Ch.170Forbidden Magic (1)

“Forbidden magic? Are you perhaps referring to necromancy?”

Arwen frowned in confusion at Phiren’s mention of “forbidden magic.” There are various types of magic in the world, and among them are those forbidden due to their horrific nature.

The most prominent example would be “necromancy.” Necromancy is magic that resurrects the dead as “undead,” which demons frequently used during the ancient Demon War.

Particularly, the higher one’s proficiency in necromancy, the stronger the resurrected undead becomes, and it can also inflict significant psychological pressure. Additionally, undead can engage in endless wars of attrition, where the opponent’s strength diminishes while the undead’s power increases daily.

Fortunately, they were barely repelled thanks to the existence of “divine power” and the “World Tree,” but remnants still remain in this world. The most significant example would be the demon race.

The demon race possesses “Dark Mana,” which allows them to use necromancy. However, they too suffered greatly at the hands of demons, so they strictly prohibit necromancy above all else.

Recently, traces of demon worshippers secretly using necromancy have been appearing everywhere, and it’s also mentioned in the Biography of Xenon. In the Biography of Xenon, necromancy is considered magic that should never even be attempted.

Besides this, black magic that gains power through human sacrifice or spreads terrible curses and plagues is also forbidden. Since necromancy is included within black magic, it’s fair to say that black magic itself is forbidden magic.

“It’s not black magic like necromancy. It’s the purest form of magic, but it’s forbidden because it causes terrible devastation.”

“Hmm… it’s difficult to understand just by hearing about it.”

Arwen looked at Volume 14 of the Biography of Xenon with a puzzled expression after hearing Phiren’s answer. It was hard to predict why Phiren was acting this way without knowing how the story developed.

If it wasn’t black magic like necromancy, what kind of magic could it be? Moreover, there was something else that was particularly confusing.

In the Biography of Xenon, magic is activated without proper explanation. In other words, there are only descriptions of what magic was activated, not detailed principles.

If there was a criticism of the Biography of Xenon, it would be the weak description of magic, but this was largely unavoidable since Issac wasn’t a magician. Besides, magic isn’t properly formalized among humans.

So what kind of forbidden magic was described that made Phiren react this way? Arwen glanced at Phiren, who was still waiting with a stern expression, then opened the book.

Since things had come to this, it wouldn’t be bad to read Volume 14 of the Biography of Xenon while figuring things out.

‘So Elvenheim has been completely conquered.’

The World Tree was completely neutralized by Pride and Lucifer’s vicious scheme, and Elvenheim was invaded by demons. Of course, Elvenheim’s warriors fought battle after battle, but it was difficult to stop the demons that came like a tidal wave.

If Elvenheim’s warriors defeated 5 demons, the demons would send 10 troops, and if they managed to stop those, they would send an additional 20 troops.

The corrupted World Tree became recognized as a sort of coordinate, turning into a gate, and furthermore, it became nourishment for Diabolos, making the situation the worst of the worst. The remaining elf warriors were fighting together, but Elvenheim was essentially destroyed.

Xenon’s party also confronted the demons in Elvenheim with a dark elf they met by chance, but retreat was inevitable due to the presence of the Seven Deadly Sins.

‘The council… was completely annihilated. Serves them right.’

The council, which could be considered the senate in the Biography of Xenon, rejected Xenon’s party and even tried to imprison Jin for being a demon race, among other things. In many ways, it was evaluated as an extreme expression of the elves’ negative aspects.

After Kair’s death, they ran the government in place of Elisha, who had become half-disabled, but they drove Xenon’s party out of Elvenheim under the pretext of investigation. That party included the Warchief “Ruden,” who had been a thorn in the council’s side.

However, the council was beheaded without even properly fighting the demons. Moreover, they were resurrected as undead and continued to pursue Xenon’s party until the end.

This alone is enough reason for the senate to be furious, but it’s not enough. There’s still a long way to go to the page Phiren mentioned.

‘But what happens to the plot if Diabolos is resurrected? Doesn’t it just end?’

At this rate, the great demon Diabolos will be resurrected. The World Tree has enough nourishment to resurrect even a great demon, which is why they invaded Elvenheim first.

And Diabolos is very powerful according to the setting. He can destroy mountain ranges with a gesture and even reverse heaven and earth, so you can roughly get the idea.

As Arwen was about to immerse herself in the increasingly serious situation, she slightly raised her gaze to check on Phiren. He was still waiting with a stiff face.

As she was about to reach the page he had mentioned, she wondered what kind of magic it could be. Arwen immersed herself more deeply and turned the page.

‘…Even Eire is joining?’

Eire is one of the representatives and warriors of the dark elves who appeared in Volume 13. He holds the position of “Darkness Guide,” given to the most outstanding warrior among the dark elves.

In other words, he has military power comparable to the Warchief Ruden. And now this warrior has begun fighting to protect Elvenheim.

Even real-world dark elves, who were exiled after a terrible civil war long ago, still have strong affection for their homeland. Alvenheim is the homeland in their hearts that God directly allowed to take root, so it’s natural.

Therefore, it’s not strange at all for the dark elves in the Biography of Xenon to fight for Elvenheim. And despite the lingering conflicts between the races, “Ruden” and “Eire” became one for Elvenheim.

And where their united hearts are directed is the corrupted World Tree. Originally a gift from God, it is now a great tree that must be destroyed.

If they retreat now, Diabolos will be resurrected, and this world will head down the path of destruction. For these two heroes who know this fact better than anyone, there was only one choice left.

‘But it would be difficult to break through the Seven Deadly Sins…’

Just dealing with Lucifer alone would be challenging, let alone the other Seven Deadly Sins positioned there. Other elves are also supporting them to clear the way, but it’s clearly recognized as impossible.

So the only choice left is “cooperation.”

And not just combining to produce a power of 2, but they need to produce a power of 10 to burn down the corrupted World Tree.

The elf hero Ruden and the dark elf hero Eire also knew this, so they forced the final choice.

‘Fusion… what? What kind of ability is this?’

The ability to become “one” in the true sense, “fusion (合體).”

They transform mana, knowledge, divine power accumulated over hundreds of years, and finally their very selves into pure energy.

They transform the body into firewood so that mana, like flames, can burn fiercely.

Ruden, who follows the God of Light, and Eire, who follows the God of Darkness. It could be dangerous because they have different natures, but they are of the same race at the “root.”

[Bow down to overwhelming power!]

Eventually, the two heroes transformed into one giant energy being and began marching toward the corrupted World Tree. The energy being, neither Ruden nor Eire, moved forward with a voice that mixed the voices of both people.

With a light gesture, even high-ranking demons were all devoured by the powerful energy and annihilated, not to mention the demons below them.

If the limit of output that a human body can produce is 100, a pure energy being is beyond that. Moreover, since it naturally dissipates when all energy is lost, it also has the property of absorbing all surrounding energy.

And that energy was sustained by absorbing the surrounding demons. Even the dark mana residing in demons was considered merely “energy,” so there was no problem advancing.

The problem is that this ability doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe. According to the description, even the elf warriors who were supporting them were sucked in.

In an unexpected situation where even the Seven Deadly Sins were confused and hesitant to step forward, the energy being had already reached the World Tree.

Feeling the crisis, Diabolos hurriedly ordered the Seven Deadly Sins, but the energy being was one step ahead. Then, they, or he, reached out toward the corrupted World Tree and murmured softly.

[For Elvenheim.]

The appearance of the energy being ended here. After that, the perspective shifted to Xenon’s party.

Xenon’s party, who were evacuating the remaining residents of Elvenheim, all turned their gaze toward the World Tree when they sensed a massive flow of mana from that direction.

And what entered their eyes was a massive explosion enveloping the entire World Tree. For a moment, a bright flash that could blind the eyes burst forth, then gradually subsided.

As the light subsided, the World Tree, which had firmly held its place for 3,000 years, had disappeared without a trace, leaving only a giant mushroom cloud. The noble sacrifice of the two heroes had slightly delayed the resurrection of the great demon.

“… …”

Arwen blinked her gray eyes as one episode ended. True to the Biography of Xenon, once she was drawn in, she read without noticing the passage of time.

However, she shouldn’t deviate from her original purpose. She took her eyes off the book and looked ahead.

“Have you read it all?”

Phiren, seeming to know that Arwen had read the important part, asked in his characteristically old voice. Arwen was briefly embarrassed by the fact that she had read the Biography of Xenon so intently, but she cleared her throat and answered.

“I’ve read all the parts you mentioned. The scene where Ruden and Eire become pure energy beings and destroy the World Tree is impressive. But is this what’s problematic?”

“…Your Majesty. 3,000 years is a very long time even for us elves. Just as a river’s downstream reveals its bottom when the upstream dries up, the same applies to history and tradition. If all records from ancestors are lost, nothing is passed down to later generations.”

Phiren explained to Arwen using a metaphor that even a stranger could understand sufficiently. Arwen made a subtle expression at his explanation but quickly caught on to what he meant.

Saying that it was blocked since the ancestors’ time means they deliberately made records disappear. In fact, most records of the civil war with the dark elves have been lost, but some are still preserved in the holy land.

But completely eradicating the records themselves means the ancestors judged it to be a very serious matter. Arwen urgently asked Phiren, showing him Volume 14.

“Th-then, are you saying that what’s written here is magic that was lost in the past?”

“Yes. The magic described as fusion is called ‘Unity.’ That magic was used even in the Demon War 3,000 years ago. It transforms people into pure energy beings and combines that energy to create a giant life form. In the book, only two people became energy beings, but in reality, multiple people can do it.”

“That’s…”

Arwen was so shocked that she couldn’t speak. At the same time, she had a question.

Is Issac really a prophet or a person from the future who knows even about lost magic? And how does Phiren know about the existence of this magic and that it was forbidden?

Various questions circled in her mind, but first, how does Phiren know about this magic? She glanced at the book once and asked Phiren in a low voice.

“…Then how do you know that this magic is forbidden? If it’s you, you probably know why it was forbidden as well.”

“Of course. Before that, there’s another reason why I’m convinced that Xenon is a prophet or from the future. It’s the effect that occurs after becoming an energy being. An energy mass without a physical body is destined to eventually dissipate. To delay that fate even a little, it indiscriminately devours surrounding energy. You must have seen the description where not only demons but also supporting warriors were sucked into the energy being.”

“A massive energy has the property of absorbing surrounding energy… I’ve heard that theory a long time ago. And you, including the senate, dismissed it as nonsense and discarded it.”

“It wasn’t nonsense, but the truth. Energy that’s impossible to measure has the property of absorbing everything around it.”

“… …”

They lied that it was false because the truth was too dangerous. Arwen’s expression gradually hardened.

“During the Demon War, the situation was so urgent that we had no choice but to use Unity, but not after the war ended. Our ancestors realized that through Unity, people could be used as one massive mana. But you know well what happens the moment this fact leaks out, don’t you, Your Majesty?”

“… …”

Using people as “mana.” The moment this fact spreads widely, there’s a high probability that terrible human experiments will occur under the surface.

Not only that, but civilization has developed highly compared to the time of the Demon War, and the population has increased several times as well. As Phiren explained, fusion, or Unity, is magic that can be performed by multiple people, not just two as described in the Biography of Xenon.

If certain individuals with impure intentions carry it out… it’s clear as day that a terrible tragedy would occur. As long as there’s something that can be considered energy around, it won’t dissipate and will only move forward.

It’s highly likely that the ancestors anticipated this and completely discarded the records. Arwen, realizing the situation was more serious than expected, sighed inwardly and quietly asked.

“Before that, let me ask once more. How do you know about this forbidden magic?”

“My father, and my father from my grandfather, and my grandfather from my great-grandfather. Although written records have disappeared, the danger was passed down orally from mouth to mouth.”

“Is it really such a dangerous magic? Not just an excuse to find Xenon?”

“If it were, why would I risk being rude and seek out Your Majesty? This book has already spread widely in the human world. We must ban its publication as soon as possible and, furthermore, find Xenon.”

“Hmm…”

If just hearing about it, it’s a very serious matter. This magic called Unity should not be known to the world, and we might cross an irreversible river if we’re not careful.

But that doesn’t mean we can bring Issac here. Arwen stared at Volume 14 of the Biography of Xenon with a worried look, when suddenly a question occurred to her.

Can only elves use this Unity, or can other races use it too? If only elves can use it?

Then she can stop it at her level. Although some thoughtless people might conduct experiments without knowing, they can be punished when the time comes.

Above all, if the Biography of Xenon is truly a “prophecy,” there’s no big problem. The fusion mentioned in the Biography of Xenon is not something anyone can use, but an ability that only warriors with noble spiritual power can perform, as explained.

Ruden and Eire, as described in the Biography of Xenon, are heroes who chose sacrifice to protect their homeland and, furthermore, to prevent the resurrection of the great demon Diabolos. If only such heroes can perform fusion, wouldn’t there be no problem?

Of course, the theory that massive energy absorbs surrounding energy is dangerous in itself. But this can be controlled through agreements with the leaders of each country.

‘There are still some unsettling aspects…’

It was hard to believe readily because of the usual antics of the senate. They could use this as an excuse to bring Issac.

Arwen quickly organized her thoughts and shifted her gaze to Phiren. Phiren was still waiting without changing his expression.

“Councilor Phiren. Let me ask one last thing.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Is this Unity you mentioned something only we elves can use? Or can other races use it too?”

“It’s something only we elves, chosen by God, can use. After all, we elves are the race with the purest mana.”

Then there’s no problem. Some foolish humans might try to do it themselves, but they’re likely to be stopped immediately.

And magicians are very valuable assets to humans. They wouldn’t do such a thing unless they were crazy.

Only human experimentation is somewhat concerning. But this is no different from human sacrifice, so it can be strictly forbidden by considering it “black magic.” If someone violates it, the Holy Kingdom can directly punish them.

There’s no need to rush. Issac probably didn’t write this with such results in mind, so she can go and ask him directly later.

‘I should seriously ask if he’s really a prophet.’

Maybe Issac wrote it in the book because he actually saw it. Arwen gave weight to that possibility and answered Phiren.

“Then there’s no problem. If only elves can use it, there won’t be an issue. We can control it directly.”

“But Your Majesty. The mere fact that such forbidden magic is known will cause big problems. Please consider carefully. This is not something to be taken lightly.”

“Hmm. Why are you so anxious? Are you perhaps lacking confidence? You, who have been ruling Alvenheim all this time? Or is it…”

Arwen briefly trailed off, then asked suggestively in a voice that seemed to say “surely not.”

“Because of the dark elves?”

Flinch-

Phiren slightly flinched at those words. Seeing that reaction, Arwen smiled inwardly.

‘I thought as much.’