Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 084
Chapter Title: Faction Incorporation
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*
"What did you say?"
On the path leading to the Hall of Wisdom.
Kyle's face twisted in disbelief as he asked again.
"The descendant of the Founding Mage?"
"Yes. Here in Sapientia, there's a legend passed down like a myth about the Founding Mage who first built this tower."
Rebecca nodded and shared the legend she knew.
- Someday, when this tower falls into crisis, their descendant will return to save it and lead it forward.
"Uh... so."
He pointed at himself with a awkward expression.
"You're saying that descendant is me right now?"
"...Honestly, there were plenty of mages who believed in that legend, but just as many who didn't. They saw it as nothing more than a story."
"But the legend turned out to be true."
The Sage coughed harshly and followed them with Bowen's support.
"...Do you remember when you came to rescue me, just before the Descent Ritual was complete?"
"If you're talking about trying to save you, Sage, yes, of course."
"There was a massive stone gate in that room where I was."
"Ah, yes. I remember."
That must have been the 'Stone Gate of Prophecy'.
The Sage nodded at Kyle's response and continued.
"That's the ancient stone gate said to have been left by the Founding Mage for their descendant who would one day return."
"...?"
Kyle could only blink in confusion.
'What did the Founding Mage leave behind?'
His gaze shifted once more to the message.
'Uh...'
Reading it, he swallowed dryly without realizing.
'It clearly says the Founding Luther left it here...?'
Hold on a second.
Kyle blinked.
And wasn't the magic tower famously on bad terms with the Luther Family?
"......"
Kyle felt a cold sweat trickling down for some reason.
'This feels like the situation's gotten a bit twisted...'
Unaware of his thoughts, Rebecca spoke in admiration.
"I suspected, but... to think something like that was in the magic tower's top floor."
The Sage replied.
"Only the past tower masters and elders knew until now, but, cough cough...! Now it's time to show everyone, hoo... it seems."
"Sage, you really should go to the infirmary even now..."
"I'm fine, I'm fine, Bowen. I know my own body."
He downed another strange potion a mage had hurriedly brought and continued.
"...As this tower's representative, I have to see this."
Thanks to the potion's strong pain relief, the Sage regained some energy, and Bowen reluctantly agreed.
"Understood. But once this is over, I'll escort you straight to the infirmary."
"Do that."
Kyle channeled Blessing of Light into him while thinking.
'No, just go get treated now...'
He glanced at the mages following them.
There were virtually all of them, except those needed for quick village searches and the immobile.
People who should normally be resting from curse aftereffects or mana depletion.
Yet they all followed without complaint, and realizing what they expected, Kyle said awkwardly.
"Uh... but I just heard about the Founding Mage for the first time now. There's no way I'm their descendant..."
"You're an outsider, aren't you? It's understandable if you're unaware."
"And the Founding Mage left this tower long ago. So, if they have a descendant, they'd have to be from outside."
"......"
'What's with this pattern? Feels like I went through something similar recently.'
A bad premonition crept up, but Kyle shook his head.
'No, the ancient stone gate they're talking about might be different from the unlocked Prophecy Stone Gate.'
Maybe they meant something else entirely.
But that hope shattered the moment they entered the Hall of Wisdom.
"That's the ancient stone gate."
A message popped up right in front of him, as if waiting.
"......"
Kyle had to admit it.
The 'Stone Gate of Prophecy' in the message and the 'ancient stone gate' they spoke of were the same.
He clutched his forehead without thinking.
'No, let me sort this out again.'
The evidence the magic tower mages had believed for ages was left by the Founding Mage...
'But it was actually left by the Founding Luther.'
Kyle's eyes trembled helplessly.
'And these people have been reverently guarding it as proof of that legend all this time?'
Until the day the Founding Mage's descendant returns?
'This is insane.'
His shaking gaze turned to the mages looking at him.
"It must feel sudden and unbelievable. But set those thoughts aside for now and place your hand on the stone gate."
The Sage, coughing again, pointed to it.
"If you're the Founding Mage's descendant, it will surely respond."
"Uh... "
Of course it would respond!
'Since I unlocked it!'
Rubbing his temple amid their expectant stares, Kyle thought.
'How do I even begin to explain this?'
Now to say, that thing you've guarded for centuries is actually the Founding Luther's gate, not proof of the descendant legend, and now that I think about it, maybe the legend itself isn't even real, blah blah blah.
'What a boring, pedantic explanation.'
Kyle felt a headache coming on.
'Even I'd find it unconvincing if I were a magic tower mage.'
He had no proof anyway.
Saying it would just insult their faith.
Kyle made his decision.
Forget explaining.
'Just let it go.'
This was clearer and left no room for argument.
Mistaking his silence for hesitation, Rebecca smiled warmly.
"Don't worry, Mr. Clark. Even if the stone gate doesn't respond, you're still Sapientia's savior and a great mage. That won't change."
She turned to the other mages.
"Right, everyone?"
"Of course."
"Even if Mr. Clark isn't the Founding Mage's descendant, he's this tower's benefactor and a mage worthy of our utmost respect. No doubt about it."
"Exactly!"
"No, that's not what I..."
About to be worshipped again, unintentionally after the Baal Cult, Kyle wiped his mouth.
"Well, it's awkward to say this now, but..."
He glanced around cautiously.
"Just opening that gate doesn't necessarily prove I'm the descendant, right...?"
"We didn't call you the descendant just because you saved us from crisis."
Rebecca placed a hand on her chest.
"Unprecedented multi-element affinity, bottomless mana reserves, divinity-infused mana—all matching the Founding Mage's legend perfectly. And..."
Her eyes sparkled.
"Your completely new magic that skips traditional spell processes entirely... it's no exaggeration to say it opens new horizons in magic. That matches the legend of the returning descendant bringing innovation to the stagnant tower."
"......"
Kyle was at a loss for words.
Multi-element was just from his immortality.
Mana reserves seemed endless because he kept reviving.
Divinity-infused mana was probably from Montena's holy water.
'Spell processes?'
That was just clicking skills.
He knew nothing of the principles behind it.
'But looking at the results, it all fits perfectly.'
No escape.
Even he had to admit it looked like he was the descendant.
But he couldn't reveal his immortality to everyone.
It felt like the world was shoving him into the role.
'Though now that the gate's true origin is revealed, who knows if the legend is even real.'
If it was just a simple legend, fine.
But if it was true, that was worse.
'Poor me getting worshipped as the descendant.'
Half-resigned, Kyle said.
"One thing beforehand."
"Yes?"
He looked at the mages.
"Whether that gate opens or not, I don't think I'm the descendant? So..."
Rebecca and the Sage pointed to the gate.
"Open it first."
"Open it and speak."
"......"
Pushed to the front of the stone gate in the hall, Kyle looked up.
His eyes went to the unknown script engraved on the gate.
'What's that?'
A message appeared immediately.
"With the beginning of the path ahead, when the one linking infinite souls wanders seeking answers..." "This gate shall be your compass on the journey."
⟨ Stone Gate of Prophecy ⟩
Seeing it, Kyle understood why it was called the 'Stone Gate of Prophecy'.
'I see, those characters...'
For some reason, the Founding Luther knew an immortal—one with infinite souls—would come here far in the future.
'So this stone gate was made from the start...'
Not for the Founding Mage or their descendant.
'...to prophesy the immortal who would one day arrive?'
Why such a thing was here was secondary.
Kyle recalled the man who died in the basement.
- You're... your roots aren't in the 8th Special District. You...!
- Go to the magic tower...
His eyes narrowed.
That man knew the gate's true nature all along.
'If that's true, then who the hell was that guy...'
The approaching Sage said.
"...Many attempts were made to decipher it over time, but, cough cough! ...only fragments, hoo. That's all we managed. It resembles ancient elven script, but that's it."
Looking up at it, he read.
"Beginning ahead, linking one, wanders, compass shall be... That's all we could make out."
"My god..."
Rebecca looked up in awe.
"But even these fragments suggest it's for the one succeeding the Founding Mage."
"......"
How they missed the mark so spectacularly.
But Kyle decided not to argue.
"Then... I'll open it."
"...!"
The Sage and Rebecca stepped back.
The mages in the hall held their breath as Kyle slowly placed his hand on the gate.
Then, a fierce mana wave spread from the gate with a deep hum—woooong!
"!!"
The Prophecy Stone Gate began emitting a glow it never had before, and the mages gasped in awe.
"Oh, ooh...!"
"The ancient stone gate...!"
"It's moving...!"
The Sage was no different.
"Impossible, truly...!"
As mana poured from the gate that hadn't budged in centuries, silencing everyone...
Another message appeared before Kyle.
Followed by a heavy thud! as the massive gate slowly opened.
Overwhelmed by the miraculous sight, the Sage knelt unconsciously.
His gaze was fixed on the lone savior standing proudly before the ancient stone gate.
For the first time since becoming Sage, he deeply bowed to someone.
"In the name of Henry Fleetwood, head of the Fleetwood Family and Sage representing this tower."
One by one, the magic tower mages knelt after him.
"...To the Founding Mage's great descendant, returned after centuries—our respects!"
"Respects to the great descendant!"
"Respects...!"
"Respects!!"
"......"
Kyle wore an awkward expression as they bowed like waves expressing homage.
Meanwhile, Rebecca, tears welling up, knelt last before him.
"To the Founding Mage... their great descendant—our respects."
Of course, it didn't end there.
"...!"