Chapter 421
Chapter 421
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 421
>Chapter Title: Receive the Guest, You Bastards
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……The Decullan Patriarch challenges the Sanctuary.
Amid the continent abuzz with that rumor, another began to spread quietly.
- The Decullan's Heavenly Origin Art has been leaked.
It was hard for anyone to believe, yet the rumor—spread by the Decullans themselves—swept across the entire empire in an instant.
So, who could have stolen the Heavenly Origin Art?
Two suspects were named.
……Henji von Blandoga.
……Parun.
The Decullans pointed to those two and marched on the Blandoga and Arrapurgin 'Nest,' demanding their arrest.
"Our house has no desire to become enemies with the Blandogas. We seek only the culprit who stole our family's secret technique: Henji von Blandoga."
Leo Dysis, the Blandoga Patriarch, scoffed at the audacious demand from the Decullan mage. Hand over a bloodline member without clear evidence?
No matter who was targeted, it was an unreasonable request.
Yet the Decullan mages stood firm, unflinching before Leo Dysis's attitude, as if merely stating their demand fulfilled their duty.
But the situation at Arrapurgin's development city, the 'Nest,' was entirely different from the Blandogas'.
"Are you the one in charge? We hear Babel Society's head, Parun, is here. Hand him over if you don't want to complicate matters."
"What……."
"You have three days."
It was a hardline stance that brooked no negotiation.
The Blandogas could laugh it off and ignore them, but the 'Nest' could not.
Just one Decullan mage squad.
And two squad leaders.
That alone was more than the Nest's forces could handle. Even if they could repel them, the aftermath was the problem.
A clash of arms would invite not just that one squad, but the full might bearing down on the Nest.
So, they had no choice but to decide……
"It's not a difficult demand."
"Not…… difficult?"
Evelin blinked at Parun's calm demeanor. For someone about to be handed over to the Decullans, he seemed far too relaxed.
"Do you have some plan?"
"No plan. But I can guess their intentions."
Parun pondered why the Decullans had chosen this moment to target the 'Nest.'
Why play the Heavenly Origin Art card now?
The reason was simple.
'……Because the Nest isn't owned by a single faction.'
Thus, they wouldn't touch the Nest itself.
But why now, of all times?
It tied to the rumors floating around.
In other words……
- The Sanctuary's seventh observer is the Magic Tower Lord.
A divisive rumor, to say the least.
The other six observers, excluding the Tower Lord, were all well-known powerhouses.
Prominently……
The Dinai Family Patriarch.
And even……
The Kutlan Family Patriarch, the magical powerhouse of the Hoaksen Kingdom.
Every other observer was a renowned figure from a prestigious house or equivalent group.
But the Magic Tower Lord?
What was the Magic Tower, and who was its master, that the Decullans would name him as an observer for the Sanctuary?
Of course, Parun found the rumor hard to credit.
The Decullans had no reason to invite him as an observer.
But.
'……The rumors were true.'
That was why the Decullans were pressing now, using the Heavenly Origin Art as pretext.
To summon the Tower Lord.
Knowing this, the response was straightforward.
"Let's prepare."
"Prepare……?"
"What choice do we have? We'll have to comply."
"……."
Evelin fell silent at Parun's matter-of-fact words. Casually said, but their weight was anything but light.
"The best outcome would be that worthless pig laying low…… but that's unlikely. Best to act before he sticks his nose in."
"Why……."
"It's the efficient choice."
The Babel Society could run fine with just Professor Pellina. And the New Heavenly Origin Art……
'……Henji alone would suffice.'
The Magic Tower.
The only replaceable members there were Henji and himself; the Tower Lord was irreplaceable.
So, he had no choice but to step up.
"Don't breathe a word to that worthless pig. It'll complicate things."
Parun said as he rose to gather his things. The Decullans had given three days; one remained.
But.
"Um…… sorry."
"Sorry about what?"
Parun frowned at the odd nuance. It didn't sound like an apology from the Nest's leader for failing to protect a Magic Tower member.
"No way……."
"They already know."
Who?
The question burned to the tip of his tongue, but Parun didn't voice it. He already knew the answer.
"Why……!"
"I didn't tell them. They already knew. I just……."
'……Confirmed it for them.' The rest went unsaid. What a blunder. If she'd known the Decullans' intentions, she wouldn't have answered.
And that day.
"……You're lucky, Professor. We'll withdraw for today. But who knows about next time."
Despite a full day left, the Decullan mages ended it there and retreated.
The reason was clear.
Aster had accepted the invitation.
* * *
"Are you sure about this?"
"……?"
Aster, packing his things, tilted his head at Senior Musphelrun's visit.
"About what?"
"It won't be easy. Especially if he's fully committed."
"Well…… when has it ever been?"
"True, but……."
Musphelrun trailed off, watching Aster brush it off. He knew there was no changing it.
Sacrificing the small for the great.
Some wouldn't hesitate, but the young mage before him wasn't that type.
'Even if I asked him to reconsider…….'
He probably wouldn't budge.
"Think positive. This works out better. It means they're preparing something."
"And that's positive?"
"Of course. Now we know they have ulterior motives."
That alone was enough.
The mindset shifted from 'there might be danger' to 'there is danger.'
Anyway.
'Was it…… a bit too dramatic?'
No matter how he thought about it, it felt heroic.
The Tower Lord stepping up for a Tower member? Perfect bard's tale material.
"Hope it doesn't move them to tears……."
[Cry? Who?]
"You."
[……Kek!]
The wyvern tumbled backward after a flick to its snout. Tears welled up.
[I won't! Stop!]
"Yeah, right. You have to stay put."
[Gyaaaaaah—!]
Aster bound the charging wyvern with mana and resumed packing. Not much to pack, really.
Emergency rations, assorted potions, spare clothes.
"I'll attach New Moon to you."
"No need. You're the type who shivers at the mere act of breathing. And……."
……This was his fight.
Why didn't Pahren touch the Nest?
He knew.
That the Nest was a headache of tangled faction interests, a ticking bomb—and furthermore……
'……That leaving it be is more useful.'
In other words, the Nest alone was leverage over Aster, which he'd half-expected.
Even half-counted on it.
Anyway.
'Not just the Second Black-White Slums—even the Nest is safe from Decullan now. Confirming that alone makes this worthwhile.'
Targeting Parun specifically meant as much.
So, now to focus on……
'……What exactly Pahren's prepared.'
Still no clue.
But.
'They say crisis breeds opportunity.'
Opportunity isn't always crisis, but crisis is opportunity. Especially at the Sanctuary.
'A trap?'
Not bad.
Whose trap it became remained to be seen.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Aster stepped out, Musphelrun walking beside him.
'He's truly beyond controlling now.'
Such was the tide of the era.
An unstoppable force. Resist, and you'd be swept away into history's dust.
The heroes who etched their names on the continent were those who proved themselves amid that tide; the rest vanished nameless.
That tide now approached the young mage before him.
"There's still time. Waiting longer won't hurt."
When the time came, the Hermits would appear. Their absence meant time remained……
"We should go. No point dragging it out."
"……Right."
Aster glanced at the wyvern flapping beside him. Then……
Thwack!
[Kwaak!]
The wyvern screeched, struck on the nape.
"You've toughened up."
[What was that?!]
"What do you think?"
Thwack!
[……Gek.]
The wyvern rolled its eyes and collapsed.
Aster caught it before it hit the ground and handed it to Musphelrun.
"Breakfast, lunch, dinner—thirty moonstones each."
"……Thirty?"
"Yes, that's the usual. Take care of him."
Aster entrusted the wyvern and looked skyward, sensing the black wyvern—Yongyong—flapping beyond the clouds.
'That one…… will manage.'
With the wyvern handed off,
Aster silently left the Grand Duchy manor and strolled through what was once the Second Black-White Slums…… now Grand Duchy territory.
Radiant sunlight.
Today, no seeking the moon.
'My heart is already the moon.'
"I'll be off."
"……Go."
Beneath the sun, the two mages parted plainly. No flowery words to dress up the farewell.
Just…… a passing wave. Not the first, nor the last.
No need for gravity.
Aster donned his mask, stepped beyond the Grand Duchy borders, and gazed over the open fields, murmuring.
"So…… many hiding spots."
Decullan mages concealed across the fields.
Their sharp gazes pierced him like daggers, but Aster smiled back.
As if a chained prey needed a pack of hounds……
"I'm the Tower Lord."
So……
"Receive the guest, you bastards."
His audience: Decullan mages, a few guards at the Grand Duchy checkpoint, and passing merchants.
But Aster walked on undeterred.
With each step, Decullan mages swarmed from their positions. No killing intent—they were just monitoring.
Thus, Aster strolled the fields, Decullan mages clustering like ornaments.
Under the bright sun.
No hiding.
No running.
……Lucifer, rushing out upon hearing Aster had appeared in the Grand Duchy, watched his retreating back.
'Tower Lord…….'
That was the Magic Tower Lord's back, as Lucifer saw it.