-robed magi fell silent. A horrific stillness descended from all directions.
The Fourth Elder turned away from the rift and slowly opened his eyes. Before him stood a member of the Decullan bloodline… Sallie.
“You have arrived.”
Though the purest Decullan bloodline was considered the pinnacle among constitutions capable of bearing entities from the abyss, his voice trembled with fear.
The expectations riding on this ritual were immense, and handling beings from beyond the abyss was an unpredictable domain.
Fortunately, however….
“…….”
Sallie’s eyelids slowly rose. The moment the Fourth Elder took in those pupils, ecstasy flashed in his own eyes.
‘…It worked!’
They were not the eyes of an ordinary child. They were… as clear and wise as those of a sage who had awakened to all principles of the world, both existing and nonexistent, past, present, and future.
Sallie… no, Maxis Gora, borrowing Sallie’s body, opened its mouth.
“■.”
A single utterance.
A sound no human vocal cords could replicate echoed forth. And….
That was the end.
Sruk—
As Maxis Gora closed its eyes again, the rift reopened, and everything that had twisted returned to its place. The surging demonic energy settled into calm, and the spreading madness vanished as if washed away.
And when the boy opened his eyes once more.
“Huerk, heuk… Uweeeek!”
The Fourth Elder realized that Maxis Gora’s consciousness had retreated back beyond the rift.
It was a frustrating outcome.
After all, after expending a millennium’s worth of power, the result was just that one word: “■.”
But.
“Heh, hehehe. Hahahaha….”
The Fourth Elder burst into laughter, as if something immensely pleased him. His chuckles echoed through the silent demonic realm.
“Indeed, indeed…!”
The Seeker with a Thousand Eyes, Maxis Gora.
The tales of it comprehending all truths and principles of the world were no lie.
A single word.
- ■.
That one word contained everything the Fourth Elder sought to know.
Of course, most of it was incomprehensible, but that was to be expected.
According to records, Maxis Gora’s wisdom transcended past, present, and future, but the listener comprehended only what they could and were permitted to understand.
And.
“This is… more than enough.”
The fragment of Reverse Heaven. He had identified its material.
…Though a twinge of regret lingered.
He had wondered if, through Maxis Gora, “Reverse Heaven” could serve as the key to accomplishing the “Great Ritual.” Or even further, to learn whether the “Great Ritual” would succeed and when.
Yet, as before, answers to that remained forbidden.
One more regrettable point….
‘…Sequential, is it.’
The fragments of Reverse Heaven were not just one or two.
Yet, the fragment whose material he had identified right now was only one.
Still, his instinctive certainty that it was “enough” came from knowing this.
The incomprehensible meanings would be deciphered when the proper time arrived.
‘Find one, and the next will reveal itself.’
For now… securing the one he had just identified was the top priority.
“Child, pull yourself together. It’s all over.”
The Fourth Elder lifted Sallie, who was rolling on the ground clutching his head. He then infused black mana into the artifact to prevent the lingering demonic energy from harming the boy.
However….
“Hmm, unexpected. To think a fragment is there of all places. This could prove quite troublesome….”
The Fourth Elder began walking.
…But he did not know.
That Maxis Gora had not resolved only his own questions.
Tremble.
…Sallie gripped his shaking hand, recalling the message Maxis Gora had left upon departure.
- ■■.
‘Master.’
During his travels with the Fourth Elder, Sallie had learned his master’s identity and connection to the family, but he had not stopped pondering.
How he could aid his master.
…How he could repay the favor.
And now.
‘…Perhaps.’
The message left by Maxis Gora seemed to hold that answer.
* * *
Old Second Black-White Slums.
Musphelrun Grand Duchy.
A space too ornate for a noble house, yet too modest for a grand duke’s residence.
A group of mages entered the grand duke’s estate.
The mages belonged to none other than the Decullan family.
They entered the grand hall, stopped at a distance from the throne, and knelt.
“We pay respects to Grand Duke Musphelrun.”
The man at the forefront… Holland bowed his head. At the same time, he extended his senses to gauge the grand duke.
‘First time seeing him in person.’
Though Holland had visited the Second Black-White Slums years ago with the patriarch, he had waited outside for the tower lord and thus never faced the grand duke.
This meeting was one he had anticipated, but….
Holland could not hide his disappointment.
He sensed no extraordinary presence from the figure on the throne.
‘…Hmm, so the rumors are true. His condition is poor.’
Transcendent.
That was all.
A realm higher than his own, but not to the level of the legendary “Finality.”
‘To think this man was once touted as a candidate for Arch Mage… Tsk.’
As the saying went, rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, and the grand duke’s level was exactly that case.
They said if a Finality mage challenged the Sanctuary, they would claim the Arch Mage title?
Impressive, yes, but hardly worthy of the “strongest in history” pedestal.
Having recently witnessed Pahren’s might firsthand, Holland smirked inwardly at the old man on the throne, who exuded a pathetic presence compared to his own master yet presumed to wield authority.
That was when a voice rang out.
“State your business.”
“There is a message from the patriarch.”
“Is it that he’ll cut out that filthy tongue of his and send it over?”
“…….”
Holland fell silent. The words were insulting, but his silence stemmed not from displeasure, but amusement.
Clinging to past hollow glory, blathering without knowing his place.
‘Senile old fool.’
Swallowing a sneer, Holland continued slowly.
“It concerns the upcoming Sanctuary challenge.”
“He wants me as a witness?”
Witness.
Challenging the Sanctuary was an event that etched a mage’s legacy, requiring witnesses to observe.
Those witnesses were none other than….
‘…The Seven Witnesses.’
A paltry number for a historic event, but considering the qualifications, far from insignificant.
Archmages.
Seven archmages gathered in one place—how could one quibble over the count?
But.
“We did not request the grand duke.”
“Then?”
“Please, see for yourself.”
Holland drew a letter from his bosom and presented it. Musphelrun glanced indifferently at it before nodding to his attendant standing to the left.
The attendant took the letter from Holland and delivered it to Musphelrun.
Rustle.
Breaking the seal revealed a stamped envelope and a separate letter.
“What the grand duke must see is the unsealed letter.”
“…….”
Musphelrun took out the unsealed letter and unfolded it. His eyes scanned the text.
The opening was clearly ghostwritten, laced with insincere flattery.
Musphelrun skipped the preamble and looked toward the end where the main point lay.
And….
“…Hmm.”
A low murmur.
That was when the hairs on Holland’s neck stood on end.
‘What….’
His instincts rang alarm bells. Danger. Flee this place at once.
But Holland suppressed the impulse with superhuman restraint, holding his breath and waiting. The chilling pressure bearing down on him.
Unable to withstand the inexpressible oppression, he was about to sigh when.
“Raise your head.”
Holland lifted his head at Musphelrun’s command. The instant his eyes met the grand duke’s.
Holland realized.
‘Old man….’
…You were hiding your power!
“Boy.”
Boy… a term of deep condescension, yet Holland dared not take offense. Then, Musphelrun’s voice burrowed into his ear.
“Explain in detail. What reason does your master have for challenging the Sanctuary.”
“What are you….”
“If you’re playing some petty trick, say so now. That way, I won’t have to snap your neck.”
“Haha!”
Holland burst into laughter. The pressure still crushed his throat, but the amusement outweighed it.
“Grand Duke, may I presume to speak boldly?”
“No, you shouldn’t ask that.”
“…Guh!”
Holland’s head slammed into the floor. Pure release of aura. Achieved by pressure alone.
Holland tried to draw up mana to resist, but it was no easy feat. Veins bulged on his neck, and blood vessels burst in his eyes.
A low voice burrowed into his ear once more.
“Bow your head and ask again. Whether you may bark. Just like you do to your master.”
“Hh, heh….”
Holland laughed like a madman. His teeth, bared between his lips, gleamed like a beast’s fangs.
“Yes, Grand Duke. May this wretched cur… bark?”
“Yes, when a cur who’s abandoned his pride begs, one must at least hear it. Go on, bark.”
Holland chuckled briefly at those words, then opened his mouth.
“Grand Duke, you’d best not speak words you can’t back up. In the end, you’re just another nobody who failed to claim the ‘Arch Mage’ title, aren’t you?”
“Then, has your master claimed that title?”
“A matter of time.”
“Amusing. Then this letter isn’t some petty trick either?”
“Precisely. And… you know it, don’t you? Even if you don’t deliver it, the Sanctuary’s hermits will ensure it reaches its destination.”
As he spoke, Holland lifted his face from the floor and gazed laboriously at the grand duke. Then he concluded.
“Grand Duke, in the end, it’s up to the recipient to choose. So your role… is simply to deliver the letter to the one who rightfully deserves it.”
“Insolent whelp. Using me as a messenger…?”
“What insolence? You’re the only one who knows where he is.”
What did that mean?
…Pahren’s chosen witness was not Musphelrun.
Then, which mage did Pahren wish to invite, going so far as to use the grand duke as a messenger?
The answer was simple.
“The Tower Lord.”
“…….”
“The patriarch desires him.”