Book 6 Chapter 9

Episode 133

"Wake up, Rin. It's time to move."

With a familiar voice, my eyelids lifted on their own. Under the low, dim dawn of the polar region, the campfire flickered quietly.

None of it was a dream…

Beneath the blanket, the absolute being, curled up and squirming on my chest, was warm as a flame.

"My plight indeed…"

As I wrapped it up in the blanket and held it in my arms, Akilea mumbled in her sleep.

"Awwoo…"

Kasena, who had already woken up and was surveying the landscape of Trident Point, exclaimed in an elevated voice as I came and stood beside her.

"Trident Point! The adventurers' holy land! Will I get to meet lots of famous adventurers?!"

"Didn't Eldvih say it was better not to meet them?"

"No romance! Rain, you have no romance at all!"

"We're leaving. Stop chattering and follow me."

And so, our journey began anew once more.

It is said that 40% of the landform here at Trident Point is swamp, and 30% is jungle.

Although we moved along the routes established by adventurers, it was too isolated and rough a path for a large procession with children and injured people to travel.

Therefore, our movement speed was inevitably slow… and we had to find suitable places to rest once at lunch and once in the evening.

There was no such thing as a suitable place in this cursed land, but somehow, we managed.

"How much further do we have to go?"

"At this rate, it'll take a good two months to reach the Far West branch from here."

"The Far West branch!"

At Eldvih's explanation, Kasena reacted with an expression unable to conceal her excitement.

"Do adventurers really buy materials for expeditions there or share information with each other and all that?"

"Just as the Captain said, your head is full of nothing but dreams and hopes. You have a big misconception about the profession of an adventurer."

"Huh?"

"The objectives of adventurers who come to this land are very diverse, including monster hunting, public research, and ruin exploration."

"Does that mean their interests are intricately intertwined?"

"Yes. Adventurers are a lot who act solely for their own benefit. If they think the movement of beastkin harms their interests, they'll immediately go on the offensive."

Eldvih's deep-rooted distrust of humans was something I found a bit hard to understand.

The legendary adventurers I met when I was Rin were like that… and thinking of Rem and Bart, whom I met recently, they were all good guys.

I had no intention of upsetting the guide who was leading us through this eternal wetland, so I said nothing.

"Hmm, you'll need a guide. Trident Point is a land of the abyss. Even if not as much as Harbadoia."

As if proving Frisbia's words, as we moved further into the center, a foul-smelling fog began to envelop the entire area.

Kasena shivered, saying there were souls wandering in the fog of Trident Point. That spirits were bound here, unable to find peace.

'I don't want to shiver at stories like that…'

Cluck, cluck, cluck… When something pale and disgusting was glimpsed crawling through the fog, my breath involuntarily quickened.

It was an unnatural fog… a fog spewed forth by an unimaginably dark abyss.

In this land, all creatures grew into repulsive forms, and decaying in this fog and air, they transformed into utterly nauseating shapes.

"Long ago, this land was ruled by Beshansidug, the Public Safety Duke, the foremost of the Spider Lord's Five Virtues. It is said he enjoyed trapping primitives in spiderweb prisons and drowning them in the swamps."

"…"

"There is a legend that when the prisons were pulled out of the swamp again, there were no humans with the warmth of life in them, but rather monstrous entities with hard hearts that exhaled cold breaths to create fog."

At Eldvih's explanation, I felt Kasena's hand tugging firmly at my sleeve.

I didn't know what she was scared of, having faced far more terrifying beings beyond the wall… Reason told me so, but I wasn't entirely at ease either.

This land of fog, seemingly transcending the realms of light and darkness, was persistently giving off an unpleasant feeling.

"The Public Safety Duke was subdued and sealed by Kalenden. Along with his powers and his kin. This is just a natural phenomenon."

Jingle, jingle, jingle…

Only the clear sound of the rings on the Staff of Four Rings clashing echoed across the swamp covered in gray fog.

The sound was miraculously bright and clear, like a flame illuminating the darkness, able to guide the procession of beastkin straight even through such fog.

"Ridiculous. To say such a thing after witnessing impossible events with your own eyes."

"…"

"The Public Safety Duke's kin are still alive. In the name of the ancients…"

"Lie."

Kasena shook her head uneasily and swallowed dryly.

"Stop trying to scare me."

"They sometimes leap out of labyrinths, and sometimes out of swamps, to attack humans. With that vitality, for over a thousand years— Wait, what was that just now?"

A sound… an ominous sound, like a snake coiling around one's leg and crawling up to the nape of the neck, was heard.

Subsequently, Akilea, who was clinging tightly to my back, cried "Da-boot!" and pointed with all her might to the other side of the fog, and the Staff of Four Rings quietly resonated.

Is it giving a warning now?

That there's an enemy there?

Aki, as a true dragon, should be able to see beyond the fog with eyes of authority, like Alakis… but at such a young age, is that really possible?

'No, Aki has never acted like this before.'

I wasn't certain, but I wove a triple magic circle onto my palm, raising a pillar of fire in the world.

Fiercely licking flames 크게 cut through the world of pale fog, greatly opening up our vision…

Just as a chilling ripple was felt from beyond the swamp, the next moment something surged up, casting a colossal shadow over our heads.

"---!"

It was an horrifyingly fast speed, with a body nearly 4 meters tall erupting before water droplets even struck the surface.

"It's a Great Hairy Swamp Spider!"

Eldvih shouted that.

A terrifying monster, too horrible to look at with open eyes, writhing its dozens of hideous spider legs.

With its long body, it created fierce waves in the swamp, and with its savagely gaping jaws, it was about to pounce on someone below.

Rune alteration.

The runes to be changed are Fall (落) and Explode (爆).

Two of the runes comprising the pillar of fire are transmuted.

Into 'Fall (落; falling)' and 'Explode (爆; exploding)'.

The pillar of fire that illuminated the surroundings shot up into the sky, then instantly fell as a fiery thunderbolt, incinerating the monster spider's head into charcoal.

The Great Hairy Swamp Spider, with its head, antennae, and jaws engulfed in transcendental flames, thrashed madly, trying to hide back into the swamp.

But as a second fiery thunderbolt immediately fell, its countless legs instantly crumbled into ashes, and with an ear-splitting boom, it crashed onto the swamp, creating a huge splash.

"Ow, ow-boot!"

As if pleased with that glorious baptism of fire, Aki repeatedly punched forward with her fists. When this happens, the hardship is mine.

"Still, be still. But Aki, you saw that? In this fog?"

"Daaht!"

Then Aki bumped her forehead repeatedly against Rain's head, as if telling him to trust her. No, forcefully.

"Stop, I get it. I get it, it hurts."

Eldvih's eyes narrowed as he watched the entire battle unfold in an instant.

'This guy, it didn't even take 5 seconds to use an attack magic that instantly killed a Great Hairy Swamp Spider…'

Was defeating Baekdoryeong not just a fluke?

Perhaps there was a reason after all that the Captain, no, Princess Frisbia, ordered the escort…

'The more I use it, the more unbelievable this power becomes.'

Of course, Rain also marveled at his own power once again, staring blankly at his left palm.

'I used a 3-star spell and even rune alteration, but there's no burden on my core.'

Could there have been a mage with such a monstrous amount of magical power in history?

While grief welled up when recalling that this magic was built upon Alakis's death, it was also true that as a mage, I felt excitement.

Shall I check the stats after a long time?

'It's quite fun to see growth indicators as numbers again.'

When the day's march ended and we set up camp, I took Rin's notebook from my pocket.

The fact that the notebook was only slightly damaged during the bloody battle with Shar'Kas can only be described as a miracle.

As soon as I opened the notebook, Kalenden's Rudien fluttered out. It landed on the tip of my nose, then shook its wings, scattering particles of light.

Socrafres.

- You can inherit the progress of 'unique magic' research from the surrounding environment.

- Progress 69.8%.

My eyes narrowed for a moment, then widened.

69.8%?

It was definitely around 50%… I remember it clearly because I was so happy I rolled around in bed and got scolded by Pipi.

Did the fight with Baekdoryeong explosively accelerate my growth? Or is it because I inherited Alakis's power?

Brante.

- Changes in the magic circuit have been confirmed: 'Flowing Venerable - Gyeong' => 'Fire Warning: Flowing Venerable (火警 : 流量世尊)'.

This change could also be seen in the § rune engraved on my left palm; its lines had become rough and jagged, like flames.

>>>

Camitishia.

Analyzing circuit…

• Upon circuit activation, 'Mental Barrier - Fire Warning: Flowing Venerable' is established within a 20-meter radius of the caster.

• Within 'Mental Barrier - Fire Warning: Flowing Venerable', the success rate of magic combinations using 'unique runes' and 'unique mathematical formulas' is amplified from '43 -> 58%', and power is amplified from '76 -> 104%'.

Truly an absurd power amplification rate… with 'Fire Warning: Flowing Venerable' in hand, the power amplification rate of the Mental Barrier has exceeded 100%.

What this means is that by strengthening magic with the power of a Venerable, one can cast a single spell at double its power.

However, in the world of magic, there's always a give and take.

>>>

Camitishia.

Analyzing circuit…

• Changes in the nature of magical power confirmed: 'Pure (淸)' -> 'Red (赤)'.

• Disharmony between the origin and the magic circuit found: 'Water (水)・Wind (風)・Earth (地)・Ice (氷)・Poison (毒)・Iron (鐵)・Lightning (雷)'.

Should I be happy about this, or sad…

To put it simply, I can no longer use magic of the other seven attributes.

Strictly speaking, I can use them, but they will activate as fire attribute magic. There are absolutely no exceptions, even including Bell Quirious.

'It seems this happened because the magical power residing in my body was replaced by the soul of the Red Dragon.'

Thanks to this, my plan to comfortably complete the journey to the Far West branch by endlessly creating solid ground failed.

I definitely intended to create a path… but it was a path of terrifying flames that was created.

A hollow, bitter smile formed on my face.

"So, being called an Elemental Master is truly a thing of the past now."

It was a title given to Rin for skillfully handling all eight attributes of magic, namely the four great elements and the four minor elements.

It's a pity, it really is.

If this had happened without meeting Baekdoryeong this time, I might have thought that, but now the story is different.

'Instead of the convenience that comes from being able to handle all attributes, my combat power to destroy the Abyss (深淵) has been extremely enhanced.'

Yoshuhar said the Age of Dragons was ending, and Kalenden said the erosion of the Abyss had already begun…

As if to prove it, a series of emergencies erupted: the sunspot incident, Baekdoryeong's reappearance, and the possession spirit that had controlled the barrier for over five hundred years.

This power will be absolutely necessary in the increasingly dire state of affairs to come. Even if I had been asked to choose between the two, I would have chosen this path now.

Gustaba: Objectifies the caster's physical condition into mathematical values.

• Pillar; Current mana amount: ???,???,???.

Above all, the infinite mana that overwhelms all these drawbacks and then some… If there's anyone who whines after seeing this, they're not a mage.

"Aw, awwwoo! Abu!"

At that moment, a rather firm touch was felt from my back.

As soon as something red popped out from the edge of my vision, a warmth as hot as a flame was felt on my face and neck.

The baby dragon, Akilea.

Having woken up at some point, she stretched her small, cute arms straight out towards 'Rin's Notebook' held in my hand.

"Daaht, daaaht!"

"Still, stay still! It's dangerous."

While hurriedly turning the hand holding the notebook (this flimsy notebook could never survive in the powerful grip of that absolute being), I also had to hold her to prevent her from falling off my shoulder.

Even as she continued to strain and stretch her hand, Akilea almost plummeted headfirst to the ground the next moment.

I barely managed to grab her ankle, but my heart had leaped so much… I tried to calm my startled heart and scold her sternly, but.

"Awwoo?"

Seeing her face looking up at me, tilting her head with pure innocence, my intention to scold her vanished like a ghost. Like sugar melting in my mouth…

"A-baaht."

Then, the moment she clung to my leg and rubbed her cheek, I understood. Somehow, I understood it all at once.

Why parents all turn into doting fools for their daughters… This angelic creature was fundamentally different from my sister or my sister-like disciples.

'But no…'

I am not this child's father, am I? I don't even have the right to enjoy such happiness.

The reason this child perceives me as a parent is simply because a fragment of Alakis resides within my body, nothing more, nothing less.

So, I must do what a caretaker, not a parent, should do. I barely suppressed the corners of my mouth, which threatened to rise, with a cough, and gently detached her.

"Stop, stop it. Stay away. I won't go easy on you just because you act cute. Understand?"

"Da-aht?"

"Listen carefully, Aki. I am not your father."

"A-baaht!"

"I said no."

"Fact, Da."

"That wasn't dragon language just now, was it?"

Akilea was quick to use a few infantile dragon words like 'Ma kiome' without even being taught, yet she could only babble in human language.

Whenever I thought of that, I couldn't help but shiver with an uncontrollable sadness.

If Alakis, not I, were beside Akilea right now, how much she could have learned. How happy she would have been.

"Aki, you are a true dragon. A super powerful being with no equal in this world, academically known as an absolute being."

"Aw?"

"You must also become such a being. I will help you. Though a mere human like me might not be able to teach you much, I will do my best while we go to <Flame万里>."

To meet her eye level, I crouched down in front of her and simultaneously held out my pinky finger.

"We're making a promise. That even though you're still young, inexperienced, and lacking, you will become a noble and great being like Alakis. Step by step, starting today."

It occurred to me that those words might be a promise to myself.

Having received Alakis's soul, I must live a life worthy of that noble soul… and Akilea, who is an avatar of that soul, must do the same.

Did she read the sincerity in my eyes, or did she understand my words?

"It's a promise between us."

It might have been neither, but the moment Aki, who had been blankly staring into my eyes, suddenly smiled brightly and clasped my pinky finger with both hands.

"Ya-aht, Sooo!"

Deep within my chest, perhaps from the depths of my soul, I felt a quiet resonance rippling out in a touching wave, spreading throughout my entire body.

Was it joy?

Probably sadness.

A deep, deep sadness stemming from not being able to hold that hand myself…

"You're a good girl. Come here, Aki."

Unsure if it was truly an emotion forged by Alakis's soul or just my own delusion, I unconsciously hugged Aki tightly and buried my tears.

Still, the world was summer.

The winds of summer were blowing on my hundred-year journey of life as well.