Celestial Spell: Model Garden (6)
The footage of the first gate that had been sent to Olivera’s personal laboratory.
It was not from the informant dispatched to the gate, but from the Conjoining Sorcerer who had captured him.
“Avesta Chapman……….”
Lennok muttered the name of the Conjoining Sorcerer and stared intently at the face of the man in surgical attire reflected in the video.
Had he not only noticed the existence of the informant, but even identified who was backing him?
[This male body you sent to the gate. He was more capable than I expected. It took me a bit of time to find him.]
Regardless of Lennok’s reaction, the Conjoining Sorcerer in the video spoke in a flat tone.
[After capturing and interrogating him, it turned out he didn’t even know he was an informant. So I had to rummage through his brain to extract the information.]
Clank, clank.
The sound of metal clashing came from off-screen, and the Conjoining Sorcerer’s voice continued.
[In particular, the Spell that transmits video using this optic nerve is extremely interesting. I analyzed it for quite a while, but couldn’t determine its system at all.]
[In the end, only after gouging out the eyeball and dissecting the central nerves connected to the brain did I realize this was a kind of suggestion caused by a Mystic Eye.]
The informant Olivera had sent to the gate had been granted the ability to record and transmit information from the gate as video through her Mystic Eye.
It was surprising enough that she could ‘grant’ such a Spell to an informant before sending him, but even more grotesque was the Conjoining Sorcerer’s bizarre skill in dissecting that informant to uncover the nature of the Spell itself.
[So I decided to do the best I could with this test subject as well.]
Zzzzt………..!!
Crack, thud!!
Every time the screen shook violently, the sound of something tearing and breaking rang out without pause.
Each time, the Conjoining Sorcerer frowned slightly and strained his neck as if exerting force somewhere.
[Stay still. Yes. That’s it.]
Squelch!!
At that moment, the camera suddenly spun around in place and moved along with the Conjoining Sorcerer’s hand. The Conjoining Sorcerer, who had stepped a few paces back from the operating table, turned the camera he was holding the other way. [Will it show well if I place the head here?]
The camera, which had been showing the ceiling of the operating room while lying on the table just moments ago, now moved forward and showed the operating table. And on top of it, a human whose arms and legs were restrained, trembling all over.
[Keeping it alive after severing the head took quite a bit of effort. If I killed it, the video recording wouldn’t work.]
“This can’t be……….”
Clarisse muttered blankly as she realized that the human tied to the operating table had no head.
Because she understood that this camera footage itself was being transmitted through a human’s eyes.
And that the head where those eyes had been was just cut off by the Conjoining Sorcerer.
[You seal the blood vessels at the severed surface, then connect different vessels together.]
The Conjoining Sorcerer’s indifferent voice echoed from behind the camera.
[Metabolic functions collapse and oxygen supply stops, contaminating the blood, but if you cleanse the vessels and supply oxygen and nutrients, you can maintain a somewhat living state.]
[It took several attempts to achieve this state. Do you see over there?]
When the camera turned toward the wall of the operating room, hundreds of human heads were densely hung across it.
Some were rotting corpses, while others still retained consciousness, convulsing as they stared this way.
A blood-soaked operating room that couldn’t be seen at all when the camera had been facing the ceiling.
In that chamber of death, only one doctor in surgical attire remained spotless without a single drop of blood.
[Do you understand why I’m making this video and sending it to you?]
The Conjoining Sorcerer, facing the human head in his hand, said.
[That’s right, it’s a warning. If you send this kind of useless lump of flesh one more time, I won’t let it slide.]
[If you have business at the gate, come in person. It’d be best if the Mystic Eye user herself came, but as long as you have an equally interesting Spell, I don’t care who it is.]
Behind the mask, the Conjoining Sorcerer’s eyes seemed to gleam with interest.
[Let’s talk about what you want. Understood?]
Crack!!
A sound like blood vessels snapping inside the head rang out, and the video ended right there.
Had he killed the test subject the moment he finished saying everything he wanted?
Lennok, who had been watching the video expressionlessly, belatedly turned his gaze toward Olivera.
“You already knew. Didn’t you?”
Olivera hadn’t even bothered to hide her displeasure from before opening the video with Lennok.
A reaction only possible if she had already guessed that the informant had been captured by the Conjoining Sorcerer and turned into a plaything.
[That’s not something I ‘knew.’]
Olivera scoffed.
[It would be more accurate to say it was something already determined the moment this video arrived.]
[He’s a madman who possesses uniquely twisted abilities even within the Federation. Whatever he did, there’s no need to take that unpleasantness at face value.]
Olivera waved her hand once and erased the screen.
[Likewise, there’s no reason to obediently comply with his demands either.]
“I agree that meeting the Conjoining Sorcerer is extremely dangerous.”
Clarisse asked.
“But if we don’t pass through the first gate, wouldn’t it be practically impossible to obtain the fragment of the curtain?”
“I’ll go.”
Lennok said calmly.
“As you said, we change roles since there hasn’t been any result yet. I’ll reach the gate first and assess the situation—”
[No. The situation has changed from before. The moment the Conjoining Sorcerer became aware of our existence, infiltrating the gate without being detected has become impossible.]
Olivera’s Mystic Eyes, gazing down at Lennok from beyond the veil, flashed intensely.
[If you or I head to the gate, we’ll inevitably have to prepare for a clash with the Conjoining Sorcerer. That would ultimately steer us away from our goal of heading to the Outer Fear City.]
Lennok, who had been about to say that they might not necessarily have to fight him, closed his mouth with a bitter smile.
Because it felt absurd to try persuading Olivera with an argument he himself didn’t believe.
Even from that brief encounter through the video, it was clear that the Conjoining Sorcerer was a lunatic far beyond imagination.
Considering that he was a specialist-type sorcerer, his power must have reached an immense level matching his twisted mind.
If the other side wanted battle, could they really avoid him and retrieve the fragment of the curtain safely?
No, could they even return safely from the gate without assuming combat in the first place?
“I’d like to go in your place, but unfortunately I……”
“The Conjoining Sorcerer is a monster who enjoys dissecting living humans for analysis.”
Lennok cut her off sharply.
“If he sees a Long-Lived, it wouldn’t be strange if he loses his mind and tries to dissect you.”
[If you wish for suicide, why not donate that body directly to my research facility? That would at least be far more useful.]
Clarisse sighed and fell silent, and Olivera sank into thought.
[But…… it was unexpected that he found the informant. I only planted a simple suggestion through the Mystic Eye, so he wouldn’t even be aware that he was acting as a spy.]
“That means the Conjoining Sorcerer’s ability to detect abnormalities has reached an exceptional level.”
“And we need someone skilled enough in stealth to infiltrate the gate, while also capable of escaping from the Conjoining Sorcerer.”
[Yes. At the very least, they must be able to avoid being discovered by him until they obtain the fragment of the curtain.]
"......"
“That’s quite a difficult condition. Honestly, even if we summon all our executives, it might be hard to find a suitable candidate.”
At those words, Lennok showed a thoughtful expression.
Someone who could approach the gate, obtain the fragment of the curtain without arousing suspicion from the Conjoining Sorcerer, and escape safely.
At the very least, someone who appeared to have no connection to Olivera or Lennok externally.
“…I see.”
Lennok lifted his gaze slightly and spoke.
“Clarisse. Move today’s lesson forward by a few hours. I’ll take it in the evening.”
[Have you thought of a method?]
“I’m not sure…… but there’s something I’d like to try.”
Saying that, Lennok immediately headed toward the door leading out of the laboratory.
“We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
Click!!
Lennok left without waiting for a reply.
A quiet silence settled in the space where the mage had departed, and a cold glint flashed beyond the veil.
Only Olivera and Clarisse remained in the laboratory, separated by the fluttering veil.
“You deliberately didn’t tell Bolt one thing just now.”
Clarisse turned her gaze toward Olivera and said.
“Why did you stop Bolt from heading to the gate?”
[That man once bore a great grudge against the master of the Blaiver Magic Tower.]
Olivera replied lazily.
[Since losing the first gate was caused by Bolt, it wouldn’t be strange for the tower master to act if he heads there.]
“No. I think there’s another reason.”
Despite Olivera’s biting words, Clarisse spoke calmly.
“You have something you want to use Bolt’s help for no matter what. Right? So you don’t want to take the risk of him heading into danger at this point?”
Clarisse said as if she understood.
“If it’s obvious even to the eyes of a Long-Lived like me, I can imagine how his talent must look to you.”
Even to Clarisse, who had seen countless monsters and geniuses, that mage’s ability had reached an unreal realm.
Even though he already existed beyond hierarchy, he seemed to be ascending to an even higher level.
He was clearly human when speaking face to face, yet the more time passed, the harder he became to understand.
Clarisse had already sensed the nature of that incomprehensibility.
“Bolt probably already knows as well. He’s asking despite knowing.”
Clarisse said toward the silent Olivera.
“What you want from Kundara is—”
[Your premise was plausible, but your conclusion is completely wrong.]
The rainbow-colored gaze flashed sharply.
[I do not deny talent that defies the flow of time. It is no different from beings like you Long-Lived.]
[I am acting precisely to avoid becoming obsessed with such qualities.]
***
After Clarisse finished teaching Celestial Spells and left to tour the tower with her guardian spirit.
Lennok remained alone in the underground chamber, standing with his eyes closed.
“…That’s roughly sorted out.”
Since Clarisse wouldn’t accompany him to Kundara, he would need to learn Celestial Spells from her to twist the curtain and find a path to Kundara.
Strictly speaking, leaving Kundara would be just as problematic as entering it.
At the very least, he needed to have an escape method prepared at all times to successfully complete this journey.
That was why Lennok had never even considered any alternative to personally mastering Celestial Spells.
Though he had learned the basics from Clarisse, the night was still long.
Within the day of leeway Olivera had given him, there were two more Spells he needed to confirm as quickly as possible.
Thinking that, Lennok took out two grimoires emitting intense magical power from his coat.
Wooooong……!!!
Just holding them caused powerful thoughts to spill out.
The value of what was written inside far surpassed any grimoires Lennok had ever seen.
Two forbidden arts he had borrowed from the Dark Library, Nox Biblio, with Naoiz Pen’s permission.
The [Black Divine Demonic Art (黑神魔功)], which replaced a microcosm by filling the body with darkness, and the [Hellfire Phantasmal Palace (煥狀窟)], which manipulates flames of the negative dimension.
“For immediate use, Black Divine Demonic Art would be more helpful, but……”
A cultivation method that Lennok could realistically practice, and whose abilities would provide practical assistance.
Though it felt closer to physical training than a spell, analyzing and theorizing it was not difficult for Lennok.
What mattered was whether its ability could meaningfully enhance Lennok’s body.
Yet even knowing that, Lennok set aside the Black Divine Demonic Art and opened the other grimoire first.
Hellfire Phantasmal Palace (煥狀窟).
A Spell that literally transforms and manipulates flames of the negative dimension, known as hellfire, into specific forms.
The book’s cover flickered as if engulfed in black-green flames.
Even the pages trembled as though they were flames themselves when turned.
Lennok’s expression grew more serious as he quickly read through its contents.
“As expected……”
Hellfire—another term for flames of the negative dimension.
In other words, a kind of [spark] that could not normally be found in this world.
A power that materializes and manipulates flames that do not exist in this world, shaping them into weapons.
If he mastered this Spell, Lennok’s combat style would undoubtedly become far more versatile and powerful.
But even knowing that, Lennok closed the grimoire without learning it.
Because the one who needed to learn this Spell now was not Bolt, and the place it should be used was not here.
He had thought this since first seeing it in the Dark Library—its value was not merely in power.
What mattered was justification.
A justification that could convince everyone else, not Lennok himself.
***
“It seems you’ve reached a conclusion.”
The day after watching the Conjoining Sorcerer’s video.
Lennok stood in the cartel headquarters office with Clarisse.
Because Lennok had insisted on meeting Olivera in a place where phone communication was possible.
“So, can you now explain what method you had in mind?”
“If the Conjoining Sorcerer truly has that kind of nature, sending another informant would have little chance of retrieving the fragment of the curtain.”
Lennok said as he lifted his phone.
“Even if we adjust the plan through real-time communication, it would take considerable time to exchange messages through the self-storm. Either way, it’s a waste of time.”
[So you did have something in mind.]
Olivera’s eyes gleamed strangely from beyond the veil.
[What are you planning?]
“There’s someone I know who has the capabilities suited for this task.”
Lennok tapped his phone with one hand while carefully checking the calendar.
“I’ll assign this job to that person.”
[……A wizard strong enough for you to entrust such an important matter to.]
Olivera spoke as if she found it hard to believe.
[It’s already hard to believe you’d entrust work to another wizard, and now you’re saying someone of that level is idly wasting time?]
To Olivera, Lennok was a mad mage who insisted on handling everything himself.
Though he respected others emotionally, he never relied on them in crucial matters.
For such a great mage to not only entrust this task to another, but also guarantee their ability.
Even Olivera, who had little interest in Lennok’s relationships, couldn’t help but be intrigued.
“I’m not entrusting it out of trust. On the contrary, since they’re not an ally, it’s easier to make a deal in matters like this.”
Lennok smiled faintly and flicked his phone.
“More importantly, the mage I’m about to contact is someone you know as well.”
[…A wizard I know.]
“I’ve been thinking about this recently, after going through Nox Biblio and the studio.”
Lennok put his phone away.
“There are quite a few traces left in this city, which bothers me a bit, but it should be enough to reach the gate without arousing suspicion from the Conjoining Sorcerer.”
[Someone both you and I know, who wouldn’t arouse his suspicion?]
Olivera asked coldly.
[How could that even be possible?]
“It’s simple.”
Lennok turned toward the two and smiled.
“He wouldn’t suspect someone who already fought me once, lost, and survived, to be on my side.”
A mage who had once been defeated by Bolt and still lived.
Though Lennok had countless achievements, not many fit that condition.
No—strictly speaking, that description practically pointed to a specific person.
As Olivera and Clarisse pondered his words, their expressions changed at the same time.
[…You don’t mean?]
“You’ve lost your mind. I didn’t think you’d come up with something this absurd.”
The duel between two great mages that shook an entire megacity.
A wizard whose ability Lennok guaranteed, and whose face Olivera knew.
“I knew you were preparing something when you said you needed time, but…”
Clarisse muttered in disbelief.
“You’re planning to entrust this to that man?”
***
He opened his eyes.
“I’ve arrived.”
As he rose and rolled his shoulders, his neck and arms felt stiff.
He awkwardly adjusted his chin and clothes as he stood up.
“To think I’d come here first in this identity……”
How ironic.
Of the three identities Lennok possessed, the one once bound by the strictest duty had now become the most free in this way.
The name of the flame mage who once had to manage his reputation alongside the Eyes of the Blue was now released from all constraints.
Not everything Lennok planned had gone as intended, yet each time such unexpected coincidences led to new opportunities, he felt a strange sensation.
Click—!
Lennok took out a thick cigar instead of a cigarette, placed it in his mouth, and began to walk.
“Let’s go.”
An 8th-level flame mage and inheritor of Jindun’s barrier Spells.
Former Watcher of the Eyes of the Blue. Slayer of Apostle Amrita Praubel of the Ten Apostles of the Order.
Treadburn Evan Martinez.
Arrival at the Central Front.