Chapter 111: Roodwiki

After finishing a late-night meeting,

Jun opened his eyes again the next morning.

After finishing his meal like a storm and returning to his room, Jun murmured to himself,

“Honestly, maybe this isn’t so bad.”

Yesterday—no, when he met the Count—the situation felt so dire that he couldn’t even sleep (though, overwhelmed by exhaustion, he actually slept well).

But after getting some rest, his thoughts were clearer.

“Fame… It was something I was going to have to deal with eventually.”

Maybe it was better to stand out now and open negotiations with the Count while he had the chance.

“So now all that’s left is to wait for the Count’s summons…”

Just as he came to that conclusion—

“Sir Mage, are you in there?”

“What is it?”

“Lady Chloe is calling for you.”

“I’ll be right there.”

What could she want now?

Jun rose from his seat and headed straight to Chloe’s office.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not back to full condition yet, but I can move.”

“How long do you think until you’re fully recovered?”

“About a week?”

“Then you’ve got time to spare.”

“Hmm, that sounds like something’s happening in a week.”

“Exactly.”

Chloe handed Jun a letter with a mischievous smile.

Adorned with golden embellishments and sealed with the imperial crest—

Just looking at it, Jun could tell it was no ordinary letter.

“An invitation…? Wait, is this real gold?”

“Of course. Do you know whose name it was sent under?”

“The imperial family… Wait. Don’t tell me—”

“It’s exactly what you think.”

Only then did Jun realize what this burdensome letter really was.

“The Praise of Baverne?”

A festival named after the God of War.

It was one of the grandest festivals in the Empire.

Held after the Blackout season, it was a celebration to honor those who returned alive and to commemorate those who had died with honor.

Typically, the festival began simultaneously across all regions of the Empire… so why was there a personal invitation?

Because not all parts of the festival were the same.

This invitation… it’s like a VIP pass.

Just as Jun thought, the golden envelope was an imperial invitation personally issued by the Emperor to summon the heroes who made the greatest impression during that season.

Even most nobles couldn’t dream of seeing one, and only those with real political power in the central government had the clout to attend.

Naturally, the value of such an invitation was immeasurable.

I never thought I’d see this with my own eyes.

There had been mentions of it in the game, too.

However, to be worthy of receiving such an invitation, one would normally have to reach at least the midpoint of the game…

And by that time, this festival no longer exists.

It made sense. After all, the capital of the Empire ends up engulfed in flames.

The Emperor’s death, power struggles among the imperial family, and finally, the rise of the Heavenly Church.

That’s why Jun hadn’t recognized the invitation at first glance.

“This is an incredible opportunity, isn’t it?”

To a merchant like Chloe, this letter was practically a treasure.

With connections being more valuable than anything else, this letter was essentially a chance to build a mountain of them.

But instead of nodding hastily, Jun first opened the envelope to check the contents.

—This invitation is sent to honor the heroes who have completed a great journey.

Along with the elegant script, there was a map enclosed.

“…The location is the Intras Mountains?”

“This time, it’s a bit far.”

“Rather than an opportunity… it’s a test.”

“Ah, I see.”

Chloe quickly caught on to what Jun meant.

The Intras Mountains were more than half a month’s journey away by carriage from here.

The real issue was the time. It was half a month.

“A ton of people are going to try to approach you.”

“The Count probably wants to test whether I can stay at the center of it all.”

“Seriously… this is why nobles’ mindsets are so terrifying.”

Likewise, Chloe shook her head as if fed up.

Talking about leftover change and all that…

And yet, this is the kind of test they spring?

Still, not going wasn’t really an option.

By now, word of the White Whale Mercenary Group’s survival must have spread.

There was no avoiding the immense hardship that lay ahead on the journey.

“Well… since they didn’t specify how to get there, it should be fine.”

“Huh? What method are you planning to use?”

“There is one. But I’ll need you to get something for me first.”

“What is it? Just say the word!”

Any connections Jun built there would naturally become Chloe’s connections too.

From that perspective, Chloe was more than willing to invest.

“I need a spellbook.”

“What kind?”

“Hallucination.”

“Ah…?”

If you go head-on, it’ll just be exhausting. So slipping in quietly is the better choice.

And while I’m at it, I’ll pick up a new utility spell.

Wasn’t this exactly what you’d call killing two birds with one stone?

***

“Hey, Aiden.”

“Oh, senior!”

Around noon, Jun spotted Aiden returning from lunch.

“How’s your body holding up?”

“My muscles are still a bit sore, but nothing too bad.”

“Same here.”

“Haha… Is that so?”

“Anyway, since you’ve eaten, mind if we talk for a bit?”

“Talk?”

Jun’s expression carried its usual hint of laziness, but beneath it, there was a flicker of seriousness.

This is about that.

Aiden instantly realized what Jun wanted to discuss.

He followed Jun to the room where he was staying.

After closing the door, Jun channeled his mana once through the room and activated an artifact borrowed from Chloe.

It was called the Veil of Silence.

“First off, good work. This season really was a string of hardships.”

“Haha, there wasn’t a single easy day.”

Like a flashback, memories of their time in the Blackout raced through his mind.

They had narrowly escaped death time and again. And in the end, they had survived.

A growth rate unlike anyone else’s.

Aiden didn’t regret following Jun.

“Well, I’ll save most of that for when the other two are here… but I think you already know why I called you.”

“Because of my condition?”

“Right. I’m talking about that ability you showed back in Hedravan.”

Jun’s expression had turned fully serious before they even realized it.

Could it be that Jun actually knew something about that power?

Thanks to that ability, Aiden had made it through several life-or-death situations, but he knew better than anyone that his power was far from normal.

The sensation of losing himself. And the terrifying boost in strength that came with it.

His memories of those moments were fuzzy at best…

But one thing was certain:

That power could not be controlled.

“If the power you displayed is what I think it is… it’s a type of witchcraft.”

“…witchcraft?”

Why would the word witchcraft come up now, of all times?

“It’s a type of possession ability. You offer your body as a price in exchange for a certain power. Needless to say, it’s incredibly dangerous.”

Then Jun asked whether, during those moments when the phenomenon was triggered, Aiden had heard any kind of voice.

“I think I did. I’m sure I heard…”

—If you want to save your comrades,

—Accept me.

That was the voice he’d heard.

As soon as he repeated those words, Jun’s expression grew even more serious.

“…I’m not completely sure, but I think it happened when you fell into the fifth level and came into contact with the soul of an Outer God.”

“That voice… was it from an Outer God?”

“I don’t know for sure. But it was definitely a soul powerful enough to rival one.”

“That’s a dangerous power… If I keep using it, will it take over my body?”

“There’s a high chance it will.”

It was the kind of revelation that sent a chill down his spine.

Still, Aiden fell into thought.

But if I hadn’t had that power…

He wouldn’t have been able to protect Jun.

And not just once. Twice.

That’s how deadly the Fifth level had been. Aiden knew that if he ever found himself in the same situation again, he wouldn’t be able to resist calling upon that power.

If it’s a choice between watching my senior die in front of me…

He’d rather take the risk.

That was the conclusion he came to.

Of course, Aiden was afraid of losing his body.

But watching a comrade die right before his eyes. That terrified him even more.

Maybe this too was just another form of “escape” for Aiden.

Better to look away than to face a horrific reality.

“If, by any chance—”

“…Yes?”

“Don’t even think about using that power for my sake. Or for the sake of the others.”

“……!”

“Don’t try to dump the burden you carry onto us.”

“……”

“At the very least, none of us would ever be glad someone else died in our place. We’d carry that memory for the rest of our lives.”

“H-Hovewer…”

“If one of us were to die for you…could you live with that?”

“…….”

It was something he didn’t even want to imagine.

Aiden fully understood what Jun was trying to say.

“So… don’t use that power unless you absolutely have to.”

“Then… is there no way to control it?”

“Not yet.”

“……!”

Then… does that mean there might be a way in the future?

“You have to expand your vessel. So it can’t be taken over so easily.”

“When you say ‘vessel’…”

“I mean the growth of your soul. In other words, your level of being has to rise. But it won’t be easy. It’ll take a long time.”

“…….”

“We’ll talk more about it later. In any case, promise me you won’t use that power. Swear it. On your name.”

“……Understood.”

Only after extracting that promise from Aiden did Jun finally smile, looking satisfied.

Once Aiden left the room, Jun let himself fall back onto the bed.

“Haah… Guess I managed to bluff my way through.”

He let out a soft chuckle as he muttered to himself.

“Witchcraft? I wish it were something that simple.”

The phenomenon that possessed Aiden could not be explained by anything like witchcraft.

“Possession…? I suppose that part’s similar.”

The result might resemble possession, but the process was entirely different.

And the problems that would come from it… were on a completely different level.

“The First Emperor… That bastard’s already shown up.”

The being that had taken root in Aiden’s body was none other than the First Emperor himself. Adrian von Rood Benecio.

“Shit. What the hell was that damn guardian doing, letting this happen?”

Muttering in frustration, Jun began once again to draft a plan for the future.

Compared to the game, the story was progressing at an abnormally fast pace.

It was probably a change triggered by his own appearance.

To survive in the eye of that storm of change, he would need a meticulous plan.

Desperately drawing on his [Excellent Memory], Jun recalled the main storyline and rose to his feet.

“If a tree is to withstand a storm, its roots need to be strong.”

And those roots represented the Empire.

The roots of the Empire were, even now, beginning to rot.

It had to be corrected starting right now.

“Damn it, I should’ve read the RoodWiki at least once.”

The lack of information now struck him with painful clarity.