“In the first ring, you must engrave the heaviest inscription, which serves as the foundation. You may use any of the twenty-four original inscriptions, but you must choose carefully, considering your future path as a Magician.”
Flip.
Airlights turned the page.
The book contained neat handwriting detailing how to feel magic power, how to manipulate it, and the methods for engraving inscriptions.
Normally, magic tomes were written in an Ancient Language that was impossible to decipher.
Having watched Hio research them from his side many times, Airlights knew the truth.
This book, titled You Can Do It Too! First Steps in Magic, was something Hio had personally translated and transcribed just for her.
As if to prove it, the next page was filled with Hio’s detailed advice in small letters.
Tips from him were scattered throughout the book, left there specifically for her.
He had carved time out of his busy schedule to think of her, translating and delivering this book personally.
It was more than enough to set Airlights’s motivation ablaze.
“When engraving an inscription, take special care not to place it on the heart… Honestly, what kind of idiot would engrave it on their heart?”
She didn’t know how many times she had reread these sections.
There was nothing she didn’t understand.
Thanks to Hio’s small comments tucked into difficult parts or areas that defied common sense, everything was clear.
However, forming the First Circle still felt like a distant dream.
Simply feeling magic power was this difficult; she couldn’t fathom how one was supposed to actually manipulate it.
Beyond that, using precise control to create an inscription and then using that power to form a sturdy ring…
She couldn’t even guess how much effort that would require.
If just the First Circle was like this, she heard that the number of inscriptions required increased drastically as one progressed, and the methods of manipulation became several times more difficult.
And Hio had already created five of these rings.
‘He really is amazing.’
She realized so much by trying it herself.
She saw how difficult and delicate the work truly was.
She even felt that by handling magic power this way, she might eventually unlock the secrets of her own skills.
Therefore, this study was a worthy investment.
She couldn’t participate in raids with Hio right now, but once she formed a single ring, she could travel across the Continent freely and stay by his side.
She would be strong enough to actually be of help to him.
“No, wait. To make this shape, I have to draw out the magic power as thin as a thread… Is that really possible?”
Of course, she had a long way to go.
It hadn’t been long since she started feeling the magic power residing somewhere in her body, and now she had to control it at will.
And was control the end of it?
No.
She had to use it to create complex inscriptions, engrave them, draw out their power, weave the magic power together, bundle it, form a ring, and then refine it further…
Ugh, who knows.
She had thought creating a single ring near her heart wouldn’t be that hard, but it was more complex and difficult than she had ever imagined.
“Still, it’s not impossible.”
It was difficult enough to give her a headache, but it didn’t feel unattainable.
She felt that with a few months of time, she could definitely succeed.
That was enough.
She just had to endure and work hard for a few months.
She was used to it.
Compared to the two years she spent wandering in search of Hio, not knowing if he was dead or alive, this was a time of absolute blessing.
“Um… Like this with the magic power…?”
Darkness settled over the capital of Hibernia.
Inside the Magician’s House, a light glowed quietly in the corner of a room, refusing to go out even as the faint sunlight of dawn began to peek through.
***
In the Imperial Grand Hall of the Empire, meetings continued day after day.
It was an unreasonable war where a single failed raid led directly to massive casualties.
To prevent this, all relevant officials and nobles were meeting daily to respond with one mind and purpose.
Sylvia sat upon the throne with her Death Knight, Theodore, standing behind her as always.
Many people sat around them, exchanging opinions.
“The Liphyue priests dispatched to the Tarans region have withdrawn.”
“A report has come in stating that the reconstruction of the Rafia Holy City is complete.”
“It has taken half a year, but things are finally returning to their proper place.”
Before the Empire joined the raids, the failure to clear the 51st floor had been catastrophic.
Abyss Monsters had poured out of Abyss Gates across the Continent, particularly those concentrated in the Empire.
The damage caused by the monsters was one thing, but the real issue was the Abyssal Curse that accompanied them.
It was a terrifying energy that ordinary people without immunity were forced to succumb to without resistance.
“We must attribute the fact that the damage ended at this level to the efforts of the Guardian Knight and the High Priests of Liphyue.”
It was an energy that was impossible to expel without the holy attribute, but thanks to the Guardian Knight Hio Pavlenko and the Liphyue priests, the damage from the curse was not extensive.
With the cleanup of the Tarans region, every last trace of Abyssal Curse had been purified from the Empire.
“The predicted time for the next raid is fast approaching.”
“It could be as early as this week, or at the latest, next week…
Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange for it to happen at any moment.”
“What about the preparations?”
“The order to prepare for mobilization has been issued to the existing expedition members, and instructions have been sent to each lord to search for the entrances to the Magyeong.”
As Sylvia listened to the conversation, she started to lean back into her throne before correcting her posture.
Many of those present had not had their souls touched by her, so as the Empress, she could not show even the slightest hint of disarray.
‘… I’m tired.’
Even so, it was difficult to hide her listless expression.
Since the failure of the 51st floor, she had been busy without a moment of proper rest.
She had to prepare for the Abyss Gates that appeared every month or two, calm the public sentiment, and restore damaged areas.
She was incredibly busy.
As fatigue washed over her, her mind grew hazy.
‘Those were the good days.’
Since this lifestyle had repeated for months, she found herself thinking that the days when she was just an Imperial Princess might have been better.
Or more accurately, the time after she fled the Imperial Castle.
Meeting Hio in the Southern Region, going to Lyon Torno Castle in the East, and winning over the Eastern Nobles’ Union to her side.
Even if that process was filled with anxiety and tension, she had a goal and looked forward to the future.
Those times were among the few free memories Sylvia possessed.
During her childhood, when she had matured early, she lived in silence between two princes, under the constant threat of losing her life.
Now that she was the Empress, she lived each day crushed by responsibility—or rather, by endless work.
Of course, looking back, the anxiety she felt then was enough to tighten her chest, and she had been in a state where she could have collapsed at any moment from the Deathly Energy that had seeped into her very marrow.
And yet, she had been free.
She was anxious, but because she had a dream, she could hope for the future.
Though her body was on the verge of collapsing, she had the goal of saving her people.
Compared to then, now…
“Urgent news from the Defense Knights!”
A desperate voice shattered Sylvia’s listless reverie.
“An entrance to the Magyeong has appeared!”
An entrance to the Magyeong had appeared.
It was the news that signaled the start of a raid.
A heavy silence settled over the meeting hall for a brief moment before erupting.
“Issue the mobilization order to the expedition team!”
“We must reinforce the strength of the search party.”
“We cannot miss a single entrance!
Emphasize the need for a thorough search when you relay the message!”
“Contact the guilds immediately… “
The room quickly became noisy as everyone moved to fulfill their roles.
‘… Right. For now, let’s focus on the present.’
She didn’t have the luxury to think of other things.
If she focused on the present and solved the problems at hand, an end would come eventually.
This war, whose origin was unknown, would eventually end, and peace would arrive.
When that day came, she would set everything down—the Empress title and all—and spend the rest of her life in peace.
After all, becoming Empress was merely something she sought to survive and for the honor of her one and only knight.
To do that, she would need to produce an heir and marry.
But she didn’t want to just grab anyone and marry them solely for the sake of an heir.
‘What was the point of that?’
It wouldn’t be much different from being an animal.
If she was going to do it, she wanted someone whose company she enjoyed.
Someone with whom she didn’t need to stand on ceremony, someone who made her feel at ease.
If she could marry such a person, have children, and spend the rest of her life in peace, nothing could be better.
In truth, only one person came to mind when she thought of such a man.
A warm smile touched Sylvia’s lips as she thought of him.
It was a happy enough future to help her endure these hectic days.
Such was the fantasy.
“Your Majesty, it seems we should conclude today’s meeting and begin preparations immediately.”
Sylvia nodded and surveyed the assembly.
“The meeting is adjourned. Prepare for the expedition.”
The meeting ended.
It would likely open again the very next day, but for now, there were many immediate tasks to handle.
The doors to the Grand Hall swung open, and people moved busily.
They moved to relay the decided orders and fulfill their assigned roles.
Though their directions and tasks were all different, they all shared one thing in common.
“The weather has turned quite cold.”
The cold wind blowing over their heads.
“Please, stay safe… “
Winter was coming.
Magyeong entrances appeared throughout the Empire.
Search activities began to locate them, and they were brought under control as soon as they were found.
No one harbored ulterior motives; they all performed their roles thoroughly.
The central nobles and high-ranking officials became of one mind, moving solely for the safety and prosperity of the Empire.
Every cog in the machine meshed smoothly.
This was the power of the Empress, Sylvia Verden.
Had someone else ascended the throne, the situation likely would have been several times more difficult.
However, even for someone like Sylvia, there was a group she could not fully control.
That group was the Possessors.
Known to the Continent as the Adventurers’ Guild.
Currently, they were cooperating out of mutual necessity, but it was a precarious relationship.
In fact, had it not been for the mediation and achievements of Hio Pavlenko, they would have clashed violently several times.
But it didn’t matter.
That was only a hypothetical for if Hio Pavlenko were absent; currently, he very much existed.
As the Empress’s Guardian Knight, he held the immense respect of the Imperial citizens.
He was the idol of the knights.
As the undisputed number one Ranker, he was the envy of the Possessors.
He was the existence that brought them peace of mind.
Hio Pavlenko.
He desired harmony and coexistence.
He said that was the only way to victory.
Thus, everyone agreed with that sentiment and moved forward together.
‘You are the ruler.’
… Except for one person.
‘The one who will dominate the Abyss and eventually lead even the light into the Depths.’
In front of the Abyss Gate where forces had gathered for the raid, amidst the chaotic scene where information and opinions were traded, Antiphus Praman simply stood.
“The type for this floor is… “
“Things to watch out for… “
“In that case, how… “
He was dazed.
His focus was blurred, and the surrounding sounds felt distant and muffled, as if he were submerged in water.
‘Kill Jijoncheonma.’
Conversely, the voice in his head was incredibly clear.
‘If Jijoncheonma is gone, no one can stand in your way.’
‘Keep this in mind.’
‘You are the ruler.
No one should stand above you, nor can they.
Such is your fate.’
He was certainly not in a normal state.
Antiphus knew this better than anyone.
If there was a cause, it had to be the Abyssal Curse invading his mind.
He had even visited the Liphyue Cathedral to be purified, but the dreary and sweet voice still refused to disappear.
‘If that were the case, was this truly his own voice and his own thoughts?’
“…Phus. Antiphus!”
A loud voice right next to him finally snapped him back to reality.
His eyes focused, and when he turned his head, he saw Sirbert looking at him.
“What are you thinking so hard about that you don’t even answer when called?”
“It’s nothing.
Don’t worry about it.”
“If you aren’t feeling well… “
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to go get some air.”
Dismissing Sirbert’s concern, Antiphus left the tent and headed for a spot far from the command post.
‘How long are you going to keep this up?’
The voice continued to echo in his head.
‘Hio Pavlenko. Hio Pavlenko. Everyone is chanting only that name.’
As he wandered aimlessly, his path was eventually blocked.
He had reached the base of a stone mountain that rose as sharp as a cliff.
His head was spinning.
All sorts of thoughts refused to settle.
He pressed both hands against the cliffside.
‘Under him, you will gradually lose your power and your dominance.’
He slammed his head against the rock with all his might.
Thud!
‘Not as a ruler, but as a failure… ‘
Thud!
The rock shattered, sending shards flying, and red blood splattered between them.
‘You will eventually be pushed aside and forgotten… ‘
Thud!
The fog in his head cleared along with the pain.
The voice began to sound fragmented.
Thud!
Thud!
Cr-crack!
Antiphus continued to slam his head.
“How dare you.”
Thud!
“How dare you!”
Thud!
“How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!”
He only stopped after several more strikes.
Silence fell over the base of the stone mountain.
Blood dripped steadily from his forehead.
Shards of rock lay scattered about.
And…
“… How dare you.”
The voice could no longer be heard.
“Don’t try to control me.”
A fairly serious wound had opened on his forehead.
As Antiphus wiped away the smeared blood with his bare hand, his eyes were more sinister than ever before.
“I can take down Jijoncheonma without any of that crap.”
Antiphus turned around and headed back toward the Abyss raid.
True to his intense determination and resolve, the 55th floor was completed quickly under his brilliant performance.
His sword swung with everything he had, as if fueled by spite.
His numerous skills, unleashed at the perfect moments, saved many from danger and shortened the time required.
However.
***
After the raid ended, the name everyone praised…
“The Empire’s great Guardian Knight! Hio Pavlenko!”
The name they cheered joyfully…
Was only Hio Pavlenko.
“The last remaining Magician in this world!”
“Hio Pavlenko is the hope of the Continent!”
“The Saint chosen by the Goddess!”
“The true hero who will defeat evil and bring peace to the Continent!”
Hio Pavlenko.
Hio Pavlenko.
Hio Pavlenko…!
It was a name that felt like it would drive him mad.
Even after passing the 55th floor and finishing the 56th floor, and even after giving his life’s effort to perform on the 57th floor, nothing changed.
Hio was always the one who shone most brilliantly.
And he was always hidden in that light.
‘Who could possibly understand this terrible feeling?’