Free Web NovelChapter 281: Chapter 269: Portal to Another Space
Just as Roland and Graham were speaking on the training grounds, the two Wizards they had mentioned were in a room, having a secret conversation of their own.
"It seems..."
The thin, elderly man in a plain robe stood by the window, gazing down at the bustling crowd below as he slowly began to speak.
"Otto, the powers that be in the River Domain aren’t going to give up on that Demon Well."
"I already told you, Erwin."
The young man, Otto, swirled the wine glass in his hand and smacked his lips.
"No one can resist Magic Elements in such a pure form. Besides..."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"That is very likely the core of the Magic City Jiles. If someone could control it and study it, they would control the legacy of an ancient Demon City. Tsk, tsk... I don’t think anyone could resist a temptation like that."
"You’re right..."
Erwin sighed softly.
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
"Simple. We stick to the plan we agreed on before we came."
Otto nonchalantly scratched the unkempt stubble on his chin.
"Since they’re not interested in negotiating, we’ll use force to make that philistine merchant submit."
"But just so you know, it won’t belong to just the two of us then. We’ll have to give the others a cut."
In just a few words, the two of them finalized a plan that could start a war.
Their tone was as casual as if they were discussing what to have for dinner.
As his words faded, Erwin took a light sip of his tea and asked in a low voice.
"Otto, did you notice that young man who came into the room earlier?"
"Of course..."
Otto drained the wine from his flagon, wiped the dribble from his chin, and spoke with his voice laced with surprise.
"A ’Novice’ who’s never been trained, yet his Spiritual Power is that strong. Barring any accidents, if he diligently practices a Meditation Technique for a few years, becoming a Wizard Apprentice should be no problem."
"Yes..."
Erwin murmured in agreement, then made a suggestion.
"How about... we recruit him into the High Tower? Lady Lola happens to be looking for a Herbal Apprentice."
"Ha!"
Otto scoffed and looked up at his companion.
"You really have a twisted sense of humor. If I recall correctly, Lady Lola has recruited no fewer than fifty Herbal Apprentices since last year, right? And what was the result?"
A knowing smirk played on the young Wizard’s lips.
"They all ended up as fertilizer for her precious plants."
"So what?"
Unfazed by Otto’s jibe, Erwin replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"For a young man, the allure of becoming a Wizard is surely greater than that of being a short-lived Knight, wouldn’t you say?"
"Suit yourself."
Otto stretched and leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, satisfied sigh as he felt the soft touch against his back.
"As expected of a kingdom built on trade. Life here is so extravagant. It’s a night-and-day difference compared to the beds in the High Tower, which are as hard as marble slabs."
"You..."
Watching the young Wizard’s indolent display, Erwin sighed in resignation and turned his gaze back to the bustling street.
His gaze, however, unfocused slightly, the young man’s resolute face surfacing in his mind.
For some reason, he had a feeling that the Spiritual Power surging within that young man was far from as weak as they had observed.
’Could it be...’
’Did he use some kind of Secret Technique to hide his aura?’
But as soon as the thought arose, he cast it aside.
’After all...’
’How could a ’Novice’ who had never undergone Spiritual Power training possibly possess such strength?’
The room fell into a brief silence.
A moment later, the sound of soft snores could be heard.
Erwin remained standing by the window, but his gaze was no longer focused on the street below.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the crowded masses, soar over the towering buildings, and stab like an invisible arrow straight toward the heart of the Royal Capital.
"Such pure Magic Elements... If I could make them my own..."
He murmured, the twilight glow carried on a salty sea breeze brushing against his face, illuminating the unconcealed fervor in his eyes.
......
......
Just as the sun was about to sink below the horizon and night was about to fall, Roland slowly stepped out of the gates of the Knight Academy.
Recalling Graham’s evasive gaze and complicated tone when they discussed the Demon Well, Roland, despite having no evidence, keenly sensed that something was amiss.
It seemed that an unknown conflict had arisen between Graham and Derek, the head of the Merchant Faction and the current de facto ruler of the River Domain.
’Forget it...’ he thought to himself. ’It seems the River Domain has long been aware of the Demon Well and has countermeasures in place. Perhaps...’
Remembering the High Elf he had met once upon first arriving in the River Domain, Roland let out a long sigh of relief.
’That High Elf named Morning Star must be the one Derek specially invited to solve the problem of the Demon Well.’
Temporarily pushing aside his doubts, Roland started walking home.
Graham’s words, entrusting him to lead a team to the Golden Valley Kingdom’s Knight Academy for an exchange program, slowly surfaced in his mind.
’I wonder how that guy Dalko is doing at the Knight Academy...’
At the thought of reuniting with his long-separated friend, the corners of Roland’s mouth couldn’t help but curve slightly upward.
The journey home was uneventful.
Lying on his soft bed, Roland began to plan his time.
’There’s still nearly a month until I leave for the Golden Valley Kingdom.’
’I need to use this free time to master the Combat Skill [Charge] as quickly as possible. I should also find an excuse to leave the Royal Capital, find a secluded spot, and explore the secrets of the Secret Imprisonment Dice. Also...’
At this thought, Roland took the ancient Sheepskin Scroll from the pouch on the table and began to study it again by the dim candlelight.
’Graham’s body transformed when he used the Secret Technique. It must be because the ’granted’ Giant Dragon Bloodline in his body hasn’t fully fused with his own. So... if I successfully fuse with the Giant Dragon Bloodline, become a [Dragon Descendant], and then use this Secret Technique...’
A sharp glint flashed in Roland’s eyes.
’Could I avoid the same kind of transformation and physical damage that Graham suffered?’
With this hypothesis in mind, Roland carefully studied the contents of the Scroll until sleepiness overcame him and he fell into a deep slumber.
The next morning, after making an excuse to Galvis and the others, he left the Royal Capital alone on horseback.
"Alright, alright, Black Wind, I know you’re excited..."
On a forest path, feeling the restlessness of the old partner beneath him that he hadn’t galloped with in a long time, Roland resignedly stroked its glossy mane.
After calming it for a moment, he squeezed his heels into the horse’s sides and galloped off into the distance.
The territory of the River Domain was not large to begin with, and with swamps and wetlands spread throughout, the areas suitable for human habitation were even more limited.
Previously, to fulfill the requirements to become an [Apprentice Knight], Roland had traveled over nearly every inch of the Kingdom’s land, and its mountains and terrain were already deeply etched in his mind.
Therefore, after a simple check of his bearings, he headed toward an extremely remote location he remembered.
After arriving at his destination and clearing out a few Demons that were lairing there, Roland cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Once he confirmed it was safe, he stepped into a dark cave.
The next moment, a foul stench, a mix of rot and Demon droppings, assaulted him.
He waved his hand futilely to disperse the odor before taking the Secret Imprisonment Dice from his waist pouch.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Accompanied by crisp mechanical clicks, the Secret Imprisonment Dice opened.
And the instant it opened, Roland immediately activated [Shadow Veil], perfectly concealing the dissipating Energy fluctuations.
Next, he gathered a thread of Spiritual Power and cautiously probed the inside of the die.
HUMMM!
Following a low hum, the once-dim Runes on the surface of the Secret Imprisonment Dice suddenly lit up.
These Runes flowed rapidly, as if coming alive, outlining a geometric structure on the die’s surface so complex it was dizzying.
Immediately after, the space directly in front of the die violently collapsed inward and twisted.
A long, narrow spatial rift, its edges flickering with unstable electric arcs, appeared out of thin air like a dark scar that had been violently torn open.
The inside of the rift was not pure darkness, but a roiling surge of chaotic, mesmerizing, colorful light, like an overturned paint bucket being stirred in the void.
The rift rapidly expanded sideways, flattening in an instant to form a constantly fluctuating, man-high curtain of light.
The surface of the light curtain was like liquid mercury, or perhaps a solidified nebula, emitting cold, pure fluctuations of spatial Energy.
It hung silently in the cave’s air, a portal to an unknown space.
