Chapter 971: The Prohibition (26)

“W7 Master. Change archery direction to 2. Occupy G1 through G7 sequentially.”

Clack!

As the black piece was placed on the board, the white pieces swiftly flipped to black, filling the board.

“That’s my 49th victory.”

“Aaahhh!!”

As Lennok, seated at the board overlooking the training ground, withdrew his hand, Belber shrieked.

“As promised, the 200,000 cells wagered on the Obaekro game. I’ll take them.”

“No! Don’t!”

Belber frantically grabbed Lennok’s sleeve and hung on.

“You cheapskate. You have so much money, yet you’re going to take a mercenary’s allowance…!!”

“You were the one who suggested the money wager first, weren’t you?”

Firmly shaking off Belber’s hand, Lennok picked up two bills and chuckled. “As it happens, I’m a bit short on cash these days. I’ll put it to good use.”

“Don’t lie!!”

As Belber’s desperate cry rang out, the others watching also made awkward expressions. Mila, hands tucked into her jumper and munching on a chicken skewer, grumbled.

“There’s a limit to how much you can feign poverty. Who’d believe a Magic Tower Lord has no money?”

“Business isn’t always about making a profit, you know.”

Lennok calmly tucked the bills into his shirt pocket and replied, “Naturally, all profits from the tower are reinvested into establishing a stable environment for the Magic Tower.”

“Hmph, who’d believe such a flimsy excuse?”

“You’re right. It’s a lie.” Lennok admitted coolly, then adopted a solemn expression. “Therefore, let’s end the annual salary negotiations for the Antares Office, which we’ve been raising with quarterly contract renewals, as of today.”

“We were wrong, Boss!!”

“We’ll make sure this incompetent stock gambler never talks nonsense again!”

Jenny, who had been watching from the side, shook her head with a pitying expression. “You two are perfectly in sync. Did you practice this routine?”

“Genuine feelings require no practice.”

“If only you couldn’t talk…”

Jenny sighed deeply, filled in the blanks on the approval documents, and asked, “So, why did you suddenly gather everyone to play a board game?”

Vulcan’s District 49. The training hall located at the back gate of Adamant Thunder’s Magic Tower. The open ground, originally used as the company’s training field, is now shared as the Magic Tower expands.

Midday sunlight poured through the transparent dome of the training hall, and battle cries echoed from the training ground. It was a rare holiday, a break from the Magic Tower’s duties. Lennok had suddenly gathered the mercenaries and freelancers he knew and was teaching them Obaekro.

[Arooo-rooooong~] The cry of a pure white baby dragon lying sprawled on the dais, scratching its belly. Listening to the Guardian Spirit Beast’s lazy babbling, many people were engrossed in Obaekro.

On the dais, set up to provide shade, were Obaekro boards and pieces, with people seated in rows at each board.

Clack!

“Weian, did I win this one?”

“No. We still need to see a bit more. Wait a moment.”

“There are no more pieces to flip on the board, though…”

The doubtful conversation between Weian and Dylan, wondering if they truly understood the game. [Homa. Gongbak. Gakgung. The terms are all different, but they govern the rules of piece progression and reversal.]

“Mr. Manson is right. The rules apply differently to each zone, but they can be flipped at any time depending on the arrangement, and—” Manson quickly grasped and applied the rules, and Soo-ryun taught them while playing alongside him.

Mila and Belita also hovered around the boards before one by one starting to play Obaekro. Perhaps because it was Lennok’s command, everyone was much more engaged in the game than expected.

Jenny, looking around with an awkward expression, asked, “I understand it’s training, but is this actually helpful?”

“Obaekro is a strategic board game founded by Jindun, and its foundation is closely related to barrier spellcraft.” Lennok said, “In other words, learning Obaekro itself is the fastest way to master the intricacies of spell formations.”

“…”

“Even the basics of the Ouroboros magic system that I’ve taught you can be rapidly mastered through Obaekro.” With that, Lennok nodded towards Jenny.

“As I said, Jenny, you don’t necessarily have to participate. This is special training designed for those who are relatively slow at mastering magic systems.”

“…No. I can’t just not do it when everyone else is.”

Jenny shook her head, glancing away. “It’s just that I had something to discuss with Jordan…”

“…”

Tatiana Chiglet and Jordan were seated opposite each other, separated by a game board directly behind Lennok. “D83 Reversal. L11 Progression. R4 through 19 Consecration complete.” “J99 Stockpile. B4 Life-or-Death. Re-occupy section C103 by adding Cheonwon and Jangmun.”

Without exchanging glances, they stared at the board with faces of extreme concentration. They only opened their mouths to exchange moves and explain the changes in the pieces.

“Something amazing is happening…”

“So this is Obaekro? Then what have I been playing all this time?” It wasn’t strange for Tatiana, a warmage who had long been active on the Central Front and the Magic Tower’s top disciple, to be good at Obaekro.

But for Jordan, who wasn’t even a high-level superhuman, to be so proficient at Obaekro was something Lennok hadn’t expected. He wasn’t just continuing the game; he was playing an even match against Tatiana, a Level 7 wizard.

Mila, also surprised, inadvertently gasped in admiration. “I never knew the Bartender Grandpa was this good at games.”

“H33 to 44, Gakgung in reverse order.”

“F19 to I19, Pyeongcheon vertically.”

Clack! Clack!

Each time Tatiana and Jordan placed a piece, the right corner of the board repeatedly flipped between black and white. The two played with persistent focus on a single section, as if they had no interest in other areas.

“Why aren’t they placing pieces elsewhere?”

“Because the pivotal stones are concentrated in the right section.” Soo-ryun, who had finished her game with Mad Manson, naturally answered Belita’s question.

“The moment that side is occupied, the advantage will naturally extend to the other sections, so there’s no reason to divide their efforts.”

“…So, it’s like fighting over a strategic point on a battlefield?”

“Precisely. But the places to put pieces are limited, so—”

Clack!!

The moment Tatiana placed a white piece, the right corner flipped to white. But in contrast, this time the left corner was entirely covered in black. As if on cue, Tatiana and Jordan’s gazes met.

“Old man. You’re quite good.”

Tatiana stared intently at Jordan’s face and gave a deep smile. “This isn’t just ‘knowing how to play.’ You weren’t a high-level spellcaster or something like that, were you?”

“Ms. Chiglet, your skill is truly exceptional.” Jordan smiled softly at her. “With this level of play, you wouldn’t be shamed in a match anywhere.”

“Well, yes. I was the best player among my peers in the Tower, after all.” Tatiana nodded amiably and picked up a piece. “I’ll win this time, so let’s play again next time.”

“I see. I’d like to concede a move this time, but…” Jordan chuckled. “Van is watching, so I can’t play carelessly.”

“What?”

Clack!

The moment Jordan placed a black piece, all the white pieces lined up on the border flipped to black. Tatiana paused her hand for a moment at the white pieces that had established territory, making nearly half the board their home.

Jordan, having placed the piece, said, “If we count them, I’ll likely have exactly one more point than half.”

“…”

“This isn’t a mistake on Ms. Chiglet’s part; it happened because I held the black pieces, so please don’t be disheartened.”

“I see. So not knowing your skill, old man, and taking the second turn was my losing move?” Tatiana belatedly nodded and chuckled. “That’s interesting. It was a good provocation. It’s making me a little heated.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Let’s play again.”

“No, I have something to discuss with Van…” Jordan glanced this way, then, unable to resist Tatiana’s forceful insistence, sat back down at the board.

“…”

As Jenny watched the scene with a bewildered expression, Belber, breathing heavily, sat back down in front of Lennok. “Van. Raise the stakes. This time, we start from 400,000 cells.”

At Belber’s bold act of pulling out four bills, the other mercenaries immediately rebuked him. “Belber, are you crazy? Your opponent is a Grand Wizard.”

“Why are you trying to win against Van?”

“No, but Van said he’d give me a 20-move handicap!” Belber, apparently not without his own arguments, raised his voice. Slightly excited, he pointed at the board and said,

“Of course, my skill is no match for Van’s, but he’s not going to do anything for 20 moves, and you’re not going to challenge that? Are all of you cowards?”

“…”

At his confident words, Mila and the other mercenaries also fell silent, as if it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Indeed, they had never heard of a 20-move handicap in a board game before.

“Taking risks is natural when investing. How huge is a 20-move handicap!!” Belber, seemingly thinking the same, straightened his shoulders and confidently pushed the wager forward.

“Even if I came at Van with a weapon, if he gave me a 20-move head start, I’d have a chance at—”

“Do you want to die?”

“You’re crossing the line now that we’ve been lenient.”

“…”

At Belita and Mila’s chilling retorts, Belber meekly shut his mouth.

“I’d like to help with the training until the end, but I also have a lot of work to do. My apologies.” Lennok chuckled, watching Belber glumly pick up a black piece.

“So, I’ve prepared a separate tool for the training.”

“A tool?”

Thud!!

As he tapped his coat sleeve, a large tablet dropped onto the training hall dais. On the flickering touch screen, already powered on, a pure white search bar blinked.

“A tablet…?”

“This is a tool to help with Obaekro training?”

“It’s a search AI I recently developed. It operates a site on the deep web.” Lennok said, holding up the tablet. “I thought if I just created a site and put it out there, it would spread by word of mouth, but the underworld network isn’t so easy after all.”

“…”

“It’s the age of self-promotion, isn’t it? I suppose I’ll have to start by promoting and spreading it among the Magic Tower’s staff.”

“No… a search AI?”

At Lennok’s reply, Jenny and Mila made bewildered expressions. “If you just make something like this and toss it out without a word, of course it’ll get buried.”

“Do you want it to go viral? There are tons of agencies if you look. Should I do it for you?”

“No, I entrusted the promotion to a somewhat famous heavy uploader…” Lennok coughed lightly and said, “It seems they over-promoted it so much that it was all dismissed as mere clickbait and buried. The public opinion became so harsh that I decided to try another method for now.”

“…”

[…] As everyone was speechless at the absurd explanation, Davi’s tail twitched as if pricked.

Lennok calmly pinched the chubby spirit’s tail and said, “The promise is the same as before. If you win an Obaekro match against the AI, I’ll count it as a victory against me.”

“…You want us to play Obaekro against a search AI?”

“Of course, you can also use it for searching. I’m introducing it to you here for performance testing and promotion purposes, after all.”

Lennok looked around, chuckled, and nodded. “As I promised Belber, it will start with a 20-move handicap. And if you win against the AI—”

The reason the mercenaries and freelancers gathered here were so unusually diligent in learning Obaekro. The reason Belber recklessly wagered money and challenged Lennok to an Obaekro match. It was all because of the single condition Lennok had mentioned when he summoned them under the pretext of training.

“I’ll grant one wish, whatever you desire, no questions asked.”

“…”

Grant one wish. Even at Lennok’s preposterous assertion, like a genie from a lamp, no one scoffed at his words.

An 8-level Grand Wizard. The sole master of the Magic Tower in the mega-city. Everyone knew that if such a person truly set their mind to it and used their status and abilities, they could literally make anything happen.

“A wish…”

“You’ll really grant anything?”

“Anything within my capabilities.”

Lennok nodded. “I’ve granted a similar request for Felix before, so you can confirm it with him later.”

“Ah, then I have a question.” Belita raised her hand and chuckled awkwardly. “You know that random box you showed us before? Can we use it again?”

“Random box?” Lennok instinctively questioned, then realized what Belita was referring to and nodded. “You mean the Provisional Ascension Gate. Of course.”

“Really?”

“If you win against the AI with a 20-move handicap, I’ll even create a Provisional Ascension Gate unlimited pass for you.”

“…!!”

Just by winning an Obaekro match, he would allow them to use that wondrous artifact, not just once, but as much as they pleased? Tatiana Chiglet and Jordan’s movements on the board became even more careful,

and the mercenaries, who had been listening in, also sat back down in front of the board and tablet with serious expressions. Everyone understood that even if it wasn’t the Provisional Ascension Gate, Lennok fully intended to ensure their training was properly rewarded.

Lennok looked at the now quiet training ground and nodded with satisfaction. “Even if it’s not a wish, I’ll personally prepare rewards for those who show progress in their Obaekro skills, so I hope everyone works hard.”

Although he had initiated the transmission of the Ouroboros magic system and then neglected it, for the Magic Tower to function properly, the magic system would eventually have to be taught and passed down in some way.

Lennok had realized that Obaekro was helpful in transmitting the stagnant magic system while playing Obaekro with Heiberk, the strong AI from Ars Nova.

With a learning method guaranteed by the central city’s nobles, Lennok didn’t need to rack his brain devising teaching methods.

Of course, no one here would neglect the training Lennok prescribed, but with a wish as a reward, everyone would surely dive in with fierce determination.

‘I’ll have to visit universities and research institutes regarding common magic development… I have a lot to do.’ Even just dealing with the deferred tasks after the summit meant no long rest.

The gains and benefits Lennok acquired through his various identities were not merely material. Acquiring useful knowledge and inspiration, then applying it to his surrounding environment, also demanded considerable time.

Even the two artifacts he’d obtained from Armas von Anathema’s residence were not yet fully researched.

Lennok, having left the training ground, headed for the training hall’s basement.

Rumble!!

In the training room, filled with exercise equipment, makeshift shelves and a workbench were visible. On the workbench, a grumpy Curse-Eating Ghoul croaked, and Felix stood before it.

“Hoo…!”

With one hand bitten by the ghoul, he drew up mana. The moment Dorye’s mana flowed into the Curse-Eating Ghoul’s mouth, the ghoul chewed on the mana before spitting it out.

Peshia Grisbern, standing beside him, collected the liquid spat out by the ghoul into a test tube. “Damn it, that’s truly disgusting…!!” Though grumbling, she closed the test tube’s stopper and placed it on the shelf.

Felix, catching his breath and about to place his hand back into the ghoul’s mouth, spotted Lennok and turned his head. “Van?”

The bird-headed giant, stroking the burping ghoul’s head and holding it in his arms, walked towards Lennok. “You seem to have gotten quite close.”

“It’s only interested in devouring curses and resentment, but it’s not an unintelligent artifact.” Felix said, stroking the Curse-Eating Ghoul’s chin. “It likes it when you scratch its chin like this.”

[Ghueeeek.]

“…” It was hard to tell if it was a dying gasp or a purr, but Felix seemed to perceive something different.

Peshia Grisbern, standing by the workbench, shook a test tube and said indifferently, “Hey, wizard. As you said, Dorye’s mana is being purified and extracted. Are you going to test it right here?”

“No, first I’m going to take care of something I’ve put off for a few days.”

“What?”

“Because I’ll have to test it when the Curse-Eating Ghoul is hungry, like now.”

Lennok took out a ring that emitted cold air and placed it on his palm. “There’s no reason to pass up the chance to uncover the secret of the power used by the Kabahim Royal Family.”

The Ice Seal. The national treasure of the Kabahim Royal Family and the emblem symbolizing its royalty. The reason Soryu used this artifact so skillfully must be because the ring itself was made for the Kabahim royalty.

If the user wasn’t legitimate, it would be an artifact more likely to cast a curse than bestow a blessing. But Lennok had another reason for investigating the Ice Seal again, even knowing this.

Considering his Targeted Resistance, he wouldn’t be affected by a curse in the first place, but the Curse-Eating Ghoul was right here. Even if the Ice Seal rejected Lennok and cast a curse, he could have the Curse-Eating Ghoul devour it and observe the reaction.

Peshia Grisbern, having heard Lennok’s explanation, shook her head with a look of dismay. “You’re really going to scrape out every last secret… Did losing the Forbidden Armament sting that much?”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, could you please leave the training room for now? I think you’d be a distraction.” Lennok, holding up the ring, let out a small laugh.

“Wait outside the training room door. Don’t let anyone in.”

“Bullshit. I’m not some guard dog, and—”

“As I said, if I fail, you’re next.”

“…”

Peshia Grisbern and Felix, their expressions distorted, exited the training room and locked the door. Even if Peshia Grisbern wouldn’t, Felix certainly wouldn’t take Lennok’s request lightly.

Shwaaaak…!!

The moment he put on the ring, his body grew cold, and he felt a chill as if his skin’s surface was freezing. Frost settled on his arm, hardening into a cold grip, then snaked around his shoulder and neck.

The moment he realized it was forming into a frigid armor, wrapping around his entire body. Click!! The ring’s gem rotated and split open on both sides, transforming into a small seal.

“…”

It was his first time seeing the seal’s true form, but he remembered how Soryu had used it. The moment Lennok, staring at the Ice Seal’s emblem, pressed it against his wrist, he felt a pull from inside the ring, drawing his consciousness.

He had it stopped with his Targeted Resistance ability, but it wasn’t a pull born of hostility or malevolence. Releasing his resistance, he closed his eyes and rapidly poured his consciousness into the ring.

Whooosh!!

A snow-blasted mountain. Icebergs shifted between crevasses, and avalanches erupted. A quiet, paradoxical world, constantly turbulent yet utterly silent.

Though everything was frozen solid, Lennok felt no cold whatsoever. This was not physical reality, but a Consciousness Space where intangible wills could enter and exit.

At the summit of the frozen, snowy mountain, a colossal ice monument stood tall. Whoooosh!!! Names were densely carved onto the monument, which resembled a transparent crystal stele.

It had a peculiar form, as if it recorded the names of all those who had visited this place. Below the monument, a gigantic ice knight, covered in frost, knelt.

“…” Its physique was several times larger than that of an ordinary human. Ice and frost had solidified on its armor, making it seem difficult to even move.

The knight, guarding the monument for a very long time, frozen as if time had stopped. The moment Lennok stepped right in front of it, a pale blue light flashed through its visor, and a heavy telepathic message flowed out.

[The Ice Crystal Tablet is not, by nature, a sanctuary permitted to outsiders.] Paaang!! The blizzard raging from all directions exploded and receded, and the sky instantly cleared to blue.

In the middle of the now-quiet snowy mountain, the knight raised its head, and frost clinging to its visor fell off in chunks. Thud, thud-thud-thud!! [Yet you have defied your given destiny and sought this place by your own will.]

“…” [Oh, destiny of termination. And termination of destiny.] The knight’s gaze, flickering like will-o’-the-wisps through its visor, slowly met Lennok’s. [What do you seek in this abandoned sanctuary?]

“…”You’re no ordinary spirit.” Lennok’s expression subtly hardened as he looked at the knight.

The Consciousness World entered through the Ice Seal, the national treasure passed down through generations of the Kabahim Royal Family. The abandoned sanctuary called the Ice Crystal Tablet. The strange message referencing destiny and the aura emanating from the knight’s body.

All of it pointed to a single, completely unexpected possibility. “Surely, the Kabahim Royal Family… made a contract with an Outer God?”