Book Eater

Chapter 353: Overload (3)

The difficulty of moving through space varied depending on the distance between the sky and the ground. Senior magicians could easily travel over a village or a territory, and elder magicians could travel from Manavil to Meltor’s borders without much issue.

However, this was a different story altogether. It took more than seven Circles’ worth of magic power to travel to another kingdom. It also wasn’t easy to control magic power beyond their capabilities even if the magician did their best to prepare. Even this era’s space magic genius, Orta, would be exhausted if he traveled from kingdom to kingdom.

... A success. Is it really this easy?

Theo had realized that his space transfer would be a complete success the moment he spoke in the southern swamp. It didn’t feel like a normal teleport as he almost seemed to slip through space, despite the fact that he was teleporting an enormous distance.

Transcendence was the name applied to those who could intervene in time or space beyond the limitations of the material world’s lifeforms. There was no relation to aptitude or proficiency in space magic. To put it simply, his perspective had been changed.

If Orta’s magic eyes could dissect an area of space in sight, then Theo could close his eyes and simply know the spatial coordinates of anywhere in the world and the way to get there. Maybe it had something to do with Clipeus’ control authority.

No, it isn’t just that. Abracadabra—if this means what I think...!

It sounded like a chant, but Theo thought the phrase implied its own accomplishment.

ABRACADABRA (It will be done as you say). At first glance, it looked no different from an Order. However, if he dug deeper, he could see the difference. An Order forced the phenomenon of the world to follow its will, whereas Theo’s enlightenment caused the world to express his will.

A fireball, a ball of fire, a flame sphere or just a pop of flames—the name didn’t matter. He only needed to think about what he wanted and the spell would be at his fingertips. He still needed to pay attention to ultimate spells, but he had also just seen Simon Magus not utter a single word of a chant despite using a spell like Dimensional Banish.

Perhaps it was because Simon had reached the end of the road where he could use magic just by thinking.

“Hah.”

Theo couldn’t help chuckling. As soon as he got caught up in the almighty feeling of having the world under his feet, he realized the sky above him. Theo didn’t have an inferiority complex. He was the greatest magician of this era, but he was amazed by the mountains he had yet to climb.

Theo opened his eyes and saw Aquilo inside his familiar laboratory.

She greeted, “Oh, you woke up?”

He must have spent a while in enlightenment. He looked around for Randolph and Titania, but realized they must have headed for the bath and lounge respectively. They had tried to wait for him to wake up but had no patience for it. Theo gave Aquilo a strange look.

Aquilo laughed and grabbed his right arm. “What? Are you surprised that I waited?”

“Honestly?”

Aquilo pouted. “This is too much. I didn’t touch any of the interesting things while waiting. Don’t I deserve some praise?”

Theo retorted. “I think it’s just natural courtesy to not touch...”

After all, she wasn’t a kid with junk food. Fortunately, those words hadn’t flowed out of Theo’s mouth. Over a period of five years, his experiences had helped him automatically filter out what he could or could not say.

Thus, he laughed lightly. “Well, thank you for waiting. You are very kind.”

“K-Kind? Me...?” Aquilo, the evil dragon of the sea, gaped at him.

She had ruined harbors, led pirates and plundered all types of treasures depending on her mood. The people of the sea used to say that people would stop fishing and children would stop crying if they heard her name. Yet Theo said Aquilo, the evil dragon, was kind? Aquilo was paralyzed by the unexpected counterattack

She only came to her senses as Theo walked across the room and looked over his shoulder. “So, are you going to keep following me?”

“Ah, yes,” Aquilo replied one beat later. “Didn’t the lord say to be well? I don’t know what it means.”

Aquilo smiled shamelessly from behind him.

Huhu, I actually know. Isn’t this going to work better?

There was no doubt that Aquilo had enjoyed many years of pleasure. The lord had spoken without any great expectations, but Theodore Miller was prey she had personally sought. If things went well and it developed into a relationship... It would be fine to have one child.

The world had just turned into one where it would be difficult for dragons to bear children, but transcendence could overcome this limitation. The desire that could no longer be suppressed wriggled in Aquilo’s body.

It seems that he has a good relationship with the fireball... Since ancient times, males have never been able to be satiated with just one person.

It was the same for a virtuous hero. She held his arm tightly and deliberately leaned in. Aquilo had enough experience in the methods to defeat a man to write a book. Theo had a hunch that Aquilo was up to something and didn’t respond.

... Sigh, she doesn’t have any malice, but I’m tired of dealing with her.

He would rather have an opponent he could hit. When it came to seduction techniques, Aquilo was a type of opponent that Theo couldn’t handle. Unless he quickly pulled Veronica to his side, this would continue indefinitely.

At that moment…

[Welcome back, Master.]

Gladio greeted Theo politely once he crossed the threshold of the control room. Aquilo glanced over Gladio with interested eyes, then noticed it wasn’t a living creature and turned away.

However, Theo asked him darkly, “Gladio, why are you in the control room?”

[There is something I need to urgently report to Master.]

“I see. What is the importance?”

[Grade 2.]

Theo stiffened. It was Grade 2, which could end up changing to Grade 1. This meant it was a national disaster or worse. What had happened in the short time he had been to the swamp? He had come back faster than expected, but it was almost like someone had been aiming for Theo’s absence. Aquilo sat down as Theo listened to the report.

[It was just after Master left. The door connected to the East Continent lit up with a red warning light, and support troops were urgently requested. In Master’s absence, I notified the heads of the other towers of the emergency according to my behavior manual. I sent troops to the East Continent with their help.]

“A wise decision. Which of the three did you send?”

There were three people available, since Paragranum couldn’t leave the capital. Only Veronica, Orta, and Sylvia could cope with a red signal. The red signal corresponding to the highest level of risk was something only a master could deal with.

Gladio answered Theo’s question immediately.

[Red Tower Master Veronica and Blue Tower Master Sylvia.]

In that case, Orta still remained. Theo thought about the situation quickly and turned away. He felt sorry for Aquilo, but there was no time for a break.

“Give me the coordinates. I will meet the White Tower Master.”

He found Orta within seconds in the central tower. Then Theo did what was necessary.

***

Following the peaceful reconciliation of the Northern Great War, the people of Meltor were able to achieve prosperity faster than in any other time in their history. Facilities buried in the capital were quickly distributed throughout the kingdom, and new places to live quickly appeared in war-damaged places.

One of the most prominent figures behind this prosperity was White Tower Master Orta.

... Please come back soon, Chief Tower Master.

Orta had been very confused when he had first received the message. He knew that the central tower had a space gate leading to other parts of the continent, but he had never thought it was possible to move to the East Continent. He wanted to study and understand the principles. However, the man who introduced himself as the manager of the central tower, a man who resembled the 7th Sword, had summoned the three tower masters because of an emergency.

- There has been a big uproar near the space gate on the East Continent. Master has designated the red signal as the highest risk. Sending non-masters is meaningless. It is within your freedom to accept my request. What would you like to do?

There was no emotion in Gladio’s voice, but his dull tone touched Veronica, who had been bored. The incident was of the highest risk level according to Theo’s system, and she wanted to be helpful to him. The problem was the number of people who could cross over with Veronica.

- I will accompany the Red Tower Master.

Sylvia stepped forward before Orta, who was still deliberating. He couldn’t stop her, since she was a fellow Tower Master. Moreover, Orta was the one who could most easily handle the space gate. In the end, Veronica and Sylvia left, while Orta remained in the capital.

He looked impatiently at the space gate where contact had been lost.

“Sigh...”

But right when Orta let out a long sigh…

Flash!?

Orta stared at the man who appeared in front of him in astonishment.

This was Meltor, the kingdom of magic. There were numerous measures to prevent space transfers in the capital, and especially in the royal palace and the magic tower. Yet, someone had just cleanly bypassed all of them. It was the strongest magician on this continent, Theodore Miller.

“C-Chief Tower Master!” Orta immediately recognized Theo and rose to greet him.

Orta had desperately wanted Theo’s return, but more than that, his magician’s instincts stirred. Despite the success of the space transfer, the magic circle in the tower was still fine. In other words, Theo had walked through it instead of destroying it.

It wasn’t just that.Orta could see that Theo looked different from a while ago.

An area I can’t interfere in? There has been a change in the Chief Tower Master!

Orta’s magic eyes had absolute power in spatial manipulation, yet an area that Orta couldn’t intervene in was wrapped around Theo’s whole body. It was a wall that even the 2nd Sword, Zest Speitem, wouldn’t be able to break through.

Unfortunately, Theo was the one to speak first, “Please explain.”

“Ah! Of course, Chief Tower Master.” For the first time in his life, Orta regretted that he lacked seniority and pushed down the words he wanted to ask. Then he made an unbelievable statement.

“Two days ago, the Central Empire collapsed.”

The largest empire in the East Continent had collapsed overnight.