Chapter 857: Handover (25)

A message from a necromancer, stating that a meeting was scheduled between the Level 8, top-tier ability users.

However, instead of readily replying, Lennok stared suspiciously at the corpse.

Though he spoke of a meeting of top-tier ability users, the necromancer delivering the message didn’t feel like a wizard who had transcended the ranks.

Was it simply that his level was impossible to gauge because he was manipulating a corpse, or was there another reason he was so deeply entangled with them?

The corpse raised both hands at Lennok’s icy gaze, which had settled in an instant.

“Whoa there, don’t be so sharp. I have no desire to fight you. There’s no way a shoddy necromancer like me could be a match for Vulcan’s greatest War Mage, is there?”

“…”

“If you’re thinking of finding my real body, you’d better give up. I’m not in this city.”

The corpse let out a grim laugh.

“Monsters like you aren’t constrained by mere distance, after all. I moved outside the city entirely. Even if you break through my spellcraft and find my location, I’ll already be gone by then.”

Necromancy was a tricky discipline. Since most of its spells operated on dead bodies, the power of the spellcraft varied depending on the condition of the corpse being handled.

But conversely, this meant it was extremely flexible in terms of basic efficiency and consumption.

The necromancer manipulating this corpse was casting from so far away that he was outside Vulcan entirely.

Was he saying he had something to tell Lennok, something so important that he would go to the extreme of using necromancy’s greatest advantage to maximize the distance between them?

But Lennok simply let out a cold laugh at the corpse’s words.

“Are you trying to play word games with me right now?”

Fwoosh!!

A strand of azure electricity coiled around his finger.

The moment he casually flicked his hand down, a fragment of lightning leaped through the air and began to flash brilliantly in front of the corpse.

Zzzzzzzzt…!!

A shape of mana slowly distorted with a blurry light, like plasma.

It was more than enough firepower to incinerate the old corpse’s flesh in an instant.

Watching the startled corpse, Lennok spoke.

“Just state your business. What do you want to say?”

It was an annoying situation, with a useless intruder appearing when he needed to focus on controlling his incarnation body.

He had let it be since it was his first time seeing a high-level necromancer, but if he kept dragging his feet, Lennok was planning to burn the corpse and crush the spellcraft.

If he embedded his will-thought and twisted the necromancy, even a mediatory spell controlling a corpse would inevitably take damage.

“…Hmph. I knew you had come when I confirmed that no aura of death could be felt on this ridge.”

Realizing this, the necromancer answered obediently.

“Specifically, I heard from the Council that you were very deeply involved in this recent incident.”

“…”

“This isn’t originally my job, but since it’s come to this, I wanted to convey our side’s position.”

“Position?”

“A message will soon arrive for all top-tier users in Vulcan.”

The corpse’s jaw clattered as it spoke.

“The titans of the light, who remained inactive even after the Prohibition Edict was lifted, will make their move.”

“…”

“Most will be superhumans whose identities are registered with the City Council, but I heard that those on the borderline, like you, will also be contacted.”

A considerable amount of time had passed since the Prohibition Edict that covered all of Vulcan was lifted due to the Defense Force’s rebellion.

There had been various disturbances, such as numerous superhumans who had only operated in the shadows expanding their scope of activity into the light.

However, the monsters of the light, who had enjoyed special privileges under the Council’s restrictions, had shown no particular movement.

Were these monsters, none of whom had shown their faces except for Krod Azlan, the ‘Innocent’ and former Guardian of Turyeonmun, now planning to step into the forefront?

The moment he heard this, Lennok shot back a question.

“Which is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Jinwa’s corruption and Yorta’s collapse. There must have been a direct trigger that made the titans of the light step forward.”

“…”

At Lennok’s casually thrown words, the corpse’s movements froze.

The necromancer, tilting his head with a stiff motion, muttered.

“You’re completely insane… How can you ask that so calmly, knowing what you know?”

“The location?”

“…There is a Forbidden Ritual Chamber being preserved by the Central Council. It’s structured so that once a specific ritual begins, no stimulus can leak outside until it’s over, making it suitable for high-ranking superhumans to gather.”

The necromancer asked.

“Will you attend?”

“I don’t see any reason to decide right here and now.”

Lennok smiled.

“Besides, I have a hard time trusting a necromancer who’s sided with the Council.”

“…”

“I’ll first verify if what you say is true, then give my answer directly to the City Council.”

Though his words had been ambiguous from the start, it was certain that the necromancer controlling this corpse belonged to the Council.

No, from the moment he brought up such a meeting, he himself was surely one of the so-called superhumans of the light.

Not only was his identity and ability officially registered with the City Council, but he was likely one of those who had been under the protection of the Prohibition Edict until now.

“A megacity is a good place to live.”

As if noticing Lennok’s gaze, the laughter flowing from the corpse’s throat momentarily deepened.

“In a city this vast and bustling, everything quickly loses its value. Things like taboos, ethics, even life.”

“A rather long-winded reason for siding with the Council.”

“Perhaps.”

The corpse conceded.

“But isn’t the expectation you have for Evan Vylun also something that’s only possible in this city for that very reason?”

“…”

“You should know that not only you yourself, but everything you take an interest in, is a target of management and surveillance. You’ll probably hear plenty about that at the meeting as well….”

Lennok’s eyes began to grow cold, but the necromancer didn’t stop talking.

The corpse slowly began to crumble, returning to a handful of dust.

“I hope to see you at the meeting. A little more safely than now, that is.”

Poof!!

With that final word, the necromancy ended, and the corpse collapsed.

A dry wind swept away the ashes, erasing the body without a trace.

“So even the things I’m interested in are targets for surveillance….”

Lennok watched the scene silently, then turned his gaze with a smirk.

“That’s exactly what I want.”

Evan, having just emerged from the Vylun Research Institute, was on a platform holding a microphone, receiving a warm welcome from everyone.

Messages flooded the screen of the phone, which had its alarm turned off.

Most were utterly useless spam messages, with someone meaninglessly sending links to news articles.

[(Breaking) Professor Evan Vylun officially appointed as Director of the Vylun Research Institute.]

[Director Vylun holds a meeting with Professor Marv Raphael. Pledges to strive for the research and expansion of the Universal Magic System at the inauguration ceremony.]

[Director Vylun, who introduced the Universal Magic System as a research asset for the entire city’s development, also promised not to neglect his duties as a professor and pre-announced the reveal of the fourth Universal Magic-]

Voom!!

A call came in before all the messages on the phone screen could disappear.

Lennok, who had been sitting on the floor writing something on a scroll, answered the phone without looking back.

Click.

• Van!!

“I’m listening.”

• Is this all your doing?!

Evelyn’s excited voice, impossible to hide even over the phone, echoed.

• Director of the Vylun Research Institute? When on earth were you working on a project like this?

“It wasn’t something I prepared in advance.”

Lennok replied as he very slowly inscribed letters on the scroll with the pen he was holding.

“I snatched it away midway through.”

• You snatched it?

“Did you think I’d just stand by while they used my name as they pleased?”

He finished writing the characters and layered mana on top, drawing a new spell formation.

The text written on the scroll was copied verbatim onto the spell formation and floated before Lennok’s eyes.

Lennok, gazing intently at the characters flickering with an elegant magical light, slowly nodded.

“I’ve taken the position of Director, but I plan to delegate most of the authority to Raphael. He’s one of the people who can best understand the Universal Magic System. If I consistently provide him with clues, it won’t be long before he starts producing results.”

• No, that’s not the issue!

Evelyn protested again, her voice rising.

• The Vylun Research Institute, I saw on the news that Aegis’s people are managing it. Shouldn’t the security for the institute have naturally been entrusted to the Agents?

“…Was that the issue?”

Lennok shook his head in disbelief and said.

“Aegis already had jurisdiction over that area when I found the institute. I never really paid it any mind. Besides, you’re not even a part of the Agents anymore, are you?”

• No, I have to go back someday.

Evelyn answered firmly.

• I’m going to take the Agents back from that woman, Greta.

“Alright, when that time comes, I’ll consider swapping out the security personnel.”

• Don’t just give me a half-hearted answer! I have something else to tell you.

Though she grumbled, Evelyn quickly changed the subject.

Separate from Lennok becoming the institute’s director under his Evan identity, she must have called because she had something to say as well.

• About what I mentioned last time, Lapis’s matter. The agreement with the City Council is finished. It seems the specific details will be coordinated in a direct meeting.

“…”

• She’s scheduled to arrive in Vulcan soon, and as soon as she arrives, she’ll head to the central district to meet with the Central Council. Are you in?

“Well…”

If Lapis needed the help of Observer Evan for this matter, he wasn’t entirely unwilling to cooperate.

A task so important that the Lighthouse Keeper herself had to come to the megacity to perform a ritual.

If it was for the purpose of recovering all of Heavenly Sight’s abilities, it would surely be of help to Lennok as well.

But separate from that, Lennok also had a mountain of things to do in this city.

Not only did he have to juggle university lectures and Universal Magic research as Evan Vylun.

There was also the task of finding clues to enter the Outer Tribulation City, Kundara, to search for Kaiser’s traces, and he couldn’t ignore the ‘meeting’ of the light that the necromancer had mentioned.

If it was just a matter of lending a hand to Lapis’s work, it wouldn’t be difficult, but wouldn’t it be troublesome to act as her guard while the ritual was in progress?

The reason he couldn’t ignore Evelyn’s words right now was-

“Where did you say the ritual was taking place?”

• District 19, which has been designated a restricted zone.

Evelyn replied.

• Among all the restricted zones designated in Vulcan, it’s one of the three most secretive.

“…”

• The reason Lapis is making a deal with the Central Council is, in fact, to gain access to this District 19.

District 19, designated a restricted zone.

Known as the most dangerous place in Vulcan, a forbidden secret location that had never once been revealed to the public.

And the place where the research on ‘artificial humans’ had been conducted, according to the report acquired from the Vylun Research Institute.

If he helped Lapis and served as her guard, he might get a fairly easy opportunity to enter District 19.

Conversely, if Lapis failed to reach a specific agreement with the Central Council, he would just be wasting time for nothing.

Click!!

Putting his pen away and getting to his feet, Lennok asked.

“When do I have to decide by?”

[You have to give me an answer by tomorrow. She said she’ll decide on the entourage she’s bringing depending on your participation.]

“…Understood. I’ll contact you again.”

After that, Lennok ended the call with Evelyn, tossed the phone aside, and started walking.

He walked alone through the vast, black lobby, the spell formation he had copied through the scroll floating above his hand.

The underground cavern was so expansive that the sound of his footsteps echoed for a long time in all directions.

At its center, a cracked egg was swaying from side to side toward Lennok.

(Wiggle, wiggle)

The giant egg recognized Lennok and shook its shell as if in greeting.

“Yes. It’s been a while.”

Lennok, who had been staring at it blankly, smiled and slowly placed the spell formation he had lifted onto the eggshell.

“I think it’s about time I saw your face and greeted you properly.”

The resurrection spell, acquired in the Military Spirit City, Yorta, through Ethan Bajour’s Ghostly Memoir.

Lennok had, after much research, succeeded in replicating the one-time consumable spell created with Ethan’s power to a certain extent.

Now that the Curse of Metamorphosis had been extinguished in the sanctuary of Mugan, it was the perfect opportunity to reveal the Guardian Spirit Beast’s true form and awaken its abilities.

(…?)

Placing both hands on the egg, which was shaking its body in confusion, Lennok drew up his mana and closed his eyes.

“I’ll enter as soon as the consciousness link is ready. Davi, please keep watch like before.”

[I’m ready!]

With the spirit’s reply as she leaped onto his shoulder, Lennok immediately opened his Mystic Eyes.

After confirming that the Curse of Metamorphosis had completely vanished, he would use the resurrection spell to bring the Guardian Spirit Beast out of its egg.

The basic purpose and course of action were, of course, for the Guardian Spirit Beast-

‘But meeting Pyeonram comes first.’

The snake that guards the well existing within the Guardian Spirit Beast’s consciousness world, the subconscious of the Ascendant Pyeonram.

As Lennok had steeled his resolve to challenge ascension, there was something he first needed to ask the Transcendent who had reached the ninth rank.

It would be a great help if he could hear how Pyeonram, Padme Kiesa, had obtained her qualifications.

Thinking this, Lennok immediately overlapped his Kaleidoscope eye and the ability of Revelation, delving deep into the Guardian Spirit Beast’s consciousness.

Fwoosh!!

Beyond the vast, endless world of consciousness. In the heart of a now-forgotten ancient civilization located on its outskirts.

The altar in the very center of the city where a giant snake slept, coiled up.

However, the moment he descended there, Lennok felt a strong sense of wrongness and lifted his gaze.

“The wind…”

He couldn’t feel the wind that had swept through the entire consciousness world with just the sleeping snake’s breath.

Not only that, but he couldn’t find the powerful presence of Pyeonram’s consciousness anywhere in the world.

The moment Lennok sensed something was wrong and snapped his gaze toward the altar.

“So you were the brat who opened the door in Padma’s memory’s stead.”

A woman with a tall physique and navy-blue hair tied back tightly stood with her back to him at the top of the altar.

She looked up at the sky at the edge of the consciousness world, just like Lennok, and spoke indifferently.

But the woman’s voice echoed with impeccable clarity in Lennok’s ears.

“The passage opened on its own, so we had no choice but to take action over here. Honestly, are all magicians such a pain in the ass?”

“Who are you?”

“And you… what kind of powers and authorities have you plastered all over yourself to come in here?”

The woman whipped her head around and looked down at Lennok in annoyance.

Neat, yet bold features. A striking appearance that was hard to forget once seen.

Sweeping her voluminous navy-blue hair back, she rubbed her temple and spoke.

“I thought you were a descendant of Jindun, but you also hold the authority of the Cult, forgotten ancient magic, and even the Central Council’s spellcraft.”

“…What?”

“On top of twisting your presence by transfusing magic from the Outer Sea, you even possess a mindscape that my eyes cannot see… There were no traitors like you in the era I lived in.”

A chilling explanation, seeing through the various authorities and abilities Lennok had acquired in one glance and even partially discerning their origins.

But what surprised Lennok more than anything was not the fact that his hidden secrets had been exposed.

The somehow familiar blueish hair. The somewhat high-handed tone of a Transcendent.

The attitude of reading through Lennok’s secrets as if she were ‘looking directly into them’.

For such a being to be here in Pyeonram’s absence was surely-

“…Madria Falcia?”

“What.”

At Lennok’s uncertain, suspicious murmur, the woman grinned and raised her eyes.

“You… you know who I am?”

“…”

Only then, certain of who the being standing before him was, Lennok shut his mouth.

He had invaded the Guardian Spirit Beast’s world of consciousness to meet the subconscious of the Ascendant Pyeonram.

Waiting at the end was not Pyeonram, but the younger Madria Falcia, the Ascendant Heavenly Sight.