The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 228

228.

“What do you think is the reason for magic’s existence?”

Before reaching the Sun Castle, Vara, Valencidi had asked Obin that question.

“To, to help people.”

When Obin said what he had learned from his mother, Valencidi chuckled.

“My father, who was also my teacher, had the same thought. Magic must be used for the people’s livelihood.”

Although magic hasn’t yet become widespread in people’s lives, meaning not everyone can receive its benefits.

If the day comes when magic enriches the lives of all people, they will also be able to access knowledge.

Then, the era when those who monopolize time and knowledge rule over people will end, and a truly equal and happy era will come.

“We focused on researching magic for the relief of the people’s livelihood to create such a day. That offended the Black Church. The Black Church didn’t want order in the world.”

“……!”

“I killed my teacher to survive. And while talking about the people’s livelihood, I killed countless innocent people. This is not a sin that can be washed away, nor is it a past that can be shaken off.”

Even so, after being taken in by Tureina, he found an excuse for his actions amidst the sin.

‘This power of black magic, these cruel events, will tear down the firmly established society and create a new world…….’

He thought he had to tear it down with force because the common understanding between the ruling class and the ruled class was too entrenched. But then…

“I met you in that situation, Obin.”

“……?”

“Imagine. A rumor spreads that a country that widely teaches magic to its people is prospering. Don’t you think that would inspire other countries?”

Valencidi smiled innocently, like an excited child, and Obin smiled back.

“I may have been unable to die and continued to live in order to meet you and entrust my and my teacher’s dreams to you.”

“……?”

“If someone asks you who your teacher is one day, don’t say my name. Even if I am in a life-threatening situation, you go your way.”

Prioritize your survival no matter what. It’s not me who can change this era; it’s you.

“Promise me.”

* * *

As Obin’s flute began to play a melody, blood began to fill the musical notes engraved on the tombstone. The blood resonated with the ancient magic, amplifying its power.

“The plan should have already been completed when Tae Sung Jin [Great Sage Equal to Heaven, a mythical figure] disappeared…….”

It was around that time that Valencidi regained control of his mind from the Absolute Domain’s bondage.

“What else are you aiming for here……?”

Elamas raised his eyebrows as if surprised by his mental strength but smiled as if it was a welcome development, since he was bored.

“Baztem. The worst primitive kingdom that commanded hundreds of thousands of cannibalistic soldiers. That kingdom is sleeping under this Vara.”

“That’s a fact everyone knows…….”

“Really? Then, would you, who was Tureina’s toy, know that I have the power to awaken that kingdom?”

“What?”

“With the power of that insane kingdom, subjugating this entire continent is not a problem. The Southern Republic will collapse without any resistance.”

“Do you think the Holy See will sit idly by?”

“Huh, you know, why are you asking? Those guys are now struggling just to protect the Akrad continent.”

“……!”

“When that kingdom awakens, it will start with Vara first. The army of the dead will burst out of the ground and sweep away this hateful castle. Then, hmm, where should we go next?”

The revival of the primitive kingdom?

It can’t be possible…… no, if it’s the pillar of the Black Church that even made the black spot appear, this is nothing.

It’s impossible; it shouldn’t be possible in the first place.

“No, Obin! No more playing……!”

“Huh, it’s already too late.”

The aura of thought dancing in Elamas’s hand was growing like a typhoon.

The earth trembles heavily, accompanied by the screams of tens of thousands of people rising from the deep underground.

Sinister resentment swirls and surges like a storm from the cracks in the ground. Creak, creak, creak…… the sound of bones meshing horribly is heard.

“Now, the primitive army is released!”

And the next moment, a skeletal arm rose from somewhere in the palace garden.

The bodies of ancient monsters, not the skeletons of humans in this world, rise, scattering mud.

One, one, and another.

“They will devour all those trash-like humans! Now there is only one fate left: to become the same primitive people or to be eaten!”

As Elamas burst into laughter, the spiers of the palace shook violently, and the windows began to break one after another.

As if the chaos had not even started yet, the vibration sweeping the earth was further amplified.

The foundation collapsed, and several guards who had been frozen in the Absolute Domain rolled helplessly into the pit.

“Heu, heut, heut, heuhahahahahaha! Very good, shall we get rid of the troublemakers now? So that you can’t create unnecessary variables.”

A corner of Valencidi’s mind registered that it was too late, but he moved nonetheless.

He repeated the 1-star incantation 128 times to regain control of his body from the Absolute Domain.

Before Elamas struck Obin with his sword, he threw himself forward, hugging Obin and Obira, and swung Kashasur [Valencidi’s weapon].

‘First, we have to get out of the palace, out.’

Then there is an answer.

There may be an answer.

If I have the power of that Cheonpasikjeok [Heavenly Spirit Flute], there must be a way to resolve this chaos.

“It’s no use.”

But no matter how much he swung Kashasur with his sweaty hands, the dimension did not open. He can’t jump through space.

“What’s in front of you now is a True Dragon; your magic as a third-rate black magician is all sealed in front of this Absolute Domain.”

Magic is imitating dragon language.

Controlling the spirits wandering in the atmosphere with one’s incantation.

But if a higher-ranking being than the sorcerer is holding onto that spirit…….

“Magic isn’t sealed.”

The creator of magic is Karenden.

And Karenden is the creator of the Dragon race.

“!”

Five layers of magic circles shattered in Valencidi’s grip as he folded his fan.

Castle (珹), Bind (束), Fervor (烈), Stillness (靜), Bizarre (怪).

A wave of darkness, honed to destructive power beyond its limit, poured down on Elamas, scattering fierce high frequencies.

“Don’t you understand? It’s a meaningless struggle!”

The True Dragon’s tail wrapped around Elamas, completely protecting him from the wave.

He is not an opponent to whom the laws of power discussed by mortals apply.

Before despair completely overwhelmed him, Valencidi turned his back and started running… with Obin and Obira each under his arm.

“Running away? Hah, hehehe! In that state? It’s a great sight to see! Yes, that beastly appearance suits you trash so well!”

When the True Dragon roared, Valencidi knew instantly that he wouldn’t survive.

“The mute prince won? Yeah, he almost did! That pathetic fool! If only he hadn’t clung to that ridiculous fantasy of saving everyone!”

An overwhelming murderous intent approaches with a clear form. Even from this distance, the heat feels like it’s melting the skin.

“If only those moronic bodyguards had been abandoned, we could have stopped things from getting this far!”

The True Dragon opens its maw and unleashes a tidal wave of black flames, melting away the palace’s spires, arches, and foundations without a trace.

“Go, Obin!”

Valencidi turns and simultaneously stretches out both arms, deploying a barrier.

“Find Lane Ludwick!”

He doesn’t consider retreating after the battle. He only deploys a defensive barrier with all his power, buying a few seconds.

“If it’s him, he’ll definitely find a way. It’s too early to give up!”

The black flames engulf the barrier.

He pours all the magic he has into it, but as if mocking his efforts, cracks spread across the barrier in an instant.

Even with the barrier deployed, the heat doesn’t seem to diminish.

The skin on his hands and face melts away, and the flesh inside decomposes into muscle and fat. A sharp, piercing pain that makes even holding onto his sanity a struggle.

“A, ah, h-hot, H-Highness.”

Obin tugs at Valencidi’s sleeve, his face covered in tears.

In this place where the storm of black flames rages fiercely, their voices are barely audible.

In a world where sound seems to have disappeared, Valencidi shouts wildly, “Go! I said, go!”

‘If you stay here now, what does my fight even mean?’

Even with death before his eyes, strangely, he doesn’t feel despair, frustration, or resentment.

Right now.

Right now, he just hopes this guy survives.

He hopes this foolish prince, who knows how to cry for others and can’t abandon a single person, survives.

‘Ah.’

In that moment, he realizes that this feeling is the same as the feeling of his master, who told him to kill himself and prolong his life in the past.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

He had worried that he might have had regrets about life. He had worried that he might have resented him at the end.

– Take a disciple. Then you will learn things that you could not learn from books.

Ah, yes, that’s right.

He feels like the regret that had been frozen coldly in the depths of his soul for over a decade is melting away at the end of his life.

All of this is thanks to you.

Now I can go in peace.

If there’s one regret, it’s that he couldn’t do anything as a master for his disciple.

The demonic hand finally disappears, and even the intact arm gradually succumbs to the murderous heat…….

In that instant, there was light in the world.

A faint light flickered into the world, which had been darkly burning with black flames. Like the sun shining its light in the lightless dawn.

Was it just light? He felt a warm and powerful life force caressing his whole body.

Hope.

Shivers.

A clear shadow.

A light that cannot be expressed in human language paints his consciousness pure white.

His whole body trembles with an instinctive awe for the absolute being.

At first, he thought Lane Ludwick had miraculously appeared. But it wasn’t. She was shorter and had her hair tied in pigtails.

“Does it hurt a lot, Balsrendishi?”

‘Where did she come from, and how did she appear?’ And my name is Valencidi.

His mouth wouldn’t move.

His body wouldn’t move either.

The moment he faced that absolute being felt as long as eternity, as if time had stopped. Even in the storm, her voice was clearly heard.

“You don’t have to worry anymore.”

As the sound and light of a flame blooming in the darkness that dominates everything are clear, as darkness cannot overcome light.

“Because Aki is here.”

Valencidi finally understood what was happening.

Akiere, who had been protecting the two with the power of black flames, stretched out one hand and smiled brightly.

And at that moment, she drew out the transcendent power granted to the absolute being to the fullest extent. She put that power into her fist and punched it out with all her might.

Whirr-rrr-rrr-rrr-rrr-rrr!

The red True Dragons were created to annihilate the evil of this world, and the flames they spew possess the authority to burn away evil illusions as concepts.

Valencidi had roughly grasped that knowledge through books and Lane Ludwick’s power.

But the power he sees before his eyes now, this beautiful flame that instantly cancels out the wave of black flames and blows it away as embers…….

“Huh……?”

Elamas’s bewildered voice was heard, but Valencidi didn’t hear it.

– When I received help from Aki’s mother in Harbardonia.

Someday.

Before crossing the continent.

He was reminded of what Lane had said while stroking the sleeping Aki’s head by the campfire.

– I felt like I saw light in the darkness.

I hope the day will come when other people see that light too. If someone can see that light from Aki…… I would be really happy just with that.

Valencidi himself had not built a family-like relationship with this baby dragon.

They weren’t that close, but perhaps because he had been with her since the Red Mountains and had watched her grow.

This feeling that is boiling hotly in his eyes now…… the images of his childhood overlap with that elegant figure.

“What, who are you……?”

As the vision cleared due to the collision of black and red flames, Elamas recognized the uninvited guest.

Akiere looked at Elamas, and then looked up at Shalesarum over Elamas’s shoulder, and powerfully and respectfully clasped her hands.

This is the respect paid to a relative before the upcoming battle, a greeting to the relative’s body and the daughter born from that relative’s heart.

“Dur-Moris, Aki is here!”

And the greeting that his heart’s father used to do when he was subduing evil, a greeting that left a deep impression on the baby dragon’s heart.

Children resemble their parents.

On this day, Akiere, who was a baby dragon, lit up the darkness of the world for the first time with her own fire. In the same way she had seen and learned.