Chapter 477: Observer of the World (4)

“The depths of the Trama Mountains are one of the mystic realms created by the concentrated ley lines of this area.”

Lapis said.

“If I build a new lighthouse here with my Lighthouse Keeper’s ability, I can observe the Outer Sea through the celestial orb, which operates by borrowing the power of the ley lines.”

“…”

“I will gather all the magical energy of the continent to illuminate the night sky and connect constellations to create a grand barrier that will cover all the nights of the world.”

By selecting a mystic realm or famous spot where the continent’s ley lines converge, a new lighthouse is constructed, and its power is activated by borrowing the land’s magical energy.

The light of the lighthouse, which is originally supposed to be operated and amplified by the Lighthouse Keeper’s ability to illuminate the Outer Sea, would instead be mass-produced by substituting it with the power of the mystic realms.

What if such lighthouses were newly constructed across the entire continent, consolidating the power to illuminate the night sky?

Even if it cannot perfectly replace the Ascendant’s mission, it could surely halt the movements of the impending apocalypse from beyond the Outer Sea.

“We cannot prevent the end where the cycle of karma ceases, and life and death stop.”

Lapis quietly continued.

“But if we can protect the world from within and without by making the night sky a gateway, we will undoubtedly find a better answer than we have now.”

It’s about bringing not just the Lighthouse of the autonomous region, but the entire night sky into the Lighthouse’s observation range, and maintaining the sea of stars in coexistence under the laws of karma.

In a sense, it’s a plan that goes beyond simply inheriting the mission that the previous Lighthouse Keeper, Madria Falcia, carried out; it would even expand upon it.

On a chessboard where some open the world’s sky to worship outer gods, and others attempt to kill them, Lapis found her own meaning.

It means endlessly expanding what a Lighthouse Keeper must do, and attempting to broaden the cycle of karma even a little in the face of destruction.

It was the Lighthouse Keeper’s own assertion, promising all living beings in this world more time than what was predetermined.

Only then did Lennok realize how Lapis had managed to persuade the powerful eccentrics of the Western Continent to join her side.

Countless powerful individuals who couldn’t sympathize with Pandemonium, the cult, or the giants of the Central Front, yet couldn’t find a suitable way for their own survival.

The answer Lapis chose was a grand plan that could encompass even these neutral forces, a plan that, in some ways, only she could achieve.

Acknowledging and accepting that the Lighthouse Keeper alone can no longer continue the previous Lighthouse Keeper’s mission.

Instead, it’s about building new lighthouses across the continent with the help of others, and using their light to illuminate the Outer Sea beyond the world, thereby delaying destruction.

A task that would add a tiny bit more meaning to the already concluded cycle of karma.

It wasn’t hard to guess how much time and effort she had put into explaining and convincing people of this.

Even after devising a plan that only a Lighthouse Keeper could achieve, bringing it to tangible results and setting it on track.

Until she built up the power and influence to realize the plan of constructing new lighthouses, which would have seemed like a pipe dream when it began.

In some ways, what she had accomplished was different from what Lennok had done so far, yet fundamentally similar.

While Lennok was lost in thought, Lapis quietly gazed at the darkening night sky before turning her head.

“This isn’t what I wanted to show you, Evan. Shall we head to the celestial orb?”

Saying so, Lapis naturally led Lennok to the massive hollow located below.

Many times more Watchers than those in the valley moved busily around the spire rising from the center of the hollow.

There was no quiet moment due to the sounds of combat training and material production taking place in a wide open space.

“So, you’ve essentially concentrated your efforts here.”

“Because it’s the first step in the plan to build a lighthouse in a mystic realm. It was necessary to concentrate all our efforts here.”

Lapis waved to the Watchers looking up from below the hollow and replied.

“The celestial orb, which handles the lighthouse’s core functions, doesn’t operate without sufficient power supply… so we had to put in extra effort.”

“So that’s why Pajeop Valley was designated and shared as a common area.”

Lapis smiled mischievously.

“From the moment the entire mountain range came under our management, no one passing through the valley would escape our sight.”

At the point where the Eyes of Blue took control of the internal passages of the Trama Mountains, any force heading towards the Central Front through Pajeop Valley would essentially be under surveillance.

Simultaneously providing a foothold to advance to the Central Front and serving as a surveillance role for latecomers behind the Eyes of Blue.

They plan to continue their activities by making this second lighthouse, following the Pilenom Autonomous Region, their core base.

Lapis’s statement that she wasn’t immediately advancing to the Central Front, but rather building a bridgehead for it, was not an empty boast.

As they descended the long, winding staircase built into the hollow’s wall, faces familiar to Lennok began to appear one by one.

“Evan, it’s been a while.”

“Aren’t you too late? The work here is already done.”

“Leave it. Lapis was so insistent on showing it to him last…”

“I heard you’re quite busy in Vulcan anyway.”

“You still haven’t been caught working with us? You’re quite talented.”

Watchers who had been with him in the labyrinth, like Seon-myeong and Lance, and even warriors he’d encountered in the autonomous region.

While greeting Lennok, some commanded their subordinate Watchers to leave the hollow, while others busily returned and entered the spire.

The scene inside the spire, located within the hollow, looked even busier.

“Mission assignments for this area aren’t going through properly. We need to deal with variables obstructing communication and establish a connection…”

“The perimeter around the mountain range isn’t fully established yet. We don’t have enough Watcher forces to deploy there.”

“We need war to secure good mystic realms. For now, lighthouse stabilization is the priority.”

“That’s not wrong. Since the autonomous region’s lighthouse was breached once, its barrier needs a major overhaul…”

Watchers engaged in discussion within a huge conference room, with a map encompassing the vast plateau of the Eastern Continent spread out.

Some held various surveying tools, calculating the holographic terrain, while others raised questions about overall plans like the deployment of Watcher forces.

Even without Lapis present, individuals continuously exchanging opinions could be seen throughout the conference room.

This indicates that various operations and personnel are simultaneously working to expand and build up the power of the Eyes of Blue.

Lapis turned to Lennok and gave an awkward smile.

“Since the second lighthouse plan succeeded faster than expected, everyone is filled with enthusiasm.”

“It seems they’re already searching for new candidate sites to build lighthouses.”

“Because many Watchers directly witnessed what became possible once the second lighthouse was constructed.”

Saying so, Lapis naturally stood before a thick iron door at the end of the corridor.

As if sensing her presence, the sturdily constructed door smoothly opened as if drawn by an invisible force.

Whirr…!!

A circular room, more vast than any other space within the spire.

A hologram resembling constellations etched into a dark night sky rotated on the ceiling, and cold mist below the floor dampened their calves, scattering a chilling cold.

And in the center of that room, a massive celestial orb floated quietly.

Light emanating from the orb’s surface illuminated the entire room in a circle, rotating and projecting the panorama of the night sky throughout the space.

This was the celestial orb that illuminates the Outer Sea, which only those who inherited the Lighthouse Keeper’s mission could create, manage, and possess.

An observation device of mission, created to illuminate the sea of darkness and face the landscape beyond.

Lapis, who had approached, placed her hand on the celestial orb and spoke.

“The meaning of constructing a new lighthouse. In other words, it’s like expanding the concept and meaning of a lighthouse in this world.”

“…”

“As the concept of the lighthouse expands, it’s only natural that the Lighthouse Keeper’s vessel and abilities also expand proportionally.”

Watching the dolphin spirit leaping above her head, Lapis gently stroked the celestial orb.

“In fact, from the moment we began stabilizing the celestial orb, abilities and memories different from those I inherited from my grandmother began to continuously flow in.”

At the same time, the magical energy that saturated her hand resonated, creating beautiful starlight between her fingers.

Lennok realized that this was the power that had instantly transported him from the lowest floor of the lighthouse to the top.

Perhaps, limited to the area around the lighthouse, she could now use greater and more diverse abilities than she originally possessed.

“Memories and knowledge of those who held the Lighthouse Keeper’s position before my grandmother… As we continue to build new lighthouses, I’ll learn and be able to do even more.”

It is said that before the previous Lighthouse Keeper, the position of Lighthouse Keeper was passed down through generations by Ascendants of a moderate disposition.

Like Jindun had done for Lennok in the past, perhaps the Lighthouse Keepers also found their own way to pass on their memories or abilities to their successors?

It wasn’t that she was claiming to prevent the opening of the sky without any promise or guarantee.

It was simply something that the Eyes of Blue wouldn’t have dared to attempt before gaining this level of influence and talent.

Lennok thought so, then stepped forward and lightly tapped the end of his sleeve.

At the same time, a huge bundle of scrolls popped out from inside his coat. A massive Papyrus, easily taller than Lapis.

“Kyaaah?”

Startled, Lapis took a step back, and simultaneously the dolphin spirit caught her body.

Lennok unfurled the Papyrus, placed it on the floor where the celestial orb floated, and began forming hand seals with both hands.

Whoosh!!!

As Lennok’s magical energy dripped onto the Papyrus, complex barrier arrays were instantly engraved onto the paper, as if ink was being painted over it.

The Spell Armament, Papyrus Argenteus, obtained from Jindun’s labyrinth.

Although it’s now used to store Lennok’s own Flicker spell, it was originally an artifact created to easily construct and record barrier arrays.

As he painted magical energy onto the Papyrus, formed hand seals, and gestured, the barrier array constructed in response to his movements was smoothly projected onto the floor and began to rotate.

Hummmm!!

The barrier array, which had filled the room and glowed, suddenly lifted from the floor, gracefully enveloping the celestial orb.

The intricately engraved barrier array vibrated on the orb’s surface, then melted away as if it had never existed.

As Lennok dusted off his hands and retrieved the Papyrus, Lapis, who had approached and touched the celestial orb, spoke in a surprised voice.

“The celestial orb’s magical energy is much more stable than before… Evan, this couldn’t be…!”

If it’s a spell and technique capable of directly touching and stabilizing the Lighthouse Keeper’s celestial orb, it must at least be an Ascendant’s spell, wouldn’t it?

Lennok nodded.

“It’s Jindun’s barrier magic.”

“!!”

Lapis gasped, her face pale.

Lennok revealed one of the secrets he had kept hidden, in a calm tone.

“I met Jindun at the end of the Hanghasa Labyrinth and inherited his barrier magic.”

“Evan, that’s…!!”

“I thought you might have already guessed. After all, I was the only one who maintained my sanity to the very end in the labyrinth.”

“That’s true… But I didn’t think you would inherit barrier magic itself, not just an artifact…”

Lapis said, looking flustered.

“You… it’s too dangerous for you to tell me this… If others find out, the situation will be too…”

“I had planned to tell you once I became proficient enough in barrier magic.”

Lennok said so, meeting Lapis’s gaze.

“In a way, it’s thanks to you that I was able to meet Jindun and hear his last words.”

“…”

“I understand that your plan to build new lighthouses has practical validity.”

“Th-then…!!”

“However, I cannot become a Watcher.”

As Lennok cut her off sharply, Lapis’s expression turned glum again.

Lennok chuckled, seeing her expression.

“Since I’ve inherited another Ascendant’s spell, I can’t be tied to the Eyes of Blue. Instead, I’ll cooperate with the Eyes of Blue’s plan.”

Lennok didn’t just casually reveal that he had inherited Jindun’s barrier magic at this point for no reason.

Stabilizing the lighthouse’s magical energy and output through barrier magic and protecting it from external variables is important, but also…

It also creates a justification for Evan not being able to formally take on the Watcher’s role, since he is continuing Jindun’s barrier magic.

In a situation where the Eyes of Blue are rapidly growing, such a justification is necessary to maintain a suitable distance while working with them.

Furthermore, if Lapis’s words are true, what she desires is to draw a grand barrier across the constellations of the night sky using lighthouses throughout the continent.

What better time could there be to casually mention that he knows how to use Jindun’s barrier magic, just like now?

“Since I’ve come after a long time, I don’t intend to just listen to a brief explanation and leave.”

Lennok stood up, looked down at Lapis, and smiled gently.

“If you prepare the necessary catalysts, I’ll help construct the lighthouse barrier. Is that acceptable?”

After that, Lennok spent his time constructing barriers around the celestial orb and the lighthouse, guided by Lapis.

He built and layered security and containment barriers, not just around the celestial orb, but also throughout the entire mountain range and key strategic points in Pajeop Valley.

A grand barrier created by making the barrier arrays placed throughout the mountain range resonate and sublimate into a scale that covers the entire lighthouse.

While it couldn’t yet compare to the Moon Barrier personally created by the previous Lighthouse Keeper, its intricacy was no less, given that Lennok, who had fully inherited Jindun’s barrier magic, was using it…

Watchers observing Lapis and Lennok moving around the lighthouse were so surprised by the level of skill.

“I had no idea Evan possessed such advanced barrier magic…”

“Look at how much area he covered in just one day. The construction speed is unbelievable.”

“At this rate, there’s no need to invite the Stania Monastery. It looks much more stable than what their monks use.”

The Watchers clicked their tongues in awe, gazing at the subtle magical light spreading below the lighthouse.

Although Lennok changed the magical patterns he used, so they didn’t recognize it as Jindun’s barrier magic, there were many Watchers knowledgeable enough to understand its level.

“Now I understand why Lapis wanted to call Evan at the very end.”

“If he’s a wizard who can handle barrier magic of that level, it’s advisable to assign him tasks after the operation is complete.”

“No, Evan is an exceptionally skilled battle mage among us. It wasn’t for nothing that we sought him out in Pajeop Valley.”

“A barrier mage of that caliber is originally a warmage? So there was another reason why he was too busy to visit the lighthouse.”

“…”

Somehow, even though he said nothing, he heard sounds of his reputation rising from various places, but Lennok ignored them and focused on constructing the barrier arrays.

For Lennok himself, there weren’t many opportunities to freely use Jindun’s barrier magic like this.

Barrier magic, crafted with the talent and insight of an Ascendant, can reach a state where, when handled to its extreme, one can confine and manipulate concepts themselves, like Jindun.

Lennok was not yet able to wield barrier magic at that level, but he recognized that this spell he inherited from Jindun could be used in a wide variety of ways.

Except for the drawback that drawing barrier arrays and maintaining spells requires various catalysts and time, the power of barrier magic could virtually be applied to almost all fields and spell systems.

Lapis followed Lennok closely throughout the barrier array construction, carefully guarding their surroundings.

Knowing that Lennok was using Jindun’s barrier magic, she was likely worried about information leaking.

“Is it almost finished now?”

“Ah, yes! Actually, it’s already more than what the plan called for, but…”

Lapis muttered in a slightly embarrassed voice, bowing her head.

“Please just help with the underground hollow beneath the spire.”

“Alright. After that, I’ll hear about this operation.”

“…Yes?”

Lennok chuckled, seeing Lapis’s slightly bewildered face.

“If you merely wanted to explain all this, there would be no reason to call me specifically at this point.”

“…”

“Didn’t you request reinforcements now because you thought there was something you needed help with?”

Lapis was one of the people who knew best, albeit indirectly, about Lennok’s combat capabilities.

If she, who was already subtly intimidated by Lennok, had made such a big decision to call him here, it wouldn’t be for just one small matter.

Unless it was a problem requiring Lennok’s strength, like the drug king or the Hanghasa Labyrinth issue, there’s no way she would have called him after the Pajeop Valley operation was completed.

Only then did Lapis touch her cheek with a slightly abashed expression.

“Does it show that much on my face?”

“More or less.”

“Uh… no.”

Lapis, who had hesitated with an expression as if wanting to ask something, let out a small sigh and changed the subject.

“Among the Watchers who set out to explore mystic realms, there’s one team that has reported both top-grade results and danger simultaneously.”

“Top-grade?”

“I haven’t heard the full story myself yet, but I’d like Evan to be present at the meeting with them.”

As Lapis spoke, she suddenly looked up.

“Ah, I think they’ve arrived.”

At that moment, a sound like hundreds of paper fragments rustling began to echo from somewhere in the sky.

Rustle!!!

Simultaneously with a light breeze sweeping through the mountain sky, hundreds of bright yellow paper fragments scattered, beginning to form a huge circle.

Unknown hieroglyphs were meticulously inscribed on every single yellow paper fragment.

The moment Lennok’s eyes narrowed as he realized they were familiar talisman forms.

The circle formed by the pile of talismans slowly began to descend from the sky towards the peak where the lighthouse was located.

Whoosh!!!

As it approached the ground, the rotation of the talisman pile intensified, and the radius of the circle narrowed, beginning to coalesce into one.

The circle, which was nearly tens of meters in diameter, narrowed and transformed into a gate large enough for a person to pass through.

The moment the bright yellow gate, formed by heavily compressed talisman fragments, landed in front of the lighthouse.

Thwack!!

The gate swung open, and three or four people quickly walked out from within.

“So, wasn’t the very attempt to assault it head-on the problem in the first place?”

“Are you saying we should have just secretly checked and then pulled out?”

“Bodies were piled up like mountains. How could we just pass that off as ‘checking’?”

“First, we need to report to Lapis and think of another method…”

As the gate opened, all the superhumans who walked out with boisterous conversation exuded an unusual aura.

The group walked unhesitatingly towards the lighthouse spire, heedless of the other Watchers watching them.

Lennok saw the man at the very back, walking with his hands behind his back, covered head to toe in talismans, and fell silent.

Gapseon. The Level 8 Talisman Sorcerer who saved Je-byeok’s life at the edge of Kaiushyu in the Western Continent.

The eccentric, who had stated he would join as a Watcher under Lapis’s will, had personally appeared in the Eastern Continent.

Gapseon, wearing a talisman mask, quietly surveyed the crystal tower, then his gaze suddenly stopped precisely on Lennok.

[…]

“…”

For Lennok, an intense sense of déjà vu, as if this wasn’t the first time.

It felt as if Gapseon was also experiencing the same, tilting his head behind the expressionless talisman mask.