Chapter 42

Chapter 42
Upon reaching Kahara, the city of the old gods, the wizard from the Red Tower, along with Liyan, Seolrang, and the Golden Mane tribe, chose to remain by the entrance, which offered the clearest vantage point of the city.

Naturally, Seolrang and Evan attempted to accompany Alon, but he instructed them to stay behind and descended into the city by himself.

His reason for doing so was singular.

[Since you can perceive my voice, you have demonstrated a basic level of courtesy. Come by yourself to the central tower of Kahara.]

This message had whispered into Alon’s mind the moment he stepped into Kahara.

He had no clue who was speaking to him.

Despite having visited this city countless times before, never once had such a voice echoed in his thoughts.

Yet, an instinct told him it was connected to the words of a mysterious being. Without pausing to question it, he pressed onward until he reached the very heart of Kahara.

The structure before him was less a forgotten city and more a fortress, its tower astonishingly tall for something built underground.

After gazing at the tower for a moment, Alon entered.

Inside, a spiral staircase wound its way upward.

Alon began to climb without a word.

Flare!

As he ascended, lights flickered to life one after another, illuminating his path.

Though this was a scenario he had never witnessed in the game, causing a brief moment of uncertainty, it was only a fleeting hesitation.

Guided by the lights, Alon continued his climb, and at the summit of the lengthy staircase, he discovered a vast chamber.

Rat-a-tat-tat~!!!

With the activation of a magic circle, the once-empty room became filled with towering bookshelves.

These shelves erupted from the floor, soon enveloping the entire interior of the tower. In an instant, the space was so densely packed that the boundaries between front and back blurred into nothingness.

[You have come.]

***

In truth, not every member of the Golden Mane tribe held a profound affection for others of their bloodline.

Certainly, the Golden Manes possessed a stronger innate bond with their own kind compared to other beastfolk.

It held little weight now, but five centuries ago, the Golden Mane tribe had reigned supreme over all other beast clans.

Even so, their feelings for one another were not deeper than those for their own immediate families.

They simply shared a slightly greater affinity among themselves than with other species, nothing more.

When it came down to it, they were still strangers to each other.

The reason Seolrang felt such a powerful attachment to her kin and cherished the Golden Mane tribe so intensely was rooted in her history.

Her happiness belonged to the past.

She had treasured the days spent living among her people, found purpose in assisting her father with his daily tasks, and took joy in sitting around the table each evening, sharing meals with her family.

The life she had known in a community composed solely of Golden Manes, where everyone was connected by the bond of kinship, remained a cherished memory for Seolrang.

That was why she sought vengeance against the ‘Black Dragon’ who had shattered that happiness and aimed to reunite her scattered kin to reclaim it.

Her reverence for the Great Moon also originated from this.

She was convinced that the essence of the Golden Mane tribe, which Alon had returned to her, could grant her both revenge and restored joy.

And for her—

Crunch-!

“What?”

The death of a single member of the Golden Mane tribe was enough to send her reason spiraling into a storm of rage.

Right before her eyes, the body of her kin, who had been speaking only moments before, collapsed in a pitiful heap.

And simultaneously, what appeared before her was—

“Hmph~ Is this all?”

It was Malian.

“Nothing impressive.”

Malian of Baba Yaga.

With his repulsive face contorted in a grotesque expression of pleasure, he tossed aside the corpse of the Golden Mane tribesman. Dozens of figures clad in black robes materialized behind him.

“What in the—”

“To arms!”

At his command, the wizards of the Red Tower and the hired mercenaries raised their staffs, their expressions tense. The previously relaxed faces of the Golden Mane tribe swiftly transformed into masks of panic and dread.

And then—

“What do you think you are doing?”

Malian, staring directly at Seolrang, whose expression was undeniably threatening, curled his lip into a sneer as he spoke.

“Are beastfolk truly this slow? You’re asking me that, given the situation?”

His tone was dripping with mockery, obvious to all who heard it.

Hearing this, Seolrang narrowed her eyes, understanding that further words were pointless.

Crackle-!

Electricity burst from her body, arcing out in all directions, and her shining golden eyes fixed on Malian as her target.

“One.”

In that moment, Seolrang twisted her body, narrowly avoiding an attack prompted by a disturbing, instinctual warning.

Boom~!

The ground erupted with a deafening roar, as if a massive meteor had struck, leaving a yawning crater.

“Wow, you dodged that? You’re no ordinary foe, are you?”

Then, a man who had utterly demolished the entrance, Kalman Arents, strolled casually from the settling dust, a deep grin on his face.

Seeing Kalman take his place beside Malian as if it were all coordinated, Seolrang let out a bitter laugh. The events that had just unfolded allowed her to understand the situation completely.

Seolrang clenched her fist tightly.

Crackle-!

Electricity sparked into existence, answering her will. Her posture made it clear that no further discussion was needed.

“Wait, wait! What is the meaning of this!? We are wizards of the Red Tower! And you are from Baba Yaga, are you not!?”

Unlike Seolrang, one of the Red Tower wizards shouted desperately, trying to find a way out of the confrontation. As Malian turned his gaze toward them, the wizard added,

“Hmm, Red Tower wizards, you say? I suppose it could be troublesome if we harm you.”

His words hung in the air.

“That’s right! If anything happens to us now—”

“But.”

The wizard tried to continue, but Malian cut him off immediately, allowing no room for argument.

“That would only be a problem if any of you managed to survive, correct?”

With a twisted smile, Malian’s statement made the wizard’s face turn to stone. The wizard was not so foolish as to misunderstand his meaning.

And so—

“Tsk, if you hadn’t made such a scene, this wouldn’t be necessary. Why did you have to complicate things for everyone?”

“Come to think of it, where is that noble we’re supposed to handle? He was with you, wasn’t he?”

“Well, we can attend to that after we finish this one off.”

Kalman responded to Malian’s words with casual indifference and said,

“Now, let’s see.”

A dark, menacing energy swirled around him, terrifying to behold.

“Shall we conduct a little experiment?”

Boom-!

With that, the battle commenced as Kalman launched his fist toward Seolrang.

***

Alon, realizing the voice that had echoed in his mind was now emanating from directly in front of him, lifted his gaze. There, seated at a desk, was a figure.

Its appearance was impossible to define.

To be precise, it seemed as though something continuously interfered with any effort to describe its shape.

It appeared human, beast-like, and monstrous all at the same time.

As Alon stared in confusion at the figure, whose shadow seemed to shift endlessly, it spoke.

[Do not look for too long. No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to perceive my true nature.]

Hearing this, Alon shook off his daze, remained quiet for a beat, and then asked,

“Who are you?”

[…If you cannot even grasp my form, what makes you believe you can comprehend my name?]

“…Did you know I was coming?”

[How could I? Do you have any idea how long I have been confined here?]

“Yet you spoke as though you did.”

[Not at all. Perhaps you misunderstood?]

Alon felt a sudden impulse to flick the head of the formless being before him, but he restrained himself and spoke again.

“I came here following the words of Ulthultus—or rather, the mysterious entity.”

[Hmm. I had a feeling that might be the reason.]

The figure replied in a tone tinged with interest and went on.

[Did that being share its true name with you? …Well, it seems reasonable enough to consider you worthy of a test.]

Alon was silent for a moment as he watched the figure nod, as if this were a logical conclusion, then he spoke once more.

“…A test of what, exactly?”

[A test of your chance. I refer to an opportunity for you.]

“An opportunity…?”

As Alon repeated the word to himself, the figure elaborated.

[You appear to have many questions. Regrettably, I cannot provide you with answers at this time. You lack the necessary qualifications.]

“And what does that mean?”

Intrigued by a game element he had never encountered before, Alon pressed for more.

[To be clear, it is not my judgment you should worry about. Rather, it is this world’s standards that assess your worth.]

After a brief pause, as if in thought, the figure continued.

[You likely do not understand and have many questions. So I will explain it simply.]

It then spoke again.

[Before long, another outsider will descend upon this world. Deal with that being and return to me.]

“…And if I do?”

[Then you will have met the minimum requirements—the requirements to see me as I am and to receive answers to your questions.]

“So you’re saying I can learn nothing from you now?”

[Well, I can offer you one clue.]

The figure, whose form remained indistinct and shifting, looked directly at Alon and smiled.

[Once you leave this tower, go and read the inscription at the easternmost point of this fortress. That should provide you with a basic understanding of the circumstances.]

“The inscription in the east…” Alon murmured, and the figure drew out its response before speaking again.

[Good, I have decided.]

[In truth, my explanation ends here, but since you have come all this way, I will share something intriguing with you.]

Without allowing Alon a chance to inquire, the figure continued.

[In this world, beyond the use of incantations, there exists a concept known as ‘Sulli’—the natural order. Have you heard of it?]

“…?”

“Sulli?”

[Yes, and beyond that lies ‘Self-manifestation’, but that remains far beyond your current grasp.]

After murmuring to itself for a moment, the figure resumed its explanation to Alon.

[Sulli is the foundation for what the people of this world call magic, though the fools who practice it scarcely grasp its fundamentals. I can see you are more skilled than they are, but you are still applying it incorrectly.]

The figure went on, seeming amused by the situation.

[The magic brought forth through incantations must follow the natural order. It is not something to be thrown together carelessly. Only by adhering to the natural order, meticulously building the incantation, and invoking the correct name can true magic be achieved.]

The figure raised a single finger and added:

[But even with this explanation, I doubt you will fully grasp it. So, as a gift, I will teach you the ‘Sulli’—the natural order.]

It concluded by stating:

[This is the essence of true magic.]