Fierce flames rose around the mana screen. Screams, lamentations and pain were heard for the lost. Nebarce Greenhope watched all this with his eyes blank and thought: «Where... has everything gone wrong?
There was nothing else to see. The beginning was the dragon hunter Regal Vagos, the one who kidnapped the high priest despite Noark's deterrence and treated him like a slave, and whose evil actions were finally revealed to the world so that the palace would draw its swords.
...
Nebarce accepted the blame. What was the point of returning to the past to escape from the present? In the end, even the former lord of Noark Castle who welcomed Orcules was held accountable.
«What do you think, do you think it turned out the way you wanted?».
That's why he accepted that he was to blame for today's result.
«Stay close». Nebarce moved tirelessly so as not to be left behind and out of reach of the mana field. In front of him was an old man who cast flotation magic as easily as he breathed.
It was Belbev Ruingenes, the old man who in his later years was nicknamed the Fallen Scholar, a magician who longed for knowledge throughout his life and led countless people to ruin with it. After hearing from Amelia that there was nothing they could do, it was his turn to go find the wizard with a frustrated heart. Because then, he had a firm belief.
A great cause.
The palace was wrong. His authority had to be overthrown and a new world had to be opened where those above and those below were united. That was the right thing to do. Certainly, that's how it should have been.
«It's hot...»
«Please save me. I can pay you whatever you want...»
People were burning alive and collapsing. Every time one did it, the beliefs that made Nebarce who he was today slowly crumbled. Was this really the right thing to do? Trample on those who did not even have the strength to defend themselves for the sake of a great cause? Was it really the path to a new world?
«Stop...» Nebarce finally couldn't take it anymore and opened his mouth.
Only then did the old man stop and look back with an expression as if he had heard something strange. «Stop? I also came here hoping that the balance of power wouldn't collapse, but it was you who asked for my help first. If we stop now, the army heading towards Noark will never back down».
He was right. «But... I didn't ask for this».
«Really? So what did you want to happen?»
He was left speechless. What were you waiting for to look for the Fallen Scholar, who was the greatest evil of this era?
«This is an opportunity that will never present itself again. Even I didn't expect that man to show up. I don't understand what the problem is. As long as you draw attention to the palace, we will not be in danger».
«Do you think I say this because I fear for my life?! I just... I just...!» Nebarce could not finish his words.
Then, as if this were a waste of time, the old man turned around mercilessly and began to walk forward. «Looks like you're having a hard time». Already at that moment, hundreds of flames flew indiscriminately from his hands with the sole purpose of destroying and dyed the city red. «Throw away your emotions and think only about your goal. It's better than losing both».
It was an extremely calculating comment, typical of a magician.
¡Whoosh!
Before long, the mana field moved with the old man's footsteps and a scorching heat was transmitted through his skin. Nebarce continued in his footsteps, which had stopped inadvertently. In those steps there were only questions.
«M-Mom...N-I-can't p-breathe...».
«It's okay, honey... Mom is here. Until the end».
What would be at the end of this road?
***
The night rain was falling. It was the achievement of the wizards of the magic tower.
¡Chwaaaaa!
The guards who came to support from all over the city were also not resting. A long line had formed from the well. They were tirelessly passing buckets and throwing them into the flames, and not just the guards.
«If you are tired, do not be stubborn and move away! Being stubborn will only do more damage!»
Among them were explorers who lived nearby and civilians who heard the news and rolled up their sleeves to be of some help. People gathered to overcome the disaster before them.
«Oh my God, my house is going to burn down at this rate!».
«Hey, brother! Are you really going to say that now? There are people with families in there right now!».
«If you have the strength to fight, pass a bucket!»
Of course, not everyone was helping with a noble intention. The same thing happened with me standing here.
Cuervo.
When I really got to Karnon, everything felt bleak. The fire was of a different scale than several modern factories burned. I was wondering if Raven was holding up well. Or maybe...
What, maybe?
I slapped my chin with my fist to wake up.
Hit!
A healthy mind lived in a battered body. There was no time to worry. After all, Raven was a magician. With her personality, right now she would be holding up well and even taking care of the people around her. Yes, he could have even passed through the magic tower with luck and avoided this situation.
«Hey, wizard» I approached a wizard who was helping to put out the fire and revealed my identity to him.
Although I bothered him during a busy time, his eyes were friendly. «Hey, wizard? It's been a long time since they called me that. Haha». Aside from my noble title, I assumed I had made a good impression. «So what does Bjorn Yandel need from a magician?».
«Can you use Cold Blood magic?»
«Is there any magician who can't use that?» At my request, the magician chuckled and cast the spell on me.
[Your flame resistance increases considerably].
Ugh, it was less hot now.
«Do you plan to go in there?»
«I have a partner inside».
The magician who cast a spell on me nodded and laughed. «But will you be okay with just that?».
Hey? What is this? Are you laughing at me?
The thought came to mind, but I was embarrassed by the following events.
Clic.
The magician took out a message stone and asked someone for a favor. «Ah, ah, do you all hear me? Sorry to bother you while you're all busy, but I want to ask you a favor. A man named Bjorn Yandel who you should all know says he needs to get into the fire to save his teammate. If any of you have a device or drug that can help with fire resistance, please send it to the coordinates of my personal laboratory. I will invoke it from here».
What, this was like a wizard group chat? It was unexpected luck for me, so I shut up and just waited. Soon, the answers came one by one.
«Bjorn Yandel has a noble title so there should be no problems with his credit. But I'm still going to charge you for any damage, so you should know». It was the voice of an old man that sounded stern.
«Okay. Most of my disciples have gone to Karnon for support, but I will ask those still here to send everything you have asked for», said the voice of a young woman.
«My dear disciple returned home alive thanks to him. I'm going to send a scroll, but tell him he doesn't have to pay for it». This man sounded benevolent.
«Bjorn Yandel... It is not a bad idea to owe me this time. If he's not listening to this next to you, tell him this for me. The Ring of the Fire Dragon was sent from the Ioni School, so don't forget», a voice with a calculating personality arrived.
«Aru? Is that the teammate you're referring to?» There was even a familiar voice.
This voice is... Old?
If he remembered correctly, his name was Old Man, the Master of the Great School of Altemion and also Raven's teacher.
«Hmm, it seems to be correct. Is nodding».
«I'll send everything I have right now».
With that, all transmissions were cut off. To be honest, I was shocked.
What had just happened?
All I did was strike up a conversation with an easy-looking wizard to receive Cold Blood magic. But now that I saw him, he wasn't just any magician. Each of the people in their group chat sounded like a school principal and, in fact, included the Old Man, who was Altemion's Master.
And that means this guy isn't an ordinary magician either.
I asked him out of pure curiosity: «Who are you?».
I assumed he had no intention of hiding it, as he introduced himself with a smile. «Oh, now that I think about it, I haven't said it. I'm Leven Arfegan».
It was the first time he had heard the name, but he knew the school he later revealed. It was a school belonging to the middle rank of the magic tower. And to think that the teacher at that school would be so young.
«I will make sure to pay this debt one day.»
«If that calms you down.»
After a few more minutes passed, responses were received through the message stone that the items had been delivered, and Leven Arfegan used magic to summon all the items to this location.
It really is the Ring of the Fire Dragon.
Starting with a high-ranking numbered item, there were several rare items. As I looked at them one by one, I felt a strange sensation inside me.
«Luck was on my side».
To be honest, good luck wasn't enough to explain it. What were the chances that the magician I spoke to by chance was the principal of a magic school and would be kind enough to use his personal chat to help me?
«Luck? That's not right».
¿Eh?
«I have never seen those individuals move directly to help a stranger. Do you think this is only possible with luck?». When I tilted my head in confusion, Leven smiled and continued: «I don't know what they saw in you to help you rescue your partner so easily. But... all this is your merit».
It was a cumbersome explanation like that of a magician, but I could understand what he meant. Although it was a little embarrassing that he said it to my face.
Hit.
As I wiped my ash-stained nose in embarrassment, Leven laughed and tapped me on the shoulder with her fragile arm. «So don't say you're lucky and do what you have to do. You should hurry up and save your partner».
Yeah, now wasn't the time to get sentimental. «Thank you.» After sincerely thanking him, I put on or took the summoned items.
[You have consumed Bleach of Eternity. Temporarily increases Flame Resistance +50.]
[You have consumed Tears of the Spirit. Temporarily increases all elemental resistance stats +15.]
[You have consumed pure Flame. Temporarily reduces all Flame Damage by 10% and Flame Sensitivity is increased by +15.] [You have consumed Pure Flame.]
First, I drank the doping potion.
I tore.
Then, I tore a scroll.
[You have carried Lava Shield No. 4,819. The overall level of the item has increased by +985.]
[You have worn the No. 760 Ring of the Fire Dragon. The general level of the object has...]
I have equipped myself with a triple numbered item and several flame-specific artifacts.
¡Whoosh!
The air was no longer hot. As proof, I stretched out my hand towards the flames and it was the same.
«It's great». I said this accidentally. Of course, it was a feeling that a non-Korean like Leven could never understand.
«Hmm, no matter how much tolerance increases you won't feel that kind of sensation...»
«I'm just saying what I felt». I overlooked that and stared at the flames that showed no signs of subsiding. I asked Leven one thing. «What did you see in me?»
Leven had said before that she didn't know what, but that others had seen something in me, that's why they were willing to help. So what did he see?
The response was completely unexpected. «It was a rumor».
«A rumor?»
«Rumors I've heard about you. Today I saw you for the first time, but as soon as I saw your eyes I knew it was all true». It was an ambiguous explanation with much room for interpretation. As I was about to ask for a detailed explanation, Leven pushed me with anchovy arms. «...Your body is like iron». Leven laughed embarrassed at my motionless body and asked me for a favor. «Now that I think about it, I haven't said this. If you have any strength left after saving your partner, please save the others as well».
It wasn't particularly difficult to do. Ok, understood. «I'll do what I can.»
«Hearing you say that makes it very believable. Anyway, I won't keep you here any longer. Forward.»
Soon, I finished all the preparations by activating the Fire Orb that I acquired in the past.
[You have activated the Fire Orb. Reduces all continuous flame-type damage derived within 15 yards by 50%].
This was Barbarian Firefighter Mode.
«¡Behell-aaaaaahhhhh!»
To the load.