Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: 29 Lightning, Ice, and Life
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In the outskirts of Blerrheim, the capital of the Albius Kingdom, stood a mansion.
It appeared to belong to some nameless noble on the surface, but in truth, it was the family home of Zect, a magician hailing from Albius.
“……And that’s how it happened. Isn’t it astonishing? No. 1’s sacrifice is something everyone should aspire to. If I were a normal creature, I’d be shedding tears of emotion right now.”
A man wrapped head to toe in white bandages gestured dramatically as he spoke with exaggerated flair. The noble-attired magician watching him furrowed his brow and asked back.
“So, you’re saying you’re not the sponsor I knew?”
“No. That one has become the legendary No. 1, and I am No. 2, who has taken over full authority in his stead.”
“Certainly different, I’ll give you that. You’re missing an arm for starters, and your head’s all caved in. How are you even alive? What the hell happened to your head?”
No. 2’s head was squished like a deflated balloon. He bowed his head and slowly adjusted the spare bandages on his skull.
“This is proof of sacrifice.”
“Sacrifice?”
“I sacrificed one arm for a single leap, and half my head for another. It was painful, but unavoidable.”
“Sacrifice, huh…… Sacrifice is important. Anyway, you’re a sponsor too, right?”
“That’s right. I am also a sponsor.”
“Hmm……”
The young magician in his thirties stared at the sponsor for a long while, lost in thought.
He was Zect, one of the four great Arch Wizards of the Payud Empire.
He had returned home temporarily due to an unsavory incident a few years back, but he was itching to head back to the empire right away and settle that nagging affair.
“Whatever. My goal is simple: smash Baya to pieces.”
Baya was another of the empire’s four great Arch Wizards.
Tolari of Wind.
Trombone of Fire.
Zect of Lightning.
And Baya of Ice.
It wasn’t deliberate, but those four perfectly embodied the current Arch Wizards by element.
Zect and Baya, in particular, hated each other like sworn enemies. Zect rose from his seat and slowly circled the sponsor as he spoke.
“The previous sponsor said I wasn’t ripe yet. Something about lacking emotional distortion? That’s why he couldn’t grant my second wish.”
“That’s correct. It was difficult then, and it’s difficult now…… Pardon me for a moment.”
The sponsor ran a finger across Zect’s face, then slipped it into his mouth and savored it.
“Hmm. Still the same. Well, what can you do? Time is of the essence.”
“What’s so urgent?”
“The sponsorships No. 1 set up are running out. I only have a year to carry on his legacy and tie them up. So think of this as…… a final service before closing shop.”
“There aren’t any side effects, right? Sticking something in my body creeps me out.”
“No need to worry. I won’t use a syringe like last time.”
“Good. For my second wish, something like a pill would be ideal…… Oh, right.”
Zect’s eyes narrowed as if struck by a thought, and he peered at the sponsor from behind.
“I’ve been wondering about this for a while. My goal is to beat Baya, right? That’s why my first wish was for anti-magic resistance.”
“Yes. According to No. 1’s records, your wish was for powerful cold resistance.”
“Right. But two years ago in our duel, that bastard Baya used Tempest with dual-casting. Anti-magic, barriers—none of it mattered; I thought I was dead.”
“Yes. Unable to bear the humiliation…… Pardon, unable to bear the shame, you fled here, or so I heard.”
“Did No. 1 say that crap?”
“Yes. Isn’t it true?”
“……”
“Looks like it is. Though for someone who went through that, your emotional distortion hasn’t deepened much. A shame.”
“I do despise that Baya bastard.”
Zect spread his arms wide and ground his teeth.
“But I don’t delude myself into thinking I can beat a guy who’s mastered dual-casting. I’m not that shameless.”
“You lost because you were weaker. So you accepted it cleanly?”
“I’m still young. Next time, I’ll win.”
“I hope so. But what are you curious about?”
“Emotional distortion.”
“Pardon?”
“Emotional distortion, desire. Isn’t your goal to grant wishes to twisted humans like that?”
“Precisely.”
“And I have great power to boot.”
“Yes. The stronger, the better. It’s hard to break the original pact otherwise without serious distortion.”
“Then Baya’s the same.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve never seen anyone as twisted and desire-ridden as Baya. And he’s an Arch Wizard too. Don’t tell me he has a sponsor like me? You’re not playing both sides and fueling an arms race, are you?”
The sponsor didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he stretched his arm toward one wall of the mansion’s drawing room and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Space tore open, revealing deep darkness within.
“This is……”
Inside the darkness was just a vast, empty expanse. Zect scowled as he peered beyond.
“That’s your dimension? Why show me this?”
“It’s the armory.”
“Armory?”
“Yes. Officially, the 7th Weapon Storage, but thanks to No. 1’s exploits, it’s been empty for a while.”
“No. 1? Didn’t you say he just died? To raise the survival odds of your dimension?”
“Correct. Good thing the empire incident hasn’t reached here yet. Worth half my head for rushing over.”
“What?”
No. 2’s words were disjointed and incoherent. Of course, he was deliberately hiding the truths.
“No human in the Ald Dimension has grasped the full truth. The elf lord was the only one, but his signal cut off, so he’s probably dead.”
“What the hell…… Elf lord? Dezhar? And what’s the Ald Dimension?”
“This place is the Ald Dimension. Your dimension, Sir Zect. Full name ‘Al-D-Sra-Gen,’ but that’s not important right now……”
Flash!
Suddenly, lights flickered on in the dim otherworldly armory.
Of course, it didn’t change much. Empty space remained empty.
But in one corner of the armory stood a single casket. Zect squinted at the distant casket.
“What’s that?”
“The first weapon to refill the empty armory.”
“Weapon? Looks like a casket to me……”
“Don’t you get it yet? That’s Baya.”
Silence fell for a time. Zect hesitated, then shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Didn’t expect you to go this far. But you’ve overdone it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t just want to kill that Baya scum. I wanted to beat him in a fight. Make him kneel before me and mock him to my heart’s content…… Guess that dream’s dead now.”
“Ah, so that’s how you took it.”
The sponsor smiled and approached Zect.
“Glad it’s working out smoothly. You won’t hold it against me, right?”
“Hold it against you? Disappointing, but inevitable. Honestly, he deserved to die.”
“I agree. Now then……”
Stab!
The sponsor dug his fingernail into the nape of Zect’s neck.
“Gah……”
Even a magician’s dynamic vision couldn’t react to the sponsor’s movement. Zect’s carelessness played a big part too.
“Truth time.”
“Urk…… My, body……”
“Just a simple paralytic. But it keeps your eyes and ears open.”
Clank!
The distant casket began moving on its own, approaching. Zect, on his knees, glared at it through spasms.
“Ugh…… Urgh……”
“You need to be awake for the truth. Why reveal it? Obviously to twist your mind even more before fusion.”
“Fu, fusion?”
“Shh. That’s the final truth.”
The sponsor pressed a finger to his lips and smiled.
“First off, we can’t create new clients anymore in our remaining time. Further interference is blocked.”
“Ugh……”
“That’s why existing clients like you are precious. Just injecting and unleashing you as a bioweapon would be a waste. The youngest prince would block it anyway. Better dig a proper trap.”
“Youngest…… prince…… Clau…… de? That wastrel Claude?”
“Yes, that Claude I’d tear apart piece by piece and chew slowly. Wastrel? Guess that’s what they called him before you fled here.”
“Ugh……”
“Now that wastrel’s the greatest threat to the Saike Dimension. Nearly wasted all my investment in the earthworm queen. Right, I haven’t told you. Saike’s the name of my dimension.”
“Saike……”
“Anyway, we decided to use remaining resources most effectively. As you guessed, Baya received our sponsorship too.”
White steam billowed from the casket that had drawn near.
Hiss!
The lid popped open, revealing an elderly man bound inside.
“Ba…… ya……”
“Yes, Baya himself. I stopped by him first before coming here.”
“What the…… hell……”
“Curious? I’ll reveal the final truth early then. Heave-ho!”
The sponsor effortlessly scooped up the slumped Zect.
Then, crossing dimensions, he stepped lightly toward the open casket.
“This was originally meant to house the earthworm queen and transform her into a full bioweapon.”
“Ugh…… What’s this earthworm queen……”
“Of course you wouldn’t know. I’m curious too. How did Claude figure out the queen’s existence?”
“P-put, me…… down……”
“Regulations limit us to visuals from interfered spots—such a shame. Otherwise, I could’ve monitored Claude 24/7. Oh, do you know Tolari?”
“Tolari…… of Wind?”
“Yes, fellow Arch Wizard. I could view his feed too, but Claude’s Pure Magic wiped out the image membrane I’d set around him. Truly regrettable.”
“What the…… hell……”
“There. We’ve arrived.”
The sponsor stopped before the massive casket and smiled.
“One question first. What do you think happens when lightning and ice merge?”
“Wha…… what?”
“Too abstract? Bluntly: what happens fusing two Arch Wizards of opposing elements?”
“Ridic…… ulous……”
“Yes, that ridiculous. Two Arch Wizards dying to kill each other. Fuse them—what synergy emerges?”
Splash!
The sponsor tossed Zect’s body into the open casket.
“Heh…… Can’t wait to see.”
“Gack, cough. Urgh……”
The casket brimmed with transparent fluid. Zect was forcibly submerged—and forced to swallow it.
“Oh! Forgot to mention. Full of gifts inside, so look forward to it. Not stingy like last time with one ampule. A whole tank crammed full! Haha! Hahaha!”
Amid the ominous laughter, Zect’s consciousness faded as the lid slowly closed above him.
The very lid binding his hated nemesis, Baya.
“But this alone isn’t enough.”
The sponsor activated a small device attached to the casket’s side.
Whirr……
Black energy overflowed from the device, seeping into the casket. The sponsor stepped back warily and muttered.
“Shadow Dimension Device…… No. 1’s legacy. Not officially permitted, but necessary. To eliminate that damned Claude…… Claude! Claudeeeee!”
The sponsor suddenly stomped the ground and screamed.
“Arrrgh! Claude! I’ll kill you this time! You dog! For that, I’ll take this risk! I’m staking my life to kill you!”