Chapter 725: Wizard and Magic Tower (2)
The Guardian Spirit Beast’s egg, which appeared simultaneously with the Domain’s declaration, began to crack as it recognized Lennok’s voice.
As soon as he heard the explanation about the Guardian Spirit Beast that protected the Tower, Lennok remembered something.
The Phoenix Hall of the Blaiver Magic Tower’s 7th Tower Lord. The form of the small firebird that constituted its will-thought entity.
Did that relic become a Guardian Spirit Beast and emerge right after melting into the engine?
But Lennok knew there were questions he needed to ask Tatiana first.
“Tatiana. Did the Blaiver Magic Tower headquarters also have a Guardian Spirit Beast?”
“…There used to be, but I heard it was destroyed in the war.”
Tatiana replied, sifting through her memories.
“But I’ve seen Guardian Spirit Beasts from other Magic Towers about twice. Spirit beasts tied to ancient Magic Towers are treated like tactical weapons.”
If it’s a sentient being born simultaneously with the formation of a Domain, it’s a being born from such a dense concentration of powerful will-thought and magic.
Such a spirit beast’s growth potential and latent power would be on a different level from ordinary creatures.
But Lennok knew there was something he needed to confirm before considering the Guardian Spirit Beast’s combat power or value.
“What’s it like? If it’s a spirit beast, should I think of it as similar to an elemental spirit?”
If the being hatching from that egg was born based on Lennok’s self-consciousness, he might have to make everyone else flee immediately.
A pure aggregation of will-thought, unprocessed by Lennok’s reason and experience, would likely perceive everything around it as an enemy.
Tatiana, perhaps sensing Lennok’s urgency, quickly spoke.
“It’s a little different from elemental spirits. Instead of being bound to a Domain, they’re said to possess powerful, high intelligence from birth.”
“…”
“Since they’re born with the Domain’s formation, their characteristics differ significantly depending on the foundational will-thought…”
“Foundational will-thought, huh…”
As Lennok thought that and slowly gathered his magic, his other colleagues noticed the cracks in the egg and began to approach.
“Oh, it’s hatching!!”
“Try giving it some food. It might eat it!!”
“I’ve got some small fish left over from catching tuna. If this is okay…”
“Why do you even carry that around?”
“Just give it here!”
Dylan, having grabbed a fish amidst his clamoring colleagues, crab-walked towards the egg.
Crack, crack…!!
Dylan extended the fish head towards the cracked surface of the egg, and the moment Lennok heightened his senses to their utmost—
Something darted out from inside the eggshell and instantly swallowed Dylan whole.
Gulp!!
The figure, having gulped down Dylan along with the fish, vanished back into the crack in the shell like lightning.
The egg subtly quivered, and then a strange sound began to emanate from within.
[Slurp.]
“…”
A sound as if something was being rolled around in a mouth.
Everyone, including Lennok, stared at the cracked eggshell, mouths agape.
“…Van, what do we do?”
“Should we save him?”
“Just a little… let’s wait.”
Lennok, unable to articulate anything, replied quietly.
From the moment something burst from the egg and swallowed Dylan, Lennok had begun to faintly sense the egg’s emotions.
As it was a Domain Lennok had personally declared, it was possible he could naturally perceive the spirit beast bound to it.
More precisely, it was a sharing of emotions akin to will-thought synchronization.
And the emotion the spirit beast wriggling inside that egg felt right now was singular.
“It doesn’t seem to be malice, at least. If I had to guess…”
“If you had to guess?”
“It’s closer to gluttony.”
“Gluttony…?”
The moment Lennok mumbled with a wry expression, the egg violently convulsed, as if it had eaten something it shouldn’t have.
Soon, something twitched beyond the egg’s crack, then teeth appeared, and it spat something out.
[Ptooey.]
Splat!!
“Ugh!!”
Dylan lay sprawled on the ground, completely drenched in saliva.
Only the fish in his hand had cleanly vanished; surprisingly, his outward appearance seemed fine.
Covered in sticky saliva, Dylan frantically rubbed his face, utterly bewildered.
“It-it chewed me up and spat me out!!”
“Dylan. Calm down.”
“What happened in there?”
The others, too, were dumbfounded by the absurd phenomenon before quickly approaching Dylan.
Dylan promptly collected himself and replied with a sheepish expression.
“The space inside the egg is a bit larger than it looks. It seems to be connected to another dimension or something…”
“…”
“Something just rolled me around and then neatly pulled out only the fish. At first, I didn’t think this was saliva.”
Only then did the mercenaries, grasping the situation, look back at the egg with dumbfounded expressions.
“So, this thing thought Dylan was inedible waste and spat him out, huh?”
“It has surprisingly normal tastes. Or rather, is that obvious?”
“Considering it swallowed Dylan and didn’t gag, its stomach must be surprisingly strong.”
“You bastards. Do you think I wouldn’t know you’re insulting me by using the egg as an excuse?”
Jenny, completely ignoring the mercenaries bickering and throwing punches, spoke.
“In cases like this, Van is always right. Gluttony, huh…”
Jenny raised her phone and nodded towards Lennok.
“Then let’s just feed it until it’s satisfied.”
Not long after, a truck arrived in front of the construction site.
Tuna were piled like mountains in nets on the truck.
Without being told, the mercenaries and staff began to transport the tuna, lining up in front of the egg.
The moment a tuna was brought to the egg’s crack, the fish vanished as if sucked inside.
[Nom nom.]
“Oh, it’s eating!!”
“It seems to be eating even better than before.”
It seemed satisfied, smacking its lips, happily swaying the large egg from side to side.
[Chomp chomp.]
“…For an egg, it’s surprisingly cute.”
“Here, eat more. But can we really tame it with such expensive food?”
“It’s Van’s spirit beast, so it’s worth the expense. Hurry up!!”
The mercenaries, too, seemed enchanted by its reaction, pouring tuna in bundles.
Only after devouring all the tuna piled on the truck did the spirit beast stop swaying the egg, seemingly satisfied.
Only then did the mercenaries, letting out a sigh of relief, speak with wry expressions.
“But this guy, after eating all that, doesn’t seem to have any intention of coming out of the egg.”
“It comes out briefly when it eats, but its movements are almost imperceptible. How fast is it, exactly?”
“Unlike its size, is it shy?”
“Van’s spirit beast?”
Silence.
His colleagues, turning to Lennok without a word, seemed to understand among themselves.
“No way.”
Lennok frowned.
“That’s strangely insulting…”
“There might be a reason it can’t come out of the egg.”
“If it was going to come out quickly, wouldn’t it not have appeared as an egg in the first place?”
“It might need an incubation period.”
The mercenaries debated with more fervor than Lennok. It seemed they had developed some interest during the brief feeding session.
But Lennok had a rough idea why the spirit beast wasn’t coming out of its egg.
The emotion he sensed through will-thought synchronization was closer to annoyance, or being bothered, rather than shyness.
But Lennok was more concerned about something else regarding the spirit beast.
‘The appearance it showed when it swallowed Dylan. It didn’t look like a bird.’
If the Phoenix Hall’s will-thought had fully melted and given birth to a Guardian Spirit Beast, its form should have been that of a colossal firebird.
However, the appearance he momentarily sensed through mana sensitivity seemed slightly different from that of a firebird.
Its movements were so fast, and its form was hard to discern beyond the eggshell, but if its appearance had changed, what could be the reason?
Perhaps it was because the foundational order of this Domain was not pyromantic magic, but the Ouroboros magic system Lennok had created.
An unusually strong appetite and a leisurely attitude, not coming out of the egg.
Considering the principles pursued by the Ouroboros magic system and the foundational will-thought of the Phoenix Hall, there were indeed understandable aspects.
As Lennok stood with his arms crossed, lost in thought, the large egg suddenly began to inch its way towards him.
“Hey, it’s moving.”
“Now the egg is wiggling and walking around.”
“Hmm?”
The massive egg, now beside Lennok, rubbed its shell vigorously against his shoulder.
A gesture overtly expressing friendliness.
Perhaps it only recognized Lennok and offered a sort of greeting after satisfying its appetite.
[Hmph, hmph…]
And Davi, who had been watching the entire situation from within Lennok’s coat, furiously wagged her tail.
The Cybernetic Spirit tried to act nonchalant but couldn’t hide her agitation.
Her tail fluttered so violently that the front of Lennok’s coat visibly bulged.
Seeing Davi frantically twitching her ears and tail, glancing at the egg, Lennok chuckled softly and stroked her head.
Davi probably hadn’t expected a new spirit beast to appear like this either.
When Lennok continued to stroke the eggshell, the egg finally seemed satisfied, rolling back and lying on its side.
The egg then wobbled a few times before ceasing all movement.
“Did it just bare its belly?”
[Zzzzz.]
“…”
“…It was asleep.”
Had it eaten its fill, shown some affection, and then fallen asleep?
Mila mumbled with an incredulous expression.
“As Van’s spirit beast, it seems to have a surprisingly good life…”
“If it’s a sentient being bound to the Domain, it should at least be able to move freely around here.”
Lennok said that, then gestured to Jenny.
“For now, let’s move the egg to the basement of the company building. Leaving it here will disrupt the construction schedule.”
“That makes sense, right?”
Only after the laborers were called to load the egg onto a truck and take it away, Lennok and the others began to clear the site where the unveiling ceremony had concluded.
Weian, sweeping the construction site with a broom, glanced curiously at the engine floating above his head.
“It’s really amazing. Does the Tower’s engine really not need to be installed anywhere like this?”
“It’s an engine that constructs the Tower’s Consciousness Space and authority, and serves as the power source to maintain it.”
Tatiana answered Jenny’s question.
“Rather, it’s abnormal that it’s visible to the naked eye right now. As time passes, it will completely melt into the Domain, and you’ll only be able to encounter it in the Consciousness Space.”
“Hmm…”
“So, it’s a rare event that can only be seen now, huh?”
“Can I take a picture, by any chance?”
“Has this bastard finally gone crazy from catching tuna?”
“Looks like he drank too much seawater?”
While Dylan and the other mercenaries bickered, Lennok silently gazed at the engine floating and rotating in the air.
A golden snake revolved like a ring around a small, black sun, burning intensely.
Lennok, staring intently at it, eventually nodded.
“Alright. Go ahead and take a picture.”
“What?”
“See? Van knows what’s up!! Something like this needs to be recorded!!”
“That’s not why.”
Lennok smiled, looking at the triumphant Dylan.
“I plan to make that the Tower’s symbol from now on. We’ll need an emblem or symbol to represent the Tower in official settings.”
Since the establishment of the Magic Tower itself was carried out with the Central Council’s Senate’s permission, he would have to inform the Senate separately once everything was done.
At that time, a symbol and a name for the Tower would be needed, at least nominally, for submission.
Jenny, perhaps sensing what Lennok was implying, immediately asked.
“The name? Have you decided on it yet?”
“Well. I do have a name in mind, but…”
There were several reasons for establishing the Magic Tower, but the biggest motivation was to properly formalize the Ouroboros magic system into an academic discipline.
Even setting aside the various benefits and geographical advantages that could be gained in the process, it was clear that the Tower’s essence was that of an educational institution.
Lennok smiled, receiving the expectant gazes of the others.
“There’s no need to decide quickly. Do you have any other good ideas?”
“Priestess Seina.”
At the quiet voice calling her name from behind, the Priestess slowly turned her gaze.
Stained glass shimmered beautifully, illuminated by the sunlight.
In the spacious cathedral, adorned like a pristine white palace, only the voice of the devotee calling her echoed.
“The preparations for the ritual are complete.”
“…Very well. I have just finished my prayers.”
The Priestess slowly rose, straightened her long ceremonial robes, and began to walk.
An attending devotee quietly followed behind the Priestess as she walked down the wide cathedral corridor.
The warm sunlight streaming in at midday.
The voices of children and the prayers of devotees could be heard from below the cathedral.
The devotee standing behind the Priestess, who was gazing out the window at the faithful praising and worshiping the Cult’s master, urged her.
“Priestess.”
“Let’s talk here.”
“…Yes?”
The Priestess quietly said, looking out at the peaceful cathedral scene.
“Though it doesn’t compare to the main temple, I like the atmosphere of this constellation branch.”
“…”
“A world where faith becomes someone’s salvation… Perhaps it was for scenes like this, not for a grand holy war, that all of this began.”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
Ignoring the bewildered aide’s reply, the Priestess shook her head.
“Agritsa never disturbs me when I’m praying. Did you know that?”
“…”
“After receiving baptism, she also stopped calling me that way.”
The Priestess smiled.
“The Cult is changing, little by little, Camlodal. If you try to clumsily imitate it with only old memories, you’ll be found out quickly.”
[…I see.]
At that moment, a grim, transmissive voice emanated from the throat of the aide standing behind the Priestess.
Completely contrary to the peaceful scene outside the window, the voice creaked as if from a damp swamp.
[If I bothered you, I apologize. In the past, my body was not permitted to meet the venerable Priestess by any other means.]
The voice was awkward, as if a colossal cephalopod was forcibly rubbing mucus to create speech, but the Priestess was not surprised.
She already knew who was speaking to her in this very spot.
Camlodal, the 8th Apostle of the Cult.
The eighth avatar to receive the Outer God’s power, and one of the very few monsters among the Apostles who maintained a sound mind.
But the Priestess was not perturbed by Camlodal’s voice and immediately retorted.
“Taking Agritsa’s form means you used her as a sacrifice, doesn’t it?”
The Apostle spell he used, Camlodal’s Doll, was the power to create a clone that copied a specific human’s memories and consciousness.
However, like other Apostle spells, it was known to be a forbidden technique that required human sacrifice.
Therefore, from the moment Camlodal appeared in the form of the aide, she knew that the aide might not be safe.
But Camlodal let out a low laugh at the Priestess’s question.
[Do not worry. I have no intention of playing tricks with the aide whom the Priestess cherishes.]
“…”
[You are one of the few remaining priests who represent His Divinity… How could I possibly defy that will?]
Camlodal moved his doll to bow elegantly.
[Sacrifices are needed when lending the spell to other devotees. Your aide will not die from this much.]
A gentle voice, as if trying to reassure the Priestess.
However, the Priestess was neither reassured nor swayed by Camlodal’s words.
“So you mean she could end up in a state worse than death.”
[Well, now. How about that.]
Camlodal neither affirmed nor denied.
Instead, he simply stood beside the Priestess, gazing out the window with an unctuous tone.
[But you are certainly very different from Naydree. The former Priestess was much more… fervent.]
“Are you saying I’m not ready?”
[Of course not. How could I question the Priestess who guides the main temple’s rituals?]
Camlodal smiled slowly.
[I am not doubting your qualifications. It is merely a difference in attitude towards the divine.]
“…”
[Isel Naydree, while perfectly performing the duties of a Priestess, constantly wished to intervene in the Cult’s future and destiny. Her attitude was a great help to the Cult during the holy war at that time.]
For the first time, the doll turned its gaze to the Priestess.
The doll’s eyes were dyed completely black, leaving no white, transforming them into something grotesque, like an insect’s eyes.
[But you are different. Apart from your duties as Priestess, you show no interest in the Cult’s affairs. It’s as if you already know what stance the Cult should take right now…]
“…”
[To receive the same divine power, yet be so different. Could even this coincidence be arranged by His will? I am insatiably curious…]
Only after hearing the 8th Apostle’s murmuring monologue did the Priestess realize how he thought of her.
Camlodal didn’t harbor particular favor or disfavor towards individual Priestesses.
He was merely thinking about the differences between successive Priestesses in relation to his god and faith, and was genuinely curious.
Though bound by the Cult’s rules and restraining himself, if given the opportunity, he would not hesitate to satisfy his curiosity.
“Camlodal. Won’t you tell me now why you have come to see me?”
[…Ah.]
Only then did Camlodal make an awkward sound, abruptly stopping the doll.
After a long pause, he, creaking like a toy, spoke.
[My apologies. Was my rambling too long?]
“Undeniably so.”
[Indeed… To be precise, this doll is not truly me. One could say it is a copy, imbued with my replicated memories and will. So, please understand if my true thoughts inadvertently slipped out.]
“I know.”
The Priestess replied.
“That’s also why you’re one of the few Apostles who maintains a sound mind.”
The madness that inevitably befalls Apostles who receive the Outer God’s power.
Though varying in degree, eventually all of them erode their humanity and become monsters who lose their reason.
There are only about five Apostles in the entire Cult who can truly be said to have escaped that confinement.
And Camlodal, along with the 2nd Apostle, was one of only two single-digit Apostles who fully retained their sanity.
He infinitely splits his consciousness and memories, distributing them among dolls, and mimics an Ascendant to flee from madness.
Among the other Apostles, some tried to mimic Camlodal to ward off madness, but they all failed, becoming beasts even faster.
However, Camlodal, knowing this fact, had never once shared his secret with the other Apostles.
“…”
A being who served the same god, held the same faith, and worked for the Cult, yet could not be trusted.
As the Priestess silently absorbed that fact, Camlodal spoke again.
[As you may have already guessed, it concerns the Central Front.]
“I believed the ceasefire agreement with the Order Alliance was already settled.”
The Priestess replied.
“Hadn’t the timing for the preemptive strike and the end point of the offensive already been decided?”
[The Blaiver Magic Tower Lord has relinquished all authority and duties, declaring an indefinite respite.]
“…”
[Since the Tower Lord who supplied power to the first gate has stepped down, the gate will be closed for a while.]
The Priestess’s expression subtly changed as she belatedly understood the implication.
“That means…”
[If you wish to enter the front from this constellation branch where you currently are, without passing through the gate, you will have to pass through Jinwa’s Paradise Lost.]
Camlodal said with a hint of a smile in his voice.
[It wouldn’t do for the venerable Priestess to unwittingly become an Apostle of a fallen Ascendant, would it?]
“…”
Despite Camlodal’s words, the Priestess quickly collected her thoughts and asked again.
“The Tower Lord was the first to recognize the value of the gate. For such a schemer to relinquish his authority and step down at this point…”
[It must be because an undeniable problem has arisen concerning his person or Hierarchy.]
Camlodal nodded and replied.
[Now that the opportunistic neutral party who supplied power to the gate and maintained a neutral position on the front has disappeared, everyone will reach out to seize the gate.]
“We’ll need to prepare, then.”
[Can you manage that alongside the war with the Order Alliance?]
“It’s fine.”
The Priestess said that, turning her gaze out the window.
“Because here, at this constellation branch, I’ve found a candidate.”
[…A candidate?]
“Yes.”
The Priestess’s eyes, watching the children playing in the distance, suddenly turned cold.
“I have found a child with aptitude for the 10th Apostle’s Libra spell.”