Chapter 296
The Regular Conference dragged on.
The Cardinals and Archbishops heatedly discussed the Great War.
They exchanged strategies and information in search of better solutions.
Throughout this process, the hardliners, moderates, and neutral opinions did not align, but they managed to find some compromises, postponing details like the distribution of forces and the movement of nests to the second day.
Next, the agenda regarding the selection of an Archbishop came back to the table.
Beled and the hardliners actively pushed for Bishop Cyclamen as a candidate.
However, the moderates, who were not pleased with the hardliners’ growing power, opposed this, leading to the decision to select two Archbishops.
The top-level Bishop Cyclamen with hardliner tendencies.
The middle-level Bishop Shaul with moderate tendencies.
It was decided that these two would ascend to Archbishop, marking the end of the first day of the Regular Conference.
“Hahaha! Cyclamen. That guy will be jumping for joy when he hears this!”
Blurans, who was with Vargan, burst into loud laughter.
The image of a bouncing Cyclamen celebrating was so vivid in his mind.
Meanwhile, Vargan calmly finished his calculations and spoke.
“With this, the hardliners have five Archbishops. Considering the power difference between Cyclamen and Shaul, the gap with the moderates will narrow even further.”
“So that’s why you didn’t stop Shaul from becoming Archbishop? You were paying attention to the details, huh?”
“Every little detail matters. Blurans.”
“Don’t start preaching. I can’t stand that.”
Blurans waved his hand dismissively.
He changed the subject to mention the Cardinals and Archbishops who appeared at this Regular Conference.
“I suppose most of the Executors were seeing those new faces for the first time. What did you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“Not counting the other Archbishops. I’m talking about those three.”
A smile appeared on Blurans’s face.
Somehow, along with that smile, there was a hint of ambition and tension, which made Vargan easily guess who he was referring to.
Archbishop of Ultimate Power, Executor Ipos.
Leader of the moderates and the absolute power of the Goddess Church, Cardinal Amon.
Cardinal Jephar, who possesses technology far ahead of the times.
Vargan narrowed his eyes as he thought of them.
“Each one was an opponent we couldn’t afford to let our guard down around.”
“Hahaha! They’re all pillars of the Goddess Church, including Pope Beled, so that’s only natural!”
“Of course, since they are the long-standing pillars of the Goddess Church, including Lady Beled!”
“It’s not just about brute strength. Their ability to assess the situation and exploit it is quite impressive.”
That meant they hadn’t been sitting on the throne for nothing.
Blurans, who was in conversation with Vargan, suddenly rested his spear on his shoulder.
“Anyway, I should return to my guest room. Is the Executor planning to stay here?”
“I’m thinking of getting a better grasp of the terrain around here.”
“That sounds rather dull. What’s so interesting about a turtle floating in the middle of the sea?”
“From a human perspective, a turtle this size is strange, not to mention incredible.”
This place.
The venue for the Regular Conference was in the middle of the sea.
It was situated on the back of a gigantic turtle, large enough to easily surpass any ordinary island.
At the top of a tower that offered a panoramic view of the scene, Blurans gave a snicker and moved on.
Unfazed, he skipped the stairs and jumped off the railing.
Just before hitting the ground, he transformed into Pertigle, floating up smoothly.
“……”
Meanwhile, Vargan fell into thought as he observed the turtle’s full body for a while.
The last episode of the original story. The Great War.
It had been pushed up by about a year, but that didn’t matter.
All the necessary preparations were already complete, and he had run simulations countless times.
Not mere delusions or imagination, but within an environment created by the ‘Second Unique Spell.’
—Isn’t it too early to relax? Even if you’ve used the Unique Spell, there might be information you haven’t grasped yet.
“……”
—Vargan. Without you, I would be alone in this world. Why not just respond with anything?
A presence standing beside Vargan spoke.
Yet Vargan remained silent, and the being continued.
—Even without using your mouth, you can convey your intentions through thought. Are you really planning to leave your physical ancestor, who may not even be your soul, unattended?
‘It’s so noisy. Shut your mouth, Schugenharz.’
—Finally, a reaction.
The non-corporeal being smirked.
This was the ancestor of the Schugenhartz family, seen long ago when Vargan faced the trial of the Unique Spell.
With a friendly smile, he was looking at Vargan.
—I’m glad to see old companions after such a long time. Though they wouldn’t recognize or even remember me. Ah, Lafez… No, here he’s Jephar, isn’t he? That guy is still…
‘Enough of that. Didn’t I warn you not to come out without permission? I’ll call you when I need you later, so stay put.’
—If you insist, I have no choice but to comply… Understood. Then I shall call for you when help is needed. We are allies with our own objectives to achieve, after all.
Finally, Schugenharz disappeared from right in front of Vargan.
Vargan let out a long sigh, then promptly organized his thoughts and returned to his guest room.
*
Three years ago.
Three years ago.
The Schugenhartz Family appeared in front of me again right after I completed my second Unique Spell.
With the exhilaration of newly acquired power erupting from deep within my body, I felt a strange sensation as if my mind was being transported elsewhere.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in the middle of a battlefield.
—Craaaaack!
—Keeeek!
Surrounded by hordes of Black Eyes monsters.
I was standing there.
—Kahaack!
The stench of blood and innards filled the air, and the noise was deafening like war drums.
As monsters charged toward me to devour me, I instinctively unleashed Wind Magic.
Shhihaaaaaak—!
With a light gesture, the elemental magic I had mastered shaped into a tornado, cleaving through the monster horde.
—Grrrrr!
—Keroooon!
Since my counterattack exceeded their expectations, the monsters hesitated to recklessly charge.
With their bloodshot eyes and bared teeth, they were sizing up my weaknesses.
In that moment, I quickly assessed the situation.
Whether it was a dream or not, I couldn’t just get battered without understanding what was happening.
‘…Since this doesn’t seem like a city or village, it looks like this might be their dwelling. Who was I fighting against?’
I moved my mana to sense the power nearby.
There were two distinct energies.
Neither felt ordinary.
If it were based on the Goddess Church, one was definitely an Archbishop… and their power felt formidable, almost on par with a high-ranking entity.
It seemed they had intruded upon the monster’s territory.
“I don’t want to kill the monsters, but… I should at least clean up the area first.”
As soon as I made that judgment.
‘He,’ who sensed my energy, appeared.
“Who are you…!”
“…And you are?”
With black hair and black eyes resembling mine.
He had achieved leaps and bounds since our last encounter, but there was no doubt it was Schugenhartz.
—Kerrrr!
—Kaaaak!
Schugenhartz was similarly accompanied by a pack of monsters.
I helped him eliminate the surrounding monsters.
Though we exchanged no words, he and I worked in unison.
…As the area became drenched in blood, we could find no more living wild monsters.
The situation was resolved.
“……”
Once I was able to take a breath, Schugenhartz approached me, unable to take his eyes off me.
He appeared to want to say something but seemed at a loss, looking somewhat frustrated.
“…You. …You are.”
“……”
Could it be that the trials of the past Unique Spell were connected to this situation?
I kept my mouth shut, unsure of how he perceived me.
Schugenhartz, observing me closely, scratched his eyes and spoke.
“Ah…. I apologize. For a moment, you reminded me of someone I’ve seen before. It must have been my misunderstanding.”
“…Is that so.”
Schugenhartz did not recognize me.
It seemed that, like in the trials of the first Unique Spell in the Seiman Dungeon, causality did not apply this time either.
But why was I once again drawn into this distant illusion of the past, not a dungeon or trial?
“Sorry for startling you on our first meeting. I am Schugenhartz.”
“I’m Schugenharz.”
“…It’s Organon.”
Not exactly sure where this is.
I instinctively used the same pseudonym as before.
I wanted to gauge his reaction; it seemed he had never heard it before, merely shaking his hand with a grin.
“Organon, huh? That’s a nice name. But I see you can use magic. You seem to be the Magic Instructor’s new disciple.”
‘The reaction is different this time. Is the timeline not the same?’
When we first met, Schugenharz had been wary of my magic.
But now his response is totally different.
Assuming I’m the new disciple of the magician implies that not everyone can use magic yet.
This means that within the gap of years, or maybe just months, the number of magic disciples has dramatically increased.
It must mean they are still growing rapidly even now.
I decided to ride this wave and nodded.
“I figured as much,” Schugenharz welcomed me.
“Thanks to you, I could finish the hunt smoothly.”
“Yeah.”
“But… did you come alone for support? Where’s your partner?”
Partner.
Just like Lafez from before.
Seeing someone approaching from over there, it must mean a companion.
I shook my head.
“I wasn’t assigned a partner.”
“No partner?”
“I’m not sure, but it seems they judged that it would be better for me to go solo.”
“Is that so? That’s unusual. Normally, it’s basic to travel in pairs of 2 to 3.”
“I think so too.”
As I shrugged, Schugenharz didn’t seem too suspicious.
At this point, the very fact that I can use magic proves that I’m following in the footsteps of the first magician.
There must have been others in similar situations.
Since the resource of magic is monopolized halfway, these gaps have emerged.
Of course, it’s good for me since I can use it.
‘But… how long do I have to play along with this tune?’
Every time I come to this period, I end up involved in significant incidents that need resolving.
Additionally, there are rewards relating to dungeon clears or acquiring unique spells in reality.
Does that mean this time will be the same?
Why do I keep arriving in this era?
‘…More questions keep piling up.’
Just as I was about to continue figuring out the precise timeline, Schugenharz’s companion arrived.
“Oh, you’re here. Come over here. This is Organon, who recently became the magician’s disciple.”
“……huh.”
I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
Why is it that Schugenharz always has these heavyweights around as companions?
Just like last time with Lafez.
And now again.
‘My partner is Beled.’
The tall figure with white skin.
The enchanting atmosphere radiating from her is reminiscent of the Cardinal I served back in reality.
Looks like I’m getting wrapped up in no ordinary affairs once more.
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