Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 364

Episode 364: To the Center of the Continent (1)

Access to the Republic's secret treasury, Tersau, can only be discussed if at least two senior deputies and ten ordinary deputies are present at the meeting.

And through voting, opening is decided only with the consent of more than half of the top members and more than two-thirds of the members.

These are extremely demanding conditions.

There are a lot of people, and they are not just random people, they are all involved in politics.

As expected, he knocked down the top member in one breath.

Tersau would still be closed if it had not been for the pressure put on it by mentioning the reactions of Dark Warton and the Luas Church.

In the darkness where the light from the stone lantern is shining, the sound of many footsteps echoes.

Quiet silence.

Verden's party silently followed Brillan and his escort Woodgard.

'The deeper you go, the wider it gets.'

In addition, the direction of the passage is a gentle curve.

If you think about the overall structure, it resembles a three-dimensional tornado. Brilliant was heading towards its center.

After some time, everyone arrived at the eye of the whirlpool.

A wide space with a crescent-shaped structure.

In front of me stood a huge wall with nine keyholes carved into it.

Brilliant showed the key that had operated the passage.

“This Tersau opening is only created temporarily when it is decided to be opened through a vote. And it disappears on its own after it has fulfilled its function. It is a security facility that was created after being inspired by the Central Continent, and although the procedures are complicated, it is very effective.”

Even though it is a secret treasury, it is beyond the normal scope.

It is of a level incomparable to that of Re Eronte, the royal warehouse of the Principality of Liviant that Verden had entered.

“Also, the order in which the locks of this massive door are opened is always random. It can only be opened by a complex pattern that is only known to the highest council members. However, it takes some time, so I would appreciate it if you could wait a moment.”

As he said that, Brillian looked around the entire wall and approached the leftmost one as if he was sure of it.

Crunch.

As I turned the key, a metallic sound was heard from inside. Gradually, the shape of the wall changed slightly.

“Hmm…….”

Brilliant continued his observation and unlocked the second lock.

Another crackling noise tickled my eardrums, and a new structure appeared on the wall.

Verden watched the scene closely.

'Is this a method that requires interpretation every time and providing the correct answer every time?'

It may be excellent in terms of security as it is very risky, but… … it seems very cumbersome.

The structure of the newly emerging pattern also seems quite complex.

Even with Verden's keen eye, it is difficult to interpret at a glance.

I think I could figure it out if I looked at it one or two more times… … but I didn’t pay attention to it because it wasn’t really useful even if I knew it.

Clank… … Clank… … Clank… … .

Security is released one by one every few minutes.

Sweat beaded on Brillian's forehead as he concentrated with great concentration.

After completing the eighth order, only the ninth order remained.

Since it was the last one, there was no need to interpret the pattern.

Brilliant put the key in and turned his head.

“The 30-minute time limit starts from the moment you turn the key. After that, it will be completely closed and you will not be able to get out, so it is best to move around as leisurely as possible. It will be at least several weeks before it can be reopened. Finally, please be careful not to take items out of the display case, as it will be difficult to put them back.”

"All right."

Verden took note of the warning.

After hearing the answer, Brilliant immediately twisted his wrist.

Crunch───Koo-ung.

There is a loud noise.

Then a dizzying clang of iron echoed through the space.

As the Key of Brilliant disappears, a gap opens up, and the true Tersau is finally revealed.

“……!”

A splendid interior, on a whole different level from the previous scenery.

Brilliant extended his hand and pointed politely inward.

“We’ll wait outside. I hope you get what you want.”

The maximum available time is approximately 28 minutes.

It was impossible to move around leisurely without knowing what was stored inside.

Verden, Adrian, and Leila.

The three entered Tersau without delay.

* * *

From common magic items to expensive consumables and materials for rare-looking subhumans and demons.

The rows of display cases, spaced at regular intervals, extend all the way to the end of the three-way hallway in the distance.

Also, at the dozens of intersections between the hallways, there were countless objects lined up, too numerous to count with one's fingers.

It is a truly vast space.

Still, the numerous bright yellow magic lanterns fixed to the ceiling made it feel as if all directions were wide open.

It was a dazzling landscape with barely any shadows.

'There won't be enough time to go around and choose a reward.'

We have to move separately.

That was efficient and smart.

Layla on the right.

Verden in the center.

Adrian on the left.

The direction each person is headed is immediately decided.

Exactly one minute had passed since the door opened.

As if they had made a promise, they set out to explore immediately without any conversation.

Because I have to save as much time as possible.

Thud, thud.

Verden looked around the hallway, recalling the purpose he had decided upon beforehand.

'What we need most immediately is an artifact with practical performance, or an unregistered magic book.'

Because suitable artifacts have enormous utility value.

The purpose of this is to absorb unregistered magic books into the [Book of Magic of the Multiverse] obtained from the Ark to strengthen magical capabilities.

Of course, it is only a matter of priority.

Even if they are not such rare items, I would gladly choose something that is more useful.

<Emotions>

Verden moved forward, quickly checking out the exhibits that looked plausible.

Flowing time.

I've seen the performance of dozens of magical items, but I've yet to see one that meets my standards.

“…….”

At that time, an unusually shaped accessory caught my eye.

A luxurious circlet with three clear gems set into the front to decorate the head.

Below that, like the others, was a letter of emotion, but there was no time to read each word.

I ignored it and activated <Emotion>.

[Projection Hall]

Although not an artifact, it falls into the category of special magical items.

'6th level magic granting <Illusion>, that is, the caster's consciousness is projected onto a magic clone, allowing for arbitrary manipulation… … .'

In short, it was a magical accessory specialized in only one magic.

Performance seems to vary greatly depending on the wearer's ability to manipulate magical power, but this was not a problem for Verden at all.

Verden stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment.

'This… is not bad. No, it's better than some artifacts for future plans.'

Considering future activities in the Central Continent, it seems like it could be very useful.

It was close to certainty.

But it was still too early to make a decision, with 18 minutes and 20 seconds left.

After confirming the exact location of the <Projection Hall>, I looked around at the various options again.

Along the way, I ran into Adrian and Leila a few times.

However, contrary to expectations that they would be moving in a hurry, they were leisurely sightseeing in Tersau as if they were tourists.

It seems like he's already found something to receive as compensation.

‘… … Am I the only one who can’t decide?’

Suddenly I became an indecisive magician.

Verden picked up the pace a little more.

With his characteristic intuition, he filtered out most things, mentally selected a few candidates, and carefully compared their usefulness.

And with about 5 minutes left, Verden, who hadn't found any decent artifacts, secretly chose two.

[The Projection Hall] and the third of the remaining seven candidates.

I wasn't too fond of the latter… …but it was usable, so I couldn't help it.

'Were my standards too high?'

Still, it wasn't a disaster because it was about half successful.

Verden retrieved the two rewards by the shortest route and entered the unfamiliar left lane to return to the entrance.

"hmm?"

But I had no choice but to stop moving in the middle.

It wasn't an artifact or a rare magical item that held him back.

Verden blinked as he was led to a corner.

'This is no way… … .'

Ancient relics, golden remains, were reflected in the walls.

* * *

The Glory of the Corpse, an ancient relic found in the possession of the White Bone Viola, the Golden Femur.

There is a golden bone in front of you that looks very similar to it.

The difference was that the part stored in Tersau was a 'rib'.

And unlike the golden femur that Archbishop Joseph had purified, it was not contaminated with the spirit's energy.

Verden lifted the ribs and his eyes flashed with magical power.

[Skull. Ribs. Femur]

[The golden path will open to whoever collects the three golden relics]

'It's definitely the same relic.'

The external appearance and written text are completely identical.

There was no doubt.

Why on earth is this in Tersau?

It looks like a precious relic at first glance, so maybe they just kept it for now.

‘… … What should I do?’

With the sudden increase in choices, Verden fell into deep thought.

Most of the relics handed down from ancient times are false legends.

Didn't Archbishop Joseph say that there was a very high probability that it was fake or exaggerated?

And even if you find two of the three golden bones, you may never find the other one.

… … Still, there was hesitation.

If we ignore it completely, the golden ribs will remain in Tersau for a very long time.

To retrieve it, we would have to invade Tersau by force, unless we received the Republic's permission.

Is it a moderately useful magical item, or an ancient relic bordering on the ridiculous?

Verden had to choose, and he made his decision.

So I went back to the entrance.

There was only one minute left.

* * *

Kukukukukuku… … !

The entrance to Tersau is closed.

Nine locks being restored with countless friction sounds.

Within moments the giant door returned to its original wall.

Fortunately, no one was left behind and they escaped safely, but unlike Verden, Adrian and Leila looked quite different.

'Did you both choose the artifact?'

These were the things Verden had seen when he explored Tersau.

First of all, the name of the dark blue robe that Adrian is wearing is [Shade Spider].

It has the ability to reduce the wearer's presence at will, and when the ignition key is recited at night, it melts into the darkness and becomes impossible to identify with the naked eye.

It was a stealth artifact suitable for activities while hiding one's identity as one of the four powers of the Central Continent.

"hmm."

Adrian seemed particularly fond of the simple yet simplistic colors and appearance.

'and…….'

As previously mentioned, Leila chose armor as her main weapon.

From helmets to gaiters.

It was a set of pitch-black body armor that fit his body perfectly and a black cloak that reached below his knees.

'Artifact, [Iadden's Black Blood].'

It has a special effect that temporarily gradually increases all resistances as it absorbs blood.

There was one big backlash, though.

The downside was that after wearing it, if it was not periodically stained with blood from someone other than the wearer, it would be permanently damaged.

Leila shrugged her shoulders as if it didn't matter.

“I’m an adventurer by profession, so I fight a lot. I decided that it’s not really a limitation. It’s better than the outfit I had just now, right?”

“It has an intimidating appearance, but it suits you well. It’s a contrasting color to the blonde hair, so it’s harmonious.”

“……I didn’t mean to give such a detailed review.”

Leila awkwardly stroked her back-length hair that was sticking out of her helmet.

Then he gave a small cough and changed the subject.

“But Asher, can I take a look at what you chose?”

There's nothing to hide.

Verden showed [the crown of projection] and golden ribs.

Compared to the two people, the salary was low. That's why it attracted attention.

“You’ve brought me something really… unusual. I don’t know about anything else, but a gold bone. I didn’t know you had an interest in antiques.”

“Respect tastes.”

Adrian narrowed his eyes at Leila's surprising reaction.

Brilliant, who had been looking at them, blinked.

“Those are…golden bones.”

“Huh? Is this something you know?”

“Yes, it is an artifact that I personally brought back when I went to the Central Continent on diplomatic business. I happened to win it at an archaeologists’ auction.”

“But why Tersau……?”

“I tried to buy it because I thought it would be beneficial to the Republic, but I didn’t have enough money, so I used taxes to cover it. So it ended up in the national treasury. But when I actually got my hands on it, I realized it wasn’t really worth much.”

Should we call him a patriot because he thought of his country and acted for it, or should we call him a corrupt politician because he arbitrarily misappropriated tax money?

What people think of this will be different for each person.

“But why did you bring that over everything else… I didn’t know you were so interested in ancient relics.”

“Well, I’m a little interested.”

“Rather than simple value, it is important to satisfy each person’s taste. I have never seen a relic similar to this before, so its rarity alone will be no less than that of an artifact.”

Brilliant's words were half true.

The Republic possesses a total of seven artifacts, regardless of type.

Although it was a lot compared to other countries, handing over three of them to outsiders was a huge expense.

But contrary to expectations, one was reduced.

'Even the things that were exported instead of artifacts were magic items and useless relics… …!'

To be honest, I feel like applauding.

This will give other members of the National Assembly a chance to show their support.

Although it was Brillan himself who opened Tersau, he could not abandon his position as the highest council member.

Anyway, with this, the salary was paid normally.

Now it's time to leave Tersau.

And the time has come to leave the Eastern Continent.

* * *

The airship that departed from Tersau arrived at the westernmost point of the Republic of Veldirn.

Semitar, a city officially home to one of the world's few intercontinental teleportation stations.

Originally, it should have been bustling with people traveling to and from the Central Continent, but now that the space travel route has been closed, the distance is relatively quiet.

“Please wait a moment while we go through the procedures.”

Leila, Brillian, and the executioners who were assigned to escort them headed to the mobile management office.

Normally, it would have been something she had to do alone, but Brillian readily offered to help her by skipping some of the steps.

It was a kind of farewell and favor.

Soon, when Verden and Adrian were left alone, Jack, who had been waiting nearby, approached them secretly.

“What's going on?”

“Asher, I have something for you.”

Jack threw something.

Adrian, who was nearby, grabbed it in an instant. It was a metal bar with a specific magical array engraved on it.

“What is this?”

“This is the key to the account at Anonium Bank, one of the world’s top three banks.”

Magnus Bank, Dyna Bank, Anonium Bank.

Unlike other banks, Anonium Bank does not have branches.

It only operates the headquarters located in the central continent, and is close to the concept of a vault.

Their main product is to provide a storage service for an iron fortress in return for a monthly maintenance fee.

Moreover, it thoroughly guarantees anonymity and does not consider your identity at all.

The only way to get your items back is with the metal bar you were given in the first place.

In other words, whoever holds the key is the owner.

“It contains the secret funds of the highest council member of Nelonian. I personally paid a year’s worth of maintenance expenses in advance three months ago, so you can take it whenever you want.”

“Ah, you said you’d pay off your life debt within a few days, and this is it……. But is it okay if I hand it over like this?”

There must be quite a bit of wealth there.

Then Jack chuckled.

“I didn’t say that the slush fund was just that.”

Have you already taken your share?

Contrary to his fierce appearance, he had a skillful demeanor.

Verden received the metal rod and stored it in subspace.

“Jack, I have a question for you. When you were in the Duchy of Riviant, why did you suggest that we go to the Republic of Beldirn together?”

“It’s nothing special. I thought that if I teamed up with a capable wizard, I would be able to make a big splash in the Republic… I underestimated you by a huge margin.”

Jack turned around after saying what he wanted to say.

“Anyway, I’ve paid off my debt, so I’ll be going now. It’ll be annoying if it gets out that I have slush funds. I wish you good luck.”

After a brief greeting, he headed towards the anchorage where the Republic's airships were located.

It seemed that even though he had lost his job, he still intended to work for the Republic of Beldirn.

Verden, who had received an unexpected gift, turned his head toward the west.

Beyond that distant unexplored land lies a continent that Verden has never been to.

“Adrian, what kind of place is the Central Continent?”

“Some people see it as a world of chaos, competition, the law of the jungle, and the strong preying on the weak; others call it a land of change, opportunity, and stability.”

A continent where contradictions collide.

It is a tower with the lowest and highest floors.

It is the largest land where the past and present coexist and connect to the future.

Adrian asked.

“After the battle at Sacred, it seems that your lord has decided on a clearer direction.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

A strange light appeared in Verden's eyes.

“The fake merchant group ‘Licentia’, who will be officially announced by the Luas Church and known as the agent for selling dragon bones, will be the centerpiece of the plan.”

It was the center of action, a giant net to catch the bait.

Verden's voice was filled with intense conviction.

At that moment, Layla's voice was heard from afar.

When I turned my gaze to the side, I saw a space attribute light spreading softly.

“It looks like the intercontinental space travel is ready. Let’s continue the detailed story when we go to the central continent.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Verden and Adrian walked.

After passing through what would normally be a very long waiting line, I stood on top of a giant magic circle with Leila.

“Phew.”

Leila let out a small breath.

I sighed as I thought about the motion sickness that would come after the teleportation.

“Thank you again for helping the Republic of Beldirn. I hope you stay safe.”

Immediately after Brilan's farewell speech, a common announcement followed.

[Customers using the service for the first time may experience symptoms of nausea or dizziness. In case of an emergency, please inform the guide. We will then move.]

Kiiing───!

A distinctive purple light flashes.

Soon, a massive amount of magical power swept through, swallowing Verden, Adrian, and Leila all at once.

About two years have passed since I left the Magic Tower and spent time on the Eastern Continent.

After crossing several death lines, Verden, who has achieved great power, finally appears on the main stage.

And throughout the world, the name of Asher, the deity of the Eastern Continent, was spreading like wildfire.

The Eastern Continent, the Central Continent, and… …even the Bohemian Tower of the Western Continent.