Chapter 573
Whiiiiiing—!
The central district of the Ivory Tower, where the hundred-floor tower had collapsed.
The thick haze of dust slowly cleared, revealing the shattered fragments of buildings. At the very center, a massive crater had formed.
Gulp—
From within it—
Gulp, gulp—
Lava, red like drops of blood, began bubbling up.
The Tower of Time had fallen.
Fortunately, the residents of the nearby city had already evacuated after hearing the emergency broadcast. The city was now so desolate that not even a trace of human presence could be felt.
Simon brushed the sandy dust from his bangs and looked around the ruins. Normally, in a disaster of this scale, carnage and grief were inevitable.
“Future Simon really is amazing.”
Serne muttered.
“In the middle of all this, you still thought about saving the people in the tower.”
“……Haha.”
Right before collapsing the Tower of Time, Future Simon had moved the dungeon-turned tower, sensing every person inside, and wrapped the walls around them, pulling them all outside. Most had merely fainted or lost consciousness.
“Over here.”
From the ruins, Merida waved her hand.
“Daniella’s here.”
“Ah……!”
Simon hurriedly rushed over.
There lay Daniella, unconscious among the debris. Serne planted a feather, lightly diagnosing his condition before speaking.
“His life isn’t in danger. Reading his memory, it seems he spread a large-scale barrier across the floors when the lava surged upward, protecting the people.”
Simon let out a bitter smile.
“……As expected of Uncle Daniella.”
What an incredible person.
The fact that he had ever doubted him, even for a moment, now made him feel guilty.
“Soon people from the main tower will arrive to take care of the situation. Let’s leave the cleanup to them.”
“Wait—then what happens now? The Ivory Tower……?”
“They’ll be receiving a massive audit from the Dark Alliance, of course. But don’t worry, I’ve already taken precautions.”
She flashed a sly, fox-like smile.
“Instead of being branded as a criminal organization that failed in their attempt to bring down Keyzen, we’ll be painted as the victors who stopped a few radical dissidents targeting Keyzen, preserving the peace between Keyzen and the Dark Alliance—our most important alliance.”
“……That’s just a thin line of difference, but the nuance changes everything.”
“Heheh. I’ve been studying politics quite a bit, you know.”
[It’s useless.]
Bubble bubble bubble—!
Simon, Serne, and Merida all snapped their heads toward the sound.
“No way……!”
The ground erupted with lava. Serne shouted sharply.
“Move!”
Boooom!
Boom!
All around them, scarlet magma burst forth like geysers.
“……He’s alive?!”
Simon’s face went blank with disbelief.
“Didn’t he fall from the hundredth floor?”
“Run first, Simon.”
Merida wrapped herself in a shield woven of defensive magic like a blanket and spoke.
The three of them bolted, dodging the erupting lava.
Simon swung his arm violently. From subspace, Bone Armor leapt out, grabbing fallen people and carrying them to higher ground. Yet, some he couldn’t reach were swallowed by the flowing lava.
“What have you done?!”
Ruuuumble!
Suddenly, a wave of lava surged in front of them, forcing the three to stop.
[I won’t let you escape.]
From within the molten tide, Bermude emerged. His abdomen had been pierced through like a hollow donut, yet he still moved.
Even if the Ivory Tower Master was one of the greatest powers on the continent, this was already far beyond the scope of humanity.
“Oh my~ Wouldn’t it be better to stop disgracing yourself in your old age and just disappear? Father.”
Serne smiled sweetly as she spat venom.
[Serne.]
Bermude’s body boiled furiously.
[Why did you betray me?]
“Shouldn’t you word that properly? You betrayed me first, Father.”
Serne tilted her head.
“That so-called grand undertaking of bringing down Keyzen was nothing more than carrying out the Executioners’ orders, wasn’t it? What, did they promise you some medicine to cure that terminal illness you’re suffering from?”
At her fingertips, feathers bloomed with radiant light.
“You deceived the Ivory Tower. You betrayed it.”
As she flicked the feathers, a dazzling explosion erupted.
Simon and Merida shielded their eyes from the blinding flash. Bermude’s body, engulfed in lava, seemed to crumble—yet moments later, like a toy that wouldn’t fall, he stood upright again.
“Give it up. Once the necromancers from the Ivory Tower headquarters arrive—”
“There will be no support from headquarters.”
Bermude stepped out of the lava, fully revealed.
Seeing him in person, with his abdomen completely blown away, was even more ghastly. How he could move in that state was unbelievable, even to eyes witnessing it.
“Do you see that?”
He pointed toward the faraway “Headquarters Tower”. A crimson barrier enveloped it.
“When I was first flung outside the Tower of Time, I contacted headquarters and, under the Ivory Tower Master’s authority, ordered them to deploy an ‘Asymmetric Barrier’.”
This barrier, designed to withstand even Neftis’ assault that had once shattered the Holy Federation’s Heaven Island, was strong enough to endure even if the continent itself sank.
For two hours, no one could enter or leave.
“And I’ve redirected the Tower of Time’s barrier, spreading it wider.”
Simon raised his head. Indeed, there were points in the sky where sunlight bent unnaturally. That was unmistakably a barrier.
“No communication, no teleportation. The scenario goes like this: everyone who was inside the Tower of Time perished in an accident caused when Girdon meddled with the ‘Frozen Clock’.”
Lowering his arm, he turned his gaze to Serne.
“Keyzen may lose its Student Council President and overall 4th ranker, but the Ivory Tower will also lose its homeland and heir. There will be suspicions, but in the end, it’ll be nothing more than a tragic accident.”
Merida’s eyes flared open.
“You really think anyone’s going to believe that crap?!”
Flash!
She swung her arm, sending out a burst of curse magic. But Bermude merely flicked his cloak, bouncing the curse back at her.
Thud!
She was blown away, crashing into the ground. Already exhausted, Merida immediately lost consciousness.
“Merida!”
“Truth is, whether they believe it or not doesn’t matter.”
Bermude chuckled.
“Simon Follentia. I’m guessing the one who shot me down was one of those alternate personalities that appeared when you lost control with the ‘Frozen Clock’. But when I was struck by that black attack, I was certain.”
The corners of his mouth rose.
“You’re the child the ‘Elder’ wants.”
“……!”
“The Ivory Tower no longer matters. Offering you up will allow me to ascend to the next stage.”
He strode forward. Serne stepped in front of Simon.
“Simon, run.”
“No. You’re just as drained of strength as I am.”
Both had reached their limits—of both Darkness and stamina.
For Simon, it had been when he rampaged with the ‘Frozen Clock’. For Serne, it had been when she released the ‘Absolute Seal’.
Both of them had already brushed against death’s door just standing there—fighting was utterly out of the question.
‘Feer exhausted himself helping me. Akemius is gravely wounded. Herseba still needs time. Summoning Prince is out of the question with my Darkness……!’
With every step Bermude took forward, the sky turned pitch black with volcanic pyroclastics.
Simon raised the trembling Greatsword of Destruction, while Serne leaned against his back, clutching a feather in her hand. The light flickering within it was faint.
“This is your last chance, Serne.”
Bermude spoke heavily.
“Hand him over to me.”
“……”
“You may not share my blood, but you are of my kind. You have ambition, and for that ambition, you wouldn’t care what happens to the Ivory Tower. Even now, it’s not too late to set things right.”
“Don’t delude yourself.”
Serne glared at her foster father with eyes full of disgust.
“The reason I stand against you isn’t just because you betrayed the Ivory Tower.”
“Then—”
“You tried to kill Simon.”
Her lips curled into a smile.
“Simon and Maelyn are not within the bounds of compromise, Father.”
Simon turned toward her, startled, only for Serne to suddenly press her right hand onto the crown of his head and ruffle his hair wildly.
“At the very least, Simon needs to live another ten years.”
“W-What are you doing?!”
“Revenge.”
Serne’s eyes smiled.
“For daring to treat me like a child, hmm?”
“I never did that!”
Bermude’s eyes grew cold as he looked at the two of them.
“……So it’s because of a man. I never thought you had that side. What a laughably pitiful ending.”
He raised his arm.
“Disappear.”
Behind him, crimson lava surged upward. At his gesture, the molten tide rushed toward the two.
Simon and Serne stood back to back, staring at the oncoming wave of fire.
‘With this condition, can I cut it in one swing?’
Even if he couldn’t, he had to.
Resolute, Simon slid his left foot back.
‘Along with the very space itself……!’
—Swaaaaaaaaaaaaash!
An alien azure tide came crashing in, colliding with the scarlet wave of magma.
“This is—!”
Bermude’s face hardened, his expression twisted.
“So you were here. Hmph!”
Simon turned back—and his face lit up with joy. Riding the wave, a towering figure descended with a grand flourish.
It was someone he was so glad to see that his eyes watered.
“……Senior Phantasus!”
“Hahahahahaha!”
With a hearty laugh, Phantasus raised his muscular arms high.
“How have you been, junior! I’ve always heard of your feats and cheered for you! Hm!”
Even Serne, who knew him well, waved her hand.
“Oh my, it’s been a while, senior.”
“Hm! You haven’t changed a bit either! I’m glad both of you are safe!”
In Phantasus’ arms, Merida lay fast asleep, breathing peacefully. With just a flick of his hand, Phantasus conjured waves in midair, laying her gently down.
Swashhh!
The wave carrying Merida surged swiftly over the ruins, fleeing far from the battlefield though there wasn’t a drop of water around.
“Evacuations are nearly complete! Hm!”
The lava-ravaged ruins of the Tower of Time became, in the blink of an eye, a flooding sea. Waves surged here and there, carrying the wounded away to safety.
“So the risk has become reality.”
Bermude grimaced.
“Neftis’ greatest masterpiece, and Keyzen’s former Student Council President—Phantasus Hugh Ikel.”
Thoom!
Phantasus slammed his fists together.
“An honor to meet you at last, Ivory Tower Master.”
“How did you get here?”
“My younger sister’s necklace told me her location.”
“……I wonder if there’s even a reason for us to fight here.”
Bermude shrugged.
“You’re just being used by Neftis. They predicted this would happen and threw your sister into the Ivory Tower. Don’t you think it’s insulting? Even now, those people are exploiting the weakness of an alumnus like you, treating you as though you’re still one of their students.”
“Sorry, but Merida is no weakness of mine.”
“If you look the other way here and now, I’ll let your sister live.”
Bermude waved his hand.
Far ahead, where Merida rode the wave, twin volcanoes erupted on either side. Phantasus quickly twisted the current, narrowly steering her clear of the falling debris.
“But if you insist on fighting, I cannot guarantee your sister’s life—nor your own. Leave now.”
“Hahahahahaha!”
Clench!
With a booming laugh, Phantasus lowered his stance, Darkness welling around him.
“Sorry, but these two are the juniors I treasure most in Keyzen! There’s no way I can just look away!”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Bermude’s eyes gleamed with a vicious light.
“Then you’ll die here too.”
Phantasus grinned, flashing his white teeth.
“Then I’ll make you pay the price for your sins, Ivory Tower Master.”
At the same instant both titans moved, magma and waves surged forward, clashing head-on.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters
Very good story and translation but half the chapter aren't for free and it is wayyyy too expensive will it stat like tjis foreve or will it get free after some time