264th Chapter
Vargan stepped down from the podium.
The first person to greet him was a middle-aged hero with a bulky frame.
“Vargan. Do you remember me?”
The hero welcomed Vargan with a bigger smile than meeting an old hometown friend.
Vargan glanced him over and quickly recognized him.
“Of course. The incident in Dortmund was less than a year ago, after all.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you… no, it’s an honor!”
It was Yannick, the hero who had worked alongside Vargan in Dortmund, chasing the traces of Frikkanliks, along with his teammates.
At the same time, they were the companions of the hero Kry, Vargan’s original master.
Yannick stepped closer and shook Vargan’s hand with both of his.
His eyes sparkled, not just with joy at the reunion, but overwhelmed with emotion.
“I always knew you were an extraordinary person since Dortmund… but I never expected you to become such a big shot… and in such a short time, no less.”
“You flatter me.”
“Flatter? No way! You single-handedly defeated the Archbishop and played a key role in this grand war!”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration. I was just well-suited to open the curtain on the stage.”
“Hahaha! No need to act humble in front of me. It doesn’t suit you at all.”
“That’s true.”
Vargan grinned.
Yannick, still holding his hand tightly, was expressing an indescribable flood of emotions through his words and eyes.
Vargan, who saved everyone from the danger in Dortmund.
At the same time, he was the man who exposed the sins of his former comrade, hero Kry, and released the grievances of the Twelve Divine Beasts.
For Yannick, Vargan was someone he could thank countless times over.
Yannick took a moment to reflect on the past, then his smile returned as he said, “I always kept my ears open for rumors about you. Whether in print or spoken, it was like being a fan.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely! You are the hero of Dortmund! We always prayed for your future, and you never stopped pursuing groundbreaking paths.”
Yannick released Vargan’s hand.
Recalling the journey Vargan had taken, he seemed a bit overly excited, gasping from the thrill.
Then he apologized for sounding like a foolish child and continued, “I can’t express how much I appreciate you.”
“As for the events in Dortmund, it’s all in the past. I’ve already received more than enough thanks.”
“If it’s about Dortmund, we can wrap it up now. I’ve already received enough thanks.”
“That’s true for Dortmund… but it’s not just that. Vargan, you are a gift bestowed upon humanity.”
“A gift?”
“An incredibly precious one. This world needs someone capable, young, and strong – a symbolic figure like you, rather than a weak Hero like me who has no real authority.”
“……”
“In the past, there was the Hero Gulemashia as a representative figure. Vargan, I believe you are the one destined to inherit that glory.”
A hero to save humanity.
Especially the most representative one.
For even a brief moment, Yannick, who had watched Vargan closely and collected news about him like a hobby, saw no one else fit to take that position.
“I’m not a great Hero who can pave your way, nor do I have the ability to do so. But if I can salvage even a tiny something, I’ll make sure it’s credited entirely to you.”
Thank you for working hard for humanity, Vargan.
Yannick spoke from the heart.
Vargan, who could easily read others’ expressions and innermost thoughts, could see his feelings at a glance.
With a proper smile, he replied and mentioned the time.
“I apologize, but I must take my leave now, Yannick. My schedule is packed afterward.”
“Oh, I see! I feel sorry for holding you up for so long.”
“It’s alright. It was a beneficial time to reminisce about the memory of the past.”
“It was a glorious time for me as well. Then, we shall meet later on the battlefield.”
“……”
Before leaving, Vargan watched Yannick and his team bow deeply to him, even though he hadn’t yet become a Hero.
It was a greeting laden with meaning.
After watching Yannick’s group depart for a while, Vargan turned and walked away.
Somehow, his steps felt slower and heavier than usual.
‘Someone’s here.’
Upon arriving at the tent where he would stay, Vargan sensed a presence inside.
Since Erica and Alicia were busy with other tasks, it wasn’t them.
Checking the mana emanating from within… it must be Paula.
Vargan figured out who was waiting inside and entered.
“What brings you here, Professor Paula?”
“……”
Despite an abundance of chairs scattered around, Paula chose to wait while standing.
Noticing Paula’s silence in response to his question, Vargan began rummaging through his drawers to gather his things.
“You seem quite anxious. Is something really wrong?”
Vargan asked while searching for items.
Inside the tent, a softly glowing stone illuminated the space like a candle.
The shadows on Paula’s face were deep.
She finally spoke.
“Vargan, I heard you had a conversation with the Chancellor.”
“……”
“And… I don’t want to connect the dots, but… after that, the Chancellor proposed to transport the Academia to the Central Church.”
After a brief hesitation, Vargan resumed searching for his items.
A blunt and cold sentence escaped his lips.
“Where did you hear that?”
“It doesn’t matter where I found out. Hah… honestly… I shouldn’t be saying this, but the Chancellor… has been quite unwell. To undertake such a monumental task is almost unbelievable.”
“It’s not that important. Ha… Actually… I shouldn’t be talking about this, but… the Chancellor has been feeling quite unwell. It’s hard to believe we’re taking on such a massive task.”
“…….”
“…Why aren’t you reacting at all?”
“…….”
“Wait… you knew, didn’t you? You proposed this plan knowing the Chancellor was unwell?”
“Professor Paula.”
Vargan stopped his work and turned.
The attitudes of the two were quite different.
While Paula furrowed her brows in frustration, looking anxious, Vargan was cold, almost devoid of emotion.
“What are you so worried about?”
“What…?”
“Haven’t you heard enough about Chancellor Gulemashia’s role in this battle?”
—Chancellor Gulemashia will cooperate with Vargan and Erica to warp the Academia.
—Afterward, when they destroy the Red Canopy, they’ll return the Academia to its original location.
Vargan pointed this out and continued speaking.
“Ultimately, Chancellor Gulemashia won’t be fighting at all. That was the agreement. Of course, during the warping process, some of his spells and mana will be involved, but most of that mana will come from the Academia’s Mana Stones.”
Ultimately, Gulemashia’s role was to refine and adjust the vast mana of the stones and manifest the spells.
He wouldn’t be releasing the mana that usually burdens a magician, so his body wouldn’t suffer.
“Isn’t that right?”
“…….”
“You’ve got your worries misplaced. You should be more concerned about the massive amount of mana I’ll be providing.”
If Gulemashia were to pour the mana from the Mana Stones into a vast reservoir, Vargan would own everything, from the contents to the reservoir itself.
Moreover, even though they were collaborating, moving something as huge and dense with information as Academia wouldn’t be easy.
As Paula fell silent, Vargan continued.
“I’m quite worried too. I wanted to use a substitute instead of Erica if possible. But as you know, out of thousands of magicians, only three can use Warp Magic.”
Chancellor Gulemashia.
Portlet Troa Erica.
And one hero ranked 300th.
“Moreover, only Gulemashia and Erica have reached ranks above Comprehension. Do you think I want to rely on Erica’s strength? Why are you pretending not to see that this is all to lead us to victory in war?”
“…….”
Paula brushed her dry fingers over her troubled face.
Whether her head was spinning or she was holding back tears, she sighed deeply while tugging at her red hair.
“Yeah. I know. I know… Hoo….”
“I can understand your anxiety, especially as the time approaches. I’m human too.”
“…….”
“But your bloodline is strong, even stronger than you might think.”
It was no wonder, as Gulemashia was the pinnacle of magicians.
He was a legendary figure that every Altife feared.
Even if the red fur of his past had turned white, the achievements he made didn’t go anywhere.
Vargan said this while rummaging through the drawer again.
He rummaged through the drawer again.
Soon enough, he found a small Mana Stone and placed it inside the White.
It was a cheap Mana Stone, inferior to any of the ones inside the White.
Before stepping outside, Vargan lightly tapped Paula’s shoulder and left.
Paula was left alone inside the canopy.
She held back tears that were welling up as she thought of him in the Academia.
‘Grandfather…’
The stone driving away the darkness of the canopy flickered slowly, as if its Mana was running out.
*
A day passed like that.
The operation began.
—Dudududud.
The vibrating sound of the Mana Stone acting as the power source resonated.
Combat Airships were rapidly gliding.
A unit led by the Archer Tauro, ranked 5th in the Hero Ranking.
Over two hundred Airships were flying toward the center of the Red Canopy.
They advanced like a flock of migratory birds moving toward a warmer place.
[23:49]
At this moment sensed by Mana.
Vargan and Erica were also on one of those two hundred Airships.
Vargan continuously tracked the passage of time and their position.
The world visible beneath the Airship was entirely shrouded in a bright red curtain.
From above, the Red Canopy appeared even more colossal, revealing its majesty.
Beneath that curtain, the outline of a forest could be faintly seen, but it was merely a rough estimation, with no movements or Mana detected.
“……”
Erica, standing on the deck of the Airship with Vargan, tightly held his hand.
What would be the right thing to say—she briefly pondered but decided against it.
Vargan was extremely focused at that moment.
She didn’t want to disturb him, nor should she.
[23:53]
Daldaldal. The Airship’s incessant trembling matched the setting’s vibe.
The clock hands flew by quickly.
Around them, other Soldiers were bustling about, preparing for the imminent commencement.
Still holding Vargan’s hand, Erica concentrated on selecting her inner Mana.
She was perfectly preparing to show the maximum spell she could unleash at once.
Vargan’s Mana could be felt from the hand she was holding.
Once the time came, a massive surge of Mana would flood in like a raging river.
It’s fine.
She had already experienced the maximum at the Seiman Dungeon, so she could do well again this time.
She reassured herself.
[23:59]
Vargan closed his eyes, blocking out all information from the world.
As if he had become numb from a trial.
He shut his ears, numbed his tongue and nose, and temporarily severed the transmission of nerves.
The noisy sounds of the Airship and people’s voices vanished.
The sensations and warmth from the hand holding Erica also stopped conveying.
A world where nothing exists.
A world where nothing can be felt.
A space where only he exists.
After having a brief yet profound conversation with the soul sharing the same body.
He slowly opened his eyes.
[00:00]
April 28th.
The day the curse that had befallen Vargan manifested like a disease.
Finally.
A new day began to unfold.
Vargan moved his Mana.
And blood close to black trickled from the corner of his mouth.
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