Ch.244244. Main Story

Days were passing by fiercely. Most of Dante’s Black Mages had been killed, and Luanes and Pelestand had been captured.

However, the key figures like the Corpse Master, Insect Master, and Disease Master had each used their unique abilities to escape.

Gloria deserved great credit for single-handedly cutting down most of the Black Mages, but she blamed herself for letting some escape.

But with Luanes captured, Dante was essentially destroyed.

His execution date had been postponed because His Highness Orpheus wanted to hear the truth he possessed.

And I too wanted to show him.

Another world that would come to this continent.

‘In the end, Luanes is also a person from 200 years ago.’

He was someone who should have already died.

I planned to let Luanes rest in peace along with the other souls I would bring back. Though he had inflicted indelible wounds on the Griffin kingdom, I couldn’t interfere with what happened after death.

As I always say, I am not one who judges or condemns.

I am merely a comforter who listens to stories and allows souls to close their eyes in peace.

“Hmm.”

Before the massive magic stone.

I gazed at it briefly, lost in various thoughts. The enormous power Luanes had gathered over 200 years.

Using this would certainly make my plan possible, but…

I couldn’t use it all at once.

A total of three times.

I planned to divide this power into three parts and use them in different magic stones: the foundation stone, the middle stone, and the final stone.

For that, I needed to split the power of the magic stone.

Fortunately, we had experts in this field on our side.

“Are you that worried?”

Archmage Rockpellican approached and asked. This laboratory used by him and his disciples. The memory of creating the pulse here to save Princess Elenoa is still vivid.

“No, I believe you’ll do an excellent job.”

The massive magic stone was like a delicate machine that would exact a price if handled incorrectly.

But these people were the top experts in magic in the Griffin kingdom.

If they couldn’t do it, I’d doubt anyone on the continent could.

Satisfied with my answer, Rockpellican smiled and stroked his chin.

“The work will proceed in reverse order. We’ll pour mana into the final stone first, then the middle stone, and finally the foundation stone.”

“Because the final stone requires the largest amount of mana, I see.”

“That’s right. Think of this magic stone as a cup filled to the brim with water. The more mana we extract, the more stable it will become, so we decided to start with the stone that requires the most mana.”

“I’m counting on you.”

After chatting with Rockpellican for a few more minutes, I stepped outside.

Preparations were nearly complete. Until the three magic stones were ready, all I could do was review and re-review my calculations to ensure they weren’t wrong.

“Ah! There you are!”

Just as I was about to head back to the secret room in the corridor that had become my research lab.

A voice called from behind me.

It was Professor Per Petra, with her disheveled pink hair, struggling to drag a large luggage bag.

She thanked the knight who had guided her and waved cheerfully.

“Professor Deus Verdi! I came as you called!”

“Professor Per.”

I thanked Professor Per Petra who had come after receiving my letter, taking her luggage bag from her.

“Thank you for coming so promptly. You must have had lectures to give.”

“Not at all! When I said I was going to help Professor Deus Verdi, the dean immediately arranged for my lectures to be covered!”

Being in the royal palace for the first time, she pushed up her glasses and looked around curiously.

Her excited, elevated voice was quite different from her usual demeanor.

“Oh?”

“Ah, you’re here.”

I had planned to head straight to my research lab with her, but the timing was unfortunate.

We ran into Findenai and Deia who happened to be passing by. I wasn’t sure what they had been doing lately, but they’d been spending a lot of time together.

“Long time no see, original titty monster.”

“…Did I just hear that correctly?”

Findenai greeted with a hearty laugh and raised hand. Deia pointed at Findenai with an expression of disbelief, asking me if she had heard correctly.

Though it could have been offensive, Professor Per seemed happy to see Findenai after so long and nodded with an amused laugh.

“You haven’t changed at all.”

“Sigh, I’ll reprimand her again. I apologize.”

When the maid apologized for her mistake, Per waved both hands in response.

“No, no! I really don’t mind! She’s fun!”

“Where’s the Dark Spiritmaster? It would be awesome to use her on both sides!”

I had no idea what she meant to use her for, but anyway.

[Don’t tell her I’m here.]

The Dark Spiritmaster, who had been beside me all along, warned while covering her chest with both hands.

“Stop talking nonsense and help carry Professor Per’s luggage. I’ve arranged a private room for you through His Majesty. Let’s get you rested first.”

“No! I want to go straight to the lab! I have something I want to show you!”

Though she usually had little stamina and a timid personality, today was different.

Judging by her raised shoulders, she seemed to have prepared something that gave her confidence.

“Then let’s go straight to the lab. Findenai, carry the luggage.”

“Can’t you ask Owen to do it? Wait, where did he go anyway?”

“Don’t give Owen any extra tasks for a while. He’ll be busy.”

He had an important role to play in this matter.

The young boy needed to see and learn many things to become my successor.

We all followed Findenai, who lifted the luggage effortlessly, to my research lab.

Though the underground air was a bit musty, the addition of lamps and various decorations had brightened the atmosphere considerably.

But Professor Per paid no attention to such details and immediately began explaining as she pulled something out of the luggage Findenai had brought.

“You know how you’ve given me various advice? I had some thoughts while listening to you.”

“…Is she always this talkative?”

Deia, who was behind me, tilted her head slightly and asked. I didn’t answer, focusing on listening to Professor Per.

“I’ve been making prosthetic limbs for people who unfortunately lost parts of their bodies. But with the records you gave me and help from other souls, I was able to complete it faster than expected.”

The Dark Spiritmaster had possessed her inventions to help, and though I was now used to my right hand, it was still a prosthetic.

I had occasionally discussed discomforts and improvements with Professor Per.

Since we shared a lab, these discussions were quite frequent, and she seemed quite grateful to me.

“After my goal was quickly achieved, I fell into a bit of a rut. Then I wondered, what if we went beyond that?”

“Beyond?”

At my question, Professor Per pulled out various items, then turned around with a bright smile.

“I can create artificial bodies, and you can summon souls!”

As her excited voice echoed, Deia and Findenai simultaneously looked at me.

Not just them, but the Dark Spiritmaster and Stella did the same.

In reality.

Though I maintained an expressionless face, my emotions were anything but.

Oblivious to the atmosphere, Professor Per continued excitedly.

“Wouldn’t this make a kind of resurrection possible? Professor, we could achieve the continent’s ultimate goal of transcending life and death…!”

“Professor Per.”

I finally couldn’t hold back.

I cut her off, trying to speak as gently as possible, but.

Professor Per seemed to finally realize the gravity of the situation, standing with her hands clasped, gradually becoming frightened.

“Um, Pro…fessor?”

“Your research is truly excellent. Yes, with that method, the miracle of bringing the dead back to life might indeed be possible.”

“…”

“But it shouldn’t be done.”

The dead must ultimately close their eyes and enter into rest. The moment the boundary between life and death becomes blurred, only chaos would come to the continent.

Many kingdoms would come.

The moment this became known, various countries would strive to take us away.

Not just the upper classes, but citizens too would talk about resurrection.

Death is no longer a fear for humanity?

Then after that.

What would remain for humanity?

Endless chaos amid infinite life.

“I understand what you want, Professor Per. But it shouldn’t be done.”

“…Ah.”

“You are an excellent mage and researcher, but you need to consider the weight and responsibility of what you create.”

I too.

Had such thoughts before.

When I received my prosthetic hand.

If I created an artificial body and placed the Dark Spiritmaster and Stella in it.

Wouldn’t they have new physical bodies?

But that shouldn’t be done.

Because that would be an act that destroyed the beliefs I had held until now.

I patted her shoulder to lighten the mood and said:

“That’s not why I called you.”

Speaking as gently as possible, Professor Per’s expression finally relaxed, and she carefully put the items she had taken out back into her bag.

* * *

“Hahaha!”

The hearty laugh escaping from Insect Master Barkterus’s mouth. The sound was so robust it didn’t seem to belong to an old man, causing Disease Master Becklin beside him to burst out in irritation.

“What’s so funny! We ran away with our tails between our legs from just one female knight!”

“Hahaha! That’s what’s funny! You couldn’t even use a single spell!”

“Damn it!”

As a Disease Master, he couldn’t use magic head-on, and with his comrades around, he had no choice but to flee without even stirring his mana.

Watching Becklin kick a nearby tree in frustration, Corpse Master Yun scratched her cheek and replied:

“Even if we had fought seriously there. Luanes and Pelestand surrendered.”

“Those idiots!”

“Don’t be too harsh.”

Watching Becklin’s rough outburst, Jangroon from the Han Empire touched his empty left shoulder.

It was a wound inflicted by the royal guard Gloria.

“Who knew Pelestand would surrender like that? The leader had no choice but to surrender because the magic stone couldn’t be broken.”

“So what! Do I have to care about that too?”

Brushing back his bangs, Becklin, unable to contain his anger, finally declared:

“I’m going to Greyfond. I’ll show them they messed with the wrong person.”

The name Dante was now essentially disbanded.

Only four Black Mages remained.

“Anyone want to come with me? Are we going to end it after being defeated like this?!”

At Becklin’s question, Corpse Master Yun wore an ambiguous expression. She hadn’t even brought out her precious corpses, so she didn’t really feel defeated.

“If you follow Becklin, you could obtain quite a few corpses?”

Insect Master Barkterus asked temptingly, but Yun shook her head.

“The risk is too great. I’ll pass.”

“If Yun’s not going, I won’t go either.”

Jangroon added, resting the spear he held on his right shoulder. Becklin grumbled at him, calling him pathetic.

“After getting your left shoulder cut off, you’re still just following a woman around.”

“That’s love.”

Yun, the recipient of this love, showed no emotion and stood expressionless.

“Hahaha, it looks fun. I think I’ll join you.”

Insect Master Barkterus decided to join Becklin. Just as the Black Mages of Dante were about to split up without achieving any real results.

A beam of light shone down upon the Black Mages.

When this sacred light, different from mere sunlight, poured down, even veteran Black Mages couldn’t help but be startled.

They all had their attention captured and could only watch.

The pouring light became a path, and a woman walking on it.

None of them were religious, but the moment they laid eyes on her, only the word “god” dominated and consumed their minds.

The truth that flooded their minds.

Though no one had whispered it.

As if they had already known, one truth was imprinted like a seal in the minds of the four people.

There were only two choices extended to the souls sleeping on this continent.

Either the continent would reach its limit and become saturated, with the boundary between life and death collapsing.

Or Luanes would succeed.

The annihilation of all spiritual beings.

These truths were roughly embedded in the minds of the Black Mages, as if they were being brainwashed.

The woman who had descended among them declared warmly but firmly:

“No other fate exists for the continent.”

Creating a new world to accommodate souls?

From the perspective of the gods who needed to guide the continent on the right path (main story), this was an absolutely unacceptable outcome.