Chapter 177
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177
“Don’t tell me you came alone?”
Turan watched with an incredulous expression as Lida nimbly leaped down from Bije’s back.
Of course, considering she was a high-ranking noble and one of the few powerhouses in the world, traveling alone wasn't usually something to be criticized. That is, if this weren't an era of war where several Great Families were currently at each other's throats.
“Now, don’t look at me like that. I’ll get more than enough nagging from Osel when I return.”
“So you came without the Family Head’s permission.”
“That boy worries too much. He still treats his elder sister like a girl who knows nothing of the world!”
She let out a hearty laugh and stroked Bije’s head in thanks. The creature gave a small nod, then shrank back down to its miniature size and hopped onto Turan’s shoulder.
A voice tinged with a hint of guilt echoed in Turan's mind.
— Turan, Lida asked for a ride, so I gave her one. Is it okay? I wanted to ask first, but I couldn't.
— No, you did well.
It wasn't as if Osel would actually think Lida had been kidnapped.
Lida watched quietly as Turan withdrew Bije into his body, then asked cautiously, “So, what I heard from the little one… is it true? I ran all the way here because I couldn't bear the curiosity.”
“Yes. Would you like to see?”
When Lida nodded, Turan led her straight to the underground dungeon.
The guard stationed at the entrance challenged Turan.
“Badger.”
“Powder.”
Upon hearing the correct response, the guard bowed politely and stepped aside. Lida watched the exchange with fascination.
“Demanding a password even from their own Family Head, I see.”
“It’s in case someone disguises themselves as me. I’ve implemented this not just here, but in all our vital facilities.”
Back when the Frea Divine Clan played their games, the Mimic was considered an unpopular class with mediocre performance. However, there was no guarantee that Turan was the only one capable of using such abilities. With the right magic devices, one could replicate the effect reasonably well even without the specific class.
A short while later, after passing through a corridor illuminated by magic lamps, they entered the deep dungeon. Lida’s eyes sparkled as she spotted the White Elf imprisoned in one of the cells.
“Indeed… a real White Elf! It was true!”
“W-who is this human?”
Ignoring Nia’s flustered reaction, Lida gripped the bars and thrust her face forward. Her flushed face and wide, staring eyes were clearly those of someone in a state of extreme excitement. The White Elf princess turned to Turan in a panic.
“You! Do something about this human! She’s terrifying!”
“What’s so scary about her?”
As Turan let out a dry laugh, Lida focused her mind and manifested her spirit body.
Naturally, her spirit body took a different form than those of Turan, Solif, or Meisa. A pure white snake with heads on both ends and no tail wrapped around her, coiling from one arm, over her shoulders, to the other. A faint, rainbow-colored radiance flowed from its entire body.
And, as expected, a metal needle was embedded in its head.
“To think you’ve already mastered soul magic to this extent…”
[Actually, I only became capable of this recently. No one else has mastered it yet.]
Even before they truly understood soul magic, the nobles of Lavitas had conducted their own independent research into the soul, which had apparently aided her training significantly. Even so, it was a remarkable achievement. It had only been a few years since Turan had provided the clues for soul magic to the Lavitas side, yet she had already reached this level.
[Now, little White Elf. Since you can use Spirit-calling, you should be able to hear my voice, yes? Try to use your power on me—anything will do! I’m dying of curiosity. I want to know how Spirit-calling works, starting from…]
“Lida, she won’t be able to use much power today. I’ve already conducted several experiments on her just a moment ago.”
“T-that’s right. My strength is spent for today. I’m exhausted.”
When Nia hurriedly nodded in agreement, Lida looked back and forth between Turan and Nia with the dejected expression of a young girl—a look quite unbefitting her actual age. She then retracted her spirit body.
“What a pity…”
“It’s not like today is the only day. Rest for now and see her again tomorrow.”
“I suppose I must. Ah, by the way, what is the White Elf lady’s name?”
Lida proceeded to bombard Nia with all sorts of questions—how old she was, what she liked, whether she had a husband or a lover. Even amidst the interrogation, she pointedly avoided asking how or where Nia had been captured, likely out of consideration for Turan. Explaining that process might accidentally touch upon sensitive secrets of the Parsha family that shouldn't be disturbed.
Before long, Nia began to show blatant signs of fatigue, and Lida reluctantly stood up.
“Ah… well, let’s leave it at this for today. Let’s meet again and talk more.”
“Hmph.”
Lida didn't mind the girl’s arrogant attitude and bid her farewell with a beaming smile before closing the cell door.
As they ascended back to the surface, she asked Turan cautiously, “Could you tell me where and how you found them? We’ve been searching for ages and couldn't even find a lead. Where on earth were they hiding…?”
“The Ruban family was hiding them.”
“Ruban? And they just gave them up?”
“I finished them off completely this time.”
“Finished them…?”
At such an unimaginable statement, Lida’s jaw dropped, her composure momentarily forgotten. Turan gave her a brief explanation of the recent raid on the Ruban family.
After hearing the whole story, Lida muttered in a hollow tone, “To think a Great Family with such a long history could be conquered in such a manner… I truly never imagined it.”
While many Great Families had risen and fallen throughout history, it was rare for one with a solid foundation to be completely destroyed. For one Great Family to conquer another, they usually had to commit even the troops guarding their own main estate, which carried immense risk. Furthermore, the distances between the territories occupied by these families were typically vast.
Thus, warfare between Great Families usually took the form of large armies splitting into smaller units to pillage each other’s territories or engage in minor skirmishes, much like the war between the old Arabion and Zahar families.
However, Turan had not only united several Great Families into a single force but had also bridged physical distances using the Jade Mirror. This had pushed warfare between the Great Families into a new phase. Now that multiple families could concentrate their strength on a single point, even those with deep histories could be annihilated in an instant if they let their guard down.
“An old woman like me finds it hard to keep up with the times.”
“I find it difficult to keep up as well. That’s why I want to ensure this era doesn't last long.”
With Baraha and Ruban dealt with, there were four Great Families left—perhaps only three. When he thought about it, there weren't as many as he’d expected. Of course, he still had to consider variables like the Great Sea Serpent merfolk.
As they talked, Lida looked at the young man standing beside her with a fresh sense of wonder. A young man younger than her own great-grandchildren, at an age where the term 'greenhorn' would still be appropriate. Yet, this youth had already effectively conquered half the world and was reaching for the other half.
Had there been anyone since the fall of the gods in ancient times who possessed such ambition and reached such a position?
‘Thinking of it that way… we certainly chose the right side.’
It was truly fortunate that Lavitas was the only Great Family not ruled by the gods. Had it been otherwise, Lida’s soul would have been snatched away by them long ago. According to Turan, the gods valued physical beauty almost as much as magical talent and compatibility.
While she was lost in thought, Turan shifted the topic slightly to explain why the Ruban family had been secretly raising the White Elves. He told her how the gods had attempted reincarnation using the White Elves only to become entangled with them, and how they had ultimately lost control and become puppets to the surviving Spirit-callers.
After hearing the whole story, she clicked her tongue.
“The progenitor of Ruban was the Blood Prince… To think the kin of that mighty god of war met such an end. It’s bitter, one way or another.”
“They were crushed by a disaster of their own making.”
In the end, it was the price they paid for using shortcuts because they were wary of seeking help from Monarch, the master of soul magic lurking in the West. Based on what Resion and others had said, Turan could roughly guess why they found Monarch so unsettling.
While Monarch might lack direct combat ability, he was skilled in all sorts of behind-the-scenes machinations through his unique talents. Furthermore, given the nature of his profession, he possessed extraordinary skill in manipulating souls. Now that bodies were merely clothes to be changed and the ability to handle souls had become the true measure of a god, everyone had no choice but to be wary of the potential Monarch held.
“Oh, are you done for the day—? Hmph. Family Head. Could you introduce the lady beside you?”
As they walked and talked, Asiz, who had spotted Turan and approached him familiarly, hurriedly corrected his posture upon seeing Lida.
Reading the expression typical of a young man meeting an attractive woman, Lida chuckled and gave him a flirtatious look.
“I am Lida of Lavitas. I’ve come to the Parsha family for a short while on a special matter.”
Her tone was redolent of a well-educated young lady, quite unlike her usual elderly persona. However, despite her acting, Asiz nodded as if a realization had struck him.
“Ah, if you are Lady Lida, then you must be the cousin of the Lavitas Family Head… I’ve heard much about you!”
“Oh dear.”
Lida, who had been trying to play the part of an ordinary noblewoman, clicked her tongue in disappointment at being found out. Turan, watching from the side, let out a small chuckle and spoke to her.
“Since you’ve come as a guest, I should treat you to a meal. Would you prefer something grand or something simple?”
“Simple, please. Given the times.”
“Then let us dine together at my quarters.”
Suggesting such a thing to a young woman of the same age would have been incredibly rude, but when the subject was an elder hundreds of years older, it could easily be seen as a gesture of goodwill. Lida nodded at Turan’s suggestion.
“Let’s do that. By the way, where did Miss Meisa go? I thought I’d see her right away…”
“Meisa has been staying at my quarters for some time now. Her strength has been weakened due to the production of magic devices.”
This was the excuse for Meisa not appearing in public. It was already common knowledge that she was a possessor of triple bloodlines, having even awakened the Enchanter bloodline. It wasn't strange for such a talented individual to use her full power to create a mighty magic device, nor was it strange for her to stay at the Family Head’s residence to avoid danger while in a weakened state.
“I see.”
However, the moment she heard those words, Lida wore a peculiar expression as if she had realized something.
As expected, when Lida entered the quarters with Turan a short while later, she showed no surprise at seeing Meisa’s slightly swollen belly as the girl greeted her.
“It’s been so long! But what brings you here…?”
“I heard about the White Elf the Parsha Family Head brought back and simply couldn't help myself. More importantly, how many months has it been? I’d guess a little over four.”
“That’s right!”
Seeing Meisa’s amazement at her accuracy, Lida spoke with a boastful expression.
“How many times have I given birth myself, and how many times have I helped my children give birth? How could I not know? And well, there’s no need to even ask who the father is…”
“That’s how it turned out.”
Though he had been scolded by Solif before for being too childish, Turan still felt embarrassed confessing to someone else that he had conceived a child. Especially to Lida. It felt like boasting to his grandmother about a passionate night with a lover.
Seeing Turan’s embarrassed face, Lida burst into a hearty laugh.
“One of my grandsons had that exact same look when he told me he’d made a child before marriage! So, when is the Companion Ceremony? Your belly is already showing, so a dress won't fit right. Or have you already done it and I just didn't know?”
“We haven't done it yet, and we don't plan to for the time being.”
“What?”
At Turan’s words, Lida wore a devastated expression, as if she couldn't believe he could be so heartless. Meisa spoke up from the side as if to defend him.
“The situation is a bit too precarious to reveal this.”
First, they had to hide the fact that Meisa couldn't function as a proper combatant due to her pregnancy. Second, being known as Turan’s companion might be disadvantageous for her future role as the ruler of Arabion, where she would need to exercise full authority. And finally, with advanced soul magic techniques, it was possible to target fetuses of a specific bloodline.
After hearing the reasons, Lida let out a low groan.
“Mmm, if those are the reasons, I suppose it can’t be helped… Still, a Companion Ceremony is a precious thing. Won't you regret it?”
“It’s not like we can’t do it later.”
Turan planned to hold a grand Companion Ceremony after all their enemies were dealt with, the child was born, and Meisa was firmly established as the ruler of Arabion. It would be so magnificent and grand that everyone in the world would know of their union.
“My word… your sense of scale is always enormous. If that’s the case, I have nothing more to say.”
Though she had acted like a nagging grandmother, she wasn't actually related to Turan or Meisa, so she didn't push further. In fact, considering the gap in their power and status, she had already interfered quite a bit. It was only because of their prior friendship that Turan hadn't taken offense.
As they settled the matter of the ceremony, maids entered the living room carrying banquet dishes prepared under Asiz’s direction.
“Let’s eat and talk first. Lady Lida, you’ll have to eat as much as we did back then.”
At the joke about getting revenge for being treated to a stomach-bursting feast at Lida’s mansion, Lida laughed and shook her head.
“If this old woman eats like that, she’ll die of indigestion! Regardless, I gratefully accept the hospitality.”
In truth, compared to Turan’s boast, the food served wasn't exactly a magnificent feast. The Gray Zone had barren soil and lacked abundant agricultural products, and the trade that usually made up for it had been almost completely destroyed recently. The ports in the North Sea and the land routes to Arabion in the northwest, which should have supplied abundant ingredients, were all paralyzed.
If they hadn't been importing spices from Zahar and animal meat, which had become more plentiful as people disappeared from the forest zones, many would have already died of starvation. However, Lida enjoyed the meal with a smile, as if she didn't mind the somewhat lackluster treatment for a guest of a Great Family.
“Mmm, it’s delicious. If I stay in Kalamas, can I have meals like this every day?”
“Are you planning to stay for a long time?”
“It might be short if I get results quickly, but otherwise, I’d like to stay for a while. Of course, that’s only if the Parsha Family Head doesn't kick me out as an uninvited guest.”
“You are welcome to stay as long as you like.”
Turan had been dreading the chore of sending Nia to Lavitas and back, so having a researcher come to him was actually perfect. Besides, the other Lavitas mages hadn't properly mastered soul magic yet, so they wouldn't be of much value as researchers anyway. And if Lida succeeded in finding a way to extend the lifespan of the Spirit Chains here, Turan and Meisa would naturally benefit from it as well.
Hearing this, Meisa’s eyes sparkled as she asked, “Could you show us your spirit body? I’ve been curious about what a Lavitas bloodline spirit body would look like!”
“Of course. Miss Meisa as well… ah, come to think of it, that might be a bad idea.”
Since soul magic didn't specify what happened when a pregnant woman manifested her spirit body, it was only natural to be cautious about trying something in an unknown field. After Meisa marveled at Lida’s spirit body, Turan manifested his own. Lida showered him with praise upon seeing his spirit body displaying four distinct traits.
After spending a long time boasting about and complimenting their spirit bodies as if they were at a fashion show, Lida suddenly adopted a solemn expression.
“Actually, the reason I came here myself wasn't just to research Spirit-calling.”
“Something must have happened.”
Turan wiped the smile from his face and looked at Lida with a serious expression. The beautiful old woman, who had lived for over three hundred years yet remained wrinkle-free, nodded.
“Indeed. I could have sent word through Bije… but important matters can be distorted when relayed that way. It’s not that I don't trust the little one, but there could be issues with its vocabulary.”
— I can relay things just fine!
When Bije suddenly popped out of Turan’s hand and snapped at her, Lida waved her hands dismissively.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I wasn't insulting you. Truly. This old woman was just being overly cautious.”
Lida calmed the fuming Bije by stuffing a piece of meat into its mouth, then looked at the two of them and spoke.
“About a week before Bije came to find me, someone claiming to be an envoy from Arabion arrived in Merem.”