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Dokkogamuyong, Heineken, and Elroar swiftly moved to gag those present.

Fortunately, with the Heroes’ authority, they could immediately summon Alliance branch agents from Skeletonia to forcibly control the information flow.

However, they failed to prevent the news from reaching the Alliance leadership through Winny and Rei.

Thus, before a Heroes’ council could be convened, the Elder Council urgently assembled.

With the Lion King in seclusion, they were effectively the Alliance’s highest rulers after Dokkogamuyong.

Having read the reports, the Elders trembled.

“…This cannot be.”

“Is this… truly real…?”

Regardless of race, their wrinkled faces showed their age, yet their gazes remained sharp.

They had weathered innumerable storms of war to reach this position. Some even exceeded 100 years old, having lived in Ruozvolnick’s era.

Yet even they were rendered speechless by the shocking report.

“Ruozvolnick is… alive…?”

The great Hero lives.

The system itself had presented definitive proof.

“If this is true…”

No exchanged glances were needed. Their opinions were crystal clear.

They must find the Hero.

The reasons? There was no need for elaborate explanations.

Expressing gratitude? Requesting aid? Ascertaining the truth behind his death? Or perhaps resentment over his whereabouts all this time?

The need to find him was too evident and compelling to argue.

“We must use that device.”

The 7th Elder verbally proposed the resolution.

At his brief statement, the Alliance’s highest decision-makers immediately convened.

“Remain calm. First, we must investigate the relic site Apostle Han Doyun discovered.”

“Of course we must proceed simultaneously. This is an urgent matter. If His return is truly possible, we must hasten it by even a single day, sparing no expense!”

“However… using that device merits further contemplation.”

“No, I disagree.”

The 7th Elder spoke solemnly.

The ‘device’ referred to the one Doyun had applied to use for locating the Fiends.

“I, the 7th Elder, propose the resolution to utilize the ‘Name Seeker’.”

+++

Unlike Earth or other dimensions, ‘surnames’ hold considerable significance in this world.

If parents have a surname, it must be inherited. This is an inviolable law of this world.

Without a surname, one is bestowed a new name or the parents’ full name. Enoch and Tiamat were such cases, respectively. The nickname ‘Tia’ everyone uses is a shortening of her full name, Tiamat.

Hence, the pillars of the Alliance are referred to as ‘Războinic’ (Ruozvolnick). Bestowing Enoch’s surname as an honorific was an immensely meaningful act.

Due to this law, surnames play a crucial role in identity verification, forming the foundation of this world’s civilization system. Guild seals issued by World Tree and other such systems all operate on this basis.

Long ago, when this was systematized, the ancient archmages created the ‘Name Seeker’ device to locate the current positions of those bearing a specific surname.

This device, prone to abuse, can only be managed and operated by high-ranking officials, with considerable point costs required for activation.

“However, according to the discovered item’s description, Ruozvolnick attained a standing second only to deities. Using the device on his surname would require an immense point cost.”

This cost scales proportionally to the target’s ‘standing’, making it unusable for locating dragons or warlords – the required points would be utterly unaffordable for such high-standing beings.

It would be impossible even if someone singlehandedly defeated a warlord to acquire points.

Moreover, few even knew the true surnames of dragons, warlords, and the like, beyond their titles.

“The point cost can be reduced by using an item closely associated with the individual as a medium. That thaumaturgy golem is undoubtedly the item most intimately connected to the great Hero.”

“Hmm…”

A valid point. With that golem, while the point cost would be staggering, it might still be feasible.

But one crucial matter remained.

“Did the Alliance not already use the device 100 years ago to confirm his demise?”

At those words, the 167-year-old Elder of the long-lived race nodded solemnly.

Indeed. The Alliance had naturally spared no expense, paying the immense cost to use the device on Enoch shortly after his presumed death 100 years prior when mitigating factors were abundant.

The result had shown no one bearing the ‘Războinic’ (Ruozvolnick) surname existed anywhere on the continent.

The 2nd Elder had witnessed it with his own eyes.

Yet the 7th Elder remained adamant.

“However, his survival has now been confirmed. A contradictory result to 100 years ago. Under such circumstances, neither side can be deemed conclusive.”

“But the exorbitant point cost for using it…”

“Perhaps a suitable Hero could…”

After further lengthy debate, they ultimately reached a decision.

+++

Everyone gathered before the Name Seeker.

Superseding all other Alliance matters, the decision to activate the device was swiftly made. The Heroes’ council was omitted.

The Lion King remained in seclusion. The Dragon King never left his domain. One Hero was uncontrollable, while the rest were all present. A council served no purpose.

As the discoverer of the relic site, Doyun was permitted to witness the Name Seeker’s activation, thanks to Winny’s efforts.

The review of his application to locate the Fiends was nearly complete, posing no eligibility issues.

“I did well, didn’t I?”

“…Yes.”

Doyun responded to Winny while massaging his throbbing head.

The 12 Elder Council members, the Intelligence Chief, the present Heroes, Bryhildr, Elroar, and many others had assembled. Essentially, nearly all with the highest levels of influence in the Alliance were present.

Those unaware of Doyun’s true identity gulped nervously at participating in this historic occasion.

Dokkogamuyong conveyed his concern telepathically.

[You will surely not be detected by the Seeker, right…?]

[Do not worry. My current name according to the system is Han Doyun. The result will be the same as 100 years ago, merely a waste of points.]

How regrettable it was.

Even using the tiny golem as a medium, Enoch’s standing was immense. The required point cost was astronomical. The Alliance could barely afford the exorbitant amount.

Those vast points were about to be squandered.

‘But…’

A sudden curiosity arose, prompting Doyun to ask Dokkogamuyong telepathically.

[Where did all those points come from? I was under the impression only one person could pay the cost.]

[…]

[Perhaps one of the Heroes expended all their points. Who might that be?]

After a moment’s hesitation, Dokkogamuyong replied.

[There is one Hero Enoch is still unaware of. We made a judicial deal with her.]

[…A judicial deal?]

For an instant, Doyun nearly questioned the absurdity.

A judicial deal. Did that imply the Hero was a criminal? And one who had committed such a grave crime to trade for this many points?

[…It was too shameful to reveal to Enoch, so I refrained from mentioning it. My apologies.]

[…We’ll discuss this another time.]

It seemed the ‘uncontrollable Hero’ mentioned earlier was precisely her – the one who had not even participated in the Metapolis frontlines during the great war.

‘…Right. It was too greedy to expect all Heroes to be righteous.’

Wherever one went, scum who betrayed their own kind overflowed aplenty. A harsh reality Enoch had experienced firsthand over 18 cycles.

Rather, it was truly fortunate that only one problematic Hero existed among them.

“Preparations are complete.”

The mages operating the device notified them.

The Elders’ gazes turned towards Dokkogamuyong, the highest decision-maker, who reluctantly spoke with a solemn expression.

“Activate the device.”

“Yes.”

As Enoch had stated, the device would likely fail to activate if the target did not exist, just like 100 years ago.

However, the result defied his expectations.

Weeeing-

The magitek components whirred into motion, emitting sounds. Intense mana rapidly circulated within the machine.

Unlike 100 years ago, the device was operating fiercely.

Doyun and those aware of his true identity, along with everyone present, flinched in shock.

“I, It’s working!”

“So He truly lives!”

“Oh…! Blessed be the Deity! Grant this continent salvation…!”

Everyone’s hearts raced.

Most swelled with fervent hope at the return after 100 years, hearts seeming to burst, while a few widened their eyes in bewilderment.

Amidst the ferocious mechanical clamor, even Doyun was thrown into confusion.

‘It’s working?’

Surely it couldn’t be outputting his location right now?

Damn, if so, this situation would become incredibly complicated.

‘But that’s impossible, right?’

As the system had shown, his listed name was definitively Han Doyun. Just what was going on?

[He, Hero…!]

[Enoch, it seems the machine is locating your position right now…]

[Shall we destroy the machine?]

[We must incapacitate everyone present…]

His close aides frantically conveyed various frantic suggestions telepathically.

Yet as desperate measures, none were suitable solutions. Destroying the precious machine was unacceptable, while assaulting the others would escalate matters uncontrollably.

‘What should I do…’

In that momentary stillness,

“Oh!”

“At last!”

A continental map appeared on the monitor as the results were outputted, eliciting gasps of elation that filled the room.

However, it was short-lived.

“…!”

“…”

“Ah…”

No one could speak.

Doyun too stared wide-eyed at the monitor in disbelief.

‘This… just what is…!’

Silence fell as no one could comprehend the inexplicable result.

A deafening, suffocatingly heavy silence.

“Why…”

Rei, utterly taken aback, mumbled as if entranced.

“Hero… This… why…”

His despondent murmurs continued.

“The Dark Lord’s Domain…?”

The monitor indifferently pointed towards the Dark Lord’s Domain at the edge of the Blight.