The Burning Granary (4)
Geumgang Palace.
At the heart of Palcion lies this inner sanctum, a coalition of twenty-six noble families. While the central parliament ostensibly governs Palcion, everyone knows the real power lies with Geumgang Palace.
Most people are aware of the palace’s wealth and political influence, but few understand the true extent of its power.
The Twenty-Six Transcendents.
Each of the twenty-six noble families produces one transcendent being, a superhuman among superhumans. To ordinary people, these beings are mere legends, but they are the reason the labyrinthine city has stood at the continent’s center for over a millennium.
Even the warlike emperors of the mighty Southern Empire have always avoided conflict with Palcion.
Walking beside Daellen now was one of these transcendent beings.
“Tsk, Gawain’s got potential, but he’s stubborn in the strangest ways. Always making slip-ups. I’ve told him countless times to just call me Evan. How’s he supposed to handle undercover missions like that?”
The blond youth, Everon, grumbled.
Inside the defensive line, the streets of District 43 were eerily empty.
The two were heading deeper into the warehouse district to intercept the elite forces that had already breached the defenses.
Sienna, Lucia, and Farn had been left at the front lines. It was too soon to pit them against an enemy like the Vine Witch, and the defensive situation was precarious.
Lucia, a paladin skilled in battle prayers, and Sienna, a witch adept in wide-area magic, could quickly turn the tide.
“Not a soul in sight. Looks like the evacuation order was timely,” Everon remarked, his low-heeled shoes clicking on the well-paved stones.
Districts 41 to 43 were the heart of the western sector, lined with massive grain warehouses, administrative buildings, and bustling trade offices. It was one of the safest areas in the bronze district, and the citizens had likely evacuated early, guided by the guards.
Just yesterday, the streets had been bustling with carts and merchants, but now only an uneasy silence lingered.
“Do you know who’s behind this?” Everon broke the silence.
Daellen glanced at him before answering. The youth’s eyes were devoid of their usual cunning, a genuine question rather than a test.
Having already discussed the existence of the Seer, there was no reason not to answer.
“The Vine Witch.”
“So you knew. That speeds things up. The Vine Witch is indeed the mastermind. The Seer foresaw her attack not long ago.”
“If you knew through the Seer, couldn’t you have acted sooner?” Daellen asked. Everon chuckled softly.
“Even foresight demands a price. Some knowledge is more a curse than a blessing.”
Everon paused, then added, “You know Valentino from the Elgaia Magic Tower, right?”
“Hmm. I see.”
Come to think of it, Felber’s ability also involved reading and interfering with timelines. After achieving a grand domain, he couldn’t handle the power with a mortal body and began to crumble.
It was only after Daellen awakened the power of the Spear of the Red that he could grant Felber immortality and revive him.
“And even if that weren’t the case, I couldn’t have acted directly. There are many restrictions on my and my comrades’ movements.”
“Restrictions?” Daellen inquired. Everon nodded.
“Yes. The ‘Barrier Covenant.’ It’s a restriction established when the city and the barrier towers were built. Thanks to this covenant, the evils of the labyrinth can’t rise to the surface… but in hindsight, it’s like we’ve bound our own hands and feet.”
A restriction binding the transcendents. It was a story Daellen had heard a few times in the game.
The transcendents of Geumgang Palace were beings on par with the minions of evil gods. They prioritized the continent’s future over personal gain or even their own lives.
Yet, until the mid-to-late stages, these noble and powerful beings remained holed up in Geumgang Palace, no matter what chaos erupted outside.
‘It seemed like a mechanism to prevent balance disruption, but there might be more to it.’
After all, this world had become reality. There was no one left to question such things.
At least he had gathered some clues. The Barrier Covenant was a restriction from the city’s founding, linked to the barrier that kept the labyrinth’s monsters at bay. And the power and conditions of the restriction were strong enough to hinder the movements of powerful transcendents.
“So, if you’re here, it means a significant threat is heading our way.”
“Haha, is that how it is? Well… you’re not wrong.”
The young man scratched the back of his head. He looked like any other slightly handsome noble, but today, his demeanor exuded an unusual aura.
Through countless battles with formidable foes, Daellen’s perception had sharpened like never before.
Even now, despite Everon’s efforts to conceal his power, Daellen’s senses detected a faint anomaly.
“The witch’s actions have tipped the scales of the restriction, allowing me to step out.”
“Do you know her intentions?”
“Of course. She won’t stop at just burning the warehouse district. If that were all, there’d be no need for such a grand scheme.”
A faint irritation crossed Everon’s face as he continued.
“She’s targeting the Philoperin magic circle, the backbone of the vertical farms. The witch plans to disable it, halting the operations of the western sector.”
After walking for another ten minutes down the straight road, Daellen’s senses finally picked up an unfamiliar presence.
“Looks like they’re waiting for us.”
“Seems so. I expected an ambush, but… the white-eyed hag could’ve warned us about this, tsk.”
”…”
Did he just call the Seer a hag?
For some reason, Daellen felt Everon was unusually talkative today, and it seemed to be getting worse.
Shaking his head, Daellen focused on his senses.
Eight presences in total. They must have noticed them by now, yet there was no response, not even a twitch.
‘They must be confident.’
Having breached the guards’ defenses with a small elite force, their confidence wasn’t unfounded.
The group soon turned onto a slightly wider path off the main road.
“Finally, they’re here. Just as he said.”
A man in spiked armor slowly rose from his spot.
A shadowy elf leaning against a building, a slouching dark mage, and a dwarf sharpening an axe all turned their gazes toward them.
“Stop. I’ve heard you’re quite skilled. As a mercenary, you must value your life. I’ll give you a chance to walk away.”
The spiked armor man spoke. Daellen stood still, his gaze fixed beyond the man’s shoulder.
A space rippling faintly.
A sinister magic emanating clearly.
It seemed they were guarding the entrance to a massive barrier.
The Vine Witch was likely inside, concocting some scheme.
“Hmm, they are indeed elite. If this were any other situation, I’d want to recruit them,” Everon murmured, stroking his chin. The eight before them were formidable.
Each one was as powerful as Lucia or Sienna, capable of holding their own against lower demons or even gaining the upper hand.
‘The time for the hidden figures of the continent to emerge has come.’
Not all the reclusive figures were benevolent or neutral. Just because someone gained power didn’t mean they’d suddenly decide to live righteously.
In fact, many fell into corruption during their rise, and by the mid-game, about a third of the superhumans were enemies.
Among the recluses were those who, while not openly displaying their power, were known figures in the public eye.
“Baron Zutmura.”
Everon called out, and a middle-aged man in black iron armor turned his head.
“So you were the traitor. Even the Seer didn’t pay much attention to you. I thought your rigid imperial noble spirit meant there was nothing to worry about.”
”…Who are you? I assumed you were a mercenary and his informant, but you’re an unexpected figure.”
Baron Zutmura tilted his head, scrutinizing Everon before speaking as if he had remembered something.
“Oh, I’ve seen you before. You were a high-ranking official with the Labyrinth Administration. Your name was… yes, Evan. A branch of the Ankala family, wasn’t it?”
The viscount waved his hand dismissively as he recited one of Everon’s aliases.
With a face as expressionless as stone, he continued, “I’m not interested in you. It’s this mercenary who has my attention.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. The golden badge mercenary. A commoner who dared to lay hands on a noble.”
Dalen scratched his chin. Viscount Zutmura, he thought.
Suddenly, he remembered the bald-headed fool who had charged at him during the battle, shouting his name.
“Angel Zutramu. Is he related to you?”
“He’s my son. I see you met him on your way here.”
“Met him, I did.”
“Then, as a father and a fellow noble, I must avenge him.”
Srring—
The viscount drew his sword, his voice flat and devoid of any paternal warmth.
At that moment, Everon tugged at Dalen’s sleeve and whispered, “I can disable the barrier they’re guarding without the witch noticing. Could you hold them off for a moment?”
“You say that like it’s nothing, asking me to take on eight superhumans.”
“I promise on my name, you’ll be well compensated for this. And I assure you, you won’t be held accountable for any property damage today.”
“Well, in that case.”
Dalen shrugged and stepped forward, drawing a holy sword in his right hand and an axe in his left.
The viscount mirrored him, slowly raising his sword and stepping forward with his left foot, assuming a middle guard stance.
Dalen started to stride toward him but suddenly stopped, a thought crossing his mind.
“Viscount.”
“What is it?”
“I must say, I’m surprised to see you’re still alive. Miracles do happen, it seems.”
“What are you talking about?”
The viscount frowned. Dalen scratched his head with the axe handle and replied, “Seeing how your son behaves, I figured he must not have a father.”
“You… you dare insult a noble! How dare you—ugh!”
Shhh—
The viscount’s eyes widened as he looked down, blood trickling from his wound.
For the first time, his composure shattered, his sword and breath faltering.
The axe that Dalen had thrown found its mark in that brief opening.
“Gah, ugh…”
The viscount collapsed, a gaping hole in his chest, unable to muster his strength.
Dalen rolled his shoulders and said, “Of course it was a bluff, you fool.”
Seven left.