Chapter 385 – Recruitment
The space flipped in an instant.
When Verden looked around, the deserted forest he had used as a departure point toward the Society's headquarters spread out before his eyes.
He had returned precisely to the location where Heras had used the spatial teleportation scroll.
It seemed there were certain conditions bound to coordinate settings.
To Verden's curious question, Heras and Cain nodded as they replied.
"As we informed you previously, Excellency, the scrolls produced by the Society are degraded in performance compared to the originals."
"They are originally made in pairs, senior. The authorized user may return to the island from anywhere, but when coming back, they can only return to the place where the scroll was used. They are extremely difficult to make, so they cannot be abused."
In other words, scrolls and the Society's headquarters could not be used to achieve arbitrary forms of spatial teleportation.
A natural restriction.
For an individual to cross space at will, it was, 'by default', possible only for a Quasi-Transcendent of the 7th tier who could deeply handle spatial teleportation circles or spatial attributes...
Airships, artifacts, and Mado did exist, but those were special cases and thus excluded from consideration.
Like intercontinental spatial teleportation circles, it was possible to install or use specific sites, but such things required astronomical costs.
And there were security issues as well.
If they happened to take a massive impact, there was every chance they would be destroyed on the spot, making them unsuitable for an organization like the Society that operated in secrecy.
It was a limitation well within expectations.
In any case, what Verden sought from the Society was not means of transport, but manpower, so he felt no particular regret.
Verden was not concerned in the least.
"Then I shall take my leave, and carry out my primary mission."
Heras departed first.
Likewise, the mages dispatched from the Society would blend around Verden and Cain, assisting the plan.
Spies, couriers, and watchmen rolled into one. They would thoroughly cover even those areas beyond Verden's line of sight.
A strength that could not be obtained alone, but only by a force.
Fwaaaaah!
Verden and Cain swiftly cut across the skies of the Ownerless Land.
Dallehin was under the care of the Vampire, Dumal, and if any urgent problem arose, the bats or the Society would send word immediately.
There was no need to visit, so they headed directly for Arein.
Before long, an old city appeared in the distance.
"Hm, I have heard of the Ownerless Land a few times before... but even so, this city seems terribly backward."
Cain said that, on occasion, he had traveled under the guidance of the sages together with Unia, and had seen the world a few times.
Mostly the magically advanced Western Continent, the central regions of the Continent, or the northern areas.
By comparison, this Arein would appear far behind the times.
But what could one expect.
The Ownerless Land was plagued by endless conflict, with no time to leisurely develop.
Especially minor cities like Arein.
Verden said.
"It may not feel familiar, but you will adapt soon enough. Despite appearances, the security here is fairly good. To walk the streets and experience the daily life of the world is not a bad thing."
"Yes, thank you for the advice, senior."
Unia and Cain, to Verden, were undeniably a formidable force.
Provided they built up some lacking experience.
The world was filled with variables of every sort.
And also with brutal tragedies capable of inflicting deep psychological wounds.
For that reason, one needed the mental strength to maintain minimum reason in any situation.
If one relied only on skill, they could lose their life miserably to a near-equal opponent.
'I and the Society are not bound in a vertical relationship.'
Furthermore, it was not only because their purposes coincided that they moved together.
In detail, there were various overlapping interests.
Like Verden teaching the twins experience, and in exchange receiving the aid of Cain, Unia, and the Society's forces.
Giving, and receiving.
A simple proof of cooperation.
Verden and Cain gradually lowered altitude.
Through the castle gate, they intended to enter the city, view the desolate streets, and then proceed to the lord's castle.
But something caught his attention, something he could not pass by.
'...Adrian?'
That familiar presence was felt from a nearby forest. Alongside it, the mana of someone unknown.
"Wait here for a while."
"...?"
After unilaterally informing Cain, Verden immediately veered off.
When he landed on the disturbed ground, Adrian was there... facing off against an unfamiliar Elf woman at some distance.
"You have returned, my lord."
Adrian welcomed Verden's return, his body marked here and there with unfamiliar traces of battle. They were not severe injuries, but scratches and dents in the armor stood out.
"...Explain."
"Yes."
In the Great Forest, one of the Central Continent's Four Powers, Merquien, had come to Verden with a matter.
As she bore no hostility, Adrian had sought to resolve it peacefully, but as could be seen, the talks broke down─── and so led to combat.
But since neither could kill while restraining the other, no easy conclusion was reached, and in the end, they naturally agreed to wait here in the forest near Arein until Verden arrived.
It was concise and clear.
No further questioning was necessary.
Verden, understanding at once, tapped Adrian's shoulder lightly in acknowledgment of his effort, then stepped forward.
"You came much earlier than I expected."
Merquien rose from the tree stump where she had been sitting, crossing her arms.
She too bore a few faint wounds.
"Greetings, Asher. My name is Merquien───"
"I understand the collectivism of the Elf race. And I have not inflicted harm, but instead shown favor, as I did with Karans."
Verden faced Merquien.
"Yet though you knew he was one of mine, you refused cooperation and attacked. What is the meaning of this?"
Mana flashed at once.
An expression of displeasure. The peaceful air of spring sank heavily.
...gulp.
Merquien's throat bobbed.
***
From the Elven perspective.
If humans bore tainted mana, Elves wielded the pure mana of nature.
Viewed under the broad concept of mana, they seemed to be one and the same, but the difference was stark.
A wall that could not be crossed between races.
Yet.
'What... is this mana?'
Merquien's pupils shook as if rocked by an earthquake.
Not because of a sheer quantity surpassing even that of a High Elf, but because of the purity of the mana reaching her skin.
'Th, this is just like the World Tree!'
So pure.
It was like facing a walking World Tree, a strange and uncanny feeling.
Of course, she had known through Karans memory, but such sensations had not been conveyed, and so she was astonished.
This is truly a human?
Merquien, though she saw and felt it directly, could not believe it.
She could not shake the suspicion—was it perhaps the effect of some artifact humans possessed, or some delusion?
So she summoned her companion.
The spirit contracted with her could perceive the essence.
Prima appeared upon her shoulder.
...and the ominous feeling proved accurate.
Tremble tremble tremble tremble tremble tremble tremble.
Prima was trembling.
Hidden among the strands of her golden hair, the spirit was visibly terrified.
Among spirits, Prima was one of the "Primordial Spirits", a companion of the Elves who wielded immense power. Never before had Merquien seen such violent fear.
That could only mean one thing.
"Answer me, Merquien."
At Verden's voice, Merquien swallowed once more.
There was no falsehood in that pure mana.
As she recognized him, her loathing and rejection of humans began to vanish in an instant.
Elves were merciful to their kin.
They had a strong tendency to perceive the world through natural mana, and to revere and worship the World Tree.
And so, when faced with a being who bore mana akin to that of the World Tree, how should they respond?
This was not a matter of strength or weakness.
Merquien lowered her gaze.
She hunched her shoulders slightly, rubbed her arm with one hand, and slowly opened her mouth.
"Sorry... it won't happen again..."
What she chose was apology.
She didn't even try to excuse her mistake.
Adrian's eyes widened.
Though he had heard about Verden's ties with the Elves, seeing it directly was still shocking.
The huntress who had bombarded the area with her spirit just moments ago was now this obedient.
Verden narrowed his eyes.
'This is awkward.'
After only a few words, she was already showing signs of remorse, so there was nothing more to say.
The desire to press further simply faded.
In the end, Verden decided to let the matter go. Though there had been friction, Adrian's injuries were practically nonexistent.
It was a judgment based on reason.
Verden exhaled.
Lightening the atmosphere, he asked Merquien.
"So what reason brought you to me?"
"Ah, well. As thanks for saving Karans, I came to invite you, on behalf of my people, to the Great Forest."
An invitation from the Great Forest.
He wasn't uninterested, but he had no leisure to travel right now.
"What's the deadline?"
"As soon as possible...?"
"Precisely."
Merquien shifted her eyes.
She met the gaze of the spirit, Prima, perched on her shoulder, then nodded.
And she said, testing him.
"By the end of the year?"
Much more generous than expected.
Likely a difference in the perception of time between humans and Elves.
It was the difference of lifespans.
At any rate, he had heard her business.
And with Verden's mediation, there was no longer any point of conflict with Merquien.
No more reason to face off in the forest.
"For now, let's return to Arein. Merquien, you come as well."
Verden invited Merquien.
***
Verden, Adrian, Keirel, and Cain.
Three humans and one beastkin gathered at Keirel's hideout.
Cain had already been introduced.
Adrian had been told in detail of the Society's cooperation.
Keirel, who knew nothing of the Society, was simply told they were allies.
Meanwhile, Merquien waited nearby.
The topic of this meeting was the Scales of Ignacia.
At last, through the newspaper, the auction date had been set, and they needed to act.
"We'll be heading to Gargant as soon as possible. We must make preparations before arrival."
Rayshen Tailroad was cunning.
Especially cautious, he would need to be tightly trapped so he could not slip away.
One mistake, and he would be lost in an instant.
"Because it's dangerous, only three of us will move as fighting force. Keirel, sorry, but you'll remain here in Arein."
"Don't worry about me."
Keirel did not know that Verden and Adrian were aiming for the Bohemirn Magic Tower.
It was dangerous, but she also had her own reason for not wanting to know. Whatever it was, it was Keirel's way of remaining blameless, to help Adrian's revenge.
"Cain, how long to gather the elite?"
"Considering distance, four to five days should be enough, senior."
"Good. Then we depart for Gargant in a week."
The schedule was set.
At that moment, Keirel raised her hand.
"But, there's one problem."
"What is it?"
"Before fighting him, you heard how Merquien annihilated a human army, right? In the investigation, it turned out Lord Harsbeg, Lord Frol, and Lord Delgar were among the dead."
Lords from around Arein.
The very ones Verden had met together with Liam.
"And we also found traces of a mercenary corps working under the Warlord, who serves the Sovereign... No matter how you see it, it's clear they were aiming to ambush Liam's subjugation force."
"So the Sovereign wanted to make a move. Or rather, to test me."
Verden had heard of the Sovereign.
One of the Central Continent's Four Powers like Merquien, known as the Eye of the Great Forest, and ruler of the western Ownerless Land.
Said to have considerable connections as well.
Adrian said.
"Hm, in that case, if we're absent, he might realize it and raid Arein or Dallehin."
"Yes, it's possible. And if that happens, it would be disastrous. The city's fall would be inevitable."
An all-out territorial war could not be stopped.
For the moment, they had to rely on luck that he wouldn't attack.
In other words, a powerful deterrent was necessary to block the Sovereign's advance.
"A simple problem."
"You have a plan?"
"Perhaps."
Verden nodded.
Then he summoned Merquien into Keirel's hideout.
"Merquien, you said you came to bring me to the Great Forest. That means you won't return until your mission is complete, right?"
"Uh, yes, but..."
"As you see, I have matters to attend. Inevitably, the trip to the Great Forest will be delayed a few months. So until then, could you stay nearby? I'll compensate you."
"Compensate?"
"Yes, compensation. For example... unlimited provision of food you like."
Through Karans, Verden had seen with his own eyes many of the Elves' habits. How they detested human society, yet liked human food.
Perhaps it applied to Merquien as well.
His prediction was exactly right.
"Hmm, then would that include the premium? snacks? like the ones Karans had?"
When parting with Karans, Verden had given him a spatial bag filled with expensive snacks purchased in the capital.
Apparently, Merquien had tasted them.
Verden's subspace currently had plenty of such snacks piled up.
'And if it runs out, I can always fetch more.'
Compared to his accumulated wealth, such spending was nothing.
Verden handed her a set of sweets.
Carefully opening the lid, Merquien's eyes shone with admiration.
She then coughed lightly, hugging it close.
"Hmm, well... I don't like living near humans, but if you provide things like this, I suppose I have no choice. And besides, it's my brother's request."
It seemed Merquien, like Karans, now perceived Verden as a brother.
Seeing that, the three others, except Verden, were left speechless.
At any rate, he had her word.
Having secured a mighty guardian, Verden whispered to Keirel,
"From now on, spread the word that I have strong ties with Merquien. Add that I have formed some manner of bond with the Elf race."
Merquien was a powerhouse of the Central Continent's Four Powers, one even Adrian could not easily subdue.
Moreover, Elves were feared for collective retaliation.
Would the Sovereign really risk such danger and launch a war?
Especially when neither Verden nor Adrian's return time was known.
Those who possess much, have much to lose, and so are always severe and cautious.
Of course, the Sovereign would be no exception. He too was a power with his own domain.
Hearing the plan, Keirel's lips trembled.
'What is this man. He's terrifying.'
To handle the Four Powers of the Central Continent at will, Keirel felt an inexplicable chill.
It was the beastkin instinct.
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