Chapter 88
"Then."
"Take care of yourself. Though, honestly, that doesn't suit you at all. Still, the place you're heading to doesn't seem like anywhere ordinary."
Adel chuckled at Kasla's words.
Having left the Garam Archipelago and returned to the continent, Adel parted ways with Kasla and Harun. Just as she said, the destination Adel had in mind was far from ordinary.
If he were aiming for someplace mundane, he wouldn't have done anything to displease Hien in the first place.
The continent's three great magic associations: the Ivory Tower, Spirit Formation, and Black Magic Palace.
Each had its own distinct character. The Ivory Tower focused on elemental magic, while Spirit Formation was home to druids who mastered spirit arts, as the name implied. Finally, the Black Magic Palace was a true den of black mages—a veritable devil's lair.
"Hmm."
Once the two had departed for the desert, Adel set off on his planned journey. He intended to use spirits to locate Leviathan's Sea Wave Island. Naturally, the ones who handled spirits best on the continent were undoubtedly the spirit shamans of Spirit Formation.
"Almost there."
But the place Adel headed to was entirely different. He slowly lifted his head.
Woooong—
Countless large and small satellites whizzed through the sky overhead at tremendous speed. Even in the late night, brilliant lights filled the city.
In the city's heart stood a majestic magic tower, radiating lights in all directions from its center. It was the pinnacle of splendor.
The glow emanating from every corner of the city came from expensive magic stones. No kingdom in the central Nine Nations could afford such extravagance.
"That bastard really spends money like it's nothing. Sucking his disciples dry."
Adel muttered as he gazed at the magic tower. In stark contrast to the city's flashy scenery, the tower itself was pitch-black like ink, evoking the feel of a demon's horn.
Black Magic Palace.
This was the lair of black mages that Adel had sought out.
"Welcome, traveler. First time here?"
Upon reaching the city gates, two guards greeted Adel with smiles. They wore robes instead of armor, giving off more the vibe of welcoming attendants than soldiers.
"You've come to the right place. This is paradise, where anything you desire can be achieved."
Boooong—
At the guard's gesture, something flew out from the guard post. On a wide tray steamed a hot beverage.
"It's tea brewed from plaleaf. It invigorates the body. Please, have some."
Adel picked up the teacup.
"Using floatstones—reserved for elders even in the Ivory Tower—just to serve tea. As expected, it's every bit as extravagant as the rumors say."
"Haha, you're too kind. This is all thanks to Lord Sennew's grace. We live cool in summer and warm in winter because of him."
The other guard chimed in.
Sennew Laren. The master of Black Magic Palace and a 9th-class grand mage.
"I'd like to meet him."
"Haha, now I see why you've come. Everyone in the city wants to see Lord Sennew. But he has many duties. It takes time—he's not someone you can meet easily."
The guard beckoned to Adel.
"But unlike the arrogant kings of other nations, he never refuses audiences. Lord Sennew meets everyone, no matter how long it takes."
Following his gesture into the city, a highly advanced civilization unfolded like another world. The central plaza teemed with people, surrounded by countless floatstones drifting about. The carriages crossing the plaza seemed powered by magic, lacking horses or drivers. Even the brooms sweeping the streets moved on their own, proclaiming the city's magical nature.
"Apply for an audience and wait in the city. The tower will contact you. Why not enjoy the city in the meantime?"
"Impressive."
"Haha, you won't be disappointed. Some view Black Magic Palace through colored lenses, but no place is as peaceful as this. All thanks to Lord Sennew's grace."
"Seems that way. Everyone looks happy."
Adel nodded at the guard's words.
"But aren't you going to drink that? It loses flavor when it cools."
The guard pointed at the teacup Adel had been holding the whole way to the plaza.
"Nah, not drinking it."
"......Pardon?"
Adel dumped the teacup over the guard's head.
"Wh-what the hell—!?!?"
"Shut up. Even Ruinxen's overseers don't drug people this blatantly. It's not colored lenses—Sennew's just a mad bastard."
Adel shoved the teacup into the stunned guard's mouth.
"Happy? Bullshit. What good's happiness from beyond the grave?"
Shaaaaaaa—!!!!
In that instant, the guard's face that he clutched turned into a stark white skull. The brilliantly lit city went dark, shrouded only in eerie fog.
Kalderet murmured lowly as he surveyed the city, now little more than ruins.
It was that powerful a spell.
"Exactly. In terms of magical potency alone, neither Julian Pader nor Hanna Kran could hold a candle to him."
Though called the epicenter of black magic—a top priority for extermination on the continent—no one dared touch Black Magic Palace easily. The reason was simple: ironically, among the three great magic associations, Sennew Laren of Black Magic Palace was the strongest mage.
An existence even 8th-class grand mages of the Ivory Tower and 7-star formation masters couldn't handle.
"They say he's reached 9th class. A realm humans were thought unable to attain—the domain of the Arunasar."
"You'll see him soon enough."
Creak— creak— creak—
At that moment, the guard's skull, collapsed before Adel's eyes, began to stagger to its feet.
"Sennew..."
Adel let out a low sigh at the sight.
"Let's not play these childish games."
As the people who had moments ago laughed happily throughout the city approached as skeletons, Adel shook his head.
"Wasting time on this is a shame."
Kalderet spoke with evident excitement.
"Perfect. If you're curious, go take a hit yourself."
"There should be seven magic pillars in the city. Each holds materials forming the barrier. Destroy them all, and the undead will vanish."
"Yeah, no. I'm telling you to destroy the magic pillars."
Kalderet stared at Adel's nonchalant reply in disbelief.
"Obviously, I need to go meet Sennew, holed up fiddling with bones in some underground corner."
"I've got a god above the heavens right beside me—what's to fear?"
Kalderet clicked his tongue at Adel's grinning face and shook his head with a groan.
"Kekeke, go handle the cleanup, Kalderet."
"You too."
Adel grabbed the flame floating beside him and hurled it forward.
"Eek?!"
Only after separating the two gods did Adel dash across the city.
'Judging by the death qi from the mana in Black Magic Palace, he's already made that. He'll find out eventually anyway... but it'd be trouble if they saw it.'
Thanks to the increased mana from devouring Shan's heart, Adel could sense mana flows. He'd realized each attribute's flow was unique, allowing him to make predictions by combining it with his memories.
The death qi emanating from Black Magic Palace's depths might seem trivial to gods. But for Adel, who knew its source, it was different.
"If Kalderet saw him pull that out, he'd rip him apart on the spot."
Bam—!!
Opening the tall tower doors, Adel sought not the stairs to the top, but the door leading underground.
"Sennew. Enough games—come out."
Though nothing was visible, Adel spoke into the void. He knew the owner could see everything inside the tower.
Creeeak...
Opening the basement door unleashed a nose-stinging stench of decay. Adel grimaced and descended.
"You... what are you? How'd you get straight here?"
Adel halted at the voice.
"'The tall tower's a decoy, and necromancy research is underground'? The rotting stink was vibrating everywhere—how could I miss it?"
"You bastard... What are you? So you pierced my barriers—Kalderet's contractor? And you've even eaten a black dragon's heart?"
The voice came from the basement darkness.
"No, wait—two pure bloodlines? Are you really human?"
"Curious? Come see for yourself."
"How can a human like you exist? Plenty hunted dragons over 300 years, but none survived eating one..."
"Used Gerald's legacy."
"......!!!"
The darkness rippled.
"G-Gerald?! You don't mean... the Ivory Tower's founder?! That damned son of a bitch who deceived me!!"
Adel smiled satisfactorily at the intense reaction. Soon, a figure emerged from the shadows.
"N-no way... You ate that?!"
Pale skin. Gray hair nearing silver. Blue-tinged eyes not quite human. A handsome man who clashed with the corpse-rotting stench.
"It's true. That bastard... he really succeeded in that research. Even I, clinging on for 300 years, couldn't..."
"Hey. Stop groping me?"
Adel looked down at him fondling his body.
"Clear out the undead outside. And hide that thing you were making. Kalderet might kill you if he sees it."
He flinched. At the ancient god's name, he shrugged as if caught red-handed.
"Wh-what are you talking about? I haven't a clue."
He stammered.
It was then. Kalderet's voice echoed from the basement door. Having smashed all the skulls filling the city, he spoke irritably.
"Oh, didn't I mention?"
Adel turned to Kalderet.
"He's an elf. Died 300 years ago."
In that instant, Sennew's already pale face grew even paler.