Chapter 812 - 306 - 313

Chapter 306 – Lairon, the Last Day (1)

The speed of a sword master might be faster in comparison, but the effect of the terrain meant flying magic was more efficient when it came to traveling long distances. A wide line of sight was also something they naturally obtained at high altitudes.

The three people flew like arrows and could soon see the city in the distance.

It was the northwest frontier city in the Soldun Kingdom which was ruled by Earl Albert. In the last civil war, he had been someone on Elsid's side and Theodore had met him once. The shadows of the three people moved above the Albert estate before Theodore remembered his face. The Albert estate was precisely in the middle of the city, so they could look over the entire territory.

Theodore took a quick look through Albert City.

"It is a mess."

There were flames, smoke, and people running away in every direction.

"The direction of the attack is from the north. The situation is too strange for it to be Lairon invading. The walls haven't collapsed yet, so why are there disturbances inside the city-"

"…Theo," Veronica spoke in a growl-like voice, "Move your gaze higher and look again. It seems like we've stepped on the tail of that bastard."

"What?" Theodore followed Veronica's advice. He triggered Hawkeye, and the shapes of those who seemed smaller than ants were immediately clear.

On the street stained with blood, a man was chasing after someone and roughly biting him in the neck. The person had his artery torn, and he fell to the ground, taking his last breath. It was a disastrous death, but that wasn't the end. As blood poured from the torn neck, the victim became the offender. He had become a zombie, the most common and terrible representation of the undead.

"Undead! Are they the infectious type?" Theodore's eyes widened as he saw the situation.

The familiars of the warlocks, the undead could be divided into two major types—manufactured and infectious.

The manufactured type of undead were made directly by the warlock's magic power, while the undead made indirectly were classified as infectious type. They were killed by other undead or under the influence of special black infectious magic.

'Of course, the manufactured type are dominant. However, the danger of the infectious type isn't in the strength of an individual.'

One zombie would kill one citizen. Then two zombies would kill two citizens. The four zombies would then attack four citizens… In less than half a day, more than a thousand undead would turn this territory into a cemetery. This was the terrible part of the infectious undead and what caused a necromancer to be called the worst warlock.

However, Theodore remained calm as he looked at the ground. The infection was obviously a threat, but each individual undead wasn't strong. It was possible for an army with a proper defensive line to take care of them. In fact, the soldiers of Albert City were blocking the undead from outside the walls.

The damage inside the city wasn't small, but there was a defensive line, as well as guards leading out the survivors. It might be impossible to win, but they could hold on for a few hours.

'…Nevertheless, this situation is weird.' Theodore felt a sense of discomfort again. 'There are a few high-level undead that appear to be giving commands, but it isn't very organized. No matter how hurt he is, a 9th circle warlock wouldn't be so disorderly.'

Was this a pandemic to increase his power? No, if he wanted that, Jerem would've moved faster and more secretly. It was a mistake to draw attention with the low-level undead and attract variables such as Theodore. Did he want to tie up Theodore?

"Theo, what do you want to do?"

They couldn't just continue watching from above. Theodore was troubled for a moment, but there was no choice. If he passed by Albert City, they wouldn't see tomorrow's sun. Theodore couldn't sacrifice those lives for his own convenience. If Theodore were such a person, god-king Nuada wouldn't have responded to his summoning in the first place.

"Randolph, go to the eastern section of the city and help the guards evacuate the survivors."

"I understand. What about you?"

Theodore smiled at the question and looked playfully at Veronica. "What is the red tower's 8th commandment?"

"Huh? A good warlock is a dead warlock?"

"Then the 10th one?"

"Aha, whether it is one hundred or one thousand people, wipe them all out!"

It was a reckless strategy, but it was different when it involved two 8th circle magicians. Each of them was a one-man army. For the strong who suppressed the battlefield, a group of undead was just like scarecrows to them.

"I understand. Please don't get carried away," Randolph said half-heartedly and fell to the ground without hesitation. Blindly fired magic was, after all, more terrifying than thousands of undead.

The height of the fall was quite high, but a sword master didn't have to worry. Randolph stably landed on a building, while the two magicians split their roles.

"Veronica, I will take care of the city."

"Okay, then I'm outside? I was a bit worried, but now I can let it all out!"

It was as she said. Veronica's magic, which specialized in large-scale destruction, was difficult to demonstrate inside a city. If the attack magic hit the wrong place once, a disaster worse than zombies would occur. Even magicians who reached the 8th circle had some parts they were inexperienced with.

"Theo! Let's bet on who will finish first!" Veronica created flaming wings behind her and headed towards her destination.

She exceeded the speed of sound. There was a sonic boom, and a few clouds were torn apart. Veronica was always like a storm. Theodore gazed at Veronica's back before looking down. '…The west part of the city is already doomed. The center and south parts still have many survivors. I will focus on them.'

The survivors who were being surrounded by the undead took precedence. The eight circles inside Theodore's body started rotating.

Huuuuuuong! His circles roared.

In retrospect, this was the first time he had used all eight circles. Theodore had a lot more magic power reserves than any other magician. As his circles increased in capacity, Theodore's magic power became strong enough to be compared to when Veronica awakened her dragon heart. Then what magic was he going to use with this magic power?

"Lucete!" Theodore cried out with a loud voice.

Memorize.

All Slots Open.

Octuple Casting.

He had never tried this before! An enormous power soared, and the space around Theodore was greatly distorted. From that distortion, a light was born.

'Success!'

Based on the name, they were concentrated arrows of light! These were from the debris of divinity that Nuada left behind back when he was summoned not long ago. A simple flame couldn't completely stop the undead's regenerative abilities. It needed the power of a god, who was the enemy of all undead and black magic.

Wuuong- Wuuong- Wuuong- Wuuong-

Every time the golden arrows appeared, darkness retreated from the night sky. Just like the sun rising again, this light spread all over the sky.

10, 20, 100, 200…

At first, Theodore intended to shoot moderately. However, he was soon forced to change his mind. He had made close to 1,000 arrows, but he still had room for more.

"Won't I clean all of this up at once?" With bemused eyes, Theodore watched the resplendent scene he had created.

Kieeeek? Kieeek?

Kieeeeeeek!

Grrrrr…! Grr…kuk…

Every time the divine light swept through, the undead melted like candles. The zombies couldn't endure it for even a moment and were burned. There weren't many senior undead, but they also stopped moving, unable to ignore the effects of the light.

Theodore didn't know that this magic, which mimicked Nuada's true light wave, would exert this much power.

'It might be the aftermath of Mitra turning into a goddess for a moment. Won't this be enough to be effective against Jerem…?'

Theodore pondered it while Albert city was filled with silence. Standing in the middle of the golden sky, Theodore's figure looked holy. Some people fell to their knees, while others stared blankly at the sky. Theodore slowly raised his left hand and cried out, "Go."

There was a shower of golden arrows toward the city. It was divine punishment. Later, people would recall the scene. Someone had appeared in the sky surrounded by holy light, and they had poured out a brilliant shower of light to destroy the blasphemous existences.

More than 1,000 arrows pierced the undead. This was sufficient. It might be different for a death knight or lich, but these undead couldn't resist the brilliant light. They were like ice melting in the scorching summer sun. Only the undead were annihilated, with no harm being done to the living.

After the golden shower, there wasn't one undead left inside Albert city.

��…It looks like I won the bet." Theodore shrugged as he thought about how he'd made Randolph run around for nothing.

Theodore had reached the 8th circle through many twists and turns. He had only just progressed, but he realized that his magic had become several times more powerful. 'Theodore Miller' was the name of a great magician who could now be counted in the top three of the entire continent.

"Hmm?" At that moment, one undead caught his attention.

Chapter 307 – Lairon, the Last Day (2)

"Priest clothing?" Theodore thought he was mistaken at first.

He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but there was no difference. The white robe with the golden trim was definitely the clothing worn by priests of Lairon. Moreover, the undead wasn't a zombie or a ghoul. It was a lich, something that was only possible when a magician with considerable abilities was turned into an undead. Therefore, the lich wasn't completed burned away when struck by Theodore's magic. It still had half its body left.

'No matter how I think about it, something is strange.' Theodore shook his head while sensing a strange incongruity. 'An undead can't disguise as a priest. Additionally, shouldn't it have burned immediately when touched by divine power? If so, perhaps a priest was turned into a lich…'

It still didn't make sense. The knowledge remaining in his head from Jerem stated that it was impossible. The gods, the guardians of the physical world, were the natural enemy of all warlocks. Just like how it had been when Jerem faced the lower god Mitra, the presence of any being under the influence of a god couldn't be turned into an undead. Lairon might be a fake god, but his followers had real divine power.

Furthermore, it was a priest, not a magician, who had been turned into a lich…? The possibility of the Jerem succeeding in this difficult task was close to zero, let alone infection type undead.

"I have to go and check it."

In any case, all the undead inside the city were now destroyed. The lich was barely breathing, and Theodore had nothing left to do. So, he quickly descended to the ground. As several buildings caught on fire, the magician in red robes stood on the bloodstained ground.

Tak.

The lich was collapsed like a rag at his feet. It really was a priest's clothing. The luxurious cloth and gold decorations were the result of extracting the blood and sweat of the people. Disgust boiled up inside Theodore as he walked over.

"Hey, can you hear what I am saying?" As he took exactly three steps forward, Theodore spoke to the lich.

The lich was an undead human type and still had intelligence. If the consciousness still remained in the body, it would be able to talk for a moment before its destruction. Where did it come from? Who caused this? Theodore didn't have any big expectations. However, if he could resolve one question, it might become the clue to this mysterious situation.

"…K…u…ah…." The lich couldn't even make a sound.

Theodore sighed and stretched out his right hand, sending a small stream of magic power into the lich. It wasn't enough to restore the body, but it should be able to speak.

"Answer me. What is your name?"

The lich's jawbones opened, and it replied, "…Great, Lairon… 2nd grade priest… Verm-ud…"

"Vermud," Theodore repeated. He realized the authenticity of the words and quickly asked, "Vermud. Are you a priest? Or a magician?"

"…I… am! Insult, me…! Lairon, ser…vant, for life…"

"Damn! It isn't a lie."

Theodore got the answer he wanted, but he couldn't help cursing. He had hoped that the original body was someone who had stolen the clothing, but his expectations weren't rewarded. Instead, a senior priest of Lairon had been turned into an undead.

It was hard to understand, but his brain had come up with the worst causal relationship. 'Dammit, maybe Lairon is already…'

While Theodore was busy worrying, the lich ran out of magic power and started to shake.

"Kuock! Ku…oh, ohhhh! Kuwoooook…!"

The body, that didn't have any flesh left, popped up. The priest's clothing was torn in the struggle, and an eerie sound was made. Then it happened when Theodore was about to end the situation quickly.

"…Great, Lai… Lairon…!" The undead priest, Vermud started to scream. "Why…? Your servant, casting me into the darkness… Have you forsaken meeeee?!"

With that last scream, he finally died. The ashes that piled up inside the clothing were the last traces left of Vermud in this material world. It was impossible for him to even be buried. However, it wasn't Vermud's death that caused a chill to go down Theodore's spine.

"Lairon, forsaken…?"

Vermud's last cry stimulated Theodore's super sensitivity. He didn't know why, but it was like a hammer had hit the back of his head. Theodore stood amongst the flames and saw signs of the undead that were wiped out with his arrows. Farmer's clothing, soldier's clothing, blacksmith's clothing…

The type of jobs could be distinguished, but they all seemed to be clothing from Lairon.

Chill.

Maybe the worst case scenario that he had imagined―

"Theo! All the ones outside the city were cleaned up!" At that time, Veronica's voice rang out from the distant sky.

"That was fast. There were at least 2,000–3,000 of them," Theodore muttered with a wry smile.

Of course, Veronica would've found it easier than fighting in the streets. He watched Veronica in the sky and soon heard the cheers of a crowd. Perhaps the guards that Randolph had joined would recognize the situation.

'Well, I guess I need to talk to Earl Albert.'

Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, the impact of this situation wouldn't end with one kingdom. It was a disaster that could spread to more than half of the Central Continent. If the initial response was incorrect, tens of thousands of lives could be lost.

In order to properly communicate the seriousness, it needed the guarantee of someone with credibility… like a great magician whose reputation was known through the continent and who had a friendship with the royal family.

"…Let's go." Theodore left the remains of Lich Vermud, who had once been a priest, and flew off.

* * *

"I sincerely thank you for your help, Sir Theodore! I can never repay this grace!" Earl Albert cried out tearfully as he held both of Theodore's hands.

As a lord of a border area, his great physique and refined power showed he was a well-trained aura user. It wasn't enough to reach the level of a master, but he was still an expert. Most of the wreckage around here was the result of his cooperation with Randolph.

"It is nothing, Earl Albert. I happened upon this disaster by chance and did what any ally would do."

"Ohh, so modest at such a young age! I have seen the true colors of the hero whom I've only heard about in rumors."

Theodore barely managed to calm down the tearful Earl Albert and asked him a few questions.

"The raid of the undead definitely started last night," Earl Albert clenched his fists and lowered his voice the moment he was asked when the attack had begun.

He was filled with a murderous intent to break the bones of the absent warlock.

The noble of the Soldun Kingdom spread cold energy all over the place as he told the story. "At first, I wasn't afraid. However, they kept coming every minute. After killing one hundred, one thousand more arrived. After the one thousand, there were more… My soldiers aren't weak, but in that situation, they could not breathe even for a moment. Some undead managed to cross the walls."

"Then we arrived."

"Yes! That is what happened. I sent a messenger shortly after sunrise, but it will take at least two more days for a reply to come. If you hadn't helped, this territory…!"

Theodore appeased the frenzied Earl Albert again and asked for a place to talk with his two companions. The next task was done swiftly. Earl Albert's soldiers quickly set up a barrack for the three people to stay in. In retrospect, it wasn't unusual. They had appeared from the sky, saving the soldiers from tens of thousands of undead. So, this reaction wasn't unusual.

In the comfortably furnished barrack, the three people sat around a round table and started a serious meeting. Of course, the leader was Theodore, and he immediately pulled out a piece of parchment.

"Randolph."

"Hmm?"

The pen moved quickly in Theodore's hand, and he soon finished writing a letter.

"Remain in the Soldun Kingdom and send this letter to King Elsid. Randolph is known to Marquis Piris—no, Duke Piris and the king, so they will listen to you."

"Then what about Lairon? Will you go with Veronica?"

"Yes."

He felt sorry for Randolph, but the speed at which senior magicians could move was beyond imagination. No matter how fast a sword master was, his aura was finite. It would be too late if he flew with both of them. It was better to leave Randolph in the Soldun Kingdom to prepare the defenses.

"Additionally, it is highly likely that we can't pass through Lairon by land. I need to get to the capital of Lairon quickly."

"Huh? How come?"

This time, both Veronica and Randolph were confused. The defenses of Lairon were strict, but they weren't able to stop a sword master. Even if he needed to hurry, why not use the land route instead of taking the risk of leaving a master behind? Theodore looked at them and opened his mouth once he confirmed there was no one around. "Sigh, it is likely that Lairon has been destroyed already. Any cities that are still intact will probably be covered with millions of undead."

"…What?"

"Among the undead that attacked the Albert territory, there was one wearing priest's clothing. It was a lich, not a zombie or a ghoul."

"What?! This is nonsense!" Randolph had no knowledge of magic and was confused.

However, Veronica was well aware of the meaning and felt astounded. To think that the worshipper of a god, who couldn't become an undead, had actually become a senior undead? Moreover, there had been the scream that Lairon had forsaken them. Additionally, although he hadn't told anyone yet, Theodore had some other clues about this situation.

「The worshipper of death hides. 」

「The shadow of the false god is lifted. 」

What would remain if the shadow was lifted? Light? No. There was nothing left once the shadow was gone. If the god of the Lairon church had 'disappeared', it wouldn't be impossible for priests to become undead.

'No, it would be fortunate if Lairon just disappeared.'

In the worst case situation that Theodore couldn't speak of aloud, it was possible that a demon was buried behind the mask of the false god. If a god had turned into a demon, then a priest would become a warlock. The servants of a god would turn into the servants of a demon.

[Lairon] was a name that unified the kingdom, and if this unity were used…

Over 10 million undead and a kingdom of death could be born in one morning.

Chapter 308 – Lairon, the Last Day (3)

Kwarururung! A thunderous rumble rang out in the middle of the city.

The bell tower was hit by blue lightning and collapsed. There was also a statue made by many sculptors, as well as a hall where people sat and listened to the word of God. Debris scattered every time the lightning struck. In order to resist this ruthless destruction, a power equivalent to it was needed.

However, the city didn't have the strength to resist the invaders. The invaders appeared in the sky without any warning, and poured fire and lightning from it, burying the inhabitants under the ruins of the buildings. This power which treated humans as ants contained explosive power comparable to that of natural disasters.

Nevertheless, there were no casualties caused by this disaster. He couldn't describe people who had already died a while ago as being killed once again.

'Damn. Even if that is the case, it doesn't feel good.'

From amidst the clouds in the sky, Theodore looked down at the ground with bitter eyes. The zombies and ghouls had been humans not long ago. Theodore buried them under the dirt and destroyed the ground where they had lived. In his mind, he knew that this was something necessary, but he couldn't stop the negative emotions rising inside him.

Kwaaaaang!

There was a similar explosion in the distance. Buildings collapsed, and flames rose into the clouds. The person who caused this heat quickly flew in Theodore's direction. With red robe and red hair, the magician—Veronica—stopped near Theodore. "Phew, is this the 13th one? Are you almost done?"

"…I cut all the big branches. The undead won't spread any more and clearing the rest will be left to the others," Theodore spoke in a dry voice. "The great magic circle that covers all of Lairon… Based on the churches in each estate, the consciousness of the living dead spreads like a spider web. Certainly, the idea and structure of it is genius. However, it is hard to defend if it is too big."

It had been four days since Theodore and Veronica entered Lairon after leaving the Albert territory. If they had been flying in a straight line, it would've taken less than a day. However, they had chosen to go around to some territories instead of going straight to the divine king's palace.

That was due to the large amount of magic power consumed by flying at high speed, as well as something they realized while crossing the kingdom. It was the ritual magic, Pluto's Palace. This magic existed in the knowledge that Jerem left behind in Theodore. A necromancer had set a range for the spell, and all creatures inside it couldn't resist the magic, turning into undead. According to records, it was a massive black magic spell that ranged from an area of tens of square meters to hundreds of square kilometers depending on the caster's abilities.

'I've somewhat grasped it now. The false god, Lairon's identity… Additionally, the magic circle of living dead that reversed their faith.'

Theodore still couldn't be certain, but he considered his speculation as fact.

After all, he was the magician who knew more about the Age of Mythology than anyone else currently alive and who also had a contract with an ancient elemental. In the process, Theodore had trained his intuitive powers, including his super sensitivity.

'The remains of the light are probably a god that has died, an expression signifying a divinity that has lost its master.'

A divinity without a master was innocuous by itself, but it changed when it became the possession of another being. Using an analogy, the churches in each Lairon estate were wells, and the divinity was the source of water flowing into the wells. If Jerem became the master of that divinity, Lairon would become a demon and the water would be poisoned. Those who wanted their god's blessing would fall prey to the black magic at once.

Then Veronica spoke to the worried Theodore, "Well, isn't that why we went after the weaknesses? Even if we can't pull out the roots, we can hit the branches. By destroying all the points of the magic circle that are nodes, the situation won't worsen."

"But it isn't a solution. We need to go to the divine king's palace in order to resolve this completely."

Cutting off the thick branches could prevent the growth of twigs, but if the roots remained, the branches would just grow again. In the end, they needed to destroy the magic circle that was maintaining the roots—Pluto's Palace. It was obvious that the magic circle was probably at the center of the kingdom, the divine king's palace that was the symbol of the church.

The place where the 'remains of the light' that Heathcliff had predicted was also likely to be at the divine king's palace.

"…Veronica, what is the condition of your body?"

"Yes?" Veronica cocked her head at the abrupt question of concern.

"From now on, I'm going to increase the speed. If possible, I would like to arrive at the divine king's castle by sunset today. Is that okay?"

Theodore didn't need to hurry so much, but there was a small possibility that the great magic circle would go out of control. No, it was highly possible if Jerem had predicted this situation.

"Ha! Do you know who you are asking?" Veronica's robe moved in the wind as she puffed up his chest.

The sunlight behind her illuminated the shade of her robe, making the curves of her sensual body more defined. It was unknown if Veronica saw Theodore's red face or not as she smiled confidently.

"I'm Veronica. It was when I was younger, but I am the magician who crossed the continent using flying magic. The distance to the divine king's castle is 200 kilometers? I can arrive there in an hour and still have enough magic power to fight."

"T-That is reassuring." Theodore's eyes were drawn elsewhere before he nodded and turned around.

He was a magician of the 8th circle, making it possible for him to fly as fast as Veronica. So, he didn't need to fly in her arms like he used to. However, Theodore was soon grabbed by a pair of arms. "Veronica…?"

Veronica deliberately pressed herself against his back and whispered in his ear, "By the way, Theo, do you want me to teach you one thing?"

"What?"

"Women are very sensitive to the eyes of men. Just before, it was like my skin was being licked… If you look at someone like that, most reactions are divided into two types."

If they didn't like the person, it would be severe discomfort. Or―

"―Are you trying to test my patience?"

The atmosphere would heat up if they liked the person. Veronica's golden eyes were like molten iron. Having a red dragon's blood meant she was easily swept up by emotions, and passion boiled in her body.

"I will accept it anytime if you ask me. But Theo isn't ready yet. So, you should be careful, yes?"

"…I understand."

"This is the punishment."

Immediately after that, flaming wings appeared behind Veronica.

"Be in this state until we reach the divine king's palace, okay?"

Theodore had no choice but to nod. His answer wouldn't make a difference.

* * *

It took exactly one hour for them to reach the divine king's palace. Even a well-trained horseman would take four hours to travel 200 kilometers, and a hippogriff, famous for its speed, would take two hours. With Veronica's magic, Blaze Wing, they traveled at a speed that was made possible by releasing the innate natural power of fire to obtain a tremendous momentum.

"Ah, we've arrived." Veronica slowed down and looked at the grounds of the divine king's palace.

Theodore was then released from her arms. He looked around him with a bit of regret.

'This is the capital of Lairon, the divine king's palace?'

It was the first time he had seen it. In the books, it had been described as a city made of pure white marble that shone with a divine golden light. There were many people who didn't like the Lairon Church and the kingdom, but there was no one who didn't admire it.

"In my eyes, it looks like the palace from a storybook."

Theodore was half joking and half serious. His spiritual vision saw a mysterious energy rising from the palace into the sky. The smooth white walls and shining gates were intact, but the ones guarding them were undead. There was a red light that shone wickedly in the dark fog, making it a land of death.

It was a castle of the dead that denied access to the living. The concentration of black magic here was incomparable to how it had been in all the other territories Theodore and Veronica traveled to previously. The vegetation that stretched out for several kilometers around the castle was dry and dead, while uninjured beasts were rotting.

"Theo, how many enemies do you detect?"

"…I don't see any signs of Jerem or the four horsemen. There are at least 100,000 undead. There are at least 1,000 intermediate undead. This scale is equivalent to 100 units."

Theodore used Mitra and Hugin to accurately determine how many undead were in the castle. What about at the center of the magic circle? There were 13 senior undead and 1,000 intermediate undead that could function as command objects. The number of undead gathered here would be enough to wipe out one or two small countries.

"What should we do?"

"Um." Theodore was troubled for a moment. "Well, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Right?"

They were unexplained words. The two magicians exchanged words and stepped forward carelessly. It was a cool stride as they stood shoulder to shoulder. They were master class magicians that dominated the mana around them. Once the two 8th circle magicians approached, the black magic was pushed back like a wave.

Huuuuuuong!

That change immediately attracted the attention of the undead occupying the castle. The skeleton archers on the walls loaded their poison arrows, while the lich created dozens of fireballs. They intended to launch the attacks as soon as the enemies came into range.

Then the two magicians stopped walking.

"Me first? Or you?"

"At the same time. The walls look quite thick."

"But I think it is overkill. Well, okay."

Theodore looked in the same direction and started rotating his eight circles. In any case, there were no survivors inside. Furthermore, there was no way for the Lairon Kingdom to revive now that it had been completely destroyed. He should destroy the enemies as efficiently as possible.

Memorize.

Three Slots Open.

That was enough. Theodore calculated the walls of the divine king's palace and the destructive power needed. Veronica also called upon her own unique magic, the Explosion Sword.

"Lightning Spear Keraunos."

Theodore cried out.

The 7th circle lightning magic, named after the weapon of the ancient god, appeared next to Theodore.

Paijijik! Pajik! Pajijijik!.

One spear had dozens of lightning bolts compressed in it.

Due to the nature of lightning, the range was somewhat lacking compared to Veronica's Explosion Sword. However, the intensity of the power concentrated on one point was more overwhelming than Explosion Sword. Even if it was blocked by a titanium shield, the spear would still penetrate the shield.

It was attack magic which walls that lacked divine power wouldn't be able to withstand.

"This is why I said it was overkill," Veronica grumbled while lining up three swords near Theodore.

There was a total of six weapons. The swords made of fire and the lightning aimed at the castle. In the aftermath, the ground melted and the atmosphere became heated, creating a haze around the two magicians. They breathed out and cried almost simultaneously.

"Go!""Fire!"

At the same time, the six spells shot forward.

Kuooooh!

The lightning turned into a ray of light and traveled over the ground, creating a strong wind. It burned those it passed by, while the wind swirled like a storm, causing a lot of dust to rise. This terrible phenomenon was trivial compared to the real attack.

Six strands of light flashed in succession! This was the only precursor to the swords and lightning striking the divine king's castle. Then they landed.

――――――――――――――!!!

There was a loud roar, and the walls guarding the heart of the kingdom were shattered horribly. The broken stone fragments evaporated on the spot, and the undead courageously blocking the two magicians crumbled. It was a blow that signaled the end of the Lairon Kingdom, of those who borrowed the god's power without knowing the true story.

Chapter 309 – Lairon, the Last Day (4)

Kwaaaang!

The two magicians appeared in the wreckage. They weren't affected by the enormous heat and pressure, or the air-deprived environment.

Magic power barrier—it was one of the basics for magicians who circulated magic power within their body. The magic power repeatedly circulated in the owner's body, with the centrifugal force creating an invisible protective film on the skin.

Of course, the basic defense wasn't great, and it would be difficult to block a few arrows with the barrier of a 4th circle magician. It meant it wasn't a technique that could be used in practice. However, that common sense was turned upside down at the 8th circle.

'Indeed, Veronica's phenomenal durability is the result of applying the low magic power barrier.' Theodore admired it as he watched Veronica's back.

He studied the application of the magic power barrier. The magic power circulation in Veronica's body was accelerated several times, amplifying the magnitude of the centrifugal force that formed the magic power barrier. The innate blood of a dragon, combined with high magic power concentration, would've increased the intensity even further.

In fact, Veronica occasionally had a red haze around her body. It was because her magic power was so concentrated that the magic barrier could be seen.

"How is it? Isn't it fairly good?" Veronica taught Theodore how to do it and looked around at the city in front of them.

Over the wall that had been destroyed by magic, the view of the divine king's palace was revealed. The city was filled with dried blood, stinking pus, and traces of undead.

"Look here�� Hah, is there a need to look so closely? That big building is the church of the divine king's palace. A place where people who want to live a pure life enjoy the doctrines."

"Certainly. It is tall enough to be seen from the outside… There would be no building taller than the church. To put it bluntly, it is like their god is looking down on them."

It was a common guide everywhere. The people shouldn't have a building larger than the royal family, and a person who wasn't a lord shouldn't have private property larger than a barrack. The authority of Lairon was absolute, so it wasn't possible to have a building that was taller and larger than the church.

'Well, it isn't possible to mistake it.' Theodore stared coldly at the headquarters of the divine king's palace that rose in the distance. Other people might not know it, but his eyes couldn't be fooled. Black magic power was swirling in the city, and the source of the evil power was that building. It was like an open door to an abyss where evil spilled out. The chill it produced was frightening, and Theodore's hair became damp with sweat.

It was fortunate that he noticed the crisis, but his instincts as a living creature refused to approach.

"…Veronica!" Nevertheless, Theodore shook off the instincts and cried out. "Don't mind the small fries! Give priority to the destruction of the great magic circle and head straight to the main building!"

"Ahahaha! That is my Theodore!" Veronica responded in a joyful voice and started to take in a deep breath.

A gust of wind was sucked into her mouth. Theodore knew what this deep breath meant and quickly created an ice barrier. It had far greater power than the magic that drove the stage 4 Pride away. This was Dragon Breath.

――――――――――――!!!

There were burning sounds as flames emerged from Veronica's lips and shot forward without interruption. The power of a protective water cover was meaningless! All the buildings and undead in its path were swallowed up as the flames rushed toward the headquarters. Soon, the building, which had a long history in Lairon, would turn to ash. It was at this moment that…

"This…!" Theodore shouted without hiding his dismay.

The moment that Veronica's breath hit the main building, a swirl of black magic power spread out against the heat. It was a storm of black magic power that was comparable—no, even stronger than the breath! Did it know that the Dragon Breath would occur?

No, it was because Lairon couldn't ignore the possibility of an outside attack. There was always a chance that great magic would be used against the kingdom of Lairon. Once the flames went out, the main building of the divine king's palace stayed standing without a single sign of damage. This was a defense that could block even the powerful breath of an 8th circle magician…

'At least the road to the main building is open. If we can't break it from a distance, we will go inside and break it.'

It was as Theodore thought. The trail of the Dragon Breath had created a shortcut to the main building. There wasn't a single bone fragment left in the path that the fire had passed through.

Papat!

The two magicians flew through the flames without needing to share their opinions. One was a quarter red dragon and the other was a magician who had the power of Laevateinn. They weren't the type of people who could be hurt by the fire. However, it wasn't just the flames that interfered with the two people.

[…Grr, grrr…r…Lai…ronnnn!]

"Living… the dead, I will, lead…."

"Repent, unbelievers trapped in a poor life!"

The skeleton type senior undead, bone warlords… The evil spirits that hadn't been able to become death knights, the doom knights… The elder lich that Theodore had met once a long time ago… These high-level undead that could withstand the aftermath of Dragon Breath were flocked here in the double digits. They were designated as level 3 risks by the Magic Society.

It was a terrifying scene of fear.

"…Eh?" Theodore realized that he didn't feel any tension at all.

The bone warlords, doom knights, and elder lich… All the undead were at danger level 3, but Theodore's super sensitivity was as calm as a lake on a clear day. He had no worries at all. His concentration of the moment drew up into a new ground.

'Forced Harmonization.'

As a doom knight's blade headed toward him…

Integrated Dual Attributes.

Lightning and Wind.

Lightning Vortex.

Theodore blended the wind and lightning attributes in his body. He hadn't tried it before, but he felt confident that he could do it. It might've failed if it was fire and water. However, it wasn't difficult for Theodore to mix lightning and wind.

Shaaack! The doom knight's sharp scimitar cut at Theodore's torso. From the left clavicle to the right rib, it was a diagonal slash that would cause a serious injury. For some reason, the sensation against its hand was faint, but the doom knight shivered from the pleasure of killing the living. It was only a short time before Theodore's fist, which had turned into a lightning storm, flew forward.

Kwarururung! There was a thunderous explosion.

Theodore's fist shattered the doom knight, and the debris of its armor struck the bone warlord behind it. Then blue lightning rushed forward and swallowed several undead. It was literally a storm lightning fist! Theodore was like both a gust of wind and a lightning storm as he moved. In addition to his high destructive power, his attack speed was too fast. Master level aura users couldn't respond to it, let alone the doom knights. This was the strength of the integrated attributes.

'I alone am enough!'

Theodore was confident in his own strength and shouted, "Veronica, this time I will lead!"

"Okay, show me how cool you are!"

By the moment she replied, Theodore was already a few hundred meters away. This speed didn't just apply to his body.

'The whole world seems to stop…'

It felt like a normal one second had been increased to one minute. There was even the illusion that his frontal lobe was spinning and his head became hot. Theodore's thoughts were quick due to the acceleration. The result of adding acceleration to his already genius brain was truly frightening.

'Decuple Casting.'

10 magic circles simultaneously appeared around Theodore's body. The ten circles faced every direction and shone with a golden light. This was a magic circle that imitated the divine power of Nuada Airgetlám, a power that was deadly to all undead.

Hwaaack!

A loud explosion wasn't necessary. Rather, a genuine light beam emerged. The skull of the bone warlord, which was comparable to adamantium, was crushed by the light. The undead didn't have vocal organs, so they couldn't even scream loudly at their ends.

"Kyaaaack!"

"I…trans-cend…death…!"

The banshees screamed as they were burned, and even the immortal elder lich couldn't bear the divine brilliance. By complementing the scarce divine power with his magic power, Theodore's pure light wave swept through the crowd of senior undead. He looked like one of the mighty warriors from the fairy tales, a hero who wielded light itself.

"―Wow, cool." Veronica looked at Theodore's back with glazed eyes and licked her lips.

The blood of an arrogant red dragon didn't allow her to pay attention to the weak. Only the strongest who could threaten her life were qualified to be an adversary or a friend. The same was true for a companion, which could be considered an equal relationship.

'Huhu, this is the second time now.'

They moved through the land filled with undead and soon arrived at the main building. However, the two people stopped walking at almost the same time. Anyone would worry when facing an unforeseen crossroad. It might be different for a common crossroads, but they had to decide if they should go up or down.

Theodore looked at the choices carefully.

'This is a problem.'

The luxurious church in the capital was 40 floors high, and it also had a deep basement. This meant it had a total of 60 floors. It would likely take a long amount of time to cover these, especially when taking Jerem's unknown plan into consideration.

Should they go up or down? The place where the core of the magic circle was contained was either the top floor or the bottom most floor. A warlock would usually think about the basement, but Theodore couldn't base a decision on a stereotype.

Either way, it was necessary to investigate both. In this case, the two people had to separate.

"I'll go to the top. Personally, the basement is a little stuffy for me," Veronica chose her direction first.

So, Theodore naturally went down to the basement. He decided it without any clues. The two magicians discussed the signals they would send to each other if it was necessary, then they separated. One climbed the staircase to the top, while the other headed to the basement lit with torches.

* * *

"…Strange," Theodore muttered as he was three floors away from the very bottom of the church.

He stopped for a moment and placed a hand on the wall. The air was too mild to contain the core of the black magic circle, Pluto's Palace, that had already destroyed the kingdom. There were hardly any remnants of black magic on the walls, and there were no undead blocking him.

The basement of this building felt like a different place. The mana in the basement was calm, so he couldn't feel anything with his super sensitivity.

Theodore started moving again and descended two more floors. Finally, he reached the deepest part of the building. In the end, Theodore didn't encounter any undead, and the door on the bottom floor was unlocked. It was an ordinary sliding door that could be opened with a push.

'There might be a trap… My senses are still quiet. Let's get some help from this guy.'

Theodore summoned a knight from his inventory. It was the sword master automaton, Gladio. It was still damaged from the previous battle, but Gladio was capable of taking the lead.

"Open the door."

Gladio pushed hard at the door.

Rattle. Then the door opened.

Theodore was filled with tension, but there was no danger in the room revealed. He sighed lightly and recalled Gladio back to the inventory. His tension disappeared and curiosity filled the gap.

'There is no black magic, traps, or locks. I don't know what this place is used for.'

This was the main church of the divine king's palace, so it shouldn't be a useless place, even if it was 20 floors underground. Theodore took a step forward.

"Hmm?"

There were no lighting devices in the room. This was a room that didn't have torches or magic balls… so why was Theodore able to see clearly inside it? The reason for that was at the center of the room. Theodore's eyes widened as he saw it, and he muttered in a cold voice, "…Coffin?"

The answer was the huge coffin filling the room. It glowed with a golden divine light which served as the lighting.

'The remains of light,' a phrase from the prophecy came to Theodore's mind.

Chapter 310 – Lairon, the Last Day (5)

'Don't tell me…'

Were the remains of the divinity, the cornerstone of the Lairon Church, sleeping in the golden coffin? Theodore kept moving while feeling dubious. The closer he got, the more the light pulled down at his boundaries. This divine light that warmed the living didn't seem like Jerem's trap.

Once he got within a short distance of the golden coffin, Theodore was able to see an unexpected sight.

"Well, there is no reason to leave the contents."

The inside of the golden coffin was empty. The lid was already open, and there was a shape engraved inside as proof that something had been there. Based on the marks, the owner of this golden coffin would've been a man with a height of two meters who had thin limbs.

Since a typical god clan was larger than an ordinary human, this golden coffin was likely a divine relic that housed the 'remains of the light.' The coffin might contain some clues. Theodore carefully looked around the golden coffin and found the blurred outline of letters on the inside.

The production date of this relic was at least 3,000 years old. The carved letters were worn out, but the traces attracted Theodore's eyes. They weren't ordinary letters. There was a sense of incongruity when he followed it with his fingers. His head tilted as he faced the unknown phrase.

'What? I can't physically recognize the characters?'

His optic nerve didn't respond. As soon as he cut off the magic power flowing to his eyes, the blurred letters disappeared without a trace. It meant they were letters that couldn't be seen with ordinary people's eyes.

"Gluttony."

-Umm.

If there was something they didn't know, don't hesitate to ask. This was the philosophy of all magicians. Theodore woke up Gluttony. Unsurprisingly, Gluttony replied readily, -Hoh, it has been a while since I've seen divine letters.

"Divine letters? Are they letters of the god clan?"

-That's right. It is a system that deviates from the concept of 'writing' the way it is defined by other species, but it is still the same as 'writing and reading.' It isn't visible to the eyes of mortals or those without divinity.

"…I see. It is thoroughly meant for the god clan." Theodore was convinced and nodded.

Meanwhile, Gluttony continued explaining, -They're called divine letters, but strictly speaking, they aren't letters. They form a sign that is inscribed using the will contained in the soul and are called divine letters.

"Then is it impossible to trace the source?"

-Usually, but it is possible for me. Each pattern has their own characteristics. It isn't hard for me to distinguish between the letters of each god.

Regardless of what was considered impossible, Gluttony quickly decoded the divine letters on the golden coffin.

It was the moment when the secret of the Age of Mythology was revealed in Lairon. This was the true reality of Lairon, who had been used as a source of false faith for humans. The truth resonated in Theodore's mind.

-Here lies Baldur, god of light, born as the second son of King Odin and loved by all. The orator who represents the world's goodness, a brilliance that doesn't tolerate sin. Whoever damages these remains won't be able to find rest in the swamp of death.

The son of King Odin of the Aesir god clan, Baldur—this was the identity of the god called Lairon! Baldur was the god of light, so the expression 'the remains of light' was fitting. It was the source of the divine power that had sustained Lairon for hundreds of years, a sacrifice that would be more precious than a dragon heart for a warlock.

This was the reason why Jerem had come to the divine king's palace.

"Shit, it is already too late!"

The blank coffin proved that Jerem had achieved his purpose, causing Theodore to feel a sense of crisis. Baldur's body was in the hands of a 9th circle magician. The scale of the disaster that this would cause couldn't be fathomed. The ultimate magic circle left in this kingdom was only a gimmick, and the two magicians had arrived too late.

This was a fatal blow that couldn't be overlooked.

-No, Baldur seems to have set up his own trick, Gluttony stopped Theodore's self-blame.

Simultaneously, the golden coffin started to emit an even brighter light. It was the final radiance before death. Just like a candle about to be blown out, the remaining divine power in the golden coffin carried out its final arrangement.

Huuuuuuong!

The spectacular wave of light emitted from inside the coffin soon turned into a single image. It was a slender and long branch.

"What is this branch?"

Unlike its appearance, a pure divine power could be felt from it. Theodore looked at the shimmering branch with a puzzled expression. He didn't know what this branch had to do with Baldur's 'trick.' However, Gluttony's reaction was dramatic in many ways.

-Mistilteinn! The branch of the mistletoe tree that killed Baldur, the god loved by all.

Theodore was astonished by the words and looked at Mistilteinn, while Gluttony grasped the full story.

-It seems like Baldur's soul isn't inside his body. Instead, he fled to the branch that killed him. He was awakened by User's divinity in order to convey his last wish. User, you will know his wish if you touch Mistilteinn.

"…Okay." Theodore carefully approached Mistilteinn.

It was a branch that emitted a warm light. The branch looked like it could be found anywhere, yet it was actually a relic of a legend that had killed Baldur. Theodore's fingers stretched out slowly and eventually touched the surface of the branch.

Pahat! An unknown memory emerged from Mistilteinn.

[… The calculations are out of order. Despite millions of lives being sacrificed, it isn't enough to devour Baldur's body. It seems like these lowlives aren't worth anything.] It was a cold and eerie voice, the voice of the incarnation of disaster itself which didn't contain anything but evil.

The voice of Jerem, the warlock who threatened the world and wiped out the people of Lairon, whispered in Theodore's ears, [More of Baldur's divinity has been consumed than expected. I overlooked the fountain of human greed… It is also because my resurrection was too delayed. I need a new offering to fill this gap.]

The root cause was Baldur's soul escaping into Mistilteinn, but Jerem didn't seem to know this.

He was silent for a while before coming up with a wicked idea. [That reminds me, there is a young world tree in the northern part of the continent. Furthermore, if I offer the souls of the elves… it should be enough. It is fairly easy to calculate the power that will be consumed in the process.]

Elvenheim's world tree…!

Maybe it was because Jerem had occupied Theodore's body for a while, so he remembered some suitable offerings using those memories. The world tree was a symbol of endless vitality, a sacrifice suitable for Baldur's body. The beings of darkness yearned for a life and light that they couldn't produce, so the value of the world tree was incalculable.

[Kuhuhu, I can play with the elves after a long time.] Finally, the monologue trailed off, and the voice could no longer be heard from Mistilteinn.

This was the only thing that Baldur's soul could do with the weak power it had remaining. As Mistilteinn faded away in his hand, Theodore nodded like he was responding to Baldur's will.

"I understand your will, Baldur."

Baldur was a soul who cared for this world even though he was dead.

"I will surely stop him."

Mistilteinn shone once again, as if Theodore's voice had been heard.

Flash!

The tree branch crumbled like it was burnt, and the light penetrated Theodore's body. It was a blessing from Baldur.

'This…!' Theodore was shocked the moment he realized what blessing he had received. It was Baldur's blessing from the old myths, where nothing could harm him but a branch of mistletoe. This was an invincible blessing! The top blessing, which could negate the power of a god just once, was nestled inside Theodore's body.

It was Baldur's farewell gift as he left without any resentment.

* * *

"Veronica… Not yet."

Theodore climbed back up to the first floor and looked around the empty auditorium. He couldn't find any more clues apart from Mistilteinn. The great magic circle, the original target of the two people, must be on the top floor with Veronica. The undead hadn't been able to come underground because of the divinity, so there must be a lot of security around the magic circle. It wasn't a bad idea to join her.

"―Um?"

It was at this moment that…

Kwaaaang!

Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed, and a pile of rubble fell down. Of course, it wasn't enough to injure Theodore. However, he couldn't help feeling confused. It was because Veronica could be seen from the ceiling. The red tower master didn't destroy things for no reason. She couldn't destroy the door of Meltor's royal palace, but she could ruin this building because the kingdom was already dead.

"…Veronica, what is that in your right hand?"

She was holding something like rags in her hand.

"Oh, this? It is the former pope."

Veronica shook off the smashed skull and threw the lich in the luxurious outfit onto the ground. There wasn't any part of its body that hadn't been smashed, and a strong magic power was leaking from it. The elder lich was a senior undead, but it was placed into a critical state by Veronica who didn't have any divinity.

"The pope?" Theodore's eyes shook at the words.

Veronica shook both hands and grumbled, "Yes, he said he was an agent of Lairon. I was nervous because he was an arch lich, but it seemed he didn't know how to use the power."

"Well, he wasn't a magician, so it can't be helped."

It would be hard for the two magicians to know if they would win or lose against an arch lich at its peak. After all, it was difficult to destroy these monsters without divinity, and they were monsters that cast a shadow on the material world. However, an arch lich that didn't know how to use its power was just a skeleton. Veronica proved this by smashing it in a few minutes.

"Did you interrogate him?"

"Of course. I burned him a few times, but he doesn't know anything. He didn't even see the warlock's face."

"There is no point leaving him here. Finish it."

Veronica's fire neatly incinerated the arch lich, the former pope. It was a lich who hadn't been made through the right process, so there was no way for it to survive once the body had completely disappeared. In case of another situation, Theodore used the light wave to make sure the lich was gone.

"What about the magic circle? It looks like it hasn't been destroyed yet."

Magic power was still overflowing in the city, proving that Pluto's Palace was alive and supplying strength and immortality to all bodies in its sphere of influence. Perhaps the magic circle wasn't on the top floor? Theodore was feeling confused when Veronica rummaged through her pocket with a grim expression.

"I found it. The problem is that I couldn't destroy it."

She held a strange purple crystal in her hands.

"This amethyst…"

"It was the core of the great magic circle. No, this amethyst is probably the magic circle itself."

"The magic isn't canceled despite it being separated from the magic circle. Once the crystal is activated, it only exists as the source of power."

As a magician, they immediately understood the cryptic explanation, and the two people looked grimly at the amethyst. It was a small gem on the surface, but the inherent power and ominous feeling it gave off made it incomparable to the senior undead. Handling it carelessly could cause a catastrophe beyond the current one.

This was why Veronica said that it couldn't be destroyed. However, it would reveal the evil intentions of the creator when the magic circle reached its maximum, so it couldn't be ignored.

"Gluttony." However, a third choice existed for Theodore. "This thing, can you digest it?"

-... Silence was the response to Theodore's question. -I am not weak, User!

Before Theodore could say anything else, the tongue swiftly stretched out and swallowed the amethyst.

['Nídhöggur's Bloodstone' has been consumed. It is difficult to measure the amount of magic power that is contained.]

[The ritual magic Pluto's Palace has been destroyed.]

[It will take seven days to completely digest.]

[Nídhöggur has noticed User's presence. It has threatened you for going against its contractor.]

Chapter 311 – Nastronds Demon King (1)

Theodore's expression stiffened before he could feel any pleasure at Pluto's Palace being destroyed.

It was because he heard a word that shouldn't be said. The evil dragon, Nídhöggur…!

The name of the amethyst that Gluttony swallowed was Nídhöggur's Bloodstone, and the message that said the evil dragon was aware of Theodore's presence was eerie. Above all, Nídhöggur was the demon king of Nastrond, an external dimension adjacent to this material world.

A long time ago, Theodore read a prophecy related to him in a book in the library.

Remote from the sun,

On the shore of corpses,

Venom drops through holes in the roof.

The backbone of the snake is woven into the frame.

The deceitful, murderers, and adulterers are gathered.

Nídhöggur devours their bodies.

Wolves tear at the wreckage.

Do you still seek to know?

They were horrifying sentences. The essence of it was a hell that didn't permit the entrance of the living and killed the sinners. However, Hell was mellow compared to Nastrond. Hell was a Buddhist place where, after the punishment, the sinners would receive enlightenment and be reincarnated. It might be painful, but it was a place to rehabilitate sinners and wasn't meaningless.

'But the sinners who fall into Nastrond are said to have their souls captured in the abyss and that they would suffer for a long time.'

Theodore couldn't argue about the dualism of good and evil with an infinite dimensional world, but he could say one thing. Nastrond was a dimension based on evil, and Nídhöggur was the demon king on top of such malevolence. Theodore couldn't even imagine that this demon king and Jerem were in a contractual relationship.

-All the lacking puzzle pieces have been collected. In contrast to Theodore, Gluttony's pleasure seemed to have risen. -The capacity of the warlock, Jerem, was high, but it wasn't at the level to write a grimoire and restore his soul. It is appropriate to think that someone supported him.

"That supporter was Nídhöggur?"

-It is more like a patron than a supporter. In general, a transcendent like Nídhöggur rarely cares about mortals in other dimensions, but he likes eating people.

'Eating people?' Theodore made a strange expression.

This caused Gluttony to answer him in a nuanced voice, -Nídhöggur's true nature is about necrophilia.

"…What?!" Theodore let out a horrified exclamation.

Gluttony added in a seemingly mocking tone, -Of course, that desire is limited by his appetite, but he enjoys collecting and eating dead bodies. That is why, since time immemorial, he frequently has associations with cruel tyrants, slavers, and necromancers.

A demon that transcended life… Among the transcendents, Nídhöggur was at the peak and had no need to eat or breed. Yet the demon still ate something. It was purely out of a desire to eat. He wanted to do it. Nídhöggur liked corpses because they were his favorite food. He chewed on the worthless bodies of humans, who had enjoyed harmful alcohol and cigarettes, and he enjoyed the taste.

"If he helped Jerem write Death's Worship, is it a plan to obtain bodies to eat?"

-Well, I guess so. For him, the struggles in this world are just a cooking process. He chose a warlock who can fill his table in a larger and more luxurious manner.

"…A genocide for gourmet purposes. I feel sick."

The horror faded away, and rage filled the empty spaces. Theodore had seen a lot of ugliness in his life so far. Robbing for the sake of gaining money, men of power being swayed by lust… Humanity's history of war and struggles had always been because of greedy hearts. Theodore didn't deny it. Humans were born with desire, and it was their choice and responsibility to restrain or wield it.

'But I can't accept this.'

It wasn't enough that people were killed overnight without knowing why, but after death, they had to suffer forever in a world worse than hell. This was what being eaten by Nídhöggur meant. Nídhöggur was an unforgivable evil that pushed life to the edges of the cliff. If he descended, many lives in the material world would fall down to hell.

"I have to go to Elvenheim."

It was too late to chase after Jerem. Theodore's movements were too inefficient compared to someone who had been planning this for a long time. He would rather arrive at the destination and defend the world tree. It wasn't the best choice, but it was second best. Theodore made a decision after listening to the advice of several great men.

"I understand the current situation. Theo?"

"Huh?"

At that moment, Veronica who had been watching two paintings with interest said, "I think it will be difficult to stay here any longer."

Theodore looked in the direction she was indicating and gave a long sigh. Undead were flooding in like a swarm of ants. Was it because the core of Pluto's Palace had disappeared? Initially, the low-level undead hadn't been able to get near the magic circle. This changed after Gluttony ate the core.

The two magicians looked at each other and rose through the ceiling.

Kwaaaang!

Theodore and Veronica plowed through several layers of marble and quickly left the building. The magic circle was gone, so the building could no longer be an obstacle. Theodore looked at the bodies on the ground and realized one difference from earlier.

'…They are getting weaker. It isn't enough to disappear in a day or two, but they might self-destruct within a month.'

The magic circle disappearing was to blame for that. An infection type undead couldn't recharge its body unless it received power from outside.

It had to eat other living creatures or get a supply of magic power from somewhere.

Most of the undead in Lairon were of the latter case. They were now losing power because their power source had suddenly disappeared. Most of the senior undead had been killed by the two magicians, and the lower undead would collapse before crossing the border.

"Let's go to Soldun." Theodore shook off his thoughts and moved.

The two magicians in red robes shot through the sky above the divine king's palace. The ruined city and church of Lairon was below them. It was the last of the Lairon Kingdom.

* * *

The capital of the Soldun Kingdom, Arundel.

It had been a year or so since the Elsid Civil War, but the vigor in the inner city was uncommon. This demonstrated that the kingdom was operating well enough to handle the damage from that time. People laughed as they talked, while the merchants were busy raising their voices to solicit customers.

Arundel enjoyed a boom after a long time as they received honored guests.

"It has been a while, Sir Theodore." Elsid had the face of a king as he spoke first. He didn't know how to act in front of a main contributor in the civil war, who was an important character in the alliance and one of the leading magicians on this continent.

"You have reached a higher level since the last time I saw you. It is a joyous thing. I'm sorry for my carelessness in not congratulating you earlier."

"It isn't a problem, Your Majesty. Your words are enough," Theodore accepted the praise and looked around at the nobles in the room.

This was an expression that said he didn't want to talk in front of them. It wasn't difficult for Elsid to notice, which then made him wave his hand. He knew that if Theodore tried to kill him, there was no way to stop it.

"Everybody leave. I will talk with Sir Theodore."

"B-But Your Majes…"

"I won't tolerate any objections. Or will you be responsible for the consequences? You can stay here if you say you are willing."

Once the word 'responsibility' was mentioned, none of the nobles wanted to stay. Veronica hadn't accompanied him to the throne room, so only Theodore and Elsid remained in the room once the nobles were gone. Elsid looked around the room and laughed. The nobles had looked like rabbits as they fled.

"I don't know if they are quick-witted or have no guts."

"Isn't it both?"

"Hahahaha! Sir Theodore's words are correct."

However, this didn't mean that Soldun's domestic affairs were a mess. The trustworthy nobles were heavily active outside the capital, while Elsid guarded the ones he couldn't believe in. Unlike the kings of other kingdoms, Soldun's king was in a completely superior position. After the collapse of Duke Cornwall and his cronies, the nobles were almost destroyed. The ones who remained were those loyal to the royal family, like Marquis Piris. The situation had completely reversed.

Elsid laughed for a while before asking why Theodore had come to the palace. "As I recall, you aren't someone who likes empty courtesies. I will cut to the chase. What is going on?"

"It is a long story, but I will try to cut it down as much as possible."

From then on, Elsid didn't speak while Theodore gave a long explanation. He talked about the destruction of the Lairon Kingdom and the presumed cause. The story lasted for over two hours. However, Elsid's concentration wasn't disturbed at all as he listened to Theodore's words.

"…Hmm." Elsid gave a heavy groan and leaned back on his throne. His heart was heavy from hearing the news. "I didn't know that such a big thing was happening. For the moment, I will follow your advice and move troops to the western and northern borders. Do you think it will be appropriate to station them for one month?"

"Let's do two months just in case. My calculations might not be correct."

If he couldn't believe the counsel of a great magician, who could he believe? So, Elsid nodded in agreement without hesitation. He would reorganize the position of the troops so that they could move at any time to the northwest where Lairon was located. Elsid could hide the real purpose and simply move the troops under the pretense of training.

After Elsid came to this decision, Theodore left the room. The situation wasn't leisurely enough for him to enjoy a dinner.

"Theo." Veronica was waiting outside the palace and hooked her arm in his. "Why didn't you talk about Nídh��ggur?"

It was a considerable distance, but Veronica's ears had heard the conversation between Theodore and Elsid. Theodore replied calmly, "It is hard to obtain cooperation, and it probably won't be much use anyway."

"Oh, Theo is cold."

"I'm not trying to ignore Soldun. The opponent is so strong that it would be useless drawing in Austen, Kargas, or even the entire central part of the continent."

It was cold but true. Austen's sword master, Mujak, wasn't a match for one of the four horsemen. The same was true for Marquis Fergana of Soldun. If the number of troops increased, they would each just be one more body to become part of the enemy's puppets.

When dealing with necromancers, they shouldn't take an excessive number of people.

'An elementalist who can support from a distance without becoming a corpse will be less burdensome. Are the elves the 'squirrels that repay the favor' from the prophecy?'

Theodore moved toward where Randolph was waiting. Once they met up, the group would return to Meltor. Then he would lead the elves and recruit people to participate in the defense of Elvenheim. The tasks were piling up, and the situation of the enemy was unclear.

"Okay, let's try it," Theodore said, forming tight fists. Then he declared, "If that damn dragon sees us as food, I will treat him to the worst meal ever!"

Theodore declared war against the evil dragon—Nastrond's demon king, Nídhöggur—that even the transcendents from the Age of Mythology feared.

Chapter 312 – Nastronds Demon King (2)

Anyway, the decision to face Jerem was unavoidable. A warlock didn't forget grudges, and Jerem was still upset at losing Theodore's body. Even if he didn't have any relationship with Theodore, he would've tried to steal Theodore's body.

Theodore came to a quick conclusion. Fearing the hostility from Nídhöggur, Theodore quickly returned to Mana-vil.

"So far, this is the whole story of my investigation." Theodore faced Kurt III and confessed everything he had learned in Lairon. This was a different environment from the third-party Soldun. Meltor was the great power in the north, and it would be the greatest victim if Jerem's purpose in Elvenheim was achieved. There was a need to know in detail about the power of the opponent and their intentions.

"―Hah."

However, it couldn't be helped in this situation.

"We've been puppets of a grimoire for 500 years, and now it is the evil dragon Nídhöggur? He has been mentioned once or twice in the ancient records…" Kurt unconsciously held the back of his neck and leaned on the throne. The famous and wise king had a terrible expression on his face.

However, there was no one for Kurt to rebuke.

A dragon was making its mark in this era. The names of the gods were faded, and grand masters were only mentioned in popular novels. In the era of mortals that didn't believe in the Age of Mythology, Nídhöggur was a disaster. Niflheim's abyss, the demon king of Nastrond!

Nídhöggur's power over that dimension was equivalent to a god's. Of course, in order to exert his power in other dimensions, a corresponding price was needed, and Jerem planned to offer the world tree and Baldur's body as sacrifices. If he succeeded, he would be able to dominate this material world.

"We have to stop it."

"Yes, that's right."

The minds and gazes of the two people, Kurt III and Theodore, connected. They couldn't choose the option of standing by idly. The people of Meltor knew better than anyone else about a warlock's viciousness. Warlocks thought that human life was worthless. They despised the human race and worshipped death. If the top warlock, Jerem, obtained this world, then all living creatures would fall to hell.

Kurt gave a long sigh and asked Theodore a question, "…Then what are you thinking?"

"I will do anything I can, but honestly, I can't guarantee that Meltor will be of great help. Nídhöggur is something that humans of this age can't resist."

"They are fair words. Thus, we have to end it before Nídhöggur completely descends."

"In the end, it is the defense of the world tree. It is standing firm in this position."

Kurt grasped the situation and laughed. It was a complete defeat the moment Nídhöggur descended. Gluttony said it might be possible if ten grandmasters were gathered…? As Theodore had seen in the fight against Invidia, they couldn't win against one grandmaster even if they collected all the masters on the continent.

It was an impossible prerequisite. Thus, Theodore didn't even think about fighting with Nídhöggur. They would lose the moment they fought. If they couldn't fight against Nídhöggur, then they needed to defeat Jerem who was planning the resurrection.

'The opponent is Jerem, who has the power of the four horsemen and an army of senior undead. Other than that, I'm not sure.'

The odds weren't high in an all-out fight. It would be impossible if Jerem was in a perfect state, but after being damaged by Mitra, he was now only a little stronger than Theodore. Furthermore, if the pale rider was gone, then Veronica could deal with them with one or two masters. Considering the guardians of the world tree and the elemental rulers that the high elves could summon, there was no shortage of masters.

The problem was Jerem's hidden cards that Theodore couldn't know about. Jerem was at a level in which Theodore couldn't guess what he was thinking. So, Theodore needed to increase the odds in an all-out war.

The summoning of a senior demon? The undead stored outside Tartarus? He couldn't come up with measures for vague speculations. Theodore struggled for a while before coming up with an answer.

"Your Majesty, I want to ask you for something."

If the other party had unknown hidden cards, couldn't he counter it with the same tactics? Kurt III nodded, and Theodore requested something that hadn't been allowed since the founding of the Meltor Kingdom.

"Please give me full authority over the Zero Library in order to deal with this!"

Kurt's eyes widened at the unprecedented petition.

* * *

-It is a very desirable request, User!

"Shut up."

Gluttony buzzed with excitement at the thought of eating a lot, and Theodore bluntly cut him off.

Needless to say, this request was accepted.

Full power in the Zero Library. It was the first time this authority had been granted in the Meltor Kingdom. Even the previous tower masters hadn't been granted this privilege. It was possible for Theodore to read any books in the Zero Library, as well as withdraw them.

This was to find a means to confront Jerem, but it was a big responsibility.

'If I fail after all this, I would want to commit suicide…'

Of course, it was more likely that he would be killed by Jerem or have his body stolen. Theodore didn't have anything to say and kept walking.

-Um?

However, his feet weren't heading toward the Zero Library.

-User, this isn't the direction of the Zero Library.

"I know. I need to head somewhere else prior to that."

-What is more important than magic to a magician? If the material world is to fall tomorrow, you should read one more book.

"Don't talk about the world being destroyed to someone who lives here," Theodore said. Then after hearing Gluttony's increasingly human-like words, Theodore spoke of his destination, "I'm going to meet the guardians. They are people who have to return to Elvenheim, and I have something to ask them about Heathcliff's prophecy."

-It is reasonable. But don't fuss over them too much, User.

"Just wait quietly for a few hours."

Theodore ignored Gluttony's urging and arrived at the room where the two elf guardians were staying. He didn't hesitate and placed a hand on the doorknob.

Click.

Clean air leaked out as soon as the door was opened. Was it the influence of both guardians? A wind normally found deep in forests greeted him. Simultaneously, both guardians saw Theodore.

"Benefactor! You are safe!"

"I'm really glad that you aren't injured."

Theodore was at a loss for words when he saw them.

"…I'm sorry for not coming sooner."

Edwin's left sleeve was empty, while Ellaim's voice was soft as if the wound on his neck hadn't healed yet. Despite suffering serious injuries, the two elves were genuinely pleased that Theodore was safe. Theodore' conscience was stabbed by this innocent response. Ellaim refused his apology, "It is nothing Benefactor. Didn't something big happen as soon as you got out of bed? Rather, this visit is sooner than I expected."

"Sir Edwin…"

For an archer, the loss of one arm was devastating. Unlike a swordsman that could hold the sword with the other arm, an archer had to use both arms. Yet there was no gloominess on Edwin's face. Theodore put a hand in his pocket. The elixir was meant for someone to use. Half a bottle could restore one arm and a cut neck. What were a few drops of elixir compared to those who risked their lives to delay Invidia?

"Ah, you don't have to worry about that."

However, Theodore's determination was blocked by an unexpected opposition.

"…Do I have to force-feed this to you to make you drink it?"

The two guardians were different from Vince, as they were Elvenheim's protectors. It would be shameful to turn a country's masters into useless existences, let alone the elves who had crossed the Red Plateau and come to Meltor because of Theodore.

While Theodore was struggling over the idea of force-feeding them when Ellaim explained, "Hahaha! That isn't it, Benefactor. I have pride in the life I have built as a guardian and would take that remedy if I had a body that couldn't shoot a bow again."

"Then why?"

"It is simple. We can receive the grace of the parent tree and restore our lost body parts."

Theodore's eyes widened. "You can even recover lost limbs?"

"Yes. It consumes a lot of innate vitality, so an elf can only use it three or four times in their lives.

"Ah… Then it is impossible for humans."

There was a big difference between the elves who could live for thousands of year and humans who could barely live to 100 years. He had wondered if he could fix Vince's body this way, but the two guardians didn't refute Theodore's words. This method was only available to the elves who had a long lifespan and could afford to lose some of it.

'No, now isn't the time to be obsessed with this.' Theodore quickly pushed this matter to the side and cut to the chase.

First, he explained the prophecy he had heard from Heathcliff, "…The prophecy has now reached the third verse, and there are two remaining. 'Big birds and snakes are surrounding a tree' and 'the squirrels will help you to repay the favor.' Can you think of anything?"

It could be good or bad. Theodore felt like the elves held the key. The memories of elves were long, and they had much fewer generations, so the guardians might know something about this prophecy.

…And his guess was right.

"I have." It was Ellaim.

Edwin and Theodore turned their eyes toward him. This caused Ellaim to open his mouth with an awkward expression, "It is a story I heard from a female elementalist. In the old days, it was said that a god and demon surrounded the world tree and fought. One was in the image of a dragon, while the other was a giant bird."

'This!' Theodore sensed something and asked hastily, "Is the name of the dragon 'Nídhöggur'?"

"Níðhöggr… Yes. The pronunciation is a bit different, but it should be referring to the same being. A sneering butcher and dragon who swallows the dead. Additionally, the huge bird is called 'Hraesvelgr', and it was a sacred creature trying to protect the world tree."

"Nídhöggura and Hraesvelgr… big snake and big bird…"

Just like thread moving through a hole in the beads, the clues started to join together. He could be sure after one more clue was added. Theodore's mind started to move at full speed. Meanwhile, Edwin added, "That reminds me, Ratatoskr is the name of the squirrel that appears in the old myths. Is the squirrel in the prophecy perhaps Ratatoskr?"

"Ah!" A lightning bolt flashed through Theodore's mind.

At this moment, all of the verses of the prophecy linked up perfectly. Theodore grabbed the hands of the two elves without being able to hide his excitement. "I have to go to Elvenheim with you."

All that remained were the final preparations.

Chapter 313 – Nastronds Demon King (3)

The Zero Library was a place that collected the highest risk, as well as the highest valued books.

It couldn't be entered if permission from the royal palace wasn't given. In fact, it was impossible for a Superior-grade magician to even apply to access it. In order to enter the Zero Library, it was necessary to have at least the Prime rank. However, Prime magicians couldn't afford to take out a book from the Zero Library, let alone own it privately.

The four magicians standing at the top of the magic towers couldn't even abuse it. It was like that from the past to the present, until today.

"Is this the first time since I've taken out Hellfire?"

Theodore visited the Zero Library after such a long time and looked at the books kept in glass boxes. To a magician, it was a nicer landscape than a mountain of gold. There were books which contained ancient magics and a theorem on primordial magic that didn't exist. Then there was also a book where the language system couldn't be unraveled. A book was like the remains of wisdom.

-In my opinion, it is like a buffet. Isolate valuable knowledge from a person's hand and grant it to those who are qualified. Books exist for a purpose that is indeed rational.

"This is a little unexpected. For the overall development of magic, isn't it more advantageous for knowledge to be universal?"

Gluttony's voice was more upbeat than usual, and Theodore questioned it. It was as he said. In terms of the evolution of general learning, the number of scholars and intellectuals couldn't be bad. Grimoires were the same. The magic of the Age of Mythology was so wonderful because most of the inhabitants had innate talent as magicians.

However, Gluttony didn't explain it further.

-I will describe it in my detail later. Right now, User has too much to do.

"…Okay, don't forget about it later on." Theodore thought it was a pity, but he didn't have time.

He put aside Gluttony's remarks and walked through the library.

'Should I look at the books I appraised the last time?'

Academic theories were interesting, but he wasn't going into a laboratory right now. He was going into combat and had to choose magic that could be used against warlocks and the undead. Theodore passed through a few familiar covers and piled up books on a table.

There was the shadow magic, Reverse Shadow, and the ultimate ice magic which created a cryogenic space, Ultima. Then there was also the earth magic that contaminated matter at high speed, Rotting Hands, and the astral magic which interfered with the soul, Soul Calibre.

There were a few more interesting books, but these four were the best when taking into consideration the time it would take to raise his understanding of them. Besides, he didn't intend to finish eating at these four books. Theodore put two books to the side and appraised the remaining two, "Appraisal."

Simultaneously, information about the two magic books appeared.

[Rotting Hands]

[This book explains the magic that quickly decomposes the target by accelerating the natural phenomenon of the material world. Decomposition is caused by a variety of factors, including air, light, heat, and bacteria. Depending on the material, the time the magic will take will change. The power of the magic changes according to the earth affinity of the caster.

* This magic book is rated 'Precious.'

* Acquisition Conditions: 7 circles, affinity for earth magic (high).

* When consumed, 'Rotting Hands' will be learned.

* When consumed, your ability in earth magic will increase slightly.

* It is an original book written by the author, but the soul has become weathered after many years. It can't be a target of Overwrite, and the fragment of the soul can be absorbed without 'Transmission.']

[Soul Calibre]

[This book describes the magic that interferes with the astral system of the material world and destroys it. The power of Soul Calibre, the sword of the soul, can cut through the immortality of senior undead. This magic can't be learned without great inspiration. It may cause interaction with User's power, Umbra.

* This magic book is rated 'Treasure.'

* Acquisition Conditions: 8 circles, soul sensitivity (medium).

* When consumed, 'Soul Calibre' will be learned.

* When consumed, your ability in astral magic will increase greatly.

* This is the original that was directly written by the author. When consumed, some of the author's abilities will be handed down according to your fitness level.]

Both spells were useful. The undead might not be alive, but their shells were made of muscles and bones. They couldn't exert their power once they were rotted. It was useless against those like the banshees. That was why he learned Soul Calibre as well. There was no need to explain the practicality of Soul Calibre, which destroyed the immortality of senior undead.

"Gluttony, please keep them in the inventory."

-I understand.

The tongue emerged from his left hand and swallowed up all four magic books. He wanted to sit down and read them, but Theodore still had something to do. No, his real reason for visiting the Zero Library was just beginning.

"…Now it is time to unseal the room of prohibited books."

Prohibited books—this was the reason why Theodore needed full power in the Zero Library. They weren't grimoires; prohibited books were a mixture of magic, not paper and letters. It wasn't possible to reach the level of a real grimoire, but it could suppress the souls of humans.

This was why the Magic Society placed prohibited books in a sealed room—to block the spread of damage. It was the heard of that, in the magic kingdom, only the king and chairman of the Magic Society could enter.

'It isn't possible to unlock this without a key.'

Theodore stood in front of the sealed room and admired the tight security. He wondered how many cracks would form if he hit it with Keraunos, the magic he had invented. Then Theodore pulled out the key Kurt had given him.

Clink. He inserted the key into the lock without hesitation and turned it clockwise.

The wards surrounding the sealed room in several layers were released, while dozens of mechanical devices activated with an unpleasant noise. It was like something was scraping at his ears. However, Theodore didn't give up and twisted the key till the end.

Kukukukung…!

The door opened.

"Ah."

At that moment, intense magic power burst out from inside the sealed room. It was enough pressure to throw a person backward! This was the result of collecting dozens of prohibited books and sealing them in one place. The magic power contained in the room came pouring out. Theodore's legs stiffened, and he raised his vigilance as he withstood the pressure.

'This pressure is just a gimmick… The real thing will be from now on!'

They weren't at the level of grimoires, but the prohibited books in this sealed room were beyond common sense. The books could exercise their abilities without owners, or they could freely manipulate a human. It was common for them to tempt those who came within their sphere of influence. Unsurprisingly, unfamiliar voices began to whisper, flowing from the darkness of the sealed room into Theodore's mind.

[Desire this body. Enjoy all the richness of the world,] a majestic voice whispered, trying to inspire his ambitions.

[Take me. You can hold any woman you want in your arms,] a bewitching whisper tried to stimulate his sexuality.

[I will give you endless power, an infinite life,] an arrogant whisper attempted to seduce Theodore without any distinction in the direction.

There were many different types of voices. From that of a young child to an old man, from perfectly spoken words to hard to understand pronunciation… Theodore knew better than anyone else that something irrevocable would appear if he answered any of these temptations.

'Well, this deception doesn't mean anything to me.'

He wasn't affected. In order to control Theodore, who was an 8th circle magician and master of Gluttony, strength on the level of a demon or god was required. That wasn't possible for prohibited books, which were less than grimoires, to have. The prohibited books didn't stop whispering, even if they knew the truth. After all, it was the only way they could find freedom. The problem was that a terrible existence was attached to Theodore.

-Foolish existences trying to tempt my user! Gluttony, one of the notorious Seven Sins grimoires, raised its voice.

It sent out a mental wave that affected all the whispers at once.

[Kuaaaaack!]

[Kyaaaack?!]

[Kueeeeeoh!]

In a realm unknown to human senses, dozens of prohibited books were plunged into terrible pain. They had intended to touch Theodore's spirit and were in direct contact with Gluttony's mental wave, leaving them almost defenseless to it. The prohibited books had never been attacked this way before. Furthermore, the attacker was a grimoire that was above them. The prohibited books shook from the shock.

-Not knowing their place and not maintaining a single mental barrier! They don't deserve to hold knowledge! I will put every one of them in my stomach…

"Ah, that isn't possible," Theodore interrupted Gluttony's angry words. "You were the one who said the capacity would go over with more than two books. I can't afford to have you sleep for three months when it is unsure if the function can even be used."

-But—

"Please bear with it this time. Take out only one or two prohibited books."

-…It can't be helped. I will respect User's judgment.

The meaning of the 'capacity going over' was simple. In the meantime, Theodore had fed Gluttony many books and artifacts. Gluttony's seal was ready for the next phase, with only a few books left until the sixth seal was lifted. However, it wasn't easy to accept the release of the seal. In order to release the sixth seal, Gluttony needed to sleep for nearly three months.

'I might've tried it if it was one month or two months… but three months isn't possible. The battle will end before the seal is released.'

Honestly, he felt regretful. Every function unlocked by Gluttony's seal was powerful and assisted Theodore greatly. There were functions that could be used directly, such as Memorize and Another. How much more powerful was the function of stage 6?

"Sigh, it is hard to miss the opportunity," Theodore said regretfully as he looked around at the prohibited books that had become gentle thanks to Gluttony. They were covered in gold, made out of cowhide, or even wrapped in chains. There wasn't a single book that looked ordinary.

Among them, one book caught Theodore's eyes.

"Ru…by?"

There was a book the size of a little boy's head with a red gem in the middle of the cover. It was covered in a suspicious haze of magic power, but Theodore couldn't feel any evil from it. He took a few steps closer and reached out a hand toward the prohibited book. No, the moment he stretched out his left hand…

[Kyaaaaak! Don't do it! Please don't eat me! I can't serve anyone other than my master, but I don't want to be destroyed!]

Theodore frowned at the scream inside his head. The aggrieved high-pitched tone caused Theodore to shake his head with a big frown. He didn't hear it with his ears, but his ears hurt. Theodore suppressed his irritation and examined the words of the prohibited book with astonishment.

"…Don't eat? Do you know Gluttony?"

The source of the scream was naturally the gold-encrusted book with the jewel in the center that he had tried to grab. If the book were a human, it would look very agitated.

[W-W-What are you talking about?]

"Then shall I eat?"

Gluttony's tongue poked out.

[I'm sorry, I was wrong! My creator knew about you, so a record remained in my memories!]

"Who is your creator?"

[T-That…]

As the book hesitated again, Gluttony quickly stretched out its tongue.

[Kiyaaaaak! S-Solomon! It is Solomon!]

–The king of wisdom? Stop talking nonsense! Why would he make a prohibited book when he can write a grimoire? Gluttony shouted before Theodore could respond.

It was an emotional reaction, with slight anger mixed in. This was evidence that Gluttony was truly outraged by the prohibited book. However, that anger vanished in an instant. Gluttony seemed to read something from the contact as it spoke in a cold voice, -…I see. You… You are a broken fragment of 'Lemegeton'? (TL: Also known as the lesser key of Solomon).

[Hiik! H-How?!]

-There is no grimoire that can hide before me. This is the power of 'Gluttony' that I possess. You are just a fragment of Lemegeton. I don't know how many pages you have, but it probably isn't even 5% of its original performance. Isn't that why you are on the level of a prohibited book?

This was a conversation that couldn't be understood, so Theodore just watched the two of them. It was clear that this prohibited book had come from a grimoire called Lemegeton and that this made Gluttony feel quite uncomfortable. The silent Gluttony opened its mouth again and suggested eating. -There is no value pursuing it any longer. User, can I get rid of this lesser thing?

[S-Spare me! It will be useless eating a defective product like me. B-Besides, I can function as a sub-ego, making it possible for secondary functions!]

Theodore felt like he was watching a catfight as he came to a decision. He laid his hand on the prohibited book and declared, "Appraisal." It was time to look at the fragment of the Lemegeton grimoire.