Book Eater

Chapter 288: Emperor Moves (3)

The magicians, led by Blundell, quickly flew over the walls of Bergen, leaving the deafened people staring stupidly at their backs. They didn’t know what was going on, but they knew it wasn’t something they could interfere with.

Kurururung!

The earth was still shaking violently. Hills were collapsing as landslides sent flames and dirt flying. The magicians simply flew higher, gradually devouring the distance between them and their target.

Ugh, how many times have they shot out those big attacks...?

With Randolph and the two guardians by his side, Theo looked at the Nadun Mountains that started to come into view.

Black smoke and flames were rising. The giant mountains that had been a landmark for hundreds of years had been torn apart like fragile reeds, while monsters were fleeing for their lives. It was like a natural disaster, like the eruption of a large volcano, had occurred.

Great magic didn’t just exceed a normal spell’s destructiveness by a factor or two. It had at least ten times the power, a destructive force that could reshape an entire mountain range. It was a level of firepower that no one else except for Veronica, Meltor’s ultimate fire magician, could exert. Theo might unleash something like this once, but he didn’t have the capacity to repeatedly cast such spells.

“This woman, she’s not thinking about other people at all...” Blundell grumbled as he felt the heat on his face and drew water from the area.

He covered the group with a thin protective layer. It was a display of skill worthy of the Blue Tower Master. The shield didn’t interfere with anyone’s breathing or movements. Theo marveled inwardly at the spell’s sophistication. Theo had brushed up against the threshold for water attribute, yet he was far from doing something like this so quickly.

I am still far away from an 8th Circle master.

It was a wall beyond a wall. However, Theo was pleased, rather than frustrated. It only took them a few more moments to reach the foot of the mountain range and look around. Burned trees were puffing smoke into the sky, while the half melted ground made it hard to walk around.

However, thanks to Blundell, no one was injured by the harsh heat. However, it was still uncomfortable. At that moment...

“―Oh, you came faster than I thought? I expected it would take a few more days.”

A cheerful voice rang out from above their heads. The magician who had reduced the Nadun Mountains to this miserable sight had appeared.

Veronica landed on the ground and chuckled when she saw Blundell’s wrinkled face. “What, you’ve just gone and already come back? It must be hard to wander around at your age.”

A vein throbbed on Blundell’s head as he retorted, “Hey, at least have some manners!”

Veronica leered, “What if I don’t want to~? Isn’t it hard moving those muscles? Eek, look at them squirm. You should put on looser robes!”

Blundell seemed to swell up even more. “Ridiculous! I’m not ashamed of my muscles!”

It was an entirely normal conversation for the two pillars of the kingdom, however, the expressions of the other magicians changed when they discovered this reality. The two magicians belatedly became aware of their lost dignity and closed their mouths.

Veronica cleared her throat a few times, “Kuk! Let’s stop joking around and talk about the situation.”

“Cough, yes. You must’ve been delaying for time, right?”

Veronica nodded. “Yep, I can’t deal with so many sword masters alone. So I just fired off spells from afar to keep them from closing the distance. I got the feeling that I shouldn’t approach.”

Blundell’s brows furrowed. “Your gut... I shouldn’t look down on it.”

Unlike their earlier frivolity, the two had quickly grown serious. Veronica had chosen to intercept the strike force instead of fortifying herself in Manavil. She had been worried about the power of the emperor, as well as the 1st and 2nd Swords. If possible, she wanted to at least identify the emperor’s Aura Ability, but that seemed to have failed.

However, Veronica’s face was shining brightly. “Well, I don’t think I can lose anymore with everyone here. I just need to take a breather before striking the enemy.”

Orta asked, “Are you going to be okay? You must’ve consumed quite a bit of magic power.”

Veronica shook her head. “The same is true for the other side. I think it will be worse if we wait for my recovery. A sword master’s resilience is almost at the level of a troll.”

If a magician required ten hours to regain their magic power, a swordmaster only needed two to three hours. It was possible that the opponent would be ready if they waited for Veronica’s recovery.

“Red Tower Master.”

“Huh? What is it, kid?”

Theo pulled something out without any hesitation.

***

Approximately thirty minutes later, the heat filling the mountain range had faded away and the fires were slowly sputtering out. It was an environment where they could walk around and breathe, even if they didn’t have Blundell’s magic.

However, Theo had managed to get more than an environmental advantage in those thirty minutes.

“... Once again, thank you for your help, Captain Theo. I will repay you for this medicine when we return.”

“W-What, this tree root? I took only half of it, and I’ve recovered almost all of my magic power?”

It was the stunning effect of the Thousand Year Knotweed Elixir that Theo had given out. He was very satisfied with their reactions.

The 500-year-old ones aren’t as efficient, but they are still good.

There was no doubt that he could buy a mansion with one elixir, but he needed to keep supplies for big battles. It was worth investing the remaining plants if they could restore Veronica’s power.

Blundell was well aware of the meaning of Theo’s actions and pounded Theo’s back. “Good! Very good! As His Majesty said, you really are the treasure of our Meltor!”

Theo winced, “B-Blue Tower Master, i-it hurts.”

Blundell roared in laughter. “Don’t be sorry about today’s expenditure! I will petition the king to give you something of equal value!”

“T-Thank you?” Theo’s back was smarting from the vigorous smacks as he responde.

Anyway, this was favorable to all of them. They had two guardians, a swordmaster, three Tower Masters, and Theo. Moreover, they had Prime-grade elites to fill in for extra firepower. It would be hard for the four swordmasters in the mountain range to win.

The two 8th Circle magicians came to the same conclusion.

Veronica cracked her neck and leaped into the sky. “Go! We don’t need to waste any more time!”

Blundell followed. “That’s right. Stay focused. From now on, we will be entering a battlefield where one inch of carelessness isn’t allowed.”

They tightened their formation. Randolph and Ellaim were excellent at melee battle and were placed at the forefront, while the strongest, Veronica, was placed in the middle. Blundell moved in the rear, and Orta, who hadn’t completely recovered yet, took a support position. Meanwhile, Theo and Edwin would be roving and applying pressure where needed.

It was a formation that allowed them to cope with any situation.

A heavy silence filled the air as they walked through the desolate landscape, causing Blundell to mutter. “... It is quiet. It is hard to think of it as the Nadun Mountains. Will it ever return to its previous form?”

“This won’t be enough to stop them. We’ve wiped out the little ones, but the core of the Seven Swords are still alive. The defensive ability of the 1st and 2nd Swords is annoyingly high,” Veronica explained why she had ventured so far from the capital to intercept them.

Theo nodded inwardly. This destruction was necessary if she wanted to tie up the 1st Sword, who had blocked Death Gazer on Kural Plains without any injuries, or the 2nd Sword who could cut space. There was no value in preserving the environment when facing them.

“No, I’m not trying to blame you...” Blundell was trying to explain when...

Wuooooong...!

Despite there being no warnings, everyone prepared for battle. The magic power of the four great magicians weighed down on the air, scattering the aura of the wind, fire, and water elementals that were called. No matter who rushed out from beyond the charred grass, Theo knew that they wouldn’t be able to survive.

But then he stepped forward.

“...?Hah.” A pool of blood formed with his every step. Blood was flowing from his torn left arm and the hole in his abdomen, ignoring the efforts of his aura as it tried to stop the blood spilling out.

The man had clearly been heavily injured. His aura was flickering like a candle about to be blown out. He raised his right arm over his head.

“Hey, will you save me if I surrender?” Zest Speitem asked in despair.

“... What is going on, 2nd Sword?” Blundell asked as he moved forward

Zest shook his head, like it was difficult to explain. “I don’t know. Why did this happen? Why did he attack us... I don’t want to die like this. So, save me, okay? I will do whatever you want.”

Blundell’s eyes narrowed. “Him?”

“D-Damn. It is hard to stand...”

Flop.

Zest crumpled to the ground. The sword master, who should be tougher than steel, found it hard to stand. This meant that his condition was extremely serious. Should they give him first aid?

While Blundell was feeling baffled by the unknown situation, Zest looked behind him and spoke in a faint voice, “We meet again... kid.”

“... Zest Speitem.”

“I couldn’t kill you twice, and now this third time... I won’t be able to even if I am saved...” The second strongest swordsman of Andras chuckled derisively.

He had missed the opportunity to kill his opponent twice, and now he was begging for his life? If his pride had a form, it would’ve shattered in front of him. Nevertheless, Zest wanted to live. Theo looked into Zest’s eyes and saw his condition more precisely than anyone else.

He declared calmly, “I’m sorry, but you are already dead. Your wounds can’t be healed.”

The last hint of hope died in Zest’s eyes. “... W-What?”

“The hole in your abdomen, it isn’t a mere flesh wound. It destroyed a large part of your soul. Your soul is strong enough to hold on for a bit, but... there isn’t much left.”

Theo’s ability to see the soul had grown by leaps and bounds when he had studied eastern martial arts and shamanism. As such, he was able to see that the hole had been drilled into Zest’s soul. It was an injury that couldn’t be fixed. The soul and the flesh were completely different concepts. Only a 9th Circle magician could repair a broken soul.

“... I see...” Zest seemed to be able to see the truth in Theo’s face and voice. “Damn, that monster... He had such power... Dammit. It would’ve been better… if I died by your hands”

Theo nodded. “There is much to be said about running away and winning.”

Zest coughed, “... Kuk, cheeky, child. Of course… I...”

Tok.?

Zest’s hand fell to the ground, swinging limply. It was the end of the 2nd of the Empire’s Seven Swords. Theo didn’t miss Zest’s soul being drawn somewhere along with his death.

He pointed. “That way.”

Blundell looked at him askance. “You...”

“There is no time to explain. The one who killed Zest is over there.” Theo spoke without thinking.

Something was burning up in his body. Seeing the death of the person who had almost killed him in the past and had threatened his kingdom, made him angry. Zest shouldn’t have died like this. Theo had wanted to kill Zest with his own hands. Perhaps he had formed a bond with him from when they fought? He couldn’t know now.

“... Understood. We will go this way.” Blundell followed Theo’s words without question.

There was no reasoning for it. He was just convinced by Theo’s previous achievements and current conviction. As they moved, they passed by the body of a woman with white hair. Randolph looked at the strange looking spear and the woman’s body with a strange expression.

Then at the end of the path, they faced him.

“―You’re late.”

He was big. Anyone who saw him would think so. The man sitting on the rock was taller than the average person, and his wide shoulders seemed like they could hold up a mountain. His white-tinged hair reminded them of snowy peaks, and his grandiose voice seemed to fill the air. He was casually holding a bloodied sword.

Even though he didn’t introduce himself, everyone knew who he was. This was the emperor of the Andras, the man who commanded the Seven Swords and dyed the north with blood.

Emperor Kether—anyone born in Meltor couldn’t help but instinctively hate this man. However, Theo felt confused. He didn’t know why, but he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

“Indeed, this was the cause.”

The emperor’s eyes, which didn’t contain a shred of humanity, had landed on Theo. No, it was like he was looking inside Theo.

“It has been a long time, my brother.”

No one knew what he meant. Why did the emperor of Andras call them brother? Why had he killed the 2nd Sword? As the fear of the unknown settled upon the magicians, the existence inside Theo woke up.

- It was a wild guess, but it truly is him.

Theo immediately responded. The emperor’s brother... Don’t tell me?!

- It is as you guessed, User.?

Gluttony’s voice was as calm as ever.

- He is one of the Seven Sins that has been in conflict with me since time immemorial―Invidia, the parasitic grimoire that symbolizes the sin of envy.