Chapter 35. White-Haired Clan (1)

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

Inside the swaying carriage, I gazed out the window, lost in thought.

“……”

The Rune of Space.

One of the ten Runes scattered throughout the continent, considered among the most powerful alongside the Rune of Time.

A Rune's Power is fundamentally different from the skills typically found in games.

If a skill simply executes a predetermined ability like a macro, a Power allows one to tap into a more fundamental source of power.

Therefore, the names of Runes are usually quite intuitive, making it clear what they do just by hearing their name.

Like the Rune of Time I first acquired, or the Rune of Elements, or the Rune of Blazing Fire… they are all easy to understand.

And among them, the Rune of Space is currently the most necessary Rune for me.

While the Rune of Time is undeniably overpowered, it's insufficient for dealing with the Outer Gods in the future.

The Rune of Time is more specialized in defense than offense, after all.

Of course, depending on how it’s used, it can instantly kill humans or Monstrous Beasts, but that's only if the opponent is mortal. The flow of time doesn't really affect beings like the Outer Gods who live eternally.

'But if I have the Rune of Space, the story changes.'

No being is unaffected by space.

Of course, divine beings born with Divinity transcend space itself, but the Rune of Space works on the Outer Gods who descend into the material plane by violating Causality.

It's one of the few Powers that can harm them, making acquiring the Rune of Space a mandatory route in the original story.

Moreover, when combined with the Rune of Time, the synergy is more than double the original effect.

I casually asked Arkan, who was sitting next to me.

“So, where is The Sacred Text?”

As if she'd been expecting the question, she smiled.

“Kalmash. Beyond the Border.”

“…What?”

I hadn’t known at all.

At the start of the original story, the Rune of Space was already in the Holy Order's possession.

The Holy Order desperately concealed the Rune of Space's origins, so I didn't know its exact location… but hearing her words, I think I understand why.

'I guess she stumbled upon it while chasing Elfriede's trail.'

Then things are easy.

Blackmore is under my jurisdiction, and there's still plenty of time before the original story begins.

“Beyond the Border… Is that all?”

“There's a Labyrinth deep beyond the Border. What was its name? The Spire of Arkasia? It’s said to be buried within its underground research facility.”

“……”

Countless Labyrinths and ruins existed in the original story.

Among them were those that didn't even appear in the main storyline… Those that existed only within the author's elaborate world-building.

The Spire of Arkasia.

A forgotten Magic Tower, known as the ruins of a great Necromancer hailed as the Dark Lord in primordial times.

It never appeared in the main story, but I remember seeing a small blurb about it in the encyclopedia.

Web novels were the only enjoyment in my previous slave-like life. So, when I came across novels with unusually deep or complex settings that I liked, I would memorize all the settings from beginning to end.

Of course, I was often blocked by authors for pointing out setting errors in the comments section whenever I got the chance, but it was one of my few small hobbies in my exhausting life.

'Was there any specific information about it?'

The problem is, even I don't know much about The Spire of Arkasia.

The encyclopedia only had a few lines of fragmented descriptions, so even if I wanted to know more, I couldn't.

I only knew that it was a very, very dangerous Labyrinth located incredibly deep underground.

'Is this okay?'

Kalmash is literally the cradle of strangeness.

A Magical Boundary of Magical Boundaries, filled with evil and Chaos, where the world's malice is concentrated.

When I was looking for Elfriede, I knew the location, and since she was at the entrance, I could find her quickly, but if I go deeper inside, I can't even begin to imagine what kind of Monsters I might encounter.

It’s impossible alone.

Even if I take Rudine, Adina, and Elfriede, I can't guarantee our safety.

Managing my expression, I asked Arkan,

“…Will you be accompanying me?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Thankfully, Arkan will be coming along.

With her by my side, at least I won't die a dog's death.

“How far have you been beyond the Border?”

“Well? I’ve gone in once or twice when I was bored, but you know, right? It’s not a place where you can easily tell how far you’ve gone.”

“True.”

Arkan asked me with a curious look.

“How far have *you*, the 6th Lord, been?”

“……”

“No, I mean, last time, it didn't seem like your first time there. You acted like you knew a lot about beyond the Border.”

“……I do know a lot.”

I spoke honestly.

Lies wouldn't work against her Insight Eye anyway.

“That's what’s strange. How do you know so much about things from the forgotten past? Ah, of course, if you don’t want to elaborate, I won't pry…”

“I saw it.”

“…Huh?”

Arkan, who had her arms crossed, whipped her head around.

“Saw it? Where?”

“Literally. Think what you will about the rest.”

“Damn, you're awfully cold.”

Arkan chuckled and turned away.

“So, what should we do? Go straight to Kalmash?”

She held a Scroll between her thumb and index finger, waving it in front of my eyes.

“If you don't have anything specific to prepare, we can leave right away. Actually, if you're going back to Headquarters, there's no need to travel by carriage.”

“No, I'm going to stop by the office first.”

“What are you going to do there?”

“I have companions.”

“Ah, those little ones…”

Arkan nodded as if she finally understood.

“Well, alright. That's the Third Lord's prerogative.”

“……”

“Ah! You said you met the 6th Lord before leaving for the Imperial Palace?”

“It just happened.”

“He tried to assert his authority in front of you but couldn't budge, right? The 6th Lord seems to like you quite a bit.”

“Not really interested.”

“Still, it wouldn't hurt to get to know the other Lords, so try to remember their faces. There's a Lord's meeting coming up soon anyway.”

This damn lifelong position is annoying enough, and now I have to attend meetings as a Lord.

I wanted to punch something, but I held back.

The carriage, which had been traveling along a well-maintained road, started to jolt again at some point.

It meant we were passing through the city and entering a remote area where people gradually disappeared.

The entrance to Blackmore came into view.

The carriage, which had been rattling for a while, slowed down and began to slowly pass through the narrow passage.

A faint stench stung my nose.

Dead trees stood densely packed.

It was as gloomy and depressing as my future.

Then it happened.

*Screech—!*

The carriage came to a sudden stop, and I lurched forward.

I quickly turned my head and looked out the window.

'What is it?'

I could see the office in the distance, but there's no reason to get off here instead of there, is there?

A strange sense of unease crept up my neck.

And at that moment, the carriage door creaked open.

“P-Please come out for a moment!”

The coachman, his face pale as a sheet, urgently asked me to come out.

I moved towards the open door and got off the carriage.

“…What is that?”

In the distance, a group of at least several dozen were blocking the road in front of the office.

I slowly examined them.

Swaying silver tails, twitching triangular ears, and a strangely familiar aura.

They were all too familiar.

'The White-Haired Clan?'

Why is the White-Haired Clan, which should be clustered somewhere in the eastern territory, in Blackmore, a Magical Boundary?

Furthermore, the aura they exuded was ominous.

Even Arkan beside me was looking at them with interest.

Then it happened.

“Luke Richter!”

Adina, who was confronting them, frantically wagged her tail and ran towards me.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she was terrified.

As Adina ran towards me, the gazes of the White-Haired Clan confronting her all turned towards me at once.

“???”

I stood still for a long time, exchanging glances with them.

A moment later, one of the female foxes, presumed to be the leader, strode towards me.

Her aura was so fierce that every step she took sent a strange Pressure shaking the ground.

“Adina.”

The woman, radiating fierce Killing Intent, walked towards me with her Mana surging.

“Hiding won't solve the problem.”

Judging by her tone, appearance, and behavior, she seemed to be the leader of the White-Haired Clan.

The reason she came here is probably…

“The Precious Artifact you stole from our clan.”

There's only one item that the White-Haired Clan would call a clan Precious Artifact.

It's the Rune of Time.

Even though they didn't know how to use it and left it in the Treasury for thousands of years, they upheld the will of their ancestors and preserved it for millennia.

And the whereabouts of that item are currently…

“If you value your life, hand it over immediately.”

…I already swallowed that.