CHAPTER 344 RAILROAD TRACK (3)

The Lighthouse Analysis released anonymously by Louina was sending turbulence throughout the continent. From the nobles of the Empire and kingdoms to the lowly commoners and the prisoners, everyone was talking about it.

That wasn't surprising. You could tell right away by looking at the sky, even if you couldn't understand Louina's theory or even read, that something was approaching.

Social unrest was inevitable, breaking out across the continent as murder and looting spread like a plague.

However, in the innermost chamber of the Imperial Palace, Sophien was calm. She practiced Go while meeting the ministers of a certain country who had visited.

She put the black stone down first and then the white stone with her other hand.

Again, she placed two down.

"Your Majesty."

Maho opened her mouth. Sophien raised her head and glared at her.

"When I was staying at the Imperial Palace, we talked."

Yuren's president Maho continued to speak softly. She didn't hesitate, even in front of the emperor.

"But now Your Majesty has become emperor, and I have become president of the Principality."

"And?" Sophien asked.

Maho's expression turned serious.

"…The continent is in danger."

It was another way to say this wasn't the time to sit around and play Go. However, for Sophien, Go was more important than anything else, even destruction.

"Wait until I'm done."

"However, Your Majesty…"

Sophien handed a letter over, silencing Maho.

"Take it."

"…?"

"These are the ones I've personally selected. These are the faces that will be sent to Annihilation."

Maho read it. Including the Red Garnet Adventure Team, Lawaine, Delric, Yeriel, and…

Maho's eyes were fixed on a certain paragraph.

──Desert's Ellie, Elesol, and Carixel.

"Your Majesty. These names..."

Demon Bloods. There was even Elesol, a wanted woman among them.

Sophien responded while fiddling with the Go stones.

"With a threat that menace us all, there's no need to fuel human hatred."

Maho looked at the Emperess with admiration. She broke the chain of hatred going on for hundreds of years as if it were nothing…

Sophien placed a black stone down.

"And about this anonymous lighthouse analysis..."

Maho carefully put the book she had pulled out from behind her on the table.

"Your Majesty's enemies are scattered throughout the Empire, including in the Magic Tower and the Knights Order. First, we'll find them…"

Sophien grinned.

"I already know all of them. And I know who created the spell for this lighthouse."

Maho raised her eyebrows, surprised…

"It's Deculein."

…Then hardened her face.

"There's no way…"

Tap-!

Sophien's next black stone cracked a corner of the woodblock. A brilliant move—one that devoured the white stones entirely. With a sneer of satisfaction, she turned her sharp gaze to Maho.

"There's no mistake. The man who saved your life and Yuren is trying to destroy the continent. There's evidence everywhere. Most notably, the professors who served him sent an anonymous letter."

She slid a piece of paper toward Maho. It was a whistleblower document from Relin and others, exposing Deculein's plans for destruction.

"Read it. Then, join the expedition. Together, we will kill Deculein…"

 * * *

The lighthouse's interior exuded a serene charm, while every stone reflected my refined aesthetic. From the top, I gazed at the sky and watched the movement of the celestial body descending into the world.

Suddenly, I felt a pang of worry about the condition of the knight standing behind me.

"Julie, is this place okay?"

"Yes. Of course."

Her complexion had improved.

"It's a space made of Snowflake Obsidian, isn't it?" she said.

"…It is."

In other words, this was the most harmonious space for Julie right now. The Snowflake Obsidian would embrace her with the optimal cold.

"By the way, how are you feeling?"she asked, taking a step closer.

I looked at the sky again. In Annihilation's dark and murky expanse, the occasional twinkling stars and moonlight were beautiful.

"…It feels like a clock pendulum is moving inside my body."

Tick-tock-.

Tick-tock-.

This heart had already lost its function, but something else inside my body — maybe what we call the soul — was moving me.

"It's curious, isn't it?"

I closed my eyes for a moment. I could feel the resonance in the air, the mana of the sky, and even the dust of the earth. All those little things were understood.

"It is said that a person attains the greatest enlightenment just moments before its death. Maybe I'm like that too."

Of course, Rohakan had that 'Brief Rejuvenation Before Death' characteristic. However, obtaining freedom at the moment of death wasn't something all humans had in common. Being freed from everything that binds one, the land they stand on and the sky beyond, the boundary from which they can't escape.

"I think I can understand the world now."

I quietly closed my eyes.

"It seems the moment of transcendence isn't far away."

Then, Julie took a step forward. She came close and hugged me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist.

"Hmm?"

"…You promised that you wouldn't go before me."

Those words drew an involuntary smile to my lips. I put my hand on hers and slowly moved my mana. I didn't need that much power; just the mana contained in my staff was enough.

Gwoooohhh…

A blue and white light burst out like a waterfall from the lighthouse.

I gazed at her eyes.

"Can you protect me for three days?"

"Of course."

Julie smiled deeply.

"I am your sword. As long as I have a breath in me, I will protect you, no matter what."

* * *

Gwoooooh…

At the same time, the lighthouse's call spread across the continent and in the ridges near Annihilation.

"!"

Lia's eyes grew large as she glanced around. The Masal team members sleeping around her were also waking up one by one.

"Did you feel it?!"

Lia asked. Ganesha nodded, and Lawaine had already placed his hand on the sheath of his sword.

"What was that?" asked Lawaine.

Lia raised herself and looked beyond the mountains. The lighthouse could be seen at a glance from this ridge.

"Look at that."

Lia pointed up, and the Masal team members followed.

"It's shining..." said Ganesha.

Rumble-!

At that moment, a huge roar shook the earth. In the next, a message formed across Lia's retinas.

[Lighthouse Activation — 72:00]

The remaining time was only three days. Through Elementalization, Lia peered into the distant lighthouse.

"!"

Her heart began to pound.

"What?"

Deculein was looking at her. He stared straight to where she stood, and when their eyes met, he smiled.

"It's okay."

Ganesha placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Support will come soon from all over the world."

Everyone on the continent who wanted to prevent the comet from crashing would come here.

"We will win."

Lawaine said with confidence. He looked at the blue and white tower, almost admiring its appearance.

"But that building… As expected from the Professor, everything he touches ends up exquisite."

"…Yeah."

The lighthouse was exquisite—not just in its external appearance, but also in the path of light it now emitted.

"Leo. Carlos?"

Lia called the two children, snapping them out of their fascination.

"Yes? What?"

"Can you go in first? You guys won't raise suspicion from the people there."

"Yes!"

"Okay."

Using children as scouts bothered her, but they weren't weak enough to be treated so easily. Their young age was a strong asset to infiltrate the ennemy, as it usually made them lower their vigilance.

"But, Lia... You know... If I meet Deculein first..."

Leo was about to run right away, but Carlos looked back with a somewhat bothered expression.

"Can I kill him?"

Lia pondered, but the answer came from someone else with a voice thrilling with emotions, the red-haired Munchkin on the other side of Lia's sleeping bag:

—It is my responsibility to kill Deculein, the wrathful traitor who betrayed me…

In response to the Emperor's declaration, everyone simply agreed.