WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

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Chapter 145: The Gap

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Elbridge looked at Sonia. Their gazes met.

When Elbridge subtly glanced toward the Master of the Central Magic Tower, Sonia nodded.

'Did she understand? As expected, she's quick on the uptake.'

At that moment, Rombel rose while clutching his waist.

"Hngh—"

Then he muttered,

"Fuck."

Despite having been sent flying so violently, he didn't seem seriously injured.

A dwarf's greatest strength as a warrior wasn't physical power, but toughness. Dwarves were thick and stocky, so ordinary blows rarely resulted in serious injuries.

After groaning for a moment, Rombel shouted at the Master of the Central Magic Tower.

"Master of the Central Magic Tower. Your words sound fancy, but in the end, you just want to turn the world into a complete mess, don't you? Not just any mess, either. One so bad even the Chief God would recoil from it!"

The Master of the Central Magic Tower shook his head.

"That isn't the result I want. It's only a process along the way."

"Did you think I'd praise you for saying that? Process or result, it's all equally shitty."

"I'd prefer it if you focused on the value of the result."

Ptui.

Rombel spat bloodied saliva onto the ground, then snapped at the Master of the Central Magic Tower again.

"Even if everything goes perfectly according to your grand plan, there's no guarantee I'll get to live in a better world. But I'd definitely have to live through the chaos first."

"How selfish. Are you saying you'll refuse to make sacrifices for future generations?"

"Selfish, my ass. I'm not the selfish one. Anyone who agrees with a plan like that is insane."

"No. It is selfish behavior. You've lived a comfortable life thanks to the sacrifices and devotion of your ancestors, yet you're saying you can't accept even a small sacrifice."

Rombel pointed his axe at the Master of the Central Magic Tower.

"This bastard really doesn't understand a word I'm saying. Seriously..."

Rombel wasn't the only one frustrated. The Master of the Central Magic Tower looked equally frustrated.

"It's a very simple calculation. Weigh what must be given up through sacrifice against what can be gained. The sacrifice is limited to this one generation, but the benefits will continue forever. Just as one generation's sacrifice long ago allowed everyone to live decent lives until now."

This time, Elbridge spoke to the Master of the Central Magic Tower.

"Master of the Central Magic Tower. Have you ever considered that there might be too many victims?"

"Of course there will be many victims. But compared to benefits that will last forever, the weight of one generation's sacrifice is lighter than a feather. It's the difference between the infinite and the finite."

"I don't think the people who'll have to make those sacrifices would agree with you."

"No. Contrary to what you think, people are accustomed to sacrifice. Think of parents who sacrifice their own lives to raise their children."

It was deranged logic, but it wasn't entirely without reason if one could judge based not on individuals but on the world, and not on the present but on a timeline that stretched into eternity.

Even so, some claims were hard to accept regardless of their logic.

Marcus spoke next.

"If you're going to talk about sacrifice, shouldn't you be the first one to make it? You're not planning to force everyone else to sacrifice while you stand back with your hands behind your back, are you?"

"Of course I'll sacrifice too. Once everything is finished, I'm prepared to accept the greatest sin and suffer for eternity."

Elbridge frowned at the Master of the Central Magic Tower's calm answer.

Someone who stepped back while forcing others to sacrifice was dangerous.

But someone prepared to sacrifice themselves was even more dangerous.

People like that forced sacrifices on others without hesitation, just as they had accepted sacrifice themselves.

Besides, the sacrifice the Master of the Central Magic Tower spoke of didn't seem likely to end at any ordinary level.

The sacrifice he described would clearly be more painful than even the chaotic era over two hundred years ago. The Chief God hadn't intervened in the problems of the mortal world even when demons ran rampant back then.

To draw out the Chief God's intervention, chaos far beyond that era would be necessary.

'Then releasing demons isn't the entirety of the Master of the Central Magic Tower's plan...'

Whatever he was planning, the Master of the Central Magic Tower had to be eliminated here.

Elbridge gave Sonia another signal. Sonia quietly raised her thumb and nodded.

This time, Elbridge secretly signaled Marcus.

Quick-witted as ever, Marcus understood his intention and spoke to the Master of the Central Magic Tower.

"I'm not a smart man, but I can tell your story makes a fair bit of sense. Still, there's something I'd like to ask at this point."

It was the first favorable, receptive response to the Master of the Central Magic Tower's argument. His expression brightened noticeably.

"Ask whatever you wish."

"If you made a plan like this, there must be something you want to change. What part of the world do you think is incomplete enough that you want the Chief God to intervene?"

"That is..."

Just as the Master of the Central Magic Tower was about to begin explaining, Elbridge, who had secretly approached from behind, thrust out his sword.

Only then did the Master of the Central Magic Tower notice Elbridge's approach and turn around.

Yet he didn't look particularly flustered. Five layers of magical barriers stood between him and Elbridge.

There was no way Elbridge could break through five barriers when even one was difficult to penetrate.

At that moment, Sonia struck the ground with her staff.

Boom!

At the same time, the barriers surrounding the Master of the Central Magic Tower began to unravel, strand by strand.

'It worked!'

Sonia's magical ability was exceptional for her age, but it wasn't enough to contend with the Master of the Central Magic Tower. Her ability barely approached the Master's level.

Magic, though, was similar to a complicated knot.

Even a less skilled mage could gradually read its structure and undo it if given enough time.

While Elbridge and Rombel bought time by talking to the Master of the Central Magic Tower, Sonia carefully analyzed his magic without letting him notice.

She didn't recklessly undo the knot. The moment it began to unravel, he would notice.

Taking care not to loosen the knot formed from mana, Sonia grasped the loose end of the knot the Master of the Central Magic Tower had created.

Then, just as Elbridge thrust out his sword.

'Now!'

Sonia pulled hard on a single strand protruding from the knot's end.

With that one motion, the complex knot created by the Master of the Central Magic Tower came undone.

Sonia had never completed calculations this complex, especially while pressed for time.

Her brain felt as though it would melt from the pain. Her eyes turned bloodshot, and blood streamed from her nose.

Yet Sonia's face was filled not with pain, but exhilaration.

She remembered her father, Viscount Dickens, who had died transformed into a grotesque mass of flesh. If she could avenge him...

One layer, then two, then three.

As the sturdy barriers unraveled in an instant and Elbridge's sword closed in, alarm appeared on the Master of the Central Magic Tower's face as well.

Bang!

But Elbridge's sword was stopped with a thunderous crash.

Sonia had removed three layers of barriers, but she hadn't been able to dispel the final two.

The Master of the Central Magic Tower breathed a sigh of relief.

"You didn't properly understand the interference and distortion of mana. Still, the scope of your perception and judgment has expanded considerably. This is an achievement beyond imagination... It seems you've had many experiences in the meantime."

Sonia stared at the Master of the Central Magic Tower with blazing eyes.

But he seemed to have little interest in Sonia and turned to Elbridge and Rombel instead.

"Elbridge, Rombel. There is much you can accomplish. Why not cooperate with me?"

"Cooperate in increasing people's sacrifices? That will never happen."

"No. With your cooperation, the sacrifices the people of this world must make can be reduced. And if you're reluctant to sacrifice yourselves... I'll make sure sacrifice passes you by."

The Master of the Central Magic Tower appeared to believe he was offering reasonable terms. Spreading both arms, he said,

"I hope you'll set aside your prejudice and think about it. This is the path for the world."

After saying that, the Master of the Central Magic Tower struck the ground with his staff.

Boom.

Six concentric circles centered on the Master of the Central Magic Tower rose from the ground, pouring out a radiant golden light. Geometric patterns and characters filled the spaces between them.

"Think it over. We'll meet again soon."

Hummm.

The patterns rose into the air and took on a three-dimensional form as the light grew even brighter.

The next moment, the Master of the Central Magic Tower vanished.

Rombel looked startled.

"Spatial teleportation?"

Elbridge and Rombel knew little about magic. But they did know that spatial teleportation was an extremely difficult spell. Even Elbridge, who had seen many renowned mages, could count the times he'd witnessed it on one hand.

What was more, the Master of the Central Magic Tower had cast spatial teleportation on the spot without preparing beforehand. It gave Elbridge and Rombel some idea of just how extraordinary the Master of the Central Magic Tower's ability was.

'So this is what a mage who once ascended to heaven is capable of...'

Once the Master of the Central Magic Tower disappeared, the veil he had cast over the area faded as well.

Elbridge could feel the Goddess of the Rusted Shield's presence again.

The Goddess of the Rusted Shield urgently sent an oracle.

- Elbridge. What happened?

"I'll explain shortly."

The situation wasn't over yet.

The three-dimensional magic circle that had appeared when the Master of the Central Magic Tower used spatial teleportation still remained, though only faintly.

"Fuck, you think you can run?"

Though blood continued to stream from her mouth and nose, Sonia wildly swung her staff, her eyes burning with madness. The edge of the golden magic circle floating in the air caught on the tip of her staff.

"Elbridge!"

Elbridge immediately searched his pocket and took out a silver coin.

The coin bore the profile of Niserath, the half-elf he had met in the south.

Niserath had given it to Elbridge, telling him to call if he ever needed help.

Niserath was one of the most capable mages Elbridge knew.

'Niserath might be able to find a way.'

Elbridge flicked the silver coin with his right hand.

Ting!

The silver coin rang clearly as it flew into the air.

But Niserath's coin didn't fall to the ground like an ordinary silver coin. It hovered in the air, spinning faster and faster.

Then, a strange gap appeared in the air, and Niserath suddenly emerged from it and caught the coin.

Niserath wore their usual cheerful smile.

"Hello, friends! Did you call for me?"

"There's no time. Right now-"

"Calm down first, friend!"

Niserath half-closed their eyes and read the flow of mana filling the area.

Before long, Niserath found the edge of the magic circle caught on Sonia's staff.

As though they understood the entire situation, Niserath crouched in front of Sonia and stroked her head.

"The young lady performed beyond her capabilities. We just need to follow the trail, right?"

"Whatever it is, hurry!"

"Just trust me!"

Niserath grabbed the edge of the magic circle caught on Sonia's staff.

Srrrk.

Just as when Niserath had appeared earlier, a strange gap opened in the air. The difference was that the edge of the magic circle led into that gap.

"Be right back!"

With that lighthearted cry, Niserath disappeared into the gap in space.

Then silence fell.

Thud.

Perhaps too much had happened in too short a time.

Sonia's legs seemed to give out, and she collapsed where she stood.

Anyone could see that she wasn't in a normal state. Blood still streamed from her nose and mouth, and her eyes were painfully bloodshot. When Sonia wiped beneath her nose with her sleeve, it became stained red.

Huff, huff.

Sonia caught her breath as she sat there, then suddenly screamed.

"Fuck...! When did he?"

"Why? What's wrong?"

Sonia's face went pale.

"...The Master of the Central Magic Tower took Starwave's sealing tool."

Footnotes:

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