Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 206
Everything proceeded smoothly.
"Let's protect the Western Continent!"
"Let's reclaim Immortalityum from the darkness!"
After the meeting, the entire Western Continent moved in unison to organize the Allied Forces of the Mortal Realm.
Even those who had been hesitant to take action joined forces, preparing for battle to survive the disaster.
The movement was both intense and proactive.
'If it weren't for Unknown, they wouldn't have been this passionate.'
Aden didn't know exactly what had happened to Unknown at the Uroboros Golden Tower.
But that wasn't important.
'What matters is that he shares a clear goal with me.'
And the fact that he carried the blood of Immortalitya.
Aden didn't reveal the secret of Unknown during the meeting; he simply disclosed to the nobles that he was a hidden bloodline of the Emperor.
That alone was enough to mobilize the Empire's nobles.
The imperial bloodline had not been severed, and thus, the Empire had not perished.
Just that symbolic fact achieved significant success in quelling the chaos.
Thus, the formation of the Allied Forces centered around the Three Great Orders was confirmed.
So, Aden decided to prepare thoroughly for the decisive battle.
Fifteen days had passed since Tartarus had opened.
Fifteen days remained until Hermit's time freeze would break.
"Hey! Bring more adamantium over here!"
"The fire's too weak! Stoke it harder!"
The Dwarves of Stoneheim in the Dwarf Kingdom were busily moving around.
The clanging and hammering sounds filled the Stoneheim cavern.
The hot winds from the bellows and the hissing steam heated the entire cavern, engulfing the subterranean kingdom in a strange warmth.
The Dwarves were also contributing to the battle against Tartarus by mass-producing armor and weapons.
"Thank you for agreeing to provide the Allied Forces with weapons and armor for free, Hephaestus."
"Considering the favor I owe to Prince Aden, it's nothing. Besides, isn't this a crisis for the entire continent? We Dwarves also live on the Western Continent."
King Hephaisto of the Dwarves turned his head, looked at the busy hammering Dwarves, and chuckled.
"And to be honest, we're enjoying ourselves right now. War is where the masterpieces of artisans truly shine. The world has been too peaceful for too long."
Since the Empire became the hegemon of the Western Continent, there hadn't been a large-scale war in centuries.
Naturally, the Dwarves, no matter how fantastic the weapons they forged, had no one to use them.
As a result, the weapons they created were often buried deep within their workshops.
"Hahaha! Finally, my children will taste blood!"
"My finest sword, Burandal, will shine the most!"
"What are you talking about! My beloved spear, Shine Tornado, will be the brightest!"
But those days were over.
Tools and weapons that had quietly gathered dust for centuries, eating away at the rust of time, emerged from their workshops to fulfill the purpose for which they were born.
The artisans' passion, determination, and madness burned brightly, seizing this moment.
Aden moved to the district lined with Magic Engineering workshops.
"Oh, you're here, Aden."
"Are you feeling better now, Hermit?"
"It's difficult to use my magic power, but I'm managing."
There, Hermit, Gustav, and several Dwarves specialized in Magic Engineering were creating something.
Hermit was in no condition to use her powers due to the damage inflicted by the destruction of the Sword of Valorak and the use of the time-freezing power.
According to her, the Dragon Heart had cracked, requiring several hundred years of recovery.
As a result, there was no significant help to be expected from her at the moment.
"But that doesn't mean I'm a dragon with a good enough temperament to let the bastard who sold my sword get away with it."
She smiled wickedly.
"I intend to make that damned gluttonous beast pay dearly."
So, Hermit was offering help in another way.
With the wisdom and knowledge of thousands of years.
"Hahaha! As expected of Hermit, the progenitor of all magic! Magic Engineering has leaped 60 years in just fifteen days!"
Gustav had been greatly surprised when he first learned that Hermit was a dragon, but he remained friendly and familiar with her.
"As long as you research Magic Engineering, it doesn't matter whether you're a dragon, a dwarf, or a human! There's no need for distinction!"
"Haha! I like you for that!"
The two of them got along splendidly.
Aden briefly looked at them with disbelief before changing the subject.
"By the way, Gustav, is that the weapon you mentioned?"
"Haha! Yes! Thanks to Hermit, the creation of the weapon is progressing smoothly!"
In front of Aden was an enormous 'thing.'
Hundreds of Dwarves were surrounding it, climbing ladders and scaffolds, welding parts, and engraving magic circuits.
As Aden briefly imagined what it would be like to see that thing in action...
'These lunatics...!'
He couldn't help but be awestruck by the sight of the colossal structure, hundreds of meters tall.
These were truly insane maniacs.
Exceptionally skilled maniacs.
'If we had something like that in the world before my return...'
There would have been no need to drag the war out for two years, nor would so many people have died at the hands of Talos.
That's why he was confident.
In this battle, no matter which High Talos appeared, there would be no significant problem.
Aden asked Gustav.
"Can you complete that thing on time?"
"The schedule is a bit tight, but if everything proceeds without issues, we should just barely finish it before the day of the battle."
"When they see that thing, they'll be shocked out of their minds."
"Hahaha! Of course! Hahahaha!"
Gustav burst into laughter, understanding exactly who Aden was referring to as 'they.'
His laughter was filled with deep hatred and joy.
"Magic is nothing more than a pillar built by divinity! Magic Engineering is nothing but crude trickery! Those senile fools from the Tower of Magic! I can't wait to show them the true bitterness of reality!"
Gustav harbored deep-seated resentment towards the Anguis Magic Tower that had banished him.
And the enemies in this battle were none other than the entire leadership of that tower, who had fled in the middle of the night.
"Moreover, that damned Shaura is there too! This couldn't be more perfect!"
Surprisingly, Gustav also had a bitter connection with Archmage Shaura.
"She saw me researching Magic Engineering and said, 'Oh, you're making another pitiful toy. Creating such trash will never even touch the hem of truth,' and then ridiculed and scorned me like a bug!"
It was indeed an arrogant statement typical of Shaura.
Recalling the past, Gustav shuddered.
Not only Shaura but the arrogance of the entire leadership of Anguis' Central Tower was something he despised.
The humiliation from that time still hadn't faded.
But that was only momentary.
His lips curved upwards, almost reaching his cheekbones.
Now, those people were enemies of both him and his benefactor.
"And now, the moment is coming when my masterpiece will smash those idiots to pieces... It feels like a dream! Hahaha!"
A mad glint, befitting someone who was called a terrorist of the Magic Tower in his previous life, shone in his eyes.
"Boom! Explosion! Destruction! I'll blow it all up! Haha!"
"..."
Aden briefly pondered why this side seemed more wicked.
* * *
After returning from Stoneheim, Aden headed towards the village of the Ents in the Remes Duchy.
He had heard news from the Tree Spirits that something strange had occurred.
The Ent village in the Remes territory was under strict management.
Ents were an important resource.
The wine made by the Tree Spirits of Remes was wildly popular.
So, there had been instances where other territories tried to either persuade or capture the Ents.
However, thanks to the Fairy Tree, the Ents had become capable of using spirit magic, and those attempts ended in failure.
Given these incidents, a wooden fence had been built around the forest where the Ents resided, with the estate's soldiers guarding it thoroughly.
With a face full of excitement, the head of the guard saluted Aden.
"This is Captain Sam! It's an honor to meet you in person, Prince Aden Remes, the hero and pride of the estate! I pray at your statue every day!"
"...I see. Keep up the good work."
Thanks to his overly enthusiastic father, Aden couldn't walk around without feeling embarrassed.
As Aden shuddered in shame and entered the forest where the Ents resided...
"Are you kidding me?"
He looked up at an absurd sight.
Why did he have to look up?
Because there was no other choice.
"...Why is that thing so big?"
In his eyes, there was an abnormally gigantic tree.
But he wasn't even sure if he could call it a tree.
The trees he knew never grew to the size of a small mountain.
That tree was the Fairy Tree, the guardian tree of the Ents, but its appearance was drastically different from the last time Aden had seen it.
Its golden, mystical leaves swayed in the wind.
Even in the midst of the dark clouds caused by demonic energy—or perhaps because of it—the enormous golden tree's grandeur stood out even more.
—This magic power... Could it be?
"Hmm? Do you know something?"
—...No, I'm not sure yet. I need to get closer to know for sure, Dragon Slayer.
"Damn it, what's got you so worked up?"
Aden grumbled, but Curse remained silent.
It seemed to be deep in thought.
"Chieftain
!"
"Chieftain Aden!"
Just then, the Ents came running out in a hurry.
Like puppies reuniting with their master, they ran to him.
And then...
"Huff! I'm out of breath!"
"Ugh, is this the end for me?"
"Oh, how unfair...!"
Thud.
One by one, they collapsed on the ground, out of breath.
"...What are you doing?"
"W-Well, we're not exactly strong..."
"Then why did you run? Are you all idiots?"
"Heeing..."
The Ents pouted, and Aden looked at the wooden creatures with a dumbfounded expression.
They were still a race with pitiful stamina.
It would be strange for a race that took trees as their foundation to be good at running.
After taking a short rest to recover their strength, the Ents guided Aden.
Aden asked the Ents.
"But when did that tree grow so large?"
"Ever since the dark clouds started gathering, the Fairy Tree has been growing rapidly."
The reason the Ents had called Aden was because of the Fairy Tree.
They were bewildered by the sudden growth of the Fairy Tree.
One of the Ents, Ehad, spoke.
"We wanted to ask the Fairy Tree what was going on, but we didn't have the authority, so we called you, Chieftain Aden."
"Authority?"
"Only those who have received the Fairy Tree's blessing can communicate with it, Chieftain."
The previous Fairy Tree had bestowed its blessing upon Aden.
However, Aden hadn't realized that the blessing had such an effect since it wasn't explained in the system.
Aden entered the Ent village where the Fairy Tree was planted.
"It's really a mess."
Aden clicked his tongue.
As they said, the entire village was covered in tree roots.
To anyone who didn't know, it would seem like the scenery of trees that had grown for hundreds of years, but this sight had been created in just fifteen days.
"The scenery is nice, though..."
From the Fairy Tree, platinum-colored flakes fell like snow, only to dissolve and vanish in the air.
It was the magic of the Fairy Tree.
But it was entirely different in quality from when it was a small tree before.
'It's incredibly pure and clean.'
It was the first time he'd felt magic this clean.
Even though the entire Western Continent was faintly permeated by dark magic, the air around this place was extraordinarily pure.
'Come to think of it, there haven't been any undead appearances in Remes territory.'
He thought it was just because the duchy was far from the central continent, but it seemed the influence of the Fairy Tree was also significant.
Aden approached the Fairy Tree.
And then...
—You have finally arrived.
Suddenly, he heard a voice that sounded like a woman's.
'This voice?'
As soon as he heard it, Aden felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Whooosh!
Suddenly, the wind blew.
The platinum-colored flakes that had been falling and dissolving began to swirl in front of Aden, gathering together.
The platinum-colored magic power coalesced, forming a shape.
And when the wind finally subsided...
Emerald-green, clear eyes and long platinum hair.
And attached to her back were translucent, thin wings with a rainbow-colored sheen and long ears.
—I've been waiting for you both.
A woman of unmatched beauty, far from anything human, smiled sweetly at him.
—You are...!
Curse was taken aback upon seeing the woman.
Aden's eyes also widened when he saw her.
He knew who she was.
He had seen her face before, through the avatar of the Lord of the Sacred Fire.
Aden unknowingly spoke the woman's name.
"Titania?"
The Fairy Queen, Titania.
One of the heroes who fought alongside the gods against the Fallen Lords.
—I'm pleased to meet you, 'junior.'
The woman, who should have died long ago, smiled brightly at Aden.