“It was purely a coincidence.”
Regarda opened the conversation with the word coincidence.
Since he didn’t know much about magic, it was Freya who took over the explanation on his behalf.
“I found it in the oldest Red Dragon’s Temple.”
There was a reason Hio couldn’t sense anything strange at the top of the Tower of Mages.
Even with his [Mana Perception Prodigy Trait] that allowed him to see magic, it had eluded him.
“It was originally designed only for the Dragon Race.”
It was a passage created to be seen only through the eyes of a Dragon, and thus intended to be used only by them.
Freya, who had almost no memory as a Dragon, had found it while roaming the temple in her true form.
It was a very minor crack.
To use an analogy, it was like a fingernail scratch on a giant glass window.
Furthermore, that window was something only the Dragon Race could see.
She had found a single scratch on a window that was already barely visible.
That was why Regarda called it a coincidence.
“It was a coincidence, but once I noticed something strange, everything connected and I could see it all.”
Magic was naturally like that.
The first realization was difficult, but after that, things would chain together and open up boundlessly.
It was the pleasure of discovery that only those who had mastered magic could feel.
However, not all problems were solved.
“The issue is that it was designed specifically for the Dragon Race. Based on my calculations, the pressure when using the passage will be too much for an ordinary human to withstand.”
“Then what’s the solution?”
“We have to modify the passage to suit a human’s level. Of course, I can’t do it alone, but I think it’ll be possible if Hio helps.”
“I should take a look at this passage first.”
Details could be discussed while on the move.
Hio, having reached a quick conclusion through the short conversation, briefly scanned his surroundings.
Airlights was already right next to Hio.
Vitalianus also wiped the smile from his face and gave a short nod.
“Then I shall return immediately and report to Her Majesty.”
“It’s going to be an expedition of an unprecedented scale. Prepare well.”
“Discussions have already concluded regarding support not only from the Empire, but also from the priests and Paladins of Hibernia, logistics from Achaia, and troops from various other nations. Do not worry.”
“Right. I’m counting on you.”
With that as the final word, they parted ways to fulfill their respective duties without anyone having to prompt the other.
The mysterious place called the Dragon’s Temple.
The reason it hadn’t been discovered by humans for thousands of years was simple.
It was located in an incredibly treacherous area.
It was a harsh terrain known as the kingdom of monsters, a giant mountain range that spanned the Continent.
It was the place that gifted an enormous number of monster waves to the eastern part of Verdan every year.
Thus, it became one of the three Forbidden Lands of the Continent.
Even the Jijoncheonma within Ventair had been unable to reach its very center.
The Gran Dina Mountains.
The very center of that place was where the Dragon’s Temple was located.
It was a place that seemed impossible to reach because it was so vast, rugged, and densely packed with monsters.
However, flying while riding on the back of Freya in her true form made it easier than anything else.
With her incredible speed and the presence she radiated, the monsters didn’t even dare to look up at the sky.
Well, now Hio could easily go there alone, but he hadn’t bothered since there was no reason to.
He hadn’t expected the Dragon’s Temple to be situated here.
Looking down, he could see mountain peaks piercing through the clouds.
Below them, he sensed the movements of countless living beings.
The active movements of densely packed monsters.
***
After encountering only things like Strange Entities in the Abyss or Abyss Gates, seeing the monsters of the Continent after a long time made them feel remarkably docile.
“We’re here.”
How long had they been flying?
At Freya’s words, he looked down again.
A massive structure came into view, hard to believe it was at the center of such high mountains.
“That is the Red Dragon’s Temple.”
It had a texture similar to marble with a subtle red glow.
As befitting a place where a Dragon resided, its height was so great that a human would have to strain their neck to look up at it.
That was the Dragon’s Temple.
“What do you think? It’s magnificent, isn’t it?”
Freya’s voice was filled with unmistakable pride.
Of course, it was a magnificent temple.
A red-lit temple built atop a mountain range that pierced the clouds.
That alone was enough for Freya to feel the pride of the Dragon Race.
However, compared to the temple in the Divine Space of Beltesia, it was true that it looked a bit small.
“……It’s amazing.”
“Right? When I first saw it, my mouth was hanging wide open. Hehehe.”
Hio wasn’t so socially inept that he would speak his true thoughts in front of Freya.
With a fitting compliment, he landed in front of the temple.
“So there’s a passage here…….”
“Let’s go inside. I’ll guide you.”
Following Freya’s lead, he entered the Red Dragon’s Temple.
While Hio’s group headed to the Dragon’s Temple, Vitalianus immediately went to the Imperial Household.
He informed them of the discovery of the passage.
With that single piece of information, the Empire’s movements underwent another upheaval.
They accelerated the stabilization efforts that were in their final stages.
The Knight Order dispatched abroad was recalled.
Simultaneously, official documents were sent to all neighboring nations.
They had found a way to end the terrible War with the Abyss.
The message instructed them to begin providing support for that purpose.
Movements within the Huang Palace were also busy.
Even as an Empress who had perfect control over the Empire, this was no exception, so she moved with firm resolve.
As if showing her determined will, she tied up her long silver hair.
The meeting began when Sylvia entered the conference hall, dressed in a simple uniform rather than an extravagant one.
What they had to consider was the size of the expeditionary force.
“Indiscriminately increasing the number of personnel might recreate the previous disaster.”
The place they had to go for the final war was the Abyss.
Hio Pavlenko was the only one who had experienced what kind of horrific hell it was.
Thus, those gathered here had no choice but to rely on Hio’s words and their own intuition to guess.
“Is a large force even necessary? Wouldn’t it be better for them to solve it among themselves, like the current raid team?”
“What irresponsible words! Speak with the awareness that the fate of the Continent is at stake!”
“No, isn’t it true? What was the reason we almost lost the Guardian Knight, Hio Pavlenko? Wasn’t it because the expeditionary force actually held him back? I am concerned about that…….”
“This time, the nature of the task is different from a one-time raid. We must not think of them on the same level. This is a war. A war.”
“……I understand.”
Opinions were divided on the scale of the troops.
The absurd suggestion to settle it with only the current small expeditionary force was immediately dismissed.
Everyone agreed on dispatching troops, but they couldn’t help but have many thoughts regarding the scale.
“If we can enter and exit through the passage, we’ll need troops to secure the retreat route, establish a base, and guard it.”
“According to the Guardian Knight, there is day and night, and when night falls, Strange Entities swarm infinitely. It will be difficult to handle with an average number of people.”
“Even so, should we take regular soldiers? It would be difficult for them to maintain their sanity under that unique mental depression.”
“The participation of Hibernia’s Holy Maiden…… no, the new Apostle, will be important.”
The disappearance of Liphyue became known to the world.
In her place, the Holy Maiden was reborn as an Apostle—Irina, the Apostle of Patience.
While Hio was holed up in the Tower of Mages, Irina’s achievements were so vast and great they couldn’t be fully described.
Not only did every single action exude nobility and holiness, but she had also stepped forward to personally purify most of the regions covered by the aura of the Abyss.
Furthermore, what about the holy effects she showed during the purification?
It was a brilliance imbued with a certain power that made onlookers shed tears involuntarily.
The disappearance of Liphyue and the birth of a new god, which had seemed impossible to accept, were gradually being accepted by the people of the Continent.
It was all thanks to Irina.
If such an Irina joined the expeditionary force heading for the Abyss, it was obvious it would be a huge help, not to mention a boost to the army’s morale.
“Apostle Irina will join us. Build the plan on that premise.”
And Sylvia was certain of Irina’s participation.
There was no way Irina, who was said to be his Apostle, wouldn’t go where Hio was going.
The nobles, who had no doubt about Sylvia’s conviction, brightened up and rejoiced.
“In that case, the plan will become much more sophisticated.”
“It will also be easier to organize the troops.”
No one knew what kind of environment the Abyss was, only guessing based on what they heard.
Even Hio Pavlenko said he couldn’t be sure if that was the entirety of the true Abyss.
Therefore, from the standpoint of the expeditionary force that had to prepare for all situations, the joining of Irina, who boasted immense Holy Power, brought many possibilities.
“We can divide the camp into two main parts. The camp to build a base near the passage and secure the retreat, and the main expeditionary force led by the Guardian Knight…….”
The meeting did not end until a yellow full moon hung over the top of the Imperial Castle.
Regarda was silently staying by Freya’s side as always.
Even for someone as long-lived as Regarda, there were clearly things he couldn’t understand or know.
“Hmm…… so this is what it means to see with a Dragon’s eyes.”
The current situation was exactly like that.
“I knew Hio would understand immediately!”
Freya said that while glancing at Regarda.
Regarda naturally avoided her gaze slightly.
“To see the world using mana. It’s mysterious.”
“Right? Even though I explained this to Regarda several times…….”
It couldn’t be helped.
She had already explained it to Regarda many times, but there was no way Regarda, who couldn’t see mana, could understand.
From his perspective, Hio, who understood immediately after a single explanation and began to see the world like a Dragon, was the strange one.
“A small distortion inherent in mana. So the passage was hidden within that.”
“Exactly! That’s why I couldn’t find it even after searching for months with my mind set on it!”
“To think it was hidden like this, yet discovered by the previous Master of the Abyss…….”
Since he couldn’t understand even if he listened, Regarda turned his gaze elsewhere entirely and began to think about other things.
Leaving Regarda alone, the conversation between Hio and Freya continued.
Although Hio possessed the [Mana Perception Prodigy Trait], that didn’t mean he could understand the words of a Dragon, an entirely different species.
Nevertheless, the reason he could immediately understand Freya’s words and find the passage was because he had gained an understanding of mana through [Drisella’s Power].
Even in a state where it wasn’t activated, didn’t he already have memories of seeing and understanding mana?
Thanks to that, he could communicate with Freya.
“Hio, what do you think? Do you think you can modify it?”
And judging based on that experience.
“It seems possible.”
It was complex, but it didn’t seem impossible.
The problem was time.
The passage had to be modified as quickly as possible, and they had to enter the Abyss directly as soon as they could.
Therefore.
“I’ll bring an assistant.”
Theoretically, he had to bring Furnel here, a Magician who was no less capable than Hio himself.