Chapter 1065: Shadow of the Star (11)

The game of the Long-lived Beings, where lifespan was staked as currency. And Lennok’s victory in the Obaekro match against Alohan, winning by half a point.

The fish-folk, who had been holding their breath and watching the board, opened their eyes wide in disbelief.

“Ah, Lord Alohan….” “How could he lose a match to a short-lived one?”

Even at this moment, there appeared to be more white stones than black on the board. It was natural for there to be more white stones, as Alohan had held the advantage throughout the game. Yet, in the Obaekro score tally, Lennok’s black stones won by half a point.

The seemingly minor and insignificant situations Alohan had overlooked while placing his stones. Lennok had utilized the empty spaces on the board that Alohan had disregarded, creating just enough to narrowly surpass Alohan’s score.

Everyone knew it wasn’t a coincidence, that it wasn’t simply a stroke of luck. Just as Lennok explained upon finishing the game, he had gathered seemingly minor situations, one by one, and cultivated them enough to ultimately secure victory. That in all those situations Alohan had ignored, Lennok had seen a way to win. With this single match, they realized he had gained the upper hand in calculations against a Long-lived Being in a game where lifespan was wagered.

“…Defeat.” But Alohan, as if unable to accept it, raised his hand and violently slammed it down on the board.

CRASH!!

With that single gesture, the black and white stones on the board were sent flying into the water. Alohan, his veins bulging, rested his fist on the board and glared at Lennok with brilliant blue pupils.

“Place your Ruyi Orb on the board, short-lived one.” “…” “I shall add my time to your Ruyi Orb right now.”

“More importantly, I’m curious where your Ruyi Orb is.”

Lennok glanced at the Ruyi Orb he had placed on the shelf and asked. “When we first started the game, I didn’t think there was a need to ask, but shouldn’t you also produce your Ruyi Orb?”

“Only you, a short-lived one, need to be verified for having sufficient lifespan in an Obaekro wager.” Alohan growled. “Or did you think that I, who governs Kundara’s waters, would not even have time to give you?”

“Even Long-lived Beings aren’t immortal, after all.” Lennok replied, his expression calm, as he placed his Ruyi Orb on the board. “If one is close to death, like a human, they might not have much lifespan left.”

“…” Alohan did not answer. He merely glared at Lennok, veins bulging in his brow, and slowly reached out his hand towards Lennok’s Ruyi Orb.

Thunk!

The Dragon King, who had firmly grasped the Ruyi Orb, then drew up his mana and squeezed it as if to shatter it. Simultaneously, a sea-blue life force rapidly began to fill the transparent Ruyi Orb.

As Alohan filled it with ten years’ worth of life force, just as he had mentioned, the life force contained within the Ruyi Orb became exactly double its original amount.

Seeing the Ruyi Orb, now containing a total of twenty years’ worth of life force, emit an even more mystical glow, Lennok raised his hand.

“Let’s continue.”

At that moment, the black and white stones that Alohan had scattered began to fly back, one by one, from beyond the currents.

Gurgle!!

Lennok’s skill in deftly manipulating the Deep Sea Domain’s currents, collecting the scattered stones. While Alohan watched Lennok, who had somehow grasped the knack of Water Minister Spellcraft and was expertly moving the currents, with an eerie gaze,

Lennok, having skillfully separated the black and white stones, placed the Ruyi Orb on the shelf and spoke.

“This time, let’s wager twenty years of lifespan.” “…” “You said it yourself; you’re not thinking of backing out now, are you?”

“You speak with enough insolence to make me want to tear you to pieces.” Saying so, Alohan plunged his hand back among the white stones.

“I will show you that this victory was not purely your skill.”

The Dragon Palace of the Deep Sea Domain, quiet enough to steal one’s breath. In the center of the audience chamber, crushed by water pressure, the two sat facing each other, taking turns placing stones.

As white and black stones moved across the board in turn, only one person’s face grew stiffer.

The moment stones filled and flipped on the board, the quiet Dragon Palace fell into an even deeper silence.

“T-total score, three points difference….” In the breathless silence, the fish-folk attendant, called forth, stammered.

“B-black wins….”

“…” Alohan’s defeat, once again.

In the quiet center of the palace, Alohan, his face rigid, stared at the board, then swiftly extended his hand.

WHOOSH!!

He seized Lennok’s Ruyi Orb from the shelf and, as if taking out his frustration, powerfully slammed life force into it.

Alohan, having instantly infused twenty years’ worth of life force into Lennok’s Ruyi Orb, spoke.

“Again.”

Alohan’s eyes flashed as he glared at Lennok.

“Begin. Clear the stones and prepare the board!!”

“Didn’t you say earlier that clearing the board was the loser’s role?”

“…!!!”

“Fine, then.” Lennok, chuckling faintly at Alohan, slowly began to clear the board.

“It’s a game where twenty years of lifespan are wagered; a short-lived one can do a bit of menial work.”

“…”

“Shall we continue?”

With the lifespan exponentially growing, the match continued without delay.

Alohan, who had roused himself even using his will-thought, and Lennok, who held the stones without using mana.

But it didn’t take long for the outcome to be decided again.

“Five points difference. Black wins.”

“Again.”

Alohan continued the match without hesitation.

“Seven points difference. Black w-“

“Again!”

Before long, Alohan stopped mentioning doubling the wager.

“Nine points difference. Black….”

“Again!!!!”

The attendant’s voice gradually stretched out, becoming slower.

“Eleven points… difference….”

“Again. Again!!!”

The tallied scores kept changing, but the outcome remained the same. The more they played, the wider the score difference between them became.

Even the attendant assisting with the tally no longer announced the scores directly.

“…Black, wins.”

“…” No one among the fish-folk of the Deep Sea Domain could speak anymore. With expressions so rigid they were beyond words, they merely wished for this moment to pass as quickly as possible.

“…” After the match, lost by fifteen points, Alohan said nothing more.

Alohan silently gazed at the board, while across from him, Lennok idly toyed with the black stones.

“You.”

It was a long while before Alohan finally raised his gaze. The blue scales erupting on his skin proved how agitated he was. It was evidence that Alohan’s emotions were violently surging, to the point where he could barely maintain his human form.

“Just how much do you intend to toy with me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Obaekro scores are usually tallied in even numbers; it’s rare for them to end in an odd number.” Alohan, whose skin had turned blue as if he might transform into a water dragon at any moment, spoke.

“Maintaining an odd score difference and widening the gap after each match—how is that even possible unless you are mocking me?”

“…”

“Even Ars Nova’s Grand Spell Masters didn’t play Obaekro like this. This, from the beginning….” Alohan gritted his teeth and asked.

“Short-lived one. What have you been doing outside the Veil?”

“The mere fact that you’re asking that now, isn’t that proof that you’re not qualified to win this game?” Lennok tilted his head.

“You may be hiding to avoid the end, but I didn’t expect you to be so uninterested in the outside world. Are other Long-lived Beings similar?”

“…” “Not going to answer? Well, fine.”

Saying so, Lennok grasped the Ruyi Orb. Because the match continued without doubling the wager midway, the lifespan contained within the Ruyi Orb hadn’t multiplied dozens of times. Nevertheless, through more than six repeated matches, the lifespan in the Ruyi Orb had easily surpassed a hundred years.

The Ruyi Orb, which had originally been closer to a powerless glass bead, had also completely changed its form accordingly.

WHOOOOSH…!!

It surrounded itself with shimmering halos of light, like a small star, and slowly rotated, suspended in the air. The surging life force within the Ruyi Orb rotated inside the sphere, transforming the orb’s very texture.

It was no longer a mere orb, but a mystical gem, a treasure orb radiating its presence.

Alohan, watching it, gritted his teeth and spoke to the attendant standing beside him.

“Bring me my Ruyi Orb.”

“…Lord Alohan.” The attendant stammered, a surprised expression on his face.

“I-if you draw upon the Ruyi Orb’s power, the Deep Sea Domain’s stability will be greatly weakened. If something goes wrong—”

“Do you intend to make me repeat myself?” Alohan glared at the attendant with a chilling gaze.

The attendant, his face pale, could not respond and disappeared behind the audience chamber.

“While the attendant brings my Ruyi Orb, let’s play one more time.”

“…”

“And this time….” Alohan, gritting his teeth in thought before the eyes of the fish-folk, tossed the white stone he held to Lennok.

WHOOSH!!

As Lennok caught the white stone, Alohan pointed to the black stones.

“I will take the first move. Bring them.”

“…Very well.”

Obaekro is a game where two players take turns placing stones. Therefore, it’s an unspoken agreement that the player holding the black stones, taking the first move, is in the subordinate position. The very act of Alohan putting down the white stones and taking the black was tantamount to admitting he was beneath Lennok in this match.

Was he so desperate to play Obaekro on equal footing with Lennok that he would sacrifice even his momentary pride?

CLICK!!

Unlike before, Alohan put aside even his explosive rage and concentrated with all his might. He shed his obsession with lifespan, his pride as a Long-lived Being, and focused solely on the match before him. A Dragon King, tempestuous and fierce, who typically disdained humans as insects, yet now put his heart into a game created by those very humans.

Lennok, not looking at the board but at Alohan, gazed at him thoughtfully, then took a white stone and spoke.

“There are several significant flaws in the Water Minister Spellcraft you use.”

“…What did you say?”

“While its overall power and scale are formidable, it tends to be subservient to the attribute rather than dominating it.”

Lennok, placing the white stone, gazed thoughtfully at Alohan.

“Perhaps because it bears the name ‘Water Minister,’ it’s excessively fixated on water as a medium.”

“Short-lived one. You should be concentrating on the match, not spouting nonsense—”

“Water Minister Spellcraft. When used outside of water, its mana efficiency plummets, doesn’t it?”

“…!!!”

Lennok’s question seemed utterly unrelated to the present moment. But at his words, Alohan froze, as if his heart had been pierced.

“The efficiency drops by roughly 80%. So, when you use the spellcraft outside of water, you can’t even achieve half its effectiveness.”

“You, how could you—”

“Because this game, created by Jindun, was literally made to read a spellcaster’s spellcraft aptitude.” Lennok said, looking down at the board.

“Jutiya was right. If you play Obaekro with the same opponent multiple times, something beyond their playing style begins to reveal itself.”

“…”

“The origin of the spellcraft, beyond the spellcaster’s aptitude and talent. I’d never paid much attention to it, thinking it was just a sort of mind-reading….”

Lennok turned his head to look at Alohan and asked.

“The Central Nobles, and you Long-lived Beings, are particularly easy to read. It must be because you’ve been using Obaekro in a different way.”

“…”

“That’s why you haven’t won a single match against me so far.”

Lennok casually spoke, leaving Alohan speechless.

“Even just mixing impurities into the stones you place, or clouding them, causes your Water Minister Spellcraft’s power to plummet, doesn’t it?”

“…That’s.”

“Six points difference. I win.” While Alohan stared blankly at the board in shock, Lennok placed a white stone and asked.

“Do you still think it’s a coincidence?”

“…” Alohan did not answer anymore.

The fish-folk of the Deep Sea Domain, watching the match, also tightly shut their eyes and turned their gazes away.

‘It’s over.’

At this point, the skill gap between Lennok and Alohan had become clear enough for everyone watching the match to see. Because everyone understood that Lennok had perfectly comprehended the Water Minister Spellcraft, and that Alohan, whose playing style was based on it, could not defeat Lennok.

Since Water Minister Spellcraft, which could only exert its power in water, was being deployed through Obaekro, its power plummeted simply by mixing and blurring impurities into it. Now that Lennok had directly pointed out this fact and broken Alohan’s will to fight, the match would not continue here.

However, Lennok also had no significant concern, as the gains he had acquired through this match were by no means small.

‘So, I’ve acquired roughly 100 years’ worth of lifespan.’

Just as Lennok nodded to Olivera, who had been observing the situation from afar.

“Was the outcome decided from the moment you stole the essence of my Water Minister Spellcraft in the first match….” Alohan, who had been looking at the board, raised his gaze.

“I admit it. I lost.”

“…”

“My petty pride prevented me from recognizing what an outstanding player you are.”

Alohan’s voice, as he spoke, had lost its previous ferocity and was now low and subdued.

Alohan slowly placed a hand on his knee and rose, then pointed towards the outside of the audience chamber with one hand.

“I will help you leave the Deep Sea Domain. The exit is that way.”

“I’m curious how the lifespan contained in the Ruyi Orb can be utilized.” Lennok asked.

“It would be difficult for me, a human, to directly use the lifespan contained here, wouldn’t it?”

Although he had obtained a significant amount of lifespan from Alohan, Lennok didn’t easily get excited, knowing this.

He believed it unlikely that the life force stored in the Ruyi Orb could be directly converted into his own lifespan.

What Lennok was focused on, however, was the very fact that the lifespan of Long-lived Beings was used as currency in Kundara.

If lifespan was indeed used as currency, as Alohan had stated, then the lifespan Lennok had now acquired would be quite valuable in Kundara.

But Alohan’s answer was slightly different from what Lennok had expected.

“Among Kundara’s sanctuaries, there is a place that can convert the life force stored in a Ruyi Orb back into lifespan.”

“…Convert?”

A choice of words that could only come from someone accustomed to treating lifespan literally like currency.

Alohan said, his voice calm.

“Though I have never personally used it, they say such a place exists somewhere in the Eight Tribulations….”

“…”

“If you truly wish to extend your short lifespan, you will have to find that sanctuary in Kundara yourself.”

Alohan’s face, as he glanced at Lennok, had become noticeably gaunt in just a short time.

“Even for a short-lived one, with your skill, you would easily reach the Seventh Tribulation, even surpassing the Sixth.”

“You speak as if I need to find a way to enter Kundara all by myself.” Lennok crossed his arms.

“If I pass the criteria presented by the Fearsome Blood King, aren’t you supposed to move the Deep Sea Domain to guide me to Kundara?”

“Because you people ‘severed’ the Veil and disrupted the spacetime of the other side, it is currently difficult to pinpoint Kundara’s location.” Alohan frowned, his expression displeased.

“To resolve this, we must either capture the one who severed the Veil and erase their spellcraft’s effects, or intervene with the Veil through other means.”

“…”

“I will not stop you, as I now know you are the exception the Fearsome Blood King desires. But do not expect me to guide your way.”

Did that mean Alohan himself couldn’t return to Kundara until the one who severed the other side of the Veil was captured?

Having heard that much, Lennok shook his head with an incredulous expression.

“So you knew from the start that I wasn’t the one who severed the Veil. And you picked a fight with me using that as a pretext?”

“Since you lot intruded upon the spacetime of the other side at this time, it was clear that you were connected to him.” Alohan gazed at Lennok with his blue eyes.

“However, seeing that he hasn’t even shown his face in the Deep Sea Domain, it seems you weren’t an accomplice of his after all.”

“…”

“Go. I no longer wish to see your face. The attendant will guide you to the exit.”

Alohan, staring down at the disheveled Obaekro board with a complex expression, abruptly turned his back.

“I think I need some time to myself.”

“…”

Lennok, wondering if he should tell Alohan about Karnis, closed his mouth and turned to leave.

Had their conversation been smooth from the start, it might have been different, but at this point, bringing up Karnis would only provoke Alohan.

He exited the Dragon Palace, guided by a fish-folk attendant with gills behind his neck.

He ascended through the dark seabed, following the attendant as if entrusting his body to the flowing currents.

SPLASH!!

The attendant, having surfaced above the surging Deep Sea Domain, bowed to Lennok, who had followed.

“If you head that way, you will arrive back on the Foggy Path.”

“…Right.”

Together with Olivera, who remained silent, he left the attendant behind and moved on.

Towards the crashing waves. A faintly visible beach beyond the endless horizon. Behind the thick Foggy Path, illuminated beyond the Deep Sea Domain.

“Ah.”

The Harvester Spell Master stood there, smiling, looking at Lennok.

“You’ve finally emerged. I thought my neck would snap waiting.”

“…”

At the boundary of the Domain, where the Deep Sea Domain’s waves ceased and the Foggy Path continued. The Harvester Spell Master observed Lennok from a distance too far for the Dragon King’s senses to reach.

[…Hah.]

Lennok, leaving the sneering Olivera aside, looked at the Harvester Spell Master with an unexpressive face and asked.

“Were you waiting for me to emerge outside the Domain?”

“I certainly didn’t expect you to be in the Eight Great Dragon Kings’ Deep Sea Domain in such a short time.” The Spell Master chuckled with a troubled expression, shaking his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“The Water God Dragon King is known to be quite tempestuous among Long-lived Beings; you made an imprudent choice.”

“…”

“Seeing you emerge empty-handed, it seems you didn’t gain much. So, may I resume guiding you?”

The Harvester Spell Master’s eyes, watching Lennok, suddenly narrowed.

“I, too, don’t particularly welcome such unforeseen turns while guiding you, Van.”

Even though it was the Harvester Spell Master himself who had separated Lennok and Olivera in the spacetime of the other side to observe their reactions, He subtly hinted at Lennok having gained nothing from the Deep Sea Domain.

But instead of getting angry at the Spell Master’s sarcasm, Lennok considered why he was acting this way. If the Spell Master, who had maintained a rather relaxed attitude when they first met, now seemed more sensitive than before—

‘He’s agitated.’

He probably didn’t expect Lennok to find the Water God Dragon King’s Deep Sea Domain using the Penteract.

Moreover, he hadn’t anticipated Lennok walking out safely without fighting Alohan.

If the Spell Master’s nerves were frayed by Lennok’s actions, which surpassed his own plans, It must be because the Harvester Spell Master was also quite obsessed with finding the Celestial Spellcraft.

That was why he had appeared before Lennok the moment he emerged from the Deep Sea Domain, intending to guide him personally once more. This time, to lead Lennok into a situation where he would have no choice but to use the Celestial Spellcraft himself.

“…”

If he followed the Harvester Spell Master’s guidance again, he couldn’t avoid being led by the Spell Master’s intentions.

At first, he had observed the situation to understand how the Spell Master intended to guide and test them.

But now, having finished the Obaekro match with Alohan and completed the minimum administrative procedures required to enter Kundara— Lennok also had a choice of methods.

“Alohan. You’re listening, aren’t you?”

“…Yes?”

Ignoring the Harvester Spell Master’s bewildered question, Lennok turned his gaze towards the sea of the Deep Sea Domain from which he had emerged.

“This is the very individual who ‘severed’ the Veil and disrupted the spacetime of the other side.”

“…”

“From now on, I will not concern myself with whatever happens near this Domain.”

Lennok said in a cold voice.

“Instead, let’s consider it payment if you also completely ignore whatever I do. How does that sound?”

No answer came.

No sooner had Lennok finished speaking than the Deep Sea Domain’s sea began to churn violently, casting a colossal shadow beneath the waves.

ROOAAARRR!!!

The Domain’s sea thrashed and shook, then a colossal water dragon surged forth with a magnificent whirlpool.

The moment the massive body of the Water God Dragon King, clad in blue scales, began to glare at the Harvester Spell Master with brilliant blue pupils.

The Harvester Spell Master, realizing the situation belatedly, turned his gaze towards Lennok, his face devoid of its earlier smile.

“…You.”

“My apologies.” Lennok chuckled, his arms crossed.

“But it’s unfair to be framed for something I didn’t do, isn’t it?”

“…”

While under the Harvester Spell Master’s surveillance, he couldn’t use the Celestial Spellcraft to go to Kundara. But even if he forced a separation, the Harvester Spell Master would find a way to monitor Lennok.

The Harvester Spell Master and the Eight Great Dragon Kings. A clever move that could only be chosen at this moment, where the Foggy Path and the Deep Sea Domain intersected. Lennok had decided to foist the Harvester Spell Master onto Alohan and buy himself time to use the Celestial Spellcraft.

“If you have any misunderstandings, I hope you resolve them well with the Eight Great Dragon Kings and emerge safely.”

Lennok waved his hand, looking at the Harvester Spell Master’s expressionless face.

“Thanks for the guidance so far.”

“Adamant…!!”

The Spell Master’s words could not continue. As the water dragon drew up its mana, the colossal Ruyi Orb in its mouth began to rotate.

A wave of brilliant blue mana swept directly over the spot where the Spell Master stood.

WHOOSH!!!!