Chapter 177- Elixir VS Elixir

Unlike when he arrived, the Magic Dragon now carried a prisoner instead of an escort.

On the way from the foremost frontline to Eclipse. Sein, with the long needle almost touching his core, couldn't move a muscle.

If he were to momentarily deploy his magic for a surprise attack here, his core would explode at that moment.

However, most of the Wisdom bloodkin were eloquent speakers.

“Excuse me, Fifth Son. Have we met somewhere before? I have not.”

“You wouldn't have.”

The Youngest Son, who answered curtly, relived the grudge he alone knew in his head.

It was a grudge as a player, so it wasn't driven by a thirst for revenge or any grand reason.

However, most of the players who enjoyed the game from the Wisdom faction held a grudge against that collateral branch NPC.

“You just give people too many bothersome tasks. Because of your pathetic inferiority complex.”

“…You speak as if you know me well.”

“Of course I do. Sein of the Ice Chain.”

The fastest way for a Wisdom player to obtain the ice attribute was inevitably through Sein.

This was because it was impossible to receive magic teachings from the dragons from the very beginning.

The player, a direct bloodline member of Wisdom, would go to Sein and ask him to teach the ice attribute, and from that moment on.

Sein would vent his inferiority complex and sense of defeat, which he had always felt from being pushed aside by the direct line, onto the player.

He would deliberately pose riddles, twist things, and drag things out for things that could be stated clearly.

He wasn't even imparting any great teachings, yet he acted disgracefully as if he were passing down a family secret.

‘He's so detestable that you'd want to kill him right after learning the ice attribute.’

So even veteran players did not look kindly upon Sein. Though he himself did not know the reason.

“If you know me so well, then tell me. What kind of person am I at Wisdom?”

“A guy with pretty decent talent among the Wisdom collateral branches. An exceptional half-breed who received the ice attribute, one of the dragon's attributes.”

“Heh heh. Well now. Even a bloodkin of the distant East knows of my talent─”

“But I didn't show any more interest than that.”

“……”

As the Youngest Son cut him off, his smile also disappeared.

“The ice attribute you clung to for dear life became meaningless the moment the direct Wisdom line members got their hands on it. Because they surpassed you not long after learning it.”

“…It seems you're trying to provoke my inferiority complex. A futile effort. I know the value within my own domain.”

“Right. A value that will be forgotten while staying in your own domain.”

As a race that loved speed the most, this side had also used the shortest path to the ice attribute quite a lot.

This meant I had seen Sein often. After all, apart from him, the ice attribute was an attractive power.

“The thing you call a secret on your own. I, who know nothing of magic, can learn it in a day. Just like those direct Wisdom line members over there.”

“…You seem to have made a mistake because of your youth. One should only say things that can be taken back.”

“Want to make a bet?”

The Youngest Son turned his body completely towards Sein and spoke.

“The formula for the Dark Elixir that you guys are most curious about right now. If you win, I will provide it without a word.”

“……”

Sein's expression hardened. At the same time, the Youngest Son saw.

The unconcealable joy on his face. And hope. A sinister desire was revealed.

He must be letting his imagination run wild in his well-working head right now.

A hero who, though captured as a prisoner, turned the enemy's arrogance to his advantage and brought back the secret of the Dark Elixir.

Despite being from a collateral branch, he had accomplished something that no one from the direct line had succeeded in.

That sense of superiority was not self-consolation but an undeniable fact that would be recorded in history.

“Can you swear? That if I cannot learn the ice attribute magic you created in one day, you will reveal the secret of the Dark Elixir?”

“Yes. But if I absorb your knowledge in one day, I will take your life on the spot. Do you agree?”

“I agree.”

Even though it was a life-or-death bet, Sein's answer was quick.

He was certain. That young brat from the East wouldn't be able to do it even if he was given a year, let alone a day.

On the other hand, the Youngest Son was also certain.

‘Millesdusk was the shortest path to the ice attribute, not Wisdom.’

It was a fact that was hard to laugh at, but a laugh slipped out.

At the thought of extracting even the dragon's ice attribute from the magic teacher he had unintentionally acquired.

***

Knock knock─

Ransis came to the private room that had been given to the messenger, Paras.

“The Fifth Son-nim has returned. He has also accepted a meeting with the Wisdom messenger, so I will guide you immediately.”

“Understood.”

He closed the book he was reading, stood up, and followed her guidance. The journey was boring.

The windows that should have allowed a view of the outside were pitch black, and he had to remain inside the carriage the entire time.

There must be faster means of transportation, but they insisted on only using a carriage.

It was because a long and boring journey made it impossible to determine the direction and location.

Paras continued to read in the shaky carriage, along with the less than pleasant ride.

They repeatedly stopped and rested at places that seemed to be secret safe houses, then ran to Eclipse.

After three days had passed since leaving the Pantheon, and as the fourth day was approaching.

“Please get off. We have arrived at Eclipse.”

“Finally. I was worried you were taking me to an execution ground, not Eclipse.”

“It would be a relief if there was a stage like an execution ground. Follow me.”

After getting off the carriage, the first thing that caught his eye was none other than the sky.

Like everyone who had come to Eclipse for the first time, he tilted his head back and looked at the sun.

The sun, which symbolized vitality, the future, and all sorts of warm things in Wisdom, was pitch black and dead here.

…It was ominous.

“Do not stop and follow me. A lot of time has been delayed because you are quite a sleepyhead.”

“I apologize. My body must have been tired from the long carriage ride.”

The reason he was sleepy was because of the reports through dreams, but he twisted his words to say it was because they only made him ride in a carriage.

Ransis did not answer and just continued to guide him.

She did not want to answer every single one of those words while working for free.

“This place is the Fifth Son-nim's residence, called the Dark Moon Grand Castle. I ask that you at least show respect on the surface in front of a direct bloodline member.”

“Of course.”

“Also, to give you a piece of advice, the Fifth Son-nim is absolutely not an easy person to talk to.”

She had said a person to talk to, not just an opponent. The reason for that was not immediately clear, and for now, he just nodded.

“I will keep that in mind.”

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d─

As they reached the front of the Dark Moon Grand Castle, the outer wall opened instead of a door, and someone walked out.

“Hello. I am the Fifth Son-nim's Head Maid. From now on, I will be serving you.”

Ransis, who answered with a bow, erased her presence as she was.

The one who had finished her work returned, and the Head Maid took over.

“It is truly a strange internal structure.”

It was a single remark made while looking at the outer walls, ceiling, and floor that moved on their own even though his body was still.

He had come from a land of magic, but a truly magical thing was happening before his eyes.

It was not easy to guess its principle even while looking at it right now.

While following the Head Maid, his busy eyes would occasionally search for people.

‘Josephine. You must be somewhere here too.’

According to information from the higher-ups, Josephine was inside this place called Eclipse.

It was clear that she was in charge of a job related to Magitech here, and as proof, Josephine's handiwork could be seen everywhere.

In the dark land due to the absence of the sun, lights powered by magic illuminated all directions.

It was overflowing with ideas that the Millesdusk, who only thought of rotten things like the sorcery of the East, could not have come up with.

Such a brilliant talent was trapped in such a cold land.

Even if she herself did not want to return, she was just misunderstanding right now.

‘The family elders promised. They would allow me to research Magitech in the land of Wisdom as well.’

They had judged that researching the Dark Elixir with their existing methods was impossible.

A different method was needed, and even what was considered lowly became necessary.

She was the only one who could ride on and even lead such a change of the times.

‘Josephine. We must return together.’

He clenched his fist and made a promise to himself.

In the meantime, the Head Maid's steps also stopped.

Knock knock─

“Young Lord-nim. The messenger of Wisdom has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

When permission was granted from within, the Head Maid immediately opened the door.

What was visible beyond it was a vivid purplish-black hair. However, something else caught his eye.

“What business does Wisdom have with me? To the point of offering up your precious Elixir.”

The blood-red eyes met the cloudy blue eyes of the collateral branch member.

The clarity of the color of the pupils revealed the clarity of the blood. The difference began with that.

“Actually, it is because the Fifth Son-nim is the reason Wisdom sent me. It would be wrong to return without seeing that reason for myself.”

“Return. An interesting assumption.”

The Youngest Son nodded and gestured.

“Have a seat for now. The journey here must not have been comfortable.”

“I understand that each family has its own procedures.”

“Then I'm glad. The tea should be quite enjoyable. I've only put in tea leaves, so drink it with peace of mind.”

As if to prove it, the Youngest Son drank the tea from the same teapot first.

Paras smiled, lifted his teacup, and enjoyed the aroma. He only brought it to his lips but did not drink.

At that point, the Youngest Son asked.

“What is the reason you came here?”

“As you expected, it is the Dark Elixir.”

“What about it? Just because it's called an Elixir doesn't mean it has anything in common with an Elixir.”

“However, the name Elixir is certainly the property of the West and the Wisdom bloodkin. It has been so until now, and it will continue to be so.”

“So?”

The messenger conveyed his family's thoughts to the Youngest Son.

“Wisdom has judged that it is better for the East and West to cooperate and share not only the item but also the name, rather than fighting over a mere name.”

His hand moved to the blue locket around his neck.

At the same time, a sharp blade showed its face from the Head Maid's sleeve.

If even the slightest hint of hostility was shown here, the blade would cut through the air and pierce his neck.

Even though he must have known that, the messenger's hand did not stop.

He took out something from the locket, which seemed to function as a spatial artifact.

At the same time, a brilliant five-colored light shot out, dazzling the eyes.

A single item that was revealed with a spectacular presentation.

“This is a gift from Wisdom to Millesdusk. It is a ‘real’ Elixir, given to express that there is no falsehood in this promise.”

He put so much emphasis on the word ‘real’ that this side's Elixir seemed like a fake.

Even though the only thing it had in common with the West's Elixir was the name.

The Elixir, placed on a gothic table, was in a spherical bottle, and a gold ornament carved in the shape of a dragon was hung on the opening.

The Elixir sloshing inside was as clear as if a handful of a lake basking in the sun had been scooped up.

As if the sunlight had been scooped up along with the lake water, the gentle light was beautiful.

Seeing it in person rather than on a monitor made the item description even more understandable.

“Indeed. It's not called God's Tear for nothing.”

Even though it was in a bottle, a warm yang energy like sunlight could be felt.

“Then shall I put one out too?”

I reached into my spatial artifact and picked up a bottle. I placed it in front of the Elixir that the eastern messenger had taken out.

“It's a second-process Dark Elixir.”

“…Second process, you say.”

“Yes. The Dark Elixir you guys sneakily took away like rats was a first process, which is a primitive level compared to this.”

“……”

The messenger's eyes lingered on the Dark Elixir.

The one the Youngest Son called a second process was definitely different from his memory.

The yin energy felt and the purity of the contents were on a whole other level.

“I plan to accept your declaration of war with this.”

“…Declaration of war? Hearing you, it's constantly nonsensical─”

“Head Maid. Bring it.”

“Yes.”

She, who had bowed her head deeply, opened the outer wall.

Behind it, a single room was prepared. It was a solitary confinement cell for the prisoner, and there was a familiar face for the messenger.

“You two know each other, right? How about saying hello at this point?”

“……”

“……”

Sein of the Ice Chain and the messenger, Paras, looked at each other and could not say a word.