Chapter 81

- Perspective of the High Mage of the Empire of Empelus -

Before me lies the massive magic stone.

The vertical crack that has formed within it.

We have been ordered to repair it, and the mages have begun their preparations.

I, however, am not participating in the repair preparations; I am investigating the cause.

The Chief Mage, the top among the mages, brought a single reality to the king.

The barrier within the magic stone has not been broken, and upon investigation, there are no distortions or holes.

Despite this, an attack was carried out within the barrier.

The king's face when he heard this report.

A refusal to believe it radiated from his entire being.

But it is the reality.

No matter how we investigate, there is nothing wrong with the barrier.

A few days later, an order was issued to prioritize the investigation of the cause.

The Chief Mage's face showed a deep sense of anguish.

I, who assist him, understand the difficulty.

How are we supposed to investigate?

We have no idea where to start.

Everything is normal except for the fact that the attack reached its target.

Without any irregularities, how are we supposed to investigate?

I look at the magic stone, and in a corner of my heart, I wonder if this is the result of our own actions.

How many lives have been used to strengthen the magic stone?

The mages, who carried out the orders, are the ones who did it.

Yes, the Chief Mage and his three assistants.

The king used the mages as test subjects before extending his own lifespan.

The Chief Mage and the three assistants.

The number of lives taken to extend the lifespan.

Only these four know the exact number.

And the number of lives poured into the magic stone.

The number of lives wasted until success was achieved.

I still remember.

A young girl, who glared at me until the very end, never looking away.

At the time, I rejoiced in the success of extending my lifespan, believing I had become superior to others.

So... I hit her repeatedly because I didn't like her eyes.

But she never looked away.

Seeing that, I was immersed in a sense of superiority.

The only thing I thought was that being strong was everything.

Since that day, everything has gone smoothly.

Without stopping, I have piled up many deaths.

But now, the girl's eyes and the words she shouted are stuck in my head.

"The world will not forgive you."

The words that won't leave my head spill out of my mouth.

I can feel the mage standing next to me shudder.

He is one of the few who has come this far with me as an assistant.

The King of the Forest was supposed to be suppressed by the power of the magic stone.

No, it was completely suppressed.

Then, the one attacking this country now is not the King of the Forest.

This means there is a higher existence, or even a higher one.

The Forest is the center of this world, and an existence that surpasses it.

Perhaps the existence sought by our king already exists.

The being known as the King of the World.

Or perhaps the Kings of the Forest summoned it to protect the world.

This country has incurred the wrath of the King of the World.

As retribution for what we have done.

The guilt I thought I had discarded is now gnawing at my heart.

Something unnecessary to serve the king, something that would be in the way.

So I thought I had discarded it.

But perhaps I shouldn't have discarded it.

I stare at the magic stone.

The most solid and powerful existence in this world.

I never thought it would develop such a crack.

To repair this crack, how many more lives will have to be sacrificed?

...Will the King of the World allow it?