One old Magician and a middle-aged Magician, Abellar Pavlenko.
The Magician with hair as white as frost sat across from Abellar, dressed in magic robes and a hat of white with light green silk threads.
– Lord of the Magic Tower.
– Please, speak.
– Tetradia still has strength left.
– It is merely what is visible on the surface.
– So you intend to just leave it like this?
– It is unavoidable.
– Look here! Lord of the Magic Tower!
Their voices gradually rose. The old Magician slammed his hand down on the table and pointed outside.
– So many people have gathered there! It is impossible for the Lord of the Tower not to know that if left like this, they will all die in vain!
What the two were discussing was none other than the people outside the city. It was the massive crowd, gathered like clouds to enter Tetradia, that Hio and Claire had seen earlier.
Despite the old Magician’s impassioned speech, Abellar shook his head without any change in expression.
– If we let them in, even Tetradia will be shaken. You know that if we falter, there is no future.
– How can you be so certain? You haven’t even tried! How many Archmages of the schools that perform miracles are there, yet you say we cannot solve a single problem like this!
It seemed all those gathered outside were indeed refugees. The old Magician in the light green robes argued to accept the refugees, while Abellar seemed to believe they could not be taken in.
Though the full details were unknown, it appeared impossible to accept that many people. Tetradia was already packed to capacity.
How could they handle the chaos, the food shortages, and the various other problems that would arise from taking in such a large number of people?
Because he worried about such things, Abellar must have ultimately refused the migration of Basterion as well. Thus, Abellar Pavlenko, the Lord of the Wizard’s Tower of Tetradia, spoke firmly.
– Every Magician of the High Mage rank and above is currently deployed for that operation. Tetradia has no strength to spare.
– You mean that absurd operation?
– That is correct.
– Ha!
That operation.
– Do you truly think that ridiculous plan to move the city of Tetradia itself will succeed?
An operation to isolate the entirety of Tetradia into another space. Upon hearing that, Hio’s eyes momentarily flashed with interest. He had already been questioning the location of Tetradia.
Since the Wizard’s Tower, which soared to the end of the sky, could not be seen anywhere on the current Continent, it meant that at the very least, the magic city of Tetradia was not on the same Continent.
Which meant…
“They succeeded in the Space Isolation of Tetradia?”
He would have to listen further to be certain. Abellar nodded with his characteristically unchanging expression.
– The possibility is sufficient.
– Do you know just how many Archmages are tied up because of that thread-like possibility?
– I know better than anyone.
– Do you also know that if they had taken to the battlefield, half of the Continent would still be safe?
– I know that we would have eventually been defeated and ended up no different than we are now.
– Then are you confident that once Tetradia is separated and that magic is completed, you can defeat the Strange Entities?
– Of course, I have no absolute certainty, but it is the highest possibility…
– No! That is not it, Lord of the Magic Tower!
The old Magician slammed the table once more and glared at Abellar.
It was marvelous how such energy could emanate from that body with its deeply wrinkled eyes and white hair.
– You are currently consumed by fear!
The old man looked at Abellar with eyes still burning with rage.
– What are you so afraid of? Are you scared because you have so much to protect, because you have so much to lose?
– That is not it.
– Like hell it isn’t! I have watched the Lord of the Tower for a very long time. In a situation where hundreds of thousands are dying like it’s nothing! In a situation where you must take responsibility for all of that, you are merely crushed and making excuses!
A brief silence followed. Abellar, who still lacked any expression, slowly closed his eyes. Soon, when he opened them again, his expression was quite sorrowful.
– Druid Len Hank. No…
Abellar called out to the old Magician with a look of great difficulty.
– …Master.
The old Magician’s name was Len Hank. He was one of the few remaining Druids of the Tower of Mages and the master who had guided Abellar since childhood.
– We must separate Tetradia from the Continent. Against the Strange Entities… no, against the Abyssal Depths, it is the most likely method for weak humans to survive.
– The most likely method? How many cents more likely is it? Do you truly believe that trivial game of numbers is worth exchanging for millions of lives! Lord of the Magic Tower!
– …Yes.
– Ha…
Len Hank leaned back weakly against the chair as if drained.
– Abellar, you are thinking only with your head and moving only with your head now.
His gaze was no longer fixed on Abellar.
– It must not be so. You must be most wary of that. Have I not taught you many times?
– It was unavoidable. If we released all the superhuman-level Magicians right now, we could save many as Master said, but then the completion of the magic would…
– Have you even tried?
The quiet voice of Len Hank, the old Magician who had suddenly grown calm, was filled with rebuke.
– You probably haven’t even tried. Because it’s a low probability. No matter how many people die, they are merely numbers included in that low probability to you.
His wrinkled eyes turned toward Abellar again. He looked at Abellar with eyes that seemed to be weeping sorrowfully.
– In the end, you have forgotten, Abellar. How you rose to that position. Were you not also one who survived by breaking through a hideously low probability?
– …Master. This is a matter of such gravity that it cannot be compared to that…!
Len Hank stood up, pushing his chair back with a scraping sound.
– It is fine, Lord of the Magic Tower. You do not need to make excuses to an old man who is just waiting for the day he dies.
– …Master!
– It seems I have forced my thoughts upon the Lord of the Tower too much. So, do as the Lord of the Tower sees fit. However, since you have decided to do it, you must carry it out thoroughly.
– That is, of course…
– Even if this old man dies, do not ever stop.
With those words, Len Hank immediately turned his back and left the room.
– I sincerely hope that the Lord of the Tower can complete that great magic.
Though he was an old man whose age was difficult to guess, his back was straight and there was strength in his step. It was the image of one who still had work to do and a goal to reach.
Since I will live and die the way I have always lived.
Without looking back, Len Hank left the room just like that.
– Please, fulfill your will.
Abellar was left alone. Hio watched Abellar brushing his hair back with a complicated expression for a while before relaying his intent to Claire.
“Let’s follow that old man.”
It seemed that Len Hank, rather than Abellar, would be the one to take action immediately. It was to follow him and obtain more information.
“Okay. Let’s follow him.”
The moment the two left the room behind Len Hank, their vision began to darken. He thought the scene was changing as before, but it wasn’t.
[You have broken through the first dungeon.]
The dungeon had been cleared. They had done nothing and merely followed the memories of the past. Soon darkness arrived, and when they opened their eyes again, they were in a space similar to the previous one. It was a room painted entirely in black.
“Wha-what? Is it over?”
“It seems so.”
At a glance, it looked identical to the room they first entered, but it was different upon closer inspection. The size of the shimmering black Gate was slightly different, and its location was different as well. This was the entrance to the second dungeon.
“Let’s go in right away.”
There were nearly twenty more such dungeons left. That meant.
“To glimpse the memories of the past.”
They could get much closer to the unrecorded, lost truth.
***
[Skill – ‘Tropical Night’ is activated.]
[Skill – ‘Desertification’ is activated.]
[Skill – ‘Antlion Pit’ is activated.]
As the sword was thrust forward, the entire area withered away. Antiphus Praman. The direction he pointed became a windless night and a desert where feet sank deep.
– Kehehehek!
The rushing monsters tumbled through the sand, and their black-stained bodies began to dry up rapidly.
[Skill – ‘Blessing of the Sandstorm’ is activated.]
[Attribute – ‘Earth’ is imbued into the Aura.]
An Antlion Pit where the body sank more the more one moved. Antiphus’s two feet traversed freely above it. With a sword swung while minimizing unnecessary movements, the Abyss Monsters were sliced apart before they could even let out a scream.
Skills that change the surrounding environment are treated differently, even if they are of the same rank. Because the changed environment also affects the skill caster.
Not only are they difficult to handle, but their strategic value varies wildly depending on how they are utilized, making this natural.
However, just how many of those types of skills did Antiphus possess? While freely creating the environment, was he not swinging his sword with increased speed and strength, as if he himself had Dominion over the changed surroundings?
Antiphus’s skills created an environment disadvantageous to the enemy and advantageous to himself. The types of skills he showcased while breaking through the dungeons easily exceeded ten.
Meanwhile, his personal physical prowess was also powerful, and his Aura, which changed colors from time to time, would explode or become harder than anything else, being utilized in various ways according to the situation.
Looking at the way Antiphus Praman fought, one could only think about how it would even be possible to defeat such a human. He was an undisputed powerhouse among powerhouses.
He skillfully handled dozens of skills while also possessing a level of swordsmanship high enough to occupy the position of Chief of the Capital Knights.
Because of this, he was already in the process of breaking through the tenth dungeon. It was a truly marvelous speed. It was an overwhelming pace that even Sirbert would find surprising. Even this tenth dungeon had been completely cleared before much time had passed.
[You have broken through the tenth dungeon.]
The surrounding scenery distorted and his vision darkened. Thus, when he opened his eyes again, it was that usual square room. He was facing the eleventh dungeon.
“Entering immediately.”
Antiphus gave the order to enter right away without even a moment to catch his breath.
“Why don’t we rest a bit? We don’t know what might come out.”
Sirbert tried to put the brakes on Antiphus, but could his words reach one who had already set his sights on the distant sky?
“Are you tired?”
“……It’s not that.”
“Then what is the problem? Entering immediately.”
There were no words to refute him. In reality, Antiphus had handled over 60 percent of the dungeon monsters.
“……Fine.”
They did not know exactly how many dungeons they had to finish before the common space with the Boss Monster would appear.
However, considering the average value was twenty, they had already passed the halfway point. This time, a comparison would be impossible. It was all too obvious that they would be overwhelmingly in first place.
“Let’s go.”
Thus, Antiphus’s party entered the eleventh dungeon without even resting. It was the point where Hio and Claire were just beginning to enter the second dungeon.