Chapter 429
Chapter 429
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 429
>Chapter Title: Sea, Land, Sky
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After that day.
Time in the Sanctuary passed relatively peacefully.
Tension was inevitable due to Salvatium's presence, but nothing else out of the ordinary happened.
How many days passed like that?
"From today, we'll explain the trial procedures."
The briefing began.
It should have been explained long ago, but the schedule had been delayed due to Salvatium.
The trial consisted of three stages.
'Sea Path, Land Path, Sky Path.'
The challenger had to pass through all three gates.
"What kind of gates are they?"
"It's faster if you see for yourselves."
At Kizystone's question, Hermit led the observers to the gates.
How far did they walk into the Sanctuary's interior... underground, carved into the mountain?
Hermit stopped in front of a solid glass wall.
"Beyond this is the Sea Path."
"......Hm."
On the surface, it looked like nothing special.
Just a massive stone chamber.
But that was merely the outward appearance. To the observers' senses, an entirely different world unfolded.
What to call it?
"It's hell."
"Heh heh, quite horrifying."
"Is that so?"
That was Kizystone and Parapus's impression of the Sea Path.
Why not?
Screeech, crunch...
Beyond the glass wall, the 'Sea Path' was a space where mana of unknown properties was so densely packed it was being crushed.
From a normal person's perspective... yes, the deep sea. Like stepping into the ocean's depths.
Probably, few mages could set foot in that space and survive.
However.
"So, what must one do in that space?"
"There's nothing particular to do. Just enter and pass through the door on the opposite side."
"Hm."
Kizystone let out a faint grunt. Understandably so, for a trial staking the title of 'Arch Mage,' it felt somewhat lacking.
The mana density in the 'Sea Path' was high, but not to the point of being unbearable.
...Just about survivable once one reached the Transcendent realm.
After that.
"This is the Land Path..."
Hermit then showed them the 'Land Path' and 'Sky Path,' which weren't much different from the preceding 'Sea Path.'
The only difference... was the properties of the mana each gate contained.
By the time the full briefing ended, thick doubt clouded the observers' faces.
'Is this truly...'
Appropriate as a trial to select the strongest in history for Arch Mage? Right to crown whoever passed these gates as the 'strongest ever'?
As if sensing their doubts.
Hermit added an explanation.
"The Sea Path, Land Path, and Sky Path are merely symbolic gates."
Symbolic of what?
The reason was none other than.
"Long ago, when only the 'Sea Path' existed in the Sanctuary. Would you believe a mage who hadn't even reached Transcendence passed the Sea Path?"
It was back when no human had crossed the horizon of Transcendence.
"After that... there were three Arch Mages, but... the first 'Great Archmage' to reach Transcendence was the fifth Arch Mage. And then..."
The 'Sea Path' could no longer serve as a trial.
That's when the 'Land Path' was born.
Then, as more Arch Mages emerged in turn, and the 'Land Path' was no longer sufficient as a trial, the 'Sky Path' was created.
In other words.
"Sea, Land, Sky. The three divided gates indirectly represent the progress of magic. And the fact that the 'Sky Path' gate seems insignificant to you observers..."
"...means magic has advanced that much?"
"We can see it that way."
It was a story any mage would find intriguing.
Through the three gates divided into Sea, Land, and Sky, one could glimpse the 'strongest in history' from ages past.
Kizystone was such a mage, and now his eyes gleamed with interest.
"Indeed..."
It felt real.
In a way, they were standing at the dawn of a new page in history: 'Arch Mage.'
This sentiment wasn't just Kizystone's.
The shrewd Parapus, as well as Demea, Kahazar, and Jamal's Adjudicator, each felt their own impressions.
...Except for one person.
'So, what are they hiding?'
Aster had been meticulously scanning the surroundings while following Hermit's guidance.
He had no interest in the gates divided into three stages—Sea, Land, Sky—or the meaning imbued in them.
Only what this Sanctuary was hiding mattered.
Hermit's voice came right then.
"...Of course, passing the three gates doesn't mean one ascends to the 'Arch Mage' position. There's a final trial prepared."
Final trial?
Hermit said that much and led the observers to the reception room. Then he closed the door and withdrew.
"I'll inform you if there's a schedule later. Please rest comfortably."
* * *
After that, there were no particular gains.
'The gates were the one thing I had some expectations for...'
Sea, Land, Sky.
The three-stage gates were special, but nothing was hidden there.
He'd wondered if some artifact or ancient relic was embedded, but no peculiarities stood out.
Then.
'...Something in the final trial?'
He subtly inquired about the 'final trial,' but the response was...
- You'll learn after the challenger passes all the gates. We can't say until then.
A polite refusal.
In the end, it meant he couldn't find out until Pahren arrived and cleared the three gates...
Aster wasn't the only one without notable achievements.
"Hm, I didn't expect such noncooperation."
"Heh heh, what can we do? From their perspective, we're outsiders too."
Hermit had been cooperative the first few days, but lately they were keeping their distance from the observers.
All they said was...
- We appreciate the sentiment. But from now on, we can handle it ourselves, so please don't worry.
Thus, contrary to their initial vows to capture Salvatium, everyone was just passing time without real progress.
But that didn't mean the time was meaningless.
'...So many books?'
Heard the Hermits had collected books over long years.
It was like a massive library inside the Sanctuary, and observers were granted access.
A few days passed browsing the library.
"The seventh observer has arrived."
After Baron Maroon's death, the newly appointed observer arrived at the Sanctuary.
Name: Contra von Taurus.
'...Count Taurus.'
The elderly count entered the reception room with a straight back unbefitting his age, taking in the observers.
Then, like the others, he sat without greeting.
Aster watched Count Taurus quietly before looking away.
He was highly likely a Decullan lackey, but with Jamal's Adjudicator already on board.
'Rather good.'
Smashing Decullan's schemes wasn't bad either.
Anyway.
"The challenger's schedule?"
"The challenger is expected to arrive within three days at the latest."
"I see."
...Three days.
Long if long, short if short.
Pahren was coming.
* * *
At the foot of the Sesuterayon Mountains.
Pahren stopped and took in the view ahead.
Vast mountain range. Peaks rising endlessly. The mountains piercing the clouds were truly overwhelming.
And beyond them...
The Sanctuary.
Mages' holy site.
Yet, why?
"......"
Pahren's eyes facing the mages' holy site were indifferent. As if gazing at a meaningless sculpture.
After staring at the scenery for a long while, Pahren calmly resumed walking. The guiding Hermits followed behind.
Unlike usual, he hadn't brought Decullan attendants. He was here as the Sanctuary's challenger, as one mage.
Yet, no emotions stirred because...
Perhaps a simple reason.
Arch Mage.
The title of strongest in history.
It might make someone's heart race, but not Pahren's.
Sanctuary, Arch Mage.
Such things were irrelevant.
Magic was, after all...
A means.
Yes, just that.
...To glorify Decullan.
The Arch Mage title was merely one of many stepping stones for that. His achievements as a mage were neither more nor less.
Pahren was that kind of man from the start.
He'd learned magic because Decullan was a famed magical house, because magic was the finest tool.
His essence diverged from a true mage's.
So, how could emotions arise?
...Arch Mage.
To him, that title was just a slightly more ornate nameplate.
Thus, at this moment, Pahren wasn't pondering sentiments about 'Arch Mage.'
Rather.
- The Sanctuary holds a fragment of Against Heaven.
Contact from the 4th Elder a few days prior.
'Cooperation needed...'
Frankly, it was hard to believe easily.
A fragment of Against Heaven in the Sanctuary.
On second thought, it made sense.
Against Heaven was the most mysterious grimoire, and the Sanctuary one of the world's most mysterious places.
They suited each other.
However...
Pahren rarely fell into contemplation.
Whether to heed the 4th Elder's request.
After a moment's thought, Pahren halted. The following Hermits stopped as well.
"Is there a problem, Challenger?"
"None."
"Then, why..."
The two Hermits tilted their heads. They were almost at the warp gate to the Sanctuary—why stop suddenly?
But Pahren didn't reply. Instead, he murmured while staring into the distant sky.
"4th Elder."
Black fumes erupted from that distant sky right then.
Ruuuumble—!
The smoke condensed on its own, twisting and writhing like pulsing veins across the air, soon taking form right before Pahren.
The one who appeared was...
Salvatium's 4th Elder.
"......!"
"What...!"
The Hermits were shocked by the sight, but it was already too late.
"A wise choice, Patriarch."
The 4th Elder smiled amiably and gripped the Hermits' heads. They reacted belatedly, but an unknown force bound them.
Amid that.
"Stay still, and it won't hurt."
"Gh, ugh..."
"Guh!"
The two Hermits thrashed in the 4th Elder's grasp.
How much time passed like that?
Having dominated the two Hermits' minds, the 4th Elder smiled in satisfaction. He then took an artifact from his bosom and placed it in theirs.
"Good, not bad at all."
With this talisman, no matter how keen one's senses, they wouldn't detect dark magic power.
Of course, two Hermits alone weren't enough for the grand scheme.
But the reason the 4th Elder could smile was something else.
Namely...
'...Pahren.'
Because of him.
"I'll leave it to you, Patriarch."
"......"
Pahren didn't respond, but the 4th Elder smiled brightly.