Chapter 123 – His Life or Death

As she stepped out of the inner chamber,

a message appeared in Rashid’s vision.

-Do you want to accept the main linked quest ‘His Life or Death’?

-Verify the life or death of Kaiser.

-Upon completion, ‘Mana +1’ will be given as a reward.

The quest message popped up.

‘I said it just to buy time, but to think a quest would actually appear.’

It was about time the main quest related to Zodiac began.

This was merely the beginning of it.

‘The Dharma Mage Division…’

In order to verify Kaiser’s life or death, it seemed best to go directly to the Dharma Mage Division and search.

If he was alive, he would be with Zodiac.

However, the probability of survival was extremely low.

No, it was almost certain that he was dead.

‘It is correct to assume he is practically dead. I don’t think Zodiac would have kept him alive. There is no reason to.’

But why did Zodiac show interest in Kaiser?

This was a question for Rashid as well.

‘This is a development I don’t know in the first place. Since it’s the first time Zodiac has ever shown interest in anyone.’

Most of the main villains were like that.

That was true of Zodiac, but the same went for her, who had just left after making a threat-like warning.

They did not show interest in anyone.

Let alone compatibility, even romance was impossible with them; they were walking disasters whose own goals were rock-solid from the start.

-You have accepted.

When his mind grew complicated with thoughts of Kaiser after accepting the quest,

she entered.

She quietly asked Rashid, who was lost in thought while clearing the teacups.

“What kind of conversation did you have that you even set up a barrier in the inner chamber?”

“I didn’t set it.”

She asked with an extremely suspicious gaze.

“Then did Her Majesty cast a silent barrier?”

“Yes. She has practically become a mage.”

“Her Majesty?”

She wore a surprised expression.

“That is fascinating. For Her Majesty to use magic.”

“There’s nothing strange about it. It’s not like the previous emperors didn’t use magic. It’s just that she has only recently become the Emperor after being a princess. She probably didn’t know she would become Emperor like that. Then, the moment she was forcibly dragged down from the throne, she must have felt pathetic for having to rely only on her authority.”

That was probably the trigger.

‘This is a development unknown even to the Blood Empress. I have no idea how she will react depending on whether Kaiser is alive or dead.’

“That is why she learned magic and became interested in the studies of knights. Having such an experience once would be more than enough.”

His words continued.

“Moreover, since she has a good lineage, her talent is unquestionable, and she is a vampire. Perhaps she has already surpassed you.”

“Her Majesty?”

Standing in place after organizing the teacups, she quietly chewed on those words.

Given the effort and time she had accumulated so far, she might have protested,

but she seemed to accept it surprisingly easily.

“That might be true. Since it is Her Majesty, of all people. I have heard such a story before. The Blood Succession Ceremony. They receive the memories of the previous emperors, right? I heard those memories contain various experiences and knowledge, especially regarding martial arts.”

Rule by authority and overwhelming military power.

These two were originally the powers that symbolized the Emperor.

It was just that they had been briefly forgotten because the former Emperor, Carlos XIII, was too immature.

‘Hearing from Akard, the Blood Succession Ceremony was originally a sort of coming-of-age ceremony allowed only to the legitimate successor who possessed the qualifications. While she has the qualifications, she shouldn’t be the legitimate successor…’

Blood Succession Ceremony.

Rashid was thinking that it was similar to his own trait, Eighteen Martial Arts.

He himself could handle all weapons skillfully just by acquiring a single trait, so why would it be impossible for her, who had inherited the memories of the previous emperors?

“Do you have any credits?”

“Credits?”

She expressed query at the sudden question.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Because it seems I have a reason to visit the Sky Island. She asked me about Kaiser’s life or death. If he is alive, he will be at the headquarters of the Dharma Mage Division.”

“Are you planning to go there?”

It was something an ordinary person wouldn’t even dare to dream of.

“I’m thinking about it. Anyway, give me an advance. I heard the national bond prices went up a bit?”

As the war progressed, the national bond prices, which were practically scrap paper, were attempting to rebound, however weakly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the corners of her lips curved slightly.

“Yes, thanks to that, I’m seeing some profit. But it’s only a slight rebound, so we have to wait and see.”

“So, your answer?”

“Could you wait a moment? I actually had something to give you anyway.”

Leaving after clearing the teacups, she returned with what she had prepared and held it out to him.

They were two black cards and a bundle of blank checks.

“What is this?”

“They are a card issued in my name and a bundle of blank checks. You can use the card for minor expenses, and if you need exchange, you can go to a bank and cash the blank checks. Since they are guaranteed by the Sanctum family, you’ll be able to exchange as much as you want.”

Examining the bundle of blank checks handed to him, Rashid asked,

“There’s quite a lot here. Does this mean I should just use them as I see fit from now on?”

“Yes, since you are taking an advance from half of the profits, it doesn’t matter how much you spend. However, if the bond prices drop from here, I will drop a hint. But if there is only a way up from now on, you can spend as much as you want to your heart’s content.”

“But why are there two cards?”

“You might lose one along the way. That’s why there are two.”

“What is the limit?”

“It’s similar to mine, but you can practically consider it to have none. A card will be more convenient on the Sky Island. Card payments are common there.”

It was good.

Just that…

“But don’t you think this is a bit too much? We are strangers, after all.”

“Come on, we aren’t strangers, are we? We are a community of fate bound together by the bond prices.”

Indeed.

If it was half of the profits, it would be a significant amount.

Nodding, Rashid took them.

“I’ll make good use of it. Even though it’s my money anyway.”

“Ah, the card statements will be forwarded to me, but you don’t have to worry. I don’t really care.”

* * *

Sky Island.

A world ruled by the Magic Tower, and a new world possessing a civilization half a generation more advanced than the ground.

This place was also treated as a small nation, just like the Order.

The official currency was credits, referred to as the money of mages.

Having shed his inquisitor uniform, Rashid arrived at the Capital Gateway Office dressed in casual wear.

This was because in order to go to the Sky Island, one had to use the gateway offices of each country that maintained diplomatic relations with the Magic Tower.

A short while later,

Rashid crossed through the portal of the gateway office and soon arrived at the immigration checkpoint of the Sky Island, where countless people were pouring out.

‘It would be convenient if I received help from someone from the Magic Tower, but it’s better in many ways to enter normally.’

First, in order to enter the Sky Island, one had to pass the immigration checkpoint.

The important thing here was the visa; because the Magic Tower classified people from the Order as a hostile faction, the visa issuance itself was extremely difficult, and there were many cases of refusal,

but as expected, nothing stood a chance against money, and a special visa, which cost a hundred times the price of a regular visa, could be issued smoothly.

Of course, given the exorbitant price, usually only high-ranking officials of the Order were willing to pay such an amount.

Rashid moved to stand in the fast track line, passing by the endlessly lined-up immigration checkpoints.

Unlike the crowded area before, those undergoing immigration review here were only the so-called well-to-do people.

Standing in the review line as soon as he arrived, Rashid showed his passport to the immigration officer.

The country name, Holy Blood State Basilica, was written on the cover of the passport.

The officer examined his history displayed on the screen.

‘An inquisitor.’

Unlike usual, the officer’s eyes turned sharp.

His record was incredibly flashy.

From his history of slaughtering people of the Magic Tower to the suspicion of causing the collapse of the Magic Tower Academy.

Hostile acts toward the Magic Tower were listed in succession like charges.

‘This is a bit…’

As the review took longer than for others, Rashid seemed to understand in his own way.

Since he was not entering under the capacity of an invitation or special envoy in the first place, it was somewhat expected that problems would arise from the immigration review.

Shaking his head, the officer spoke.

“Inquisitor. I’m sorry to say this, but since you are from a hostile nation and your record is rather excessively flashy, you need a guarantor. Normally, this level of scrutiny isn’t required, but this will definitely be rejected without even needing to ask those above. Do you happen to have someone from the Magic Tower who can guarantee your identity?”

Once there, he certainly wouldn’t return after staying quiet.

Would there really be someone who could bear the responsibility?

If he left, that person would have to take full responsibility.

“Please wait a moment.”

There was only one person he knew.

When he called the number he knew, she stepped out of a nearby portal.

“What are you doing here? This is the VIP review area.”

“You’re here? I’m trying to enter the Sky Island, but they said I need a guarantor.”

She wondered why he had called,

only for a troublesome matter to be brought up.

“What? A guarantor?”

Her opponent was an inquisitor.

It was no small matter.

“If you cause trouble here, I’ll be in big trouble, you know?”

“You seem to have some misunderstanding. I came to receive the Spirit-Sealing Jar. I have to get what was promised, don’t I?”

“The Spirit-Sealing Jar? Ah…”

In fact, there was another reason for coming to the Sky Island besides Kaiser, and this became a very valuable excuse to deceive her.

Normally, making promises and not fulfilling them was the nature of witches,

but since the Witch Leader had made a special promise on her own name, it was an item that could not be withheld.

“Let him through. I will act as his guarantor.”

“If an executive of the Purgatory Witches says so.”

After verifying her identity, the immigration officer opened Rashid’s passport and pressed the entry stamp onto a blank page.

Thump!

Entry into the Sky Island was approved.

As he crossed past the checkpoint, she followed closely behind him.

“Well, what brings the inquisitor here without any notice?”

“I told you. I came for the Spirit-Sealing Jar.”

“I feel like I shouldn’t have given you my number. I didn’t give you my number to use it like this, you know?”

“You were the one who saved the number; I never asked you to give it to me.”

“Since there’s no harm in getting to know each other.”

Before he knew it, Rashid stepped out of the immigration hall and came face to face with the panoramic view of the Sky Island, illuminated by colorful neon signs and starlight.

The Sky Island, which was said to have a civilization half a generation ahead of the ground.

Due to its high population density and highly developed magitech engineering,

the scenery itself was clearly different from the ground.

Between the forest of buildings soaring like skyscrapers, mana advertising boards crafted with magic formulas flashed, and vehicles on the road, in a more advanced form, were running while noisily emitting the sound of mana stone engines.

Vrooooom!

Expensive sports cars, which were rarely seen on the ground, were particularly visible.

Just because it was the Sky Island did not mean only people from the Magic Tower lived there.

The Sky Island was a place where wealthy people from the ground and children of noble families flocked to enjoy leisure and entertainment.

‘It is still flashy and noisy.’

Rashid had no intention of staying here for long.

Since it was, in its own way, a hostile nation.

“I would like to meet the Purgatory Madame.”

Rashid said to her as she followed him out.

Having no particular reason to refuse, she immediately opened a portal for him.

At the same time, she solidified her suspicion into certainty.

That the Spirit-Sealing Jar was not his only goal.

Had that been the case, he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of passing through the immigration hall.