Chapter 218
A secret relationship between Colin and the Imperial Family began.
What he provided to the Imperial Family was not information, but Divine Power.
The White Duke showed interest in the Divine Formula and synchronization with Divine Objects possessed by the Priests of Boundary, and Colin visited the laboratory occasionally upon his request.
That the White Magic Tower researches Divine Power ans there are cooperating priests.
And the White Duke said he is researching the Authorities and Divine Power of various priests besides him.
He never revealed what benefit the Emperor gained that day, but it didn't matter.
After all, his cooperation was rewarded with massive support funds.
“The reaction of Holy Objects and Divine Objects is as different as heaven and earth.”
This was the evaluation made by the White Duke, who had examined quite a few Holy Objects and Divine Objects.
Divine Power is classified according to the size it can contain.
Holy Objects are given to First Class Priests and Vice-Priests, while Divine Objects are customarily passed down to Chief Priests for generations.
Since Colin received a Divine Object on the first day he beca a First Class Priest, it showed how high Chief Priest Lokia's expectations were.
“You trust Chief Priest Lokia.”
“There is probably no one in the temple who does not respect him.”
At the voice full of conviction, the White Duke burst into laughter.
“There is no one in the White Magic Tower who says they do not respect
either.”
“That is…….”
“It's likely true in reality. An 8-star mage and Master of the Magic Tower. There is nothing about
that doesn't make mages' hearts race.”
“…….”
“But I do not rember all of them. I just see them as one of the pieces I can use.”
“The mages of the Magic Tower are pitiable.”
“You must know from experience too, right?”
Pope Claudio de Cronis and Saintess Lan de Styx.
The White Duke dragged out mories he had forgotten.
“Lokia de Styx is also soone responsible for a temple. Moreover, since he is a survivor of the harsh environnt of the northern frontier, he must possess sothing special.”
“Do not think to insult the Chief Priest's piety.”
The White Duke shrugged.
“I just need to continue my research. Let's stop here for today.”
The White Duke returned Lost Vane, whose reaction to Divine Power he had been examining.
“Just for your reference, Lost Vane is of the highest grade among the Divine Objects I have encountered so far.”
“…….”
As such days repeated, Colin learned new facts.
Each temple belonging to the fence called the Holy Nation.
Just because they serve gods doesn't an all priests are of the sa hierarchy.
Also, the Boundary was created much longer ago than he knew, and Styx is classified as a top-tier god among nurous gods.
He knew that acts of ranking gods were done implicitly, but hearing it from the Master of the White Magic Tower, who researches Divine Power, made it more credible.
And as a representative of such a temple, he is forming a relationship with the Imperial Family.
To resolve others' suspicions, High-ranking Priests of the Temple of Boundary were nominated from various places in the Empire and vassal states, and he could naturally avoid attention being focused on him.
The relationship between Colin and the Imperial Family reached a turning point after Eurasia declared itself a Kingdom.
***
As usual, when he visited the Imperial Capital under the guise of a nominated mission.
“…….”
There was a new figure in the White Duke's laboratory.
“Is this the greenhorn of Boundary who is cooperating?”
An old man with average height and a thin build.
He took off the hood of the robe that was covering his face with the staff he was holding.
His skin was pale, and just eting his black eyes made one feel as if they were being sucked into an abyss.
An atmosphere contrasting with the White Duke in many ways.
“I am the Black Duke, Morus Obitus.”
“……!!”
Just like when he first t the White Duke, Colin's face hardened.
If the White Magic Tower was the bright light of the Empire, the Black Magic Tower was the shadowed darkness.
To a priest who operates in the sun, the Black Magic Tower, and especially the existence of their leader, the Black Duke, was extrely uncomfortable.
It seed he wasn't the only one who thought so.
“Wipe that gloomy smile off first. Isn't the guest scared?”
“Guest, you say. In my eyes, I only see research material?”
“Black Duke.”
“Hm?”
“He is a priest who helped His Majesty the Emperor. Watch your words.”
When the White Duke ntioned the Emperor and turned serious, the Black Duke stopped laughing.
“Please understand an old man's mistake. Young priest gentleman.”
“I will do so.”
He accepted the insincere apology with an insincere attitude.
Only then did the White Duke greet Colin with his usual gentle face.
“No need to be so shy. I called you because there is sothing we need to talk about together.”
“I wouldn't have been surprised if you had given
a hint.”
Colin answered in a polite tone.
It was because he ca to harbor awe for the Master of the White Magic Tower, Rastian Arken, while interacting for quite so ti.
It had been a while since he used honorifics.
“Why is the Black Duke suddenly here……?”
“Do you rember what I said about the Grotesquery before?”
“I rember.”
He added, asking if his cooperation with the Imperial Family wasn't also because of the research to stop the Grotesquery that would resurrect soday.
At his answer, the Black Duke's body shook.
“Morus. If you act rudely any longer, I will kick you out.”
“My, I apologize. Please do not banish a pitiful old man.”
“…….”
As if Colin's unpleasant gaze didn't matter, the Black Duke covered his twitching mouth with a bony hand.
The White Duke's explanation continued.
“I told you before that the Black Magic Tower is researching the Curse of Grotesquery. The Black Duke here is more knowledgeable than anyone when it cos to the Curse of Grotesquery.”
“Has the Grotesquery resurrected again?”
“That is not it.”
“Then why……?”
“It is to receive a supply of new Curses of Grotesquery.”
“……?”
Colin made a face showing he didn't understand what that ant.
‘Receiving a supply of Curses of Grotesquery?’
The Black Duke, who was listening to the two's conversation, cut in.
“Oh my~ Did you perhaps not tell him yet what lies beyond the boundary?”
“I intend to tell him now, so be quiet.”
“Your complacency makes
laugh.”
Ignoring the sneering Black Duke, he explained.
“I did say the Grotesquery ca from a place beyond the boundary.”
Colin nodded.
The northern frontier.
An area not allowed even to the priests of the temple guarding the boundary.
He called that place the Abyss.
“There is a single sword there. It plays the role of a dium containing the Curse of Grotesquery.”
“If it's a sword…….”
“Yes. It is the Magic Sword used by Edan Eurasia, who was called the strongest knight about 200 years ago.”
“……!!”
A Magic Sword ntioned in history books now treated as myths or legends.
‘Don't tell
that content was true…….’
“There is a barrier before reaching the seal. And the Magic Sword is located between the ‘Seal’ and the ‘Barrier’.”
“Are you saying the Magic Sword is sothing like a Divine Object?”
“I don't know since when it beca like that either. Just that the curses the sword couldn't handle cross the barrier and wander the continent, which we call fragnts.”
The Black Duke, who had been quiet for a mont, cut in.
“The research on the fragnts currently in the continent is finished. I would like you to let new fragnts flow into the continent.”
“What……!!”
“My ears will fall off.”
At the attitude of the Black Duke who actually picked his ear, Colin glared at the White Duke.
“Wasn't the reason I helped you so far to stop the Grotesquery that will resurrect soday?!!”
“It was.”
“But now you want
to help let the Curse of Grotesquery flow into the continent. do you think that makes sense?”
“Knowing the enemy is the way to find out how to win.”
“That is sophistry!”
His voice rose, and honorifics disappeared along with it.
Helping to bring out the existence that would destroy the world.
That was a completely different matter from his distrust of the Papal Office and helping the White Duke's research.
“Well, I knew you would react like that.”
Saaaa.
Mana leaked out from the Black Duke's body.
It was clearly mana made of black color, but its aura resembled the Evil Energy of monsters.
“Do you dare to place a curse on a priest of the temple?”
Colin placed his hand on Lost Vane at his waist.
“Kukuku. Wouldn't it depend on you?”
With words saying he looks forward to the sword skills of a priest who isn't even a Holy Knight, the mont the Evil Energy combined with mana was about to pressure Colin's body.
Thud.
The White Duke struck the staff he was holding onto the floor.
Whir.
A curtain made of pure white mana soared in front of Colin.
“Morus Obitus. I told you not to act rashly.”
“You are the one continuing to show a complacent attitude. That's why the results of your research are slow.”
“If you intend to talk nonsense, I will kick you out myself.”
Rumble.
As the auras of two 8-star mages clashed, the space vibrated as if it would collapse.
It was a power hard to see as a simple battle of spirit.
‘At this rate, soone will die.’
Fortunately, the two old mages were not as emotional as he thought.
While exchanging a few words of warning, the Black Duke opened a gate and disappeared.
It was when only he and the White Duke were left in the chaotic space.
“Do you know who gave you the revelation?”
The White Duke asked while emitting mana to purify the Evil Energy left by the Black Duke.
He had once spoken about his life.
“Actually, that wasn't God Styx. Try recalling the mory of that ti once again.”
The revelation he received in a dream so ti ago.
A gray Barrier.
A red Boundary beyond that.
There was a man trying to cross the Boundary.
A man wearing priest robes, emitting Radiance from his entire body.
The man chanted so spell to create a gap in the Barrier, and was seen attaching sothing leaking from the gap to his body.
The more he did, the thicker the Radiance wrapping the man's body beca.
“The characteristic of the Grotesquery is that it emits Radiance.”
Colin's mouth opened slightly.
“You were bewitched by the Curse of Grotesquery. Chief Priest Lokia couldn't have been unaware either.”
‘Then why did the Chief Priest give …….’
His mind beca complicated.
“What do you think is the reason Chief Priest Lokia gave you the Divine Object?”
“White Duke. If this is to drive a wedge between us, I will not listen anymore…….”
“Would the Pope who possesses Foresight truly not have seen the current situation?”
“…….”
“If I were the Pope, I would have definitely given a hint to Lokia de Styx, who is responsible for the Boundary.”
Trust wavers.
Rastian Arken is rely a relationship ford by a deal.
Lokia de Styx is the teacher who saved his life.
His faith was shaking like a lamp in front of the wind.
“What I am about to tell you now is the hidden truth of the world.”
“…….”
“I only hope you can handle the weight of the truth.”
The story about Transcendents began from the White Duke's mouth.
****
“This is First Class Priest Colin. I am visiting to check the condition of the Boundary.”
Passing the sixth base, he reached the gray Barrier.
“…….”
He looked at the red Boundary beyond it.
He took out Lost Vane from his bosom and infused Divine Power.
There was no need to chant a formula.
Today, he just ca to greet the Boundary.
Poke.
He brought the blade of Lost Vane into contact with the hard gray Barrier.
He felt a gap being created where the blade touched.
The blizzard raging in the north grew fiercer.
His hand holding the Divine Object trembled as if contending with power.
How much ti passed like that?
Kiiiaaaaa-
A grotesque sound rang in his head.
A small gap, just enough for him to recognize, had been created in the Barrier.
“Is it irreversible now?”
Colin recognized that the Curse of Grotesquery had escaped through the gap he created.
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