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Chapter 200 – Traces from the Age of Mythology (3)

Despite being prepared, Theodore's reading of the Fairy's Book was never smooth.

Of course, the act of imprinting knowledge directly into his brain was familiar due to Gluttony. The 'Primordial characters' helped with comprehension while 'predation' increased proficiency, so the process of reaching the result wasn't much different.

The simple problem was the amount of information.

Crack.

Theodore throbbed with pain. His head had become cluttered and fuzzy several times, but he gritted his teeth and accepted the knowledge. There were 36 characters, for a total of 1,800 pages.

This was a treasure written by an alchemist of the Age of Mythology, so the difficulty of the contents was a given. In addition to that, there was another variable which Theodore hadn't expected.

'The more difficult the contents, the worse the headache is…?'

Gluttony realized what Theodore meant and replied, –Of course. The more difficult the knowledge, the more burden is placed on User's brain. It is possible that you wouldn't be able to read half of this book if you didn't have Myrdal's knowledge.

'Myrdal? Ah, since the elemental techniques is a common denominator?'

–No, because that guy is □□□□□ □□□… Gluttony's voice became broken. –Hrmm, it still isn't possible? It seems I can't reveal the information at stage 4.

'Does another lock need to be released?'

-That's right. I thought it would be possible after you became a master, but it seems another seal needs to be released.

Theodore recalled some old memories. The first time he met Pride, it was Gluttony's choice which had saved him. Theodore wasn't qualified to argue with its choice. He would be able to find out about Myrdal once he unlocked the next seal.

Then Theodore focused on the next character. If he counted correctly, he had 15 characters remaining. Shortly after that, Theodore realized what that meant and couldn't help letting out an admiring sound.

"I have already read 1,050 pages…"

It was common to take a few days to read theories properly, even if it wasn't a different magic. Additionally, it was common for alchemy to require knowledge from various fields. When thinking about the difficulty of the book written by Paracelsus, it would've taken at least two months to read 1,800 pages. It might take a year for a complete understanding.

Yet Theodore had read more than half of the Fairy's Book in just two hours. This absurd efficiency was due to the 'primitive characters.'

Theodore once again started reading the Fairy's Book. At this time, he didn't know that Gluttony was watching his greed for magic.

It observed Theodore and spoke to itself, –Yes, this is a quality suitable for my user.

This was the reason why Gluttony had chosen Theodore as its master.

With cold eyes, Gluttony continued to talk, –Your brain will continue developing in the long run. Repeatedly doing the same task and learning difficult information will cause you to develop. This luck that keeps on bringing adversity… Theodore Miller, you are the right user to be responsible for my last…

I hope that you will be consistent like this until the end.

* * *

By the time that the moon and stars started to tilt toward the horizon, Theodore achieved the goal he desired.

[* Your understanding is very high. (99.9%)]

Theodore lay down and could barely confirm the information window. Apart from the headache piercing his skull, his body was burning up. It was the price for reading Paracelsus' Fairy's Book overnight.

'I-I feel like I'm dying…'

It wasn't physical fatigue but mental fatigue. Wasn't this a common expression in books? He didn't have the strength to even lift a finger. Theodore was a protagonist, so he didn't have time to relax.

He barely stretched out his left hand toward the slab which was on the bed. If he didn't have something to do right now, he would be falling asleep.

"E-Eat."

–I understand, Gluttony replied calmly and stretched out its tongue.

['Fairy's Book' has been consumed. Your understanding is very high.]

[Your proficiency with 'elementals' will increase greatly.]

[Your understanding of the 'four elementals' will increase greatly.]

[An original book has been consumed. Checking synchro rate with object name Paracelsus… Blocked. Paracelsus has refused to sync with the user. User can't force synchronization with the target without permission. The other side holds a divinity.]

It was impossible to force synchronization! However, it wasn't surprising that Paracelsus was a divinity holder. The creature he had created, Mercurius, possessed a divinity. This meant that Paracelsus, the creator, wasn't a normal human being.

Theodore had known it would happen like this. He waited with a strained expression for the next message.

[Object name Paracelsus is interested in User. Would you like to accept the request for conversation?]

"…I accept."

As always, the system asked for his permission.

[After confirming the user's intention, object name 'Paracelsus' will be called. Checking the communication connection… Success, object name 'Paracelsus' has approved the two-way communication.]

[He will temporarily be synchronized with the user's consciousness.]

Simultaneously, the whole area became covered with a familiar darkness. It was the same as that incident with Abe no Seimei. This was a place where only Theodore and the author were allowed.

The familiar light particles gathered before him. Then the brilliant yet contradictory mass of light soon turned into a human figure.

'The physique is similar to mine.'

The human figure's height was around 180 centimeters, and the body's build was quite good. There were no bulging masses of muscle like Blundell had, but functional muscles could be seen through the robe.

The man had a white beard and white hair. His robe was made of an unknown material, and the hanging ornaments were gorgeous. Magic power was clearly moving around him, but Theodore couldn't figure out its meaning.

The figure of the peak alchemist, Paracelsus, was revealed.

"Hrmm."

As an elderly man, he had taut skin covered in wrinkles and was weathered like a tree. The specimen of a wonderfully aged magician stood before Theodore. Theodore tried to speak but felt his mouth being blocked by an unknown pressure.

Paracelsus' golden brown eyes were looking at him. His eyes seemed to reach into Theodore's bones and organs underneath the skin. No, it wouldn't be hard for an alchemist from the Age of Mythology to know everything about the human body.

After a few minutes, Paracelsus shook his head and muttered, "I don't know who you are, but you have good skills."

"T-Thank you."

"For your age. You should keep applying yourself."

If Theodore's peers had heard this advice, they would be foaming at the mouth. Theodore Miller had become a master in his mid-20s, and those with his growth rate could be counted on three fingers in the history of Meltor, regardless of his original talent.

Yet Theodore was just good 'for his age?' His peers would bite their tongues and die.

However, Paracelsus' rant had only just begun. "You aren't yet qualified to receive teachings from me."

Theodore was resolute, so he tried hard to listen to Paracelsus' words.

"You haven't developed your own magic, and you don't have a great interest in alchemy despite coming to my lab. No, based on the Azoth Sword, you must've accompanied Paragranum. You are the owner of Gluttony. I thought they were cockily designed, but they are more advanced than I expected."

"..."

"The Fairy's Book is used as a medium. If it isn't for alchemy, then it must be because it is related to elementals? I can feel a connection with the elemental world… Is it an ancient elemental? The attribute is a land or forest."

Theodore listened to Paracelsus' words and felt an eerie feeling.

Unlike Synchro, which allowed the other person to look at his memories and thoughts, this was a meeting space. In other words, Paracelsus had determined these things by observing Theodore for several minutes.

Theodore felt like he was stripped naked in the middle of a snowy winter. He barely suppressed the tiny spasms he felt and conceded to the mysterious reasoning, "…It is as Paracelsus says."

"Call it out."

After Paracelsus spoke, Theodore whispered a name, "Mitra."

There was no need to talk loudly or use magic. This wasn't the material world but a spiritual world. Mitra was connected to his soul, so he could bring her here whenever he wanted. There was a flash of light and a little girl appeared on Theodore's palm.

[Huuuuong… Deo?] The cute little girl with the flower bud on her head looked at Theodore.

However, Paracelsus reacted violently, "Demeter?!"

It was another name for Dmitra, the prototype of Mitra.

"Do you know her?" Theodore asked.

"It is impossible for me to not know! A god of Olympus and related to Hermes! The great and magnificent Mother Earth, to think I would see you again like this…" Paracelsus spoke with excitement before his voice sank, then he was looking at Mitra with a sad expression.

Theodore heard she had been an ancient god in the past. As such, Paracelsus remembered and mourned her. After waiting quietly until Paracelsus calmed down, Theodore then asked his question about Mitra. It was about the bud that was sprouting on her head.

"The seed of the world tree?"

"Yes, that's right."

"That seed germinated and made a bud…"

Be it because he had overcome his sorrow or if it was because of his curiosity as a researcher, Paracelsus observed Mitra from various angles. The fragment of Mother Earth, the seed of the world tree, and the ecology of an ancient elemental…

These three things were hard to determine, even for the best magicians. Nevertheless, Paracelsus opened his mouth after a ridiculously short period of time. He calmly came up with an answer about Mitra's condition, "The divinity is differentiating."

"Differentiating?"

"The reason why she is Mother Earth is simple. She possesses the divinity of the earth. The god of the forest, the god of rocks, and so on… They are all just subordinate gods of Mother Earth. The only god beyond Mother Earth would be the god of the sea or the sky," Paracelsus explained. Then he tapped the bud on Mitra's head and continued, "In other words, the material world is divided into three upper gods. Can this small body endure such a divinity? An ancient elemental that isn't a complete god but just a fragment?"

"… Impossible."

"Excessive power can destroy the owner. It is the same for this ancient elemental. A more powerful divinity will destroy the body of the ancient elemental and her ego. Therefore, the ancient elemental found a way to differentiate the divinity."

In order to remain as Mitra, instead of Mother Earth Dmitra, the seed of the world tree sprouted the divinity in different directions. At the end of Paracelsus' explanation, Theodore looked at MItra.

She was gazing at him with clear and innocent eyes, without being aware of what Theodore and Paracelsus were talking about.

Subsequently, Paracelsus put an end to this topic. "An ancient elemental can change their appearance in response to the contractor's growth. Since you have reached the 7th Circle, she will break away from the divinity of the earth and grow another divinity."

"Then what will happen to Mitra?" Theodore asked.

Paracelsus replied, "The answer to that isn't something you can get from me."

Then the great alchemist, Paracelsus, declared, "When you have reached the boundary of a mortal, go once again to the world tree. At that time, there will be an answer waiting!"

Chapter 201 – Sand Dragon Desertio (1)

Unfortunately, that was the only knowledge which could be obtained from the encounter with Paracelsus. Despite Theodore having read the Fairy's Book, Paracelsus didn't recognize Theodore's qualifications. As Paracelsus was a famous alchemist from the Age of Mythology, a 7th Circle magician wasn't even present in his eyes.

However, Theodore ended his conversation with Paracelsus without any fuss. Anyway, his goal was to find out what was happening with Mitra. Knowledge from the Age of Mythology was like a pearl necklace worn around a pig's throat.

There would be another chance to talk to Paracelsus.

'… In the end, night is over. It is already morning.'

Sun was shining through the window, and Theodore flopped onto the bed with a weary expression. His reaction was natural. He had spent quite a lot of time reading the Fairy's Book, and his encounter with Paracelsus had also contributed to his fatigue.

Theodore wanted to fall asleep, but he needed to have breakfast with his party.

"Let's go."

Even if he was tired, Theodore had to move. He left the bed and grabbed the doorknob, and the door opened easily. It was made of an unknown material, just like everything else. As the door opened, Theodore stumbled across William, who was just leaving his room.

"Good morning, William."

"Oh, Captain! Good morning…" William's voice gradually decreased in volume as he looked at Theodore's complexion.

It was due to the dark circles under Theodore's eyes. He hadn't had that face the previous night. William looked at him with concern. "Excuse me, was your bed okay?"

"It was fine. Why do you ask?"

"Somehow, it seems like you were unable to sleep."

Theodore laughed bitterly at the words. Hearing such worried words as soon as he encountered someone, his condition seemed to be worse than he thought.

"I had to do something last night. It wasn't a matter of not sleeping."

"I see. I won't say anything…"

The two men talked and arrived at the dining room, where the other party members were already seated. Veronica, who was chewing bread, raised one hand and greeted Theodore, "You woke up, Kid? You look tired. If you are lacking sleep, then you can go rest some more."

"It's okay. Besides, I'm very hungry."

"Well, if you say so."

The two men sat down and started eating.

「Activated the restaurant. Please mention the name of the dish you want, or select from the catalog. 」

It was different from yesterday when they hadn't been able to understand the words. Paragranum must've done something as the voice had switched to the language of the continent. The catalog also had the correct pronunciation kindly written.

Theodore had tried it once yesterday, but it was still strange. The party was surprised as they chose their dishes. There were many unfamiliar dishes, but they were up for the challenge.

"Fried chicken? Ah, this is fried chicken."

"Curry rice. It is hard to guess what it is from the name, but the rich flavor is quite good."

"Raw fish and… rice? It is a strange combination, but the taste is okay."

"Ack! Why is this noodle dish so spicy?"

However, some failed the challenge. William had to pour a few cups of water to cool his swollen lips.

Theodore picked a safe choice and ate pork cutlet. The dish of pork covered in breadcrumbs and then fried was something he had eaten during his childhood, but the taste was like the difference between heaven and earth.

'Even the expensive restaurants in the capital will taste bad compared to this. Is there a way to transfer this cooking facility to the magic tower?'

Theodore thought about it. Delicious food would pop out as soon as a person chose. This convenience couldn't be found, even in Meltor which was the center of magical civilization. No, if this cooking facility became popular, then the chefs of Meltor might lose their jobs.

Theodore thought so and cocked his head.

'If I look at it in this way, it might not be good to take it..?'

After all, he wouldn't want to increase the unemployment rate. Theodore smiled slightly as he set down an empty plate. A relic from the Age of Mythology was certainly excellent, but it could cause trouble if civilization wasn't ready for it.

Then at that moment…

Biiiik! Biiiik!

There was a sharp sound, and the lights in the restaurant started flashing. It was a red light which alarmed the people present, signaling that something wasn't good.

Unsurprisingly, the lab's urgent voice sounded in Theodore's head, 「Warning! Confirmed the approach of an existence which can threaten the current laboratory. Transferring the entire group, including the sub-master, to the situation control room. You will be guided from area D-8 to area S-1.」

Simultaneously, the investigation team disappeared from the dining room. They couldn't speculate about the existence that could threaten the lab, which even sword masters couldn't damage.

* * *

As always, the space movement was instant.

"Eh? What, where has all my food gone?" William was hungry after only drinking water for breakfast, but he couldn't return to the dining room in this situation.

They were in the situation control room. This was the first time the six people had stepped foot in this place, so naturally they looked around. However, before they could say anything, Paragranum moved forward.

She shouted in an urgent voice, "「Identification code PRGRN3681214! Open the omnidirectional monitor!」"

Para's order was quick. Then suddenly, lights lit up on the black walls on all sides, and the exterior of the site was revealed. They didn't compare to windows. The view wasn't filtered with opaque glass, but the group couldn't help understanding the situation.

A tremendous sandstorm was swirling in front of them.

"Ack!" William took a few steps back with surprise, but the storm before him didn't scratch at his skin.

Perfect illusion magic was showing off its grandeur. Mujak saw the scale of the sandstorm and murmured with dry lips, "Khamsin…!"

As everyone gazed at him, he explained, "Sometimes in the desert, a storm with unknown limits is born. Typical storms grow until they disappear after reaching their limit, but Khamsin doesn't have a limit. The nomads of the desert fear Khamshin as the wrath of god, and according to Austen's history, it once destroyed a castle."

"So?" Veronica didn't listen to him and stepped forward to ask Para, "This sandstorm can threaten the facility that even a sword master couldn't damage?"

It didn't make sense. Theodore remembered something Paragranum had said. The outer walls of the ruin wouldn't fall in one or two blows, even if it was hit by a dragon's breath. This was a fortress built by Paracelsus, the peak alchemist from the Age of Mythology.

However, Paragranum raised a finger instead of answering. Then she said, "That isn't a Khamsin. Take a look at beyond it."

The five pairs of eyes followed her index finger. Visibility was poor due to the storm. However, Mujak's eyes were accustomed to it, so he saw it without much difficulty. "… The Andras' excavation team?"

"Yes, watch closely. You will soon find out."

"What are you say-" Mujak suddenly closed his mouth. His remarkable vision had seen the 'phenomenon.' Soon after, the members of the investigation team could see it as well. The barracks left behind by the Andras excavation team were destroyed without a trace. The sight of solid metal scattering like sand obviously wasn't natural.

It was something more transcendent than mere destruction.

"The power of weathering." It was a hard and stiff voice. Paragranum murmured with a rarely serious expression, "Why did Desertio come to the outskirts of the desert? That old man should be staying at the center of the desert…"

"Yellow Tower Kid, don't be serious alone and explain yourself."

"Ah, that's right. You don't know yet," Paragranum belatedly replied to Veronica. "The Meuse Desert isn't a natural desert. It is a terrain made by a sand dragon."

"Sand dragon?"

"Yes, his name is Desertio. He is a dragon who has lived for many years and whose death is close. Nobody in this age can afford to go against him… Ah, that reminds me."

Paragranum might not be supposed to know it, but she could give as much information as possible, using her alter ego of the Yellow Tower Master as a shield. The Yellow Tower Master was, after all, the most mysterious person in Meltor.

However, Para added a few words that stirred Mujak up, "The disaster of the Central Continent, the cause of the drought."

"What?!" Mujak shouted, while his thick mustache shook. "Young girl from Meltor, can you take responsibility for those words? Swear that it is true!"

The overpowering influence of a sword master… Mujak's overwhelming momentum made the others step back, but Para just nodded calmly.

"Yes, I will swear by my name, as well as my master's name."

"… Dammit! For the great sun! The disaster Austen has been struggling with for centuries is due to a dragon lizard!'

Mujak's anger was natural. The Janissaries valued patriotism and loyalty more than their own lives. How many people had died directly and indirectly from the drought until now? 100,000 people? 1,000,000 people? It had lasted for centuries, so the sum might exceed 10 million. He wouldn't be angry if it was just the tyranny of Mother Nature, but now he learned it was because of a dragon.

Mujak's eyes filled with fury as he growled, "I swear to the Sultan and the Sun God, I will cut out his heart, even if I have to sacrifice my life!"

He didn't care about any injuries! The sword master's roar burst out with full sincerity. If the sand dragon were in front of him, he would've run forward without any hesitation. However, there was one person who put a stop to his courage. That was Veronica who had once fought a dragon.

"Stop. It will be a useless death,�� she said.

Unfortunately, the cold advice was counterproductive.

"How can you say that, Veronica?!"

"I am a dragon slayer, desert man. A dragon is a species that grows stronger over time. Not to mention one that is almost a million years old. The dragon might die if all the masters on the continent ally together… if we are lucky."

"T-That…" Mujak could tell that she was serious. They had never fought properly, but it was clear that Veronica was more powerful than other masters. She also had combat experience with a dragon, so there was no logical reason to dispute her words.

Veronica shut Mujak's mouth, then asked Para, "Does this ruin have any defense mechanisms?"

"It does, but it won't last long if the dragon attacks seriously."

"Tch, I thought so. He is an ancient dragon in this day and age. It looks like we are caught in a checkmate, but… what does that lizard want?"

Then at that moment…

[Aren't those some harsh words?] A majestic voice rang out through the ruins.

It was like an echo in a deep valley… Or thunder which burst from the far heavens. The voice caused Theodore's blood to boil.

[Oh, there you are.]

'Who is he referring to?' Theodore gulped involuntarily.

The atmosphere sharpened. This was an ancient dragon from the Age of Mythology, the source of the Meuse Desert. Then at the next moment, the sand dragon spoke to Theodore, [Magician with the blood of a sea dragon, I have found you.]

Chapter 202 – Sand Dragon Desertio (2)

Theodore was taken aback by the sand dragon's sudden words. "No way. You came because of me?"

[That's right.] The assertion of the sand dragon, Desertio, was surprising.

However, that was natural. This dragon was from the other side of history, since the beginning of the Age of Mythology. So, what did it want with Theodore? It was different from Aquilo, who had become interested in Theodore due to the circumstances. Living for millennia had created a manner of thinking which mortals couldn't understand.

Theodore's eyes trembled nervously. Maybe it was because of the danger the sand dragon's presence brought to the investigation team. So, Theodore couldn't help feeling guilty.

However, Desertio spoke in a gentle voice, [Don't be too nervous, young magician. I didn't come with the intention of harming you.]

As if to prove his sincerity, Theodore's senses were extremely calm. Regardless of whether Desertio was speaking the truth, Theodore was forced to put hope in that moderate atmosphere. This conversation was the last lifeline before a death penalty was passed on.

"…Can I ask what your business is?"

It was good to know that the conversation could go in both directions. So, Theodore raised his courage and carefully asked why.

[Hmmm, I have to explain it,] Desertio replied calmly. [I will ask you one thing before I explain. Have you heard anything about the reduction of dragons?]

"Reduction?"

[It is what happens when a dragon reaches their end or is near the end.]

Theodore finally realized the intent of Desertio's question. He recalled the conversation he had with Gluttony while crossing the wilderness.

–The sand dragon Desertio, who lives in the center of the Meuse Desert, is at the epicenter of the drought.

–Don't misunderstand. Desertio might not be causing the drought maliciously. The dragon, who has survived for nearly a million years, is already closer to a spirit than a creature. Therefore, he changes the environment around him.

A dragon's instincts were to return to nature. Gluttony asserted that due to this, Dracomachia had started and the dragon's decline had begun. All the strong people of the other species, including the human race, had joined forces to hunt the dragons.

In some ways, the phenomenon called 'Reduction' might be nothing to Desertio, who had suffered through Dracomachia. Theodore thought up to there and carefully replied, "Are you trying to tell me about the drought?"

[Oh, I suppose it isn't hard to guess. It is correct,] Desertio said. Then it added a few more words, [If you are already aware of this, the story will be quicker. The creation of the Meuse Desert and the drought was caused by the aging of this body. It is proof that this body is approaching death. I want to see you help with the post-processing.]

"My help…?"

[Uhh, to be precise, I would like you to deliver my message to the sea dragon that is linked to you.]

Theodore briefly recalled Aquilo's face. He hadn't seen her face for a while, but his impression of her was clear in his mind. Theodore couldn't help remembering her beauty, which was more striking than many women. His relationship with Aquilo was one of the most powerful trump cards he had, so he would prefer not to use it. Additionally, he had no confidence to deal with her a second time.

'She isn't the type to be dragged around.'

It might be possible if Theodore was much stronger than Aquilo, but that possibility wasn't worth discussing when he was only at the 7th Circle. He couldn't help feeling worried.

As Theodore remained silent, Desertio continued speaking, [This is a request based on the discipline of the dragons. If you listen to my favor, this body will give you something that is equivalent to the favor.]

"Then please explain this to me."

[It is very simple. In the past, a dragon would use 'Reduction' in destroying the territory of other species. This discipline was made by the leaders when looking at the bitter past. It is the Ritual of Reduction.]

The Ritual of Reduction…

It didn't seem to be a secret, so Desertio continued talking in a voice that the others could hear.

It was a type of pledge. The storm of power which burst out when a dragon died couldn't be compared to the output before it. In Desertio's case, it would generate a hot wind which would sweep through the entire Central Continent.

Therefore, the dragon leaders created a reduction ceremony. It was a discipline which allowed a dragon with the opposite property to calm down the aftermath. For a dragon with the power of weathering, the dragon that controlled water was the right choice for the ritual.

[It is a ritual that has become unknown now, but this body wants to maintain the wishes of the leaders. Please let me finish my life by using your link.]

"Um…"

Then all of a sudden, Mujak interrupted, "Wait! Desert dragon, I have something to say to you!"

[This body has nothing to say to you.]

"Damn, listen to me first!" Mujak called out.

Maybe it was due to Desertio's modest attitude, or perhaps the anger simmering inside Mujak finally exploded…

However, Mujak forgot who his opponent was as he hollered with a red face, "Take some responsibility for being the cause of the drought! You should apologize to the people of our kingdom rather than ask that young man! Do you know how many people have died because of you?"

The dragons' 'Reduction' was a sacred ceremony for them, but it was a national disaster for others. The fury of the Austen guardians, who had accumulated damage for hundreds of years, was reasonable in many ways.

However, unlike when Desertio conversed with Theodore, it replied in an emotionless voice, [That is human logic.]

Desertio had the gaze of a transcendent being who looked down on all things.

[Do you remember and mourn the number of ants you have stepped on during your life?]

Everyone froze for a moment. The attitude of comparing humans to ants, it clearly showed the gap between a human and dragon. Theodore tensed up again. Desertio wasn't concerned about humans. He wanted to preserve the leader's wishes, but he didn't care about those who had already died.

'Damn, I'm not in a situation to worry about whether I should accept it!'

Despite Desertio's modest attitude, Theodore had no other option. Realizing this, Theodore hurriedly opened his mouth. He had to finish this before Mujak made things worse.

"Desertio! I will accept that request."

* * *

After that, they made swift progress. The catalysts needed for the summoning magic were stacked in a pile in the laboratory. Additionally, after receiving Satomer's knowledge, Theodore could be called the best summoner in modern times.

With Aquamarine, sapphire, a blue drake's heart, and a magic circle written for elementals, this was literally the best performance. Theodore finished his work and sighed, 'Sigh, I've roughly prepared it.'

A blue magic circle flashed under his feet, and the perfection was at a level which anyone who studied magic would admire. Right now, there were only a few researchers in the field of summoning magic.

"Wow, isn't this magic circle really amazing? It is on a different dimension from the basic principles shown in magic books. How can he do this?"

"Theo is amazing. This is new summoning magic…"

Unlike Sylvia and William, Veronica didn't look very impressed. It wasn't hard to guess why, so Theodore smiled bitterly and walked toward her. "Tower Master."

"I know it can't be helped, but I don't like it," Veronica grumbled angrily.

The red dragon blood flowing through her body refused to meet with a sea dragon. Veronica was irritated despite never meeting Aquilo before. It wouldn't be strange if they fought when meeting face-to-face.

"Well, I'll look at your face and try to endure it."

"Thank you."

"But you should keep one thing in mind." Veronica pointed an index finger and touched the tip of Theodore's nose. "I will blow away all enemies in front of me."

"… Please be lenient." That was the only thing he could say.

Theodore stood inside the summoning circle again and took in a deep breath. "Then let's get started."

It was fairly difficult to summon a dragon, but Theodore didn't have much trouble. The biggest problem with summoning was compromising with the invited being. However, Aquilo had already agreed to be summoned.

Moreover, she had said she would help him once unconditionally, so she wouldn't refuse his summons. Theodore rotated his seven circles and recited a spell.

"Inform her."

A large-scale ritual was normally required, but he just needed to look deeply in his connection with Aquilo.

"Ruler of the ocean, master of the waves. I use your name and blood to be reunited in this place."

As the spell was chanted, the magic circle scattered a blue light. The blood flowing inside Theodore's body slowly cooled as resonance.

Then as the blood of the Sea Dragon Aquilo strengthened, Theodore's body temperature was lowered to a point which couldn't be human. Theodore's face was turning white when he finally heard the voice.

「What? You called me after a long time, Boy.」 The drowsy voice mixed with charm was truly strange.

Theodore was glad to hear the voice and replied, 'Aquilo.'

「You didn't call me just to speak my name, did you? Huh?」

'Of course not. It is something more troublesome…���

「There is a lot of time, so explain it to me.」

As Aquilo stated, there was a lot of time. It was usually a significant burden to use summoning magic, but Aquilo and Theodore were able to hold a long conversation because of the connection with each other. After talking for 30 minutes, Aquilo readily accepted his summons.

「Okay, I understand that this is caused by my link with you.」

'Then you will come when called?'

「No, it is annoying, so I'll just come now.」

'What? Wait…!'

Theodore stepped aside hurriedly as the magic circle flashed.

Pahat!

Her sapphire-like blue hair and her two fluorescent eyes which shone with playfulness soon appeared. As always, Aquilo was wearing an outfit which made it hard to look at her. It was a thin piece of cloth covering the important parts, just enough to shake a man's heart. However, it was strange that it didn't look crude on her.

"… Why are you always so naked?" Theodore said, turning his eyes away.

Meanwhile, Aquilo fluttered her clothing with a naughty smile. His eyes couldn't help being drawn to her exposed flesh.

"Boy, aren't you enjoying it? Men are all the same."

"C-Cough."

Aquilo teased Theodore as she stepped out of the magic circle. After looking around, she grumbled, "Ah, I don't like the desert because the air is too dirty. I never would've come if this wasn't happening."

Then she suddenly stopped and stepped toward Veronica. Clearly, it wasn't a one-sided rivalry. The red dragon and blue dragon… The hostility engraved in their blood was the same. As the red and the blue stared at each other, it was Aquilo who opened her mouth first.

"Who is this, the red clan famous for their brutality?" She said with a bright smile which almost made Theodore misunderstand it as a greeting.

Veronica frowned and countered. Her bright smile was impressive as well. "Aren't you the one famous for pirating?"

This time, it was Aquilo's eyebrows which twitched. "You, a quarter dragon… Do you intend to go against a pureblood dragon?"

"I'm sorry, but I've already killed one. Aren't sea dragons more incompetent when out of water?"

"…Ha, haha."

"Ah, did I hit the bullseye? I'm sorry."

Veronica made an expression that showed she wasn't sorry at all, while Aquilo's lips twitched. Killing intent rose between the two beauties. It was an atmosphere which seemed like a fight would occur at any moment.

The gazes of the group naturally rested on one man, Theodore.

'Damn.'

Theodore had already thought it would be like this, so he eventually sighed and walked in between them.

Chapter 203 – Sand Dragon Desertio (3)

Fortunately, a bloody battle didn't start between Veronica and Aquilo. It was thanks to Theodore. They didn't stop exchanging barbs through words, but that was enough. Both were transcendent beings capable of destroying an army, so Theodore hoped that the tension between the two would end with just arguing. He couldn't think about laughing at all.

The problem was that he was at the center of the tug of war. In that sense, Aquilo was really cunning. Unlike her attitude, she knew she was at a disadvantage in the desert and had no intention of fighting. After all, she wasn't a beast made of pure violence but an intelligent being.

"By the way, hasn't it been a while? Boy." As such, Aquilo ignored Veronica and grabbed Theodore's right arm out of the blue. Her thin, slender arms wrapped tightly around him. "Even if you couldn't call me properly, couldn't you at least say hello? Isn't that too much?"

"S-Sorry…?"

"You are lacking sincerity. Don't you know it is showing on your face?"

It was as she said. This was the first time he had experienced something like this. Theodore had spent his youth reading books, and his past experience with women could be counted on one hand. He couldn't think logically because of the texture pressing against his right arm. His body and mind were simultaneously confused, so he didn't know how to answer and remained silent.

Aquilo smiled like she knew that. 'Kuk, what a cute response.'

She had experienced it in the cave, but men like Theodore shouldn't be openly seduced. Rather, she had to gradually narrow the distance until his vigilance broke down. Aquilo remembered the pleasure of putting her teeth into ripe fruit for the first time and couldn't help licking her upper lip.

'It looks like there are a few competitors but…'

One of them was a silver-haired girl staring at her from behind Theodore. For a human, she didn't have a bad appearance. It was the same for the woman mixed with the savage blood of the red clan. There was also the high elf she hadn't met yet.

Aquilo had never failed in her seductions, so it was the first time she had rivals. However, this difficulty was what Aquilo wanted. She would beat all her competitors and completely take away his mind and body—

"…Hah…" A sweet sigh was let out.

Theodore flushed red due to his close proximity to her, but Aquilo was so excited that she didn't even realize it. Like most cool-blooded animals, a flush appeared on her pale face when she became excited.

Then as Theodore was about to lose his breath…

"Hey." Veronica finally reached the limit of her patience and grabbed Aquilo's shoulder. "Fish, don't stick to the kid."

An unpleasant sound was heard from her hand. Veronica's grip was enough to break a large rock. It was at a level that not even Aquilo could resist. Theodore was afraid there would be a fight…

However, Aquilo just dropped his arm coolly and said, "It is truly savage. Do you have the blood of an ogre inside you?"

"What are you saying?!"

"Well, I can feel relieved now. You can never beat me."

Veronica frowned at the unknown meaning of Aquilo's words. She didn't know why, but Aquilo seemed one step ahead in this quarrel. From then on, neither of them spoke. Aquilo gave a strange smirk, and Veronica seemed deeply troubled.

'… The previous growls were scary, but I don't like this silence.' Theodore sighed as he felt the weight of the silence on his shoulders.

One person was a dragon, the strongest species in the material world, and the other was a magician who hunted dragons. This unnatural silence lasted until they met again with Desertio.

* * *

"It has been a while, Old Man," Aquilo said after entering the situation control room.

It was a nickname which didn't suit an ancient dragon like Desertio, who had lived for almost a million years. However, Desertio didn't become angry as he replied in a rather shaky voice, [This voice, is it Aquilo?]

"Of course, it is. I knew this would happen, but I didn't expect to be the one in charge."

[Haha, me as well. I didn't know that a tomboy would be my end… You didn't return for more than a thousand years, so I thought you had already forgotten about this old man.]

Then Aquilo replied cheekily, "Who is the one that lives in the desert? Even now, it is hard to breathe in this place. If you weren't dying, I wouldn't have come to you."

[Y-Yes. Thank you…]

Like a grandfather listening to his cute granddaughter, Desertio didn't refute Aquilo's ridiculous words. The majesty of the dragon, who treated a sword master as an ant, was indeed a mess.

Was he weak toward Aquilo or was it because they were the same species? The words between the two dragons were no different from the conversation between an ordinary father and daughter.

Then Aquilo asked, "But don't you still have a few hundred years left? There is still some life force left."

[Umm, there is perhaps 300 years left. But it is hard to imagine that this opportunity could come again. It will be difficult for you to be present when the time comes.]

"It makes sense, but…"

To humans, death was absolute oblivion and fear. However, it was a natural ending for dragons. Born from nature, they would go back to nature.

Their powerful teeth and claws, solid leather, and scales… All the blessings they received when they were born would be returned to the material world. Sand dragons became grains of sand, sea dragons became water, and fire dragons became lava. They were part of the world and would be reborn in a slightly different form.

The many years that Desertio had experienced were enough for him to understand this. Aquilo was still young, so she didn't understand it yet.

[Don't feel too much regret. I am satisfied with my life.]

He had lived for a long time. He had watched, fought, negotiated and killed many humans, elves, dwarves, and dragons. It would be a lie to say he felt no hesitation, but he had decided to end his life. This was the right time to do so while respecting the leader's wishes.

Aquilo shook her head and muttered in a small voice, "Who feels regret, Old Man."

[Hehehe, you feel regretful. You can't put up a false pretense in front of this old man.]

"… Annoying." The sly mask of a dragon was there, but she seemed more like a girl who wasn't being honest. Desertio laughed at her and shifted his gaze. He looked at the human who had been chosen by this volatile child, the man who had brought him this joyful relationship today.

[Young magician, you are this body's benefactor. What is your name?]

Theodore was surprised by the sudden question, "Theodore Miller."

[Yes, Theodore Miller. You are the benefactor who will bring a satisfying end to this body. As I said before, I would like to thank you and will give you a corresponding reward,] Desertio said. Then he continued talking, [I don't have anything other than this body. Since a thousand years ago, my power has been out of control, and all the treasures I had gathered all turned to sand. If you are expecting treasures or gold, I have to apologize for not being able to meet those expectations.]

Theodore had already guessed this much. Treasures from the Age of Mythology had long turned into grains of sand from the power of weathering. In addition to that, Gluttony had said that sand dragons didn't have much interest in goods. It was the opposite of water dragons who enjoyed stacking up treasures like mountains.

However, a dragon wouldn't lie about giving a reward due to his high pride. After all, Desertio hadn't said that he would repay Theodore in gold.

Then Desertio called out to Paragranum, [Ruins manager, are you listening?]

"… Yes, I'm listening."

[Quickly open the entrance for a moment.]

Paragranum was troubled for a moment. However, the opponent was a dragon who could destroy the outer walls, so she unlocked the entrance. Although it couldn't be seen from the control room, Desertio had a clear view of the entrance.

Then after a short silence, the sand dragon spoke again, […Now, it is inside. You can close the door again and take it.]

As everything in the laboratory was under Paragranum's control, she moved the item to the situation control room without much difficulty. Then her eyes widened, and she uttered, "T-This…?"

The item resembled a topaz jewel. It had a mysterious golden orange color which was difficult to express. Its size was even more amazing. The gem was larger than the head of an adult male. This caused everyone to be shocked. Even Veronica and Sylvia, who had little interest in jewellery, stared blankly at the fascinating surface.

However, their surprise was enhanced by Paragranum's words, "… Dragon Heart!"

"What? This?"

"This gem is a dragon's heart?"

The group cried out in astonishment, while Aquilo nodded with a bitter expression. She had already guessed it would be this, but it was hard for her to describe her feelings at seeing a Dragon Heart this way.

"Yes, that is a heart."

"B-But…"

Could any creature in the world survive without a heart?

Theodore looked out carefully.

Desertio had expected this reaction and calmly explained, [Don't worry about it. This body is already closer to a spirit than a creature, so the concept of organs is rare for me. Anyway, I am going to die, so my heart will be taken out eventually.]

It was an unexpected gift. Even a dragon didn't have an eternal body. Their hard bones and skin would become thinner as they aged. Their thick muscles would shrivel up, and even their claws would lose their sharpness.

The only exception to that was the heart, which overflowed with mana. The strength of a Dragon Heart increased in proportion to age. As Desertio was a dragon who had lived a long time, the inherent power in his heart would be indefinite.

Theodore regained his composure and stretched out his hand.

'Appraisal.'

Now it was a habit to touch an item with his left hand.

[+?? Desertios's Heart]

[-The heart of Desertio, a dragon who has lived for almost a million years. The power of weathering is preserved. If sacrificed, it is possible to call a god or demon. It can also function as a permanent increase in strength. If you absorb it, you can obtain the power of weathering. However, the user's vessel won't be able to endure it and will break.

* The rating of this heart is 'Mythology.'

* When consumed, the present user will die.

* When consumed, 'Power of Weathering' will be learned. The present user won't be able to control the power and will self-destruct.

* When consumed, a large amount of magic power will be absorbed. The present user won't be able to suppress the magic and will self-destruct.

* When consumed, the amount of dragon blood will become thicker. The present user won't be able to survive the change and will self-destruct.]

Theodore's face stiffened. This was a mythological item! It was an object which surpassed Laevateinn and the complete Azoth Sword. Additionally, the explanation was even more fearsome. If he consumed it, he would be overwhelmed by the abilities and self-destruct.

Theodore was quite accustomed to the system, so he could determine it.

'…Based on these comments, I probably won't be able to absorb it even if I reach the 8th Circle. It is a truly ridiculous thing.'

If he were at the 8th Circle, it was possible to consume 'Death's Worship', which lay forgotten in his inventory. However, this Dragon Heart was at the 9th circle. The heart of a dragon was given to a human…

'Let's put it in my inventory.'

–Understood.

Theodore pretended to put the Dragon Heart in his dimensional pocket, but he actually held it in his left hand and Gluttony swallowed Dragon Heart. He had a feeling that he could use it eventually.

It was literally an unexpected windfall. Theodore looked down at his left hand with a stunned face, then Desertio laughed with satisfaction.

[It seems like you like my reward. Yes, my heart is worth it. I hope this heart will be a great help to you, as you have been for me.]

"… I don't deserve this gift, Desertio."

[Huhu, don't say that. Keep this in mind while taking care of Aquilo.]

"Yes?" Theodore was surprised by the words and turned to look at Aquilo.

Aquilo stared at him and said, "Boy, is there something you want to ask of me?"

"Ah, Desertio's end…"

"No, that is his favor. You haven't asked me for anything. You just called me."

"Eh…?"

Her words weren't wrong. Aquilo had freely agreed after listening to the situation, and Theodore hadn't requested anything from her. Since she had accepted because of her relationship with Desertio, this meant Theodore still had the right to ask for something from her. As a blue dragon, Aquilo disliked this type of vague ending.

Theodore was troubled for a moment as he thought about the unintentional bonus.

'What should I ask from Aquilo…?'

He could postpone it until later, but it wasn't common to have a chance to properly prepare summoning magic like today. Theodore had been fortunate that Paracelsus' laboratory was filled with luxurious materials. He couldn't guarantee that there would be another chance to call an adult dragon.

At that moment, someone entered Theodore's field of view.

"Ah." The twisted puzzle in his head was now completed. Theodore's eyes shone brightly, then he turned toward Aquilo.

Theodore arranged his mind and opened his mouth, "My request…"

Chapter 204 – Together with a Dragon (1)

The Magic Contest, which was Meltor's annual event, reached its end after being three times more prosperous than before.

It didn't mean that the magicians participating in the contest were more superior than usual. This was the same event, but it was three times more prosperous because more people had visited Meltor.

It was due to the symbol of Elvenheim, High Elf Ellenoa.

Since the founding of Elvenheim and the abolition of slavery, it had become difficult to see the elves, making some people even doubt their existence.

The unrealistic beauty and presence of the high elf, who had appeared at the opening ceremony, were enough to convince them of the truth. Major figures from all over the continent had come to Meltor without much meaning, but they were forced to sound the bugle call this time.

-A high elf from Elvenheim has come to Mana-vil!

–Buds sprout wherever she walks!

–It is a sign that the balance between the Northern powers will collapse!

–She has a deep relationship with Meltor's young hero!

Rumours spread, and ships and carriages in the Central Continent headed to Meltor in droves. If even one of the rumors was true, then this was a great event which could be called the turning point in history. They might not have any influence on it, but they couldn't just sit still.

Someone came with the purpose of trying to trade with Elvenheim…

While someone else steered their ship with the intention of making a mark on Meltor.

There was also someone who took a carriage just to see the high elf's beauty…

And another who crossed the border to explore the situation of the North.

As the major powers moved for various reasons, the procession following them increased in number. One person grew to 10, 10 people to 100, and then to the thousands. Due to this, the guards at Meltor's checkpoints were busier than ever, and a lot of gold poured into the treasury.

The Magic Contest lasted for a fortnight, and various groups tangled together until the morning of the last day of the contest finally came.

However, the atmosphere of the palace was heavy.

"… Treasurer, please report the result of this Magic Contest."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the treasurer answered and walked forward after being called by Kurt. Then the Treasurer reported, "The number of visitors at this year's Magic Contest has tripled compared to last year, so the logistics have increased nearly fivefold. Even if we use only half of the budget, we will be able to complete most of our current national plans."

"What about the trade inquiries from other countries?"

"Three from Austen, two from Soldun, eight from Kargas. There are also four from the Lairon Religious Kingdom…"

Kurt's eyebrows twitched, and he shook his head when he heard the name 'Lairon.' Magicians and religious figures weren't a good match. The Lairon Kingdom would make the magicians try to worship their god, and diplomatic relations might worsen.

"Dismiss all requests from Lairon."

"I will follow Your Majesty's words."

The treasurer moved back after replying, and Kurt turned to the chairman of the Magic Society next.

The chairman of the Magic Society recognized the meaning of Kurt's gaze and quickly opened his mouth to speak. "The recruitment of magicians has gone smoothly. There are a total of 214 magicians who put their names on the conference list, and 117 magicians have been chosen to be naturalized. Among them, there are 45 people who have achieved higher than the 4th Circle. This is a little over twice that of last year."

"Not bad. What is the distribution to each magic tower?"

"It hasn't been decided yet. I don't think it can be determined until after the Red Tower Master has returned."

Of course, it was a natural report. After all, it was the privilege of a tower master to endorse the membership of a magician. Even if the elders dealt with a tower master's duties in the tower master's absence, they couldn't make a decision about personnel.

However, Kurt III couldn't help frowning at the report. "Yes, we don't have the Red Tower Master."

At this point, the people present understood Kurt's mind and acted carefully. This was because the investigation team had gone to claim the ruins and had yet to return.

Kurt had thought nothing would go wrong because Veronica was present, but he couldn't help being worried because the time they were taking was too long. He wasn't worried about Veronica. After all, since they were both pillars of the kingdom, he was one of the people who knew her best. There were few things which could threaten Red Tower Master Veronica.

If she were buried by an earthquake, she would break the ground and pop out. If she were swept away by a tsunami, she would evaporate the water. In the hearts of everyone present, the people from Andras had long since died.

The problem was with the four magicians, Quattro. If any of the prospects who were marked as successors to the tower masters died, Meltor couldn't avoid being damaged. Additionally, there was the hero, Theodore Miller!

"White Tower Master."

Kurt's voice subsided, and Orta replied, "Please say it, Your Majesty."

With a white robe and white mask… As always, the man who concealed his appearance revealed himself near the throne. Had he just entered? Or maybe he had been present in the first place.

The scary thing about the White Tower Master was that they couldn't know for sure. He had fierce mobility and had managed to defeat one of the Seven Swords. Orta was the key character behind a massive purge which had occurred when Kurt had just been crowned. Even now, Orta was still called a grim reaper by the nobles.

"Did you do what I instructed?"

"Of course," Orta replied in a cold voice and gave details of his actions, "I have completed the elimination of 20 shadows at the border of the Meuse Desert, as well as 76 operatives. I stayed around and watched the situation, but no more people showed up."

He was emotionless despite talking about killing almost 100 people. Even if the people had been experts of Andras, they hadn't even gotten a chance to use their Aura Ability. The results of Orta's guerrilla tactics were truly miserable.

According to the king's orders, Orta had cleared up the outskirts of the Meuse Desert. Kurt had been worried those on the outskirts would disrupt the return of the investigation team.

"… But why is there no news yet?" In the end, Kurt couldn't help expressing his impatience.

The king had made the selection. He had been the one who dispatched Veronica and Quattro. Kurt had the qualities of a king, and his choices were never bad. When the results weren't particularly good, they weren't terrible either. Meanwhile, the rest were good.

He hoped that his choice wasn't wrong this time.

"Your Majesty!" At that moment, the door opened, and Blundell hesitated to continue speaking.

"Blundell, what is going on? It isn't like you to hesitate."

It was as Kurt said. Blundell's white beard and hair were soaked with sweat, while his always relaxed face was filled with confusion. Kurt had asked that after seeing Blundell's expression, but Blundell then shouted in reply, "Your Majesty should come out and see it personally!"

Everyone in the room turned toward each other with confusion, while Kurt stared down at Blundell with a blank expression. He raised his body from the throne with a questioning appearance.

"-Guide me."

* * *

As a dragon flew in the sky above Mana-vil, blue scales shone among the white clouds.

It was a soldier at the watchtower who had seen the spectacular sight first. He couldn't believe what he had seen and pointed toward the sky. The guard, who was seeing a dragon for the first time in his life, didn't know what to do. He belatedly reported to the guard captain, who contacted the royal palace and the Magic Society.

However, Blundell moved faster than anyone else. 'To think that a dragon has appeared at this time! What the hell is this?'

Veronica's absence was truly great. Blundell touched his white beard desperately, but an answer didn't come out. When one read Meltor's history from the beginning, they would find there were no recorded incidents wherein Meltor had angered a dragon.

'No, isn't there one…?'

Theodore had fought with a sea dragon in the Pirate Archipelago, so he might've made an enemy of the blue clan.

However, Aquilo's case was different. The blue dragons were a thoroughly individual clan. Moreover, even if they had a relationship with someone, they only communicated with that person and didn't show much interest in anyone else.

So, why had a dragon come to Mana-vil?

"… I still don't understand," Blundell muttered. Meanwhile, the king and other nobles were dismayed by the sight.

With sunlight reflecting off its blue scales and the flexible bends of its body, the dragon swimming in the sky was beautiful enough to make anyone lose their minds. It might be strange to fly with a wingless body, but flying itself wasn't impossible for a sea dragon.

In order for wings to carry a dragon body in the first place, the surface area of the dragon should be six times its current size while its weight should be reduced to one third. Fundamentally, a dragon's ability to fly was due to its own power.

Red dragons emitted hot air to fly at high speeds, whereas blue dragons controlled atmospheric measure to steer in the air. Although a blue dragon couldn't match a red dragon's flight speed, it was more beautiful while flying.

… Of course, there were people who didn't agree with this idea.

"It feels like an earthworm wriggling! Don't wriggle around and speed up more!"

Upon hearing Veronica's rant, Aquilo's tail twitched, and she countered, 「This is my fastest speed! Do you think that a sea dragon can fly at high speeds?」

"Aren't you a pureblood dragon? I can fly faster than you!"

「Then get off! If it wasn't for the boy, I wouldn't even let you ride!」

"If so, I will get off!"

Simultaneously, Veronica jumped down from Aquilo's back without any fear.

They were hundreds of meters above sea level. It was a good height to turn humans into chunks of meat, but her robustness was greater than that of a human. Veronica didn't even use any magic as she fell down.

Kwaang!

The marble was destroyed by the impact of falling, while the flying debris made people scramble around.

"Uwaaaaack!"

"It is the dragon's preemptive strike!"

"W-What is it?"

"Blue Tower Master, what should we do?"

As she looked at them, Veronica sighed, "Phew, they are going nuts."

So, she waited for the competent people to calm down. After hearing her voice, they belatedly realized the situation and calmed down.

"C-Cough! The Red Tower Master has returned!"

"You went through a lot of trouble. Did it go well?"

"I have no time to talk to you guys. Where are His Majesty and the tower masters?"

Veronica ignored the excited faces and found the nearby Kurt and magic tower masters. Unlike their usual selves, the three people seemed stunned. After all, Veronica had just fallen from a dragon in the sky. It was understandable that they would ask for an explanation from her.

However, Veronica interrupted them, "Just a moment, Your Majesty. Everyone else is on the wriggling worm, so let's wait until they are present to talk about it."

"W-Wriggling…?" Kurt looked up at the sky with a strange expression after hearing the world's strongest species being called a wriggling worm.

The dragon in the distant sky was getting closer.

Huuk!

Soon, the tail, which was shining with blue scales, landed before the party. Robes of four different colors flapped in the wind, and Quattro landed on the ground.

Then with perfect timing, Veronica and all of Quattro bent down on one knee before the king. The appearance of the blue dragon behind them was really spectacular. Five voices overlapped as they spoke simultaneously:

""We, Red Tower Master Veronica and the four members of Quattro, have fulfilled capturing the ruins in Your Majesty's name and have now returned.""

Chapter 205 – Together with a Dragon (2)

Kurt couldn't properly grasp the situation, but his reaction was quick. He naturally accepted the greeting of the five people and soon noticed there was a person missing.

It was Austen's guardian, Mujak. The man, who had been arrested for authorized entry and kidnapping, was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Mujak?���

Theodore responded to Kurt's question, "Is it okay to explain that with the report?"

"Hmm, okay. Rather…" Kurt glanced toward Aquilo behind Theodore. Instead of Mujak, Kurt was much more worried about the dragon who had suddenly appeared. As though she felt his glance, there was a slight flash of light from where the dragon's body had been floating behind the party. It was enough to make people blink a few times.

"…Uh!"

People reflexively closed their eyes and opened them again. In the spot where the dragon had been, there was now an impressive-looking woman with sea-colored hair. Horns rose from her head, and her fluorescent eyes showed that she was different from humans. Despite her bewitching appearance, she gave off a feeling of oppression.

In this silence, Aquilo slightly bent her knees. "It is nice to meet you, king of Meltor. I am Aquilo of the blue clan, daughter of Surmidon and Asophos."

This was the moment when the historical tyrant, the sea dragon, met the ruler of the Meltor Kingdom. The people present realized the seriousness of this meeting and gulped while the air filled with tension. How would the king of Meltor respond to this greeting?

Unlike their expectations, Kurt's answer was quite ordinary. "The current king, Kurt Turai von Meltor, welcomes your visit. I heard a lot about you from Lord Theodore."

Aquilo gave a bewitching smile at his words. "Hrmm, is that so? Boy, you talked about me?"

"Yes, I was able to pass the crisis thanks to you."

"That is a common thing."

Theodore's answer seemed the right thing to say as the atmosphere loosened up. Then Kurt encouraged them to move into the palace, "Let's talk about the remaining story inside. It seems that there are many things to talk about."

"Then… I will follow Your Majesty's will."

Aquilo nodded, and Kurt led everyone into the royal palace. Their new location wasn't the meeting hall but the reception room used for occasional guests.

Kurt III sat down, while Blundell and Orta stood on both sides of his chair. Even if there was no chance of winning, their role as escort was to block the slightest possibility of Aquilo attacking Kurt.

Once both Aquilo and Veronica were seated, Kurt naturally turned toward Theodore. Veronica was the one in charge of the mission, but she was preoccupied having a staring war with Aquilo.

"Quattro's Captain, please report."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Theodore responded to the call.

'Where should I start?'

The memories of a few days ago were engraved in Theodore's head. Defeating Mercurius and entering the laboratory, receiving compensation from Paragranum…

Yes, he would start exactly from here.

* * *

–Before I ask my favor, I have to check something first.

–To check something?

–Yes, I have to check whether something is possible for you. I'm not trying to insult you, I'm just really curious.

Aquilo made a questioning expression upon hearing Theodore's words. He should know better than anyone else. After all, they had fought at each other's backs. So, Theodore's brilliant brain would've already understood her abilities.

If she wanted to, she could break down a city or two, or even cause floods and tsunamis. Yet there was something he wasn't certain whether Aquilo could do?

She cocked her head as Theodore spoke in a low voice, –Is it possible to revive a river on a national scale?

The blue dragon was famous for being cunning. Aquilo raised her eyebrows as she guessed his intentions.

-…Boy, are you trying to use me as a negotiation material?

It was as she said. Theodore shrugged and nodded without retreating. Desertio's death meant the desertification phenomenon would disappear, but it was another story to restore the water which had dried up over centuries.

The drought wouldn't happen anymore, but there was no future for a land which had been completely exhausted. Austen wouldn't have an opportunity to recover, and they would perish. However, what if Aquilo's power assisted in the recovery?

A high elf couldn't surpass a dragon when it came to their attributes. When it came to the supply of water, Aquilo was more effective than a high elf.

Aquilo thought about Theodore's question for a while before answering, –It is possible. Are you talking about the Pilar River? I won't be able to restore it to its original state, but I can turn it back around 10 years.

–T-That means…!

Mujak trembled as he listened to the conversation. It was natural. A miracle he had never expected was being considered right before him. They were discussing the restoration of the Pilar River, Austen's lifeblood! Now that the drought was gone, there would be no further problems if the river was restored. Maybe this would become Austen's golden age.

Mujak was thrilled, falling to both knees and bowing his head. -Sir Theodore! How should I repay this favor?! The Sultan will greatly repay you for your help!

–Thank you, but it isn't certain yet.

–What…?

–Aquilo has to agree to this favor.

Mujak turned to Aquilo with a desperate expression. If the dragon refused to do Theodore's favor, this golden opportunity in front of him would disappear without a trace.

However, Aquilo just laughed at Theodore's uncertainty. –Well, I don't care. I am in need of a new lair because of you. It is the middle of the desert, but it should be okay if it is the Pilar River.

–T-That means you agree? Mujak asked.

–Instead, I have several conditions. Aquilo smiled at the anxious Mujak and raised her fingers one by one. –First, a residence to my satisfaction must be built. Secondly, what happens after the recovery is irrelevant to me. Thirdly, publicize my name through the country and make me the guardian dragon.

–Cough! Well, if it is that much…

–There is one last thing.

The third condition for the Sultan fanatics of Austen was a little annoying, but there was nothing wrong with treating her as a divine being. Mujak was prepared to nod, but Aquilo added a fourth condition.

–Apart from the boy's favor, I will charge a price every time you borrow my power. If the payment is ever overdue, I will cancel the agreement and leave.

–No, that is a little too much!

–If you think so, then don't pay. In my view, the desert isn't a very attractive place.

It was literally an unfair contract. Mujak protested, but Aquilo didn't budge. Generally speaking, this request was a favor to Theodore, and anything else was a bonus. It meant they needed to pay separately for anything else. Austen might owe Meltor, but they needed to make a separate deal with Aquilo.

After all, Austen was the only one with something to lose, not the dragon. In the end, Mujak had to grudgingly agree to deliver the proposal to the Sultan.

* * *

"Kuk." Kurt let out a small sound of laughter that he couldn't repress.

Mujak, the old fox of the desert, had suffered such a humiliation. The Sultan fanatics would face difficult circumstances in the future. The Janissaries never had any experience of Austen itself being held hostage.

Kurt tacitly acknowledged their plight and then praised the person in front of him, "As always, your achievements are beyond my expectations. Now, Meltor has completely taken the lead in an alliance with Austen…"

Austen wouldn't reject the offer. Kurt didn't know if the Sultan was foolish or naive, but he had heard that the Sultan of this era was quite smart. It was hard to imagine anything more significant than the restoration of Pilar River.

'With this, we have taken one step ahead.'

The Austen Kingdom had long been a country which intersected with the Northern powers and was located a little bit south of the border. It was only after passing through the Sipoto wilderness that one would enter Austen territory. As such, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that it was a territory which could be taken if Andras or Meltor reached out.

However, for centuries, none of the Northern powers had invaded Austen. It wasn't because Austen was too strong or because the Northern powers couldn't afford it.

The drought, which had plagued Austen for centuries, was the enemy which had fended off the Northern powers. It wasn't easy to grow crops in Austen, and there were no roads or ports which could be used as trade routes. There was no profit in capturing such a territory.

The culture of worshipping the Sultan also played a part in fending off the Northern powers. A country which couldn't be colonized was impossible to manage and was on the verge of destruction. That was Austen.

'…But from now on, that will change.'

Andras didn't know about the removal of the drought, and the value of Austen had surged.

After restoring the river and removing the threat of desertification, Austen was no longer a helpless spectator. If a little time and support were added, Austen was a variable which could become a strong ally. Unlike the borders in the North which were all guarded, a strategic advantage could be obtained if Meltor marched through Austen.

All of this was due to one man, Theodore Miller. If it hadn��t been for the sea dragon, Aquilo, it wouldn't have been possible to gain leverage over Austen or end the drought.

Kurt scanned Theodore up and down with gratified eyes and called out, "Quattro's Captain."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"If you wish for something, then tell me. You can even ask for a national treasure."

Simultaneously, the eyes of the other people present widened.

The number of people who had been awarded a national treasure since Meltor's founding barely reached the double digits. Additionally, the people who had received two or more were just two or three legends. Now, Theodore was being treated like those legends? It was unexpected, even for Kurt who always awarded achievements fairly.

However, Theodore's answer was even more surprising. "Your Majesty is very generous, but can I save that wish for later?"

"Why? I am feeling very good today. Maybe I will change my mind, and you will miss your chance."

It felt like a test, but Theodore just smiled. "Right now, I want to concentrate on myself. I was taught Sorcery by the Red Tower Master, and I feel like I got a clue on this journey."

"I see." A satisfied smile appeared on Kurt's face. "I like your attitude. I will take care of the procedures so that your training isn't hindered. Don't hesitate to ask for anything you need."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."

That wasn't a lie. Theodore looked at his left hand as he bowed. It was true that he had received enlightenment from Veronica's teachings and that he wanted to focus on something before receiving a national treasure.

Alchemist Paracelsus's original book, the Fairy's Book…

Eating it had finally unlocked Gluttony's fifth seal. At stage 5, Superbia had been able to overpower an adult dragon. It was inevitable that Theodore was looking forward to the result. In his mind, Gluttony's information window was counting the seconds down one by one.

[Unsealing of stage 5… (3 hours 35 minutes and 12 seconds remaining)]

Chapter 206 – Together with a Dragon (3)

A week had already passed by, and the 5th seal still had yet to be released. The feature must be great, or perhaps more time was needed to unseal the 5th seal. However, Theodore waited without feeling impatient. So far, Gluttony had never betrayed his expectations.

It wouldn't be in vain for him to wait for Kurt's reward.

'Anyway, I will know after three or four hours.'

Theodore was thinking about this when the door of the reception room suddenly opened.

"Theodore!"

It was a high elf whose green hair shone brightly without any illumination, while an energy of vitality emitted from her.

Ellenoa smiled brightly as she looked at Theodore first, then she belatedly realized that the people around him were looking at her. She had come after hearing that Theodore had returned, but she hadn't known he was with other people. Additionally, no one had restrained her because she was an unprecedented VIP guest.

When Ellenoa realized her position, she immediately flushed red. "I-I'm really sorry. I didn't know the situation…"

Even if she wasn't familiar with royal courtesies, she could tell that this wasn't proper procedure. It was the sight of the king sitting in a chair with a tower master on both sides, which gave it away. This wasn't a place for a foreigner to enter, even if she was a national guest.

However, the surprising thing was Kurt's reaction. He unexpectedly shook his head and forgave the intrusion. "No, it's okay. The talk was over anyway."

"Thank you for saying that."

"I guess you have a lot to say to Theodore. But first, Lady Ellenoa, I would like to introduce you to a new guest."

Kurt gestured toward a direction, and Ellenoa's gaze followed his hand. Then the high elf's and the dragon's eyes met for the first time. Bright jade and an intense fluorescent color…

The moment these similar yet different eyes met, the air in the reception room sunk. Ellenoa's expression stiffened, and her sweet lips parted, "… Conductor of the waves, tyrant of the sea. The evil who controls the eastern waters to the north."

There were hostile feelings coming from her which didn't match her usual gentleness.

When Theo thought about it, he realized it was natural. Elves were basically a species with a good character, and they abhorred the act of oppressing or taking the possessions of others. By default, Aquilo was someone who treated everyone as below her. As such, Ellenoa wouldn't like Aquilo, who protected pirates just so she could take their loot.

On the other hand, Aquilo replied with an effortless smile, "It is natural that you don't like me, but don't you think that your attitude is tougher than usual today?"

"It is your imagination."

"Look at that cold attitude. Well, I can see one thing."

Ellenoa made a questioning expression. Then Aquilo said with a laugh, "Woman who doesn't know the world, there is a man in your eyes, right?"

"… No way, you!"

Ellenoa had recently come to Meltor from the Great Forest, so she didn't know what type of relationship there was between Aquilo and Theodore. Therefore, she couldn't stay calm at the taunt which aimed accurately at that blind spot.

The sea dragons were well-known as a clan that coveted the possessions of others. Moreover, Ellenoa was a high elf who could only pick her gender once in her life. So, to a high elf, a refusal was like a half-death. Ellenoa couldn't help reacting to that, even if the words were a bluff.

The high elf and the dragon…

The women of two species suddenly confronted each other, making it difficult for the people of Meltor who were stuck between them. An intervention was needed. At that moment, Veronica got out of her seat and moved between the two of them. "It is up to here. Both of you."

Ellenoa managed to collect herself, while Aquilo's lips curved into an innocent smile. Veronica stopped the quarrel between the two of them and looked directly at Kurt. "Your Majesty, please leave these two to me."

"Hoh, you are going to act?"

Veronica shrugged and nodded. "Well, something like that. I should rescue him. I don't like the worm, but it can't be helped."

"Wait, did you call me a worm just now?"

"Don't wriggle, and come here. Let the kid rest."

"Hey! Let me go! Hey! Why is a quarter hybrid so strong?"

Veronica dragged Aquilo away, while Ellenoa bowed and followed after them. It was a truly stormy exit.

Kurt laughed and said to the rest of the people in the room, "You should go back and rest. Veronica has already volunteered to take care of them."

"Yes, I will follow Your Majesty's will." Theodore was at a loss, but he retired from the reception room without delay according to Kurt's orders.

After that, they split up.

Paragranum had acquired good materials after a long time, so she returned to her tower happily. Meanwhile, William returned to his tower, stating that he needed to write a report for the White Tower Master. Then after sending Sylvia in the opposite direction, Theodore moved toward the red tower.

The steeple made of red bricks was always surrounded by a lukewarm heat.

'Master… He is researching. I shouldn't interrupt him.'

Theodore first checked Vince's current situation and decided not to interrupt his research. Vince would stop his research if he knew that Theodore had returned, but Theo didn't want to interrupt Vince's concentration.

Creak.

Instead, he returned to his room, which wasn't much different from when he left.

"Mitra."

A girl suddenly sprang up from a flowerpot on the windowsill at his words.

[Hoing!]

It was a relaxing voice that he hadn't heard lately. The cheerful and lively girl had a bud similar to a rosebud on her head. Was it due to eating the Fairy's Book, or had it taken a certain period of time for the flower to bloom? It wasn't a surprise that Mitra had become more formidable.

'This scent is quite similar to Ellenoa.'

It was a fragrance which boosted a person's vitality, making his body feel lighter. If he were attacked by Aquilo like in the past, he wouldn't be affected by her poison at all. Theodore touched the flower on Mitra's head.

[Hihihit, hohihihi…] Mitra laughed like a child being tickled. It was as if the flower was connected to her senses. The flower was pretty, but it didn't seem possible to peel off a petal. The flower was fully assimilated with Mitra's body, so the pain of separation would be more than he imagined.

Moreover, for plants, flowers had another meaning. Roots took place first, then leaves, flowers, and fruits bloomed. Yes, fruit. It was unknown how much power remained in the sprout which had grown from eating the world tree's seed, but a fruit would grow from the flower.

"…Wait."

He felt something. Theodore felt an unknown sense of incongruity. It was very fleeting, but it left a clear trail. The Ring of Muspelheim, a sea dragon's blood, an ancient earth elemental… He was only lacking—

Then at that moment…

[Completing the unlocking process of the 5th seal… Accepted. This is a legitimate request. Gluttony's 5th seal has been released.]

[Gluttony's function has been opened normally. The user should check the information window of the corresponding function immediately.]

[Grimoire "Gluttony" / B Rank]

[Gluttony's 5th seal has been released through a normal path. From now on, the user will be able to access the wisdom that Gluttony accumulated from a long time ago. You can immediately learn the magic by paying a corresponding price. Previous owners have called the feature 'Library,' and you can change the name if you want.

* The ego, Gluttony, will explain how to use Library.]

Once the 5th seal was released, the information about its function appeared before Theodore. It was a sudden situation, but he had become familiar with this since a long time ago. He pushed down his sudden inspiration and read the explanation.

No, to be precise, he tried to read it. However, his consciousness blurred. Then his body fell down on the bed.

[Deo? Deoo!]

Mitra noticed his condition was strange and hit his forehead, but his consciousness didn't return. Theodore tried to reach out to calm her down, but his body didn't move. It was as though it was crushed by heavy lead. He felt like he was sucked into an ocean.

The sudden fall of his consciousness sharpened his nerves.

'-Ah.'

Theodore fell unconscious shortly after that.

* * *

"Urghh!"

'My head hurts,' Theodore thought as soon as he woke up. He must've collapsed on the bed. However, he was soon forced to forget all his pain. As Theodore's blurred vision cleared up, an incredible landscape appeared before his eyes.

"Wow…!"

This was Gluttony's Library, a space too dazzling to be called a library. There were endless shelves densely filled with books, and the height of the bookshelves rose higher than that of the magic towers. The library of the Magic Society, the greatest on the continent, was nothing compared to this.

'There must be hundreds of thousands of books. Perhaps even millions…?'

It was impossible to estimate. Theodore recognized this fact after looking around a few times. There were mountains of books everywhere. This was a sea of books. Even if he read one book in one minute, Theodore was convinced that he wouldn't be able to get out of here until he was old and dying.

–You must like it. Theodore suddenly heard someone's voice from behind him.

Theodore responded without being alarmed by the call, "Gluttony."

–Hoh, you're not surprised.

"I was expecting it. It said you would explain how to use the Library… Heok!"

However, Theodore was astonished when he looked behind him. His reaction was natural.

"You… Why do you have the same appearance as me?"

It was because there was a person with the same appearance as him.

Gluttony looked exactly like Theodore, except that his eyes were black. They were like a bottomless swamp which would suck Theodore in if he looked. Gluttony's eyes were completely black with no whites, making them look horrifying.

Gluttony responded to the question, –It can't be helped. Since I don't have a separate appearance, I need to copy User's appearance. Otherwise, I will guide you with my voice like before.

"…No, it is okay. It isn't that offensive."

Superbia's chimera appearance was far more unpleasant. Right now, it was just like looking at a mirror.

"Then tell me about this Library."

–Okay, Gluttony said, nodding like he had been waiting. Then he explained, –To put it briefly, this place is my stomach. Since the distant past, I have devoured all types of magic stretching back to the Age of Mythology. Starting with the 5th stage, User has the right to look into the realm of the gods.

Chapter 207 – Library (1)

Compared to his calm expression, Gluttony's words were bold. However, Theodore agreed with him. It wouldn't be an exaggeration at all if this was the stomach of Gluttony, who had collected all types of mysterious since the Age of Mythology.

This wasn't just the 8th Circle but the realm of the 9th Circle. It was different from the days when more than 100 great magicians had wandered around and dragons often appeared.

The Dark Ages had come after the Age of Mythology.

After the gods disappeared, the demons lost their positions. The war between various species and dragons had then destroyed the material world. Historians estimated that over 5,600 years of history had been buried after the Age of Mythology.

'But not in this library…!'

Theodore could read the history which hadn't been recorded anywhere else. Not just that, it was possible for him to inherit the legacies left behind by magicians of the Age of Mythology. In that sense, it was literally the 'domain of the gods.'

Still, Theodore wasn't completely happy.

"Gluttony."

–What is it?

"I understand that I can learn magic from the Library. But what is the equivalent price I have to pay?"

–Hrmm, I was about to tell you.

Except for his black eyes, Gluttony looked exactly the same as Theodore while he touched his jaw.

–I will first explain the restrictions of the Library. It is impossible to learn from a book that is beyond User's level, just like the usual predation. It means there is no difference in the learning conditions here or outside.

"I expected as much. And…?"

–As User mentioned, the knowledge in the Library isn't free. It is bound by the law of equivalent exchange in order to maintain causality. So, my system has established the concept of 'achievement points' to circumvent causality.

'Achievement points?'

However, before Theodore could ask the meaning of that, Gluttony continued speaking.

–To summarize briefly, it is a value based on everything User has provided me. Then you can acquire the knowledge in this library by consuming the achievement points.

"…Are you talking about all the books and artifacts I fed you?"

-That's right.

The law of equivalent exchange… This was a system which matched that law. Theodore closed his eyes for a moment and recalled all the books and artifacts he had collected so far.

Perhaps common magic books were worthless, while the rare-rated ones were the real thing. Still, if he counted from Ballistics Magic, there were quite a number of them. However, he didn't know what Gluttony's standards were.

Then Theodore opened his eyes again.

"What are the standards for achievement points conversion? Also, tell me how many achievement points I currently have. It started from stage zero, not stage five, right?

–Of course. I will answer in the order that you asked.

Fortunately, Gluttony was pleased to receive the request.

–Basically, the achievement points depend on the rating. Normal rating is worth one digit of points, Rare rating is worth two digits of points up to 100 points, Precious rating is worth three digits of points up to 1,000 points, and Treasure rating is worth four digits points up to 10,000 points. In the case of artifacts, it is half that.

"Huh? Then what about Legend or Myth ratings?"

Theodore noticed that these two ratings were missing, and Gluttony responded like he had been waiting for that.

-From legendary rating onward, there are no standards. For example, Laevateinn gained you 67,380 points.

"…What is the sum of my achievement points?"

-78,213 points.

In the end, close to 90% of Theodore's achievement points were from Laevateinn. Wasn't this distribution too biased, even if it was a Legend-rated grimoire? However, Theodore didn't object to the calculation.

He didn't dare go against Gluttony's eyes. After all, there was no one better in assessing the value of a book.

'Ah, that reminds me…'

Theodore belatedly recalled something that was in his inventory. If this artifact was converted to achievement points, how much would it be worth? Theodore was filled with anticipation as 'it' appeared in his hand.

It was a topaz bigger than an adult male's head. At first glance, it looked like a large jewel, but it was actually the heart of the sand dragon, Desertio. The ancient dragon's heart…

It was an inexhaustible source of power which could fuel a magic circle for thousands of years.

"What is the value of this dragon heart?"

However, Gluttony's answer was unexpected.

–Zero points.

"…What?"

–I'm sorry, but duplicates aren't allowed. I collected the heart of a sand dragon a long time ago.

"Wow," a bewildered utter emerged from Theodore's mouth.

The heart of an ancient dragon was a duplicate?

It was unlikely that someone would've obtained it in the same manner as Theodore, so it meant the person must've forcefully pulled out the heart of the dragon. Even a 9th Circle magician would find it hard to win against a dragon.

Theodore put the dragon heart away in confusion. He hadn't been planning to change the dragon heart to achievement points, but he hadn't expected this answer.

In any case, the depths of the book eating grimoire Gluttony were really unknown.

–Then I will explain. Do you have any more questions?

"No…"

–Let's go to the search function.

As Gluttony spoke, he pointed to the overflowing books in the Library. The ocean of books might exceed 10 million books if he included the non-visible angles. Selecting a book was like picking a single grain of sand from a beach.

-The Library's search can be divided into two categories. The magic you want and the ability you want.

"Ability?"

–Just like what User experienced with Introduction to Elemental Magic, sometimes the contents have an additional ability. An artifact's skills also falls into that category.

"Ability, abilities…"

Put into context, it was like Theodore consuming Laevateinn and obtaining the Ring of Muspelheim.

Theodore thought about it carefully.

There was an old saying about not jumping into the fire. It was only recently that he had overcome the time limit of his vessel being destroyed. He already had three types of power in him, so adding another force would break the balance.

At that moment, Theodore felt a strange discomfort again.

'What? I feel like I'm missing something…'

No matter how he looked back, he didn't forget anything. However, the feeling that one piece was missing from the puzzle didn't disappear. He'd gotten that feeling just before entering the Library, like he needed just one more piece to complete the puzzle.

As Theodore was thinking about this, Gluttony suddenly spoke, –User, if you don't mind, there is something I want to recommend.

"Eh? You?"

–From stage 5 onward, it is possible for me to directly advise User's choice. Until now, there were many things that I couldn't say. But it will be different from now onward.

"Then please talk."

The relationship between Theodore and Gluttony was that of adviser and student. At the very least, Gluttony couldn't force Theodore to make a choice. Gluttony received permission and opened his mouth, -Come out, Aiolos Pouch.

As Gluttony's gentle voice rang out, a strange leather pouch appeared on Gluttony's palm. The surface of the pouch didn't have a pattern, but it emitted an unknown energy. Theodore was convinced that he couldn't catch it even if it was only a few meters away.

However, Gluttony broke down that conviction by handing the Aiolos Pouch to Theodore.

–Appraise it.

"…Appraisal."

As always, details of the artifact popped up.

[+21 Aiolos Pouch (Divine Artifact)]

[-This is a pouch given to a hero as a gift from the god of wind, Aiolos. The owner can trap any wind into this pouch, and it can also seal or distort a specific space. As something made by a god, it contains some of his divinity.

* The rating of this magic tool is 'Legend.'

* When used, wind can be sealed selectively.

* When used, space can be controlled selectively.

* When consumed, a small amount of divinity will be absorbed.

* When consumed, your understanding of space will increase greatly.

* Required achievement points: 51,700 points.

* If you want to extract the artifact, it will immediately be returned to this library when it escapes the user's possession.]

"D-Divine artifact? Furthermore, the artifact can leave?"

Theodore's eyes widened at the unexpected information window. The fact that this shabby pouch had a Legend rating, as well as a divine object, was shocking. It wasn't surprising that knowledge could be exchanged, but he hadn't known it was possible to materialize something which was swallowed.

–It is possible. But in the case of artifacts, there is a limit as stated at the bottom. It isn't possible to transfer ownership to another person, and if you lose the artifact, you must spend points to obtain it again.

"…How cruel."

A huge 51,700 points… If he blew away his achievement points because he lost the artifact for a moment, he would shed tears of blood. It was much safer and more beneficial to absorb it than to extract it.

'Anyway, it is a divine artifact. I've never heard the name of the god, but I have to search the list.'

Perhaps all treasures of the gods remaining in this age belonged in Gluttony's stomach. Then Theodore thought of how Mitra was a prototype of Dmitra. He suppressed his excitement and turned to Gluttony.

"So?"

–Um?

"Why did you recommend this artifact?"

Theodore honestly didn't know why. The Aiolos Pouch was very good, but he didn't know why Gluttony recommended it. It was a recommendation which required Theodore to spend over 50,000 points. He didn't know if he could consume another legendary grimoire, so he couldn't invest all his points into this pouch.

Gluttony stared at him and muttered, -…You truly don't know. Magicians in this age seem to have forgotten the essence of the circles.

"The essence of the circles?"

–Keep calm, User. Think about how the Aiolos Pouch can fill up your shortcomings.

"My shortcomings…"

It was like a lightning bolt of enlightenment.

The fragment of Mother Earth…

The fires of Muspelheim…

The blood of the sea dragon, Aquilo…

As soon as he was able to recall the four basic elements, he was able to find out the answer he was guided to.

"…Wind?"

Gluttony nodded like he had been waiting for it.

–Yes, the last piece needed is wind. When considering the fragment of the Mother Earth, the fire of Musphelheim, and the blood of a sea dragon, the Aiolos Pouch is most suitable for you.

"But that alone isn't an answer. What meaning is there in having all four elements?"

It was an obvious question for magicians of this age but not for Gluttony. Gluttony sighed with the same face as Theodore and pulled out a book from somewhere.

–I didn't think I would be teaching theory about circles.

It was the moment when the lecture, which couldn't be known by any modern human magician, emerged from the mouth of the ancient grimoire, Gluttony.