Ch. 200

The Magic Tower's top floor. The Archmage's office.

In the slightly dim atmosphere of the office interior, the Archmage, Jenna Lewis, was sleeping on the sofa. She made groaning sounds as if having a nightmare.

"Gasp—!"

Shortly after, Jenna Lewis woke from sleep while sweating coldly. She breathed urgently. Then soon dry-washed her face.

'What I just saw was...'

Jenna closed her eyes for a moment and reviewed the scene she had seen in the dream. A war greater than any war that had occurred in this world until now was happening.

The beginning was a fight between humans, but it instantly transformed into battle between humans and monsters. And what remained at the end was... only destruction.

Someone might end it by just checking their fortune for the day, saying they had an unpleasant dream. But the problem was that for Archmage Jenna Lewis, dreams were prophetic of things that would really happen.

'...I can't just leave it like this.'

Jenna urgently rose from the sofa. Fortunately, in the dream prophesying destruction, there were those who weren't visible.

They were none other than herself and the Magic Tower's mages, and the 'Kyros Church' that was gaining fame throughout the continent recently.

'That I had this dream now is also because of that.'

Jenna intuited. She, who had lived as a Archmage for long years, realized why she had this dream now.

'...I and the Kyros Church Leader must participate in this war.'

To prevent the 'destruction' she had seen at the dream's end, she had to create variables that weren't in the prophetic dream.

'But is it possible...'

Jenna unconsciously bit her nails. At the end of the prophetic dream, the true enemy revealed itself to the world. It was none other than 'Diego Church.'

'I thought these guys' signs were strange from before, but...'

She didn't know they would openly encourage humanity's destruction. And another problem was whether they could really drive out the god Diego even if they created variables.

'...But there's no other proper method.'

There was no help for it. She had to either create two variables to prevent the war or block Diego Church.

'Only then can I protect Helena.'

Jenna made a firm resolution. Though she didn't like humans, she was determined to do anything to protect Helena.

Jenna's eyes shone with determination. Then she hurriedly prepared to go out.

***

Knock knock. With the knocking sound, my office door opened. I put down the documents I was reading and raised my head. Then two people in quite a funny appearance entered my view.

"Ugh, it's heavy."

Zain with luggage bags several times bigger than his body slung around him, and Troy with almost no luggage in comparison.

Zain entered the office groaning, and Troy had already entered and seated himself on the sofa.

"Zain, it seems like you have too much luggage."

Troy said to Zain with indifferent eyes. Then Zain glared at Troy and retorted.

"Your luggage seems too little. Master said so. That we don't know how long we'll have to stay there."

Zain, who entered with difficulty, thudded the luggage bags on the floor. I rose from my seat watching him sit on the sofa. And I moved to opposite the two and spoke.

"Right. Since it might take several months, you did well, Zain."

"Thank you—no, it really might take several months?"

Zain asked back in surprise. I nodded and sat down.

"Yes. So Troy, you should also pack more luggage."

"Understood. I'll pack more and bring it before departure."

After hearing Troy's answer, I took out items that would help the two from my inventory.

"These are defensive equipment prepared for any possible situation."

I handed the two several items I had acquired through past journeys and potions I had directly made.

"This is Underwater Breathing potion, this is Flame Resistance potion, this is Antidote, this is Curse Immunity potion, and these are..."

Packing and packing like that, the two's luggage increased considerably.

"Um, Master."

When I was about to take out more items, Zain carefully called me. He, who had just been happy when I first gave items, was now looking at me with somewhat troubled eyes.

"Why?"

"Are you really pushing us into a deadly place?"

"What."

"Otherwise, why would you give us this many items..."

Zain still seemed to find me unreliable. Though Troy also seemed to have no particular expression, he was a bit surprised.

"Well, I understand you're surprised, but... this is, so to speak."

I looked at the two alternately, then soon took a deep breath. And added.

"Because I won't be on your journey. Since I don't know when and where what might happen, I prepared like this. So that if you face danger, these items can protect you in my place."

Of course, nothing might happen to the two. But since variables of the hidden route existed everywhere, worry was natural.

"I hope such things won't happen, but... if war breaks out while you're staying in each kingdom, you need to safely escape from there. That's why I'm packing items appropriate for each situation."

"...Yes. Thank you, Master."

"Thanks, Church Leader."

At my serious words, Zain and Troy's expressions also became serious.

"So don't let your guard down either. Well, actually the possibility that you've become overwhelmingly stronger than before and barely use the items I gave is greater."

I smiled slightly while telling the two. Then Zain and Troy's hardened expressions loosened a bit.

"And if kingdom life becomes tiring and difficult, contact me anytime."

"Yes. Don't worry, Master."

"That won't happen, Church Leader."

"Right. Then please be sure to report the movements of Beron Kingdom and Hanlim Kingdom without omission. Even minor details. Especially the movements of each royal family even more so."

The two nodded vigorously at my request. After finishing the conversation like that, I left my office with the two. With the thought of seeing them off on their way.

We three wore robes and even put on hoods, then headed to the stable.

After Zain borrowed a horse to ride, I handed money pouches to each of Zain and Troy.

"M-Master. This is...?"

"Church Leader, this is too much."

Perhaps because of the amount of money I handed over, even Zain looked at me with surprised eyes.

"Living in another region will be difficult, so I packed plenty. So don't save it but stay in good lodgings and eat only good things. Especially Zain, don't think about saving it and covering with your own money."

"Of course! Don't worry!"

"Thanks, Church Leader."

After giving them money like that, I spoke to the two again.

"Getting information for me is good, but remember that the most important thing is your safety."

"Don't worry."

"Understood, Church Leader."

"Then you two take care. If you get hurt, I won't forgive you. Dying is even more so."

After finishing speaking, the two bowed to me in greeting.

"Then we'll be going!"

"I'll be going."

"Right, hurry and go."

I shared a hug with each of the two, then saw them off as they departed.

'...Please let nothing happen.'

***

After seeing the two off, when I returned to my office...

"Leviathan."

I could meet Terdius, who seemed to have been waiting for me in front of my office.

"Brother, what brings you here?"

I opened my office door while pulling back the hood I was wearing. And I gestured to Terdius to come inside.

"Let's go in first."

I completely removed my robe while entering the office. Then Terdius followed me in and closed the office door.

"Please sit, Brother."

After telling Terdius, I made cool fruit tea. And after handing tea to Terdius, I sat in the upper seat.

Having quenched my thirst that had built up from the hot weather, I downed the fragrant fruit tea in one go, then asked Terdius.

"What brings you to find me?"

Then Terdius took a sip of tea and answered.

"I came to report about Rawin."

"Ah. Right. That's right."

I had completely forgotten about that part because I was suddenly preparing for war.

"Leviathan, as you must have noticed... Rawin was stripped of Diego's power without any particular incident."

As Terdius said, I had vaguely noticed. The fact that Diego's power that had been in Rawin, which had been felt from Rovel until recently, had disappeared.

"Then that's fortunate."

"Right. After Rawin had his power taken back by Diego, I took him to the accommodation where we stay, as you said."

Rawin apparently chose a house to live in at the villa-type accommodation where Terdius and Ivan stayed. And he was currently holed up in his house enthusiastically doing interior decorating.

"I see. Thank you for moving instead of me."

"No. It was something I should naturally do."

Though his expression still looked indifferent, it seemed Terdius was trying to repay his debt to me in his own way.

"But looking at it, it seems Zain and Troy have gone on a far journey... where did they go?"

"I sent both of them to Beron Kingdom and Hanlim Kingdom."

"Did something happen?"

Terdius asked me with serious eyes. I pondered briefly how to tell him, then answered.

"For now, it's still a stage where we need to watch."

"Hmm, is that so? Does it perhaps have anything to do with Diego Church?"

"That part too, right now... it's difficult to tell you exactly. Since I sent Zain and Troy for investigation purposes."

"I see. Then if you need me for anything, tell me anytime."

Terdius told me he would help anytime with sleeves rolled up.

Ah, becoming a team with this guy makes it this reliable.

"Yes. I will."

***

I left the temple with a somewhat lighter heart. Because now I had received someone's invitation after a long time.

So I slowly moved my steps and headed there.

Knock knock.

When I knocked on the door, a clattering sound came from inside, then soon the entrance opened.

"Welcome, Leviathan."

And the one who greeted me was none other than Rawin. Rawin, who had been fixing the accommodation interior all day, had invited me saying he would show me around the house.

Well, since I had things to hear from him anyway, I stopped by the accommodation for that purpose too.

"Thanks for inviting me."

"What. Come in quickly."

Rawin greeted me with a bright smile. I entered the accommodation where Rawin would stay.

'Oho, this guy... has quite good sense.'

The accommodation interior was decorated in an atmosphere that matched Rawin quite well. Decorated with warm-colored furniture, just looking at it seemed like it could provide emotional stability.

'Come to think of it, Rawin seems mysteriously brighter.'

Rawin recently received power from Kyros after having his power taken back by Diego.

From then on, Rawin had more expressions and a healthy color returned to his face.

'As expected, Kyros is the best.'

I smiled contentedly while looking around. Then Rawin led me inside.

"This is the place I like most!"

Rawin said with triumphant eyes. What exactly was there for him to be like that?

And Rawin opened the door.

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