In response to Adrias' words, Salem revealed a smile.
For some reason, Adrias' condition seemed to have improved remarkably, as if he had suddenly become much stronger.
"You monstrous bastard. What is it all of a suddenly? Did you awaken or something?"
Should I take this guy instead of Lucia?
Considering it was worth pondering, Salem shattered the shadow binding his feet in an instant.
"Adrias, do you know the difference between recklessness and courage?"
"Absolutely. I possess information that might interest Salem."
At Adrias' confident words, Salem's expression turned serious.
Once again, the same energy as before vibrated in the air.
"Can you guarantee those words? You might die for speaking so audaciously."
"Scriptures left by the gods in the Mythical Era. I know where they are."
Upon hearing Adrias' words, Sallei narrowed her eyes and stared at him.
"Mythical Era? Scriptures left by the gods?"
"Exactly."
Scriptures left behind in the ruins of the Mythical Era.
Although it was an object with no apparent abilities or effects, there was one crucial content.
'The Fourth Origin.'
Originally, the discovery of this scripture would lead to a new Origin.
And such an origin, once discovered, could play an immensely important role for Salem now.
'I don't need it as I already know it. Using it like this would be far more beneficial.'
As per history, it was the Empire that was supposed to discover the scripture.
Initially found at Lake Irva on the southwestern border, the scripture was initially used merely as a political tool due to its lack of any observable effects.
Claiming they could discover it due to being chosen by the gods, the Empire's self-praise would provoke the distant Empire on the opposite side of the continent, leading to their discovery of a new Origin during their research.
That newly discovered Origin was 'Harmony.'
'Salem elevated his magical abilities and value at the cost of his body. But because of it, his body is deteriorating. If he finds the scripture and learns about Harmony, his condition might improve."
Moreover, the current Empire was an adversary similar to Adrias.
If Salem managed to secure the scripture first, it would be hitting the Empire's vulnerable spot, just like Adrias.
"You were arrogant just for that? I didn't see you that way."
"After you confirm the contents of the scripture, then you can think. It seems appropriate to talk like this after you've considered."
"You haven't even accepted the deal yet, but you're speaking so naturally. Moreover, you're talking as if you know the contents of the scripture."
"It's a relic from the Mythical Era, after all. It won't be ordinary. Of course, the choice is Salem's prerogative."
Adrias confidently held out his guts, waiting for Salem's decision.
From the very beginning, Salem was consumed by intense intellectual desire.
Adrias believed it was unlikely for such a driven Salem to set aside personal desires and choose Lucia.
After a brief moment, Salem burst into laughter.
"Adrias Cromwell, as expected. Surpassing expectations. How on earth did you come across such information?"
"The source cannot be revealed. If you accept the deal, send Lucia back, and I will provide the location as promised. If the given location turns out to be wrong, you're welcome to return and kill me."
Whether Salem detected sincerity in Adrias' nonchalant words or not, he stopped laughing and fell into contemplation.
After a little while, Salem finally spoke up.
"It's inadequate."
Did he genuinely think so?
Or was he bargaining?
'Or perhaps Lucia has higher potential than anticipated.'
To be honest, when it came to the scriptures of the Mythical Era, Adrias had assumed Salem wouldn't hesitate to choose one.
But he could understand to some extent. Just stating it's a scripture from the Mythical Era without any supporting information would naturally lead to skepticism.
Of course, he wasn't worried.
He still had countless tricks up his sleeve.
'But revealing too much information might make Salem doubt its source. Moreover, handling the potential butterfly effect from the released information could become difficult.'
While Adrias pondered, Salem, who had been observing his expression, spoke.
"Adrias, how about this? First, you provide the information, and I'll release Lucia. In return, if you can't cure Lucia within the two months you mentioned, I'll take her back. How does that sound?"
Unlike Adrias' concerns, Salem wasn't asking for much.
Instead, Salem presented a compromise, as if laying out his terms for both Lucia and the scripture.
Interpreting Salem's words, Adrias sensed an underlying question, something like 'Can you truly cure her within two months?' and responded confidently with a smile.
"Yes. Let's do it that way."
"Arrogant brat. It's not as simple as you think. Don't come crying later."
The deal was struck.
Wrapping the Sinister Snake in cloth, Salem asked, "So, where is it?"
"Can I just tell you the location now?"
When Adrias looked at Lucia and spoke, Luciya covered her ears with both hands.
Seeing her action, Salem smirked and said, "Just say it. After all, if there's nothing at the place you mentioned, you'll die in my hands."
"Over the Lake Irva, spanning the southwest border of the Empire. There should be an underwater cave at around 7 o'clock direction from the center of the lake."
Salem's expression turned peculiar as Adrias provided rather detailed explanations.
"The more I hear, the more intriguing it becomes. How did you find this out?"
"I can't disclose that, even if you were to catch me and kill me."
"Don't count on not getting killed, punk."
With the deal concluded, Salem turned around as if there was nothing left to say.
While doing so, he looked at Lucia, who was still covering her ears, and said, "Fine then. You've got a wonderful man to look out for you."
"I, I'm not her boyfriend."
"Well, well. If you say so. I'm off now. Take care, lovely."
Salem waved his hand while walking away.
Simultaneously, both Adrias and Lucia relaxed their tension and sank into their spots.
"We did it."
Not only did they succeed, but they also managed an excellent strategic victory by constraining the Empire entirely.
Now, the Empire had no opportunity to pursue the scriptures or discover new wishes.
Suddenly, Lucia, who had been fidgeting, cast a sidelong glance at Adrias.
As if she had something to say, just as she was about to open her mouth...
"What is it?"
An overwhelming pressure.
A vibration conjured by mana was approaching from afar.
Both Salem and Adrias froze in their tracks, and Lucia seemed to sense it too, displaying a tense posture as she activated her mana.
The figure that looked like a dot in the distance rapidly approached and gradually became visible.
"Berial!"
The figure that appeared was none other than Berial Castero.
Upon arrival, he observed Adrias, Lucia, and Salem, who stood still with expressions that couldn't be deciphered, then opened his mouth.
"What's going on here? What in the world happened?"
"This damn brat. Is that all you've got to say?"
When Salem spoke, Berial smiled like a snake, bowing his head.
"Have you been well, Master?"
"Master?"
Lucia opened her mouth in astonishment but quickly covered it in shock.
Adrias, already aware of the situation, silently observed.
"Master? Is that all you have to say after hitting me on the back of my head and disappearing for ten years?"
"I hope you can understand. Honestly, isn't it too wasteful for someone with talents like mine to be used as your experimental material?"
"You said it well. What? Experimental material? Feeding, nurturing, and raising orphaned brats..."
"Torturing and experimenting on them, dying and coming back to life... I've had quite a range of experiences."
"Torturing? Experimenting? This brat. Those were things you did to become stronger at your own request. Where did you sell the medicine?"
"I didn't expect it to hurt that much. I didn't."
It seemed that the emotions accumulated between them left no room for others to intervene.
"Anyway, are you alright? You seem quite hurt."
Berrial looked at Adrias.
Then, noticing Lucia, who still had tears in her eyes, he raised his head.
"Why do you keep getting involved with our academy's students for no reason?"
"Cut the crap. You're going to act concerned for the students? How did you even know about this place in the first place?"
"That's enough. Is it that hard to understand that I followed Adrias' traces since I couldn't see him today?"
Salem's face displayed a strange glint once again as Berial spoke, and he smiled, as if he had figured something out.
"All right, then. So, you're giving private lessons to Adrias? Did you figure out what you want?"
This made Adrias perk up his ears.
He had been curious about this fact for a while.
Why would someone like Berial, who seemed to be so secretive, give him private lessons?
"Did you see potential in Adrias? Trying to take his Original away? But again, you've always wanted to surpass me."
"I won't deny it. It's a mutual benefit."
To wizards, Original Magic was an immense honor and a unique identity at the same time. But if someone copied the arrangement of mana and the formulas, the risk of having it stolen was quite high.
'If a swordmaster's aura secret feels like a one-off technique like his own special move, then Original Magic is like a unique skill tree for a mage. However, if you have the talent, you can learn it by mastering the arrangement of mana and formulas. But there's still the risk of too much knowledge being revealed, and it could become difficult to handle the butterfly effect from that information.'
Thanks to these characteristics, some prestigious magical families had their Original Magic passed down through generations. One prominent example was Alben's Spatial Magic.
Unlike a swordmaster's aura technique, Original Magic could be recorded and passed down through generations.
However, mentioning someone else's Original Magic was close to taboo in this world.
"You're really insane. You're so brazen about it."
"I just stated the obvious."
"That's why I'm saying you're insane. Why is that obvious?"
Berial was speaking of something that was so far removed from the common understanding that even the great Salem found it hard to accept.
At that moment, without warning, Berial attacked Salem.
Kuaaaang!
Mana gathered at his fingertips, shooting out like beams of light, and everything the beams touched vanished.
"Thanks to you mentioning it, my plans are all messed up. Anyway, you're a wanted criminal of the Empire, so I suppose I'll vent some anger."
"This bastard."
As voices suddenly echoed from the side, dozens of snake heads rushed toward Berial.
Yet, Berial looked on nonchalantly, raising the corner of his mouth.
Kkagagagang!
Suddenly, a thin, transparent barrier spread around Berial.
'Berial's Original Magic is based on purity, wishing for innocence. It utilizes the essence of mana without using its attributes.'
The thin barrier was also a mana barrier crafted with unique mana arrangements and formulas.
It was a technique created solely using the vitality aspect of mana's pure nature.
"I'll loosen up a bit after a while."
Salem smiled wickedly as he rushed in from a distance.
Even in that moment, the sinister snake was aiming for Berrial's opening.
Quaddd.
A spark flew between Berial and the sinister snake.
Berial lightly kicked off the ground and moved.
"What? You're acting up just because you haven't seen me in ten years?"
Seeing Berial approach closely, Salem let out a bitter laugh.
In terms of close combat, he prided himself on being able to stand up against even the Aura Master, so his actions were quite arrogant.
Thinking that he needed to provide proper education, he immediately ignited flames from his left arm.
Whirr―thud!
When Salem's left fist reached Berrial, the barrier made of mana wavered and created a booming sound.
Then, small cracks appeared and crumbled.
"Master, you seem to have become more talkative than before. Are you getting old?"
However, Berial wasn't fazed at all. He extended his hand and dispersed the mana.
The mana that burst out at extremely close range shone so brightly that it was blinding.
Kuaaang!