Chapter 1145: Showdown (16)

“……I don’t know what you’ve been talking about.”

Aron’s declaration that the “Blessing” bestowed upon the entire Royal Capital of Kabahim belonged to Lennok.

Yet, Lennok remained composed despite the sudden assertion by the monarch, linking the Blessing to him.

“The Blessing bestowed upon the royal capital isn’t a concept that can be defined as anyone’s possession in the first place.”

“……”

Lennok also surmised the origin of the Blessing Aron mentioned.

The The Gate located beneath the royal capital, brought up in Pandemonium’s strategy meeting, and the existence of the Dead God sleeping within it.

The Blessing must be a miraculous power, akin to a miracle, derived from the remnants of that Dead God.

He could be certain because he had met the Dead God through the Ice Seal artifact, which he had acquired from Anathema’s Temple.

A knight of ice, covered in frost from head to toe, sleeping alone in an Otherworldly Sanctuary where blizzards raged.

It was highly probable that the Dead God slumbering beyond The Gate was the very entity Lennok had encountered through the Ice Seal.

However, Lennok sneered, showing no sign of this knowledge.

“Or, are you trying to say that some greater secret exists within your royal capital?”

“Perhaps.”

Aron remained unperturbed by Lennok’s cold question.

He neither expressed anger nor any other emotion at Lennok’s rudeness.

As if such a reaction held no meaning in this situation, he merely gazed at Lennok.

“The Blessing that exists in this country ultimately derives its power from The Gate present in the royal capital.”

“……”

“No, to be precise, it would be correct to say it’s a miracle originating from the existence of the Dead God slumbering within The Gate.”

For a moment, a frozen silence fell between the three.

The existence and origin of the Blessing, which had only been mentioned and considered at the last moment in Pandemonium’s strategy meeting.

The monarch of Kabahim was revealing this secret, which might be the most fatal and dangerous in the royal capital, with such nonchalance.

But Aron didn’t stop there, opening his mouth in a slow voice.

“Many are mistaken, but the remains of the Dead God sleeping beyond The Gate do not hold meaning in themselves.”

He said, slowly swirling the red wine remaining in his glass.

“It is proof.”

“Proof…?”

“Proof that a great miracle, one that mortals cannot even perceive, undeniably existed in this world.”

Aron’s eyes, fixed on Lennok, gleamed intensely as if burning.

“It is a testament to the accomplishment that ‘he’ trampled and usurped the transcendence that no one believed could be approached.”

“……”

“The Blessing bestowed upon the royal capital is precisely the fruit and remnant of the accomplishment he achieved by opening The Gate.”

Gazing deeply into Lennok with the two pupils in his eyes, Aron whispered softly.

“This country has been established and sustained upon that very remnant, so how could I not revere your existence?”

“……That is.”

The monarch’s answer: the reason Kabahim’s royal capital was built was due to the ‘accomplishment’ that Ban-gung committed here.

And Lennok already guessed what this accomplishment of Ban-gung’s was, even without explanation.

He had once considered what kind of actions the Transcendent, called the strongest Ascendant in history, would perform while wandering and breaking this world.

What it would mean that his actions and circumstances were not properly conveyed.

Sometime, he wondered if that entity had already achieved the miracles Lennok had only imagined.

If he had once achieved the miracles Lennok had vaguely thought of.

But, precisely because of that—

“Aron.”

At that moment, Antares, who had been silent all this time, spoke.

The Seer, who had been staring at the untouched food, said softly.

“You still hold onto and discard far more than necessary.”

Antares met the monarch’s gaze and slowly shook his head.

“After seeing the failure I committed on the Pilgrimage Path, has your heart still not changed?”

“Antares. You don’t seem to have changed much yourself, actually.”

Aron, his tone slightly altered, smiled and tilted his head.

“Still foolish, ignorant, and obsessive.”

“……”

“That’s why I liked you when you were a mercenary, and why it was enjoyable… ”

Aron’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Antares.

“Now, it feels a little disappointing.”

“……”

“Indeed, memories are only beautiful when kept as memories.”

“Aron. I’ve always respected your will and insight, but we don’t agree on that point.”

Antares slowly rose and said with a faint smile.

“Because I’ve been disappointed in myself for a long time.”

“……Is that so?”

Whoosh!

There was no reply.

The moment Antares turned, his body scattered like a shadow into the night sky and vanished.

The Seer’s form had completely disappeared, leaving no trace to be felt anywhere in the royal palace.

But Aron, even seeing Antares vanish, did not bother to search for him or try to stop him.

Instead, he merely raised his wine glass in a toast towards the seat where Antares had been.

“The failure my old friend faced was a very unfortunate and regrettable accident.”

Aron, emptying his glass, rose and walked towards the balcony.

His eyes, in contrast to his somewhat gentle tone, were cold and sunken.

“But the end of a failed Seer. One can pity it, but one cannot empathize with it. Don’t you agree?”

“If you want to reminisce, you’ve picked the wrong person.”

Lennok, having collected his thoughts in the time Antares bought him, retorted.

“I didn’t come to the royal capital to indulge your pointless antics just to hear that kind of answer.”

“……”

“You must have more to say about why you brought things to this point by mentioning Ban-gung’s bloodline.”

Lennok hadn’t expected the monarch of Kabahim to openly reveal and explain the royal capital’s secrets first, but he still hadn’t forgotten why he was here.

The reason Aronbaiger treated Ban-gung’s bloodline so reverently and needed them.

The reason he first explained the existence of The Gate and the Dead God sleeping within it.

To hear that explanation, Lennok had endured the bother of wandering throughout the royal palace and now stood here.

It was impossible to proceed with the infiltration operation without understanding the motives behind the Kabahim monarch’s actions.

Lennok being identified as part of Ban-gung’s bloodline and treated as such immediately upon entering the royal capital was an unforeseen event.

Therefore, more information was needed about Aronbaiger himself, who had orchestrated this situation.

How did the monarch, who had reached Level 8 with the Talent for Duality, use his talent?

What did this man, who had ascended to the throne by observing the duality of fate, want from Lennok?

The monarch of Kabahim gazed intently at Lennok’s face, then slowly began to walk.

“There are countless legends and discussions about Ascension, but records of Transcendents themselves are mostly worthless and exaggerated accounts.”

Aron, running a hand over the balcony railing, said softly.

“Because a Transcendent is an entity that has gained the qualification to challenge; truly understanding their greatness is impossible for anyone who is not a Seeker themselves.”

“……”

“Even if one tries to discuss their way of thinking and values from a mortal’s perspective, it would ultimately be nothing more than fumbling with one aspect of a distant transcendence.”

The monarch’s gaze, looking at the banquet unfolding below the balcony, grew cold.

“That would be no different even if a ‘god’ were the opponent, not a Transcendent.”

“……”

Aron slowly turned to Lennok and said as he walked.

“The Blessing bestowed upon the royal capital is the very origin and focal point of Kabahim. However, precisely because of this, this country is strongly bound by the existence of the Blessing.”

On the outdoor balcony, with the night sky visible, Aron, with his back to the banquet hall, asked mockingly.

“Truly, don’t you find it trivial?”

“……”

“There’s no need to beat around the bush. I find the ‘Blessing’ bound to the royal capital to be quite… wasteful. To put it crudely, I even think that power is being squandered in vain.”

Had the monarch of Kabahim himself, who relied on the royal capital’s Blessing as its focal point, harbored doubts about the Blessing’s existence?

The monarch slowly rose from his seat and said softly.

“If the ‘death’ of the god existing beyond The Gate is a Blessing to us, then by processing that death in a different way, we could achieve far more than we do now.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Great bloodline. So I ask you.”

Aron turned his gaze and looked down at Lennok, asking.

“Will you not join me in acquiring the remains of the Dead God existing beyond The Gate?”

“……”

“As someone not a resident of Kabahim, you wouldn’t find meaning or value in the Blessing bound to the royal capital. But the remains of the god, the origin of the Blessing, are different.”

Aron’s eyes gleamed.

“It is proof of victory that has existed only a few times throughout the past and future… a remnant of an accomplishment that defies the heavens, and a supreme treasure that even the great powers of the Central have never dared to possess.”

“……”

“Originally, it would have required Freya Carlins’ help to adjust the Blessing throughout the royal capital and attempt this. But with you, there will be no need to waste such time.”

Lennok guessed why Aronbaiger Kabahim was so certain he was of Ban-gung’s bloodline.

It must be because Aron sensed the power of the gauntlets crafted using Ban-gung’s bloodline as ‘material’.

But Lennok knew he wasn’t of the bloodline Aron spoke of.

Perhaps, long ago, he might have been such an existence as Aron described.

He might have possessed the distant transcendence spoken of in countless rumors and legends.

Yet, what it meant for Lennok to remain himself now.

What it meant to remain Lennok himself, not a Transcendent, Lennok already understood.

“If you, of Ban-gung’s bloodline, open The Gate, I will be able to bring the Dead God’s remains from the Otherworldly Sanctuary into reality.”

Aron slowly raised his hand and said.

“If you accept this, I swear to ‘process’ the Dead God’s remains and share the fruits of it with you equally.”

“……”

“If I can dream the same dream as those gods of the sea for even a moment, I am willing to wager fate and toss the coin.”

Aron’s message: if someone of Ban-gung’s bloodline opened The Gate, he would bring the Dead God’s remains from the Otherworldly Sanctuary.

Since the royal capital’s ‘Blessing’ was a miracle originating from the Dead God’s remains within The Gate, the Blessing would disappear if the plan succeeded.

But even at such a risk, Aron so intensely desired to acquire the Dead God’s remains.

‘He doesn’t hide his purpose or intentions. But…’

Aron’s explanation had an unpleasantly blunt aspect, yet the plan itself held an intriguing part.

Perhaps because Aron’s plan itself wasn’t such a bad deal for Lennok.

After all, Lennok had participated in the infiltration operation not for the Dead God, but for The Gate itself.

Wasn’t it to adjust the output of Lennok’s rampaging lightning magic by using the existence of The Gate?

Even if the direction was different, it was clear that Aron’s plan partially aligned with Lennok’s goal.

However—

Thud!

Lennok took a step back and said.

“Even if it’s a Dead God existing in an Otherworldly Sanctuary, it’s still just remains, a corpse.”

“……”

“No matter how you sugarcoat it, it’s just a remnant, not a living god.”

Slowly creating distance from Aron, he turned his gaze to the banquet hall below the balcony.

At this point of questioning, even Lennok couldn’t guess Aron’s true objective.

If so, there was a fact that needed to be confirmed, even if it meant starting the infiltration operation right here.

“Even if all that is true, how do you intend to use the Dead God’s remains to gain the power to change fate?”

If, as Aron explained, the ownership of the royal capital’s Blessing fundamentally belonged to Lennok,

Then cooperating with his proposed plan to use the Dead God’s remains would mean Lennok himself relinquishing the Blessing.

Lennok, who neither enjoyed the benefits of the Blessing nor resided in the royal capital, had no great attachment to its existence.

But was there any reason to cooperate with Aron’s plan by actively destroying an already existing Blessing with his own hands?

Lennok, who had arrived in Kabahim’s royal capital to join Pandemonium’s infiltration operation, had no such imperative.

The moment Lennok, thinking so, revealed his undisguised skepticism towards Aron.

“I was born with the Talent for Duality, observing both sides of all things, and have striven throughout my life to control that talent.”

Aron said softly.

“There were countless failures and errors, but I have gained forbidden knowledge by learning and forgetting much.”

Whoosh—!

Suddenly, Aron was standing right next to Lennok, looking down at him.

As if the story he was about to tell should not be heard anywhere else in the royal palace.

Aron naturally placed a hand on Lennok’s shoulder, slowly bowed his head, and murmured.

“It is the method of observing and identifying the ‘duality’ of death, and then materializing it in an impossible way.”

“Materialization of… death?”

The Dead God’s remains existing in the Otherworldly Sanctuary. What did it mean to materialize that ‘death’ with the Talent for Duality?

No, could a dead body even be processed and used in such a way in the first place?

The intense sense of incongruity that swept through his mind was a feeling Lennok had encountered many times before.

The moment Lennok’s expression hardened as he instantly sensed something upon hearing those words.

“I will use the Dead God’s remains as material to craft a Forbidden Armament.”

Aron whispered quietly to Lennok.

“A blasphemous weapon, made from a god, not a human. Its power will undoubtedly become a miracle that covers the entire sea and sky.”

“……”

The crafting of a Forbidden Armament using the Dead God’s remains as material.

Literally, processing the death of a god, using its power and abilities as the function of a weapon—this was the taboo.

The blasphemy Aron sought to obtain, even at the cost of abandoning the royal capital’s Blessing, was—

“A medium that directly connects to the dark sea without any cost or conditions.”

As Lennok was momentarily speechless, Aron slowly raised his head and murmured.

“It will be a new The Gate by its very existence, and simultaneously an omnipotent artifact that wields Apostle Spellcraft without human sacrifice.”