Chapter 40
Chapter 40
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Havel's Method
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Havel's method for dealing with Azaris was simple.
He would have Azaris create a magic sphere and pull it along himself.
Since he'd already decided to travel with the Golden Generation,
this was far faster than taking a ship.
"I've made it so you can run at full speed without any issues! The inside isn't affected by the wind at all."
Azaris shouted excitedly from within the sphere floating in the air.
"My heart's racing."
Edler couldn't hide his anticipation either—this was a first for him too.
But there was one person among them whose face had turned pale as a ghost.
Baria.
'What sin have I committed to deserve this?'
He'd joined the Golden Generation for smooth access to information.
But what a twist.
He'd thought disasters had to be avoided at all costs.
Now he was traveling right alongside one.
"Here we go."
"Departure, departure!"
Ignoring their chatter, Havel grabbed the line Azaris had made for him.
And then, the moment he lifted his feet from the water's surface—
the seawater split and sprayed upward like it had been cleaved.
A fierce gale followed, whipping up massive waves.
"Wooooah!"
"Ooh, this is fast!"
"P-Please, just a little slower."
Utterly contrasting reactions crossed paths.
The ocean scenery rarely changed.
Just endless horizons no matter where you looked.
Yet even that sea shifted constantly before their eyes.
Havel's incredible speed became viscerally real.
Which only terrified Baria more.
What if Azaris's magic gives out?
We're dead for sure.
Oblivious to Baria's fears, Havel charged ahead.
'Almost there.'
Mindful not to overdo it in case the magic failed, Havel eased off the throttle.
An island appeared in the distance.
Mist shrouded the path ahead.
One of the 6th Hierarchy islands: Cloudmist Island.
The Celestia magic family held it.
Elasia, the Celestia magic captain whom Havel had released last time.
He'd come here to collect on their deal.
'Mist, huh.'
It reminded him uncomfortably of the Dark Zone floor above.
Should he just blow it away?
Havel considered it briefly but held back.
He'd just take what was his and go.
"We're heading into the mist. What now?"
Havel could drag the magic sphere straight through,
but if they were ambushed, all three of them would struggle to fight back.
"I'll make sure everyone can stand on the water."
Luckily, Azaris had a solution.
His antics aside, the guy's magic was the real deal.
Not for nothing was he a direct descendant of the Ignor family, famed for their sorcery.
"Walking on water—truly a divine blessing."
"It's magic, not a god."
"Magic is born of the divine too. Without the gods creating the world, there'd be no magic."
In the meantime, Edler had launched into a sermon.
This was why holy orders could be a hassle.
They always wrapped everything up as "the gods' grace."
Havel didn't put much stock in gods.
All the holy order fools screaming for divine aid in the Demonic Palace had died anyway.
'Come to think of it, that "God's Duality" guy—must be tied to the gods somehow.'
It was possible.
He'd poke around the holy orders later if he got the chance.
Might shake something useful loose.
"Lord Havel, may I guide us?"
Baria approached in the interim.
"I know where the Celestias have set up on Cloudmist Island."
Baria was proving useful indeed.
He had a killer instinct for these things.
'The most likable direct heir among the Five Great Families.'
Not just the info he dug up effortlessly,
but how he actively played the cards he had.
It'd be nice if Baria and Arthur hit it off.
'Maybe set something up later.'
Baria stiffened under his gaze for some reason,
but Havel just nodded.
"Yeah, lead the way."
"Understood."
Even amid the thick mist over the sea, Baria guided them swiftly.
His sense of direction was exceptional.
A natural at scouting and intel gathering.
Thanks to him, Havel and the others quickly reached land.
"The island's shrouded in mist too."
"That's Cloudmist Island for you. Without a mage or scout specialist, even navigation's a nightmare."
Baria added.
"Um, Lord Havel, you said the Celestias agreed to hand over the island master, right?"
"Yeah, straight from her mouth."
Baria's face lit up as something occurred to him.
"Just hit me—this means the Celestia magic captain got here before us, right?"
His follow-up made even Havel glance back.
The Celestia magic captain, Elasia, had left two days ahead of him.
But the 6th Hierarchy was absurdly vast.
Like an ocean in scale.
Ships crossing it had their limits, no matter how fast.
Plus, sea routes weren't uniform—reefs, calamity-heavy paths, and all.
Havel hadn't cared, of course.
He'd made it here in under a day.
And hadn't seen a single ship en route.
Havel had overlooked that fact this time.
"They could've sent word by magic."
"I'd love to think Captain Elasia did just that. But..."
Sweat beaded on Baria's brow.
"Handing over an island they lost, plus offering up the current lord? That's huge. Relaying it by magic alone seems dicey."
With her position as magic captain,
skipping a face-to-face for something that massive?
Even the boldest wouldn't just fling results via spell.
"Hey, light up ahead."
Azaris pointed to lights gathering beyond the mist.
"That's Celestia anti-air light magic, isn't it?"
And he helpfully identified it as offensive too.
That answered everything.
The moment the light barraged in, Havel drew his sword and slashed.
Kraka-boom!
Shattered light pierced the mist and tore into the sea.
No way that was friendly fire.
"Trouble."
Havel scratched his head sheepishly.
Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.
He'd grown so strong he'd momentarily forgotten normal standards.
"What now?"
Even more magic circles glowed around the Celestia position.
First strike failed, so they were going all-in, panicking.
Havel slung his sword over his shoulder.
No helping it now.
"We punch through."
Might makes right—faster than talk.
Elasia Celestia, magic captain of the famed magic family Celestia.
Staring at the drifting skies of the 6th Hierarchy, she felt a heavy mix of emotions.
She had to report what happened on Layer Rock Cliff Island.
Even as a direct lineage, she wasn't the family head.
The higher-ups would chew her out for sure.
"Hoo."
She let out a deep sigh.
But turning Havel into an enemy? Suicide.
After fleeing Layer Rock Cliff Island,
she'd seen storm clouds blanket the skies there.
And felt a chilling aura from above.
A monster unlike any before.
She'd rushed the knights to flee.
'That blue sky.'
The dawn that shattered the storm clouds and filled the heavens.
Recalling it made her shudder.
Disasters weren't to be confronted.
She had to convince the Celestias fast.
Those who hadn't seen him would call it nonsense,
but she had to make them listen.
"Captain, Cloudmist Island's in sight."
A squad member called out.
This familiar mist.
Definitely the Cloudmist Island the Celestias held.
A squad member flashed light magic from the ship.
Signaling to the mages there: we're friendly.
"Captain, something's off."
"Off how?"
But the signaler spoke up.
No response from the other side.
"Did something happen?"
the squad member asked worriedly.
Suddenly, unease gripped Elasia.
Maybe from all the weirdness before.
She felt an urgent need to reach the island ASAP.
"Dock! Dock now!"
Her orders sent the squad scrambling.
The ship sped toward the island.
No one from Celestia came out to greet them, though.
Elasia grew more anxious.
"Let's go!"
She cleaved the mist with light magic and pressed on.
As she tried to calm her nerves,
the Celestia outpost came into view soon enough.
It looked intact.
Relief colored her face for the first time—
then she noticed the eerie silence.
"Captain."
The other squad members sensed it too.
They cast spells as they entered the outpost.
Swish!
The moment Elasia whipped her magic toward a noise—
"El-Elasia, it's me!"
It was her uncle, Violet Celestia.
"Uncle Violet? What's going on? And what happened to you?"
Violet was a mess.
His clothes and hair looked like he'd tangled with a beast.
One arm twisted unnaturally—clearly injured.
"Ngh, we were attacked."
He groaned, clutching it.
The Celestias swallowed hard.
"...Was it a white-haired man?"
"Y-Yeah. How'd you—"
Elasia covered her face.
Her vague dread had come true.
"Take me to him."
"What? It's d-dangerous! He's a monster—no light magic even scratched him!"
"It's fine. I know him."
"You know him? What the..."
Violet belatedly questioned her presence here.
She'd been locked in a half-year turf war over Layer Rock Cliff.
As he puzzled,
Elasia said no more and headed into the outpost.
She soon reached a spot with presences.
The conference room the Celestias used.
A man lounged indifferently in a chair there.
Nearly silver hair, blue eyes.
Handsome on looks alone—but a walking disaster in truth.
Havel Banpellyon.
"Oh, you're here."
Havel greeted her casually.
Seeing him, Elasia nearly burst into tears.
She'd pushed the ship to max speed.
Why was he here first?
The man defied all reason.
Elasia shifted her gaze.
There stood the Celestia vice-head—her brother—with a pitiful expression.
Bruise on his face: clearly punched.
Elasia drooped her head.
Ah, she just wanted to go home.