Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 418

Episode 418 Selection (2)

Clunk, clunk.

The windows rattle in the blizzard outside.

Verden, with him as the backdrop, leaned his weight on one of the two chairs.

'A remote cabin on the side of a snow-covered mountain.'

Although it was a very isolated place, like an uninhabited island in the vast ocean… … it had quite a charm.

Beep beep.

The kettle on the fireplace roared, spewing out white smoke.

The water has all boiled.

The older man put the glowing red tea leaves into the warm teapot he had prepared in advance and poured hot water into it.

Wait another 3 minutes.

He tilted the teapot and filled two cups.

The tea leaves did not spill out thanks to the strainer inside.

The man took his seat opposite Verden. Two teacups were placed in front of each other.

“It’s not fancy at all, but it’s a good tea to warm up your body. It gives you energy. The taste is just okay.”

Huroop, the man took a sip of tea first.

I took a few sips, little by little, as if I hadn't put anything strange in it.

If it had been cold water, I would have drank it in one gulp.

“I will drink well.”

Verden lifted his robe and drank tea.

Anyway, since [Einver] was there, poison wouldn't work at all, so I had no hesitation.

“…….”

The man stared blankly at Verden.

When I heard the voice, I thought it would be a young person… … and it was indeed so.

A look I've never seen before in my life.

His face and robe were both extraordinary. He was on a completely different level from the nobles I had occasionally seen.

The two sipped their tea in silence.

The man tried hard not to speak to Verden.

It was clear that there must have been a reason for a guest who was thought to be of noble birth to come to the Blue Mountains.

'It'll be difficult.'

I don't want to ask.

It was a deep consideration. The man treated him politely and carefully.

Verden, halfway through his tea, looked around the house with his eyes.

It's a spacious cabin for living alone.

There was hardly any empty space. The furniture, which appeared to be handmade, was quite nice, but the most striking thing was the sculpture.

'It's very elaborate.'

The carvings that decorated the cabin were extremely delicate, especially those of women and children.

Judging from the dedicated tools that show the passage of time, I wonder if he was someone who worked in a related field.

“It’s a wonderful sculpture. It could be sold as a work of art.”

"ah……."

The man laughed, surprised by the sudden compliment.

“Haha, it’s a bit of a hobby. It’s not much of a skill, but… it’s not bad for spending some lonely time. In a situation like this where it’s difficult to even go outside.”

“It is indeed harsh weather.”

“That’s why people don’t come to the Blue Mountains.”

The man nodded.

Knowing that, why do you still live here?

“No matter how you look at it, it seems like a place where it would be difficult for an ordinary person to live. Is there any other reason why you built a hut here?”

"hmm."

“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to say anything.”

“Oh, no. It’s just… It’s been so long since I’ve had a conversation with someone like this, so I’m a little awkward.”

The man muttered.

“As I lived, I suddenly felt that I had no place among people. So I left the city without any plan and wandered around here and there, and then I found this place.”

There is no one.

So I settled down.

“It may look desolate, but if you move diligently, it’s quite livable. If you go down a little, there are edible plants and mushrooms, and you can catch rabbits from time to time. It’s a place that even the Ainz and the Demons have avoided, so ironically, it’s safe.”

The story seems quite deep.

Although it was my first time seeing him today, the sole inhabitant of this blue mountain range was quite impressive.

I won't deny it.

Verden was curious about the man's past.

“You can speak a little longer.”

The teapot floated up.

According to Verden's will, each other's glasses were filled. The steam rising in wisps lingered in sight.

wizard.

Only then did the man recognize part of the identity that made up Verden.

I'm thirsty.

The man, who had sipped his tea again to warm his stomach, continued speaking.

It was a momentary attraction.

Because an audience willing to listen to stories in the Blue Mountains was very rare.

Likewise, the man was curious about the strange guest who had learned magic.

* * *

“I was born into a family that you would see anywhere. I helped my parents, who were farmers, work hard to cultivate the fields and harvest the crops, and lived each day. I was truly ordinary, without ever committing a single crime.”

but.

“One day, my father and mother were attacked by demons while they were visiting a nearby village and died. This was on a common path that they had traveled all their lives… where no beasts, let alone subhumans, ever appeared. It turned out that the accident was caused by a mistake made by adventurers during a subjugation mission.”

It's not uncommon.

Just because you're an adventurer doesn't mean you can deal with every variable.

This is especially true for newbies.

“It was a great tragedy for me, who was immature at the time. I was busy grieving, and even though I was the only surviving family member, I did nothing. Because of that, my parents’ deaths ended up being covered up. As a result, I didn’t receive any compensation from the Adventurer’s Guild, not to mention an apology. As a child, what could be more unfilial than that?”

“I understand.”

Intense emotions that cannot be controlled disrupt and paralyze reason. It makes it impossible to even think rationally.

Verden had also experienced it.

The man's voice was filled with sorrow, but he shed no tears.

The sudden absence of parents was because time had already passed.

“But as time passed, things gradually got better. I got back on my feet and started working in the fields. Then I sold my property and moved to a small town.”

I was 22 at the time.

“All I could do was farming, which I had learned from my parents, so I traveled around the city and did all sorts of odd jobs. Then I realized that I was pretty good with my hands, so I willingly threw myself into that line of work.”

From morning till night, I did carpentry work, and after dinner, I helped finish things at the blacksmith shop. Before going to bed, I practiced my dexterity by making things like statues.

Twenty years passed like that.

“I married an innkeeper who lost her parents earlier than I did. She was the kindest woman I’ve ever met and she made amazing tea. We had a cute son who looked half like me and half like my wife.”

I was truly happy.

Although he lived an ordinary life, he donated to the Luas Church every month and never missed a prayer.

Every day was fulfilling.

“……But as before, tragedy comes unexpectedly.”

My son had a high fever.

It wasn't a mild symptom like a cold. It was an unusual illness that wouldn't be cured with over-the-counter medicine.

“The priest of the Luas Church said that the bishop’s miracle was necessary. But it was impossible for such a great man to be in a small town in the outskirts.”

I had to go to another big city.

However, the donation was not enough for the property he had. Above all, his weakened son would not be able to endure the long journey.

Even if he had appealed to the church, no bishop would have been sent for him.

It was the same even for the nobles. The Luasian religion had its own doctrines, and they were not subject to the control of others or power.

───Please… … !

“My wife and I searched the whole city and tried everything we could to find a cure through our connections… but there was no solution at all. It was at that moment when I was spending each day like hell. My wife, whose hair was disheveled, brought me a potion containing something that looked like sewage water, saying it was a cure. I couldn’t believe it, but after I fed him the medicine, my son’s condition gradually began to improve.”

My son is getting better.

The man said so, but his expression was dark. You could tell that it wasn't going to end well.

Verden silently filled the man's empty glass.

“A few days later… It was a bright sunny day. A priest wearing an imposing suit of armor bearing the symbol of the Church of Luas knocked hard on the door of our house.”

"that……."

“Yes, they were inquisitors. They pointed a hammer at my wife and accused her of being a devil worshipper.”

* * *

Although Luasism appears moderate on the surface, it was not peace and kindness that made it a world religion.

A divine power that clearly exists.

It was possible because, based on him, there was an overwhelming force that could suppress all the beliefs and faiths prevalent in the world.

The Inquisitor is one of them.

They have no tolerance for heresy and devils.

There was no mercy. It was just heartless.

“My wife… My wife followed the Inquisitor out in silence, and a few days later she appeared in the square with her body covered in wounds.”

───Betraying the light… …!

───Dirty bitch!

───Luas, please punish the fallen humans!

“Until yesterday, people who were my neighbors and colleagues were hurling abuse at my wife. They were hurling all sorts of curses. And then, my wife made eye contact with me… Her hands were cut off and her head was cut off. The, the blood….”

The man's hands were trembling.

It was something that happened decades ago, but it was still vivid. It was engraved on me like a curse, a nightmare and reality that would never go away for the rest of my life.

Verden handed over a handkerchief.

The man expressed his gratitude with difficulty and then wiped away the tears that were welling up in his eyes.

“……I was acquitted. The Inquisitors thoroughly discriminated against the worshippers and did not apply the principle of collective punishment.”

In other words, it meant that the wife's charges were certain.

That's probably why his wife didn't resist.

“And my son, who was gradually recovering from his illness, quickly became worse when the medicine my wife gave him every day ran out, and he left me the next day. That day, I dug two graves.”

The man was alone again.

I lost my family twice and was overcome with grief… … but somewhere in my heart, I thought that since I had gotten up once, I could do it a second time.

But it was difficult.

The gazes of those around him were extremely cold. People who had been looking at his face for quite some time turned away from him and sometimes even looked down on him.

Because my wife made a deal with the devil.

Although the man was not a devil worshipper, the citizens' piety was such that they did not want anyone with even the slightest connection to the devil around.

“That’s when I realized that there was no place for me in this world anymore… and that I had been born with too much karma. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be suffering this much.”

The man took the symbol of the Luasian faith out of his pocket and stroked it as if it were his habit.

Rusty orthodox cross.

The leather leash, which looked like it had been broken before, was in a state of fray.

Verden asked.

“Don’t you resent the Luas Church?”

As a result, it was the Inquisitor who killed his wife. The God of Light ignored the man's donations and prayers. His anger must be growing.

“……In the scriptures of light, it is written that in order to be saved, one must shed one’s innate karma, that is, defilements. This applies throughout one’s life.”

The man muttered.

“But my wife had contact with the devil, and my son was too young to clear his karma. It wasn’t because of them. It was because I was too close to the filth that my family couldn’t be saved.”

so.

“That’s why I’m praying here every day. If I do this… maybe the two of them can be saved.”

The man's feelings were complicated.

It is a mixture of faith and distrust, entangled with longing and hatred.

The more this happened, the more the man pressed the cross with his fingertips.

“……Have you ever met the devil, sir?”

"doesn't exist."

Verden occasionally heard about the devil.

Although I had indirectly encountered the existence of demons through Leila, who was under the curse of the demon… … I had never seen it directly.

The man nodded.

“That must be because you are a very strong person. The devil usually burrows into the weak. Like my wife. Even though I haven’t seen the devil, I feel its influence. It happened a long time ago, but I still… I wonder why my wife met the devil, and if she had given our son all the medicine she had given him, would he have gotten better….”

I wish it had been this way, I wish it had been that way.

The man was full of regret.

But now he doesn't have the will to overcome his negative emotions, so he lives alone.

In the blue mountain range where you never know when you will die.

That was the man's story.

I took a deep breath and calmed my throbbing emotions.

Only then did the man ask.

“But what brings you here, sir?”

“I came here looking for a quiet place to think.”

“It’s a quiet place…….”

The guest is a magician.

He must be a very valuable person, considering he came alone to such a dangerous place known to the world.

Reflection on the self.

The man felt the extraordinary nature of Verden with his eyes and heart.

“Certainly the Blue Mountains are a rugged place to face yourself. I know a place you might be looking for.”

The man pointed out the window.

“Over there───If you head towards the top of the Blue Mountains, you’ll come across a huge crevice in the cliff. I didn’t get to go in very far, but it was clear that it was very deep and dark. At one point, I tried to climb up there, risking my life, but ironically, that was too scary and hard to bear, so I settled down here. Carving out the things in my memories.”

The man shivered from the bitter cold that was seeping in through the gap.

“Hoo, the weather will calm down in three weeks, so I’ll show you around then. My body is too old to endure this cold. There’s plenty of food, so you can stay here until then.”

The cold is bothering me.

It was a simple matter that didn't warrant waiting three weeks.

Verden summoned a brightly colored robe from subspace and handed it to the man. It was one of the few magical items in Grond's vault.

“This is…….”

“It has built-in resistance to ice and the ability to maintain body temperature. If you don’t treat it roughly, it will last a lifetime. I don’t need it, so take it.”

“Resistance and body temperature maintenance? I can’t possibly receive something this precious. What did I do?”

The value of the robe, which keeps the body warm, is at least tens of millions of elk. It is a valuable item that ordinary citizens cannot obtain.

“I’d rather lend it to you. I’ll return it to you after I’ve explained it to you.”

“Tea and a warm space. This is your reward for the hospitality. Don’t refuse.”

The man swallowed his breath.

I still thought it was too much of a gift for me, but I couldn't open my mouth.

It was an undeniable presence.

The man put on his robe in a hurry as if possessed by something. He didn't feel the cold even in the wind leaking through the window frames.

It was very warm.

“……I will gratefully accept it.”

A surge of determination rose in the frail man.

“Then there is no need to wait three weeks. I will guide you right away. That is what I can do.”

* * *

Braving a snow storm.

As its name suggests, the Blue Mountains are covered in white snow and blue ice.

The man pointed ahead.

As he described, there was endless darkness between the crevices of the ice cliffs.

“That’s the Seolsan Cave I told you about! I once spent a few hours there and it felt like I was lost in the world!”

The wind was so loud that the man had to raise his voice.

“I believe that you are a very special person, so I am sure that nothing bad will happen to you! Nevertheless, please take care of yourself, and before you leave, please! I would appreciate it if you could visit my cabin!”

Verden nodded.

He took a step forward, tapped the man on the shoulder, and headed toward the cave. Soon after, Verden disappeared from the world completely.

“…….”

The man stood still for a while and then turned back the way he had come.

The Blue Mountains were desperately trying to swallow him up, but he was able to return to the cabin safely thanks to the robe he had received as a gift.

* * *

The dreary air, the darkness.

Verden went deeper and deeper, peering through the shadows of the world.

There are no animals or plants to be seen.

It was better than the outside environment with its relentless snowfall and bitter winds, but it was still not a place where life could sprout.

Thud.

There was a cliff in the middle.

A small pebble that fell to the tip of my foot let out a distant scream.

Verden threw himself forward.

In the blink of an eye, he plummeted and landed silently on the bottom of the underground.

The sound of breathing echoes and spreads.

When I released <Suggestion>, I felt as if I had become one with the darkness.

A place cut off from the world.

Stillness gradually brought about oblivion, and silence tolerated no disturbance.

'It couldn't be better.'

just now.

Verden blocked the view.

At the same time, I concentrated my mind, recalling the sensations that had once enveloped my entire body. I had no worries or concerns about possible failure.

There was only certainty.

Phew.

As if to prove it, he lost consciousness in an instant.

It feels like my body is sinking into a sticky swamp… … .

'I'm familiar with it.'

Verden slowly opened his eyes.

The darkness is gone.

But what appeared before my eyes was not the abyss of magic, but a peaceful village.

It was a street and scenery I hadn't seen for a long time.

───Now, look carefully.

The old neighbor held out his wrinkled hand.

Hwaruk, a small flame rose on the empty palm.

The children who were watching with innocent eyes were shocked and then burst into exclamations.

───This is magic.

A strange and wonderful sight.

Among the young crowd was a brown-haired child. The child's eyes were shining, unable to take their eyes off the flames.

Suddenly, Verden turned his head.

The 'young Verden' that he had previously encountered in the Abyss of Magic, and who had told him that he was not ready, was now by his side.

“It was just one spell.”

Young Verden spoke softly

“My beginning.”

Verden, I stared at the flames.