Chapter 1394: Paradise Lost (5)
In the outermost border zone of Paradise Lost, where black lightning echoed across the darkened sky.
Amidst the profound silence, only the ominous tremor of the Spell-Word Stones could be heard.
“I can certainly tell that the concept of ‘Spell-Word’ prevalent in Paradise Lost is extraordinarily broad.”
Crunch!!
Soryu remarked with a chilling voice, stepping on the charred, crumpled remains of a corpse.
His gaze fell upon the remnants of bodies that had been gnawing at each other’s heads before death.
“These corpses definitely ate brains and absorbed memories or knowledge. The very fact that such a thing is possible —”
“It must be proof that Jinwa has openly engaged in cannibalism, seizing the power and memories of others.”
Sarin shrugged, sheathing his short sword. An Ideological Domain is a space where laws governed by an Ascendant’s values and standards apply.
The ability to eat brains and absorb knowledge in Paradise Lost was evidence that its master considered it ‘possible’.
“Well, it’s hardly surprising at this point, is it? Isn’t it natural, given they use humans as nutrients?”
“Excuse me, but what exactly do you mean by ‘natural’? Don’t go asking for unnecessary sympathy.”
“Indeed, it might seem natural to a vampire who feeds on human blood.”
“Freya. That’s not what I meant, you know?”
“Hylaea. The Spell-Word Stones are active… shouldn’t we stop them…?”
“No, I don’t think we need to act first.”
However, Hylaea promptly shook her head at Agneta’s question.
“When it comes to this kind of thing, there’s no greater expert than him over there.”
“Oho… !”
As Agneta tilted her head at the equivocal reply, the Conjunction Spell Master’s exclamation was heard from beside them.
He was stroking his chin with a gloved hand, his gaze fixed on something in the distance.
Crash!!!
Snap-crack-crunch!!!
The muscular arms of the Demonic Giant grabbed the corpses lunging from all directions and crushed them into the ground.
It seized the bone-crushed flesh and swung it like a club, flinging it at the charging corpses.
Shockwaves, like artillery shells, landed among the bodies, sending the shrieking corpses flying as if hit by an explosion.
[Kieeeeeek!]
[Queeeeeee!]
The corpses, even as their bodies burst like balloons, continued to charge madly, lusting for Lennok’s head.
The Demonic Giant, without a single word, silently continued its massacre, tearing them apart in its tyranny.
The sight of the wizard, sweeping the area around the Spell-Word Stones with a tidal wave of lightning and then tidying up the remaining corpses, left the members with an equivocal expression.
“No matter how I look at it, isn’t he just participating in this operation because he wants to kill people?”
“Quiet. Can’t you tell everyone knows and is keeping their mouths shut?”
“No, he’s not even fighting himself, to begin with.”
Among the members gathered here, some were seeing Lennok summon the Demonic Giant for the first time.
While an Arch-Wizard like Adamant Thunder wouldn’t be weakened by being bound by a Geas, they hadn’t expected him to be this powerful without even using his own abilities.
Moreover, the very fact that he could manipulate a summoned entity to perform such a tough melee combat was absurd.
“Excellent. So he did want to personally deal with the humans of Paradise Lost, after all.”
Only the voice of the Conjunction Spell Master, ceaselessly exclaiming in admiration from nearby, resonated.
“It’s astonishingly clean and efficient. Can you even guess how many humans one must butcher to reach such a level?”
“… …”
“No matter how I think about it, coming along on this mission was a good decision. Just observing from the side gives me constant inspiration.”
Ignoring the other members who looked at him with cold, disgusted eyes, the Conjunction Spell Master clapped fervently.
“Perfection is never achieved without madness. To go higher, one must inevitably break. That man’s back is the proof.”
“Seriously, there are only lunatics here. Are we really going to make it out alive?”
“I, I’m suddenly missing old man Croken. When is Croken Asylus getting here?”
“It seems to be mostly dealt with. Everyone, you worked hard.”
Smash!!!
Lennok, who had crushed the upper body of a corpse with one hand, approached the group.
“Thanks to you all personally confirming the Spell-Word Stones’ Geas, it ended quickly. Knowing in advance how the corpses consume knowledge made things easy.”
“… …”
From the moment Sarin’s robe was fed to a corpse, Lennok understood precisely how the Spell-Word Stones’ Geas worked.
That’s why, as soon as he confirmed the Geas, Lennok unleashed lightning magic – information itself, impossible to interpret – to overwhelm the corpses.
He filled them with capacity until they could no longer accept it, causing their very existence to burst.
If the Pandemonium members hadn’t personally tested the Geas, it would have taken much longer.
But among those who heard Lennok’s words, no one was pleased or happy.
Lennok smiled wryly, looking at the silent, equivocal members.
“Anyway, to summarize the important facts one by one —”
Lennok said, pushing away the Conjunction Spell Master who was approaching with a slightly excited expression.
“We’ve succeeded in stopping the Spell-Word Stones’ operation, ending the recent commotion. Can you see it?”
“… …”
Whoosh…!!!
As he spoke, the ominous purple glow emanating from the Spell-Word Stones was slowly fading.
The Spell-Word itself, on which the Geas was inscribed, seemed to be losing its power and disappearing, unable to maintain the space.
“It seems the corpses that were the nourishment for the Spell-Word Stones have all vanished, making it impossible for them to sustain themselves.”
Maiya said, wiping blood from her short sword.
“So, to stop the Spell-Word Stones’ operation, we have to eliminate all targets affected by the Geas?”
“That would be the case, but it’s not necessarily bad news for us.”
The Conjunction Spell Master said, intently studying the lightning scars etched into the skin of a fallen corpse.
“The very fact that we can stop the Spell-Word Stones’ operation by cutting off their nourishment proves that they were operating independently without Jinwa’s direct aid… If so, even if we stop a few Spell-Word Stones, this fact won’t immediately reach the Ascendant’s ears.”
“More importantly, after stopping the Spell-Word Stones here, other directions are starting to come into view.”
Hylaea calmly raised her hand.
“I see other Spell-Word Stones over there. Everyone’s already noticed, right?”
“Those are…”
Rumble…!!!
Beyond the horizon shrouded in thick mist.
Three pillars of purple light, spaced apart, could be seen where sky and land met in the distance.
Only after removing the light of the Spell-Word Stones covering this vicinity did the other Spell-Word Stones located in different parts of Paradise Lost begin to appear.
“The fact that other Spell-Word Stones only became visible after stopping one implies that this method is indeed correct for exploring Paradise Lost.”
Soryu said, adjusting his sheathed ice-cold sword.
“We’ll continue to stop the Spell-Word Stones as we move. However, we should also consider the possibility that the next ones might have completely different Geas inscribed on them.”
“But what happens if we violate the Spell-Word Stone’s Geas? Does the Ascendant come and devour us all?”
“Freya. How could the penalty for a Geas manifest in such a crude way? Are you stupid?”
“A Geas is the physical law itself, etched into Paradise Lost. Rather than incurring a penalty for violating it, it’s more accurate to say it simply cannot be violated through ordinary means.”
Hylaea answered.
“Just as an ordinary human cannot walk on water, trying to forcibly violate a Geas would likely just result in failure…”
“Then, what if we defy the Geas in a special way, not an ordinary one?”
“Even that… ultimately depends on how important Jinwa considers the Geas to be.”
A Domain is the power to project one’s Root Mindscape onto reality, altering one’s own spellcraft and rules.
But an Ideological Domain is the power to enforce those altered rules upon the world and others.
The difference lies between a Domain, which stands at the pinnacle of Self-Transformation, and an Ideological Domain, which enforces World Alteration.
Perhaps there is a secret within that difference that pierces the very essence of Paradise Lost.
While Lennok was deep in thought, pondering the concept of an Ideological Domain, the other members began exchanging opinions and discussing their next steps.
“Ermont, what about you? Can you find the Nether King’s legacy here and now?”
“Well. It feels closer than I thought, but at the same time, not exactly nearby…”
Ermont tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
“It’s vague. I think I’ll only know for sure if we go further inside.”
Ermont, born of the Black Edict bloodline, was currently the Nether King’s only living kin in this world.
Though his body might be that of a stranger, his soul was undoubtedly that of a blood relative born into the family.
They had been using Sarin’s blood magic on Ermont to find the location of Myeong’s legacy by tracing his bloodline, but there had been no news yet.
“Alright. From here on, we’ll have no choice but to split up.”
Hylaea, placing a hand on the surface of a broken Spell-Word Stone, brought order to the situation.
“I’ll synchronize with this Spell-Word Stone to locate the others and send signals. Agneta will use Manipulation Spellcraft to connect the members’ consciousnesses, and Freya’s spellcraft will send telepathic messages.”
“Sarin will accompany Ermont to search for the legacy, and the others will split into groups to quickly tackle the three Spell-Word Stones… is that it?”
Ermont, being of the same bloodline as Myeong, and Sarin, who can use blood magic, could not be separated.
As Sarin could also act as Ermont’s escort, the team would be divided assuming those two would move together.
Excluding Agneta, Hylaea, and Freya, who would primarily be in the rear, there were four remaining: Soryu, Maiya, the Conjunction Spell Master, and Lennok. All were powerful Transcendent beings, around Level 8, capable of independent operations.
The Conjunction Spell Master nodded as if it were obvious.
“No need to even decide teams. I’ll go with Adamant Thunder.”
“No, you two absolutely have to be separated. What are you talking about?”
Freya said, exasperated.
“Four people need to tackle three Spell-Word Stones. Someone absolutely has to go alone. If we don’t send the most powerful wizard here alone, who else will go?”
“That’s none of my concern. Can’t we just send the ice wielder and the enforcer separately?”
“Hey!”
“Hylaea. Will you be alright?”
Freya and the Conjunction Spell Master immediately began bickering, but Lennok ignored them and looked at the nun.
He knew that, while it seemed like he was placing the relatively weaker individuals in the rear, there was more to it.
“Even though it’s stopped functioning, synchronizing with a Spell-Word Stone… if anything goes wrong, your mind could be shattered.”
“… …”
“You intend to use your Talent for Duality to directly link your consciousness to the Spell-Word Stones, don’t you? That’s too great a risk.”
The Spell-Words and Geas inscribed on Jinwa’s Spell-Word Stones were whispers of madness that no human could endure.
Looking at them simultaneously, both from within and without, was quite literally an act that would grind down one’s mind.
In a way, Hylaea was taking on the most dangerous role alone.
However, Hylaea and the other members’ expressions subtly changed upon hearing his words.
“It… it really doesn’t suit a wizard like the Tower Lord to say that.”
“It’s curious. Why would an artist who has killed tens of thousands worry about others?”
“Didn’t I say it? Just by listening to him, he sounds more normal than us.”
“They say there’s only a thin line between genius and madness.”
“Are you stupid?”
“Thanks for the concern, but don’t worry.”
While the other members deliberated, Hylaea said with a wry smile.
“Sabrinah gave me a large amount of Spell-Word related data before she went to sleep. Referencing these should prevent my mind from collapsing while investigating the Spell-Word Stones.”
“… …”
“Let’s get back to the main point. I agree with Freya regarding the personnel distribution. As long as we have an asymmetrical force like Adamant Thunder here, it seems most efficient to distribute our strength to the other teams as much as possible.”
“Tsk…”
“…Chapman. Is it really that disappointing that you can’t go with Adamant Thunder?”
“Understood. I’ll take one of the three Spell-Word Stones myself.”
Lennok nodded as Ermont, next to the Conjunction Spell Master who clicked his tongue, asked in bewilderment.
“However, I can’t go alone; I’ll need to take one more person.”
“Hm?”
“Agneta needs to establish a communication network using Manipulation Spellcraft, and Hylaea needs to synchronize with the Spell-Word Stones to determine their coordinates.”
Lennok smiled.
“So, isn’t there one person left here who has nothing to do but lend their spellcraft?”
“W-why… why me, of all people…?”
In the center of an orchard filled with countless purple, withered trees.
Freya, her face pale, cautiously followed behind Lennok.
“I said we’d use Agneta’s Manipulation Spellcraft linked to your Musical Scale Spellcraft to communicate within Paradise Lost, but telepathy using spellcraft doesn’t work on me.”
Lennok said indifferently.
“Since I can’t hear the information Hylaea relays, it’s most logical to bring you, the core of the Musical Scale Spellcraft, directly to communicate.”
“Tower Lord. I’m sorry, but I’m not a portable walkie-talkie or communicator, you know? Even if you think that, please don’t show it.”
Linking Manipulation Spellcraft and Musical Scale Spellcraft made it possible to transmit sounds to each other, even within an Ideological Domain where all observation and will-thought were blocked.
However, Freya’s Musical Scale Spellcraft, using Targeted Designation, did not work on Lennok, who possessed Targeted Resistance.
And Lennok had no intention of releasing his Targeted Resistance within Paradise Lost from the start.
He needed to bring Freya along for communication with the other members moving elsewhere.
“Phew, I… I’m not good at fighting, you know…”
Freya glanced nervously around, lowering her voice.
“I don’t want to die in a place like this… I might not be able to help properly if a fight breaks out, okay? I’m telling you this beforehand.”
“Don’t worry, I never expected you to, anyway.”
Lennok chuckled.
“If anything, I don’t understand why you’re being so cautious now. Isn’t it a bit sudden?”
“What? Tower Lord. That’s what I want to say!”
Freya turned her head sharply, indignant.
“You, I’ve been feeling it clearly, you’re a madman on a different level from Victor. Even if I insult you right to your face, you probably don’t care at all, do you? You don’t mind what I say?”
“… …”
“No matter how I think about it, your way of thinking is twisted in some utterly illogical direction. Why do you suddenly resort to force when you should be using your brain?! Are you trying to kill us all here?”
“But it’s effective.”
“Hey!”
“I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not acting solely on impulse as you might think. To be precise, I’m not even doing that now.”
Lennok raised his gaze.
“The reason I chose this direction out of the three Spell-Word Stones for exploration is that Myeong’s black magic is particularly dense in the sky around here.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Let’s consider it from another perspective. What if there are other people who have entered Paradise Lost besides us?”
Lennok raised a hand, looking at the frowning Freya.
“Most would have died quickly and become corpses, but a strong and intelligent few might have tackled the Spell-Word Stones like us. And if they were that sharp, they would have realized that the power of the Spell-Word weakens where the sky is darkened by black magic.”
“That’s…”
“If there are still people alive in Paradise Lost, people who came here with a purpose like ours…”
Lennok murmured.
“Wouldn’t they naturally gather in areas dense with black magic?”
“…You want to meet them directly?”
“I don’t know. To be precise, I want to confirm it…”
Lennok said, slowly raising his head.
“We’re here. We’ve arrived at the Spell-Word Stone.”
“What?”
Freya flinched and looked up, and before her eyes, a colossal Spell-Word Stone glowing purple was visible.
Around it, only hills of corpses and cadavers brutally shattered, as if crushed by fists or black magic, lay scattered.
Lennok stood on the corpses, his back to the Spell-Word Stone, looking at Freya.
“… …”
Could it be that, while talking to Freya, he had slaughtered the corpses strewn around this Spell-Word Stone without making a sound?
As she made a blank expression, finally understanding why Lennok had been talking to her all along, Lennok turned towards the Spell-Word Stone.
“We’ll discuss the detailed questions later; let’s look at the Spell-Word Stone first. The Geas inscribed on this monument is quite unusual.”
[For the discarded, observe propriety.]
[For those who come from outside, certain rules are inscribed here.]
[Geas One. Loud disturbances are forbidden.]
[Geas One. Running around is forbidden.]
[Geas One. Return a gift received.]
[Give one, receive one.]
[Those who fail to observe the basics shall be captured and imprisoned.]
“What is this?”
Freya’s expression turned strange.
“These are some… very peculiar rules.”
“… …”
“It seems to be a roundabout way of saying ‘don’t make a fuss.’ Did you secretly deal with the corpses because of that?”
“It’s not just that. Look closely at the Geas inscribed here.”
Lennok reached out and touched the Spell-Word Stone.
“Silence. Propriety. Rules… The entire space is being marked as a public place, yet there are no such facilities or stages here.”
“… …”
“The act of giving and receiving something is established as a Geas, and the process itself is encouraged to follow a set procedure.”
Lennok said.
“It’s as if… this entire space was created for ‘transactions’ with a third party, wouldn’t you say?”
Thump!!
At that moment, heavy footsteps were heard from behind the Spell-Word Stone, which Lennok and Freya were observing.
The sound of multiple people moving simultaneously, approaching the Spell-Word Stone.
The two, hiding nearby, identified those approaching from the opposite side of Paradise Lost.
“People. Could it be…?”
Scores of people were approaching the Spell-Word Stone in orderly formation.
They looked like ascetics, walking while carrying something tall and covered with thick cloth in the center of their formation.
Their appearances and clothing varied, but all wore black blindfolds over their eyes.
“Tower Lord. Those are…”
“Retainers of the Three Grand Dukes.”
At Freya’s urgent words, Lennok gathered his mana with a沉重的 gaze.
“They’ve come to Paradise Lost to ‘transact’ something.”
“…What will you do?”
Lennok’s conjecture that the living people in Paradise Lost would gather in areas dense with black magic was accurate.
In that process, it became clear that the retainers of the Three Grand Dukes had come here to exchange something.
However, Lennok, looking at the retainers approaching the Spell-Word Stone, brought up something else.
“How are the other members? Has any team achieved anything?”
“What?”
Freya tilted her head at Lennok’s inexplicable question.
“No… there’s no particular news. It seems the others are still searching for the Spell-Word Stones.”
“That means there are no major problems in other directions yet.”
Lennok said, standing up.
“Then it won’t matter if we cause trouble here first.”
“…Why does that lead to that conclusion?”