Kubri muttered as he dashed through the altar.
“To think I didn’t even know such parasites were swarming underground in Umbril—it’s shameful as the clan master of Quentaltin.”
I silently ran beside Kubri, listening to his grumbling-like words.
A clan is ultimately an organization recognized under the authority of the Church of Utility, and the Church only acknowledges effective control over a city if it deems the clan properly contributing to the local society’s virtuous cycle.
Regularly patrolling to maintain public order is basic, and the ability to swiftly resolve issues arising here and there in the city is also necessary.
But in the original history, Kubri fails to identify the cause of the disappearances until the start of Part 3.
It’s only natural that Umbril’s public sentiment turns sour, and according to the timeline, they end up relocating the clan house to another town about three years from now.
After that, the one to effectively control Umbril becomes the Pecheli Clan. Having succeeded in driving out the rival clan, they quickly revive Umbril’s economy through agreements with the Vardia Kingdom they dominate, thereby establishing a bridgehead for southern expansion.
The problem is that before they can expand their influence in the south, another calamity strikes.
The Five Heroes sealed nearby.
Bellifort awakens from his long slumber.
Afterward, the Pecheli Clan’s Umbril branch is completely smashed by Bellifort’s ‘warm-up’ after retrieving the Undefeatable Divine Holy Sword (S+).
In hindsight, both clans vying for interests end up retreating with heavy wounds.
“There’s no need to blame yourself. Anyone, not just Master Rolango, would have struggled to handle such a bizarre incident properly.”
“Is that so? Coming from Aiden, who isn’t even involved but figured out the existence of <Black Swamp>, it sounds like empty flattery.”
At that, I gave an ambiguous smile. From Kubri’s perspective, it might indeed sound like self-praise.
“I got lucky.”
At my words, Kubri let out a short laugh.
The chit-chat ended there.
We dashed toward the deepest part once more.
The underground altar beneath Tamil Lake where the ritual spell <Black Swamp> was being performed.
Despite exploring the maze-like complex underground altar, Aiden’s party didn’t get lost at all, and the reason was simple.
[Looks like there’s a trap over there. If you don’t want trouble, turn the other way.]
Thanks to Plebelziam’s wave detection,
“A subtly denser mana is felt from the right, Master. It seems to be the path toward the center where the ritual is held. Also, based on the density, multiple black mages appear to be waiting.”
And Nano Eater’s mana sensing function.
On top of that, among the Quentaltin elites Kubri brought was a bat subhuman with the Precise Ultrasound (B) trait. With no blind spots front, back, left, or right, getting lost was impossible.
This also meant enemy ambushes were futile.
“Block them!”
“We can’t let them reach the deepest part!”
Spurt! Splash!
“Argh!”
“No way…!”
The endlessly appearing groups of black mages posed no obstacle.
They were mowed down defenselessly with each charge from Kubri, and any who tried to flee late were simply slain by attack spells from the rear mages.
Osgos, the leader of the black mages and mastermind of this ritual, was watching the sequence through a surveillance spell via a crystal ball.
“Damn, an albino lizardman? That’s the Quentaltin Clan master!”
One of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes.
An utterly unexpected opponent had arrived.
And from Osgos’s standpoint, this was completely outside his calculations.
He had indeed procured large quantities of sacrifices for the ritual from Umbril. But he had taken thorough magical measures to avoid leaving traces.
He was confident that unless it was a grand mage like Tristan Alabru of the Triple Star, no one could even grasp a clue.
So how on earth did they pinpoint the altar’s exact location?
‘Is it related to the sword above the lake disappearing?’
Osgos recalled the relic that suddenly flew to the lake about half a year ago.
When the mysterious sword brimming with immense divinity appeared above the lake, it chilled him to the bone, but foolishly, the sword got caught in the concealment and interference mana field and floundered above the lake, unable to find the altar’s entrance. Ironically, this blocked anyone from approaching the lake altogether, and Osgos had laughed in disbelief.
But the presence of that massive sword completely vanished about half a day ago.
Sending a disciple to the surface via <Black Swamp>’s reverse transport function to investigate revealed that someone had eliminated the Giant’s Sword embedded in the lake.
As a mage, he was curious how that was possible, but handling the sword and discovering the altar are separate issues.
To grasp the existence of <Black Swamp>, one needs not only exceptional mana but also expertise in ancient magic.
‘Among those shown in the crystal ball now, none seem like mages of that caliber… Well, since they’ve invaded the altar interior, such thoughts are pointless anyway.’
Cooling his head, Osgos gazed at Kubri’s image in the crystal ball.
In a way, a heavyweight like one of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes walking into the altar of his own accord was an opportunity.
Kubri was undoubtedly an overwhelmingly powerful enemy compared to Osgos now.
But that’s only in a fair fight.
This altar was Osgos’s workshop, no less.
And a fully prepared mage is very strong. In a battle inside this underground cavern, of all places, he could gain a tremendous advantage through his pre-arranged setups.
“It’s perfect timing to verify my achievements so far.”
Osgos smiled eerily.
Magic in the world of Reca Chronicles is broadly divided into two types.
‘Yang (陽) magic’ and ‘Yin (é™°) magic’.
It’s not simply divided by attributes like light or darkness; there’s an essential difference in their principles.
Yang magic is based on the reenactment of myths or legends.
It often requires adherence to seemingly superfluous forms to exert full power, and even minor deviations can cause the spell’s potency to fluctuate.
For this reason, yang magic experts often double as archaeologists for accurate reenactment.
Spells under yang magic are sometimes heavily influenced by divinity as well as mana, and all faith-based spells fall here.
Yin magic, conversely, focuses purely on mana manipulation.
There’s no room for forms, pursuing extreme practicality and efficiency. War mages often hired as mercenaries prefer this side.
The spell Chesa must learn in the future, <Void>, also represents the extreme of yin magic.
Readers called yang magic ‘liberal arts sensibility magic’ and yin magic ‘science sensibility magic’.
A funny analogy, but not entirely wrong upon reflection.
Yang magic specialists were generally scholar- or cleric-like figures, while yin magic specialists felt more like researchers or scientists.
However, the two aren’t opposites and can be fully mixed.
Proving this, the mages who reached the pinnacle in the Reca Chronicles world were all proficient in both yin and yang magic.
Osgos, the black magic master performing the ritual in this altar, is likewise.
Though not now, at his Part 3 appearance after completing the ritual, he was level 57 on his sheet—a grand mage nearly approaching Tristan Alabru.
Creak!
We opened the massive door and entered the deepest part. Inside, a middle-aged man with streaks of white in his hair welcomed us.
“Welcome. One of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes.”
“You know who I am.”
“I saw you through the crystal ball beforehand. An albino lizardman near Umbril could only be you, right?”
I looked at Osgos’s sheet as he spoke to Kubri with apparent leisure.
<Osgos Bonmel>
[Level:47/47]
[HP:07][Strength:06][Agility:04]
[Mana:32][Spirit:12][Senses:15]
[Divinity:00]
[Traits: Extreme Magic(S+), Spirit Veins(A), and 4 more]
[Skills: Black Tower Secret Black Magic · Extreme(A), Holle School Advanced Ritual Art(A), Black Tower Comprehensive Magic(B) and 6 more]
[Description: Age 56, Human. A notorious black mage from the Black Tower, and one of the top geniuses among them. Currently residing in the underground altar beneath Tamil Lake, preparing a black magic ritual.]
An exceptionally outstanding mage.
But as I expected, his stats fall far short of the 57-level Osgos who appeared after completing the ritual.
Kubri glared at him and said.
“If you stop this wicked ritual magic even now, I’ll show a shred of mercy.”
“Mercy? How amusing. Would you call rotting in the Holy Nation’s underground prison until turning to bones mercy…”
Before Osgos could finish, Kubri threw his hand axe.
Clang!
But the thrown hand axe hit some mysterious transparent barrier and bounced sideways. Seeing this, Kubri’s expression twitched slightly.
“Hahaha! This is my workshop! I’ve fully prepared for a fool like one of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes barging in unaware!”
Whirr!
A massive magic circle appeared beneath our feet. Upon closer look, a huge barrier had formed above it, and Osgos’s disciples were extending both hands, supplying mana to the barrier.
“It’s a group confinement spell called <Uni-Prison>, Master Rolango. We can’t exit this magic circle, but spells cast from outside will pass through the barrier.”
The knowledgeable Chesa quickly assessed and explained the situation. A spell that’s tricky to prepare but reliably powerful. For that reason, it’s commonly found in high-level mages’ workshops.
Soon, Osgos’s disciples positioned outside the barrier unleashed a barrage of attack spells toward us.
<Air Shot>, <Aqua Slicer>, <Flame Blast>, <Giga Energy Ball>, <Lightning Burst>…
“Everyone, group up!”
One of the Quentaltin mages shouted. The dozen or so party members swiftly formed a tight formation in response,
<Round Shield>
And the varied spells from the enemies were offset by the defensive barriers simultaneously deployed by the clan’s elite mages.
Kubri furrowed his brow.
“They’re continuously supplying mana from outside, so breaking the barrier will take even me about a minute.”
On top of that, Osgos was spreading both hands, rapidly gathering ambient mana. It was obvious at a glance he was preparing an ominous spell.
Probably the destructive magic he used in the main story, <Negative Gate>.
An extremely terrifying spell in power—if hit by that, Kubri might survive, but the rest would be massacred for sure.
Fortunately, I have a countermeasure.
“Clara. Throw that sword. Since we’re this close, the interference mana field shouldn’t affect it much.”
“That sword? Aha!”
Upon hearing my words, she tossed the key-sized Undefeatable Divine Holy Sword (S+) into the air.
Flash!
The holy sword, free from Clara’s control, expanded rapidly on its own and pierced through the barrier composed of impure mana with unbelievable ease,
Spurt!
“Keuk?!”
Embedding straight into the defenseless ritual master, Osgos’s chest.
Staggering back from the unexpected strike.
“Keuk! D-Damn! What the… Why this sword…”
Osgos, pierced by the Undefeatable Divine Holy Sword, vomited a mouthful of dark blood onto the floor. Suddenly, his body, brimming with impure mana, was also being ‘purified’ by the sword’s power.
With a massive anomaly befalling Osgos, the workshop’s owner, the <Uni-Prison> confining us also lost its effect and deactivated.
“M-Master!”
“Damn!”
Osgos’s top disciples, who had been calmly supplying mana, fell into panic.
The home advantage vanished, and the power gap between sides was clear. What remained for us was to mercilessly crush the demoralized enemies.
The situation was easily resolved.
The defeated black mages were all killed or bound without exception, and Osgos, pierced by the enlarged holy sword, writhed on the floor.
“Guaa… S-Save me…”
A desperate yet lifeless voice echoed through the chamber.
Compared to moments ago, his skin was visibly cracking, and his hair had turned completely white.
He no longer posed a threat.
Soon, the Quentaltin clan members’ gazes turned to us. They looked quite bewildered by the reappearance of the Giant’s Sword they thought had vanished.
“…You keep surprising us in various ways, Aiden.”
“Will you keep quiet about the sword?”
“If you promise to revise just one clause in the signed contract, I’ll gladly accept.”
Saying that, Kubri looked at the treasures on the altar.
Not just valuable gems, but various ritual offerings were piled high.
The contract had a clause that all profits obtained in resolving the issues would belong to the Blispiel Clan, but with rewards beyond imagination in the deepest part, as the master of a clan struggling with finances, he must feel regret.
I nodded.
“Fine. We’ll share some of the treasures in the deepest part. But we’ll choose first what to take priority.”
“Hmm… Understood.”
I don’t mind befriending Kubri, unlike other Twelve Heroes. I can earn money later, so buying favor here isn’t bad.
Besides, the number of items I personally deemed essential to obtain here isn’t many.
I examined the treasures on the altar. Among them, I prioritized retrieving a pair of elixirs—the Wings of the Firebird (S-).
According to the setting, it’s a treasure Osgos stole and cherished from the Black Tower, and also the core offering for this ritual.
But now it’s mine.
After quickly distributing the treasures, I pointed to a distant door and said.
“The people abducted by <Black Swamp> should be in there. Let’s hurry and rescue them.”
Kubri’s expression grew solemn.