The First Gate (2)
[Guests? This wasn’t made for welcoming such things.]
Whoooosh~!
As the flesh giant breathed heavily, the Conjoining Sorcerer’s voice flowed out.
The flesh giant raised its sticky hand and pointed toward its own head as it spoke.
[This is a chimera made using a Hedro Warlord as material. The result of capturing and modifying an individual that called itself a general.]
“......”
[After making a contract with a demon, it lost its intelligence and became a corrupted demonic beast, but it’s quite useful for detecting living organisms.]
Beyond the trembling eyes of the flesh, a cold will seemed to flash.
[Perfect for monitoring the gate like this. Even broken toys have their uses.]
“U-ugh......”
Every time the flesh giant wriggled its lips and squirmed, the soldiers collapsed around the gate trembled violently.
The eerie mana flowing out from the flesh fused with the gate was invading their bodies and trying to control them at will.
Was this level of aftermath caused merely by transmitting intent to communicate?
Realizing that the Conjoining Sorcerer’s power was far greater than expected, Lennok frowned.
‘This is troublesome......’
The incongruity Lennok sensed from the makeshift fortress had been the presence of the chimera arranged by the Conjoining Sorcerer.
The monster itself had been remodeled into the fortress guarding the gate city, imitating an inorganic structure.
Lennok had seen through the chimera with the Eye of Cheonhye, but conversely, the Conjoining Sorcerer had almost simultaneously recognized Lennok’s existence and contacted him.
‘Even using a ruined chimera as a sensor, the response speed is abnormal. What absurd sensitivity.’
The flesh giant guarding the gate was merely a type of chimera made using a monster from the Hedro Warlord force as material.
But what caught Lennok’s attention was the Conjoining Sorcerer’s sensitivity itself, which had recognized him through such a chimera.
A chimera modified to this extent should have had all its sensory organs ruined, yet the Conjoining Sorcerer’s reaction speed was abnormal.
That proved the Conjoining Sorcerer’s sensitivity itself was transcendent enough to completely ignore such penalties.
This was effectively the first time since Weian that Lennok had encountered someone with such exceptional sensitivity.
Perhaps it was precisely because he possessed that much talent that he had obtained the Conjoining Technique, said to be uniquely bizarre even within the Federation.
[I had just been wondering why the Lighthouse was casting its gaze upon the gate again—]
The flesh giant’s gleaming eyes slowly shifted toward the eye Lennok was holding.
[So it wasn’t you, but that. There’s no other relic carrying such pure energy.]
“M-Mage sir?”
The confused soldier turned toward them while trembling, but Lennok did not answer.
By now, flesh had swollen and boiled up around the bridge and gate, filling the surroundings.
Kudududeuk......!!
The sound of flesh bursting apart echoed alongside the Conjoining Sorcerer’s voice.
[The Celestial Seer’s authority...... the ability of the one who sees far away is truly troublesome. Isn’t that right?]
Whenever the giant fused into the flesh opened its mouth, a low male voice overlapped and reverberated.
[Long ago, I searched for ways to obtain that eye, but after learning it was a mystery bound to the flow of time, I had to give up.]
[A power that operates through wishes rather than principles cannot ultimately be defined within the category of sorcery.]
The Sorcerer whispered slowly toward the silent Lennok.
[Blessings that are not permitted to sorcerers like us, that exist outside the realm of learning and mastery.]
[I dislike them.]
“Do you intend to hold a discussion here about the definitions and concepts of sorcery?”
Lennok asked expressionlessly while staring at the flesh giant.
“Very fitting for a Federation sorcerer, but it doesn’t interest me. If you have something to say as the administrator, say it quickly…..Before the soldiers guarding the gate go insane.”
“U-ugh......!!”
The soldiers’ eyes were bloodshot as they clutched their heads and convulsed.
Drool streamed from their mouths while their bodies shook.
Their skin bubbled and boiled like foam, trying to transform into something grotesque.
The chimera positioned in the middle of the gate.
Merely by moving and releasing its thoughts, the soldiers could no longer endure and were beginning to lose their minds.
Likely because the intent emitted by the Conjoining Sorcerer, a trait-type sorcerer, was twisted to an extreme unlike that of ordinary sorcerers.
But even after hearing Lennok’s words, the Sorcerer did not answer.
Instead, he fell silent as if contemplating something.
Slowly moving the chimera closer, he merely narrowed the distance.
[There are very few sorcerers who are not part of the Eyes of the Blue and yet still possess a Lighthouse Keeper’s relic.]
The Sorcerer, gazing at Lennok through the pale eyes of the flesh giant, spoke.
[Yes. I know now who stands before me. You are Treadburn, the one who supposedly left the Eyes of the Blue.]
The flesh giant’s eyes twisted into a grotesquely elongated shape for an instant.
[How ironic. I had been waiting for a guest from the city where you rampaged......]
“Didn’t you just say this chimera wasn’t made to welcome guests?”
The Sorcerer did not respond to Lennok’s mockery.
He merely stared at Lennok for a long while, as if trying to peer into his very depths.
Had his outstanding sensitivity sensed some incongruity in the current situation?
Yet despite the Conjoining Sorcerer’s ominous reaction, Lennok maintained his composure.
Regardless of whether the Sorcerer could read Lennok’s thoughts due to his target-designation resistance ability, it was not easy to suspect Treadburn.
From an outsider’s perspective, Evan Martinez was a great mage who stood at the complete opposite pole from Bolt.
Unless someone knew about the existence and value of the [Ember], they could never even imagine such a connection between them.
As expected, the will reflected in the flesh giant’s eyes quickly became indistinct.
[There are still 48 hours remaining until all the scheduled surgeries are complete. After that, my main body will have some time.]
“......48 hours?”
The flesh giant, which had leaned its face close toward Lennok, slowly retreated.
[Indeed. Even if unrelated, someone who has also slain an Apostle is worth meeting at least once.]
[Come to my operating theater located at the gate entrance. Refusal will not be permitted.]
Kugugugung......!!
The flesh giant slowly crawled back up the gate, spreading its flesh throughout the walls.
Like a tree extending roots into the earth, the giant fused with the makeshift fortress embraced its own shoulders and tilted back its head.
[I shall see and judge you with my own eyes.]
Jjeojeojeok......!!
With those words, the flesh giant hardened completely and became one with the gate once more.
As the Conjoining Sorcerer’s intent flooding the surroundings disappeared, the soldiers convulsing on the ground gradually regained their senses.
“Cough, cough......!!”
“Uweeegh!!”
Some vomited, while others sat blankly on the ground, coughing weakly.
“W-What just...... happened?”
They seemed to be slowly processing the situation one by one, having barely returned before losing their sanity completely.
Had the Conjoining Sorcerer even calculated that timing, staring at Lennok until the final moment before delivering his message?
48 hours.
Surgery.
Main body.
When Lennok pieced together the words the Sorcerer had casually dropped, certain things became clear.
The reason the Conjoining Sorcerer, who had distinguished himself in the war against the cult, had suddenly taken charge of the gate and stationed himself at the frontlines.
And despite that, why he did not directly manage the gate himself, instead controlling chimeras to monitor the gate city.
“Damn it, what the hell just happened?!”
Bang!!
While Lennok was lost in thought, the gate burst open and dozens of soldiers rushed out from behind it.
“Bring stretchers and transport the injured to the infirmary!”
“Is anyone still able to talk?!”
“No good. Their eyes won’t focus.....!!”
They efficiently carried away the convulsing injured and rapidly cleaned up the ruined gate bridge.
As though this kind of incident had already happened several times before, they handled the scene with practiced familiarity.
“Sir Evan Martinez.”
As Lennok watched the commotion, a soldier who appeared to be a superior officer approached and saluted him.
Sweating nervously, the soldier carefully spoke.
“The commander of the Search Party headquarters is waiting for you. He should be able to explain...... what just happened here.”
“......Very well. I’ll go with you.”
Lennok nodded while quietly observing the soldier.
“There are things I wish to ask the commander regarding the state of the gate city.”
Lennok’s top priority was obtaining the veil fragments and returning to Vulcan without interference from the Conjoining Sorcerer.
To achieve that, his first step was meeting the Search Party commander and learning the situation within the gate city.
More importantly, there was the existence of the flesh giant fused into the gate—the chimera.
There was a high probability that more ‘works’ created by the Conjoining Sorcerer existed throughout the gate city.
If the commander had been delegated authority over the gate city by the Conjoining Sorcerer, he would surely know more about them.
Thinking that, Lennok followed behind the soldier who bowed deeply.
[Kuuuu......]
Upon the deserted gate bridge atop the wall, the eyelids of the flesh giant clutching its own body twitched convulsively.
***
“Pleasure to meet you, Sir Evan Martinez.”
A city built near the Central Front’s first gate.
The gate headquarters erected atop the gigantic walls surrounding and protecting the living district.
Inside an office located within the headquarters, a middle-aged man with a mustache politely extended his hand toward Lennok.
“My name is Ivanus Griffin, commander of the Gate Headquarters. It is an honor to meet an Apostle Slayer.”
When an attendant placed coffee and refreshments on the table, Ivanus bowed respectfully toward Lennok.
“I heard you assisted the Search Party during the battle against the Third Legion. As the commander representing the Search Party, I sincerely thank you. The Third Legion’s operations, particularly those led by the airborne assault forces, are quite aggressive, and the Search Party has suffered greatly because of them. Therefore, the headquarters wishes to provide suitable compensation—”
“There are several things I’d like to ask. Will you answer them?”
Interrupting Ivanus, Lennok stared at him expressionlessly.
Ivanus seemed to have anticipated such a response and nodded with slight tension.
“If it is something I am authorized to answer, then anything.”
“I heard the Order Federation manages the gate, but the ones guarding it were soldiers rather than Federation sorcerers.”
The moment Ivanus answered, Lennok immediately questioned him further.
“Considering the importance of the gate, I expected the Federation would also be monitoring it. Why is that?”
“The Conjoining Sorcerer, who currently serves as the gate administrator, is a completely different kind of person from the Lord of the Blaiver Magic Tower.”
Ivanus calmly folded his hands together as he answered.
“The Tower Lord sought to place the entire gate city under his control, but the Conjoining Sorcerer pays absolutely no attention to anywhere outside a few specific secret locations. Most major facilities outside the gate entrance have currently been entrusted to the management of the Search Party. Even the Order Federation refrains from interfering within the city out of respect for the Sorcerer’s wishes.”
So it had been the Conjoining Sorcerer’s own decision to entrust the gate city’s administrative work to the Search Party headquarters.
Clearly because he wished to shut himself away near the gate and focus solely on his surgeries and experiments.
“I heard the Conjoining Sorcerer was one of the powerful figures leading the war against the cult. Do you know why he ended up taking charge of the gate?”
“You saw the chimera created by the Sorcerer on your way here.”
Ivanus smiled bitterly.
“The Conjoining Sorcerer is an eccentric who modifies living beings into chimeras. And no matter how exceptional a sorcerer may be, such techniques require suitable ‘materials.’”
“......”
The first gate was one of the busiest transit points in the Central Front.
Had Ivanus concluded that the Conjoining Sorcerer took charge of the gate in order to acquire the materials he desired?
After considering that, Lennok spoke.
“I’m searching for a rare catalyst that can only be obtained around the gate. I’d like to know where businesses dealing in such catalysts are located.”
“There is an abandoned mining site on the outskirts of the gate city.”
Ivanus answered immediately.
“A black market opens periodically near the mining area, so I would recommend looking there.”
“A black market?”
Was the commander himself recommending businesses outside the headquarters’ supervision or management?
Reading the implication behind Lennok’s question, Ivanus smiled bitterly again.
“The entire gate city is not under the headquarters’ control. To be honest, more than half of the city is effectively an unregulated lawless zone.”
Bringing external forces into the gate had itself been unavoidable, since the Search Party lacked the manpower to manage the city alone.
But even if the Order Federation neglected its duties and responsibilities regarding management, there was no real way to stop them.
Especially since the Conjoining Sorcerer was one of the Grand Sorcerers occupying an unparalleled position within the Federation itself.
From the Search Party headquarters’ perspective, even making requests of him would likely be difficult.
Lennok nodded and rose from his seat.
“This is enough. I’ll be going now.”
“Yes. And one last thing......”
The commander seemed about to say something, but then shut his mouth with a complicated expression.
As though he had tried to explain something impossible to speak aloud, only to give up.
Ivanus bowed deeply.
“Once again, thank you for helping the Search Party. If you ever require assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Considering the Conjoining Sorcerer’s abilities and status, even this office might already be under his surveillance.
That was why Lennok understood that the commander could not speak freely.
He had roughly learned the situation inside the gate, so from here onward, Lennok would have to move personally.
Ivanus likewise said nothing more on the matter and instead called over the attendant standing nearby.
“Chesley, escort our guest outside the headquarters.”
“Understood. Please follow me.”
The ordinary-looking attendant bowed with a smile and began walking ahead.
After leaving the headquarters, Lennok followed Chesley along the outer wall.
‘A black market......?’
Since he had heard that one opened near the ore mining site, heading there first would be best.
But what Lennok sought was not gems or minerals, but fragments of the veil itself.
The problem was that he did not know whether veil fragments were even items traded within the gate city.
As Lennok walked behind Chesley while thinking that—
KWAHHHHNG!!!
A cross-shaped flash of light erupted explosively from the residential district beyond the walls.
“W-What......?!”
Just as the startled Chesley turned his gaze, black-red thorny vines wrapped themselves around the cross-shaped light.
A gloomy-looking man riding atop the thorned vines, and white-robed monks chasing after him.
At the sudden clash erupting in the middle of the city, soldiers burst out from all around the walls and immediately charged toward the scene.
“The Gravekeepers and the Cross Society have clashed! Everyone to your assigned positions!!”
“Sir Evan, my apologies!!”
Chesley hurriedly excused himself and followed the soldiers toward the battlefield.
Left alone in an instant, Lennok quietly observed the two transcendents fighting in the distance.
He had never heard of an organization called the Cross Society, but he knew about the Gravekeepers.
A group of dark mages who worshiped Fame like a god.
Had they really caused a disturbance within a gate managed by the Conjoining Sorcerer?
As Lennok stood atop the wall watching the battle—
Jjeojeok!
Sharp ice erupted from beneath the wall, and a white-haired young man urgently reached out toward Lennok.
“Evan Martinez, over here!!”
“......Ice brat?”
Lennok frowned after recognizing the face of Angel, the Fourth Boss of the cartel.
“What exactly are you doing right now?”
“What do you mean what?! I’m trying to smuggle you out of here!”
Angel shouted urgently.
“There’s no time. If we want to avoid the Sorcerer’s eyes, we need to move immediately, so follow me!!”
“......No.”
Silently looking between Angel and the distant battle, Lennok sat down upon the wall and spoke.
“I’ve already finished talking with the Sorcerer. Since things turned out this way, I may as well watch the fight before leaving.”
“What?”
Leaving behind the dumbfounded Angel, Lennok turned his gaze toward the battle unfolding in the distance.
“There’s a common incongruity in their sorcery. I need to confirm whether it’s due to the influence of the veil.”
Both combatants were Saint-tier ability users above Level 7.
Yet for people deliberately rampaging within the city, their momentum was strangely weak.
There was no issue with the manifestation of their power itself, but immediately after activation, their strength seemed forcibly suppressed.
Could it be that some factor existed within the gate city that suppressed the powers of transcendents?
After thinking that far, Lennok smirked and said to Angel,
“And besides, it’s been a long time since I watched someone else’s fight. I find it rather interesting.”
“......”
At a loss for words, Angel opened and closed his mouth before finally asking,
“You almost got killed by Van, and yet now I understand why the two of you still get along.”