Chapter 100: The Forth Basement

Let’s take Regarda’s skill, ‘Sea Dragon Summon,’ as an example.

A long, serpentine body with colossal size.

The two horns rising from its forehead served as devices and cores for manipulating various mysterious powers, and the densely protruding blue scales were incredibly tough.

A Sacred Beast that controls the weather and rules the sea.

It was fully worthy of being called a dragon, a being with such qualifications.

But after all, it was still a Sacred Beast.

A divine beast.

They possessed outstanding physical abilities and innate powers, but they were nothing more than that.

‘But the true dragons are different.’

A species born as the strongest from the very beginning.

Demigods created as guardians of the world.

A supreme lifeform, the originators of magic, possessing infinite magical power—that was the dragon species.

‘That’s why I still can’t understand it.’

‘How could the world’s guardians lose a war where dragons fought?’

‘Is the Abyss really that powerful?’

Whenever stories of the past war surfaced, this doubt always followed.

Before the Abyssal Depths’ invasion, Purnell had only pieced together the situation from sporadic stories told by Specters.

“Yet the Dragon Language magic is compiled in a book…”

The title of the book in Hio’s hands clearly bore the word ‘Dragon Language.’

Perhaps hearing Hio’s murmuring, Isidore approached and spoke.

“You can read the ancient language.”

Hio nodded slightly without taking his eyes off the book.

“Because I’m a Magician.”

A natural answer to her question.

“Hio Pavlenko.”

Isidore looked at Hio for a moment, then slowly bowed her head.

A very polite, respectful bow.

“Please forgive my past rudeness.”

The noise inside, which had been stirred by her sudden action, fell completely silent.

The realization that he really was a Magician—the excitement had made them forget that.

They had doubted and guarded against him as a Magician, even forcing him to prove it.

From their perspective, although it was an unavoidable procedure, it was undoubtedly rude.

Moreover, this was only the beginning. They were now in a position where they had to ask Hio for help.

The mission of Arilleia began with magic.

Hio Pavlenko’s magical knowledge was absolutely essential.

“Will you listen to our story?”

The head of the noblest elf bowed her head humbly, making a polite request.

Despite the situation, there was no trace of servility—only dignity.

Even with the thousand-year mission’s clue finally found, her attitude remained steady.

A refined tone.

Only the slight firmness in her neatly folded hands betrayed the pressure she felt.

After all, they had struggled to solve an unsolvable problem over a very long time.

‘Hadn’t they been sacrificed under the name of a mission?’

In what seemed an eternally stagnant situation, they were finally able to take a single step forward.

So, cautiously but firmly, she addressed Hio.

But—

“Wait a moment.”

Hio ignored Isidore and glanced around.

The most noble elf? Hah. Her mind was already elsewhere.

Everything he had seen down to the third basement floor was ancient magical books.

Most of them about dragons.

A sufficiently interesting magical tome, but a little lacking, wasn’t it?

Knowing that the real treasure was always found in the deepest places, he pulled out the greenish necklace hidden under his clothes.

This was the Pavlenko Family Necklace, the symbol that always guided his path.

Isidore asked with curiosity at Hio’s actions.

“Are you looking for something?”

“I want to go downstairs.”

Upon hearing this, she wore a rather awkward expression.

“Ah, I didn’t mention it. The Mage’s House only goes down to the third basement floor.”

No one knew when or how this Mage’s House was built, but it ended at basement level 3.

Naturally.

The records only spoke of three floors, and there was no device to slot in magic stones at basement 3.

Everyone assumed there was nothing below that.

But even after Isidore’s words, Hio didn’t stop searching and muttered carelessly.

“Well, I suppose one could think that.”

At the same time, he started moving toward his target.

“The fourth basement floor was only accessible to a very limited few among magicians.”

As he said this, he raised his staff.

The gathered magical energy formed a pattern.

When the precise pattern reached the exact spot, a familiar sound came again.

Ssshhhhh—

Roots of wood split open by themselves, revealing a passage leading further down.

A space that hadn’t been opened for over a thousand years, a place unknown to anyone, was easily unlocked.

Even the always composed elf let out a startled sound.

“…What?”

‘How many times had she been surprised today?’

To think there was a whole floor beneath the third basement, which was supposed to be the bottom?

This was information not even recorded in the millennium-long history of Arilleia.

‘How could Hio Pavlenko know such a thing as if it were natural?’

“But it clearly says the third basement is the end…”

“That’s because the fourth basement floor was never meant to be revealed.”

Hio casually shattered the most noble elf’s common sense and headed down as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The fourth basement was where the portal was located.

That meant that anyone who could use magic could travel anywhere—Tetradia or any continent—via this.

Yet there were several reasons why he opened the fourth basement openly before the elves.

After all, it was a space that only he could unlock, and he wanted to experiment.

But the biggest reason was…

He simply couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

Arilleia, a mysterious island shrouded in secrets for a thousand years.

Within it, the secretive Mage’s House.

And within that, the most covertly hidden fourth basement.

‘What could be there?’

‘What was hidden so tightly?’

Hio’s footsteps led him downward, his eyes full of anticipation as he looked around the fourth basement.

The first thing that caught his eye was the familiar Tetradia portal.

A portal quite different in shape from those used in Arilleia.

And—

“That figures.”

A single book lay in front of the portal.

A smile began to spread across Hio’s lips as he confirmed it.

A book more valuable than anything else.

A magical tome that would have sparked war if it were uncovered in the age of magic.

This was—

[The Kreutzvalt Style Necromancy Grimoire]

The founder of black magic and necromancy.

A spellbook directly authored by Kreutzvalt himself.

“I’m starting to get a rough idea.”

Dragon Language magic.

And Kreutzvalt’s necromancy.

He could roughly guess what he needed to do.

Freya, brimming with pride, placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.

“I told you Hio uncle is definitely a magician, didn’t I? (”),*』

The phrase written above her head had been brightly shining and hadn’t disappeared.

Arilleia Island, Mage’s House.

The fourth basement, unopened for a thousand years.

Elves gathered closely, along with Freya. Even Regarda was there.

“Freya was right. I’m sorry for not believing you.”

Isidore’s words made Freya wave her hand.

“No! I know how difficult magic is, so I understand!”

“I see. Thank you.”

They were now waiting.

In front of the portal on the fourth basement floor.

They were waiting for Hio Pavlenko, who had disappeared through the portal after saying he wanted to do a quick experiment.

“This transmission stone is similar to the one in Arilleia but different in many ways.”

“It’s larger and more intricate. Also, there’s no space to install a magic stone. Did the old magicians use it?”

The other elves all gathered by the portal, admiring it.

Today was full of wonders for them.

Isidore glanced at them for a moment, then returned her gaze to Freya.

“When Hio Pavlenko returns, I plan to properly ask for his help.”

“A mission… you mean?”

“Yes.”

Arilleia’s mission.

A fate passed down from their ancestors, stemming from the war nearly a thousand years ago that almost brought destruction.

It was a curse that gripped the souls of all Arilleians.

“I’m sorry… if only I had done better…”

Isidore smiled gently at the dejected Freya.

“No, Freya, you did incredibly well. You were the first to form the shape of the First Circle.”

“But even that’s not enough to awaken the true body.”

The fate given to all Arilleians.

It was to awaken the last dragon sleeping far below the island.

Their ancestors had foreseen the Abyss returning to this world and had sealed the wounded dragon deep within the island.

So they could stand against the impending destruction.

In an age that had lost magic, the dragon would become hope and repel the Abyss.

With that desperate hope, they sealed the sleeping dragon and Arilleia.

“I should have done better…”

And Freya was a fragment of that dragon.

A tiny piece of that vast soul.

A young soul separated only a few years ago.

Because of that, she could learn some magic, but it was not easy.

“Freya, you don’t have to bear so much on your own.”

Isidore often reminded her as she cared for the young soul.

It wasn’t her burden alone.

It was something all of them had to do, and everyone would help.

She proved that by doing her best.

Staying up night and day researching magical theory.

Endlessly experimenting to find a way to form circles without breaking from the essence of magic.

That was how she barely created a half-formed First Circle, but Freya’s burden inevitably grew.

“This time, we will definitely awaken the dragon.”

Though outsiders were strictly barred from entering Arilleia, the Arilleians tirelessly traveled the continent.

Searching for even a small clue about magic.

They went anywhere rumored to be related.

But the result was unconditional failure.

Those who claimed to use magic were all either braggarts, clowns, or frauds.

But now, it was different.

The real magician had come.

One who would ease Freya’s burden and guide that soul to its true body.

One who could fulfill Arilleia’s thousand-year destiny.

“I will definitely persuade him.”

Isidore vowed firmly.

If necessary, even by kneeling.

Bowing her head, she would obtain Hio Pavlenko’s cooperation no matter what.

“Me too…!”

Freya tightly clasped Isidore’s hand, pledging alongside her.

“I’ll help too! (・W・)>”

Isidore smiled again.

“I’ll try talking first…”

Before she finished speaking,

Paaah—

A bright white light spread throughout the fourth basement.

The source of the dazzling light was none other than the portal.

The magician, Hio Pavlenko, had returned.

Appearing suddenly with a bright light, the magician.

Wearing his usual pointed hat and holding a staff taller than himself, he muttered quietly.

“This is a failure…”

At that moment, Freya dashed towards Hio.

Holding onto Isidore’s hand tightly, she reached him and immediately put her earlier vow into action.

Calling out to Hio with great urgency.

“Hio uncle!”

Then she plopped down onto her knees.

Of course, Isidore’s hand was still clasped.

The most noble elf was pulled along by Freya’s hand and ended up kneeling as well, almost unintentionally.

Though small in stature, Freya’s essence was that of a dragon, and her strength was greater than expected.

Isidore sat down right next to Freya without hesitation.

And all this right in front of Hio Pavlenko.

“Please save us! (Yo~~..)”

Hio scratched his head.

“…Huh?”