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Chapter 254 – Baekun Mountains (3)

The previous battle atmosphere went away as the two spirits grasped Theodore's hands simultaneously. They each weighed was over 100 kilograms, so the strength of their grips wasn't to be trifled with. It wasn't at a level that could be endured.

Rather than flinching back, Theodore alternated looking back and forth between the two spirits. Then he demanded an explanation, "Explain what happened. I can't answer your request for help if I don't know what it is about."

Based on the way the mountain spirits were looking at Mitra, it seemed to be something related to an earth spirit, but it was too complicated to guess.

Why were the two boss spirits of the Baekun Mountains bowing their heads without hesitation? Maybe they were mistaken, or perhaps Mitra really did have a clue to resolve this incident.

The half human, half bear blinked and let go of Theodore's left hand. It seemed that White Bear acted rudely because he wasn't aware of the courtesies of the human world. "Hmm, sorry. My mind is rushing ahead because I am in a hurry. I haven't even introduced myself yet. Please be lenient with me. I am White Bear, the head of the white forest."

"I am Theodore Miller, who came at the request of Seol. If the pronunciation is difficult, you may call me Tae-oh."

As the two of them were exchanging greetings, the Tiger King kept holding onto Theodore's right hand and interrupted, "Tae-oh (Laziness)? It might mean something different, but that name isn't quite right for you. I like Tao-oh (Greatest Crow)." (TL: Same Korean spelling but different method of spelling with the Chinese characters)

"Well, I don't hate crows." Theodore nodded with a smile.

The inhabitants of the East often treated crows as a bad omen. However, in the West, especially for magicians, crows were the synonym of a wise bird. One ancient god was said to have two crows that sat on his shoulders and looked around at the world, while Theodore had also contracted with a crow called Hugin.

Four people—two people and two beasts, to be exact—started to move inside the canyon. It was to see one of the two sacred trees, the one that belonged to the Tiger King.

"Male—no, Tae-oh. You formed a contract with the mountain deity?"

"Earth deity, Tiger King."

"Shut up, Bear. Anyway, is that right?"

Theodore ignored the two fighting spirits and stroked Mitra who was on his shoulder. Then he asked both sprits, "Right, why do you think she is an earth deity and not a mountain deity?"

"I met one in the past. It is slightly different, but I will never forget that strange presence," the Tiger King answered casually and looked at him. She was taller than Theodore, so her eyes naturally looked down at him. Maybe she was looking at the top of Mitra's head?

However, she didn't dare stretch out her hand and spoke with a little bit of awe, "It has already been more than 500 years, but he was the one who brought the sacred trees to the Baekun Mountains. He was the one who made me a cunning spirit when I was just a beast."

"It is the same with this body," White Bear added.

Rare human feelings of nostalgia emerged in the expressions of the two spirits.

The Tiger King and the White Bear hadn't been spirits from the beginning. They were beasts who had been born as animals and had succeeded in becoming spirits after accumulating a lot of karma.

The odds of that happening was one in a thousand—no, maybe one in a million.

The Baekun Mountains was a special area, but this couldn't drastically affect the animals in the area. It was because that there was another reason besides the energy of the Baekun Mountains.

"There are two sacred trees left now, so they are indispensable to our lives," White Bear said in a quiet voice as he took one step forward. "The dragon vein is concentrated near the sacred trees, maximizing our vitality. Rare plants grow like weeds, and the children who consume it every day will become spirits within a decade. But now the sacred tree is worsening. The children who have yet to grow into spirits will return to being beasts."

"Isn't it enough with just one tree?"

"It isn't enough."

Indeed, Theodore was convinced by the explanation. Why had the Tiger King and White Bear confronted each other over a sacred tree? It was to do their best for the spirits they led. Despite the arguing, the relationship between them wasn't bad. The balance was maintained because the free-spirited Tiger King and mature White Bear were total opposites.

Shortly after that, they arrived in front of the sacred tree.

"Ohh…" Despite Lee Seol having seen it a few times in the past, she couldn't help letting out a sound of admiration along with Theodore. It was because the top couldn't be seen. The tree was approximately a little over 100 meters tall. It couldn't be compared to the world tree of Elvenheim, but this tree was grown just from a dragon vein. The sacred tree had a great size, and it was beautiful.

'But there is definitely something going on. The edges of the leaves are faded. Despite the dense mana… the movements are surprisingly inactive.' Theodore diagnosed the condition with one glance and was troubled. How could he improve this with Mitra's power?

It was something Theodore never attempted before. An animal could be healed. He could cut off the sick stem of a plant. However, it wasn't known if he could revitalize a tree like this. However, the gazes of the two spirits pierced Theodore's conscience.

"How is it? Can you do it?"

"Tell me to do anything. I will follow your words."

Theodore sighed and took a small step forward. "Is it okay if I touch the sacred tree for a moment? This is the first time I've encountered a situation like this."

The Tiger King and White Bear nodded easily. The sacred tree would die if they left it alone anyway. They could certainly tolerate someone touching it for a moment. There was a deep sense of confidence from the two spirits toward Mitra.

"…Then I am starting." Theodore stretched out both hands without hesitation and touched the rough surface of the wood. This was reasonable behavior, but it had no meaning so far.

'Mitra.'

[Yes! I will do as you ask!]

Simultaneously, a green light emitted from Mitra's bud. After ingesting the seed of the world tree, she had manifested the ability to form a consensus with plants.

Theodore had been using it as a type of clairvoyance, but as Mitra grew, he realized that he had been mistaken. Clairvoyance only borrowed the vision of the distant vegetation. However, she could now exert her true power.

Shortly after that, Theodore's conscious was pulled somewhere else.

* * *

"Heok!" How much time had passed by? Theodore suddenly stepped back and opened his eyes.

This caused Lee Seol to call out with surprise, "Theo! What is going on?"

"…Seol." Theodore repeatedly took in deep breaths and recalled what he had seen.

Was it because the structures of humans and plants differed greatly?

It had only been a few seconds of contact, but Theodore hadn't been able to keep up with the enormous amount of information and his consciousness had cut off. His brain might've been fried if Mitra hadn't acted as the bridge between them. He reflected on it and neatly arranged the information he had received from the world tree.

'A huge whirlpool… and the branch that stretches from the center of probably the flow of the Baekun Mountain's dragon vein.'

The images, which were engraved in his mind, were vivid. It was as if the base power, the source of the mana here, was swirling all over the Baekun Mountains. Among them, the largest flow was divided into two stems.

One stem flowed to the west forest where White Bear stayed, while the other one flowed to this sacred tree. There were traces of other branches apart from these two, but it was so long ago that the power must've been exhausted or dried up.

However, that wasn't the only thing the sacred tree wanted to share. Theodore contemplated the cause of the problem that had flowed into him. If he didn't have good intelligence, Theodore's brain would be overheated. After all, the mentality of a plant was really different from a human's.

"I would like to say something first," Theodore barely calmed his confusion and spoke to the two spirits. Then he disclosed shocking news, "The sacred tree's life isn't over yet."

"…What?"

"What?!"

Tiger King's eyes widened, while White Bear cried out loudly. Oddly enough, these reactions were the opposite of their usual behavior. This showed he had attracted the attention of the two spirits.

Theodore looked at Mitra clinging to his neck like a cicada, then he took a deep breath and explained, "The sacred tree isn't a tree that could originally grow to this size. Like you said, it grew due to the strength of the dragon vein. Then what will happen if the supply of power from the dragon vein decreases?"

"…It will gradually weaken."

"That's right. That is the primary problem."

The flow from the dragon vein had decreased, weakening the sacred tree. If this were the end of it, Theodore wouldn't be so serious. As time went by, the dragon vein would lose some power, but it was still at a level which the Baekun Mountains could bear. The Baekun Mountains could still flourish for the next few centuries.

However, something was hindering that flow. The White Bear's branch of the flow wasn't affected, but the flow going toward Tiger King's sacred tree had been cut off somewhere. To summarize it briefly…

"If we can restore that broken area of the dragon vein, the sacred tree will revive soon?"

"Yes, that's correct."

It seemed like a simple solution, but they realized that wasn't the case when looking at Theodore.

A branch of the dragon vein wouldn't be cut off if it got struck by lightning, so this disruption couldn't be due to natural causes. At a minimum, a massive earthquake or volcano eruption was required for it to be disrupted by nature. If there had been such a natural phenomenon, both the Tiger King and the White Bear might've guessed the cause of the problem.

In other words, that wasn't the case.

"…It means that someone has broken this branch of the dragon vein," White Bear murmured.

Theodore nodded. "Just before, I approached the dragon vein through the connection with the sacred tree. I thought I could find out when the flow was broken."

"Did you see it?"

"Is it bad? Your consciousness was cut off like someone interrupted it. So, I'm surprised."

Sometimes, a mental impact could be greater than physical damage. Theodore had already trained his mind to the extreme, whereas most people would've fainted from this. He was lucky to be left with no physical after-effects.

A person who could interfere with a master… It meant the enemy must be at a master level. Theodore guessed the opponent's ability with that one contact and was immediately convinced.

'When converting to the ranking of magicians, the opponent is at least a 7th circle shaman.'

The magic he had learned from Seimei was definitely magic involving feng shui. This meant the opponent had to be a great shaman who could control the rise and fall of mana, and even affect the flow of the dragon vein. A shaman who could do such things certainly wouldn't be an easy opponent.

Aside from Seimei, whom Theodore had met with Gluttony's power, Theodore had never encountered a great shaman! Yet, he now had to be fully prepared to deal with a strong one.

"Seol."

"Ah, yes! Theo!"

Having a non-combatant with him was a fatal weakness. Lee Seol was outstanding, but she was still young and hadn't reached the level of a master. It would take decades for her to participate in a master level fight.

Therefore, Theodore calmly decided what to do with her.

"Go back now. It is likely that something will occur that you can't intervene in."

It came earlier than he had thought it would be, but it was now time to say goodbye to Lee Seol.

Chapter 255 – Baekun Mountains (4)

Papak!

Every time his feet hit the ground, Theodore's body moved a few dozen meters at once. He was moving much faster than when he had been carrying Lee Seol on his back, and the leaves only started to fall after he passed by completely.

However, the two spirits didn't lag behind at all. Despite their big size, they managed to kick off thin branches and rocky edges to accelerate more. They were beasts who were more familiar with these mountains than humans.

"Sigh…" Theodore sighed as he led from 3 meters ahead of them. It was because he couldn't forget the face of the girl who had just left a while ago.

–Yes, I will head back first.

The three months had been both a long and short amount of time, but she was memorable. The link between Lee Yoonsung and Lee Seol, which had led to the Fairy Dance Lee Family… Lee Seol made Theodore think of his younger brother who wasn't here.

From now on, she would be a child living among adults. As the next head of the Fairy Dance Lee Family, she would pioneer her own life in this land without him.

–May luck be with you on your way back.

She had said farewell, but Theodore had been able to read the regrets on her face.

'That child, she had a lonely expression.'

Following behind Theodore, the Tiger King said, "Hey."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Don't worry about it. My kids will send that girl back safely. Well, I don't think there are females who hate being looked after by a male. By the way, isn't this situation too relaxed?"

"That―" Theodore became temporarily speechless and closed his mouth. He hadn't expressed it on the outside, but he couldn't hide it from the Tiger King. Even if she mimicked human form, her essence was a beast. In regards to 'reading' the other person, it was difficult for a human to match the ability of a beast. After all, a beast could even read the motion of blood circulating under the skin.

"…You are correct. I should be vigilant." Theodore sighed and released his worries.

Lee Seol was protected by the two boss spirits, the Tiger King and White Bear, so what could hurt her in these mountains? It seemed that the several months he'd spent in the Fairy Dance Lee Family had softened him.

At this point in time, he shouldn't be thinking about Lee Seol's safe return but the threat that had to be dealt with. The shaman who twisted the dragon vein in the Baekun Mountains for his own purpose…!

'The most difficult thing will be that shaman.'

Unlike magicians who systematically increased their abilities, there was no clear learning system for shamans. Someone would teach that A was right and B was false. Someone else would teach that B was right and C was false. Then someone else would teach that A, B, and C were false, and D was right.

Therefore, there was no room for an integrated institution like the magic towers. Each person claimed the other was speaking heresy, and this couldn't result in unity. Even shamans belonging to the same sect used different powers, so what about the other shamans?

As Seimei had said previously, there was no point in guessing. Theodore wouldn't know until he saw it. In that case, it would be best to determine the common weakness of shamans.

Theodore rummaged through Seimei's knowledge that was stuck in his head. The amount of knowledge was massive, and there were many areas of shamanism that couldn't coexist with magic, but he managed to use the knowledge to find a way to deal with shamans.

'It is the Divide Method… and the Nine Seals Method.'

While Theodore was coming up with two plans, he and the two boss spirits stopped moving at the same time. This was despite the fact that before them was a normal mountain slope.

"…What, this land? It feels strange."

"I also get an unpleasant feeling. I feel sick at the bottom of my stomach."

The two spirits had higher sensitivity than humans, causing them to growl. Something was wrong, but they didn't know what was wrong. Theodore also felt the same way.

It was a feeling of discomfort. The chill he felt was like blades scratching at his skin and cutting his flesh. It was a sense that only spiritually aware beings developed, and it didn't just rely on the five senses of the body.

Then at that moment…

[Hoing!]

Mitra jumped onto the ground and ran somewhere, waving her arms. The three of them, including Theodore, chased after her. After running hard for a few meters, Mitra suddenly stopped. She picked up one of the stones on the ground.

[Bad stone!] She then shouted and vigorously threw it away.

"…Mitra?"

[Wait!]

Before Theodore could ask what happened, Mitra rushed away to find the next stone. She lifted it, threw it, and repeated this again and again. As the two spiritual beings looked on with a blank face, Mitra finally called out with a triumphant expression.

[This last one!]

The moment that rock flew away…

Wuooooong!

The peaceful scenery distorted, and a wall of darkness, which rejected even the sun, appeared before their eyes. The two spirits recoiled with shock.

"W-What is this?"

"Umm, it is a really terrible wall."

However, unlike the spirits, Theodore looked at the wall of darkness and carefully reached out a hand. "Perhaps this is…"

Several layers of search magic flowed out from his fingertips. Detect Mana, Penetration, and Dissection Magic… The 7th Circle magic connected to the mysterious darkness. Even magic from the Age of Mythology couldn't help being revealed.

Dissolve Magic, unlike Dispel, didn't release the magic but dissected it instead. It was a special magic that Theodore had accidentally discovered in a certain book, and it was a magic no one else had.

The structure of shamanism might be different from magic, but the roots were the same, so he could deconstruct it.

"I knew it," Theodore spoke after doing a half analysis of the darkness. "It is a large barrier. It is of a very high level. Perhaps this is the source of what is stealing from the dragon vein."

"Can you get rid of it?"

"The removal itself isn't that difficult. I can destroy it. It is even possible for you, though it will take some time." However, Theodore's eyes sunk deeply. "The problem is the purpose of this barrier. It was built using the dragon vein as a source, and it seems like something is confined within the structure's set up…"

Theodore concluded that it was some type of seal, and he couldn't destroy it easily. It was the same as 'Pandora' in the ancient myths. What if there was something chained inside that he couldn't afford to let out? Attempting to restore the sacred tree would actually bring more ruin. However, the answer to that came from an unexpected place.

"Hoh, that is completely accurate. Truly great."

It wasn't Theodore, the Tiger King, or the White Bear. Instead, it was a fourth person, an unfamiliar voice that was heard from above!

"You, who―!" The White Bear determined the position of the unknown person before anyone else and let out a roar that was like thunder. Rather than a simple yell, the roar was closer to a sound wave attack, and rocks in the path of that sound wave would be destroyed.

However, the fourth person who had appeared in the air casually jumped over the sound wave. The person wore a black mask that covered his entire face. It matched the rest of his clothing. Theodore's super sensitivity told him that the cause of this situation was the man in black.

Avoiding the White Bear's roar, the man in black watched Theodore and said, "It is difficult. I opened this section to check, but to think there is a being who untied it and looked into the ward…"

'Open?' Theodore was puzzled for a moment, before realizing that he was talking about the ward that Mitra had released.

The ward assimilated this space into nature and concealed it. The two boss spirits might be sensitive to the change in the material world, but that sensitivity was nothing compared to that of Mitra, who was the embodiment of nature itself.

Theodore stepped forward and cried out to the shaman in black, "If you think you are innocent, identify yourself!"

"What if I don't want to?" The man in black received the question and chuckled. "Would you answer?"

"Then…" Theodore didn't respond to the ridicule as his blue eyes flashed and he raised both hands. "―I will force you to confess!"

There was some room for dialogue, but Theodore abandoned negotiations the moment he faced the man. It wasn't just because of the man's suspicious clothing or selfish behavior.

Mitra had yet to be recalled, and Theodore, who shared eyes with her, penetrated into the malice that couldn't be hidden by the black clothes. It was an evil malice, like tar boiling up from the bottom of hell.

'Forced Harmonization.'

Theodore's seven circles used two types of attack spells—Lightning Vortex X Fire Storm and Integration Complete: Volcanic Thunder. He produced a blow purely focused on destructive power. Fire and lightning were the strongest attributes, so this was thrilling.

Originally, fire and lightning would be busy cutting at each other's strength, but it was different with Theodore's sorcery. This was literally lightning fire.

Kwarururung!

A storm of devastating power swallowed up the man in black, who was in the distant sky. There was no room for him to avoid it. The enormous firepower was fast as well, so there was no doubt that the two types of magic had a synergy effect. It was a destructive power which could even wound an adult dragon.

"…Cough! Attacking out of the blue… That is too much."

Theodore's opponent didn't die. After the attack disappeared, the man looked down at Theodore from his spot in the air.

'No, he didn't block it completely.'

The man's left arm was gone. However, he simply grabbed his left shoulder and shrugged like he didn't care. There were a few drops of blood on his masked face. It was a surprising reaction considered one of his arms had been destroyed.

"Western magic… You aren't an opponent I can compete with when it comes to power. I focused on defense, but… I didn't think it would be like this. From the very beginning, I didn't intend to fight."

"…No?" Theodore's eyes suddenly widened. It was because the man's left arm, which had obviously been destroyed, started growing back from the left arm socket. First, the bones were formed, and the nervous system was connected to the blood vessels. Then skin grew over it, and the arm hung down limply.

Theodore had seen this scene before.

'Top grade recovery ability.'

Even if it wasn't on the same level as Superbia's, this regenerative power meant that the man in black couldn't be killed unless his head was destroyed. Maybe Theodore needed to burn off the man's flesh.

Theodore raised his alertness and lowered his posture. However, the unidentified shaman turned around without hesitation. "I will leave this place to you to handle. In any case, I don't expect much from that trash."

Theodore guessed the intentions from those words and shouted, "Are you going to run away?"

"Is it wrong to run away from an opponent I can't beat? We will meet again anyway."

"What?"

"Okay, I shouldn't say any more. Then I'm going."

Theodore and the two spirits didn't have time to react. The shaman took out an odd amulet from his clothes and tore it in half with his good fingers. Simultaneously, the space around him twisted, and the man disappeared.

"…Is it a transfer object?"

Artifacts, teleport scrolls, and other items like these were rare on the East Continent. This was a talisman that only a master level shaman could produce, so the man in black must be at least of that level.

Theodore raised his threat assessment of the man in black by two stages and looked at the two spirits. "That man in black seems to have abandoned this place, so what would you like to do?"

"Of course, we have to destroy it! Isn't that right, Bear?" The answer naturally came from the aggressive Tiger King. Maybe it was because her blood was boiling from the fight between the shaman and Theodore, but her two fists were clenched more tightly than usual.

"…Go inside. It is something too worrisome to leave alone, my intuition is telling me." White Bear thought about it for a while before coming up with a similar opinion.

"I understand. Then let's open this ward."

It was decided that it would be better to destroy the ward. Theodore gathered both of his hands together and prepared to get rid of the ward.

'Forward Force Array.'

This was a technique which embodied the shamanism recorded in the grimoire, Baopuzi. It was a method that boosted the strength of shamanism but also reflected the application of the law of destruction.

'The lacking power of shamanism is boosted by this law.' Theodore concentrated his mind as the air became taut.

The two spirits were surprised by the unbearable intimidation and reflexively stepped back. Shortly afterward, a thunderous shout burst from Theodore's mouth, "Hah!"

Then the wall of darkness separated, and the crack was like a doorway. This hole was opened by Theodore's power and would close soon. The three of them approached the crack and stiffened. The smell coming from inside the darkness was familiar to the three of them.

'The smell of blood. It is also extremely dark…'

Theodore was convinced that a good sight wouldn't unfold before them.

"Let's go."

He set foot in the ward before the two spirits.

Chapter 256 – Receptacle of Solitude (1)

'The road to hell.'

These words popped into the minds of the human and beasts the moment they entered.

The smell of blood entered their noses, and there was flesh at their feet. There was no ventilation in this place, so the rotten air was practically a foggy miasma. One swallow would make gastric juices rise in their mouths.

As soon as Theodore recognized the situation, he hastily cleansed the surrounding atmosphere with his wind divinity.

'Wind.'

The foggy miasma was pushed away, and the two spirits took deep breaths. They were more adversely affected as they were used to the clean air of the Baekun Mountains. The Tiger King's claws tore through the air as she looked up at the black sky. "Dammit, what is this place? My nose feels like it will fall off if I stay here for half a day."

The White Bear lifted up the black soil and opened his mouth, "It isn't a place that can be made naturally. This poisonous land has its own efficacy, and there is nothing here but a malice that spreads death."

"So, let's tear it down! Why else did we come into this rotten place?"

"Don't be too hasty. If the cause of the pollution is within this barrier, we need to remove the cause before destroying it."

It made sense. If this ward was destroyed, the pollutant might escape and spread poison throughout the Baekun Mountains. Theodore was convinced by the words and persuaded the Tiger King, "In any case, we have to enter the center to destroy this place. Until then, focus on searching."

"…Tch, do what you want! Males always get along well with each other."

"Thank you."

The Tiger King grunted cutely. Then her striped tail moved unhappily, making the Tiger King look no different from a cat. That reminded Theodore, 'Isn't a tiger a type of feline?' Theodore couldn't help laughing. He might've stroked her head if she wasn't so big.

The three people advanced. Theodore took the lead to purify the air, followed by the spirits. Usually, it wasn't wise for magicians to be in the lead, but it wasn't a problem for Theodore who was proficient in close combat.

After heading for 10 minutes in one direction, Theodore realized that the space was distorted.

'Space expansion…? Or was it a partial difference field? Either way, this is a trick that appears in ancient literature.' In Seimei's time, there had been a few people who could do such a trick.

Theodore constantly spread out his magic power to explore several kilometers at the same time.

'Creating an independent space and then placing a large number of creatures inside… This is a technique I read about somewhere. It's to… create an army.'

[Is it okay for this body to say something?]

"Ack!" Theodore was surprised by the sudden voice and stopped, causing the two spirits following him to look around reflexively. He lifted his palms to calm himself down and turned his consciousness to focus inside himself. The voice wasn't from Gluttony. No, the owner of this mocking and neutral voice was―

'How did you come out, Seimei?'

It was Abe no Seimei, the great shaman who pioneered the system of the Art of Onmyōdō. Unlike with Lee Yoonsung, Theodore only had a thin connection with Seimei, so how did he run rampant inside Gluttony?

[Don't treat a person like a cockroach. This Seimei is rather soft-hearted.]

'How are you saying such things?'

[You are still the same. I understand,] Seimei said. Hearing Theodore's attitude urged him to reply, so Seimei explained, [This is a pretty good place to settle. It is completely separate from the world, so I can act autonomously. However, that doesn't mean I can act against you, so don't worry.]

'…I understand.'

[By the way, it is well made. Among my disciples, there aren't many who have learned to make this type of ward. It isn't as good as mine but still quite well done.]

Seimei dismissed Theodore's concerns and borrowed his eyes to look around, praising the capabilities of the shaman who made this place. The creator of this space had exceptional skills. However, Seimei praised himself more.

[This is the 'Receptacle of Solitude.']

'Solitude?'

It was a word which was in Theodore's memories. He had read a few lines about it in a book on shamanism from the Baek Family. Theodore hurriedly recalled the contents and asked, 'Isn't it a jar that insects are placed in to create poison?'

[You know it? It doesn't need to be insects. It is efficient, so it doesn't matter if it is a poisonous creature like a toad or snake. Furthermore, this space is even more awful.]

'More awful?'

[It isn't just poison. Those in this ward slaughter each other to gain power. This idea might be novel, but a blood-crazed slaughterer might be born?]

The indifferent explanation was terrible. A blood-crazed slaughterer was worse than a demon who avoided killing. Additionally, he said that this space didn't just contain poison. So, the flesh he saw when he first came in were remnants of living creatures… Theodore was about to ask Seimei about that, when the 'answer' appeared.

Kuaaaack―!

There was a terrible cry; the roar was a murderous scream. Along with this cry, unknown shapes started to appear all over the place. The dark sky and earth meant that Theodore could see nothing but a hazy shape when he looked at 'them.'

"…These bastards, what are they?"

However, the eyes of the beasts were different. The Tiger King was nauseous at the sight of their terrible appearance and opened her 10 claws. The White Bear didn't respond as much as the Tiger King, but he still trembled. "Terrible things!"

They were half beasts and half humans whose eyes were burning with madness. There were tails that protruded from their parietal lobes or claws coming from cheekbones which tore at their cheeks and caused wounds.

Even chimeras didn't look this terrible.

Kyaaaak!

There was a creature that moved on four legs like a leopard. Unlike its ugly appearance, its speed was comparable to an aura user, and its exposed teeth were sharper than steel blades. However, it picked the wrong opponent this time.

Kwang!

A sledgehammer-like fist hit the creature's head. Brain matter flew out, and the monster that had just lost its head fell to the ground. The Tiger King looked at the substance covering her fist and roared in anger, "Kuheook! This trash dares dirty my skin!!!"

Did they even understand her words? She let out an intimidating presence and plunged straight into the crowd of monsters. Three or four monsters were thrown back with just one punch, and their bodies were torn apart when the Tiger King used her claws.

It was a storm of slaughter. Blood spurted out wherever the Tiger King moved to, while the bizarre monsters could only scream.

'…Amazing. I don't even need to take action.'

Theodore swiftly investigated some of the dead bodies while admiring the Tiger King's fighting skills. The monsters might've been smashed like scarecrows, but they weren't easy opponents. Their skin was an unknown material that was harder than steel, and they had a remarkable recovery ability.

Those gathered in this place had the power to wipe out a few knight divisions.

–User, the silent Gluttony suddenly spoke, –Be vigilant. These creatures are Lust's failures.

'Failures? Lust doesn't always give birth to good children?'

–Becoming stronger doesn't necessarily make it a success. As they keep developing, parts outside of the human framework start appearing. Maybe this place is a collection of such failures.

One wise person once said, 'Be careful not to be swallowed up by the abyss.'

The context was a little different, but the advice was the same. Progress that had no costs was just a fantasy. Lust couldn't create the strong without having some failures. She extracted only the 'beneficial' genes from the parents and gave it to the child. It wasn't uncommon for these 'benefits' to cause too much instability, breaking down the balance.

[Hoh, it is rational in many ways.]

'Seimei.'

[If there are failures, it is a good idea to recycle. If these offerings are combined into a single mass… Even if they are failures, a considerably strong monster will emerge. At least 1,000 monsters will need to be joined together.]

As Seimei explained, his knowledge flowed into Theodore's mind. A sacrifice of a species higher than beasts or insects made the Receptacle of Solitude into a poisonous land. This was considered taboo by the ancient shamans.

Even if these creatures were failures, they were still Lust's children. They devoured each other, and an incomparable creature would be born.

'Then I have to find it and stop it before that happens.'

The conclusion Theodore came to was obvious. A difficult monster should be destroyed before it was completed. It was a reasonable answer as a human and magician.

The Tiger King had almost finished cleaning up all the failures present. It was best to destroy the incomplete creature and then this space. He didn't think it was impossible for three master-level existences to defeat the Solitude, no matter how strong it was.

[Uh, that reminds me… I'm sorry I didn't tell you this in advance.]

'…What is it?'

Seimei's words sounded ominous for some reason.

[This Solitude is different from the others, right? The strong ones are confined with the weak ones…]

'Summarize it briefly.'

[I mean, that tiger girl is killing all the weak ones. From the standpoint of the strong creature, aren't you intercepting its food?]

'Ah.' Theodore finally understood the meaning of Seimei's words.

This was a world controlled by 'Solitude.' The weak were eaten by the strong. This cycle was repeated until there was one creature left that ate all the offerings. If so, it would be natural for the person behind this to stimulate hunger and the ability to recognize each other's positions.

Now, a considerable number of offerings had died at the Tiger King's hands. There was no way that a strong creature suffering from hunger wouldn't recognize this situation!

―――――――――――!

As Theodore realized this, there was a wailing sound. It was the scream of a predator that had lost its prey. The scream contained infinite hunger. It was the incarnation of hatred that had been thrown into the Receptacle of Silence without anything and had devoured its brethren.

"What the hell is this?" The confused Tiger King asked Theodore hastily.

"…Hrmm, today is an unlucky day." The White Bear, who had been standing on his feet like a human, slowly fell to the ground on all fours. "It is coming!"

The presence approaching them was a few hundred meters away. Then some changes occurred in the Tiger King and the White Bear.

Their appearances which had been a mixture of human and beast were now closer to that of beasts. This was because their innate instincts as animals whispered that it would be dangerous if they didn't confront this enemy with all of their power.

Soon after, 'it' arrived in front of them.

"…Tails?"

The creature was smaller than Theodore had expected. Its body seemed to be similar or just slightly smaller than Theodore's. However, Theodore couldn't verify it that well. There was a black aura burning around the creature's entire body, but there was clearly the shape of tails behind it.

From left to right, there were eight tails. The monster of Solitude, the creature that contained a terrifying power, stared at Theodore and the two spirits with red eyes.

"Ugh?" At that moment, Theodore felt the power try to tie him up, and he quickly took action. He was able to see the power trying to tie up his body.

'Magic eyes. No, snake eyes…?'

It was said that a person couldn't move if a snake was staring at them. This was a variation of the traditional spell used by shamans, 'Snake Eyes.' An ordinary person would be frozen and couldn't move their feet. If it was severe, they would even have difficulty breathing.

The creature tried to capture him, but it wouldn't work on a senior magician like Theodore. Still, it was a child of one of the Seven Sins, Lust. The two spirits succeeded in shaking off the spell as well, and the eight-tailed beast just stared at them.

Perhaps this was the first time its trick was unsuccessful. However, the stalemate only lasted a short time as the creature opened its mouth, ――――――――――!

Without any negotiations, the fight against Solitude began.

Chapter 257 – Receptacle of Solitude (2)

'It's coming.'

It had eight tails, so he naturally called it Eight-Tails. Theodore's super sensitivity read its actions ahead of time, but he didn't move and focused on the Eight-Tails' movements.

Eight-Tails' human form might've already been lost, but the power wriggling around Eight-Tails' tails was close to eight circles. Theodore would suffer a serious injury if he was hit by them. Likewise, the movements of the two spirits became more cautious.

Five or maybe ten seconds later…

In a state of maximized concentration where the concept of time was forgotten, the two spirits and one magician witnessed the same sight. The black tails shook. Left to right, right to left… Theodore was shocked as the waving tails created an illusion.

"What…?"

Then the eight tails were suddenly right in front of him.

Puhwaaak!

It moved at a fast speed. Theodore was able to respond to this speed due to his previous experiences of dealing with opponents who had tremendous speeds. Otherwise, his breathing might've been cut off by this.

The six shields Theodore reflexively created were shattered, while he took four steps in this gap and quickly moved his hands.

Fairy Dance's Direct Transmission.

Four Major Hidden Techniques.

Moon Breaking through the Clouds.

Ether coalesced together like clouds, and the hidden technique, Moon Breaking through the Clouds, showed an absolute defense when being hit by an attack from the front.

Theodore paid attention to the tails and realized why he had been surprised. Eight-Tails wasn't simply moving at a fast speed. It used the gap when they were dazzled by the movements of its tail to narrow the distance using footwork.

'Kuk, it isn't merely a strong monster…!'

It might've been only for 10 seconds, but his arms were numb from blocking the attack. Theodore clicked his tongue at the destructive power, while the tails struck 10 times per second.

Jeeeong! Jjang! Chaaeng!

Eight-Tails struck from above and then the side. Each blow was heavy and fast like it would break Theodore's bones. Theodore deflected all the attacks and counterattacked in the gaps. However, there were moments when the enemy's destructive power was too strong, and he couldn't strike back. He had to focus on defense. Otherwise, his arms would be crushed in a flash.

It was an extreme strength that could overwhelm steel. Above all, the eight tails were attacking the two spirits as well as Theodore. The monster born of solitude was able to overwhelm three master-level people.

However, they wouldn't be pushed so easily.

'Fire!' Theodore narrowly cast a spell through a gap. Even if his opponent was a monster, it was still a disadvantage for them to be hit at close range. The magician's magic power eventually appeared as attack magic.

"Inferno!"

When the maximum output was used, 7th Circle magic could burn an entire village to ashes. A storm of fire flowed from Theodore's left hand and instantly hit three tails of darkness, momentarily pushing the darkness away.

It was possible to destroy three or four tails. However, Theodore's bright expression disappeared the moment he saw Eight-Tails' suspicious movements.

Dhanyata… Ohm… Vajra… There was an unknown and meaningless murmur, a monologue that was strange for a monster without any intelligence. Yes, it was like a magician's chanting.

"This…!"

Theodore prepared a spell, but he was one step too late.

Sva…ha!

As soon as the cry emerged, the darkness in the vicinity sprang at Theodore. This was a shaman's curse.

There were countless types of curses, ranging from those that rotted the flesh, curses that poisoned the air, and curses that burned the caster's opponent. Unlike magic, there were several curses which couldn't be prevented, so Theodore couldn't be careless.

'Dammit! It is such crude shamanism!'

Most shamans separated their magic power into a three-circle system, or maybe a four-circle system. Theodore's hairs rose as he felt a sense of crisis from Eight-Tails' power.

[Hoh, then should this body help you?] At this moment, Seimei took control of Theodore's right arm. [How long has it been since I met a shaman? I am a bit dissatisfied that the opponent has little rationality, but this is sufficient.]

"W-Wait a minute!"

[Don't delay! I have to take care of this quickly!]

Amidst the heavy rain of curses pouring at him, Seimei started to form unknown characters with his right hand. Theodore was able to recognize some of them, but there were many he didn't know.

However, the remarkable thing wasn't the variety of characters but the speed at which they were being made. There were at least three to five characters per second, so the change in hand gestures had to be praised. The phenomenon that resulted from it transcended Theodore's common sense.

'T-The curses were scattered?'

[Of course. Daring to use curses in front of this Seimei… I will make that ugly body realize how stupid it is!]

Just like the sea splitting into two, the wave of curses divided around Theodore. This was proof that Seimei's shamanism could counter all the different types of curses used. It was truly not an impossible feat for the greatest onmyōji, Abe no Seimei. If magic was an architectural technique, then shamanism was a string. A magician stacked bricks to construct a big building, while shamans used strings to knot a man's neck.

[No matter how hard you try, the loose knot won't be tightened. Even if the rope turns into a chain, it isn't difficult to break if you know how. Well, it would take a few months for someone like you!]

'…Do you have to be so patronizing?' Theodore complained, but he still paid attention to the shaman as he couldn't miss this opportunity. Theodore was adept at maintaining the line between life and death, so he couldn't miss this chance before him. He had the power to overwhelm three tails at once.

Theodore took in a deep breath after finishing his thought.

「Убирайся-к-чёрту (Go aw-ay)!」 He let out a thunderous shout that couldn't be made with a human voice.

Kwarururung!

These were Dragon Words! The power to rule this material world pushed at the space itself, and three tails flew far away. It wasn't a force which could be endured. Eight-Tails abruptly bounced back hundreds of meters, while the two spirits approached Theodore to speak while panting roughly.

Only a few minutes had passed, but their fur was tinged with blood.

"I'm alive thanks to you, Human Male!"

"I wasn't alert and almost got hit. Dangerous monster."

Theodore nodded and replied to them, "We shouldn't hand over the initiative. We might not know the techniques it is using, but its firepower is three times higher than ours. We don't have a chance if we compete in strength. We need to hit it with everything we have."

"I don't know anything, so I'll just follow you."

"Your words are correct for once, Tiger King."

Theodore was busy thinking while talking with Tiger King and White Bear. Their opponent seemed to be a mixed demon fox. Fortunately, there were only eight tails.

[Well, succeeding in nine tails would be unreasonable. A ninth tail can't be created with such dull power. Look, isn't the eighth tail unstable in shape? If it consumes more power or receives a serious blow, that tail will scatter immediately.]

–But be careful. Even if it isn't a perfect nine-tailed fox, it has eight tails and can produce the output of eight circles. You won't be able to last for long if you face it head-on.

[Ah, one more thing. This creature has a regeneration ability that's close to immortality. When it is blown away, don't feel at ease. Keep hitting it until it was destroyed.]

Seimei and Gluttony could be called the owners of a great deal of knowledge about magic and shamanism. So, Theodore hurried after hearing from the two voices. It was because Eight-Tails was coming back. Eight-Tails was close to being immortal, so how could Theodore beat it without a frontal confrontation?

Coincidentally, both people had the same answer.

-Continue to beat it up until it dies.

[Strike until it dies, and don't get hit.]

Simultaneously, Eight-Tails jumped toward them from far away.

■■■■■■■―――!

Eight-Tails was angry at the person who had blown it away. It was an irrational annoyance that couldn't be understood. So, it aimed for the three uninvited guests. Going against that terrible oppression, the Tiger King walked forward.

"You want to beat me up? This time, it is my turn, Fox!"

For centuries, there had been a nucleus of mana in the mountains which had existed for hundreds of years, and the spirits that could use it freely had their own special abilities. Some spirits could emit flames stronger than lava, while some land spirits developed wings.

The Tiger King was a bit more special.

Kuweeeeeoh!

As if in response to her roar, the number of Tiger Kings increased by five, and it wasn't an illusion. The weight of her bodies crushed the ground, and an overwhelming presence filled the surroundings.

Theodore figured out her power and gulped. 'Doppelgangers…! Additionally, they are produced without a loss of power…'

In a flash, five more tigers surrounded Eight-Tails. The perfect physical body of the Tiger King had increased by five. Even a Seimei-level shaman couldn't achieve such a feat, so the inherent ability of the spirits was something far removed from common sense.

"Be honored to receive death from the five tigers!" The Tiger King cried out excitedly.

Meanwhile, Eight-Tails chuckled and trembled for some reason. Then its eight tails moved in a fan shape.

"―Huh?"

"…Hey, this bastard! This is a foul!"

The Tiger King—no, six Tiger Kings cried out. Eight-Tails, whose body had increased by seven, laughed at the Tiger King, the White Bear, and Theodore, and showed off its power. It was similar to a child wanting to show their strength, rather than an evil being.

Theodore didn't panic. Eight-Tails' intention was certainly to ridicule the Tiger King, but in this situation, it was like a handshake. Eight-Tails was intimidating because its power alone overwhelmed the three. However, unlike the Tiger King, its power was distributed between the seven clones.

"How foolish and young." Unlike the angry Tiger King, the White Bear noticed this fact straight away. The White Bear moved faster than Theodore could instruct and activated his own unique ability.

It was a simple yet powerful ability—becoming giant. The White Bear was originally 4 meters in height, and he now grew to over 15 meters tall. The Tiger King was busy with the battle of nerves and didn't notice the situation. As soon as the transformation was complete, Theodore shouted to them, "Tiger King, White Bear! Take three each! In the meantime, I will deal with the main body!"

"Uh, what? U-Understood!"

"I understand!"

It was before Eight-Tails could react. The Tiger King answered half a beat late, but the White Bear raised his arms as if he had been waiting.

His weight had increased by many times, but his movement speed wasn't much different from before. It wouldn't be a unique ability if his movement speed was slowed down. In that case, it would just be a simple penalty.

Theodore rushed forward while appreciating the White Bear's unique ability. Eight-Tails' main body and clones couldn't be distinguished with the naked eye, but it had made a big mistake.

'The unstable eighth tail.'

Eight-Tails couldn't take that tail with it when it split into several clones, so there was one Eight-Tails with one and a half tails. That was the main body. Theodore's seven circles rotated as he rushed toward Eight-Tails.

Fairy Dance's Direct Transmission.

Freehand First Strike Technique.

Right Fist Blast Thunder.

Then he punched out as hard as he could.

Chapter 258 – Receptacle of Solitude (3)

Kraaack!

Eight-Tails was hit in the face and thrown back. It might be different with a proper defense, but the creature couldn't be calm after being hit in the face. This was even more so after it had dispersed the power of six tails.

It was true that its durability was different from a human's, but this fist could even crush a rock. Eight-Tails trembled from the unfamiliar pain and stared at the worm that hurt it. Then Magic Bullet aimed like a Thunderbolt at Eight-Tails' tattered eyes.

Kyaaaak!

No matter how strong the body, the durability of the eyes was inevitably weaker than other areas. The pain was like a heated poker burning on its head. Theodore didn't slow down as he watched Eight-Tails roll around on the ground.

"Be a sword, fire of purgatory."

Theodore finished the chant for a spell. This was the purgatory sword that had cut the 4th stage Pride previously, the application of attack magic which Veronica had used in the distant past.

"Infernal Blade!"

A flame sword was summoned, distorting the surrounding air. This flaming sword could cut any substance which existed in this material system. Eight-Tails instinctively sensed the danger and raised its body.

This was 7th Circle fire magic—destructive compressed black flames. A hit in the head would be a serious injury that couldn't be easily recovered even with Eight-Tails' regenerative power. Theodore held the flaming sword and rushed toward Eight-Tails.

Hwaruruk!

Swordsmanship wasn't needed; he just swung along the path that Eight-Tails moved. The flaming sword which burned everything in its way was powerful enough by itself. If Eight-Tails tried to avoid the flames, Theodore would use magic or fists to obstruct it.

Kwarurung!

A lightning bolt struck Eight-Tails, then a mace-like fist hit its staggering body. This time, the impact struck Eight-Tails' stomach, and it spurted blood out. In fact, a human would die from this wound 10 times over, but it wasn't enough to fatally wound Eight-Tails.

Theodore closely observed the situation with a grim expression. 'This can't continue.'

Contrary to the appearance of the battle, Theodore wasn't actually dominating this fight. Eight-Tails was still alive no matter how many times it was bandaged. It would be a fatal injury if Inferno Blade destroyed its brain, but Eight-Tails knew this and had desperately stopped that from happening several times already.

Moreover, that fact that a fatal wound wasn't possible was a minor problem.

Kyaaaak!

How many times had it done this? Eight-Tails received the Magic Bullet, which Theodore had shot out, on his forearm and then rushed over.

At first, it hadn't been able to prevent the attack, but it had now grasped the timing and could counterattack. Its lack of fighting ability was quickly being filled up by fighting with Theodore and the two spirits. Eight-Tails' unknown shamanism, which was difficult to deal with, became more elaborate and precise.

Seimei also noticed Eight-Tails' ability climbing.

[Ohu, a novel technique? It pushed ahead with strength at first, but now it is using little tricks.]

'Tch, is that so?'

[Well, it should be able to hold on for a few more hours if it is like this. You need to hurry. I can't help you if it isn't shamanism.]

It was as he said. Eight-Tails' strength wasn't just shamanism. It was eating up martial arts and other unknown powers to become more mature. If they didn't defeat it, they might inadvertently make Eight-Tails a perfect monster.

"Haap!" Thinking this, Theodore stretched out both fists.

Fairy Dance's Direct Transmission.

Four Major Hidden Techniques.

Rain like an Axle.

It was a technique he hadn't shown before. His fists ruthlessly pounded Eight-Tails' face and upper body dozens of times in one breath.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!

It was truly a shower of fists! Eight-Tails' body faced a tremendous power and was pushed back. The power of the punch was enhanced by ether, so Theodore's fist was stronger than a mace.

Beaten at a blurred speed, Eight-Tails' skin crumpled, while its flesh and bones burst. Still, it was unbelievable that Eight-Tails only suffered a few broken bones. It wasn't a serious injury, despite receiving the force of the second hidden technique.

However, instead of being amazed, Theodore frowned. He hadn't intended to just knock Eight-Tails down with this attack. Merely pushing back his opponent with this attack was something he hadn't experienced before.

Theodore Miller was a magician, and martial arts was just a bonus. In the end, the truth Theodore believed in was magic.

'It was theoretically perfect, but what is this?'

In fact, there were other methods to destroy Eight-Tails. He had Abraxas which could overwhelm its regenerative power. Yet there was a reason he didn't bring out his original magic.

Receptacle of Solitude…

Theodore had observed it a few times, and the intensity of this shamanism wasn't something that could handle magic. As soon as Theodore used Abraxas, the borders of this place would open, and the monsters would rush out. He didn't know about Eight-Tails, but Theodore couldn't be assured that there weren't other offerings.

He needed to defeat this monster without giving others a chance to escape. Coincidentally, the method was already in Theodore's hands.

'Forced Harmonization!'

The focus of this new magic was lightning. He had been using lightning for some time and realized some facts.

The most important thing was that the human body couldn't perfectly handle lightning��s speed. The moment that Theodore's body became lightning, it would lose its substance and turn into a collection of currents, with most of the force being lost in his brain.

'This was why Marquis Fergana didn't collapse with one blow.'

If Theodore's blow had been true lightning, Fergana's body would've shattered without a trace. Of course, Theodore's body would also be broken, so it was a one-off magic. The loss of power was in exchange for safety.

Due to this, Theodore used lightning to accelerate his thinking speed, or when he needed high-speed movements. That was enough to make it a useful skill. However, Theodore was a magician and had embarked on developing magic that surpassed this premise, and he had actually succeeded some time ago.

Giga Lightning X Ether.

Complete Integration: Thunder Giant.

If he had to name it a different way, it would be 'Attract the Lightning God.'

Kururung! Kwarururung!

A giant made of golden thunderbolts emerged. The giant behind Theodore was 20 meters tall, but there was no sense of weight at all. It was a natural story. After all, lightning had no weight.

Guarrrrr….?

It wasn't just Eight-Tails that was confused. Everyone present stopped to look at the giant. The Tiger King stopped biting at the clones, while the White Bear paused from where he was holding three clones to the ground. The sudden appearance of the golden giant was shocking.

The price for this short moment of surprise was fatal.

'The human body can't properly make lightning, but it can be copied with ether.'

The true power of this unique magic was that the power of ether and lightning moved into Theodore's brain.

Kwaaaaang!

No one could see it. The giant moved at the same speed as a lightning body, and its fist punched Eight-Tails' body.

'Go!'

The golden giant moved.

――――――――――――!!!

It hit, hit, hit, and hit again. The golden giant exceeded the speed of sound, but no shock waves were created. It might be because lightning affected the air around the body. Or was it because fluid mechanics didn't apply to the flow of electricity?

Gruesome roars rang out in succession.

The earth shook, and Eight-Tails were buried in sand as it was crushed by the fists. The destructive power was enough to ruin a body stronger than mithril. It wasn't just the shock. There was also a huge blast that burned the bones.

100—no, it surpassed 1000 hits a long time ago. Eight-Tails' body was thrown back 100 meters and forcefully stuck into solid rock. Theodore's brain could only maintain this for 10 more seconds, but it would be 10 minutes of hell for Eight-Tails.

Kyaaack!

Eight-Tails couldn't escape no matter how it struggled. A scream burst from its mouth as all its limbs were broken. Then Eight-Tails' body bent over. It had long since gathered its dispersed power. Eight-Tails wrapped itself in its eight tails and waited for the horrible punching to stop.

At that moment…

[Oh, I see. It is possible if it is this type of technique.]

'…What?' Theodore's expression subtly changed.

[Listen well. So…]

The explanation was swift. Usually, Seimei would've taken his time, but Theodore currently couldn't control the lightning god. Seimei knew the seriousness of the work and didn't act frivolously. Theodore nodded after hearing the story. He wouldn't be harmed even if this failed.

'Okay. Try it once.'

[Ohh! Leave it to this Seimei!]

At the same time, his right hand moved on its own. No, it was Theodore's lips as well as his right hand.

"Alara Kalama, Uddaka Ramaputta."

Sanskrit, the secret words of the monks, poured out of Theodore's mouth. Naturally, it was Seimei who was chanting the spell. He had seen the situation and suggested the use of shamanism.

"Rajagaha, anuttara sammasambodhi, vesakha!"

The thunderbolts became tangled together, and the giant's fists shone with an unknown light as it continued to hit Eight-Tails. Then the quiet Eight-Tails started trying to struggle again. Theodore didn't know what was going on, but it was proof that it was working!

Seimei continued to move his hands as he chanted.

It was the mantra of Breaking Evil and Manifesting Good, a spell that borrowed the power of the King of Heaven who ruled over all wrongs. Although it had a different origin from the Art of Onmyōdō which Seimei used, Seimei was a master shaman capable of using the esoteric techniques.

Indra, the king of heaven and the one who controlled thunder and lightning… His lightning strikes turned all evil spirits into dust, and they could get rid of negative emotions in the human mind.

Indeed, Eight-Tails' tails started to scatter.

Kyaack-! Kyaaack!

Did it know that its strength was disappearing? Eight Tails didn't stop struggling even when it was hit by the giant's power. Eight tails went down to seven, seven tails went down to six…

The power of the Receptacle of Loneliness collapsed before this technique. After five, four… and then finally three tails were left, the black tails regained their color.

'…Gold?'

Maybe this was its true color. Theodore closed his eyes against the brilliant light, while Seimei ended the chant.

"―Svaha!"

For a moment, a golden light covered the heavens and the earth.

Chapter 259 – Receptacle of Solitude (4)

"…Kuheook!" Feeling drained, Theodore fell to his knees. In terms of time, it had only taken 10 seconds. However, 80% of his magic power had been consumed.

He had expected the abrupt consumption of power, but he hadn't been expecting such a burden on his circles. Perhaps this incident would've been dangerous to his circles if Theodore hadn't already been conditioned once before.

'Was it a blessing in disguise? This is the way it is.' As he thought this, Theodore looked at the center of the attack.

It was scorched earth. There were no words more appropriate for the sight before him. The unique magic, Attract the Lightning God, left charred marks on the ground. The ground itself had split open like a tortoise shell, and more than one hundred meters of the soil had disappeared.

Who would believe that this was the result of two fists? It would be unbelievable for those who hadn't seen the phenomenon themselves.

"Hah, this is great. I can't see the bottom of it with my eyes?"

"Tiger King."

The Tiger King neared Theodore while watching the crater fill with dust. Eight-Tails had gathered all of its tails back to endure the lightning onslaught, so the clones that the two spirits had been fighting disappeared.

The Tiger King returned to her humanoid form and asked, "That flashy guy just before, was it someone you called?"

"Yes, it isn't a living thing."

"Is that so? You are really amazing, human male!"

Strangely, her shining eyes were like those of a beast in front of their prey. He recalled seeing eyes similar to these somewhere before. Yes, it was at the Pirate Archipelago. It was when he had been invited by the water elemental to meet Aquilo, who had been staying in the cave. Theodore felt a sense of crisis and was going to take a step back when…

"Not yet," the White Bear opened his mouth from next to the Tiger King. "There is still life in the pit. It is weaker than before, but it has definitely survived this attack."

"There is no need to be alert now," Theodore said.

"…What does that mean?"

The two spirits looked at him with confusion, causing Theodore to laugh and raise his body. If Seimei's words were true, the creature remaining in that pit wasn't evil right now. It was due to the power of the mantra, Breaking Evil and Manifesting Good.

The great onmyōji master had performed an exorcism on Eight-Tails' body. If its soul had been tainted by evil, then its body would be destroyed. However, the fact that it was still breathing meant there was some good remaining.

Theodore shrugged and headed into the pit. "Well, let's go down and see. I can't be certain yet."

They couldn't walk down a hundred meter hole, so Theodore used magic on himself and the two spirits.

At first, the White Bear and the Tiger King wriggled at the uncomfortable feeling, but they soon got used to it and descended to the bottom of the pit at a slow pace. Light was blocked off, so it became darker the further they descended.

By the time their feet touched the ground completely, there was no light left.

Pong. Theodore used Light to create a few spheres of light. Then the two spirits looked around with a strange expression.

"Umm, this, won't it crumble?"

"The ground is fairly solid, so it should be okay…"

The beasts who lived above ground seemed quite uncomfortable with this pit.

They could escape without any problems even if the earth poured down, so this sight of the bear and tiger acting like this was cute. Theodore watched the two spirits for a moment before recalling his purpose for coming down here.

'Detect Life.'

His magic power spread out in concentric circles. This was magic to detect life. If the opponent used some basic tricks, signs of life wouldn't be picked up. However, Theodore guessed that Eight-Tails had fainted or was in a weak state.

Unsurprisingly, a reaction returned from the nearest point.

"This way."

"Ah, wait a minute!"

"Don't move so suddenly!"

Theodore arrived first, with the two spirits behind him. The three of them saw the same thing.

"Hrmmm…"

"It isn't evil?"

"…There are three tails."

There was a fox that was fast asleep. It had rich golden fur and three small tails. Perhaps it could be called a three-tailed fox? However, it was said to take 300 years to grow three tails, and the fox was only a little bigger than a puppy. It seemed to have been affected by the loss of the Receptacle of Solitude's influence.

'Seimei.'

[Huh?]

Theodore made a stiff expression and asked Seimei, 'Didn't you say that this Receptacle of Solitude was made of humans? All the evil power scattered, but why is it a three-tailed fox instead of a human?'

[It is because it was already too late.]

'Too late?'

Seimei cleared his throat and explained, [Well, it isn't your fault. Once a person has turned into an evil spirit, they can't return to being human again. Since it is caught up in the Receptacle of Solitude, it probably doesn't have any memories of its life left. The only thing that remains here is the set of genes of 'someone' who was born again as a fox.]

'Then the survivors…'

[There weren't any from the start. Unfortunately, their lives were over the moment they were trapped here.]

The shaman declared calmly that this place had already been a field of the dead before Theodore even arrived. So, this wasn't a matter for Theodore to worry about. Theodore was still unable to feel a sense of crisis, while the two spirits looked over his shoulder at the fox.

"This kid was that monster from before…? No matter how I look, it doesn't match."

"It is the same for me. Looking at this, it is just an ordinary spirit," the White Bear said, carefully stroking the fox's golden fur. "All the evil energy is gone. So, we don't have to kill this fox cub."

"I agree. There is no ominous feeling no matter how I look at it."

"We must be unanimous about this matter."

The two spirits looked at Theodore. Theodore had previously played the main role, so they couldn't ignore him if he wanted to eliminate this fox. At this moment, the sleeping three-tailed fox opened its eyes.

Yiiip… Yiippp…. It let out small cries.

The fox's golden body and its three tails shook. It was terrified at the sight of the two spirits. The fox couldn't escape and cried out sadly, but it soon discovered Theodore and its eyes widened. Then it rushed over to Theodore's feet and started rubbing its head against them.

"U-Uh?"

If Seimei's words were true, then this fox was just like a newly born wild animal. Then why was it acting so intimate with Theodore? No, it was more like a cub with its parents. The proof of this when it rubbed its most important tail fur against Theodore without hesitation.

[Hoh, it seems that it has recognized you as a parent.]

'Huh? Parent?'

[It is because you are the one who expelled all the evil energy from this child's body. Somehow, during the process, it imprinted on you as its parent.]

'Imprinting!' Theodore stiffened when he understood the situation. Just like how newborn birds perceived the first being they saw as their mother, the three-tailed fox felt Theodore's power inside that darkness and considered him as its parent.

Moreover, it wasn't easy for a spirit to change its perception about magic power, which was more intense than visual information.

"Hah, it can't be helped." Theodore was convinced and stretched out his hands to hug the fox. The fox felt warmth for the first time and tried to express its delighted joy. It knew the human called Theodore, but it couldn't help sniffing nervously at the spirits.

Then the exhausted three-tailed fox fell asleep again. It was still tired from the process of fighting with the three people and then being born again. Then at this moment…

Jjejejeok.

There was the sound of something splitting apart in the ceiling. The three people looked up in surprise and saw spider web-like cracks all over the ceiling. This space, the Receptacle of Solitude, was collapsing.

Theodore grasped the situation faster than the two spirits and realized the reason, 'The Eight-Tails' power has been lost, so the axis of this space is gone!'

Usually, the axis of a separate space was a natural object or artifact, not a creature. However, a powerful creature might be the right axis for the Receptacle of Solitude.

In order to break this space, a person needed to destroy Eight-Tails. That was several times harder than breaking it from the outside. Even Theodore would've been at risk if it wasn't for the help of the two spirits. He was satisfied with this result, and they all exited the pit.

Kaaang!

Simultaneously, the darkened walls of this space shattered. Theodore suddenly looked at the two spirits with an urgent expression. They had destroyed quite a lot of creatures, but there were still a few offerings that hadn't been eaten by Eight-Tails. It would be bad if they escaped.

"Wait a minute, there are still monsters inside…!"

However, the two spirits smiled and reassured him.

"Don't worry, we have our own thoughts."

"Tiger King's words are right. You just need to rest."

Had they talked when he hadn't been present? The Tiger King and the White Bear exchanged unknown glances before roaring as loudly as possible toward the hazy mountains.

Kuheeeeeong!

Kueeeeeong!

It wasn't to intimidate but to invite their peers. Both of them were the leaders of two groups and had the ability to direct the spirits. There weren't just bears and tigers in the Baekun Mountains. There were also birds that nested in 1,000-year-old pines and moles that dug huge burrows under the ground.

Normally, they didn't leave their habitats, but the two elder spirits could demand the help of all spirits if there was an emergency.

…Like right now.

Kkieeeek!

Kites flew out at a fearsome speed in response to the call. They were birds of prey which could fly hundreds of kilometers in an hour. Then what about the speed of a kite that had been reborn as a spirit? The speed of the kites broke through the wall of sound and was a weapon in itself. The kites made a creepy sound as they aimed at the heads and torsos of the monsters.

Indeed, they were the majestic predators of the sky.

Awoooooo!

The kites were followed by wolves. The wolves were weak compared to Tiger King and White Bear, but their great number was their advantage. Following the wolves, there came the deer, gazelles, and leopards. Animals that would never cooperate in normal ecosystems emerged from the monsters to defeat the ugly monsters.

"…Indeed, this is a splendid sight." Theodore looked down at the sight with admiration. The monsters trapped in the Receptacle of Solitude would all be forced to fall if there were so many spirits as their opponents.

Anyway, with the subordinates of the two elder spirits around, it was easy to finish the battle.

'Now, this is settled. There is the recovery of the dragon vein, and I still don't know the purpose of that damn shaman… but I can't afford to stay longer on the East Continent. My time in this place is up to here.'

Theodore stroked the three-tailed fox as he looked at the horizon with distant eyes. It had been over 100 days since he had arrived at the East Continent.

His survival was known because of Aquilo, but it was unknown what would happen in the meantime. In the northern part of the West Continent, the 'armistice' was easy to tear apart. So, a war could break out at any time.

"I have to hurry a bit more."

After saying goodbye to the two spirits and leaving the Baekun Mountains, he would move to the area of Western Xia. From there, he would find a boat going to a harbor in the north. The problem of the sea currents was solved by Aquilo's blessing, so time was the key issue.

"Let's go back."

Theodore wished to go home as soon as possible. He wouldn't be one-sidedly pushed in a fight against Zest now. No, he would put an end to the nonsense this time.

Theodore's eyes blue eyes looked purple as he gazed up at the twilight sky. His task in the Baekun Mountains was done.

Chapter 260 – Unexpected Reunion (1)

It was the very next day.

"Okay."

Early in the morning, Theodore took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and placed both hands on the bark. It wasn't a matter of rushing but of personality. After all, Theodore had always worked hard at solving anything ever since his days at the academy.

Theodore concentrated and opened his mouth, "I'll ask you once again Mitra."

[I noe!] Mitra, who was on his head, raised her arms and responded to the call. The bud gleamed through her tan hair, and the scene she was seeing started to flow into Theodore's mind.

The flow of light spread like a spider web across the Baekun Mountains. It was a map of the dragon vein which couldn't be seen with human eyes. That was only possible for the famous feng shui shamans who practiced feng shui for decades.

'It is still dizzying, but I have become more used to it. Shall I go back up from the sacred tree?'

At first, he was surprised by the tingling in his brain, but now he could contemplate the flow of the dragon vein in a calm manner.

Theodore's eyes were already following the dragon vein to a far-off axis. Like a salmon greeting the spawning season, Theodore's consciousness flowed towards the source—the river of light that began at the Tiger King's sacred tree.

This wasn't an easy task, even for a warlock skilled in necromancy. However, it was rare that a person would have more experience than Theodore when it came to separating his consciousness. The experience which had accumulated unexpectedly in his body allowed him to succeed.

Shortly afterward, Theodore's consciousness reached his destination. It wasn't the mountain peak. Instead, this was where the Receptacle of Solitude had existed yesterday, the place where the dragon vein had become blocked.

Theodore's eyebrows twitched as he looked around the area.

'It is much better than yesterday… but it will take a few more years for the crooked flow to return to its original shape.'

If one were to compare it to life, the dragon vein was like the earth's blood. The dragon veins connected to the sacred trees weren't capillary blood vessels but the veins and arteries. As such, the Receptacle of Solitude was a blockage in the middle of a vein.

It was a leech-like magic that blocked the smooth flow of blood and removed the nutrients in the blood. Theodore and the two spirits had defeated Eight-Tails and removed the blockage, but it needed at least a year for the wound to recover.

Of course, a few years wasn't a long time in nature.

There was a saying that 10 years would make a difference in the world. In other words, it meant that changes wouldn't be noticed unless they were counting by periods of 10 years. By human standards, a few years was only a few minutes.

Theodore was just giving this process a little bit of help. He was binding a few disconnected flows together and cleaning the polluted land. It would've been impossible without Mitra's strength.

"…Phew, this is roughly finished."

Restoring a dragon vein wasn't an easy task. The sun was above his head by the time Theodore removed his hand from the sacred tree. It was now noon. Theodore had consumed a huge amount of mental power and just restored his breathing when a deep voice spoke out from behind him. It was White Bear, whose voice had an aged feeling to it, unlike Tiger King's.

"Is it finished?"

"Yes, I have done what I can."

White Bear looked at the sacred tree and saw that some yellow leaves had turned green again. It was proof that the sacred tree had begun to regain its original vitality. With this, Tiger King and White Bear didn't need to fight over one sacred tree, and the Baekun Mountains would regain the same peace from before. It was all thanks to Theodore's help.

"I truly thank you." White Bear bowed to Theodore without any hesitation. "It is true that I had a ray of hope… but I didn't know you would do such a great job. I would like to thank you as a representative spirit of the Baekun Mountains."

"It was only right."

"Doing the right thing is hard, as I have seen over my centuries of living. I'm not ashamed to boast about your merits."

Before the humble Theodore, White Bear brought out a bag which was attached to his waist. The size of the bag was a bit larger than a watermelon, and a good scent flowed from its cloth, despite it being firmly closed.

Theodore took it and looked at White Bear, who gestured at him to open it instead of explaining.

'A surprise gift?'

Then something happened the moment that Theodore untied the knot of the bag…

Huuk.

A sudden refreshing scene filled his mind. It was of the recovery of the sacred tree and the connection with Mitra. Then the power that Theodore had consumed was refilled at a tremendous rate!

Theodore looked inside the bag with a surprised expression.

'What is contained in this…?'

It was really unthinkable. Theodore's insight told him that the things inside the shabby bundle could buy a high government position if they were converted to money.

'One Hundred Year Fleeceflower Root, One Thousand Year Ginseng… I don't know the names but the rest sure aren't ordinary either!'

Shamans would risk their lives for these ingredients and yet they were grown like vegetables in the garden of the spirits? Theodore looked at White Bear with a blank expression, but White Bear just shrugged with satisfaction at Theodore's reaction.

White Bear showed no signs of regret. It was an attitude that showed he wouldn't listen if Theodore refused to accept the gift. Then another voice rang out above them, "What? You shouldn't act in such a cowardly way, Bear."

"It isn't like that. You are just late as always."

"Uhh, I arrived as quickly as possible!"

Tiger King changed from a beast to two legs and started arguing with White Bear. In the end, Tiger King knew she couldn't win the quarrel and grumbled, "I didn't expect you to prepare a gift alone. I would've gathered things too if I'd known!"

"It doesn't matter anyway. Do you think you can pick anything good?"

"Shit! I'll just do it my own way!"

Tiger King looked from White Bear to Theodore and then put a finger in her mouth. Then…

Bbuduk. There was an eerie sound as she pulled out a large canine.

"Now, take this. I already pulled it out, so you have to accept it."

"T-Thank you?"

"If you use a spell, you can summon me. It will be easy to call my spirit if my tooth is used as a medium. Feel free to call me if my strength becomes necessary."

"Ah!" Theodore gulped as he realized the value of the gift. Tiger King was a senior spirit who had accumulated spiritual power for hundreds of years. So, the canine of the Tiger King was a catalyst symbolizing herself.

Above all, this gift was proof of her trust. If Theodore put a curse on this canine, the Tiger King would die without any resistance. Nevertheless, she didn't hesitate at all.

"I will keep it carefully." Theodore placed the fang and bag in his inventory, then he bowed to the two spirits. It wasn't a long encounter, but he couldn't forget the memories of the few days he spent with them.

"Are you leaving soon?" White Bear asked after sensing that Theodore was saying goodbye.

"Yes."

"Lee Seol… You should meet with that kid one more time."

"…Maybe, but I have already said goodbye. I don't feel like it is the last time I'll see her, so there is no need to waste time."

"I see. I'm sorry if I spoke out of turn."

In the end, Theodore bowed and stepped back with the three-tailed fox in his arms. He slowly floated up with flying magic and said his farewell, "Then this is goodbye until we meet again someday."

"Don't worry."

"Of course! Take care of your own work!"

Theodore smiled one last time at the two spirits and then flew into the distant sky.

This was a farewell to his three-month stay in the beautiful Baekun Mountains.

* * *

Huuuuong!

The wind blew loudly as he passed by. Although being up high at 5,000 meters above sea level was cold, Theodore was warm inside his red robe. He held the three-tailed fox tightly in his arms while flying.

'It has been a long time since I've done a high-speed flight.'

He couldn't use long-distance teleport in the East Continent since he didn't know the coordinates of places, and the Baekun Mountains was too rough to cross with a vehicle like a carriage. As a result, there were only two means of transport left to Theodore—running on two legs or using magic.

It would be faster to run on two legs if it were flat ground, but flying was more efficient in the mountains. There were no obstacles, so there was less consumption of power and he could proceed in a straight line.

How long had it been since he had traveled as a magician? Theodore felt a subtle emotion as he realized he had been living as a martial artist instead of a magician. He looked down at the landscape which was passing by at a rapid pace.

'Is it okay if I go home like this?'

Despite the success of these challenges, the restoration of the Baekun Mountains and the integration of the Fairy Dance Lee Family, the fundamental problems had yet to be solved.

The royal family of the empire that was dominated by Lust of the Seven Sins, and the identity of the shaman who had twisted the dragon vein to create the Receptacle of Solitude… If Theodore dug at it with earnest, these remaining problems were like overwhelming mountains.

"…No, not yet. I can't solve these problems with my level of strength yet."

Theodore gave up on entering this labyrinth. He didn't want to be deeply involved in the problems of other kingdoms, and he was worried about Meltor. Moreover, he recalled the advice Seimei had offered him.

[If you go to the East Continent, never approach the capital at the center. If you have to go, only try it after you have reached full transcendence.]

If he had to guess, full transcendence meant a minimum of eight circles, maybe nine. If Seimei's vigilance was against Lust, who had created her children over thousands of years, then this advice wasn't at all exaggerated. In the great empire of the East Continent, there would be a strong existence that Theodore wouldn't be able to defeat.

As such, Theodore determined that it was time to step down here. He was in deep thought as he looked down at the ground from the sky. It was to find the lights of a village to stay in.

"Oh, there's some." Soon after, Theodore found some lights and slowly dropped to the ground. He had enough strength to continue overnight, but it would take him a week to reach Western Xia anyway. There was no meaning in hurrying from the beginning.

…That was, if he hadn't heard a voice.

「I've found you! Indeed, you were in the East Continent!」

"Ack!" Theodore heard something in his head and fell to the ground in an unseemly manner. It was commendable that he protected the three-tailed fox even as he fell. Fortunately, his speed had dropped, so it wasn't a big shock.

"W-What? That voice just now?"

Someone answered Theodore's reflexive question, 「 What? Is it too much for me to look for you, Boy? 」

"This voice… Don't tell me…"

It was a voice from his memories. There was a clear mental wave from a far distance as he recalled the owner of the liquid-like voice. She was the notorious tyrant of the ocean, the ruler of the eastern seas…

'Aquilo!'

「 You took too long to notice. How hateful. 」

The sea dragon Aquilo was talking inside his head.

Chapter 261 – Unexpected Reunion (2)

"Ah, no. How on earth…?"

「Boy, that is what I want to ask. How did you end up in the East Continent? 」

Unlike Theodore who was stunned silent, Aquilo sounded quite excited.

Hadn't she come to this place hoping to find him? If it was Aquilo, it couldn't be a coincidence. Immediately after Theodore clashed with Zest Speitem in the Sipoto wilderness, the dimensional movement had occurred, leaving no traces in the dust.

It was impossible for navigation magic to have kept track of his actions.

「Hey, I'm not joking. Do you know how much I suffered? I traveled from the north to the south and all over the West Continent. It made me want to quit. 」

However, Aquilo was connected to Theodore with blood. So, it was possible for her to pinpoint Theodore's location anywhere in the continent, since their mental connection could go beyond a thousand kilometers.

It was naturally Meltor's king and the tower masters who had seen the possibilities involved in this.

"Meltor commissioned you to look for me."

「Correct,」 Aquilo confirmed. Then she continued to explain in a cheerful tone, 「At first I thought it would be easy, but it wasn't. I couldn't feel you no matter where I looked in the West Continent. Later, I looked for you around the outskirts of the West Continent and felt something strange. 」

"What?"

「 Even if I couldn't connect to you, there was a reaction as I got closer. So, I entered the magic boundary. 」

Theodore responded to the unexpected words, "Magic… boundary."

Magic Boundary was a place that magicians and warlocks often called the Abyss. It was a 'hole' in the material system which was governed by natural laws, and it was referred to as a space where life couldn't survive.

The Abyss was a place where Satomer had spent several years trying to pass through. According to Aquilo, her blood connection with Theodore was blurred even in that place.

「But I couldn't find you, so I changed my thoughts. 'The boy isn't in the West Continent.' 」

"…So, you came to the East Continent. Great."

Theodore admired it. The reasoning itself was surprising, but it wasn't that inconceivable for Aquilo, who could travel anywhere using the sea. It was an accessible distance for her. The proof of this was that Aquilo had found Theodore before anyone else, and it also indicated that she was the right person for this search mission.

「Now, will you call me to where you are? I have been wandering for over a month, so I don't want to move any further on my feet. 」

"I understand. Wait for an hour."

It sounded like childish grumbling, but Theodore couldn't refuse Aquilo's request.

However, summoning an adult dragon required considerable preparation. Theodore was able to offset most of the burden with the contract, but it was his previous experience with summoning Aquilo that greatly shortened the required preparation. Otherwise, it would take him half a day to complete this magic circle.

Then exactly one hour later…

Flash!

The magic circle, which Theodore had drawn on the outskirts of the village, flashed with a blue light. The dark sky was brightened, and the silhouette of a woman appeared. The curves of her body were eye-catching even in the dim lighting.

The presence she emitted couldn't be compared to a human's. Unlike the last time they met, she currently wore a blue robe, which revealed the sea dragon's beautiful appearance.

"It has been a while, Boy! Although, it was a very short time for me."

"I'm glad to see you, Aquilo."

How many months had it been? The merciless tyrant of the sea gave a pleasant greeting and stretched out her hand. For a dragon who lived for thousands of years, a period of three months was just like three hours or three days to a human.

Theodore grasped her hand. It was cool and had a soft texture. Theodore might've felt embarrassed if it wasn't for his recent experience with Lust.

"Hrmm…" However, Aquilo noticed the difference and instantly narrowed her eyes. Theodore didn't know why, but he felt a chill at this moment. Then he removed his hand as the three-tailed fox emerged from his chest.

Kkiyoung?

"Oh?" The dragon's eyes looked the fox up and down. "What is that fox? Was it reborn like this?"

"In the East, it is called a spirit."

"It is much cuter than other kids. Besides, it has quite a lot of strength for a kid? It may be able to grow into a sacred creature."

Yiippp…

Aquilo stroked the fur of the frightened three-tailed fox and looked at its inner strength.

A dragon's eyes had excellent insight.

The fox had become Eight-Tails for a while due to the Receptacle of Solitude, and some remnants of Eight-Tails still remained. It had consumed a tremendous amount of power during the struggle with Theodore and the two spirits, but if it kept growing over the next hundred years, it might become a nine-tailed fox.

However, Theodore turned his attention to another topic.

'It will take at least 700 years, so I don't think it matters.'

Unless special measures were taken, even a magician who reached the 8th circle barely lived beyond 300 years. 700 years was only achievable for the legendary 9th circle magicians or by becoming a high ranking undead.

Theodore roughly finished the greeting with Aquilo and said, "Let's talk more in the village. How about it?"

"Okay, I want to rest on land for the first time in a while."

"Ah, excuse me for a moment."

"Yes?"

Before Aquilo could ask about what Theodore meant, one of his hands hit her forehead. Aquilo froze in place. Theodore's magic power spread out from the point where he touched her. It was simple magic that overlaid the target with a magic illusion.

"Okay, all done."

The beautiful Aquilo now looked like an ordinary village girl. Aquilo belatedly realized the situation. "Hrmm, you don't want me to show my beauty to others? Has the boy become a man?"

"Well, something like that. There will be no man anywhere who won't stare if they see you."

"…"

"Then let's go. The village is right in front of us, so we can walk there."

As Aquilo remained quiet, Theodore started walking toward the lights in the west. She followed behind him and muttered in a low voice, "…Wow, it was a bit dangerous just before."

It was fortunate that it was dark because Aquilo's pale skin couldn't hide her agitation.

* * *

The two people changed their appearances with illusion magic and quietly entered the village. The village wasn't very large, but it wasn't bad since there was an inn for visitors to stay in. Theodore booked two rooms with a few silver coins and sat down at the same table as Aquilo.

"Sigh, then where should I begin?" Aquilo had a pipe in her mouth as always.

"I have a lot I want to ask, but… tell me about what happened to the two northern powers after I disappeared."

"Okay. As you have guessed, the king and tower masters of Meltor know about your survival thanks to me. The other side isn't aware of it even now. So, if the incident of your attack is publicized, a war might break out."

"…Perhaps." Some might see it as him being arrogant, but Theodore calculated his value and nodded calmly.

A person who created the alliance with Elvenheim and who had a blood contract with Aquilo. Furthermore, there was news that a 7th Circle magician had been attacked by a sword master from the enemy? If it hadn't been for Aquilo, Meltor would've accepted Theodore's death as a fact.

There was only one thing which could start from publicizing this incident—the recurrence of war during the armistice!

It was clear that the wrath of the kingdom that had lost its hero wouldn't stop until someone paid for it.

Additionally, Andras had lost their 4th, 6th, and 7th Swords, so their power was now much comparable to Meltor's. If a fire ignited at this point between the two northern powers, they would bite at each other until only one side was left.

'Win or lose, both sides will be damaged.'

In other words, both sides were boiling over. There were also third forces awaiting for the sinking of the two superpowers. Immediately after victory was decided, the allied forces of the central part of the continent could then avoid the north.

Andras' inner thoughts were unknown, but the upper hierarchy of Meltor wanted to avoid this situation.

"Andras has remained unexpectedly silent. According to the masked man in white, it was an inside conflict? It is said that the emperor wants to continue the truce, while the crown prince's faction wants a confrontation."

"Hmm, the crown prince?"

The crown prince had been the one who sent one of the empire's Seven Swords as a consumable item, and he had also caused Andras to lose a god sword. Theodore only guessed these, but he was convinced by Aquilo's words. The prince was behind the assassination attempt on Theodore and was eager for the unification of the northern powers.

He clenched his fists and remembered the prince's name.

"Oh, and this is my question," Aquilo added.

Then at this moment, she raised two fingers and asked him, "Boy, did you stop the number 2?"

"Um."

To be exact, it had been the senior demon Magnus whom he had summoned, but Theodore couldn't say that. However, Aquilo was already convinced by his reaction. It was clear that Theodore was involved.

"I knew it. The 2nd Sword can be called the trump card of the crown prince, but he didn't appear in this situation. It makes sense now."

Theodore listened to Aquilo's words and opened his mouth, "The 2nd Sword is the crown prince's trump card…"

"The 1st Sword belongs to the emperor. I determined this through the process of elimination, but he really didn't say a word at the conference."

"Wait a minute, what are you talking about now?" Theodore hurriedly asked as he heard some words that couldn't be overlooked. Apart from discussing the truce, the relationship between the two northern powers had continued for centuries without any exchanges.

The ambassador had come to Meltor a few years ago, and now there had been another meeting of the northern powers during the three months he had been gone?

"This is my way of talking. Well, isn't it good?" Aquilo shrugged before speaking again, "It was around a month before I left for the East Continent. In the central border area of the north, I participated in a secret meeting with Red. It was clear they wanted to use me, but I didn't mind."

It was the habit of a blue dragon to not move if there was no price, but the situation would change if it was for their own interests. As such, Kurt III hadn't missed this opportunity.

Veronica and Aquilo were equivalent to three ordinary masters. She wouldn't intervene in the conflict between nations, but if Andras attacked first, she could attack in the name of self-defense. It had been a trap from Meltor's side, and Aquilo had gone despite knowing all of this.

"The biggest problem wasn't me, but the other person."

"Other person?"

Aquilo laughed ominously. "Only the 1st Sword and the crown prince came to the meeting. The 2nd Sword didn't appear. Everyone knew what he was doing, but the crown prince tried to provoke a fight."

"Then?"

"It was a really sad provocation. Perhaps it was because he said you died a dog's death in a poor kingdom? Someone was rattled by those words."

Theodore started sweating as he realized what she meant. Aquilo would've ignored the provocation, so who else at the meeting would have responded?

"It seems like you've guessed it? That's right. In the end, Red launched a preemptive attack."

It was truly Veronica, who didn't betray expectations.