Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 492

Episode 492 Cold Land (3)

It's been five years since I accepted the offer to be a candidate from Ark, who came to me out of nowhere.

At that time, Terat, who was in the lower 4th rank, went through trials… …even if the scale was small, he had to risk his life to solve several cases, survive, and receive his reward.

In addition, in the Ark Exchange Tournament, which they participated in without fail every year, they received material support by showing steady growth even though their performance was poor.

The highest-level magic items currently equipped were a staff made of armawood and a necklace that enhanced earth magic.

Growth potential that slightly exceeds average.

Despite not having any great connections like a country or a magic tower, he crossed the barrier between the 4th and 5th tiers in just over 1,800 days.

At the same time, it saved many people.

If he had just turned away from the ordeal and fled… … in the worst case scenario, more than a thousand people would have become lost.

Or fall off a cliff and die.

Climb up a steep cliff and breathe in the air from a different height.

In Terat's case, it was truly a model of the process of seeking physical and mental growth through trials pursued by the Ark, and being reborn as a superior being.

'Wait a minute… … If I keep going like this, won't I be able to pioneer the magic world someday, and after climbing to the lower 6th rank, which is the lowest rank, in about 20~30 years, I'll be able to become a magic world leader?'

Of course, it is extremely difficult for anyone to reach the limit of the hierarchy, and only a handful of beings become magicians.

But if you think it's impossible, who will tell you it's possible?

'Yes, there's no need to feel intimidated by comparing yourself to other great wizards. I have talent, too. I don't know about anything else, but when it comes to magical power, I'm not lacking anywhere… …!'

It has been Terat's long-held dream to become a wizard who can achieve his desires while also being respected and admired by people.

It was only a few months ago that Terat, who had been living such a faithful life, encountered a talent that far surpassed his own.

The Ark Exchange that took place this year.

One of the two new recruits who must participate in the Ark… …an ashen-haired wizard clad in luxurious platinum robes.

That day, Terat saw.

The sight of the bracelet-shaped magic power measuring device, a specialty of Artesan's Tower, being completely destroyed, and the great candidates who participated in the Ark's exchange battle being crushed by the massive amount of magic power.

───Ah… … .

Even though Terat endured a little, it was nothing more than a mere struggle.

Consciousness had flown away before I knew it.

At that moment, the pure magic that was so frightening, it was hard to forget the feeling that swept over my entire body like a giant wave.

Even now, I have nightmares about being drowned in magic while sleeping.

dump.

“Ugh, ugh……!”

Terat, vividly recalling the unprecedented pressure, sat down helplessly.

His breathing became ragged.

Before I knew it, a cold sweat began to form and flow down my body.

“Hello?”

Isabella approached and waved her hand in front of his face, but Terat's shaking pupils showed no sign of stopping.

“Gaju, this wizard named Terra, doesn’t seem to be in very good condition? Did something bad happen between you and him?”

“That’s not it… Well, in some ways, you could say they’re similar. Anyway, it’s not an ill-fated relationship. In fact, it’s more like a cooperative relationship.”

Verden casts <Telekinesis> with a hand gesture.

The chair that had been left in the corner of the room was placed opposite him.

From the small snow mountain to Chilstead, thanks to taking Isabella's special potion at regular intervals, some of my magic circuits were restored.

Although he was still badly injured, manipulating some magical powers was no longer a problem.

“I have something to tell you in secret. Could you please step aside?”

Verden wants to have an exclusive conversation.

If there was anything he kept hidden from Isabella and Adrian, of all people, it was not a matter of faith, but because he had to.

“I will wait outside, my lord.”

“I heard that in the North, herbs that cannot be found on other continents are traded. So I’ll go around the streets of Chilstead and come back before dinner.”

The two nodded without any questions and immediately went out into the hallway of the inn.

The two remaining candidates for the ark.

Slurp.

Verden tilted the steaming kettle. The luxurious tea he had purchased at the inn was poured into the empty cup.

“If you’re calm, then sit down, Terat.”

* * *

Terat, who had barely come to his senses, carefully sat down on the chair.

Then I gulped down all the warm tea. As my taste buds were stimulated, my vision seemed to become clearer.

Verden filled Terat's cup again.

“Are you a northerner?”

“Ah… Ah, yes. I’m from a small village in Prohas. Although, since I’ve lived on the Western Continent for a long time, it’s ambiguous in many ways to call me a true northerner.”

“The Western Continent. Did you learn magic there?”

“I guess the education system in the North is relatively poor… So, with the help of an acquaintance, I learned magic in the magical city of Birente.”

Terat did not spare respect or honor regardless of age. The gap between the two was magically incomparable.

Huroop.

Terat, who had been drinking tea once more, slowly raised his gaze.

“That, since the previous exchange… Asher, I’ve read a lot about you in the newspapers. That you played a decisive role in the subjugation of the Bone Dragon that appeared in the Republic of Beldirn, and that you built a powerful force in the uninhabited lands of the Central Continent.”

“It seems like news from around the world is being delivered here quite well.”

“Usually it’s difficult. However, once you reach a certain level, it’s not like that. Now is the era when magic is commercialized. In that sense, I have something I want to ask you…….”

Terat expressed his sincere doubts.

“Why are you here, when you should be in an uninhabited land?”

"by chance."

Verden's answer was short, but it was actually true.

Although Terat thought that was a very insincere answer, he had a strong feeling that it wasn't a lie.

'Should I call this presence…?'

This is the first time in my life that I have experienced this feeling, and it is indescribable. What should I say? Just encountering it seemed to overwhelm my soul.

My consciousness became focused on its own.

Then Verden said.

“By the way, I heard that you, as the commander of the punitive force, came to see the Great Warrior to ask for help. Is it possible that the monster that appeared in the west is related to the ordeal?”

"you're right."

Terat answered immediately.

There is no problem in discussing trials with candidates for the same ark. There is also no need to worry about the unfortunate event of the trials being taken away.

Being part of the ark also means that you are a trustworthy person.

“Looking at that monster running wild here and there, it looks like it couldn’t overcome its ordeal… But since it looks fine, I guess it wasn’t a failure.”

“Well, that’s because I didn’t really challenge the trials properly. So the date of the trials that the Ark told me was wrong.”

Here, trials refer to various natural dangers lurking in the world.

The Ark has, through its own unique analysis, pinpointed not only the location but also the time when such risks would occur.

An example of this was the Soul Tree that appeared in the Demon Forest of the Principality of Rivian.

'But the observation from the ark failed?'

It can't be a simple mistake.

As far as Verden knew, the Ark was not such a sloppy group.

The prediction was right.

“A member of the ark in charge of the North says that there have been significant errors in the prediction of the ordeals recently.”

"error?"

“At first, it was just a slight discrepancy in time or location coordinates, to the level of error… But recently, there have been cases where the location has changed, or, like mine, the time has become much earlier. Not only that, but there have been reports of trials occurring in completely different countries, with the predicted location being significantly off.”

The challenges that the candidates for the ark face are not limited to the life-or-death scale of a small town, but also include disasters on a national scale.

This is not something to be passed over lightly.

“What was your ordeal?”

“The Pale Blind Man is a species of alien that needs to be subdued. According to the Adventurer’s Guild’s risk rating, it’s a monster that’s at the Mithril level. It moves without leaving a trace, so the key is to not miss it in the early stages…….”

According to Verden's insight, the current realm of Terrat is in the lower 5th tier where magic has not been developed, but it has a considerable amount of magical power.

I don't know for sure about his detailed magical skills unless I see them in person, but as a candidate for the ark, he's likely different from other magicians of the same level.

Compared to other Mithril-grade adventurers, their level is not that different.

Terat continued.

“But the biggest problem is not the Pale Blind, but the hordes of Ain and Xenomorphs that have begun to appear in the area. The two do not mix and are at odds with each other, which is why they are spreading more widely.”

A sigh passed my ears.

“We need to deal with the two main groups of these guys quickly before the damage spreads to other areas… We don’t have enough warriors to form a siege. That’s why we need a small force that can block the remaining group.”

“That power must be great.”

“This is my first time seeing the actual Great Warriors, but I have heard that their military power is amazing. Well, there is no need to criticize them since they are warriors recognized by even the true northerners.

Terat preached rumors about the great warriors of the North.

Verden answered softly.

“Terrat, I understand what kind of help you need right now. But there’s one thing I need to correct.”

"yes?"

“There is no great warrior here.”

He briefly explained the story of the ownerless land. Terat, who had been listening, nodded with a small sigh.

“Ah… Come to think of it, I think I heard that rumor a few years ago. While the Northern King was away, someone massacred the small tribes in the region and fled north, and according to witnesses, he was carrying a large warrior’s sword. And in the eastern part of the Land of No Man, there was a man with a similar appearance running around the battlefield.”

Terat scratched his forehead.

“It’s a good thing that the criminal is dead, but… um, the great warrior who came to visit Chilstead wasn’t a great warrior.”

He looks very troubled.

When asked if the situation would change depending on whether he was a great warrior or not, Terat jokingly laughed.

“Ordinary northerners are fine, but northerners who stick to the orthodoxy are different. They are dirty old-fashioned and proud. They are especially hostile to those who come from outside the North. That’s why there are no adventurer’s guilds in the North.”

The Adventurer's Guild was a global force that established branches across all continents, but it withdrew from the North without ever establishing itself there.

Because the orthodox northerners were so territorial, there were almost no members of the adventurer's guild. Above all, the biggest obstacle was the intentional obstruction of the adventurer's subjugation activities.

This was not something that could be resolved through negotiations with the Northern Kingdom, Prohas.

The opposition of the orthodox northerners was a manifestation of their beliefs, and there was no way to eliminate the conflict unless they all disappeared.

In the end, the Adventurer's Guild had no choice but to turn its back on the cold north instead of sending out Obsidian-grade adventurers to respond with a hardline stance.

Because we can't fight a war.

“Fortunately, Chilstead is relatively weak in terms of the influence of the orthodox tribes, but if we overcome the crisis with the help of outsiders, there will be noise at some point. If it were something I could take responsibility for alone, it wouldn’t matter… but Chilstead’s leadership would also be under a lot of pressure.”

Terat shook his head.

“If you put someone other than a great warrior in the punitive force, Chilstead will not send warriors. If you get caught by the orthodox elders of Prohas, you will be very tired.”

There is a lot of political element to it.

As the commander of the punitive force, Terator was in a situation where he could do neither this nor that.

If you receive help from someone other than a great warrior, you will lose warriors to command, and if you try to solve the problem on your own, it will be insufficient.

But the solution was simple.

“But the people of Chilstead are under the misconception that one of the great warriors of the North is here. Do you intend to exploit that misconception?”

If the correct method is the problem, then just choose not to use the correct method.

"that……."

Terat was troubled.

Should we prioritize the subjugation and saving lives by telling lies, or should we prioritize upholding our noble traditions as northerners?

The scales were already tilted to one side.

“You should use it. Of course, if you help me.”

“It’s up to you, not me. But before that, there’s one thing I want to ask you.”

Verden took a sip of tea.

“Since the Ark’s prediction was wrong, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the trials were hushed up. In addition to dealing with the hordes of Ainz and Alien species, aren’t you also asking to subdue the Pale Blind?”

Terat has experienced a glimpse of Verden's power, although that was before he became a transcendent being.

“With your power, you could easily erase the trials of the North. But I don’t want to. The trials are not over yet, and they are difficulties that I alone must overcome. Even if it means dying from exhaustion.”

There is fear, but no wavering.

It was truly a determination befitting a candidate for a group that seeks to lead humanity.

Verden wondered how the Ark could possibly select such qualified individuals from among so many.

“I see. Then it’s time to ask the person’s opinion regarding partial assistance.”

The moment I turned the doorknob with <telekinesis> from a distance, Adrian came in.

He had completely blocked his hearing to avoid hearing the conversation between the two, and he had also deployed a curtain to protect the room.

Verden asked.

“Terrat asked me to join the punitive force as a great warrior. Do you intend to cooperate? It’s entirely up to you to make your own judgment.”

“There is nothing I can’t do.”

Adrian looked straight into Terat's face, which was turning bright red.

“If you would grant me just a few requests.”

* * *

In return for accepting Terat's offer, Adrian did not expect any material compensation, such as money or magical items.

In short, the condition was that the Berden party be treated as best as possible during their stay in Chilstead.

Naturally, Terat accepted it eagerly.

In less than a day, the city provided them with a building to live in and provided them with many amenities, including meals.

He even introduced Isabella to the alchemist of Chilstead, offering her the opportunity to trade in alchemy.

A few days later.

“I will finish and return shortly, my lord.”

Terrat originally left the city to deal with the Pale Blind, a trial of the Ark, while Adrian left with Chilstead's punitive force to deal with the main force of the Ain and Alien races.

It's a new feeling.

What was once Baloch Besias' unofficial test subject and a murder weapon that was meant to kill him has now become the trusted sword of the Transcendent One who seeks to destroy Baloch Besias.

One day, that blade will tear apart the very heart of the Bohemian Tower.

'then…….'

Verden stood in the center of a room that was sealed on all sides without a single window.

Subspace is still dead.

For that reason, I took out the [Eternal Hourglass] that I had kept inside my robe.

Alpha, the one-armed mini golem, skillfully stood on Verden's shoulder and balanced.

[The magical power charged to the artifact has reached the minimum. Do you want to activate it now?]

As soon as Verden was able to control some magical powers, he did two things.

One was to solve Alpha's power shortage, and the other was to recharge the artifact brought from Black Hour.

[The Hourglass of Eternity] can only be opened and closed by natural magic.

It usually takes a long time to meet those demanding conditions, but Verden is an exception.

“Okay. Now that I have it in my hands, I should see what’s inside.”

Due to a temporary output limitation caused by an overload in the magic circuit, even after investing several days, I was only able to inject enough magic power to operate it.

It's difficult to keep it open for a long time.

Still, you'll be able to see at least some of the content Black Hour has accumulated over his lifetime.

Swish.

Verden placed the [Eternal Hourglass] on his palm.

A gray body with transparent glass, inside of which countless black sands are piled up like desert hills without moving at all.

I grabbed the head of the hourglass.

He then turned it over and placed it back on his palm.

Talk.

Black sand began to fall.

* * *

After searching all around the snowfield, we found traces of a cave being created in a small snowy mountain.

Given their size, there must have been at least two, and at most five, unidentified groups that teleported north.

And in a nearby town's tavern, they even caught someone recently giving a wad of cash in exchange for information about the North and a shabby carriage.

After that, we divided the area into detailed districts based on the map of the North and searched every nearby area that had even the slightest possibility.

As I continued to search in vain, the search area became smaller.

yet.

“Were you in Chilsted?”

“Even though you teleported north, you asked the bar owner basic questions about the north, and then you headed to Chilstead, where the candidate for the Ark, Terat, was located… Your actions are strange, but also feel coincidental, Your Majesty.”

“I think so too. But I wouldn’t be sure yet. Is this all intentional or coincidental?”

The young man who responded to the woman's private opinion───The hair of the Northern King fluttered in the snow.

The location of the variable has been determined.

Now it was time to go and check it out for myself.