Chapter 65: The Weight of Completeness

Having entered the 9th Circle and attained completeness, Gaon’s current state could be summed up in one word: good.

He felt capable of anything.

Like he could crush anyone or anything.

It wasn’t a new feeling.

When he first crossed the wall—entered the 7th Circle—he’d felt the same.

That he could do anything.

And he did achieve much.

But, naturally, not everything.

There were several powerhouses he couldn’t defeat alone.

When he reached the 8th Circle, the feeling returned.

He could do more than at the 7th.

But meeting Ferbeng, who was in play, taught him otherwise.

Even the 8th Circle couldn’t do everything.

Now, though, it was different.

Was it because of completeness?

He felt he could defeat even Ferbeng, an 11th Circle mage.

Alone.

Gaon focused briefly.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Translucent spheres formed in the air, one after another.

Soon, something appeared within them.

The first sphere held a tornado, spinning fiercely.

The second contained a blizzard.

The third, an erupting volcano.

The fourth, a rain of fire pouring from fiery clouds.

All were magic.

Not ordinary magic.

The first sphere held the 7th Circle spell Wind Storm.

The second, the 7th Circle Blizzard.

The third, the 8th Circle Volcano.

The fourth, the 8th Circle Hell Rain.

Each was a catastrophic area-of-effect spell.

Gaon looked at the four spheres he’d created instantly, satisfied.

At the 8th Circle, he couldn’t have made all four at once.

Even sequentially, it would’ve taken time.

Wind Storm or Blizzard might’ve been quick, but Volcano and Hell Rain would’ve needed at least 30 seconds.

He dispersed the spheres.

Then extended his senses to their maximum.

They’d grown incomparably.

He could detect parts of Asarun, a city far from Afain Forest.

Not just the presence of energy, but its magnitude.

He reduced the range.

Unnecessary information flooded his mind.

I’ll need practice.

He decided to train his sensory control later.

He headed to where he’d buried his pocket.

He’d entered the 9th Circle and secured the legacy.

No reason to stay.

It was time to leave.

***

Hmph…

Rothes groaned, setting down a letter.

It was from Lamu.

I didn’t expect this…

The Bretan Kingdom had two dukes.

Lamu’s Patran Duchy and the Ledol Duchy.

Two days ago, Madison, head of the Ledol Duchy, arrived at the palace.

Madison was Lamu’s political rival.

Despite learning the truth about King Parn, including his identity, Madison rallied nobles to oppose Lamu.

Surely it won’t lead to civil war?

For now, it was just opposition.

But would it stay that way?

As time passed, the situation would worsen.

In the worst case, civil war could erupt.

Gaon wouldn’t let that happen.

Rothes shook off the worst-case scenario.

Gaon wouldn’t allow a civil war.

He’d resolve the situation before leaving the Bretan Kingdom.

When will he arrive…

She glanced at another letter.

I need to report that too.

It was from the Gardion Tower, arriving yesterday.

It detailed the next mission in the Ramuran Kingdom, at the Belmar Duchy.

At that moment—

Krr!

Kring, who’d been napping, sprang up.

It faced west, letting out an excited roar.

“…?”

Rothes was puzzled.

Why was Kring reacting like this?

An enemy?

She focused her senses.

Nothing unusual came from the west.

Just ordinary people.

But she couldn’t relax.

She knew Kring’s senses far surpassed hers.

Not because it was a mystical creature.

Kring had crossed the wall.

Not recently, but long ago.

In mage terms, it was nearing the 8th Circle.

The gap between Rothes and Kring was vast.

Naturally, their sensory abilities differed greatly.

Kring’s roar likely meant something beyond her senses.

She closed her eyes, maintaining her senses, and meditated.

Soon—

Creak.

The door opened.

“…!”

Rothes was shocked.

Her senses were active.

She was monitoring everything.

Yet the door opened?

Who?

She activated her circles and looked.

Kring darted toward the door.

Swish!

In its miniaturized form.

Krung!

It roared and leaped.

Kring jumped into the arms of the figure.

Rothes deactivated her circles.

It was Gaon.

“You’re here,” she said, smiling and bowing respectfully.

“Yeah, took a bit longer than expected. Anything happen?”

“Well…”

Rothes trailed off.

There were issues.

“Something happened?”

“Yes.”

She hesitated, then decided to report in order of urgency.

“There’s a problem at the palace.”

“At the palace? Is the Ledol Duchy opposing Lamu?”

“…!”

Rothes was stunned.

All she’d said was that the palace situation had changed.

How did Gaon know?

Had he been informed separately?

“How did you know? Did someone report—”

“No, it’s obvious,” Gaon said with a chuckle.

“Lamu wouldn’t betray me. So someone’s blocking him. Only the Ledol Duchy could do that.”

“Ah…”

Rothes let out a soft exclamation.

“That’s something we can handle there. Anything else?”

“The mission deadline for the Belmar Duchy, our next stop, is in three days.”

“Three days?”

“Yes. They said it’ll be meaningless after that and they’ll cancel the request.”

“That’s tight.”

“Indeed.”

Leaving now would give enough time.

But the palace situation was dire.

Even if resolved quickly, reaching the Belmar Duchy would be close.

“Well, it’s not mandatory. It’s on our way, right?”

“Right.”

Rothes nodded.

It wasn’t a required mission.

Just an additional task on their way back to the tower.

Failing it wasn’t a big deal.

I worried for nothing.

She gave a wry smile.

The palace and the Belmar deadline had overwhelmed her.

Talking with Gaon made her realize she’d been stressing over nothing.

“Anything else?”

Rothes, startled, quickly answered.

“The Banu brothers visited while you were gone.”

“Banu brothers?”

“They’re in Graxios’s faction, both 5th Circle. From our talk, they don’t seem to fully grasp who you are.”

“They still haven’t figured me out?” Gaon asked, incredulous.

Since traveling with Rothes, he’d never hidden himself.

He acted openly.

Yet they still didn’t understand him?

It was disappointing.

“How bad is their intelligence?”

His voice carried irritation and anger.

“I’m sorry,” Rothes said, unable to say more.

When Gaon was Tower Master, this would’ve been unthinkable.

The Gardion Tower’s intelligence rivaled the Barta Empire’s.

To decline so much in 50 years?

“Ugh.”

Gaon sighed, shaking his head.

He shouted toward the second floor.

“Taylor.”

“Yes, sir!” Taylor, who’d been quietly waiting, rushed out.

“Let’s go.”

“Understood! I’ll be ready in three minutes!”

Taylor dashed outside.

Gaon turned to Rothes.

“Three minutes enough?”

“Yes, I’m always ready.”

“Then let’s go.”

Gaon smiled, turned, and scratched Kring’s head as he walked.

Rothes followed, tilting her head.

He seems… different.

***

Somewhere in the palace.

Several nobles were gathered, conversing.

“If this continues, Lamu will seize the throne.”

“He’s already acting like king.”

“This is absurd. Isn’t it treason?”

“Even if the king was mad, to not consult us!”

“We need to drag Duke Lamu down.”

“But what about the mage with him? They say he’s an archmage…”

“That’s just a rumor, right?”

“There are only three archmages in the Gardion Tower.”

“Lamu’s probably faking it to gain influence.”

The nobles vented their anger and frustration.

As it built, a blonde old man raised his hand.

The nobles fell silent, as if by agreement, and focused on him.

He was Madison, head of the Ledol Duchy.

As silence fell, Madison scanned the nobles.

“Are we in agreement, then?”

“Yes!”

“Absolutely!”

“We’ll follow you, Duke!”

The nobles shouted.

Madison smiled broadly.