Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Breakwater
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The moment I threw myself into the dimensional space created by Gridori, a blue sky and clear seaside came into view.
'Success.'
The scene unfolding before my eyes was undoubtedly the destination we'd aimed for after facing Timeless on the 41st floor. We'd arrived perfectly.
"Whoa!"
Rox jumped into the sea with an ecstatic expression. Cynthia, too, wore a satisfied look as she gazed at the crashing waves beside me.
"How did you do it? Griffons can't specify locations with their dimensional jumps, right?"
"...Right. Others besides me can't specify them."
"Others besides you?"
I gently stroked Gridori's back and continued.
"This guy recognized me as his master. That's why he sent us exactly where I wanted."
"He recognized you as his master?"
"Yeah. Not just as a friend to bond with, but as someone to lead him."
A griffon follows its master's commands 100%. Unlike mere requests from someone it simply bonds with.
This tiny difference was what elevated Gridori's dimensional ability to perfection.
'Exactly.'
I hadn't been entirely certain myself. I'd felt a twinge of fear about this outcome.
I'd worried he might send us somewhere dangerous.
'But.'
My prediction hadn't been wrong.
I knew of someone from my previous life who'd used Gridori this way.
Alfredo stared out at the vast ocean before him and lowered his head.
"Berddin."
He slowly turned toward me, his face clouded with gloom.
"Is it true what you said about Clark being dead?"
Up until we'd been in Timeless's space, he hadn't seemed too bothered by his brother's death.
But now, facing the sea, something had shifted in him—his expression darkened deeply.
"Yes. I heard it secondhand, so I'm not completely sure. But they said two of the five generals—Clark and Wendy—are dead."
"......Who did it?"
"I don't know. Albus is looking into it. You'll probably uncover more than I can anyway."
"Me?"
"You're a general too, aren't you? The killer's probably among the people you were with. Once you leave the tower, find out who killed your brother yourself."
Alfredo clenched his fists tightly and replied.
"Got it."
"Good. Then go grab us a boat from over there."
"A boat?"
"Yeah, a boat."
I pointed to a small boat hidden in the bushes at the edge of the island.
It was the exact same one we'd used when we first arrived on the 41st floor, meaning the tower's evaluation criteria hadn't changed.
'Even though we're much stronger now, they give us the same boat.'
So the rumors about something being wrong with the apostle overseeing this floor must be true.
I shoved Alfredo hard on the back and said.
"If your brother's the pirate king, your steering skills must be top-notch. Way better than us fumbling around."
"No....... I can handle the helm, but I don't have skills anywhere near what you're hoping for—"
"Alfredo."
"Yeah?"
"If you don't want to die, shut up with the excuses and go get the damn boat. Don't make me say it twice."
Ordin de Rothschild.
The family head of the Rothschilds and the only one among those who inherited god's blood to reach the realm of apostles.
Sitting on his throne, he regarded Asabrag with a stern expression.
"Is it really true that this Berddin beat you not once, but twice?"
Asabrag didn't deny his question.
"Yes, Father. But the times I lost to him were before I entered the tower."
"......So after meeting Timeless, you haven't lost to him?"
"That's right. Though I haven't beaten him either. We just crossed paths on the royal road and sized each other up."
Ordin rested his chin on his hand, looking intrigued.
"So, who was stronger?"
"I believe I'm a bit higher."
"Why?"
"Because the amount of aura contained in my body vastly surpasses his. Of course, I know his swordsmanship is superior to mine—"
Asabrag released his aura to demonstrate to his father and continued.
Swishhh.
"No matter how skilled the technique, if his sword can't reach me, it's useless, isn't it?"
"......A fine answer. What did your other siblings say?"
"They've left everything regarding this to me. My older sisters and brothers said they'll follow my lead and to open the path."
"Makes sense. Your talent is so godlike—beyond human—that they acknowledge you and defer to you."
"......Father, if I may ask one impertinent question?"
Ordin gave a small nod.
"Speak."
"Where is Verdandi right now?"
"......"
"It seems Berddin is contacting other apostles to find her."
"Other apostles?"
"Yes. I don't know exactly who, but he's definitely getting help. Timeless hinted as much to me."
"Timeless... he did? That's unexpected. That one doesn't mingle with the other apostles."
Asabrag met his gaze carefully and replied.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. He's an apostle, but... he's different from me."
"What do you mean?"
Ordin raised his index finger skyward like a stab.
"Among those in this world right now, he's the closest to a god."
"?!"
"Even I can't guarantee victory in a fight against him."
Asabrag gaped in shock at Ordin's words, unable to close his mouth.
There was someone stronger than his father, whom he'd always considered the strongest? He'd never spoken of Roys, the head of the Strange Family, in such exalted terms.
'Timeless, who only oversees the 31st floor, is that strong?'
His own father, Ordin, oversaw the 99th floor—near the top of the tower.
"Doesn't the tower's floor level indicate an apostle's strength?"
"It does."
"Then how can Timeless possess such power?"
Ordin gathered aura in his palm, shaping it into an hourglass.
Swishhh.
"Time."
"Time?"
"Yes, time. He's lingered in this world far longer than I have. And during that time, he's used his abilities to hide his power in various places across the continent."
"Hide his power—what does that mean?"
"...Clones."
"Clones?"
"Yes, clones."
Ordin now formed dozens of puppets resembling himself with aura, floating them in the air.
"He has the ability to replicate himself."
"Replicate himself?"
"Yes. Though it's more like injecting his memories into another body. Even if you call them clones, they don't all possess his full power."
Asabrag cast his eyes downward in thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"That's dangerous, isn't it? If something goes wrong, a clone could betray him."
"On the flip side, it could create unbreakable unity. With the same goal, he'd never betray himself."
Ordin rose from his throne.
He then lightly gripped Asabrag's shoulder and continued.
"I've hidden Verdandi where no one can find her. Not even another apostle stepping in will change that. So don't worry—just focus on dealing with him."
"...Yes, Father."
The God's Knight Order, guardians of Midgard, and their leader—a man dreaming of a new era.
Pendragon de Rothschild.
He aimed his sword at the wizards seeking the World Tree.
"Wizards of Glazer. I cannot open the path to you without permission. Turn back!"
Dictri pushed through the wizards and shouted at Pendragon.
"If you don't open the way, I'll turn Midgard into a sea of fire today. And I'll bring down the World Tree upholding Ragnarok too—"
Rumble rumble rumble.
He menaced the God's Knights, mana boiling in both hands.
"If you don't believe me, keep blocking us. I won't stop until my will is done."
The God's Knights and Dictri's wizards faced off at a distance, locked in a battle of wills.
They were equals in strength—only a handful of the continent's mightiest could intervene.
Pendragon held his ground unwaveringly.
"I will never forgive you for betraying my father and brothers."
Dictri struck first at the God's Knights.
"Ice World."
The instant his palm touched the ground—
Crack!
Frost spread in all directions, freezing everything around it.
The chill was so intense it altered the wind's direction, and the mana reached the World Tree's roots, blanketing Pendragon's entire territory in ice.
Boom!
"...You damn wizard bastard!"
Pendragon infused his sword with aura and charged at Dictri. As he moved, knights and wizards clashed fiercely.
Clang, clang, boom!
Their battle raged for half a day, claiming countless lives.
This war ensnared not just knights and wizards, but innocent Midgard citizens as well.
Unable to stand by, those bearing the Rothschild name descended from Ragnarok to join the God's Knights.
And among them, the one who shone brightest was Asabrag de Rothschild—hailed as the greatest talent in Rothschild history.
"Get lost."
He slashed horizontally through the air. An aura laced with light pierced straight through Dictri's abdomen in an instant.
Splat!
"...Gahk!"
Dictri spewed blood from his gaping mouth. No visible wound marked where the light had passed, yet he seemed gravely wounded, unable to regain his senses.
Thud.
"How dare a mere wizard cause a ruckus here?!"
Asabrag bellowed, and the wizards—who'd been so bold moments ago—froze in place.
Not only that—the meteor shower raining from the sky, the frost blanketing the earth, and the flames swirling everywhere all lost their power and dissipated.
"My apologies, Lord Asabrag. I tried to handle it on my own, but..."
Bloody Pendragon bowed to him.
"No helping it. With over a hundred wizards coming at you, it was too much for your forces alone. From here on, I'll stop them."
It was unexpected.
The Asabrag Pendragon knew wasn't one to sacrifice for his subordinates.
'Does he have some other purpose for coming down here?'
Before the doubt could clear his mind, a flash of light erupted before his eyes.
Splat!
When Pendragon came to, he faced an incomprehensible situation.
"A... Lord Asabrag?"
A razor-sharp sword was plunged into his chest.
And reflected on the blade that had pierced straight through his heart was Asabrag's face.
"I got a really fun power from my father. But to use it, I think I'll need your strength."
"What do you......"
"From this moment, the entire God's Knight Order dies by my hand."
Asabrag reached out, grabbed Pendragon's head, and flashed a vile smile.
"And the wizards who came to Midgard will all become sacrifices for my new power too. So die happily."