Chapter 479 - Libereas (1)
Verden organized the party infiltrating the Great Hall with only Adrian, Isabella, and Alpha.
Not only were other Mages of the Society such as Heras excluded, but also Cain and Unia, who belonged to the highest combat power.
Libereas was a place where humans could not set foot.
There weren't enough means available to bypass that restriction through loopholes.
And above all else… a single mistake would directly decide everyone's survival.
It was a pressure too heavy for the new generation of the Society to bear. To enter a battlefield where even Transcendents could not guarantee survival was premature.
Thus, Verden and the Sages' opinions aligned, and at present, the twins were unaware that a plan regarding Black Hour was being carried out beneath the surface.
It would not be too late to tell them once the objective had been achieved.
"An honor to meet you again, Shinseong. And greetings to everyone else for the first time. My name is Cayman Vermont."
Verden's group, having departed from the Ownerless Land, reunited with Cayman.
The location was not the previous cliff village, but a coastal cave. A dark, damp space reeking of the sea—so secluded one might not notice even if a Demon were lurking.
"Adrian."
"I'm Isabella Argyle."
As deep associates of the Society already knew Adrian and Isabella, there was no need to hide their identities.
They gave their names simply, exchanged greetings, and went straight to the point.
Verden asked.
"Have you completed the map?"
"Of course, it has been prepared without issue. Please, have a look."
Cayman pulled a thick, rolled-up parchment from his sleeve. Strictly speaking, it was not true lambskin, but rather something with a similar texture.
Its surface was dark violet, and it even writhed ceaselessly as if alive.
Cayman untied the rope binding the grotesque leather and flung it onto the ground.
It covered a rather broad area.
Upon the rectangular hide, a structure made of unidentifiable biological flesh gradually rose.
The Great Hall of Black Hour.
The map Cayman had prepared possessed not two-dimensional, but three-dimensional physical properties.
A scaled-down model of the Great Hall revealed itself in full.
Adrian, Isabella, and Alpha leaned forward, marveling.
"It's detailed. Almost like a finely crafted architectural model."
"At this level, isn't it comparable to a specially made map from the Artison Magic Tower…? But look, the surface keeps moving from time to time. Is it alive? Gross, but fascinating."
[Scanning... appears to be based on beast hide. Origin undetectable. Presumed to be Demon power.]
Cayman nodded, offering a brief explanation.
"It's a special map created by imbuing an ordinary beast's hide with a Demon's vitality. It may look alive, but it is by no means a true organism. Merely a tool. However, reproducing structures in such detail depends entirely on the creator's skill."
At that moment, Cayman's gaze slid subtly aside. His eyes gleamed with curiosity toward the unknown.
"By chance… is this child a Golem? Judging from the exterior, not a natural one but an artificial Golem…"
Whenever Alpha ventured outside, he always maintained
It was obvious that if he were discovered by strangers like a communication device or a memory Golem, troublesome matters would follow.
For that reason, even within the Society, Alpha had never been directly seen.
Exceptionally, Cain and Unia had faintly sensed his presence in an invisible state, but Verden had never bothered to explain.
The circumstances were too complicated.
'But we can't sneak Alpha into Libereas in secret…'
Revealing Alpha openly to Cayman here was the natural course of action.
Alpha looked at Verden.
Granted silent permission to introduce himself, the construct spoke.
[Name. Alpha.]
"As I said earlier, I'm Cayman Vermont. An artificial Golem possessing reason… I had thought such beings to be mere fantasies, but… this is truly astonishing."
[Keep secret outside.]
"Ah, of course. I swear I shall not even reveal it to Melard. As one who has taken in the Demon, I give you my word."
The Demon's contractor and the miniature Golem extended their arms and shook hands. It was not a sight one could easily witness.
When they had first met, Cayman had claimed not to be a Mage, but now, with a Mage's heart, he could not hide his admiration for Alpha.
Realizing himself belatedly, he cleared his throat and continued.
"Hrmm, pardon me. I strayed off topic for a moment."
Cayman pointed to the Demon's map.
"You must have already heard the overall plan from Melard. But now that we have the map, I will walk you through the details myself."
***
The infiltration plan for the Great Hall consisted of three stages.
"First, while you remain inside Libereas, the Society will strike and eliminate a Black Hour executive. Then, the united magic towers of the Western Continent will launch large-scale raids on Black Hour's bases."
The Society, under the leadership of Melard, its first member, had succeeded in uncovering the locations of several Black Hour strongholds.
It was information gathered over years.
They intended to release that intelligence to the Bohemirn Magic Tower Alliance, provoking open conflict with Black Hour.
'Only that much will suffice to draw Dahit Wethroel's attention.'
Verden, hearing the core of the plan, felt certain.
The three Sages of the Society.
The Sage of Power was a former Warlord of the Arnak Empire.
The Sage of Wisdom was among the earliest members of Black Hour.
'And the final Sage of Guardianship must surely be a tower master, or at least someone of comparable rank within the magical world.'
Otherwise, they would not have dared to sway the magic tower alliance.
Even with definite information, the alliance—being pragmatic—would normally prefer to verify endlessly rather than act rashly and boldly.
Unless, that is, someone from within the tower forces themselves incited them.
'A tower master founding the anti-tower Society, hm. I wonder who it is.'
It seemed like one of the lesser towers, but he didn't dwell on it.
It wasn't urgent, and he would learn eventually anyway.
Tap.
Cayman pointed at the center of the Great Hall as projected on the Demon's map.
"Then, once Dahit is being sufficiently observed, or we judge his attention to be drawn, you inside Libereas will infiltrate the Great Hall. The expected transfer location is here."
The Great Hall was divided broadly into two zones.
One, the 'sub-layer' where the key Mages of Black Hour assembled, and the other, the 'deep layer' into which only a select few within Black Hour could enter.
Verden's group planned to break in by targeting the spatial coordinates between the sub-layer and the deep layer.
For the magical defenses of the deep layer were so tight that they risked being exposed the moment they arrived.
"All of Black Hour's research records are stored in the artifact, [Hourglass of Perpetuity], located at the deepest point of the Great Hall. Inevitably, you will have to pass through two gates—the entrance to the deep layer, and then the entrance into the innermost tier."
Cayman's finger slid downward, pointing to the very bottom of the Great Hall.
"Of course, the gate codes will have long since been changed, but the Great Hall was originally designed by one of our first members. We have already prepared a code to force the gates open. If you reach the innermost tier, that will be half the success. Then comes finding the [Hourglass of Perpetuity]."
"Wait, what if Dahit Wethroel moved the hourglass in the meantime?"
"That artifact is bound to the natural cave foundation upon which the Great Hall is built. The only key capable of moving the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] is 'natural magic power'."
The purest of magic, nearly impossible to extract even with the highest-grade magic stones.
Everyone's awareness, save Cayman's, turned toward Verden at once.
"If the hourglass were forcibly removed outside the innermost tier, there would be troublesome consequences. Not only would it take months for natural magic power to gather again to restart it, but the myriad research records within would become jumbled and chaotic. Dahit, who values efficiency above all, would never go to such trouble. I state this with certainty."
Cayman, once Dahit's teacher, spoke with conviction.
Verden asked.
"In other words, its location can still be shifted within the innermost tier, correct?"
"Yes, the [Hourglass of Perpetuity] will be hidden somewhere within the 'Ring of Myriad Changes', which serves as a sort of vault. It is impossible to find through conventional means, but do not worry. I shall tell you not only the method to locate the hourglass, but also how to operate the Ring of Myriad Changes."
Verden nodded.
In summary, while Dahit's attention was drawn away, they would infiltrate the Great Hall, break through two gates and multiple magical defenses, manipulate the Ring of Myriad Changes, and steal the [Hourglass of Perpetuity].
And afterward…
'Escape the Great Hall through a
A clear three-step plan, nothing complicated.
Of course, breaking through the Great Hall's functions was only possible for those with magical knowledge—Verden, Isabella, and Alpha.
Adrian was a power reserved for inevitable combat within the Great Hall—in other words, a force for emergencies.
It was then.
Adrian quietly posed a question to Cayman.
"I have listened to the plan, but there is something separate I wish to ask."
"Please speak, Heavenly Sword."
"…As I understand it, demon worshippers receive power from demons by paying a price. So, what price did you offer?"
***
Demons favored sacrifices.
In his past days of activity, Adrian had encountered demon worshippers a few times, and they all used such rituals to wield aberrant power.
Not that it mattered—he had slain them all with a single stroke.
Still, even for one contracted to a demon, the means of receiving power should not differ greatly from other demon worshippers.
At that, Cayman smiled.
"As I mentioned to Shinseong last time, the demon with whom I contracted is an oddity. It desires nothing like human sacrifice."
"…"
"Nor does it demand harm to anyone. I swear to that."
He diverted the subject without giving a clear answer.
It was a smile far removed from affirmation. As though unwilling to speak further, Cayman retrieved the map.
"That is the entirety of the plan I can reveal here. Give the word, and we will depart at once."
"Very well."
Fwoosh.
Verden summoned a blue cube from subspace.
A sealing-type artifact, [Arkeo].
It was a precious item obtained by exchanging artifacts with Romer, the lone wolf he had met in the Republic of Beldirn.
"Adrian, are you ready?"
"Yes, my lord."
Adrian exhaled deeply, suppressing all his energy. Along with it, strength drained even from his honed muscles.
A completely defenseless state.
"Reflect and confine powerlessness."
The moment he spoke the activation phrase, a bright blue light shone upon Adrian.
The condition for [Arkeo]'s seal was that the target offered no resistance and remained completely still for precisely five minutes.
Woooong.
A translucent blue veil gradually enveloped Adrian's body, and in due time, the appointed span had passed.
"I shall see you later."
"Yes."
With those brief words exchanged, the veil-clad Adrian was sucked into [Arkeo] the moment its entrance opened.
The seal was successful.
Of course, Verden could still keenly sense Adrian's presence.
"You certainly possess a variety of artifacts. With such a seal, he should be able to pass through Libereas's entrance without issue. Very well. I shall begin as well."
Cayman removed his glasses, his gaze flashing.
Crackkkk.
From his slightly parted lips seeped a shadow of pitch black. Something dark and viscous. The black mist flowing out from within engulfed Cayman from head to toe.
Soon the mist dispersed.
[Haa…]
Cayman Vermont shed his human form and fully transformed.
A towering frame over two meters tall, his clothing vanished, replaced by an aberrant body.
His skin and muscles turned jet black, devoid of reflected light, and the texture was no longer that of a human.
From either side of his jaw jutted two newly grown fangs, massive and razor-sharp.
The gentle features of before disappeared, his visage sharpened in every detail.
It was truly a demonic appearance.
"Wow."
[Record name. Demonization.]
Isabella clapped softly in awe, while Alpha, having received a memory golem from Verden at some point, recorded Cayman's transformation.
Both of them, being non-human themselves, felt no negativity.
[Ah, um. I shall now, open the entrance…]
Faced with the opposite reaction than expected, Cayman scratched near his eye with a claw, embarrassed, then sliced his palm.
Drip, drip.
As his demon blood struck the ground, it was absorbed into the shadows.
A stir spread all around.
From the darkness filling the coastal cave, countless black specks wriggled forth like larvae.
Cayman called them the larvae of the Other Side.
Tens of thousands of jet-black demon insects gathered where his blood had fallen, forming a circular shade, and a strange current began to flow.
It was not of this world.
[Follow me.]
Cayman stepped forward without hesitation.
His figure sank into the shade beneath him.
His presence vanished completely.
"I'll go next."
Likewise, Isabella leapt in and disappeared before their eyes.
Verden stowed the [Arkeo] containing Adrian into subspace, then entered the gateway to another world with Alpha.
The coastal cave was left empty.
The darkness of the Other Side soon faded away.
***
The Great Demon Noxias, by sacrificing his life and body, had created the Other Side, Libereas.
It was the sole refuge, the only sanctuary, for beings who shunned the light.
A landscape so starkly vacant it evoked a chill just by sight.
A space with no discernible boundary or depth, gazing into it gave the uncanny sensation of being sucked in.
At its center, Noxias's right hand was fixed into the space itself.
Upon the massive palm severed at the wrist, various structures had been built.
Standing atop a vast rock, far from Libereas yet connected to it by a stony path, Cayman spread an arm.
[That is Libereas.]
Isabella's eyes widened slightly.
"I didn't expect a city to be there."
[Since it is where the demons under Noxias 'live', it naturally took such a form. Within, it is more systematic than it appears.]
[Demons form cities. Confirmed.]
Alpha gained new knowledge.
Though the visitors' reactions differed upon entering this Other Side, all shared a deep fascination with the demon-made city.
Alpha did, and so did Isabella.
But.
Verden could not.
'This scenery…'
A powerful déjà vu.
A space apart from the world, and a small world within it—the image struck his mind like lightning.
This place.
It was eerily similar to the Ark, the sky-island of the Arkship.
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